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We'll Not Stop Advancing Our Demands Until Those Guilty Are Punished

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  • We'll Not Stop Advancing Our Demands Until Those Guilty Are Punished

    WE'LL NOT STOP ADVANCING OUR DEMANDS UNTIL THOSE GUILTY ARE PUNISHED

    http://artsakhtert.com/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1448:-well-not-stop-advancing-our-demands-until-those-guilty-are-punished&catid=1:all&Itemid=1
    Tuesday, 29 April 2014 17:14

    The crime against Armenians committed in 1915, which years later
    found its true wording under international law - genocide, is one of
    the most tragic pages in the history of mankind.

    The population of entire Western Armenia became victim of the
    state-level policy of exterminating a whole nation; the major part of
    the Armenian State was turned into ruins. The nation, which had lived
    on this land for thousands of years, was exiled from its homeland,
    tormented and tortured in deserts.

    And those few, who managed to escape, scattered around the world.

    Every year on April 24, the Armenian people paid tribute to the memory
    of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and various
    promotions and events reminds the world about the incident, demanding
    recognition and condemnation of this large-scale international crimes.

    Every year on April 24, the Armenian people pays tribute to the
    memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and
    reminds the world about the event with various actions and events,
    demanding the recognition and condemnation of this large-scale
    international crime.

    By the established tradition, the events dedicated to the victims
    of the genocide started in Artsakh in the evening of April 23 with
    a protest action - a torchlight procession. The event, which was
    initiated by the Artsakh youth wing of the ARFD and Aram Manukyan
    Student Union, was attended by the younger generation of Armenians.

    Today, they are to resolve the Hay Dat issues. The procession started
    from the churchof St. Hagop in Stepanakert, passed through the main
    streets of the capital, and reached the Memorial Complex. And before
    that, a funerary prayer in memory of the innocent victims of the
    Armenian Genocide was served in the St. Hagop Church.

    Artsakh ARF Central Committee Chairman David Ishkhanyan began his
    speech with the response to the recent message from Erdogan: "We do
    not believe. Do not believe, it's not condescending, no apology and
    no step to worship before the Armenian people. This is an attempt to
    retreat, to oppose the demands put forward by the Armenian people and
    the mighty wave of protests that has arisen on the eve of the 100th
    anniversary of the Armenian Genocide."

    The speech by NKR Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Narine
    Aghabalyan was addressed to today's younger generation: "You are the
    generation born on the land liberated and sanctified by the blood
    of your fathers, brothers, and sisters - in the free and independent
    Republic of Artsakh. To spite our old enemy and all those who dreamed
    and cherished the hope to organize massacres of Armenians in Artsakh.

    The impunity of genocidal Turkey encouraged Azerbaijan for the slogan
    approved in the early 20th century: no Armenians - no problem.

    However, our neighbors miscalculated and failed to consider one
    important fact - the genocide taught Armenians to be always alert, to
    never relax, not to wait obediently for death and extermination and to
    be ready to struggle courageously, to fight and perish heroically. Not
    to ask for compassion and assistance and to rely on their own forces,
    to fight and win. We have learned this lesson, and the 20th century,
    which started with the Armenian Genocide, ended with our glorious
    victory. Remember, you have given a sacred vow to preserve inviolable
    the Armenian land and the boundaries of the Armenian state, to maintain
    the steadfast strength of our spirit, our unity and to resist with
    dignity all the difficulties and challenges of the time - whether at
    home or abroad ."

    The choir Mrakats performed works by Komitas. At the Memorial Complex,
    the procession participants watched a documentary about the Genocide.

    Early in the morning of April 24, an endless stream of people marched
    to the Memorial Complex. Workers of enterprises and institutions,
    educational establishments, Defense Army servicemen, members of NGOs
    and political parties, individuals came here not only to commemorate
    the victims of the Genocide, but also to raise their voice of protest
    and to demand to recognize and condemn the crime against humanity -
    primarily in order that it does not happen again.

    At 11 o'clock, the leaders of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, headed by
    President Bako Sahakian, came to the Memorial Complex. The officials
    of Artsakh paid tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian
    Genocide of 1915 with a minute of silence. The authorities and
    representatives of various institutions and departments laid flowers
    and wreaths on the monument to the victims of Sumgait. Primate of the
    Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev
    Martirosyan served a mourning service.

    Invoking the memory of the Genocide victims, we realize that we can
    overcome the greatest sorrow - the pain of Genocide - only by our
    long life. We must go forward and meet bravely the future. This was
    noted also by members of the mourning procession.

    Answering the questions of journalists, Artsakh Parliament Speaker
    Ashot Ghulyan presented his view on Erdogan's statement made a
    day before the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. "Time has
    confirmed that, in spite of any reservations, the fact of the Armenian
    Genocide is recognized over years by many in the world and Turkey is
    not an exception. If common people of different nationalities gather
    together in Istanbul and Ankara, trying in their own way to remember
    the victims of 1915 and to honor their memory, it means that the
    Turkish leadership must sooner or later recognize and repent.

    Breakthrough is already available, and it should be followed by more
    accurate and relevant formulations and full realization that the
    author of this Genocide was exactly the Ottoman Empire and today's
    Turkey has only one way - to present all this rightly to the world.

    These are political processes of recognition and condemnation of
    the Genocide.

    But I'd like that we accept the 100th anniversary of the Genocide
    conditionally - it is a border, on this side of which enormous
    efforts were, surely, made in order that the historical fact becomes
    perceivable and acceptable. Since all that has been done for these
    99 years has been done not only to honor the memory of the Armenians,
    but also to warn the world that such genocides can occur in different
    countries and be committed against various nations. And what we tried
    to do is a big and important contribution to international relations
    and to the contemporary political events, as the relentless and
    constant reminder over 99 years is also an important cautionary
    political act, thanks to which many attempts of genocide were
    prevented. And this process will continue after the centennial
    anniversary, as the work isn't completed with mere recognition of the
    crime; in fact, the recognition of this important fact and condemnation
    of the Genocide must have political consequences", said the Speaker.

    "Every year on April 24, we wake up with the thoughts that today is
    a memory day, which the humanity must not forget. And with that in
    mind we come to this shrine and remember all the innocent victims of
    the Armenian Genocide. People say that who does not remember the past
    he has no right to be called a man. And we are happy to the extent
    that our younger generation is also aware that we should demand
    and let the world realize that it's time to do away with all sorts
    of people killing and genocide. And if we don't do this, we'll be
    condemned by God", said Director of Stepanakert secondary school 1,
    NKR MP Romella Dadayan.

    Laura GRIGORIAN

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