Mayor joins Washington, D.C. observance of Armenian Genocide

Providence Journal , RI
April 20 2005

01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, April 20, 2005

WARWICK — Mayor Scott Avedisian will be in Washington for a Capital
Hill ceremony this evening marking the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide.

The the two-hour observance, arranged by Congressmen Frank Pallone Jr.,
D-N.J., and Joe Knollenberg, R-Minn., is slated for 6:30 p.m. in the
Cannon Caucus Room.

Among the expected participants are survivors of the 1915-1923 massacre
of some 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Turks.

The keynote speakers will be Henry Morgenthau III, whose grandfather,
Henry Morgenthau, was the U.S. ambassador to Turkey during the
years of the genocide, and Dr. Ryan LaHurd, president of the Near
East Foundation.

The Armenian flag will be lowered to half-staff at Warwick City Hall
on April 25 next Monday in recognition of Armenian Martyrs Day.

“To this day, the Turkish government has not acknowledged that the
genocide ever occurred,” Avedisian said. “Armenian Martyrs Day is
recognized by many as a way to remember the past and to bring dignity
to the Armenian martyrs and pray for their repose.”