|
Israeli Opposition Leader Mr.Yossi Sarid Attends Memorial Service: He addresses commemorative rally at the Armenian Conventin Jaffa
Press Release
P.O.Box 14150
91140,Jerusalem, Israel
Fax:972-2-6264040
E-mail:haitad@hotmail.com
Jerusalem, 23 April 2001. A requiem service devoted to the memory of the 1.5 million Armenian Martyrs was held at Saint Nicholas Armenian Church in Jaffa.
The requiem service was presided over by Archbishop Aris Shirvanian and was attended by Israeli opposition leader Mr. Yossi Sarid, several members of the Israeli Parliament, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenian to Israel, priests, representatives of the Armenian community and more than 300 members of the Armenian Community of Jerusalem, Jaffa and Haifa.
A commemorative program was held after the service. A special commemorative program took place at the Church square at 7:00 pm. The openeing speech was made by Dr. Georgette Avakian from the Armenian Question Committee. Dr. Avakian stated that the Armenian Genocide was a systematic genocide aimed to solve the Armenian Question. Dr. Avakian emphasized that more than 12 countries have already recognized the Armenian Genocide through their parliaments. She added saying: “Armenians are demanding justice from the International community. We demand from the Turkish intellectuals to face their past and to accept the reality of the Armenian Genocide.”
Following the opening speech, opposition leader Mr.Yossi Sarid from the Meretz Liberal Party which composes 10 mandates in the Knesset addressed the commemorative rally. In a speech that lasted more than 10 minutes, Mr. Yossi Sarid the former Minister of Education affirmed that he stands behind what he proposed last year concerning the Armenian Genocide. “I am convinced more than ever that the Armenian Genocide should be taught at the Israeli schools,” Sarid stated.
Regarding the statements made by the Foreign Minister Mr. Shimon Peres that the Armenian allegations are meaningless, Mr. Yossi Sarid expressed his astonishment and said that it is incomprehensible that someone of Shimon Peres's caliber can show understanding for the denial by the Turks. Mr. Sarid demanded that Peres retract his statement. “I hope that next year Israel will join those states who already recognized the Armenian Genocide”.
Sarid's speech was followed by two songs chanted by Father Kusan Aljanian and Arpig Krikorian. Following the songs, Member of Israeli Parliament Mr. Muhammad Kan’an from the Independent National Party addressed the commemorative rally and expressed the solidarity of the Arab and the Palestinian people for the suffering and the Genocide of the Armenian people. Mr. Kan’an condemned the statements of Shimon Peres referring to the Armenian Genocide.
The closing remarks were delivered by Archbishop Aris Shirvanian, who emphasized the importance of the International recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The same day a demonstration rally took place at Rabin’s Square opposite the Tel Aviv municipality at 8:00pm. More than 400 Armenian Community members attended the demonstration. Patriotic songs were sung by the demonstrators who were carrying posters of the Armenian Genocide. The demonstrators demanded Israel’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
For additional information, contact the ANC-Jerusalem:
The Armenian National Committee of Jerusalem
P.O.Box 14150
91140,Jerusalem, Israel
Fax:972-2-6264040
E-mail:haitad@hotmail.com
Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News Archives