Cyprus President's call to Turkey is call for act of consciousness on Armenian Genocide issue: EXCLUSIVE
YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. We call on all partners that have not recognized the genocide to put values and principles beyond interests and political expedience. The President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades, who’ll visit Armenia on April 24, stated this in an exclusive interview to “Armenpress”, while reflecting on the Armenian Genocides issue.
- Mr. President, as You know, 2015 is a symbolic year for Armenia and the Armenian people. This year we’ll commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. You have already confirmed that You’ll visit Yerevan and pay tribute to the memory of the victims in the Tzitzernakaberd Memorial. What will be Your call in Tzitzernakaberd?
- My message to the Armenian people is a message of concrete solidarity. This year marks the anniversary of a most tragic crime against humanity, the Medz Yeghern, which has defined the history of the Armenian people, a genocide of enormous proportions that shows the abominable brutality of the Ottoman rule.
I cannot but refer to the fact that after the evacuation of Cilicia 100 years ago, Armenian refugee ships, crowded with people devastated by the heinous and relentless persecution and famine, found a safe haven in neighbouring Cyprus. Cypriots are proud of the fact that the children and grand children of these refugees constitute today a creative and important part of Cyprus society, preserving and developing their worthy origins.
It is only natural that Cyprus and Armenia are united in condemning the perpetrators of the genocide because of their common history with Turkey. I should remind you that Cyprus was the first European country to have recognised, the Armenian genocide (and the second country worldwide), and recently has criminalised the public claim of denial of the genocide, by Parliamentary decree. Cyprus was also the first country to raise the issue to the UN General Assembly.
- Mr.President, in Your opinion, what is the lesson the Armenian people and the international community should learn from this episode of history – the Armenian Genocide?
- The lesson to be learned by the Armenian genocide, holds two parts; a part of keeping alive the remembrance of the genocide by paying tribute to the millions of lives lost a century ago and a part of our obligation to make known “urbi et orbi” that impunity cannot go unpunished.
The people of Armenia and Cyprus are victims of impunity. We also share universal values and principles: Faith in international law, peace, the independence and freedom of peoples and respect for human rights. These characteristics stem from our interwoven history and the struggles of our peoples who persevered for survival and prosperity.
- The genocides will go on as long as they are not recognized and condemned. Unfortunately, the Armenian Genocide has not yet been fully recognized. As a significant EU state, what is Cyprus’ call to the EU member states and Turkey?
- Our call to the other countries and Turkey is a call for an act of consciousness. We are satisfied with the fact that the European Parliament has once again added its voice to ours by calling Turkey to recognize the Armenian genocide as part of the pre-accession process with Ankara.
It is our duty to not turn our back or act in defiance of the tragic reality of a historical fact which overshadows the contemporary history of Turkey. We call on all partners that have not recognized the genocide to put values and principles beyond interests and political expedience.
At the same time, we see no reason for Turkey being put off by actions relating to the recognition of the Armenian genocide. On the contrary, this would be an opportunity for Turkey to really prove that it can redefine itself and its self acclaimed role as a regional player, by acknowledging the value of full normalization of its relations with Armenia and gain the backing of the international community to this direction. The possibility of a proactive stance by Turkey in respecting the principle of good neighborly relations would be welcomed by Cyprus, as it could also be setting a precedent for the normalization of relations with Cyprus.
- The 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide is not a borderline, but a new destination. In this regard, how should we look at the future and what will be our priorities in future?
- The future should reflect the resilience of the Armenian people to survive and its commitment to honour the legacy of strength and perseverance of the millions of its predecessors who were either lost or managed to escape the frenzied wrath of the Ottoman rule.
This legacy constitutes a firm and most honourable basis for young generation of Armenians. It constitutes the compass that should guide not only them, but also the civilized world beyond, through a challenging and changing international environment, bedeviled by conflicts, economic crises, and political instability. Remembering the Medz Yeghern, and honoring the herculean strength and resilience of the Medz Yeghern survivors, who today make up the Armenian nation and the prolific Armenian Diaspora, should be a duty of Humankind in its entirety.
Interview by Hasmik Harutyunyan
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