Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2006
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: [email protected]
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY PARTICIPATES IN THIRD ARMENIA-DIASPORA CONFERENCE
Celebrates Armenia’s Independence
Yerevan, Armenia – Led by Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian,
an Armenian Assembly delegation traveled to Armenia this week to
commemorate the 15th anniversary of the nation’s independence and
take part in a major pan-Armenian Conference.
The Armenia-Diaspora Conference, a three-day event designed to explore
new possibilities and prospects, began on September 18 with opening
remarks by Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian, an official blessing
by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians and His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cillicia. Nagorno
Karabakh President Arkady Ghoukassian and representatives of several
religious, philanthropic, cultural and youth organizations also
addressed the opening session.
The Assembly delegation included Chairman Hovnanian, Treasurer Edele
Hovnanian, Board Member Noubar Afeyan, Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny and Country Director Arpi Vartanian.
Executive Director Ardouny, who addressed the Conference on behalf
of the Assembly, commended Armenia for all of its accomplishments
during its 15 years of independence.
"Throughout this decade and a half, marked with global power shifts,
regional fragility and domestic transition, the people of Armenia
and Karabakh demonstrated a stoic sense of commitment to freedom,
and a resounding ability to succeed where it matters most," said
Ardouny. [Text of speech attached]
Edele Hovnanian discussed the Birthright Armenia program which
she founded, while Noubar Afeyan spoke on behalf of Armenia 2020,
a scenario-building initiative that focuses on possible development
models for what Armenia could look like in the year 2020.
The Conference agenda also included a plenary session on a Rural
Poverty Eradication Program which was led by Armenia’s Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan. The session featured an overview presentation,
statements by sponsors and partners and discussion and debate.
A forum entitled "New Answers to Old Questions: Armenians in the 21st
Century" began with opening remarks by the Chairman of the Armenian
National Assembly Tigran Torosyan. The forum included four panel
discussions entitled "The Nation, State and Identity; The Mechanics
of Diaspora-Homeland Relations; and Repatriation and Territory of
Common Identity and A Look at Diaspora 2020." The final panel was
moderated by Assembly Board Member Noubar Afeyan and Edele Hovnanian
was a discussant.
The Conference wrapped up with speeches by Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian, Chairman of the Armenia-Diaspora III Planning Commission,
who discussed the importance of the pan-Armenian event, followed by
President Kocharian who stressed the significance of the Armenian
Diaspora before officially closing the program.
Assembly leaders also joined Conference participants in a wreath-laying
ceremony at the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial.
On September 21, Assembly leaders participated in Armenia’s
Independence Day celebrations in and around Yerevan. Board of
Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian sent a letter to President
Kocharian congratulating him and the people of Armenia on this
historic anniversary.
Chairman Hovnanian praised Armenia for its ability to overcome
the challenges that it has faced, stating "Our young republic has
overcome many challenges in the past fifteen years and as always,
our people persevere with dignity and patience, facing down the many
socio-economic hardships accompanying an economy in transition. Tested
time and time again, they are more determined than ever to build a
stable and prosperous country and a better future for all Armenians."
President George W. Bush also wrote to President Kocharian, conveying
America’s well wishes to the people of Armenia on this milestone
occasion.
"The ties of friendship between our countries are strong and enduring,"
President Bush wrote. "The United States will continue to support
the government and people of Armenia in their efforts to build a
stable and democratic nation, as well as to promote a peaceful,
negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I commend
you on Armenia’s success since independence, and I look forward to
strengthening further the already excellent relationship between our
two countries."
The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issue. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
###
NR#2006-084
Photographs available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following
links:
ss/2006-084/2006-084-1.jpg
Caption: Executive Director Bryan Ardouny (center) joins Diasporans
from around the world at the third Armenia-Diaspora Conference.
06-084/2006-084-2.jpg
Caption: Participants of the third Armenia-Diaspora Conference at
the Demirchian Sports Complex in Yerevan.
Editors Note: Below is the full text of Assembly Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny’s remarks.
ARMENIA-DIASPORA CONFERENCE III
SEPTEMBER 18-20, 2006
YEREVAN
President Kocharian,
President Ghoukassian,
Your Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians,
Your Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
Honorable Guests, Friends and Colleagues:
On behalf of the Armenian Assembly, I congratulate the people of
Armenia, and Armenians worldwide on the fifteenth anniversary of the
independence of Armenia. I also wish to extend special thanks to the
Armenian government for the excellent organization of this conference,
and the outstanding hospitality afforded us.
Armenia deserves tremendous credit for all of its accomplishments
during this short, historic, and at times, difficult period of
independence. Throughout this decade and a half, marked with global
power shifts, regional fragility and domestic transition, the people
of Armenia and Karabakh demonstrated a stoic sense of commitment to
freedom, and a resounding ability to succeed where it matters most. We
are confident that in the future too, the spirit and talent of our
people, including the activism of our youth will continue to guide
our progress, consistent with our shared vision of a free, secure,
prosperous and democratic homeland, at peace with its neighbors,
a recognized leader in the region, and fully integrated within the
global community.
The value of the Diaspora as both an element and dimension of Armenia’s
national security is taking shape. This phenomenon is clearly visible
in the outline of the public version of Armenia’s draft national
security strategy, which considers the Diaspora as both a bridge to
the world, and a catalyst for pan-Armenian integration. We welcome
this process.
Our communities worldwide do indeed bring a global dimension to the
Armenian identity, which, powered by a measure of spiritual integrity,
social energy, mutual commitment, and collective organization,
transcends borders and distances, affording us a capacity of mutual
awareness and reach that many other nations seek, but seldom attain. We
view this conference as an opportunity to discuss and learn from other
participants, on how we can best capitalize on this advantage based
on an integrated assessment of our needs and resources, and having
Armenia’s nation-building as a primary concern.
This conference also has a clearly defined focus: the Diaspora’s
contribution to Armenia’s rural development, through projects
strengthening communities in the country’s border areas. The program
deals with development and investment — a core track for Diasporan
involvement in Armenia, and a major focus of our conference this
week. We welcome the government’s commitment to assure the integrity
of the program, through all relevant phases and aspects of planning,
implementation and oversight.
It is heartening to see so much entrepreneurship and commercial
activity taking place in and around Yerevan. Armenia’s progress in
macroeconomic and other structural reforms, according to the World
Bank, IMF, and others, is impressive. While the country has sustained
economic growth in double digits, statistics also point to a growing
poverty gap in society.
That is why the government’s program for rural rehabilitation is so
important and complements a five-year, $235 million special U.S. grant
to Armenia under the Millennium Challenge Account. This compact
between our two countries, concluded this spring, supports road
and irrigation infrastructure development in Armenia’s regions. The
Armenian Assembly has taken a very active role in endorsing Armenia’s
eligibility for this grant. The Assembly was pleased that the historic
signing of the compact, in which Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice participated, took place
during the Assembly’s Advocacy Conference. The compact is extended
in recognition of Armenia’s progress in democratic reform, among
other areas. Armenia’s continued eligibility for this and many other
programs depends on the success of that reform – the most important
source of its competitive strength in the region, and ultimately,
its path to greater geopolitical leverage.
Armenia’s democratic development, its international standing,
and the effectiveness of our advocacy are interrelated. We have a
unique opportunity to increase the pace and solidify the integrity
of Armenia’s national reforms. Armenia is soon entering an election
season, and shall have more than one occasion to demonstrate to its
people and the international community that Armenians are committed
to democracy and the rule of law.
As a non-partisan advocacy organization, our mission is to ensure a
secure, prosperous and democratic Armenia. Therefore, we are critically
interested in seeing democracy and the rule of law succeed.
Indeed, there are many challenges facing all of us, including continued
attempts to deny the Armenian Genocide, and thus the continued
need to ensure its universal affirmation. As we meet here today,
lawyers are gathering in federal court in Massachusetts to hear a
lawsuit brought by a Turkish association and others challenging the
ability to teach about the Genocide in Massachusetts classrooms. We
met this latest affront to the memory of our ancestors by assembling
a top notch legal team and joining with survivors, teachers and the
Massachusetts Attorney General in taking the fight right to those
who would deny Genocide and revise history.
We will also continue our efforts to ensure robust levels of assistance
to Armenia and Karabakh, maintain parity in U.S. military assistance
to Armenia and Azerbaijan, and support the people of Karabakh’s right
to self-determination. Karabakh has earned its right for statehood,
having demonstrated an exemplary competence both on the battlefield,
and in state-building. As a responsible party to the cease-fire,
it should be entrusted with similar responsibilities in the peace
process as well.
As Armenia progresses in its nation-building, and the U.S.-Armenia
relationship matures, we too realize the need to adjust our approach
and agenda to the evolving parameters of this growing relationship,
ever-mindful of the changing landscape of regional and international
politics. We must meet attempts to isolate or exclude Armenia and
Karabakh head on. We cannot and must not let economic strangulation
become the next killer. We simply cannot stand for it.
That is why we strongly supported congressional legislation to bar
U.S. assistance for a rail bypass of Armenia. Earlier this year, we
successfully fought for, and secured a unanimous vote in the House of
Representatives, which did just that. We will continue our advocacy
efforts in this regard.
In parallel, we will review other critical policy areas, which take
stronger note of Armenia’s needs in energy security, access to regional
infrastructure, increased regional trade and investment, and core
capacities in intellectual property, technology and communications
infrastructure. Support for assistance programs targeting education,
healthcare, social, and cultural needs is also important.
This conference is about building partnerships for Armenia
and the Diaspora, and that includes partnerships across our
communities. Armenia’s challenges are multi-dimensional; therefore our
responses must be as well. Guided by the principle of inclusiveness,
non-partisanship and respect for the choices made by the people of
Armenia and Karabakh, we can make change happen and take great pride
in our future.
As Armenia and Karabakh celebrate their 15th year of independence and
the Armenian Assembly readies for its 35th anniversary, we pledge
to continue our efforts to ensure a stronger, more prosperous and
democratic homeland and an even more effective Armenian Assembly with
the resources to meet tomorrow’s challenges.
We look forward to combining our efforts with all who share this
vision.
Thank you.
–Boundary_(ID_0kGp2AOppTgYw5iDDBq32g)–