Tens of thousands march in Beirut to commemorate Genocide

PanARMENIAN.Net - Tens of thousands marched north of Beirut Friday, April 24, to commemorate the Armenian Genocide centennial, the Daily Star reports.

Carrying Armenian flags and white signs with the picture of a violet forget-me-not flower which was adopted as the symbol of the centennial, the marchers trekked south from the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in Antelias to the Burj Hammoud Stadium.

Speaking before the march, head of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I said Armenians do not need condolences from Turkey, but “recognition and justice.”

“We tell the world that we emerged victorious from the genocide because our people lived,” he said.

Prominent members of the Armenian community spoke on the occasion, highlighting the need for all countries of the world to recognize the genocide and pressure Turkey to do the same.

Also, Prime Minister Tammam Salam called the head of the Armenian Apostolic church in Lebanon Friday, expressing sympathy with the world’s Armenians over the tragedy.

“Lebanese people highly appreciate the positive and significant role the Armenian sects are playing at the national level, which aims to boost national harmony and unity,” Salam said, according to a statement released by his office.

The PM added that Lebanon “takes pride in all its components and shares their causes and all the sufferings they have endured throughout history.”