July 08, 2014 | 17:59
YEREVAN. – Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of Armenian Genocide. April 24 is undoubtedly a symbolic day, but it is clear that the genocide did not start and did not end in one day.
Moreover, the genocide is not completed until Turkey’s authorities continue to deny what has been committed, Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan said during his meeting with the Armenian community of Argentina.
“However, the day when Turkey will face its history is not far away,” president said.
He is convinced that social consciousness in the face of young, educated generation who believe it is better to apologize than to abandon the past shamefully will contribute to the recognition.
“Yes, thousands of Turks do not accept the official policy of denial and express solidarity with the Armenian people. These processes are evident and they make the Turkish authorities to take certain steps” Sargsyan emphasized.
Th Armenian leader recalled that Turkish leadership is speaking of the need for “a just memory” between Armenians and Turks, but by the next step is trying to undermine justice, putting an equality sign between one and a half million innocent victims, mostly elderly, women and children, and the Turkish military who died as a result of adventurous actions orchestrated by the leaders Ottoman Empire.
“It is not ‘a just memory’. We can not accept such ‘just memory’. In fact, this is an updated, improved, re-packaged version of the policy of denial of the Armenian Genocide,” Sargsyan added.
The President noted that Armenia will continue joint activities in terms of international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.
“But we have to respect the memory of our ancestors, not only through bringing our struggle till the end, but also by strengthening our homeland using the talent and capabilities of every Armenian for the benefit of homeland,” he added.
According to him, every Armenian should be proud of the fact that on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we stand with the existence of two independent states – the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
“Even under the blockade and situation of ‘no war, no peace’ our homeland is developing,” he added.