PRESS RELEASE

April 25, 2005

90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Commemorated at Embassy of Armenia

To honor the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian Embassy in Washington, DC hosted a commemoration at the Embassy khatchkar memorial on April 22, 2005. Over 200 Armenian Americans and friends of Armenia, representing Armenian- American political and cultural organizations and individual members of the community laid flowers and wreaths at the khatchkar on the Embassy premises.

Ambassador of Armenia to the U.S. Tatoul Markarian noted in his address that the sad and tragic occasion of the Genocide anniversary is also a unifying factor, bringing together all Armenians, be it in Armenia, Artsakh, or Diaspora, who thus honor the one and half a million Armenians who perished in 1915-1923. Ambassador Markarian also mentioned that the decades-long efforts for recognition of the Armenian Genocide are now significantly reinforced by the independent Armenian statehood.

Following address by Ambassador Markarian, a joint prayer was read by the Rev. Fathers Vertanes Kalayjian and Sargis Aktavoukian, pastors of St. Mary’s and Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Churches in Washington, DC, respectively.