Karekin II: Armenian people to continue struggle for Genocide international recognition

May 30, 2011 - 18:57 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II said the Armenian Apostolic Church will be consistent so that justice is finally served in the Armenian cause.

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin hails the Armenian President’s initiative on establishment of a committee to coordinate events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Karekin II said in Yerevan during the first sitting of the state committee for coordination of events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

According to him, the committee will play an important role in proper organization of the events both in Armenia and abroad.

“Over the past decades, many countries, international, religious organizations have recognized the Armenian Genocide, as they believe that recognition of this fact is an important step for establishing justice worldwide,” said Karekin II. He added that the Armenian people will continue the struggle for the Armenian Genocide international recognition.

30.05.11 - First sitting of a state and international committee in charge of Armenian Genocide 100th anniversary commemorative events preparation

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.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the Genocide survivors.

Present-day Turkey denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, justifying the atrocities as “deportation to secure Armenians”. Only a few Turkish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and scholar Taner Akcam, speak openly about the necessity to recognize this crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, Italy, 45 U.S. states, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Argentina, Belgium, Austria, Wales, Switzerland, Canada, Poland, Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia, the Vatican, Luxembourg, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Sweden, Venezuela, Slovakia, Syria, Vatican, as well as the European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.