The exhibition “Genocide After the Genocide” taking place in the European Parliament, in Brussels, was officially opened on March 1, in the presence of over a hundred guests, Asbarez reports.

Present were members of the European Parliament, staff members, assistants and representatives of the Armenian community of Belgium. The exhibition was hosted by MEP Nikolaos Androulakis (S&D, Greece), co-organized by the Research on Armenian Architecture and the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD).

The exhibition “Genocide after the Genocide” consists of 32 photos, of Armenian churches and religious monuments, before and after the Armenian Genocide of 1915, perpetrated by Turkey. The photos depict the systematic destruction of Armenian monuments, culture and heritage, in Western Armenia, what is now Eastern Turkey. Turkey to this day, denies the reality of the Armenian Genocide, despite international condemnation and resolutions.

It is the first time that the exhibition has been held outside the Republic of Armenia.

Heghine Evinyan, EU Affairs of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy, in her opening remarks, said “an honest and open process of dealing with its past is crucial for any democratic, healthy and forward-looking society. In fact, this is the only way to go. Therefore the Turkish society needs the recognition of the Armenian Genocide at least as much as the Armenian society needs it. Many Turkish intellectuals certainly realize this and openly speak about it, among them historian Taner Akçam and writer, Nobel Prize winner for literature Orhan Pamuk. The exhibition “Genocide after the Genocide” is another step towards raising awareness about the state of material testimonies of Armenian civilization in today’s Turkey.”

“The purpose of the Genocide was the physical and cultural extinction of Armenia. Turkey must face historic truth and recognize the atrocities that took place at the beginning of last century. It is our duty to preserve the memory. It is essential if we want to have a better future and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past,” said Member of the European Parliament and host of the exhibition Nikolaos Androulakis.

Arman Israelian, Counselor in the Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union, said in his remarks, “Today’s exhibition is an essential endeavor to draw attention to the issue of Armenian religious heritage in Turkey, and it supplements the efforts of the European Parliament in this regard. These silent witnesses of Armenian nation for so many centuries have immense cultural, religious and historical value not only for us, Armenians, and the Christian world, but also for the entire humanity.”