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ANCA-WR Participates in LA City Armenian Genocide Recognition Cerem.

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  • ANCA-WR Participates in LA City Armenian Genocide Recognition Cerem.

    Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
    104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
    Glendale, California 91206
    Phone: 818.500.1918
    Fax: 818.246.7353
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Web: www.anca.org

    PRESS RELEASE
    April 20, 2007

    Contact: Haig Hovsepian
    Tel: (818) 500-1918


    ANCA-WR Joins Mayor of Los Angeles and City Council in Armenian Genocide
    Commemoration


    -- County Board of Supervisors Issues Proclamation on Armenian Genocide


    LOS ANGELES, CA - The Armenian National Committee of America-Western
    Region (ANCA-WR) attended a breakfast reception and special session of
    the Los Angeles City Council at which this year's Armenian Genocide
    remembrance resolution was presented. The event was hosted by the Los
    Angeles City Council, led by City Council Member Eric Garcetti (District
    13). Attending the event on behalf of the ANCA-WR were Board Members
    Pattyl Aposhian-Kasparian and Steve Dadaian. They were joined by
    ANCA-WR Executive Director, Andrew Kzirian who delivered remarks to
    those assembled on the occasion.

    Kzirian noted the role played by the City of Los Angeles in setting an
    example for city, state and federal officials all across the country.
    "The themes mentioned by Mayor Villaraigosa and the other speakers today
    pertain to denial and the moral authority to condemn genocide," said
    Kzirian. "With the recent cosponsorship of Senate Majority Leader Harry
    Reid (D-NV) and Presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), we
    see that the leadership demonstrated by the Mayor of Los Angeles and the
    City Council in recognizing the Armenian Genocide resonates with the
    rest of the country," he added.

    During the morning breakfast reception, Council Members Dennis Zine
    (District 3) and Wendy Greuel (District 2) noted the importance of
    remembering the Armenian Genocide. He was joined in his remarks by City
    Council Member Bill Rosenthal (District 11) who noted the link between
    appropriately addressing the Armenian Genocide and confronting the
    genocide in Darfur today.

    Mayor Pro Tem of Rolling Hills Estates Frank Zerunyan, an Armenian
    American born in Turkey, shared his personal perspective on the need to
    continue to commemorate the Armenian Genocide and learn from the lessons
    of this crime against humanity. Additionally, Souzi
    Zerounian-Khanzadian attended the event on behalf of the recently
    established Yerevan-Los Angeles Sister City Association. The breakfast
    was opened by a prayer led by Archbishop Hovnan Derderian of the Western
    Diocese of the Armenian Church of America and the morning's reception
    was closed with a benediction led by Father Muron Aznikian from the
    Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church's Prelacy of the Western United
    States.

    Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa addressed the community during the
    presentation ceremony. Recalling the assassination of Hrant Dink
    earlier this year, Villaraigosa said that the murder was "an attempt to
    instill fear and apprehension in the hearts of all those who treasure
    freedom and truth." He commended Dink for his courage to speak, as an
    ethnic Armenian citizen of Turkey, about the Armenian Genocide and refer
    to it as such.

    Referring to H.Res.106 and S.Res.106, Villaraigosa noted that "the City
    of Los Angeles has been on record for years about the Armenian Genocide
    and it's about time the federal government did the same."

    The Los Angeles city officials were joined by CA State Assembly Member
    Paul Krekorian (D-43), who thanked the City Council for commemorating
    the Armenian Genocide. Earlier this month, Assemblymember Krekorian and
    his fellow CA state legislators joined in commemorating the 92nd
    anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the State Capitol.

    Earlier in the week, ANCA-WR Community Relations Director Haig Hovsepian
    joined Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Michael Antonovich who
    presented the Los Angeles Armenian community with a proclamation signed
    by the Board of Supervisors commemorating the 92nd anniversary of the
    Armenian Genocide. In his remarks, Antonovich reiterated the need to
    remember the Armenian Genocide and honor its victims.

    In thanking the Board of Supervisors and addressing the gallery,
    Hovsepian noted appreciation of the Armenian community that found refuge
    in Los Angeles a century ago following the genocide and noted the Los
    Angeles Armenian community's commitment to assuring that there is
    recognition and justice genocide.

    "As victims of genocide we feel a particular sense of responsibility to
    ensure that the memory of the Armenian Genocide is preserved," said
    Hovsepian. "Knowing our past helps ensure that we, as Americans, have
    the moral clarity and sense of purpose to continue to confront genocide
    and its denial."

    The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
    influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working
    in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters
    throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the
    world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American
    community on a broad range of issues.

    ###

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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