Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE
August 19, 2004
CONTACT: David Zenian
E-mail: [email protected]
REP. CARDOZA COMMITTS TO JOIN ARMENIAN CAUCUS
MODESTO, California – The Armenian Assembly thanked first term Congressman
Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) for his commitment Thursday to join the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues during a meeting with Armenian Assembly activists
at his Modesto district office.
Cardoza, who has often demonstrated his support on issues of importance to
American-Armenians, asked his visitors to tell the community that he was
sympathetic to their cause.
“I was pleased today to meet with several members of the Armenian Assembly
of America. I look forward to working with them in the future and supporting
their efforts, particularly through the Armenian Caucus, which I intend to
join,” Cardoza said after the meeting which was attended by Assembly Western
Office Director Lena Kaimian along with activists Dick Shahenian, Hagop
Karakashian, Levon and Violet Apelian, Haig Arakelian and Daniel Ayvazian.
Kaimian said the discussions with Congressman Cardoza covered a wide range
of issues, including U.S.-Armenia trade, military parity and other issues of
importance to Armenia and the American-Armenian community.
“We thanked the Congressman for his involvement, understanding and support
of Armenian issues, not only since joining the House of Representatives, but
also earlier in the California State Assembly where he stood up in support
of legislation to include the Armenian Genocide in the school curriculum,”
Kaimian said.
As a Congressman, Cardoza has signed the Congressional letter in the past
two years to President George W. Bush urging him to properly acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide in his annual April 24 commemorative statement. He is
also a co-sponsor of H.R. 528, a measure that would grant Armenia permanent
normal trade relations (PNTR) status, and of H.R. 193 – the Armenian
Genocide Resolution.
Cardoza’s announced commitment to join the Caucus came on the heels of a
similar decision by Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA) at an earlier meeting this
week in Salina, CA which was also attended by Assembly Affiliate member
David Nikssarian, who is also a representative of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of Monterey County.
Congressman Farr, now serving his sixth term, is a member of the
Appropriations Committee. He has on more than one occasion commemorated the
Armenian Genocide with statements before Congress, has repeatedly signed the
Congressional letter to President Bush urging him to properly recognize the
Armenian Genocide, and is a co-sponsor of the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act,
H.R. 942 which was introduced in February 1995.
The imminent joining of Congressmen Cardoza and Farr will bring the
membership in the ever-growing Caucus to 135.
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#2004-074
Photograph available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following link:
Caption: L to R: Daniel Ayzenian, Haig Arakelian, Dick Shahenian, Hagop
Karakshian, Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Violet and Levon Apelian and
Western Office Director Lena Kaimian in Modesto, CA on August 19.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress