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The Armenians of the world Commemorate 86 years Anniversary of the Genocide, the Victims of which became over 1500 thousand people
YEREVAN, 24 April. /ARKA/. Today the Armenians of the world
commemorate 86 years anniverasy of the Armenian people's Genocide in
Ottoman Empire. Hundreds of residents of Armenia will walk to the
Tsitsernakabert hill in Yerevan, to the memorial to victims of the
Genocide so taht to hallow memory of over 1500 thousand perished in
1915. Lugubrious prayers will proceed today in the Armenian churches
all over the world.
The Genocide of the Armenian people has got great publicity lately
all over the world. In the duration of several years this matter was
the main obstacle to the development of Armenian-Turkish relations
which refused to recognise the fact of Genocide. Currently, this fact
is recognised by many countries, among them Uruguay (it was the first
to recognise Genocide officially in 1965), France, lower chamber of
the Parliament of Italy, majority of the US states. The evening to
the memory of Genocide victims will take place today at 20.00 in
diocesan church of St. Sahak-Mesrop in Cologne (Germany). It is
planned to raise memorial to Komitas in the center of Paris in 2001
as the symbol of the Armenians Genocide in Turkey.
Politicians of Armenia repeatedly told for consistency in the matter
of Genocide recognition in the Ottoman Empire. Particularly, RA
President Robert Kocharyan told that "it is of moral and political
significance for Armenia". And according to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan, Turkey carries excessively tough
policy towards different states having recognised the fact of the
Armenians' Genocide.
According to the viewpoint of international experts, condemnation of
the Genocide by world publicity will contribute to creation of
trustful atmosphere, establishment of peace and stability in the
region. Thus, European Parliament addressed the government of Turkey
with the demand to recognise the Genocide against Armenians in public
and to stop blockade of Armenia which will permit to set diplomatic
and trade-economic links between those countries. The other day the
congressmen-republican George Radanovich appealed the US President
George Bush to fulfill pre-election promise given to the American
Armenians, that is to use the word "Genocide" in his traditional
address to the American Armenians on April 24. Thousand of letters
are addressed to White House these days and all of them contain
appeal to the US President to hallow the memory of victims of the
Genocide and to keep the promise given by him yet in the position of
Texas governor. Numerous members of the House of Representatives of
the Congress addressed to George Bush with the written request.
The Ottoman Empire the successor of which is the present Turkey
realised regular pursuances and persecutions of the Armenians since
the second half of 19 century till 1920. The peak of barbarism came
to 1915, when more than 1500 thousand Armenians were wiped out in
different regions of Western Armenia which was a part of Ottoman
Empire. All progressive humanity both at the beginning of the century
and at present condemn Genocide and comes out with the demands to
recognise it. --0--L.Sh.
Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News Archives