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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
"Armenians do not want sympathy or mercy from the Turkish authorities;
they demand the recognition of the Genocide and Reparations,"
Said His Holiness Aram I
Antelias - 24 April 2014. On Thursday, following the Holy Liturgy at the
St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, the faithful attended the
requiem service in memory of the martyrs in front of the Memorial Chapel.
His Holiness Aram I presided over the service and, addressing the people,
he delivered the following message:
The Armenian Genocide was planned and executed 99 years ago by the Ottoman
authorities. As Armenians in the diaspora commemorate the 100th anniversary
of the first Genocide of the 20th century, the international community
should understand that the Genocide continues today in different forms:
- Governments who have committed themselves to supporting all
international declarations, covenants and treaties regarding human rights
have cynically chosen to protect their geopolitical interests by not
demanding that Turkey be held accountable for its crimes against the
Armenian people.
- The Genocide created the diaspora. Practically all parts of
Article two of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime
of Genocide apply to Turkey's actions in 1915. The Convention stipulates the
following acts as genocidal: "killing members of the group; causing serious
bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on
the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical
destruction in whole or in part." Yet certain of the 145 signatory
countries, while insisting that these standards be applied in some
situations, refuse to accept them in the case of Turkey. Why are they
applying double standards; why?
- The Genocide continues: Not only are Armenians deprived of
their spiritual and cultural heritage in Western Armenia and Cilicia, the
successors of the perpetrators are trying to eliminate all signs of that
heritage that might identify its owners. Why in this case is UNESCO not
honoring its goal of protecting monuments, buildings and sites?
- The Genocide continues: Turkey has transformed our churches
into mosques, restaurants, factories and parks. In order to placate the
West, the government of Turkey has transformed a few churches into museums.
- The Genocide continues: Turkey has manipulated the 1922
Abandoned Properties laws in order to hold on to the properties and
artifacts belonging to the Church, the community and individuals. Don't they
know that confiscating property is against human rights?
- The Genocide continues: In order to coerce Armenia and all
Armenians into negotiating on its own terms, Turkey is cooperating with
Azerbaijan in imposing an economic blockade on the state of Armenia.
- The Genocide continues: as Turkey is mobilizing its political,
diplomatic and economic means to promote anti-Armenian propaganda.
- The Genocide continues: Turkey is reviving the Ottoman
expansionist policy in Syria through proxy wars. Extremists in Der Zor,
Yacoubieh, Tel Abeid, Ras-ul Ain and, lately, in Kessab have forced
Armenians to leave their homes and their properties. Their means of
livelihood and belongings have been looted and taken to Turkey. 1915 is
being repeated while the world stays silent.
- The Genocide continues: Turkey continues to deny the Genocide
and to describe Armenians as traitors and disloyal citizens.
Who will call Turkey to account at the International Court of Human
Rights?
Why does the Arab World remain silent to Turkey's expansionist policies?
Last night we read the message of the Prime Minister of Turkey to
Armenians. Distortions of historical facts cannot silence truth. The
happenings of 1915 were not a simple consequence of the war. They were
planned and executed by Tala'at and Enver Pasha and their minions against
our grandparents. We therefore reject Turkey's condolences and demand
justice, reparation and Turkey's recognition of the Genocide.
With this determination we shall plan the 100th anniversary commemoration
of the Armenian Genocide.
# #
http://armenianorthodoxchurch.org/gallery-2
From: A. Papazian
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
"Armenians do not want sympathy or mercy from the Turkish authorities;
they demand the recognition of the Genocide and Reparations,"
Said His Holiness Aram I
Antelias - 24 April 2014. On Thursday, following the Holy Liturgy at the
St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, the faithful attended the
requiem service in memory of the martyrs in front of the Memorial Chapel.
His Holiness Aram I presided over the service and, addressing the people,
he delivered the following message:
The Armenian Genocide was planned and executed 99 years ago by the Ottoman
authorities. As Armenians in the diaspora commemorate the 100th anniversary
of the first Genocide of the 20th century, the international community
should understand that the Genocide continues today in different forms:
- Governments who have committed themselves to supporting all
international declarations, covenants and treaties regarding human rights
have cynically chosen to protect their geopolitical interests by not
demanding that Turkey be held accountable for its crimes against the
Armenian people.
- The Genocide created the diaspora. Practically all parts of
Article two of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime
of Genocide apply to Turkey's actions in 1915. The Convention stipulates the
following acts as genocidal: "killing members of the group; causing serious
bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on
the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical
destruction in whole or in part." Yet certain of the 145 signatory
countries, while insisting that these standards be applied in some
situations, refuse to accept them in the case of Turkey. Why are they
applying double standards; why?
- The Genocide continues: Not only are Armenians deprived of
their spiritual and cultural heritage in Western Armenia and Cilicia, the
successors of the perpetrators are trying to eliminate all signs of that
heritage that might identify its owners. Why in this case is UNESCO not
honoring its goal of protecting monuments, buildings and sites?
- The Genocide continues: Turkey has transformed our churches
into mosques, restaurants, factories and parks. In order to placate the
West, the government of Turkey has transformed a few churches into museums.
- The Genocide continues: Turkey has manipulated the 1922
Abandoned Properties laws in order to hold on to the properties and
artifacts belonging to the Church, the community and individuals. Don't they
know that confiscating property is against human rights?
- The Genocide continues: In order to coerce Armenia and all
Armenians into negotiating on its own terms, Turkey is cooperating with
Azerbaijan in imposing an economic blockade on the state of Armenia.
- The Genocide continues: as Turkey is mobilizing its political,
diplomatic and economic means to promote anti-Armenian propaganda.
- The Genocide continues: Turkey is reviving the Ottoman
expansionist policy in Syria through proxy wars. Extremists in Der Zor,
Yacoubieh, Tel Abeid, Ras-ul Ain and, lately, in Kessab have forced
Armenians to leave their homes and their properties. Their means of
livelihood and belongings have been looted and taken to Turkey. 1915 is
being repeated while the world stays silent.
- The Genocide continues: Turkey continues to deny the Genocide
and to describe Armenians as traitors and disloyal citizens.
Who will call Turkey to account at the International Court of Human
Rights?
Why does the Arab World remain silent to Turkey's expansionist policies?
Last night we read the message of the Prime Minister of Turkey to
Armenians. Distortions of historical facts cannot silence truth. The
happenings of 1915 were not a simple consequence of the war. They were
planned and executed by Tala'at and Enver Pasha and their minions against
our grandparents. We therefore reject Turkey's condolences and demand
justice, reparation and Turkey's recognition of the Genocide.
With this determination we shall plan the 100th anniversary commemoration
of the Armenian Genocide.
# #
http://armenianorthodoxchurch.org/gallery-2
From: A. Papazian