REMEMBER YOUR PAST FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR FUTURE


The Armenian and Assyrian peoples have lived on the territory of Mesopotamia and Armenia the Mijor together for centuries. They had their state systems and have struggled against a common enemy.
Assyrians along with Armenians are known as one of the first Christian nations and the Armenian and Assyrian churches are always considered to be sister churches. These two nations have had the same destiny and Assyrians as well as Armenians underwent the same massacres by the Ottoman Empire in 1915.
The ideologist of Turks, Dr. Nazim declared: §The massecres are indispensable. All non-turks, whatever Christian nation they represent, must be annihilated¦. In the result of such a policy the Armenians now deplore the memory of their 1.5 million innocently murdered victims. The Assyrians also underwent the same policy under Ottoman Turkey in 1915 and had 750,000 innocently murdered victims. The fraternal relations of the Armenian and Assyrian peoples are centuries old and will last forever. Those Assyrians, who live on the territory of the Republic of Armenia (RA), have gained the opportunity to live in peace, maintain their independence, language and culture. The Assyrians and Armenians of the whole world are united and unanimously against Ottoman Turkey's policy
>From the beginning of its establishment in 1989, every year on 24-th of April, the Assyrian organization of RA §Atour¦, together with Armenian people participate in a mourning procession. This year about 600 Assyrians from the cities of Arminia and four villages Arzni, Dimitrovo, Higher Dvin, New-Artagers, as well as Assyrians from different foreign countries, who had come to participate in this procession, put flowers at the monument of the victims of Genocide. After the procession there was an interview by TV reporters with the president of the Assyrian organization of Armenia §Atour¦ A.Mikhaylov, were he emphasized the fact of Genocide, and spoke about the importance of accepting the reality of Armenia and Assyrian peoples` Genocide.
That same morning in the village of Arzni, at St. Mariam church, the inauguration of a cross-stone, dedicated to the memory of the victims of Genocide, took place. Henceforth the inhabitants of village Arzni will have an opportunity to render their honor to the victims of the Great Genocide.


Dalila Arzumanyan
Atour¦ Assyrian Association of Armenia