CEREMONY IN MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS HELD IN NEA ZMIRNI

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 25 2007

NEA ZMIRNI, APRIL 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the initiative
of the prefecture of Athens and with the sponsorship of the local
Armenian clergymen, a ceremony in memory of the innocent victims of
the Armenian Genocide took place at the Armenian memorial monument
in Nea Zmirni on April 23.

The event was chaired by Harutyun Chinarian, who after presenting a
short historical background noted that today’s Turkey is continuing
to be a captive of its guilty past.

Among Greek guests were former Greek prime minister Ioannis Grivas,
mayor of Nea Zmirni Yorgos Kutyalakis, deputy mayors Vankelis
Khachaturian and Marina Iokovaki, chairman and members of the city
council and many other officials.

In his speech the Nea Zmirni mayor indicated the highly pro-Armenian
feelings of the mayor’s office and informed those present that a
5-member delegation will this week visit Armenia within the framework
of Nea Zmirni-Sisian sister cities process.

After speeches, wreaths were laid at the memorial monument and the
brass band of Nea Zmirni performed the national anthems of Armenia
and Greece.