Remarks by the Ambassador Tigran Balayan at the screening of “Aurora’s Sunrise” film on the occasion of 108th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide

19 April, 2023

Dear members of the States General,

Mevrouw Nanninga and Meneer Ceder,

Dear Director Weststrate,

Excellences dear Ambassadors,

Dear President Hamran,

Your eminence Bishop Hendriks,

Meneers Voordewind, van Bommel en Hoekema,

Dear representatives of local authorities,

Սիրելի հայրենակիցներ,

Dear Friends, Ladies and gentlemen,

“Every citizen will enjoy complete liberty and equality, regardless of ethnicity or religion, and be submitted to the same obligations. All being equal before the law as regards rights and duties relative to the State, are eligible for government posts, according to their individual capacity and their education.” End quote.

This is not an extract from the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution of a democratic country as it may sound. This is an extract from the Manifesto of the Young Turks Government, the masterminds and executors of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire.

108 years have passed, generations have changed, the world has changed, but the genocidal policy and mentality of dictatorships remain unchanged.

There is still the same promise of a dignified and peaceful life, and there is yet the same existential threat hanging as a Damocles sword over the Armenians, but particularly for those under siege since last year in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Over the years the outstanding resilience of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh has been challenged time and again, but they have refused to bow heads to injustice and to the inhuman conditions of life they, including my own family, were forced to endure for decades.

The guarantees of rights that are currently being advertised by Azerbaijani Government for Armenians in Artsakh are fully comparable to the rights proclaimed by the consecutive Ottoman Governments for the Armenians living in the Empire. Equally, there is not much difference between absolutist rule of Ottoman sultans and current ruler of Azerbaijan, so we cannot be the silent witnesses of the second act of the Genocide, we are of an opinion that the world shouldn’t allow the starving, humiliation and the inhuman conditions of Armenians under blockade turn into a mere news feed in the social media.

Dear friends,

In his fundamental publication “The Armenian Horrors”, professor Dirk Roodzant quotes reactions of prominent Dutch scholars, politicians and intellectuals about the Armenian Genocide: “it was hard to believe that in the twentieth century the extermination of almost an entire people in such appalling circumstances was still possible on this earth.” End quote.

As unimaginable as this may seem, the circumstances being equally appalling today, hardly awaken the vigilance of the international community, preparing a fertile ground for yet another atrocity, another ethnic cleansing, another genocide against Armenians, despite the consistent calls by the major international organizations, countries and the decision of the world's top Court.

The current threat hanging above Armenians in Artsakh has been denoted as a red flag alert by all the respective human rights organizations, including the Genocide Watch, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention. What we see today, or try not to see, is the exact implementation of all the 14 factors, as defined by the UN Framework of Analysis for Atrocity Crimes.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Armenia strongly believes that April 24th is not only about mourning for the innocent lives claimed by the Genocide. Today is a reminder of our collective responsibility to never allow the recurrence of such crimes. Today is a call for immediate and decisive actions.

My Government and Armenians around the world highly appreciate the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Dutch Parliament. It has also given the hope that the broad consensus for recognition among Dutch public opinion and political forces will eventually reverberate in the Dutch Government.

Beste vrienden,

The iconic film we are about to watch, Aurora's Sunrise is an accumulated picture of one of the darkest pages of Armenian history and the whole of humanity, a survival story after the Armenian Genocide.

Given the opportunity, I would like to thank you all for being here today. Your presence, concern and empathy are much appreciated and needed.

Thank you all.

MFA RA
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