ANCA VOICES OPPOSITION TO U.S. STRIKES AGAINST SYRIA
ANCA opposes US strikes against Syria
Urges Congress to Oppose Legislation Authorizing Escalation of
Violence; Launches ANCA SmartMail Campaign to Share Armenian American
Community Concerns
WASHINGTON-The Armenian National Committee of America, citing the
Armenian American community’s profound concern for the fate of Syria’s
Armenian population and the welfare of all of Syria’s citizens,
circulated letters Wednesday across Capitol Hill calling on Members
of the U.S. House and Senate to oppose legislation authorizing U.S.
strikes against Syria.
“As our nation’s elected representatives gather this week to consider
potential U.S. actions against Syrian targets, we wish to add our
voice, as Americans of Armenian heritage, to those of our fellow
citizens who oppose American military strikes and are against any
escalation of violence. Such an escalation would very likely create
further challenges and lead to serious additional harm to Christian
communities, including Syria’s Armenian minority,” said ANCA Chairman
Ken Hachikian in letters to U.S. legislators. “We take this stand
mindful of the horrific human suffering that armed conflict has
already visited across Syria, including the death and destruction
being endured, to this day, by Armenians and other Christian
communities. There has already been too much bloodshed, too much
brutality, and too much suffering. An escalation in aggression can
neither save lives nor help bring about peace.”
The ANCA message went on to stress that, “We believe that the
advancement of our national interests, the enhancement of U.S.
standing, the strengthening of the international rule-of-law system,
and the promotion of stability and humanitarian and democratic
values in this vital region, will not be facilitated by American
attacks. We look to our government to seek a diplomatic settlement,
and to reinforce our nation’s call upon all parties to cease any
attacks on civilians, to limit armed operations to military targets,
and to refrain from violence, intimidation, and discrimination against
Christians and other vulnerable minorities.”
As a follow up to longstanding ANCA advocacy for effective, needs-based
delivery of humanitarian aid to Armenian and all at-risk populations,
Hachikian noted that Armenian Americans “remain troubled that,
despite the expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars, serious
gaps remain in terms of U.S.-supplied and funded relief aid actually
reaching at-risk Armenian and other minority populations, in Aleppo
and throughout Syria.”
He added that ” Equally troubling has been the very limited U.S.
support for landlocked and blockaded Armenia’s efforts to support
and resettle thousands fleeing the Syria crisis. We urge you, in
cooperation with your colleagues and our community (which is very
actively engaged in relief efforts), to work with the Administration
to urgently address these shortcomings.”
An action alert, based on the ANCA website, provides an opportunity
for community members to send a similar message to their U.S.
Representatives and Senators.
http://asbarez.com/113541/anca-voices-opposition-to-u-s-strikes-against-syria/