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ANCEM: Fundraiser Held For State Representative Peter Koutoujian

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  • ANCEM: Fundraiser Held For State Representative Peter Koutoujian

    Armenian National Committee of Eastern Massachusetts
    47 Nichols Avenue
    Watertown MA 02472
    617-926-1918
    [email protected]

    PRESS RELEASE

    For Immediate Release
    June 16, 2006

    FUNDRAISER HELD FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE PETER KOUTOUJIAN
    Over 100 activists attend to support local leader

    BELMONT, Mass. - The home of Dr. and Mrs. Mher and Elo Artinian was the venue
    on Friday, June 9, for a fundraiser for State Representative Peter
    Koutoujian who is running for re-election to the Massachusetts state
    legislature, reported the Armenian National Committee of Eastern
    Massachusetts (ANCEM).

    "We are glad to have Peter in our home," said Dr. Artinian as he welcomed
    Koutoujian, his wife Elizabeth Cerda Koutoujian, and the over 100 activists
    who came to support Peter's candidacy. "He is not a stranger among us-not
    only has he been influential in the Armenian-American community, he's an
    influential force in the Massachusetts legislature on Beacon Hill."

    Sharistan Ardhaldjian, chairperson of the ANCEM, thanked the Artinian family
    for hosting the fundraiser, and commended the event organizing
    committee-Linda Ostayan, Bella Khachatourian, Arev Dervartanian, Rita
    Bejakian, Roset Atinizian, and Elo Artinian.

    "We need to support Peter, because he is a remarkable leader," said
    Ardhaldjian, noting that when House Speaker George Keverian retired,
    Koutoujian and fellow Representative Rachel Kaprielian took the reins to
    spearhead Armenian-American issues in the State Legislature. "He has been
    instrumental in supporting so many of the organizations and institutions in
    which we all belong and so many of the issues important to us as residents
    of Massachusetts."

    Koutoujian, 44, has spent nine years as a state legislator, and has emerged
    as one of Beacon Hill's most influential and well-respected lawmakers. He
    presently serves as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health, and
    remains a tireless advocate for the constituents of the 10th Middlesex
    District, which encompasses portions of Waltham, Newton and Watertown.

    A lawyer by trade, Koutoujian served as prosecutor for Middlesex County
    before being elected to the Legislature in 1996. He has focused his efforts
    as a lawmaker on creating laws that better protect communities from sex
    offenders. Much of his effort has a lawmaker remains focused on public
    safety issues. He is working to create laws that better protect our
    communities from sex offenders, advocate for victim rights, and even
    prohibit convicted felons from profiting off their notoriety. He has worked
    as an adjunct professor of Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Legal
    Ethics at the Massachusetts School of Law in Andover, and a Professor of
    American Government at Bentley College in Waltham. This year was appointed
    as an assistant adjunct professor at Boston University School of Public
    Health.

    "I'm proud and honored that you have all come to support my candidacy," said
    Koutoujian, as he thanked the organizing committee for their efforts. "The
    Armenian National Committee is a great organization. Without the ANCA,
    Armenian-Americans would not be anywhere today. The organization is what our
    people stand for: grassroots-the towns and villages that work together to
    strengthen our community." Koutoujian particularly noted the recent ANCA
    Telethon, which raised more than $3 million for the organization's Endowment
    Fund, and lobbying efforts in the United States.

    Koutoujian outlined some of the recent efforts that he has been working on,
    including the lawsuit that was filed by the Assembly of Turkish American
    Associations and several other plaintiffs against the Massachusetts Board of
    Education in an attempt to compel the state to include materials in the
    curriculum that deny the Armenian genocide. He also spoke about the firing
    of the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, for his honest discussion of
    the Armenian genocide. "It was a terrible day when Ambassador Evans was
    recalled. For a diplomat to be fired is a great disservice. He spoke out
    from his heart and was fired. But, we will have acknowledgement of the
    Armenian genocide. I know it will occur."

    He also spoke about the Armenian Heritage Park scheduled to be built on the
    Greenway, commending James Kalustian, Barbara Tellalian, Don Tellalian and
    Rachel Kaprielian for their "masterful" leadership in cementing the plans to
    construct the memorial.

    Koutoujian closed his remarks by thanking the community. "Without your
    support, I can't drive issues of importance to us, so I thank you. We have a
    symbiotic relationship-you support me, and I push issues that are of
    importance to the Armenian-American community."

    Guests enjoyed the remainder of the evening discussing various issues of
    concern with Koutoujian.

    ####

    Captions for attached pictures

    Caption 1
    Peter Koutoujian with the host committee, Bella Khachatourian, Sharistan
    Ardhaldjian, Rita Bejakian, Elo Artinian, Roset Atinizian, Linda Ostayan,
    and Arev Dervartanian

    Caption 2
    Peter and Elizabeth Koutoujian with Dr. and Mrs. Mher Artinian and their
    children Areen, Harout, and Aleek
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