Chairman of the “Strong Armenia” party, Samvel Karapetyan, published a message on the occasion of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, where it is said:

“My dear Armenian people,

A strong Armenian nation that has gone through many tragedies, but is standing up again. Today, we are all united by one sorrow and one pain: the Armenian Genocide. We are the descendants of those Armenians who became victims of the heaviest crime against humanity, genocide.

We are witnessing a painful and unbelievable reality for Armenians. today’s leaders of Armenia are trying to justify the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide, moreover, they are trying to put a sign of equality between the victim and the executioner. And they openly declare that the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide is no longer one of the priorities of our foreign policy.

But they forget or ignore an important fact. weak people like them come and go, but the historical memory of the Armenian people remains. It is permanent. That memory is in our genetic code.

At the same time, we are very clearly aware that we cannot change our geography, our neighbors. Regional stability and peace is a priority for us. The rapid development of Armenia’s economy has no other option. Therefore, having closed borders in the twenty-first century cannot but affect the normal development of the country. We are in favor of the establishment and stability of diplomatic relations with Turkey, based on the fundamental principles of international law and without compromising the historical truth and national dignity.

A nation that has no memory is like a tree without roots, which breaks and falls in a very short time. But we are not that nation, we are like the thousand-year-old oak whose roots are very deep in the soil. We are firmly attached to our land.

Dear compatriots,

History leaves us no choice but to be strong. We see that when we are weak and stubborn, the evils that befell us become more severe. We witnessed the loss of our second homeland, our wonderful Artsakh, under those weak and incompetent authorities.

We will not allow them to kill us anymore. A strong and prudent leader is the one who predicts the tragedy and prevents it, and not interprets what happened and tries to find excuses.

Today, we join hands with our compatriots in the Diaspora, our sisters and brothers, with Armenians all over the world and set before us one goal: to have a Strong Armenia.

We will not be weak anymore.”

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The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Armenia has issued a message on the occasion of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

“We mourn together with the Armenian people on the day of remembrance of the victims of the Armenian Genocide,” the message states.

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A hundred years after the catastrophic events of the genocide, when it seemed that such terrible crimes remained in the past, unfortunately, Artsakh was depopulated with new genocidal acts.

It was said in the address of the Catholicos of All Armenians.

“Dear pious people,

Today, in Armenia and the Diaspora communities, we commemorate the memory of our holy martyrs of the Armenian Genocide carried out in the Ottoman Empire, who became immortal, keeping their love for Christ and their country unquenchable in their souls.

April 24 symbolically sums up the collective suffering of our people, in which are concentrated the memories of one and a half million martyred Armenians, patriots, children of our exiled nation, our monasteries and churches subjected to cultural persecution, destroyed settlements. That tragedy, however, did not break the spirit of our nation. Our people survived the genocide, sprouted a new life everywhere, reaffirmed the independent Armenian statehood.

April 24 is a day of commitment, intertwined with the demand of our people worldwide, which is free from enmity and hatred, aimed at the restoration of justice and truth and the exclusion of denying the scourge of genocide.

A hundred years after the catastrophic events of the genocide, when it seemed that such terrible crimes remained in the past, unfortunately, Artsakh was depopulated by new genocidal acts, more than 120,000 Artsakh residents were forcibly displaced. In response to this difficult situation and existing threats, the sacrifice of our martyrs obliges us to strengthen our unity and solidarity and strengthen the Armenian state. Indeed, it is with national unity that we will be able to achieve the efforts for the universal recognition of the Armenian Genocide and to bring to fruition the steps and initiatives for the sake of national progress and a peaceful and safe life.

Let us pray and ask that through the intercession of our martyred saints, the heavenly graces of peace and the mercy and love of our Lord Jesus Christ will be distributed to the whole world, our homeland and people today and always. Amen.”

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