PRESS RELEASE
Date: June 21, 2007
Armenian National Committee of America
Eastern Region, USA
P.O. Box 419, New York, NY 10108
Contact: Karine Birazian
Tel: 917-428-1918
Email: [email protected]
Internet:
ANCA-ER EXEC. DIRECTOR VISITS CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES;
ARMENIAN AMERICAN ACTIVISTS IN ALBANY NY
Teams Up with ANC Albany Chapter to Promote Genocide Resolution;
Holds Heartwarming Meeting with Genocide Survivor Edna Mategian
Albany, NY- Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region (ANCA-ER)
Executive Director Karine Birazian and Regional Board Member Isabel Ohanian
reached out to Armenian American activists and Congressional offices in
Albany, New York, expanding the recently launched POWER initiative: Project
Outreach Waves the Eastern Region to upstate New York.
Birazian, Ohanian and ANC of Albany activists met with staff from the
offices of Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Charles Schumer (D-NY), and
Representative Michael McNulty (D-NY-21) to thank them for their support on
a wide range of Armenian American concerns, including their cosponsorship of
Armenian Genocide legislation. The ANC team also met with Darius Shahinfar,
Regional Representative for freshman Representative Kristen Gillibrand
(D-NY-20) to explore areas of expanded cooperation.
ANC of Albany Chairman Antranig Karageozian, who has been active with the
chapter since its formation in 1995 commented, "though the community is
small, we are quite active on a range of issues from meeting with
Congressional Representatives to planning local Armenian Genocide
commemorative activities. We look forward to continue the outreach,
strengthen the community, expand relationships with our federal and state
officials."
Birazian also had an opportunity to visit with genocide survivor Enza
Mategian. Born in Samsoun on August 9, 1909, Mategian spoke with Birazian
and other community members about her struggle to survive the genocide and
her family’s subsequent escape to Damascus. In 1931 Mategian moved to
Hartford, CT, eventually marrying and relocating to Albany, NY, where she
now lives in Tersian Nursing Home. "I was only 6 years old at the time of
the Genocide. I remember seeing the Turks come and take my father from the
home; my mother, brother, and I had to leave everything. I remember being
hungry all the time. I was too young at the time to understand, but still
remember the death marches," commented Mategian who will be 98 this August.
On the evening of June 13th, community members from throughout the greater
Albany area gathered for a briefing by Birazian on a wide range of ANCA
supported projects, including passage of the Armenian Genocide legislation,
H. Res 106 / S.Res.106, ongoing efforts to prevent the appointment Richard
Hoagland as Ambassador to Armenia, and foreign aid to Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh. Birazian also gave a workshop on effective advocacy techniques in
reaching out to Congressional and State legislators.
"It was wonderful to spend time meeting with Armenian American activists in
Albany," commented Birazian. "It was a great opportunity to update the
community on pressing issues the ANCA is working on. I look forward to
continuing to work with the local chapter."
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) 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.
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Photo Caption
Left to Right: ANCA-ER Executive Director Karine Birazian, Armenian genocide
survivor Edna Mategian, and ANCA-ER board member Isabel Ohanian
Left to Right: ANC of Albany Chairman Antranig Karaegozian, Isabel Ohanian,
Darius Shahinfar, Regional Representative Rep.Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY-20)