AAA LEADERS ATTEND USC GALA BANQUET IN HONOR OF AMBASSADOR JOHN M. EVANS

Arminfo
2007-03-27 14:53:00

Armenian Assembly Board of Trustees Members Lisa Kalustian and
Richard Mushegain, along with Executive Director Bryan Ardouny and
Community Relations Director Narine Zardarian, attended the University
of Southern California (USC), Institute of Armenian Studies Second
Anniversary Gala Banquet in honor of former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
John M. Evans on March 4.

The Armenian Assembly of America reports that, in his remarks,
Ambassador Evans said he found it unusual that anyone – even a former
government official – should be honored for simply speaking the
truth. In 2005, Evans publicly declared that "the Armenian Genocide
was the first genocide of the Twentieth Century."

"I knew what I was doing and knew it might have consequences for my
career," he explained. "The decision was wholly mine. No one put me
up to it. I stand by it. I have taken responsibility for it, paid a
price for it."

"One country’s official policy of denying the Armenian Genocide
interferes with the process of seeking the truth; other countries’
policies of going along with denial do not serve the truth. Instead
what we have seen is the horrific murder of Hrant Dink forty days ago,"
he continued.

"The Armenian Genocide should be recognized as such by this Congress,"
Evans added.

Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian, in a letter to
Evans, thanked the former Ambassador for his dedication and support
on issues of importance to the Armenian- American community during
his distinguished career in the American Foreign Service.