NEW YORK, Feb. 19, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- For the 23rd year, thousands of Armenian Americans and their supporters will gather in Times Square (Broadway between 43rd and 44th Streets) to commemorate the first genocide of the 20th Century -- the Armenian Genocide. To be held on Sunday, April 27, 2008 from 2-4 PM, this historic event will pay tribute to the 1.5 million Armenians who were annihilated by the Young Turk Government of the Ottoman Empire. The Commemoration will celebrate the survival of the Armenian people, their rich heritage and contributions to world history.
Speakers will include Armenian and non-Armenian political and civic leaders and students. This event is free and open to the public. Media contact: Linda Millman Guller (203) 454-9800, mgmarcom@aol.com. Organizations interested in participating can contact Hirant Gulian (212) 764-8730 or Sam Azadian (973) 827-2487.
Armenian Genocide Experts Sam Azadian and Dr. Dennis R. Papazian are available for interviews and Armenian Genocide Survivors are available to discuss their eyewitness accounts.
ISSUES TO EXPLORE WITH EXPERTS SAM AZADIAN AND DR. DENNIS R. PAPAZIAN:
-- Do you think that the Armenian Genocide Resolution has any chance
of being passed during the Bush administration and why?
-- Why is the Turkish government denying the Armenian Genocide and
what would be the outcomes if the Turkish government acknowledged
the Genocide?
-- What major world historical events have taken place during the
20th and 21st centuries because of the denial of the Armenian
Genocide by the Turkish Ottoman Empire and other nations?
The Experts
Sam Azadian, who founded the Armenian Genocide Commemoration 23 years ago, is a N.J. resident. Serving four Mayors, he held several positions over a 23-year span in New York City Government. He lost four of his own older siblings in the Genocide during the death marches to the deserts of Der Zor.
Dr. Dennis R. Papazian, is the founding Director of the Armenian Research Center at the University of Michigan--Dearborn, where from 1971-2006, he held the position of Professor of History. He also served as Executive Director of the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, D.C. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of the Society for Armenian Studies. Listed in Who's Who in America, he resides in N.J.
The 93rd Commemoration is organized by the Mid-Atlantic chapters of Knights and Daughters of Vartan www.knightsofvartan.org, and co-sponsored by Armenian General Benevolent Union www.agbu.org, Armenian Assembly of America www.aaainc.org, Armenian National Committee of America www.anca.org, Armenian-American Political Action Committee www.armenpac.org, Armenian Democratic Liberal Party and Social Democratic Hunchagian Party.
Participating Organizations:
Diocese of the Armenian Church, Prelacy of the Armenian Church, Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Presbyterian Church, Armenian Evangelical Church, Armenian Catholic Eparchy for U.S. and Canada, and Armenian Youth Organizations.
The Knights of Vartan logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3420