SYDNEY: The Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee (AGCC) has confirmed distinguished journalist, Harut Sassounian as the keynote international guest of honour for the 99^th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide commemorative events throughout Australia.

Harut Sassounian is a publisher, syndicated columnist, TV commentator, author, award-winning documentary producer, lecturer, and human rights activist. He is the publisher of The California Courier newspaper and his weekly commentaries, which are translated into half a dozen languages, appear in over 200 publications and websites around the world, including The Huffington Post.

He is the Founding President of the United Armenian Fund - a coalition of five major Armenian-American organisations. The Fund has procured and delivered $700 million of humanitarian aid to Armenia since 1989. As the Senior Vice President of Kirk Kerkorian's Lincy Foundation, Sassounian was in charge of the implementation of $242 million of infrastructure projects throughout Armenia.

Sassounian served as a human rights delegate at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland from 1978 to 1988. He played a leading role in the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the U.N. Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in 1985.

He holds a Master's degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and an MBA from Pepperdine University. In addition to his numerous roles, Sassounian is a member of the Leadership Council of the University of Southern California's Institute of Armenian Studies, and the Pacific Council on International Policy.

He is the author of "The Armenian Genocide: The World Speaks Out, Documents and Declarations, 1915-2005," published in English and Arabic.

In recognition of his humanitarian efforts, Sassounian has received the highest awards of the President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, and the heads of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic churches, among others. He is also the recipient of the U.S. Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Sassounian also serves as the Co-Chair of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee for the Western United States.

Vache Kahramanian, a member of the AGCC said: "We look forward to Mr. Harut Sassounian joining us for the commemoration of the 99^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. His wealth of knowledge an experience will no doubt provide a powerful message on the event on the eve of the centenary of the Armenian Genocide."

The AGCC has confirmed the following details of the National Armenian Genocide Commemoration in Sydney, which will feature Sassounian as keynote speaker:
Thursday 24^th April 2014
National Armenian Genocide Commemoration in Sydney
Keynote Speaker Harut Sassounian
7:30pm, The Willoughby Concourse Concert Hall, Victoria Avenue, Chatswood NSW



Further details for the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Week (Sydney and Melbourne) will be released in the coming days and weeks.