ARF Lebanon Central Committee issues statement over Abdul Hamid II clock

Yerkir.am
May 05, 2006

Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Lebanon Central Committee
issued on April 26 a statement in protest of placing a plaque in
memory of Abdul Hamid II in a Tripoli square after the renovation of
the Hamid clock.

“It is disappointing that this initiative that offends deeply the
dignity of the Armenian people has coincided with the commemoration of
the 1915 Armenian Genocide `which has killed more than 1.5 million
Armenians — perpetrated by the Turks,” the statement said. “We
strongly condemn that initiative which is equal to disrespect of the
collective memory of the Armenians.”

It further said that on May 17, 2000, the Lebanese Parliament
recognized the Armenian Genocide in a resolution that stated: “On the
occasion of the 85th anniversary of the Genocide perpetrated by the
Ottoman government in 1915 that took the lives of 1.5 million
Armenians, the Lebanese Parliament condemns the collective massacre
carried out against Armenians and expresses its support to its
compatriots as well as notes that the international recognition of the
Genocide is the key condition to prevent such crimes in future.”

“Therefore we state that it is wrong to go back and the decision of
the Tripoli city council should be on line with the Lebanese
Parliament policy,” the statement concluded.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress