[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 22 (Thursday, February 26, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E248-E249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF ASBAREZ, ARMENIAN DAILY NEWSPAPER'S 95TH ANNIVERSARY 
                     OF ESTABLISHMENT IN CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 26, 2004

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the bilingual daily 
newspaper, Asbarez, as it celebrates its 95th anniversary of 
establishment in California. Asbarez, which means `arena' in English, 
was founded in August of 1908 in Fresno, California. At that time those 
who had come from Armenia looked to Armenia and Armenians for guidance, 
and the seven founding fathers, noticing the community's desire to 
preserve its heritage and identity, created Asbarez, with the hope of 
bringing the community and the homeland together.
  Asbarez was born through the sacrifice of all those involved. In the 
words of Edward Megerdichian, who worked at Asbarez from 1956-1963, 
``[Asbarez] was ninety percent voluntary, and everyone had a sense of 
ownership, a sense of community--that this is our paper and our lives 
are described in this

[[Page E249]]

paper.'' It was with such dedication that the newspaper persevered to 
keep all the Armenians in California informed and connected.
  Recognizing that there was an important role for Asbarez to play in 
the growing Armenian community in Southern California, Asbarez 
Publishing Company moved its operation to Los Angeles in the 1970's. In 
the last three decades, Asbarez has become a bilingual daily newspaper, 
becoming the voice of the Armenian-American community from libraries to 
newsrooms.
  Today, what was once a small paper has grown to thousands of 
subscriptions, and is read in numerous countries reaching a larger, 
more diverse audience than ever before. It has maintained and 
reaffirmed its commitment to providing reliable news and information to 
the community for 95 years.
  It is my distinct honor to recognize Asbarez's invaluable service to 
the constituents of the 29th Congressional District over the years. 
Asbarez has truly succeeded in becoming a trusted information and 
community source. I ask that all the members join me in congratulating 
Asbarez's 95 years of establishment and service to the community.

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