Political parties in Cyprus issued Friday marked Armenian genocide remembrance day.

Disy described the events of 1915 as the start of “a campaign of extermination” against the Armenian people by “the Ottoman Empire and the Young Turk movement”.

The party said Cyprus would “continue to stand by the Armenians and support efforts for international recognition of the genocide”, with the Cypriot government, among others including Armenia, France, Germany, Greece, and the United States, recognising the death of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 as a genocide carried out by the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan consider the deaths to be casualties of the first world war, while countries including the United Kingdom and Spain have not formally declared them to be a genocide.

It added that “the more Turkey refuses to acknowledge the crimes it committed, the further it moves away from the principles of international law”, stressing that “history remains unchanged and recorded, offering us all the necessary lessons”.

Disy expressed “full support” for the Armenian people and diaspora in what it described as their “just struggle for international recognition of the genocide”.

Akel said the Armenian genocide remains “a black page in the history of humanity”, paying tribute to the victims and expressing “unlimited respect” for the diaspora.

The party highlighted the presence of the Armenian community on the island as “a living and valuable part of our history and society”.

It stressed that “the universal recognition of the Armenian genocide is, and must be, the duty of every modern state”, adding that recognition of historical truth is “a necessary condition for reconciliation and peace”.

Akel also said that “everyone, and especially Turkey, must recognise historical truth and restore it”, while expressing support for “democratic voices within Turkey itself”.

The Ecologists’ Movement also marked the day, describing the events as “one of the greatest crimes of the 20th century”.

The party said recognition by Turkey remains “the minimal justification of the Armenian nation”.

It criticised Ankara’s stance, stating that Turkey “does not want to break its ties with its Ottoman past” and instead “seeks its revival, both culturally and territorially”.

The movement also condemned recent developments in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region, where the native Armenian population has evacuated to Armenia in recent years after the breakaway ‘Republic of Artsakh’ was dissolved following a war at the beginning of the decade.

The party referred to “the occupation of Artsakh” and the “violation of human rights”, while arguing that recognition of the genocide should become “a European obligation for Turkey”.

Dipa described the anniversary as a moment of “memory as responsibility and historical debt”, paying tribute to what it said were “one and a half million Armenian Christians” killed.

The party said the genocide remains “one of the darkest chapters in modern history” and emphasised the importance of truth and justice.

It highlighted Cyprus’ recognition of the genocide in 1975 as “a clear message of solidarity with the Armenian people”, adding that international recognition is “an essential step towards strengthening world peace, respect for human rights and the prevention of similar crimes in the future”.