RIA Novosti, Russia
April 24, 2005
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ADDRESSES PEOPLE ON THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
YEREVAN, April 24 (RIA Novosti’s Gamlet Matevosyan) Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan addressed Armenian people on the occasion
of the 90th anniversary of genocide of Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire.
Press service of the Armenian president told RIA Novosti that
Kocharyan’s address mentioned, in particular, that “1915 was a
watershed year in the Armenian history. It fundamentally changed the
natural evolution of Armenian history. The consequences of the
tragedy are still reflected in the lifestyle of all Armenians.”
According to Kocharyan, the condemnation of Armenian genocide on the
part of international community is an issue of general concern. “This
problem must be regarded in the context of regional and international
politics today,” the Armenian president stressed.
Kocharyan also noted that Armenian leadership had stated on numerous
occasions and continues to insist on development of normal relations
with Turkey. However, the policy of denial conducted by Turkish
authorities raises questions not only among Armenian people, but also
among global community.
According to the Armenian president, the genocide occurred due to
various reasons, but the major cause was the absence of Armenian
statehood.
>From the second half of the 19th century to 1920, the Ottoman Empire
conducted a planned persecution campaign against Armenians, which saw
its height in 1915-1916, when more than 1.5 mln Armenians were killed
in various regions of Western Armenia, which was part of the Ottoman
Empire at the time. About 600,000 Armenians became refugees and
dispersed among many countries. The Armenian Diaspora was formed.
Many countries, including Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece,
Italy, Canada, Cyprus, Lebanon, Russia, Slovakia, Uruguay (the first
country to do so officially in 1965), France and Switzerland have
recognized the genocide against Armenians.