May 20, 2021 - 16:38 AMT
Barcelona recognizes Armenian Genocide

The City Council of Barcelona has recognized the Armenian Genocide, the Embassy of Yerevan in Madrid reports.

Barcelona approved a resolution in which it is recognized that “the events suffered by the Armenian population between 1915 and 1923 indeed constitute a genocide, in accordance with the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide”.

City officials are now expected to take steps to have the the Spanish government sign the Resolution of the European Parliament from 1987, which recognizes the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire, and which was reaffirmed by subsequent resolutions in 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2015.

The resolution also decided that Barcelona would support the Armenian people in their efforts to consolidate democratic processes, as well as work with the institutions of the Armenian community of the city.

On April 24, 1915, a large group of Armenian intellectuals was rounded up and assassinated in Constantinople by the Ottoman government. On April 24, Armenians worldwide commemorated the 106th anniversary of the Genocide which continued until 1923. Some three dozen countries, hundreds of local government bodies and international organizations have so far recognized the killings of 1.5 million Armenians as Genocide. Turkey denies to this day.