The 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was commemorated in Brussels

The 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was commemorated in Brussels

24 April, 2024

On April 24, the 109th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide took place in Brussels, which was attended for the first time by the Ambassadors of a number of countries, that recognized the Armenian Genocide, members of the Belgian government, mayors and members of parliament, politicians and high-ranking officials, public and cultural figures of Belgium and Belgian Armenian community members.

The candle-lighting ceremony of April 23, where the Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib participated for the first time, was followed by a liturgy offered at the Apostolic Church of Mary Magdalene of Brussels on April 24, dedicated to the memory of the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.

After the liturgy, the commemoration of the martyrs and the wreath-laying ceremony at the Armenian Cross-stone (Khachkar) dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide took place.

Ambassador of Armenia to Brussels Mr Tigran Balayan, Bourgmestre of Ixelles Commune Christos Doulkeridis, Member of the Belgian House of Representatives Michel de Maegd, Senator Mark Demesmaeker, President of the Committee of Armenians of Belgium Robert Unusyan, President of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation Pierre-Yves Jeholet and other officials delivered speeches at the event. Zakia Khattabi, Minister of Climate, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Green Deal and Bourgmestre of Brussels Philippe Close were also present at the ceremony.

All the speakers mentioned that although 109 years have passed since the Armenian Genocide, a similar crime took place last year in Nagorno-Karabakh, and as a result of the ethnic cleansing carried out by Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh was completely depopulated. Moreover, the speakers called to punish the ones who are responsible for the deportation of 140 000 Armenians from their ancestral land.

In his speech, Ambassador Tigran Balayan highly appreciated Belgium's recognition of the Armenian Genocide, highlighting the need for joint efforts of the international community to prevent genocides and crimes against humanity.

Drawing a comparison between the Armenian Genocide and the ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh of September 2023, he emphasized the importance of ensuring the protection of the right of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to return to their historical homeland and the need to condemn the state-sponsored Armenophobic policy of Azerbaijan.

Ambassador Balayan concluded his speech with the hope for the future, while expressing his gratitude to the Belgian government for standing by Armenia and protecting its territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.

The speeches were followed by a wreath-laying ceremony, including by the Belgian Foreign Minister, the Embassies of France, the USA, Lithuania, Greece, Uruguay, Cyprus and other countries.