Armenian National Committee of America
Eastern Region
80 Bigelow Avenue
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel: 617-923-1918
Fax: 617-926-5525
ancaer@anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
March 16, 2004
Contact: Arin Gregorian
617-923-1918; ancaer@anca.org
MAINE ARMENIAN ACTIVISTS DISCUSS
COMMUNITY CONCERNS WITH SEN. SNOWE
— Thank Senator for Cosponsoring Genocide Resolution;
Pledge to Work on Armenia Aid; Military Aid Parity Issue
PORTLAND, ME–Maine Armenian activists met with Republican Senator Olympia
Snowe yesterday to discuss a range of issues, including concerns about the
Bush Administration request to break its agreement to maintain military aid
parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the ongoing blockade of Armenia and
Nagorno Karabagh and the peaceful resolution of the Karabagh conflict,
reported the Armenian National Committee Eastern Region (ANCA ER).
“I was proud to be part of the Maine Armenian community team to discuss
pressing issues of concern with Senator Snowe,” explained longtime ANC
activist Kathy Durgerian. “We look forward to working closely with the
Senator to ensure a stronger US-Armenia relationship and proper recognition
of the Armenian Genocide.”
Armenian Cultural Association of Maine members Paul Proudian, Jirair
Kiladjian, and Kathy Durgerian, thanked the Senator for cosponsoring the
Genocide Resolution (S.Res.164) and her past support of Armenian Genocide
commemorative efforts in the state. In April of 2003, an Armenian American
aide to Sen. Snowe participated in an Armenian Genocide observance and
unveiling of an Armenian Genocide monument. At the event, held in Portland,
she read a statement from the Senator commemorating the victims of the
Genocide.
The group stressed the importance of expanding US-Armenia trade levels by
passing the Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) measure currently before
the Senate. The activists also expressed particular concern about the Bush
Administration’s proposed FY 2005 budget, which calls for an $8 million
military aid package for Azerbaijan, while only allocating $2 million for
Armenia. Citing Azerbaijan’s blockade of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, as
well as the Azerbaijani leadership’s belligerent statements in support of a
military solution to the Karabagh conflict, the activists argued that
breaking military parity would only serve to encourage Azerbaijan in its
destructive behavior.
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.
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