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HAGOPIAN ADVOCATES ARMENIAN LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES ON CAPITOL HILL
http://asbarez.com/110951/hagopian-advocates-armenian-legislative-priorities-on-capitol-hill/
Monday, July 1st, 2013
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD-8), a great friend to the Maryland
Armenian community, shown here with ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian and ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director Michelle Hagopian.
ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director Calls for Adoption of New
Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution
WASHINGTON-The views and values of Armenian Americans from across the
eastern United States were represented on Capitol Hill this week in
a series of Member meetings and staff briefings by ANCA-ER Executive
Director Michelle Hagopian.
Over the past week, Hagopian met with legislative offices from
Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey and New
York, building on the local relationships with Members of Congress
from across the Eastern Region. Among the main topics addressed in
these meetings was the recently introduced Armenian Genocide Truth
and Justice Resolution, H.Res.227, an innovative, new truth and
justice-based approach to improving Armenian-Turkish relations. Also
on the agenda were issues related to the independence of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, stronger U.S.-Armenia ties, and the safety of
Armenian communities in Syria and across the Middle East.
"We're pleased to see growing bipartisan awareness on Capitol Hill
that it's time to try a new U.S. approach to the Armenian Genocide
- an authentically American approach - one that rejects Turkey's
gag-rules, openly embraces the historical truth in our own archives,
and reflects our values as a nation," said Hagopian. "H.Res.227
represents a principled and practical effort - based on truth and
justice - to improving ties between Armenians and Turks and paving
the way to respectful relations between Yerevan and Ankara, and laying
the groundwork for a more tolerant and pluralist Turkey."
Hagopian partnered up with ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian to
meet with Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD-8), a meeting that included
discussion of H.Res.227 and U.S. policy on Nagorno Karabakh, among
other issues. Rep. Van Hollen's district includes Bethesda, home to
Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church. The Congressman attended the
church's food festival in October 2012 and has been a longtime friend
to Maryland's Armenian community.
Later in the week, Hagopian accompanied ANCA Leo Sarkisian intern
Taleen Lachinian of Massachusetts to a meeting with Rep. Niki Tsongas
(D-MA-3), whose district covers Lowell, home to one of the oldest
Armenian communities in America. The pair discussed the history of
Armenian Genocide legislation in the U.S. House, the peace process
in Nagorno Karabakh, and the warm ties that Rep. Tsongas has long
had with her Armenian American constituents.
"It was wonderful to meet Rep. Tsongas considering all she's
done to support Armenian issues. This was my first meeting with
a Representative on the Hill and it was really an insightful and
interesting opportunity. I look forward to holding more meetings like
this over the rest of the summer," said Lachinian.
Armenian Americans and all friends of justice can urge their
legislators to cosponsor H.Res.227 by sending a free ANCA WebMail.
http://asbarez.com/110951/hagopian-advocates-armenian-legislative-priorities-on-capitol-hill/
Monday, July 1st, 2013
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD-8), a great friend to the Maryland
Armenian community, shown here with ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian and ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director Michelle Hagopian.
ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director Calls for Adoption of New
Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution
WASHINGTON-The views and values of Armenian Americans from across the
eastern United States were represented on Capitol Hill this week in
a series of Member meetings and staff briefings by ANCA-ER Executive
Director Michelle Hagopian.
Over the past week, Hagopian met with legislative offices from
Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey and New
York, building on the local relationships with Members of Congress
from across the Eastern Region. Among the main topics addressed in
these meetings was the recently introduced Armenian Genocide Truth
and Justice Resolution, H.Res.227, an innovative, new truth and
justice-based approach to improving Armenian-Turkish relations. Also
on the agenda were issues related to the independence of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, stronger U.S.-Armenia ties, and the safety of
Armenian communities in Syria and across the Middle East.
"We're pleased to see growing bipartisan awareness on Capitol Hill
that it's time to try a new U.S. approach to the Armenian Genocide
- an authentically American approach - one that rejects Turkey's
gag-rules, openly embraces the historical truth in our own archives,
and reflects our values as a nation," said Hagopian. "H.Res.227
represents a principled and practical effort - based on truth and
justice - to improving ties between Armenians and Turks and paving
the way to respectful relations between Yerevan and Ankara, and laying
the groundwork for a more tolerant and pluralist Turkey."
Hagopian partnered up with ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian to
meet with Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD-8), a meeting that included
discussion of H.Res.227 and U.S. policy on Nagorno Karabakh, among
other issues. Rep. Van Hollen's district includes Bethesda, home to
Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church. The Congressman attended the
church's food festival in October 2012 and has been a longtime friend
to Maryland's Armenian community.
Later in the week, Hagopian accompanied ANCA Leo Sarkisian intern
Taleen Lachinian of Massachusetts to a meeting with Rep. Niki Tsongas
(D-MA-3), whose district covers Lowell, home to one of the oldest
Armenian communities in America. The pair discussed the history of
Armenian Genocide legislation in the U.S. House, the peace process
in Nagorno Karabakh, and the warm ties that Rep. Tsongas has long
had with her Armenian American constituents.
"It was wonderful to meet Rep. Tsongas considering all she's
done to support Armenian issues. This was my first meeting with
a Representative on the Hill and it was really an insightful and
interesting opportunity. I look forward to holding more meetings like
this over the rest of the summer," said Lachinian.
Armenian Americans and all friends of justice can urge their
legislators to cosponsor H.Res.227 by sending a free ANCA WebMail.