EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION for Justice and Democracy Avenue de la Renaissance 10 B-1000 Bruxelles Tel/ Fax: +32 2 732 70 27/26 Website :Eafjd -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOP LEVEL CONFIRMATION OF THE CHURCH COMMITMENT FOR THE UNIVERSAL CONDEMNATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE 7 May – Karekin II the Catholicos of All Armenians called « the whole nations » to “universally condemn the Armenian Genocide“ during an official visit to Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican. This call was made on Piazza San Pietro in front of a public audience exceptionally chaired by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in the presence of more than 20 000 faithful. In his welcome speech, Benedict XVI addressed this issue in recalling that “at the beginning of XXth century, Christian Armenians suffered cruel persecutions“ saying that “Armenia's many martyrs are a sign of the power of the Holy Spirit working in times of darkness, and a pledge of hope for Christians everywhere“ Catholicos Karekin II then replied in asserting that Armenians “are a people who have survived genocide“ and which thus knows well “the value of love, brotherhood, friendship and a secure life“. His Holiness Karekin II continued stating that “today, many countries of the world recognize and condemn the genocide committed against the Armenian people by Ottoman Turkey“ and that “the denial of these crimes is an injustice similar to their perpetration“. He ended by calling “all the nations to universally condemn the Armenian Genocide so that who has power and authority can detect the accountability of these crimes“ The European Armenian Federation recalls that Vatican already recognized the Armenian Genocide through a joint declaration of John Paul II and Karekin II in 2000. « We commend the courage and the determination of both the Apostolic Armenian and Catholic Roman Churches about this deep moral failure represented by the Armenian Genocide and its denial. We call upon the Heads of the States and of Governments to pay attention to these Voices of Wisdom and Lucidity in recognizing, if not yet, the Armenian Genocide“ stated Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation. “We call especially the European authorities to uphold the European values in adopting provisions to prevent and to repress the crime of denial as the 1948 Covenant represses the crime of genocide“ concluded Tchoboian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You receive this Press Release from : European Armenian Federation for Justice & Democracy Avenue de la Renaissance 10 Brussels, 1000 The European Armenian Federation is the biggest and most influential Armenian grassroots organisation in Europe