The grand opening of a monument dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims took place on Friday in Orebro, Sweden. It is the first monument of its kind in Sweden opened by the city authorities on the proposal of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Event Coordination Intercommunity Committee of Orebro.  The words ‘We will never forget’ are carved on the monument in Armenian, Aramaic, Greek and Swedish.

The event was attended by the representatives of state and city authorities, diplomats, journalists, as well as Armenian and Assyrian community members.

Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, leader of Syriac Orthodox Church in Sweden, Armenian Ambassador to Sweden Artak Apitonian, Governor of Orebro County Maria Larsson and City Council President Agneta Blom delivered speeches during the event.

In his speech, Ambassador Apitonian referred to the significance of the opening of such monuments, symbolizing the eternal memory of the innocent victims. He also expressed confidence that it will not only become a sanctuary for the local Armenian, Assyrian and Greek communities, but will also turn into a center of unity and mutual trust for Orebro’s people.  

The Ambassador also expressed hope that the acknowledgement process which has taken its start in the Turkish society will grow stronger, and in near future Turkey’s representative will make a speech during the commemoration event of the first genocide of the 20th century.