Qatar News Agency
September 21, 2005 Wednesday 9:12 AM EST
EMIR SENDS CABLE OF CONGRATULATIONS TO PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA
Doha, September 21
H.H. THE EMIR SHEIKH HAMAD BIN KHALIFA AL THANI SENT A CABLE OF
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA ON THE OCCASION OF HIS
COUNTY S NATIONAL DAY.
H.H. THE DEPUTY EMIR AND HEIR APPARENT SHEIKH TAMIM BIN HAMAD AL
THANI SENT A CABLE TO THE PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA CONGRATULATING HIM ON
THE OCCASION.
Noyan Tapan News Agency
Sept 21 2005
ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER APPRECIATES UAE’S BALANCED FOREIGN POLICY
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The delegation
headed by Doctor Sultan ben Mohammad al-Kasimi, the emir sheikh of
Sharzha and a member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), was received on September 20 by the RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian.
Expressing satisfaction at Armenia’s current relations with many Arab
states, including the UAE, the sides pointed out such achievements
registered in recent years as the activization of high-level mutual
visits, the signing of several dozens of agreements on cooperation in
various spheres, the existing mutually beneficial cooperation within
the framework of international organizations, and the holding of
regular diplomatic consultations. They underlined that the friendship
and cultural and trade links between the Armenian and Arab peoples
that have deep historical roots are greatly conducive to the
development of bilateral relations and international contacts.
A. Margarian appreciated the balanced foreign policy conducted by the
UAE at both the regional and international levels.
The interlocuters indicated education, science, culture, tourism, and
the export of agricultural products as the most perspective spheres
regarding the relations between the two countries. The Prime Minister
expressed a confidence that the current visit of Sultan al-Kasimi, as
well as Sharzha Culture Days being held now in Armenia will become a
new stimulus for developing the cooperation and promoting the
cultural, scientific and educational contacts between the two
countries and allowing their peoples to better understand each other.
A. Margarian attached importance to the establishment of the Arab
Cultural Center in Armenia, expressing gratitude to Sultan al-Kasimi
for his willingness to participate in its financing. He also thanked
the emir of Sharzha for allocating a land area in Sharzha in 1995 for
the purpose of building an Armenian church, which has been the only
one in the UAE so far.
According to the RA Government Information and PR Department, the
sides also addressed the issue of opening the UAE’s embassy in
Armenia. Noting that Armenia opened its embassy in Abu Dhabi as far
back as 2000, A. Margarian expressed a hope that the UAE’s government
will also establish its embassy in Yerevan in the near futiure,
especially as a land plot has already been allocated for this purpose
by the Armenian side.
PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
September 21, 2005
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II
CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS
ON THE OCCASION OF ARMENIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY
September 21, 2005
We extend greetings and blessings from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to
all our sons and daughters in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora,
congratulating them on the festive occasion of Independence Day of the
Republic of Armenia.
A new page opened in our history on September 21, 1991 – a day blessed by
God, whose great sacred mystery will be celebrated and commemorated by our
succeeding generations.
Our people did not yield to the difficulties and sacrifices of the
liberation struggle for Artsakh, the earthquake and the blockade; rather
with one heart and one will defended the right to live free without
hesitation. We have passed through a difficult yet ascending pathway on the
journey to create our new life and new statehood, a course which will become
broader and brighter through the united efforts, faith, devotion and love of
our people.
We shall nurture each day of free Armenia, for the sake of the development
and prosperity of our Motherland, in the name of the unified and glorious
future for all Armenians.
We offer prayers and wishes to heaven, that the Lord protect the Republic of
Armenia under His Fatherly Right Hand, and keep our people filled with grace
and reinforced with faith, to live and work for the love and glory of our
homeland.
May the grace, love and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us and will
all.
Noyan Tapan News Agency
Sept 19 2005
ALEXANDER ISKANDARIAN: STATEMENTS OF AZERI AUTHORITIES ABOUT INCREASE
IN MILITARY BUDGET ARE MADE INTENTIONALLY ON THRESHOLD OF ELECTIONS
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. “I think that the military budget
of Azerbaijan doesn’t pose any danger for us. It’s quite obvious that
its increase isn’t aimed at war with us,” Alexander Iskandarian,
Director of Caucasian Media Institute, declared in his interview to
Noyan Tapan’s correspondent, answering the question, how Azerbaijan’s
military budget amounting to 600 mln USD will go with the agreement
“On Reduction of Conventional Armament in Europe.”
Quite recently Azeri President Ilham Aliyev declared that Azerbaijan
intends to increase its military budget up to the level of Armenia’s
total budget. In particular, Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan lives
in conditions of a war, that’s why its attention to the army must be
at the highest level. Namely, Azerbaijan’s 2006 budget envisages to
increase expenditures on defence up to 600 mln USD instead of 300 mln
USD allocated for the current year.
Alexander Iskandarian doubted of adoption of the budget in the
above-mentioned amount. “If it is even adopted, obviously, a
considerable part from this money, if not the most part, will be
lootted.”
Besides, according to him, military budget isn’t an exactly defined
notion, it may include both expenditures on buying of rubber arms and
shields for dispersal of demonstrations and on training of servicemen
in the West or construction of cantonments. At the same time,
Alexander Iskandarian didn’t exclude that Azerbaijan can spend money
on armament, as well. “It’s clear that all these quotas on armament
aren’t observed well by not only Azerbaijan but by averybody around.”
A.Iskandarian mentioned that such statements made by Azeri
authorities quite fit into the logic of the forthcoming parliamentary
elections. “They have great problems with power’s consolidation. The
use of these threatening anti-Armenian statements in the internal
rhetoric is an instrument, which was worked through very well for the
home policy and is always used by them.”
Armenia as a country-winner, in which the society and political
forces with a very small exception are consolidated in the issue of
Karabakh conflict settlement, doesn’t need using such instruments,
the Director of Caucasian Media Institute emphasized.
SYSTEM OF A DOWN DIG DEEP FOR INSPIRATION: BAND ROCKS AGAINST ADVERSITY
by Heath McCoy, Calgary Herald
The Calgary Herald (Alberta)
September 19, 2005 Monday
Final Edition
Preview
System of a Down performs Sept. 19 at Pengrowth Saddledome. Tickets,
ranging from $39.50 to $55.50, on sale at all TicketMaster outlets.
Phone (403)-777-0000 or order online at ticketmaster.ca
– – –
Black Sabbath were spawned on the gloomy streets of Birmingham. Guns
‘N’ Roses clawed their way up from a Hollywood gutter. Metallica’s
James Hetfield rebelled against a restrictive Christian Science
upbringing.
Most metal bands are raging against something or other.
But a band forged in the fires of genocide? Now there’s a formula
for intensity. It’s that intensity that a million-and-counting fans
tapped into this summer as they flocked to buy System of a Down’s
fourth album, Mezmerize, rocketing the disc to No. 1 on Billboard
charts the week of its May 17 release.
In an interview in advance of the Armenian-American band’s Sept. 19
concert at Pengrowth Saddledome, System of a Down’s bassist Shavo
Odadjian, 31, talked about how the Armenian genocide that occurred
between 1915 and 1923 has shaped the group. In that time an estimated
1.5 million Armenians were expelled from the Ottoman Empire by the
Turkish government in a campaign of murder, deportation and torture.
“When the genocide occurred, our families had nowhere to go,” says
Odadjian. “A bunch of countries helped the Armenians out. We were a
Christian nation and even the Muslims were like ‘Dude, this shouldn’t
be happening,’ and they saved us. They took us into their countries.
That’s why there’s Armenians all over the world today.”
Odadjian was born in Armenia. His bandmates, singer/keyboardist Serj
Tankian and drummer John Dolmayan were born in Lebanon.
Singer/guitarist Daron Malakian was born in Hollywood, but his
grandparents are currently living in Iraq.
“I feel for Daron,” says Odadjian. “Every time he hears something
about Iraq (and its conflict with the United States) he trips out,
because his family members are still there. It drives him nuts. It
really does inspire his songwriting.”
Odadjian, Malakian and Tankian attended an Armenian private school in
Hollywood together, and when they became musicians on the Los Angeles
rock scene in the ’90s, this unique background drew them together. “I
don’t have a family tree,” says Odadjian. “No one knows about my
family’s roots before my grandpa. No one knows his birthdate even.
(In System of a Down) we all share this common bond.”
That consciousness often creeps into the band’s funky, thrash-metal
stew. This has led critics to dub System of a Down the most political
metal band since Rage Against the Machine. Fierce protests against the
Iraq war and portraits of a disgraced Statue of Liberty on Mezmerize
contribute to that notion.
But Odadjian insists System of a Down is not a political band. “We
are a life band,” he says. “We are a social band. We are a band that
raises awareness about issues we confront every day. But we don’t wake
up every morning trying to write songs about how Bush screwed up our
country. . . . It’s just that right now, politics plays such a major
role in all of our lives that we can’t help but speak about it.”
On Mezmerize, Malakian has stepped up as the band’s primary
songwriter. Still, Tankian remains a strong creative force, with
the two balancing each other out perfectly. “Serj will write a song
and it will be all metaphors. I won’t understand it. He won’t even
understand it,” Odadjian says. “While Daron is more straightforward.
. . Serj is more political, but if you sit down and listen to.
Daron, he’s got some crazy views on life.”
Another unique aspect of System of a Down is the way the band
incorporates the music of its native Armenia into its attack.
“Nothing is contrived,” Odadjian stresses. “We never say ‘This part
needs an Armenian beat.’ Actually, we’re big Iron Maiden fans and
they used a lot of Middle Eastern sounds. That’s our main influence.
Mix that up with ABBA, Led Zeppelin and Frank Zappa and you get System
of a Down.”
It’s that sort of adventurous spirit that led the band, along with
producer Rick Rubin, to create Mezmerize. The original concept was
to release a double album. Ultimately, System decided against that,
convinced that today’s MTV-weaned rock fans don’t have the attention
spans to appreciate a double album anymore. “You can’t release (an
album like Pink Floyd’s) The Wall right now,” he says.
To remedy the situation, the band divided the album into two.
Mezmerize was released last May, and the second half, Hypnotize,
is expected to hit stores in November. “Individually, each one is a
piece of art, but together, they complete one another,” he says.
Were it not for the warped, hyper-wacky sensibility that comes through
in much of their music, one could definitely conclude that System of
a Down is a band that takes itself very seriously. It’s been called
on that too.
Odadjian defends System’s stance. “We’re not politicians and we’re
not heroes,” he says. “Serj wrote in one of his lyrics ‘You must
enter a room to destroy it.’
“We’ve entered the corporate room of Sony-BMG and Columbia.
“And for songs like Cigaro and B.Y.O.B to hit the radio or get played
on MTV — no way would that have happened 10 years ago even — we’ve
pretty much destroyed the room.”
HOUSE APPROVES GENOCIDE MEASURES
By Michael Doyle, Mcclatchy News Service
Tri-Valley Herald,
Sept 16 2005
Federal panel goes on record affirming the Ottoman Empire’s killing
of countless Armenians
WASHINGTON – History returned with a vengeance Thursday as a House
committee approved the latest versions of an Armenian genocide
resolution.
With San Joaquin Valley lawmakers and residents looking on
approvingly, the House International Relations Committee approved
the two politically charged Armenian measures by wide margins. It’s
the first time in five years the panel has taken up the resolutions
that incite international controversy.
“I think it’s great,” said Mariposa Republican George Radanovich,
lead author of one of the two Armenian genocide measures. “This is
a good message to send to Turkey.”
But with the Bush administration strongly opposed, and the government
of Turkey lumbering out its big lobbying guns, the Armenian genocide
resolutions still face an uncertain future.
“These resolutions could undermine efforts to rebuild a partnership
between the United States and Turkey in pursuit of America’s broad
national security interests,” Assistant Secretary of State Matthew
Reynolds cautioned in a letter Thursday.
The White House and congressional Republican leaderscan still quash
the Armenian genocide measures in several ways. House Speaker Dennis
Hastert can simply refuse to let them reach the House floor, as he
did in October 2000 to block an earlier Radanovich effort.
Conceivably, Republican leaders could also bring them up under a
procedure that would require a two-thirds vote to pass.
“As it stands now, it’s tough,” Radanovich conceded.
Both resolutions would put the House of Representatives on record
as affirming that the Ottoman Empire engaged in attempted genocide
between 1915 and 1923. Countless Armenians died; Turkish officials now
estimate hundreds of thousands perished in a wider war, while Armenians
contend as many as 1.5 million were killed in a targeted campaign.
Approved by a 40-7 margin, Radanovich’s resolution spells out in 11
pages the evidence demonstrating why the 1915-23 catastrophe deserves
the name genocide. This characterization is the fundamental purpose of
the resolution, which would not have the force of law even if passed
by the House.
The committee also approved by a 35-11 margin a related resolution
authored by Pasadena Democrat Adam Schiff, which also goes on to urge
the Turkish government to acknowledge that a genocide occurred.
“This is a step toward righting an historical injustice,” Schiff said.
Turkish officials and their allies retort that history is ambiguous,
with Turkish Ambassador Faruk Logoglu urging lawmakers in a letter
Thursday to “not let our as-yet unreconciled views of a specific
era dictate our present or our future.” The Turkish government has
proposed that a joint study commission with historians from both
countries examine the evidence.
“I’m afraid the resolution will perpetuate a standoff,” Florida
Democrat Robert Wexler said. “It is time for all parties to place a
greater emphasis on bringing Armenian and Turkish groups together.”
More bluntly, Indiana Republican Dan Burton questioned why Congress was
“rehashing this over and over and over again.” Burton has been one of
the most adamant opponents of the Armenian genocide resolution in its
past iterations, and he spent part of his time Thursday recounting
Armenia’s own alleged depredations during its war with Azerbaijan.
Schiff and Radanovich both represent districts with sizable Armenian
American populations, where politically active constituents have long
pressed the genocide resolutions. Merced Democrat Dennis Cardoza,
a member of the International Relations Committee, also supported the
resolutions that were a deeply personal issue for some in the packed
hearing room.
Part-time Fresno resident Paul Jamushian, for one, described himself as
a “genocide son.” His mother was slashed and left for dead at age 4,
he said, while his father was smuggled to safety dressed as a little
girl. Now retired, and alternating his time between Washington and
Fresno, Jamushian listened avidly to the debate that started midmorning
and carried on into the afternoon.
Sitting not too far way was the physically imposing former chairman
of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, Bob Livingston. Now
a lobbyist, Livingston represents Turkey under a contract originally
pegged at $1.8 million. Scooping up the whole scene were multiple
reporters from Turkish media outlets.
“The reason we have yet to succeed is simple,” Schiff said. “The
government of Turkey has spent millions of dollars and countless
efforts (to oppose the bill.)”
CONSTANTINE ZATULIN CASTS DOUBTS ON AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY
DeFacto, Armenia
Sept 16 2005
In the interview with Echo newspaper (Baku) the CIS Institute Director,
RF State Duma deputy, a member of State Duma Committee for CIS and
Relations with Compatriots Constantine Zatulin stated he did not
understand why Azerbaijan’s borders could not be changed.
According to Echo, he was interviewed in connection with the conference
“Parallel CIS: Abkhazia, Pridnestrovie, South Ossetia and Nagorno
Karabakh as the realities of the post – Soviet territory”.
In Zatulin’s words, the principal goal of the conference is to acquaint
the society with life in the states, learn politologists’, experts’,
politicians’ opinion.
RF State Duma deputy does not believe the measure’s organization will
aggravate Russia’s relations with Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and harm
the Karabakh settlement process. “Vice versa, I think circulation of
the objective information on what is going on in the conflict zone
and not the desire to put out false reports or follow propaganda
war’s logic denying reality will bring us closer to a decision. If
we follow certain propaganda denying not only the right to self –
determination as such, but self – determination’s reality in the
conflict zone, in spite of the fact whether some people liked it or
not, we’ll fail to find a solution”, said C. Zatulin.
“I dislike the fact that during hundreds of years the territory
that is called post – Soviet territory now was single whole. At the
end of 1990s the Soviet Union disintegrated, as a result of which a
number of states has become independent. If I had been wrong I would
have stated for 15 years that the states are separatists. However,
we do not say it…The Soviet Union disintegrated, so why should we
believe the boundaries that used to be defined by someone, for example
those providing Nagorno Karabakh within Azerbaijan or Abkhazia within
Georgia, is something eternal, which is not subject to corrections?
And yet, we do not render political decisions at the conference. Even
if we had done it I believe objective consideration of the issue,
the attempt to present another point of view is very important. As
for Azerbaijan’s nervous reaction on the conference’s conduct I am
sorry the reaction was like that”, said the CIS Institute Director.
Nuclear disputes, democratic change in ex-Soviet states top Bush-Putin agenda
By ANNE GEARAN
.c The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) – President George W. Bush and Russian President
Vladimir Putin agree on how the world should confront the development
of nuclear weapons in North Korea, an original member of Bush’s “axis
of evil.”
They disagree over how to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions and have
long-running differences over the U.S. led invasion of Iraq. Bush’s
famous list of international outlaws included those nations, too.
Bush was expected to argue at his meeting with Putin on Friday that
Iran deserves to be summoned to the U.N. Security Council to account
for what the United States contends is a record of nuclear deceit.
Putin has grievances over what Russia views as U.S. slights and double
standards in its support for democracy movements on former Soviet
turf. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Russian leader was
getting a view of the U.S. in a vulnerable moment.
Putin was quoted soon after the flooding in New Orleans as saying he
could not believe the images he saw came from the powerful United
States.
At their first meeting in months, Bush and Putin also were expected to
raise their differences over what the Americans consider the creep of
authoritarian rule in Russia and discuss Putin’s current leadership of
the Group of Eight industrial nations.
Bush and Putin call one another friend. Their bond was forged largely
after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when Russia delivered help in the
fight against terror.
The political relationship has frayed with each passing year. Nuclear
nonproliferation, however, has proved an area of considerable
cooperation.
On North Korea, the United States and Russia are among five nations
negotiating in unison to persuade the communist North to give up its
declared nuclear weapons in return for energy and security guarantees.
The current round of talks has come to a standstill in
Beijing. U.S. and Russian diplomats agree that North Korea cannot be
trusted with the civilian nuclear power plant it seeks.
The story is different on Iran, which insists its nuclear program is
solely for peaceful energy production. Russia is helping Iran develop
nuclear energy, and the Russian Foreign Ministry recently said it sees
no basis for referring Tehran to the Security Council.
When the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency meets next week, it could vote
to send Iran’s case to the Security Council for possible
penalties. The International Atomic Energy Agency could put off a
vote, despite the Bush administration’s preference for a quick
referral.
Bush’s hand may have been strengthened by statements from Iran’s
president on Thursday.
Iran’s state-run news agency said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in
New York to attend the U.N. world summit, said his country is willing
to provide other Islamic nations with nuclear technology.
The European Union has taken the lead in trying to persuade Iran to
halt development of nuclear activities that could be used to make
weapons. In exchange, Iran would win economic concessions.
If the case does end up before the Security Council, Russian
cooperation could be critical. As a permanent member of the Security
Council, Russia could veto any resolution punishing Iran unless it
decided to abstain.
China also could veto any possible punishment. The White House
acknowledged Wednesday that Bush was unable to get a commitment on
Iran during his meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Iran has said it does not fear the Security Council.
Washington does not have diplomatic relations with Iran and must apply
pressure through international organizations or allies with political
and economic ties to Tehran.
State Department spokesman Adam Ereli tried to play up a bright spot
in U.S.-Russian dealings over Iran on Thursday. Russia has agreed to
impose controls on its joint nuclear operations with Iran that will
keep nuclear fuel out of direct control by the Iranians.
“I think that’s very clear evidence of the concern that Russia has
about Iranian activities and the measures that they are prepared to
take in response to those concerns,” Ereli said.
Ahmadinejad is expected to make new proposals by the weekend at the
U.N. summit in hopes of defusing the nuclear standoff.
09/15/05 20:51 EDT
IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL, GRADUAL STATUS ACHIEVEMENT
By Tatoul Hakobian
AZG Armenian Daily #164
14/09/2005
Karabakh issue
International Crises Group Made Two Reports on Karabakh Regulation
The International Crises Group will make public its first report
“Viewing the Conflict from the Ground” on Wednesday. The second report
“Voices from Negotiations’ Table” will be put out by the end of this
month. Alan Deletroz, the Vice-President of the ICG, and Sabina
Friesner, President of the Caucasus project, held meetings with
Armenian and Azeri authorities these days.
“Seven Armenian and Azeri experts have been working on these two
reports for the last 9 months. Hundreds of interviews were conducted
in Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan”, Friesner told a press
conference Monday. Deletroz refused to reveal the names of Armenian and
Artsakhi experts that took part at the preparation of the reports. The
first report, Deletroz said, deals with “current situation in Nagorno
Karabakh, in occupied territories and Azerbaijan”.
Though presenting Armenian and Azerbaijani alternatives of the
conflict settlement, the report leaves no room for the past. It’s
not only neglect to the centuries-long history but also the post-war
period as well. Deletroz said that as a starting point they take the
current status quo. The rights of half a million Armenians who lost
their property in Azerbaijan are not taken into consideration. The
same is true for 170.000 Azeris who left Armenia.
Deletroz and Friesner stated that they keep in touch with the Minsk
Group and are aware of the conflict details. They urge the conflicting
sides to follow the Prague principles. Deletroz thinks that Armenia
should stop inhabiting the territories under its control. The ICG
suggest the following: Armenian forces withdraw from the occupied
territories leaving the status of Nagorno Karabakh to be decided in
10-15 years. Deletroz emphasized that security issues should be the
cornerstone of the regulation. He also explained why the status, being
the key element of the conflict, is set aside for future. Deletroz
said that positions of the sides are far from each other and it is
not likely to bring them together in near future.
“A special status of Nagorno Karabakh” is how Deletroz sees Karabakh’s
future. Deletroz seems to be suggesting that Armenians and Azeris
live together in Karabakh and neighboring territories before the
status is achieved. As evidence of possible peaceful co-existence
of the Armenians and Azeris he indicated the relative peace at the
contact line of Armenian-Azeri and Artsakhi-Azeri borders maintained
without international peacekeepers.
The ICG thinks that the communities representing the conflicting sides
are not ready to accept either of the settlement options that Armenian
and Azeri foreign ministers discuss. ICG thinks it is important that
both peoples are informed about details of peace process. “There is
no way to success for any peace process unless all sides actively
sell this idea to their people”, Deletroz stated.
In mid-July, the ICG organized a closed-door meeting in Tbilisi,
Georgia, with the participation of 10 experts from Azerbaijan, 8 from
Armenia and 2 from Karabakh. The Azeri side not only made discussions
public but also complained of the report. Parliamentarian Gyultekin
Hajiyeva told mass media that the document does not mention “the
fact of occupation and tends to legalizing de facto administration
of Nagorno Karabakh”. “The bill mentions of dangerous proposal of
referendum. That’s why we need to review this document”, she said.
Only the publication of the ICG report will show to what extent
it reflects the real state of things. It should be noted that the
formulations of ICG officials at the press conference were not very
different from those that official Yerevan has been articulating
lately.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Contact: Talin Gregorian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR LEADS CONSTITUENT MEETING WITH CONGRESSWOMAN LOIS CAPPS
–Rep. Lois Capps Adds Her Support for Armenian Genocide Resolution
SANTA BARBARA, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America-Western
Region (ANCA-WR), along with long-time Santa Barbara resident and
Armenian American community-member Haik Hakobian, met with US
Representative Lois Capps in her District Office in Santa Barbara on
Friday, September 2nd.
During their meeting, the ANCA-WR introduced a number of measures of
interest to the Armenian American community pending in the House of
Representatives to Congresswoman Capps. ANCA-WR Regional Director
Armen Carapetian gave a summary of the Armenian Genocide resolutions,
H.Res. 316 and H.Con.Res. 195, the South Caucasus Integration and Open
Railroads Act of 2005 (H.R. 3361) introduced by the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues Chairmen Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) and Representative George Radanovich (R-CA), as well as
a bill aimed to end the Turkish blockade of Armenia (H.R. 3103)
introduced by Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA). A strong supporter of
issues of concern of Armenian Americans, Representative Capps
immediately expressed her support for the Armenian Genocide
resolutions and stressed her concern over ongoing attempts on behalf
of Turkey and Azerbaijan that aim to strangle the Republic of
Armenia’s forward progress.
`The Congresswoman’s immediate and strong support for the issues that
we discussed during our meeting was very touching,’ said Haik
Hakobian. `She has a very good understanding of the issues that the
Republic of Armenia confronts today and of what we as Armenian
Americans face in our efforts to strengthen US-Armenia relations.’
Upon her return to Capitol Hill from the August Recess, Representative
Capps fulfilled her pledge and became a cosponsor of H.Res. 316,
introduced by Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff
(D-CA), Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), and Frank Pallone (D-NJ). H.Res. 316
currently has 124 cosponsors and is awaiting a markup by the House
International relations Committee on Thursday, September 15th.
`The Armenian Genocide was a tragedy of enormous proportions. If
Turkey doesn’t acknowledge this tragedy they will not be able to move
past it,’ stated Congresswoman Lois Capps.
Representative Lois Capps was among many Members of Congress that
ANCA-WR met over the August Recess to discuss issues of concern to
Armenian Americans, including, Representatives Susan Davis (D-CA),
Howard `Buck’ McKeon (R-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA),
and Diane Watson (D-CA). The meetings aimed to introduce Members of
Congress to their Armenian American constituents, discuss and
galvanize support for issues of concern to Armenian Americans, and
strategize on how to advance these issues.
`Congresswoman Capps represents a majority of Congressional members
who support issues of concern to Armenian Americans such as the
resolutions affirming the Armenian Genocide,’ said Armen
Carapetian. `Members of Congress want to respect the views of their
constituents, so it is imperative that Armenian Americans express
their concerns to their Representatives.’
The ANCA 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.
Editor’s Note: Photos attached. Photo 1 caption: Representative Capps
discusses recent key legislation that is of concern to the Armenian
American community. Photo 2 caption: From left to right – ANCA-WR
Government Relations Director Armen Carapetian, ANCA-WR Communications
Manager Talin Gregorian, Representative Lois Capps, and Haik Hakobian.