On March 24, the heads of 9 villages of the Dersim region, who are in Armenia as part of the “Awakening of Memory” Program carried out with the support of the RA Ministry of Diaspora and with the support of the “Modus Vivendi” Center, visited Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial and laid flowers near the monument to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, the greatest crime that was perpetrated in the early 20^th century. They visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, heard stories about the Armenian Genocide, watched a 20-minute video and asked the Museum-Institute’s employee questions of their concern.

Prior to the visit, on March 21, the village heads had visited the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Khor Virap, Ararat Province, as well as the Museum of History of Armenia and the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts after Mesrop Mashtots (Matenadaran).

After the visit to the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, the village heads and Head of “Modus Vivendi” Center Ara Papyan gave a joint press conference at Post Scriptum Press Club.

The head of “Modus Vivendi” Center mentioned that most of the village heads are of Armenian descent, and some of them want to return to their roots. “During the visit, they went sightseeing in Armenia and got a picture of Armenian culture,” Papyan mentioned, adding: “We thank the RA Ministry of Diaspora for providing assistance in properly carrying out this very important mission.”

The speaker emphasized that most of the people living in Dersim today are Alevis, who are friendly towards the Christian Armenians. “The heads of the villages want to make their visits to Armenia ongoing,” Papyan said and gave the floor to President of the Union of Armenians and Alevis of Dersim Serkan Sariatash.

Sariatash talked about his organization founded two-and-a-half months ago and mentioned: “The first task that we undertook was to organize Armenian language courses in Dersim, which are held three times a week for two-and-a-half hours. In addition, the Armenians of Dersim undertake other initiatives. They visit the cemeteries in the local Armenian villages and pray for the souls of the deceased to rest in peace. On April 24^th, we will be near the stone in Dersim from where the Armenians were thrown into the precipice in 1915. Starting in May, our organization and the Union of Armenian Architects of Turkey will start specifying the traces of Armenian architecture in Turkey. We’ve already clarified that there were 162 Armenian churches in the territory of Dersim, one of which will be rebuilt through the combined efforts of the Union of Armenians and Alevis of Dersim and the Federation of Unions of Dersim.”

Sariatash stressed the fact that they have to combine their efforts, not work independently.

President of the Federation of Unions of Dersim Ahmet Balkes mentioned: “We know that there are traces of the heritage that your ancestors left in all parts of Dersim. I want to promise you that we’ll have more to tell you about our activities during our next visit.”

Ahmet Balkes expressed gratitude to the RA Ministry of Diaspora and “Modus Vivendi” Center for their cordial reception and for their efforts to introduce the heads of the villages to Armenian history and culture.

Member of the Union of Armenians of Dersim Mihran Prkich mentioned that most of the people of the once Armenian-populated areas of Turkey have started remembering their real identity and are taking firm steps to try to return to their roots.

“Any debate over the Armenian Genocide becomes nonsensical as you walk by the thousands of abandoned tombs and monuments of Western Armenia. We experience that every day in Turkey,” Mihran Prkich emphasized, adding: “The names of all of our Armenian brothers in Dersim have been Turkified and Kurdified, and the main purpose of bringing the heads of the villages to Armenia was to have them come here, acknowledge the reality and then work more consistently to protect the Armenian tombs of Dersim.”

Heads of the Goverge and Karaja villages Ali Hdr Eren and Erol Saltek mentioned the following: “We are a pressured society and are next to those who are under pressure. Both sides must place emphasis on joint initiatives for the future of our relations.”

At the end, the speakers answered questions from the attending journalists.