Tert.am is providing a brief summary of the major historic developments in Armenia in 2015.
Below are the major developments following the historic events concerning international recognition of the Armenian Genocide:
the events marking the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; adoption of a Pan-Armenian Declaration on the Armenian Genocide; international mass media’s response; Kim Kardashian’s visit to Armenia; a Yerevan concert of System of a Down (SOAD); a religious service at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican; canonization of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide; 15-day protests against rising electricity prices in Yerevan’s Baghramyan avenue; a referendum on constitutional reforms; a Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting toward the end of the year.
The 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide has been a key event of this year. It not only opened a new chapter in the process of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Due to Pope Francis’ speech and condemnation by a number of European structures it is not a global tragedy, not only that of Armenians.
A Pan-Armenian Declaration on the Armenian Genocide was unanimously adopted in Yerevan. On April 12, a religious service dedicated to the Armenian Genocide was held at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican.
Turkey attempted to prevent that service by the Pope by exerting unprecedented pressure on Vatican. Turkish Premier Ahmet Davutoğlu accused the Pope of joining the axis of evil against Turkey.
Another historic step in international recognition of the Armenian Genocide is a concert the world-famous SOAD Armenian-American rock band gave in Yerevan. Besides bringing joy to thousands of Armenian residents, the concert was a cultural means of informing the world of a need for international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
A few days after the concert, the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute organized an international conference themed ‘The Crime of Genocide: Prevention, Condemnation and Elimination of Consequences’ in Yerevan.
On April 23, the Mother See held a ceremony of canonization of 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.
On April 24, the Russian, French, Serbian and Cypriot presidents were among the hundreds of guests that visited the Memorial to Armenian Genocide victims in Tsitsernakaberd.
The same day Turkey marked the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had to think up a scheme for guests in Yerevan and in Çanakkale.
International mass media provided extensive coverage of the April 24 events.
On April 23, an ecumenical service dedicated to the Genocide of Armenians, Assyrians and Pontic Greeks in the Ottoman Empire took place in Berlin Cathedral.
In 2015, three more states, Brazil, Luxembourg and Austria recognized the Armenian Genocide.
Moreover, different European structures approved resolutions condemning the Armenian Genocide.
An Armenian pavilion presented Armenian culture at the Vienna biennale.
Yerevan hosted successive cultural events, concerts by Vladimir Spivakov, Dmitri Khvorostovski and Chulpan Khamatova, which were dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Yerevan hosted one more major cultural event this year. Beth Hart, an American singer, songwriter and musician, performed in Yerevan. Ornella Muti and Nastassja Kinski visited Yerevan during the Golden Apricot 12th Yerevan International Film Festival. World-famous singer Charles Aznavour performed in Yerevan as well.
This year, Armenia hosted the 6th Pan-Armenian Games.
A referendum on constitutional reforms on December 6 was a major event in Armenia’s political life.
The most important event in Armenia’s foreign policy was a meeting between Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev. The Armenian-Azerbaijani presidential meeting behind closed doors in Bern, Switzerland, followed a meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ participation and a meeting with Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.
Toward the end of the year, Azerbaijan intensified ceasefire violations. Speaking at a collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit in Moscow, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan did not rule out Azerbaijan used tank fire, egged on by external forces.