PRESS RELEASE
September 14, 2004
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: armecon@speakeasy.net; Web:

Armenian Children’s Paintings Recall 9/11, Present “Message of Freedom and Hope”

On September 13, 2004, an exhibition of paintings by Armenian children
was held in the Rayburn Congressional Building in Washington,
DC, in remembrance of the third anniversary of the tragic events
of 9/11. The exhibition, entitled “Message of Freedom and Hope,”
presented some 44 paintings by young Armenian artists, between ages
6 and 14, who created their works in the aftermath of 9/11. Most of
the young Armenian artists are affiliated with the Children’s Center
of Fine Arts in Yerevan; the exhibition was made possible by the Kamk
Benevolent Fund of Armenia.

The exhibition was hosted by the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Affairs and the Embassy of Armenia. In his remarks during the opening
ceremony, Armenian Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Arman Kirakossian
noted that the impact of the tragedy of 9/11 was felt in Armenia
as well because Armenia and the United States share common values,
such as respect for freedom, democracy, human life and dignity. He
explained that the Armenian children, including the young artists whose
work was presented on the Hill, had been deeply moved and touched
by the terrible scenes of 9/11 broadcast by TV networks around the
world. Ambassador Kirakossian noted that the exhibition was entitled
“Message of Freedom and Hope” to show that the terrorist attacks
only motivated the people of the United States, Armenia, and other
countries of the world to rally to the cause of freedom. Freedom
and hope were themes vividly and artfully expressed by the Armenian
children’s paintings presented during the exhibition.

The Armenian Ambassador thanked Co-Chairs of the Congressional
Armenian Caucus, Representative Joe Knollenberg and Frank Pallone for
helping organize the event and for their leadership on the Armenian
issues. In turn, Congressman Knollenberg remarked that he was touched
by the artwork of the Armenian children, who, he said, had been able
to present a very important message, that the terrorist acts of 9/11
were attacks not only on the United States, but the rest of the world
as well. Congressman Pallone complemented the creative talents of the
Armenian children who expressed a very complex subject like 9/11 in
a straightforward and simple way.

The opening ceremony was attended by Members of Congress, congressional
staff members, U.S. government officials, representatives of the
foreign diplomatic community and the Armenian-American community of
Greater Washington area.