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09/06/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Armenia Ready to Help Hurricane Victims 2) ARS Urges Opening Hearts to Hurricane Victims 3) Cheney Fails to Explain Letter on Armenian Genocide 4) Armenian Genocide Legislation Scheduled for Committee Consideration 1) Armenia Ready to Help Hurricane Victims President, Spiritual Leaders Send Condolences (Combined Sources)--Armenia conveyed its readiness to provide assistance to the US Government in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's devastation. Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian said on Monday that the US Embassy in Armenia would be providing a list of necessary items, and that, `Armenia is ready to provide both financial and professional assistance to the US to the best of its abilities. Rescue teams, physicians, and other specialists will depart from Armenia to the US in case of need.' Oskanian said. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday that "no aid would be turned down from foreign countries" in assisting residents along the Gulf Coast. In a letter to US President Bush, Armenian President Robert Kocharian sent condolences on behalf of the Armenian people. "We share your pain and sadness. Please accept... most sincere words of condolence and convey them to the families of those who are suffering. We wish you strength, patience, and courage." His Holinesses Aram I and Karekin II sent letters to Bush as well, expressing support and condolences to the American people in light of the losses suffered. In the letter, His Holiness Aram I said that "the tragic images that I see on television are, indeed, disturbing and heartbreaking. This is, in fact, one of the biggest natural disasters in the recent memory of the USA. I share the pain and anxiety of those who have been affected by this disaster." The Catholicos also informed the president that he has advised the two prelates of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in the United States to encourage Armenian-American communities to actively participate in the post-hurricane humanitarian efforts. His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, stated "We extend to you, your government and all the people of the United States, the sorrow and sincere condolences of the Armenian Church and all Armenians throughout the world. As head of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, we offer our solemn prayers for eternal rest for all those who perished in this disaster, and solace and comfort to their families and friends. We ask the Almighty to grant recovery to the thousands of afflicted, hurt and homeless families, and strength to you and your government at this difficult time." Also responding to the hurricane was His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of Western USA, who sent a solidarity letter to Lousiana state Governor Blanco on the unprecedented event that devastated the whole region. In his letter, the Prelate expressed his condolences for the human losses, and His Eminence mentioned that he had urged and appealed to the faithful of the churches and parishes to pray for the rest of the souls of the victims, and participate by contributing abundantly to the American Red Cross and the Armenian Relief Society in order to assist the national efforts and help the devastated and most unfortunate families. On September 4, the Prelate's appeal and directives circulated to all pastors, churches, and communities of the Western Prelacy inviting, calling and urging them all to contribute generously and assist the relief efforts to reach out to the millions of the affected by this disaster. Brewing Anger In Washington, President Bush said he was dispatching Vice President Dick Cheney to the battered Gulf Coast to assess relief efforts. But local and state officials, particularly in Louisiana, have bitterly criticized what they see as a slow response to the plight of people caught in the disaster. Appearing on the CBS-TV "Early Show," Aaron Broussard, president of Jefferson Parish just outside New Orleans, remains angry. "Bureaucracy has murdered people in the greater New Orleans area," he said. "And bureaucracy needs to stand trial before Congress today. So I'm asking Congress, please investigate this now. Take whatever idiot they have at the top of whatever agency and give me a better idiot. Give me a caring idiot. Give me a sensitive idiot. Just don't give me the same idiot." Congress has pledged an investigation into the federal response. President Bush likewise promised Tuesday to lead his own investigation to determine, as he put it, "what went right and what went wrong" in the response to Hurricane Katrina. 2) ARS Urges Opening Hearts to Hurricane Victims Humanitarian organization appeals to Armenians for assistance Following the devastation and flooding in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Armenian Relief Society of Western USA has begun collecting monetary donations for the victims of the Gulf Coast disaster. As rescue workers continue to pluck people from their rooftops and evacuate ravaged areas, the realization that thousands of survivors will not have homes or jobs to return to along the Gulf coast of Louisiana and Alabama is daunting. Last January, the ARS-WR successfully collected donations for Tsunami victims. In a press release, the ARS appealed to the community to give back in this time of dire need. `We are sure that all Armenian-Americans who have felt the impact of helping hands through natural disasters, whether in Northridge or Armenia, will give generously to the ARS.' The Western Region's chair of the ARS Angela Savoian urged the organization's members, supporters, and the community-at-large to lend a hand to victims. "These are times to let actions speak for themselves," said Savoian. "The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is too disastrous to describe, but we... all of us are ready to take on the responsibility to alleviate the suffering of fellow citizens in the Gulf States. Let's open up our hearts to the losses of lives, homes and livelihoods, and be generous with our donations." The Western Prelacy has designated the ARS as one of the agencies to contact for offering Gulf Coast disaster relief donations. Send your tax-deductible donations payable to the ARS of Western USA, Regional Executive immediately. Please indicate that your donation is for the "Hurricane Victims Fund." Donations can be mailed to: Armenian Relief Society of Western USA Inc, Regional Executive, 517 W. Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale, CA 91202-2812, or by visiting the ARS Western regions headquarters at the same address. 3) Cheney Fails to Explain Letter on Armenian Genocide Vice President sidesteps query from twenty-two Congress members regarding reason for letter to Genocide survivor WASHINGTON, DC--Vice President Dick Cheney has sidestepped a Congressional request for clarification regarding the reasons behind his forthright--although apparently mistaken--characterization of the Armenian genocide in letter sent this April to survivor Maritza Ohanessian, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). In an April 22 letter to Ohanessian on the occasion of her 100th birthday, the Vice President properly described the Armenian genocide, a departure from the Administration's standard practice of using evasive or euphemistic terminology to downplay the true historical, legal, and contemporary geopolitical implications of this crime against humanity. In response to this letter, Congressman Steve Rothman (D-NJ) and twenty-one of his House colleagues asked the Vice President if this letter represented a formal shift in the Administration's policy. The Vice President's response, signed by his Principal Deputy for National Security Affairs John P. Hannah, simply notes that "there has been no change in Administration policy on this issue," without any articulation of the nature of the policy. "The Vice President should explain to Maritza Ohanessian and all Armenian Americans why he sent this letter recognizing the Armenian Genocide but cannot now stand behind his words or even offer an explanation for his reversal," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We appreciate Congressman Rothman's leadership on this issue and want to thank all those who joined with him in this effort." Joining Congressman Rothman as signatories to the June 23rd Congressional letter were Representatives Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Lois Capps (D-CA), Joe Crowley (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Mark Steven Kirk (R-IL), Sander Levin (D-MI), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), James McGovern (D-MA), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Richard Neal (D-MA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Mark Souder (R-IN), John Tierney (D-MA), Edolphus Towns (D-NY), and Peter Visclosky (D-IN). 4) Armenian Genocide Legislation Scheduled for Committee Consideration May be `Marked-Up' as Early as September 14 WASHINGTON, DC--Armenian Genocide legislation appears set to come before the influential House International Relations Committee as early as Wednesday, September 14th, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). According to Congressional sources, Committee Chairman Henry Hyde (R-IL) is prepared to `mark-up' both Armenian Genocide Resolutions (H.Res.316 and H.Con.Res.195). During this mark-up session, the fifty members of the panel will have an opportunity to consider changes and then to vote to either approve or disapprove each measure. `We want to thank Chairman Hyde for his leadership in ensuring that the members of his Committee have the opportunity to vote on Armenian Genocide legislation,' said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. `Along with our local chapters around the nation and coalition partners here in Washington, DC, we are working hard to support the efforts of our friends-- Congressmen George Radanovich, Adam Schiff, and Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Joe Knollenberg and Frank Pallone-- in encouraging the Committee to act favorably on this legislation. H.Res.316, which was introduced 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), calls upon the President to ensure US foreign policy reflects appropriate understanding of the Armenian Genocide. The resolution includes thirty detailed findings from past US hearings, resolutions and Presidential statements, as well as references to statements by international bodies and organizations. As of today, a bipartisan group of over one hundred and twelve Representatives have already agreed to cosponsor this measure. H.Con.Res.195, introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff and cosponsored by over eighty Representatives, was offered following direct negotiations with House International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde (R-IL). The Chairman agreed to Committee-level consideration of Armenian Genocide legislation in return for Rep. Schiff tabling a planned June 8 Armenian Genocide amendment to the House Foreign Relations Authorization bill. The agreement addressed serious concerns on the part of the Administration and Congressional leaders that the Schiff Amendment-- which had strong prospects of passing--would overshadow the White House meeting, held that same day, between President Bush and Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan. This measure, which is in the process of being amended, reaffirms the Armenian Genocide within the broader context of regional relationships and addresses Turkey's efforts to join the European Union. The Turkish Ambassador and his lobbyists--including the Livingston Group--are actively making the rounds to members of the International Relations Committee, seeking to block any action on US reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide. As part of this effort, the Livingston Group has been distributing a four-page genocide-denial document to Congressional offices. 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