Within the framework of an official trip, the Armenian delegation headed by Armenia’s PM Hovik Abrahamyan arrived in Prague on Monday upon the invitation of the Czech Republic PM Bohuslav Sobotka.

The same day, PM Hovik Abrahampyan visited and laid flowers at the Lidice Memorial of Prague dedicated to the million of children killed during the WWII.  The PM and the delegation members also familiarized themselves with the works of children displayed  for the 43rd International Children’s Exhibition of Fine Arts at Lidice Gallery. Together with Czech Republic Culture Minster Daniel Herman, Abrahamyan also attended the opening of the exhibition “The Interrupted Childhood: Children-victims of the Armenian Genocide.”

Hovik Abrahamyan delivered a speech at the exhibition opening ceremony.

“Human history is full of tragic pages, and it is mandatory for the next generation to commemorate the victims of those pages. This is a responsibility which goes beyond national borders, becoming a universal message and precept. Like [Armenia’s] Tsitsernakaberd [Genocide] Memorial and other similar memorials, Lidice Memorial possesses solemn silence, unique silence, which resonates with people’s hearts and souls,” he said.

Referring to the Armenian Genocide, the PM said: “This year the Armenian people and various nations and states worldwide showed new approach towards the early 20th century tragedy committed against Armenians. Unfortunately, the Armenian Genocide remained unpunished, this being not without consequences: the Nazi brutalities in the European continent were the cruel repercussions of the policy of annihilation of over two million Christians in the Ottoman Empire. Over half million Christian children, who fell victim to these crimes, were forced to become Turks and were alienated from their families and people.”

According to Abrahamyan the exhibition “The Interrupted Childhood: Children-victims of the Armenian Genocide” at Lidice Memorial, presented by  the latter’s Armenian partner Armenia Genocide Museum-Institute, “is a series of human tragic stories displayed through photos, which have a shocking effect on everyone. Such stories are numerous, but they can’t be called exclusive and unprecedented, since these fates faced by the children are expressions of universal tragedy. It’s symbolic that the opening of the exhibition coincides with the International Children’s Day, which humanity marks today.”

Concluding his speech, the PM said: “Today, tomorrow and forever we unite our voice of complaint in Lidice, Tsitsernakaberd, Auschwitz and elsewhere to remind the humanity of the horrors of genocides and wars, urging the coming generations to do their best in preventing them and keeping humanity away from future evils.”

The PM also made a note in the honorary guest book.