Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
September 12, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY WELCOMES KNOLLENBERG IN CALIFORNIA
Beverly Hills, CA – The Armenian Assembly’s Western Region Office held a
dinner in honor of Representative Joseph Knollenberg (R-MI), Co-Chair of
the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, in Glendale, California on
August 29.
Nearly 30 Assembly supporters and local community leaders, including
Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian former Primate of the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church, Very Rev. Father Dajad Yardemian representing
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian of the Western Diocese and Harutyun Kojoyan,
Deputy Consul General of the Republic of Armenia, attended the event at
the Glendale Hilton Hotel.
Board of Trustees Member and Western Office Chairman Richard Mushegain,
who hosted the dinner with his wife Lauren, thanked Knollenberg for his
unwavering support of Armenia and Armenian-American issues during his
14-year tenure in the House of Representatives.
"Tonight I am pleased to welcome Congressman Knollenberg and his wife
Sandie to this gathering of representatives of the Armenian Assembly
community in Los Angeles," said Mushegain.
Knollenberg, in his remarks, commended the Armenian Assembly and its
leadership for its work to strengthen the U.S.-Armenia and U.S.-Karabakh
relationships. He said he was pleased to report that Washington’s
support for Armenia continues to gain strength and pointed to the recent
signing of a five-year $235 million compact between Armenia and the
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) as a positive sign.
However, Knollenberg added that Armenia must continue on the path of
reform, stressing the importance of good governance, economic
development and sound social policy as a requisite for continued MCC
funding. The government grant program, which operates independently of
USAID, focuses on long-term growth and reassesses a country every year
with the expectation of improved performance.
As Subcommittee Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Knollenberg
has consistently worked to ensure robust U.S. economic assistance to
Armenia and humanitarian aid to Karabakh. He told event participants
that despite Armenia’s MCC grant, foreign operations funding continues
to be necessary to Armenia’s development and that he will work to
maintain assistance levels in Congress.
Knollenberg also provided an update on the South Caucasus Integration
and Open Railroads Act – a bill he introduced in the House of
Representatives last year along with fellow Armenian Caucus Co-Chair
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Caucus Member George Radanovich (R-CA).
Knollenberg said the bill, which would prohibit U.S. assistance for the
promotion or development of a railroad that would connect Turkey,
Georgia and Azerbaijan while bypassing Armenia, currently has 96
supporters. He expressed optimism that the bill would pass the House
and urged activists to increase their advocacy on the Senate side.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership organization.
###
NR#2006-076
Photographs available on the Assembly Web site at the following links:
76/2006-076-1.jpg
Caption: Board of Trustees Member and Western Office Chairman Richard
Mushegain presented Congressman Joseph Knollenberg (R-MI) with a book
about Armenia.
076/2006-076-2.JPG
Caption: L to R: Congressman Joseph Knollenberg (R-MI) with Fellow
Trustees Nora Hampar, Savey Tufenkian and Flora Dunaians and Life
Trustee Grace Kay.