#Syria

NEWS

Feb 27, 2015
1 min

Armenian Assembly Condemns Kidnapping, Murder of Assyrian Christians

The Assembly, and the Armenian American community stand with the Assyrian people across the globe, and condemns the horrific murder and kidnapping of Assyrian Christians and other minorities by ISIS. The horrors taking place today in Syria and the Middle East remind us of the events that occurred in that same land 100 years ago, the Armenian Genocide. Learn more at www.armenian-assembly.org. #Genocide #Syria #ISIS #ArmenianGenocide #Christian #Assyrian #MiddleEast

Dec 2, 2014
6 min

The Assembly Agenda: This week in Washington, D.C. – December 2, 2014

By Taniel Koushakjian (@Taniel_Shant) AAANews Blog HOUSE: The House returned to Washington on Monday to kick off the last ten legislative days left on the calendar. This gives legislators little time to approve “must-pass” legislation, such as passing a Continuing Resolution, or CR, to avoid a government shutdown before funding is set to expire on Friday, December 12. The CR for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 would fund the government at FY 2013 levels, given the fact that during FY20

Nov 25, 2014
3 min

Armenian Assembly of America, ANCA Discuss Armenian American Issues at Columbia University

(Stepan Atamian, Taniel Koushakjian, Haik Ter-Nersesyan, Armen Sahakyan, Aram Balian) By Taniel Koushakjian (@Taniel_Shant) AAANews Blog Last week, the Armenian Society of Columbia University in New York City hosted a panel discussion entitled “The Armenian Lobby: Challenges & Opportunities.” The discussion brought together the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) and the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), the two Armenian advocacy groups in Washington, D.C. Ha

Sep 24, 2014
10 min

President Serzh Sargsyan Addresses 69th Session of United Nations General Assembly

By Taniel Koushakjian AAANews Blog Today, the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) kicked off in New York City. President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia was the 11th speaker to take the podium this morning, where he discussed a wide range of issues facing Armenians across the globe. Sargsyan began his speech recalling the centennial of World War I, the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, and the founding of the U.N. In this context, Sargsyan highligh

Jun 30, 2014
3 min

Rep. Schiff Votes in Support of Armenia’s Amendments on Syria & Karabakh at OSCE Parliament Assembly

Key Amendments Adopted Include Calling for the Protection of Religious Minorities in Syria, Urging States to Prevent the Use of their Territories for Cross Border Attacks on Communities like Kessab, Affirming Principle of Peaceful Settlement of Disputes and Right of Self-Determination of Peoples At a parliamentary meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) held in Baku, Azerbaijan earlier today, Armenia’s representative offered two amendments to

Jun 19, 2014
2 min

AAA Interns Raise Armenian-American Issues at 5th Annual Middle East Institute Conference on Turkey

By Mariam Pashayan, Crystal Densmore and Lena Krikorian The following questions were raised by Armenian Assembly of America summer interns Mariam Pashayan and Crystal Densmore at the Middle East Institute’s 5th annual conference on Turkey, held a the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 16, 2014: Mariam Pashayan to Dr. Saban Kardas, Associate Professor of International Relations at TOBB University of Economics and Technology (Ankara, Turkey): “Regarding reg

Apr 7, 2014
6 min

Congressman Frank Wolf Stands in Solidarity with the People of Kassab, Syria

Last Friday, Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA) made a statement on the House floor “in solidarity with the people of Kassab, Syria.” Congressman Wolf’s comments were welcomed by the Armenian Assembly of America, as he joins a growing chorus of legislators to call attention to the terrorist attack on the predominantly Christian Armenian city. On March 27, the Assembly’s executive director, Bryan Ardouny, and Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan Legate of the Armenian Church of Ame

Apr 2, 2014
2 min

Congresswoman Speier Calls Armenian Christians “Unseen Victims in Syrian Civil War”

Today, Congresswomen Jackie Speier (D-CA) issued the following statement following the recent attacks against Armenian Christians in Kessab, Syria, which forced around 2,000 people to flee their homes. “Armenians are once again being forced to leave their homes as Syria’s civil war rages on and Turkey meddles in the war-torn country’s affairs. The small village of Kessab was a safe haven for this Christian community but now their futures are cast in great doubt as they seek r

Mar 31, 2014
1 min

Untitled

Show your support for Kessab Armenians by downloading the image (click image above) and making it your profile pic on social media! #Syria #SaveKessab #Christian #Armenian #Armenia #Kessab

Mar 29, 2014
6 min

U.S. State Department “Deeply Troubled” by Attacks Against Armenians in Kessab, Syria

March 29, 2014 By Taniel Koushakjian Yesterday, Marie Harf, Deputy Spokesperson at the U.S. Department of State, made the following statement during the daily press briefing: We are deeply troubled by recent fighting and violence that is endangering the Armenian community in Kessab, Syria, and has forced many to flee. There are far too many innocent civilians suffering as a result of the war. All civilians, as well as their places of worship, must be protected. As we have

Mar 28, 2014
1 min

Congressman Jim McGovern Condemns Attacks Against Armenians in Kessab, Syria

Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), Co-Chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, released the following statement on the recent siege on the Christian Armenian city of Kessab, Syria: “I strongly condemn the brutal attacks on the Armenian-populated town of Kessab by al-Qaeda affiliated armed bands. I am deeply saddened by the news of 80 lost lives and remain concerned for the fate of those who were forced to flee the area. This massacre

Mar 27, 2014
1 min

Representative Adam Schiff Calls Attack on Kessab Armenians: “Beyond Appalling”

According to a press announcement from Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), today he released the following statement “on the attacks by Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists against Kessab Armenians and Christians:” “The vicious attacks by al Qaeda affiliated terrorists against Armenians and other Christians in the Syrian town of Kessab in northern Syria are beyond appalling. These attacks, which reportedly originated in Turkey, reflect the depth of the depravity to which the conflict i

Feb 25, 2014
8 min

The First Refuge & the Last Defense: The Armenian Church, Etchmiadzin, & the Armenian Genocide

Major Exhibit Issued by ANI, AGMA, and Assembly Available Online Washington, DC – The Armenian National Institute (ANI), Armenian Genocide Museum of America (AGMA) and Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) jointly, and in cooperation with the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute in Yerevan, and the Republic of Armenia National Archives, announced the release of a major exhibit consisting of 20 panels with over 150 historic photographs docum

Jan 29, 2014
3 min

Plight of Christians, Armenians in Syria Focus of Heritage Foundation Panel Discussion

(His Grace Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Armenian Primate of Damascus speaking about the plight of Christians in Syria at the Heritage Foundation. January 27,2014) January 29, 2014 By Taniel Koushakjian This week, the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. held a panel discussion entitled “Marked for Destruction: The Plight of Syria’s Christians with Syrian Christian Leaders.” The panel featured Reverend Adib Awad, General Secretary of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and

Sep 30, 2013
1 min

Armenian Assembly Yerevan Office Hosts Briefing on Turkey, Iran & Syria

Discussion brings Armenian experts, media and youth together (L-R) Ekaterina Airapetian (Information Officer, Armenian Assembly of America Yerevan Office), Dr. Artak Shakaryan, Dr. Gohar Iskandaryan and Dr. Sargis Grigoryan YEREVAN, ARMENIA – On July 3, the Armenian Assembly of America’s Yerevan office held a press discussion with Dr. Artak Shakaryan, specialist on Turkey, Dr. Gohar Iskandaryan, specialist on Iran, and Dr. Sargis Grigoryan, specialist on the Middle East. The

Sep 10, 2013
1 min

Armenian Assembly Terjenian-Thomas Internship: American Jewish Committee Hosts Assembly Interns

This summer, the America Jewish Committee (AJC) and former U.S. Ambassador Peter Rosenblatt hosted Dr. Rouben Adalian, Director of the Armenian National Institute (ANI), and the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) summer interns for an informative presentation moderated by Jason Isaacson, AJC Director of Government and International Affairs. The AJC and Assembly interns had the unique opportunity to hear first-hand Ambassador Rosenblatt and Dr. Adalian discuss issues affe

Sep 9, 2013
1 min

Armenian-American Journalists to Co-Host Google + Hangout on Syria with U.S. Secretary of State

Armenian-American journalists Nicholas Kristof (New York Times) and Lara Setrakian (ABC News) will co-host a LIVE Google+ Hangout with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry tomorrow at 2 PM EST to discuss the Syria conflict, according to Kristof’s blog. The Armenian Assembly of America encourages our members, friends and supporters to make their voices heard as thousands of Christian Armenians continue to flee the war-torn nation. Use the hastags #TALKSYRIA & #AAATALKSYRIA to jo

Jul 30, 2013
6 min

Recapping Capitol Hill Conferences – Turmoil in Azerbaijan & Syria

By: AAA Intern Hamlet Tamazian July 29, 2013 Turmoil has been ravaging the Middle East and South Caucasus for decades, and on July 16th, conferences were held on Capitol Hill regarding the situations in Azerbaijan and Syria. The issues related to Azerbaijan are two-fold. First, there is an unresolved conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the historically Armenian territory of Nagorno-Karabakh (NK). Second, Azerbaijani people are suffering from worsening conditions, a d

Jul 24, 2013
2 min

Armenian Assembly Discusses Humanitarian Assistance to Syria with U.S. Government Officials

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Armenian-American community leaders from coast to coast participated in a joint briefing on Syrian humanitarian assistance, led by the U.S. Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). Nearly a dozen Armenian-American civic, humanitarian, philanthropic and religious institutions were invited to participate, in person and via telephone conference call,

Jul 3, 2013
3 min

Reflections on Recent House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearings

By AAA Intern Robert Avakian During the week of June 24th, the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) held two hearings that highlighted situations requiring the attention of the Armenian-American community – the war in Syria and the protests in Turkey. HFAC Chairman Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) oversaw the hearing, entitled “Religious Minorities in Syria: Caught in the Middle.” Chairman Smith and other sitting members hammered the State Department official witness on the inactivi