ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian offered local advocates detailed analyses of the ANCA’s legislative strategy.
WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) – in a series of online and in-person briefings – is rallying Armenian American communities across the United States in support of a series of legislative initiatives to defend Artsakh, strengthen Armenia and hold Turkey and Azerbaijan accountable.
In the weeks leading up to US House passage of four ANCA-backed amendments to the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the ANCA Board coordinated two national online, interactive briefings, bringing local chapter grassroots advocates from both the eastern and western ANCA regions up to speed on the challenges and opportunities facing Armenia and Artsakh in our nation’s capital. The calls engaged the full array of ANCA stakeholders in a nationwide campaign, aligned with the organization’s mission of advocating for a safe and secure Armenian homeland and Artsakh. The calls contributed meaningfully to the passage of three amendments targeting Azerbaijan’s aggression and a fourth, creating roadblocks to Turkey’s acquisition of new US F-16 fighter jets. During these sessions, ANCA executive director Aram Hamparian and Government Affairs director Tereza Yerimyan offered detailed analyses of the ANCA’s legislative strategy, and Gev Iskajyan, of the ANCof Artsakh, provided first-hand reports from Stepanakert on the crisis facing Artsakh and the urgent necessity for global advocacy for security, self-determination, and freedom.
“Our array of ongoing local, regional, and national work sessions – in person, online and virtual – inform our chapters, educate our activists, and inspire our grassroots to advance our shared ANCA policy priorities,” said ANCA National Board member Dzovinar Hamakordzian. “Our coordinated national strategy contributes to the survival of Artsakh, the security of Armenia, and accountability for Turkey and Azerbaijan – three urgent short-term objectives that align with our enduring commitment to the long-term viability of the Armenian nation.”
Chief Strategies resident Areen Ibranossian discussed the Armenian American community’s impact in the June 2022 California primaries and opportunities in the November general elections.
Following the two successful national online briefings in June, on July 16 Hamparian joined ANCA National Board members Aida Dimejian and Zanku Armenian for an in-person strategic briefing in Burbank, California bringing together over a dozen local western US chapters and leading advocates, with other chapters from outside southern California participating online. He was joined by nationally respected veteran political consultant Areen Ibranossian, president of Chief Strategies, who offered a detailed overview of how the Armenian American community and voters made an impact in the June 2022 California primary elections and where the opportunities are for the November general elections. Ibranossian also made a case for including as much youth in the political process as possible, citing his own career history where his early experiences with the ANC made a long-lasting impact on his career in politics.
Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian urged ANCA local advocates to continue to carry the torch for the Armenians of Artsakh and Armenia.
“These most recent briefings, including the in-person briefing to the national ANCA’s US western region local chapters, were organized around our national legislative strategy and are great examples of the strong, sustained, and effective leadership the ANCA is providing across the American political and policy-making landscape. The large turnout for our in-person briefing in Burbank demonstrates that our ANC local leaders throughout our western region are fully engaged and stand ready to lead our community’s grassroots mobilization,” added Armenian.