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Press Release
March 2, 2010
Yes, We Can Recognize the Armenian Genocide
Foxboro, MA - Yes We Can Recognize the Armenian Genocide" is the message on the 2010 Armenian Genocide Commemorative Billboard sponsored by Peace of Art Inc. www.peaceofart.org now on digital display in Foxboro, MA.
The billboard, owned by Carroll Advertising, is located 1/4 mile south of the main entrance to Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place. It is highly visible and strategically located at a long 4-way traffic signal on Route 1, between I-95 and I-495. The message reaches fans of the New England Patriots, New England Revolution, and patrons of Concerts, Trade Shows and Patriot Place.
YES WE CAN was the slogan of the 2008 US presidential campaign, which was shared with the rest of the world. It promised that changes were on the way, and for the American Armenians was a message of hope for the recognition of the Armenian genocide by our government.
The Armenian Genocide Commemorative Billboards "has given me the opportunity not only to proclaim the reality of the genocide of the Armenian people, as an undeniable historical event, that must be recognized, but also to champion the universal ideas of peace, liberty and justice." Said Daniel Varoujan Hejinian, the president of Peace of Art, Inc., who, since 1996 has been sponsoring the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Billboards in Watertown, Massachusetts. This year, Peace of Art, Inc., is taking this message to other communities.
The collection of billboards will be on display at the Armenian Library and Museum of America, in Watertown, MA, from March 28th to May 2nd, 2010, as part of Varoujan's Art exhibit "A Journey Through the Years."
Peace of Art, Inc., is a non-profit tax exempt educational organization. Founded in 2003, by the artist Daniel Varoujan Hejinian, which uses the universal language of art to bring awareness to the human condition. For more information about this project, or to make a tax deductible donation, please log onto www.PeaceofArt.org.
Related Articles
Boston Top News Examiner
John Zorabedian
March 5, 2010
Obama won't push for Armenian genocide resolution, Turkey relations cited
Armenian Americans have long sought official recognition of the Armenian genocide, but President Obama is backing away from a resolution in Congress out of deference to strategic relations with Turkey -- a key NATO ally in the Middle East and a home to a U.S. air base.
The dilemma over U.S. relations with Turkey, which refuses to call the WWI-era elimination of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire a genocide, pits foreign policy realists against an Armenian-American lobby with strong support in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Yesterday, after a resolution recognizing the genocide passed through the House Foreign relations Committee by a 23-22 vote, Turkey pulled its ambassador to the U.S. in protest.
On Route 1 in Foxboro near Gillette Stadium and Patriots Place, a billboard sponsored by Peace of Art, Inc. says "Yes, We Can Recognize the Armenian Genocide," invoking Obama's 2008 campaign theme and perhaps reminding the President of his previous promise to push for recognition.
However, U.S. defense contractors interested in selling weapons to the Turkish military oppose the measure, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan require Turkey's support for the basing of U.S. warplanes at Incirlik.
President Bush ran into the same dilemma in 2007, and asked the House not to pass a resolution putting the U.S. at odds with Turkey's official line.
An Armenian group pushing for recognition issued a statement calling for full passage by the House of the resolution. "A bipartisan majority today rejected Turkey’s gag rule, setting the stage for Speaker Pelosi and the full U.S. House to properly commemorate the Armenian Genocide. The Committee’s message was simple yet powerful: Turkey doesn’t get a vote or a veto in the U.S. Congress," said Ken Hachikian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
"As Americans of Armenian heritage, it holds great meaning to see our nation move one step closer to putting the painful lessons of the Armenian Genocide to work in helping to end the cycle of genocide, in Darfur and around the world," Hachikian said.