Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
March 18, 2008
Contact: Ani Garabedian
ANCA-WR Leaders Meet with Congressman Becerra
Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles, CA – The Armenian National Committee of
America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) recently met with Congressman Xavier
Becerra (D-CA-31) at his district office in Los Angeles, CA to discuss
issues relating to the Armenian American community. Constituent Maurice
Soudjian and ANCA-WR Executive Director Andrew Kzirian joined the
Congressman on Tuesday, March 18, 2008.
"Congressman Becerra is a principled leader and strong supporter of ending
the cycle of genocide," stated Kzirian. "The universal nature of genocide
is a scourge upon humanity as a whole – and we must continue to educate
elected officials as to why they must not back down due to threats made by
Turkey."
During the meeting, Becerra, Soudjian and Kzirian discussed H. Res. 106 (the
Armenian Genocide resolution) and the community’s efforts to continue
raising genocide awareness in the face of opposition from the Turkish and
American governments. The Congressman also discussed foreign aid to Armenia,
the Millenium Challenge Account and the importance of maintaining stability
in the Caucuses.
Becerra, who serves as Assistant to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-08),
represents the 31st Congressional District of California which includes
parts of Los Angeles County. The district covers areas such as Echo Park,
Eagle Rock, Atwater Village, Hollywood, Silverlake, Koreatown, El Sereno,
Historic Filipino town and various other neighborhoods. Becerra, the first
Latino and only Member from Southern California serving on the powerful
House Ways and Means Committee, was first elected to the House in 1992. The
first in his family to graduate from college and the son of working-class
immigrants, Becerra earned his college degree in Economics and his law
degree from Stanford University.
The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the
Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated
organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances the concerns of the
Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
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