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PRESS RELEASE
APRIL 24, 2014
ARMENIAN YOUTH FEDERATION OF CANADA
Contact: Harout Kassabian
Tel: 416-728-7917
E-Mail: [email protected]
2000+ COMMEMORATE THE 99TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN OTTAWA
2000+ Canadians from across the country gathered in Ottawa on Thursday,
April 24th to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and
demonstrate against the Government of Turkey's ongoing denial of the crime.
99 years have passed since the start of the Armenian Genocide; the first
genocide of the 20th century. Through the efforts of the Turkish
Government, the crime has gone unpunished. The families of victims have not
been compensated and Armenian homes and Christian churches remain
confiscated.
The demonstrators first held a commemoration ceremony at Parliament Hill,
where they thanked Canada and the Canadian government for their ongoing
recognition of the facts of 1915, but also called upon the Harper
government to pressure its NATO ally, Turkey, to come to terms with its
passed and put an end to its ongoing Genocide denial policy.
The demonstrators then marched via Rideau St. to the Embassy of Turkey
where they held a protest against Turkey's ongoing denial policies and
human rights violations, demanding justice for the 1.5 million victims
of the Armenian Genocide.
Member of AYF Canada, Alin Ginbashian, in her opening remarks referenced
the indisputable facts of the Armenian Genocide as confirmed by `The United
Nations Human Rights Commission, the International Association of Genocide
Scholars (IAGS) and over 120 Holocaust Scholars worldwide have affirmed the
incontestable fact of the Armenian Genocide. The Provinces of Ontario, BC
and Quebec, the Canadian Parliament and Government along with several
countries around the world such as: France, Russia, Switzerland and many
more.'
AYF Canada Central Executive Member, Levon Sarmazian explained why
Armenians return to the Turkish Embassy every year: `After 99 years, the
Turkish government continues to deny the genocide of the Armenians by
undermining historical fact with false rhetoric. Turkey's efforts to
rewrite its history have become progressively more sophisticated as they
engage in propaganda in an effort to absolve the perpetrator, blame the
victims and erase the ethical meaning of Armenian history.'
The protestors at the Embassy of Turkey not only demanded justice, but
also stood in solidarity with the brave citizens of Turkey who, on this day
of remembrance, held Armenian Genocide demonstrations across major cities
of the Republic.
Photo Captions
Image 1: Demonstrators gathered at Parliament Hill for 99th anniversary
commemoration
Image 2: Demonstrators marching along Rideau St. in Ottawa
Image 3: Demonstrators protesting in front of the Embassy of Turkey
against the Turkish Government's ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide
##
Founded in 1934, the Armenian Youth Federation of Canada is the largest
and most influential Canadian-Armenian youth organization in Canada,
working to advance social, political, educational, and cultural awareness
among Armenian-Canadian youth.
From: A. Papazian
APRIL 24, 2014
ARMENIAN YOUTH FEDERATION OF CANADA
Contact: Harout Kassabian
Tel: 416-728-7917
E-Mail: [email protected]
2000+ COMMEMORATE THE 99TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN OTTAWA
2000+ Canadians from across the country gathered in Ottawa on Thursday,
April 24th to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and
demonstrate against the Government of Turkey's ongoing denial of the crime.
99 years have passed since the start of the Armenian Genocide; the first
genocide of the 20th century. Through the efforts of the Turkish
Government, the crime has gone unpunished. The families of victims have not
been compensated and Armenian homes and Christian churches remain
confiscated.
The demonstrators first held a commemoration ceremony at Parliament Hill,
where they thanked Canada and the Canadian government for their ongoing
recognition of the facts of 1915, but also called upon the Harper
government to pressure its NATO ally, Turkey, to come to terms with its
passed and put an end to its ongoing Genocide denial policy.
The demonstrators then marched via Rideau St. to the Embassy of Turkey
where they held a protest against Turkey's ongoing denial policies and
human rights violations, demanding justice for the 1.5 million victims
of the Armenian Genocide.
Member of AYF Canada, Alin Ginbashian, in her opening remarks referenced
the indisputable facts of the Armenian Genocide as confirmed by `The United
Nations Human Rights Commission, the International Association of Genocide
Scholars (IAGS) and over 120 Holocaust Scholars worldwide have affirmed the
incontestable fact of the Armenian Genocide. The Provinces of Ontario, BC
and Quebec, the Canadian Parliament and Government along with several
countries around the world such as: France, Russia, Switzerland and many
more.'
AYF Canada Central Executive Member, Levon Sarmazian explained why
Armenians return to the Turkish Embassy every year: `After 99 years, the
Turkish government continues to deny the genocide of the Armenians by
undermining historical fact with false rhetoric. Turkey's efforts to
rewrite its history have become progressively more sophisticated as they
engage in propaganda in an effort to absolve the perpetrator, blame the
victims and erase the ethical meaning of Armenian history.'
The protestors at the Embassy of Turkey not only demanded justice, but
also stood in solidarity with the brave citizens of Turkey who, on this day
of remembrance, held Armenian Genocide demonstrations across major cities
of the Republic.
Photo Captions
Image 1: Demonstrators gathered at Parliament Hill for 99th anniversary
commemoration
Image 2: Demonstrators marching along Rideau St. in Ottawa
Image 3: Demonstrators protesting in front of the Embassy of Turkey
against the Turkish Government's ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide
##
Founded in 1934, the Armenian Youth Federation of Canada is the largest
and most influential Canadian-Armenian youth organization in Canada,
working to advance social, political, educational, and cultural awareness
among Armenian-Canadian youth.
From: A. Papazian