Author: Antonian Lara

ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES NOT TO OBEY MUNICIPALITY’S CALL TO REFRAIN FROM HOLDING RALLIES

Aravot
Jan 18 2008
Armenia

No brochures and leaflets

[Presidential candidate and former foreign minister of the unrecognized
republic of Nagornyy Karabakh] Arman Melikyan yesterday [17 January]
presented his election manifesto in the Hayatsk club.

"Of course, there is a financial problem. But for the people who have
a belief work is more than brochures, leaflets and so on," he said.

Asked by Aravot who has been financing your election campaign, he
replied:" I do not expect much donations and I will not make big
expenses. Thus, this issue is not a priority for me." Melikyan also
does not trust results of opinion polls and believes that society’s
distrust in opinion polls stems from distrust in the authorities.

In the context of Armenia’s foreign ties, the following is the
candidate’s regional and geopolitical analysis: "The Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict is in reality what hinders the programmes of the European
Union in this region. This is why the European Union does not think
about the fair and legal settlement of the issue, and only thinks about
establishing peace in the region in order that communications open and
there will be no threat to them in future. I believe this is a very
serious threat to our strategic interests, as today’s negotiations
process does not include elements based on main concepts and principles
of human rights. I particularly mean the interests of the Armenians
of Azerbaijan [who used to live in Azerbaijan before the conflict]
and the issue of recognizing the right for self-determination of the
Nagornyy Karabakh republic [NKR]."

In response to the last statements by the [OSCE Minsk Group]
co-chairs that the sides could reach if not a written, at least
a verbal agreement in 2008, Melikyan said: "We have been hearing
similar statements for years. At the moment, they speak about the
verbal agreement as against the written one. Then who are signatories
to this agreement? A president will be replaced in Armenia and no
one can say what policy the next president will carry out in regard
to the NKR issue."

If elected president, Melikyan says he will try to proceed from the
logic of the issue back in 1988 [when the conflict started] and to
find the settlement from the point of view of human rights. Asked
by Aravot: you are constantly speaking about the rights of Armenian
refugees, what do you think about Azerbaijani refuges, Melikyan said
:"A refugee is a refugee, but in regard to the Azerbaijanis one should
realize what part of them can be considered refugees?

Armenians faced violence in Azerbaijan and were expelled starting
from cases in Sumqayit [killings of Armenians in the town of Sumqayit
in 1988], and violence against Azerbaijanis in Armenia was recorded
starting from the end of 1988. But most part of them left Armenia
much earlier, by the way under conditions beneficial for them –
they [Azerbaijani refugees] exchanged their basic property here with
quite good apartments in Baku and Kirovabad [former name of the city
of Ganca]. In addition, they also received compensation from the
Armenian government, I believe 110m dollars. So, see the problem of
the 500,000-strong "army" of the Armenian refugees, and the problem
of the 160,000 Azerbaijanis who used to live in Armenia."

Arman Melikyan raised this issue before international institutions
when he was NKR foreign minister. But this point of view received no
reaction as "they [international institutions] do not have an answer
to this question and will not answer to it as long as Armenia does
not raise it officially," he said.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER: I AM READY TO SERVE MY COUNTRY RESPONSIBLY, BUT I NEED NATION’S SUPPORT IN IT

arminfo
2008-02-04 19:27:00

ArmInfo. "I am ready to serve my country responsibly, but I need the
nation’s support in it", Armenian Prime Minister, Leader of Republican
Party of Armenia, presidential candidate Serzh Sargsyan said at his
meeting with voters of Avan community in Yerevan, February 4.

According to the premier, he has a distinct program of the country’s
development. "I have passed a difficult path, I know very well what
is necessary for full development of Armenia", he emphasized. "Every
time I visit Avan community with special feeling, as my friend
Andranik Markaryan lived here. I am sure, were Andranik with us,
he would be proud of his country", S. Sargsyan said. He emphasized
that he will allow regress neither in economy nor in democracy and
human rights. "I assure you that our program is a real one, and we
will be able to implement it", he said

OIC "CONDEMNS" ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.02.2008 12:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The final declaration of the Cairo meeting of the
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) declared "the Turkish Cypriot
State," after intensive lobbying by the Turkish delegation.

"OIC member states are invited to prove their effective solidarity with
the Turkish Cypriot State and continue close relations to help it to
overcome the isolations," said the declaration of the 5th Conference
of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Conference
Member States.

The declaration also touched upon the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. It
condemned the "Armenian occupation on parts of Azerbaijan", and the
pressure and discrimination against Turkish minorities living in
Western Thrace, Greece, The New Anatolian reports.

US AZERBAIJANIS TO SUPPORT JOHN MCCAIN IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Azeri Press Agency
Feb 4 2008
Azerbaijan

US Azeris Network (USAN) stated that they will support republican
candidate John McCain in the presidential elections, APA’s US bureau
reports.

According to the USAN’s statement the organization brings together
US Azerbaijanis and other Turkish-speaking American citizens.

"400,000-men Azerbaijani community especially in California, New York,
New Jersey and Texas and other Turkish-speaking communities intend
to appear as a new force," the statement says.

USAN notes the candidate’s features, his experience in foreign policy
and military sphere and legislative initiatives, and underlines that
McCain is informed about the South Caucasus, Caspian basin and post
Soviet countries, visited Turkey and Azerbaijan, prefers the principle
of territorial integrity in Nagorno Karabakh problem and has unbiased
position on the so-called Armenian genocide.

Republican candidate also supports Azerbaijan’s integration into
Euro-Atlantic space in terms of economy and security.

BENITA FERRERO-WALDNER: EU DOES NOT REGARD BAKU-TBILISI-KARS RAILWAY AS A TRANSPORT ROUTE HAVING AN INCLUSIVE AND "REGIONAL" CHARACTER

Azeri Press Agency
Feb 4 2008
Azerbaijan

European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood
Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner interviewed by APA

– What is the main purpose of the EU Troika visit to the South
Caucasus?

– The EU Troika will have a broad discussion with Azerbaijani
authorities on issues of common interest, such as the implementation
of the ENP Action Plan, human rights and elections, frozen conflicts
in the region, regional cooperation and energy.

– What necessitates the opening of the EU Delegation in Azerbaijan?

– The Commission Delegation in Baku will be inaugurated during
the EU Troika visit. We are confident that, thanks to the presence
of a Commission office in Baku, we will be able to strengthen our
relations with Azerbaijan and facilitate our contacts, including the
implementation of assistance projects aimed at supporting the full
implementation of the ENP Action Plan.

– Why doesn’t the European Commission, which does not support the
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project, make Armenia, the ENP country,
set free the occupied territories of Azerbaijan?

-As regards the railway, the Commission has always stressed that
it would support both politically and financially, transport routes
having an inclusive and "regional" character. This does not seem to be
the case of the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway, at the least for the time
being. Concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Commission fully
supports the efforts being made in the context of the OSCE Minsk Group
to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. The Commission has been
inviting both Armenia and Azerbaijan to participate in more regional
cooperation initiatives, which can gradually build confidence between
the two sides and facilitate the conclusion of a peace agreement.

– The EU was expected to cooperate with the GUAM…

– GUAM is a regional organisation with which the European Commission
has relations and links and a certain amount of coordination is
taking place.

-Is the EU support to Azerbaijan for WTO accession included in
certain projects?

– The EU supports Azerbaijan in her accession bid to the WTO, through
projects and dialogue. We hope that Azerbaijan will soon join the WTO,
but this is a question of obtaining a consensus among WTO members
and that is difficult to predict.

A WTO component has been included into the previous TACIS Project
"Support to Implementation of PCA".

– How does the EU assess the Odessa-Brodi-Gdansk-Plotsk oil pipeline?

– The European Commission continues to support the Odessa-Brody-Plotsk
project, including through a financial assistance which prepared a
feasibility studies for the extension to Poland.

Therefore we welcome that Azerbaijan and other countries are involved
in this important project. In addition, the Azeri involvement through a
joint project of a refinery to be located in Ukraine, will contribute
to enhancing the energy supplies in this region and Azerbaijan’s full
participation in the EU energy market.

– Will the European Commission financially support the Trans-Caucasus
oil and gas pipelines and the Nabucco project?

– The Trans-Caspian and Nabucco project continue to feature as priority
projects for EU efforts to diversify our energy supplies.

More generally, the European Commission is supportive of those pipeline
projects that prove to be economically and environmentally viable. The
extended mandate of the European Investment Bank, covering also
south Caucasus countries, is now ready to finance also infrastructure
projects as well as other financial institutions.

-Which measures does the EU take for peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, one of ten priorities of the Action Plan?

As I said, the EU fully supports the OSCE Minsk Group in its mediation
efforts and urges both Armenia and Azerbaijan to find a rapid,
peaceful and mutually acceptable agreement. What the Commission can
do in this context is to help to improve the preconditions for the
peace deal and the environment in which it should occur. Therefore,
the Commission has been inviting both Armenia and Azerbaijan to
participate in more regional cooperation initiatives, which can
gradually build confidence between the two sides and facilitate the
conclusion of a peace agreement.

THOUSANDS RALLY FOR ARMENIAN OPPOSITION CANDIDATE

Agence France Presse — English
February 3, 2008 Sunday 5:21 PM GMT

Thousands of Armenians took to the streets of the capital Yerevan on
Sunday to show their support for opposition presidential candidate
Artur Baghdasarian ahead of elections on February 19.

Baghdasarian, the leader of the Country of Law party and a former
speaker of parliament, used his address to the crowd to criticise
President Robert Kocharian’s government over corruption and social
and economic problems.

"If I become president, I will double salaries and pensions, create
100,000-150,000 new jobs, cancel obligatory military service to
make the army professional and reduce taxes," Baghdasarian, 39,
told the crowd.

Thousands travelled to the capital from outlying regions to support
Baghdasarian, who polls show is running a distant second to Kocharian’s
hand-picked successor, Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian.

Organisers said that around 100,000 people were present but media
reports said the total number was significantly less. Police declined
to give an estimate.

"Our country needs a young and educated leader, who many can connect
with their future. Artur Baghdasarian could be such a president,"
said Gegam Kazarian, a 25-year-old builder from the city of Abovian.

Sarkisian is facing eight opponents in the race, including
Baghdasarian, former president Levon Ter-Petrosian and the deputy
speaker of parliament, Vahan Hovhannisian.

After two five-year terms in office, Kocharian is constitutionally
barred from seeking re-election.

An ex-Soviet republic bordered by Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Turkey,
Armenia remains mired in poverty despite enjoying record economic
growth in recent years.

A1+

`I SHALL NEVER STAND BEFORE ARMENIANS WITH A HANGING HEAD’
[05:24 pm] 01 February, 2008

Residents of Malatsia-Sebastia community received
presidential candidate Serzh Sarkissian rather
`coldly’ today.

Probably, the main reason for it was that most of the
presentees were schoolchildren who had rather come to
see their favourite singers than get familiarized with
Serzh Sarkissian’s pre-election programme.

One could also see employees of Malatsia fair among
the presentees who had been forced to attend the
meeting.

Armenian pop-singers entertained the presentees before
Serzh Sarkissian’s addressing speech. When finally the
Prime Minister showed up, the crowd began dispersing.

The Prime Minister said he had never dodged
responsibility and would never shirk it. `I shall
never stand with a hanging head before the Armenian
people,’ he said.

Afterwards, Serzh Sarkissian presented some economic
figures. `Armenia’s external debt mounts one milliard
360 million dollars today.’

According to the Prime Minister the sum is not great
if compared with those of other countries.

The Prime minister reiterated that `there is only one
official of Karabakh decent in Armenia.’ `To tell the
truth, the Artsakh people may scold me for my stance.
But they know quite well that while designating
someone I take into account two
characteristics-professional skills and humane
qualities.

The Prime Minister’s speech was occasionally
interrupted by shouts, `Onward, Armenia!’

FIRST BENCHMARKING BONDS IN ARMENIA TO BE ISSUED BY FINANCE MINISTRY

ARKA News Agency
Feb 1 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, January 31. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Ministry of Finance and Economy
announced about the upcoming placements of the first benchmarking
mid-term and long-term government (treasury) coupon bonds.

The first tranche of three-year bonds of AMGN36052110 series for
total of 3.5bln Drams is to be placed on February 5, the Press Service
of the Central Bank of Armenia reported. Five-year government bonds
of AMGN60052135 series for 3bln Drams are to be issued on February
12. The total volume of the expected placement is to make 20bln Drams
(annual coupon yield set at 7.5%) and 30bln Drams (8.5% annual yield)
respectively.

The Ministry of Finance also reported the expected placement of
long-term government bonds on February 7 (AMGB10072186 series with
redemption period of 10 years) and on February 14 (AMGB20072283
series, 20-year redemption period) for 3.5bln Drams and 4bln Drams
respectively. The total volume of the first expected placement is to
make 50bln Drams (10% annual coupon yield) and total volume of the
second series to be placed – 80bln Drams (11% annual yield). For
mid-term bonds redemption dates are 05.02.11 and 05.02.13, for
long-term bonds redemption is scheduled for 07.02.18 and 07.02.28
respectively.

Coupon payments for all bonds are to be made once every half a year.

The minimum demand volume is set at 10,000 with one step being
1,000Drams multiplied by the number of coupons in circulation.

The peculiar feature of benchmarking bonds is that during the
primary placement only agency can take part in auctions and the
tranches on placement of bonds can be effected by the final date of
the redemption. The secondary issue can be effected on both stock
market and off-floor market. The secondary circulation of the new
sort of bonds is expected to promote intensification of auctions in
the Armenian Stock Exchange.

Currently the following five Armenian banks are agents allowed to
participate in primary placement of government (treasury) bonds –
Conversebank, Ardshininvestbank, Araratbank, Armswissbank and HSBC
Bank Armenia. ($1=306.84Drams).

XENOPHOBIC CRIMES INCREASE POSSIBLE IN 2008 IN RUSSIA – HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

Russia & CIS General Newswire
January 30, 2008 Wednesday 10:58 AM MSK

Fourteen people have been killed in xenophobia-driven crimes in Russia
since the beginning of the year, Alexander Brod, director of the Moscow
Human Rights Bureau and a member of the Public Chamber, told Interfax.

"No fewer than 25 xenophobic attacks and fights, in which 14 people
were killed and no fewer than 20 were wounded, have occurred in
January," Brod said referring to results of an assessment by his
human rights organization.

The Moscow region, St. Petersburg and Togliatti are the "leaders"
in terms of the number of crimes, he said.

Four resident of Uzbekistan, two of Tajikistan, two of Kyrgyzstan,
two of Turkey, one of Dagestan, and one of Armenia were killed in
such attacks in 2008, Brod said.

"The number of crimes proves that the activity of radical nationalists
will remain high in 2008 and will probably exceed the sad record from
last year as to the number of killed and injured in xenophobic crimes,"
Brod said.

The Sova analytical center, another human rights organization,
highlighted its concerns about the growing number of xenophobic crimes
a day earlier.

Activists of the center presented the 2007 report, according to which
69 were killed and some 600 were injured in 39 Russian regions.

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
January 30, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA ENDORSES OBAMA IN DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

"America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully
about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully
to all genocides. I intend to be that President."
— Barack Obama

— Announcement on Republican Candidates Expected Soon

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
today endorsed Barack Obama as the Democratic candidate best
positioned to bring fundamental change to how the United States
addresses issues of special concern to Armenian American voters.

"The Armenian National Committee of America is proud today to
endorse Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for President of
the United States," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "Based on
his strong record in office, his bold statements as a candidate,
and our judgment as to the policies he will pursue as President, we
believe that, among a strong field of Democratic candidates,
Senator Obama will best reflect the views and values of Armenian
American voters."

The official announcement came during a press conference held at
the ANCA Western Region headquarters, featuring remarks by Obama
supporters, Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) and L.A. City Council
President Eric Garcetti as well as ANCA National Board Member Raffi
Hamparian and Armenians for Obama Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian.

Barack Obama: The choice for change

In a powerful statement, issued on January 20th, Senator Obama
voiced his strong support for passage of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution (H.Res.106 & S.Res.106) currently before Congress, and
pledged that, as President, he will recognize the Armenian
Genocide.

The Presidential hopeful also reaffirmed his support for a strong
"U.S.-Armenian relationship that advances our common security and
strengthens Armenian democracy." Unlike other Democratic
candidates, he also pledged to "promote Armenian security by
seeking an end to the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, and by
working for a lasting and durable settlement of the Nagorno
Karabagh conflict that is agreeable to all parties, and based upon
America’s founding commitment to the principles of democracy and
self determination."

The key elements of the Obama record that led to the ANCA
endorsement include the following:

* Public criticism of the Bush Administration for firing
former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans over his
truthful remarks recognizing the Armenian Genocide. He has
publicly asserted that, "An official policy that calls on
diplomats to distort the historical facts is an untenable
policy."

* Strong support for the passage of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution currently before Congress, in his capacity as
Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relions Subcommittee on
European Affairs.

* A written pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide as
President, clearly spelling out his "firmly held conviction
that the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal
opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented
fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical
evidence. The facts are undeniable."

* A commitment to ending the cycle of genocide. He has
said, on the record, that, "America deserves a leader who
speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds
forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that
President."

* Letters to President Bush urging him to properly
recognize the Armenian Genocide and a record of defending
that position, when challenged. While visiting Azerbaijan
in August 2005, in response to media inquiries about why he
signed these letters, Senator Obama publicly defended his
decision by stating that the Armenian Genocide was a
historical fact.

* Commitment to promoting Armenia’s security "by seeking
an end to the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades."

* Support for "a lasting and durable settlement of the
Nagorno Karabagh conflict that is agreeable to all parties,
and based upon America’s founding commitment to the
principles of democracy and self determination."

The full text of Senator Obama’s statement is provided below:

Barack Obama on the Importance of US-Armenia Relations

JANUARY 19, 2008

I am proud of my strong record on issues of concern to the
one and a half million Americans of Armenian heritage in
the United States. I warmly welcome the support of this
vibrant and politically active community as we change how
our government works here at home, and restore American
leadership abroad.

I am a strong supporter of a U.S.-Armenian relationship
that advances our common security and strengthens Armenian
democracy. As President, I will maintain our assistance to
Armenia, which has been a reliable partner in the fight
against terrorism and extremism. I will promote Armenian
security by seeking an end to the Turkish and Azerbaijani
blockades, and by working for a lasting and durable
settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict that is
agreeable to all parties, and based upon America’s founding
commitment to the principles of democracy and self
determination. And my Administration will help foster
Armenia’s growth and development through expanded trade and
targeted aid, and by strengthening the commercial,
political, military, developmental, and cultural
relationships between the U.S. and Armenian governments.

I also share with Armenian Americans – so many of whom are
descended from genocide survivors – a principled commitment
to commemorating and ending genocide. That starts with
acknowledging the tragic instances of genocide in world
history. As a U.S. Senator, I have stood with the Armenian
American community in calling for Turkey’s acknowledgement
of the Armenian Genocide. Two years ago, I criticized the
Secretary of State for the firing of U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia, John Evans, after he properly used the term
"genocide" to describe Turkey’s slaughter of thousands of
Armenians starting in 1915. I shared with Secretary Rice my
firmly held conviction that the Armenian Genocide is not an
allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but
rather a widely documented fact supported by an
overwhelming body of historical evidence. The facts are
undeniable. An official policy that calls on diplomats to
distort the historical facts is an untenable policy. As a
senator, I strongly support passage of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106), and as
President I will recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Genocide, sadly, persists to this day, and threatens our
common security and common humanity. Tragically, we are
witnessing in Sudan many of the same brutal tactics –
displacement, starvation, and mass slaughter – that were
used by the Ottoman authorities against defenseless
Armenians back in 1915. I have visited Darfurian refugee
camps, pushed for the deployment of a robust multinational
force for Darfur, and urged divestment from companies doing
business in Sudan. America deserves a leader who speaks
truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds
forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President.

I look forward, as President, to continuing my active
engagement with Armenian American leaders on the full range
of issues of concern to the Armenian American community.
Together, we will build, in new and exciting ways, upon the
enduring ties and shared values that have bound together
the American and Armenian peoples for more than a century.

Sen. Obama’s statement on U.S.-Armenia relations is available on
the official campaign website at:
bama_on_the_importance.php

ANCA Outreach to Candidates:

In recent weeks, the ANCA has invited each of the candidates to
share their views on Armenian Americans issues, and to comment on
both the growing relationship between the U.S. and Armenian
governments and the enduring bonds between the American and
Armenian peoples. Questionnaires sent to the candidates have
invited them to respond to a set of 19 questions, including those
addressing: affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, U.S.-Armenia
economic, political, and military relations, self-determination for
Nagorno Karabagh, the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, and the
genocide in Darfur.

The other two leading Democratic candidates, Senator Hillary
Clinton (D-NY) and former Senator John Edwards (D-NC), are friends
of the Armenian American community, and have each reached out in
substantive ways to Armenian American voters. Either one, if
nominated, would represent candidacies offering a profound
improvement over the policies of the current Administration.

On January 24th, four days after the Obama statement, Senator
Hillary Clinton, who is a cosponsor of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution (S.Res. 106), issued a forceful statement calling for
Congressional passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution and
pledging that, as President, she will recognize the Armenian
Genocide. Her statement, welcomed by the ANCA, stressed that, "Our
common morality and our nation’s credibility as a voice or human
rights challenge us to ensure that the Armenian Genocide be
recognized and remembered by the Congress and the President of the
United States." As a Senator, Hillary Clinton has, since 2002,
cosponsored successive Armenian Genocide resolutions. She joined
Senate colleagues in cosigning letters to President Bush in 2005
and 2006 urging him to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

In a January 24th letter to the ANCA, John Edwards voiced support
for the passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, within the
context of a diplomatic effort to assure the Turkish government
that the legislation is not aimed at present day Turkey, but rather
the atrocities committed by the Ottoman Empire. As a Senator, John
Edwards cosponsored successive Armenian Genocide Resolutions
beginning in 2002. He also supported Section 907 restrictions on
U.S. aid to Azerbaijan due to its ongoing blockades of Armenia and
Nagorno Karabagh.

The ANCA has been reaching out to each of the leading Republican
candidates and hopes to issue a statement on the GOP primaries in
the near future.

ANCA Presidential endorsements, in both the primary and general
elections, are offered against the backdrop of several decades of
disappointing experiences, during which Presidents, while running
for office, have affirmed the Armenian Genocide to win hearts and
minds among Armenian American voters, only to retreat from this
recognition once in the White House and aggressively pressure the
U.S. Congress from properly commemorating the very same crime
against humanity they once condemned as candidates.

The Armenian American Vote:

Armenian Americans, in key primary states and throughout the
country, represent a motivated and highly networked constituency of
more than one and a half million citizens. The ANCA mobilizes
Armenian American voters through a network of over 50 chapters and
a diverse array of affiliates, civic advocates, and supporters
nationwide. ANCA mailings reach over a quarter of a million homes,
and, with the addition of internet outreach, updates and action
alerts reach well over 350,000 households. The ANCA website, which
features election coverage from an Armenian American point of view,
attracts over 100,000 unique visits a month. The ANCA also has
broad reach to Armenian American voters via a sophisticated media
operation of newspapers, regional cable shows, satellite TV, blogs,
and internet news sites.

Along with its Presidential endorsements, in both the Primary and
General elections, the ANCA reminded Armenian Americans that their
ability to impact policy-level decision-making depends, first and
foremost, on the continued expansion of advocacy efforts at all
levels of government. The ANCA’s Congressional endorsements, which
will be announced later this year, will represent an important
element of this process by providing Armenian American voters with
the information they need to solidify the strong, bipartisan
support our community enjoys in Congress.

As always, the ANCA welcomes feedback on its service to the
Armenian American community. Please forward your thoughts and
suggestions about the 2008 Presidential election by email to
[email protected].

The need for change: The Bush Administration’s record

The pressing need for fundamental change in how the United States
addresses issues of special concern to Armenian Americans is
highlighted by a review of the current Administration’s record in
twelve key areas:

1) Broken campaign pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide

Almost immediately after taking office, President Bush
abandoned his campaign pledge to recognize the Armenian
Genocide. Rather than honor this promise, the President
has, in his annual April 24th statements, used evasive and
euphemistic terminology to avoid describing Ottoman
Turkey’s systematic and deliberate destruction of the
Armenian people by its proper name – the Armenian Genocide.
Moreover, the Administration has echoed the Turkish
government’s denial by claiming that the Armenian Genocide,
one of the most studied genocides of the 20th century,
"should be a matter of historical inquiry, not
legislation." On October 17, 2007, after the House Foreign
Affairs Committee passed the Armenian Genocide Resolution,
President Bush argued that, "one thing Congress should not
be doing is sorting out the historical record of the
Ottoman Empire," claiming there was "more important work to
do."

2) Opposition to the Congressional Genocide Resolution

The Bush Administration, throughout its tenure, has actively sought
to block the adoption of the Genocide Resolution in both the House
and Senate. As recently as October of last year, the President
spoke to the national media from the White House, on more than one
occasion, against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and
personally lobbied Members of Congress to prevent the commemoration
of this crime.

3) The Evans firing and the Hoagland nominations

The Bush Administration fired U.S. Ambassador John Evans, a career
Foreign Service officer with 35 years of experience, simply for
speaking truthfully about the Armenian Genocide. Despite numerous
Congressional inquiries, his Administration continuously attempted
to cover up the true reasons for Evans’ removal and the Turkish
government’s protests over his statements. When the American
Foreign Service Association (AFSA) awarded John Evans the Christian
Herter prize for constructive dissent, Administration officials
forced AFSA to rescind the award just days before Turkish President
Erdogan came to Washington, DC to meet with President Bush.

The President’s nominee to replace Ambassador Evans, Dick Hoagland,
denied the Armenian Genocide in response to Senate inquiries during
his confirmation process. After being blocked by a Senatorial
"hold" placed by Robert Menendez in the 109th Congress, the
President again nominated Ambassador Hoagland, only to have this
nomination blocked once again on the grounds that a diplomat who
denies the Armenian Genocide cannot serve effectively as the U.S.
representative to Armenia.

4) The Waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act

The Bush Administration, in 2001, aggressively pressured Congress
into granting the President the authority to waive Section 907, a
provision of law that bars aid to the government of Azerbaijan
until it lifts its blockades of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh.
President Bush has subsequently used this authority to provide
direct aid, including military assistance, to the government of
Azerbaijan, despite their continued violation of the provisions of
this law.

5) Reduction in aid to Armenia

In the face of the devastating, multi-billion dollar impact of the
Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades on the Armenian economy,
President Bush has, in each of his years in office, proposed to
Congress that Freedom Support Act humanitarian and developmental
aid to Armenia be reduced.

6) Abandonment of the Military Aid Parity Agreement

The Bush Administration abandoned its November 2001 agreement with
Congress and the Armenian American community to maintain even
levels of military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan. In successive
budgets submitted to Congress, the President effectively sought to
tilt the regional military balance in favor of Azerbaijan,
undermining the role of the U.S. as an impartial mediator, despite
Azerbaijan’s increasingly violent threats of renewed aggression.

7) Mistaken Listing of Armenia as a Terrorist Country

The Bush Administration sought, unsuccessfully, in December of 2002
to place Armenia on an Immigration and Naturalization Service watch
list for terrorist countries. This obvious error was reversed only
after a nation-wide protest campaign. Neither the White House nor
the Department of Justice has apologized for the offense caused by
this mistake.

8) Lack of U.S.-Armenia Presidential visitations

The President neither visited Armenia nor did he invite the
President of Armenia to visit the United States, despite similar
visits by the leaders of Georgia and Azerbaijan.

9) Failure to maintain a balanced policy on Nagorno Karabagh

The Bush Administration, to its credit, took an early initiative to
help resolve the Nagorno Karabagh issue in the form of the Key West
summit meeting in 2001 between Secretary of State Powell and the
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. After Azerbaijan’s failure to
honor its Key West commitments, however, the Administration failed
to hold Azerbaijan accountable for unilaterally stalling the
Nagorno Karabagh peace process.

10) Taxpayer financing of the Baku-Ceyhan bypass of Armenia

The Bush Administration supported American taxpayer subsidies for
the politically motivated Baku-Ceyhan pipeline route that, at the
insistence of Turkey and Azerbaijan, bypassed Armenia.

11) Refusal to pressure Turkey and Azerbaijan to end their
blockades

The Bush Administration has not forcefully condemned the Turkish
and Azerbaijani blockades as clear violations of international law,
nor, outside of occasional public statements, has it taken any
meaningful steps to pressure the Turkish or Azerbaijani governments
to end their illegal border closures.

12) Neglect of relations with the Armenian American community

Breaking with the tradition of the last several Administrations,
the Bush White House failed to reach out in any meaningful way to
our nation’s one and a half million citizens of Armenian heritage.
While the State Department, Pentagon and National Security Council
maintained their long-standing, policy-level dialogue with the
Armenian American community leadership, the White House itself
essentially neglected Armenian Americans as a civic constituency.