OLYMPIC DREAM FOR DARFUR: A SYMBOLIC OLYMPIC-STYLE TORCH RELAY AT TSITSERNAKAPERT

Public Radio of Armenia. ArmRadio
Sept 25 2007

In an effort to end the genocide currently unfolding in Darfur, the
Armenian Assembly of America, in collaboration with "Olympic Dream
for Darfur," organized a symbolic Olympic-style torch relay at the
Tsitsernakapert Genocide Memorial in Armenia today.

Armenia is the third stop on an international symbolic 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.

The torch was lit from the eternal flame and passed among survivors
of genocide and other Darfur advocates. Special guests in attendance
included survivors of the Armenian Genocide, Rwandan Genocide and
Darfur Genocide as well as His Holiness Garegin II, Catholicos of
All Armenians, and the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.

"The international community must join together to ensure that the
world does not look away, yet again, when mass killing is taking
place," said Archbishop Williams. "We honor victims and survivors of
previous genocides and must listen to their plea to make the words
‘never again,’ a reality, both for the people of Darfur and for
the future."

After Armenia, the torch will travel to various countries, including
the US where on October 7 a ceremony will take place at Holy Trinity
Armenian Apostolic Church in Cambridge, Mass. featuring his His
Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
and Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Church of America (Eastern) and president of the National
Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC). Torches from around
the state will then converge at the Government Center in Boston for
a culminating torch-lighting ceremony.

"The Assembly will continue to raise international awareness of the
Armenian Genocide and all modern genocides, including the ongoing
crimes in Darfur" said Assembly Board of Trustees Public Affairs Chair
Anthony Barsamian. "The Assembly is proud of its role in helping to
end the cycle of genocide and we encourage members of the Armenian
community, as well as human rights supporters, to attend next month’s
symbolic torch lighting ceremony in Massachusetts."

Dream for Darfur’s Olympic Torch Relay seeks to use the Olympic ideals
of peace and international cooperation to raise awareness about Darfur
and as a step toward building an international anti-genocide movement
for the future.