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ANC: Greek & Armenian Community Leaders Meet with Rep. on Turkey/EU

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  • ANC: Greek & Armenian Community Leaders Meet with Rep. on Turkey/EU

    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
    Friday, January 07, 2005

    Contact: Armen Carapetian
    Tel: (818) 500-1918

    Armenian & Greek Leaders Discuss EU Issues with Congressman Robert Andrews
    during California Visit

    (Glendale, CA - December 27, 2004) Members of the Board of Directors
    of the Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region
    (ANCA-WR) along with members of the Board of Directors of the American
    Hellenic Council (AHC) met with Congressman Robert Andrews (D-NJ) at
    the ANCA-WR headquarters in Glendale, California during the
    Congressman's visit to Southern California on December 27, 2004.
    Representatives of the ANCA-WR and the AHC voiced their concerns
    regarding the Republic of Turkey's attempts to join the European Union
    amongst other issues related to American foreign policy in regard to
    Armenia, Greece and Cyprus.

    ANCA-WR Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian thanked the Congressman
    for his support of the Greek and Armenian communities. Kassakhian
    explained that the Greek and Armenian communities were very concerned
    with the United States ' active role in advancing Turkey's ambitions
    for EU membership. During the briefing, Kassakhian pointed out that
    Turkey has to conform to and adopt the basic standards of human rights
    by which the E.U. nations and the United States abide. In addition to
    pointing out Turkey's overall abysmal record on human rights,
    Kassakhian told Congressman Andrews of the importance of including
    recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a precondition to Turkey's
    entry into the E.U.

    AHC President Dinos Andrianos expressed the concerns of the Greek
    American community regarding the tacit U.S. support of the
    controversial Annan Plan for Cyprus which favors Turkey's
    position. The plan proposed by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan would
    require that the Turkish occupying force vacate most of northern
    Cyprus yet allows Turkey to retain control of key areas on the island
    nation. Cypriots have overwhelmingly rejected the Annan Plan as have
    Armenian Cypriots.

    Congressman Andrews urged the ANC and AHC to continue their
    bi-partisan outreach to members of Congress. The Congressman added
    that the public awareness campaign is working within the halls of
    Congress where most of the members are supportive of Armenian and
    Greek issues. Congressman Andrews commendedthe ANC and AHC for the
    work that they do in keeping their respective communities informed and
    involved in the political process.

    Congressman Andrews is a member of the Congressional Caucus on
    Armenian Issues. Congressman Andrews represents New Jersey's 1st
    Congressional District which is comprised of Burlington, Camden and
    Gloucester Counties. Congre ssman Andrews sits on the House of
    Representatives Select Committee on Homeland Security and the
    Education and Workforce Committee. He has consistently supported
    Armenian issues and during the last two election cycles has earned an
    A or better on the ANCA Congressional Report Card.

    The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) 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.

    The American Hellenic Council (AHC) is a non-partisan political
    advocacy organization based in California. The purpose of AHC is to
    lobby and inform the U.S. Congress for the protection and promotion of
    Greek American interests and issues. Photo Caption: ANCA-WR and AHC
    Leadership Meet with Congressman Robert Andrews at the ANCA-WR
    Headquarters in Glendale.
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