ARF ACTIVISTS ORGANIZE TORCHLIT PROCESSION DURING ARMENIA-TURKEY
FOOTBALL MATCH
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. About 50 activists of the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun lit torches at Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex to
Armenian Genocide Victims at 9 pm of August 6 – the start of the
qualifying match between the national football teams of Armenia and
Turkey – and held these torches until the end of the match. ARF member
Hayk Hovhannisian told NT correspondent that the purpose of this move
was to present once again the demand for the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide to Turkish President Abdullah Gul who had arrived in
Armenia to attend the match. "A. Gul is a guest but in general, guests
do no come barehanded. Prior to Gul’s visit, they (NT: Turks) should
have thought that they are coming to a country where they committed
genocide, besides, they are continuing Armenia’s blockade today," the
ARF representative said, adding that the aim of ARF activists’ move was
to remind Turkish president about the genocide – throughout his visit.
In connection with A. Gul’s visit, the ARF also staged protests at the
airport and outside the Armenian president’s residence in Baghramian
Avenue.