Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
September 25, 2007
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY ORGANIZES SYMBOLIC OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY IN ARMENIA
Event Uniting Genocide Survivors Calls for End to Darfur Atrocities
Yerevan, Armenia – As part of its ongoing commitment to increase
awareness of past and current genocides and end the atrocities in
Darfur, the Armenian Assembly today joined His Holiness Karekin II,
Catholicos of All Armenians, the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan
Williams, Armenian Genocide survivors and other human rights activists
for a symbolic torch lighting ceremony honoring genocide victims and
survivors worldwide.
Dream for Darfur, a global advocacy campaign, organized an "Olympic
Torch Relay" which aims to use the Olympic ideals of peace and
international cooperation to raise awareness of Darfur as a step toward
building an international anti-genocide movement for the future.
During today’s event, held at the Tsitsernakabert Genocide Memorial,
Archbishop Williams lit the torch from the eternal flame and passed it
among survivors of genocide in remembrance of all those who lost their
lives in Darfur and in previous atrocities.
"Today, we honored victims and survivors of genocides of the past
century, linking them together through our passing of a torch signifying
the hope that we share for an end to the violence in Darfur," said
Archbishop Williams. "I join these survivors in standing up to say that
although the international community has stood by silently again and
again while the blood of innocent human beings is shed, we must now make
the phrase ‘never again’ a reality."
"This flame honors those who have been lost and those who suffer; this
flame celebrates the courage of those who have survived; this flame
represents the hope we all share for an end to the violence and a safe
return home," said Omer Ismail, a Sudanese survivor from Darfur living
in the U.S.
The Armenian Assembly, through its Yerevan Office, has been leading
efforts on the ground in preparation for the Olympic Torch Relay.
"Armenians worldwide understand the realities and pain of genocide, even
today, 92 years after the Armenian Genocide. Today’s event demonstrates
our solidarity with the people of Darfur, and with all those who have
been subjected to genocide," said Assembly Country Director for Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh Arpi Vartanian.
Armenia was the third stop on the Olympic Torch Relay that began on
August 9 near the Darfur border exactly one year before the summer
Olympics to call attention to the constructive role that China could
play in the Darfur crisis. On August 15, the torch was lit in Kigali,
Rwanda, at a site where thousands of Tutsis were killed after UN forces
withdrew.
After Armenia, the torch will travel to various countries, including the
U.S. where a relay will be held in 25 states. On October 7th, the torch
will travel to Massachusetts, where communities throughout the state,
including Cambridge, will be holding their own local torch relays and
torch events. His Holiness Karekin II will light the torch subsequent to
the Divine Liturgy at HolyTrinityArmenianApostolicChurch. Archbishop
Vicken Aykazian, incoming president of the National Council of Churches
in the USA and Legate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America (Eastern) will then bring the torch to City Hall Plaza in Boston
for the culminating torch lighting ceremony with communities from around
the state.
"Just as important as it was for Armenians to come together in Yerevan,
it is critically important for the people of Massachusetts to stand
united to help bring an end to the ongoing violence and humanitarian
crisis in Darfur," said Jirair Ratevosian, an activist who works closely
with the Armenian Assembly and is co-chair of Massachusetts Dream for
Darfur.
The Torch Relay lighting will take place on Sunday, October 7th at
HolyTrinityArmenianApostolicChurch at 1:00 p.m., before joining torches
>From across the state at CityHallPlaza for a culminating torch lighting
ceremony at 3:30 pm. For more information, please visit
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.
###
NR#2007-111
Photographs can be viewed on the Assembly’s Web site at the following
links:
aaainc/images/PRESS_RELEASES_2007/Sep._25_Photo_1_ 01.jpg
Caption: At a genocide commemoration ceremony at the Armenian Genocide
Memorial in Yerevan, religious leaders passed a symbolic Olympic Torch
to call for an end to the genocide in Darfur. From left: Samuel Kobia,
General Secretary, World Council of Churches; His Holiness Karekin II,
Catholicos of All Armenians; the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan
Williams.
aainc/images/PRESS_RELEASES_2007/Sep_25_Photo_2.jp g
Caption: Participants in the Olympic Dream for Darfur Torch Lighting
Ceremony at the Armenian Genocide Memorial read a poem after lighting an
Olympic-style torch. From left: Jill Savitt, Director, Dream for
Darfur; Arpi Vartanian, Country Director, Armenian Assembly of America,
Anoushik Boghossian, descendent of an Armenian genocide survivor; Omer
Ismail, Darfurian genocide survivor; Samuel Kobia, General Secretary,
World Council of Churches; His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All
Armenians; the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and members of
his delegation.
c/images/PRESS_RELEASES_2007/Sep_25_Photo_3.jpg
C aption: Jill Savitt, Director, Dream for Darfur; Anoushik Boghossian,
descendent of an Armenian genocide survivor; and Omer Ismail, Darfurian
genocide survivor lead religious leaders from the Armenian Genocide
Memorial after lighting an Olympic-style torch to send a message to
China, as host of the next Olympics, to "Bring the Olympic Dream to
Darfur."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
