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Shant Student Association
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 306
Glendale, California 91206
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.arfshant.org
PRESS RELEASE
November 13, 2008
Contact: Caspar Jivalagian
All-ASA Confederation Reaffirms Importance of Armenian American Issues
Los Angeles, CA - The All-Armenian Students Association ("All-ASA"), a
confederation of Armenian American college student organizations, adopted a
resolution reaffirming their support for Genocide recognition as well as the
self determination of Nagorno-Karabagh. In a general meeting held recently
at Loyola Marymount University, delegates voted in favor of the resolution
which was introduced by the Shant Student Association ("SSA"), one of more
than a dozen organizations represented.
The meeting was attended by more than 30 university students from throughout
California and was the first general meeting of the All-ASA for the
2008-2009 academic year.
"It is imperative that as Armenian American students, we voice our concerns
regarding community issues, including the Armenian Genocide, the Turkish
blockade on Armenia, and the self determination of Nagorno-Karabagh," said
SSA Representative to the All-ASA, Caspar Jivalagian.
The adoption of the most recent Armenian Genocide resolution in the U.S.
House Foreign Affairs Committee in October 2007 sparked a firestorm of media
coverage over the Turkish government's threats to retaliate against America
if the measure were approved by the full House of Representatives. Turkey
has poured millions of foreign dollars into the U.S. political system,
hiring both former Members of Congress to make its case and public relations
firms to spin media coverage against this human rights legislation.
In September of 1991, the people of Nagorno-Karabagh formally declared their
independence, having previously voted overwhelmingly in favor of separation
from the Soviet Union and Azerbaijan due to repeated suppression of rights
and massacres of Armenians within Azerbaijan. Although Azerbaijan launched
a failed full-scale war against the people of Nagorno-Karabagh, it has been
unable to assert its authority over the region since the cease-fire brokered
in 1994. To this day the Azerbaijani government repeatedly threatens a
resumption of war to subjugate the de facto independent republic in
violation of the international principle of the self-determination of
peoples.
"As students we understand that education is crucial to ensuring that the
community at large understands Armenian American issues and our concerns,"
said Sevada Markosyan, who represented the Cal Poly Pomona ASA at the
meeting.
The All-ASA confederation provides a forum for participating independent
Armenian American colleges student groups through which these organizations
may facilitate cooperative initiatives and deliberate on issues faced by the
Armenian college student community.
###
The full text of the resolution is included below:
Whereas the current government of Turkey continues an international campaign
proactively denying the Armenian Genocide,
Whereas the blockade of Armenia by the government of Turkey has cost the
Republic of Armenia billions of dollars in economic opportunity and remains
the last "closed border" of Europe,
Whereas the establishment of diplomatic ties between Armenia and Turkey must
include a just resolution for the crime of the Armenian Genocide,
Whereas the government of Azerbaijan continues to spew belligerent war
rhetoric calling for a resumption of armed conflict against the
Nagorno-Karabagh Republic, as well as the complete destruction of Armenia,
Whereas a resolution to the Nagorno Karabagh conflict should be reached
expeditiously, respecting the natural right of self-determination,
Be it resolved, the All-ASA body reaffirm its support for Armenian Genocide
recognition as well as its commitment to the territorial integrity of the
Nagorno Karabagh Republic.
ADOPTED: Sunday, October 18, 2008
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 306
Glendale, California 91206
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.arfshant.org
PRESS RELEASE
November 13, 2008
Contact: Caspar Jivalagian
All-ASA Confederation Reaffirms Importance of Armenian American Issues
Los Angeles, CA - The All-Armenian Students Association ("All-ASA"), a
confederation of Armenian American college student organizations, adopted a
resolution reaffirming their support for Genocide recognition as well as the
self determination of Nagorno-Karabagh. In a general meeting held recently
at Loyola Marymount University, delegates voted in favor of the resolution
which was introduced by the Shant Student Association ("SSA"), one of more
than a dozen organizations represented.
The meeting was attended by more than 30 university students from throughout
California and was the first general meeting of the All-ASA for the
2008-2009 academic year.
"It is imperative that as Armenian American students, we voice our concerns
regarding community issues, including the Armenian Genocide, the Turkish
blockade on Armenia, and the self determination of Nagorno-Karabagh," said
SSA Representative to the All-ASA, Caspar Jivalagian.
The adoption of the most recent Armenian Genocide resolution in the U.S.
House Foreign Affairs Committee in October 2007 sparked a firestorm of media
coverage over the Turkish government's threats to retaliate against America
if the measure were approved by the full House of Representatives. Turkey
has poured millions of foreign dollars into the U.S. political system,
hiring both former Members of Congress to make its case and public relations
firms to spin media coverage against this human rights legislation.
In September of 1991, the people of Nagorno-Karabagh formally declared their
independence, having previously voted overwhelmingly in favor of separation
from the Soviet Union and Azerbaijan due to repeated suppression of rights
and massacres of Armenians within Azerbaijan. Although Azerbaijan launched
a failed full-scale war against the people of Nagorno-Karabagh, it has been
unable to assert its authority over the region since the cease-fire brokered
in 1994. To this day the Azerbaijani government repeatedly threatens a
resumption of war to subjugate the de facto independent republic in
violation of the international principle of the self-determination of
peoples.
"As students we understand that education is crucial to ensuring that the
community at large understands Armenian American issues and our concerns,"
said Sevada Markosyan, who represented the Cal Poly Pomona ASA at the
meeting.
The All-ASA confederation provides a forum for participating independent
Armenian American colleges student groups through which these organizations
may facilitate cooperative initiatives and deliberate on issues faced by the
Armenian college student community.
###
The full text of the resolution is included below:
Whereas the current government of Turkey continues an international campaign
proactively denying the Armenian Genocide,
Whereas the blockade of Armenia by the government of Turkey has cost the
Republic of Armenia billions of dollars in economic opportunity and remains
the last "closed border" of Europe,
Whereas the establishment of diplomatic ties between Armenia and Turkey must
include a just resolution for the crime of the Armenian Genocide,
Whereas the government of Azerbaijan continues to spew belligerent war
rhetoric calling for a resumption of armed conflict against the
Nagorno-Karabagh Republic, as well as the complete destruction of Armenia,
Whereas a resolution to the Nagorno Karabagh conflict should be reached
expeditiously, respecting the natural right of self-determination,
Be it resolved, the All-ASA body reaffirm its support for Armenian Genocide
recognition as well as its commitment to the territorial integrity of the
Nagorno Karabagh Republic.
ADOPTED: Sunday, October 18, 2008