Manoyan Visits South America, Discusses Genocide Reparations

Giro Manoyan (C), Khatchik DerGhouhassian (R)
Giro Manoyan (C), Khatchik DerGhouhassian (R)

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Prensa Armenia)—Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau member Giro Manoyan visited Uruguay and Argentina last week and held a series of meetings with various political actors that focused on Armenian Genocide reparations.

On Nov. 30, Manoyan met with Uruguayan Senator Ruben Martinez Huelmo and Minister of Economy and Finance Danilo Astori in Montevideo. Manoyan recognized Astori for his ongoing support of the Armenian struggle for truth and justice and for his contribution to the strengthening of bilateral relations between Armenia and Uruguay.

On Dec. 2, Manoyan discussed at the Armenian Center of Argentina the first edition of the final report of the Armenian Genocide Reparations Study Group (AGRSG), entitled “Resolution with Justice: Reparations for the Armenian Genocide,” which was recently translated and published by the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of South America. The report was the product of research conducted by Alfred de Zayas, Jermaine McCalpin, Ara Papian, and Henry Theriault, and has a preface by Prof. Khatchik DerGhouhassian.

“Our goal was to have a report on the level of the Armenian people worldwide, so that we as Armenians could discuss the issue of reparations,” he said. “Reparations for past injustices in general are a very current and modern issue. There is a movement in the world to have reparations for injustices committed even centuries ago. The whole idea was to bring to the table a study which gives an overall approach to the Armenian Genocide reparations issue.”

During the presentation, Khatchik DerGhouhassian said, “We learned a lot from the process of memory, truth, and justice in Argentina, we learned how to repair a damage that is irreparable. Argentina is the only country in the world so far where the Armenian Genocide is recognized at the level of the executive, legislative, and judicial powers, along with the national and provincial governments.”

On Dec. 3, Manoyan ended his tour by meeting with the Socialist Argentinean Deputy Juan Carlos Zabalza.