ARMENIANS JOIN GREEKS IN ‘GENOCIDE’ PROTEST
Today’s Zaman, Turkey
May 22 2007
Armenians in the United States have announced their backing for Greek
allegations of a genocide in Anatolia during the World War I years.
One of the most influential Armenian groups in the United States,
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), said it had joined
with Greeks in commemorating the alleged genocide on May 19, the very
same date when Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic, began
a national war of independence against the invading Western powers.
"We join with the Hellenic American community in solemn remembrance
of the Pontian Genocide, and in reaffirming our determination to work
together with all the victims of Turkey’s atrocities to secure full
recognition and justice for these crimes," Aram Hamparian, executive
director of the ANCA, was quoted as saying by the PanArmenian
Internet site.
Governor, local mayors and politicians joined a ceremony marked
to commemorate the alleged "Pontian Genocide" in Anatolia and
Thessaloniki, Greece, on May 19. A similar ceremony was also held
later in the Greek capital of Athens. Demonstrators demanded Turkish
recognition of the charges that some 350,000 Greeks were massacred
in Anatolia.
The Greek Parliament approved a decision in 1994 to declare May 19 as
the day to commemorate the "Pontian Genocide," and Ankara suspects the
Greek government is pursuing systematic efforts to win international
recognition for the allegations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
