Today we mark the 107th anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century perpetrated against the Armenian people. Bowing our heads before the memory of one and a half million martyrs, we come once again to renew our vow to remain faithful to the martyrs’ testament and to express our gratitude to all those countries of the world that recognized the Armenian Genocide.
The recognition of the fact of the genocide perpetrated against the Armenian people is gradually gaining new authenticity on the part of many countries that in the past were utterly indifferent to our timeless cause. Today that phalanx, expanding, has come to constitute a substantial number, led by the United States, whose president officially recognized the Armenian Genocide a year ago. In light of these developments of recent years, we believe that only through the path of restitution will our people achieve its just demands.
The inhuman crime perpetrated against the Armenian people remains unpunished to this day, and the Turkish state refuses to face the dark pages of its history. Moreover, our heroic people of Artsakh finds itself before the danger of a new genocide at the hands of the Turkish-Azeri alliance.
The dangerous situation surrounding the present reality of Artsakh and the rapidly developing events in the region inevitably demand from the entire Armenian nation heightened vigilance and a straining of the efforts of national unity in order to prevent further encroachments against Armenia and the peaceful population of Artsakh, and to afford them the opportunity to preserve their existence and the inviolability of their rights.
A century after the Great Catastrophe, the international family has still not taken a clear position. In other words, it has not undertaken practical intervention on behalf of those freedom-loving peoples who continue their just struggle for a sovereign, free and peaceful life.
Meanwhile, the Armenian people, in Armenia and the diaspora, continues its struggle for the protection of its full rights and the restoration of justice, until final victory.
With the organizations of the Los Angeles Armenian community, this year as well we are united in raising our voice and demanding the just rights of our people.
With deep respect to all the martyrs of the Armenian people
