Voice of America
April 24 2005

Armenia Marks 90th Anniversary of Ottoman Empire Massacres
By VOA News

Armenians visit the hilltop memorial in Yerevan
Armenia is marking the 90th anniversary of massacres inflicted on
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire – events Yerevan calls genocide
directed against its people.

Thousands of people marched through the Armenian capital Sunday,
climbing a hill to lay wreaths in remembrance of the 1.5 million
people Armenia says were slaughtered during the final years of the
Ottoman Empire.

Turkey says 300,000 Armenians and thousands of Turks died during
between 1915 and 1923, as a result of a Russian-backed Armenian
uprising against Ottoman rule. Turkey contends those deaths were not
part of a campaign of genocide aimed at Armenians.

But Ankara has come under increasing international pressure to
acknowledge its actions during those years, especially as it seeks
membership in the European Union.

Several European countries, including France and Switzerland
recognize the event as genocide.