Last Italy-based survivor of Armenian Genocide dies at 98February 18, 2014 - 13:43 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The last survivor of the Armenian Genocide in Cerchiara (Calabria), Italy, Sergio (Sarkis) Musceghian died aged 98. As Paris-based journalist Jean Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net born on November 4, 1916, Sergio, a homeless boy of 4, was roaming the streets of Constantinople when taken in and raised by Italian missionaries. He lived most of his life between Puglia and Calabria where he ended his days. In his eulogy to Sarkis, Cerchiara Mayor Antonio Carlomagno paid tribute to the man "of great dignity and moral rectitude". "Community of Cerchiara di Calabria had the pleasure and honor of meeting Sarkis during commemoration of the victims of the greatest tragedy of Armenian people, still waiting for the historic justice," Mr Carlomagno said. In the last years of his life, Musceghian devoted much of his time to participating in the Armenian Genocide commemorative events. "I can not miss an opportunity to speak of the fate of my people," he used to say. The home village of Musceghian in Italy, Nor Arax (Bari) inaugurated a monument (Khatckar) in tribute to the victims of the Genocide in January 2013. The Armenian Genocide The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres and deportations, involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million. Top stories The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. London’s Armenian community has been left feeling “under attack” after the city’s Genocide monument was vandalised. The United States believes there should be an international mission to provide transparency. Partner news | Armenia: Opposition activist transferred to Investigative Committee Activist Samvel Vardanyan has been accused of insulting the lawmaker Hakob Aslanyan from the ruling Civil Contract party. Russia confirms start of withdrawal of peacekeepers from Karabakh The Kremlin has confirmed reports about the start of the withdrawal of Russian peacekeeping forces in Karabakh. France recalls its ambassador to Azerbaijan France on April 16 said it had recalled for consultations the French ambassador to Azerbaijan. Protesters rally as Georgia debates 'foreign agent' bill Georgian critics label the bill "the Russian law", comparing it to legislation used by the Kremlin to crack down on dissent. |