Times Square Set as World Stage for 95th Anniversary Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide

NEW YORK, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sunday, April 25, 2010, for the 25th year, thousands of Armenian Americans and people against genocide will gather in Times Square from 2-4 PM to commemorate the first genocide of the 20th Century, the Armenian Genocide (Medz Yeghern). The new theme is "Turkey is the Question, America is the Answer."

This historic event will pay tribute to the 1.5 million Armenians who were annihilated by the Young Turk Government of the Ottoman Empire (1915-1923) and address the consequences which are still with us today. Government leaders and the news media have recently been preoccupied with Turkish-Armenians relations and the closed borders in the Caucasus.

Major political figures will speak as well as civic, humanitarian, and educational leaders.

International relations and genocide expert Dr. Dennis R. Papazian and Armenian Genocide expert Sam Azadian are available for media interviews via phone, e-mail, and in-person.

Armenian Genocide survivors (ages 96+) are also available to discuss their eyewitness accounts as refugees from the Armenian Genocide. Their painful stories are critical contributions to world history.

ISSUES TO EXPLORE WITH EXPERTS

DR. DENNIS R. PAPAZIAN:

-- What are the current consequences of the Armenian Genocide?

-- How does the Armenian Genocide affect current Armenian-Turkish-American relations?

-- How close is Turkey to opening its borders with present-day Armenia?

-- What role does the conflict in the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh play in Turkish-Armenian-American-Russian relations?

-- Will President Obama use the G-word in the annual message on the occasion of the remembrance of the Armenian Genocide?

-- Did the Armenian Genocide inspire the Holocaust?

SAM AZADIAN:

-- Why do the Armenians and supporters commemorate the Armenian Genocide?

-- What is the historical evidence to support the Armenian Genocide?

-- 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 in the 20th and 21st centuries because of the denial of the Armenian Genocide by the Turkish Ottoman Empire and other nations?

The Experts:

Dr. Dennis R. Papazian is Professor Emeritus and the founding Director of the Armenian Research Center at the University of Michigan as well as the founding Executive Director of the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, D.C., a public interest organization. He continues to be active in Washington, D.C. He was a Scholar-Diplomat with the U.S. State Department, met in the White House, along with other Armenian-American leaders, with members of the National Security Council, and participated in meetings at the State Department with various officials from Azerbaijan.  Dr. Papazian also met with President Clinton twice at the White House. He continues to attend conferences and panels held by the major think tanks in Washington, including a recent presentation by the Foreign Minister of Turkey. He is listed in Who's Who in America.

Mr. Sam Azadian, who founded the Armenian Genocide Commemoration 25 years ago, is a N.J. resident who held several positions over a 23-year span in New York City Government. Serving four Mayors, his positions included Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Highways and Assistant Vice President of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation. He lost four of his own older siblings in the Genocide during the death marches to the deserts of Der Zor (the killing fields). Highly knowledgeable about the history of Armenia and its people, he also understands the political issues that prevail today, and the reasons why annual commemorations like this serve an important purpose for the entire world.

Organizers:

Knights & Daughters of Vartan, a national fraternal organization, and co-sponsored by the Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian National Committee of America, Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, and the Armenian Council of America.

Logo: http://www.ereleases.com/pr/2010-Knights-Daughters-Vartan-Logo.png

Participating Organizations: Diocese of the Armenian Church, Prelacy of the Armenian Church, Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Missionary Association, Armenian Evangelical Union, Armenian Catholic Eparchy, and several national Armenian youth organizations.

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SOURCE Knights & Daughters of Vartan