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ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
PRESS RELEASE
Date: November 7, 2013
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Telephone: (202) 393-3434
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.aaainc.org
OVER 30 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS URGE WHITE HOUSE TO RELEASE ARMENIAN ORPHAN
RUG FOR DISPLAY
Armenian Assembly of America Reiterates Decades-Long Call on
White House Withholding
WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, over 30 Members of Congress signed a
letter to President Barack Obama urging him to release the Armenian Orphan
Rug for public display, reported the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly). The letter initiative was spearheaded by Armenian Genocide
resolution sponsors Reps. David Valadao (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) and
enjoys broad bipartisan support.
The letter to President Obama states, `This historic rug was hand-woven by
orphans of the Armenian Genocide. It was made in an American-sponsored
orphanage run by a U.S. charity created by an act of Congress. The carpet,
which has over 4 million hand-tied knots, was presented in 1925 to
President Calvin Coolidge as a symbol of gratitude for American aid and
generosity. President Coolidge noted that, `The rug has a place of honor
in the White House where it will be a daily symbol of goodwill on earth.''
In recent weeks, news reports surfaced alleging that the White House
succumbed to pressure from the Turkish government and purposely blocked a
planned December exhibition of the carpet at the Smithsonian Institution.
The White House issued a statement saying that, `The Ghazir rug is a
reminder of the close relationship between the peoples of Armenia and the
United States. We regret that it is not possible to loan it out at this
time.'
The White House did not offer an explanation as to what, or who, was
preventing the release of the rug.
Meanwhile, the Assembly has been in close contact with key Administration
officials urging that the rug be prominently displayed, not only at the
Smithsonian, but also at the White House and made available for display in
the U.S. Capitol.
`I am deeply moved by this action,' Dr. H. Martin Deranian, author of the
book `Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug,' told the Assembly.
`This issue has come to light after many years of hard work. We are
speaking on behalf of the weavers and what they would want us to do. I am
hopeful that this momentum will continue and that the rug will soon be
available for public viewing,' Deranian said.
In 1925, Dr. John H. Finley, editor-in-chief of the New York Times and
vice-chairman of the congressionally chartered Near East Relief
organization presented a rug made by orphans of the Armenian Genocide to
then President Calvin Coolidge. The rug was made in appreciation of
America's generosity in aiding the survivors of the first genocide of the 20
th Century. It was previously displayed at the White House in 1984 and
1995, but not since, an issue which the Assembly has raised with successive
Administrations.
For over a decade, the Assembly has called on the White House and the State
Department to facilitate the release of the Armenian Orphan Rug for public
display. `The Armenian Assembly, once again, calls on the White House to
release the Ghazir rug,' stated Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. `It is a
piece of American history and it belongs to the American people,' stated
Ardouny.
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 non-partisan, 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt membership organization.
###
NR# 2013-023
Photo Caption 1: Representatives David Valadao (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA)
Photo Caption 2: Book Cover: President Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian
Orphan Rug by Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian
Editor's Note: Below is the text of the Valadao-Schiff letter to President
Barack Obama:
November 8th, 2013
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
We would like to inquire about reports that the White House has blocked the
exhibition of the `Armenian Orphan Rug,' a pivotal icon related to the
Armenian Genocide. The item was requested for display at an event scheduled
to open on December 16.
This historic rug was hand-woven by orphans of the Armenian Genocide. It
was made in an American-sponsored orphanage run by a U.S. charity created
by an act of Congress. The carpet, which has over 4 million hand-tied
knots, was presented in 1925 to President Calvin Coolidge as a symbol of
gratitude for American aid and generosity. President Coolidge noted that,
`The rug has a place of honor in the White House where it will be a daily
symbol of goodwill on earth.' Publicized in the New York Times and many
other outlets, the rug's presentation to President Coolidge resulted in
millions of dollars being raised for humanitarian assistance.
The Armenian Orphan Rug is a shared piece of American and Armenian history
that belongs to the American people. For over a decade, Armenian-American
organizations have repeatedly asked the White House and the State
Department to allow the rug to be displayed publicly. Unfortunately, these
requests have not been granted.
We urge you to release this American treasure for exhibition, and we look
forward to working with you toward this end.
Available online at: http://bit.ly/1d0B3JZ
PRESS RELEASE
Date: November 7, 2013
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Telephone: (202) 393-3434
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.aaainc.org
OVER 30 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS URGE WHITE HOUSE TO RELEASE ARMENIAN ORPHAN
RUG FOR DISPLAY
Armenian Assembly of America Reiterates Decades-Long Call on
White House Withholding
WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, over 30 Members of Congress signed a
letter to President Barack Obama urging him to release the Armenian Orphan
Rug for public display, reported the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly). The letter initiative was spearheaded by Armenian Genocide
resolution sponsors Reps. David Valadao (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) and
enjoys broad bipartisan support.
The letter to President Obama states, `This historic rug was hand-woven by
orphans of the Armenian Genocide. It was made in an American-sponsored
orphanage run by a U.S. charity created by an act of Congress. The carpet,
which has over 4 million hand-tied knots, was presented in 1925 to
President Calvin Coolidge as a symbol of gratitude for American aid and
generosity. President Coolidge noted that, `The rug has a place of honor
in the White House where it will be a daily symbol of goodwill on earth.''
In recent weeks, news reports surfaced alleging that the White House
succumbed to pressure from the Turkish government and purposely blocked a
planned December exhibition of the carpet at the Smithsonian Institution.
The White House issued a statement saying that, `The Ghazir rug is a
reminder of the close relationship between the peoples of Armenia and the
United States. We regret that it is not possible to loan it out at this
time.'
The White House did not offer an explanation as to what, or who, was
preventing the release of the rug.
Meanwhile, the Assembly has been in close contact with key Administration
officials urging that the rug be prominently displayed, not only at the
Smithsonian, but also at the White House and made available for display in
the U.S. Capitol.
`I am deeply moved by this action,' Dr. H. Martin Deranian, author of the
book `Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug,' told the Assembly.
`This issue has come to light after many years of hard work. We are
speaking on behalf of the weavers and what they would want us to do. I am
hopeful that this momentum will continue and that the rug will soon be
available for public viewing,' Deranian said.
In 1925, Dr. John H. Finley, editor-in-chief of the New York Times and
vice-chairman of the congressionally chartered Near East Relief
organization presented a rug made by orphans of the Armenian Genocide to
then President Calvin Coolidge. The rug was made in appreciation of
America's generosity in aiding the survivors of the first genocide of the 20
th Century. It was previously displayed at the White House in 1984 and
1995, but not since, an issue which the Assembly has raised with successive
Administrations.
For over a decade, the Assembly has called on the White House and the State
Department to facilitate the release of the Armenian Orphan Rug for public
display. `The Armenian Assembly, once again, calls on the White House to
release the Ghazir rug,' stated Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. `It is a
piece of American history and it belongs to the American people,' stated
Ardouny.
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 non-partisan, 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt membership organization.
###
NR# 2013-023
Photo Caption 1: Representatives David Valadao (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA)
Photo Caption 2: Book Cover: President Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian
Orphan Rug by Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian
Editor's Note: Below is the text of the Valadao-Schiff letter to President
Barack Obama:
November 8th, 2013
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
We would like to inquire about reports that the White House has blocked the
exhibition of the `Armenian Orphan Rug,' a pivotal icon related to the
Armenian Genocide. The item was requested for display at an event scheduled
to open on December 16.
This historic rug was hand-woven by orphans of the Armenian Genocide. It
was made in an American-sponsored orphanage run by a U.S. charity created
by an act of Congress. The carpet, which has over 4 million hand-tied
knots, was presented in 1925 to President Calvin Coolidge as a symbol of
gratitude for American aid and generosity. President Coolidge noted that,
`The rug has a place of honor in the White House where it will be a daily
symbol of goodwill on earth.' Publicized in the New York Times and many
other outlets, the rug's presentation to President Coolidge resulted in
millions of dollars being raised for humanitarian assistance.
The Armenian Orphan Rug is a shared piece of American and Armenian history
that belongs to the American people. For over a decade, Armenian-American
organizations have repeatedly asked the White House and the State
Department to allow the rug to be displayed publicly. Unfortunately, these
requests have not been granted.
We urge you to release this American treasure for exhibition, and we look
forward to working with you toward this end.
Available online at: http://bit.ly/1d0B3JZ