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Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE +++ PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: November 1, 2006
Contact: Lerna Kayserian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR Meets with California State Assembly Speaker Nuñez
Los Angeles, CA – Members of the Armenian National Committee of America –
Western Region (ANCA-WR) Board of Directors met with the California State
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez (D-46th district) earlier this month to
discuss various issues of concern to the Armenian American Community.
The ANCA-WR discussed Senate Bill 1524, the Genocide Assets and Recovery
Bill which was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger on September 25,
2006. The new law provides that Armenian Genocide victims, or their heirs
or beneficiaries who reside in the State of California, can have claims
arising out of a financial institution’s failure to pay or turn over
deposited assets or looted assets from the Genocide era. This will allow
cases that bring an action or continue a pending action on these matters in
California’s courts.
In addition, the ANCA-WR Board members briefed the Speaker on the progress
of the California Armenia Trade Office (CATO), which was opened in Yerevan
earlier this year with the financial assistance of the California Armenian
American community. CATO was created to facilitate commerce between
California and Armenia. Speaker Nuñez expressed support for the California
Armenia Trade Office and pledged to examine possible state funding for the
successful endeavor during the next Assembly term.
Also on the agenda was the racist campaign attack against the Armenian
community during the 43rd Assembly District’s democratic primary last June,
during which Candidate Paul Krekorian prevailed against Glendale City
Councilman Frank Quintero. An independent expenditure committee, known as
the California Latino Leadership Fund, had sponsored racist anti-Armenian
mailers against Krekorian in support of Frank Quintero’s campaign. The
Speaker condemned these tactics and stated that the Latino Caucus in the
Assembly was firmly against this sort of dirty campaigning.
Finally, the ANCA discussed the need for greater participation of Armenian
Americans within state government through appointments and other
opportunities for involvement. Speaker Nuñez expressed great interest in
considering qualified Armenian American candidates for such positions and
expressed a desire to work with the ANCA-WR in this area.
Speaker Nunez was first elected to the Assembly in 2002 and was sworn in as
Speaker in 2004. If re-elected in the November elections, he will be
serving his final term through 2008 due to term-limits.
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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