YEREVAN. – The delegation led by Armenian National Assembly (NA) Speaker Hovik Abrahamyam, who is in Germany on a work visit, on Monday visited the Johannes Lepsius House-Museum in Potsdam.  

Abrahamyan toured the House-Museum and met with the latter’s research staff, NA Press Service informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. The House-Museum’s director Hans-Ulrich Schulz detailed Lepsius’ life and activities. The German social activist, clergy, and Orientology expert Johannes Lepsius had dealt with the Armenian Question for numerous years,. He condemned Turkish authorities for its annihilation of the Armenians and demanded from his country’s government to exert efforts toward ending the Armenian massacres. Mr. Schulz presented to Armenian NA Speaker Lepsius’ work entitled Situation of the Armenian People in Turkey.        

In his address, Hovik Abrahamyan noted that the Armenian people remember Lepsius with gratitude because he was the first to voice the Armenians’ mass killing in Ottoman Turkey. He expressed a hope that the first genocide of the 20th Century would receive universal recognition and condemnation. “We truly see Dr. Lepsius’ life as part of history of the Armenian people of the time,” Abrahamyan noted. 

In NA Speaker’s words, Armenia underscores restoring of historic justice also between the two neighboring countries and in terms of improving mutual trust in the region. “Turkey must follow the example of Germany, which recognized the Holocaust as a historical reality,” Hovik Abrahamyan stated, adding that, at the initiative of Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan, an attempt was made to improve relations between Armenia and Turkey, and without any preconditions.   

The protocols on opening the borders and establishing diplomatic relations were signed in Zurich, Switzerland. “Regrettably, Turkey was not and is not ready today to bring this process to its logical end. The international community knows that Armenia has always come up with constructive initiatives,” Abrahamyan maintained.

After this meeting, the delegation led by Armenia’s Parliament Speaker visited Cecilienhof, where the Potsdam Conference was held in 1945. 

On Tuesday, Hovik Abrahamyan will meet with Norbert Lammert, President of the German Bundestag, and, on the evening, Armenia’s parliamentary delegation will attend a festive concert and an official reception, at Berlin’s big concert hall, devoted to 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence.