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Armenians in Greece mark 90th anniversary of mass killings in Ottoman Empire
AP Worldstream
Apr 20, 2005
More than 500 Armenians on Wednesday marked the 90th anniversary of
mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.
Surrounded by candles on the ground, children danced in central Athens
to traditional Armenian music. Many of those present waved red, blue
and orange Armenian flags, or wore black T-shirts bearing the words:
"Turkey _ 90 years of denial."
Armenians say some 1.5 million of their people were killed as the
Ottoman Empire forced them from eastern Turkey between 1915 and 1923 _
and that this was a deliberate campaign of genocide.
Turkey denies a genocide was committed, saying the death count is
inflated and insisting that Armenians were killed or displaced as
the Ottoman Empire tried to secure its border with Russia and stop
attacks by Armenian militants.
"People remember and we want to make people know this story ... We want
the Turkish people to recognize this genocide, because they don't,"
said Rita Kalomiri, a Greek-Armenian student at the gathering.
The Armenians later marched to the Turkish embassy in Athens for a
peaceful protest.
Polish lawmakers recognized the mass killing as a genocide Tuesday _
a decision condemned by Ankara the next day. France and Russia have
already declared the killings a genocide and there is strong pressure
from Armenian Diaspora groups on the U.S. Congress to do the same.
Turkey has no diplomatic ties with Armenia but called earlier this
month for the two countries to jointly research the killings.
AP Worldstream
Apr 20, 2005
More than 500 Armenians on Wednesday marked the 90th anniversary of
mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.
Surrounded by candles on the ground, children danced in central Athens
to traditional Armenian music. Many of those present waved red, blue
and orange Armenian flags, or wore black T-shirts bearing the words:
"Turkey _ 90 years of denial."
Armenians say some 1.5 million of their people were killed as the
Ottoman Empire forced them from eastern Turkey between 1915 and 1923 _
and that this was a deliberate campaign of genocide.
Turkey denies a genocide was committed, saying the death count is
inflated and insisting that Armenians were killed or displaced as
the Ottoman Empire tried to secure its border with Russia and stop
attacks by Armenian militants.
"People remember and we want to make people know this story ... We want
the Turkish people to recognize this genocide, because they don't,"
said Rita Kalomiri, a Greek-Armenian student at the gathering.
The Armenians later marched to the Turkish embassy in Athens for a
peaceful protest.
Polish lawmakers recognized the mass killing as a genocide Tuesday _
a decision condemned by Ankara the next day. France and Russia have
already declared the killings a genocide and there is strong pressure
from Armenian Diaspora groups on the U.S. Congress to do the same.
Turkey has no diplomatic ties with Armenia but called earlier this
month for the two countries to jointly research the killings.