APRIL 23RD VIGIL OUTSIDE OF TURKISH EMBASSY
Hagop Krikorian

AYF
London
24/04/10

On April 23rd 2010, just one day before the 95th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, the Armenian Youth Federation hosted a vigil
outside of the Turkish embassy in Belgrave square. The vigil, lasting
approximately 5 hours, was setup with a view to show the Turkish
government that the Armenian people had not forgotten the atrocious
events of 1915. Around 110 people had joined the event which was to be
the beginning for a series of commemorative gatherings in remembrance
of the Armenian Genocide. These people came to remember and
commemorate the Armenian Genocide, a Genocide that `the Turkish
government are trying to forget’, said the AYF official press officer,
Varag Atanosian.

`History is cyclic, we need to recognise our past so we are not
doomed to repeat it’, he said looking grim and disappointed. Indeed
these words hit home the truth that silence leads to denial, and
denial, sadly, leads to repetition without retribution. It is a
miserable fact that we live in a world ruled by realpolitik where
nations mostly seek to act in their own interests, yet this does not
deter Armenians living not only in Britain but around the world having
the hope that our governments look at the history and do `what is the
right thing for humanity’.

The event had a distinctly sombre mood to it, which was
understandable given what had taken place just under a century ago.
However, in spite of this, there was a little excitement in the air as
the crowd were informed by the police escorts that there was to be a
counter vigil by some other Turks. However, apart from three
journalists who showed their faces for around half an hour, there was
to be a no show. This seems to be a specialty in Turkish culture these
days, taking a page out of their government’s book so eloquently
dubbed, `How to Agree a set of Protocols then Stall for No Apparent
Reason’, written by Abdullah Gul.

Nevertheless, despite the petulance of the Turkish, the vigil was
deemed largely to be a success serving the community with a chance to
remember and bereave the Genocide in a calm and tranquil manner,
without feeling the need to make their feelings known in a vocal
manner. All who were present, were there with the aim of remembering
our fallen heroes of the Armenian Genocide, but more importantly,
showing our neighbours to the west one simple message. We will never
forget.