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First Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in Qatar

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  • First Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in Qatar

    Azad-Hye, Dubai, 20 May 2006

    We received the following press release from Qatari Armenian community,
    issued on 1st May 2006

    On 27th April 2006 for the first time in State of Qatar the Armenian
    community commemorated the Genocide and paid its respect to the 1.5 millions
    martyrs.

    The event was organized by the Armenian National Council in Qatar. The
    orator of the day was Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, Prelate of the Dioceses
    of Tehran, who was present in Doha to take part of the "4th Doha Conference
    on Religions Dialogue".

    At the beginning of the event the community members lit 91 candles in
    remembrance to the souls of the forgotten in order to show their solidarity
    for the 91 years of fight against injustice. After inviting the audience to
    one minute silence in respect to the souls of the 1.5 millon of martyrs, the
    master of ceremony Sarkis Kerkezian made the opening speech on behalf of the
    Armenian Council.

    In his speech, Kerkezian mentioned that the blood that our martyrs shed in
    the deserts of Der Zor is sacred and it is from that same blood that a group
    of second generation surviving Armenians put the seeds of a new community in
    another Arabian desert of Qatar. As William Saroyan Says' when two Armenians
    meet they form a new Armenia'. He gave a quick view about the current
    international status of the genocide and the effort of recognition that are
    getting carried on around the globe. He added, `This event is the first in
    its nature and a stepping stone to the direction that hopefully one day, in
    the upcoming future, our friendly Arabian Gulf countries will take the
    necessary steps of recognizing the Armenian Genocide'.

    It was decided to show the `Genocide Denied' documentary which due to some
    technicalities it was cancelled. Hence the Keynote speaker of the day Sebouh
    Serpazan Sarkissian was invited to deliver the message for the occasion.

    Serpazan Hayr gave a comprehensive historical background about the reasons
    why the Genocide had been planned and occurred. He expressed his gratitude
    that such small Armenian communities that exit around the globe create such
    occasions to get together to support and encourage each other to live as
    Armenians and carry on the April 24 oath by commemorating and paying homage
    to our martyrs. `Nobody can destroy a nation unless a nation destroys
    itself' he said.

    He added `the genocide was planned way ahead and it was not derived by
    religious motives but through the pan-touranic dream plan of turkey which
    failed. The second cultural genocide is still continuing by destroying the
    historical Armenian monuments. The third genocide is the fight against the
    Armenian memory and remembrance by faking the historical facts which is
    impossible to do so due to the existing evidence.'

    `We have to continue our struggle of existence' Serpazan hayr said,
    "Genocide is a crime and sin against the God and the laws that He has given
    to us that we abide'

    Serpazan hayr finished his speech by telling about his experience in the
    conference and the commemoration of the Genocide in Tehran. He said `Our
    expectation is that in the Arabian Gulf countries in our day to day life we
    have to keep our Armenian and Christian Spirit and should commemorate the
    genocide which is part of our heritage and permanence.'

    At the end of his speech the floor was open to the compatriot Armenians to
    address their questions to the Serpazan Hayr.

    Subsequently, the Armenian Genocide comprehensive CD, which was prepared by
    the Haigazian University Heritage Club, was demonstrated and explained to
    the fellow Armenians and a copy of the CD was distributed to all.

     
    Afterwards, a collection of Armenian Genocide posters, in a movie format,
    was demonstrated to the audience which included the poster prepared for the
    event by the young promising designer Kayane Kouzoujian. The poster will be
    submitted to the www.armeniangenocideposters.org website as an expression of
    solidarity by the Armenian community of Qatar to our collective pan-Armenian
    fight against injustice.

    The event adjourned with a collective singing of the `Der Voghormya'
    followed by a prayer to the souls of the martyrs `Hokehankisd' and
    `Bahbanich' Blessings of Serpazan Hayr. A group of spirited Armenians ended
    the event with the `Sartarabad' anthem.

    http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId =621ahl41
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