YEREVAN. - On Friday, April 24, 2015, Armenians living worldwide and numerous countries commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; the first genocide of the 20th century.
Under the instruction of the Ottoman rulers, the massacre and mass deportation of Armenians commenced on this day in 1915.
Commemorations are held in virtually all countries where Armenians live. The key events, however, will be held at the Armenian Genocide Memorial on Tsitsernakaberd Hill, in Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan. Armenian authorities, the Catholicos of All Armenians, French and Russian Presidents François Hollande and Vladimir Putin, secretary of the US Department of Treasury, Jacob Lew—who leads a US presidential delegation—, MPs, members of governments, representatives of the diplomatic corps, political parties and the Armenian diaspora, and numerous other guests will come to Tsitsernakaberd to pay tribute to the Genocide victims.
During the First World War, the Turkish authorities accused Armenians of sympathizing with Russia and used this as a pretext to declare the entire Armenian population their enemy.
The events that occurred between 1915 and 1923 are considered by many historians as a state-supported mass murder - genocide. Armenia states that the death toll exceeds 1.5 million people; the half of all Armenians at the turn of the last century.
The fact of the Armenian Genocide is formally recognized by many states. It was first recognized in 1965 by Uruguay. The Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey is also recognized by Russia, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina, and 42 US states. The Armenian Genocide is likewise recognized by the Vatican, the European Parliament, and the World Council of Churches.
And in April of this year, the Parliament of Austria issued a statement while the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the Armenian Genocide. And on April 12, Pope Francis offered a mass at the Vatican, and in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
