Deir ez-Zor's damaged Armenian Genocide memorial seen in new vidNovember 11, 2017 - 13:43 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Extensive damage to the Armenian Genocide Memorial Church in Deir ez-Zr, Syria, since 2014 can be seen in new footage posted on November 8, after Syrian government forces took control of the city, long an Islamic State stronghold, Storyful says. Several plaques with Armenian characters written on them can be seen cracked or completely destroyed on the inside of the church. Rubble is piled in the entryways and windows. The church was a memorial to the Armenian Genocide, in which 1.5 million Armenians were killed at the hands of Turks. The memorial used to be a major pilgrimage site. Tens of thousands of Armenians once lived in Deir ez-Zor, and more in other Syrian cities, many whose ancestors fled the killings in the Ottoman Empire across unforgiving desert. When Islamic State forces took control of the city in 2014, they blew up the Martyrs’ Church. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. Ex-President: Only removal of “defeatist” rulers can save Armenia Former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has shared a message on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Pashinyan: We must stop searching for homeland, we have found that homeland Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has shared a message on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. |