Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region

104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: ancawr@anca.org
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PRESS RELEASE

March 14, 2007

Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA JOHN EVANS ADDRESSES ANC BANQUET

— Evans Calls for Passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution

San Francisco, CA – Ambassador John Evans, the most recent U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, called upon the U.S. Congress to pass the
Armenian Genocide resolution. Evans addressed a capacity crowd of over
400 guests gathered in San Francisco for the Bay Area Armenian National
Committee’s annual Hai Tahd Evening banquet on March 10, 2007.

Members of the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
(ANCA-WR) also joined the Bay Area ANC to honor Ambassador John Evans.
Evans was prematurely recalled from his post and dismissed because of
remarks he made while visiting California in 2005 regarding his open
acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide. His remarks were furiously
protested at the time by the Government of Turkey which pressured the
U.S. State Department to dismiss Amb. Evans from his post in Armenia.

In his speech at the ANC banquet, Ambassador Evans discussed the book he
will be writing about the Genocide issue and explained how he came to
embrace the importance of the issue of addressing U.S. policy on the
Armenian Genocide, stating "I do believe that in the long run, my stance
in support of recognition, will be vindicated, if not this Spring, then
at least by this Congress." He continued later to state "The Armenian
Genocide should be recognized as such by this Congress." Evans also
highlighted the importance of genocide recognition efforts by the
community. ".those of you who’ve devoted hours of your days, years of
your lives, fighting for recognition for what happened to your
forebears. I stand here tonight in admiration of all of you. I salute
you tonight, and I also thank you for your efforts on my behalf, when it
seemed to you as if I was being done an injustice."

Prior to Ambassador Evans’ remarks, the program featured remarks from
Bay Area ANC Chairwoman Roxanne Makasjian who highlighted the many
important milestones achieved by the Bay Area ANC in the past year and
the importance of maintaining community activism. She also highlighted
the need for the community to remain steadfast in the face of Turkey’s
disingenuous efforts to position themselves as seeking reconciliation
with the U.S. State Department’s help. "We cannot pursue
"reconciliation" without recognition," stated Makasjian. "How genuine
can the government’s gestures at dialogue and reconciliation be when it
started re-trial proceedings against Hrant Dink, three weeks after he
was dead."

Also addressing the audience was ANCA-WR Board member Steve Dadaian and
ANCA Communications Director Elizabeth Chouldjian who introduced the
Ambassador and the significance of his role as both Ambassador to
Armenia and the Genocide recognition issue.

In the remarks made by the ANCA-WR’s Steve Dadaian, he discussed the
importance of passing the Armenian Genocide Resolution in Congress,
especially this year because of the current evolution of the genocide
issue and the political landscape. Dadaian also elaborated upon the
immense opportunities that exist today in advancing the community’s
issues. "It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the
fight in the dog – and this dog’s got a lot of fight in it," stated
Dadaian in reference to the power of grassroots activism and the
community. Dadaian applauded the Bay Area ANC on its local work and
sited as an example how the Bay Area ANC has secured 15 of 17 possible
Representatives as cosponsors of the Armenian Genocide Resolution in
Congress.

Elizabeth Chouldjian, ANCA Communications Director introduced Ambassador
John Evans. In her opening remarks she described the ANCA’s key role in
defending Amb. Evans’ courage to speak openly about the Armenian
Genocide. "Our message to the State Department is clear — come clean
on the firing of Ambassador Evans, withdraw the Hoagland nomination, and
end the shameless pandering to the Turkish Government," stated
Chouldjian. "And if the State Department doesn’t have the guts to stand
by one of its own, to honor the man who tried to bring dignity and
morality to American foreign policy, then the ANC and Armenian American
community will."

Andrew Kzirian, Executive Director of the ANCA-WR and Haig Hovsepian,
Community Relations Director of the ANCA-WR also traveled to San
Francisco to join fellow ANC activists and colleagues in honoring Evans
and to help continue building the ANCA-WR’s grassroots network.

The Armenian National Committee of America 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: ANCA-WR Executive Director, Andrew Kzirian joins
Ambassador John Evans at the Saturday evening reception in San
Francisco. (Photo by Raffi Momjian)