From left, Edmond Azadian, Senator Robert Menendez, Hilda Hartounian, Saro Hartounian

PARAMUS, N. J. — The Tekeyan Cultural Association (TCA) of Greater New York celebrated the 75th anniversary of the organization worldwide with a gala on October 15 with dignitaries and guests from various parts of the United States. That evening, TCA honored Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for his success in passing a bill through Congress enshrining the US recognition of the Armenian Genocide after several decades of unstinting effort, as well as for his work in defense of human rights in general.

Menendez reiterated his call for the Biden Administration to halt all assistance to Azerbaijan and sanction the Aliyev regime. He condemned Azerbaijani forces unprovoked and illegal assault on Armenian territory, blasted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s human rights abuses, and called for everyone to keep fighting for human dignity and speak the truth. Those committing genocide today, he said, must be held accountable.

The vibrant event was attended by nearly 200 people of all ages, including a significant youth presence, and was skillfully organized by a special gala committee headed by Hilda Hartounian, chair both of the organizing committee and of the TCA Greater New York Chapter as well as member of the Central Board of the TCA of the United States and Canada.

A more complete account of the evening will be presented in next week’s issue. The following video clip is a report from Voice of America in Armenian.

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