Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
ancwr@anca.org

PRESS RELEASE

January 26, 2009
Contact: Ani Garabedian

Armenian Genocide Survivor and Longtime ANCA Activist Passes Away

Los Angeles, CA – Ghazaros Kademian, a longtime ANCA supporter and one
of the oldest remaining survivors of the Armenian Genocide passed away
on January 24, 2009 at his home in Glendale, California. Kademian, who
was born in the historic city of Zeitoun in 1907, lived a life full of
faith and dedication.

Over the past several years he had become a regular attendee at
community events organized by the Armenian National Committee, the
Armenian Youth Federation and Homenetmen.

"Sadly, this past weekend our beloved Ghazaros was called home,"
stated Armenian National Committee Western Region (ANC-WR) Chairman
Vicken Sonentz-Papazian. "The story of the Armenian nation in the 20th
and 21st century is encapsulated in the tragedy, struggle and rebirth
of Ghazaros Kademian. While we bid farewell to our dear friend and
colleague we are inspired by his indomitable will and remain forever
indebted to the countless sacrifices he made in securing our future,"
he added.

At the 2007 ANC-WR Annual Banquet Mr. Kademian was saluted by U.S.
Senator Robert Menendez, who hailed him as a symbol of the Armenian
will to survive and persevere. Mr. Kademian attended several Armenian
Youth Federation (AYF) events including the annual protests at the
Turkish Consulate on April 24th as well as a hunger strike "Fast for
Remembrance" in January of 2006.

"The life of Ghazaros Kademian serves as motivation for us to continue
our work towards Genocide recognition," expressed AYF WR Chairman
Vache Thomassian. "As time passes, fewer and fewer survivors of the
Armenian Genocide remain but their memory will inspire future
generations to seek justice for the Armenian Cause," he added.

The very last letter written by Kademian was penned to the Turkish
Government in anticipation of an AYF protest held at the Turkish
Consulate on April 24, 2008. Kademian wrote "I pray that the Lord
gives you (Turkish government) the wisdom to stop killing your own
people, to listen to your own intellectuals, and stop killing them in
the middle of your cities. Hopefully I will not wait long, and your
government accepts its unjust actions and proceeds to remedy its
mistakes. Ninety three years. No more tears."

"Ghazaros Kademian was and will remain an iconic Armenian hero. He
represented our tragic past, our resurrection as a people and our
common journey for justice," stated ANC-WR Board Member Raffi
Hamparian. "His life was touched by genocide, but also by faith and
family. His death reminds us all of the need to continue his support
for the Armenian Cause. As Oliver Wendell Holmes once wrote, ‘At the
grave of a hero we end, not with sorrow at the inevitable loss but
with contagion of his courage and with a kind of desperate joy we go
back to the fight’," added Hamparian.

To mark his 100th birthday last year Mr. Kademian insisted on making a
very generous donation to the ANC-WR to support the organization’s
education and outreach efforts. Kademian miraculously survived the
Armenian Genocide of 1915 and found a new home in Baghdad, Iraq. While
in this newfound country, he helped the Armenian community by being an
advisor and leader. A strong survivor of the genocide, Ghazaros and
his wife Azadouhi raised three wonderful children; Ohannes Kademian,
Asdghig Kaladjian, and Anahid Kademian.

On May 18, 2005 as a part of the Congressional Record, Congressman
Adam Schiff (D-CA-29) honored Kademian noting that, "The courage of
survivors like Ghazaros Kademian reminds all mankind of the
extraordinary strength and determination of the Armenian people who
endured the unspeakable atrocities perpetrated against them by the
Ottoman Empire… …It is our sacred obligation to honor the memory of
the one and a half million men, women, and children systematically
murdered during the Armenian Genocide… …The story of Ghazaros
Kademian’s family is terrible and tragic, but not uncommon. It is our
responsibility to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and collectively
demand reaffirmation of this crime against humanity."

In lieu of flowers, the Kademian family is encouraging community
members to provide tax-deductible donations to the ANC-WR at 104 North
Belmont Street, Glendale, CA 91206. For more information please call
the ANC-WR offices at (818) 500-1918.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in
the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States
and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances
the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.