Rep. Schiff and Councilman Garcetti join Armenian American Community
Leaders At ANCA press conference
armradio.am
01.02.2008 10:09
Some fifty reporters and community leaders gathered at the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA Western Region headquarters
yesterday for a press conference announcing the ANCA endorsement of
Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic Presidential primary.
Speakers at the press conference included Obama supporters, Rep. Adam
Schiff (D-CA, 29th district), Los Angeles City Council President Eric
Garcetti, ANCA National Board member Raffi Hamparian and Armenians for
Obama Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian. Each outlined Sen. Obama’s proven
record and commitment to bringing about meaningful change in U.S.
governance and commitment to Armenian American concerns.
"Today, we endorse an individual, a senator, a leader’a purveyor of
hope’who can change the tone, tenor, and policies in Washington, DC.
We, as an organization, believe that Barack Obama is the individual to
get this job done," explained ANCA National Board Member Raffi
Hamparian. Hovsepian concurred noting that, "Barack Obama, on the key
issues of importance to our community, has adopted very favorable
positions. Whether it is recognition of the Armenian Genocide, aid to
Armenia, or self-determination and independence for Karabagh, on all of
these issues, Barack Obama is with us."
Hamparian and Hovsepian went on to cite Sen. Obama’s strong statement
on U.S.-Armenia relations, issued on January 19th, where he outlined
his strong support for the passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution
currently before Congress and his commitment to promoting Armenia’s
security "by seeking an end to the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades."
House Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsor, Rep. Adam Schiff
(D-CA), noting that successive U.S. presidents have reneged on campaign
pledges to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide, stated "I think
we have in Senator Obama a person of impeccable principle. I am
confident that the commitments he makes are the commitments he keeps."
In his January 19th statement, Sen. Obama had stated, "As a senator, I
strongly support passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106
and S.Res.106), and as President I will recognize the Armenian
Genocide."
Councilman Garcetti echoed these sentiments, noting that, "His [Sen.
Obama’s] principles are not just ones that he trots out when it’s
convenient. It’s very easy for someone to say pro-Armenian things in
front of an Armenian group, but he [Obama] went to Azerbaijan, where,
in Azerbaijan, he said that it was time to end the blockades; and there
he also said it was time for Turks to recognize the Genocide. It speaks
volumes about the sort of leader he will be, the sort of diplomat he
will be, and the sort of president he will be."