94TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO BE HELD AT TIMES SQUARE

MSNBC
/
March 1 2009

NEW YORK, March 3, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — For the 24th year,
thousands of American-Armenians and their supporters will gather in
Times Square (Broadway between 43rd and 44th Streets) to commemorate
the first genocide of the 20th Century — the Armenian Genocide. To
be held on Sunday, April 26, 2009 from 2-4 PM, this historic event
will pay tribute to the 1.5 million Armenians who were extinguished
by the Young Turk Government of the Ottoman Empire. The Commemoration
will also celebrate the survival of the Armenian people, their rich
heritage and their contributions. Speakers will include Armenian and
non-Armenian political and civic leaders and students. This event is
free and open to the public.

Media are invited to meet and interview Armenian Genocide Survivors
(ages 94-100) and Armenian Genocide Experts, Dr. Dennis R. Papazian
and Sam Azadian on Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 2 PM at the New York
Armenian Home, 13731 45th Avenue, Flushing, NY. For background
information and to arrange interviews contact: Linda Millman Guller,
email: mgmarcom@aol.com, phone: 203-454-9800.

The 94th Commemoration is organized by the Mid-Atlantic chapters
of Knights and Daughters of Vartan , a
U.S. fraternal organization of Armenian-Americans, and co-sponsored
by Armenian General Benevolent Union , Armenian National
Committee of America , Armenian Assembly of America
, Armenian Democratic Liberal Party and Social Democratic
Hunchagian Party.

The Knights of Vartan logo is available at
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Issues to Explore with Experts Dr. Dennis R. Papazian and Sam Azadian

* Do you think that the Obama Administration will recognize the
Armenian Genocide?

* What major world historical events have taken place in the 20th and
21st centuries because of the denial of the Armenian Genocide by the
Turkish Government and other nations?

* Why do Armenians and supporters commemorate the Armenian Genocide?

* What is the historical evidence to support the Armenian Genocide?

The Experts

Dr. Dennis R. Papazian, is the founding Director of the Armenian
Research Center at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where from
1971-2006, he held the position of Professor of History. He also served
four years as Executive Director of the Armenian Assembly of America in
Washington, D.C. In addition, Dr. Papazian is on the Board of Trustees
of the American Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern), Secretary of
the Board of Trustees of the St. Nersess Armenian Theological Seminary,
President of the Society for Armenian Studies and is a member of the
Editorial Board of the Journal of the Society for Armenian Studies. He
is listed in Who’s Who in America and resides in N.J.

Sam Azadian, who founded the Armenian Genocide Commemoration 24
years ago, is a N.J. resident who held several positions over a
23-year span in New York City Government. Serving four Mayors,
his positions included Deputy Commissioner for the Department of
Highways and Assistant Vice President of the New York City Health
and Hospitals Corporation. He lost four of his own older siblings in
the Genocide during the death marches to the deserts of Der Zor (the
killing fields). Highly knowledgeable about the history of Armenia
and its people, he also understands the political issues that prevail
today, and the reasons why annual commemorations like this serve an
important purpose for the entire world.

Participating Organizations:

Diocese of the Armenian Church, Prelacy of the Armenian Church,
Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Presbyterian
Church, Armenian Evangelical Church, Armenian Catholic Eparchy for
U.S. and Canada, and Armenian Youth Organizations.