A motion commemorating the Armenian genocide has today won the backing of a highly symbolic 65 MSPs – a majority of the Scottish Parliament.

The motion, which has been lodged by Edinburgh Central MSP Marco Biagi, comes almost one hundred years after the genocide.

Commenting on the motion’s success Dr Hagop Bessos, son of Armenian genocide survivors, said, “This is a very important step for the majority of the members of the Scottish Parliament to recognise what happened during the Armenian genocide. Many other countries have recognised the genocide and I am pleased that Scotland’s MSPs now symbolically join that list.

“By commemorating the Armenian genocide, those MSPs have not only heightened its awareness in Scotland but also helped repudiate all acts of genocide and underlined the need for peace and reconciliation.”

Dr Harry Hagopian, an international lawyer & EU Consultant said, “With over half the Parliament’s MSPs signing up to support the motion, it is quite clear to me that the Scottish Parliament is increasingly more sensitive to the Armenian Genocide”

“The anniversary of the Armenian tragedy gives reason for peoples of all nations to pause and reflect on all past genocides. Its commemoration ensures that acts of violence such as those witnessed during the Armenian genocide or more recent ones are not repeated in any part of the world.”

The text of the motion reads: