Envoy: Sumgait pogrom 1st ethnic cleansing against Armenians in USSR

PanARMENIAN.Net - On February 27, Armenian embassy in Lebanon organized a concert in Beirut’s Saint Louis Church, with Geghard Monastery choir participating.

In his opening speech Armenian ambassador to Lebanon Ashot Kocharian noted that the concert will deepen the cultural ties between the two countries.

The envoy said the event was timed to the 25th anniversary of Sumgait pogrom, with hundreds of innocent Armenians falling victim to the tragedy.

Ambassador Kocharian further described Sumgait pogrom as "the first ever ethnic cleansing against Armenians in the Soviet Union."

Leader of Armenian Prelacy of Lebanon Archbishop Gegham Khacherian, high-ranking officials, foreign diplomats and cultural workers were present at the event, MFA press service reported.