From: Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region <ancawr@anca.org>
Subject: ANCA: LA Commemorates Armenian Genocide

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

PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Contact: Maral Habeshian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

LOS ANGELES COMMEMORATES 91st ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the
Los Angeles City Council commemorated the 91st anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide in separate sessions during the week leading up to
April 24th, reported the Armenian National Committee of America –
Western Region (ANCA-WR).

On Tuesday, April 18, 2006, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Mayor Michael Antonovich presented scrolls to leaders of the Armenian
American community in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. The
Board of Supervisors proclaimed April 24, 2006 as the `Day of
Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 through 1923.’ Among
those present were ANCA-WR board chairman Steven Dadaian and ANCA-WR
director Armen Carapetian.

Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti invited Armenian
American community leaders to Council Chambers on Friday, April 21,
2006, to present the City Council’s resolution on the anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide. Councilmembers Tony Cardenas, Wendy Greuel,
Bill Rosendahl, and Dennis Zine made comments in honor of the
1,500,000 Armenian men, women, and children who perished at the hands
of Ottoman Turks.

Council President Garcetti, in his introduction of the resolution,
stated `The only way to heal – not only for Armenians, but indeed the
Turks and the whole world – is to embrace that it happened.’

ANCA-WR board member Souzi Zerounian joined the Consul General of
Armenia in Los Angeles Gagik Kirakossian in thanking the Los Angeles
City Council for commemorating the Armenian Genocide.

`We gather today not to speak about the denial of truth, but the
denial of justice,’ said Zerounian.

A special reception was held following the official ceremony in City
Hall. Council President Garcetti and Dadaian spoke extensively on the
need fight against Turkey’s shameful denial of the Armenian
Genocide. The event was broadcast on television station LA 35.

The Armenian National Committee of America (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.