On April 23, a memorial service was held at the Armenian Apostolic Church in Brussels, Belgium to commemorate the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The event was attended by members of the Armenian community in Belgium, as well as Michelle de Madre, the representative of the Armenian community in Belgium’s Royal Council of External Affairs.

After the ceremony, the representatives paid their respects to the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The memorial was organized by the youth organization “Nairian” of the Free University of Brussels. Several speeches were given during the commemoration, including ones by Father Hoviv Avedikian of the Armenian Apostolic Church, activist Tigran Balayan, and government official Haik Lalibekian.

Balayan praised the international community, especially the Belgian Government, for recognizing the significance of the Armenian Genocide. He emphasized the responsibility of humanity to prevent similar atrocities from happening again. Balayan also highlighted ongoing violence faced by the Armenian communities in the Karabakh region, emphasizing the need for awareness and action.

Lalibekian expressed gratitude for the Prime Minister’s endorsement and represented a country that officially recognizes the Armenian Genocide. He called for peace and urged a shift away from deadly conflicts towards open dialogue and the preservation of human dignity. The memorial concluded with a prayer for peace.