U.S.-Armenian leaders talk Genocide recognition with German Consul

PanARMENIAN.Net - Leaders representing a cross-section of Armenian-American community organizations on Friday, June 10 met with officials at the German Consulate General in Los Angeles to discuss last week’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the German legislature–the Bundestag, Asbarez reports.

The community delegation was comprised of Daron Der Khachatourian (ARF-Dashnaktsutiune), Gabriel Moloyan (Social Democratic Hunchakian Party), Dr. Raffi Balian (Armenian Democratic Liberal Party–Ramkavar), Very Rev. Muron Aznikian (Western Prelacy), Father Pakrad Berjekian (Western Diocese), Rev. Berdj Djambazian (Armenian Evangelical Church), Talin Yacoubian (AGBU) and Maro Papapzian (ARS).

The meeting was held with Stefan Biedermann, the acting Consul General who was accompanied by Kai-Uwe Spicher, the Consulate’s head of administration) and Peter Schmitt, the Consulate’s Deputy Cultural Attaché.

The discussion centered on the June 2 Bundestag resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide, with the Armenian delegation highlighting that the comprehensive resolution not only included language about Germany’s recognition of the Genocide, but went further to accept Germany’s complicity in the crime, press for reparations and the return of Armenian assets, such as churches.

The delegation also discussed German President Joachim Gauck’s April 2015 speech during a centennial commemoration mass at Berlin’s Oberpfarr and Dom Church recognizing the Armenian Genocide and urging Turkey to follow suit.

The German representatives told the delegation that it was Germany’s historic responsibility to recognize the Genocide and set the historical record straight, through which it hopes to advance the world’s responsibility for justice and human rights.