PRESS RELEASE
ARMENPAC, The Armenian-American Political Action Committee
421 E. Airport Freeway, Suite 201
Irving, Texas 75220
Contact: Jason P. Capizzi, Esq.
Tel: (972) 635-5347
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: <;
ARMENPAC HOSTS MAJOR COMMUNITY EVENT IN MICHIGAN
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Knollenberg and Assistant Majority Whip McCotter
Attend
Irving, TX – ARMENPAC, along with over 80 new members from the Michigan
Armenian-American community, gathered last week to recognize the Michigan
Congressional Delegation’s steadfast support of Armenian-American issues.
Congressmen Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), as well as
a representative of Congressman Sander Levin (D-MI), attended the event in
Northville, Michigan; although a scheduling conflict prevented Congressman
Joe Schwarz (R-MI) from participating, a letter was read on his behalf which
expressed the Congressman’s committed support of our community. ARMENPAC
Co-Chair Edgar Hagopian welcomed and thanked the Congressmen and community
activists alike for their “devotion and support of Armenian-American
issues.”
ARMENPAC hosted this event to provide our elected officials in Washington,
D.C. and local community members the opportunity to directly discuss
Armenian-American issues. Congressman Joe Knollenberg, who is a Co-Chair of
the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, began the evening by updating
the group on current legislative initiatives pending in Congress that relate
to Armenia; namely the Affirmation of the United States Record on the
Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.316) and The South Caucasus Integration
and Open Railroads Act of 2005 (H.R.3361). “I am hopeful that these
initiatives will eventually succeed, as Turkey is facing increasing pressure
from various sources to recognize the Armenian Genocide and maintain good
relations with Armenia should it wish to be accepted into the European
Union,” said Congressman Knollenberg.
H.Res.316 calls upon the President: 1.) to ensure that United States foreign
policy reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues
related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the
United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide and the consequences
of the failure to realize a just resolution; and 2.) in the President’s
annual message commemorating the Armenian Genocide to characterize the
systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians as genocide,
and to recall the proud history of United States intervention in opposition
to the Armenian Genocide.
H.R.3361 prohibits United States Assistance to develop or promote rail
connections or railway-related connections that do not traverse or connect
with Armenia, and do traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, Georgia;
and Kars, Turkey.
“ARMENPAC thanks both Congressmen for their distinguished leadership on
behalf of our community, and for their participation in this event,” said
ARMENPAC Co-Chair Edgar Hagopian. “Our community must continually engage
our elected officials in similar dialogues, independent of such events,
regarding those issues that are important to us in order to ensure that our
concerns will be adequately represented in Congress. We are privileged and
very appreciative of our elected officials’ attention and commitment to our
community, especially Congressmen Knollenberg and McCotter, who were
determined to attend this event despite the bad weather in Washington, D.C.”
“It was a tremendous opportunity to attend and witness in person the
grassroots power of the Armenian Community,” said Congressman Thaddeus
McCotter.
At the end of the evening, ARMENPAC presented each Congressperson with a
plaque, engraved with William Saroyan’s famous verse regarding the
resilience of Armenians, for display in their office.
ARMENPAC is an independent, bipartisan political action committee
established to shape public policy by raising awareness of, and advocating
for, Armenian-American issues. ARMENPAC provides financial support to
federal officeholders, candidates, political action committees and
organizations that actively support issues of importance to
Armenian-Americans. For more information and how to join ARMENPAC, please
visit
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