ANCA-ER Executive Director calls for adoption of new Armenian Genocide
Truth and Justice Resolution
14:10 29.06.2013
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. Tsgonas 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.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/06/29/anca-er-executive-director-calls-for-adoption-of-new-armenian-genocide-truth-and-justice-resolution/
Truth and Justice Resolution
14:10 29.06.2013
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. Tsgonas 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.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/06/29/anca-er-executive-director-calls-for-adoption-of-new-armenian-genocide-truth-and-justice-resolution/