YEREVAN. - President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan paid tribute to victims of the Armenian Genocide on Sunday.

The President and his wife Rita Sargsyan visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial Tsitsernakaberd and laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame.

The president was accompanied by the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Speaker of Armenian National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Secretary of National Security Council Arthur Baghdasaryan and other members of the government.

His Holiness Karekin II uttered a prayer for the repose of the souls of innocent victims.

Many states have recognized the Armenian Genocide. Uruguay was the first to do it in 1965. The Armenian Genocide has since been recognized by Russia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina, as well as by 42 of the U.S. states. The Armenian Genocide has also been recognized by Vatican, the European Parliament, and World Church Council.

Turkey denies accusations of mass killings of Armenians during the First World War and is extremely sensitive to criticism voiced by the western states.