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  • Cyprus President's Call To Turkey Is Call For Act Of Consciousness O

    CYPRUS PRESIDENT'S CALL TO TURKEY IS CALL FOR ACT OF CONSCIOUSNESS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE: EXCLUSIVE

    13:08, 23 April, 2015

    YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. We call on all partners that have not
    recognized the genocide to put values and principles beyond interests
    and political expedience. The President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades,
    who'll visit Armenia on April 24, stated this in an exclusive interview
    to "Armenpress", while reflecting on the Armenian Genocides issue.

    - Mr. President, as You know, 2015 is a symbolic year for Armenia and
    the Armenian people. This year we'll commemorate the 100th anniversary
    of the Armenian Genocide. You have already confirmed that You'll
    visit Yerevan and pay tribute to the memory of the victims in the
    Tzitzernakaberd Memorial. What will be Your call in Tzitzernakaberd?

    - My message to the Armenian people is a message of concrete
    solidarity. This year marks the anniversary of a most tragic crime
    against humanity, the Medz Yeghern, which has defined the history of
    the Armenian people, a genocide of enormous proportions that shows
    the abominable brutality of the Ottoman rule.

    I cannot but refer to the fact that after the evacuation of Cilicia
    100 years ago, Armenian refugee ships, crowded with people devastated
    by the heinous and relentless persecution and famine, found a safe
    haven in neighbouring Cyprus. Cypriots are proud of the fact that
    the children and grand children of these refugees constitute today
    a creative and important part of Cyprus society, preserving and
    developing their worthy origins.

    It is only natural that Cyprus and Armenia are united in condemning
    the perpetrators of the genocide because of their common history
    with Turkey. I should remind you that Cyprus was the first European
    country to have recognised, the Armenian genocide (and the second
    country worldwide), and recently has criminalised the public claim
    of denial of the genocide, by Parliamentary decree. Cyprus was also
    the first country to raise the issue to the UN General Assembly.

    - Mr.President, in Your opinion, what is the lesson the Armenian
    people and the international community should learn from this episode
    of history - the Armenian Genocide?

    - The lesson to be learned by the Armenian genocide, holds two parts;
    a part of keeping alive the remembrance of the genocide by paying
    tribute to the millions of lives lost a century ago and a part of
    our obligation to make known "urbi et orbi" that impunity cannot
    go unpunished.

    The people of Armenia and Cyprus are victims of impunity. We also
    share universal values and principles: Faith in international law,
    peace, the independence and freedom of peoples and respect for human
    rights. These characteristics stem from our interwoven history and the
    struggles of our peoples who persevered for survival and prosperity.

    - The genocides will go on as long as they are not recognized and
    condemned. Unfortunately, the Armenian Genocide has not yet been
    fully recognized. As a significant EU state, what is Cyprus' call to
    the EU member states and Turkey?

    - Our call to the other countries and Turkey is a call for an act
    of consciousness. We are satisfied with the fact that the European
    Parliament has once again added its voice to ours by calling Turkey to
    recognize the Armenian genocide as part of the pre-accession process
    with Ankara.

    It is our duty to not turn our back or act in defiance of the tragic
    reality of a historical fact which overshadows the contemporary
    history of Turkey. We call on all partners that have not recognized
    the genocide to put values and principles beyond interests and
    political expedience.

    At the same time, we see no reason for Turkey being put off by actions
    relating to the recognition of the Armenian genocide. On the contrary,
    this would be an opportunity for Turkey to really prove that it can
    redefine itself and its self acclaimed role as a regional player,
    by acknowledging the value of full normalization of its relations
    with Armenia and gain the backing of the international community
    to this direction. The possibility of a proactive stance by Turkey
    in respecting the principle of good neighborly relations would be
    welcomed by Cyprus, as it could also be setting a precedent for the
    normalization of relations with Cyprus.

    - The 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide is not a borderline,
    but a new destination. In this regard, how should we look at the
    future and what will be our priorities in future?

    - The future should reflect the resilience of the Armenian people
    to survive and its commitment to honour the legacy of strength and
    perseverance of the millions of its predecessors who were either lost
    or managed to escape the frenzied wrath of the Ottoman rule.

    This legacy constitutes a firm and most honourable basis for young
    generation of Armenians. It constitutes the compass that should
    guide not only them, but also the civilized world beyond, through
    a challenging and changing international environment, bedeviled by
    conflicts, economic crises, and political instability. Remembering
    the Medz Yeghern, and honoring the herculean strength and resilience
    of the Medz Yeghern survivors, who today make up the Armenian nation
    and the prolific Armenian Diaspora, should be a duty of Humankind in
    its entirety.

    Interview by Hasmik Harutyunyan

    http://armenpress.am/eng/news/802973/cyprus-presidents-call-to-turkey-is-call-for-act-of-consciousness-on-armenian-genocide-issue-exclusive.html


    From: Baghdasarian
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