International Conference Dedicated to the 100th Year Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the 20 Hunchakians Held in Yerevan

YEREVAN — On June 15, the RA Ministry of Diaspora, the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA) and the Central Committee of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP) held an international conference dedicated to the 100th year anniversary of the martyrdom of the 20 members of the SDHP at the sessions hall of the chairmanship of the NAS RA.

The conference began with opening remarks by Director of the Institute of History of the NAS RA, academician of the NAS RA Ashot Melkonyan.

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan greeted the participants of the conference and mentioned the following: “The international conference being held today at the National Academy of Sciences of the free and independent Armenia is a worthy tribute to the 20 young people who were hung a century ago. The slogan “I Remember and Demand” also refers to them. Those 20 young people wanted to make the voices of Armenians for freedom heard in all four corners of the globe, and the voice of the Armenians for justice became a prayer for millions of people around the world as respect to the innocent victims. Today, all Armenians share the pain and memories, and we are witnessing the unprecedented awakening and consolidation of the nation and are seeing how Armenians are persistently moving forward until they reach the final solution to the Armenian Cause. This conference serves as an opportunity to commemorate our martyrs, pay homage to the 20 members of the Hunchakian Party and reflect on the achievements made by the 128-year-old political party. The 20 heroes of the Hunchakian Party sacrificed their lives for Armenia’s independence, and the fact that they said “Long Live Armenia” as they were being hung is symbolic.”

President of the NAS RA Radik Martirosyan expressed his greetings to the participants of the conference, after which the participants watched the film “The Dawn for the Twenty”.

In his speech entitled “The Political Evaluation of the Twenty”, Lebanese-Armenian political figure, historian and former Member of the Parliament of Lebanon Yeghig Jerejian reflected on the history and past activities of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party.

Turkish political figure and historian Kadir Akin talked about the heroic deeds of Paramaz (Mateos Sarkisian) in his speech entitled “Paramaz: The Person Who Linked the Loops of the Broken Chain”.

Among other speakers were writer, publicist and translator Grigor Janikyan, as well as candidates of historical sciences Gegham Hovhannisyan and Manuk Stepanyan.

After the speeches, the speakers actively engaged in debates and answered questions concerning the gathered.

What’s symbolic is that June 15th also marks National Flag Day in Armenia. Perhaps it wasn’t by chance that the day coincided with the day of remembrance of the 20 martyred members of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party as the guarantee for turning their dream into a reality.