In April and May, people worldwide came together to remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide, to pay tribute to those who helped survivors and to recommit to the future of the Armenian people. AGBU and its local chapters, districts and members participated in the planning and co-sponsoring of the worldwide commemorations.

In the United States, commemorative events in Washington included a May 7 ecumenical service at the National Cathedral that was presided over by His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, as well as senior clergy from twenty congregations. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Vice President of the United States Joe Biden, other government officials and members of Congress were among the more than 2,200 people in attendance. In his address, President Sargsyan highlighted the key role that the American government and American humanitarians played in relief efforts in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide.

Twenty-nine individuals and organizations that offered humanitarian assistance to Armenians and honored the legacy of the genocide through research and recognition were presented with Hero Awards at a special ceremony in Washington on May 9. Among the recipients were representatives of the governments that have officially recognized the genocide: Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, Near East Foundation, Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial and Museum, the Shoah Foundation, Facing History and Ourselves, human rights lawyer Fethiye Çetin and historian Taner Akçam.

“If not for the actions of these men, women, groups and governments, the Armenian community as it is today would not exist,” noted Noubar Afeyan, chair of the National Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Centennial steering committee and AGBU Central Board member. The award ceremony featured remarks by former Secretary of the Navy Paul Ignatius, former United States Ambassador Edward Djerejian and journalist Lara Setrakian.

More than 160,000 marched in Los Angeles on April 24 as part of the March for Justice, an estimated 15,000 rallied for the annual event in New York’s Times Square held on April 26 and numerous other commemorations took place throughout the country. During the March for Justice, AGBU Western District Committee chairperson Talin Yacoubian addressed the crowd, recalling the historical significance of the day’s march and commending the support of the City of Los Angeles:  “40 years ago, my grandfather led a similar march of 60,000 people in Beirut. Today, I march with my children and there is no doubt in my mind that our children will not fail to honor the memory of our martyrs. Today, we are grateful that we live in a country that has truly embraced us and helped us in our time of need.  Each of us lives not only as Armenians, but as proud citizens of this country. We are thankful that we have not only survived, but that we have thrived. Today, that is our justice.”

In Canada, people marched in Montréal on May 3 to remember victims of all genocides, joined by Canadian and Armenian officials. “This march in commemoration of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide was a huge success as 10,000 people marched in remembrance of so many who were forced to endure different genocides. The goal was to also create awareness that never again should the world accept such crimes against humanity,” said Chahe Tanachian, chairman of AGBU Montréal and vice chairman of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of Canada. On April 19, thousands turned out for a commemorative march in Toronto and on April 24, the Canadian parliament adopted motion 587 declaring the date Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

Commemorations of the genocide were also organized in Turkey, where the Patriarchate of the Armenian Church held a memorial service for the genocide, and thousands of people joined a public demonstration in Istanbul’s Taksim Square and other events in Ankara and Diyarbekir.

In Syria, where many survivors took refuge one hundred years ago, genocide commemorations took place in Aleppo and Qamishli and a new genocide memorial was inaugurated in Damascus.

Other commemorative events were held in diasporan communities in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America.

On April 24, the presidents of France, Cyprus, Russia and Serbia, along with more than sixty other delegations paid their respects at the Dzidzernagapert Genocide Memorial in Yerevan. The United States delegation was led by Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and included four congressmen. The day before, the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide were canonized in a special ceremony in Etchmiadzin.

In the weeks before and after April 24, a number of foreign leaders and legislatures addressed the legacy of the genocide. In the Vatican, Pope Francis held a joint liturgy for the victims with His Holiness Karekin II. The European Parliament adopted another resolution urging Turkey to recognize the genocide and German President Joachim Gauck noted his country’s responsibility in the genocide as Turkey’s World War I ally.

AGBU PRESS OFFICE