On November 28, 2019 a meeting-discussion was held at Aleppo Compatriotic Charitable NGO (Aleppo NGO) entitled “Armenian Genocide: Current Stage of International Recognition” with the participation of Syrian Armenian youth and other people interested  in the topic. In the framework of the meeting speeches were delivered by the Senior Researcher of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Doctor of History Tehmine Martoyan and the Director of the International Secretariat of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun Bureau in Yerevan, Kiro Manoyan. The topic was chosen by taking into consideration Turkish military operation in the northeastern territories of Syria in October and the latest events concerning the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The meeting-discussion was held within the framework of the “Better future for Syrian-Armenian youth” project.

The meeting started with the welcome speech of the Aleppo NGO’s Project Coordinator Araks Martirosyan, who expressed her gratitude to all attendees, after which presented the guest speakers. Tehmine Martoyan before her main speech, emphasized the importance of this kind of charitable NGOs in the organization of Syrian Armenians livelihood in Armenia, as well as highlighted the importance of discussion of this kind of themes among youth. During the lecture entitled “Recruitment and Guardianship of Orphans in Alexandrapol, who Survived the Armenian Genocide”, Mrs. Martoyan touched upon the topic of Alexandrapol orphans’ life, the difficulties after the Armenian Genocide, as well as those bright episodes, that are mainly connected with the name of Vahan Cheraz, who had huge contribution in Armenian orphans’ guardianship and in the organizational work of scouting and sportive youth clubs.

After Mrs. Martoyan’s speech, Director of the International Secretariat of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun Bureau in Yerevan, Kiro Manoyan continued talking about the adopted resolution on Armenian Genocide by the US House of Representatives and the activities of the “Armenian Cause” Foundation. The path of Armenian Question, especially in different stages of American political-social history, as well as some remarkable cases concerning the resolutions on Armenian Genocide, the formulations, adoption or the reasons of suspension.

The presentations were followed by a Q&A session about foreign policy of Armenia, the compensation issues in the parallel of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, as well as other crucial issues concerning it, which led to new discussions.

The discussion continued in a warmer atmosphere with Middle Eastern unique reception prepared by the “Aleppo Cuisine” center.

The “Better Future for Syrian-Armenian Youth” project is funded by the World Council of Churches Armenia Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation (ART) and implemented by Aleppo-NGO.  The purpose of such events is to impart new knowledge to Syrian Armenian youth, improve their analytical thinking and engage them in discussions on various topics.