Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: ancawr@anca.org
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
April 20, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR Joins Mayor of Los Angeles and City Council in Armenian Genocide
Commemoration
— County Board of Supervisors Issues Proclamation on Armenian Genocide
LOS ANGELES, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America-Western
Region (ANCA-WR) attended a breakfast reception and special session of
the Los Angeles City Council at which this year’s Armenian Genocide
remembrance resolution was presented. The event was hosted by the Los
Angeles City Council, led by City Council Member Eric Garcetti (District
13). Attending the event on behalf of the ANCA-WR were Board Members
Pattyl Aposhian-Kasparian and Steve Dadaian. They were joined by
ANCA-WR Executive Director, Andrew Kzirian who delivered remarks to
those assembled on the occasion.
Kzirian noted the role played by the City of Los Angeles in setting an
example for city, state and federal officials all across the country.
"The themes mentioned by Mayor Villaraigosa and the other speakers today
pertain to denial and the moral authority to condemn genocide," said
Kzirian. "With the recent cosponsorship of Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid (D-NV) and Presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), we
see that the leadership demonstrated by the Mayor of Los Angeles and the
City Council in recognizing the Armenian Genocide resonates with the
rest of the country," he added.
During the morning breakfast reception, Council Members Dennis Zine
(District 3) and Wendy Greuel (District 2) noted the importance of
remembering the Armenian Genocide. He was joined in his remarks by City
Council Member Bill Rosenthal (District 11) who noted the link between
appropriately addressing the Armenian Genocide and confronting the
genocide in Darfur today.
Mayor Pro Tem of Rolling Hills Estates Frank Zerunyan, an Armenian
American born in Turkey, shared his personal perspective on the need to
continue to commemorate the Armenian Genocide and learn from the lessons
of this crime against humanity. Additionally, Souzi
Zerounian-Khanzadian attended the event on behalf of the recently
established Yerevan-Los Angeles Sister City Association. The breakfast
was opened by a prayer led by Archbishop Hovnan Derderian of the Western
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America and the morning’s reception
was closed with a benediction led by Father Muron Aznikian from the
Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church’s Prelacy of the Western United
States.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa addressed the community during the
presentation ceremony. Recalling the assassination of Hrant Dink
earlier this year, Villaraigosa said that the murder was "an attempt to
instill fear and apprehension in the hearts of all those who treasure
freedom and truth." He commended Dink for his courage to speak, as an
ethnic Armenian citizen of Turkey, about the Armenian Genocide and refer
to it as such.
Referring to H.Res.106 and S.Res.106, Villaraigosa noted that "the City
of Los Angeles has been on record for years about the Armenian Genocide
and it’s about time the federal government did the same."
The Los Angeles city officials were joined by CA State Assembly Member
Paul Krekorian (D-43), who thanked the City Council for commemorating
the Armenian Genocide. Earlier this month, Assemblymember Krekorian and
his fellow CA state legislators joined in commemorating the 92nd
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the State Capitol.
Earlier in the week, ANCA-WR Community Relations Director Haig Hovsepian
joined Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Michael Antonovich who
presented the Los Angeles Armenian community with a proclamation signed
by the Board of Supervisors commemorating the 92nd anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. In his remarks, Antonovich reiterated the need to
remember the Armenian Genocide and honor its victims.
In thanking the Board of Supervisors and addressing the gallery,
Hovsepian noted appreciation of the Armenian community that found refuge
in Los Angeles a century ago following the genocide and noted the Los
Angeles Armenian community’s commitment to assuring that there is
recognition and justice genocide.
"As victims of genocide we feel a particular sense of responsibility to
ensure that the memory of the Armenian Genocide is preserved," said
Hovsepian. "Knowing our past helps ensure that we, as Americans, have
the moral clarity and sense of purpose to continue to confront genocide
and its denial."
The Armenian National Committee of America 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.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress