ARAM I: WE SHOULD ADD THE TERM “COMPENSATION” TO “RECOGNITION AND CONDEMNATION” WHEN SPEAKING OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN OTTOMAN TURKEY
by Tatevik Shahunyan
Friday, September 19, 13:43
The events dedicated to the centennial anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide should be held at a high level so that they can make the
international community hear Armenians’ voice, Aram I, Head of the
Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, said at V Armenia-Diaspora
Forum.
He stressed that the issue of the Armenian Genocide should be
tackled at the legal level. “Our goal should be not only recognition
and condemnation of the Genocide, but also compensation for its
consequences. Our vocabulary should have the terms “recognize”,
“condemn” and “compensate”, said Aram I. He emphasized that Turkey must
realize that it cannot violate an entire nation’s right with impunity.
Aram I believes that the centennial anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide should mark the beginning of a new stage of international
recognition of the Genocide, as well as its recognition and
compensation by Turkey.
He added that the Armenian Church will be taking consistent steps in
the matter of retrieving Armenians’ church property in Turkey. “We
will apply to international legal structures, but Armenia, as a state,
should support us”, he said.
He also expressed his concern over the gradual destruction of Armenian
communities in Syria, Iraq and Ukraine and stressed the need to provide
every possible help to the Armenian communities in these countries.
For his part, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II stressed the
importance to strengthen the Armenia- Diaspora-Artsakh relations even
more to achieve the important goals for the Armenians worldwide. One
of the priority goals is to gain recognition of the Armenian Genocide
in Ottoman Turkey, he said.