“WE WILL GO ON OUR STRUGGLE TILL TURKISH SOCIETY REALIZES AND ADMITS ITS RESPONSIBILITY”: MEETING AT YSU

The “Union Against Genocide” organization functioning in Frankfurt, Germany since 1998 includes Turkish and Kurdish intellectuals, public and political figures. The delegation arrived in Armenia this year consists of 18 members. They arrived to render the memory tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

YSU Rector Aram Simonyan, Academic Secretary Levon Hovsepyan, heads of different divisions, deans, representatives of the teaching staff and students were present at the meeting.

Greeting the guests, Aram Simonyan said that the meeting was interesting and unusual. “People representing our neighbour nations-Turks and Kurds-came from Germany with their families and children, and they not only recognize and accept the Armenian Genocide but with their position and activity try to promote its recognition worldwide”.

The Rector informed the guests that YSU is the oldest university of our country and this year it marks its 100th anniversary.

“It’s not easy to speak about Genocide for us, Armenians, as in the older generation of each family there are those who experienced the mass slaughter. Memories of the Genocide are a particle of our national identity, it left a deep scar in our souls. But we still look forward to bright future and believe in our strength”, said Aram Simonyan and thanked the guests who made the struggle against genocides their life goal. The Rector called their activity a heroism.

Doctor of the Chair of Armenian History of YSU Ashot Hayruni said during the meeting that he had heard about the organization long ago and was sure that it includes real devotees who contributed greatly to the Armenian Genocide recognition.

Mr. Hayruni told us that the day before, when they were going up to the Tsitsernakaberd memorial, a journalist asked them what they would like to say to the Armenian people, and the President of the “Union Against Genocide” Alishan Ertem said that their great wish is to see members of the Government of Turkey being next to them to commemorate the victims of the Genocide and kneeling at the Eternal Flame.

The President of the “Union Against Genocide” Alishan Ertem expressing gratitude for warm welcome said that during their visit they made sure once again that the Armenian people deserve great respect as there is no hatred in their hearts. He also told that he first visited Armenia in 1998 and he was warmly hosted by Gurgen Melikyan who was the Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at that time.

Mr. Ertem said that the Armenian Genocide is an obstacle for the development of Turkey and without condemnation of the Genocide they can’t solve any serious problem in Turkey.

Ashot Hayruni presented the activity of the “Union Against Genocide” to those present.

The representative of the delegation Doctor Eran Gyundyuz said that if there hadn’t been the Armenian Genocide, Armenian culture would have been a part of Anatolian culture. “After the genocide Armenian people had to spread all over the world, lost the whole Estern Armenia. After 1915, slaughters were continued in Turkey and this time the victims were Kurds. I feel very close to Armenian people. We will go on our struggle till the Turkish society realizes and admits the responsibility”.

During the second part of the meeting the participants had the opportunity to address their questions to the guests.