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Community event debuts Gomidas Institute Book

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  • Community event debuts Gomidas Institute Book

    PRESS RELEASE
    Gomidas Institute (UK)
    Garod House
    42 Bythe Road
    London W14 0HA
    UK
    Email: [email protected]

    DATE: 21 September 2004


    New Publication United States Records on the Armenian Genocide 1915-1917
    Makes Debut in Los Angeles

    Brentwood, CA - The Gomidas Institute marked the Western United States
    debut of its most recent publication, United States Official Records on
    the Armenian Genocide 1915-1917 at a community sponsored event in Los
    Angeles, California. The new book was presented on 29 August 2004 at the
    home of community activists Zaven and Sonia Akian, whose generous
    support made the publication possible. The event took place in the
    presence of graduate students, journalists, politicians and supporters
    of Armenian lobbying organizations -- the Armenian National Committee of
    America - Western Region (ANCA-WR) and the Armenian Assembly of America
    (AAA).

    According to Ara Sarafian, the editor of the volume, the intellectual
    value of this work lies in the fact that it is composed of eyewitness
    accounts of the Armenian Genocide, as well as discussions of these
    materials by US Ambassadors in Constantinople, Henry Morgenthau and
    Abram Elkus, during the events in question. These accounts informed
    American officials about the Armenian Genocide and ultimately led to the
    Department of State supporting a clandestine relief operation in the
    Ottoman Empire to save victims wherever possible. These efforts led to
    the creation of the Near East Foundation by an Act of Congress in 1919.
    The book clearly demonstrates that the American government was keenly
    aware of the Armenian Genocide while the killings were taking place and
    constitutes an invaluable resource for historians today.

    Several speakers at the Los Angeles release stressed the political
    significance of this work. Erin Prangley, District Director for
    Congressman Brad Sherman stated that the new book was of immense value
    to United States legislators working for the reaffirmation of the
    Armenian Genocide by the United States government. "This [760 page] book
    lays the essential facts we need about the Armenian Genocide at our
    fingertips. It will make our job supporting the Armenian case much more
    effective" she said.

    Prangley also presented the Zakian family with a letter from Congressman
    Sherman personally commending their contribution to the efforts to seek
    official U.S. reaffirmation of the historical reality of the Armenian
    Genocide. ANCA-WR Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian welcomed the
    new work and pointed to the growing momentum in the United States for
    the official reaffirmation of the Genocide in Washington DC. The new
    book by Gomidas Institute clearly adds to that momentum. Kassakhian also
    disclosed that the ANC is already using United States Official Records
    on the Armenian Genocide for effective lobbying purposes. Maria
    Armoudian, legislative consultant to Senator Richard Alarcon thanked Ara
    Sarafian and Vincent Lima of the Gomidas Institute for their continued
    good work in Armenian Studies today. Other distinguished guests included
    Lonnie Sanders (Congresswoman Dianne Watson's Field Representative),
    Haig Khartounian (Rep. Adam Schiff's District Representative), Kirk
    Cartozian (Mayor of the City of Downey), Paul Krekorian (Vice President
    of the Burbank School Board), and Raffi Hamparian (ANCA-WR Chairman).

    Zaven Akian, Ara Sarafian and Vincent Lima were also awarded
    certificates of special recognition of their "outstanding and invaluable
    service" from the offices of Congressman Adam Schiff and Senator Richard
    Alarcon.


    BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: United States Official Records on the
    Armenian Genocide 1915-1917 comp., ed. and intro. by Ara Sarafian, with
    a preface by U. S. Congressmen Pallone and Knollenberg (Gomidas
    Institute: Princeton and London, 2004) xxxvi + 706 pp.

    The Gomidas Institute is an independent academic institution
    specializing in modern Armenian Studies. The Institute has offices in
    Princeton (USA) and London (UK). For more information about the Gomidas
    Institute please contact [email protected]

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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