Armenian National Committee of America
Western Region
104 N. Belmont Suite 200
Glendale, CA 91204
Phone: (818) 500-1918
Fax: (818) 246-7353
Email: ancawr@anca.org
Internet:

December 26, 2006

Contact: Ara Shirinian or Dr. Armen Hovanessian
arashirinian@cox.net

Nevada ANC Marks 2006 As A Year Of Progress and Success

Las Vegas, NV – Bolstered by strong community support and a
dedicated team of volunteers, the Nevada Armenian National
Committee (ANC) had a banner year in 2006.  The Silver State’s ANC
chapter focused this year on educating local, state and federal
officials on issues of concern to Nevada’s rapidly growing Armenian
American community.

Thanks in large part to the work of the Nevada ANC, the state is
home to a delegation of House and Senate members who have
consistently offered strong support for Armenia in the U.S.
Congress.  The Nevada ANC maintains strong and long-term
relationships with incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,
Senator John Ensign, Congressmembers Shelley Berkley and Jon Porter
and incoming Governor Jim Gibbons.  The chapter also has a strong
and positive working relationship with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar
Goodman and Las Vegas City Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian, wife of
famed basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian.

"We are pleased with the growth of the Nevada ANC," remarked the
chapter’s co-chairman Ara Shirinian.  "Our chapter is committed to
unifying our community around common issues that all Armenian
Americans support.  As an example, this year we took some major
strides in working with Las Vegas officials to erect a monument in
tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide and worked to
introduce a genocide education curriculum in our public school
system," Shirinian added.

Incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a strong friend of the
Nevada ANC, has played a leading role in blocking the nomination of
Richard Hoagland to serve as America’s next ambassador to Armenia. 
In a letter to the Nevada ANC this summer, Senator Reid shared that
he was "extremely concerned" by the reluctance of Richard Hoagland
to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.  Most recently, on December
1st, Senator Reid called on President Bush to withdraw the Hoagland
nomination and propose a new candidate to serve in this important
diplomatic post. The incoming Majority Leader stressed that, in
light of the broad-based opposition within Congress, the extensive
media coverage this issue has received, and the strong stand of the
Armenian American community against the nomination, "it would serve
neither our national interests nor the U.S.-Armenia relationship to
expect Ambassador-designate Hoagland to carry out his duties under
these highly contentious and profoundly troubling circumstances."

Supporters of the Nevada ANC hosted a number of fundraisers in
support of area politicians.  In July of this year, ANC supporters
in the Las Vegas area sponsored a fundraiser for Republican U.S.
Senator John Ensign.  Ensign has emerged as a vocal proponent of
U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide and introduced an
Armenian Genocide resolution in the recently concluded 109th
Congress.  Also in 2006, Nevada ANC supporters hosted a fundraiser
for Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, a member of the powerful House
International Relations Committee and an active member of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.

"I believe the growth in Nevada’s Armenian American community has
provided a positive opportunity for our ANC chapter to grow as
well," commented Nevada ANC co-chairman Dr. Armen Hovanessian. 
"And with the recent changes in Washington, our good friend Senator
Reid is now the majority leader of the U.S. Senate.  All of this,
the growth in our community and the change in Washington, presents
a golden opportunity for Nevada’s Armenian American community to
play a major role in advancing the Armenian Cause," Hovanessian
added.

During the course of the year, the Nevada ANC joined together with
other community organizations in participating in an April 24th
ceremony that drew over 400 participants.  Among the public
officials who attended the ceremony were incoming Governor Jim
Gibbons, Congressmembers Shelley Berkley and Jon Porter and
candidate for Nevada Secretary of State Danny Tarkanian. 
Supporters of the Nevada ANC also hosted a successful fundraising
event for the ANCA at the home of Dr. Armen and Lena Hovanessian.

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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