Cilicia Analytical Platform Assesses Genocide Commemoration and Ongoing Challenges

OCP News Service and armenianorthodoxchurch.org – 13/05/2025

Antelias – Lebanon: Under the chairmanship of His Holiness Aram I, the Cilicia Analytical Platform of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia convened online on Sunday, May 11, 2025, to discuss statements and works related to the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The session focused on state and Diaspora statements made on the anniversary, as well as commemorative events and messages. Members observed a concerning trend in statements from Yerevan, noting a deviation from the Pan-Armenian Declaration by bypassing the ethnic cleansing in Artsakh and downplaying the genocides perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire and Azerbaijan, including the omission of demands for reparations. The platform highlighted a noticeable policy of confining the Genocide issue within Armenia’s borders in these state pronouncements.

In contrast, the assembly emphasized the pan-Armenian significance of His Holiness Aram I’s message, which underscored the ongoing nature of genocide, the critical need for unity around national agendas, and the imperative for the Homeland and Diaspora to continue their joint demanding march for justice.

The platform also addressed Azerbaijan’s propaganda efforts, particularly its strategy of exploiting Christian centers to erase Armenian heritage from Artsakh’s spiritual and cultural sites. Experts analyzed Baku’s tactics, referencing a conference held at the Vatican’s Gregorian University.

The meetings and interviews given by Catholicos Aram I to prominent Italian media outlets, reaching a multi-million audience, were noted as significant. His Holiness’s messages centered on the continuous nature of genocide, from the Ottoman era to the current actions of authorities in Baku, and were seen as a direct response to the Azerbaijani-initiated conference in the Vatican.

Looking ahead, the Cilicia Analytical Platform discussed the upcoming conference in Bern on May 27-28, 2025, dedicated to the preservation of Artsakh’s endangered spiritual and cultural heritage, in which the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia will actively participate.

Finally, the platform announced the forthcoming publication of a collection of materials from the conference on the Artsakh genocide held in Antelias. This volume, containing scientific and political analyses across various fields, aims to serve as a foundation for developing contemporary pan-Armenian agendas and expanding related work.

Source:
OCP News Service