ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY PLAYS LEADING ROLE IN ENDING GENOCIDE IN DARFUR

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In an effort to end the genocide currently unfolding in Darfur, the Armenian Assembly of America, in collaboration with “Olympic Dream for Darfur,” is organizing a symbolic Olympic-style torch relay at the Tsitsernakapert Genocide Memorial in Armenia tomorrow.

Armenia is the third stop on an international symbolic Olympic Torch Relay that began on August 9 near the Darfur border exactly one year before the summer Olympics (video and photos available at www.dreamfordarfur.org) to call attention to the constructive role that China could play in the Darfur crisis. On August 15, the torch was lit in Kigali, Rwanda, at a site where thousands of Tutsis were killed after UN forces withdrew.

The Armenian Assembly, through its Yerevan Office, has been leading efforts on the ground in preparation for tomorrow’s event, in which the torch will be lit from the eternal flame and passed among survivors of genocide and other Darfur advocates. Special guests in attendance will include survivors of the Armenian Genocide, Rwandan Genocide and Darfur Genocide as well as His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.

“The international community must join together to ensure that the world does not look away, yet again, when mass killing is taking place,” said Archbishop Williams. “We honor victims and survivors of previous genocides and must listen to their plea to make the words ‘never again,’ a reality, both for the people of Darfur and for the future.”

After Armenia, the torch will travel to various countries, including the U.S. where on October 7 a ceremony will take place at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Cambridge, Mass. featuring his His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America (Eastern) and president of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC). Torches from around the state will then converge at the Government Center in Boston for a culminating torch-lighting ceremony.

“The Assembly will continue to raise international awareness of the Armenian Genocide and all modern genocides, including the ongoing crimes in Darfur” said Assembly Board of Trustees Public Affairs Chair Anthony Barsamian. “The Assembly is proud of its role in helping to end the cycle of genocide and we encourage members of the Armenian community, as well as human rights supporters, to attend next month’s symbolic torch lighting ceremony in Massachusetts.”

Dream for Darfur’s Olympic Torch Relay seeks to use the Olympic ideals of peace and international cooperation to raise awareness about Darfur and as a step toward building an international anti-genocide movement for the future. (www.dreamfordarfur.org)

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