Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

April 23rd Vigil Outside of Turkish Embassy

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • April 23rd Vigil Outside of Turkish Embassy

    APRIL 23RD VIGIL OUTSIDE OF TURKISH EMBASSY
    Hagop Krikorian

    AYF
    London
    24/04/10


    On April 23rd 2010, just one day before the 95th anniversary of the
    Armenian Genocide, the Armenian Youth Federation hosted a vigil
    outside of the Turkish embassy in Belgrave square. The vigil, lasting
    approximately 5 hours, was setup with a view to show the Turkish
    government that the Armenian people had not forgotten the atrocious
    events of 1915. Around 110 people had joined the event which was to be
    the beginning for a series of commemorative gatherings in remembrance
    of the Armenian Genocide. These people came to remember and
    commemorate the Armenian Genocide, a Genocide that `the Turkish
    government are trying to forget', said the AYF official press officer,
    Varag Atanosian.

    `History is cyclic, we need to recognise our past so we are not
    doomed to repeat it', he said looking grim and disappointed. Indeed
    these words hit home the truth that silence leads to denial, and
    denial, sadly, leads to repetition without retribution. It is a
    miserable fact that we live in a world ruled by realpolitik where
    nations mostly seek to act in their own interests, yet this does not
    deter Armenians living not only in Britain but around the world having
    the hope that our governments look at the history and do `what is the
    right thing for humanity'.

    The event had a distinctly sombre mood to it, which was
    understandable given what had taken place just under a century ago.
    However, in spite of this, there was a little excitement in the air as
    the crowd were informed by the police escorts that there was to be a
    counter vigil by some other Turks. However, apart from three
    journalists who showed their faces for around half an hour, there was
    to be a no show. This seems to be a specialty in Turkish culture these
    days, taking a page out of their government's book so eloquently
    dubbed, `How to Agree a set of Protocols then Stall for No Apparent
    Reason', written by Abdullah Gul.

    Nevertheless, despite the petulance of the Turkish, the vigil was
    deemed largely to be a success serving the community with a chance to
    remember and bereave the Genocide in a calm and tranquil manner,
    without feeling the need to make their feelings known in a vocal
    manner. All who were present, were there with the aim of remembering
    our fallen heroes of the Armenian Genocide, but more importantly,
    showing our neighbours to the west one simple message. We will never
    forget.
Working...
X