ANCA-WR Meets w/Congressman Waxman As Part of Region-Wide Meetings

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Telephone: (818) 500-1918
Facsimile: (818) 246-7353
[email protected] <; PRESS RELEASE October 24, 2006 Contact: Lerna Kayserian Tel: (818) 500-1918 ANCA-WR MEETS WITH CONGRESSMAN WAXMAN AS PART OF REGION-WIDE MEETINGS GLENDALE, CA - The Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region (ANCA-WR) met with US Representative Henry Waxman (D-30) in his Los Angeles district office last week. ANCA-WR Community Relations Director Haig Hovsepian was joined by 30th District constituents Ara Khachatourian and Alice Mouradian. Meeting attendees thanked the Congressman for his support of key legislation, including H.Res.316, a resolution commemorating the Armenian Genocide, and H.R.3361, a bill that prevents the United States from financing railway projects that would intentionally bypass Armenia. During the meeting, Rep. Waxman was updated on the firing of former US Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, as well as the controversy surrounding the US Administration's nominee, Richard Hoagland, to replace him. The Congressman was briefed on the lack of explanation by the State Department regarding the reasons for Ambassador Evans' dismissal and was asked that he and his colleagues investigate the matter further. "We were glad to meet with the Congressman and take the opportunity to express our concerns," noted Hovsepian. "We look forward to working with him to address these concerns as we continue to build a strong relationship between the Congressman and the community." The meeting with Rep. Waxman comes at the end of a three-month effort by the ANCA-WR - in collaboration with its local chapters - to expand relations between the Armenian American communities and their elected officials at a federal level. Since July, the ANCA-WR has met with over 30 members of Congress throughout the western region, including members from Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, Nevada, Texas, and Washington. The 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.