Washington, DC -  Long-time Assembly Board Member Jirair Haratunian joins Hirair Hovnanian, Robert A. Kaloosdian, Stephen P. Mugar, and Joyce Stein in receiving the Armenian Assembly of America's (Assembly) prestigious Distinguished Service Award.  

Jirair Haratunian, an active member of the Washington, DC Armenian-American community and a public affairs professional who attended the Airlie House conferences in the early 1970s, which served as the catalyst in the formation of the Assembly, received the award "in recognition of his lifetime record of distinguished service to the Armenian Assembly and the Armenian people."  

"The Assembly has greatly benefited from Jirair's wealth of knowledge, experience, passion and commitment to the Armenian people and nation," stated Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. "It has been an honor to serve with such an accomplished individual," Hovnanian added.  Hovnanian, along with Board of Trustees Members Aram Kaloosdian, Van Krikorian, and Edele Hovnanian joined members of the Haratunian family in a private award ceremony. Meline Haratunian Lachinian, Vice President and General Counsel for Akamai Technologies, Inc., received the award on behalf of her father.

As former Chairman of the Assembly's Board of Directors, Jirair Haratunian helped lead the American humanitarian relief effort in response to the devastating 1988 earthquake in Armenia.  Haratunian was a staunch supporter of Armenia's independence and the Karabakh Movement.  During his chairmanship, he urged that a vigorous "campaign...be launched to draw public attention to the real fears of violence facing protesters in Karabagh, Armenia, and elsewhere..." He called for "a world-wide commemoration in February 1989, marking the first anniversary of the Karabagh Movement and honoring the memory of the Armenians murdered in Sumgait..."   In 1990, as Armenians rallied for independence, Haratunian declared: "We must help secure the physical safety of Armenia's population and the integrity of Armenia's borders. We must seek U.S. and international support for Armenian Rights, particularly in Karabakh. And we should pursue the protection of the rights of Armenian minorities living outside Armenia. We must assist Armenia to secure foreign economic assistance and capital investments...to improve the standard of living of its people." Haratunian also recognized early on the need to combat Turkey's and Azerbaijan's strategy to isolate Armenia and was committed to preventing it.

Vice President George H. W. Bush and wife Barbara greet Hirair Hovnanian and Jirair Haratunian 

Jirair Haratunian played a central role in the Assembly's efforts to secure U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide, including the historic four-day floor fight in the United States Senate regarding adoption of the Genocide resolution, sponsored by Senator Robert Dole (R-KS).  Haratunian also served as Chair of the Assembly's Office of Research and Analysis, and was a frequent commentator and incisive analyst of current affairs and regular contributor to the Armenian Mirror-Spectator and Armenia Now.  He was, as well, Vice Chairman of the Assembly's Armenian National Institute (ANI).  Haratunian had the distinction of serving as Master of Ceremonies at the Assembly's 1987 Tribute Banquet honoring California Governor George Deukmejian, where he welcomed Vice President George H.W. Bush and Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA).

In addition to his decades of tireless service for the betterment of the Armenian people, Jirair Haratunian also dedicated his career to serving the American people.  Haratunian was a Foreign Service Officer with postings in Washington, DC; Bangkok, Thailand; and Athens, Greece.  His public service included 16 years at the Voice of America (VOA), where he held the following positions: Chief of the Armenian Broadcasting Service; Head of Division for Near East and South Asia, Chief of VOA's Worldwide News and Current Affairs, Deputy Director, and Acting Director.  In all, Jirair Haratunian served in government for 23 years before opening his own private consulting practice. 

Through a lifetime of service to the Armenian community and to the United States, he has been known for his integrity, intellect, passion, and good humor.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.  

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