WASHINGTON, DC – On May 19, AHEPA Supreme President George G. Horiates issued the following statement in remembrance of the 101st anniversary of the Pontian Greek Genocide:

“Today, we commemorate the 101-year Pontian Greek Genocide as part of the larger Greek and Christian Genocide where hundreds of thousands of Pontian Greeks were murdered. More than one million more were forced to seek refuge in Greece as their homes and property were confiscated, not to mention the destruction of Greek Orthodox churches in the area. Ottoman Turkey endeavored to destroy Hellenism – our history, culture, and language. They will never be able to do so because our identity and heritage is ingrained in Pontos. We will continue to do our part to defend Hellenism. 

“AHEPA has taken a stand against Turkey’s refusal to acknowledge the Hellenic Genocide as a whole. Turkey has propagandists that have attempted to diffuse the existence of the Genocide. Whether it be by working the grassroots or by peaceable protest, AHEPA has worked to ensure these unspeakable and heinous acts perpetrated by Turkey will forever be a blight on its history.

“AHEPA is proud of its role in the overwhelming passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution by the U.S. Congress. The AHEPA Hellenic Cultural Commission has made the issue of the Pontian and greater Hellenic Genocide its topic. Though the Turks tried to systematically exterminate entire populations, AHEPA ensures they will never exterminate the truth of these crimes.”

More information about AHEPA is available online: ahepa.org.