ARGENTINA: Argentine court rules 1915-1923 killings of Armenians in Turkey was genocide

Record ID: 1543292

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Argentine court rules 1915-1923 killings of Armenians in Turkey was genocide
  • Date: 2nd April 2011
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (APRIL 01, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE FEDERAL COURT HOUSE WHERE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CASE WAS HEARD VARIOUS OF LAWYER FEDERICO GAITAN HAIRABEDIAN WALKING VARIOUS OF FEDERAL JUDGE, NORBERTO OYARBIDE, TAKING THE BENCH COURT DOCUMENTS ON THE DESK (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FEDERAL JUDGE OYARBIDE, SAYING: "Declaring the institution's final decision, within the handling of proceeding number 2610 of the year 2001, called by Hairabedian, Gregorio, states that the state of Turkey had committed the crime of genocide against the Armenian people in the period between 1915 and 1923." PEOPLE IN THE ROOM CLAPPING VARIOUS OF FEDERICO AND GREGORIO HAIRABEDIAN POSING FOR PHOTOS AFTER THE DECISION
  • Embargoed: 17th April 2011 02:03
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina, Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVABEYBQT88GICX6C7OXX4YZRPIE
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: An Argentine court ruled on Friday (April 1) that the killing of hundreds of thousands of Armenians by Ottoman Turks between 1915 and 1923 constitutes genocide, laying the groundwork for other possible cases to come forward.
    After the case opened more than ten years ago, the Argentine court ruled that Turkey committed genocide and is responsible for the deaths of up to 1.5 million Armenians before and during World War I.
    The decision does not carry punitive effects but sets a precedent opening the door to allow others to bring cases before other international entities in the future.
    Argentine Federal Judge Norberto Oyarbide read the court's decision in the case, which was called by the son of survivors of the Armenian massacres, Gregorio Hairabedian, who lives in Argentina.
    "Declaring the institution's final decision, within the handling of proceeding number 2610 of the year 2001, called by Hairabedian, Gregorio, states that the state of Turkey had committed the crime of genocide against the Armenian people in the period between 1915 and 1923," Oyarbide said.
    Twenty countries formally recognize the systematic killing and deportation of Armenians as genocide.
    Hairabedian and his grandson, Federico, celebrated the decision.
    "To our dear Armenian friends, I tell you that today is a day of hope for us. Because through the Argentine decision which recognizes the act of genocide by the Turkish state, in a way that now opens a wide path to demand reparations for the rights that the Armenian people have," Gregorio said after the ruling was issued.
    Gregorio's daughter, Luisa Hairabedian, the mother of Federico, first brought the case to the Argentine courts in 2000 using the precedent of the Truth Trials which allowed for the trying of Argentina's dictatorship officials in the 1980s who were accused of human rights violations during the military rule from 1976-83.
    Under the Truth Trials, the Argentine court system recognizes crimes against humanity as not having borders and allows them to be brought forward at any time without limit.
    While still working to collect evidence in Europe to present to the court, Luisa died in 2004.
    After her death the Luisa Hairabedian Foundation was created and her son Federico completed trips gathering information.
    "The structure that was formed around the Luisa Hairabedian Foundation with social scientists, academics, lawyers and historians; we were able to make the trips to these European countries and the United States and gather and collect the necessary documentation to present to the court which was the base of the trial for which Judge Oyarbide made his decision," Federico told Reuters.
    In connection with the proceedings the Judge issued a warrant to the Turkish government to make available all files and archives that may inform the Hairabedian family of the fate of their relatives.
    It also petitions the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Vatican to make any archives pertaining to what was ruled the Armenian Genocide available to Armenians living in Argentina.
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