Kocharian’s address on Genocide victims’ remembrance day

ArmenPress
April 24 2004

PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN’S ADDRESS ON GENOCIDE VICTIMS’ REMEMBRANCE DAY

YEREVAN, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS: Dear compatriots, today we remember
the victims of the Armenian Genocide. An entire nation with its
thousands-years-old civilization, culture and material heritage was
wiped out under the Ottoman Empire’s state program and with the use
of state institutions. Bowing our heads before the memory of millions
of innocent victims, we as a nation reiterate our determination to
achieve full and unequivocal international recognition and
condemnation of this crime against humanity.
Unpunished crimes can lead to new similar crimes. The
international community has to do everything it can to prevent such a
crime from ever happening again in any part of the world.
Like every year on April 24, today we reiterate our will to stand
above rancor and revengefulness. We are prepared to establish normal
relations with all the countries of the region, including Turkey.
Our efforts are aimed at lasting peace, stability and cooperation
in the region. To this end, we are prepared to assume an active and
constructive role. Today we are building a new, peaceful, secure and
prosperous fatherland. To build such a fatherland, we look to the
future.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS