Armenian National Committee of New Jersey
461 Bergen Boulevard
Ridgefield, NJ 07657
Tel: 201-945-0011
[email protected]
April 2, 2004
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Kim Arzoumanian
[email protected]
NEW JERSEY ARMENIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO COMMEMORATE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
— Remembrance Program and Memorial Service to be held on April 24; BBC
Documentary “Armenia: The Betrayed” to be shown on April 18
RIDGEFIELD, NJ–The Armenian National Committee (ANC) of New Jersey is
organizing a program marking the 89th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
The remembrance will take place on Saturday, April 24, at Sts. Vartanants
Armenian Church in Ridgefield. A Memorial Service at Sts. Vartanants will
begin at 6:30 pm, and will be followed by a bilingual program in the
adjacent Church Hall.
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau Member Hagop Der
Khatchadourian will offer a keynote address in Armenian. Professor Henry
Theriault, Director of Worcester State College’s Center for the Study of
Human Rights, will also deliver an address in English. Members of the
Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) New Jersey “Arsen” chapter will also offer
remarks during the commemoration.
In addition to the remembrance program, the New Jersey ARF “Dro” Committee,
the New Jersey Hamazkayin, the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, and the
Tekeyan Cultural Association are cosponsoring the showing of the BBC
documentary “Armenia: The Betrayed” on Sunday, April 18. The viewing begins
at 2:30 pm at the Hovnanian School, 817 River Road, New Milford.
Joining those in attendance will be BBC reporter Phillip Wearne, who will
field questions from the audience at the conclusion of the documentary. In
addition, Armenian Genocide survivor Rahan Kachian will be honored.
“Armenia: The Betrayed” details efforts to pass the Armenian Genocide
Congressional resolution in October of 2000. Despite garnering wide
bipartisan support, the resolution was pulled at the last minute from floor
consideration by House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), who cited a letter
from President Bill Clinton expressing opposition to the legislation. The
documentary features interviews with Congressmen George Radanovich (R-CA)
and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Armenian Genocide survivors, and senior Turkish
officials.
Both programs are free and open to the public. Further information can be
obtained by contacting Kim Arzoumanian at [email protected].
The Armenian National Committee (ANC) is the largest Armenian American
grassroots political organization in New Jersey and nationwide. The ANC
actively advances a broad range of issues of concern to the Armenian
American community.
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