Clooney: You Cannot Deny What Happened

On April 23, George Clooney, Co-Chair of the Aurora Prize participates at the Second Global Forum against the Crime of Genocide at Karen Demirchyan Complex, Panorama reports.

"This is my first visit to Armenia. I’m really excited to be here and participate in this event," said Clooney.

In a response to the question of Associate editor for the Washington Post, David Ignatius, what made him come to Armenia and attend the Global Forum against the Crime of Genocide, Clooney noted:

"I was born in a time when people had to fight for their rights, and I was brought up on those principles. After reading about the Darfur Genocide, I  decided to use my fame to help those who suffered through the horrors of Genocide."

According to Clooney, it is wrong to consider genocides massacres but one needs a long time to acknowledge it.

"It took a long and hard battle to finally call the things by their names. Everything is difficult, but [it happens] in time. You cannot deny what happened. You cannot bring back an entire race. [Destroying] people’s culture is genocide," Clooney added.

The Aurora Prize will be awarded annually on April 24 in Yerevan, Armenia. The Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity will be granted annually to an individual whose actions have had an exceptional impact on preserving human life and advancing humanitarian causes.The Aurora Prize Laureate will be honored with a US $100,000 grant. In addition, that individual will have the unique opportunity to continue the cycle of giving by nominating organizations that inspired their work to receive a US $1,000,000 award.