Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
May 14, 2007
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: [email protected]
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY HOSTS ANNUAL MEETING AND ADVOCACY DAY IN NATION’S
CAPITAL
Advocacy Coincides with 92nd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide as
Activists Met Legislators on Capitol Hill, Urging Support of Key
Legislation
WASHINGTON, DC – Armenian-American leaders and activists from across
the country gathered on April 23 – 24 in the nation’s capital for the
Armenian Assembly’s Annual Trustees Meeting and Advocacy Day in a
unified effort to rally congressional support for the Armenian
Genocide resolutions in the House and Senate. In addition, activists
joined in commemorating the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
held on April 24th on Capitol Hill.
ANNUAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CHALLENGES
The Annual Board of Trustees meeting, led by Board of Trustees
Chairman Hirair Hovnanian, provided Assembly leaders and members a
chance to discuss perspectives and priorities for current undertakings
and plans throughout the year.
"We are coming together at a critical time," Hovnanian said. "We have
new opportunities and challenges this year and we must remain active
and vigilant. We must not allow those who seek to deny the reality of
the Armenian Genocide to get the upper hand. Your presence here can
stop that from happening."
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny reviewed the Assembly’s achievements
in 2006 and looked ahead to addressing the obstacles facing Armenia,
and U.S.-Armenia relations in 2007. Legislative issues in the 110th
Congress were reviewed, including the Armenian Genocide resolutions,
H. Res. 106 and S. Res. 106, in the House and Senate
respectively. While both resolutions have received strong bipartisan
support, Ardouny urged continued action to counter Turkish efforts to
deny and distort the truth.
Ardouny also discussed the January slaying of courageous Armenian
journalist and citizen of Turkey Hrant Dink. The human rights advocate
was gunned down after speaking the truth about the Armenian Genocide,
a violation of Article 301 of Turkey’s penal code, which states that
"publicly denigrating Turkishness is a punishable offense." His brutal
murder inspired lawmakers in both chambers of Congress to introduce
legislation (H. Res. 102 and S. Res. 65) condemning Dink’s
Assassination and urging Turkey to repeal Article 301. S. Res. 65
unanimously passed in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in March.
In 2006, Assembly advocacy, coupled with the Armenian-American
community, resulted in legislation prohibiting U.S. funding of a
proposed railroad line that would connect Turkey, Georgia and
Azerbaijan while bypassing Armenia. In 2007, the Assembly was one of
only 16 organizations that testified before the House State Foreign
Operations Appropriations Subcommittee on U.S.-Armenia relations.
The annual meeting also featured an update by Jason Sohigian, Deputy
Director of the Armenia Tree Project (ATP). In 2006, ATP planted
720,000 trees and also pledged to plant 500,000 trees in 2007 as part
of the Billion Tree Campaign of the United Nations Environment
Program. Hovnanian praised Assembly Board of Trustees President
Carolyn Mugar, whose vision for ATP has resulted in an organization
that is making solid contributions to Armenia’s sustainable
development.
ADVOCACY WORKSHOP FOCUSES ON EFFECTIVE COALITION BUILDING
Panel speakers for the Advocacy Workshop were: David Rubenstein,
Executive Director of the Save Darfur Coalition; Michael Sawkiw,
President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America; and Levon
Bagramian, President of the Armenian Students Association (ASA) of
Columbia University in New York, as well as founder of Advocates for
Armenia. Intern alumnus Aram Gavoor served as Master of Ceremonies.
Rubenstein discussed the efforts of the Save Darfur Coalition to stop
the genocide in Sudan. He defined genocide as "killing without war,
when a group of people are killed because of their ethnic background."
He also noted that Armenian-Americans have been close friends and
partners of the Coalition. "Crimes of the past have motivated many
Armenians to speak out today," said Rubenstein.
Sawkiw spoke about the importance of coalitions in achieving policy
objectives. In addition, he spoke about the impact of the elections in
Ukraine and on democratic movements in countries throughout the former
Soviet and Warsaw Pact countries.
Bagramian, a Columbia University law student, urged Assembly members
to use their Capitol Hill meetings to seek ways to improve economic
development in Armenia, by increasing U.S. assistance and full funding
of the $235 million Millennium Challenge Corporation grant signed
between the U.S. and Armenia in March 2006. He also urged his peers to
become more active on their college campuses. "We haven’t done enough
to advocate for Armenia," he said. "We are the future." Bagramian
recently organized a conference at Columbia University where some 180
students from around the country discussed various policy issues and
challenges facing Armenia.
On Monday evening, the Assembly hosted a welcome reception. Among
those who attended were former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John
M. Evans and his wife Donna, and Armenia’s Ambassador to the
U.S. Tatoul Markarian.
ACTIVISTS TAKE ON CAPITOL HILL
On April 24, activists put their advocacy skills to the test by
heading to Capitol Hill for meetings with their representatives from
California and Florida to Minnesota and New York and locally from
Virginia to Maryland, among other states. Participants attended
scheduled meetings with their respective lawmakers to discuss Armenian
issues of importance, encourage them to cosponsor the Armenian
Genocide and Hrant Dink resolutions, and thank those who have been
strong supporters.
Later that evening, they joined the Washington area Armenian community
for the Armenian Genocide Commemoration on Capitol Hill spearheaded by
the Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs and the Armenian Embassy.
The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
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NR2007-057