Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
October 23, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS GATHER IN WASHINGTON, DC TO PRESS
FOR ADOPTION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
— By Plane, Train and Automobile, Constituents Travel
to Urge Congress to Stand Up Against Genocide Denial
WASHINGTON, DC — His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church and
citizen-activists from across the U.S. will be arriving in
Washington, DC this week to urge passage of the Armenian Genocide
resolution, H.Res.106, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).
The adoption of the resolution by the House Foreign Affairs
Committee on October 10th sparked a firestorm of media coverage over
the Turkish government’s threats to retaliate against America if
the measure were approved by the full House of Representatives.
Turkey has poured millions of foreign dollars into the U.S.
political system, paying former Members of Congress to make its
case and public relations firms to spin the media coverage against
this human rights legislation.
In a first wave of community visits to Washington in the wake of
the panel vote, advocates for this legislation – Americans
committed to the growth of a genuine an anti-genocide constituency
– are working with their elected officials to put America back on
the right side of this fundamental moral issue. The ANCA, Armenian
Assembly, and a range of other community groups are taking part in
this effort.
"We are pleased to be joined by so many friends from across the
country in helping to put American back on the right side of this
fundamental moral and human rights issue," said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian. "We welcome their devotion and energy and
look forward to working with them to encourage legislators to stand
up against Turkey’s efforts to exercise a veto over the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide by the U.S. Congress."
Activists from over 15 states, including California, Connecticut,
Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island and Texas will be meeting with Members of Congress and staff
in Washington, DC, with activists in remaining states reaching out
to their Congressional district offices. The Washington DC
advocacy effort, expands on the nationwide ANCA Call-in and write-
in campaigns, which have been underway since the Armenian Genocide
resolution was introduced in January, 2007, by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-
CA) and spearheaded by Representative George Radanovich (R-CA),
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and
Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Rep. Thaddeus
McCotter (R-MI), Ed Royce (R-CA), and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA). In
March, the ANCA joined with the Genocide Intervention Network in
sponsoring the "End the Cycle of Genocide" Advocacy Days, calling
Congressional attention to the denial of the Armenian Genocide and
the need for urgent action to stop the ongoing genocide in Darfur,
Sudan.
This past Sunday, the ANCA hosted a special three hour presentation
on Horizon Armenian Television, titled "ANCA Special Project: Call
for Justice", spotlighting the growing Armenian American community
activism in support of H.Res.106. The special included remarks by
His Eminence Moushegh Mardirosian, His Eminence Hovnan Derderian,
Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Glendale City Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian, and a of host community
organization leaders urging ongoing grassroots activism in support
of the Armenian Genocide resolution. Congressmen Adam Schiff (D-
CA) and Brad Sherman (D-CA) both called into the program to offer
personal insights into the path of this legislation.
Among the highlights of the program were updates from ANCA Chapters
>From across the United States, documenting their efforts to pass
H.Res.106 and encouraging Armenian Americans to get involved
locally and nationally. The unified voice of the Armenian American
community in support of Armenian Genocide legislation was heard
loud and clear throughout the broadcast, as citizen-activists from
Los Angeles to New York called in to pledge their commitment to
this human rights legislation.
The October 10th House Foreign Affairs Committee vote approved
H.Res.106 by 27 to 21, despite a public call by President Bush,
announced during a White House press conference, against the
measure. In the wake of its adoption, over 5000 print, on-line and
broadcast news items have covered this measure. H.Res.106
currently has over 200 cosponsors, while a similar measure in the
Senate, led by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and John Ensign (R-
NV), has 33 cosponsors.
His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, serves as
spiritual leader of Armenian Prelacy Churches in the Western United
States. The Prelacy’s region in California extends from San
Francisco to Fresno, Los Angeles and Orange County. The Prelacy
also provides services and spiritual assistance to the Armenian
communities in other states in the western United States,
including: Utah, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada.