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International Delegation Commemorates Genocide Anniversary in Istanbul
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2013/05/09/international-delegation-commemorates-genocide-anniversary-in-istanbul/
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, INTERNATIONAL NEWS, NEWS, TURKEY | MAY 9, 2013 12:53 PM
More than 2,000 people gathered at Istanbul's Taksim Square for the
international joint commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, an
unprecedented event organized by AGBU Europe, Turkish group DurDe! and
EGAM.
ISTANBUL - An unprecedented joint delegation of the Armenian General
Benevolent Union (AGBU) Europe and European Grassroots Antiracist
Movement (EGAM) comprising 20 people from 15 European countries,
gathered here to commemorate the Armenian Genocide of 1915. They were
invited by DurDe! (Say Stop to Racism and Nationalism), a Turkish
organization that has been commemorating the Armenian Genocide for the
past four years.
On April 24, symbolically at 19:15, up to 2,000 Turks, Armenians and
others peacefully gathered at Taksim Square in an emotional moment of
mourning, commemoration and solidarity. Earlier in the day, they also
gathered outside the former Sultanahmed Prison (now a museum), where
Armenian intellectuals, professionals and others arrested on April 24,
1915, were first jailed, before being taken away and murdered.
A strong police presence kept watch as a small gathering of protesters
shouted nationalist slogans nearby.
These events were organized by DurDe! and IHD, a Turkish Human Rights
Association. The international delegation, organized and led by EGAM
and AGBU Europe, included leading European activists against racism as
well as young Armenian leaders.
In the days leading up to the April 24 commemoration in Istanbul,
delegation members held numerous meetings, a press conference and a
conference at Sehir University to explain their views and actions, as
well as to learn about developments in Turkey relating to the
recognition of the Genocide and the treatment of minorities.
EGAM President Benjamin Abtan said his visit was intended primarily as
an expression of support for those in Turkey who are fighting against
racism. `Genocide is the worst expression of racism,' he said.
`Genocide denial is a continuation of the crime of genocide.'
On April 25, at the invitation of AGBU-Armenia, a small group of
delegates travelled to Yerevan to commemorate the Armenian Genocide
together and share their experience in Istanbul with the Armenian
public. The delegation members - EGAM's Abtan, AGBU Europe Board
Member Nicolas Tavitian and DurDe! Representative Yildiz Önen - laid a
wreath at the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan and met with Armenian
Genocide Museum-Institute Director Hayk Demoyan. They also held a
press conference and met with representatives of non-governmental
organizations involved in Armenia-Turkish relations at the AGBU
Armenia offices.
The Delegation's activities in Istanbul and Yerevan received ample
coverage in the Turkish, Armenian and European press. An appeal,
issued by the organizers and signed by well-known figures in Europe,
was published in the European press shortly before April 24. Tatevik
Baghdasaryan (left), host of Armnews talk show Manramasner,
interviewed DurDe! Representative Yildiz Onen and AGBU Europe Board
Member Nicolas Tavitian. The interview can be seen at:
http://www.armnewstv.am/hy/1346315300.
AGBU Europe Board Member Nicolas Tavitian said, `After the
assassination of Hrant Dink in 2007, many Turks realized that the
Armenian Genocide continues to kill, and that its continued denial is
toxic for Turkish democracy.' He added, `Courageous people have
started to push in the right direction, and their numbers are growing.
But their struggle is not over and they need all the support they can
get. That is why we were in Istanbul, and why we look forward to many
more joining us next year.'
For her part, the AGBU Yerevan Office Director Arpi Vartanian said,
`It was important for representatives of AGBU Europe, DurDe and EGAM
to visit Yerevan and present in person their initiatives and
impressions in Turkey. The people in Armenia are interested in
learning about Genocide recognition events outside Armenia, and
especially in Turkey,' she said. `The opportunity to discuss and share
with the press and members of civil society here was important. These
types of events and initiatives - both in Turkey and in Armenia - make
a huge impact on civil society.'
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2013/05/09/international-delegation-commemorates-genocide-anniversary-in-istanbul/
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, INTERNATIONAL NEWS, NEWS, TURKEY | MAY 9, 2013 12:53 PM
More than 2,000 people gathered at Istanbul's Taksim Square for the
international joint commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, an
unprecedented event organized by AGBU Europe, Turkish group DurDe! and
EGAM.
ISTANBUL - An unprecedented joint delegation of the Armenian General
Benevolent Union (AGBU) Europe and European Grassroots Antiracist
Movement (EGAM) comprising 20 people from 15 European countries,
gathered here to commemorate the Armenian Genocide of 1915. They were
invited by DurDe! (Say Stop to Racism and Nationalism), a Turkish
organization that has been commemorating the Armenian Genocide for the
past four years.
On April 24, symbolically at 19:15, up to 2,000 Turks, Armenians and
others peacefully gathered at Taksim Square in an emotional moment of
mourning, commemoration and solidarity. Earlier in the day, they also
gathered outside the former Sultanahmed Prison (now a museum), where
Armenian intellectuals, professionals and others arrested on April 24,
1915, were first jailed, before being taken away and murdered.
A strong police presence kept watch as a small gathering of protesters
shouted nationalist slogans nearby.
These events were organized by DurDe! and IHD, a Turkish Human Rights
Association. The international delegation, organized and led by EGAM
and AGBU Europe, included leading European activists against racism as
well as young Armenian leaders.
In the days leading up to the April 24 commemoration in Istanbul,
delegation members held numerous meetings, a press conference and a
conference at Sehir University to explain their views and actions, as
well as to learn about developments in Turkey relating to the
recognition of the Genocide and the treatment of minorities.
EGAM President Benjamin Abtan said his visit was intended primarily as
an expression of support for those in Turkey who are fighting against
racism. `Genocide is the worst expression of racism,' he said.
`Genocide denial is a continuation of the crime of genocide.'
On April 25, at the invitation of AGBU-Armenia, a small group of
delegates travelled to Yerevan to commemorate the Armenian Genocide
together and share their experience in Istanbul with the Armenian
public. The delegation members - EGAM's Abtan, AGBU Europe Board
Member Nicolas Tavitian and DurDe! Representative Yildiz Önen - laid a
wreath at the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan and met with Armenian
Genocide Museum-Institute Director Hayk Demoyan. They also held a
press conference and met with representatives of non-governmental
organizations involved in Armenia-Turkish relations at the AGBU
Armenia offices.
The Delegation's activities in Istanbul and Yerevan received ample
coverage in the Turkish, Armenian and European press. An appeal,
issued by the organizers and signed by well-known figures in Europe,
was published in the European press shortly before April 24. Tatevik
Baghdasaryan (left), host of Armnews talk show Manramasner,
interviewed DurDe! Representative Yildiz Onen and AGBU Europe Board
Member Nicolas Tavitian. The interview can be seen at:
http://www.armnewstv.am/hy/1346315300.
AGBU Europe Board Member Nicolas Tavitian said, `After the
assassination of Hrant Dink in 2007, many Turks realized that the
Armenian Genocide continues to kill, and that its continued denial is
toxic for Turkish democracy.' He added, `Courageous people have
started to push in the right direction, and their numbers are growing.
But their struggle is not over and they need all the support they can
get. That is why we were in Istanbul, and why we look forward to many
more joining us next year.'
For her part, the AGBU Yerevan Office Director Arpi Vartanian said,
`It was important for representatives of AGBU Europe, DurDe and EGAM
to visit Yerevan and present in person their initiatives and
impressions in Turkey. The people in Armenia are interested in
learning about Genocide recognition events outside Armenia, and
especially in Turkey,' she said. `The opportunity to discuss and share
with the press and members of civil society here was important. These
types of events and initiatives - both in Turkey and in Armenia - make
a huge impact on civil society.'