Cyprus House President calls on Turkey for recognition of Armenian Genocide

PanARMENIAN.Net - President of the House of Representatives Marios Karoyan has reiterated the support of the House to the demand of the Armenian people for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.



In an address, read by the Director of his Office, at an event on Wednesday evening organized by the Committee in Memory of the Armenian Genocide, to mark the 93rd anniversary of the genocide, Karoyan noted that ''tonight we recall the huge crime, we honor the victims of the Armenian Genocide and we condemn once again the atrocious crime and the criminals.''



Karoyan called on Turkey to recognize and admit its crime and to apologize to the Armenian people and humanity as a whole.



The House President pointed out that the House, along with the Greek parliament, was among the first to condemn the Armenian genocide and support the demand for its recognition by the international community.



''We do not beg, we do not implore. We demand justice from the contemporary democratic humanity, the entire international community, all the nations and all the peoples. Nothing more, nothing less,'' he stated.



In his remarks at the commemoration ceremony, former Greek Minister of Defense Akis Tsohatzopoulos said that recognition of the Armenian genocide is a duty to history.



The Armenian and the Pontian Genocide is a historical fact and cannot be dismissed, he said, adding that Turkey does not show any resolve to accept its responsibilities.



Referring to the continuing occupation of Cyprus' northern part by Turkey, he said Ankara must realize that its European perspective passes through its relationship with Greece and Cyprus.



"We support President Christofias' efforts at all levels and we are by side of the Greek Cypriots for a fair and viable solution," he added.



The Representative of the Armenians in Cyprus Vartkes Mahdessian said, in his address, that the Cyprus House of Representatives was the first parliament which was the first parliament to have recognized the Genocide and condemned Turkey for this heinous crime.



He described the genocide as one of the biggest tragedies with global ramifications and called on Ankara to find the courage to recognize the crimes committed by past governments to many people around the globe.



Mahdessian said Turkey refuses to establish diplomatic ties with Armenia and imposes an embargo on the country, Financial Mirror reports.