Argentine former Foreign Minister awarded Mkhitar Gosh Medal

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Republic of Armenia, through its embassy in Argentina, honored former Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana with the Mkhitar Gosh Medal for his work on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, according to Prensa Armenia.

Ambassador Alexan Harutyunyan presented the award on behalf of President Serzh Sargsyan. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, Taiana had a leading role when the Congress unanimously passed Law 26.199, which was promulgated on January 11, 2007, and declared April 24 of every year as the "Action Day for Tolerance and Respect between People in Argentina" in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

"I am touched to receive this distinction particularly this year, so close to the centennial of the events that sparked the genocide against the Armenian people between 1915 and 1923," said Taiana.

Although "for decades they tried to hide and deny these atrocities," the former Foreign Minister said that "Argentina is pleased to be one of the states of the international community that has given legislative recognition to the Genocide."

Hugo Kuyumdjian, President of the Armenian Cultural Association, praised Taiana for "enduring and ignoring the lobbying efforts and pressures of Turkey, which constantly tries to penetrate and install the denial."

The event was attended by a large number of officials and representatives of human rights organizations, as well as the consul at the Armenian embassy, Esther Mkrtumyan.