FRENCH ARMENIANS REMEMBER GENOCIDE
France24, France
April 24 2008
The Armenian community in France marched in Paris on Wednesday to mark
the anniversary 1915 mass-killings. More than 10,000 people gathered
in Yerevan to remember victims. Turkey still denies the genocide
label. (Report: D. Charton) Thursday 24 April 2008 By AFP On Wednesday
French Armenians commemorated the anniversary of the 1915 genocide with
several events organized in Paris. Participants remembered victims
and condemned Turkey’s continued denial of genocide. The event is an
issue of contention between Turkey and Armenia, and several Western
countries, particularly France.
In Yerevan thousands marched in the streets on the eve of the 93rd
anniversary of mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire,
demanding Turkey recognise the massacres as genocide.
More than 10,000 marchers, mostly youths and students, carried torches
and candles to commemorate the killings, which began in 1915 and
which many countries have termed genocide.
Turkey strongly rejects the genocide label and the issue has often
been a flashpoint in relations between Turkey and the West.
After burning a Turkish flag in Yerevan’s Freedom Square, participants
marched to a monument to the victims of the killings, where they laid
wreaths and flowers.
Many carried flags of the 23 countries whose governments or parliaments
have recognised the killings as genocide, including Canada, France,
Switzerland and Poland.
Others held banners reading: "Save Europe! Keep Turkey out of the
EU!" and "93 years since the Armenian genocide."
"They tell us: forget this tragedy, move on with your life. But how
can we forget? The pain of this tragedy is passed from generation to
generation," said 19-year-old Dvin Titizian, a Canadian who was among
the many from Armenia’s widespread diaspora who took part in the march.
"We will continue to condemn Turkey for denying the genocide because
we must believe that one day it will recognise the genocide and ask
our forgiveness," she said.
Thousands more, including Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian, were
expected to attend official ceremonies marking the anniversary
Thursday.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kinsmen died in orchestrated
killings during the final years of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey rejects the killings constituted genocide, saying that 300,000
Armenians and at least an equal number of Turks were killed in civil
strife in 1915-1917 when the Christian Armenians, backed by Russia,
rose up against the Ottomans.
The dispute has been a major obstacle in relations between Turkey and
Armenia, which have no diplomatic ties and whose border has remained
closed for more than a decade.
It has also complicated relations between EU-aspirant Turkey and
many Western countries, especially those with large ethnic Armenian
communities.