Tweet
THOUSANDS OF ARMENIANS MARK GENOCIDE IN BEIRUT
Agence France Presse
April 24, 2012 Tuesday 2:47 PM GMT
Thousands of Armenians demonstrated in a suburb of the Lebanese capital
Beirut on Tuesday to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the Armenian
genocide by Ottoman Turks during World War I.
Speaking at a commemoration ceremony at the main Armenian church in
the suburb of Antelias, Patriarch Aram I denounced Turkey's efforts
to expand its influence in the Middle East.
He stated that while Turkey touts itself as a vanguard of democracy
and human rights, it has yet to recognize the systematic killing and
deportation of its Armenian population.
"Can a nation that fills its prisons with human rights advocates and
journalists lecture others on the imperative to champion democratic
principles and human rights?" he asked.
"We hold the present Republic of Turkey, in its capacity as the
legitimate successor of the Ottoman Empire, accountable for its crimes
against our people," the patriarch said.
After the service, around 7,000 to 10,000 Armenians marched to the
Turkish embassy in the Rabieh suburb northeast of Beirut, carrying
banners in Arabic, Armenian and English demanding Ankara's official
recognition of the Armenian genocide.
In front of the embassy, Armenian MPs gave speeches and the crowd sang
the Armenian and Lebanese national anthems, with all three Armenian
political parties participating.
Several Turkish flags were torn up and set ablaze and some
demonstrators threw water, eggs, sticks and firecrackers onto the
embassy premises.
Party leaders and fellow demonstrators prevented a confrontation with
the Lebanese security forces when some attempted to break through
the barbed-wire barrier.
Armenians mark the anniversary every year on April 24, which is
accepted as the date in 1915 when the Ottoman campaign began.
The Armenians say up to 1.5 million people were killed during World
War I as the Ottoman Empire was falling apart, a claim supported by
several other countries.
Turkey strongly rejects the genocide label, asserting that 300,000
to 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in the civil
strife when Armenians rose up against their Ottoman rulers and sided
with invading Russian troops.
Lebanon is home to 140,000 Armenians, the largest such community in
the Arab world, the majority of whom are descendants of those who
survived the mass killings.
Agence France Presse
April 24, 2012 Tuesday 2:47 PM GMT
Thousands of Armenians demonstrated in a suburb of the Lebanese capital
Beirut on Tuesday to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the Armenian
genocide by Ottoman Turks during World War I.
Speaking at a commemoration ceremony at the main Armenian church in
the suburb of Antelias, Patriarch Aram I denounced Turkey's efforts
to expand its influence in the Middle East.
He stated that while Turkey touts itself as a vanguard of democracy
and human rights, it has yet to recognize the systematic killing and
deportation of its Armenian population.
"Can a nation that fills its prisons with human rights advocates and
journalists lecture others on the imperative to champion democratic
principles and human rights?" he asked.
"We hold the present Republic of Turkey, in its capacity as the
legitimate successor of the Ottoman Empire, accountable for its crimes
against our people," the patriarch said.
After the service, around 7,000 to 10,000 Armenians marched to the
Turkish embassy in the Rabieh suburb northeast of Beirut, carrying
banners in Arabic, Armenian and English demanding Ankara's official
recognition of the Armenian genocide.
In front of the embassy, Armenian MPs gave speeches and the crowd sang
the Armenian and Lebanese national anthems, with all three Armenian
political parties participating.
Several Turkish flags were torn up and set ablaze and some
demonstrators threw water, eggs, sticks and firecrackers onto the
embassy premises.
Party leaders and fellow demonstrators prevented a confrontation with
the Lebanese security forces when some attempted to break through
the barbed-wire barrier.
Armenians mark the anniversary every year on April 24, which is
accepted as the date in 1915 when the Ottoman campaign began.
The Armenians say up to 1.5 million people were killed during World
War I as the Ottoman Empire was falling apart, a claim supported by
several other countries.
Turkey strongly rejects the genocide label, asserting that 300,000
to 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in the civil
strife when Armenians rose up against their Ottoman rulers and sided
with invading Russian troops.
Lebanon is home to 140,000 Armenians, the largest such community in
the Arab world, the majority of whom are descendants of those who
survived the mass killings.