An exhibition dedicated to the Armenian Genocide opened in the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, on April 3, reports the Armenian National Assembly’s press service.
Opening speeches at the event were delivered by President of the National Assembly Galust Sahalyan and Chairman of the House of Representatives of Nicosia Yanakis Omiru.
The Armenian parliament speaker said that the commemoration events, organized worldwide upon the Genocide Centennial Commission’s initiative, have united different nations under the slogan “I Remember and Demand”, a universal address aimed to condemn the big tragedy and all the other crimes of genocides committed ever.
“The display of these exclusive photos, featuring the tragedy of the callously committed displacement and extermination against the Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians. has a mission to keep the icon-light of memory burning and raise the society’s and especially the younger generation’s awareness of the gruesome atrocities committed in the Ottoman Empire at the last century’s beginning. Tormenting though the recollection of the tragic events may be, equally obliging is to transmit the precept ‘Never Again’ from one generation to generation. This exhibition bears witness, as it is, to our determination to remember and demand, because atrocities committed against humanity have no limitation period,” Sahakyan said.
He further thanked Mr Omiru for organizing the exhibition, as all as to those who assisted in the initiative.
In his speech, the Cypriot parliament speaker said, “The heinous crimes committed against humanity have not left the civilized world indifferent. The world press criticized that conduct of Turkey back in the 19th century. And the reports on display at this exhibition of French, Italian, British, American, Russian and Cyprus papers testify to that. Foreign officials serving in the Ottoman Empire reported their governments on the events, and many of them extended their complaint to the Turkish authorities. Those people’s testimonies and the photos portraying the horrendous scenes were later published in papers or memoirs; they are now valuable archive records and fair evidence of the awesome Turkish barbarities.”
The photos and records showcased at the exhibition were provided by the Armenian Genocide Museum- Institute.