ARMENIAN BAR ASSOCIATION ENTERS 25TH YEAR OF SERVICE
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2013-07-19-armenian-bar-association-enters-25th-year-of-service
Published: Friday July 19, 2013
ABA members at a recent meeting with the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia.
GLENDALE, CALIF. - The theme of the evening was the resiliency
of the Armenian people and the occasion was the 95th anniversary
of the independence of the Republic of Armenia, May 28, 1918. The
date of the event and its significance to all those in attendance
on May 28, 2013, was the sheer will, heroism and determination of
the Armenian nation, having risen like a phoenix from the despair
of Genocide perpetrated against its people by the Ottoman and Young
Turks, replete with deportations and dispossession of its ancestral,
centuries-old homeland of Western Armenia.
The location of the anniversary tribute - the Phoenicia Restaurant
in Glendale, California-was at full capacity and infused with an aura
of accomplishment and appreciation.
The Armenian Bar, just days after its 24th Annual Meeting and
Conference in San Diego, California, ushered in its 25th year with
a consensus of deep meaning and continuing purpose.
In attendance were both archbishops of the Diocese and the Western
Prelacy, Eminences Hovnan Derderian and Moushegh Mardirossian,
respectively, the latter blessing the commencement of the evening's
proceedings and the former making his remarks, touching upon the epic
Battle of Sardarabad.
Chairman Ex Officio Edvin Minassian was the evening's master of
ceremonies. His poignant remarks reflected the commitment and depth
of the Armenian Bar's resolve to be an agent of activism as the
centennial of the Armenian Genocide approaches. Minassian declared,
"As we commemorate, we should never settle for anything less than the
vision of the founders of the First Republic. It is our solemn duty
to build and maintain a flourishing, free and democratic Armenia,
resting firmly on the fundamental principles of social justice."
Chairman Garo Ghazarian spoke briefly about the First Republic and
elucidated its being ahead of its time, having, for example, women in
its Parliament at a time when women did not even have the basic right
to vote in the United States. Ghazarian also paused to reflect on the
First Republic having a woman ambassador to Japan - Ms. Diana Abkar.
He then introduced Armenian Bar member and Co- Chair of the ANCA -
WR, Nora Hovsepian, Esq., to make her remarks.
Ms Hovsepian spoke knowingly and in appreciation of the First Republic
among whose unparalleled progressivism and modernity included being
the first in the history of the world's nations to ever appoint a
woman to represent a sovereign nation as its ambassador. Her speech
was a call to continued and sustained efforts to keep the vision of
the founders of the First Republic alive and in effect today.
Before the evening's keynote address, there were very special
performances made by virtuoso Salpi Kerkonian on flute, Chamlian
Armenian School 6th Graders reciting " We are Armenians," and the
legendary singer Harout Pamboukjian, unplugged and sensational
on guitar.
With recitations of Rudyard Kipling's poem "If," and its Armenian
translation "Yete" by Mousheh Ishkhan, Chairman Ghazarian invited
Raffi K. Hovannisian to deliver his Keynote address.
Hovannisian, the founding father of the Armenian Bar Association,
delivered a moving and captivating address steeped in the virtues of
national unity and the imperatives of returning humanity to those in
government and true respect for the common man, woman and child.. He
called upon the attendees to not settle for being spectators
and critics, but to be engaged and to shed cynicism in favor of
constructive steps to strengthen the homeland and the Diaspora. He
made it known that when it comes to the survival of a nation, less
is not more, and the more involved and engaged we are as Armenians,
the greater the likelihood of being able to overcome together the
challenges which our landlocked homeland faces today.
The event was attended by a diverse cross-section of the
Armenian-American community in Southern California, as well as
non-Armenian dignitaries, including Los Angeles City Attorney-Elect,
Mike Feuer, and long-time Los Angeles County Sheriff and a frequent
participant in Armenian Bar events, Leroy Baca.
In the closing remarks of the evening, Armen K. Hovannisian--past
Chairman and current Vice Chair of the Association--aptly invited
all to join the efforts of the Armenian Bar to move mountains, away
from parochial divisions and towards consensus and solidarity. With
the indomitable spirit of independence of May 28, 1918 as guide
and inspiration, Armenians worldwide will ensure full and complete
engagement for the Centennial Commemoration of April 24, 2015,
and beyond.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2013-07-19-armenian-bar-association-enters-25th-year-of-service
Published: Friday July 19, 2013
ABA members at a recent meeting with the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia.
GLENDALE, CALIF. - The theme of the evening was the resiliency
of the Armenian people and the occasion was the 95th anniversary
of the independence of the Republic of Armenia, May 28, 1918. The
date of the event and its significance to all those in attendance
on May 28, 2013, was the sheer will, heroism and determination of
the Armenian nation, having risen like a phoenix from the despair
of Genocide perpetrated against its people by the Ottoman and Young
Turks, replete with deportations and dispossession of its ancestral,
centuries-old homeland of Western Armenia.
The location of the anniversary tribute - the Phoenicia Restaurant
in Glendale, California-was at full capacity and infused with an aura
of accomplishment and appreciation.
The Armenian Bar, just days after its 24th Annual Meeting and
Conference in San Diego, California, ushered in its 25th year with
a consensus of deep meaning and continuing purpose.
In attendance were both archbishops of the Diocese and the Western
Prelacy, Eminences Hovnan Derderian and Moushegh Mardirossian,
respectively, the latter blessing the commencement of the evening's
proceedings and the former making his remarks, touching upon the epic
Battle of Sardarabad.
Chairman Ex Officio Edvin Minassian was the evening's master of
ceremonies. His poignant remarks reflected the commitment and depth
of the Armenian Bar's resolve to be an agent of activism as the
centennial of the Armenian Genocide approaches. Minassian declared,
"As we commemorate, we should never settle for anything less than the
vision of the founders of the First Republic. It is our solemn duty
to build and maintain a flourishing, free and democratic Armenia,
resting firmly on the fundamental principles of social justice."
Chairman Garo Ghazarian spoke briefly about the First Republic and
elucidated its being ahead of its time, having, for example, women in
its Parliament at a time when women did not even have the basic right
to vote in the United States. Ghazarian also paused to reflect on the
First Republic having a woman ambassador to Japan - Ms. Diana Abkar.
He then introduced Armenian Bar member and Co- Chair of the ANCA -
WR, Nora Hovsepian, Esq., to make her remarks.
Ms Hovsepian spoke knowingly and in appreciation of the First Republic
among whose unparalleled progressivism and modernity included being
the first in the history of the world's nations to ever appoint a
woman to represent a sovereign nation as its ambassador. Her speech
was a call to continued and sustained efforts to keep the vision of
the founders of the First Republic alive and in effect today.
Before the evening's keynote address, there were very special
performances made by virtuoso Salpi Kerkonian on flute, Chamlian
Armenian School 6th Graders reciting " We are Armenians," and the
legendary singer Harout Pamboukjian, unplugged and sensational
on guitar.
With recitations of Rudyard Kipling's poem "If," and its Armenian
translation "Yete" by Mousheh Ishkhan, Chairman Ghazarian invited
Raffi K. Hovannisian to deliver his Keynote address.
Hovannisian, the founding father of the Armenian Bar Association,
delivered a moving and captivating address steeped in the virtues of
national unity and the imperatives of returning humanity to those in
government and true respect for the common man, woman and child.. He
called upon the attendees to not settle for being spectators
and critics, but to be engaged and to shed cynicism in favor of
constructive steps to strengthen the homeland and the Diaspora. He
made it known that when it comes to the survival of a nation, less
is not more, and the more involved and engaged we are as Armenians,
the greater the likelihood of being able to overcome together the
challenges which our landlocked homeland faces today.
The event was attended by a diverse cross-section of the
Armenian-American community in Southern California, as well as
non-Armenian dignitaries, including Los Angeles City Attorney-Elect,
Mike Feuer, and long-time Los Angeles County Sheriff and a frequent
participant in Armenian Bar events, Leroy Baca.
In the closing remarks of the evening, Armen K. Hovannisian--past
Chairman and current Vice Chair of the Association--aptly invited
all to join the efforts of the Armenian Bar to move mountains, away
from parochial divisions and towards consensus and solidarity. With
the indomitable spirit of independence of May 28, 1918 as guide
and inspiration, Armenians worldwide will ensure full and complete
engagement for the Centennial Commemoration of April 24, 2015,
and beyond.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress