ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AMERICA
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
Email: [email protected]
Website:
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
July 17, 2008
Contact: Razmik Tchakmakian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Email: [email protected]
SCHIFF SHARES INSIGHTS ON ARMENIA VISIT WITH ARMENIAN AMERICAN
INTERNS
WASHINGTON, DC — Long-time advocate of Armenian American issues,
Rep. Adam Schiff (CA-29), reflected on his recent trip to Armenia
with Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and Armenian
Assembly interns as part of their summer training program in the
nation’s capital. Representative Schiff emphasized his continued
dedication to issues of community concern, including formally
recognizing the Armenian Genocide, ending the Turkish blockade of
Armenia, as well as finding a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-
Karabakh conflict.
The 29th district of California has one of the largest Armenian-
American constituencies in the United States. Although an elected
official’s role is primarily to represent his/her constituents,
Rep. Schiff made it clear that his introduction of and continued
support for H.R.106, the Armenian Genocide Bill, is much more than
just an issue of constituent representation.
"If the only reason to support the Armenian Genocide bill was
having Armenian constituents, then there would only be about a
dozen cosponsors," asserted Rep. Schiff. "How do you explain the
other 212 cosponsors of the bill?"
Glendale resident and ANCA Summer Associate, Arbi Vartan, was among
those present at the meeting with Rep. Schiff. Vartan thanked Rep.
Schiff for his steadfast support of Armenian issues and applauded
his unyielding dedication to fundamental human rights values.
"Congressman Schiff is a champion of the Armenian-American
community, and I am delighted to have him represent me in
Congress," affirmed Vartan. "His most recent trip to Armenia is
just one more example of his pro-active approach to politics."
During his trip to Armenia, Schiff met with President of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian to strengthen
the friendship between the United States and Armenia and discuss
issues of mutual interest.
Congressman Schiff’s relationship with the Armenian community
traces back to his experiences interning with Raffi Hovanessian,
who would later serve as Armenia’s Foreign Minister, in former
Representative Nicholas James Mavroules’ (D-MA) office. Since his
election to office in 2000, Rep. Schiff has taken a leading role in
successive Armenian Genocide resolutions, including the passage of
an amendment to the foreign aid bill in 2004 that would block the
use of U.S. funds for Turkey’s genocide denial campaign in the
United States. On multiple occasions, he has confronted State
Department officials on their flawed policy of complicity with
Turkey’s genocide denial. He is lead author of the Armenian
Genocide resolution (H.Res.106), which garnered over 200 cosponsors
and was adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee by a vote of
27 to 21, despite unprecedented opposition from the White House.
Arbi Vartan is in Washington, DC, participating in the ANCA Leo
Sarkisian Internship Program, an eight-week intensive program
designed to give student leaders and activists the tools necessary
to effectively advance Armenian American concerns on campus and in
their communities. It is an integral part of the ANCA Capital
Gateway program, a year-round internship / job placement service
which provides Armenian Americans greater opportunities to explore
careers on Capitol Hill, in the U.S. Foreign Service and key
Washington, DC foreign policy think tanks. To learn more about the
ANCA Capital Gateway Program, visit:
w.php
#####
Photo Caption: Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) with ANCA Leo Sarkisian
intern Arbi Vartan.