Grim memory still burning

April 26, 2007 12:00am
Herald Sun

ARMENIANS have marked the 92nd anniversary of the genocide of hundreds of thousands of their compatriots under the Ottoman Empire. Though many nations recognise it, the genocide is a flashpoint in Turkey's relations with the West.

From early morning, mourners climbed in heavy rain to a hilltop memorial in the Armenian capital to lay flowers. Many Armenians from around the world come for the annual ceremony. Hrant Gazariyan, 24, arrived from Turkey and said he would lay a flower in honour of Hrant Dink.

The Turkish-Armenian journalist was killed in Turkey in January after nationalists branded him a traitor for urging an open debate on the 1915 killings. Eleven suspects have been charged in the murder.

"Turkey must recognise the genocide so that there will not be more victims, like Dink," Mr Gazariyan said. Armenians say up to 1.5 million died in orchestrated killings in the Ottoman Empire's last years. But Turkey says 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife in 1915-1917 when Christian Armenians, backed by Russia, rose up.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic ties and a closed border. In March, the Israeli parliament refused to recognise a genocide.

Turkey froze military ties with France in November after lawmakers voted to make it an offence to deny the genocide.

A resolution is pending in the US Congress to recognise the genocide, but a vote is yet to be set amid lobbying by the White House and Turkey.

The US ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, was recalled last year after he used the term genocide in a speech. AFP


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