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    Emil Lazarian
  • 6 years ago
    • Categories: 2020

105 years ago Entente Powers called the massacre of Armenians “crimes against humanity”

Public Radio of Armenia

On May 24, 1915 the Entente powers (France, Russia and United Kingdom) adopted a joint declaration, condemning the Armenian massacres in the Ottoman Empire, calling the atrocities “crimes against humanity,” the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute informs.

The first and most important document on the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide was officially published in the capitals of three countries and was handed to the Turkish authorities.

The declaration reads: For abut a month the Kurd and Turkish population in Armenia has been massacring Armenians with the connivance and often assistance of Ottoman authorities. Such massacres took place in middle April (new style) at Erzrum, Dertchun, Eguine, Akn, Bitlis, Mush, Sasun, Zeitun and throughout Cilicia. Inhabitants of about one hundred villages near Van were all murdered. In that city Armenian quarter, us besieged by Kurds. At the same time in Constantinople Ottoman Government ill-treats inoffensive Armenian population, In view of those new crimes of Turkey against humanity and civilization, the Allied Government announce publicly to the Sublime-Porte that they will hold personally responsible (for) these crimes all members of the ottoman government and those of their agents who are implicated in such massacres.

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