Updates
Domestic visits
30
05, 2011
President Serzh Sargsyan presided over the inaugural meeting of the State Commission on Coordination of the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
Today, President Serzh Sargsyan presided over the inaugural meeting of the State Commission on Coordination of the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The meeting took place at the Government Reception House.
The President of Armenia informed the participants that the Commission, which was set up in accordance with the April 23, 2011 Presidential decree, has been expanded and will include also Mr. Martin Yesayan, the Inspector of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Trustee of the Foundation’s branches in Great Britain, Ireland and Armenia and Mrs. Vicki Marashlian, Chair of the Central Executive Board of the Armenian Relief Society.
First, the President of Armenia welcomed the participants of the meeting, thanked for accepting his offer to become members of the Commission and to some of them – for making a trip to Armenia for the sole purpose of taking part in this meeting. In his welcoming remarks the President said,
“Esteemed President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
Your Holiness, Catholicos of All Armenians,
Your Holiness, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I welcome you to the inaugural meeting of the State Commission on Coordination of the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. I thank you all for accepting my offer to become members of this Commission and particularly those, who making a trip to Armenia for the sole purpose of taking part in this meeting. Frankly, I would expect nothing less.
I would expect nothing less because even 96 years later, the Armenian Genocide, that crime against humanity, is still an open issue for all of us, for every Armenian.
• It is an open issue because it is impossible to comprehend or accept that a state can plan and implement policy of extermination of its own citizens,
• It is an open issue because after 96 years the consequences of the crime perpetrated against the Armenian nation have not been eliminated yet,
• It is an open issue because today there are still insolent adherents of the perpetrators of the Mets Eghern, who spare no effort to distort that black page of the Armenian history,
• It is an open issue because these insolents view the tragedy of Mets Eghern simply as a occurrence which in the international politics creates some discomfiture for them and they do not realize the necessity to recoup with repentance.
We are a peaceful nation, and we are ready to speak with dignity, as equals, discuss and cooperate with all, including our neighbors. However, under no circumstance will we tolerate the denial of the Armenian Genocide and disrespect toward the memory of our innocent martyrs.
We are responsible people, which surviving the Armenian Genocide and going through plenteous calamities of the 20th century, ushered into the 21st century as an independent, proud and victorious people. Becoming a lawful member of the international community, we never abandoned our grief, never turned a blind eye on the sufferings of other nations and have been persistently promoting the prevention of genocides and necessity of unavoidable punishment for that crime.
We are also a grateful nation; we are grateful to all those, who in the direst times of our history had landed as a hand, trying to protect and help us. We didn’t forget any of them and the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Genocide will become another occasion for honoring them.
Dear Friends,
“Peace, responsibility, gratefulness” – these words will undoubtedly constantly accompany us in our works for the coordination of the events dedicated to the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. Today, we officially launch the process.”
After the President’s speech, the participants of the meeting started their works with the prayer led by His Holiness, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II. After that His Holiness, Catholicos of All Armenians and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, addressed the attendees.
In the framework of the agenda of the first sitting of the State Commission on Coordination of the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Commission listened to Hayk Demoyan, Secretary of the Commission, Director of the Institute-Museum of the Armenian Genocide, who spoke about the organizational issues and the formation of an advisory group at the State Commission. Afterwards, Hranush Hakopian, the Minister of Diaspora Affairs spoke on the formation and activities of the regional groups which will be dealing with the coordination of the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Genocide. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian presented to the Commission works conducted abroad and dedicated to the organization of the mentioned events.
The President of Armenia informed the participants that the Commission, which was set up in accordance with the April 23, 2011 Presidential decree, has been expanded and will include also Mr. Martin Yesayan, the Inspector of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Trustee of the Foundation’s branches in Great Britain, Ireland and Armenia and Mrs. Vicki Marashlian, Chair of the Central Executive Board of the Armenian Relief Society.
First, the President of Armenia welcomed the participants of the meeting, thanked for accepting his offer to become members of the Commission and to some of them – for making a trip to Armenia for the sole purpose of taking part in this meeting. In his welcoming remarks the President said,
“Esteemed President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
Your Holiness, Catholicos of All Armenians,
Your Holiness, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I welcome you to the inaugural meeting of the State Commission on Coordination of the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. I thank you all for accepting my offer to become members of this Commission and particularly those, who making a trip to Armenia for the sole purpose of taking part in this meeting. Frankly, I would expect nothing less.
I would expect nothing less because even 96 years later, the Armenian Genocide, that crime against humanity, is still an open issue for all of us, for every Armenian.
• It is an open issue because it is impossible to comprehend or accept that a state can plan and implement policy of extermination of its own citizens,
• It is an open issue because after 96 years the consequences of the crime perpetrated against the Armenian nation have not been eliminated yet,
• It is an open issue because today there are still insolent adherents of the perpetrators of the Mets Eghern, who spare no effort to distort that black page of the Armenian history,
• It is an open issue because these insolents view the tragedy of Mets Eghern simply as a occurrence which in the international politics creates some discomfiture for them and they do not realize the necessity to recoup with repentance.
We are a peaceful nation, and we are ready to speak with dignity, as equals, discuss and cooperate with all, including our neighbors. However, under no circumstance will we tolerate the denial of the Armenian Genocide and disrespect toward the memory of our innocent martyrs.
We are responsible people, which surviving the Armenian Genocide and going through plenteous calamities of the 20th century, ushered into the 21st century as an independent, proud and victorious people. Becoming a lawful member of the international community, we never abandoned our grief, never turned a blind eye on the sufferings of other nations and have been persistently promoting the prevention of genocides and necessity of unavoidable punishment for that crime.
We are also a grateful nation; we are grateful to all those, who in the direst times of our history had landed as a hand, trying to protect and help us. We didn’t forget any of them and the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Genocide will become another occasion for honoring them.
Dear Friends,
“Peace, responsibility, gratefulness” – these words will undoubtedly constantly accompany us in our works for the coordination of the events dedicated to the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. Today, we officially launch the process.”
After the President’s speech, the participants of the meeting started their works with the prayer led by His Holiness, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II. After that His Holiness, Catholicos of All Armenians and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, addressed the attendees.
In the framework of the agenda of the first sitting of the State Commission on Coordination of the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Commission listened to Hayk Demoyan, Secretary of the Commission, Director of the Institute-Museum of the Armenian Genocide, who spoke about the organizational issues and the formation of an advisory group at the State Commission. Afterwards, Hranush Hakopian, the Minister of Diaspora Affairs spoke on the formation and activities of the regional groups which will be dealing with the coordination of the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Genocide. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian presented to the Commission works conducted abroad and dedicated to the organization of the mentioned events.