Հայոց ցեղասպանության զոհերի հուշահամալիրArmenian Genocide memorial complex Armenia’s official

Հայոց ցեղասպանության զոհերի հուշահամալիրArmenian Genocide memorial complex Armenia’s official memorial dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Built in 1967 on one of three hills of Tsitsernakaberd. Litterarly meaning “swallow’s fortress” Every year on April 24 thousands of Armenians and visitors from around the world gather at the memorial to remember the 1,5 million Armenians who perished during the Genocide. Fresh flowers are laid around the burning flame in the middle of the complex out of respect. Over the years many world leading politicians, religious figures, artists, musicians and athletes have visisted the memorial. The construction of the monument began in 1966, during Soviet times, in response to the 1965 Yerevan demonstrations during which one hundred thousand people demonstrated in Yerevan for 24 hours to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Genocide. A highly confidential letter was sent to the Presidium of the Communist Party of Armenia by three armenian politicians and scientists, where they made a series of proposal to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the genocide. Point 8 said: “To build the memorial of the victims of the Armenian people in World War I on account of the income of the population. The memorial must symbolize the rebirth of the Armenian people.”The 44 meter stele symbolizes the national rebirth of Armenians. Twelve slabs are positioned in a circle, representing the twelve lost provinces in present day Turkey. In the center of the stone slabs at a depth of 1,5 meters there is an eternal flame dedicated to the 1.5 million people killed during the Armenian Genocide.Along the park at the memorial there is a 100-meter wall with the names of towns and villages where massacres and deportations are known to have taken place. On the rear side of the commemoration wall, plates have been attached to honor persons who committed themselves to relieving the distress of the survivors during and after the genocide (among others: Johannes Lepsius, Franz Werfel, Armin T. Wegner, Henry Morgenthau Sr., Fridtjof Nansen, Pope Benedict XV, Jakob Künzler, Bodil Biørn).An alley of trees has been planted to commemorate the genocide victims.To this day day no turkish state official has visited Tsitsernakaberd and it continues it’s Genocide denial and culture. The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (Հայոց ցեղասպանության թանգարան-ինստիտուտ) was opened in 1995 next to the memorial. -- source link

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