PRESS RELEASE
Armenia Solidarity (supported by Nor Serount Cultural Association)
c/o The Temple of Peace, Cathays Park Cardiff, Wales
[email protected]
Tel: 0044 7718982732
For the first time, a minister of the UK government has used the term
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
The UK government has at last issued a strongly-worded condemnation of
the desecration of the Armenian Genocide Monument in Cardiff, Wales
which ocurred on Holocaust Memorial Day
In a reply to Mr David Burrowes MP, (who had taken up a complaint by
B. Nazarian of Armenia Solidarity about the desecration of the Armenian
Genocide Monument), the Secretary of State for Wales, the Rt Hon Paul
Murphy, replying for the UK government specifically refered to "the
desecration of The Armenian Genocide Memorial in Cardiff in january
2008" He continued:
"I wholeheartedly condemn this violent act of desecration. It is
distressing that this is yet another example of how we must all continue
to be vigilant against such acts of racism, violence and hatred; and
that we all need to stand united against them…. This attack, like many
similar crimes, is often unprovoked and undertaken under the cover of
darkness. …. I hope that when the person(s) are caught and prosecuted
for this crime, this will go some way to easing the pain and distress
that has been caused by this terrible act"
"This is a most signifigant developpment" said a spokesman for
Armenia Solidarity. "In the past government ministers have made
strenuous efforts to avoid using the phrase the Armenian Genocide.
Considering the recognition given to the Genocide by the majority of
Welsh Members of the UK parliament as well as the majority of the
National Assembly Members, the minister must have found it impossible to
persist in this avoidance. This is an example of how moral leadership
given by Welsh politicians (of all parties) on the issue consistently
since 2001 has eventualy influenced the UK government’s position
The truth of the Genocide has been set in stone in Wales, and such
violent acts of desecration by extremists can only embolden other
politicians in the UK to stand up for this truth."
He continued:"It is also signifigant that this statement is now made
public on the eve of the Queen’s state visit to Turkey. We call on
Armenians worldwide to congratulate the Secretary of State foe Wales
,the Rt Hon. Paul Murphy for this step.( The e-mail of his office is:
[email protected]) with a copy also to Armenia Solidarity
([email protected])
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
