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Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
June 3, 2008
Contact: Ani Garabedian
ANCA Confronts Turkish Gag Rule on Armenian Genocide Recognition;
Launches Nationwide Campaign at LA Press Conference
"It's time to end the gag rule on the Armenian Genocide and send an
Ambassador to Armenia who can speak truth to power" - ANCA Board
Member Raffi Hamparian
Los Angeles, CA - Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and
Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) leaders launched a multi-facetted
nationwide campaign today urging that the next U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia speak truthfully about the Armenian Genocide. Announced at an
ANCA Western Region organized press conference in Los Angeles, CA,
held at Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, the effort is part of
the "End Turkey's Gag Rule" campaign, calling attention to Turkey's
multi-million dollar worldwide Genocide denial drive.
With hundreds of Pilibos students gathered behind the podium, Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA) Board Member Raffi Hamparian and
Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Central Executive Representative Vache
Thomassian addressed the media regarding the campaign and stated that
Armenia has had no U.S. Ambassador for over a year because President
Bush refuses to send a diplomat there who will tell the truth about
the Armenian Genocide.
"America's foreign policy on the Armenian Genocide has been hijacked
by a foreign government, remarked Hamparian. "Turkish citizens don't
get to vote in America, don't pay taxes in America, but they have been
able to place a gag rule on our State Department. It's time to end the
gag rule on the Armenian Genocide and send an Ambassador to Armenia
who can speak truth to power," he added.
The last U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, was fired by
President Bush in 2006 for speaking truthfully about the murder of 1.5
million Armenians in the first genocide of the 20th century.
"The AYF has been at the forefront of leading our youth in the
struggle for genocide recognition and we continue to mobilize along
with ANCA in this campaign," said Thomassian. "Having an Ambassador
to Armenia who properly understands our history is vital to improving
and developing American-Armenian relations," he added.
For decades, the Turkish Government has hired an army of lobbyists in
Washington, D.C. and used threats and intimidation to block
legislation that calls upon all Americans to apply the lessons of the
Armenian Genocide to help prevent future crimes against humanity.
"The gag rule that the Turkish government has imposed on the United
States must be lifted," stated ANCA-WR Executive Director Andrew
Kzirian. "Human rights activists and citizens of good conscience
across the country are eager to hear from Ambassador Yovanovitch
during the hearing to confirm her nomination - it is clear that many
members of the Senate panel have serious concerns regarding the
Administration's continuous reluctance to characterize the Armenian
Genocide accurately," he added.
On March 28, 2008, Pres. Bush nominated Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch to
serve as America's next Ambassador to Armenia. The Senate Foreign
Relations Committee is expected to consider her nomination shortly.
The ANCA has launched an online action campaign urging Members of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee to question Amb. Yovanovitch on
issues including the Armenian Genocide as well as Turkey and
Azerbaijan's ongoing blockades of Armenia and the U.S. role in finding
a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno Karabagh conflict that respects
the right to self-determination of the people of Karabagh. To learn
more about and participate in the online campaign, visit:
http://capwiz.com/anca/issues/alert/?alerti d=11427491&type=TA
The online effort is combined with a postcard campaign to key Senate
Foreign Relations Committee members, urging them to take action.
Pres. Bush's previous nominee as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Richard
Hoagland, was subject to two legislative holds by Sen. Bob Menendez
(D-NJ) and was ultimately withdrawn by the Administration, following
the nominee's statements denying the Armenian Genocide. The ANCA lead
the Armenian American community campaign opposing Hoagland's
nomination, stating that a genocide denier could not be a credible and
effective U.S. spokesperson in Armenia.
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.
###
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
June 3, 2008
Contact: Ani Garabedian
ANCA Confronts Turkish Gag Rule on Armenian Genocide Recognition;
Launches Nationwide Campaign at LA Press Conference
"It's time to end the gag rule on the Armenian Genocide and send an
Ambassador to Armenia who can speak truth to power" - ANCA Board
Member Raffi Hamparian
Los Angeles, CA - Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and
Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) leaders launched a multi-facetted
nationwide campaign today urging that the next U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia speak truthfully about the Armenian Genocide. Announced at an
ANCA Western Region organized press conference in Los Angeles, CA,
held at Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, the effort is part of
the "End Turkey's Gag Rule" campaign, calling attention to Turkey's
multi-million dollar worldwide Genocide denial drive.
With hundreds of Pilibos students gathered behind the podium, Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA) Board Member Raffi Hamparian and
Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Central Executive Representative Vache
Thomassian addressed the media regarding the campaign and stated that
Armenia has had no U.S. Ambassador for over a year because President
Bush refuses to send a diplomat there who will tell the truth about
the Armenian Genocide.
"America's foreign policy on the Armenian Genocide has been hijacked
by a foreign government, remarked Hamparian. "Turkish citizens don't
get to vote in America, don't pay taxes in America, but they have been
able to place a gag rule on our State Department. It's time to end the
gag rule on the Armenian Genocide and send an Ambassador to Armenia
who can speak truth to power," he added.
The last U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, was fired by
President Bush in 2006 for speaking truthfully about the murder of 1.5
million Armenians in the first genocide of the 20th century.
"The AYF has been at the forefront of leading our youth in the
struggle for genocide recognition and we continue to mobilize along
with ANCA in this campaign," said Thomassian. "Having an Ambassador
to Armenia who properly understands our history is vital to improving
and developing American-Armenian relations," he added.
For decades, the Turkish Government has hired an army of lobbyists in
Washington, D.C. and used threats and intimidation to block
legislation that calls upon all Americans to apply the lessons of the
Armenian Genocide to help prevent future crimes against humanity.
"The gag rule that the Turkish government has imposed on the United
States must be lifted," stated ANCA-WR Executive Director Andrew
Kzirian. "Human rights activists and citizens of good conscience
across the country are eager to hear from Ambassador Yovanovitch
during the hearing to confirm her nomination - it is clear that many
members of the Senate panel have serious concerns regarding the
Administration's continuous reluctance to characterize the Armenian
Genocide accurately," he added.
On March 28, 2008, Pres. Bush nominated Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch to
serve as America's next Ambassador to Armenia. The Senate Foreign
Relations Committee is expected to consider her nomination shortly.
The ANCA has launched an online action campaign urging Members of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee to question Amb. Yovanovitch on
issues including the Armenian Genocide as well as Turkey and
Azerbaijan's ongoing blockades of Armenia and the U.S. role in finding
a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno Karabagh conflict that respects
the right to self-determination of the people of Karabagh. To learn
more about and participate in the online campaign, visit:
http://capwiz.com/anca/issues/alert/?alerti d=11427491&type=TA
The online effort is combined with a postcard campaign to key Senate
Foreign Relations Committee members, urging them to take action.
Pres. Bush's previous nominee as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Richard
Hoagland, was subject to two legislative holds by Sen. Bob Menendez
(D-NJ) and was ultimately withdrawn by the Administration, following
the nominee's statements denying the Armenian Genocide. The ANCA lead
the Armenian American community campaign opposing Hoagland's
nomination, stating that a genocide denier could not be a credible and
effective U.S. spokesperson in Armenia.
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.
###