MONUMENT DEDICATED TO MEMORY OF VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE SET UP IN WALES
Noyan Tapan
Nov 6, 2007
CARDIFF, NOVEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A monument-khachkar
(commemorative cross-stone) dedicated to the memory of the victims
of the Armenian Genocide was set up in the garden adjacent to the
Temple of Peace of Cardiff, the capital of Wales on November 5.
The opening of the khachkar was conducted by Vahe Gabrielian, the
Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United Kingdom, and
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, the Chairman of the Parliament of Wales,
after which the consecrating ceremony of the khachkar was performed
by His Holiness Nazan Hovhannisian, the primate of the Armenian Church
in the United Kingdom.
About 300 Armenians arrived from different places of the United
Kingdom, as well as representatives of the Parliament of Wales, the
Church of Wales and non-governmental organizations were present at
the ceremony.
A solemn part followed the opening ceremony of the khachkar, during
which Ambassador Gabrielian, Stephen Thomas, the Head of the Centre of
International Affairs of Wales, Rev. Chris Gillham, a representative
of the Welsh Church, Khoshaba Georges, the Assyrian Bishop of the
Ancient Church of the East, and Welsh (Jew by nationality) historian
Mike Joseph made speeches.
Referring to the problem on the international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, those, who made speeches attached importance to
the setting up of the monument as a symbol of friendship between
the Armenian and Welsh people. Ambassador Gabrielian stressed in his
speech the role of Wales being a vanguard in Great Britain with regard
to recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the Press
and Information Department of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the
event was accompanied by a demostration of protest of 100-150 Turks
carrying placards and distributing leaflets, which was organized by
the Turkish organizations operating in the United Kingdom.
The ceremony of setting up the khachkar and the Turkish demonstration
of protest was covered by the BBC.
The plot for the khachkar was given by the Welsh Center for
International Affairs and was made by Welsh masters due to the means
of a small number of Armenians living in Wales. John Torosian, the
Chairman of the "Wales-Armenia Solidarity" organization operating in
Wales, and Armenian by nationality Elian Williams contributed to the
placing of the khachkar.