U.S. ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH STATE AND PEOPLE OF ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
March 20, 2008

The leading Armenian-American organizations of the United States
of America have made a joint statement, with which they stand in
solidarity with the state and the people of Armenia as the nation
confronts the current political crisis.

The joint statement of the Armenian Assembly of America, the Armenian
General Benevolent Union, the Office for Hay Dat, the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern/Western) and the Prelacy
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America (Eastern/ Western) on
recent events in Armenia runs as follows: "We are deeply saddened
by the violence, divisiveness, and deaths during the post-electoral
street unrest in the capital and extend our heartfelt sympathies
to all the families of the victims. We condemn all violent acts,
including assaults, vandalism, and looting, and expect, consistent
with due process of law, that the organizers and perpetrators will
be brought to justice."

As Radio Liberty reports, the American Armenian organizations urge
all parties "to work peacefully within Armenia’s civic and legal
structures to address their outstanding differences and restore
Armenia’s political environment to a state of normalcy in as timely
and responsible a manner as possible."

Reaffirming their devotion to "the security of Armenia and Artsakh in
a challenging and often dangerous region", the Armenian organizations
of the United States of America express readiness to cooperate with
the newly-elected president and the government "towards our shared aim
of strengthening an open and democratic Armenian homeland, based upon
the rule of law, social and economic justice, freedom of expression
and the media, and equal opportunity for all.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress