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
July 21, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ANCA WELCOMES ARMENIAN CAUCUS COCHAIR MARK KIRK’S U.S. SENATE BID
Washington, DC – Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
National Board member Ari Killian joined with some 100 friends and
supporters to rally support for Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-
Chair Mark Kirk’s (R-IL) bid for the Illinois U.S. Senate seat once
held by President Obama, reported the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA).
With the backdrop of his boyhood home in Kenilworth, Kirk pledged
to "restore ethics and integrity to Illinois government," and
focused on the economy and ending the war in Iraq. During his
remarks, Rep. Kirk also expressed his appreciation to the Armenian
American community for its steadfast support throughout his nearly
decade-long service in the House and the importance of genocide
recognition.
In 2000, the ANCA endorsed Rep. Kirk in a hotly contested twelve-
person Republican primary, and he has subsequently been reelected
to serve the people of Illinois’ 10th congressional district with
the full engagement of ANCA activists in Illinois.
"Rep. Kirk has been an outspoken champion of Armenian American
concerns," stated Killian. "As a member of the Subcommittee on
State, Foreign Operations and as the Republican cochair of the
Armenian Caucus, he has worked tirelessly for U.S. recognition of
the Armenian Genocide, advocating for strong levels of foreign aid
for Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, and seeking an end to
Azerbaijan’s warmongering over Nagorno Karabagh".
Rep. Kirk began his career on the staff of his predecessor, John
Porter, who along with Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) co-founded the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues in 1995. He later served in
the World Bank, the State Department, the law firm of Baker &
McKenzie, and the U.S. House International Relations Committee.
Rep. Kirk, who holds the rank of Commander, is a Naval Reserve
intelligence officer and has served during conflicts in
Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti, and Bosnia. The U.S. Navy named Kirk
"Intelligence Officer of the Year" in 1999 for his combat service
in Kosovo.
Representing the largest Armenian American constituency in
Illinois, Rep. Kirk has been a strong advocate on behalf of core
community concerns. He is a lead sponsor of H. Res. 252, the
Armenian Genocide resolution, and serves on the Subcommittee on
State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs of the Committee on
Appropriations, where he worked with his colleagues to adopt
language strengthening Section 907 restrictions on U.S. assistance
to Azerbaijan.
In appreciation of his ongoing support of Armenian American
concerns, Rep. Kirk was recently presented with the "Spirit of
Armenia" award by His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan at the
2009 National Representative Assembly of the Eastern Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America.