Արևելահայերեն
Արևմտահայերեն
РусскийArmenian Genocide Commemoration events in Switzerland
On Apr. 24, a liturgy dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide was held at St. Hakob Church in Geneva as part of the events dedicated to the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Candle-lighting and wreath-laying ceremonies were held near the Armenian cross-stone placed in the churchyard and near the monument to author of the Armenian Genocide Resolution adopted in Switzerland, Jean Claude Woodrow.
Among the speakers at the event were Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Switzerland of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archimandrite Gusan Aljanian and President of the Armenian Union of Switzerland Njdeh Khachatourian. Plenipotentiary Minister and Extraordinary Envoy of the RA Embassy in Switzerland Satenik Abgaryan transmitted the message of RA Ambassador to Switzerland Charles Aznavour in which it was particularly mentioned that even 99 years after the genocide there is still no justice, recognition and restoration of rights. Justice is necessary since the genocide is a crime that must be punished and that the generations of the victims only see recognition and restoration of the victims’ rights as respect for their deceased ancestors.
On the same day, a commemoration event was held at the Armenian Cultural Center in Geneva, which was symbolic in that it included musical performances and reciting of Armenian poems by the youth of the Swiss-Armenian community who are the part of the 5th generation of victims of the Armenian Genocide.
The event ended with the showing of Switzerland-based director Susan Khardalian’s film Grandma’s Tattoos, which presents the story of Khardalian’s grandmother, who has scars on her face and hands and tattoos that reminded Khardalian of the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide.
Hundreds of members of the Armenian community participated in the Armenian Genocide Commemoration events.
On Apr. 24, Switzerland’s Public Television (RTS) and Radio touched upon the Armenian Genocide by presenting the events of 1915, as well as the interviews with Ambassador Aznavour and leaders and youth of the Armenian community.
Armenian Genocide Commemoration events were also held in Bern, Lausanne, Zurich, Aarau and other cities, reports the RA MFA press office.
