APRIL 24 COMMEMORATED BY SOMBER JOINT PROGRAM
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2013/04/30/april-24-commemorated-by-somber-joint-program/
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, COMMUNITY | APRIL 30, 2013 7:43 PM
A mass at St. James Armenian Church preceded the lecture.
By Alin K. Gregorian
Mirror-Spectator Staff
WATERTOWN - The Hovnanian Hall of the Armenian Cultural and Educational
Center (ACEC) was packed with hundreds of people who wanted to hear
Armenia's Ambassador to the United Nations Garen Nazarian on April
24, the day of the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, around
the world.
Before the start of the program at 7 p.m., many had gathered at St.
James Armenian Church on Mount Auburn Street for a requiem service,
before heading to St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church in a
procession to lay a wreath, led by the members of the clergy from
several churches, including St. James, St. Stephen's, Holy Trinity
Armenian Church in Watertown, Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church
in Belmont and First Armenian Church, also in Belmont and Armenian
Memorial Church in Watertown.
The somber procession included members of the Homenetmen Scouts Boston
Chapter carrying flags.
During his talk, Nazarian alternated his comments between English
and Armenian. He opened his remarks by conveying the condolences of
the Armenian government over the events of April 15, adding that the
nation of Armenia wishes a speedy recovery for the surviving victims
of the bomb attacks.
Regarding the Genocide, he said, "Let's make this day and these events
an act of remembrance, but remember to act."
He said he was glad to see so many younger people participate.
Nazarian said that for the government of Armenia, the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide was a part of its foreign policy. As Armenians,
he said, the Genocide plays a large role in "shaping our identity."
He said, "April 1915 is the dividing line: before and after Genocide."
After praising the spirit of the Armenian escapees who miraculously
survived the forced marches and went on to start new lives elsewhere,
Nazarian spoke about the more recent pogroms in Azerbaijan and the
victory on the battlefield in Artsakh.
He praised the host community, noting, "The Armenian-American
community is one of the most ardent catalysts for the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide."
In addition to the Armenian-American community, he praised "Turkish
citizens, intellectuals and journalists" who frequently speak up
about the Armenian Genocide.
Nazarian noted that in the upcoming months, meetings were to take
place to plan the commemoration of the centennial of the Armenian
Genocide. It was the lack of official recognition of the Armenian
Genocide that led to the subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Azerbaijan
and Sudan."
Nazarian noted that the United Nations Human Rights Council recently
adopted a resolution initiated by Armenia, and co-sponsored by almost
60 member states of the international body, which "stresses the
importance of truth, justice, reparation and that perpetrators should
be held criminally responsible on the national or international level."
"Sooner or later," he said, "Turkey will be compelled to accept
the truth."
After Nazarian's speech, the film "April" by Vigen Chaldranyan
was shown.
Before Nazarian's speech, the young performers, Zangakner, sang two
songs in Armenian.
Acting as emcees were the Armenian Youth Federation's Tsoler
Avedissian, who spoke in Armenian, and George Barmakian, who spoke
in English
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2013/04/30/april-24-commemorated-by-somber-joint-program/
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, COMMUNITY | APRIL 30, 2013 7:43 PM
A mass at St. James Armenian Church preceded the lecture.
By Alin K. Gregorian
Mirror-Spectator Staff
WATERTOWN - The Hovnanian Hall of the Armenian Cultural and Educational
Center (ACEC) was packed with hundreds of people who wanted to hear
Armenia's Ambassador to the United Nations Garen Nazarian on April
24, the day of the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, around
the world.
Before the start of the program at 7 p.m., many had gathered at St.
James Armenian Church on Mount Auburn Street for a requiem service,
before heading to St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church in a
procession to lay a wreath, led by the members of the clergy from
several churches, including St. James, St. Stephen's, Holy Trinity
Armenian Church in Watertown, Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church
in Belmont and First Armenian Church, also in Belmont and Armenian
Memorial Church in Watertown.
The somber procession included members of the Homenetmen Scouts Boston
Chapter carrying flags.
During his talk, Nazarian alternated his comments between English
and Armenian. He opened his remarks by conveying the condolences of
the Armenian government over the events of April 15, adding that the
nation of Armenia wishes a speedy recovery for the surviving victims
of the bomb attacks.
Regarding the Genocide, he said, "Let's make this day and these events
an act of remembrance, but remember to act."
He said he was glad to see so many younger people participate.
Nazarian said that for the government of Armenia, the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide was a part of its foreign policy. As Armenians,
he said, the Genocide plays a large role in "shaping our identity."
He said, "April 1915 is the dividing line: before and after Genocide."
After praising the spirit of the Armenian escapees who miraculously
survived the forced marches and went on to start new lives elsewhere,
Nazarian spoke about the more recent pogroms in Azerbaijan and the
victory on the battlefield in Artsakh.
He praised the host community, noting, "The Armenian-American
community is one of the most ardent catalysts for the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide."
In addition to the Armenian-American community, he praised "Turkish
citizens, intellectuals and journalists" who frequently speak up
about the Armenian Genocide.
Nazarian noted that in the upcoming months, meetings were to take
place to plan the commemoration of the centennial of the Armenian
Genocide. It was the lack of official recognition of the Armenian
Genocide that led to the subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Azerbaijan
and Sudan."
Nazarian noted that the United Nations Human Rights Council recently
adopted a resolution initiated by Armenia, and co-sponsored by almost
60 member states of the international body, which "stresses the
importance of truth, justice, reparation and that perpetrators should
be held criminally responsible on the national or international level."
"Sooner or later," he said, "Turkey will be compelled to accept
the truth."
After Nazarian's speech, the film "April" by Vigen Chaldranyan
was shown.
Before Nazarian's speech, the young performers, Zangakner, sang two
songs in Armenian.
Acting as emcees were the Armenian Youth Federation's Tsoler
Avedissian, who spoke in Armenian, and George Barmakian, who spoke
in English
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress