PRESS RELEASE
Joint Committee
90th Anniversary Commemoration of Genocide
Contact: Iris Papazian (212-689-7810)
Chris Zakian (212-686-0710)
November 29, 2004
JOINT COMMITTEE OF ARMENIAN AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS FORMED
TO COMMEMORATE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF GENOCIDE
NEW YORK, NY-Under the auspices of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of
the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, and Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan, Prelate of the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America, a committee has been formed to organize a pan-Armenian American
commemoration of the Armenian Genocide’s 90th anniversary. As currently
planned, the commemoration will take place in New York City on Sunday, April
24, 2005.
The joint commemorative committee convened its first meeting on October
21st. Roy Stepanian of St. Mary’s Armenian Church, Livingston, NJ and Ken
Sarajian of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church, Ridgefield, NJ have
been appointed by the Diocese and the Prelacy to serve as co-chairs. With
the attendance and support of major Armenian-American groups, the committee
began its work.
“The commemoration of the Armenian Genocide presents us the opportunity to
remind the world and re-educate our community of not only the Genocide, but
its aftermath that is felt today,” said Archbishop Barsamian.
“We need to bring the Armenian community in the eastern United States
together in New York City on April 24, 2005, to bear witness to this crime
that continues today,” said Archbishop Choloyan.
The committee’s next tasks will be the formation of subcommittees to plan
specific events, prepare educational and press materials, and begin
fundraising to underwrite the commemoration.