Armenian National Committee of Florida
PO Box 741364
Boynton Beach, FL 33474
954-401-9787
ancflorida@att.net
PRESS RELEASE
August 17, 2004
Contact: Bedo Der-Bedrossian
ancflorida@att.net
SOUTH FLORIDA ANC ACTIVISTS REACH OUT TO ELECTED OFFICIALS
— Urge Senator Nelson to Support Genocide Resolution, Strengthen
US-Armenia Relations
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – Florida ANC activists joined with ANCA national and
regional staff in a meeting, today, with representatives of Senator Bill
Nelson’s (D-FL) district office to discuss issues of concern to the Armenian
American community in the Sunshine State, reported the Armenian National
Committee of Florida.
The meeting is among the first in a series of activities involving Members
of Congress and the Florida Armenian community during a 10-day trip to the
region by ANCA Eastern Region Director Doug Geogerian and ANCA Government
Affairs Director Abraham Niziblian.
Over a dozen Florida Armenians participated in the meeting Sen. Nelson’s
Broward County Regional Office Director Willowstine Lawson. Activists
joining Niziblian and Geogerian were ANC South Florida Chairman Bedo
Der-Bedrossian, Rev. Vasken Bekiarian, Pastor of St. Gregory Armenian Church
of South Florida, Marilyn Vaboolian McClean, Sonya Toumayan, Gloria Toroyan,
Michael Toumayan, Arlys Koushakjian, Naomi Davitian, Eugenie Megherian
Rodrigues, Sevag Tokatlian, and Siran Der-Bedrossian. Michael Toumayan
recently finished an eight-week internship at the ANCA national
headquarters, during which time he met with Senator Nelson and his
Washington, DC staff.
During the hour-long meeting with Lawson, community participants urged the
first term Senator to take an active role on a number of key Armenian
American concerns including Congressional reaffirmation of the Armenian
Genocide, stronger US-Armenia bilateral economic and political relations,
and a lasting and equitable resolution to the Nagorno Karabagh conflict.
Der-Bedrossian specifically asked that the Senator cosponsor S.Res.164,
legislation marking the 15th anniversary of US implementation of the
Genocide Convention. The resolution, introduced by Senators John Ensign
(R-NV) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ), currently has 40 cosponsors. Der-Bedrossian
also briefed Lawson about activities planned in commemoration of the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide next year in South Florida and invited
Senator Nelson to join the Armenian American community in marking this
solemn occasion.
Participants urged the Senator’s support for S.1557, which would ensure
permanent normal trade relations between the US and Armenia. The ANC
activists will be meeting personally with Senator Nelson regarding these and
other pressing issues later this week.
Geogerian and Niziblian arrived in Ft. Lauderdale this past weekend, where
they joined the South Florida community in celebrating the Feast of the
Ascension and the Blessing of the Grapes at St. Gregory Armenian Church.
Last night, Niziblian and Geogerian gave an update on Armenian American
advocacy efforts in Washington, DC and around the nation to local activists
at a public forum hosted by the ANC of Florida. Over the next seven days,
they will be traveling throughout the state, meeting with Members of
Congress and local Armenian American activists in an effort to strengthen
the community’s political advocacy efforts in Florida.
The Armenian National Committee is the largest Armenian American grassroots
political organization in Florida and nationwide. The ANC actively advances
a broad range of issues of concern to the Armenian American community.