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AYF Eastern Region Calls for End to Azeri Military Aggression Agains

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  • AYF Eastern Region Calls for End to Azeri Military Aggression Agains

    Armenian Youth Federation-YOARF Eastern US
    80 Bigelow Ave
    Watertown, MA 02472
    Tel. (617) 923-1933
    Fax (617) 924-1933
    www.ayf.org

    Press Release
    For Immediate Release ~ September 1, 2005
    Contact: Sossi Essajanian
    (617) 923-1933
    [email protected]

    AYF Eastern Region Calls for End to Azeri Military Aggression Against Karabagh

    Organization Leads Protest in Front of Azeri Embassy in Washington, D.C.

    WATERTOWN, Mass.- On September 1, over 150 Armenian-Americans in front
    of the Azerbaijan Embassy in Washington, D.C., to call attention to
    ongoing threats by Azerbaijani government officials to use military
    force to deny self-determination to the people of Karabagh. The
    protest was organized by the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Eastern
    United States.

    For over an hour, demonstrators marched, holding placards that read
    "Self-Determination=Human Rights," "No More Blood for Oil," and "Aliev,
    Stop Threatening War," reminding the world that Azerbaijan's government
    killed thousands of Armenians in Sumgait and Baku, ethnically cleansing
    thousands more from all over Azerbaijan.

    Protesters-young and old, from Providence, Washington, D.C.,
    Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Toronto,
    Chicago, Detroit, and Worcester-spoke out against Azerbaijani President
    Ilham Aliev's threat to resume war against Karabagh.

    The group chanted slogans such as, "No more blood for oil! Stop
    threatening war!" and Sumgait 1988, never again!" while somber music
    played in the background.

    In his keynote address, AYF New Jersey chapter alumnus Ken Sarajian
    said "I come today with three messages for you. I speak first to the
    United States and friends of peace, second to the AYF to say that
    I am proud of you. Third, to the Azerbaijanis sitting there in that
    building; why do I stand here with a microphone and speak? So that
    maybe they will listen. Why? Because when we speak in peace talks,
    they do not listen. I speak now so that all can here. Democracy speaks
    of self determination, not of we will not yield land."

    Sarajian said, "Some will ask, why don't we negotiate? We are
    willing to talk peacefully with anyone, but we are not willing to
    give up rights."

    Other speakers at the protest included AYF Eastern Region chairman
    Antranig Kzirian and Armenian National Committee (ANC) Eastern Region
    executive director Doug Geogerian, who both spoke about Karabagh's
    right to self-determination and how Armenians should not stand for
    Azerbaijan's militantly aggressive threats.

    Providence AYF member Garine Palandjian spoke about her experiences
    this summer in Karabagh, while Sossi Essajanian from the Greater
    Boston chapter read accounts from survivors and victims of the 1988
    Sumgait and 1990 Baku massacres by Azeris.

    "I have come here to help get the word out about the Karabagh conflict,
    educate non-Armenians about the ongoing political tensions Armenia has
    suffered not only with Azerbaijan, but in the 1915 Armenian genocide,"
    said Detroit AYF member Teny Mishigian.

    The event took place a day prior to the start 72nd annual AYF Eastern
    Regional Olympics in Washington, D.C., where over 3,000 are expected
    to arrive for the games.

    Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) serves as the
    youth organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (YOARF).

    The AYF stands on five pillars that guide its activities: education,
    political awareness, fellowship, athletics and culture. Moreover,
    the AYF promotes a fraternal attitude of respect for the diversity of
    ideas and individuals amongst its membership. Unity and cooperation
    are essential traits that allow members of the organization to work
    together and realize its objectives.

    PHOTO CAPTIONS:

    Crowd1: For over an hour, demonstrators marched, holding placards that
    read "Self-Determination=Human Rights," "No More Blood for Oil," and
    "Aliev, Stop Threatening War"

    AYFers with flag: Protesters from Boston held the Karabagh flag in
    front of the Azerbaijan Embassy in Washington, D.C. during a protest
    held by the AYF Eastern region
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