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ANCA Endorses Rep. Ed Markey In Massachusetts Senate Special Electio

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  • ANCA Endorses Rep. Ed Markey In Massachusetts Senate Special Electio

    ANCA ENDORSES REP. ED MARKEY IN MASSACHUSETTS SENATE SPECIAL ELECTION

    http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/06/21/anca-endorses-rep-ed-markey-in-massachusetts-senate-special-election/
    12:26 21.06.2013

    The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has announced
    its endorsement for Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA-5) in this month's
    Massachusetts Senate special election to be held on Tuesday, June
    25, 2013.

    "For over 30 years, Congressman Markey has been a steadfast supporter
    on a broad range of Armenian American concerns - from justice for the
    Armenian Genocide to self-determination for Nagorno Karabakh and U.S.

    assistance for a stronger Armenia and Artsakh," said ANCA National
    Board member Stephen Mesrobian of Foxborough, MA. "We stand with
    Congressman Markey as he seeks to continue his service to the
    Commonwealth in the U.S. Senate, encourage Armenian Americans to vote
    for him on June 25th, and look forward to working with him following
    Tuesday's special election victory."

    Since first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976, Rep.

    Markey has been a strong and consistent advocate on Armenian issues,
    receiving multiple "A+" ratings from the ANCA in its Congressional
    Report Card, issued every two years.

    He has been outspoken in support of U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian
    Genocide, cosponsoring all related legislation introduced in the U.S.

    House, including the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution
    (H.Res.227), introduced in May of this year. In his annual Armenian
    Genocide commemorative statement submitted for the Congressional
    Record this year, Rep. Markey explained, "Almost one-hundred years
    have passed since the Armenian Genocide, yet the suffering will
    continue for Armenians and non-Armenians alike as long as the world
    allows denial to prevail."

    In May of 2006, in the aftermath of the State Department recall of
    U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans over his proper commemoration of
    the Armenian Genocide, Rep. Markey shared his concerns with Secretary
    of State Condoleezza Rice and rallied 60 of his U.S. House colleagues
    to request State Department clarification of the White House action.

    "We must not allow the perception to linger that he [Ambassador
    Evans] is being required to vacate his position early for accurately
    labeling the cataclysmic events of 1915 as genocide," Rep. Markey
    and legislators wrote in the May 22, 2006, letter to Secretary Rice,
    adding that Ambassador Evans "did nothing more than succinctly repeat
    the conclusions enunciated by those before him."

    As Ranking Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep.

    Markey was a vocal opponent of H.R.2362 - The Indian Tribal Trade
    and Investment Demonstration Project Act of 2011 - which would have
    unfairly limited foreign trade preferences on Indian tribal lands to
    only one country, Turkey. In remarks made during July 23, 2012, House
    consideration of the measure, Rep. Markey explained, "By acknowledging
    Turkey's 'unique interest' in developing tribal economies and in
    building 'robust' relationships between it and tribal communities,
    this legislation rewards a country with a terrible history of human
    rights and religious freedom violations, threats to U.S. commercial
    interests in Cyprus, and -most importantly-its refusal to acknowledge
    the Armenian Genocide which resulted in the deaths of 1.5 million
    people." The measure was defeated in a floor vote.

    Since the independence of the Republic of Armenia, Rep. Markey has
    been a consistent supporter of robust U.S. assistance to Armenia
    and Nagorno Karabakh, annually joining colleagues in urging the
    House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations to maintain
    high-levels of funding, given the dual blockades of Turkey and
    Azerbaijan. In 2008, he joined over 50 of his Congressional colleagues
    in calling on then-Secretary Rice to challenge Azerbaijan's threats
    of renewed war against Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, and to take
    concrete action to hold leaders in Baku accountable for actions that
    directly undermine the Administration's policy of fostering peace
    and stability in the South Caucasus region.

    Rep. Markey has developed close ties with the active Armenian American
    community in his district, which includes Watertown, Belmont, Waltham
    and Lexington. He has been a frequent participant in Armenian events
    in his district, attending church bazaars and, in recent years, the
    hugely successful Boston Kermesse street festival. He has toured the
    Hairenik Building in Watertown and has closely worked with the ANCA
    of Massachusetts and other Armenian organizations over his extensive
    career.

    The June 25th Massachusetts Senate special election will determine
    who will fill now Secretary of State John Kerry's vacant seat for
    the remainder of his term, ending January 3, 2015.

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