An Armenian cross-stone (khachkar) dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide will be unveiled during a ceremony to be held in the Leer city of Ostfrisland region of Inner Saxonia state of Germany on October 10. The cross-stone will be placed in the square of central Leer through the efforts of and funding by the city’s only Armenian family, the Tovmasyan family.

According to Armeniangenocide100.org, the Tovmasyans managed to get permission from the municipality to not only place the cross-stone, but also include it in the list of historical and cultural values of Germany. The city council of Leer registered the cross-stone as a state monument during a session held on July 9, 2015. In fact, this is the first time that an Armenian cross-stone will be under the government’s supervision in Germany.

In response to the city council’s decision, the Turkish Consulate in Germany and the office of President of Turkey Recep Tayyib Erdogan sent a note of protest to the municipal authorities of Leer with the demand to reconsider the decision. However, the authorities didn’t reconsider the decision, and this was a joy for the Tovmasyans. The term “Genocide” will be carved on the cross-stone. The Municipality of Leer has included the October 10 unveiling of the cross-stone in its list of events and has posted news about the event on its official website.

Among the attendees will be Governor of Ostfrisland Bernhard Bremlage, Mayor of Leer Beatrich Kul, Armenia’s Ambassador to Germany Ashot Smbatyan, German Armenologists Jochen Mangelsen and Tessa Hofmann, as well as representatives of the local Greek and Assyrian communities.