Rep. Edward J. Markey Congratulates 'Armenian Weekly' on 70th Anniversary of Publication

WATERTOWN, MA—Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) congratulated the Armenian Weekly newspaper on its 70th year of publication, with a special statement published in the Congressional Record on July 19.

“I rise to pay tribute to a treasured institution in the Armenian-American community and in my Congressional District, the Armenian Weekly newspaper, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary of publication this year,” noted Rep. Markey.

“Since 1934, the English-language Armenian Weekly has been published by the Hairenik Association of Watertown, Massachusetts, located in my district. The association also publishes the Armenian Weekly’s parent publication, the Hairenik, which is the longest running Armenian-language newspaper in the world.”

“This past April we gathered to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, one of the darkest chapters of World War I, and what is sometimes called the ‘Forgotten Genocide.’ The Armenian Weekly plays an invaluable role in helping all of us to remember that tragic period, but more importantly, to celebrate the lives of the survivors and their wonderful and enduring culture,” added Rep. Markey in the Congressional Record.

He continued by quoting the words of President Woodrow Wilson from September 1919: “Armenia is to be redeemed...So that at last this great people, struggling through night after night of terror, knowing not when they may come out into a time when they can enjoy their rights as free people that they never dreamed they would be able to exercise.”

“Two of our most cherished freedoms in the United States are freedom of speech and freedom of the press,” stated Rep. Markey.

“For 70 years now, Armenian-Americans have been celebrating those freedoms through the Armenian Weekly newspaper. I congratulate editor Jason Sohigian and everyone associated with this remarkable publication, and I wish the Armenian Weekly newspaper many more years of service and success.”

The 70th anniversary of the Armenian Weekly was also the subject of a story in the July 9 issue of the Watertown Tab newspaper. The front-page profile, “Linking With Ink: Armenian Paper Celebrates 70 Years of News From the Diaspora” written by Monica Deady, included interviews with editor Jason Sohigian, assistant editor Sossi Essajanian, editorial board member Hayg Oshagan, long-time contributor Tatul Sonentz, Macomb Daily editor Mitch Kehetian, and Haverhill Gazette columnist Tom Vartabedian.