Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE
June 23, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
ASSEMBLY BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRMAN WELCOMES SUMMER INTERNS TO WASHINGTON
Nearly 40 Participate in DC and Yerevan Intern Programs
Washington, DC – Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian,
together with Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, officially welcomed the
Assembly’s largest summer intern class in a decade on June 22 at
Assembly headquarters in Washington, DC. Some 30 college students,
participants of the Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship Program,
engaged in a lively debate with Assembly leaders on issues ranging from
recognition of the Armenian Genocide to the Nagorno Karabakh peace
process.
“It was a pleasure for me to meet with students from across the U.S.,
Armenia, Canada, and England, who have come to Washington to learn more
about the political process and how they can effectively advocate for
Armenian issues,” said Barsamian. “The students asked thoughtful
questions on a variety of issues, proving that the intern program
continues to attract bright, ambitious students to the Assembly. These
are truly young leaders who will advocate for us in the years ahead.”
Barsamian also added that the longest running Armenian-American
internship program in the U.S. is reaching new heights. The combined
enrollment in the DC and Yerevan programs is at its highest level in
over a decade, with close to 40 students participating this year.
“I appreciated learning more about the Assembly’s efforts to strengthen
the U.S.-Armenia and U.S.-Karabakh relationships,” said intern Christine
Serdjenian, a student at Brown University. “We all have a vested
interest in seeing Armenia and Karabakh succeed, and our intern class is
eager to do our part in advancing our issues.”
During their time in Washington, students will intern in offices on
Capitol Hill or with government agencies, think tanks and media outlets.
They will also take part in a full schedule of cultural and educational
activities such as the Assembly’s Capitol Ideas and Lecture Series
Programs.
On June 21, for example, the group met with Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) to learn more about the Armenian
Genocide resolution that was introduced in the House of Representatives
last week. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. George Radanovich
(R-CA), together with Congressmen Schiff, Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), calls upon the President to “accurately
characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1,500,000
Armenians as genocide.”
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
NR#2005-072
Photograph available on the Assembly Web site at the following links:
Caption: Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian, second
from right, and Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, far right, met with
Assembly summer interns in Washington on June 22. Liana Zakharyan,
legal assistant to the Consul at the Armenian Embassy, bottom left, also
addressed the group.
Caption: Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), center, during his meeting
with Assembly interns on Capitol Hill on June 21.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress