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AAA: Pan-Armenian Conference Salutes Reps. Knollenberg, Pallone

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  • AAA: Pan-Armenian Conference Salutes Reps. Knollenberg, Pallone

    Armenian Assembly of America
    122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
    Washington, DC 20001
    Phone: 202-393-3434
    Fax: 202-638-4904
    Email: [email protected]
    Web: www.armenianassembly.org

    PRESS RELEASE
    May 6, 2004
    CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
    E-mail: [email protected]

    PAN-ARMENIAN CONFERENCE SALUTES ARMENIAN CAUCUS CO-CHAIRS KNOLLENBERG,
    PALLONE

    Washington, DC - Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Joe
    Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), both well-known champions
    of Armenian issues, were honored with a major public service award during a
    pan-Armenian advocacy conference held in Washington last month.

    The Congressmen were presented with the Armenian Assembly's Deukmejian Award
    for Public Service April 19 during a banquet at the Mayflower Hotel - part
    of a three-day advocacy conference sponsored by the Armenian Assembly of
    America, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and Eastern and
    Western Diocese of the Armenian Church.

    Event organizers devised the conference, the first of its kind, to relay to
    Washington decision makers that non-partisan community leaders and
    organizations are united in purpose and priorities.

    Pallone, on accepting the award, said it is crucial for the community to
    stand united as they advocate of behalf of Armenia and Armenian-American
    issues. "The bottom line is that if you're out there working as
    Armenian-Americans pressuring Congress, meeting with your congressmen and
    women, meeting with your senators, and telling them that you want the U.S.
    government to be a better friend to Armenia, I think that is going to happen
    primarily through your efforts," said Pallone.

    Armenian Caucus member Representative Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) accepted the
    Assembly award on behalf of Knollenberg who was unable to attend.
    Knollenberg, in expressing thanks for the award, recently told the Assembly,
    "By standing together and presenting a common voice, the Assembly, AGBU and
    Diocese Church present a stronger case to public policymakers. Your unity of
    purpose will have a very positive effect both within the Armenian community
    and outside."

    Throughout their tenure in Congress, both Knollenberg and Pallone have been
    steadfast supporters of issues facing the Armenian community. They have
    repeatedly fought for affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, co-sponsoring
    legislation that would properly recognize the cataclysm of 1915 and urging
    President Bush, as well as his predecessors, to accurately characterize the
    events as genocide. The Congressmen, working closely with their House
    colleagues on both sides of the political aisle, have also fought for
    increased funding to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, U.S.-Armenia trade
    normalization, the re-opening of Armenia's borders and maintaining Section
    907 of the Freedom Support Act, among other critical issues.

    Pallone, who created the Caucus in the mid-1990s, has traveled to Armenia
    and Karabakh on numerous occasions, most recently with fellow Caucus member
    Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) as part of an Assembly-led delegation.
    Knollenberg, also a frequent visitor to Armenia, earned a unique distinction
    when in 2001 President Robert Kocharian awarded him the Order of Mkhitar
    Gosh.

    Since 1997, the Assembly has given the Deukmejian award, named after former
    California Governor George Deukmejian, to individuals who embody the
    qualities of an exemplary public servant. Among those who have received the
    award are: Representatives David Dreier (R-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and John
    Sweeney (R-NY), as well as Armenia's former Minister of Trade and Industry
    Garnik Nanagoulian.

    The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
    organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
    issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

    NR#2004-051

    Photograph available on the Assembly's Web site at the following link:

    http://www.aaainc.org/images/press/2004-051/2004-051-1.jpg

    Caption: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), in accepting the Deukmejian
    Award for Public Service, praised the public cooperation of the Armenian
    Assembly, AGBU and Eastern and Western Diocese of the Armenian Church.
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