Wales-Armenia Solidarity - Book Launch and Armenian Genocide Petition

Wales-Armenia Solidarity

Book Launch “From Carmarthen to Karabagh, a Welsh Discovery of Armenia " (23rd April)

and

Presentation of Armenian Genocide Day Petition to the National Assembly (25th April)

This coming week promises to be one of the most important for Welsh Armenians.

On Monday , the launch of Canon Patrick Thomas’ new book " From Carmarthen to Karabagh, a Welsh discovery of Armenia" will take place at the Temple of Peace, Cardiff. This thoughtful and informative book focuses on the similarity and affinity between the two nations. The author is a well known and respected priest and broadcaster who lives in Carmarthen and travelled extensively in Armenia.

Attendees will gather at the Genocide Monument in the garden of the Temple. Key persons present will include the Archbishop of Wales, the Ambassador of Republic of Armenia, Bishop Vahan of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the historian Mike Joseph, as well as Barra O'Tobin from the Irish Community in Wales. Neil McEvoy, Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council will be present at the Genocide Monument, and invitations have been sent to all the Welsh Assembly Members.

Displays will highlight the country, history and culture of Armenia. The Canon will sign copies of his book and interviews have been arranged with the press.

On Wednesday, a petition will be presented to the Petitions Committee of the National Assembly calling for the 24th April to be officially denoted as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in Wales. The majority of the National Assembly Members (including all four members of the Petitions Committee) have already signed a Statement identical to the wording of the Petition.

The First Minister of the Welsh Assembly Government, Carwyn Jones has already been consulted on the content of the petition. It is likely he will oppose the aim as it contradicts the official line of the Labour Party in London. Nevertheless , we are confident of a good result, as the only argument that the Welsh Assembly Government has so far been able to present, is that commemorating victims of the Armenian Genocide is a foreign policy issue for the UK government, while commemorating the victims of the 1939-45 Holocaust and other genocides falls outside any such policy. The majority of Assembly Members have already rejected the UK foreign policy argument, so the main issue will probably be who has the power to denote special days for the Welsh calendar, the Assembly or the Assembly government.