Under the mastering program of librarians, Director of the Berlin State Library, Barbara Schneider-Kempf and Head of Department of Library Meline Pehlivanian have arrived in Armenia. During the program, until September 29, they will conduct mastering classes for the librarians in Yerevan and the marzes. On September 26, they visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial and the Museum, after which Mrs. Schneider-Kempf wanted to lay flowers at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial as a sigh of respect to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims.
In an interview with Aravot.am, Barbara Schneider-Kempf explained her initiative as follows: “A terrible thing has happened to the Armenian people. I am very glad that a few months ago, the German Bundestag declared that what it did was a genocide. This is my second visit to Armenia and this time, I expressed willingness to lay flowers at the memorial.” Barbara Schneider-Kempf is very impressed visiting the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum, according to her, you can get the answers to all concerned questions, “I am touched. If you study the history, you think what has happened, what could stop it. But I think there was no such chance, it happened and nobody could stop it. I hope that other states will also recognize that a genocide has happened.” Barbara Schneider-Kempf told us that Ashot Sukiasyan, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Germany, has suggested the Berlin State Library to organize an exhibition with the photos of the Armenian Genocide survivors on display. Most likely, the exhibition will take place next year.
Ami CHICHAKYAN
