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PRESS RELEASE
Date: January 14, 2014
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Telephone: (202) 393-3434
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.aaainc.org
ANNIE TOTAH HONORED BY NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC, CATHOLICOS KEREKIN II AT
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY'S ANNUAL HOLIDAY BRIEFING & RECEPTION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last month, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
honored Armenian Assembly board member Annie Totah with its Medal of
Gratitude at the Assembly's annual holiday briefing and reception at the
Embassy of Armenia, reported the Assembly. Robert Avetisyan, Nagorno
Karabakh Representative to the United States, presented the medal to Totah
on behalf of his government. Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern) also presented Annie Totah with an
encyclical from His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II. Organized by the
Assembly's Capital Regional Council, the annual event has become a
tradition for the Armenian American community of the greater Washington,
D.C. metropolitan area for over a decade and brought together local
community leaders, dignitaries, religious leaders and a broad cross-section
of friends and members of the Armenian Assembly of America.
`I am honored, humbled and moved by the medal bestowed upon me by
President Bako Sahakyan of the Republic of Artsakh,' stated Annie
Totah. `I'm happy that I have been able to bring in my share to help
in the struggle of independence of Artsakh. And I will continue to do
so, and I think it is every Armenian man and woman's responsibility to
help with the challenges being faced by NKR,' Totah said. She shared
her passion for a democratic and prosperous Artsakh stating, `I am a
believer that with optimism, with hard work and perseverance, we will
be able to achieve our goals and realize our dreams of having the
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh recognized internationally.' `Once this
is done, the sky will be the limit of all the good things we will be
able to bring into and for NKR,' Totah said.
In 2013, six U.S. States recognized the independence of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, including Totah's home state of Maryland.
The NKR government awards the "Gratitude" medal to individuals,
organizations and collectives for significant contribution in restoring and
developing economy, science, culture, and social spheres of the NKR as well
as for defending and promoting international recognition of the Republic.
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian gave the opening invocation and read an
encyclical (Gontak in Armenian) from His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II
on the occasion of Totah's commendation. Armenian Assembly intern alumnus
Aram Gavoor, Esq. (class of 2003) served as Master of Ceremonies for the
evening. In addition to the awards ceremony, the program featured remarks
from Armenia's Ambassador to the United States H.E. Tatoul Markarian,
Nagorno Karabakh Representative Robert Avetisyan, Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny, and Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian. Assembly Capital
Regional Council member Naira Babayan provided a wonderful Armenian and
classical music performance on the piano. Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan of St.
Mary Armenian Church of Washington, D.C. also read a letter from Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church
before providing the evening's closing benediction.
The Armenian Assembly's annual holiday briefing and reception in
Washington, D.C. is organized by the Assembly's Capital Regional Council,
namely Clara Andonian (co-chair), Doris George (co-chair), Alice Hanessian,
Seta Gelenian, Nadya Carson, Anahid Ghazarian, Nora Maghrablian, Shirley
Mikaelian, Margie Satian, Naira Babayan, and Anahid Kalayjian.
`We're delighted to see so many new and familiar faces at our annual
capital gathering,' stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. `We
especially appreciate our hosts, our Capital Regional Council team, and the
entire Assembly family as we continue to grow and strengthen the bonds
between our local community and the homeland,' Ardouny said.
Photographs from the Assembly's annual briefing and reception are available
on the Assembly's Facebook page here.
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# 2014-02
Photo Caption 1 (L-R): Yeretsgin Anahid Kalayjian, Archbishop Vicken
Aykazian, Annie Totah, Ambassador Tatoul Markarian, Rev. Fr. Hovsep
Karapetyan, Robert Avetisyan, Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian, Bryan Ardouny
and Aram Gavoor, Esq.
Photo Caption 2: Annie Totah with NKR Representative Robert Avetisyan.
Photo Caption 3: Annie Totah with Archbishop Vicken Aykazian.
Available online: http://bit.ly/1kEPqvc
Date: January 14, 2014
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Telephone: (202) 393-3434
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.aaainc.org
ANNIE TOTAH HONORED BY NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC, CATHOLICOS KEREKIN II AT
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY'S ANNUAL HOLIDAY BRIEFING & RECEPTION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last month, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
honored Armenian Assembly board member Annie Totah with its Medal of
Gratitude at the Assembly's annual holiday briefing and reception at the
Embassy of Armenia, reported the Assembly. Robert Avetisyan, Nagorno
Karabakh Representative to the United States, presented the medal to Totah
on behalf of his government. Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern) also presented Annie Totah with an
encyclical from His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II. Organized by the
Assembly's Capital Regional Council, the annual event has become a
tradition for the Armenian American community of the greater Washington,
D.C. metropolitan area for over a decade and brought together local
community leaders, dignitaries, religious leaders and a broad cross-section
of friends and members of the Armenian Assembly of America.
`I am honored, humbled and moved by the medal bestowed upon me by
President Bako Sahakyan of the Republic of Artsakh,' stated Annie
Totah. `I'm happy that I have been able to bring in my share to help
in the struggle of independence of Artsakh. And I will continue to do
so, and I think it is every Armenian man and woman's responsibility to
help with the challenges being faced by NKR,' Totah said. She shared
her passion for a democratic and prosperous Artsakh stating, `I am a
believer that with optimism, with hard work and perseverance, we will
be able to achieve our goals and realize our dreams of having the
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh recognized internationally.' `Once this
is done, the sky will be the limit of all the good things we will be
able to bring into and for NKR,' Totah said.
In 2013, six U.S. States recognized the independence of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, including Totah's home state of Maryland.
The NKR government awards the "Gratitude" medal to individuals,
organizations and collectives for significant contribution in restoring and
developing economy, science, culture, and social spheres of the NKR as well
as for defending and promoting international recognition of the Republic.
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian gave the opening invocation and read an
encyclical (Gontak in Armenian) from His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II
on the occasion of Totah's commendation. Armenian Assembly intern alumnus
Aram Gavoor, Esq. (class of 2003) served as Master of Ceremonies for the
evening. In addition to the awards ceremony, the program featured remarks
from Armenia's Ambassador to the United States H.E. Tatoul Markarian,
Nagorno Karabakh Representative Robert Avetisyan, Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny, and Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian. Assembly Capital
Regional Council member Naira Babayan provided a wonderful Armenian and
classical music performance on the piano. Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan of St.
Mary Armenian Church of Washington, D.C. also read a letter from Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church
before providing the evening's closing benediction.
The Armenian Assembly's annual holiday briefing and reception in
Washington, D.C. is organized by the Assembly's Capital Regional Council,
namely Clara Andonian (co-chair), Doris George (co-chair), Alice Hanessian,
Seta Gelenian, Nadya Carson, Anahid Ghazarian, Nora Maghrablian, Shirley
Mikaelian, Margie Satian, Naira Babayan, and Anahid Kalayjian.
`We're delighted to see so many new and familiar faces at our annual
capital gathering,' stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. `We
especially appreciate our hosts, our Capital Regional Council team, and the
entire Assembly family as we continue to grow and strengthen the bonds
between our local community and the homeland,' Ardouny said.
Photographs from the Assembly's annual briefing and reception are available
on the Assembly's Facebook page here.
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# 2014-02
Photo Caption 1 (L-R): Yeretsgin Anahid Kalayjian, Archbishop Vicken
Aykazian, Annie Totah, Ambassador Tatoul Markarian, Rev. Fr. Hovsep
Karapetyan, Robert Avetisyan, Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian, Bryan Ardouny
and Aram Gavoor, Esq.
Photo Caption 2: Annie Totah with NKR Representative Robert Avetisyan.
Photo Caption 3: Annie Totah with Archbishop Vicken Aykazian.
Available online: http://bit.ly/1kEPqvc