Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: info@aaainc.org
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
November 15, 2007
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: ckojoian@aaainc.org
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY URGES CONTINUED COMMUNITY ADVOCACY FOR GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
Beverly Hills, CA – In a briefing to members of the Armenian community
on November 3rd, Executive Director Bryan Ardouny said the Armenian
Assembly will continue its efforts to secure passage of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution (H. Res. 106), and encouraged community members to
rally congressional support for this human rights legislation.
Ardouny noted that opponents no longer argue the facts of the
Genocide, or the facts of the U.S. record. He stated however that
they "will always have an excuse," and urged community members not to
be deterred.
"This legislation is about making sure that America stands for the
truth that America doesn’t let any foreign government dictate what it
can and cannot do," Ardouny explained. "Allowing Turkey to export
Article 301 of its Penal Code to the Unites States so we can not even
talk about the Armenian Genocide is unconscionable."
Before opening the floor to questions, Ardouny also provided an update
on the Assembly’s efforts to increase economic funding to Armenia and
Karabakh, advocating for legislation condemning the murder of Hrant
Dink, and initiating and mobilizing support for legislation
prohibiting U.S. funding for a rail bypass of Armenia.
The briefing, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, was part of the
Assembly’s National Gala weekend which celebrated the organization’s
35th anniversary and paid tribute to slain editor and human rights
leader, the late Hrant Dink. Assembly Board of Trustees Member and
Western Office Chairman Richard Mushegain, who led the briefing,
thanked the Gala Committee and its Co-Chairs, Albert and Diane
Cabraloff and Paul and Sandra Kalemkiarian, for organizing the two-day
event.
Board of Trustees Public Affairs Chair Anthony Barsamian introduced
Massachusetts State Representative Rachel Kaprielian (D-Watertown),
who provided a regional update.
Kaprielian discussed the recent firestorm that erupted when
Armenian-Americans in Massachusetts discovered that the
Anti-Defamation League refused to qualify the events of 1915 as
genocide. The Armenian community responded by calling on the ADL to
change its longstanding policy, which it did in August. Kapreilian
added that the groundswell of support from members of the Jewish
community was also instrumental in the organization’s reversal.
"It was their grassroots that were rising up, that’s the most
extraordinary part of this whole thing," she explained.
Armenia Tree Project Executive Director Jeff Masarjian congratulated
the Assembly on 35 years of promoting Armenian-American interests and
for launching the Tree Project 13 years ago.
Masarjian reported that ATP has planted or restored over 2 million
trees in Armenia and has completed the planting of the Hrant Dink
Memorial Forest, which includes 53,000 trees – 1,000 trees for each of
Dink’s 53 years of life.
"We envision this forest as becoming not just a relic forest in memory
of Hrant Dink, but a teaching forest," Masarjian said.
According to him, ATP received a $100,000 grant from Conservation
International and is partnering with Yale University to teach people
in Armenia and around the globe how to sustain a forest.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America 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#2007-133
Photographs are available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following
links:
aaainc/images/PRESS_RELEASES_2007/PR_2007_November /2007-133_2.jpg
Caption: Assembly Board of Trustees Member and Western Office Chairman
Richard Mushegain led an Assembly briefing at the Beverly Hilton Hotel
on November 3rd.
s/PRESS_RELEASES_2007/PR_2007_November/2007-133_1. jpg
Caption: Massachusetts State Rep. Rachel Kaprielian (D-Watertown)
discussed efforts that led the Anti-Defamation’s League to publicly
recognize the Armenian Genocide.