Genocide of the Greeks of PontusPosted: Saturday, June 02, 2012 at 04:08 PM UT Speech by Nikos Lygeros in the main event organized
I didn’t come here to suggest you a lamentation. I think that it’s enough with the crying on this issue for all of us. It’s good to recall it, but it’s also good to forward it. I was glad to hear mentions to the countries, which have recognized the genocide of the Pontiacs, as Greece, of course, has done so, in 1994; because, that was good, too. Hopefully, there was Michalis Charalambidis, a respected and honorable friend. It’s good to remember that this wasn’t easy and that’s the reason why the recognition of the genocide of the Armenians followed. After this, you all very well remember that it was in 2006 when the European Union recognized the genocide of the Pontiacs, the Armenians and Assyrians as a single crime against humanity. Recently, two years ago, we also had the recognition by Sweden. What matters, is that it’s good to gather here. However, this isn’t enough, because things should change and we should enter a strategy. I don’t think that it’s due to demand from all the other peoples to recognize our genocide, while we don’t recognize theirs. We have to start and show the example from here. You all know too well that the genocide of the Pontiacs didn’t take place separately. There were Armenians and Assyrians, as well. We have recognized the first two parts. It would be good to pass on to the third one; and for which reason? It’s too simple. When you are before courts and you lack the third part, don’t be surprised, if you are told that it was useless that you had come. So, what matters, is that we all realize that the genocide of the Pontiacs is part of a trinity of genocides and not of a triple genocide, which should operate united. It’s in this way that we achieved results in Australia, too. That wasn’t mentioned, but you should know it. We will soon have recognition by whole Australia. What matters, is that the victims should be united. You know, the problem is that criminals unite themselves and one learns from the other. We tend to fool each other, because we think that we didn’t afford the pressure. So, it’s high time we saw that even sheep, when united, are strong. What matters, is that we don’t enter a process which needs to transform genocide in a war crime. I notice that you many times mention – and, in general, we mention - the guerillas. We have to be very careful. This is something that Turkey is using, to transform the genocide in a warfare phase. Genocide, as condemned by the UN Charter as early as 1948, thanks to Raphael Lemkin, who invented this word, is a process taking place in peace time. We shouldn’t say any longer that our own were massacred - I heard it just before. Every time we have to use the same verb: they were genocided. Moreover, you should all be aware that it’s not just us that we are here. We are the others that they didn’t manage to genocide. Consequently, when we are here, we are not alone. We are with our diseased. And if some from time to time ban gatherings, as regards the commemoration day, they have to know that even if none alive will attend, the dead will be here; because the genocide of the Pontiacs will not cease existing, not until there is a general recognition. Furthermore, I would like to tell you that the recognition, either we want it or not, it’s So, we slowly have to decide - for, we have these capabilities and possibilities, too - to What matters to humanity, is to name the genociders, to condemn them so that they get punished. We can’t allow even to a neighboring country to be founded on a man who for us, the only thing that he is, is a genocider. It’s not only about the issue of the recognition of that time. We have to think that what happened, must not take place again. But, that’s not enough; because, this still happens. Even now; you see that Turkey continues not recognizing. And not only isn’t she recognizing, but she’s also, in fact, accusing the Pontiacs and Armenians of being the ones who have committed the genocide. So, we have to function in a more strategic way, to stop crying which only serves an Personally, I am so much tired of constantly hearing the same speeches on genocides, because some think that they simply have to read a text. What matters, is the work we produce to make facts change. When we hear that we constantly anticipate the perpetrator to make the first step, this is a wrong move. Furthermore, I would like you all to feel that it’s very important that we are here, because this is a strategic move. It’s important that we are next to our soldiers; that we are next to Leonidas, the Unknown Soldier, because this is a symbol. This will necessarily play a role, and not that we are simply in a parking. We must all as Pontiacs, as well, stop erecting monuments at places where none goes. Monuments must be placed at central spots, at strategic spots. For, the best move is not the good one. It’s the one that disturbs the enemy. As long as we don’t disturb the perpetrator, this means that, we only diffuse ourselves. What matters, is the work we produce and does disturb. You all have to be disturbing. Here; the fact that you are here is important. Your presence is already significant. Simply, I would just like that you contribute to this work for recognition and that we, at last, move on to the stage of penalization; because, you know, it exists in other countries, such as Slovakia and Switzerland, which allow them additionally now to be able to have their manifestations, events, commemorations day, without encountering the problems which have even now in some countries, such as France. There, the issue of penalization has not passed yet. For, as long as you let the other one swearing you, you don’t have the right to exist. It’s not enough to cry to exist and remember the others. Here, we have to imagine that At the same moment when we are laying wreaths here, we can’t accept anything About the Author
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