Nicosia and Yerevan unanimous in condemning Armenian Genocide
24.04.2015,
14:56
Nicosia and Yerevan are unanimous in condemning Armenian Genocide, President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades said today when speaking in Tsissernakaberd, the memorial to Armenian Genocide victims.
YEREVAN, April 24. /ARKA/. Nicosia and Yerevan are unanimous in condemning Armenian Genocide, President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades said today when speaking in Tsitsernakaberd, the memorial to Armenian Genocide victims.
He said it is natural that Cyprus and Armenia are united in condemning the genocide perpetrators.
Anastasiades said Cyprus was one of the first countries to recognize the fact of Armenian Genocide.
He said he welcomes Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's motto: time has come to recognize historical facts, since they will pave a way to normalization of relations with the neighboring country and for sure will contribute to peace in the entire world.
The Cyprus president said Armenian refugees that fled their homes one century ago to save their lives found shelter in Cyprus and now Cypriots are proud of the fact that descendants of these refugees are active and important members of the Cypriot society. Stressing the importance of commemorative events, he said that all nations are responsible for that. «We remember and demand,» he added.
This year Armenia marks the 100 anniversary of Armenian Genocide committed in Turkey in 2015.
Delegations of countries, parliaments and international organizations as well as ambassadors to Armenia came to Tsitsernakaberd, the memorial to Armenian Genocide victims. President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of France Francois Hollande, President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic and President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades visited the memorial. The Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the twentieth century.
According to Armenian and many other historians, up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed starting in 1915 in a systematic campaign by the government of Turkey.
Turkey has been denying it for decades. The Armenian genocide was recognized by tens of countries.
The first was Uruguay that did so in 1965. Other nations are Russia, France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina, 43 U.S. states.
It was recognized also by the Vatican, the European Parliament, the World Council of Churches and other international organizations. ---0-----
