DEDICATION OF APRICOT TREE AS MONUMENT IN LONDON IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE
1.5 MILLION VICTIMS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
An Apricot Tree (Prunus Armeniaca) was dedicated as the first public
monument in England in memory of the 1.5 Million Victims of the
Armenian Genocide of 1915. The dedication took place in the London
Borough of Ealing on Saturday 17th of April, 2010, in a prominent
position in a green along the Ealing High Street.
The Dedication Ceremony was conducted by the Primate of the Armenian
Church in the United Kingdom, the Very Rev. Vahan Hovhanessian and a
message was delivered on behalf of the British Armenian community by
Mr Ara H Palamoudian, Chairman of the Armenian Community & Church
Council of Great Britain. Also present was a member of the Armenian
Embassy representing the Ambassador, Dr Vahe Gabrielyan.
Extracts from speech given by Mr A. H. Palamoudian, Chairman of the
Armenian Community & Church Council of Great Britain, at the
dedication ceremony of an Apricot Tree as a Monument in memory of the
1.5 Million Victims of the Armenian Genocide:
"Today is a momentous day for British Armenians.
Today we have taken another step in the journey towards securing
recognition by the British Government of the Armenian Genocide."
"We hear noises and protestations of denial today, as we have heard
for the past 95 years. But the truth and the reality of the Genocide
is well known even to those who deny the truth for their own political
expediency.
Denial of the Genocide is racist and causes distress and humiliation
to the Armenian people and it is a violation of our dignity.
We and our children and our children’s children refuse, and will
continue to refuse, to be humiliated any longer, and we reject the
deniers.
Jesus said on the Cross, " forgive them Lord for they know not what they do".
We now say to all those who are intent on denying the Armenian
Genocide: go and discover the truth !
Acknowledge the Holocaust that was perpetrated upon our parents and
our grandparents, and forgiveness is there to be had – for it is
divine to forgive.
However, GENOCIDE can never be forgotten.
This tree is a monument against Genocide, so that Genocide is never
forgotten and therefore never happens again. No matter against whom
perpetrated – be they Jews, Tootsies, Ruandans or Armenians.
This Monument will grow and will bear fruit and as it grows it will
even more forcefully remind the World that Genocide and the Victims of
Genocide can not be forgotten and that Genocide must never happen
again.
We are not here for a confrontation;
We are here to create a better world, a fairer world and a world where
Crimes against Humanity are condemned and purged, so that nations are
thus able to live together in harmony and neighbourly respect."
In his speech, Mr Palamoudian thanked the Council of the London
Borough of Ealing and said "This tree is a monument against Genocide,
so that Genocide is never forgotten and therefore never happens again.
No matter against whom perpetrated – be they Jews, Tootsies, Ruandans
or Armenians".