Ankara rejects the term “genocide” and says 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians, and at least as many Turks perished between 1915 and 1917, in what the Turkish government sees as the “casualties” of World War I. Only a few countries officially recognize the events as genocide, including France and Russian Federation. But modern Turkey, the successor to the Ottoman Empire, vehemently rejects the charge.
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A Hollywood heavyweight is lending his voice to highlight the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians a century ago by Ottoman Turks.
More than 20 countries have formally recognized the genocide including Canada, Russia, Italy, and Uruguay.
Before the march set off Saturday, participants burned a Turkish flag and another of Azerbaijan.
Earlier in the day Clooney called on politicians to recognise the Armenian genocide at a global forum in Yerevan on the topic.
“What we are doing today has two objectives”.
“She was really disappointed because we were looking forward to it”.
“It’s a Turkish government veto over USA policy on the Armenian genocide”, said Aram Hamparian, head of the Armenian National Committee of America, in an interview with the New York Times.
The 54-year-old Gravity star is well-known for his philanthropic efforts, having founded charity Not On Our Watch with fellow Hollywood A-listers Don Cheadle, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt in 2008.
“I thought it might be effective if I went to those places and got those cameras to follow me and try and amplify these stories of NGOs who were doing such hard work, such risky work”.
APA reports MP, ANAS Vice-President Isa Habibayli said at the event that Armenians make false statements about the Armenian genocide on the eve of April 24 every year.
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On Sunday he will hand out the inaugural Aurora Prize to one of four individuals that includes a 100,000 United States dollar (£70,000) grant as well as the opportunity to nominate an organisation – that has inspired the victor – for a one million U.S. dollar award.
