SYSTEM OF A DOWN READY TO PERFORM IN TURKEY IN CASE FREEDOM OF SPEECH ON STAGE GUARANTEED

PanARMENIAN.Net - «It is beyond all understanding when a country aspires to accession to the EU and does not wish to address its own history,» stated vocalist of System Of A Down (SOAD) famous American rock band Serj Tankian in an interview with Laut German Internet newspaper. In his words, many countries today acknowledge the crime against Armenians, however not considering it a genocide. By now the SOAD has not performed a single concert in Turkey in spite of having fans in that country. «We had the opportunity to play in Turkey, however were there along with Slayer band. At that time we wanted to play only having stipulated that we will have full freedom of speech on the stage,» Tankian stated. «No one wished to guarantee it to us, thus we did not play. However, we would gladly perform in Turkey for the sake of the principle,» he noted. SOAD members come for not allowing oblivion of the Armenian Genocide in 1915. The rule of Young Turks that came to power in 1908 started with arrests, exiles and murder of Armenians. Up to today the Turkish Government refuses to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. On April 24, the day of commemoration the Armenian Genocide victims, the SOAD performs a concert each year. Today more and more people speak of the Armenian Genocide again, to all appearance also due to the System Of A Down.