German Chancellor Lays Wreath at Armenian Genocide Victims' Memorial in Yerevan

YEREVAN (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 24th August, 2018) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who arrived in Yerevan earlier on Friday, laid a wreath at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

During the visit to the memorial, Merkel was accompanied by Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Yerevan Mayor Kamo Areyan. The German chancellor also planted a spruce on the Tsitsernakaberd memory alley.

During her visit to Armenia, which will last through Saturday, Merkel will meet with Armenian President Armen Sargsyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians.

According to different estimates, over 1 million Armenians were killed or starved to death by the Ottoman Empire during and after World War I. Turkey has repeatedly denied accusations of committing mass murder of Armenians, claiming that the victims of the tragedy were both Turks and Armenians.

Armenia pushes for the international community's recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire. The genocide has already been recognized by Russia, as well as by many EU countries, the European Parliament, and the World Council of Churches.