IN THE NAME OF OUR LANDS

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IN THE NAME OF OUR LANDS

GIBRAHAYER e-magazineSimon Aynedjian - Gibrahayer e-magazine - Nicosia 22 April - Armenians in Cyprus have a singular, complex and fateful mission in these historic lands. Our conflictual history continues on an island that its own turbulent history converges, and blue-prints a common path with its people, with whom we now walk together and face the challenges of tomorrow.
We are not just another community trying to make the next day away from our lands, as our island is littered with "forensic evidence" that is being challenged day-in day-out a century later.
On the eve of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the historic 2nd pilgrimage to Sourp Magar Monastery on May 10, our community re-evaluates, prepares and declares.

- We are travelling to Sourp Magar Monastery not as tourists but as owners of our land. Owners, not only of the lands that belong to our Church within the property of the
Monastery, but as owners of the occupied lands around it, as Cypriot citizens.
- The effects of the Genocide as well as the invasion of Cyprus are as current as the time they were perpetrated. Time will heal the wounds, only if Genocide and invasion are called with their name, evaluated and addressed as such.
- If the loots of Genocide and invasions are rewarded, we all run the risk of building societies that accept violence and build a future based on it.
- Turkish society is increasingly showing signs of coming to terms with its past. Turkish Cypriots, as witnesses of the influx of the first Genocide survivors of the Armenians in Cyprus and the first society that welcomed the Armenian refugees, have a unique role to serve as a catalyst in assisting Turks in the mainland for reconciling with their past.

The "forensic evidence" must be put on the table.

However, this is not enough.

In order to claim what rightfully belongs to us and to stay as a strong link in the history of the Armenians in Cyprus, we have to stay committed.
- Committed to taking the correct decisions when we run our community affairs, politically, culturally, and most important of all regarding our educational institutions.
- Committed to the process of a Cyprus solution that will recognise the fundamental human rights of all the people of Cyprus, free from military presence and military threats.
- Committed to showing the world that Cyprus can be a model of co-existence between the ethnic and religious minorities in which Armenian and Turkish Cypriots will serve as a model of peace.
- Committed to our history and our link to the past.
- Committed... to our land and in the name of the our lands from which we were forcefully driven away .... not just once.

On Sunday 10 May ...
when we all make our way to Sourp Magar Monastery
when we face the path that brought us here and created our community
when we face and sing "Cilicia" across the sea and the land that our forefathers called "home"

Let us renew our vows and stay committed
in the name of our lands...

PILGRIMAGE TO THE OCCUPIED SOURP MAGAR MONASTERY
Sunday 10 May, 2009
GIBRAHAYER e-magazine

The 2nd Pilgrimage to the Turkish-occupied Armenian Monastery of Sourp Magar
is organised by the office of the Armenian MP Vartkes Mahdessian
and The Armenian Prelature of Cyprus

Participants are requested to contact the office of the Armenian MP Vartkes Mahdessian
by telephoning 22-454540 and supplying the following information:
1.- Name, Surname, Birth date and city/country
2.- European Identity Card or Passport Number
3.- Citizenship

The last day to register is Thursday 30 April, 2009 at the Office of The Armenian MP

- The convoy is under the supervision of UNFICYP
- Participation Fee is 10 euros
- Make sure you have your European ID or Passports with you on the day of the Pilgrimage
- Buses leave from The Armenian Prelature in Nicosia at 11:00 am sharp



On Thursday 23 April at 11:10 pm, PlusTV will be airing a documentary on the Armenian Genocide interviewing Screamers film director Carla Garabedian and showing excerpts of the film.

Friday 24th April 2009 at 9:15 pm, For the first time ever, CyBC2 will air the award winning documentary on the Armenian genocide named "Memories" by Italian-Armenian director Avedis Ohanian.
Both The documentary is being made possible by the efforts of The Armenian National Committee of Cyprus (Gibrosi Hay Tadi Hantsnakhoump)


GIBRAHAYER e-magazine

ARMENIAN POLITICAL PARTIES IN CYPRUS ISSUE A JOINT DECLARATION
To read the joint declaration by Armenian political parties in Cyprus - Ramgavar Azadagan Party, Henchagian Party and ARF Dashnaktsoutiun - on the occasion of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, click here
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