Thousands of Armenians demonstrated in a suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut on Tuesday to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the Armenian genocide by Ottoman Turks during World War I Speaking at a commemoration ceremony at the main Armenian church in the suburb of Antelias, Patriarch Aram I denounced Turkey's efforts to expand its influence in the Middle East.

He stated that while Turkey touts itself as a vanguard of democracy and human rights, it has yet to recognize the systematic killing and deportation of its Armenian population.

"Can a nation that fills its prisons with human rights advocates and journalists lecture others on the imperative to champion democratic principles and human rights?" he asked.

(Business Recorder, April 25, 2012)