Talk show hosts Armenian advocates

Karen S. Kim

GLENDALE -- Glendale television show host Vrej Agajanian wants local

Armenians to know that they’re not the only ones pushing for recognition

of the Armenian Genocide.

Two members of the Armenian Assembly of America, who have been working

on the other side of the country to build an Armenian Genocide museum two

blocks from the White House, will appear on Agajanian’s show Sunday.

“I want my viewers to know that there are people that are working on

Armenian causes,” Agajanian said of the program on “ABC TV LIVE.”

The Armenian Assembly of America, a nonprofit advocacy group based in

Washington D.C., has purchased a 34,000-square-foot property to be

converted into an Armenian Genocide museum within the next five years.

The $500,000 National Bank of Washington building is a historic landmark

built in 1925.

“We want to remember the past, lest we forget and lest we repeat those

mistakes,” said Ross Vartian, director of planning for the museum.

“Before 20 years ago, the Armenian Genocide was commonly referred to as

the forgotten genocide. We don’t want that to be our legacy.”

Vartian, who will appear on Agajanian’s show Sunday, served as the

assembly’s executive director for 20 years before John Jamian took over

last year.

Jamian will also appear on Agajanian’s show Sunday.

The two advocates will discuss the plans for the Armenian Genocide

Museum. The assembly has also purchased another 80,000 square feet of

property around the acquired bank building for the project, which is

expected to cost more than $50 million.

“We want to achieve genocide prevention, just as the Holocaust museum

does in Washington, for example,” Vartian said. “We want to connect

awareness with an action.”

IF YOU WATCH

WHAT: “ABC TV LIVE” with Vrej Agajanian.

WHO: Armenian Assembly of America Executive Director John Jamian and

Ross Vartian, director of planning for the Armenian Genocide Museum and

Memorial.

WHEN: 10 a.m. to noon Sunday.

WHERE: Charter Communications Channel 26

CALL-IN LINE: 662-9222.