Armenia`s foreign office issues statement on 109th anniversary of Armenian Genocide

ArmInfo. Below is a statement by the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the 109th  anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. 

"On April 24, we commemorate and bow to the memory of the martyrs of  the Armenian Genocide committed in the Ottoman Empire at the  beginning of the 20th century.

"Starting from 1915, as a result of the crimes against humanity  committed by the government of the Young Turks around 1.5 million  Armenians, including children, women and the elderly, were killed  solely on the basis of their nationality, for being Armenian.  Millions of Armenians were deprived of their property as well as  historical, cultural and spiritual heritage.

"This crime committed against the Armenians later became the basis  for the definition of the international convention "On the Prevention  and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide". Unfortunately, despite the  consequent efforts, the threat of genocide is still present in the  world.

"Already in the 21st century, in 2020-2023, we faced new  manifestations and consequences of the policy of ethnic cleansing.  More than 150,000 Armenians were forcibly displaced and forced to  leave their historical homeland because of war, xenophobia, crimes  based on identity, siege and consistent acts of intimidation against  the population.

"Taking into account the risks of genocide and cases the modern world  witnessed, and many other examples of gross violations of human  rights and international humanitarian law, Armenia continues its  active involvement in international platforms in order to coordinate  efforts in the fight against the crime of genocide, to prevent new  genocides and crimes against humanity, and to protect the rights of  victims."