EU: All those detained while exercising their right of assembly must be released

April 22, 2018 By administrator

All those who have been detained while exercising their fundamental right of assembly in accordance with the law must be released immediately, says the statement issued by spokesperson for the EU foreign policy Maja Kocijancic.

“The right to exercise freedom of assembly in a peaceful manner and in accordance with the law is a universal and fundamental right of all,” the statement reads.

“The European Union expects the Armenian authorities to fully respect this right and to apply the law in a fair and proportionate manner, in accordance with Armenia’s international obligations, including in particular under the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. All those who have been detained while exercising their fundamental right of assembly in accordance with the law must be released immediately.

It is of utmost importance that all parties involved show restraint and act responsibly. An inclusive dialogue, as President Arman Sarkissian has called for, aimed at an immediate and peaceful resolution of the current situation is essential. It is therefore disappointing and worrying that today’s short meeting between Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan and MP Nikol Pashinyan did not prevent further escalation.”

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA COMPLETES 40TH YEAR OF INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

August 16, 2017 By administrator

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) celebrated the 40th year of its program, which provides opportunities for the next generation of Armenian Americans to participate in public service internships in Washington. The Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship Program, founded in 1977, was the first internship program offered by an Armenian organization in America. For eight weeks each summer, the program gives college students of Armenian descent an opportunity to gain exposure to the policy-making process in our nation’s capital. Over 1,000 students have completed internships through the Assembly.

The Terjenian-Thomas Assembly class of 2017 interns included Lara Avsharian from California, Shant Bekarian from New Jersey, Taylor Boole from North Carolina, Milena Davtyan from Utah, Samantha Dore from Washington, Emily Hagopian from New Jersey, Mateos Hayes from Tennessee, Nicholas Jundanian from Maryland, David Madey from California, Lidia Nalbandyan from Utah, Hugh Rabjohns from Illinois, Axel Sarkissian from California, Alain Tamazian from California, and Sasha Tavitian from Washington. This summer’s internship program was led by Intern Coordinator Robert Arzoumanian, an alumnus from the 2016 program.

“I was honored to have the opportunity to return to Washington, D.C. as this year’s Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Intern Coordinator. It was great to see students from all around the country working together to help the Armenian American community. The Assembly interns were all incredibly intelligent and their passion for their work was contagious. It was a pleasure to work with them and I hope they use the knowledge and experience they gained this summer to continue improving their communities,” Arzoumanian said.

Through the Assembly’s Lecture Series, participants met with Members of Congress, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Representative Ed Royce (R-CA), Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member and Armenian Caucus Vice Co-Chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), and Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA). As part of the Capitol Ideas, the interns sat down with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Program Manager Noris Balabanian, Artsakh Representative to the U.S. Robert Avetisyan, and Armenian Church of America Eastern Diocesan Legate Archbishop Vicken Aykazian. Additionally, they discussed future careers with many Assembly intern alumni, including U.S. Embassy in Armenia Political and Economic Deputy Chief Ruben Harutunian, Nahigian Strategies President Keith Nahigian, and Department of Justice Senior Counsel for National Security and Assembly Board Member Aram Gavoor.

“Congresswoman Speier is one of two Armenian American Representatives in the United States Congress, and I hold her in high regard. She proves her dedication to her work everyday, and I am fortunate to have interned in her office. I looked forward to work everyday. It was an incredible experience to hear her story, along with other professionals I met who work in the U.S. Government from meetings organized by the Armenian Assembly,” stated David Madey, a student at the University of California Davis who interned with Rep. Speier. “I believe the Congressional internship position is perhaps one of the most invaluable experiences to have for someone my age, and I am incredibly grateful to have had this one-of-a-kind opportunity,” he added.

They had the opportunity to learn more about their cultural heritage and the Armenian Genocide in conversations and lectures with Armenian National Institute (ANI) Director Dr. Rouben Adalian and Library of Congress Armenian and Georgian Specialist Dr. Levon Avdoyan. The students explored Washington with special tours of Capitol Hill, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the World Bank, where they saw the Armenian art exhibit which features paintings and sculptures from the Balian Art Collection on loan to the Bank since 2007. The Terjenian-Thomas Assembly interns were also graciously hosted by Mrs. Rita Balian, a long-time Assembly Trustee, whose late husband Mr. Vartkess Balian served on the Assembly’s Board of Directors during its early pivotal years.

“It was a great experience being involved with the Armenian Assembly of America Internship Program this summer. We learned a great deal about our Armenian heritage as well as the factors that influence Armenian American relations,” said Taylor Boole, a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who interned with Rep. George Holding (R-NC).

In addition to UC Davis and UNC Chapel Hill, Assembly interns arrived from Stanford University, University of California Los Angeles, University of Southern California, California Polytechnic State University, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, The College of New Jersey, Emerson College, University of Washington, Wake Forest University, Texas Christian University, Brigham Young University, and Salt Lake Community College.

From its earliest phases and over the past four decades, the Armenian Assembly Summer Internship Program has been celebrated and strongly supported by the Armenian community with major gifts from the Richard Tufenkian Memorial Fund, the John Hanessian Scholarship Fund, the Armen Astarjian Scholarship Fund, the Ohanian Memorial Fund, Ann Hintlian, Ann Nahigian, James and Connie Melikian, the Knights of Vartan, the Estate of Haig J. Boyadjian, and the Estate of George Judge Karabedian (George Kay), as well as generous contributions in memory of former Assembly Board Members Dr. Lionel Galstaun, Peter Kezirian, and John O’Connor. In 2003, the Armenian Assembly’s Summer Internship Program was renamed in honor of Aram and Florence Terjenian and Annie Thomas after the announcement of their pace-setting $1 million donation to the program.

To find out more about the 2017 summer interns’ journey in Washington, D.C., visit the Assembly’s Intern Blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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Photo Caption 1: Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Interns and Armenian National Institute (ANI) Director Dr. Rouben Adalian with Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), who visited Armenia in 1991 and observed the referendum for independence from the Soviet Union

Photo Caption 2 (L-R): Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. George Holding (R-NC), Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), and Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA)

Photo Caption 3 (L-R): Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member and Armenian Caucus Vice Co-Chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY INTERNS DISCUSS KEY ISSUES IN ARMENIA AND ARTSAKH WITH HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, REP. ED ROYCE

July 7, 2017 By administrator

Photo Caption: Armenian Assembly Terjenian-Thomas Internship Program class of 2017 with House Foreign Affairs Chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA-39).

By Lidia Nalbandyan, Armenian Assembly of America Intern

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) summer interns had the opportunity to meet with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and discuss important policy issues relevant to Armenia and Artsakh.

Chairman Royce represents Southern California’s 39^th Congressional District. Earlier this year he headlined the Assembly’s gala in Newport Beach honoring the 40^th anniversary of the Terjenian-Thomas internship program, where he awarded Ken Khachigian, a former speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan, with a Congressional Certificate of Recognition.

Rep. Royce has been a champion in bringing awareness to Armenian issues in Congress. During his meeting with Assembly interns, Rep. Royce briefly spoke about the critical situation in Artsakh and the dire need for a peaceful resolution. He mentioned the importance of increasing international cooperation to monitor the line of contact, emphasizing that the OSCE Minsk Group should abandon its failed policy of false parity in responding to acts of aggression.

Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY) spearheaded a letter in 2015 to former OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Ambassador James Warlick, urging him to “publicly condemn specific acts of aggression along the line of contact.” The bipartisan letter calls for (1) an agreement from all sides not to deploy snipers along the line of contact; (2) the placement of OSCE-monitored, advanced gunfire-locator systems and sound-ranging equipment to determine the source of attacks along the line of contact; and (3) the deployment of additional OSCE observers along the line of contact to better monitor cease-fire violations.

As a strong advocate for U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Chairman Royce has supported numerous Armenian Genocide resolutions in Congress. In the meeting, he discussed the recently released Hollywood film about the Armenian Genocide, called “The Promise.” He described the film as an important step in bringing awareness to larger audiences about this tragic event. Additionally, he emphasized that it can also serve as a great educational resource for future generations.

“Chairman Royce provided us with his insightful opinions on Armenian issues, including recognition of the Armenian Genocide and U.S. efforts to encourage a peaceful resolution of the Artsakh conflict. It is reassuring to know that he is so committed to U.S.-Armenia relations, as well as the safety of citizens of Armenia and Artsakh,” said Mateos Hayes, a sophomore at the University of Tennessee, who is currently a Congressional Affairs intern at the Assembly.

Web link to the article: http://www.armenianinterns.com/post/162714031543/armenian-assembly-interns-discuss-key-issues-in

Armenia elected Vice-President of UN General Assembly

June 15, 2016 By administrator

6-15 Armenia has been elected Vice-President of the UN General Assembly, the official UN website reports.

Besides Armenia chosen from the Eastern European States, 20 other countries have also been elected Vice Presidents by secret vote. They include Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Mauritania, Nigeria and Zambia from the African States; Bangladesh, Nepal, Solomon Islands and Turkmenistan from the Asia-Pacific States;

Armenia from the Eastern European States;

Bahamas, Belize and El Salvador from the Latin American and Caribbean States; and Belgium and Germany from the Western European and other States. The five permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and the United States) are also among the 21 Vice-Presidents.

Congressman Engel endorses Armenian for Assembly

May 25, 2016 By administrator

Ardy Kassakhian announced on May 23 that Congressman Eliot Engel (NY-16) has endorsed his campaign for Assembly District 43, Asbarez reports.
A member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 1989, Engel has served as the Ranking Member of the powerful Committee on Foreign Affairs and is a member of the Congressional Armenian Caucus.

“I’m proud to join my colleagues in endorsing Ardy Kassakhian for California State Assembly,” stated Congressman Eliot Engel. “Ardy stands out for his extraordinary commitment to public service. I particularly value his strong understanding of critical issues not only at the local and state levels but also at the national level.”

Engel is the fourth member of Congress to endorse Ardy Kassakhian, joining Congressman Brad Sherman, who sits on the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, who serves as a Senior Whip in the Democratic Caucus, and Congressman Frank Pallone, who is the Ranking Member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The official candidate of the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley, Ardy Kassakhian has demonstrated broad community support. Since launching his campaign last year, he has raised more than $600,000 and received endorsements from Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, State Treasurer John Chiang, Secretary of State Alex Padilla, State Superintendent of Instruction Tom Torlakson, and a broad coalition of labor unions, including the California Labor Federation, the Los Angeles Police Protective League, IATSE Local 80, Teamsters Joint Council 42, Painters and Allied Trades District Council 36, and the Glendale City Employees Association.

Ardy Kassakhian grew up and attended public schools in Glendale. He was first elected Glendale City Clerk in 2005. As Clerk, he has reduced government waste by introducing environmentally sound practices, made election information easier to access and worked to increase voter participation. Ardy graduated from UCLA and the Executive Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He lives with his wife Courtney and their young son in Glendale.

Ardy Kassakhian is running to represent Assembly District 43, which includes the communities of Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village, East Hollywood, Franklin Hills, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz and Silver Lake. The primary election will be held on June 7, 2016. To learn more about ArdyKassakhian, visit his website at www.ArdyforAssembly.com or follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA CO-CHAIR VAN KRIKORIAN LAYS OUT AMERICAN, TURKISH, LEGAL RECORDS IN TESTIMONY TO CONGRESS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE & TURKISH DENIAL

May 14, 2015 By administrator

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA CO-CHAIR VAN KRIKORIAN

WASHINGTON, DC – On the eve of the centennial anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Van Z. Krikorian, Co-Chair of the Armenian Assembly of America Board of Trustees, testified before the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission) congressional hearing entitled “A Century of Denial: The Armenian Genocide and the Ongoing Quest for Justice.”

Helsinki Commission Chairman Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) opened the hearing with a powerful statement. “The Armenian Genocide is the only one of the genocides of the twentieth century in which the nation that was decimated by genocide has been subject to ongoing outrage of a massive campaign of genocide denial, openly sustained by state authority,” Chairman Smith said. “This campaign of genocide denial is a slap in the face to the Armenian people, preventing reconciliation and healing. As Pope Francis said at this Mass marking the centenary of the genocide, ‘Concealing or denying evil is like allowing a wound to keep bleeding without bandaging it.'”

Excerpts from Krikorian’s statement are below, and his full statement is available here.

“President Obama has used the Armenian term for the Armenian Genocide (“Meds Yeghern”), he has described and condemned all of the events which provide a dictionary definition of the Armenian Genocide, he has called on Turkey to deal with its past honestly and he has referred back to his prior statements as a Senator explicitly using the term Armenian Genocide. But since his election as President, he has been misled by false promises and bowed to threats from the worst kind of people. This undercuts his own credibility. Worst of all it puts more lives at risk as history does repeat itself.

“The record has never been in doubt. To say that people are shocked is an overstatement. The news that the Turkish Foreign Minister met with Secretary Kerry and National Security Advisor Rice with ISIL on the table made everything clear. However, to say that we are deeply disappointed is an understatement.

“The truth is we feel pain and sorrow, close to when a loved one is lost. We feel pain for the innocent people and civilization that was destroyed. We feel sorrow in the knowledge that it will continue unless change comes. And like other victim groups, we are more than resilient enough to rededicate ourselves to the cause of preventing genocide which we have inherited.”

Throughout the hearing, Krikorian exposed the fallacies of the denialist arguments on “archives,” “letting the historians decide,” and “calls for a commission,” with the unique experience of his participation in the Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC). TARC held a legal hearing and jointly issued a legal opinion that all elements of the Genocide Convention definition were met, ending the terminology debate. “Considering the record, Armenian President Sargsyan has a good response on the disingenuous commission idea – Turkey seems determined to keep asking for commissions until one finally agrees with its position,” Krikorian stated in his testimony. Other topics covered include the 1982 State Department Note, the historic and modern US and international record, Raphael Lemkin, the impact of Hasan Cemal and his book on the Armenian Genocide, Hrant Dink, the prescient reporting of Dr. Wilfred Post, the 2009 Protocols, the opening of the online Armenian Genocide Museum of America, the need for increased contact between Armenians and Turks, and more.

Paraphrasing President Obama, Krikorian emphasized: “As Armenians have before, we are willing to extend a hand if the first on the other side in unclenched.”

Congressman Steven Cohen (D-TN), co-chair of the Congressional Turkey Caucus, urged that all historians be heard, to which Krikorian responded forcefully by reminding the committee of Bernard Lewis’ 1995 conviction in a French court for liable on the Armenian Genocide, as well as Lewis’ 1961 and 1968 publications acknowledging the terrible holocaust of 1.5 million Armenians.

Krikorian’s testimony included President Obama’s 2008 quote: “The Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence. The facts are undeniable. An official policy that calls on diplomats to distort the historical facts is an untenable policy… America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President.”

Also speaking at the hearing were Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who lent their support to Chairman Smith for holding the hearing, and added their agreement with the witnesses testimonies on Turkey’s need to end its campaign of denial and acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.

In addition to Krikorian, other witnesses included Dr. Taner Akcam, Professor of History, Robert Aram, Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen and Marian Mugar Chair in Armenian Genocide Studies, Clark University; Mr. Kenneth V. Hachikian, Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA); Dr. Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Visiting Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution, The Fletcher School, Tufts University; and Mrs. Karine Shnorhokian, representative of the ANCA/Genocide Education Project. All witnesses agreed that reconciliation requires recognition.

You can watch Krikorian’s testimony here, and the full hearing is available here. Additional witness testimony is available here. Photographs from the hearing are available on the Assembly’s Facebook page.

Source: ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA

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Armenian Assembly of America hails editorials calling for US, international recognition of Armenian Genocide

April 17, 2015 By administrator

As Armenians around the world near the 100th anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) welcomes the call of newspaper editorial boards urging US and international affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.

“The Armenian Assembly of America welcomes the editorials of major newspapers around the globe that are speaking truthfully about the need for recognition of the Armenian Genocide,” stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. “All people of goodwill, including President Obama, should embrace the call of Pope Francis and acknowledge the incontestable fact of the Armenian Genocide this April 24th,” Ardouny said.

During his mass on Sunday, April 12 at St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis recognized the 1915 killing of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish Empire as genocide by quoting his papal predecessor Pope John Paul II. He said, “In the past century, our human family has lived through three massive and unprecedented tragedies… the first, which is widely considered ‘the first genocide of the 20th century,’ struck your own Armenian people.” The Pope’s statement comes appropriately ahead of the April 24th centennial anniversary of the genocide and has caused a wave of editorial board support for the Pope’s statements and urging the US and other powerful allies to officially recognize the killings as a genocide.

Here’s a sampling of the strong statements of support from across the country:

Los Angeles Times Editorial Board: U.S. should call Armenian genocide by its name

• “The president should take a cue from Pope Francis and include the word genocide in his annual message marking the carnage a century ago. Enduring friendships require such honesty.” [Editorial, Los Angeles Times, 4/13/15]

Denver Post Editorial Board: Speaking the truth on genocide

• “The Ottoman Turks did indeed engage in what amounts to attempted genocide of its Armenian population between 1915 and 1923, slaughtering an estimated 1.5 million, and Pope Francis is hardly the first to say so. But the boldness of his declaration Sunday was refreshing nonetheless, even if it did anger Turkey.” [Editorial, Denver Post, 4/13/15]
• And if the pope isn’t qualified to speak out on behalf of beleaguered Christians, or in memory of them, then who would be?” [Editorial, Denver Post, 4/13/15]

New York Daily News Editorial Board: The true name of evil: The Pope rightly calls Armenian killings genocide

• “In 2001, Pope John Paul II used the word genocide to describe the Armenian massacre that began 100 years ago next week. Now, as he decries today’s massacres of Christians, Francis used his singularly unafraid moral voice to tell it like it was. And thank goodness he did.” [Editorial, New York Daily News, 4/13/15]

Jerusalem Post Editorial Board: Israel should recognize the Armenian genocide

• “Exhibiting his characteristic moral clarity and sensitivity, Pope Francis referred to Turkey’s brutal massacre of about 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children during World War I as genocide.” [Editorial, Jerusalem Post, 4/13/15]
• “Founded in the shadow of the Holocaust, the State of Israel is a living testament to the failure of the international community to prevent genocide. It was in large part out of international recognition of this failure that legitimacy for a uniquely Jewish state with its own armed forces and sovereignty was born. Israel has an obligation to live up to that legacy by using its political sovereignty to prevent genocide not just against Jews but against any group… Pope Francis has publicly recognized the Armenian Genocide. Now it is Israel’s turn.” [Editorial, Jerusalem Post, 4/13/15]