Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Telephone: (818) 500-1918
Facsimile: (818) 246-7353
[email protected] <;
PRESS RELEASE
October 24, 2006
Contact: Lerna Kayserian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
COLORADO ARMENIAN COMMUNITY JOINS ANCA-WR FOR MEETINGS WITH LOCAL
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
DENVER, COLORADO – Members of the Colorado Armenian American community
joined Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR)
Community Relations Director Haig Hovsepian earlier this month to meet with
US Representatives Tom Tancredo (R-6), Diana DeGette (D-1), and Mark Udall
(D-2).
The meetings began in Centennial, Colorado, where Hovsepian and long-time
Colorado resident Ken Allikian briefed Rep. Tancredo’s staff on Armenian
Genocide-related legislation and efforts by the Azeri government to inhibit
regional cooperation.
Hovsepian and Allikian then visited the Denver district office of
Congresswoman DeGette, where they thanked her for her support of H.Res.316
and discussed H.R.3361, encouraging the Congresswoman to become a
co-sponsor. Rep. DeGette expressed dismay in the firing of Ambassador Evans
and the lack of an appropriate explanation to date by the State Department.
Garo Chalian and Kim Christianian joined Allikian and Hovsepian for the
final meeting of the day with Rep. Udall’s staff. Meeting attendees thanked
Rep. Udall for his co-sponsorship of key pieces of legislation supporting
Armenia and addressed questions regarding the need to have Turkey address
its past as a prerequisite to truly join the civilized world and begin a
process by which good neighborly relations can be developed.
Allikian, Chalian, and Christianian are members of the "Armenians of
Colorado", a community group established in 1982, whose purpose is to
nourish a cohesive Armenian community to further the understanding of
Armenian history, culture, religion, language and heritage.
"It was a pleasure to work with Ken, Kim, and Garo," said Hovsepian. "The
Armenians of Colorado are doing admirable work to raise awareness about the
Armenian American community in Colorado and we are glad to have working
partnership in reaching out to members of Congress. We look forward to
working with them to continue these efforts."
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.
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PHOTO CAPTION: (left to right) Ken Allikian, Congresswoman Diana DeGette,
District Director Greg Diamond, and ANCA-WR Community Relations Director
Haig Hovsepian.