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Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
ancawr@anca.org
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PRESS RELEASE +++ PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Contact: Vrouir Frankian
Tel: (281) 543-8274
HOUSTON HOLOCAUST MUSEUM HOSTS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LECTURE
— William Parsons, Chief of Staff of the US Holocaust Museum presents
lecture to a capacity crowd
HOUSTON, TX – On May 26, 2005 William Parsons, Chief of Staff of
the United States Holocaust Museum and Memorial presented a lecture
entitled “Remembering the Past for Sake of the Future” at the Houston
Holocaust Museum. Over one hundred Houstonians, the majority of
whom were not of Armenian descent, attended this lecture. Several
local and international dignitaries, including Mr. Peter Berkowitz,
incoming Chairman of the Houston Holocaust Museum, and Ambassador
Edward Djerejian of the Baker Institute also attended.
“The Armenian Community of Texas welcomes Ambassador Djerejian’s
presence at an outstanding event which, most appropriately, examined
the many dimensions of the Armenian Genocide,” said Texas community
activist Philip M. Kanayan, Esq.
Mr. Parsons’ lecture centered on the similarities of genocides and
how the Armenian Genocide is a classical genocide. He did this by
comparing the Armenian Genocide to the modern day genocides in Darfur
and Bosnia Herzegovina. Following the lecture, Mr. Parsons allowed
for a question and answer session. Local Turkish community members
attempted to question the validity of Armenian Genocide. Mr. Parsons
stated that this issue has already been established by a preponderance
of genocide scholars and that no additional proof was necessary.
This event also marked the final days of an Armenian Genocide exhibit
entitled “The Forgotten Genocide Exhibit” that was hosted by the
Houston Holocaust Museum from March 29 through June 8, 2005. The
exhibit was sponsored by the Armenian National Committee of Texas.
“The Armenian National Committee of Texas would like to thank the
Houston Holocaust Museum for its moral courage and leadership in
hosting this exhibit,” stated Vatche Hovsepian of the ANC of Texas.
The Houston Holocaust Museum is bringing Dr. Richard Hovannisian of
UCLA for a Genocide curriculum training session for teachers on July
26 and 27. Dr. Hovannisian will be giving a public lecture at the
Museum the evening of the July 26. All are welcomed and encouraged
to attend. Admission to the Museum is free.
The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United
States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively
advances the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a broad
range of issues.
Editor’s Note: Photos attached. Photo 1 caption: Chief of Staff
of the US Holocaust Museum and Memorial William Parsons (left) with
Houston Holocaust Museum chair-elect Peter Berkowitz. Photo 2 caption:
William Parsons (right) with Holocaust survivor Chaja Verveer.
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