NEW YORK, NY\u00a0\u2013 The significant theme of \u201cTruth, Recognition and Justice\u201d reverberated throughout Times Square as Armenian Americans commemorated the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, while advocating for the Armenians in Artsakh \u2013 who continue to endure the blockade on the Lachin Corridor implemented by Azerbaijan over four months ago \u2013 in the annual memorial event in Times Square organized by the Knights and Daughters of Vartan on Sunday, April 23, 2023.<\/p>\n
Keynote speakers commemorated the Armenian Genocide, while pledging that the Armenian people will not be victims of ethnic cleansing once again.\u00a0Majority Senate Leader\u00a0Chuck Schumer\u00a0(D-NY) appreciated the \u201cinspiring\u201d and \u201cresilient\u201d crowd that gathered in Times Square to commemorate the Armenian Genocide.<\/p>\n
The first New Yorker to be elected to five terms in the U.S. Senate, Senator Schumer vowed to \u201cwork just as hard this term as every other term to fight for the Armenian people both here in America and in Armenia.\u201d<\/p>\n
He noted that every genocide has something in common, which is that \u201cthe world looked away and turned a blind eye\u201d resulting in a \u201cstain on humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Senator Schumer highlighted the importance of the act of remembrance to ensure that the \u201cvictims did not die in vain.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe owe it to all of humanity to remember because a genocide that is not properly remembered always leads to another,\u201d he said, recalling that for years he sponsored Senate resolutions and called on U.S. presidents to finally name the \u201cMedz Yeghern\u201d for what it was \u2013 genocide. \u201cFinally these tireless efforts resulted in a huge milestone and success when President Biden recognized the Armenian Genocide and it happened because of you and your hard work.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the U.S. did affirm the Armenian Genocide, Senator Schumer emphasized that the hard work must continue as \u201chuman rights abuses are happening to the Armenian people today.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI stand with the Armenian community in condemning Azerbaijan\u2019s blockade of the Lachin Corridor,\u201d said Senator Schumer, adding that Azerbaijan is aligned with Turkey. \u201cI urge Azerbaijan to lift the blockade now, and I urge the U.S. government to do everything it can to lift the blockade, and I will use my power as Senate Majority Leader to encourage a peaceful settlement as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Concluding on an uplifting note, Senator Schumer said that Armenia has \u201coutlasted authoritarian thugs in the past and will continue to do so in the future,\u201d while expressing that the 1.5 million Armenian Americans living in the U.S. are leaders in their communities, proof that \u201cthe Armenian nation has not just endured but prevailed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator\u00a0Bob Menendez\u00a0 (D-NJ), reflected on the \u201cincredible successes\u201d of the Armenian people in the U.S. following the Armenian Genocide and stated he was \u201cproud\u201d of the role he played in U.S. acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide, as he introduced and co-sponsored resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide since his first year in the Senate in 2006.<\/p>\n
\u201cFighting the denial of the Armenian Genocide is not only about the past,\u00a0it\u2019s about the present as Armenians again face the threat of ethnic cleansing,\u201d said Senator Menendez, referring to Azerbaijan\u2019s unprovoked assaults on the Armenians in Artsakh and the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor which has resulted in an acute humanitarian crisis. The U.S., however, continues to send security assistance to Azerbaijan, which Senator Menendez stated was \u201cabsolutely unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should not be in bed with the government of Azerbaijan as they commit such atrocities because it is inexcusable, it is morally repugnant, and it has got to stop,\u201d said Senator Menendez, emphasizing that he opposes any aid given to a country known for war crimes and aggression against a neighbor state, which he said applies to Turkey as well, where President Erodgan had labeled Senator Menendez as \u201cpersona non grata.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow he has elevated me to an \u2018enemy of the state,’\u201d\u00a0said Senator Menendez. \u201cBut if standing up for human rights\u00a0makes me an enemy of Erdogan, if calling\u00a0out Turkey for arming Azerbaijan and enabling the massacre of innocent Armenian civilians\u00a0makes me an enemy of Erdogan, if demanding Turkey recognizes its crimes of the past makes me an enemy of Erdogan, then that is a badge I will wear with honor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Director of the Program on Peace-building and Rights at Columbia University\u2019s Institute for the Study of Human Rights\u00a0David L. Phillips, received the Humanitarian Award from The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Times Square Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee for his dedication and efforts in human rights and justice.<\/p>\n
In his remarks, Phillips said he was grateful to President Biden for acknowledging the Armenian Genocide in his 2021 Remembrance Statement, however, \u201cthere is more we must do to prevent a second Armenian Genocide which is underway in Artsakh.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steps that could be taken to mitigate future violence include \u201cno more waivers of Section 907, which bans any kind of assistance to Azerbaijan\u2019s government and no more arm sales to Turkey that they\u2019ll use to target Armenians.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pattern of Turkic killings and abuse must stop,\u201d said Phillips, who recalled the 2020 war Azerbaijan launched on the Armenian people of Artsakh by using drones and heavy artillery while backed by the Turkish military.<\/p>\n
As a result of the unprovoked violence against the Armenians in Artsakh, Phillips spearheaded a research and documentation project\u00a0Artsakh Atrocities<\/a>, in cooperation with Columbia University and the Artsakh Human Rights Ombudsman Office, which documents Azerbaijan\u2019s \u201csystematic effort to drive Armenians from their homeland through killings, ethnic cleansing and deportations.\u201d<\/p>\n Since December 12, 2022, Azerbaijan has blocked the Lachin Corridor, which has led to severe shortages in medication, healthcare, food, energy, and essential goods for the 120,000 Armenians in Artsakh.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s clear from both [Azerbaijan President] Aliyev\u2019s actions and hate speech that a second armenian genocide is underway in Artsakh,\u201d said Phillips, who has compiled extensive documentation of crimes committed by Azerbaijan\u2019s forces and Turkish-backed Islamic fighters. \u201cWe document gruesome reports of torture and beheadings, we provide evidence of Armenian cultural destruction aimed at eradicating every trace of Armenian communities, and we hope that the Artsakh Atrocities project will preserve evidence to deter future crimes and hold perpetrators accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n Permanent Representative of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic to the U.S.\u00a0Robert Avetisyan\u00a0expressed his gratitude to the U.S. for its swift response during the Armenian Genocide for its diplomatic and humanitarian efforts, as well as for its historic recognition of the Armenian Genocide, \u201cwhich is another testament of unity between our nations when it comes to matters of truth, justice and humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the passing of a century, Rep. Avetisyan underscored that \u201cArmenians are again at gunpoint.\u201d<\/p>\n While the 2020 war ended, the \u201caggression has not stopped and now extends to Armenia proper.\u201d<\/p>\n The blockade of the Lachin Corridor, according to Rep. Avetisyan is a \u201chumanitarian crisis rooted in politics\u201d as the world \u201cwitnesses human cruelty by an oppressive regime towards people whose only crime is their desire to live in freedom, dignity and democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe ongoing blockade of Artsakh has clear genocidal intent and we will continue our struggle with collective efforts to prevent a second Armenian Genocide.\u201d<\/p>\n Rep. Avetisyan noted that Aliyev \u201copenly ignores\u201d calls from the State Department, White House, Congress, and International Court of Justice to re-open the Lachin Corridor. He stressed the need for \u201cconcrete actions\u201d including economic and political sanctions against Aliyev, as well as more humanitarian aid and efforts to ease the suffering of those whose lives worsened under the blockade on a daily basis.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to protect our inalienable rights and liberties,\u201d concluded Rep. Avetisyan. \u201cThe Armenian Genocide started in 1915 but it did not end, [therefore] we have to continue to fight together.\u201d<\/p>\n Mexican politician\u00a0Alejandra del Carmen Le\u00f3n Gast\u00e9lum, who along with Armen\u00a0Yeritsian were the architects of the Senate of Mexico adopting the unanimous passing of Armenian Genocide recognition on February 8, 2023, shared her remarks in Spanish that were translated into English by historian Vartan Matiossian.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is our duty to recognize and commemorate the Armenian Genocide because it is our duty to prevent tragedies like this that are ignored, forgotten and hidden in the sands of time in the complicity of silence,\u201d she said. \u201cTo keep silent means to renounce the truth because silence and denial may lead people to march again through the desert or to be concentrated in a camp.\u201d<\/p>\n Gast\u00e9lum stated the importance of remaining alert before any injustice since history has demonstrated the perils that can occur when people in suffering are abandoned.<\/p>\n She expressed that being a \u201cdefender of human rights\u201d is a \u201clifelong commitment\u201d for her and remarked that Armenians have an \u201cinvaluable historical and cultural wealth, and are hardworking people who extend a friendly hand to whoever needs it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMay this day serve to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide, give dignity to the Armenian people, strengthen links of cooperation between nations in defense of peace, and protect human rights while relieving the suffering for all those affected by violence and war,\u201d concluded Gast\u00e9lum before presenting the resolution of the Mexican Senate recognizing the Armenian Genocide to the Knights and Daughters of Vartan.<\/p>\n Grand Commander of the Knights of Vartan, Hunan Arshakyan, as well as the Grand Matron of the Daughters of Vartan, Gloria Korkoian, shared their remarks on the solemn occasion, reflecting on the noteworthy mission of their respective organizations, particularly during this critical time in Armenian history.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we remember our martyred saints who gave their lives to our country and faith during the Armenian Genocide, we think of our fellow Armenians today in Armenia and Artsakh who are still suffering and fighting for their right to exist and their right to live as Armenians and be free from ethnic cleansing,\u201d said Arshakyan.<\/p>\n He stated that the Knights of Vartan is now in its second century of service to preserve the Armenian homeland, church and culture, and that \u201cArmenians around the world carry the same responsibility to keep our people and heritage alive and to tell our story,\u201d said Arshakyan. \u201cWe must never stop serving our people and fighting for truth and freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n The Daughters of Vartan aided the Armenian people in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide, according to Korkoian, who noted that they helped the \u201cArmenian people rise to reestablish communities, to help build and rebuild churches and schools, and preserve our families and our culture.\u201d<\/p>\n Alongside the Knights of Vartan, Korkoian said that the Daughters of Vartan aim is to \u201cchampion the Armenian cause,\u00a0alleviate the suffering of the Armenian people, ensure the safety of displaced Armenians, and to train leaders to serve the religious, cultural, educational and charitable needs of the Armenian people.\u201d<\/p>\n Statements by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), were read, as well as the Proclamation by Eric Adams from the Mayor\u2019s Office of the City of New York.<\/p>\n Huyser Ensemble, featuring Harout Barsoumian, Karine Barsoumian, Maria Barsoumian, Ara Yegoryan, Diana Vasilyan, Michael Sarian, performed patriotic songs for the audience.<\/p>\n His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Primate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, delivered the Invocation, and The Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School students sang the Armenian and American anthems and God Bless America.<\/p>\n The 108th Armenian Genocide Commemoration in Times Square, New York, was broadcast live by the Armenian Radio Hour of New Jersey\u2019s Parev-TV YouTube Channel, as well as by David Medzorian on the Knights of Vartan YouTube Channel, and Karine Kocharyan\u2019s Voice of Armenians TV.<\/p>\n The Knights and Daughters of Vartan have sponsored the Times Square Armenian Genocide Commemoration since 1985, along with the support of a multitude of Armenian American community organizations. This year the event was co-chaired by Haig Gulian, Ari Minnetyan, and Christopher Artun, under the guidance of Chairman Emeritus Hirant Gulian.<\/p>\n Armen McOmber, Esq., Diran Jebejian, Chantelle Nasri served as MCs and masterfully led the program, while Bryan Ardouny, Executive Director of Armenian Assembly of America served as media spokesperson.<\/p>\n For this year\u2019s Knights & Daughters of Vartan Annual Essay and Visual Arts Contest, high school students were asked to listen to survivor testimonies offered through the USC Shoah Foundation and describe through writing or an art form how an Armenian Genocide survivor\u2019s experience can serve as an inspiration to make meaningful change in today\u2019s society. The winners included 1st Place: Nara Zakarian (essay \u2013 Tampa, Florida); 2nd Place: Emily Maremont (essay \u2013 San Francisco, California); 3rd Place: Aiki Kassabian (visual art \u2013 Los Angeles, California), and runner-up\u00a0Emily Dzhulfayan (visual art \u2013 Los Angeles, California).<\/p>\n This event was made possible by co-sponsoring organizations in the Armenian America community, including the Armenian Assembly of America, represented by Bryan Ardouny, Executive Director; the Armenian General Benevolent Union, represented by Natalie Gabrelian, Director of Districts, Chapters, and Central Board Administration; the Armenian National Committee of America; ADL-Ravgavar Party, represented by Norair Megeurditchian, Chairman of the Eastern District USA; Tekeyan Cultural Association, represented by Hilda Hartounian, Member of the Tekeyan Cultural Association Board of Directors of US and Canada and Chair of the Tekeyan Cultural Association Greater New York Chapter; Armenian Bar Association, represented by Chair and Board of Governors Member Taline Sahakian; the Armenian Missionary Association; and the Armenian Council of America.<\/p>\n Participating organizations included the Armenian Network of America, Armenian Youth Federation, Homenetmen Scouts of NY & NJ, Armenian Relief Society, Armenian Church Youth Organization of America, AGBU Young Professionals, Armenian Students Association, Hamazkayin Cultural Association of NY & NJ, tri-state Armenian college and university clubs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n NEW YORK, NY\u00a0\u2013 The significant theme of \u201cTruth, Recognition and Justice\u201d reverberated throughout Times Square…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3077,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,4],"tags":[],"post_badge":[],"class_list":["post-3076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-press-releases"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Times-Square.jpeg",788,555,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Times-Square-150x150.jpeg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Times-Square-250x176.jpeg",250,176,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Times-Square-768x541.jpeg",640,451,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Times-Square-400x282.jpeg",400,282,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Times-Square.jpeg",788,555,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Times-Square.jpeg",788,555,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Times-Square.jpeg",788,555,false],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Times-Square-788x500.jpeg",788,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Times-Square.jpeg",788,555,false],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Times-Square-540x340.jpeg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Times-Square-400x250.jpeg",400,250,true],"rpwe-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Times-Square-45x45.jpeg",45,45,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"ArmenianCouncil","author_link":"https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/author\/armeniancouncil\/"},"category_info":"News<\/a> Press Releases<\/a>","tag_info":"Press Releases","comment_count":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Times-Square.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3076","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3076"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3076\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3078,"href":"https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3076\/revisions\/3078"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3077"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3076"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3076"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3076"},{"taxonomy":"post_badge","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.armeniancouncil.org\/ACA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_badge?post=3076"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nVery Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, delivered the benediction. Aram Bashian, pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Church of New York City, and Rev. Richard Shackil, Parochial Vicar of Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church of Little Falls, NJ, shared remarks and prayers.<\/p>\n