ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM CASE DECIDED

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 16, 2014

Contact: Taniel Koushakjian

Email: taniel@aaainc.org

Phone: (202) 393-3434

Web:

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM CASE DECIDED

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, the United States Court of Appeals
issued its decision regarding the planned Armenian Genocide Museum in
Washington, DC, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

In its 37-page opinion, the Court of Appeals noted the “tangible
progress” made by the Museum’s Building and Operations Committee after
Gerard Cafesjian resigned in 2006, but rejected arguments for new trial
based on 1) new evidence that Cafesjian’s right-hand man, John Waters,
was promised a significant bonus if Cafesjian got the properties;
and 2) that the District Court Judge ought to have disclosed the
joint donation of a significant Stanislav Libensky glass art piece
to the Metropolitan Museum of Art by the Judge and Cafesjian, and
subsequently recused herself.

Ultimately, the Court of Appeals upheld the District Court’s 2011
ruling, which ordered that all of buildings that were intended for
the Armenian Genocide Museum be transferred to the Cafesjian Family
Foundation.

“As we approach our 100 year anniversary, we hope the Cafesjian
heirs keep the promise Gerry made to the courts, which was to use
this property to build a museum.” stated Armenian Genocide Museum &
Memorial (AGMM) Chairman Hirair Hovnanian.

In a related development, AGMM and the Cafesjian Family Foundation
settled litigation in a New Jersey case wherein approximately $450,000
from the estate of the late Agnes Kazanjian will be released for
the benefit of AGMM. Also, the lawsuit previously brought by Gerard
Cafesjian in DC Superior Court to dissolve AGMM was dismissed last
month in AGMM’s favor.

The Court’s decision is availablehere:

257D16004E43B3/$file/11-7048-1502537.pdf

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.

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NR#: 2014-039

Available online at:

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress