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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
December 15, 2011
Contact: Press Department
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA PARTICIPATES IN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM EVENT ON
CAPITOL HILL
Washington, DC - Last month, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly),
the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, and the Knights of
Vartan Ani Lodge, joined Members of the Armenian Caucus and Hellenic Caucus
on Capitol Hill for the first annual St. Andrew's Human Rights and
Religious Freedom reception. Organized by Hellenic and Armenian Caucus
member Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD), the reception was hosted by
Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) of the Helsinki
Commission, Representatives Frank Wolf (R-VA) and James P. McGovern (D-MA)
of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Representatives Trent Franks
(R-AZ) and Heath Shuler (D-NC) of the International Religious Freedom
Caucus, and Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
of the Hellenic Caucus.
The State Department's Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom, Suzan
Johnson Cook, Senator Ben Cardin, Co-Chair of the Helsinki Commission,
Senator Robert Menendez, and sixteen Representatives, many who sit on both
the Armenian Caucus and Hellenic Caucus, were on hand illustrating the
growing support among Members of Congress in protecting religious freedom
at home and abroad. In fact, just this week, the House of Representatives
unanimously adopted H. Res. 306. Introduced by Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Ed
Royce (R-CA), H. Res. 306 urges the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its
Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties. Rep.
Sarbanes joined his Armenian Caucus colleagues in speaking in support of H.
Res. 306 on the House floor.
"The Armenian Assembly and the greater Armenian-American community know
first-hand the effect religious discrimination and persecution have on
people," stated Assembly Grassroots Director Taniel Koushakjian. "For far
too long the Turkish government has pursued a policy that provokes,
discriminates and fails to protect religious minorities against extremists
and ultranationalists, as evidenced by the 2006 murder of Father Santoro,
the 2007 murder of Hrant Dink, the 2010 murder of Roman Catholic Bishop
Padovese and the decades-long attempt to expunge the Ecumenical
Patriarchate from Turkey," stated Koushakjian.
Opening remarks on the history of the Ecumenical Patriarchate were offered
by Peter Marudas. Ambassador Johnson Cook also spoke to the Obama
Administration's support for the Greek Ecumenical Patriarchate. These
remarks were followed by a presentation of "The Apostle of Love, Hope and
Reconciliation," a short documentary film about the mission of Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew.
The event was widely attended by the Pan-Orthodox community and others who
support the Ecumenical Patriarchate in its struggle for human rights and
religious freedom. The many Members of Congress who came to offer their
best wishes were given a brochure detailing the plight of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate and a replica coin of the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew by the U.S. Congress.
"I was pleased to see so many Members of Congress attend and delighted to
join the Armenian-American community in support of our Christian and
Hellenic brothers," stated Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetian from St. Mary
Armenian Church in Washington, DC who was present at the event. "Patriarch
Bartholomew is a very well respected voice in the Orthodox Church and his
work is important to addressing our mutual concerns, especially in the
context of human rights and religious freedom," stated Fr. Karapetian.
St. Andrew is the patron saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and on
November 30th he is venerated in both the Western and Eastern Churches.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
###
2011-059
Photo Caption 1 (L-R): Members of Congress Honored
Photo Caption 2 (L-R): Taniel Koushakjian, Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD) and
former Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD)
For Immediate Release
December 15, 2011
Contact: Press Department
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA PARTICIPATES IN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM EVENT ON
CAPITOL HILL
Washington, DC - Last month, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly),
the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, and the Knights of
Vartan Ani Lodge, joined Members of the Armenian Caucus and Hellenic Caucus
on Capitol Hill for the first annual St. Andrew's Human Rights and
Religious Freedom reception. Organized by Hellenic and Armenian Caucus
member Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD), the reception was hosted by
Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) of the Helsinki
Commission, Representatives Frank Wolf (R-VA) and James P. McGovern (D-MA)
of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Representatives Trent Franks
(R-AZ) and Heath Shuler (D-NC) of the International Religious Freedom
Caucus, and Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
of the Hellenic Caucus.
The State Department's Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom, Suzan
Johnson Cook, Senator Ben Cardin, Co-Chair of the Helsinki Commission,
Senator Robert Menendez, and sixteen Representatives, many who sit on both
the Armenian Caucus and Hellenic Caucus, were on hand illustrating the
growing support among Members of Congress in protecting religious freedom
at home and abroad. In fact, just this week, the House of Representatives
unanimously adopted H. Res. 306. Introduced by Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Ed
Royce (R-CA), H. Res. 306 urges the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its
Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties. Rep.
Sarbanes joined his Armenian Caucus colleagues in speaking in support of H.
Res. 306 on the House floor.
"The Armenian Assembly and the greater Armenian-American community know
first-hand the effect religious discrimination and persecution have on
people," stated Assembly Grassroots Director Taniel Koushakjian. "For far
too long the Turkish government has pursued a policy that provokes,
discriminates and fails to protect religious minorities against extremists
and ultranationalists, as evidenced by the 2006 murder of Father Santoro,
the 2007 murder of Hrant Dink, the 2010 murder of Roman Catholic Bishop
Padovese and the decades-long attempt to expunge the Ecumenical
Patriarchate from Turkey," stated Koushakjian.
Opening remarks on the history of the Ecumenical Patriarchate were offered
by Peter Marudas. Ambassador Johnson Cook also spoke to the Obama
Administration's support for the Greek Ecumenical Patriarchate. These
remarks were followed by a presentation of "The Apostle of Love, Hope and
Reconciliation," a short documentary film about the mission of Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew.
The event was widely attended by the Pan-Orthodox community and others who
support the Ecumenical Patriarchate in its struggle for human rights and
religious freedom. The many Members of Congress who came to offer their
best wishes were given a brochure detailing the plight of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate and a replica coin of the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew by the U.S. Congress.
"I was pleased to see so many Members of Congress attend and delighted to
join the Armenian-American community in support of our Christian and
Hellenic brothers," stated Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetian from St. Mary
Armenian Church in Washington, DC who was present at the event. "Patriarch
Bartholomew is a very well respected voice in the Orthodox Church and his
work is important to addressing our mutual concerns, especially in the
context of human rights and religious freedom," stated Fr. Karapetian.
St. Andrew is the patron saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and on
November 30th he is venerated in both the Western and Eastern Churches.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
###
2011-059
Photo Caption 1 (L-R): Members of Congress Honored
Photo Caption 2 (L-R): Taniel Koushakjian, Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD) and
former Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD)