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ARMENIAN WORKS ARE CONCENTRATRED BY STATE: THE EVENTS DEDICATED TO THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By Hovik Afyan
AZG DAILY
01-06-2011
President Serzh Sargsyan presided over the inaugural meeting of
the State Commission on Coordination of the events dedicated to
the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The presidents of
both Armenian states, His Holiness, Catholicos of All Armenians
and His Holiness, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, several
Ministers, governmental officials, representatives of the political
parties, leaders of the Diaspora organizations participated in the
sitting. The Commission was set up in accordance with the April 23,
2011 Presidential decree, The President of Armenia informed the
participants that the Commission has been expanded and will include
also Mr. Martin Yesayan, the Inspector of the Calouste Gulbenkian
Foundation and the Trustee of the Foundation's branches in Great
Britain, Ireland and Armenia and Mrs. Vicki Marashlian, Chair of the
Central Executive Board of the Armenian Relief Society. 34 members
out of the 36 participated in the inaugural meeting of the Commission.
In his speech the President Sargsyan welcomed the participants of
the meeting, thanked for accepting his offer to become members of the
Commission and to some of them - for making a trip to Armenia for the
sole purpose of taking part in this meeting. He mentioned: "even 96
years later, the Armenian Genocide, that crime against humanity, is
still an open issue for all of us, for every Armenian". It is an open
issue because it is impossible to comprehend or accept that a state
can plan and implement policy of extermination of its own citizens. It
is an open issue because after 96 years the consequences of the crime
perpetrated against the Armenian nation have not been eliminated yet.
It is an open issue because today there are still insolent adherents
of the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide, who spare no effort
to distort that black page of the Armenian history. It is an open
issue because these insolents view the tragedy of Armenian Genocide
simply as a occurrence which in the international politics creates
some discomfiture for them and they do not realize the necessity to
recoup with repentance, said the president.
Serzh Sargsyan underlined that we are a peaceful nation, and we are
ready to speak with dignity, as equals, discuss and cooperate with
all, including our neighbors. "However, under no circumstance will we
tolerate the denial of the Armenian Genocide and disrespect toward
the memory of our innocent martyrs". He added that we are also a
grateful nation; we are grateful to all those, who in the direst
times of our history had landed as a hand, trying to protect and
help us. "We didn't forget any of them and the events dedicated to
the 100th anniversary of the Genocide will become another occasion
for honoring them," said the president.
Serzh Sargsyan declared that "Today, we officially launch the process
of the events dedicated to the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.
"Peace, responsibility, gratefulness" - these words will undoubtedly
constantly accompany us in our works for the coordination."
After the President's speech, the participants of the meeting started
their works with the prayer led by His Holiness, Catholicos of All
Armenians Garegin II. After that His Holiness, Catholicos of All
Armenians and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia, addressed the attendees.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian presented to the
Commission works conducted abroad and dedicated to the organization
of the mentioned events. Hranush Hakopian, the Minister of Diaspora
Affairs spoke on the formation and activities of the regional
groups which will be dealing with the coordination of the events
dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Genocide. Hayk Demoyan,
Director of the Institute-Museum of the Armenian Genocide, spoke
about the organizational issues and the formation of an advisory
group at the State Commission. At the meeting with the journalists
Hayk Demoyan said that during the meeting instructions were given
to the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diaspora, Education, Culture
Ministries, and the National Academy of Sciences. According to Demoyan,
the organizations of the Armenian Diaspora should also act jointly
towards the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. As for the
view that is common in the society, which says that on the expiration
of 100 years of the Armenian Genocide its recognition would not have
any legal consequences, Demoyan claimed that in the international
law such a document does not exist.
ARF-Dashnaktsutyun's ANCA and Political Affairs Officer, committee
member Kiro Manoyan said that during the meeting the works were
clarified, which should be taken mainly in three directions:
"international front, work with the Armenians; International front
and work to eliminate the consequences of the genocide in a new stage."
The all Commission member organizations and persons will represent
their work plans to the Secretary of the Commission up to the autumn.
The second sitting of the Commission is scheduled the next autumn. The
meeting will clarify and approve the joint action plan for upcoming
two years.
By Hovik Afyan
AZG DAILY
01-06-2011
President Serzh Sargsyan presided over the inaugural meeting of
the State Commission on Coordination of the events dedicated to
the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The presidents of
both Armenian states, His Holiness, Catholicos of All Armenians
and His Holiness, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, several
Ministers, governmental officials, representatives of the political
parties, leaders of the Diaspora organizations participated in the
sitting. The Commission was set up in accordance with the April 23,
2011 Presidential decree, The President of Armenia informed the
participants that the Commission has been expanded and will include
also Mr. Martin Yesayan, the Inspector of the Calouste Gulbenkian
Foundation and the Trustee of the Foundation's branches in Great
Britain, Ireland and Armenia and Mrs. Vicki Marashlian, Chair of the
Central Executive Board of the Armenian Relief Society. 34 members
out of the 36 participated in the inaugural meeting of the Commission.
In his speech the President Sargsyan welcomed the participants of
the meeting, thanked for accepting his offer to become members of the
Commission and to some of them - for making a trip to Armenia for the
sole purpose of taking part in this meeting. He mentioned: "even 96
years later, the Armenian Genocide, that crime against humanity, is
still an open issue for all of us, for every Armenian". It is an open
issue because it is impossible to comprehend or accept that a state
can plan and implement policy of extermination of its own citizens. It
is an open issue because after 96 years the consequences of the crime
perpetrated against the Armenian nation have not been eliminated yet.
It is an open issue because today there are still insolent adherents
of the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide, who spare no effort
to distort that black page of the Armenian history. It is an open
issue because these insolents view the tragedy of Armenian Genocide
simply as a occurrence which in the international politics creates
some discomfiture for them and they do not realize the necessity to
recoup with repentance, said the president.
Serzh Sargsyan underlined that we are a peaceful nation, and we are
ready to speak with dignity, as equals, discuss and cooperate with
all, including our neighbors. "However, under no circumstance will we
tolerate the denial of the Armenian Genocide and disrespect toward
the memory of our innocent martyrs". He added that we are also a
grateful nation; we are grateful to all those, who in the direst
times of our history had landed as a hand, trying to protect and
help us. "We didn't forget any of them and the events dedicated to
the 100th anniversary of the Genocide will become another occasion
for honoring them," said the president.
Serzh Sargsyan declared that "Today, we officially launch the process
of the events dedicated to the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.
"Peace, responsibility, gratefulness" - these words will undoubtedly
constantly accompany us in our works for the coordination."
After the President's speech, the participants of the meeting started
their works with the prayer led by His Holiness, Catholicos of All
Armenians Garegin II. After that His Holiness, Catholicos of All
Armenians and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia, addressed the attendees.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian presented to the
Commission works conducted abroad and dedicated to the organization
of the mentioned events. Hranush Hakopian, the Minister of Diaspora
Affairs spoke on the formation and activities of the regional
groups which will be dealing with the coordination of the events
dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Genocide. Hayk Demoyan,
Director of the Institute-Museum of the Armenian Genocide, spoke
about the organizational issues and the formation of an advisory
group at the State Commission. At the meeting with the journalists
Hayk Demoyan said that during the meeting instructions were given
to the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diaspora, Education, Culture
Ministries, and the National Academy of Sciences. According to Demoyan,
the organizations of the Armenian Diaspora should also act jointly
towards the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. As for the
view that is common in the society, which says that on the expiration
of 100 years of the Armenian Genocide its recognition would not have
any legal consequences, Demoyan claimed that in the international
law such a document does not exist.
ARF-Dashnaktsutyun's ANCA and Political Affairs Officer, committee
member Kiro Manoyan said that during the meeting the works were
clarified, which should be taken mainly in three directions:
"international front, work with the Armenians; International front
and work to eliminate the consequences of the genocide in a new stage."
The all Commission member organizations and persons will represent
their work plans to the Secretary of the Commission up to the autumn.
The second sitting of the Commission is scheduled the next autumn. The
meeting will clarify and approve the joint action plan for upcoming
two years.