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  • His Holiness, Catholicos Karekin II's message....

    HIS HOLINESS, CATHOLICOS KAREKIN II's MESSAGE TO ULTIMATE CRIME, ULTIMATE
    CHALLENGES HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE

    Armenpress

    YEREVAN, APRIL 22, ARMENPRESS: On April 20, His Holiness Karekin II,
    Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided during
    the opening session of the International Conference entitled "Ultimate
    Crime, Ultimate Challenge - Human Rights and Genocide", which convened
    in Yerevan, Armenia, dedicated to the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian
    Genocide. His Excellency Robert Kocharian, President of the Republic
    of Armenia, and His Holiness Karekin II delivered opening addresses
    to the assembled international participants and guests.

    Below is the message of His Holiness:

    Your Excellency, President of the Republic of Armenia,

    Honored Participants and Guests of the Conference,

    We greet you who are assembled here for this international conference
    on the occasion of the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and
    bring to you blessings from the spiritual center of all Armenians -
    the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

    Today is a day of great consolation for our people, that decades later,
    international society has focused on the Genocide of the Armenians
    implemented at the beginning of the 20th century in Ottoman Turkey,
    and which was the most lamentable page in the history of our people
    who have seen manifold tribulations.

    In the century of enlightenment and the progress of civilization, our
    people had the hope of finding personal security, a defense of human
    rights, and conditions for a peaceful and creative life. However,
    instead they were eliminated from the greatest portion of their
    historical homeland within Turkey and in the Armenian-occupied
    settlements of the Ottoman Empire. The systematic massacres and
    organized exiles were transformed into death sentences; what the sword
    could not reach, was finished by starvation and epidemic. The studies
    of these events are not lacking for factual testimonies. Today, the
    recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, by a number
    of states as the greatest of crimes against humanity, fills us with
    confidence, that it will find universal recognition and truthful
    evaluation.

    The 20th century, which began for the Armenian people with the
    greatest calamity of Genocide, became the century in the history of
    mankind which witnessed two world wars. The same mindset that produced
    the dreadful, savage massacres of the Armenians would later create
    the concentration camps and the gas chambers. Truly, a new century
    begins and it must begin with a new way of thinking, one that rejects
    violence and crime, and instead confirms the values of humanity and
    compassion. A century when, as the psalmist wishes with yearning,
    mercy and truth will meet, and righteousness and peace will embrace. We
    the people must create that century. History testifies that ruined
    cities are rebuilt with greater ease and conditions of life improve
    faster than changes in the thinking of men and the standards of life
    - which are the true guarantors of progress and hope for the future.
    Likewise, the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Republic of
    Turkey would become a great victory for human rights and democracy,
    without which, Turkey will find the building of a free and joyful
    life difficult.

    Dear ones, the highest aspiration and goal, the greatest efforts for
    all times must be that charity, rights and justice remain victorious
    against hatred and enmity, against terrorism and war, and against
    all other evils which are present in our contemporary reality, and
    are the challenges facing humanity in this century.

    This international representative conference is similarly called to
    reflect on the challenges of our time. In this sense, the commemoration
    of the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide is not only an event,
    but also a charge. It is our wish that this conference benefits the
    work of having a better and benevolent world, one that manifests the
    hopes and desires of mankind.

    We extend our appreciation to the organizers of this gathering and
    to all of you, and wish manifold successes to the sessions of the
    conference.

    May the Lord bless us and bless peace, justice and the paths of
    brotherhood between nations. We offer prayers and incense to the
    memory of the 1.5 million innocent victims. The mercy, grace and love
    of God be with the entire world and us always. Amen.
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