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BRUSSELS ARMENIAN MINORITY DEMONSTRATES FOR GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
Stanislava Gaydazhieva
New Europe
http://www.neurope.eu/article/brussels-armenian-minority-demonstrates-genocide-recognition
April 24 2012
Marta van Genderen Armenians around the world on 24 April marked 97
years of the 1915 massacre of around 1.5 million of their people by
the Ottoman Empire.
The Armenian minority in Brussels was also part of the worldwide
campaign, and a crowd of around 300 people demonstrated for about
two hours in the centre of the city.
The protest was organized by the Associations des Armeniens Democrates
de Belgique (AABD). The crowd commenced the commemoration in the
Armenian Church with a prayer and later slowly moved from the monument
memorial in Ixelles to the Schuman roundabout.
'Turks assassins!', 'Turks barberians!', 'Justice pour les Armeniens!'
and 'No silence for the Armenian genocide!' were the slogans of
the protestors.
A young man from the crowd outlined the demands of the Brussels
minority. He said that they were protesting in front of the building
of the European Commission because they want to see that the whole
European Union, not only the European Parliament, recognises the
massacre.
The man also stated that the Union should oblige Turkey to recognize
the genocide as a prerequisite for its future accession to the Union.
So far, the position of the Turkish authorities on the issue is a
denial that the massacres took place.
Armenians around the world expect to receive an official apology,
in addition to the recognition. Furthermore, they claim this to be
the first genocide of the 20th century which happened long before
the holocaust.
However, they say, Germany recognised it and took the whole
responsibility. This is what Armenians expect from Turkey.
The demonstrator also explained that the people from Armenia understand
that these events happened a long time ago and none of the today's
Turkish citizens is to be blamed about the massacres.
Nevertheless, he said he was angry because Turkey lied to its own
people, while being in possession of proves in support of the killings'
episode. Moreover, according to the man's point of view, once the
US recognizes the massacres as genocide, this would automatically
facilitate its recognition also in other countries and possibly
by Turkey.
New Europe also spoke to a Belgian citizen who said he supported the
Armenian claim and demands. He shared his disappointment that almost
no media coverage was offered by the Belgian broadcasters on this
demonstration and on the issue in general.
Stanislava Gaydazhieva
New Europe
http://www.neurope.eu/article/brussels-armenian-minority-demonstrates-genocide-recognition
April 24 2012
Marta van Genderen Armenians around the world on 24 April marked 97
years of the 1915 massacre of around 1.5 million of their people by
the Ottoman Empire.
The Armenian minority in Brussels was also part of the worldwide
campaign, and a crowd of around 300 people demonstrated for about
two hours in the centre of the city.
The protest was organized by the Associations des Armeniens Democrates
de Belgique (AABD). The crowd commenced the commemoration in the
Armenian Church with a prayer and later slowly moved from the monument
memorial in Ixelles to the Schuman roundabout.
'Turks assassins!', 'Turks barberians!', 'Justice pour les Armeniens!'
and 'No silence for the Armenian genocide!' were the slogans of
the protestors.
A young man from the crowd outlined the demands of the Brussels
minority. He said that they were protesting in front of the building
of the European Commission because they want to see that the whole
European Union, not only the European Parliament, recognises the
massacre.
The man also stated that the Union should oblige Turkey to recognize
the genocide as a prerequisite for its future accession to the Union.
So far, the position of the Turkish authorities on the issue is a
denial that the massacres took place.
Armenians around the world expect to receive an official apology,
in addition to the recognition. Furthermore, they claim this to be
the first genocide of the 20th century which happened long before
the holocaust.
However, they say, Germany recognised it and took the whole
responsibility. This is what Armenians expect from Turkey.
The demonstrator also explained that the people from Armenia understand
that these events happened a long time ago and none of the today's
Turkish citizens is to be blamed about the massacres.
Nevertheless, he said he was angry because Turkey lied to its own
people, while being in possession of proves in support of the killings'
episode. Moreover, according to the man's point of view, once the
US recognizes the massacres as genocide, this would automatically
facilitate its recognition also in other countries and possibly
by Turkey.
New Europe also spoke to a Belgian citizen who said he supported the
Armenian claim and demands. He shared his disappointment that almost
no media coverage was offered by the Belgian broadcasters on this
demonstration and on the issue in general.