Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
ancawr@anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, February 15, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR JOINS LOS ANGELES MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA IN CALLING ON U.S.
CONGRESS TO PASS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
— MAYOR ISSUES LETTER TO SPEAKER PELOSI CALLING FOR A HOUSE VOTE ON
HOUSE RESOLUTION 106
— CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ERIC GARCETTI ANNOUNCES CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION URGING U.S. GOVERNMENT TO RECOGNIZE GENOCIDE
Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, joined by over
three dozen students from Alex Pilibos High School in Hollywood, hosted
a press conference on February 14th where he energetically called on the
U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Armenian Genocide resolution.
The Armenian Genocide resolution (H.Res. 106) is currently pending
before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which is Chaired by
California Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA). The Mayor’s press conference
with the ANCA-WR was covered by The New York Times, The Los Angeles
Times, National Public Radio, the Associated Press and local network
television stations.
Mayor Villaraigosa opened his press conference by announcing that the
City of Los Angeles will withdraw more than $27 million in retirement
fund investments from companies that do business with Sudan to protest
the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region. "By acting affirmatively to
bring about change in Darfur, we demonstrate our commitment to making a
difference and working to stop genocide," remarked Villaraigosa. The
Mayor added, "As we can see today, the genocide in Darfur rages on – it
is our duty to also properly recognize genocides that have occurred in
the past so that we may work to prevent them from happening again. We
know that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it
– and we look forward to continuing to work with the Armenian National
Committee in this regard."
"We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Mayor Villaraigosa in
ending the cycle of genocide in our world," commented ANCA-WR Executive
Director Antranig Kzirian. "Today, the Mayor spoke clearly about the
positive role American cities can play in ending the genocide in Darfur
by beginning a divestment campaign. We were also pleased that the Mayor
forcefully called on the U.S. Congress to adopt the Armenian Genocide
resolution without delay," Kzirian added.
In correspondence that Mayor Villaraigosa recently sent to Speaker of
the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), he personally urged her to schedule a
vote on the Armenian Genocide resolution (H. Res. 106). The Mayor’s
letter states, in part, "As the Mayor of Los Angeles. it is an honor and
pleasure to add my name to the growing list of supporters of H. Res.
106, which would officially place the U.S. House of Representatives on
record as recognizing the Armenian Genocide of 1915."
Following the Mayor’s press conference, Los Angeles City Council
President Eric Garcetti introduced a resolution on behalf of the Los
Angeles City Council that urges the United States Government to
recognize the Armenian Genocide and calls upon Turkey to end its decades
long policy of denial. "This resolution, by the City Council of the
City of Los Angeles, shows our support in standing side by side with
Mayor Villaraigosa and all of humanity in paying homage to those that
perished in the Armenian Genocide", stated Garcetti.
The Armenian National Committee of America (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.
###
Andrew D. Kzirian, Esq.
Executive Director
Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 N. Belmont Street – Suite 200
Glendale, CA 91206
Tel: 818 500 1918
Fax: 818 246 7353