Azad-Hye, Dubai, 20 May 2006

We received the following press release from Qatari Armenian community,
issued on 1st May 2006

On 27th April 2006 for the first time in State of Qatar the Armenian
community commemorated the Genocide and paid its respect to the 1.5 millions
martyrs.

The event was organized by the Armenian National Council in Qatar. The
orator of the day was Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, Prelate of the Dioceses
of Tehran, who was present in Doha to take part of the “4th Doha Conference
on Religions Dialogue”.

At the beginning of the event the community members lit 91 candles in
remembrance to the souls of the forgotten in order to show their solidarity
for the 91 years of fight against injustice. After inviting the audience to
one minute silence in respect to the souls of the 1.5 millon of martyrs, the
master of ceremony Sarkis Kerkezian made the opening speech on behalf of the
Armenian Council.

In his speech, Kerkezian mentioned that the blood that our martyrs shed in
the deserts of Der Zor is sacred and it is from that same blood that a group
of second generation surviving Armenians put the seeds of a new community in
another Arabian desert of Qatar. As William Saroyan Says’ when two Armenians
meet they form a new Armenia’. He gave a quick view about the current
international status of the genocide and the effort of recognition that are
getting carried on around the globe. He added, `This event is the first in
its nature and a stepping stone to the direction that hopefully one day, in
the upcoming future, our friendly Arabian Gulf countries will take the
necessary steps of recognizing the Armenian Genocide’.

It was decided to show the `Genocide Denied’ documentary which due to some
technicalities it was cancelled. Hence the Keynote speaker of the day Sebouh
Serpazan Sarkissian was invited to deliver the message for the occasion.

Serpazan Hayr gave a comprehensive historical background about the reasons
why the Genocide had been planned and occurred. He expressed his gratitude
that such small Armenian communities that exit around the globe create such
occasions to get together to support and encourage each other to live as
Armenians and carry on the April 24 oath by commemorating and paying homage
to our martyrs. `Nobody can destroy a nation unless a nation destroys
itself’ he said.

He added `the genocide was planned way ahead and it was not derived by
religious motives but through the pan-touranic dream plan of turkey which
failed. The second cultural genocide is still continuing by destroying the
historical Armenian monuments. The third genocide is the fight against the
Armenian memory and remembrance by faking the historical facts which is
impossible to do so due to the existing evidence.’

`We have to continue our struggle of existence’ Serpazan hayr said,
“Genocide is a crime and sin against the God and the laws that He has given
to us that we abide’

Serpazan hayr finished his speech by telling about his experience in the
conference and the commemoration of the Genocide in Tehran. He said `Our
expectation is that in the Arabian Gulf countries in our day to day life we
have to keep our Armenian and Christian Spirit and should commemorate the
genocide which is part of our heritage and permanence.’

At the end of his speech the floor was open to the compatriot Armenians to
address their questions to the Serpazan Hayr.

Subsequently, the Armenian Genocide comprehensive CD, which was prepared by
the Haigazian University Heritage Club, was demonstrated and explained to
the fellow Armenians and a copy of the CD was distributed to all.

 
Afterwards, a collection of Armenian Genocide posters, in a movie format,
was demonstrated to the audience which included the poster prepared for the
event by the young promising designer Kayane Kouzoujian. The poster will be
submitted to the website as an expression of
solidarity by the Armenian community of Qatar to our collective pan-Armenian
fight against injustice.

The event adjourned with a collective singing of the `Der Voghormya’
followed by a prayer to the souls of the martyrs `Hokehankisd’ and
`Bahbanich’ Blessings of Serpazan Hayr. A group of spirited Armenians ended
the event with the `Sartarabad’ anthem.

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