Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
March 12, 2009
Student Activists Face Down Azerbaijan’s Propaganda Machine
Northridge, CA – Students and human rights activists recently attended
a talk by Consul General of Azerbaijan Elin Suleymanov held at
California State University – Northridge (CSUN). The lecture, which
was requested by Suleymanov, was titled `The Geopolitics of Energy
Security in Eurasia, Central Asia, Europe and America,’ and served as
a propaganda event to present Azerbaijan as a stable democracy and
investment receptacle for the west. Suleymanov attempted to portray
Azerbaijan as a country of `stability, with unmatched regional
cooperation and [as] an ideal location for investment’.
`The misinformation campaign of the Azerbaijani government continues,’
stated Andrew D. Kzirian, Executive Director of the Armenian National
Committee – Western Region. `Our community is committed to working
with human rights activists to ensure that America knows the facts
when it comes to Artsakh and Azerbaijan,’ he added.
Concerned students, in a collaborative effort, produced flyers on the
event and disseminated materials to attendees and passers-by.
Students also asked the Consul General questions regarding
Azerbaijan’s President’s repeated and explicit threats of war over
Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan’s swelling list of human rights
violations, the rampant government corruption plaguing the government,
the Sumgait Massacre of Armenians and the disinformation campaign of
the Azerbaijani government against Armenia. Those participating were
members of various organizations, including the CSUN Armenian Students
Association, Shant Student Association, the Armenian Youth Federation
and the AEO Fraternity.
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.