second-class citizens, they were also subjected to political, social and cultural isolation, humiliation and specific restrictions, violence, deportation and even cases of massacre. The Special Rapporteur Rita Izsak has rightly mentioned that many cases around the world demonstrate that minorities can be targets of criminal atrocities with impunity. The responsibility for crimes committed must be ensured in order to avoid new crimes being perpetrated. As the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said “Only then can we honor the memory of the victims of yesterday with dignity. Only this way can we save those who may be at risk tomorrow. " This year, the Armenian population of the Syrian town of Kessab and neighboring villages, composed of descendants of survivors from the Armenian Genocide, has experienced renewed violence. Terrorist groups affiliated to Al Qaeda, freely crossed the border from the territory of neighboring Turkey, desecrated Armenian churches in Kessab and attacked the Armenian population of the city, leading to the evacuation of the population. We all should combine our efforts to put in place effective mechanisms to protect minorities against criminal atrocities. It should be constantly stressed that State authorities have the primary responsibility to protect populations from atrocious crimes. It was made clear during the World summit of 2005 that the international community must encourage and help States to exercise this responsibility, as well as to implement diplomatic, humanitarian and other appropriate measures to help protect threatened populations. Had the responsibility to protect been fully assumed, the number of victims of the Armenian Genocide and probably of other cases of genocides would not be so high. I hope sincerely that these recommendations will bring understanding among us and I would like to ensure that Armenia will in turn keep making an effective and continuous contribution to international efforts in order to strengthen prevention mechanisms, but also to promote tolerance and dialogue between cultures.