ANC PAC
104 N. Belmont St.
Suite 200B
Glendale, CA 91206
Press Release
ANC-PAC Endorses Little Armenia’s
Congresswoman – Diane Watson
July 28, 2008
Los Angeles, CA – The nation’s largest and most active Armenian American
political action committee, the Armenian National Committee – Political
Action Committee (ANC-PAC) has endorsed Congresswoman Diane Watson. Watson
represents California’s 33rd Congressional District, which includes the area
known as Little Armenia in Hollywood. The Congresswoman, who serves as a
senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been a staunch
supporter of Armenian American issues since her election to the U.S. House of
Representatives in 2001.
"Diane Watson is the best friend the Armenian American community in Little
Armenia could wish for," commented longtime Hollywood activist and ANC-PAC
supporter Garo Ispendjian. "We are pleased to endorse her re-election and are
honored that she is a firm ally for her constituents of Armenian descent.
Whether you call her office for a matter dealing with Social Security or on a
human rights subject, Diane and her staff are always thoughtful and always
effective in addressing your concerns", Ispendjian added.
Congresswoman Watson’s record of support on Armenian issues spans a vast
range of issues; from securing self-determination for the people of
Nagorno-Karabagh, ensuring that Armenian Americans are properly counted in
the upcoming 2010 U.S. Census, to properly recognizing and seeking justice on
the Armenian Genocide.
Earlier this month, Watson used her position as a member of the House
Government Reform and Oversight Committee to encourage the federal government
to make a robust effort to count all Armenian Americans during the upcoming
2010 U.S. Census. A comprehensive count of Armenian Americans is important
because it impacts the services and amount of resources the federal
government will provide to our community.
Recently, Watson pressed Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of State for
European and Eurasian Affairs, on the Bush Administration’s denial of the
Armenian Genocide. The confrontation with Fried occurred at a June 18, 2008
hearing held by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, entitled "The Caucasus:
Frozen Conflicts and Closed Borders." In speaking with Fried, Watson
remarked, "Let me get you on the record: this administration does not think
that what happened in 1915 was genocide? Yes or no? Yes or no?" Fried
awkwardly replied, "We have never denied…." until the Congresswoman cut him
off: "Can you give me a yes or no?" she asked again. Fried hesitated and then
replied: "Ma’am, I am trying to."
The Watson-Fried exchange may be viewed at
In addition to consistently scoring grades of "A" in the annual ANCA
Congressional Report Card, Watson has also garnered a grade of "A+" for her
outstanding effort to stop the ongoing genocide in Darfur. The ANC-PAC is
proud that Congresswoman Watson has visited Darfur and supported all
legislative efforts to place pressure on the regime in Khartoum, Sudan to
stop the killing.
In 1975, Diane Watson became the first African American woman to be
elected to the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board of Education. In
1978, she was elected to the California State Senate, where should would
serve for well over a decade. Following a brief stint as U.S. Ambassador to
the Federated States of Micronesia, she was elected to the U.S. House of
Representatives in a special election held on June 5, 2001.
The ANC-PAC is a non-partisan federally registered political action
committee established to support campaign committees for Members of Congress
who share the values of the Armenian American community. The ANC-PAC is at
the forefront of efforts to ensure that the voice of the Armenian American
community is clearly heard in our nation’s capital. The ANC-PAC continues a
century old tradition of Armenian American engagement on the public policy
issues facing national political leaders, both in the U.S. Congress and the
White House. For more information, you may logon to