Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
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The Armenian Church Leader

April 16, 2010

Diocesan Legate encourages members of Congress to renew efforts to end
genocide in Darfur

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern), and fellow members of the Interfaith Sudan Working Group
are encouraging members of Congress to renew efforts to bring peace to Sudan
and end the ongoing genocide in Darfur.

"April is a particularly important month, and it is heartening to know that
it has been designated as Genocide Prevention Month in recognition of the
fact that the Holocaust and the start of the genocidal atrocities that
befell the Armenian, Ukrainian, Cambodian, Rwandan, and Darfurian peoples
all took place in April," said Archbishop Aykazian. "It’s a shame that at
the beginning of the 21st century genocides are still taking place. If the
Armenian Genocide was recognized in the beginning of the 20th century, maybe
those genocides wouldn’t have followed."

On March 2, the Interfaith Sudan Working Group-a coalition of Christian,
Jewish, and Muslim organizations working for lasting peace in the East
African nation-held a prayer breakfast at the U.S. Capitol.

The group also met with Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, who has been a
supporter of Genocide recognition and prevention. Archbishop Aykazian
thanked the senator for his efforts on Darfur and for co-sponsoring Senate
Resolution 316 on the Armenian Genocide.

Last month’s event was sponsored by the American Jewish World Service.

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian with Senator Russ Feingold.