Month: March 2007

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE

March 14, 2007

Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANCA-WR Board Member Aida Dimejian Appointed as Delegate to the
California Democratic Party State Convention

Los Angeles, CA — The Armenian National Committee of America – Western
Region proudly announces that long time community activist and ANCA-WR
board member Aida Dimejian was recently appointed as a delegate to the
California Democratic Party State Convention. California State
Assemblymember Anthony Portantino appointed Dimejian in February 2007
after coming into office. The Democratic Party State Convention shall
take place at the San Diego Convention Center from April 27-29, 2007.
The Convention body plans to organize the newly-elected Democratic State
Central Committee and elect Regional Directors, among other duties.

"Being active in the American political process is very important to us
as a community. Attending this Convention presents a great opportunity
to participate and engage key players in the Democratic party," stated
Dimejian. "As an Armenian American, I am proud to fulfill this duty to
help represent the interests of the Armenian American community."

"We are honored to learn that Assemblymember Portantino appointed Aida
Dimejian to the California Democratic Party State Convention. Aida is a
thoughtful and principled leader of the Armenian American community and
her participation will surely enhance the Convention’s work," stated
Andrew Kzirian, Executive Director of the ANCA-WR.

Dimejian has been an active and engaged member of the community since
1976, when she moved to the United States from Lebanon with her family.
After graduating from the Californian State University of Los Angeles
she worked as a registered nurse at Huntington Hospital for a number of
years. In 1992 she began to work in real estate with her husband who has
owned Century 21 Golden Realty in Pasadena since 1987. Throughout the
years, Dimejian has served on a number of boards and committees in both
the business world and her local community. Some of the positions she
has held include Director of the California Association of Realtors,
Federal Political Coordinator for the National Association of Realtors,
Commissioner to the Human Services Commission for the City of Pasadena,
Board Member of Pasadena Planned Parenthood, and Board Member of the
Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region. She was the
president of the Pasadena Foothills Association of Realtors in 2002. For
her committed and outstanding work Dimejian has received numerous awards
such as the Century 21 International Presidents Award, "Women Achievers"
Business Life Magazine, and the YWCA "Women of Excellence" Award in the
field of Business.

The Armenian National Committee of America 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: Assemblymember Anthony Portantino with newly appointed
California Democratic Party State Convention Delegate and ANCA-WR Board
Member Aida Dimejian.

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region

104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE

March 14, 2007

Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA JOHN EVANS ADDRESSES ANC BANQUET

— Evans Calls for Passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution

San Francisco, CA – Ambassador John Evans, the most recent U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, called upon the U.S. Congress to pass the
Armenian Genocide resolution. Evans addressed a capacity crowd of over
400 guests gathered in San Francisco for the Bay Area Armenian National
Committee’s annual Hai Tahd Evening banquet on March 10, 2007.

Members of the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
(ANCA-WR) also joined the Bay Area ANC to honor Ambassador John Evans.
Evans was prematurely recalled from his post and dismissed because of
remarks he made while visiting California in 2005 regarding his open
acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide. His remarks were furiously
protested at the time by the Government of Turkey which pressured the
U.S. State Department to dismiss Amb. Evans from his post in Armenia.

In his speech at the ANC banquet, Ambassador Evans discussed the book he
will be writing about the Genocide issue and explained how he came to
embrace the importance of the issue of addressing U.S. policy on the
Armenian Genocide, stating "I do believe that in the long run, my stance
in support of recognition, will be vindicated, if not this Spring, then
at least by this Congress." He continued later to state "The Armenian
Genocide should be recognized as such by this Congress." Evans also
highlighted the importance of genocide recognition efforts by the
community. ".those of you who’ve devoted hours of your days, years of
your lives, fighting for recognition for what happened to your
forebears. I stand here tonight in admiration of all of you. I salute
you tonight, and I also thank you for your efforts on my behalf, when it
seemed to you as if I was being done an injustice."

Prior to Ambassador Evans’ remarks, the program featured remarks from
Bay Area ANC Chairwoman Roxanne Makasjian who highlighted the many
important milestones achieved by the Bay Area ANC in the past year and
the importance of maintaining community activism. She also highlighted
the need for the community to remain steadfast in the face of Turkey’s
disingenuous efforts to position themselves as seeking reconciliation
with the U.S. State Department’s help. "We cannot pursue
"reconciliation" without recognition," stated Makasjian. "How genuine
can the government’s gestures at dialogue and reconciliation be when it
started re-trial proceedings against Hrant Dink, three weeks after he
was dead."

Also addressing the audience was ANCA-WR Board member Steve Dadaian and
ANCA Communications Director Elizabeth Chouldjian who introduced the
Ambassador and the significance of his role as both Ambassador to
Armenia and the Genocide recognition issue.

In the remarks made by the ANCA-WR’s Steve Dadaian, he discussed the
importance of passing the Armenian Genocide Resolution in Congress,
especially this year because of the current evolution of the genocide
issue and the political landscape. Dadaian also elaborated upon the
immense opportunities that exist today in advancing the community’s
issues. "It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the
fight in the dog – and this dog’s got a lot of fight in it," stated
Dadaian in reference to the power of grassroots activism and the
community. Dadaian applauded the Bay Area ANC on its local work and
sited as an example how the Bay Area ANC has secured 15 of 17 possible
Representatives as cosponsors of the Armenian Genocide Resolution in
Congress.

Elizabeth Chouldjian, ANCA Communications Director introduced Ambassador
John Evans. In her opening remarks she described the ANCA’s key role in
defending Amb. Evans’ courage to speak openly about the Armenian
Genocide. "Our message to the State Department is clear — come clean
on the firing of Ambassador Evans, withdraw the Hoagland nomination, and
end the shameless pandering to the Turkish Government," stated
Chouldjian. "And if the State Department doesn’t have the guts to stand
by one of its own, to honor the man who tried to bring dignity and
morality to American foreign policy, then the ANC and Armenian American
community will."

Andrew Kzirian, Executive Director of the ANCA-WR and Haig Hovsepian,
Community Relations Director of the ANCA-WR also traveled to San
Francisco to join fellow ANC activists and colleagues in honoring Evans
and to help continue building the ANCA-WR’s grassroots network.

The Armenian National Committee of America 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: ANCA-WR Executive Director, Andrew Kzirian joins
Ambassador John Evans at the Saturday evening reception in San
Francisco. (Photo by Raffi Momjian)

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
March 14, 2007

Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

GREATER SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY MEETS WITH U.S. REPRESENTATIVE BILBRAY’S
OFFICE

— Representative Bilbray Decides to Cosponsor Armenian Genocide
Resolution

Solana Beach, CA – In coordination with the ANCA-WR POWER Initiative,
the San Diego ANC met with the Congressional District Office of
Congressman Brian Bilbray on March 12, 2007. Preceding this meeting, the
San Diego ANC engaged the community by preparing letters to Rep. Bilbray
voicing concerns regarding the Armenian Genocide Resolution. Next,
members of the Armenian American community of the Greater San Diego area
traveled to Rep. Bilbray’s district office to discuss the Armenian
Genocide Resolution and other issues of concern to local constituents.

Within one day of the meeting, the Congressman communicated his support
for the Armenian Genocide Resolution. "This meeting with Congressman
Bilbray’s office allowed us to present a united front of support for H.
Res. 106 – we need to make sure that the Armenian Genocide is properly
recognized by Congress," stated ANC activist Edik Ismaelyan. "During the
meeting, each attendee expressed an individual perspective on the
Armenian Genocide Resolution and the Congressman’s office greatly
appreciated our visit. We look forward to working with Congressman
Bilbray here in his district," added ANC activist Rob Deranian.

The meeting was attended by ANC activists Edick Ismaelyan, Hasmig
Sillano, Arthur Sillano, Jim Yogurtian and Robert Deranian.
Additionally, these activists were joined by Ani Lanuza of the Armenian
General Benevolent Union, Rev. Fr. Datev Tatoulian, Pastor of St. John
Garabed Armenian Church in San Diego, Chris Yemenidjian of the National
Organization of Republican Armenians and Mario Saldana, a concerned
constituent.

As district meetings across the western United States take place to help
Armenian American communities engage their local elected officials, the
ANCA-WR staff continues to keep its eyes on Congress. "This type of
activity typifies the grassroots activism that continuously drives the
Armenian National Committee’s efforts," stated Executive Director
Antranig Kzirian. "We are hopeful that Congress will call H. Res. 106
to a vote – and in the meantime we want to give our communities a chance
to be heard because they are constituents – unlike the Turkish
Government officials visiting Washington to influence our government’s
internal constitutional processes."

46 of the 53 Congressmen from California have signed on as cosponsors to
H. Res. 106.

The Armenian National Committee of America 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: Congressman Brian Bilbray [CA-50-R].

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
March 14, 2007

Contact: Haig Hovsepian

Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANCA-WR extends outreach TO WESTERN STATES to BUILD support for armenian
genocide resolution

LOS ANGELES, CA – In efforts to build and increase support for H. Res.
106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, the Armenian National Committee
of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) recently stepped up efforts to
reach out to Armenian American communities in Oregon, Washington,
Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Montana and the Greater San Diego
area. Dubbed "Project Outreach Western Region – POWER", the ANCA-WR
office is mobilizing ANC chapters and Armenian American communities
throughout the western United States.

"The Armenian Genocide Resolution currently enjoys the broad bipartisan
support of 183 cosponsors and we have now expanded our focus to key
areas of the western United States by engaging Armenian American
communities and grassroots activists in those key battleground states,"
commented Andrew Kzirian, Executive Director of the ANCA-WR. "The POWER
campaign is an unprecedented grassroots mobilization effort that will
help pass the Armenian Genocide resolution by defeating the hired guns
of the Turkish government lobby."

The initial weeks of the POWER campaign organized district office
meetings in cities and towns across the western states. POWER also is
leading widespread letter writing and phone call campaigns to contact
Congressional offices. The ANCA-WR office has maintained constant
contact with local activists to ensure that Armenian Americans exercise
their right to be heard as citizens against the efforts of a foreign
government like Turkey.

Rafael Saakyan, Chairman of the ANC of Oregon, helped regional efforts
in reaching out to the local communities throughout Oregon and southern
Washington state. "We need to make sure our U.S. Representatives are
aware of the importance of the Armenian Genocide Resolution and how it
relates to genocide today in Darfur," stated Saakyan. Edik Ismaelyan of
the San Diego ANC was instrumental in coordinating meetings with
Congressmen Bilbray and Hunter. Thusfar, Congressman Baird [WA-3-D] and
Congressman Bilbray [CA-50-R] have already agreed to cosponsor H. Res.
106 after their offices met with constituents.

In Texas, ANC of Texas Chairman Vatche Hovsepian, Austin area activist
Khachik (Chris) Papanyan, and Dallas-area activist Jeannie Markarian
have taken on an active role in visiting and contacting Congressional
district offices. They began establishing relationships with
congressional members last year during the Congressional summer recess
by meeting with them and discussing Texas-Armenian issues in Congress.
Their work has contributed to the highest total of co-sponsorship
support from the state of Texas in recent history and for the first
time, Republican representatives from Texas are on-board as co-sponsors.
"We are pleased to convey the concerns of Armenian-Americans in Texas to
their elected representatives – and although eight Texas Representatives
have already joined on as co-sponsors of H. Res. 106, we are redoubling
our efforts to make sure the entire state delegation supports this
important human rights resolution," stated Hovsepian. "Another
achievement we are proud of, thanks to all active "Texahyes", is getting
the support of Congressman McCaul and Congressman Marchant, two Texas
Republicans, making this issue truly bi-partisan in Texas." added
Papanyan. Markarian added, "We have taken on – at a very strong
grassroots level – the obligation to make sure members of Congress
understand that Armenian-Americans care deeply about their government
acknowledging the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide,
especially with the current genocide that is on-going in Darfur."

The ANCA-WR plans to continue updates on the POWER initiative and
related activities in other states in the coming weeks.

The Armenian National Committee of America 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: Map of the Western United States.

RA FM DOES NOT EXCLUDE POSSIBILITY OF PROGRESS IN KARABAKH PROBLEM IN 2007

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2007 14:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today nobody can guess or predetermine real terms
for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Armenian
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated in the interview to the
PanARMENIAN.Net journalist. He said, talks are not interrupted,
they continue and it is a rather intensive process. "At the same
time I must underline that the possibility of progress in 2007
is not excluded. The document on the table gives us such a hope:
there are still unsettled problems, but actually we have basis
to reach agreement on a number of principles. First of all it is
connected with the fact that those principles are not taken from
air, they are results of long negotiations and both sides realize
what they are negotiating over," V. Oskanian said. In his opinion,
"after parliamentary elections in Armenia there will be a window, and
if all sides display political will, and especially the Azeri side,
it will be possible to fix serious progress this year."

MUTUAL CONFIDENCE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PRECONDITIONS FOR KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2007 14:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Prudence of Armenian nation has a history of
centuries. People understand that there is no eternal enemies,"
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated in the interview to
the PanARMENIAN.Net journalist. He expressed hope for prudence of Azeri
nation. V. Oskanian stressed that mutual confidence is one the most
important preconditions for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement,
it is impossible to move forward without it. The Minsk Group gives
great importance to that issue and tries to make corresponding steps
in this direction on various levels. "I think, the anti-Armenian
propaganda that Baku carries out is unpromising, and raises doubts in
sincerity of their statements concerning normalization of relations,"
RA FM underlined. At the same time he expressed confidence that the
dominant tendencies in the world will make Azerbaijani authorities
reconsider their non-constructive approaches and finally refuse from
the possibility to solve the Karabakh conflict forcefully.

ARMENIAN SIDE LOYAL TO SPIRIT AND LETTER OF DOCUMENT ON TABLE OVER KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2007 14:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister does not categorically
agree with the statements of some Azeri representatives that the
OSCE Minsk Group slows down the negotiation process on the Karabakh
settlement.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian in the interview to the
PanARMENIAN.Net journalist said there is no sense in continuing
negotiations, if those statements are right. "I do not see any
logic in that statement. And if the Azeri side really thinks so,
its goal is clear: to exert pressure on the Co-Chairs, continuing
efforts to pass the Nagorno Karabakh conflict problem to other
structures. However, judging by readiness of Azeri authorities to
participate in negotiations, today such opinion does not prevail with
Azeri side," he said.

Commenting on the last meeting with his Azeri counterpart Elmar
Mamedyarov, Vartan Oskanian noted, "As was reported before, during
negotiations we continued to discuss principles of settlement, we
touched upon details of document. In the result of constructive and
encouraging talks we agreed on continuing meetings. I wouldn’t like
to pay a special importance to the statements of some representatives
of Azeri delegation and I hope that the Azeri side will be loyal
to the spirit and letter of the document on the table and desire to
fix progress. Moreover, we are inclined just so. Our positive mood
proceeds also from intensive and serious preparations of Minsk Group
Co-Chairs to discuss the situation with conflicting parties. And we
will be able to speak about results of coming meeting after it ends.

The next meeting between Armenian and Azeri FMs will be held in Geneva
March 14.
From: Baghdasarian

SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN YEREVAN AND STEPANAKERT OVER KARABAKH ISSUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2007 15:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "It is impossible to imagine such a situation that
Armenia would hold talks with Azerbaijan, leaving Nagorno Karabakh
uninformed," President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Arkadi
Ghukassian told to a press conference in Yerevan after negotiating with
OSCE MG French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier. He said, naturally Nagorno
Karabakh is being informed, and Stepanakert is aware of details.

"However, because of the fact that we are not participating
in negotiations, a problem exists, since we are deprived of the
possibility to feel all those nuances, which exists in the process
of talks," Ghukassian noted. At the same time he stressed that
in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement problem there exist
both insignificant and serious differences between Yerevan and
Stepanakert. "Perhaps, it would be incorrect to sound those differences
by me, since it is our inner kitchen. But we do not lose hope that we
will be able to persuade Armenia of those problems where our points
do not coincide," he said. A. Ghukassian is sure that Nagorno Karabakh
will reach agreement with Armenia on disputable issues. "Usually during
discussions of this or that issue we manage without emotions and bring
reasons and arguments, and as a rule, wins the heaviest argument,"
he underscored and added, "I think we have such an chance."

Speaking about the coming meeting between Armenian and Azeri FMs
in Geneva March 14, Arkadi Ghukassian said that he has no serious
expectations from that meeting.

At the same time he stressed that every meeting is important. The
NKR President could not make predictions over terms of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement, but underlined that everyone will
benefit if the problems solves as soon as possible. He continued
saying that from "no war, no peace" situation most of all suffers
Nagorno Karabakh. "We are interested in the solution of the conflict,
but we have principles that we will never refuse from," the President
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic underlined, adding that if this
issue is settled at the expense of interests of Nagorno Karabakh,
naturally, "we do not need such a solution". At the same time Arkadi
Ghukassian noted the possibility to hold a meeting between Azeri and
Armenian presidents is excluded. He said, meetings on presidential
level are more important of those on the level of foreign ministers,
IA Regnum reports.

HAYKO TO BE PENULTIMATE PARTICIPANT

A1+
[12:58 pm] 13 March, 2007

The cast, taken place in Helsinki, Finland, showed that RA
representative Hayko would be the 23rd, i.e. the penultimate
participant in Eurovision.

On May 12 semi-final contest the representative of Bosnia-Hertsegovina
would be the first to sing. The participant succession was also
decided for May 10 semi- final contest.

According to one of the Eurovision sites, the song ‘Anytime You Need’
(Music by Hayko, Lyrics by Karen Kavaleryan) was the 3rd to appear
on public voting list.

ARKADY GHUKASYAN AND BERNARD FASSIER MET IN YEREVAN

ArmRadio.am
13.03.2007 10:40

At NKR Permanent Representation in Armenia President of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic Arkady Ghukasyan met with the French Co-Chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier.

During the meeting the parties discussed the current stage of
settlement of the Karabakh issue, as well as issues related to the
suggestions of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs put on the bargaining
table and full participation of NKR in the negotiation process.

NKR Permanent Representation in Armenia informs that the interlocutors
stressed that the meetings between the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
and the leadership of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic need to become
more frequent.

Views were exchanged on the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of
Armenia and Azerbaijan to be held on March 14 in Geneva.