Mikayel Aharonian
Translated by Vartan Matiossian
This is an interview conducted with Dr. Ruben Safrastian, director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia and corresponding member of the Academy.
- Mr. Safrastian, let's speak about premeditation of genocide...
- Let me tell you that genocide is different from other offenses, because it has been criminalized by the UN document of 1948. The most differing circumstance that makes genocide a genocide is premeditation. How can it be proved? If it is proved that there is premeditation on the part of the state, then that is genocide. If there is no proof of premeditation, then it means that it is a case of massacre or massive killing.
