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Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
September 29, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
NEW McCAIN OUTREACH TO ARMENIAN AMERICAN VOTERS FAILS TO OUTLINE
POLICY POSITIONS
Senate Record Reflects Opposition and Indifference to Armenian
American Priorities
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator John McCain today issued an open letter to
Armenian American voters, seeking their support for his
presidential campaign, but failing to outline his stands on core
Armenian American issues, reported the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA).
Today's letter, released by the McCain-Palin campaign, echoed the
same themes as Senator McCain's correspondence this February to the
ANCA. Using nearly identical language, the Arizona Senator praised
the Armenian American contribution to American society, and
Armenia's contribution to Coalition operations in Iraq and NATO
peacekeeping in Kosovo. While remaining silent on Nagorno Karabagh,
the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, U.S. aid to Armenia, and the
broader issue of U.S.-Armenia relations, he did, in euphemistic
language typically employed by the Administration, mention the
"terrible tragedy" suffered by the Armenians, although, notably,
without using the proper term genocide or even mentioning the
Ottoman Empire or the Republic of Turkey.
"We had hoped that, during the course of the campaign, Senator
McCain's outreach to Armenian American voters would have evolved
beyond the respectful but substantially non-policy oriented letter
he sent to us earlier this year, by outlining his positions on our
community's core issues," said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "Armenian Americans are issue voters, and look to the
candidates seeking their support to be clear about their views and
values - particularly on issues related to the Armenian Genocide,
Nagorno Karabagh, the strengthening of Armenia, and the growth of
U.S.-Armenia relations."
Senator McCain has, throughout his tenure in the Congress, largely
opposed or was passively indifferent to a broad array of Armenian
American issues. As recently as October of last year, Senator
McCain publicly opposed Congressional recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. In 1999, he voted against restricting U.S. aid to
Azerbaijan over its blockades and other offensive uses of force
against Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. He voted against Senator Bob
Dole's Armenian Genocide Resolution in 1990.
In a related matter, Forbes magazine published a prominent article
about opposition within Turkey to the Obama campaign due to the
support of both Senators Obama and Biden for U.S. recognition of
the Armenian Genocide.
The article, entitled, "Armenia, Turkey and the G-Resolution," can
be found on the Forbes.com website
The ANCA invites community comments about the Presidential
election. Share your thoughts by writing to [email protected].
The texts of both McCain letters are provided below.
#####
Text of September 29, 2008 McCain campaign open letter
To the Armenian-American Community of the United States
Dear Friends,
The Armenian-American community has contributed richly to the
American fabric and has been instrumental in ensuring that a
terrible tragedy is never forgotten.
It is fair to say that one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th
century, the brutal murder of as many as one and a half million
Armenians under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, has also been one
of the most neglected. The suffering endured by the Armenian people
during that period represented the prologue to what has come to be
known as humanity's bloodiest century. It is our responsibility to
recognize those tragic events and to ensure that our world never
experiences the impact of the bloody conflicts that so filled the
20th century.
In light of that history, the rise of the independent Republic of
Armenia from such painful experiences is inspirational, as is the
vibrancy of the Armenian diaspora. In particular, I deeply admire
both Armenia's support of coalition operations in Iraq and NATO
peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo. In my visits to Armenia, I have
been deeply impressed by the resilient and hard working Armenian
people who have made tremendous progress in very difficult
circumstances.
Our country is greatly enriched by the descendents of the victims
and survivors of the horrific tragedy that befell the Armenian
people. Today Armenian-Americans represent that indestructible
spirit of a people and embody the principles of freedom and
democracy that all Americans prize above all else. I am grateful
for all of the contributions that Armenian-Americans have made to
our wonderful country and I greatly value the opportunity to stand
with the Armenian-American community in my campaign and as the next
President of the United States.
Sincerely,
[signed]
John McCain
----------------------------------------- --------------------------
-------------
Text of February 1, 2008 McCain letter to the ANCA
February 1, 2008
Aram Hamparian
Executive Director
Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Thank you for contacting me regarding my views on issues of special
concern to the Armenian-American community - a community which has
contributed richly to the American fabric and has been instrumental
in ensuring that one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century
is never forgotten.
It is fair to say that this tragedy, the brutal murder of as many
as one and a half million Armenians under the rule of the Ottoman
Empire, has also been one of the most neglected. The suffering
endured by the Armenian people during that period represented the
prologue to what has come to be known as humanity's bloodiest
century.
Therefore, the rise of independent Armenia from such painful
experiences is extremely inspirational, as is the vibrancy of the
Armenian diaspora. In particular, I deeply admire both Armenia's
support of coalition operations in Iraq and NATO peacekeeping
efforts in Kosovo, as well as the Armenian-American community's
great contributions to our nation. In my visits to Armenia, I have
been deeply impressed by the tremendous progress made in very
difficult circumstances.
I greatly appreciate this opportunity and look forward to working
with the Armenian-American community in my campaign and as the next
President of the United States.
Sincerely,
[signed]
John McCain
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
September 29, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
NEW McCAIN OUTREACH TO ARMENIAN AMERICAN VOTERS FAILS TO OUTLINE
POLICY POSITIONS
Senate Record Reflects Opposition and Indifference to Armenian
American Priorities
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator John McCain today issued an open letter to
Armenian American voters, seeking their support for his
presidential campaign, but failing to outline his stands on core
Armenian American issues, reported the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA).
Today's letter, released by the McCain-Palin campaign, echoed the
same themes as Senator McCain's correspondence this February to the
ANCA. Using nearly identical language, the Arizona Senator praised
the Armenian American contribution to American society, and
Armenia's contribution to Coalition operations in Iraq and NATO
peacekeeping in Kosovo. While remaining silent on Nagorno Karabagh,
the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, U.S. aid to Armenia, and the
broader issue of U.S.-Armenia relations, he did, in euphemistic
language typically employed by the Administration, mention the
"terrible tragedy" suffered by the Armenians, although, notably,
without using the proper term genocide or even mentioning the
Ottoman Empire or the Republic of Turkey.
"We had hoped that, during the course of the campaign, Senator
McCain's outreach to Armenian American voters would have evolved
beyond the respectful but substantially non-policy oriented letter
he sent to us earlier this year, by outlining his positions on our
community's core issues," said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "Armenian Americans are issue voters, and look to the
candidates seeking their support to be clear about their views and
values - particularly on issues related to the Armenian Genocide,
Nagorno Karabagh, the strengthening of Armenia, and the growth of
U.S.-Armenia relations."
Senator McCain has, throughout his tenure in the Congress, largely
opposed or was passively indifferent to a broad array of Armenian
American issues. As recently as October of last year, Senator
McCain publicly opposed Congressional recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. In 1999, he voted against restricting U.S. aid to
Azerbaijan over its blockades and other offensive uses of force
against Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. He voted against Senator Bob
Dole's Armenian Genocide Resolution in 1990.
In a related matter, Forbes magazine published a prominent article
about opposition within Turkey to the Obama campaign due to the
support of both Senators Obama and Biden for U.S. recognition of
the Armenian Genocide.
The article, entitled, "Armenia, Turkey and the G-Resolution," can
be found on the Forbes.com website
The ANCA invites community comments about the Presidential
election. Share your thoughts by writing to [email protected].
The texts of both McCain letters are provided below.
#####
Text of September 29, 2008 McCain campaign open letter
To the Armenian-American Community of the United States
Dear Friends,
The Armenian-American community has contributed richly to the
American fabric and has been instrumental in ensuring that a
terrible tragedy is never forgotten.
It is fair to say that one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th
century, the brutal murder of as many as one and a half million
Armenians under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, has also been one
of the most neglected. The suffering endured by the Armenian people
during that period represented the prologue to what has come to be
known as humanity's bloodiest century. It is our responsibility to
recognize those tragic events and to ensure that our world never
experiences the impact of the bloody conflicts that so filled the
20th century.
In light of that history, the rise of the independent Republic of
Armenia from such painful experiences is inspirational, as is the
vibrancy of the Armenian diaspora. In particular, I deeply admire
both Armenia's support of coalition operations in Iraq and NATO
peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo. In my visits to Armenia, I have
been deeply impressed by the resilient and hard working Armenian
people who have made tremendous progress in very difficult
circumstances.
Our country is greatly enriched by the descendents of the victims
and survivors of the horrific tragedy that befell the Armenian
people. Today Armenian-Americans represent that indestructible
spirit of a people and embody the principles of freedom and
democracy that all Americans prize above all else. I am grateful
for all of the contributions that Armenian-Americans have made to
our wonderful country and I greatly value the opportunity to stand
with the Armenian-American community in my campaign and as the next
President of the United States.
Sincerely,
[signed]
John McCain
----------------------------------------- --------------------------
-------------
Text of February 1, 2008 McCain letter to the ANCA
February 1, 2008
Aram Hamparian
Executive Director
Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Thank you for contacting me regarding my views on issues of special
concern to the Armenian-American community - a community which has
contributed richly to the American fabric and has been instrumental
in ensuring that one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century
is never forgotten.
It is fair to say that this tragedy, the brutal murder of as many
as one and a half million Armenians under the rule of the Ottoman
Empire, has also been one of the most neglected. The suffering
endured by the Armenian people during that period represented the
prologue to what has come to be known as humanity's bloodiest
century.
Therefore, the rise of independent Armenia from such painful
experiences is extremely inspirational, as is the vibrancy of the
Armenian diaspora. In particular, I deeply admire both Armenia's
support of coalition operations in Iraq and NATO peacekeeping
efforts in Kosovo, as well as the Armenian-American community's
great contributions to our nation. In my visits to Armenia, I have
been deeply impressed by the tremendous progress made in very
difficult circumstances.
I greatly appreciate this opportunity and look forward to working
with the Armenian-American community in my campaign and as the next
President of the United States.
Sincerely,
[signed]
John McCain