Month: August 2008

VALEDICTORIAN GOES FROM FEAR OF DEPORTATION TO COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP
By Vanessa Colãn

The Olympian
Aug 7 2008
WA

Links Comments A generous benefactor has made a Bullard High School
valedictorian’s university hopes a reality.

Arthur Mkoyan, 17, said Wednesday that he’ll be attending the
University of California at Davis thanks to a Northern California
woman who read about his plight and decided to help him in a big way.

Mkoyan, whose college dream was nearly destroyed by deportation to
Armenia, will attend his first college choice after all.

Instead of going to community college, he’s expected to attend freshmen
orientation at the UC Davis campus Sunday.

A month ago, Mkoyan decided to go to Fresno City College because his
family couldn’t afford UC Davis and he didn’t qualify for state and
federal financial aid because he’s neither a U.S. citizen nor a legal
permanent resident.

Mkoyan finds it unbelievable that someone offered to pay for his
college education.

"It’s great someone is willing to help out. I’m excited and happy I
get to go to Davis. I can’t wait," Mkoyan said.

Mkoyan’s benefactor, Sherry Heacox of Danville, Calif., was touched
by his story and decided to pay his four years at UC Davis. Heacox
operates a food-import business from home. Her husband, Hank, is
an engineer.

"It was a compelling story. He was caught in the middle," she said
in a phone interview Wednesday.

"The entire situation was a bad one. Sometimes you have to step up
to the plate," Heacox said.

Another woman contacted Mkoyan’s mother, Asmik Karapetian, to offer
to help raise funds to pay for Mkoyan’s education. The two women were
the only people to contact the family offering help.

Heacox plans to join Mkoyan’s family Sunday for Mkoyan’s freshman
orientation at UC Davis.

Heacox said she plans to pay $25,000 for the 2008-09 school year,
including room, board, books and tuition. She said she already paid
a deposit of $450 for Mkoyan’s dorm room. She’s spoken with UC Davis
admissions personnel to arrange payments for Mkoyan.

UC Davis spokeswoman Julia Ann Easley declined to speak about Mkoyan
or confirm his entry to the campus.

Mkoyan said he plans to major in chemistry and start a new path.

Mkoyan and his parents, who all faced deportation, were allowed to
stay in the United States after Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein
introduced a private bill on Mkoyan’s behalf in June. The bill halted
their deportation and can lead to permanent legal residency.

Mkoyan and his mother were ordered to leave the United States in
late June for Armenia. Mkoyan’s 12-year-old brother, a U.S. citizen,
would have gone with them, family members said. Mkoyan’s father,
Ruben Mkoian, who spells his name differently from his son’s, was
released from a detention center in Eloy, Ariz., after Feinstein
introduced her bill.

Mkoyan’s family had entered the United States on tourist visas
after fleeing the former Soviet Union. They began seeking asylum
in 1992. Ruben Mkoian’s application for asylum was rejected. Mkoian
appealed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco,
which rejected his appeal.

The private bill allows the family to stay together in Fresno, but
their status remains in limbo. As long as the bill is pending or is
reintroduced, it protects them from deportation. Mkoyan’s bill is in
the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to Feinstein’s office.

–Boundary_(ID_Tiw4Podhvc12VC394L+tOw)–

ARMY "DECISIVE FACTOR" IN N.-KARABAKH PROCESS – AZERBAIJAN

Interfax News Agency
Aug 6 2008
Russia

Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said on Tuesday that "a powerful army is
the decisive factor" in efforts by Azerbaijan to bring the country’s
disputed and breakaway Armenian- speaking enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh
back under Azeri control.

"The military parade on June 26 showed our strength, our military
potential. Military expenditure holds first place among state
expenditures, and this is the right policy. A powerful army is the
decisive factor in restoring the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,"
Aliyev told a government conference.

"The Azeri position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unchanged
– the solution of the conflict must be based on the principle of
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and the people who live in
Nagorno-Karabakh, just as the Azeris who are going to move there,
will receive autonomous status. No option outside this is up for
discussion," Aliyev said.

Nagorno-Karabakh, the source of a 20-year-old conflict between
Azerbaijan and Armenia, is a de facto independent state, styling
itself as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TN9: COHEN SHOVES CAMERAMAN OUT OF HIS HOUSE

The Frontrunner
August 7, 2008 Thursday

The Memphis Commercial Appeal (8/6, McMillin, 152K) reports that
an argument between Rep. Steve Cohen (D) and Peter Musurlian, an
Armenian-American activist in town from California, "ended with
Cohen physically forcing him from his house." Musurlian followed a
reporter into Cohen’s Overton Park home, where the Congressman had
invited local media so he could respond to a commercial from Nikki
Tinker." After "Cohen’s staff told Musurlian he was not invited and
asked him to leave," Cohen pushed Musurlian out the door. "Cohen’s
staff retrieved a tripod and a bag containing audio equipment and
returned it to Musurlian, who later said an expensive part had been
broken." Cohen’s staff called the police, but Cohen "said he would
not press charges. Musurlian said he intended to press charges because
of the damage to his equipment."

"The Scorecard" blog on the Politico (8/6) reports that before the
confrontation Cohen said, "Nikki Tinker is supported by the Armenians,
and these are her Armenian photographers who have been harassing me
last night and continue to harrass me." He "has been one of the top
congressional targets for the Armenian-American community because he
opposed legislation that would have condemned Turkey for committing
genocide against Armenians during World War I."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA MINISTRY OF ECONOMY DECLINES SHIMIZU PROTOCOL OF UNDERSTANDING

RIA Oreanda
Economic News
August 7, 2008 Thursday
Russia

Yerevan. OREANDA-NEWS . On 07 August 2008 was announced, that Deputy
Minister of Economy Vahram Ghushchyan presented main objectives of
declining by the Ministry of Economy the Protocol of Understanding
proposed by "Shimizu" consortium.

The Ministry of Economy is against the realization of "Nubarashen
Landfill Gas Capture and Power Generation Clean Development Mechanism
Project" by Japanese Shimizuconsortiums protocol. On 2002 the Armenian
party signed a Protocol of Understanding on waste management with
Shimizu consortium. Now the proposal of sign the main agreement was
presented to the Ministry of Economy.

Today, at the Round Table session in "Aarhus" centre in Yerevan,
with participation of representatives from Shimizu consortium and
the number of environment preservation funds, the Deputy Minister of
Economy V. Ghushchyan presented the negative position of the Ministry
of Economy on signing that agreement by bringing substantiating
economical calculations.

By his words, according to Kyoto Protocol, in developing countries
(in Armenia as well) "Certified Emission Reduction" (CER) stocks
are issued in case of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Reduction and
implementation of Clean Development Mechanism.

Besides, the developing countries dont take responsibility for
Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction, as the developed countries, but in
case of GHG reduction, the Executive Board of the Clean Development
Mechanism issue 1 CER per one ton of CO2 reduced emission, which
owns the party, mentioned in the agreement – Japanese organization
in this case.

According to the Kyoto Protokol, a number of developed countries
committed to reduce the GHG emission for 5 % from the beginning of
2008 till 2013, in comparison with 1990. As a result, in the stock
exchange market of developed countries the CER stocks are much in
demand. In fact, the profit margin of the Japanese party profits 99
%, and only 1 % symbolically profits Armenia. Besides, when Armenia
proposed to generate electronic power in the framework of this project
in future, the Japanese party wanted to get 50% of the generated power.

In opinion of the Deputy Minister Vahram Ghushchyan, one of the
reasons of the Ministries negative position is that the problem
of waste management of Yerevan still exists, because cooperation
with Japanese company salves the problem of Nubarashen landfill
only. And the problems of scavenging and transportation of garbage
still stays unsettled. Also, Mr. Ghushchyan underlined the point
in Protocol, which demands the guaranty of solid waste accumulation
in Nubarashen landfill for future 16 years. By his words, it is not
the most appropriate place for landfill and most probably in future
difficulties and problems can appear.

The Japanese part, in the persons of the representatives of "Shimizu"
consortium Hiroyuki Kurita and Akihiko Hirayama, presented its
economical arguments regarding this project, the internal expenditures
and external incomes. According the Japanese party, the income form
selling of the generated electric power form solid waste power will
be shared by fifty-fifty: the Japanese party as well as the Armenian
will get 8.8 million US dollars in 16 years, as it is mentioned in
the Protocol. Also, the Japanese side gets //$9 per each sold CER
stock. Mr. Ghushchyan objected especially this point of the Protocol,
because this price is continuously rising up in stock exchange market.

Vahram Ghushchyan appeared with proposal to add a point in the
Protocol. According that point, if CER stock will rise up in price,
in that case 99% of the increased price (difference between nominal
and sold price) will profit Armenia for each sold CER and 1 % only
will profit the Japanese party. The Deputy Minister mentioned that
the Armenian party is ready to take responsibility if the CER will
fall in price in the international stock market.

But this condition was inadmissible for Japanese businessmen. They
also emphasized, that even with heavy investments they made, they
will work approximately 5 years without any benefit.

During the hot discussions, the Armenian representatives from
environmental preservation funds agreed with the Japanese party,
signifying the fact of partnership with "Shimizu". They also said
that it is very important for Armenia to clear out the solid waste,
accumulated in Nubarashen landfill, because of its dangerous emissions.

Cooperation is beneficial for Armenia, by their assessment, which was
clarified during a number of discussions. The Armenian representatives
from environmental preservation funds underlined also, that Armenia
cooperates with "Shimizu" consortium in solid waste management since
2002, and it is unacceptable to lose this company as a partner and
investor.

In reply, Mr. Ghushchyan pointed, that the waste management projects
are one of the most beneficial in the international market, that is
why there will always be the investors. He also informed that the
World Bank engaged 5 independent experts, by Armenian side request,
to evaluate this project once again and present the expenditures
and incomes for each party after 9 months. Mr. Ghushchyan said, that
in future they can announce a tender for solid waste management and
all interested companies, including this Japanese company, can take
part in it. The Japanese party didn’t welcome that proposal also. The
discussion finished without consensuses.

"If this question will reach a deadlock, we have to salve this
issue in a most advantageous way for Armenia", – said the Deputy
Minister to "Armenpress" journalist, adding that this question should
be transferred to another level of discussion. In any case, the
determination of the Ministry of Economy is final, and the Ministry
would like to hear the reviewed opinion of the RA Ministry of Nature
Protection and interested organizations. V. Ghushchyan is certain, that
this is a perfect ecological, but not economically productive project.

MIXED REACTION IN AZERI BREAKAWAY REGION’S MEDIA TO US OFFICIAL’S REMARKS

Kavkazskiy Uzel website
Aug. 5 2008
Russia

The Karabakh media are discussing a statement by the American
co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza, that the people
of Nagornyy Karabakh should themselves decide whether they should be
a part of Azerbaijan or to live independently.

The statement caused "raptures of delight" in Armenian political
circles and the pro-government media, writes the Karabakh correspondent
of the Armenian Lragir.am news agency website. In the opinion of a
representative of the bureau of the American Revolutionary Federation
– Dashnaktsutyun, Kiro Manoyan, Bryza said nothing new, and what’s
more, according to him, there is nothing positive for us in what he
had to say".

Kiro Manoyan stresses that the co-chairmen, when speaking
about Karabakh, think about the former NKAO [Nagornyy Karabakh
Autonomous Region], which is definitely not in the interests of the
Armenians. Within the framework of the former NKAO Nagornyy Karabakh
cannot implement its right to self-determination.

"In politics at large no-one goes by state borders. In politics at
large the world is divided into military-strategic and fuel-energy
entities. Each entity is a self-sufficient system with its own
communications, defence system, natural resources and the capability
of influencing other entities. Borders divide this entity into
several weak-willed states, each of which is of no use to anything
in isolation. In this context Karabakh, within the confines of the
NKAO, is not an entity, it is merely a part of it, like a disabled
person without arms and legs. In the big political map Karabakh may
be considered only in its current actual borders. They have, after
all, developed by accident. Somebody once drew a line on which the
fighting in 1994 was supposed to be stopped," the agency site writes.

In the paper’s opinion, to divide Nagornyy Karabakh into the NKAO
and "liberated" or "occupied territories" means pulling apart a
self-sufficient military-political entity. "And one has to think in
whose interests this is being done. And one cannot be pleased by the
statements of the cheerful American who, unlike our politicians, often
looks at the map and does not want to see a strong military-strategic
entity in the region." the paper notes.

The Aparazh newspaper, which is the organ of the Karabakh structure
of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun, writes in its editor’s column, that in the
foreign policy of the Armenian states there should be a "red line",
which should not be crossed. This "red line" in the Karabakh question
is the security of the people of the NKR and the preservation of
statehood within the present borders. The paper urges the Karabakh
Foreign Ministry to carry out more active publicity in the outside
world to present the position of the NKR.

It will be recalled that on 1 August in Moscow, at the initiative of
the OSCE, a meeting was held of the foreign ministers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan, Edvard Nalbandyan and Elmar Mammadyarov.

At the end of the meeting US Assistant Deputy State Secretary Matthew
Bryza said that Karabakh would either achieve independence or transfer
to the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan. "A referendum will be held and
the Karabakhis themselves will decide," Bryza noted on the decision
regarding the status of the unrecognized republic.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN BEIJING FOR OLYMPICS

Xinhua news agency
Aug 7 2008

Beijing, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) – Armenian President Serzh Sarkisyan arrived
at the Beijing Capital International Airport Thursday evening for
the Olympic Games.

TIGHT RACES EXPECTED IN 1ST AND 9TH DISTRICTS
By Woody Baird

The Associated Press State & Local Wire
August 7, 2008 Thursday 6:27 PM GMT

Two congressional primaries that Tennessee voters will decide Thursday
turned ugly at the end, with allegations of lying, allusions to the
Ku Klux Klan and an Armenian advocate shoved out the door.

Steve Cohen, the first white congressman from Memphis in more than
three decades and the only Jewish member of the state’s congressional
delegation, faced TV ads in the closing days of his first primary
campaign for re-election that juxtaposed photos of him and a hooded
Klansman.

The ads were approved by Cohen’s chief opponent, Nikki Tinker,
a corporate lawyer whose supporters argue that the majority black
9th District should be represented by an African-American. Tinker
phrases it as a campaign about "diversity" in Congress and the need
for change in Washington.

In the 1st District in northeast Tennessee, a mailer from incumbent
Republican Rep. David Davis accused opponent Phil Roe, the Johnson City
mayor, of "lying" about Davis. Roe responded at a recent GOP pig roast
that he’d "never been called a liar in my life" and said in years gone
by "if somebody called you a liar, you’d ask them to step outside."

Davis ignored the comment and told the crowd, "We’re going to go out
and tell the truth, and we’re going to earn your vote." He said it was
"unfortunate this campaign has gotten as negative as it did."

Congressional incumbents from Tennessee are rarely voted out of
office. Voters in the reliably Republican 1st District haven’t ousted
an incumbent congressman since 1930, and heavily Democratic Memphis
has consistently returned incumbents to the U.S. House since 1974.

Four of Tennessee’s congressional incumbents faced no primary
opposition Republican John Duncan of the 2nd District, and Democrats
Jim Cooper of the 5th, Bart Gordon of the 6th and John Tanner of
the 8th.

Republican Marsha Blackburn faced challenger Tom Leatherwood in the
7th District, while Republican Zach Wamp in the 3rd District and
Democrat Lincoln Davis in the 4th District faced only token opposition.

Cohen and Davis each won crowded primaries two years ago, Cohen with
33 percent and Davis with 22 percent.

The campaign between Davis, a health care business owner, and Roe,
a retired obstetrician/gynecologist, heated up toward the end, moving
from joint stump appearances to negative ads.

It started over political action committee money. Roe refused it and
personally loaned his campaign $250,000, though Davis charged many
of Roe’s contributors were special-interest donors physicians.

Roe ran a TV ad accusing Davis of selling out to "Big Oil" by accepting
money from industry PACs and backing legislation supporting offshore
drilling. Davis countered with radio ads denying he "pocketed"
oil money, accused Roe of deceptive campaign practices and said
"the voters of East Tennessee deserve better."

In Memphis, Tinker said her ad linking Cohen to the KKK for opposing
a 2005 effort to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford
Forrest "merely states the facts. I think the nation needs to know
Steve Cohen’s complete record."

Cohen, a former state senator with a long record as a civil rights
advocate, held a news conference at his home Wednesday to call the ad
and another accusing him of opposing school prayer acts of desperation.

The conference was interrupted by a cameraman who identified himself
as working for an Armenian-American citizens’ group. Cohen pushed the
man out of his house and called police. Peter Musurlian of Glendale,
Calif., said his group is supporting Tinker because Cohen opposed
a House resolution labeling the killing of Armenians in World War I
as genocide.

ARMENIAN POLICE DENIES REPORT OF MASS RESIGNATIONS

ArmInfo News Agency (in Russian)
Aug 7 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 7 August: Armenia’s Police has denied the report of mass
voluntary resignations from the Police, published by the Yerevan-based
[pro-opposition] Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper.

Such an allegation is groundless, the statement issued by the
press service of the Police said. In fact, a number of members of
staff have recently been dismissed for different reasons – due to
retirement or illness, or they actually voluntarily quit their jobs
in the Police. At the same time, the number of those willing to work
in the Police is several times greater than the number of those who
have quit. In conclusion, the press service of the Police advised
the paper to be more objective and conscientious.

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

PRESS RELEASE

August 8, 2008
Contact: Ani Garabedian

UPDATE: POLICE INVESTIGATE MEMPHIS CONGRESSMAN STEVE COHEN CLASH WITH
ARMENIAN AMERICAN JOURNALIST

— Cohen Forcibly Removed Reporter from Press Conference on Eve of
Democratic Primary

MEMPHIS, TN – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has
learned that Capitol Hill Police and local Memphis law enforcement
have launched separate investigations of Congressman Steve Cohen’s
forced removal of Armenian American journalist Peter Musurlian from an
August 6th press conference, reported Armenian National Committee of
America – Western Region (ANCA – Western Region).

Musurlian reportedly spoke with officers from the Memphis Police
Department as well as Capitol Hill police, describing Rep. Cohen’s
angry tirade and physical attack on the reporter. Memphis television
and radio stations provided extensive coverage of the altercation,
along with Rep. Cohen’s subsequent ethnic slurs directed at Armenian
Americans.

"Rep. Cohen’s violent and bizarre actions against Musurlian are, taken
in the most charitable light possible, conduct ill-befitting a Member
of Congress," stated ANCA Western Region Board Chairman Vicken
Sonentz-Papazian. "We know of at least two ongoing criminal
investigations and I suspect the House of Representatives will be
instituting disciplinary proceedings against Rep. Cohen for both his
criminal assault and defamatory remarks toward the Armenian American
community once Congress returns. Equally disturbing is Rep. Cohen’s
characterization of both Musurlian, a veteran of the U.S. Armed
Forces, and Armenian Americans as killers and assassins. This
incident raises serious question as to whether this man is fit to
remain a Member of Congress," concluded Sonentz-Papazian.

Musurlian, who served as a journalist for the U.S. Armed Forces
covering the conflicts in Bosnia and Croatia, traveled to Memphis to
document the days leading up to the August 7th Democratic primary
between first-term incumbent Steve Cohen and challenger, former civil
rights lawyer, Nikki Tinker, for LA based Horizon Armenian Television.
Musurlian works for a public access TV station in Burbank,
California, in addition to running his own production company,
Globalist Films.

Following a series of unanswered interview requests filed earlier this
week, Musurlian attended several Cohen public events on Tuesday
evening, documenting his campaign activities and looking for an
opportunity to speak with the Congressman. Musurlian’s efforts to
participate in a Wednesday press conference, hastily called by Cohen
at his own residence, were cut short when a volatile and clearly
agitated Cohen forcibly shoved Musurlian out the door, slamming it in
frustration. He then instructed his aides to throw Musurlian’s tripod
at the journalist.

Throughout the process, Cohen made disparaging references to
Musurlian’s ethnicity, referring to him repeatedly as "that Armenian
guy" and Armenian-Americans as "those Armenians," going so far as to
generalize Armenians as assassins and killers. "There have been
Armenians who assassinated and killed many people including people in
this country," stated Rep. Cohen, "and I don’t rest very comfortable
with one of these fellows coming into my home."

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.

Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

August 8, 2008
Contact: Ani Garabedian

ANCA-WR and Cong. Berman Discuss Genocide Denial in Universities

Van Nuys, CA – Members of the Armenian National Committee of America –
Western Region (ANCA-WR) met with long time friend and supporter
Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA-28) on August 5, 2008 to discuss
current issues relating to the Armenian American community.
Congressman Berman serves as Chairman of the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs (HCFA).

"The Armenian American community deeply appreciates Chairman Berman’s
keen awareness of and respect for human rights," stated ANCA-WR
Executive Director Andrew Kzirian. "We shall work closely with the
Chairman in the future to ensure that genocide denial has no place in
the United States," he added.

During the meeting the ANCA-WR expressed their appreciation to Berman
regarding the two hour hearing that he led on June 18, 2008, which
included over a dozen members of Congress questioning Assistant
Secretary Dan Fried on the U.S. policy of complicity in Armenian
Genocide denial, Turkey’s blockade, and Azerbaijan’s escalating
threats of war. The meeting set the tone for intense questioning of
Fried by Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-CA-33) over the Armenian
Genocide.

The hearing also served as prelude to a recent letter from the U.S.
State Department stating that the Ottoman government was responsible
for the acts of 1915. Additionally, the letter stated that a joint
project of archivists would be initiated from Armenia and Turkey to
study the history and preserve documents describing the Armenian
Genocide as it occurred by eyewitnesses and not to study whether
genocide occurred. This correspondence from the State department was
sent in response to requests from US Senators Boxer and Biden over the
nomination of Ambassador Yovanovitch to be the next U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia.

Attendees also shared their thoughts regarding the Turkish
government’s recent infiltration of American institutions of higher
education. The meeting participants discussed the Southern Poverty Law
Center’s recent feature on this phenomenon. Furthermore, the
Institute of Turkish Studies in Washington also was discussed as the
institute’s director resigned after the Turkish Ambassador reportedly
threatened to cut off funding for the program because the director
acknowledged the Armenian Genocide in a book review.

Among those present at the meeting were ANCA-WR Chairman Vicken
Sonentz-Papazian, ANCA-WR Board Member Avo Ovayan, ANCA-WR Executive
Director Andrew Kzirian, as well as ANCA-WR Interns Amy Kaladzhyan,
Shant Karnikian and Mikael Kourinian.

Berman represents northern areas of Hollywood, the eastern half of the
San Fernando Valley and the city of San Fernando. In 2007, Berman
served as a strong supporter of H. Res. 106, authoring a powerful dear
colleague letter espousing the Armenian Genocide resolution. The
letter discussed the classification of the Armenian Genocide as
historically accurate by the International Association of Genocide
Scholars and called for Turkey to recognize this crime against
humanity. On October 10, 2007, the HCFA passed H. Res. 106 by a vote
of 27-21, including supportive remarks by then-second ranking Democrat
Berman.

Berman has served in the House of Representatives since 1983
representing the 28th Congressional district of California. Born in
Los Angeles and educated at the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA), Berman was a lawyer and a member of the California State
Assembly from 1972-1983.

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.