Karekin II: International recognition of Armenian Genocide can contribute to establishment of safety and justice worldwide

The Armenian Genocide Centennial urges the humanity not to be indifferent to people's anguish, to exert efforts to stop and prevent crimes against humanity, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II said during the Vatican liturgy commemorating the Armenian Genocide victims.     

Karekin II recalled that a century ago the Ottoman authorities committed the Armenian Genocide that claimed 1.5 million Armenian lives. He said that Armenians were deported from their historical motherland and their property was robbed. "Today our people live in the blockade imposed by Turkey and Azerbaijan and fight for the freedom of Artsakh people and restoration of the Armenian people's rights, recognition and condemnation of the Genocide", he said. 

Karekin II added that if the humanity had been able to prevent the Armenian Genocide, it would not have been followed by the Holocaust, genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Darfur. "We are sure that the international recognition of the Genocide as an example of human rights protection and restoration of historical justice can contribute to establishment of safety and justice all over the world", he said.  

In this light, Karekin II pointed out the significance of publication of the documents in Vatican's archives.  On behalf of Armenian people, he thanked those who raise the issue of the Genocide and those who extended a helping hand to those who fled the massacre.      

To note, Pope Francis himself served the liturgy. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and other officials from Armenia attended the liturgy. Vatican provided a 10th- century Armenian theologian and philosopher Grigor Narekatsi with a rank of a doctor of church.     
To recall, Ankara recalled its ambassador from Vatican after Pope Francis used the term "genocide" when describing the killings of the Armenians in Ottoman Empire in the early XX century.