Armenian National Committee of America –
Eastern Region
122 W. 27th St. 12th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Telephone: (917) 428-1918
Facsimile: (201) 453-3387
ancaer@anca.org

PRESS RELEASE
May 1, 2008
Contact: Karine Birazian
Tel: (917) 428-1918

KENTUCKY BECOMES 41st STATE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

FRANKFORT, KY – The Armenian National Committee of America- Eastern
Region (ANCA-ER) welcomed today a proclamation issued by Kentucky
Governor Steven L. Beshear recognizing the Armenian Genocide. The
"Bluegrass State" proclamation brings the number of states to
formally recognize the Armenian Genocide to forty-one. The full
text of the Kentucky proclamation is provided below.

The powerfully worded proclamation designated April 24, 2008, as
"Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide" in the state of
Kentucky, noting that "recognition of the ninety-third anniversary
of this genocide is paramount to guarding against the repetition of
future genocides and educating people across the Commonwealth about
the atrocities of these horrific events."

"Gov. Beshear’s proclamation reflects the growing sentiments of
U.S. government officials to speak with moral clarity on the
Armenian Genocide," stated ANCA Eastern Region Director Karine
Birazian. "The burgeoning Kentucky Armenian community’s initiative
serves as an inspiration to Armenian American activists across the
U.S. to redouble efforts to end Turkey’s gag rule on U.S.
affirmation of this crime against humanity."

The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization.
Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and
supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.

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TEXT OF KENTUCKY PROCLAMATION MARKING THE
93RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Proclamation

By Steven L. Beshear
Governor of the
Commonwealth of Kentucky

To All To Whom These Presents Shall Come:

WHEREAS, One and one-half-million Christian Armenian men, women and
children were the innocent victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated
by the Ottoman Turkish Government from 1915-1923; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian genocide has been recognized as an attempt to
eliminate all traces of a thriving, ancient civilization over 3,000
years old; and

WHEREAS, Recognition of the ninety-third anniversary of this
genocide is paramount to guarding against the repetition of future
genocides and educating people across the Commonwealth about the
atrocities of these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Kentucky have greatly
enriched our state through their leadership in various aspects of
society;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, STEVEN L. BESHEAR, Governor of the Commonwealth
of Kentucky, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2008, as
DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE in Kentucky.

DONE AT THE CAPITOL, in the City of Frankfort this 28th day of
April, in the year of our Lord Two Thousand Eight and in the 216th
year of the Commonwealth.

STEVEN L. BESHEAR
GOVERNOR