Category: 2022

Armenia records 8 new coronavirus cases

 11:28,

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. As of 11:00 am on April 23, a total of 422,822 cases of coronavirus disease were confirmed in Armenia, of which 410,548 – with recovery, 8622 – with death.

The number of active cases is 1969, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Ministry of Health.

2428 tests were performed in one day, 8 new cases of coronavirus disease were confirmed, 13 citizens recovered, no deaths were registered.

The total number of tests reached 3 million 32 thousand 179.

 12:11,

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. UN Secretary General António Guterres will visit Ukraine on April 28, ARMENPRESS reports, citing TASS, the office of Guterres said in a statement on April 22.

“The Secretary-General will visit Ukraine next week. On April 28, he will hold a working meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and President Volodymyr Zelensky,” the statement said.

The Secretary-General’s press service stressed that Guterres plans to meet with UN partners working in Ukraine to discuss plans for expanding humanitarian assistance to the population.

 13:06,

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender of Armenia Kristine Grigoryan delivered a message on the occasion of the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, noting that only the condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, the punishment of those responsible and the restoration of justice can prevent future crimes, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Human Rights Defender.

The message reads: “April 24 marks the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, but justice has not been restored so far. The rights of killed and mutilated men, women and old people, orphans, Armenians who were forcibly expelled from their homes, subjected to inhuman torture on religious or national grounds, have not been restored. Many of them dies with all these in front of their eyes throughout their lives, longing for their relatives and homeland, hope that at least future generations will witness the restoration of justice.

The policy of denial of indisputable realities, which Turkey has been pursuing for more than a century, continues to be a serious challenge to the implementation of international legal system establishing universal norms for the condemnation, prevention and prosecution of crimes against humanity.

Efforts to protect human rights, the rule of law and the universal international justice system, which gained momentum after the First World War, continue to be overshadowed by this extremely reprehensible policy of the Turkish state.

Impunity breeds and justifies new crimes.

Unfortunately, the dangers of genocidal policy on the basis of ethnic and religious hatred have not vanished for our people. The saddest and most recent evidence of this is the documented crimes of the Azerbaijani-Turkish tandem against ethnic Armenians during the 2020 war. The propaganda of ethnic and religious hatred and the criminal acts motivated by it are being carried out by the Azerbaijani state at the state level against the Armenians of Artsakh even now, aiming to evict Artsakh of its native people, eliminate the monuments and samples of centuries-old Armenian culture, erase the traces of Armenianism, make life of Armenians living in their homeland impossible.

Today we pay tribute to the memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide, reaffirming that it is the condemnation of the crime, the punishment of the guilty and the restoration of justice that can prevent future crimes.”

 15:58,

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. The United States is preparing provocations to accuse Russia of using chemical, biological or tactical nuclear weapons, ARMENPRESS reports, TASS informs, referring to the statement of the head of the radiation, chemical and biological defense troops of the Russian Armed Forces Igor Kirilov.

“The Russian Defense Ministry has information that the United States is preparing provocations to accuse the Russian armed forces of using chemical, biological or tactical nuclear weapons,” Kirilov said.

Kirilov reminded that on February 27, US Permanent Representative to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced the intention of the Russian Federation to use chemical and biological weapons “under a false flag” to intimidate the Ukrainian population and the world.

“We draw your attention to the fact that the United States has implemented such projects more than once to achieve political goals. The most striking example of an information provocation is the February 5, 2003 speech of US Secretary of State Colin Powell,” Kirilov said.

He also stressed that the State Department has already appointed officials responsible for conducting the investigation.

 16:15,

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. On the initiative of the Armenian Embassy in Spain, the 2nd channel of the Spanish State Radio and Television (La 2 de TVE) has prepared a special TV and radio program in memory of the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

ARMENPRESS reports in the sidelines of the program Ambassador of Armenia to Spain Sos Avetisyan, world-famous Armenian violinist Ara Malikyan, lecturer at the Autonomous University of Madrid, historian Fernando Camacho, Spanish-Armenian lawyer Emma Hakobyan gave interviews to the Spanish TV.

The Ambassador stressed that Armenia has been the furerunner of the fight against this crime in the international arena for many years, noting that in 2015, December 9 was included in the UN list of International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime.

The program was broadcast on a number of other Spanish TV channels.

 17:25,

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. On the eve of the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Member of the Turkish parliament of Armenian origin Garo Paylan (representing pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party, HDP) submitted a bill recognizing the Armenian Genocide to the Turkish parliament, ARMENPRESS reports Agos said.

The message says that the bill envisages recognizing the Armenian Genocide, defining those responsible, removing the names of the perpetrators of the genocide from public places, naming those places after the civil servants who opposed the genocide, granting Turkish citizenship to the victims and their families.

“If such a thing happens (recognition-edit), it will not be important what the leaders and parliaments of other countries say about it. Only the Turkish society can heal the wounds of the Armenian people. The Armenian Genocide was committed in these lands, and justice can only be established here in Turkey,” the bill reads.

 23:59,

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. The traditional torchlight procession started from the Republic Square and ended at Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex, ARMENPRESS reports, this year the torchlight procession is entitled “Wake up Lao”.

The march dedicated to the commemoration of the victims of the Armenian Genocide and aimed at making the voice of the Armenian people heard will end, as every year, with flowers being laid in memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide.

The torchlight procession is an annual event symbolizing the demands of the Armenian people.

 07:35,

YEREVAN, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS. Today, on April 24th, Armenians around the world commemorate the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian Genocide – the systematic and premeditated killings of over 1,5 million Armenians, was perpetrated by the government of Young Turks in various regions of the Ottoman Empire beginning in 1915 during WWI.

The term Genocide was coined by Polish-Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin in 1944, whose family was one of the victims of the Holocaust. By defining this term, Prof. Lemkin sought to describe Nazi politics of systematic murder, violence and cruelty and atrocities committed against the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 1915 as well.

The first international reaction to the violence resulted in a joint statement by France, Russia and Great Britain, in May 1915, where the Turkish atrocities directed against the Armenian people was defined as “new crime against humanity and civilization” agreeing that the Turkish government must be punished for committing such crimes. 

When WWI erupted, the Young Turks government, hoping to save the remains of the weakened Ottoman Empire, adopted a policy of Pan Turkism – the establishment of a mega Turkish empire comprising of all Turkic-speaking peoples of the Caucasus and Central Asia extending to China, intending also to Turkify all ethnic minorities of the empire. The Armenian population became the main obstacle standing in the way of the realization of this policy. 

Although the decision for the deportation of all Armenians from the Western Armenia (Eastern Anatolya) was adopted in late 1911, the Young Turks used WWI as a suitable opportunity for its implementation.

There were an estimated two million Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire before the WWI. Over one and a half million Armenians were killed from 1915-1923. Those who survived were either Islamized or exiled, or found shelters in different parts of the world.

The first phase of the Armenian Genocide started on April 24, 1915 with the arrest of several hundred Armenian intellectuals and representatives of national elite (mainly in the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Constantinople) and their subsequent elimination. Hereinafter, Armenians worldwide started to commemorate the Armenian genocide on April 24.

The second phase was the forced conscription of around 60,000 Armenian men into the Turkish military, who were later disarmed and murdered.

The third phase of the genocide was the exile and the massacres of women, children, and elderly people into the Syrian desert. Hundreds of thousands of people were murdered by Turkish soldiers, police officers, Kurdish and Circassian gangs during the deportation. Others died of disease. Thousands of women and children were subjected to violence. Tens of thousands were forcibly Islamized.

Finally, the last phase of the Armenian genocide appeared with the total and utter denial by Turkish government of the mass killings and elimination of the Armenian nation on its homeland. Despite the ongoing international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Turkey has consistently fought the acceptance of the Armenian Genocide by any means, including falsification of historical facts, propaganda campaigns, lobbying, etc. On December 9, 1948 the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, according to which, genocide is defined as an international crime and the signing states are obliged to prevent, as well as punish the perpetrators of the genocide.

The fact of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman government has been documented, recognized, and affirmed in the form of media and eyewitness reports, laws, resolutions, and statements by many states and international organizations. The complete catalogue of all documents categorizing the 1915-23 widespread massacre of the Armenian population in Ottoman Empire as a premeditated and thoroughly executed act of Genocide, is extensive.

Below is a brief list of those states and organizations, provincial governments and city councils which have acknowledged the Armenian Genocide

Parliamentary Resolutions, Laws and Declarations

• Declaration by the Parliament of the Republic of Latvia on the Recognition and Condemnation of the Armenian Genocide – May 6, 2021.
• Resolution by the People’s Council of the Syrian Arab Republic on recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire – February 13, 2020
• Unanimous resolution of the U.S. Senate recognizing and condemning Armenian Genocide -December 12, 2019
• Resolution of the U.S. House of Representatives approving U.S. position on Armenian Genocide -October 30, 2019
• Position of the Assembly of the Republic (the Parliament of Portugal) on its position on the Armenian Genocide -April 26, 2019
• Initiative of the chamber of deputies of Italy encouraging the government of Italy to recognize Armenian Genocide – April 10,2019
• Decree of the President of France Emmanuel Macron recognizing April 24 as a National Memorial Day of Armenian Genocide -April 10, 2019
• Resolution of the Chamber of Deputies of the parliament of Czech Republic condemning and recognizing Armenian Genocide and other crimes against humanity -April 26, 2017
• The Senate of France confirmation of the bill criminalizing the negation of Armenian Genocide -October 14, 2016
• Resolution of the Knesset Committee on education, culture and sport of the State of Israel – August 1, 2016
• Resolution of the Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany – June 2, 2016
• Resolution of the Senate of the Republic of Paraguay – October 29, 2015
• Resolution of the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Belgium – July 24, 2015
• Resolution of the Federal Senate of the Federal Republic of Brazil – May 29, 2015
• Resolution of the Parliament of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg – May 6, 2015
• Statement of State Duma of Russian Federation on the Armenian Genocide Centennial – April 24, 2015
• Statement by the President Federal Republic of Germany Joachim Gauck – April 23, 2015
• Statement of the ‪‎Austrian Parliament on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire – 22 April, 2015
• European Parliament Resolution dedicated to the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide – 15 April, 2015
• Czech Republic, Resolution of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies of Parliament on the occasion of the Armenian Genocide Centenary – April 14 2015
• Resolution of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile – April 14, 2015
• Statement by Holy Father Francis during the Mass at the Vatican – April 12, 2015
• Bolivia’s Senate and the Chamber of Deputies Resolution – November 27, 2014
• Sweden Riksdag Resolution – March 11, 2010
• MERCOSUR, Joint Parliamentary Committee Resolution – Nov 19, 2007
• S. House Committee Resolution – October 10, 2007
• Chile, Senate Resolution – July 07, 2007
• Argentina, Law – January 15, 2007
• Argentina, Senate Special Statement – April 19, 2006
• Lithuania, Assembly Resolution – December 15, 2005
• European Parliament Resolution – September 28, 2005
• Venezuela, National Assembly Resolution – July 14, 2005
• Germany, Parliament Resolution – June 15, 2005
• Argentina, Senate Resolution – April 20, 2005
• Poland, Parliament Resolution – April 19, 2005
• Netherlands, Parliament Resolution – December 21, 2004
• Slovakia, National Assembly Resolution – November 30, 2004
• Canada, House of Commons Resolution – April 21, 2004
• Argentina, Senate Declaration – March 31, 2004
• Uruguay, Law – March 26, 2004
• Argentina, Draft Law – March 18, 2004
• Switzerland (Helvetic Confederation), National Council Resolution – December 16, 2003
• Argentina, Senate Resolution – August 20, 2003
• Canada, Senate Resolution – June 13, 2002
• European Parliament Resolution – February 28, 2002
• Common Declaration of His Holiness John Paul II and His Holiness Karekin II at Holy Etchmiadzin, Republic of Armenia – September 27, 2001
• Prayer of John Paul II, Memorial of Tsitsernakaberd – September 26, 2001
• France, Law – January 29, 2001
• Italy, Chamber of Deputies Resolution – November 16, 2000
• European Parliament Resolution – November 15, 2000
• France, Senate, Draft Law – November 7, 2000
• Lebanon, Parliament Resolution – May 11, 2000
• Sweden, Parliament Report – March 29, 2000
• France, National Assembly Draft Law – May 28, 1998
• Belgium, Senate Resolution – March 26, 1998
• Lebanon, Chamber of Deputies Resolution – April 3, 1997
• S. House of Representatives Resolution 3540 – June 11, 1996
• Greece (Hellenic Republic), Parliament Resolution – April 25, 1996
• Canada, House of Commons Resolution – April 23, 1996
• Russia, Duma Resolution – April 14, 1995
• Argentina, Senate Resolution – May 5, 1993
• European Parliament Resolution – June 18, 1987
• S. House of Representatives Joint Resolution 247 – September 12, 1984
• Cyprus, House of Representatives, Resolution – April 29, 1982
• S. House of Representatives Joint Resolution 148 – April 9, 1975
• Uruguay, Senate and House of Representatives, Resolution – April 20, 1965
• S. Senate Resolution 359 – May 11, 1920
• S. Congress Act to Incorporate Near East Relief – August 6, 1919
• S. Senate Concurrent Resolution 12 – February 9, 1916
• France, Great Britain, and Russia, Joint Declaration – May 24, 1915

International Organizations 

• Parliament of Andean Community of Nations (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú)September 20, 2016.
• International Organization of La Francophonie, Statement of Secretary-General – April 24 2015
• The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity – April 9, 2007
• Human Rights Association of Turkey, Istanbul Branch – April 24, 2006
• International Center for Transitional Justice Report Prepared for TARC – February 10, 2003
• European Alliance of YMCAs – July 20, 2002
• Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly Declaration – April 24, 2001
• Human Rights League – May 16, 1998
• Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly Declaration – April 24, 1998
• The Association of Genocide Scholars – June 13, 1997
• Kurdistan Parliament in Exile – April 24, 1996
• Union of American Hebrew Congregations – November 7, 1989
• UN Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities – July 2, 1985
• Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal, Verdict of the Tribunal – April 16, 1984
• World Council of Churches – August 10, 1983
• UN General Assembly Resolution – December 9, 1948
• UN War Crimes Commission Report – May 28, 1948

Provincial legislative bodies, governments, city councils

US states

• Alabama
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Texas
• Wyoming
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• South Dakota

Australia

• Province of New South Wales

Argentina

• Province of Cordoba
• Province of Buenos Aires

Canada

• British Columbia
• Ontario (including the City of Toronto)
• Quebec (including the City of Montreal)
• Alberta

Switzerland

• Geneva Canton
• Vaud Canton

Great Britain

• Wales

Italy 

• Consiglio regionale della Toscana
• Consiglio regionale della Lazio
• Assemblea Regionale Siciliana
• Comune di Tolfa
• Comune di Bertiolol
• Comune di Udine
• Comune di Sesto San Giovanni
• Comune di Salgareda
• Comune di Belluno
• Comune di Roma
• Comune di Massa Lombarda
• Comune di Genova
• Comune di Thiene
• Comune di Castelsilano
• Comune di Firenze
• Comune di Ravenna
• Comune di Feltre
• Comune di Venezia
• Comune di Imola
• Comune di Faenza
• Comune di Parma
• Comune di Solarolo
• Comune di Villafranca Padovana
• Comune di Milano
• Comune di Ponte di Piave
• Comune di Conselice
• Comune di Lugo
• Comune di S. Stino Livenza
• Comune di Cotignola
• Comune di Asiago
• Comune di S. Agata Sul Santerno
• Comune di Monterforte D’Alpone
• Comune di Padova
• Comune di Montorso Vicentino
• Comune di Fusignano
• Comune di Bagnacavallo
• Comune di Russi
• Comune di Sanguinetto
• Comune di Camponogara

Spain 

• Navarre
• Catalonia
• Basque Country
• Balearic Islands
• Burgos
• Alcorcon
• Valencia
• Cullera
• Villena
• Torrent
• Sabadell
• Malaga
• Benalmadena
• Soria
• Mislata
• Burjassot
• Betera
• Pinto
• Xirivella
• San Sebastián
• Santa Margarida i els Monjos
• Aldaia
• Merida
• Paiporte
• Alicante
• Ontinyent

Belgium

• Flemish Parliament Resolution

Austria

• Vienna

Ukraine

• Svatove city, Luhansk region

Mexico

• Michoacán

 08:00,

YEREVAN, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS. Member of the Congress of Deputies (lower house of parliament) of Spain Jon Iñarritu says he believes that the reason behind Spain not having officially recognized the Armenian Genocide yet is the pressure exerted by Turkey.

In an exclusive interview to ARMENPRESS, the legislator expressed hope that the situation will change soon. 

ARMENPRESS: This year marks the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. More than 30 countries have formally recognized the Armenian Genocide. However, Spain is not among them. What’s the reason behind it? 

Iñarritu: Firstly, I have to say that in Spain there are several parliaments such as the Basque Parliament or the Catalan Parliament that have already recognized the Armenian Genocide. Unfortunately, the Spanish Congress has not done until now. Secondly, I am hopeful that soon this can change and the Spanish Parliament recognizes the first genocide of the 20th century. 

I believe that the reasons why Spain and other some States have not recognized it to this day, is the pressure exerted by Turkey, but if historically the facts are evident, it makes no sense that this is not recognized by his name: genocide.  

ARMENPRESS: More than a century after the Genocide Turkey still continues its policy of denial. How would you assess the behavior of Ankara to avoid the historical truth? 

Iñarritu: The facts of denial and historical relativism in relation to the Armenian Genocide I think are very unfair and humiliating to the Armenian people and other minorities such as Assyrians or Pontic Greeks, but in the same way I think they do not benefit the Turkish society. 

ARMENPRESS: A process has started aimed to normalize the relation between Armenia and Turkey. In your opinion, can the process succeed if one of the parties refuses to accept the historical truth and admit the crime of genocide committed by his ancestors? 

Iñarritu: Hardly, I know Turkey and I lived a short period of my life in Turkey and it is a fascinating State, but I think that acknowledging of the historical facts in relation to Armenians would help to consolidate a better relationship with Armenia, and at the same time, it would be an act of historical justice. 

I think that Turkey should follow the example of Germany to deal with dramatic events in its own history. That would not weaken Turkey, it would make Turkey more dignified and stronger. 

ARMENPRESS: Impunity emboldens the perpetrators of the crimes. We recently witnessed it in Artsakh, where the Azerbaijani military tortured, killed and mutilated unarmed captive Armenian soldiers and civilians. Don’t you think there’s a lack of proper reaction from the international community? 

Iñarritu: The war crimes committed in Artsakh by the Aliyev´s Regime and its allies are evident. I myself witnessed what was happening. The responsibles for these acts should be brought to the International Justice. The best way to prevent similar events, I believe, would be that the international community  recognize that Artsakh is a clear Remedial Secession case. That would prevent new crimes, allow the Armenians of Artsakh to live in peace in their ancestral land, and to improve relationships  between the South Caucasus peoples and States.

Finally, I want to express my solidarity and support for the Armenian people on the day of commemoration of the Genocide.