CAMPAIGN IN SUPPORT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION TO BE HELD IN US

DeFacto Agency
Oct 23 2007
Armenia

His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and citizen-activists from
across the U.S. will be arriving in Washington, DC, this week to urge
passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution, H.Res.106, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

To remind, the adoption of the resolution by the House Foreign Affairs
Committee on October 10th sparked a firestorm of media coverage over
the Turkish government’s threats to retaliate against America, if the
measure were approved by the full House of Representatives. Turkey
has poured millions of foreign dollars into the U.S. political system,
paying former Members of Congress to make its case and public relations
firms to spin the media coverage against this human rights legislation.

In a first wave of community visits to Washington in the wake of the
panel vote, advocates for this legislation – Americans committed to
the growth of a genuine an anti-genocide constituency – are working
with their elected officials to put America back on the right side
of this fundamental moral issue. The ANCA, Armenian Assembly, and a
range of other community groups are taking part in this effort.

"We are pleased to be joined by so many friends from across the
country in helping to put America back on the right side of this
fundamental moral and human rights issue," said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian. "We welcome their devotion and energy and
look forward to working with them to encourage legislators to stand
up against Turkey’s efforts to exercise a veto over the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide by the U.S. Congress."

Activists from over 15 states, including California, Connecticut,
Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island and Texas will be meeting with Members of Congress and staff
in Washington, DC, with activists in remaining states reaching out
to their Congressional district offices. The Washington DC advocacy
effort, expands on the nationwide ANCA Call-in and write-in campaigns,
which have been underway since the Armenian Genocide resolution was
introduced in January, 2007, by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and spearheaded
by Representative George Radanovich (R-CA), Congressional Armenian
Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI),
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), Ed Royce
(R-CA), and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA). In March, the ANCA joined with
the Genocide Intervention Network in sponsoring the "End the Cycle
of Genocide" Advocacy Days, calling congressional attention to the
denial of the Armenian Genocide and the need for urgent action to
stop the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

This past Sunday, the ANCA hosted a special three-hour presentation
on Horizon Armenian Television, titled "ANCA Special Project: Call
for Justice", spotlighting the growing Armenian American community
activism in support of H.Res.106. The special included remarks by
His Eminence Moushegh Mardirossian, His Eminence Hovnan Derderian,
Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Glendale City Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian, and a of host community
organization leaders urging ongoing grassroots activism in support
of the Armenian Genocide resolution. Congressmen Adam Schiff (D-CA)
and Brad Sherman (D-CA) both called into the program to offer personal
insights into the path of this legislation.

Among the highlights of the program were updates from ANCA Chapters
from across the United States, documenting their efforts to pass
H.Res.106 and encouraging Armenian Americans to get involved locally
and nationally. The unified voice of the Armenian American community
in support of Armenian Genocide legislation was heard loud and clears
throughout the broadcast, as citizen-activists from Los Angeles to
New York called in to pledge their commitment to this human rights
legislation.

The October 10th House Foreign Affairs Committee vote approved
H.Res.106 by 27 to 21, despite a public call by President Bush,
announced during a White House press conference, against the measure.

In the wake of its adoption, over 5000 print, on-line and broadcast
news items have covered this measure. H.Res.106 currently has over
200 cosponsors, while a similar measure in the Senate, led by Senators
Richard Durbin (D-IL) and John Ensign (R-NV), has 33 cosponsors.