SENATOR MENENDEZ HONORED AS ANC-NJ MAN OF THE YEAR

Yerkir.am
February 16, 2007

More than two hundred supporters of the Armenian National Committee
of New Jersey (ANC-NJ) were on hand this weekend for the granting of
U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) with the grassroots organization’s
prestigious Man of the Year award.

The ceremony took place on February 11, 2007 and was attended by
a cross-section of Armenian American leaders from the New York
metropolitan area, Armenian Church leaders, and Vahan Hovhannisyan,
deputy speaker of the Armenian Parliament.

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian reviewed the senator’s strong
support for expanded U.S.-Armenia ties, his devotion to the proper
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, his energetic protests of the
unfair firing of the former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall
Evans, for speaking truthfully about this crime, and – most recently
– the senatorial "hold" he has placed on the President’s new nominee
for this post, Dick Hoagland, over his denial of this crime against
humanity.

In accepting the award, Sen. Menendez offered heartfelt remarks,
stating that, "despite denials by the Turkish Government, despite the
current Administration’s position, we know, we know, the atrocities
committed between 1915 and 1923 constitute genocide." Noting that
countless historians had characterized the events of 1915 to 1923 as
genocide, he reminded those gathered of his unwavering support for
truth and justice.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress