An event dedicated to the Armenian Genocide is being held in a special hall of the Uruguayan Parliament. This year, the memorial event, organized by the President of the Uruguayan Parliament and the ARF Armenian Affairs Committee, was attended by Carolina Gosse, Vice President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, numerous ministers, MPs, diplomats, officials, as well as Archbishop Hagop, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Uruguay. Glndjian, RA Ambassador to Uruguay Mariam Gevorkian, RA Consul Gohar Minasyan, as well as representatives of Armenian public organizations and unions.
As NEWS.am was informed by the Central Office of the Armenian Affairs of the ARF Bureau, a message from the President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Jamant Orsi, was read at the event, which, in particular, states: “Today we mark the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, remembering the victims, but we also remember the 60th anniversary of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the state of Uruguay. Uruguay has clearly fulfilled its duty.”
Vice President Caroline Gosse emphasized in her speech: “Uruguay has been nourished by the contribution of the Armenian community, I think, by the love they have for their historical homeland, their unwavering devotion to its memory, which is a way of making history, and their love filled with gratitude for Uruguay,” noting that the Armenian people “should always have the Uruguayan people next to them.”
In his speech, Speaker of the House of Representatives Sebastian Valthomir emphasized: “Armenians have enriched our culture, our identity, our country and our history. The self-determination of peoples must overcome all kinds of pressure, both small and large. Uruguay is committed to upholding international law. Our small country is subject to pressure from all kinds of actors, but we have made it clear that the protection of the Armenian cause, the protection of historical memory must continue to be a priority, no matter who leads Uruguay,” Valthomir concluded.
Irene Massimino, a lawyer, expert in international criminal law and human rights, co-founder of the Lemkin Institute for the Prevention of Genocide and professor at Indiana University in the United States, analyzed the current situation and emphasized: “The dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan is not conducted on equal terms, the victim is never equal to the victim due to the impunity that most of the international community has provided to Azerbaijan for many years.”
The message of the ARF Committee on Armenian Affairs of Uruguay was conveyed to Karine Kerkerian, who noted in particular: “We are committed to working tirelessly for the release of the hostages and prisoners unjustly detained in Baku, and to reiterate what they would undoubtedly say if they could be here: Uruguay continues to play an important role on the international stage so that the right of the Armenian people to return safely to their homes is respected.” Kerkerian also referred to the visits to Uruguay of Bako Sahakyan (2011) and David Ishkhanyan (2019). “In this alarming situation for our thousand-year-old homeland, and six decades after the adoption of the landmark law that broke the wall of silence around the Armenian Genocide, we once again call on all of us, who inherited the legacy of the Uruguayan legislators of 1965, to unite our voices and once again break the silence that yesterday’s genocidal people impose on us today.” On this occasion, a letter from the Chairman of the Armenia-Uruguay Interparliamentary Friendship Group, Chairman of the Supreme Body of the ARF of Armenia Ishkhan Saghatelyan on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the adoption of Law 13.326 on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide was read. As a token of gratitude to Uruguay, Ishkhan Saghatelyan donated a painting by Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia Shmavon Shmavonyan to this House of Democracy on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Uruguayan Parliament. The painting was donated by the representative of the Armenian Cause to the President of the House of Representatives of Uruguay Sebastian Valtomir.