Tsitsernakaberd: Armenian Genocide Memorial

From 1915 to 1923 Armenians have systematically been murdered and exterminated in the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). During these years more than 1.5 million Armenians lost their lives. That was an Armenian Genocide. The plan was to leave just one Armenian on those lands as a museum artifact. Of course many Turkish people were against this strategy, but their number was not so big to stop the huge anti-Armenian wave led by the Ottoman Empire.1.5 million were killed but those who survived and had been barely rescued by people, governments, and organizations from different countries found their second home in those countries thus being spread all over the world. There are 13 million Armenians in the world out of which 10 million (mainly children and grandchildren of the Genocide survivors) live beyond the borders of Armenia. Armenians will always be thankful to those countries that, despite of their political and economic interests in Turkey, recognized the Armenian Genocide and say "never again" to this kind of crimes against humanity: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Lebanon, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, Venezuela and regionally, by states 45 out of 50 states of USA, Spain, United Kingdom (Wales), Australia (Province of New South Wales). April 24 is the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. Each year, on this day, thousands of people visit Tsitsernakaberd- the Genocide Memorial and the Armenian Genocide Museum.

Credits to VahanN

Tsitsernakabard-The Genocide Memorial

Tsitsernakaberd is the Armenian Genocide memorial. It is very impressive building inside of which you can put flowers by the eternal fire. Next to it you can see two ridged pillars that symbolize Western Armenia (currently in the territory of Turkey) and Eastern Armenia. Almost all the tourists visiting Armenia usually start exploring the country from the Memorial.

The Genocide Museum

The Genocide museum has a territory of 2000 square meters. In the museum, you can not only learn the documentary facts but you'll also see on the walls of the museum the words of world famous people on the Armenian Genocide such as Henry Morgenthau, Anatol Franc, Fridtjof Nansen, Jak de Morgan, Valery Bryusov, Fayez El Ghuseyn. On the huge map presented there, you can see all the territories of Western Armenia where the massacres took place.

Outside the museum building, you may notice hundreds of trees with signs under them mentioning the names of high officials from different countries who planed those in the territory of the memorial complex thus paying tribute to the victims of the Genocide. Here you can find trees planted by the presidents, other high officials or by famous people from the country you are coming from.

After paying tribute to the victims of the Genocide and exploring the Armenian genocide Memorial and the museum you can enjoy the panorama of Ararat Valley and Ararat Mountain that opens from the complex and, one more time, to think what should be your contribution in bringing peace, security, tolerance, unity and more love to the world.