Cyprus parliament speaker slams Turkey's Armenian Genocide denial

April 24, 2016 - 14:33 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Cyprus’ House President Yiannakis Omirou said on Saturday, April 23 that “all civilized states should recognize the Armenian Genocide to avert similar crimes against humanity,” addressing a gathering at Nicosia’s Armenian church to mark the 101st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Sigma Live reports.

Omirou condemned Turkey’s policy of ethnic cleansing and expansionist designs, saying that “dealing successfully with such policies will protect ethnic groups which Ankara's chauvinism is trying to eliminate.”

In his address, Omirou reiterated Cyprus' solidarity with the Armenian people, in their struggle to have the Genocide recognized by the international community, adding that “Armenians in Cyprus are part and parcel of the history and the struggles of the people of Cyprus and identify with the civilisation and traditions of the country in addition to contributing to the political, economic and social life.”

Recalling that April 24 has been designated as a day to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, Omirou referred to the ruthless methods Ottoman Turks had applied to wipe out Armenians, “who remain to this day a nation with a history, culture, civilization and great achievements.”

Omirou recalled that the House has adopted numerous resolutions recognizing and condemning the Genocide and brandishing its denial as a criminal offense, Sigma Live says.

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.