Armenian Assembly of America
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Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
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PRESS RELEASE
June 23, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: ckojoian@aaainc.org
ASSEMBLY BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRMAN WELCOMES SUMMER INTERNS TO WASHINGTON
Nearly 40 Participate in DC and Yerevan Intern Programs
Washington, DC – Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony
Barsamian, together with Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, officially
welcomed the Assembly’s largest summer intern class in a decade on
June 22 at Assembly headquarters in Washington, DC. Some 30 college
students, participants of the Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship
Program, engaged in a lively debate with Assembly leaders on issues
ranging from recognition of the Armenian Genocide to the Nagorno
Karabakh peace process.
“It was a pleasure for me to meet with students from across the U.S.,
Armenia, Canada, and England, who have come to Washington to learn
more about the political process and how they can effectively advocate
for Armenian issues,” said Barsamian. “The students asked thoughtful
questions on a variety of issues, proving that the intern program
continues to attract bright, ambitious students to the Assembly. They
are truly young leaders who will advocate for us in the years ahead.
These are truly young leaders who will advocate for us in the years
ahead.”
Barsamian also added that the longest running Armenian-American
internship program in the U.S. is reaching new heights. The longest
running Armenian-American Internship Program in the U.S. is reaching
new heights. The combined enrollment in the DC and Yerevan programs is
at its highest level in over a decade, with close to 40 students
participating this year.
“I appreciated learning more about the Assembly’s efforts to
strengthen the U.S.-Armenia and U.S.-Karabakh relationships,” said
intern Christine Serdjenian, a student at Brown University. “We all
have a vested interest in seeing Armenia and Karabakh succeed, and our
intern class is eager to do our part in advancing our issues.”
During their time in Washington, students will intern in offices on
Capitol Hill or with government agencies, think tanks and media
outlets. They will also take part in a full schedule of cultural and
educational activities such as the Assembly’s Capitol Ideas and
Lecture Series Programs.
On June 21, for example, the group met with Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) to learn more about the
Armenian Genocide resolution that was introduced in the House of
Representatives last week. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. George
Radanovich (R-CA), together with Congressmen Schiff, Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), calls upon the President to
“accurately characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation of
1,500,000 Armenians as genocide.”
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership
organization.
NR#2005-072
Photograph available on the Assembly Web site at the following links:
Caption: Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian,
second from right, and Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, far right,
met with Assembly summer interns in Washington on June 22. Liana
Zakharyan, legal assistant to the Consul at the Armenian Embassy,
bottom left, also addressed the group.
Caption: Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), center, during his meeting
with Assembly interns on Capitol Hill on June 21.