Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
ancawr@anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, March 9, 2006
Contact: Lerna Kayserian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR PARTICIPATES IN CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY CONVENTION
— Meets with Governor and Other Republican Leaders in San Jose
SAN JOSE, CA – Representatives of the Armenian National Committee of
America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) traveled to San Jose to participate
in the California Republican Party (CRP) Convention held from February
24th through 26th. During the three-day convention, ANCA-WR Director
Armen Carapetian and ANCA activist Jack Hadjinian met with California
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as well as other Republican leaders to
discuss issues of concern to Armenian Americans.
Carapetian and Hadjinian joined the CRP Volunteer Organization
Committee meeting with the California Congress of Republicans,
California State Republican National Hispanic Assembly, and California
Federation of Republican Women, among others, where participants
discussed opportunities to collaborate on initiatives. Many candidates
for statewide offices were on-hand during the meeting to provide
updates on their campaigns. Governor Schwarzenegger greeted the
volunteer organizations and thanked them for their
support. `Volunteers have always been extremely important in
campaigns,’ said the Governor in his remarks.
Following the meeting, Jack Hadjinian spoke with the Governor and
thanked him for his principled stance on the Armenian
Genocide. Hadjinian, a Montebello resident, extended a special
invitation to the Governor for this year’s commemoration of the
Armenian Genocide at the Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument at
Bicknell Park. Paying homage to the victims of the Armenian Genocide
at the monument is an annual tradition for Los Angeles area Armenian
Americans. This commemoration regularly draws over 10,000 visitors,
including many elected officials. Most notably, in 1969, then Governor
Ronald Reagan joined His Holiness Khoren I in commemorating the
Armenian Genocide at the monument. This year’s remembrance event will
take place on Sunday, April 23rd.
The convention provided the ANCA-WR the opportunity to reach out to
California Republican elected officials and candidates for elected
office. Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48), who was the only
Congressional member at the convention, reiterated his support for the
Armenian Genocide legislation pending in the House of
Representatives. State Senator Chuck Poochigian (Fresno) invited the
ANCA representatives to a special reception and briefed them on his
campaign for Attorney General. Carapetian and Hadjinian also met many
Republican Party activists over the weekend, including Armenian
Americans involved in the CRP and various campaigns.
`It’s important for us to be here, and it’s good to see that Armenian
Americans are involved at this crucial level of the political
process,’ said Carapetian. `We have received nothing but appreciation
for coming to this convention, and we will continue to build on the
relationships we established this weekend.’
The ANCA-WR sponsored an exhibitor table at the convention to
familiarize those in attendance with the organization, its programs
and initiatives. Carapetian and Hadjinian also took part in workshops
hosted by the CRP aimed to train activists in all areas of
campaigning. The next CRP Convention will be held in the fall.
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.