commemoration Archives

Canada: Parliament Hill was overflowing Armenian Genocide Commemoration 103

April 26, 2018 by administrator

Ottawa, Canada commemoration of Armenian Genocide 103

Parliament Hill was overflowing with members of the Armenian community in Ottawa on Tuesday, marking the 103rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The demonstrators commemorated the estimated 1.5 million Armenians who were killed in April 1915 before marching on the Turkish embassy to seek recognition from the Turkish government.Jimmy and Phil Philipossian, father and son, stood quietly on the edge of the hill. Jimmy Philipossian, 75, said his parents were living in Adana during the Turkish takeover of the former Armenian city. When the genocide began, they escaped.

“A very close person (to them) said,” You better go fast because they are going to kill you both, “said Philipossian. “So my parents, they moved very fast at that moment to survive.”

Now, more than a century after the genocide, Philipossian said it’s important to remember. Father and son said it was a “big relief” to see the large number of people at Tuesday’s meeting.

“There was a lot of land that was lost with lives … you can not forget such a past,” he said.

But Armenians were not alone on the Hill or in front of the embassy. They were greeted by a Turkish counter-demonstration of one-third the size of the Armenian participation. They say that the killings that took place from 1915 took place in the context of the civil war and did not deserve the label of “genocide”.

For Turkish community member Kevser Taymez, the historical context is complicated, with suffering on both sides, she said. “What Armenians and Turks in Canada should do is remember our losses together,” she said. “I am here to protest that Armenians are raising their children to hate the Turks.”

Terminology is an important issue for both communities. Sevag Belian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee, prefers to use the term “gathering” to describe the annual event on the Hill.

“We do not like to call it a protest,” he said. “Canada recognized the Armenian genocide at the parliamentary level in 2002 with the resolution of the Senate, in 2004 with the House of Commons resolution, and in 2006 the government recognized the genocide.

According to Belian, the real protest only began when protesters started down Wellington Street towards the Turkish embassy.

Armenian and Turkish groups were kept apart all afternoon by police barriers. They marched three kilometers to the embassy in separate intervals. Nearly 700 members of the Armenian community were surrounded by some 300 Turkish members of MacDonald Gardens, across from the embassy.

Armenian Genocide commemoration to be held in New York Times Square on April 22nd

February 12, 2018 by administrator

New York Times Square, armenian genocide, commemoration

On Sunday, April 22, 2018 from 2-4 pm, thousands will gather in Times Square (43rd St. & Broadway) to commemorate the 103rd anniversary commemoration of the Armenian Genocide (Medz Yeghern), the first genocide of the 20th century.

In recognition of Genocide Awareness Month in April, Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) will also be commemorated, along with other genocides committed in contemporary history, the Massis Post reports.

This powerful event, free and open to the public, will honor the 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred by the Young Turk Government of the Ottoman Empire and the millions of victims of genocide worldwide. Speakers will include well-known artists, politicians, academics and humanitarians. Armen McOmber, Esq and Professor Nvair Beylerian, Co-Director of the Center for Peace, Justice, Reconciliation at Bergen Community College, will preside over the program, the theme of which is Truth, Justice and Recognition.

“These killings, which were labeled crimes against humanity and civilization at the time, exactly fit the definition of the word genocide, which was coined by Raphael Lemkin, a Polish-Jewish lawyer in 1943,” said Dr Dennis Papazian, Founding Director of the Armenian Research Center at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. “In the long run, Turkish recognition of the Armenian Genocide is critical, since Turkey is the responsible successive government of the Ottoman Empire.”

The commemoration arrives on the heels of the newly published book, Killing Orders, by Turkish historian Dr Taner Akcam, who has pieced together documents from trials that emerged from the Armenian Genocide, which he refers to as the “smoking gun” and hopes it will “remove the last brick in the denialist wall.”

“My firm belief as a Turk is that democracy and human rights in Turkey can only be established by facing history and acknowledging historic wrongdoings,” said Dr Akcam in a recent New York Times interview titled, “Sherlock Holmes of Armenian Genocide Uncovers Lost Evidence.”

The Astghikner Vocal Ensemble of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Mission Parish of Brooklyn, New York, will sing the Armenian and American anthems, kicking off a program that pays homage to the lives lost to genocide and invigorating efforts towards worldwide recognition.

“The international community needs to not only recognize the Armenian Genocide but shine a light on its history for all to see,” said Beylerian. “Acknowledge it, study it, talk about it and emphasize to the world how easily the horrors repeat themselves over and over and over again.”

The 103rd Armenian Genocide Commemoration is organized by the Mid-Atlantic chapters of the Knights & Daughters of Vartan (www.kofv.org), an international Armenian fraternal organization headquartered in the United States, and co-sponsored by the Armenian General Benevolent Union (www.agbu.org), the Armenian Assembly of America (www.aaainc.org), the Armenian National Committee of America (www.anca.org), the Armenian Council of America and the Armenian Democratic League – Ramgavars.

Participating organizations include the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, Prelacy of the Armenian Church of America, Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Catholic Eparchy for US and Canada, the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA), the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF-YOARF), Armenian youth organizations and university Armenian clubs.

San Gabriel Valley: Nighttime Commemoration to Be Held in Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument

April 23, 2017 by administrator

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.—The San Gabriel Valley Armenian community will be commemorating 102nd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide by hosting its annual rally and vigil on Sunday, April 23, at 7 p.m. The event will take place at the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument in Bicknell Park, 901 Via San Clemente, Montebello, CA 90640. The San Gabriel Valley Armenian Community would like to invite all community members to join in commemorating the Armenian Genocide and paying respect to the victims who lost their lives in the atrocities.

The keynote address in Armenian will be provide by ARF Bureau Member Viken Yacoubian and the English keynote will be delivered by world renowned academic, author and actvist Paul Von Blum, a Senior Lecturer in African American Studies and Communication Studies at UCLA. Von Blum is the author of six books and numerous articles on art, culture, education, and politics that have been widely published in several acclaimed journals of communications and public opinion.

In the spirit of survival and perseverance, musical performances will be staged by several acclaimed artists including Greg Hosharian and the Armenian Pops Ensemble and Raffi Semerdjian,

The commemorative event will conclude with a traditional candlelight vigil and requiem service (hokehankist) at the base of the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument.

The event is sponsored by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dro Gomideh, Armenian National Committee of America – San Gabriel Valley Chapter, and Armenian Youth Federation Vahan Cardashian chapter, with the support and participation of all local community organizations including the Holy Cross Cathedral Board, Mesrobian Armenian School students, parents, staff and Board, Armenian Relief Society Ani and Nayiri Chapters, and Montebello Homenetmen.

Armenians organized Genocide commemoration rally in Hague

April 18, 2017 by administrator

The launch of the commemorative events of the 102th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was given at Het Plain square near the Dutch parliament in Hague. The commemorative observance is organized and coordinated by Armenian organizations of the Netherlands.

As the Facebook page “Diary of the Netherlands” reports, the rally will be attended and addressed by several Dutch lawmakers.

The source informs that the representatives of the organizers will enter the parliament and hand over a petition to the Dutch Parliament representatives.

Top Australian politicians to attend Armenian Genocide Commemoration

April 22, 2016 by administrator

210858 The National Armenian Genocide Commemoration Evening on Sunday, April 24 will host supporters and friends of Armenian-Australians from both the Federal and NSW governments, who will gather with the community to honor and remember the over 1.5 million innocent victims of the first Genocide of the 20th Century.

The gathered will hear from keynote speaker, prominent military historian and co-author of the recently-published “Armenia, Australia & the Great War,” Professor Peter Stanley, Armenian National Committee of Australia reports.

The Member for Bennelong, John Alexander OAM will be in attendance, continuing his full-fledged support to the cause of Federal recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Alexander has been vocal in raising the issues and concerns of the Armenian community in the Australian Parliament.

The new Member for North Sydney, Trent Zimmerman will also be attending the Commemoration for the first time in his capacity as a Member of the Australian Parliament since taking over his seat from Joe Hockey, now Australia’s Ambassador to the United States.

On March 2, Zimmerman gave his maiden speech in Australia’s House of Representatives, calling on Turkey to recognise and atone for the Armenian Genocide.

Also, Senator Lee Rhiannon, NSW Treasurer and prominent Armenian-Australian, Gladys Berejiklian, the Member for Davidson from the NSW Parliament, Jonathan O’Dea will be joining the Commemoration.

Also joining Armenian-Australians on the night will be the Hon. Reverend Fred Nile MLC, Leader of the NSW Christian Democratic Party, who continues to pursue his party’s policy of full recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Australia. The Hon. David Clarke MLC, Hon. Courtney Houssos MLC from the NSW Upper House and member of the Parliamentary Friendship Group will also be in attendance.

The National Armenian Genocide Commemoration Evening will take place at The Concourse in Chatswood from on Sunday, April 24.

Armenian Genocide Commemoration to Be Held at Massachusetts State House April 22

April 17, 2016 by administrator

‘Armenian Justice and Survival: The Next Hundred Years’

BOSTON, Mass.—Each April for the past 31 years, members of the Armenian community along with state legislators and guests have come together at the Massachusetts State House to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. This year the commemoration will take place on Fri., April 22 at 10:30 a.m. in the House Chamber, with a program of speakers, music, and honorees. Following the ceremony, a reception provided by Ani Catering of Belmont will be held at the Grand Staircase; there, guests will be able to view a video created especially for the event by filmmaker Roger Hagopian about Armenia and the survival of the Armenian nation.

The event recognizes the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1923 by the Ottoman-Turkish government. This is an opportunity for survivors and Armenian-American descendants to demonstrate their commitment to preserving their culture, religion, and language; working for humanitarian projects and awareness; and striving for recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo will provide welcoming remarks. Governor Charlie Baker is invited to present proclamations. Ray Flynn, the former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican (1993‐97) and three-term mayor of Boston (1984‐1993), will deliver the keynote address. Conventures, Knights of Vartan Ararat Lodge #1, and the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee of Merrimack Valley will be recognized with joint Senate and House resolutions.

Late Speaker George Keverian began the annual commemoration at the State House in 1985. His brother, Jack Keverian, will be making a special announcement on behalf of the Keverian family to honor George.

Music and participation by the youth are an integral part of the commemoration. Performing will be the children of St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School, the Zankagner Performing Arts Ensemble, and pianist Jasmin Atabekyan and young violinist Emily Gasparyan. Members of the Homenetmen Scouts will also attend.

The commemoration is hosted by State Senator Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont) and State Representatives Jonathan Hecht (D-Watertown), Dave Rogers (D-Cambridge), John Lawn (D-Watertown), David Muradian (R-Grafton), and James Miceli (D-Wilmington). The event is organized by a planning committee of pastoral and lay leaders chaired by Belmont resident Lalig Musserian.

Buses to the State House will leave from Watertown at 9 a.m. from St. James Church, 465 Mount Auburn St., and from St. Stephen’s Church, 38 Elton Ave. The buses will depart the State House at 1:15 p.m. and transport guests back to originating locations, with an expected arrival in Watertown at approximately 2 p.m. The bus service is free, donated by the Knights of Vartan, Ararat Lodge #1.

California: Armenian Genocide Commemoration to be held at Montebello Genocide Monument on April 23

March 9, 2016 by administrator

MONTEBELLO — In this 101st year of the Armenian Genocide, plans are in place for the Armenian community of Southern California to gather on April 23, 2016, at 1 p.m., at the Montebello Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument to remember and demand justice for the 1,500,000 martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. Traditionally, the memorial event in Montebello has taken place on April 24th, the day Armenians world-wide formally commemorate the horrific tragedy. This year, the event will take place on April 23rd, because the community-wide “Rally for Justice” event in front of the Turkish Consulate will be held on April 24^th.

The ceremony at the Montebello Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument will feature a full program which includes political messages and a religious service officiated by all religious denominations of the Armenian community and cultural presentations to honor the memory of those lost.

The United Armenian Council of Los Angeles (UACLA) which is comprised of close to 50 Armenian religious, political, compatriotic, and other active community associations is the organizer of the commemorative event. The UACLA is also organizing other events dedicated to the 101^st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. More details about these events will be presented to the general public through subsequent press releases of the UACLA and at the UACLA website www.uacla.com. The UACLA is also active throughout the year by organizing educational events about the Armenian Genocide.

The Montebello Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument is located at Bicknell Park, 910 Via San Clemente, Montebello, CA, 90640.

The UACLA invites all community members to attend the commemorative event at the Montebello Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument on April 23rd. The United Council also calls upon everyone to take part in great numbers in all 101st anniversary commemorative events.

ARS Participates in First International Day for Genocide Commemoration at U.N.

December 17, 2015 by administrator

Hovnanian School students at the Dec. 9 event

By Anahid M. Ugurlayan

On Dec. 9, the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) participated in an historic day for the Armenian people. It marked the first United Nations (U.N.) observance of the International Day for the Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime. This commemoration, which will take place every year on Dec. 9 going forward, was established pursuant to a U.N. General Assembly Resolution (69/323), passed on Sept. 11, 2015, that was sponsored by Armenia and co-sponsored by 84 nations.

Dec. 9 is not an arbitrary date—it also marks the date on which the U.N. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide went into effect 67 years ago. Raphael Lemkin, a legal scholar and Polish-Jewish refugee, was the catalyst behind the convention, coining the word “genocide” after studying the horrors of the Armenian Genocide and before losing 49 members of his family during the Holocaust.

The program began with a moving performance by the U.N. Symphony Orchestra of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Air.” In their welcoming remarks, Mogens Lykketoft, president of the 70^th Session of the U.N. General Assembly, and Jan Eliasson, deputy secretary-general of the U.N., delivered a powerful message—one that was echoed by all of the speakers—that stressed the importance of honoring victims of genocide while also redoubling efforts to prevent genocide altogether by, in the words of Eliasson, “catching the tremor before the earthquake.” Indeed, the promise of “never again” has been repeatedly broken and continues to be broken around the world.

Ambassador Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, permanent representative of Armenia to the U.N., thanked the 84 nations who co-sponsored U.N. General Assembly Resolution 69/323, making this observance possible. Mnatsakanyan stressed that this day calls on all nations to remember the victims of genocide as well as the “admittance of past inaction” and “reclaiming justice.” He applauded the efforts of civil society, the media, and academia in raising awareness and knowledge of the U.N. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Mnatsakanyan also noted that Dec. 9 was a “shameful reminder” that the international community cannot claim the elimination of genocide or genocidal tendencies despite the fact that there are many early warning signs in every instance, from violation of rights affecting vulnerable groups to hate speech to incitement to violence. He ended his remarks by stating, “We commemorate to prevent.”

The keynote address was delivered by Adama Dieng, U.N. special adviser on the prevention of genocide. He congratulated Armenia for its hard work in bringing the commemoration to fruition. Dieng stated that the seeds of genocide are being sown as we speak, citing the example of the Yazidis and other migrant groups, communities that are being destroyed simply because of their beliefs. He stressed the importance of acting now to stop genocide from being part of the present and future.

The keynote speech was followed by three panel presentations. The first, delivered by Pablo de Greiff, special rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, explained that a multi-pronged approach must be adopted to prevent genocide, most notably by strengthening civil society, on which serious constraints have been placed by 60 countries as of late.

The second presentation was delivered by David Tolbert, president of the International Center for Transitional Justice. Specifically mentioning the Armenian Genocide, he noted that the list of genocides is long and that genocide can only end if states take responsibility for their actions and end denialist practices. Tolbert explained that transitional justice requires that truth tellers be immune from prosecution and that reparations be given as a form of redress. He stressed the importance of creating memorials to the victims of genocide and modifying curricula in schools to teach children about genocides.

Lastly, Elisa Von Joeden-Forgey, Assistant Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Stockton University, stated that there is no society that is not complicit in genocide and that there is no society that is not vulnerable to it. She explained that there are distinct patterns to genocide (e.g., targeting reproductive symbols of group life), and that education is key in preventing genocide. Remarks were also delivered by the chairs of General Assembly Regional Groups, specifically by representatives from Cyprus and Israel, both of whom echoed earlier remarks about commemorating genocide by preventing it.

The program ended with the U.N. Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Einekleine Nachtmusik.”

The timing of the International Day for the Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime at the U.N. on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide is a powerful reminder of the commitment of Armenia and the Armenian people to genocide awareness and prevention efforts. The ARS was honored to be present on this historic day and thanks the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the U.N. for its leadership in making this commemorative day a reality. The ARS also thanks the Hovnanian School for allowing many of its students to attend the momentous event.

Source; Armenian weekly

Armenian Genocide commemorated in Australian town

November 13, 2015 by administrator

A commemoration event dedicated to the Armenian Genocide centennial was held in the “Beauchaur Park” of Willoughby, Australia, bringing together representatives of the local Armenian community.
At the ceremony led by the the city’s mayor and Bishop Yepiskopos Nazaaryan, the prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church’s diocese in Australia and New Zealand, an Armenian khachkar (cross-stone) was unveiled to eternalize the memory of the big tragedy’s victims.
According to a press release by the Yerevan City Hall, a friendship agreement between the administrative district Nor Nor and the Australian city was signed later the same day. It is the Yerevan municipality’s first cooperation effort with an Australian town.

Vienna concert commemorates Armenian Genocide centennial

November 10, 2015 by administrator

Vienna hosted “With you, Armenia” concert commemorating the Genocide centennial on Saturday, November 7.

According to Armenia’s Foreign Ministry, the concert was organized by the Armenian Genocide centennial committee, Armenia’s Ministry of Culture, and the country’s Embassy to Austria, in cooperation with Yerevan Perspectives International Music Festival.

The event took place at famous Wiener Musikverein concert hall’s main stage in the Grosser Saal.

Violinist Emmanuel Tjeknavorian, pianist Nare Aghramanyan, world famous cellist Mischa Maisky and his family trio played works by Komitas, Babajanian, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Bizet and other composers. A group of prominent opera singers, including Liana Harutyunyan, Hovhannes Ayvazyan, Varduhi Khachatryan and Barsegh Tumanyan performed Mozart’s Requiem to the accompaniment of Camerata Salzburg chamber orchestra.

Ambassadors to Austria, heads of various international missions, diplomats, politicians, and Austrian-Armenian community members attended the event.

—————————– Armenia Genocide —————————

The Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres, and deportations involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the Genocide survivors.

Present-day Turkey denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, justifying the atrocities as “deportation to secure Armenians”. Only a few Turkish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and scholar Taner Akcam, speak openly about the necessity to recognize this crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, the Italian Chamber of Deputies, majority of U.S. states, parliaments of Greece, Cyprus, Argentina, Belgium and Wales, National Council of Switzerland, Chamber of Commons of Canada, Polish Sejm, Vatican, European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.