International Affirmations
- from Heads of State

Al-Husayn Ibn ‘Ali, Sharif of Mecca

1917

[Decree issued in 1917 by the Sharif of Mecca for the Protection of Armenians.]

The Hashemite Royal Court

In the Name of God, The Compassionate, The Merciful We Thank Only God And No One But God

From Al-Husayn Ibn ‘Ali, King of the Arab Lands and Sharif of Mecca and its Prince to The Honorable and Admirable Princes — Prince Faisal and Prince Abd al-’Aziz al-Jarba — greetings and the compassion of God and His blessings. This letter is written from Imm Al-Qura (Mecca), on 18 Rajab 1336 [A.D. 1917], by the praise of God and no God except Him. We ask peace upon God’s Prophet, his family and his companions (may peace be upon him). We inform you that in our gratitude to Him we are in good health, strength and good grace. We pray God that He may grant us and you His abundant grace. What is requested of you is to protect and to take good care of everyone from the Jacobite Armenian community living in your territories and frontiers and among your tribes; to help them in all of their affairs and defend them as you would defend yourselves, your properties and children, and provide everything they might need whether they are settled or moving from place to place, because they are the Protected People of the Muslims (Ahl Dimmat al-Muslimin) — about whom the Prophet Muhammad (may God grant him His blessings and peace) said: “Whosoever takes from them even a rope, I will be his adversary on the day of Judgment.” This is among the most important things we require of you to do and expect you to accomplish, in view of your noble character and determination. May God be our and your guardian and provide you with His success. Peace be upon you with the mercy of God and His blessings.

Al-Husayn Ibn ‘Ali

François Mitterrand, President of France

January 6, 1984

“It is impossible to erase the marks of the genocide with which you were struck. This must be inscribed in the memory of mankind and this sacrifice must simultaneously serve as a lesson to the young and as the will to survive.”

Visiting the Isere, the president of the Republic paid homage to the Armenian community.

On Saturday, January 6, Mr. François Mitterrand paid a surprise visit to the Isere. The head of state visited an appliance manufacturing plant in Bourgoin-Jalieu, then, in Vienne, whose mayor is National Assembly President Mr. Louis Mermaz, he met with that town’s Armenian community which had gathered to celebrate Armenian Christmas.

In Vienne, after a quick walk around the market which surrounds City Hall, Mr. Mitterrand addressed the Armenian community gathered in the Mayoralty. The Armenian Cause has sometimes been “taken off track” because of violence, underlined the head of state, who considers that “there can be no misunderstanding between Armenians and France”. “France is a land of welcome and hospitality” he said. “The sons of those who have suffered so much know well that they have been completely integrated into the French community. “Recalling the 1915 genocide, Mr. Mitterrand added: “It is impossible to erase the marks of the genocide with which you were struck. This must be inscribed in the memory of mankind and this sacrifice must simultaneously serve as a lesson to the young and as the will to survive, so that all will know throughout time that this people does not belong to the past, but is truly of the present and has a future. “ “There can be no misunderstanding,” he repeated alluding to the “few elements who, having generally come from abroad, want to practice towards France — whose sole responsibility is that of having been friendly — acts of violence, which make all of us suffer. This is not an acceptable method. I will never accept it, “ he said.

[Mr. Mitterrand’s comments — which as of late morning Monday had not yet generated a Turkish reaction — are notable, because they mark the first time a French head of state has taken such a clear stand on the genocide of which the Armenians were the victims. However, they do not constitute a novelty in the French position. In the Journal Officiel of last July 11, Mr. Cheysson had, in a written response to a member of parliament, regretted “the Turkish government’s refusal to recognize as genocide the deportations and massacres inflicted upon the Armenian community of the Ottoman Empire.” The minister of external affairs had however added that “present day Turkey should not be considered responsible for the actions of the government of the Ottoman Empire against the Armenian community.”]

Reactions.

The Committee for Defense of the Armenian Cause (CDCA) noted on the evening of Saturday, January 7 “with great satisfaction the personal support provided by the president of the Republic to the socialist group of the European Parliament which presented a proposal for a resolution on a political solution to the Armenian question.” It recalled that “this resolution notably requests that the Council of Ministers of the EEC “declare the recognition of the 1915 genocide of the Armenian people and convince the government of Turkey of the urgency of instituting a Turco-Armenian political dialogue.” The spokesperson for the Armenian National Movement (ANM) Mr. Ararat Toranian declared, via R.M.C. microphone: “For us this is eminently positive... This is a declaration which greatly touched us; this is the first time that a president of the Republic addresses himself so directly to our people. That having been said, the declaration speaks a great deal about genocide, but we regret that the author of this genocide, Turkey, is not named....

Le Monde - (French-language newspaper published in Paris), Tuesday, January 10, 1984,

Konstantinos Stefanopoulos, President of Greece

July 10, 1996

Presidential Decree No. 162 (1)
Athens, July 10, 1996

Organizing of manifestations for the memorial day of the genocide of the Armenians by Turkey

Taking under consideration:

1. The provision of article 2 of Law 2397/1996 (A’80) “April 24th is established as memorial day of the genocide of the Armenians by Turkey”.

2. The provision of article 27 of law 2081/1992 (A’154).
3. The dating from 3.7.1996 opinions of the National Council of the Orthodox Armenians Diocese in Greece and the Armenian National Committee of Greece.
4. The fact that from the provisions of this decree no encumbrance occurs to the National Budget.
5. The 474/1996 and 192/1997 consultative responses of the State Council.
6. The DIDI44.1/21566/10.10.1996 Joint Decision of the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization (B’932), upon recommendation of the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Public Administration and decentralization, we decide:

Article 1
April 24th is established as the memorial day of the genocide of the Armenians by Turkey (article 1 of Law 2397/1996 A’80).

Article 2
The memorial manifestations include, holding of a memorial service at the site of the monument of the Armenian Genocide at Chrisostomou Smirnis square at the Municipality of Nea Smirni, at the Armenian Orthodox Church of Panagia in Xanthi, speeches and laying of wreaths by the General Secretary of the District and by representatives of the local self-government and the Armenian Community.

Article 3
The program of the memorial manifestations is formed by decision of the local prefect, in collaboration with the National Council of the Orthodox Armenians Diocese in Greece.

We confide the publication and the execution of the present decree to the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization.

Konstantinos Stefanopoulos
The President of the Republic

L. Papadimas
The Deputy Minister of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralizatio

Jean Chrétien,
Prime Minister of Canada