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Hundreds sign AGBU Europe petition in recognition of the Armenian Genocide
10:08 19.04.2014
Partnership with DurDe, European Grassroots Antiracist Movement and
Turkish Human Rights Association Draws International Support in
Advance of Commemorative Events
A petition initiated by AGBU Europe, DurDe, the European Grassroots
Antiracist Movement (EGAM), and Ä°nsan Hakları DerneÄ?i (iHD), calling
for recognition of the Armenian Genocide, is drawing hundreds of
signatures as this month's commemorative events approach.
The public appeal points to almost a century of denial of the genocide
by the Turkish government, which has allowed for the continued
marginalization and discrimination of Armenian and other minority
groups across the country. At the same time, the petition encourages
civil society organizations'in Turkey, Europe and around the world'to
join together and demonstrate that such state policies do not reflect
shifting public opinions.
It reads: `Our shared initiative is one for recognition, solidarity,
justice, and democracy. It is an initiative for solidarity between all
those who fight for the acceptance of history. The divide is not
between the Turkish and Armenian people but between those who struggle
for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and those who promote
denial. Quite simply, it is not a question of origins but of
perspectives for the future.'
To date, numerous public figures have signed the document,
representing Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece,
Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Rwanda, Serbia, and the UK.
The growing list of names includes: Charles Aznavour, the
French-Armenian artist; Tahar Ben Jelloun, the award-winning novelist;
Dario Fo, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature; Caroline
Fourest, the acclaimed feminist and journalist; and French
intellectuals André Glucksmann and Bernard-Henri Lévy. Members of the
European Parliament, Helsinki Committees and student groups have also
showed their support.
Many of the signatories will join together in Istanbul and other
Turkish cities on April 24, 2014, for commemorative events organized
by DurDe, EGAM and iHD in partnership with AGBU Europe. It will mark
the second year AGBU has joined forces with local human rights groups
for this cause, forming an unprecedented international delegation.
Thousands attended the activities in 2013, and the groups look forward
to an even higher turnout this year.
AGBU Europe Director Nicolas Tavitian remarked, `We are pleased to
collaborate once again with the human rights groups who face, and
overcome, challenges on the ground in Turkey every day. Their
grassroots approach is making a critical difference in the lives of
countless people and we are confident that together we will continue
to raise awareness, and affect positive social change, with our
`Remember 24 April 1915' campaign.'
To sign the petition, visit www.remember24april1915.eu.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/04/19/hundreds-sign-agbu-europe-petition-in-recognition-of-the-armenian-genocide/
From: A. Papazian
10:08 19.04.2014
Partnership with DurDe, European Grassroots Antiracist Movement and
Turkish Human Rights Association Draws International Support in
Advance of Commemorative Events
A petition initiated by AGBU Europe, DurDe, the European Grassroots
Antiracist Movement (EGAM), and Ä°nsan Hakları DerneÄ?i (iHD), calling
for recognition of the Armenian Genocide, is drawing hundreds of
signatures as this month's commemorative events approach.
The public appeal points to almost a century of denial of the genocide
by the Turkish government, which has allowed for the continued
marginalization and discrimination of Armenian and other minority
groups across the country. At the same time, the petition encourages
civil society organizations'in Turkey, Europe and around the world'to
join together and demonstrate that such state policies do not reflect
shifting public opinions.
It reads: `Our shared initiative is one for recognition, solidarity,
justice, and democracy. It is an initiative for solidarity between all
those who fight for the acceptance of history. The divide is not
between the Turkish and Armenian people but between those who struggle
for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and those who promote
denial. Quite simply, it is not a question of origins but of
perspectives for the future.'
To date, numerous public figures have signed the document,
representing Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece,
Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Rwanda, Serbia, and the UK.
The growing list of names includes: Charles Aznavour, the
French-Armenian artist; Tahar Ben Jelloun, the award-winning novelist;
Dario Fo, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature; Caroline
Fourest, the acclaimed feminist and journalist; and French
intellectuals André Glucksmann and Bernard-Henri Lévy. Members of the
European Parliament, Helsinki Committees and student groups have also
showed their support.
Many of the signatories will join together in Istanbul and other
Turkish cities on April 24, 2014, for commemorative events organized
by DurDe, EGAM and iHD in partnership with AGBU Europe. It will mark
the second year AGBU has joined forces with local human rights groups
for this cause, forming an unprecedented international delegation.
Thousands attended the activities in 2013, and the groups look forward
to an even higher turnout this year.
AGBU Europe Director Nicolas Tavitian remarked, `We are pleased to
collaborate once again with the human rights groups who face, and
overcome, challenges on the ground in Turkey every day. Their
grassroots approach is making a critical difference in the lives of
countless people and we are confident that together we will continue
to raise awareness, and affect positive social change, with our
`Remember 24 April 1915' campaign.'
To sign the petition, visit www.remember24april1915.eu.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/04/19/hundreds-sign-agbu-europe-petition-in-recognition-of-the-armenian-genocide/
From: A. Papazian