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SECRETARY CLINTON JOINS ARMENIA'S INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO HONOR RIGHTS ADVOCATES
hetq
17:25, June 4, 2012
U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, joined the U.S. Embassy,
Counterpart International, the British Embassy, the OSCE, and the
EU to honor individuals working to promote human rights, accountable
governance, and free speech in Armenia at the Universal Rights Awards
Ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan. Secretary Clinton delivered
remarks at the event and met privately with the award recipients. The
Universal Rights Awards Ceremony was the first multi-mission initiative
to highlight the contributions of Armenia's civil rights activists,
government officials, and media representatives to the promotion
of human rights. Armenian government officials, foreign diplomats,
NGO representatives, and the press attended the event.
USAID/Armenia Mission Director, Jatinder Cheema, opened the ceremony
and awarded Artur Sakunts with the Freedom Defender Award. "Artur
defends all minorities, especially those that are the target of
intolerance, such as ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities. He is
not afraid to take unpopular stances, working constantly for a more
tolerant Armenia," said Director Cheema.
Counterpart International's Chief of Party, Alex Sardar, presented
the Woman of Courage Award to Tsovinar Nazaryan for her military
reform efforts. "Tsovinar should be proud of her role in encouraging
the military to embrace reform, which will lead to a more modern,
effective, and humane force for Armenia," Mr. Sardar said.
The British Ambassador to Armenia, Jonathan Aves, recognized the Deputy
Chief of Police, Major-General Artur Osikyan, for his contributions
to police reform, especially regarding improvements to the police
educational system. "Artur Osikyan has helped lay the foundation for
transparent and accountable police force that works for the citizens
of Armenia," Ambassador Aves said.
Presenting the award for media excellence to the editors of Epress.am
-- Sonya Apresova, Yuri Manvelyan, and Armen Melikbekyan -- the Head
of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Andrey Sorokin, commended
them for their fair and balanced coverage and commitment to human
rights reporting. Ambassador Sorokin stated, "Epress's coverage of
human rights plays an important role in informing the public and
contributing to public debate. This type of reporting is an important
element in Armenia's democratic transformation."
The EU Head of Delegation to Armenia, Traian Hristea, awarded
environmental activists -- Apres Zohrabyan, Yeghia Nersesyan,
Gor Hakobyan, Mary Khachatryan, and Ruzanna Grigoryan -- for their
grassroots campaign to promote environmental conservation in Armenia.
"It is the commitment and perseverance of many civic activists that
led to important victories for the environment this year. With this
award, we would like not only to honor their work, but also to promote
their future efforts in Armenia," said Ambassador Hristea.
hetq
17:25, June 4, 2012
U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, joined the U.S. Embassy,
Counterpart International, the British Embassy, the OSCE, and the
EU to honor individuals working to promote human rights, accountable
governance, and free speech in Armenia at the Universal Rights Awards
Ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan. Secretary Clinton delivered
remarks at the event and met privately with the award recipients. The
Universal Rights Awards Ceremony was the first multi-mission initiative
to highlight the contributions of Armenia's civil rights activists,
government officials, and media representatives to the promotion
of human rights. Armenian government officials, foreign diplomats,
NGO representatives, and the press attended the event.
USAID/Armenia Mission Director, Jatinder Cheema, opened the ceremony
and awarded Artur Sakunts with the Freedom Defender Award. "Artur
defends all minorities, especially those that are the target of
intolerance, such as ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities. He is
not afraid to take unpopular stances, working constantly for a more
tolerant Armenia," said Director Cheema.
Counterpart International's Chief of Party, Alex Sardar, presented
the Woman of Courage Award to Tsovinar Nazaryan for her military
reform efforts. "Tsovinar should be proud of her role in encouraging
the military to embrace reform, which will lead to a more modern,
effective, and humane force for Armenia," Mr. Sardar said.
The British Ambassador to Armenia, Jonathan Aves, recognized the Deputy
Chief of Police, Major-General Artur Osikyan, for his contributions
to police reform, especially regarding improvements to the police
educational system. "Artur Osikyan has helped lay the foundation for
transparent and accountable police force that works for the citizens
of Armenia," Ambassador Aves said.
Presenting the award for media excellence to the editors of Epress.am
-- Sonya Apresova, Yuri Manvelyan, and Armen Melikbekyan -- the Head
of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Andrey Sorokin, commended
them for their fair and balanced coverage and commitment to human
rights reporting. Ambassador Sorokin stated, "Epress's coverage of
human rights plays an important role in informing the public and
contributing to public debate. This type of reporting is an important
element in Armenia's democratic transformation."
The EU Head of Delegation to Armenia, Traian Hristea, awarded
environmental activists -- Apres Zohrabyan, Yeghia Nersesyan,
Gor Hakobyan, Mary Khachatryan, and Ruzanna Grigoryan -- for their
grassroots campaign to promote environmental conservation in Armenia.
"It is the commitment and perseverance of many civic activists that
led to important victories for the environment this year. With this
award, we would like not only to honor their work, but also to promote
their future efforts in Armenia," said Ambassador Hristea.