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Armenians mark 1915 genocide
By Alexia Saoulli
Cyprus Mail
April 20 2006
THE ARMENIAN community in Cyprus will mark the 91st anniversary of
the 1915 genocide in which one and a half million of their people
were killed by Ottoman forces.
Speaking to reporters at a news conference ahead of the April 24
anniversary, Kevork
Zeyeountsian said: "Today, 91 years after the genocide a lot has been
done in the direction of recognising the 1915 genocide.
"Everyone knows what happened in 1915 and a great number are aware of
the reason for the presence of Armenian communities in all four
corners of the earth.
"A great number of countries have already recognised the genocide,
while those governments that have not yet recognised it maintain this
position purely for political reasons and strategic interests, not
because they do not agree with justification of Armenians."
The Armenian Genocide was carried out by the 'Young Turk' government
of the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1916. Over a million Armenians were
killed, out of a total of two and a half million Armenians living
under the Ottoman Empire.
The Turkish government today denies that there was an Armenian
genocide and claims that Armenians were only removed from the eastern
"war zone".
Zeyeountsian added: "Turkey - a European Union candidate country -
has a lot to do before it becomes an equal state with the rest of
Europe's 25. A number of thorns await it along its course and the two
million Armenians who are today citizens of a united Europe have
every right and obligation to demand from Turkey to first repay its
historical debt to our people."
To mark the anniversary the Armenian Community Memorial Committee has
organised a series of events on Sunday and Monday.
On Sunday April 23 there will be a photograph exhibition in Nicosia's
Eleftheria Square between 10am and 7pm. This will be followed by a
memorial march along Armenias Avenue at 8pm followed by a memorial
service at 8.30pm at the Armenian Genocide monument. On Monday at
10am a Holy Mass followed by a requiem at 11am at the Armenian
Genocide monument.
By Alexia Saoulli
Cyprus Mail
April 20 2006
THE ARMENIAN community in Cyprus will mark the 91st anniversary of
the 1915 genocide in which one and a half million of their people
were killed by Ottoman forces.
Speaking to reporters at a news conference ahead of the April 24
anniversary, Kevork
Zeyeountsian said: "Today, 91 years after the genocide a lot has been
done in the direction of recognising the 1915 genocide.
"Everyone knows what happened in 1915 and a great number are aware of
the reason for the presence of Armenian communities in all four
corners of the earth.
"A great number of countries have already recognised the genocide,
while those governments that have not yet recognised it maintain this
position purely for political reasons and strategic interests, not
because they do not agree with justification of Armenians."
The Armenian Genocide was carried out by the 'Young Turk' government
of the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1916. Over a million Armenians were
killed, out of a total of two and a half million Armenians living
under the Ottoman Empire.
The Turkish government today denies that there was an Armenian
genocide and claims that Armenians were only removed from the eastern
"war zone".
Zeyeountsian added: "Turkey - a European Union candidate country -
has a lot to do before it becomes an equal state with the rest of
Europe's 25. A number of thorns await it along its course and the two
million Armenians who are today citizens of a united Europe have
every right and obligation to demand from Turkey to first repay its
historical debt to our people."
To mark the anniversary the Armenian Community Memorial Committee has
organised a series of events on Sunday and Monday.
On Sunday April 23 there will be a photograph exhibition in Nicosia's
Eleftheria Square between 10am and 7pm. This will be followed by a
memorial march along Armenias Avenue at 8pm followed by a memorial
service at 8.30pm at the Armenian Genocide monument. On Monday at
10am a Holy Mass followed by a requiem at 11am at the Armenian
Genocide monument.