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07/16/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1. US House Adopts Schiff Amendment on Armenian Genocide 2. Congressional Republican Leadership Attacks Schiff Amendment 3. Hastert, DeLay Blunt Statement on Schiff Amendment 4. $17,000 Raised in San Francisco for Karabagh Resettlement Program 5. 84th ARS Convention Underway 6. AYF Badanegan: bringing the kids together 7. AYF Volunteers Set for Work in Armenia, Little Armenia 1. US House Adopts Schiff Amendment on Armenian Genocide "None of the funds made available in this Act may be used by the Government of Turkey to engage in contravention of section 1913 of title 18, United States Code, relating to lobbying with appropriated moneys, with respect to HRes 193, Reaffirming support of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and anticipating the 15th anniversary of the enactment of the Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987 (the Proxmire Act) on November 4, 2003." Amendment to Foreign Operations Bill prohibiting Turkey from using US foreign aid to lobby against Genocide Resolution --Rep. Knollenberg's Leadership key to maintaining military aid parity for Armenia and Azerbaijan WASHINGTON, DCIn a powerful rebuke to the Turkish government's campaign of genocide denial, the House of Representatives this evening adopted the Schiff Amendment, prohibiting the Turkish government from using US foreign assistance in its multi-million dollar campaign to defeat legislation (HRes 193) recognizing the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The amendment, introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), was passed by a voice vote and added to the fiscal year 2005 foreign aid bill (HRes 4818). The foreign aid bill was later passed by a vote of 365 to 41. In his remarks on the House floor introducing the measure, Rep. Schiff told his colleagues that, "today I offer a simple amendment that will honor the one and a half million Armenians who perished in the Armenian Genocide of the 1915 and 1923. I consider this a sacred obligation to ensure that the men, women, and children who perished in the Armenian Genocide are not lost to history and that this Congress not fund shameful efforts to deny that the Genocide occurred." Commenting after the vote, Rep. Schiff said, "We are another step closer to silencing those who would deny the murder of 1.5 million Armenians," adding that, "This amendment stands true to the memory of the victims." "The passage of this amendment is a major victory," said Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. "It clearly sends a message that the United States House of Representatives will not tolerate Turkey's lobbying against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide." In his remarks during consideration of the measure, the New Jersey legislator stressed that "it is time for this body to stop defending and funding a government that continues to deny its own history, and refuses to break with the pattern of intolerance established by past Turkish governments which dealt with minority issues by committing genocide against Armenians, massacring and driving Greeks from its shores, restricting the rights of Christians to worship, and denying the existence of its Kurdish citizens." "We want, first and foremost, to thank Congressman Schiff for his tireless leadership in advancing this amendment, to recognize the strong support of Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, and to note the pivotal role that Chairman Kolbe played in helping this measure reach the House floorwhere, as we all saw this evening, it enjoyed overwhelming bi-partisan support," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. The Genocide Resolution, HRes 193, reaffirms US support for the Genocide Convention and cites the importance of remembering past crimes against humanity, including the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust, Cambodian and Rwandan genocides, in an effort to stop future atrocities. It faces intense opposition from the Turkish government, which has enlisted the backing of the White House in its efforts to block this measure from being scheduled for a vote of the full House. The Genocide Resolution was introduced, in the House, in April, 2003, by Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI). Its Senate companion measure was introduced, in June, 2003, by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ). HRes 193 was adopted unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee last May. Support for the measure has been widespread off of Capitol Hill as well, with a diverse coalition of over 100 ethnic, religious, civil and human rights organizations calling for its passage, including American Values, National Organization of Women, Sons of Italy, NAACP, Union of Orthodox Rabbis, and the National Council of La Raza. Rep. Knollenberg Leads Effort on Foreign Aid Issues: Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg, who serves as a senior member of the House panel dealing with foreign aid issues, rallied the support of his colleagues behind key pro-Armenian provisions in the Foreign Operations bill. Foremost among these was the successful effort to maintain parity in US military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan. This February, the Administration's budget proposed breaking the parity agreement, struck in 2001 between the White House and the Congress, by allocating $8 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for Azerbaijan and only $2 million for Armenia. The foreign aid bill, adopted today by the US House, sets FMF levels for both nations at $5 million. "We value the leadership and hard work by Congressman Knollenberg in maintaining the principle of military aid parity in the face of White House and Pentagon pressure to break an agreement that has, for the past three years, contributed meaningfully to regional stability in the Caucasus," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. The House Foreign Operations Subcommittee, which is chaired by Arizona Republican Jim Kolbe, supported a hard earmark of $65 million in US assistance to Armenia, and $5 million for Mountainous Karabagh. The Bush Administration's proposal had requested $62 million for Armenia and had not set any specific funding level for Mountainous Karabagh. The Subcommittee's decision, made against the backdrop of decreasing aid levels to the former Soviet republics, would effectively reduce US assistance to Armenia by $10 million from FY 2004 levels. 2. Congressional Republican Leadership Attacks Schiff Amendment WASHINGTON, DCIn a front-page statement posted today on the web-page of the Speaker of the US House, Congressional Republican leaders, who have for the past eighteen months blocked the progress of legislation recognizing the Armenian genocide, attacked the adoption, yesterday, of the Schiff Amendment by the full US House, reported the Armenian National Committee (ANCA). The amendment restricts the Turkish government from using US foreign aid dollars to finance its campaign to defeat the Genocide Resolution, HRes 193. The statement issued by House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-TX) and Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) states that, "we are strongly opposed to the Schiff Amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, and we will insist that conferees drop that provision in conference. . . Turkey has been a reliable ally of the United States for decades, and the deep foundation upon which our mutual economic and security relationship rests should not be disrupted by this amendment." Armenian Americans have the opportunity to express their disappointment to the authors of this statement by visiting the ANCA website: "Speaker Hastert and his colleagues in the House leadershiphaving spent the past year and a half trying to kill the Genocide Resolutionare now trying to subvert the clear will of an overwhelming bi-partisan majority in support of this human rights measure," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We find it deeply offensive that these officials would allow a foreign nation particularly one that so blatantly disdains the democratic values of the American peopleto impose its dictates on our Congress." Yesterday evening, the US House voted to approve the amendment, introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA). The measure was passed by a voice vote and added to the fiscal year 2005 foreign aid bill, HRes 4818. The Genocide Resolution, HRes 193, reaffirms US support for the Genocide Convention and cites the importance of remembering past crimes against humanity, including the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust, Cambodian and Rwandan genocides, in an effort to stop future atrocities. It faces intense opposition from the Turkish government, which has enlisted the backing of the White House in its efforts to press Congressional leaders to block this measure from being scheduled for a vote of the full House. 3. Hastert, DeLay Blunt Statement on Schiff Amendment (WASHINGTON DCSpeaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and House Majority Whip Roy Blunt released the following statement regarding House adoption of the Schiff Amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. "We are strongly opposed to the Schiff Amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, and we will insist that conferees drop that provision in conference. We have contacted the Bush Administration, and they have indicated their strong opposition to the amendment. We have also conveyed our opposition to Chairman Kolbe and he has assured us that he will insist on it being dropped in the conference committee." "Turkey has been a reliable ally of the United States for decades, and the deep foundation upon which our mutual economic and security relationship rests should not be disrupted by this amendment." "On its face, the amendment is meaningless. Current US law already prohibits foreign governments from using American foreign aid to lobby. But we understand the political motivation behind the amendment, and for that reason, we will insist that it be dropped." "Our relationship with Turkey is too important to us to allow it to be in any way damaged by a poorly crafted and ultimately meaningless amendment." "Furthermore, we have no intention of scheduling H Res 193, as reported out of the Judiciary Committee in April, during the remainder of this Congress." 4. $17,000 Raised in San Francisco for Karabagh Resettlement Program SAN FRANCISCO$17,000 was recently raised for the Karabagh resettlement program through a series of fundraising events, organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) San Francisco Kristapor Chapter. Fundraisers were held at the homes of Mr. and Mrs. Sako Shirikian and Mr. and Mrs. Hriar Moroyan and were followed by a July 9 event at the San Francisco Armenian Center. After welcoming the audience gathered at the Armenian Center, ARF Kristapor Chapter representative Hriar Sarkisian spoke about the purpose of the fundraising drive and how it will assist the work of the newly formed "Mountainous Karabagh Republic Resettlement Assembly." "The government of the Mountainous Karabagh invites Armenians to settle and raise their children within the borders of their motherland," he noted. "Between 1992-2001, the Karabagh government was able to build 4061 homes and 193 buildings, which house 5112 families today. In addition, the country's numerous schools cater to 3474 students. The Resettlement Assembly asks all social, political, and philanthropic organizations to contribute to these efforts." The Armenians of San Francisco, Sarkisian stated, have throughout the years supported Armenia, Karabagh and the Diaspora both morally and financially and recently lent assistance to the Armenian communities in Iraq, Javakhk, and Shahumian. 5. 84th ARS Convention Underway Delegates from 23 chapters joined invited guests on July 15, for the opening of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS), Western Region's 84th convention that will be taking place at the Glendale, California Hilton until July 18. Among those addressing the more than 200 gathered were Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Consul General of Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles Gagik Kirakossian, and ARF Central Committee member Vahe Bozoian. Honored guests included Glendale City Councilmember Rafi Manoukian, police chief Randy Adams, Armenia Fund representative Maria Mehrabian, Armond Agakhani representing State Assemblymembers Dario Frommer and Fabian Núñez, and representatives of sister organizations. 6. AYF Badanegan: bringing the kids together By Sanan Haroun In the aftermath of the genocide, Karekin Njdeha fedayee and field worker for the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)brought a group of youth together with the purpose of instilling future generations with the Armenian spirit. The idea, which Njdeh successfully implemented in Boston over seventy years ago, has since spread throughout the United States. Today, the group that was created through his initiativethe Armenian Youth Federation (AYF)serves youth under the age of 16 through its Badanegan organization. The AYF Glendale Badanegan chapterestablished in 1981is just one of the many chapters that provides young Armenians an environment, in which they can gather, learn about Hai Tahd, and volunteer for their communities. Members of Badanegan participate in all sorts of activities that make the Armenian spirit an important part of their lives. Such activities include singing traditional songs, assisting political campaigns through phone banking, and participating in discussions about Armenian issues during weekly meetings. The AYF Glendale Badanegan is divided into two portions: the Shant chapter, which accepts youth between the ages of 7-13, and the Simon Zavarian chapter, which is composed of 14-16 year-olds. Both chapters meet on Friday nights: Shant from 6:30-8:15pm and Simon Zavarian from 7:30-9:00pm at the Glendale Armenian Center/Ararat Elderly Day Care Center, 721 S. Glendale Ave. During a typical one-and-a-half hour-long meeting, members read news from Armenia, learn new Armenian words and participate in quiz bowls and other fun games. Additionally, guest speakers are invited to attend meetings and discuss career opportunities. Speakers in the past have presented information about a variety of professions, including plumbing, psychology, law, and dentistry. Each badanee, as members of Badanegan are called, also has an opportunity to speak to the chapter about their personal hobbies. Badanees have spoken about playing instruments like the violin and guitar, roller-blading, water polo, and drawing. Furthermore, meetings sometimes include casual debates amongst the badanees over issues that affect Armenians in the Diaspora. One such topic is the importance of Armenian language to the Armenian identity. Divided into two groups, members eagerly wait for their chance to express their thoughts and opinions. In addition to the meetings, AYF Glendale Badanegan members plan and participate in social and athletic activities. Sleep-overs, movie nights, pool parties, trips to amusement parks, hikes through waterfalls, visits to the beach, bowling and ice skating are just a few examples of the activities that badanees enjoy. These excursions provide endless memories and create strong friendships that last a lifetime. Some of the badanees' more elaborate projects include trips to AYF Camp Big Pines and Malibu Beach, where members camped out on the sand and woke up by the ocean. The Glendale Badanegan also has a long tradition of presenting plays about heroic Armenian figures and Armenian issues in the Diaspora. Some of the plays presented include "Njdeh," "Menk Hayers," "Yert Arants Tartsi," "Siamanto," and "Black and White." In both 1991 and 2001, song tours were organized in Glenddale to mark Armenian Independence Day. Badanees also distribute Christmas cards during each December. The Glendale chapter is continually busy in planning events that are both fun and educational. The idea of bringing together a few Armenian kids in 1933 has developed into a large organization dedicated to involving youth in the Armenian Cause. Today, the growing Glendale Shant and Zavarian chapters have over 70 members. The AYF Badanegan provides leadership training and education for future generations. Countless young Armenians attribute their involvement in social and political causes to their experiences as AYF badanees. The badanees who enjoy their social and educational experiences become life-long community activists. Sanan is an executive member of the Glendale AYF Badanegan Zavarian Chapter 7. AYF Volunteers Set for Work in Armenia, Little Armenia AYF Youth Corps Ready to Get to Work in Artsakh YEREVANThe participants of this summer's AYF Youth Corps program arrived in Armenia on Thursday, to spend most of their summer in Stepanakert, the capitol city of Mountainous Karabagh Republic (Artsakh), working to rebuild the ARS Soseh kindergarten and the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Center there. Though 2004 marks the 10th anniversary of the AYF Youth Corps program, it is also the third year the program targets the reconstruction of the kindergarten and Parpeligic center. This year's program participants from throughout CaliforniaGlendale, the South Bay, and the West San Fernando Valley, will have the opportunity to meet with government officials, local ARF representatives, and AYF members, and will spend weekends sightseeing in Armenia and Artsakh. The AYF Youth Corps program, founded after the 1994 Karabagh cease-fire, has sent over 100 Armenian youth to Artsakh and Armenia to assist in rebuilding efforts of various Armenian structures such as schools, centers, churches, and youth camps damaged during the war. Back to the Streets of Little Armenia in September LOS ANGELESThe planning and organization of the Second Annual Little Armenia Clean Up has begun, and efforts to beautify the portion of Hollywood named after Armenia will take place on September 25. The clean up is co-sponsored by Council Member Eric Garcetti and the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF). After the 8:30 AM opening on clean up day, which will include remarks by Council Member Garcetti, volunteers will hit the streets and sidewalks of Hollywood work to remove litter and unwanted weeds. The clean up effort, a project of the AYF Little Armenia Beautification Program, will include replacing the "Welcome to Little Armenia" banners on various major intersections of Little Armenia, with new ones. "It is an honor to the Armenian American community to have an area of the City Los Angeles named after our homeland," said Vicken Sosikian, Chairman of the AYF Western Region. "Since October of 2000 we have enjoyed this honor; we therefore not only need to give back to Little Armenia and its residents, but also to the city of Los Angeles." Turnout for the 2003 Little Armenia Clean Up was tremendous; mostly AYF youth, and some older volunteers scoured city streets and placed the welcome banners that now mark Little Armenia. The AYFa volunteer youth organization, seeks the support of the Armenian community to make this outreach event a success. Interested volunteers for the clean up, or those who want to contribute to the effort in anyway, should email the AYF at: AYF@AYFwest.org. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.