ARMENIAN AMERICAN ISSUES PROMOTED AT CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY SUMMER CONVENTION

armradio.am
14.09.2007 12:00

The Armenian National Committee-Western Region (ANC-WR) and the
Foundation for Economic Development (FED) participated in the
semi-annual California Republican Party convention in Palm Springs.

ANC-WR Community Relations Director, Haig Hovsepian was joined by
community activists William Bairamian, Marie Ghanime, and Savada
Simounian-Khygani to help raise awareness about Armenian American
issues ï~^- particularly ANC efforts to raise awareness about the
Armenian Genocide and promote Armenian American civic engagement.

Johnny Nalbandian, Executive Director of the Foundation for Economic
Development, attended the convention and discussed the growing economic
relationship between California and Armenia.

The convention was abuzz with promotional efforts by several 2008
presidential candidates. Teams representing former New York City Mayor
Rudolph Giuliani, former MA Governor Mitt Romney, US Representative
Ron Paul, and recently announced candidate, former US Senator Fred
Thompson all worked the convention crowd. Presidential candidate
and US Senator, John McCain also addressed the convention during a
Saturday afternoon luncheon. Bairamian, Ghanime, Simounian-Khygani,
and Nalbandian attended the luncheon to urge Senator McCain to heed
California Armenian community concerns ï~^- particularly with regard
to the current Armenian Genocide resolution in the US Senate and
growing US-Armenia relations.

ï~^"It was great to be at the convention this weekend with our
friends from the ANC-WR and educate the Republican faithful about
untapped potential of California-Armenia trade relations,ï~^" said
Nalbandian. ï~^"It was particularly heartening to hear McCain refer
to Armenians as his ï~^’favorite merchantsï~^’ when we met. US- as
well as California-Armenia relations should be a priority for all
presidential candidates.ï~^"

The event also featured appearances by CA Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger as well as several state legislators including
CA Assembly Member Mimi Walters, with whom the ANC of Orange
County met earlier this month. The convention was the first major
ANC-related activity that Bairamian, Ghanime, and Simounian-Khygani
attended. The three recently started the 2007 Autumn Session of the
ANC-WR Internship-Externship Program.

ï~^"As always, the ANC-WR looks forward to this opportunity to
reach out to California Republicans,ï~^" said Hovsepian. ï~^"With
the California presidential primaries moved up, candidates would
do well to come out strongly in support of issues important to the
large Armenian American community in the state. With the ANC-WR at
the convention, we help ensure they have the chance to become better
acquainted with these issues.ï~^"

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