Newsletter No 20

Armenian Genocide Commemoration Events in London

Armenian Genocide Commemoration – Apricot Tree at Ealing Green

The Armenian community of Ealing commemorated together with his excellency Ambassador Nersesyan, the 107^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Ealing Green and laid flowers at the memorial apricot tree. Members of Parliament Rupa Huq and James Murray, leader of the Ealing Council Peter Mason and retired Member of Parliament Stephen Pound, who were all invited to attend by the Armenian National Committee UK, each made a tribute. The event was organised by the Armenian Community Council. Chairman of ANC UK Annette Moskofian delivered a speech calling for justice:

“Despite Azerbaijan’s caviar diplomacy and the millions Azeris and Turks spend on PR, Tim Loughton MP said during our recent visit to Armenia, there are more supporters in the Parliament than ever before.

So, your efforts are making a difference. Now we can see the increasing support from our Ealing MPs and the Council.

 We have MPs from across the Union, from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland who have a genuine interest in Armenian issues. The liberal Democrats have urged the UK government to recognise the Armenian Genocide. More and more influential Labour and Conservative MPs are now staunch advocates of our cause. This was demonstrated by the Private Member’s Bills and the Early day motions on The UK recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Parliament.

Therefore, we must increase our community pressure and gain further support. We do this to stop further atrocities against Armenians and in the world at large.

Our history deserves justice.

Our future demands justice because our cause is Just.”

Cenotaph wreath laying ceremony to mark the Armenian Genocide anniversary

The 107^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was also marked with a wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in London. Members of Parliament Tim Loughton Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Armenia, Catherine West, John Spellar, Chris Law, Sammy Wilson and a representative from the Cypriot community were all present to take part in the commemoration.

Tim Loughton made a powerful statement recognising the Armenian Genocide as an atrocity in our world’s history. In reference to the Armenian Genocide, he highlighted that it is important to educate the world about the horrors that happened, and to learn from those lessons so that these mistakes are not repeated in the future. Finally, we added:

“We will do whatever we can to make sure that in this country, the public are educated and are aware of the horrors of the Armenian Genocide, we learn the lessons from them; and we all strive together to make sure that justice comes to the victims and their families, and that we do everything so that those horrors do not visit again”.

John Spellar and Chris Law also made speeches and urged the UK government to recognise the Armenian Genocide.

We sincerely thank all the MPs who accepted ANC’s invitation to attend and grateful for their constant support to our cause.

Afternoon Tea with Baroness Cox