Bishop: Perpetrators must face justice to prevent future genocides

Published: 2006-05-01

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Those who take part in genocide must face justice if future genocides are to be prevented, according to an Armenian bishop who before he came to Washington for an interfaith gathering watched as more than half of his nation's citizens paid tribute to fellow Armenians who were victims of genocide 90 years ago. "If the perpetrators of past genocides are punished, we can prevent other genocides around the world," said Bishop Vicken Akayzian of the Armenian Church in America during an April 27 forum, "Religious Contribution to Genocide Prevention," part of the two-day International Prayer for Peace event at Georgetown University in Washington. Bishop Akayzian spent 22 hours in transit from Armenia to the United States to speak at the panel discussion. He said he had to stay in Armenia April 24 as the country recognized its own victims of genocide at the hands of the Turks -- a genocide the Turkish government has insistently and repeatedly denied ever occurred. "Out of a population of three-and-a-half million, 2 million people came to visit the memorial site," Bishop Akayzian said. "It was a great pleasure for me."

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