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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
[email protected]
www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: November 1, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANC Activists from Across the Western United States Travel to Washington DC
to Participate in Advocacy Days
-- Concerned Constituents Meet Members of Congress to
Washington, D.C. - The Armenian National Committee of America - Western
Region (ANCA-WR) welcomed news that activists from across the western United
States traveled to Capitol Hill the week of October 22, 2007 to participate
in the ANCA's advocacy days in support of H. Res. 106. Constituents visited
the nation's capital to express their disappointment and concern over the
Turkish government's denialist lobbying efforts and the President's
opposition to the Armenian Genocide resolution (H. Res. 106).
The Armenian Genocide resolution was adopted by the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs (HCFA) by a vote of 27-21 on October 10, 2007. The
resolution was passed in the face of unprecedented opposition from an "army"
of registered lobbyists. The measure enjoys the support of over 200
cosponsors in the House of Representatives, and has not yet been scheduled
for a vote by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"Seeing our grassroots supporters traveling en masse to Capitol Hill
reassures Members of Congress that American citizens - in fact these Members'
own constituents - strongly support this measure," stated ANC-WR Executive
Director Andrew Kzirian. "These individuals wish to encourage Members of
Congress to remain firm and principled in the face of threats and
intimidation by a supposed ally, Turkey," he added.
Activists blanketed Capitol Hill offices with materials urging support for
H. Res. 106 while simultaneously meeting with various Members of Congress
and their staffs. Among those participating in the week's efforts included
Hovig Shrikian, Sona Avakian and Khachig Tazian from the San Francisco/Bay
Area ANC, William Bairamian from the Glendale ANC, Azniv Goenjian from the
South Bay ANC, Nora Hovsepian, Shoghig Dikijan and Rouzanna Egian from the
West San Fernando Valley ANC, Melania Melikian from the Texas ANC, Garo
Manjikian from the Santa Barbara ANC and activist Rose Nazarian-Fagerian.
Aside from meetings with Congressional offices, activists also attended a
briefing on United States foreign policy in the Middle East held by the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs and featuring Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice. During the briefing, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher
(R-CA-46) challenged Secretary Rice's characterization of H. Res. 106,
stating that, "I think I speak for my colleagues here, that this vote was a
human rights vote and a recognition of a human rights violation."
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.
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: November 1, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANC Activists from Across the Western United States Travel to Washington DC
to Participate in Advocacy Days
-- Concerned Constituents Meet Members of Congress to
Washington, D.C. - The Armenian National Committee of America - Western
Region (ANCA-WR) welcomed news that activists from across the western United
States traveled to Capitol Hill the week of October 22, 2007 to participate
in the ANCA's advocacy days in support of H. Res. 106. Constituents visited
the nation's capital to express their disappointment and concern over the
Turkish government's denialist lobbying efforts and the President's
opposition to the Armenian Genocide resolution (H. Res. 106).
The Armenian Genocide resolution was adopted by the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs (HCFA) by a vote of 27-21 on October 10, 2007. The
resolution was passed in the face of unprecedented opposition from an "army"
of registered lobbyists. The measure enjoys the support of over 200
cosponsors in the House of Representatives, and has not yet been scheduled
for a vote by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"Seeing our grassroots supporters traveling en masse to Capitol Hill
reassures Members of Congress that American citizens - in fact these Members'
own constituents - strongly support this measure," stated ANC-WR Executive
Director Andrew Kzirian. "These individuals wish to encourage Members of
Congress to remain firm and principled in the face of threats and
intimidation by a supposed ally, Turkey," he added.
Activists blanketed Capitol Hill offices with materials urging support for
H. Res. 106 while simultaneously meeting with various Members of Congress
and their staffs. Among those participating in the week's efforts included
Hovig Shrikian, Sona Avakian and Khachig Tazian from the San Francisco/Bay
Area ANC, William Bairamian from the Glendale ANC, Azniv Goenjian from the
South Bay ANC, Nora Hovsepian, Shoghig Dikijan and Rouzanna Egian from the
West San Fernando Valley ANC, Melania Melikian from the Texas ANC, Garo
Manjikian from the Santa Barbara ANC and activist Rose Nazarian-Fagerian.
Aside from meetings with Congressional offices, activists also attended a
briefing on United States foreign policy in the Middle East held by the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs and featuring Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice. During the briefing, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher
(R-CA-46) challenged Secretary Rice's characterization of H. Res. 106,
stating that, "I think I speak for my colleagues here, that this vote was a
human rights vote and a recognition of a human rights violation."
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.