YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS: Recognition of Armenain Genocide, terrible crime commited against mankind, is a ontinuous and purposeful process. Despite recognition, 20 officials from different countries paied trubute to Tsitsernakaberd during 2012. Armenia is grateful for their willingness to share the sorrow of Armenian people. With unique photoes Armenpress presents the visit of high rank officials to Tsitsernakaberd during 2012.

José Manuel Barroso President of the European Commission who arrvied in Armenian on ivitation of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan visited Tsitsernakaberd and paid tribute to Armenian Genocide victims by laying flowers at the Eternal Fire in the memory of the victims.

The President of the Chamber of Representatives of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Jorge Orrico arrived in Armenia on November 12 at the invitation of the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan. The delegation headed by Jorge Orrico visited Tsitsernakaberd to pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Uruguay recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1965.

During official visit to Armenia the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs visited Tsitsernakaberd to pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.     

On September 18 the members of the Coordinating Conference of the Chairmen of the Standing Committees on Defense and Security of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Member States’ Parliaments adjunct to the Parliamentary Assembly Council of the CSTO, accompanied by Koryun Nahapetyan, Chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on National Security and Internal Affairs, visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex and laid flowers at the monument of 1915 Genocide victims, bowed and honored with silence the memory of one and half million innocent victims.

The guests were in the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, got acquainted with the documents ensuring the Armenian Genocide, and left notes in the Commemoration Book.

The delegation headed by   Jean Asselborn Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of Grand Duchy of Luxembourg paid a visit to Tsitsernakerb on September 11. As Armenpress reports the top ranking official laid a wreath at the monument of the innocent victims. Jean Asseborn walked over Museum-Institute and got acquainted with the exhibits of 20th century's greatest crime. Deputy Prime Minister posted in the Museum Book '' The anguish caused to Armenain people must never be forgotten. The memory of the innocent victims should be kept alive and  be passed  it from generation to generation'' . Over two dozen countries, 40  United States recognized and condemned Armenian Genocide. 

On September 4, the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Republic of Argentina Héctor Marcos Timerman visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

The Foreign Affairs Minister of Argentina put a wreath at the memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims after which the members of the delegation put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

Ashot Hovakimian, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of RA, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Argentina to Armenia Diego Ernesto Alvarez Rivera and other delegate members accompanied Timerman.

The Foreign Affairs Minister of Argentina and his accompanying delegation also visited Armenian Genocide Museum where they get acquainted with the temporary exhibition titled “Book as a witness of the Genocide” dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Armenian printing and proclamation of Yerevan as 2012 World Book Capital City by UNESCO. Afterwards Héctor Marcos Timerman left a note in the Commemoration Book.

It should be noted that still in 2006 Argentina passed a bill recognizing the fact of the Armenian Genocide.

Héctor Marcos Timerman arrived in Armenia at the invitation of the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Republic of Armenia Edward Nalbandian.

The Minister of Information and Diaspora of Israel Yuli Edelstein visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. The Minister put a wreath at the memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims after which the members of the delegation put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

The Minister of Information and Diaspora of Israel Yuli Edelstein and his accompanying delegation also visited Armenian Genocide Museum where the director of the Armenian Genocide Museum - Institute Hayk Demoyan introduced the guests to the temporary exhibition titled "Book as a witness of the Genocide" dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Armenian printing and proclamation of Yerevan as 2012 World Book Capital City by UNESCO. Afterwards Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation left a note in the Commemoration Book.

It should be informed that Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and Jerusalem Holocaust Museum intend to establish cooperation.

“I offered the Genocide Museum-Institute administration to cooperate with Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem. Both our nations have become victims of a horrible crime against humanity. I think the two institutions will cooperate quite effectively in terms of selection of exhibits and organization of pavilions,” Yuli Edelstein told during the press conference.

He further noted that cooperation program between Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum is being developed.

Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly Valentina Matviyenko accompanied by Vice President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Hermineh Naghdalyan visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly put a wreath at the memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims after which the members of the delegation put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

The high-ranking official and her accompanying delegation arrived from Russia visited Armenian Genocide Museum where the director of the AGMI Hayk Demoyan introduced the guests to the temporary exhibition titled “Book as a witness of the Genocide” dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Armenian printing and proclamation of Yerevan as 2012 World Book Capital City by UNESCO. Afterwards Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly Valentina Matviyenko left a note in the Commemoration Book.

The delegates from the Russian Federation had a tour of the Memorial Alley where Mrs. Matviyenko watered the fir which she had planted during her previous visit.

President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy, within the framework of his official visit to South Caucasus arrived to the Republic of Armenia and accompanied by the Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian, visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

President of the European Council put a wreath at the memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims after which the members of the delegation put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

Afterwards President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy and delegation accompanying him visited Armenian Genocide Museum where the director of the AGMI Hayk Demoyan introduced the guests to the temporary exhibition titled “Book as a witness of the Genocide” dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Armenian printing and proclamation of Yerevan as 2012 World Book Capital City by UNESCO.

On September 30, Wolfgang Thierse, the Vice President of the Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany, accompanied by NA Vice President Eduard Sharmazanov visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

The Vice President of the Bundestag and the members of his delegation put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

The delegates arrived from Germany also visited Armenian Genocide Museum, where the director of AGMI Hayk Demoyan presented the temporary exhibition titled “Book as a witness of the Genocide” dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Armenian printing and proclamation of Yerevan as 2012 World Book Capital City by UNESCO.

The Vice President of the Bundestag Wolfgang Thierse left following note in the Commemoration Book: “We condemn the Genocide and are under an obligation to secure peace and defend human rights”.

Wolfgang Thierse noted during the talk with journalists: “The German people remember the crimes committed against different nations in the 20th century. In 2005 the Bundestag of Germany by its decision has condemned the Armenian people’s massacres and expressed its stance in relation to those historical events. We believe that such historical events should be worth an assessment and be condemned.”

Mir Mira Tahsin beg, religious leader of the Yezidis of the Federal Republic of Iraq, and his accompanying delegation visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

Yezidi deputies of the Kurdish and Iraqi parliaments as well as representatives of primacy were included in the delegation. The leaders of the delegation put wreaths at the memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims after which the members of the delegation put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence. The aim of the delegation’s arrival is the consecration of the first Yezidis sanctuary in the Republic of Armenia.

Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Sergey Naryshkin arrived in Armenia at the invitation of President of the National Assembly of RA Hovik Abrahamyan for a two-day official visit. Sergey Naryshkin and his accompanying delegation accompanied by Vice President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation put a wreath at the memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims after which the members of the delegation put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

The high-ranking official and his accompanying delegation also visited Armenian Genocide Museum where they get acquainted with the temporary exhibition titled “Book as a witness of the Genocide” dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Armenian printing and proclamation of Yerevan as 2012 World Book Capital City by UNESCO. Afterwards Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation left a note in the Commemoration Book.

The delegates from the Russian Federation had a tour of the Memorial Alley where Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Sergey Naryshkin planted a fir.

President of the Republic of Austria Heinz Fischer, within the framework of his official visit to Armenia, and first lady Margit Fischer visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex accompanied by Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian, Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan and RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Austria Arman Kirakosyan. President of Austria laid a wreath at the memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims after which the members of the Austrian delegation put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence. President of Austria Heinz Fischer and his accompanying delegation visited Armenian Genocide Museum where the director of AGMI Hayk Demoyan introduced the guests to the museum exhibition. Afterwards President of the Republic of Austria Heinz Fischer left a note in the Commemoration Book.

The delegation from Austria also had a tour of the Memorial Alley, where President of the Republic of Austria Heinz Fischer planted a fir.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, within the framework of his official visit to Armenia, visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex and Armenian Genocide Museum accompanied by John Heffern, the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia.

The U.S. senator put flowers at the Eternal Fire of the Armenian Genocide victims after which he visited the Armenian Genocide Museum, where he got acquainted with the temporary exhibition dedicated to the memory of Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross and a great humanitarian.

The U.S. Senator Dick Durbin left a note in the Commemoration Book.

Senator Durbin talked about his visit to the Genocide memorial and Clara Barton exhibition he visitited during a Senate floor speech.

German Minister of State Cornelia Pieper, who is in Armenia at the invitation of the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan, visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex and put a wreath at the memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims. The members of the German delegation headed by Minister Cornelia Pieper put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

Minister of State Cornelia Pieper, accompanied by Director of Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan, took a guided tour of the museum. Afterwards Cornelia Pieper left a note in the Commemoration Book noting that she is too impressed by the museum exhibition and remembers Armenian victims in1915-1916 with deep sympathy.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Israel Orit Noked visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex and put a wreath at the memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims. The members of the Israeli delegation headed by Orit Noked put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

Minister of Agriculture Orit Noked, accompanied by Director of Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan, Minister of Agriculture of RA Sergo Karapetyan, took a guided tour of the museum. Afterwards Orit Noked left a note in the Commemoration Book: "As a woman, as a Jewish and as a human being, I am shocked at what I see in the photos, I am shocked at the murders of innocent Armenian families".

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Audronius Ažubalis, within the framework of his official visit to Yerevan, visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex and put a wreath at the memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims. The members of the Lithuanian delegation headed by Audronius Ažubalis put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithunia Audronius Ažubalis and his accompanying delegation visited Armenian Genocide Museum and took a tour of the museum. Deputy Director of Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Suren Manukyan presented the history of the Armenian Genocide to the guests. Afterwards Audronius Ažubalis left following note in the Commemoration Book: “Only keeping such memory we can create a world where repetition of such tragedy would not be impossible neither to Armenian nor to any other people”.

It should be noted that on December15, 2005, the Seym of Lithuania passed a resolution condemning the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Erkki Tuomioja visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex within the framework of his official visit to Armenia. Minister of Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja put a wreath at the memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims. The members of the Finnish delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

Deputy Director of Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Suren Manukyan was accompanying the Finnish delegation. The members of the Finnish delegation also had a tour of the Memorial Alley, where Erkki Tuomioja planted a fir.

Foreign Affairs Minister of the Republic of Cyprus Dr Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, who is in Armenia at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis put a wreath at the memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims. The members of the Cyprus delegation headed by Dr Erato Kozakou put flowers at the Eternal Fire and honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

Foreign Affairs Minister of Cyprus Dr Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis and her accompanying delegation visited Armenian Genocide Museum and took a tour of the museum after which Dr Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis left a note in the Commemoration Book.

The members of the Cyprus delegation also had a tour of the Memorial Alley, where Dr Erato planted a fir.

The delegation of the German Foreign ministry headed by the Foreign minister of Germany Guido Westerwelle, as apart of his official visit to the Republic of Armenia, visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.  German foreign minister put a wreath and flowers at the memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims and honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.