A number of Armenian political figures, who arrived at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to pay homage to the Armenian Genocide victims, made their appraisal of the process of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915-1923.

Hrair Karapetyan, Chairman of the Committee on Defense, Internal Affairs and National Security, RA Parliament, hopes U.S. President Barack Obama will utter the word “genocide” in his April address to the Armenians. Talking to journalists, he pointed out that “such a step on the U.S. President’s part would give impetus to the official recognition of the Armenian Genocide, which has actually been recognized by the U.S. Congress.”

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan pointed out that the Armenian people is united today. “The people are united, grieving for the victims and struggling for justice. We would like the Diaspora to be united in all other matters as well because we have to accomplish the tasks of getting Armenian Genocide internationally recognized and denounced, settling the Nagorno-Karabakh problem and consolidating Armenia,” she said.

Chairman of the Control Chamber of Armenia Ishkhan Zakaryan pointed out that the Armenian President spared no efforts to have the Armenian-Turkish border reopened. “Unfortunately, Turkey is not ready for it now. And the President’s statement that the process must be suspended was quite right,” he said.

VivaCell General Manager Mr. Ralph Yirikian said that April 24 is an integral part of Armenian history. “This day has always given us strength to move forward, get even stronger in the future – especially for our national identity as Armenians. Whatever they think we will be getting stronger every day,” Yirikian said.

T.P.