JERUSALEM. - Several events were organized in Jerusalem dedicated to the commemoration of the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Archbishop Aris Shirvanian, the current director of Ecumenical and Foreign Relations for the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to him the first event was organized on April 23.

On April 24 a liturgy was held at St. Hakob Church in Jerusalem followed by a requiem. Then the representatives of the Armenian Community in Jerusalem went to the monument dedicated to the victims.

The world commemorates on April 24 the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the first genocide of the 20th century.

Commemoration actions are held in all states, people remember this monstrous crime against humanity as over one and a half million innocent Armenians were massacred in the Ottoman Empire, while hundreds of thousands were tortured and deported.

The fact of the Armenian Genocide is recognized by many states. It was first recognized in 1965 by Uruguay. In general, the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey has already been recognized by Russia, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina, and 42 U.S. states.