ARMENIAN LEADER SAYS STRUGGLE FOR “GENOCIDE” RECOGNITION TO CONTINUE

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
24 Apr 06

[Presenter] Armenian people and their friends commemorate genocide
victims on 24 April every year. People in many countries of the world
are paying tribute to the memory of genocide victims. The Armenian
leadership and officials visited Tsitsernakaberd [memorial] today.

President Robert Kocharyan, Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan,
Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, members of the government
and other officials laid flowers at the monument.

Addressing people, the Armenian president noted that Ottoman Turkey
and its successor are responsible for the Armenian genocide. The
entire subsequent history of the Armenian people who experienced
genocide has carried the dire consequences of this crime.

Robert Kocharyan noted that the pain is even stronger as we have to
struggle for the recognition and condemnation of this black page
in history. The Republic of Armenia, which expresses the national
interests of Armenians scattered all over the world, will continue the
struggle. We are grateful to those countries and organizations that
back us. Awareness gets stronger by the year that this is a task for
entire mankind and the most efficient way to prevent similar crimes
[Kocharyan said].

The struggle of the Armenian people is void of the subtext of
revengefulness. We are looking ahead because strong statehood,
prosperity and progress of Armenia will be our best response to those
who deny the Armenian genocide, Robert Kocharyan noted.

[Video showed the event]