Armenian Genocide In Statement" src="http://www.yerevanreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/PACE-Condemns-Armenian-Genocide-In-Statement.jpg" alt="PACE Condemns Armenian Genocide In Statement" width="307" height="210" />YEREVAN (Combined Sources), April 30–On Thursday the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) published a statement during its full session  recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide, member of the Armenian delegation in PACE and Prosperous Armenia Party National Assembly member Naira Zohrabyan told Tert.am in a phone interview from Strasbourg.

Representatives from more than 15 PACE member states had signed onto the statement before it was introduced to the floor of the body, according to Zohrabyan. She said PACE statements need more than 20 signatures to be introduced into a full session of the body.

“This morning, at the beginning of the full session, the French Deputy Francois Claude Mignon, presiding the session, publicized the statement, saying it was open for signature and anyone could join it,” she said.

Zohrabyan said the statement noted the 95th anniversary of the Genocide and called for its international recognition, arguing that it would help advance “respect for human dignity and prevention of crimes against humanity.” The document also called on PACE members to work toward gaining recognition of the crime in their respective countries.

“The undersigned, members of the Parliamentary Assembly, call upon all members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to take the necessary steps for the recognition of the genocide perpetrated against Armenians in the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 20th century, which will strongly contribute to an eventual similar act of recognition by the Turkish authorities of this odious crime against humanity and, as a result, will lead to the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Turkey and thus contribute to regional peace, security and stability,” the statement read, in part.

There was no immediate reaction to the statement from Ankara.