Recognition of Armenian Genocide is a priority

Recognition of Armenian Genocide is a priority. 20 officials from
different countries paied tribute to Tsitsernakaberd

11:00, 29 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS: Recognition of Armenain Genocide,
terrible crime commited against mankind, is a ontinuous and purposeful
process. Despite recognition, 20 officials from different countries
paied trubute to Tsitsernakaberd during 2012. Armenia is grateful for
their willingness to share the sorrow of Armenian people. With unique
photoes Armenpress presents the visit of high rank officials to
Tsitsernakaberd during 2012.

José Manuel Barroso President of the European Commission who arrvied
in Armenian on ivitation of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan visited
Tsitsernakaberd and paid tribute to Armenian Genocide victims by
laying flowers at the Eternal Fire in the memory of the victims.

The President of the Chamber of Representatives of the Oriental
Republic of Uruguay Jorge Orrico arrived in Armenia on November 12 at
the invitation of the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic
of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan. The delegation headed by Jorge Orrico
visited Tsitsernakaberd to pay tribute to the memory of the victims of
the Armenian Genocide. Uruguay recognized the Armenian Genocide in
1965.

During official visit to Armenia the Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the Republic of Latvia Edgars RinkÄ`viÄ?s visited Tsitsernakaberd to pay
tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

On September 18 the members of the Coordinating Conference of the
Chairmen of the Standing Committees on Defense and Security of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Member States’
Parliaments adjunct to the Parliamentary Assembly Council of the CSTO,
accompanied by Koryun Nahapetyan, Chairman of the RA NA Standing
Committee on National Security and Internal Affairs, visited
Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex and laid flowers at the monument of
1915 Genocide victims, bowed and honored with silence the memory of
one and half million innocent victims.

The guests were in the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, got
acquainted with the documents ensuring the Armenian Genocide, and left
notes in the Commemoration Book.

The delegation headed by Jean Asselborn Deputy Prime Minister and
Foreign Affairs Minister of Grand Duchy of Luxembourg paid a visit to
Tsitsernakerb on September 11. As Armenpress reports the top ranking
official laid a wreath at the monument of the innocent victims. Jean
Asseborn walked over Museum-Institute and got acquainted with the
exhibits of 20th century’s greatest crime. Deputy Prime Minister
posted in the Museum Book ” The anguish caused to Armenain people
must never be forgotten. The memory of the innocent victims should be
kept alive and be passed it from generation to generation” . Over
two dozen countries, 40 United States recognized and condemned
Armenian Genocide.

On September 4, the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Republic of
Argentina Héctor Marcos Timerman visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial
Complex.

The Foreign Affairs Minister of Argentina put a wreath at the memorial
of the Armenian Genocide victims after which the members of the
delegation put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of
the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

Ashot Hovakimian, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of RA, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Argentina to Armenia Diego
Ernesto Alvarez Rivera and other delegate members accompanied
Timerman.

The Foreign Affairs Minister of Argentina and his accompanying
delegation also visited Armenian Genocide Museum where they get
acquainted with the temporary exhibition titled `Book as a witness of
the Genocide’ dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Armenian
printing and proclamation of Yerevan as 2012 World Book Capital City
by UNESCO. Afterwards Héctor Marcos Timerman left a note in the
Commemoration Book.

It should be noted that still in 2006 Argentina passed a bill
recognizing the fact of the Armenian Genocide.

Héctor Marcos Timerman arrived in Armenia at the invitation of the
Foreign Affairs Minister of the Republic of Armenia Edward Nalbandian.

The Minister of Information and Diaspora of Israel Yuli Edelstein
visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. The Minister put a wreath at
the memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims after which the members
of the delegation put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the
memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

The Minister of Information and Diaspora of Israel Yuli Edelstein and
his accompanying delegation also visited Armenian Genocide Museum
where the director of the Armenian Genocide Museum – Institute Hayk
Demoyan introduced the guests to the temporary exhibition titled “Book
as a witness of the Genocide” dedicated to the 500th anniversary of
the Armenian printing and proclamation of Yerevan as 2012 World Book
Capital City by UNESCO. Afterwards Chairman of the State Duma of the
Russian Federation left a note in the Commemoration Book.

It should be informed that Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and
Jerusalem Holocaust Museum intend to establish cooperation.

`I offered the Genocide Museum-Institute administration to cooperate
with Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem. Both our nations have
become victims of a horrible crime against humanity. I think the two
institutions will cooperate quite effectively in terms of selection of
exhibits and organization of pavilions,’ Yuli Edelstein told during
the press conference.

He further noted that cooperation program between Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute and Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum is being developed.

Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly Valentina
Matviyenko accompanied by Vice President of the National Assembly of
the Republic of Armenia Hermineh Naghdalyan visited Tsitsernakaberd
Memorial Complex.

Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly put a
wreath at the memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims after which
the members of the delegation put flowers at the Eternal Fire and
honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

The high-ranking official and her accompanying delegation arrived from
Russia visited Armenian Genocide Museum where the director of the AGMI
Hayk Demoyan introduced the guests to the temporary exhibition titled
`Book as a witness of the Genocide’ dedicated to the 500th anniversary
of the Armenian printing and proclamation of Yerevan as 2012 World
Book Capital City by UNESCO. Afterwards Chairwoman of the Federation
Council of the Federal Assembly Valentina Matviyenko left a note in
the Commemoration Book.

The delegates from the Russian Federation had a tour of the Memorial
Alley where Mrs. Matviyenko watered the fir which she had planted
during her previous visit.

President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy, within the
framework of his official visit to South Caucasus arrived to the
Republic of Armenia and accompanied by the Armenian Foreign Minister
Eduard Nalbandian, visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

President of the European Council put a wreath at the memorial of the
Armenian Genocide victims after which the members of the delegation
put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of the innocent
victims with a minute of silence.

Afterwards President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy and
delegation accompanying him visited Armenian Genocide Museum where the
director of the AGMI Hayk Demoyan introduced the guests to the
temporary exhibition titled `Book as a witness of the Genocide’
dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Armenian printing and
proclamation of Yerevan as 2012 World Book Capital City by UNESCO.

On September 30, Wolfgang Thierse, the Vice President of the Bundestag
of the Federal Republic of Germany, accompanied by NA Vice President
Eduard Sharmazanov visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

The Vice President of the Bundestag and the members of his delegation
put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of the innocent
victims with a minute of silence.

The delegates arrived from Germany also visited Armenian Genocide
Museum, where the director of AGMI Hayk Demoyan presented the
temporary exhibition titled `Book as a witness of the Genocide’
dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Armenian printing and
proclamation of Yerevan as 2012 World Book Capital City by UNESCO.

The Vice President of the Bundestag Wolfgang Thierse left following
note in the Commemoration Book: `We condemn the Genocide and are under
an obligation to secure peace and defend human rights’.

Wolfgang Thierse noted during the talk with journalists: `The German
people remember the crimes committed against different nations in the
20th century. In 2005 the Bundestag of Germany by its decision has
condemned the Armenian people’s massacres and expressed its stance in
relation to those historical events. We believe that such historical
events should be worth an assessment and be condemned.’

Mir Mira Tahsin beg, religious leader of the Yezidis of the Federal
Republic of Iraq, and his accompanying delegation visited
Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

Yezidi deputies of the Kurdish and Iraqi parliaments as well as
representatives of primacy were included in the delegation. The
leaders of the delegation put wreaths at the memorial of the Armenian
Genocide victims after which the members of the delegation put flowers
at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of the innocent victims
with a minute of silence. The aim of the delegation’s arrival is the
consecration of the first Yezidis sanctuary in the Republic of
Armenia.

Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian
Federation Sergey Naryshkin arrived in Armenia at the invitation of
President of the National Assembly of RA Hovik Abrahamyan for a
two-day official visit. Sergey Naryshkin and his accompanying
delegation accompanied by Vice President of the National Assembly of
the Republic of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov visited Tsitsernakaberd
Memorial Complex.

Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation put a wreath at
the memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims after which the members
of the delegation put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the
memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

The high-ranking official and his accompanying delegation also visited
Armenian Genocide Museum where they get acquainted with the temporary
exhibition titled `Book as a witness of the Genocide’ dedicated to the
500th anniversary of the Armenian printing and proclamation of Yerevan
as 2012 World Book Capital City by UNESCO. Afterwards Chairman of the
State Duma of the Russian Federation left a note in the Commemoration
Book.

The delegates from the Russian Federation had a tour of the Memorial
Alley where Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the
Russian Federation Sergey Naryshkin planted a fir.

President of the Republic of Austria Heinz Fischer, within the
framework of his official visit to Armenia, and first lady Margit
Fischer visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex accompanied by
Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian, Yerevan Mayor Taron
Margaryan and RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to
Austria Arman Kirakosyan. President of Austria laid a wreath at the
memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims after which the members of
the Austrian delegation put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored
the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence. President
of Austria Heinz Fischer and his accompanying delegation visited
Armenian Genocide Museum where the director of AGMI Hayk Demoyan
introduced the guests to the museum exhibition. Afterwards President
of the Republic of Austria Heinz Fischer left a note in the
Commemoration Book.

The delegation from Austria also had a tour of the Memorial Alley,
where President of the Republic of Austria Heinz Fischer planted a
fir.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, within the framework of his official visit
to Armenia, visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex and Armenian
Genocide Museum accompanied by John Heffern, the U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia.

The U.S. senator put flowers at the Eternal Fire of the Armenian
Genocide victims after which he visited the Armenian Genocide Museum,
where he got acquainted with the temporary exhibition dedicated to the
memory of Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross and a
great humanitarian.

The U.S. Senator Dick Durbin left a note in the Commemoration Book.

Senator Durbin talked about his visit to the Genocide memorial and
Clara Barton exhibition he visitited during a Senate floor speech.

German Minister of State Cornelia Pieper, who is in Armenia at the
invitation of the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan, visited
Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex and put a wreath at the memorial of
the Armenian Genocide victims. The members of the German delegation
headed by Minister Cornelia Pieper put flowers at the Eternal Fire and
honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

Minister of State Cornelia Pieper, accompanied by Director of Armenian
Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan, took a guided tour of the
museum. Afterwards Cornelia Pieper left a note in the Commemoration
Book noting that she is too impressed by the museum exhibition and
remembers Armenian victims in1915-1916 with deep sympathy.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Israel Orit Noked
visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex and put a wreath at the
memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims. The members of the Israeli
delegation headed by Orit Noked put flowers at the Eternal Fire and
honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

Minister of Agriculture Orit Noked, accompanied by Director of
Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan, Minister of
Agriculture of RA Sergo Karapetyan, took a guided tour of the museum.
Afterwards Orit Noked left a note in the Commemoration Book: “As a
woman, as a Jewish and as a human being, I am shocked at what I see in
the photos, I am shocked at the murders of innocent Armenian
families”.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Audronius Ažubalis, within
the framework of his official visit to Yerevan, visited
Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex and put a wreath at the memorial of
the Armenian Genocide victims. The members of the Lithuanian
delegation headed by Audronius Ažubalis put flowers at the Eternal
Fire and honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of
silence.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithunia Audronius Ažubalis and his
accompanying delegation visited Armenian Genocide Museum and took a
tour of the museum. Deputy Director of Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute Suren Manukyan presented the history of the Armenian
Genocide to the guests. Afterwards Audronius Ažubalis left following
note in the Commemoration Book: `Only keeping such memory we can
create a world where repetition of such tragedy would not be
impossible neither to Armenian nor to any other people’.

It should be noted that on December15, 2005, the Seym of Lithuania
passed a resolution condemning the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman
Empire.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Erkki Tuomioja visited
Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex within the framework of his official
visit to Armenia. Minister of Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja put a
wreath at the memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims. The members
of the Finnish delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Erkki
Tuomioja put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of the
innocent victims with a minute of silence.

Deputy Director of Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Suren Manukyan
was accompanying the Finnish delegation. The members of the Finnish
delegation also had a tour of the Memorial Alley, where Erkki Tuomioja
planted a fir.

Foreign Affairs Minister of the Republic of Cyprus Dr Erato
Kozakou-Marcoullis, who is in Armenia at the invitation of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, visited
Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Erato
Kozakou-Marcoullis put a wreath at the memorial of the Armenian
Genocide victims. The members of the Cyprus delegation headed by Dr
Erato Kozakou put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory
of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

Foreign Affairs Minister of Cyprus Dr Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis and her
accompanying delegation visited Armenian Genocide Museum and took a
tour of the museum after which Dr Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis left a note
in the Commemoration Book.

The members of the Cyprus delegation also had a tour of the Memorial
Alley, where Dr Erato planted a fir.

The delegation of the German Foreign ministry headed by the Foreign
minister of Germany Guido Westerwelle, as apart of his official visit
to the Republic of Armenia, visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.
German foreign minister put a wreath and flowers at the memorial of
the Armenian Genocide victims and honored the memory of the innocent
victims with a minute of silence.