MP: Civil Contract to join April 24 mourning at Tsitsernakaberd

PanARMENIAN.Net - During a parliamentary briefing, Vahagn Aleksanyan, a member of the ruling Civil Contract faction, emphasized that his political party has never denied the Armenian Genocide and has no intention of doing so. He stated, “We have never denied the genocide and do not plan to,” reaffirming the party's commitment to acknowledging this historical atrocity.

Aleksanyan announced that on April 24, the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, members of the Civil Contract party will mourn alongside the public and visit the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex to pay their respects.

He further criticized former Presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan, accusing them of downplaying the genocide for political gain. Aleksanyan referenced a statement from Kocharyan, disclosed in Wikileaks documents, indicating a willingness to persuade U.S. senators not to recognize the genocide. He also mentioned that Sargsyan had requested then-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden “to avoid intensifying the genocide issue, as recounted by Biden to the Armenian community.”

In response, Hayk Mamijanyan, head of the I Have Honor faction, accused Aleksanyan of distorting facts regarding Sargsyan's conversation with Biden. Mamijanyan cited a 2010 official denial from the U.S. Embassy, stating, “Do not attribute your 'well-earned' labels of traitor and denier to us—those titles are eternally yours.”

Aleksanyan concluded by stating he was unaware of any state-level events organized to commemorate the genocide.