ic Wales, United Kingdom
Nov 3 2007
Genocide victims remembered
Nov 3 2007 by Katie Bodinger, South Wales Echo
A MEMORIAL to mark the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in
the early 20th Century was due to be unveiled today.
The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly, Lord Elis-Thomas, will
take part in the ceremony outside the Temple of Peace in Cardiff,
calling the deaths `one of the biggest genocides the world has ever
seen’.
Armenians claim 1.5 million people were either murdered or died
through starvation. Turkey insists there was no policy of genocide and
claims 300,000 Armenians died in inter-ethnic violence.
Lord Elis-Thomas said: `The fact that the funds for this fine memorial
have been raised entirely by the Armenians who live in Wales and that
it will occupy a special place here in the Temple of Peace, reflects
the vibrant Welsh interest in the history of Armenia.’
The monument, made of pink stone and Welsh slate, was designed and
crafted by stonemason Ieuan Rees of Betws, near Ammanford.
It carries an inscription in English, Welsh and Armenian, which reads,
`In memory of the victims of the Armenian genocide’.
But the memorial has provoked angry protests from the Turkish
community.
Hal Savas, of the Committee for the Protection of Turkish Rights,
said: `The allegation of genocide is entirely unproven.’
But a spokesman for the Armenian community said: `We hope they will
come to terms with history.’
diff-news/2007/11/03/genocide-victims-remembered-9 1466-20056103/