BERLIN — The evening was both solemn and festive, as diplomats, German political figures and members of the Armenian community gathered at the Armenian Embassy on March 23. Ambassador Ashot Smbatyan presided over the ceremony, during which he presented the State Award of the Armenian Republic to two outstanding individuals. The order of merit, which is a high honor, was conferred on Cem Özdemir, Green Party member of the Bundestag (Parliament), and Dr. Raffi Kantian, Chairman of the Deutsch-Armenische Gesellschaft (German-Armenian Society). Özdemir was selected “for his extraordinary services in the international recognition of the Genocide against the Armenians,” and Kantian, for his “special services in deepening German-Armenian relations.” A full story will appear next week.
— Muriel Mirak-Weissbach
