Armenian Genocide Exhibition Opens in Venice

VENICE — On January 9, an official opening of the exhibition of documentary photos taken during the days of Armenian Genocide by the German writer and human rights activist Armin Wegner was held at Marciana National Library in Venice.

Representatives of public and political circles of Venice, consular corps, Armenian and Jewish communities attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

The exhibition, entitled “Armin T. Wegner: the right for Armenians and Jews”, was organized by Marciana National Library in Venice and Honorary Consulate of the RA to Milano, and sponsored by the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to Italy and Ministry of Culture of Italy, in cooperation with the German Literature Archive “Marbach”, Center for the Study of Armenian Culture and Jewish community of Venice and Union of Armenian of Italy.

Ambassador of Armenia to Italy Sargis Ghazarian, the Director of Marciana National Library in Venice Mauricio Mesina, Honorary Consul of the RA to Milano Pietro Kuciukia delivered welcoming speech at the event.

Ambassador Ghazarian in his speech attached importance to the preservation of the memory of the victims of the Genocide, fight against denial and prevention of genocide, considering the implementation of educational projects as necessary. The Ambassador stressed that denial is continuation of the Genocide and mentioned that the denial and xenophobia are the components of genocide, drawing the attention of the attendees to the policy of hatred against Armenians pursued in Azerbaijan.

The Chairperson of «GARIWO» NGO Gabriele Nissim, the Head of the Jewish community of Venice Paolo Navara Dinan and curator of the exhibition Anna Maria Samueli were among the Speakers at the event.

The Speakers highlighted the necessity of the fight against genocide and denial. The Head of the Jewish community of Venice Paolo Navara Dinan particularly noted, that the Armenians and Jews fight alongside against xenophobia and denial.

The launch of the events dedicated to the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide in Italy was given by the opening of the exhibition in Venice, which was widely covered in the local media.