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EXHIBITION IN GENEVA RAISES AWARENESS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
States News Service
September 12, 2013 Thursday
GENEVA
The following information was released by the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.):
The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Armenian Apostolic Church
are hosting a one-month exhibition on the Armenian genocide, displaying
information on the history of genocidal events in the Ottoman Empire
which killed more than a million Christian Armenians between 1915
and 1923.
Open to the public until Sept. 30, the exhibition is being held at
the Ecumenical Center here, addressing the theme Because I live,
you too shall live. (John 14:19).
The exhibition is organized by the Armenia Inter-Church Round Table
Foundation.
At the opening of the exhibition, Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, vicar general
of the South from the Armenian Diocese of France, said, People need
to know what happened
Knowing the history of the Armenian genocide is one way to make sure
that such atrocities never happen again. There is still a need for
churches, communities and governments to recognize the Armenian
genocide, and condemn these events in order to pave the way for
reconciliation and healing of the scars from the past, said Parsamyan.
The Armenian genocide has been recognized as the first genocide of
the 20th century, with several historians documenting the number of
Armenians killed at around 1.5 million. It is alleged that their
deaths were brought about by agents of the Ottoman Empire through
deportation, torture, starvation and massacres.
Turkey, however, denies that there was a planned campaign to eliminate
Armenians but says both Turks and Armenians lost their lives during
World War I and in the post-war years. Turkey also says no more than
300,000 Armenians lost their lives in the clashes.
Parsamyan went on to say that the exhibition on Armenian genocide is
timely given the theme of the WCC 10th Assembly, God of life, lead us
to justice and peace. The WCC assembly is set to take place from Oct.
30-Nov. 8 in Busan, Republic of Korea.
The God of life has let Armenians carry on their journeys for justice
and peace, he said. The WCC assembly theme is important for the
Armenians who are demanding condemnation of the Armenian genocide
from the international community, added Parsamyan.
Isabel Apawo Phiri, the WCCs associate general secretary for public
witness and diakonia, voiced appreciation for the exhibition project
and affirmed the WCCs support of the initiative.
We acknowledge and recognize the injustice faced by Armenian Christians
during the genocide, said Phiri. It is a pity that after so many
years the Armenian genocide is still not acknowledged. This is why
initiatives like this exhibition are important, she added.
Phiri also mentioned the WCCs efforts in the past toward recognition
and condemnation of the Armenian genocide.
The WCC 6th Assembly at Vancouver, Canada in 1983 issued a report
focusing on the historic realities of the Armenian massacre and its
aftermath, while the WCC member churches have commemorated an annual
remembrance day of the Armenian genocide for several years.
The exhibition displays banners in English and French, attracting
the local and international community in Geneva, and will travel to
other countries.
States News Service
September 12, 2013 Thursday
GENEVA
The following information was released by the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.):
The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Armenian Apostolic Church
are hosting a one-month exhibition on the Armenian genocide, displaying
information on the history of genocidal events in the Ottoman Empire
which killed more than a million Christian Armenians between 1915
and 1923.
Open to the public until Sept. 30, the exhibition is being held at
the Ecumenical Center here, addressing the theme Because I live,
you too shall live. (John 14:19).
The exhibition is organized by the Armenia Inter-Church Round Table
Foundation.
At the opening of the exhibition, Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, vicar general
of the South from the Armenian Diocese of France, said, People need
to know what happened
Knowing the history of the Armenian genocide is one way to make sure
that such atrocities never happen again. There is still a need for
churches, communities and governments to recognize the Armenian
genocide, and condemn these events in order to pave the way for
reconciliation and healing of the scars from the past, said Parsamyan.
The Armenian genocide has been recognized as the first genocide of
the 20th century, with several historians documenting the number of
Armenians killed at around 1.5 million. It is alleged that their
deaths were brought about by agents of the Ottoman Empire through
deportation, torture, starvation and massacres.
Turkey, however, denies that there was a planned campaign to eliminate
Armenians but says both Turks and Armenians lost their lives during
World War I and in the post-war years. Turkey also says no more than
300,000 Armenians lost their lives in the clashes.
Parsamyan went on to say that the exhibition on Armenian genocide is
timely given the theme of the WCC 10th Assembly, God of life, lead us
to justice and peace. The WCC assembly is set to take place from Oct.
30-Nov. 8 in Busan, Republic of Korea.
The God of life has let Armenians carry on their journeys for justice
and peace, he said. The WCC assembly theme is important for the
Armenians who are demanding condemnation of the Armenian genocide
from the international community, added Parsamyan.
Isabel Apawo Phiri, the WCCs associate general secretary for public
witness and diakonia, voiced appreciation for the exhibition project
and affirmed the WCCs support of the initiative.
We acknowledge and recognize the injustice faced by Armenian Christians
during the genocide, said Phiri. It is a pity that after so many
years the Armenian genocide is still not acknowledged. This is why
initiatives like this exhibition are important, she added.
Phiri also mentioned the WCCs efforts in the past toward recognition
and condemnation of the Armenian genocide.
The WCC 6th Assembly at Vancouver, Canada in 1983 issued a report
focusing on the historic realities of the Armenian massacre and its
aftermath, while the WCC member churches have commemorated an annual
remembrance day of the Armenian genocide for several years.
The exhibition displays banners in English and French, attracting
the local and international community in Geneva, and will travel to
other countries.