Tweet
YaLibnan, Lebanon
April 25 2013
Armenians stage angry protest against Turkey in Beirut
April 25, 2013 ?... 6:05 am
Armenians marched from Bourj Hammoud to downtown Beirut's Martyrs'
Square on Wednesday to mark the 98th anniversary of the genocide of
their kin by Ottoman Turks during World War I.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million people were killed during World War I
as the Ottoman Empire was falling apart, a claim supported by several
other countries.
Turkey argues 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks
died in civil strife when Armenians rose up against their Ottoman
rulers and sided with invading Russian troops.
Over 20 countries have so far recognized the massacres as genocide.
The protesters held a rally at the square with speeches made by the
leaders of several Armenian parties.
The families of nine Lebanese Shiite pilgrims kidnapped in Syria
joined them over what they said was a common cause.
The relatives of the nine men have been holding daily sit-ins near the
Turkish Airlines offices not far from Martyrs' Square and have called
for boycotting Turkish products.
They blame the Turkish government for the failure to release the
pilgrims who are held hostage by Syrian rebels near the Turkish border
in Aleppo district since May 2012.
Ankara is a staunch supporter of the rebel Free Syrian Army that is
fighting regime troops.
On the 98th anniversary of the genocide, Armenian Catholicos of
Cilicia Aram I slammed Turkey for turning churches into mosques.
`How could Turkey which considers itself a pioneer in coexistence deny
the genocide and transform churches into mosques?' he wondered in a
statement.
Turkey should give compensations to the Armenian people and restore
its rights, he said.
Naharnet
http://www.yalibnan.com/2013/04/25/armenians-stage-angry-protest-against-turkey-in-beirut/
April 25 2013
Armenians stage angry protest against Turkey in Beirut
April 25, 2013 ?... 6:05 am
Armenians marched from Bourj Hammoud to downtown Beirut's Martyrs'
Square on Wednesday to mark the 98th anniversary of the genocide of
their kin by Ottoman Turks during World War I.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million people were killed during World War I
as the Ottoman Empire was falling apart, a claim supported by several
other countries.
Turkey argues 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks
died in civil strife when Armenians rose up against their Ottoman
rulers and sided with invading Russian troops.
Over 20 countries have so far recognized the massacres as genocide.
The protesters held a rally at the square with speeches made by the
leaders of several Armenian parties.
The families of nine Lebanese Shiite pilgrims kidnapped in Syria
joined them over what they said was a common cause.
The relatives of the nine men have been holding daily sit-ins near the
Turkish Airlines offices not far from Martyrs' Square and have called
for boycotting Turkish products.
They blame the Turkish government for the failure to release the
pilgrims who are held hostage by Syrian rebels near the Turkish border
in Aleppo district since May 2012.
Ankara is a staunch supporter of the rebel Free Syrian Army that is
fighting regime troops.
On the 98th anniversary of the genocide, Armenian Catholicos of
Cilicia Aram I slammed Turkey for turning churches into mosques.
`How could Turkey which considers itself a pioneer in coexistence deny
the genocide and transform churches into mosques?' he wondered in a
statement.
Turkey should give compensations to the Armenian people and restore
its rights, he said.
Naharnet
http://www.yalibnan.com/2013/04/25/armenians-stage-angry-protest-against-turkey-in-beirut/