Armenian Assembly of America
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PRESS RELEASE
September 4, 2007
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: ckojoian@aaainc.org
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY MEETS WITH HIGH-LEVEL UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS
Washington, DC – An Armenian Assembly delegation met with the United
Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public
Information Kiyo Akasaka this month in New York, to exchange views on a
broad scope of issues, including international peace and security,
regional development, democracy and civil society-building, and human
rights as it pertains to the South Caucasus, and Central and Eastern
Europe.
The Under-Secretary-General noted how impressed he is of Armenia’s
progress towards social and economic development since independence, and
how important the Armenian Diaspora’s contribution has been to that
effort.
The Assembly delegation, led by Board of Trustees Member Jirair
Haratunian, Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, and Director of Research
and Analysis Armen Kharazian, reiterated its interest in sharing
knowledge and expertise, within the broader UN framework, regarding the
methodology and practice of development advocacy, in benefit of historic
homelands.
"Armenia may be a small country, but the Armenian Diaspora, with its
geographic reach and organizational capacity, imparts a global dimension
to the Armenian people – a tremendous value in today’s globalized
world," said Kharazian, the Assembly’s Main Representative to the United
Nations. "The Assembly intends to utilize that potential in full, to
the benefit of Armenia and its region, as well as the international
community as a whole."
The Assembly delegation also met with Shamina de Gonzaga, Special
Advisor on NGO Relations of the Office of the President of the General
Assembly. Both meetings were requested by the Assembly, to discuss
issues of interest or concern to the Armenian-American community,
including universal affirmation of the Armenian Genocide in the light of
the growing global focus on genocide prevention and other crimes against
humanity.
The UN meetings were followed by a session with Ambassador Armen
Martirosian, Armenia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, to discuss
strengthened collaboration between the Assembly and the Mission of
Armenia to the UN.
The meetings in New York provided an important stimulus to the
Assembly’s efforts to further develop its United Nations outreach and
advocacy strategy. The Armenian Assembly is an NGO in Special
Consultative Status with ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social
Council) since 1999.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly 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.
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NR#2007-098
Photograph available on the Assembly Web site at the following links:
ges/PRESS_RELEASES_2007/Sep._4
_NR_098_1.jpg
Caption: L to R: Assembly Board of Trustees Member Jirair Haratunian,
UN Under-Secretary-General Kiyo Akasaka, Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny, and Director of Research and Analysis Armen Kharazian at the
United Nations.
mages/PRESS_RELEASES_2007/Sep._4
_NR_098_2.jpg
Caption: L to R: Assembly Board of Trustees Member Jirair Haratunuian,
Armenia’s Ambassador to the UN Armen Martirosian, Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny and Director of Research and Analysis Armen Kharazian.