WHERE DOES YOUR CANDIDATE STAND?

AZG Armenian Daily
27/05/2009

Armenians in Europe

AGBU Europe asks Euro-candidates to state position on 7 key issues
The Armenian organization AGBU Europe has launched a pre-electoral
campaign asking candidates in the European elections for their position
on key issues. In June 2009, many of the one million Armenians in
Europe will have a chance to vote in the European elections. Their
vote could affect the future of Armenia or that of the Diaspora:
the European Union makes important decisions for all Europeans,
including Armenians around Europe. The campaign consists in asking
candidates in every EU country 7 questions on relevant EU policies and
in publishing their answers. This will provide Europeans, Armenians
included, with information to help them choose between candidates on
election day. Crucially, it will raise awareness among candidates,
and remind them that their electors care about these issues. Relevant
EU policies include those that concern Armenia’s future European
integration and the newly launched Eastern Partnership, policies on
culture, language and freedom and justice; peace-making in the South
Caucasus and the future of Nagorno-Karabakh; and Turkey’s accession
prospects and the recognition of the Armenian genocide. With this
campaign, the organisation hopes to encourage Armenians in Europe to
form an opinion on EU policies and to use their vote knowingly. The
campaign also intends to generate debate and raise awareness among
future members of the European Parliament about these important
questions. The Armenian Diaspora in the EU is estimated at around one
million. Though the Diaspora has a very long history in many European
countries, most European Armenians trace their roots to the Republics
of Turkey or Armenia. For more information on Armenians and Europe,
see Individuals and organizations interested in
raising these issues with their candidates to the European elections
are encouraged to contact them and publicize their answers. All
information about the campaign, including the 7 questions, answers
received and the contact coordinates of the main political parties
running in the European elections in each country can be found at:
AGBU Europe is the European
branch of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU). Established
in 1906, AGBU ( or ) is
the world’s largest non-profit Armenian organization and is
headquartered in New York City. AGBU works to preserve and promote
the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural
and humanitarian programs, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians
on five continents. For more information contact AGBU Europe, Flora
Hakobyan, tel : 33 1 45 200 318, email: mailto:fhakobyan@agbueurope.org