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Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
March 14, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR extends outreach TO WESTERN STATES to BUILD support for armenian
genocide resolution
LOS ANGELES, CA - In efforts to build and increase support for H. Res.
106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, the Armenian National Committee
of America - Western Region (ANCA-WR) recently stepped up efforts to
reach out to Armenian American communities in Oregon, Washington,
Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Montana and the Greater San Diego
area. Dubbed "Project Outreach Western Region - POWER", the ANCA-WR
office is mobilizing ANC chapters and Armenian American communities
throughout the western United States.
"The Armenian Genocide Resolution currently enjoys the broad bipartisan
support of 183 cosponsors and we have now expanded our focus to key
areas of the western United States by engaging Armenian American
communities and grassroots activists in those key battleground states,"
commented Andrew Kzirian, Executive Director of the ANCA-WR. "The POWER
campaign is an unprecedented grassroots mobilization effort that will
help pass the Armenian Genocide resolution by defeating the hired guns
of the Turkish government lobby."
The initial weeks of the POWER campaign organized district office
meetings in cities and towns across the western states. POWER also is
leading widespread letter writing and phone call campaigns to contact
Congressional offices. The ANCA-WR office has maintained constant
contact with local activists to ensure that Armenian Americans exercise
their right to be heard as citizens against the efforts of a foreign
government like Turkey.
Rafael Saakyan, Chairman of the ANC of Oregon, helped regional efforts
in reaching out to the local communities throughout Oregon and southern
Washington state. "We need to make sure our U.S. Representatives are
aware of the importance of the Armenian Genocide Resolution and how it
relates to genocide today in Darfur," stated Saakyan. Edik Ismaelyan of
the San Diego ANC was instrumental in coordinating meetings with
Congressmen Bilbray and Hunter. Thusfar, Congressman Baird [WA-3-D] and
Congressman Bilbray [CA-50-R] have already agreed to cosponsor H. Res.
106 after their offices met with constituents.
In Texas, ANC of Texas Chairman Vatche Hovsepian, Austin area activist
Khachik (Chris) Papanyan, and Dallas-area activist Jeannie Markarian
have taken on an active role in visiting and contacting Congressional
district offices. They began establishing relationships with
congressional members last year during the Congressional summer recess
by meeting with them and discussing Texas-Armenian issues in Congress.
Their work has contributed to the highest total of co-sponsorship
support from the state of Texas in recent history and for the first
time, Republican representatives from Texas are on-board as co-sponsors.
"We are pleased to convey the concerns of Armenian-Americans in Texas to
their elected representatives - and although eight Texas Representatives
have already joined on as co-sponsors of H. Res. 106, we are redoubling
our efforts to make sure the entire state delegation supports this
important human rights resolution," stated Hovsepian. "Another
achievement we are proud of, thanks to all active "Texahyes", is getting
the support of Congressman McCaul and Congressman Marchant, two Texas
Republicans, making this issue truly bi-partisan in Texas." added
Papanyan. Markarian added, "We have taken on - at a very strong
grassroots level - the obligation to make sure members of Congress
understand that Armenian-Americans care deeply about their government
acknowledging the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide,
especially with the current genocide that is on-going in Darfur."
The ANCA-WR plans to continue updates on the POWER initiative and
related activities in other states in the coming weeks.
The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working
in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters
throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the
world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American
community on a broad range of issues.
###
PHOTO CAPTION: Map of the Western United States.
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
March 14, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR extends outreach TO WESTERN STATES to BUILD support for armenian
genocide resolution
LOS ANGELES, CA - In efforts to build and increase support for H. Res.
106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, the Armenian National Committee
of America - Western Region (ANCA-WR) recently stepped up efforts to
reach out to Armenian American communities in Oregon, Washington,
Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Montana and the Greater San Diego
area. Dubbed "Project Outreach Western Region - POWER", the ANCA-WR
office is mobilizing ANC chapters and Armenian American communities
throughout the western United States.
"The Armenian Genocide Resolution currently enjoys the broad bipartisan
support of 183 cosponsors and we have now expanded our focus to key
areas of the western United States by engaging Armenian American
communities and grassroots activists in those key battleground states,"
commented Andrew Kzirian, Executive Director of the ANCA-WR. "The POWER
campaign is an unprecedented grassroots mobilization effort that will
help pass the Armenian Genocide resolution by defeating the hired guns
of the Turkish government lobby."
The initial weeks of the POWER campaign organized district office
meetings in cities and towns across the western states. POWER also is
leading widespread letter writing and phone call campaigns to contact
Congressional offices. The ANCA-WR office has maintained constant
contact with local activists to ensure that Armenian Americans exercise
their right to be heard as citizens against the efforts of a foreign
government like Turkey.
Rafael Saakyan, Chairman of the ANC of Oregon, helped regional efforts
in reaching out to the local communities throughout Oregon and southern
Washington state. "We need to make sure our U.S. Representatives are
aware of the importance of the Armenian Genocide Resolution and how it
relates to genocide today in Darfur," stated Saakyan. Edik Ismaelyan of
the San Diego ANC was instrumental in coordinating meetings with
Congressmen Bilbray and Hunter. Thusfar, Congressman Baird [WA-3-D] and
Congressman Bilbray [CA-50-R] have already agreed to cosponsor H. Res.
106 after their offices met with constituents.
In Texas, ANC of Texas Chairman Vatche Hovsepian, Austin area activist
Khachik (Chris) Papanyan, and Dallas-area activist Jeannie Markarian
have taken on an active role in visiting and contacting Congressional
district offices. They began establishing relationships with
congressional members last year during the Congressional summer recess
by meeting with them and discussing Texas-Armenian issues in Congress.
Their work has contributed to the highest total of co-sponsorship
support from the state of Texas in recent history and for the first
time, Republican representatives from Texas are on-board as co-sponsors.
"We are pleased to convey the concerns of Armenian-Americans in Texas to
their elected representatives - and although eight Texas Representatives
have already joined on as co-sponsors of H. Res. 106, we are redoubling
our efforts to make sure the entire state delegation supports this
important human rights resolution," stated Hovsepian. "Another
achievement we are proud of, thanks to all active "Texahyes", is getting
the support of Congressman McCaul and Congressman Marchant, two Texas
Republicans, making this issue truly bi-partisan in Texas." added
Papanyan. Markarian added, "We have taken on - at a very strong
grassroots level - the obligation to make sure members of Congress
understand that Armenian-Americans care deeply about their government
acknowledging the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide,
especially with the current genocide that is on-going in Darfur."
The ANCA-WR plans to continue updates on the POWER initiative and
related activities in other states in the coming weeks.
The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working
in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters
throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the
world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American
community on a broad range of issues.
###
PHOTO CAPTION: Map of the Western United States.