19.05.2018


On May 19, the Pontian Greek Genocide Remembrance Day, Eduard Sharmazanov, Vice President of the RA National Assembly, Deputies of the RA National Assembly, representatives of the Greek Embassy in Armenia, the Armenian community of Greece and the clergy visited the Armenian Genocide memorial Complex. The guests were welcomed by Gevorg Vardanyan, AGMI Acting Director, and introduced to the history of construction of the memorial complex and its symbolism.

The members of delegation laid a wreath at the eternal fire, honoring the memory of the innocent martyrs of the genocide committed by Ottoman Turkey against Pontic Greeks of Asia Minor in 1915-1923 with a minute of silence.

Archbishop Yeznik Petrosyan held a requiem service for the peace of innocent victims.

Historical Overview: On May 19, the Pontic Greeks all over the world commemorate the Genocide victims. This day has almost the same significance for them, as April 24 has for the Armenians. On February 24, 1994, the Greek Parliament unanimously decided to proclaim May 19 as the commemoration day of the Pontic Greek Genocide. This was connected with the fact that on May 19, 1919 General Mustafa Kemal was sent to Pontus after which the anti-Greek movement was activated over there and the real disaster had started for the Pontic Greeks.

The Genocide of Greeks in Pontus (most of which was the former Ottoman vilayet of Trabzon) was carried out during 1916-1923, first by the Young Turks and then by the Kemalists. The number of victims was about 350,000. It was the continuation of the genocidal policy which was already being carried out against the Armenians. Plunder of their homes and properties, mobilization and destruction of young men, deportation and massacre of civilians, forcible conversions to Islam, and destruction of cultural and religious institutions, all happened to the Pontic Greeks. On the other hand the tragedy of the Pontian Greeks is a part of the genocide committed during 1914-1923 against the Greeks of the Ottoman Empire, as the Greeks of Asia Minor and the Eastern Thrace were also the victims of massacres and deportations.

Pontic Greeks are struggling for years for the international recognition of the genocide and re-establishment of the historical justice. Till now, the Genocide of the Pontic Greeks was recognized by Greece (1994 and 1998), Cyprus (1994), Sweden (2010), and Armenia (2015). It is also recognized by separate administrative units in different countries (such as, New South Wales State of Australia, as well as a number of US states). In addition, the Greek Genocide is also recognized by a prestigious International Association of Genocide Scholars (2007).

The similar historical fate allows the Armenians to better understand people of the same destiny. Moreover, the lessons of history compelled the Armenians and Greeks to join their efforts and cooperate together in order to restore the historical justice.