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EVENT IN GREECE COMMEMORATING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CENTENNIAL
17:21, 21 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
On April 19, an event commemorating the centenary of the Armenian
Genocide was held at the renowned "Pallas" theatre of Athens, on
the initiative of Greek Centennial Central Body and the prefecture
of Attika.
Minister of Industry Reconstruction, Environment and Energy Panagiotis
Lafazanis, State Minister Panagiotis Nikoloudis, Deputy State Minister
Terence Quick, Deputy National Defense Minister Nikolaos Toskas,
Chief of the National Defense General Staff Michail Kostarakos, Deputy
Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Ioannis Balafas, former President
of the Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis, MPs representing various
parliamentary groups, Members of the European Parliament, Head of
the military academy "Evelpidon" Dimitrios Reskos and Armenian cadets
studying at the academy, Deputy Governor of Attika and Piraeus, Mayors
of Piraeus and Nikaia-Renti, heads and members of foreign embassies,
military attaches, heads and members of religious, political,
cultural and educational institutions of the Greek-Armenian Community,
representatives of Pontian Greek, Assyrian and Jewish organizations,
academic and other circles of Greek society were in the attendance.
The event was moderated by Araxie Abelian-Qolanian who in her opening
speech highlighted the link between the past and present stating that
the Armenian Genocide issue does not affect only the Armenian-Turkish
relations, but the security of the wider South Caucasus region as
well. A short film based on the testimonies of genocide witnesses
was screened.
Keynote speaker, MEP and head of the EU-Armenia friendship group Eleni
Teocharous commenced her speech with following words "Every free person
in Greece is Armenian today". Thus, expressing her admiration for the
centuries-old struggle for freedom of the Armenian people and hoping
to see the same spirit of liberation in Cyprus as well.
Teocharous noted that due to the impunity of the Armenian genocide
the international law has "cracks" and this makes the small nations
vulnerable to violence and arbitrary practices. The speaker noted
that the 1915 genocide saw its continuation in the 90's massacres
of Armenians in Baku and Sumgait, in the violation of the right to
self-determination of the people of Artsakh, and in the blockade of
Armenia. Touching upon the European Parliament resolution of April
15 and the following response by the Turkish high level officials,
Teocharous stated that democracy punishes and teaches a lesson, but
it never inflicts revenge. In addition she noted that denying the
truth the Turkish authorities make the Turkish nation an accomplice
to the heinous crime of the Ottoman government. She reaffirmed the
call of the MEPs on Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide and to
comply with all its obligations under the international law.
In his speech Ambassador Ghalatchian highlighted the concepts of
memory, gratitude, international struggle and rebirth, as cornerstones
of the Armenian genocide Centennial commemoration and attached special
importance to the renewed processes of the international recognition
of genocide due to the Armenian Genocide Centenary, as an additional
tool to prevent the crime of genocide.
Speeches by Deputy Regional Governor of Attika, Deputy Speaker of
Parliament and Deputy National Defence Minister followed.
The artistic part of the event consisted in the performance of
"Lament of Adana", "Shall we still be silent" and "Der Zor" by the
"Hakob Papazian" choir of "Hamazgayin" cultural centre under the
baton of Father Hrayr Nikolian. The Greek quartet "Evritmon" closed
the event performing pieces by Komitas.
Accompanied by the Armenian Scouts groups the participants marched
towards the central Syntagma square where a solemn wreath laying
ceremony at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier took place with the
guard of honour. Wreaths were laid by Eleni Teocharous, Ambassador
Galatchian, Military Attache Samvel Ramazyan, by the representatives
of the Hellenic government, Attica prefecture, Athens municipality,
Greek-Armenian community, Unions of Assyrians, Jews and Pontus Greeks.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/04/21/event-in-greece-commemorating-the-armenian-genocide-centennial/
17:21, 21 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
On April 19, an event commemorating the centenary of the Armenian
Genocide was held at the renowned "Pallas" theatre of Athens, on
the initiative of Greek Centennial Central Body and the prefecture
of Attika.
Minister of Industry Reconstruction, Environment and Energy Panagiotis
Lafazanis, State Minister Panagiotis Nikoloudis, Deputy State Minister
Terence Quick, Deputy National Defense Minister Nikolaos Toskas,
Chief of the National Defense General Staff Michail Kostarakos, Deputy
Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Ioannis Balafas, former President
of the Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis, MPs representing various
parliamentary groups, Members of the European Parliament, Head of
the military academy "Evelpidon" Dimitrios Reskos and Armenian cadets
studying at the academy, Deputy Governor of Attika and Piraeus, Mayors
of Piraeus and Nikaia-Renti, heads and members of foreign embassies,
military attaches, heads and members of religious, political,
cultural and educational institutions of the Greek-Armenian Community,
representatives of Pontian Greek, Assyrian and Jewish organizations,
academic and other circles of Greek society were in the attendance.
The event was moderated by Araxie Abelian-Qolanian who in her opening
speech highlighted the link between the past and present stating that
the Armenian Genocide issue does not affect only the Armenian-Turkish
relations, but the security of the wider South Caucasus region as
well. A short film based on the testimonies of genocide witnesses
was screened.
Keynote speaker, MEP and head of the EU-Armenia friendship group Eleni
Teocharous commenced her speech with following words "Every free person
in Greece is Armenian today". Thus, expressing her admiration for the
centuries-old struggle for freedom of the Armenian people and hoping
to see the same spirit of liberation in Cyprus as well.
Teocharous noted that due to the impunity of the Armenian genocide
the international law has "cracks" and this makes the small nations
vulnerable to violence and arbitrary practices. The speaker noted
that the 1915 genocide saw its continuation in the 90's massacres
of Armenians in Baku and Sumgait, in the violation of the right to
self-determination of the people of Artsakh, and in the blockade of
Armenia. Touching upon the European Parliament resolution of April
15 and the following response by the Turkish high level officials,
Teocharous stated that democracy punishes and teaches a lesson, but
it never inflicts revenge. In addition she noted that denying the
truth the Turkish authorities make the Turkish nation an accomplice
to the heinous crime of the Ottoman government. She reaffirmed the
call of the MEPs on Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide and to
comply with all its obligations under the international law.
In his speech Ambassador Ghalatchian highlighted the concepts of
memory, gratitude, international struggle and rebirth, as cornerstones
of the Armenian genocide Centennial commemoration and attached special
importance to the renewed processes of the international recognition
of genocide due to the Armenian Genocide Centenary, as an additional
tool to prevent the crime of genocide.
Speeches by Deputy Regional Governor of Attika, Deputy Speaker of
Parliament and Deputy National Defence Minister followed.
The artistic part of the event consisted in the performance of
"Lament of Adana", "Shall we still be silent" and "Der Zor" by the
"Hakob Papazian" choir of "Hamazgayin" cultural centre under the
baton of Father Hrayr Nikolian. The Greek quartet "Evritmon" closed
the event performing pieces by Komitas.
Accompanied by the Armenian Scouts groups the participants marched
towards the central Syntagma square where a solemn wreath laying
ceremony at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier took place with the
guard of honour. Wreaths were laid by Eleni Teocharous, Ambassador
Galatchian, Military Attache Samvel Ramazyan, by the representatives
of the Hellenic government, Attica prefecture, Athens municipality,
Greek-Armenian community, Unions of Assyrians, Jews and Pontus Greeks.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/04/21/event-in-greece-commemorating-the-armenian-genocide-centennial/