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PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Minute on 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
During the year 1915-1916, about 1.5 million Armenians were massacred and
thousands more were displaced or deported from the Ottoman Empire in
present-day Turkey. The "Armenian Diaspora" today, scattered in different
parts of the world, represents the greatest effect of the genocide as more
than eight million Armenians now live outside Armenia. Even after almost a
century, the Armenian genocide still has serious implications for the
Armenian people, as well as the international community. Although most of
the survivors of the Armenian genocide have passed away, the Armenian people
continue to demand recognition and reparation for the suffering and
injustice inflicted upon their ancestors.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has addressed the issue of the Armenian
genocide in international fora on several occasions. During the 1979 Session
of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, the Commission of the
Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) raised the question of the need for
recognition of the Armenian genocide by the UN. The 6th Assembly of the WCC
held in Vancouver, recognized the importance of the need to continue to
address the effects of the Armenian genocide in appropriate contexts. A
minute adopted at the Vancouver assembly stated, "The silence of the world
community and deliberate efforts to deny even historical facts have been
consistent sources of anguish and growing despair to the Armenian people,
the Armenian churches and many others." The role of the WCC in "enabling the
Armenian churches to speak out and work towards the recognition of the first
genocide of the 20th century" was recognized by the Armenian churches over
the years.
Prior to the 10th Assembly of the WCC the Armenian churches reminded the WCC
General Secretary of the historical reality that the 10th Assembly will be
held on the threshold of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in
2015. Requests have been made by the leaders of the Armenian churches for
the WCC to initiate programmes to observe the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide in appropriate ways.
Therefore, the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches meeting in
Busan, Republic of Korea, from 30 October to 8 November 2013, therefore
requests the general secretary to:
A. Organize in 2015, around the commemorative 100th anniversary date 24
April 2015, an international conference in Geneva on the recognition of and
reparation for the Armenian Genocide with the participation, among others,
of WCC member churches, international organizations, jurists, historians and
human rights defenders.;
B. Organize an ecumenical prayer service commemorating the victims of
the Armenian Genocide at the Cathedral of Geneva in conjunction with the
international conference; and
C. Invite member churches of the WCC to pray for the memory of the
Armenian martyrs around the dates of the international conference and also
for recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
From: Baghdasarian
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Minute on 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
During the year 1915-1916, about 1.5 million Armenians were massacred and
thousands more were displaced or deported from the Ottoman Empire in
present-day Turkey. The "Armenian Diaspora" today, scattered in different
parts of the world, represents the greatest effect of the genocide as more
than eight million Armenians now live outside Armenia. Even after almost a
century, the Armenian genocide still has serious implications for the
Armenian people, as well as the international community. Although most of
the survivors of the Armenian genocide have passed away, the Armenian people
continue to demand recognition and reparation for the suffering and
injustice inflicted upon their ancestors.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has addressed the issue of the Armenian
genocide in international fora on several occasions. During the 1979 Session
of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, the Commission of the
Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) raised the question of the need for
recognition of the Armenian genocide by the UN. The 6th Assembly of the WCC
held in Vancouver, recognized the importance of the need to continue to
address the effects of the Armenian genocide in appropriate contexts. A
minute adopted at the Vancouver assembly stated, "The silence of the world
community and deliberate efforts to deny even historical facts have been
consistent sources of anguish and growing despair to the Armenian people,
the Armenian churches and many others." The role of the WCC in "enabling the
Armenian churches to speak out and work towards the recognition of the first
genocide of the 20th century" was recognized by the Armenian churches over
the years.
Prior to the 10th Assembly of the WCC the Armenian churches reminded the WCC
General Secretary of the historical reality that the 10th Assembly will be
held on the threshold of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in
2015. Requests have been made by the leaders of the Armenian churches for
the WCC to initiate programmes to observe the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide in appropriate ways.
Therefore, the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches meeting in
Busan, Republic of Korea, from 30 October to 8 November 2013, therefore
requests the general secretary to:
A. Organize in 2015, around the commemorative 100th anniversary date 24
April 2015, an international conference in Geneva on the recognition of and
reparation for the Armenian Genocide with the participation, among others,
of WCC member churches, international organizations, jurists, historians and
human rights defenders.;
B. Organize an ecumenical prayer service commemorating the victims of
the Armenian Genocide at the Cathedral of Geneva in conjunction with the
international conference; and
C. Invite member churches of the WCC to pray for the memory of the
Armenian martyrs around the dates of the international conference and also
for recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
From: Baghdasarian