ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AMERICA
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
Email: anca@anca.org
Website:

PRESS RELEASE
September 11, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Email: elizabeth@anca.org

ANCA HELPS LAUNCH SAVE DARFUR’S
MILLION POSTCARD CAMPAIGN

"We’re working to bring U.S. policies in line
with American principles, because a Darfur policy
that reflects the enduring values of the American
people – not short-term, narrow interests in
Washington – will be a policy that truly protects
civilians, works for a sustainable peace, and
demands true justice & accountability."
— ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian

Watch ANCA Exec. Dir. Aram Hamparian’s Remarks:
releases.php?prid=1583

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
played its part this week in the successful start to the Save
Darfur Coalitions Million Postcard campaign with remarks by
Executive Director Aram Hamparian at the campaign’s national
launch.

The aim of the campaign, supported by a broad range of human
rights, ethnic, advocacy, and faith-based partners, is to ensure
that the two Presidential candidates, John McCain (R) and Barack
Obama (D), honor their joint pledge to demonstrate "unstinting
resolve," once in office, to end the genocide taking place in the
Darfur region of Sudan.

The Washington, DC program opened with a prayer by noted Reverend
Kim Barnes, and featured welcoming remarks by Save Darfur President
Jerry Fowler, and moving speeches by Save Darfur Chairwoman Rev.
Gloria White Hammond, and prominent radio and television
personality Joe Madison. Hamparian closed the event with remarks
about the moral imperative of ensuring U.S. leadership in ending
the cycle of genocide (full text is provided below). Also in
attendance were key coalition partners, including the Religious
Action Center of Reform Judaism, Investors Against Genocide,
Genocide Intervention Network, Africa Action, Armenian Assembly,
and B’nai B’rith International.

To learn more about the Million Postcard campaign, visit:

To request postcards, write to:
anca@anca.org

Save Darfur is an alliance of over 180 faith-based, advocacy and
humanitarian organizations. The Coalition’s member organizations
represent 130 million people of all ages, races, religions and
political affiliations united together to help the people of
Darfur.

#####

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian’s remarks
Save Darfur Coalition – Million Postcard Launch
Washington, DC

September 9, 2008

Pride, Sadness, and Hope.

I’m proud today that Armenians, as descendents of genocide
survivors, can give back in this small way – helping to ensure that
the terrible lessons of our experience can in some way ensure that
such horrors are not again visited upon others.

Saddened that – with such broad-based efforts, with such tremendous
public awareness – we are still witnessing ongoing slaughter in
Sudan – without, as has been the case for more than a century – any
meaningful intervention by the United States or the international
community.

Hopeful because this campaign – at this vital moment on the eve of
the presidential elections – leverages Save Darfur’s tremendous
work to get the noble cause of ending this genocide high on the
agenda of the next President from day one.

Hopeful that we can help reshape how American foreign policy views
genocide and – more broadly – our sacred role and our moral
responsibility as our brother’s keeper.

Hopeful that we will, as a nation, begin to measures our strength
not just in bullets, or barrels of oils, or bases, but in lives
saved and suffering alleviated.

Hopeful that we bring our policies in line with our principles.

Because a Darfur policy that reflects the enduring values of the
American people – not short-term, narrow interests in Washington –
will be a policy that truly:

— Protects civilians

— Works for a sustainable peace

— and demands true justice & accountability

This is our chance. Now is our moment.

To show that ending genocide is not simply a moral issue or even
simply a foreign policy issue – but an electoral issue.

— An issue with a constituency,

— A cause with a base,

— A policy that matters to voters and that will impact outcomes
on November 4th.

Thank you.