Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: anca@anca.org
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 16, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA LAUNCHES 2006 "HYE VOTER TURNOUT" CAMPAIGN

— Campaign Features Candidate Questionnaires,
Congressional Report Cards, Endorsements,
and Increased Grassroots Participation

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
has launched its 2006 "Hye Voter Turnout" campaign – a nation-wide,
drive to ensure that record numbers of Armenian American voters go
to the polls this November 7th, armed with timely and reliable
information about where the candidates seeking their votes stand on
Armenian American issues.

The campaign took off this week with grassroots volunteers across
the country calling to speak with Congressional campaigns about the
electoral value of the ANCA 2006 Congressional Candidate
Questionnaires. These questionnaires were distributed nation-wide
earlier this year to candidates for each of the 435 House seats and
33 Senate seats being contested this November.

An ANCA tradition for the better part of the past two decades – the
questionnaires provide candidates with the opportunity to outline
their views on issues of special concern to Armenian Americans.
Responses to the questionnaires will be widely distributed to
Armenian Americans prior to Election Day. The policy areas covered
by the questionnaires are the following:

* The Armenian Genocide
* U.S. Support for Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh
* U.S.-Armenia Economic Relations
* U.S. Military Aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan
* Self-Determination for Nagorno Karabagh
* Conditions on U.S. Aid to Azerbaijan
* The Turkish Blockade of Armenia
* Subsidy of a Proposed Caucasus Railway Bypass

The questionnaires are part of the "Hye Voter Turnout" campaign, a
nation-wide grassroots effort to educate Armenian Americans about
the policy issues impacting Armenia, Nagorno Karabagh, and the
surrounding region; provide timely and reliable information on the
records and views of the candidates seeking Armenian American
votes, and; encourage increased civic participation in local,
state, and national elections.

As in years past, a key component of the "Hye Voter Turnout" will
be the ANCA Congressional Report Card, a useful tool for voters
that has proven itself an enduring fixture on the Armenian American
landscape. This rating system, which will be featured on the ANCA
website – – assigns each Congressional incumbent a
grade based on their level of support for a broad range of
legislative initiatives on Armenian American issues. The ANCA will
issue Congressional endorsements later in the election cycle.

"The ANCA is gratified, once again, to offer our Congressional
Candidate Questionnaires as a public service to empower Armenian
Americans as active and informed participants in the coming
election campaigns," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the
ANCA. "We encourage everyone to download the questionnaires from
our website, and invite all Armenian Americans who are interested
in getting politically involved this election season to contact us
at anca@anca.org to find out how to get in touch with their local
ANCA chapter and other area activists."

Copies of the ANCA 2006 Congressional Candidate Questionnaire are
provided in Adobe PDF format and can be downloaded or printed from
the ANCA website:
pdf

The full text of the ANCA 2006 Congressional Candidate
Questionnaire is provided below.

#####

ANCA 2006 Congressional Candidate Questionnaire:

The Armenian Genocide:

Despite overwhelming evidence, Turkey continues to deny the
Armenian Genocide – the systematic and deliberate massacre of 1.5
million Armenians between 1915-1923.

1) Do you support the adoption of the Congressional
Armenian Genocide Resolution?

U.S. Support for Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh:

U.S. aid has strengthened Armenia’s economy by promoting trade and
investment, and by helping offset the impact of the Turkish and
Azerbaijani blockades.

2) Do you support U.S. aid and other programs to
strengthen Armenia’s self-reliance?

3) Do you support continued U.S. developmental and
humanitarian aid to Nagorno Karabagh?

U.S.-Armenia Economic Relations:

Over the past five years, U.S.-Armenia trade levels have nearly
doubled, creating export, investment and commercial opportunities
for U.S. firms.

4) Do you support actions to expand U.S.-Armenia economic
relations?

U.S. Military Aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan:

Since 2001, based on an agreement between the White House and
Congress to promote peace and regional stabilty, parity has been
maintained in the level of military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan.

5) Do you support maintaining parity in U.S. military aid
to Armenia and Azerbaijan?

Self-Determination for Nagorno Karabagh:

In 1923 Stalin carved Nagorno Karabagh out of Armenia and placed it
under Soviet Azerbaijani rule, setting the stage for seven decades
of oppression, followed, after 1988, by Azerbaijan’s ethnic
cleansing aggression against the population of this Armenian
territory.

6) Do you support the people of Nagorno Karabagh’s right
to self-determination?

Conditions on U.S. Aid to Azerbaijan:

In 1992 Congress passed Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act to
limit aid to Azerbaijan until it lifts its blockades of Armenia and
Karabagh. In 2001 the Congress reaffirmed its support for this law,
but gave the President limited waiver authority.

7) Do you support maintaining Section 907?

The Turkish Blockade of Armenia:

In 1996 the Congress enacted the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act in
response to Turkey’s policy of blocking U.S. humanitarian aid to
Armenia.

8) Do you support legislative and other means to urge
Turkey to end its blockade of Armenia?

9) Do you supporting pressing Turkey, as a condition for
purchasing U.S. arms, to end its blockade of Armenia,
occupation of Cyprus, attacks on Kurds, restrictions on
Christians, and rights abuses?

Subsidy of a Proposed Caucasus Railway Bypass:

U.S. taxpayers are being asked to fund the construction of an
unnecessary and costly railroad between Turkey and Georgia, whose
sole purpose is to undermine the economic viability of the existing
railroad going through Armenia.

10) Do you oppose taxpayer subsidies for a politically
motivated new railroad that circumvents Armenia?

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress