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Federation of Armenian Organisations in The Netherlands (FAON)
24 April Committee for recognition and commemoration of the Armenian
genocide of 1915
Address: Weesperstraat 91
2574 VS The Hague, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31704490209
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.faon.nl
Contact: M. Hakhverdian
PRESS RELEASE
94th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide commemorated in the Netherlands
The Hague, 25 April 2009 ­ Two commemorative ceremonies, in Amsterdam and in
Assen, were organised by the 24 April Committee of the Federation of
Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON) to mark the 94th
Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
In the Mozes en Aaronkerk Church in the centre of Amsterdam, an audience of
few hundred people heard speeches by genocide scientist Ton Zwaan, with a
lecture about the Adana pogroms of 1909. Moreover, Prof. Dr. Mihran Dabag
spoke about the massacres of Adana in the light of literature by Armenian
writer Zabel Yessayan. The contribution of Mr. Recep Marasli was focussed on
the role and place of Kurds during Armenian Genocide.
Dutch MP Harry van Bommel mentioned the cracking of the policy of denial
within Turkey itself and reaffirmed that his party will further support the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Mr. Ronny Naftaniel director of Centre for Information and Documentation of
Israel (CIDI) stressed the importance of the recognition of Armenian
Genocide by the US and other countries, and also in particular by Israel.
Mr. Osman Koker illustrated the extermination of the Armenians in Turkey by
a slide show of old postcards telling about life of Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire before 1914. An exhibition of some of these postcards and of Dutch
and American newspaper articles published about Adana tragedy of 1909 was
also held in the same location.
Furthermore, there were contributions by Arshak Manoukian, consul of Armenia
in the Netherlands, Noubar Sipaan, chairman of 24 April Committee and Mato
Hakhverdian, chairman of FAON and artistic performances by Nicolai Romashuk
Jr. and Hambardzum Sahakyan.
Dutch MP Arie Slob, leader of Christian Union faction, whose party is in the
present Dutch coalition government, delivered a speech during the
commemorative ceremony in Assen, after a silent march and laying of wreaths
at the Armenian Genocide Memorial. He reassured that his party in a longer
tradition would continue the work of Leen van Dijke and Andre Rouvoet, now
Minister, whose name is connected to the motion by which the Armenian
Genocide was recognised in the Netherlands.
Other speeches came from Agnes Mulders, Christian Democrat (CDA) candidate
for the European Parliament elections, Arshak Manoukian, Noubar Sipaan and
Mato Hakhverdian. A few hundred people attended the commemoration, among
others Dutch Armenian Students Association Gladzor and Suryoye Aramean
Federation in the Netherlands.
Following the commemorative ceremony people gathered in a church in Assen,
where Armenian services take place on a monthly basis, and where a slide
show on the Armenian Genocide were presented.
24 April Committee for recognition and commemoration of the Armenian
genocide of 1915
Address: Weesperstraat 91
2574 VS The Hague, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31704490209
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.faon.nl
Contact: M. Hakhverdian
PRESS RELEASE
94th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide commemorated in the Netherlands
The Hague, 25 April 2009 ­ Two commemorative ceremonies, in Amsterdam and in
Assen, were organised by the 24 April Committee of the Federation of
Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON) to mark the 94th
Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
In the Mozes en Aaronkerk Church in the centre of Amsterdam, an audience of
few hundred people heard speeches by genocide scientist Ton Zwaan, with a
lecture about the Adana pogroms of 1909. Moreover, Prof. Dr. Mihran Dabag
spoke about the massacres of Adana in the light of literature by Armenian
writer Zabel Yessayan. The contribution of Mr. Recep Marasli was focussed on
the role and place of Kurds during Armenian Genocide.
Dutch MP Harry van Bommel mentioned the cracking of the policy of denial
within Turkey itself and reaffirmed that his party will further support the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Mr. Ronny Naftaniel director of Centre for Information and Documentation of
Israel (CIDI) stressed the importance of the recognition of Armenian
Genocide by the US and other countries, and also in particular by Israel.
Mr. Osman Koker illustrated the extermination of the Armenians in Turkey by
a slide show of old postcards telling about life of Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire before 1914. An exhibition of some of these postcards and of Dutch
and American newspaper articles published about Adana tragedy of 1909 was
also held in the same location.
Furthermore, there were contributions by Arshak Manoukian, consul of Armenia
in the Netherlands, Noubar Sipaan, chairman of 24 April Committee and Mato
Hakhverdian, chairman of FAON and artistic performances by Nicolai Romashuk
Jr. and Hambardzum Sahakyan.
Dutch MP Arie Slob, leader of Christian Union faction, whose party is in the
present Dutch coalition government, delivered a speech during the
commemorative ceremony in Assen, after a silent march and laying of wreaths
at the Armenian Genocide Memorial. He reassured that his party in a longer
tradition would continue the work of Leen van Dijke and Andre Rouvoet, now
Minister, whose name is connected to the motion by which the Armenian
Genocide was recognised in the Netherlands.
Other speeches came from Agnes Mulders, Christian Democrat (CDA) candidate
for the European Parliament elections, Arshak Manoukian, Noubar Sipaan and
Mato Hakhverdian. A few hundred people attended the commemoration, among
others Dutch Armenian Students Association Gladzor and Suryoye Aramean
Federation in the Netherlands.
Following the commemorative ceremony people gathered in a church in Assen,
where Armenian services take place on a monthly basis, and where a slide
show on the Armenian Genocide were presented.