Leader of Czech Catholic Church, Cardinal Dominik Duka and the Archbishop of Prague has called on recognizing the Armenian Genocide. “Armenpress” reports, citing “Orer” independent European magazine, in a letter addressed to the Armenian and Czech Presidents Cardinal Dominik Duka urged that the Czech Republic should also take a decision calling the events that took place during World War I as genocide.

In his letter he expressed gratitude to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Czech President Miloš Zeman for conveying greetings to him from the capital of the magnificent Christian country, Armenia. “My memories of the deep-rooted belief of the Armenian people and their hospitability that I witnessed during my last year visit to Armenia at the invitation of Your Excellency and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II are still vivid. I am grateful to our President for his opinion expressed at the Memorial to the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

I laid a large wreath at that Memorial last year accompanied by His Holiness and my Armenian friends. We commemorated those tragic events during a liturgy delivered at the St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Vojtěch cathedrals in Prague. I am thankful to Miloš Zeman for his opinion and intention that the Czech Republic, that has dedicated a book to the 100-year old memories of Armenians, namely “The Forty Days of Musa Dagh” by Franz Werfel, will express its position on the Armenian Genocide 101 years later.

The tree of religious freedom, mutual respect and fraternity become stronger due to the devotion of pain, sufferings and deep rooted belief of one of the oldest peoples of the world and the first Christian state”, Cardinal Dominik Duka said. President of the Czech Republic Miloš Zeman announced on June 8 in Yerevan that he not only supports the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by his country, but will also raise that issue at the parliament and government.