INTERVIEW: ARAM HAMPARIAN: ANCA FOCUS IS TO END U.S. COMPLICITY IN TURKEY’S CAMPAIGN OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.03.2006 GMT+04:00

The Armenian National Committee of Armenia (ANCA) is one of the
U.S. most influential lobbying organizations the activities of
which are targeted at the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. On
the threshold of the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in
the Ottoman Empire in 1915 PanARMENIAN.Net requested ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian to cover the Committee activities and comments
on some recent event referring to the Armenian-American relations.

Lately we have heard that the Armenian lobby is more powerful than
the Jewish Lobby. How accurate is that opinion?

While it is hard to compare the strength of lobbies that are working on
very different issues, it is clear that the Armenian lobby is strong
and growing stronger, confident in the knowledge that as Armenians –
in the homeland and the Diaspora – we are collectively the authors
of our own destiny. Here are just a few examples of our progress:

* We launched the pioneering California-Armenia Trade Office to
increase bilateral trade and create jobs in the U.S. and Armenia. In
just the past two years, due in large part to our efforts to normalize
U.S.-Armenia trade relations, Armenian exports to the U.S. rose >From
$37.6 million (2003) to $45.8 million (2005).

* The growth of our local ANCA chapters to more than fifty –
particularly in non-traditional states such as Nevada, Arizona,
Florida, and Texas.

* The increased level of assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh,
which has amounted to $1.6 billion since 1991 – and especially the
new $235 million Millennium Challenge grant to Armenia.

* The growing opposition to Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide
in the U.S. Congress, the media, and academia. For example, within the
past year the Armenian Genocide Resolution passed a key Congressional
committee by a vote of 40 to 7, a dramatic increase over the 24 to
11 vote on a similar measure in 2000. Also, 38 of the 50 U.S. states
have recognized the Armenian Genocide.

What type are activities / efforts are you planning in the U.S. with
regard to the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide?

Our focus, this April as always, is to end U.S.

complicity in Turkey’s campaign of Armenian Genocide denial, to press
Turkey to acknowledge its responsibility for this crime, and to work
toward a just resolution for Armenian nation.

As in past years, we will hold a Congressional observance on Capital
Hill and in local communities around the nation. These events will
build support for the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution
and the effort to encourage President Bush to properly recognize the
Armenian Genocide in his April 24th remarks.

We are, of course, very interested in the controversy surrounding
Amb. Evans and are strongly opposing any steps to punish or recall
him due to his truthful statements on the Armenian Genocide. Another
special concern this April is PBS’s decision to provide a platform for
Genocide deniers – which we are strenuously opposing at the national
and grassroots levels.

Has there been any U.S. reaction to the destruction of the Armenian
Cemetery in Djugha?

For more than three months, the U.S. government did not utter a
single word about this systematic desecration of an Armenian holy
and cultural site.

During a recent visit to Armenia, a State Department official responded
to questions on this matter during a press conference by condemning the
destruction – but the Department seems to have done little else. This,
of course, stands in stark contrast to the vocal U.S.

outrage over the Taliban’s destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues
in 2001.

What steps are being taken by the Armenian lobby to ensure military
aid parity to Armenia and Azerbaijan?

We are working very actively within the Congressional appropriations
process – on both the House and Senate sides – to see that military
aid parity is restored.

The key to this effort is explaining that disparity in favor of
Azerbaijan will embolden Baku to act on its increasingly violent
threats against Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh.