PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: info@armenianorthodoxchurch.org
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

"THE FIRST GENOCIDE OF THE 20TH CENTURY, THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, REMAINS
UNPUNISHED"

SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I AT THE
SAINT’EGIDIO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

"When we speak about the martyrs of the 20th century, we can not avoid
referring to the genocides during which many people perished. The first
genocide of the 20th century was the Armenian Genocide, planned and executed
by Ottoman Turkey. The Genocide, to which one and a half million Armenians
fell victim, remains unpunished," said His Holiness Aram I while opening the
session entitled "The legacy of the 20th century’s victims" at the
Saint’Egidio international conference in Cyprus.

His Holiness chaired the session, which lasted over three hours and featured
six speakers from Germany, France, Russia, Italy, Sweden and Iraq. All the
participants, newspaper editors, theologians and professors, emphasized the
need to for effective measures for preventing genocides and respecting human
rights.

In his closing remarks, the Pontiff underlined the word "impunity" and the
necessity for a serious discussion of the fact that the Armenian Genocide
remains unpunished within the context of the United Nations and with the
participation of non-governmental organizations. "Unpunished genocides lead
to new genocides. Let us not forget Hitler’s words, "’who today remembers
the massacres of Armenians’." His Holiness observed that the legacy of those
martyrs today is the pursuit of justice.

The conference was launched on Sunday 16 November 2008 evening with the
opening remarks of the Presidents of Cyprus and Albania. Around a thousand
people from all religions and circles (spiritual, academic and government)
are participating in the conference.

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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.