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

"ROADMAPS AND REOPENING OF BORDERS CANNOT AND WILL NOT COMPROMISE THE
ARMENIAN PEOPLE’S DEMAND FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE 1915 ARMENIAN GENOCIDE,
AND THE CLAIM FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE"

STATED ARAM I

On Thursday 24 April 2009, thousands of Armenians gathered in front of the
Memorial for the Martyrs of the 1915 Genocide in the courtyard of the
Catholicosate in Antelias Lebanon. The Martyrs’ Chapel was built when the
remains of one and a half million victims were brought from the desert of
Der Zor to Antelias, Lebanon.

The Prelate of Lebanon, Bishop Kegham Khatcherian celebrated the Divine
Liturgy. At the end of the liturgy His Holiness Aram I led the procession to
the ‘Eternal Torch’ inside the Chapel where he celebrated the memorial
service. In his address he said: "The memory of our martyrs gives meaning to
our lives because future is a forward looking vision built on past and
present memories and experiences. As we pray in this place today, we cannot
but once more renew our demand for justice for the inhuman acts committed
against innocent men, women and children. Turkey wanted to eliminate us as
country and people. We are grateful to all those countries that recognized
the Armenian Genocide of 1915. However we want to tell them that recognition
is not enough, we want justice. We are not asking for mercy from the world;
we are demanding justice. This is our right. The Armenian nation is a victim
of injustice; its human rights are violated. We cannot remain silent in view
of this prevailing injustice. Our collective memory will not heal unless
justice is victorious. Neither roadmaps, nor reciprocal visits will restore
justice."

And then turning to the youth he said: "You have just returned from your
pilgrimage to Der Zor where the massacres happened. You walked on the sand
mixed with the remains of your ancestors. You threw flowers into the
Euphrates River that washed away the bodies of men, women and children. You
should now bring your pilgrimage into its fruition by using your knowledge
and expertise to overcome denial and injustice in a non-violent way."

At the end of the Requiem, official representatives, organizations, school
children and the people passed in front of the ‘Eternal Torch’ and placed
wraths and flowers.

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View photos here:
c/Photos/Photos380.htm
http://www.ArmenianOrthodox Church.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos381.htm
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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 history and
the mission 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.