14.09.2023


Romano Prodi, former Prime Minister of Italy (1996-1998, 2006-2008) and former President of the European Commission (1999-2004), visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial on September 14 accompanied by Tsovinar Hambardzumyan, RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Italy, YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan and YSU International Cooperation Department chief Alexander Margarov.

The delegation was greeted by Lusine Abrahamyan, AGMI Deputy Director for Museum Affairs, who narrated the history of the creation of the Memorial complex. She also presented the guests with the history of the three khachkars placed in the Tsitsernakaberd area in memory of the Armenians who died in the massacres in the cities of Sumgait, Kirovabad (Gandzak) and Baku in the last century organised by the Azerbaijani government, and the stories of the five freedom fighters buried in front of the Memorial Wall during the Artsakh war, emphasising the connection between what happened then and the Armenian Genocide.

They observed a minute’s silence in memory of the innocent martyrs of the Armenian Genocide near the Eternal Fire.

The delegation then toured the Armenian Genocide Museum, accompanied by Lusine Abrahamyan, AGMI Deputy Director for Museum Affairs and became acquainted with the permanent and temporary exhibitions, after which Romano Prodi left a note in the Memory Book for honoured guests.

Expressing thanks for their visit, AGMI Deputy Director for Museum Affairs Lusine Abrahamyan presented the guest of honour with books about the Armenian Genocide.

Mr. Romano Prodi watered the fir he had planted in the Memory Park in 2004 at the end of his visit.