Lusine Avanesyan
Public Radio of Armenia
Stepanakert
“The recognition of genocide means not only condemnation, but also restitution. All that has been seized from Armenians, should be returned to its rightful owner, Chairman of the “Union Against Genocide” Ali Ertem said in Stepanakert.
Members of the Frankfurt-based “Union Against Genocide” and the Berlin-based “Support for Genocide Victims” Turkish organization visited the Stepanakert Memorial, Gandzasar and other places of interest and had meetings with the leaders and journalists in Artsakh.
On a first visit to Artsakh, the Turks are aware they will be blacklisted by Azerbaijan, but are not worried about the fact. Representative of the “Support for Genocide Victims” organization Recep Marasli also considers that being included in Azerbaijan’s “black list” should be treated as an honor. The two are Personae Non Grata in Turkey, as well. Years ago they fled Turkey to survive.
Recep Marasli, who spoke about the Armenian Genocide in 1985, was arrested and spent 17 years in jail.
At Stepanakert memorial, the Turkish activists paid tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims and visited the graves of the freedom fighters.
They say Azerbaijan and Turkey will continue to act against Armenians. The number of those opposing this policy is small, but growing.
According to Marasli, the struggle of Artsakh is a just cause. They pledge to raise the issue in Europe upon their return.
