ANCA WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Armen Dilanyan
"Radiolur"
22.01.2010 17:40
Glendale
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to meet
representatives of Armenian-American organizations next month. The
idea came in the fall of the past year, when the Las Vegas Chapter
of the Armenian National Committee applied to Senate Majority leader
Harry Reid to express dissatisfaction with the fact that the US
Administration defends the Armenian-Turkish protocols, which counter
the interests of the Armenian people, including American Armenian
voters.
Every vote can be decisive for Harry Reid, who will be running for
his second term in November. Not to lose his potential electors, the
Senator decided to forward the letter to Secretary Clinton and to
encourage her to meet directly with the national leadership of the
Armenian American community regarding the state of Turkey-Armenia
relations.
Hilary Clinton did not turn down the respected Senator’s request.
However, the State Secretary’s initiative does not satisfy
representatives of the Armenian-American community.
The Armenian National Committee of America is discontent with the
participants invited, not the idea of the meeting itself.
Invited to attend the meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
are: the Armenian Assembly of America, the Armenian General Benevolent
Union, the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern),
the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Western), the Knights of Vartan,
and the Armenian National Committee of America.
It’s hard to say how the choice was made, but the fact remains that
five of the six organizations invited back the protocols. It’s
only the Armenian National Committee of America that opposes the
Armenian-Turkish protocols. Besides, the six organizations do not
reflect the stance of the whole Armenian American community.
Representatives of the three Armenian traditional parties that came
together at a press club in Los Angeles confirmed that they all
addressed separate letters to the Department of State, saying they
stand against the expected meeting and its content.
If the request is turned down and the meeting takes place in
a previously agreed format, the Armenian National Committee of
America-Western Region will, most probably, refuse from participating
in it.