A Gathering of International Solidarity: The Armenian Genocide Commemoration
Argentina and Brazil were honored by 'Friends of Armenia' at a crowdsourced remembrance for the victims of the Armenian Genocide
Thousands flocked to Yerevan, Armenia's capital, to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a tragic event that unfolded a century ago during the Ottoman Empire's final throes. This year's commemoration took place amidst geopolitical tensions and the forced displacement of thousands of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, rekindling the pain of this massacre's historical echoes.
A notable presence at this year's event was Juan Pablo Gechidjian, a real estate developer and head of the Argentine Chamber of Commerce in Florida, who has worked in Armenia for nearly two decades. Accompanied by several prominent Argentines, including a central bank director, politicians, businessmen, lawyers, and even a representative from Brazil, they all came together to reinforce the demand that the international community recognize the Armenian Genocide.
As the crowd gathered at the Tsitsernakaberd memorial, one couldn't help but feel a resurgence of history. The gathering was a poignant reminder of the horrible acts committed against the Armenian people and an affirmation of the desire for justice and peace that still lingers today.
When it comes to recognizing the Armenian Genocide, 32 nations have taken a stand, while others remain undecided. Turkey, in particular, continues to deny the massacre, arguing it occurred in the context of the First World War. This reluctance to acknowledge terrible atrocities has persistently stalled the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey.
The ongoing support of Turkey's current government under Recep Tayyip Erdogan for Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has further fueled mistrust between the two nations. The Armenian government has worked hard to maintain a pragmatic foreign policy, aiming for lasting peace in the region. However, a peaceful future for the region hinges onconfirming a peace agreement with Baku and alleviating the recent displacement of Armenians, which has intensified the longing for historical justice.
Despite the challenges, the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, and the Armenian Apostolic Church's patriarch, Garegin II, emphasized the importance of remembering the victims of this historic tragedy. In unity, they called for the recognition and universal condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, and the acknowledgment of the unforgivable and unforgettable crimes committed against the Armenian people.
Amidst the solemnity of the commemoration, Armenian youth led the way, marching in a traditional torchlight procession that traversed Yerevan's streets. Their banners carried the names of villages and cities now under Azeri control, linking the sorrows of the past with the heartaches of the present. As the flames of the torches flickered in the night's darkness, their cries of "Fight, fight!" echoed through the city, a symbol of resistance and hope for a brighter tomorrow.
- The government of Armenia has been working diligently towards a peaceful future, aiming for a lasting agreement with Baku and alleviating the recent displacement of Armenians that has intensified the longing for historical justice in the context of general news and politics.
- The Armenian governments' efforts for normalization of relations with Turkey remain stalled due to Turkey's current government under Recep Tayyip Erdogan's support for Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a situation that has been a part of crime-and-justice and war-and-conflicts discourses.
- In the midst of geopolitical tensions, the Armenian Apostolic Church's patriarch, Garegin II, and the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, called for the recognition and universal condemnation of the Armenian Genocide as a part of general news and human rights issues.
- The commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in Yerevan was marked by a notable presence of Juan Pablo Gechidjian, a prominent figure in Argentine politics and business, alongside several Argentines and a representative from Brazil, highlighting the international solidarity with Armenia on this commemoration day.
- Amidst the solemnity of the Armenian Genocide commemoration, the resurgence of history was tangible as the torches lit by Armenian youth marched through Yerevan's streets, symbolizing resistance and hope for a brighter tomorrow and fostering a sense of unity in remembrance and reflection of past atrocities.
