Friday, April 24 2020 11:17

ArmInfo. For the Armenians of Ukraine, the Genocide and the Holodomor are a common tragedy, and we consider any call for not recognizing these crimes to be a  continuation of the Genocide.

This is stated in the statement of the  Union of Armenians of Ukraine of Donetsk region.  "Political life in   Ukraine on the eve of April 24 exacerbates the already difficult  situation after the appeal of the Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine  V. Bodnar on abstinence from participation on the 105th anniversary  of the Armenian Genocide. Armenians have been living in Ukraine more  than 1000 years, they are and consider themselves full citizens of  this country. Their full involvement in all social and political  processes, devotion and lives sacrificed for protection and for the  good of Ukraine are beyond doubt! ", the statement of the community,  quoted by AnalitikaUA.net, reads.  The community recalled that dozens  of city, regional and district radas of Ukraine accepted and  condemned the Armenian Genocide, including Mariupol and Kramatorsk in  2015. 

"105 years ago, many Armenians who managed to escape from the  Genocide in Ottoman Turkey found a new home in Ukraine, a lot of them  died during the Holodomor. For the Armenians of Ukraine, the Genocide  and the Holodomor are a common tragedy, and we consider any call for  not recognizing these crimes  the continuation of the Genocide.  Our  children consider themselves Ukrainians, we teach them how to live  and understand their multicultural heritage.  And the issue of  genocide should not be part of political speculation between states.   Genocide is a matter of the survival of the people and nation, not  politics.

We declare on behalf of the Armenian organization of the Donetsk  region about the inadmissibility of such a statement of the issue in  favor of momentary and political interests.  In conditions of the  pandemic quarantine in the country on April 24, on the day of  remembrance of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, we will hold  events in the virtual space, "the statement said.

As previously reported, a letter from the Deputy Foreign Minister of  Ukraine V. Bodnar stated that Ukraine does not recognize the genocide  of the Armenian people, and the diplomat asked Ukrainian officials to  refrain from participating in commemorative events on the occasion of  the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and to refuse to use  this term. This step has already been harshly criticized by the  deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Daria Volodina.