These three words were the foci of the message of His Holiness Aram I delivered on 24 April to thousands of people who were gathered at the Catholicosate in Antelias after a long march from Bourdj Hamoud. “24th April is not a mere tragic date that reminds the genocide that was perpetrated against the Armenian people in 1915 by the Ottoman-Turkey. Its spirit and message is deeply rooted in the common consciousness of the Armenian people. Therefore neither the time nor any power in the world can erase it from the very life and ethos of the Armenian people” stated Aram I. He said that “by remembering our martyrs, we reaffirm our strong commitment to their legacy.”
Aram I expressed his profound thanks to all those and particularly to Lebanon and the Arab countries who have accepted the survivors of the Armenian Genocide as well as to those nations and organizations which in different ways have expressed their solidarity with the Armenian people.
His Holiness reminded that the Armenian people stand for “a cause of justice. Genocide is a crime against humanity; according to international conventions, it implies compensation and restoration of rights of the victim.”
Aram I called the nations to act on the basis of human rights not under the impact of geopolitical interests. He said that the “legitimate rights of people, not interests of certain states should guide the relations of nations”. He reminded that “the prevention of new genocides implies the condemnation of old genocides. Violation of human rights and denial of history do not lead to mutual understanding. Justice is the source of real peace, mutual confidence, and harmonious and peaceful co-existence.”
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Catholicos Aram I concluded his message by affirming that “the Armenians all over the world will continue their struggle for justice.”