UK GOVERNMENT MEMBER USES TERM ARMENIAN GENOCIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.05.2008 14:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The UK government has strongly condemned the
desecration of the Armenian Genocide Monument in Cardiff, Wales, which
occurred on Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27, 2008, independent
French journalist Jean Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net.

In a reply to MP David Burrowes, (who had taken up a complaint by
B. Nazarian of Armenia Solidarity about the act of vandalism), the
Secretary of State for Wales, the Rt Hon Paul Murphy, replying for
the UK government specifically referred to "the desecration of The
Armenian Genocide Memorial in Cardiff in January 2008."

"I wholeheartedly condemn this violent act of desecration. It is
distressing that this is yet another example of how we must all
continue to be vigilant against such acts of racism, violence and
hatred; and that we all need to stand united against them," he said.

"This attack, like many similar crimes, is often unprovoked and
undertaken under the cover of darkness.

I hope that when the vandals are caught and prosecuted for this crime,
this will go some way to easing the pain and distress that has been
caused by this terrible act", he said.

"This is a most significant development" said a spokesman for Armenia
Solidarity. "In the past government ministers have made strenuous
efforts to avoid using the phrase the Armenian Genocide.