Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE
May 14, 2008
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA HONORS KAUFMAN, JCRC FOR AFFIRMING THE
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND FIGHTING AGAINST DENIAL
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) recognized
Nancy K. Kaufman and the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of
Greater Boston for their continued leadership and support in the
affirmation of the Armenian Genocide during an award reception, May 9,
at the Grand Hyatt Regency in Cambridge, MA. The emcee for the evening
was ARAMAC Massachusetts State Chair Herman Purutyan.
Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny said that the Assembly has a
"unique opportunity to advance the fundamental principles and ideals of
human rights, democracy and truth and justice." Ardouny added that the
Assembly accomplishes this by its advocacy on Capitol Hill and through
"outreach to like minded individuals and organizations," drawing the
parallel between the shared vision with Kaufman and the JCRC.
"The Assembly commends the leadership Ms. Kaufman and the JCRC has
demonstrated standing up against denial and for firmly articulating the
record on the Armenian Genocide this past year," said Assembly Public
Affairs Chair Anthony Barsamian. "This award is presented in Boston to
honor Nancy and the JCRC for the organization’s continued leadership in
the affirmation of the Armenian Genocide. This leadership is greatly
appreciated by the Armenian-American community."
Mayor of Newton David B. Cohen also attended and spoke about his belief
that acknowledging an indisputable truth, the truth of the Armenian
Genocide, is very simple. "Together, the Assembly, JCRC and men and
women of conscience throughout the country will continue to fight until
we recognize the reality and horror of the Armenian Genocide. We will
continue to struggle until that time."
Henry Morgenthau, III, grandson of U.S. Ambassador to the then Ottoman
Empire Henry Morgenthau, compared Kaufman to his grandfather and said
that "she is indeed a worthy and courageous descendant of the spirit of
my grandfather and the spirit of those non-Armenians who stood-up at
difficult times and spoke out. I congratulate her and all of us for
honoring her."
In accepting the Assembly’s honor, Kaufman asked the question, "What
would have been if Nazis remained in power after WWII and there were no
Nuremberg trials? ‘The Nazis, just as the Turkish government does today,
would have undoubtedly denied the accusations and the memory of what had
taken place might have faded into history.’"
During her remarks Kaufman quoted Professor Elie Wiesel who said, "we
know that for the dead it is too late, but it is not too late for
today’s children – ours and yours – and it is not too late to remember
the forgotten genocide and remind the world that it should never happen
again."
Kaufman closed by saying "all I did was speak the truth. I will continue
to speak the truth. We will never forget the Armenian Genocide."
Westchester Reform Temple
On Friday, May 2, Barsamian addressed the congregation at the
Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, NY, during their Service of
Responsibility, highlighting the future opening of the Armenian Genocide
Museum of America, in Washington, DC. In his remarks, Barsamian noted
that "Human Rights defenders and organizations cannot pick and choose
which human rights to defend. We in the Armenian and Jewish communities
know this too well. There are no credible Holocaust or Genocide Scholars
today that would deny the genocide of the Armenians and we appreciate
the Jewish community for bearing witness with us."
"The Jewish and Armenian communities are bound together by the brutality
of our histories," said Rabbi Richard Jacobs. "For far too long our
world has failed to recognize and learn from the Armenian genocide. Our
Reform Jewish congregation feels honored to contribute towards the
building of the new Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial in Washington
DC."
For more information about the Assembly or the individuals or
organizations listed above, please visit:
< t; .
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.
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Editor’s Note: Photographs can be viewed on the Assembly’s website at
the following links:
Caption: Mayor Cohen; Nancy K. Kaufman and Bryan Ardouny
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Captio n: Anthony Barsamian; Noubar B. Afeyan, Assembly Board of
Trustees; Nancy K. Kaufman; Levon Afeyan, Vice-Chair of the Congress of
Canadian Armenians and Bryan Ardouny
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Captio n: Nancy K. Kaufman with the Momentum Program from Harvard
University Conflict Management Center Participants
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C aption: Mayor Cohen, Henry Morgenthau, III and Carolyn Mugar,
President, Assembly Board of Trustess
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Capti on: Mayor Cohen and Nancy K. Kaufman
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Captio n: Rabbi Richard Jacobs of the Westchester Reform Temple
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