On Wednesday, April 24, Armenian-Canadians will gather in Ottawa to commemorate the 98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, with its annual noontime Parliament Hill observance and subsequent demonstration in front of the embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Canada.

Some 1,500 Armenian-Canadians from across the nation are expected to gather on Parliament Hill to hear Members of Parliament, dignitaries, and community leaders honor the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians that systematically perished at the hands of the Ottoman Turks beginning in 1915.

The observance will be followed by a planned march toward the Turkish embassy for a peaceful demonstration against Turkey’s decades-old campaign of denial. “Armenians are resolved to pursue justice for the horrendous genocide committed by the Turks against the Armenian people,” stated Dr. Girair Basmadjian, president of the Armenian National Committee of Canada. “The government of Turkey will never succeed in its constant attempts to rewrite history. The world will never forget. Canadians will never forget. We are fortunate that, in Canada, both Houses of Parliament, the government of Canada, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper have officially recognized the Armenian Genocide. We commend the efforts of our government and parliamentarians in ensuring that truth and justice prevail.”

For decades, successive governments of the Republic of Turkey have embarked upon an active campaign of denial, fabrication, and misrepresentation as it attempted, and continues to attempt, to cover-up its crimes against humanity. In its attempts to rewrite history, Turkey has consistently employed some of the world’s leading lobbyists and public relations firms, having spent tens of millions of dollars over the years. In Canada, Turkey has in the past retained the services of Fleishman-Hilliard and other lobbyists.

“Armenian-Canadians are asking their government to encourage Turkey to stop its denials and come to terms with its past,” stated Dr. Basmadjian. “All Canadians should be proud of their parliamentarians for standing firm against Turkish pressure to change Canada’s position regarding the Armenian Genocide.”

By Arutz Sheva

MK Rivlin: “We cannot ignore the catastrophes of others because of diplomatic considerations

The Knesset will hold a ceremony to mark the memory of the Turkish genocide of Armenians, almost 100 years ago, on Tuesday.

MK Reuven Rivlin (Likud) said before the ceremony that he believes that “as human beings and as Jews, we must not ignore the catastrophe of another nation for any reason, including diplomatic considerations, important as they may be.”

“We will mark the annual memorial day for the massacre of the Armenian people regardless of the relations with today’s Turkey, which is an ally.”

Turkey is highly displeased with the Knesset’s decision to mark the day, as relations between the countries continue to be tense, despite a recent rapprochement brokered by U.S. President Barack Obama.

The genocide of the Armenians took place in the course of World War 1, and it is generally estimated that between 1 and 1.5 million Armenians were murdered, making up about one third of the entire Armenian people.

The massacre began when about 250 Armenian leaders in Istanbul were shot to death, on orders from the Turkish government. Later on, men, women and children were put to death on a daily basis in various ways, including forced marches that ended in their death from exhaustion, cold and hunger. Women and children were placed on boats and drowned at sea, or crucified. There is also evidence that children were put to death with poison gas in schools that were converted to death camps.

Turkey has consistently denied responsibility for the genocide, which is sometimes referred to as the Armenian Holocaust. Various events devoted to the subject, which were supposed to be held at the Knesset, were cancelled in recent years because of Turkish pressure.

Published on Apr 19, 2013 by Communications Department

On April 24, Armenians around the world will commemorate the 98^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Armenian Martyrs’ Day will be observed at St. Leon Armenian Cathedral with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at 6:30 pm. “April 24, 1915, has been our people’s woeful path to Golgotha. However, April 24^th is also the Armenian people’s vision of the nation’s Resurrection,” said His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.

The solemn celebration of the Divine Liturgy will be followed by a Requiem Service and a flower-laying ceremony at the memorial cross-stone in the Turpanjian Plaza in honor of those who perished during the first Genocide of the 20^th century.

Other commemorative events will include a candlelight vigil and a commemoration march for justice.