Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
May 9, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR Participates in California Democratic Party Annual Convention
San Diego, CA – As part of the Armenian National Committee of America –
Western Region’s (ANCA-WR) ongoing efforts of reaching out to political
party leadership and membership to ensure that Armenian American issues
are appropriately addressed by local, state, and federal
representatives, the ANCA-WR participated in the recently held
California Democratic Party Annual Convention.
Representatives from the board of directors, ANCA-WR staff, and interns
joined the California Democratic Party for its 2007 annual convention in
San Diego last week. The convention was the first of the year for the
party and featured the welcoming and orientation of new party delegates
including ANCA-WR Board Member, Aida Dimejian, an appointee of CA State
Assemblymember Anthony Portantino. The ANCA-WR also hosted an exhibitor
booth at the event where ANCA-WR Community Relations Director Haig
Hovsepian worked with ANCA-WR intern Hovhannes Harutyunyan as well as
South Bay ANC Chair, Chris Yemenidjian to help introduce the
organization and Armenian American issues to convention attendees.
"The ANCA-WR is the largest Armenian American public policy organization
in California – this organization is committed to full participation in
the political process," stated Andrew Kzirian, Executive Director of the
ANCA-WR. "The ANCA-WR shall continue playing a strong role – through
heightened and active convention participation in both party conventions
– to fully represent the concerns of the Armenian American community,"
he added.
Dimejian participated in the delegate orientation programs and meetings
and attended the convention addresses to the delegates. Speakers
included party members, candidates and officials such as Presidential
candidates Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Christopher Dodd, John
Edwards, and Dennis Kucinich as well as US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Meanwhile, Hovsepian discussed the organization and issues with
delegates visiting the ANCA-WR’s booth while Harutyunyan helped
distribute information regarding the ANCA’s "Click for Justice" campaign
– urging the US House leadership to take immediate action on the
Armenian Genocide resolution in the US House, H. Res. 106, and related
genocide legislation.
"As a delegate to this convention, I truly appreciated the opportunity
to meet leaders of the Democratic Party and discuss contemporary
political issues," stated Assemblymember Portantino’s appointee, ANCA-WR
Board Member Aida Dimejian. "It is important to be equally engaged in
federal, state and local politics to fully partake in the civic
process," she added.
Yemenidjian took the opportunity to thank Senator Clinton for her recent
cosponsorship of the Armenian Genocide resolution in the US Senate, S.
Res. 106. Dimejian also met with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom,
thanking him for recently working with the San Francisco Bay Area ANC to
sponsor an Armenian Genocide commemoration ceremony. Dimejian also
thanked him for his recent letter to Speaker Pelosi urging her to
promptly call H. Res. 106 to a vote.
Hovsepian and Dimejian thanked northern California Congresswoman Barbara
Lee for her support of H. Res. 106 and southern California Congressman
Adam Schiff for his leadership in addressing the Armenian Genocide,
particularly his recent questioning of Secretary of State Condoleeza
Rice during a US House Appropriations subcommittee hearing.
The group also had the opportunity to meet with several other local
elected officials including Glendale City Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian and
former Glendale Mayor Rafi Manoukian as well as CA State Assembly
Members Anthony Portantino and Paul Krekorian who also took time to
visit the ANCA-WR booth on the convention floor.
"As we settle into the new legislative term, we are happy to participate
in this convention with friends and advocates from the Armenian National
Committee taking the lead in raising awareness about Armenian American
issues. Additionally, it is important to set an example of the value of
civic engagement and service by serving the Californian community as
conference attendees, delegates and elected officials," said Hovsepian.
The ANCA-WR also attended the 2006 California Democratic Party
Convention in Sacramento. Since then the ANCA-WR has also participated
in both semi-annual conventions hosted by the California Republican
Party.
The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working
in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters
throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the
world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American
community on a broad range of issues.
###
Photo #1 Caption: Hovsepian and Dimejian with US Representative Barbara
Lee (center, left).
Photo #2 Caption: Harutyunyan with CA State Assembly Member Paul
Krekorian (right).
Photo #3 Caption: Dimejian with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
