Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Telephone: (818) 500-1918
Facsimile: (818) 246-7353
ancawr@anca.org <; PRESS RELEASE October 24, 2006 Contact: Lerna Kayserian Tel: (818) 500-1918 COLORADO ARMENIAN COMMUNITY JOINS ANCA-WR FOR MEETINGS WITH LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS DENVER, COLORADO - Members of the Colorado Armenian American community joined Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region (ANCA-WR) Community Relations Director Haig Hovsepian earlier this month to meet with US Representatives Tom Tancredo (R-6), Diana DeGette (D-1), and Mark Udall (D-2). The meetings began in Centennial, Colorado, where Hovsepian and long-time Colorado resident Ken Allikian briefed Rep. Tancredo's staff on Armenian Genocide-related legislation and efforts by the Azeri government to inhibit regional cooperation. Hovsepian and Allikian then visited the Denver district office of Congresswoman DeGette, where they thanked her for her support of H.Res.316 and discussed H.R.3361, encouraging the Congresswoman to become a co-sponsor. Rep. DeGette expressed dismay in the firing of Ambassador Evans and the lack of an appropriate explanation to date by the State Department. Garo Chalian and Kim Christianian joined Allikian and Hovsepian for the final meeting of the day with Rep. Udall's staff. Meeting attendees thanked Rep. Udall for his co-sponsorship of key pieces of legislation supporting Armenia and addressed questions regarding the need to have Turkey address its past as a prerequisite to truly join the civilized world and begin a process by which good neighborly relations can be developed. Allikian, Chalian, and Christianian are members of the "Armenians of Colorado", a community group established in 1982, whose purpose is to nourish a cohesive Armenian community to further the understanding of Armenian history, culture, religion, language and heritage. "It was a pleasure to work with Ken, Kim, and Garo," said Hovsepian. "The Armenians of Colorado are doing admirable work to raise awareness about the Armenian American community in Colorado and we are glad to have working partnership in reaching out to members of Congress. We look forward to working with them to continue these efforts." 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. ##### PHOTO CAPTION: (left to right) Ken Allikian, Congresswoman Diana DeGette, District Director Greg Diamond, and ANCA-WR Community Relations Director Haig Hovsepian.