PRESS RELEASE
May 16, 2008
Armenian National Committee of America
Eastern Region
122 W. 27th St. Floor 12, New York, NY 10001
Contact: Karine Birazian
Tel: 917-428-1918

ANCA AND AFRICA ACTION CALL ON U.S. TO TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO END
DARFUR GENOCIDE

— May 22nd Rally in New York City to Take Place U.S Mission to the
United Nations

New York, NY- With the U.S. set to take over the presidency of the
United Nations Security Council this June, the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA) and Africa Action have teamed up Africa
Services Committee, American Jewish World Service, the Damanga
Coalition for Freedom and Democracy, Genocide Intervention Network,
NY City Coalition for Darfur, New York Vigilers, STAND, Rock for
Darfur, Darfur Metro, Darfur Rehabilitation Project, and other
human rights organizations in calling for the deployment of well-
equipped peacekeepers in Darfur. The groups will hold a rally on
May 22, 2008 from 12-2pm at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations,
located at 140 East 45th St. between 3rd and Lexington Avenues.

"The recent rebel attacks on Khartoum by Darfuri rebel group the
Justice and Equality Movement and subsequent government reprisals
against civilians may worsen the humanitarian situation in Sudan
that has already grown more dire over the course of 2008," said
Gerald LeMelle, Executive Director of Africa Action, who has taken
the lead in organizing the rally. "The U.S. presidency of the UN
Security Council in June offers an opportunity for the Bush
administration to deliver bold diplomatic action, not mere
rhetoric, to address this crisis. U.S. leadership at this critical
moment is vital to upholding the international community’s
responsibility to protect the people of Darfur and promote peace
for Sudan."

The U.N Security Council has primary responsibility to maintain
international peace and security. The Presidency of the Council
rotates monthly, according to the English alphabetical listing of
its member States, and on June 1, 2008, the United States will take
over the presidency. Over 450,000 people have lost their lives and
millions have been displaced in the ongoing genocide in Darfur.
Although the U.S. government has acknowledged this genocide, it has
failed to take the necessary action to protect the people of
Darfur. Africa Action, the ANCA and rally supporters are calling on
President Bush to assert U.S. leadership in support of a
multinational intervention to stop the ongoing genocide in Darfur.

"The Armenian American community knows all too well the
repercussions of inaction in the face of genocide," noted ANCA
Eastern Region Executive Director Karine Birazian. "We commend
Africa Action in taking the lead on this initiative and look
forward to working with all rally organizers to once and for all
put an end to the cycle of genocide."

Armenian Americans and concerned human rights activists are
encouraged to attend the rally in large numbers and raise their
voices in support of decisive U.S. action to end the genocide in
Darfur. For more information, please contact Briggs Bomba at
Africa Action at 202-546-7961 or email at Briggs@africaaction.org.
Please click here to RSVP online.