Academy-Award winning actor and humanitarian George Clooney and legendary Armenian singer Charles Aznavour joined Armenia’s President Serge Sarkisian and First Lady Rita Sarkisian in paying respects to the victims of the Armenian Genocide at Tsitsernakaberd on April 24.
Clooney laid flowers at the eternal flame, joined by Sarkisian and others.
They were joined by leading humanitarians, genocide survivors, and honorary guests who had arrived in Yerevan for the inaugural ceremony of the Aurora Prize awards that are taking place this weekend.
Clooney laid flowers at the eternal flame, joined by Sarkisian and others. He also visited the Armenian Genocide Museum.
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The Hollywood actor arrived in Armenia on April 22 to participate in the Aurora Prize Award ceremony, which recognizes individuals and organizations for the exceptional impact their actions have made on preserving human life and advancing humanitarian causes.
During the Second Global Forum against the crime of Genocide on April 23, Clooney said that the Armenian Genocide is not just part of Armenian history, it’s not the pain of a particular country or people, it’s part of world history, reported Armradio.
Clooney spoke about genocide recognition, calling it a long struggle. “One cannot deny what has happened,” he reportedly said, adding, “When someone is trying to annihilate a whole human race, culture, people, that’s genocide, there can be no other version of it.”
Clooney is a member of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee, which also includes Nobel Laureates Elie Wiesel, Oscar Arias, Shirin Ebadi and Leymah Gbowee; former President of Ireland Mary Robinson; human rights activist Hina Jilani; former Australian Foreign Minister and President Emeritus of the International Crisis Group Gareth Evans; and President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York Vartan Gregorian.