SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ TO RECEIVE 2009 ANCA-ER FREEDOM AWARD AT THIRD ANNUAL BANQUET
/sen-robert-menendez-to-receive-2009-anca-er-freed om-award-at-third-annual-banquet/
September 11, 2009
"It is well past time for American diplomacy to drop the euphemisms,
the wink-wink, nod-nod brand of foreign policy that overlooks heinous
atrocities committed around the world."
-U.S. Senator Robert Menendez
NEW YORK-The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Eastern
Region will be honoring United States Senator Robert Menendez with its
highest honor, the prestigious Freedom Award, at the Third Annual ANCA
Eastern Region Banquet hosted by the Armenian Cultural Association
of America on Sat., Oct. 3 at Espace in New York City.
"We are proud to be honoring Senator Menendez," said ACAA Board
Member George Aghjayan. "The Senator from New Jersey acted with
distinction when he placed a hold on Richard Hoagland’s nomination and
has repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to the Armenian American
community."
For over 16 years, Menendez has been an ardent advocate of Armenian
American concerns in the state of New Jersey and nationally. From
ensuring that the United States honestly addresses the issue of the
Armenian Genocide to speaking out on the right of self-determination
for the people of Nagorno-Karabagh, Menendez has championed truth,
justice, and the principles of freedom so cherished by the Armenian
American community.
During the 109th Congress (2005-06), Menendez received nationwide
attention after making history by placing a hold on the appointment of
Ambassador designate to the Republic of Armenia, Richard Hoagland. The
Armenian American community had overwhelmingly expressed its
concern regarding Hoagland’s testimony before the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee in which he used language denying the Armenian
Genocide. Throughout 2006, the Armenian National Committee of America
led a nationwide campaign to call attention to this matter and demand
that the State Department remove the Hoagland nomination, offer a
complete explanation surrounding the controversial firing of former
ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans, and clarify the Turkish
government’s influence in the removal of Ambassador Evans.
When the 110th Congress convened in January 2007, President Bush once
again nominated Hoagland to serve as U.S. ambassador to Armenia without
addressing any of the concerns outlined by the ANCA and the Armenian
American community. The very next day, Menendez placed a second hold on
the nomination. On Aug. 3, 2007, the Hoagland nomination was withdrawn
by President Bush.
When asked about his motivation for placing a hold, Menendez stated,
"I believe that the United States, Armenia, and all who are committed
to human rights should support an ambassador to Armenia who recognizes
the genocide that took place there more than 90 years ago."
In a statement released when he placed the hold on Hoagland in 2006,
Menendez said, "the State Department and the Bush Administration
are just flat-out wrong in their refusal to recognize the Armenian
Genocide. It is well past time for American diplomacy to drop the
euphemisms, the wink-wink, nod-nod brand of foreign policy that
overlooks heinous atrocities committed around the world. If there
is any sincerity behind the Bush Administration’s rhetoric about
‘liberty on the march’-if ‘never again’ is to be more than a bumper
sticker slogan-then American diplomacy should consist of nothing less
than unvarnished honesty with our friends and enemies alike. And we
must call genocide by its name."
In June 2008, Menendez led the effort in questioning the
administration’s nominee, Marie Yovanovitch, to serve as
U.S. ambassador to Armenia during a Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations confirmation hearing. Menendez forcefully questioned the
administration’s policy on the Armenian Genocide and submitted numerous
questions concerning the Armenian Genocide,
Turkey and Azerbaijan’s blockades of Armenia, Karabagh, and foreign
aid to Armenia. Several months later, in September 2008, Menendez led
the effort in questioning the administration’s nominee, James Jeffrey,
to serve as U.S. ambassador to Turkey during his confirmation hearing.
Most recently, in January 2009, Menendez questioned President
Obama’s nominee, Senator Hillary Clinton, to serve as secretary
of state during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation
hearing. During the nationally televised hearing, Menendez said,
"I hope that the support that you gave while you were a Senator to
the question of the Armenian Genocide, that the president-elect has
himself supported, recognition of that.
You know, if we are to say never again, part of that is ultimately the
recognition of what has happened so that we can move forward. And I
hope that you will be an advocate of having us get off of where we have
been and move forward to a recognition of that part of history that
is universally recognized so that we can move forward in that respect."
Robert Menendez grew up the son of Cuban immigrants in Union City,
N.J. He has served as a school board member, a mayor, and a state
legislator. In 1992, he was elected to the United States House of
Representatives. Menendez has co-sponsored every Armenian Genocide
resolution introduced in Congress since his arrival in 1993. He served
on the House International Relations Committee where he twice voted
for passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution in 2000 and 2005. He
became the highest-ranking Hispanic in Congressional history and
the third-highest ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives
when his colleagues elected him the Chairman of the House Democratic
Caucus in 2002. While serving as a Representative, Menendez repeatedly
offered remarks on the floor of the House in commemoration of the
Armenian Genocide.
Menendez was appointed to the United States Senate by New Jersey
Governor Jon Corzine and sworn in on Jan. 18, 2006. In November of
that year, he was elected by the people of New Jersey to serve a full
six-year term as United States Senator. He currently serves on the
Senate Committees on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Energy and
Natural Resources; Budget; Finance; and Foreign Relations. Menendez is
also the chairman of the Subcommittee on International Development and
Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental
Protection of the Committee on Foreign Relations.
As a mark of his longstanding bond with the Armenian American
community, in 2005 then-Representative Menendez joined hundreds
of Armenian Americans at a reception in New Jersey honoring His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. In April
2008, Menendez met with His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan,
Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America. For his outstanding commitment to the community, Menendez
was honored in 2007 by the ARF "Dro" Gomideh of New Jersey and the
ANC Western Region, and most recently in 2009, by the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern).
ANCA Banquet
Every year, close to 400 Armenian American community members and
leaders join prominent Members of Congress, statewide officials, and
state legislators for the ANCA Eastern Region Annual Banquet. The
2009 Banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception and
silent auction, with the formal program beginning at 8 p.m. For more
information about the Banquet, call Nairee Hagopian at (312) 615-7698
or visit to purchase tickets.
Established in 1969, the Armenian Cultural Association of America
(ACAA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that assists and supports
impoverished people of Armenian origin; welfare institutions that aid
those of Armenian origin; and educational and charitable organizations
that encourage and develop the Armenian cultural heritage. The
ACAA also aids students, authors, artists, and researchers who are
pursuing intellectual efforts in Armenian culture and education,
and publishes educational, scientific, and literary books that
raise the educational, cultural, and intellectual standards of the
community. The ACAA sponsors projects both in the Republic of Armenia
and the Armenian Diaspora. It also serves as a repository of historic
Armenian national documents and archives.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
