Q: On December 15, the National Assembly of Switzerland recognized the Armenian Genocide, joining the list of countries which condemn this crime against humanity. How do you interpret this and what effect might it have on Armenian-Turkish relations?

A: We welcome the decision of the Swiss National Assembly, which has passed a resolution that has been send to the Federal Council, the Government of Switzerland.

The recognition is the result of the years-long efforts by Swiss political and public figures, historians and attorneys, certain intellectuals as well as Swiss-Armenian organizations. By so doing, Switzerland is paying its rspects to the memory of the millions of Armenians who fell victim to the Genocide committed in the Ottoman Empire, reminding humanity humanity that there are no time limits on crimes against humanity, and supporting the struggle against denial.

The international recognition of the Armenian Genocide is a distinct process, and we would not want it to be linked to the existing Armenian-Turkish dialogue.