On May 9, members of the Armenian community of Munich, Father, Priest Aigik Hovhannisyan, Director of the Armenian Compatriotic Union of Bavaria Ani Chakri and Director of the Institution for Armenian Affairs in Germany Alice Marukhian held a commemorative event dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, reports ArmNews.

There were more than 200 people attending the event. Among the guests of honor was acting Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Germany Ashot Smbatyan, who gave a speech in which he talked about the history of the Armenian Genocide and presented the reality, after which he introduced the gathered to the efforts being made to solve diplomatic issues for recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Among those attending the event was Michael Wegner, son of German writer, poet, publicist, human rights activist, Armenian Genocide eyewitness and photographer Armin Wegner. In his speech, Michael Wegner cited several facts from his father’s memoirs and informed that he regretted the loss of innocent people and the lack of recognition of the Armenian Genocide by some countries.

Among other attendees was author of the book “Armenian Woman” Thomas Hardtin, who expressed his deep gratitude to the Armenian people and shared the pain of the Armenian people. Among the guests were leader of the Assyrian community of Germany and other members of the community. Vazrik Basil said a prayer in memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide.

The guests were introduced to the biographies of famous Armenians who were born in Western Armenia and survived the Armenian Genocide and several irrefutable facts from their memoires. The program also included performances of the works of Arno Babajanyan by pianist Diana Baghdasaryan.

During the event, Komitas Choir of the Armenian community of Munich performed the songs “Tragedy of Adana” (Adanayi Voghbe) and “Armenian Church” (Yekeghetsi Haikakan) under the direction of the choir’s artistic director Eduard Muntsyan and heard the marvelous voices of the girls of Shogher Choir of the Armenian Compatriotic Union of Munich under the direction of the choir’s artistic director Armine Babayan. Janna Hovhannisyan, who performs Armenian folk songs brilliantly, performed the song “Dle Yaman”, and Aghavni Barseghyan recited the poem “Letter to a Turkish Woman”.

The program ended with a dance choreographed by Anush Chakhalyan, who is the artistic director of Anush Dance Ensemble of the Armenian Compatriotic Union of Munich. With its short and influential dance, the ensemble portrayed the pain of the Armenian people, and the curtain came down after the words “I REMEMBER AND DEMAND” were spoken.

The performance charmed the guests and touched the Armenians and foreigners attending the event. At the end, guests were treated to Armenian dishes and sweet wine during a reception.