Armenian National Institute
122 C Street, NW Suite 360
Washington, D.C. 20001
Phone: 202-383-9009
Fax: 202-383-9012
E-mail: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
August 18, 2004
CONTACT: David Zenian
Phone: (202) 383-9009
E-mail:[email protected]
ANI HELPS LAUNCH EDUCATION PROGRAM ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Armenian National Institute Director, Dr. Rouben Adalian, was in London,
Ontario, August 9-10, to help launch the General Romeo Dallaire Summer
Institute on Teaching the Holocaust and Genocide. Named in honor of the
Canadian commander of the United Nations peacekeeping mission for Rwanda,
Dallaire warned superiors of the impending genocide in the country to no
avail. Despite UN reluctance to authorize him to take action, Dallaire, of
his own volition, took measures that saved the lives of up to 40,000
Rwandans.
Since his retirement from service, Lieutenant-General Dallaire has become an
outspoken proponent of the need for humanitarian intervention in predictable
instances of genocide and mass violence, as well as a persuasive defender of
the argument that genocide is preventable.
Dallaire was also honored by civic and other community leaders the evening
of August 9 with a public dinner at the London Convention Center where Dr.
Adalian paid tribute to Dallaire’s personal campaign to continue to remind
the world of the lessons of the Rwandan Genocide ten years after its
occurrence, while ninety years after the fact the Armenian Genocide is just
being recognized. For his contributions to preventing crimes against
humanity, Dr. Adalian described Dallaire as “a champion of humanity.”
Spearheaded by the Association for the Elimination of Hate, the summer
institute for teachers was convened at the University of Western Ontario,
and the inclusion of the Armenian Genocide component coordinated by the
International Institute for Human Rights and Genocide Studies, a division of
the Zoryan Institute of Toronto, Canada.
Focusing on the challenges of teaching about genocide, Dr. Adalian provided
teachers extensive background to the Armenian Genocide and introduced them
to the many educational resources now available through the ANI Web site
(), including the teachers resource book newly
issued by Facing History and Ourselves Foundation.
Following Major Brent Beardsley’s presentation on the Rwandan Genocide, Dr.
Adalian compared the Armenian, Jewish, and Rwandan experiences. Beardsley
served as Dallaire’s second in command in Rwanda. “I was particularly
honored by General Dallaire’s participation in the session on the Armenian
Genocide,” Adalian added. “It was an opportunity to share views on the
subject with a distinguished and courageous individual, who himself was a
witness to genocide.”
The Armenian National Institute is a Washington-based organization dedicated
to the study, research, and affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.