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YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan expressed admiration to the “Aurora Awards” nominees during the “Against the Crime of Genocide” Global Forum.
“On the Armenian Genocide Centennial the Armenian nation sent out a message of gratitude to the entire world. The Hundred Lives initiative and the Aurora Prize were launched on behalf of the survivors and as a token of appreciation to those who in the direst times came to the Armenian people’s rescue. I congratulate and express my admiration to the nominees of the Prize. All your stories are very touching; at the same time, those are inspiring and encouraging. I thank the founders of this project – Vartan Gregorian, Noubar Afeyan, and Ruben Vardanian, organizers of the award ceremony, as well as all those who have contributed to the implementation of this momentous initiative.
I wish all of us productive work. I also wish that future generations learn about crimes against humanity only from books”, “Armenpress” reports the President saying.
The 2nd “Against the Crime of Genocide” Global Forum kicked off in Yerevan. The forum will mainly focus on issues of genocide refugees and living survivors. Sessions are scheduled to take place, followed by Q&As. Participants will deliver speeches.
More than 70 foreign media are covering the forum.
The Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity is the humanitarian initiative of the 100 LIVES founders Vardan Gregoria, Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan. 100 LIVES is an initiative of the IDeA Foundation (Initiatives for Development of Armenia), a charitable foundation committed to promoting socioeconomic development in Armenia through investments in long-term, non-profit projects.
Recipients will be recognized for the exceptional impact their actions have made on preserving human life and advancing humanitarian causes. On behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, an Aurora Prize Laureate will be honored each year with a US$100,000 grant as well as the unique opportunity to continue the cycle of giving by nominating organizations that inspired their work for a US$1,000,000 award.
The Aurora Prize Selection Committee includes Nobel Laureates Elie Wiesel, Oscar Arias, Shirin Ebadi and Leymah Gbowee; former President of Ireland Mary Robinson; human rights activist Hina Jilani; former Australian Foreign Minister and President Emeritus of the International Crisis Group Gareth Evans; President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York Vartan Gregorian; and Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian George Clooney.
The Aurora Prize will be awarded on April 24 in Yerevan, Armenia.
On April 24, Co-Chairman of the Committee, famous Hollywood actor George Clooney will present the Aurora Award to the winner in Yerevan.