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ARMENIANS PROTEST CALIFORNIA SENATE-HOSTED AZERBAIJANI DELEGATION
Armenian demonstrators in Sacramento protest Senate reception for
Azeri delegation
SACRAMENTO-Calls for Karabakh freedom were heard across the California
State Capitol yesterday as Armenian Americans from throughout the
state converged to protest an Azerbaijani Parliamentary and State
Oil Company (SOCAR) delegation visit to the CA State Senate, reported
the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region.
"The California State Senate is a great seat of American democracy,
and certainly no place for grandstanding by representatives of
Aliyev's dictatorial regime," said ANCA External Affairs Director
Tereza Yerimyan. "The California Armenian community looks forward to
speaking with each and every legislator in the upcoming weeks and
at the annual April 15th advocacy event to present the true face
of Azerbaijan and strengthen the bonds between the Golden State,
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh."
California State Assemblymen Katcho Achadjian (R), Adrin Nazarian
(D), Jim Patterson (R) and Scott Wilk (R) joined the Armenian Youth
Federation (AYF) and ANCA-WR led protest, which included broad
participation by the United Young Armenians (UYA), local Armenian
Student Associations, the ANCA Sacramento, St. James Armenian Church
Pastor Fr. Asoghig Jamgochian and a cross section of the burgeoning
Armenian community in the State's Capital. ANCA and AYF Chapters
in Southern California, the San Francisco - Bay Area and Central
California had bused in activists from the across the state.
"I am proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with Assembly members
Nazarian, Wilk, and Patterson and Armenian Americans from throughout
the State to protest the Azeri government's aggression and efforts
to use its oil wealth to purchase international legitimacy," said
Assemblyman Achadjian. "I would also like to thank ANCA-WR and AYF
for helping organize the event."
Assemblyman Nazarian concurred, noting, "Twenty-five years after
Azerbaijan's attacks against innocent Armenians in Sumgait and
the subsequent pogroms in Baku, Kirovabad and Maragha, threats
and aggression against Armenia and Artsakh continue. Welcoming
representatives of Aliyev's repressive regime sends all the wrong
messages to Baku, interferes with broader U.S. calls for democratic
reforms in Azerbaijan, and undermines international efforts toward
a peaceful resolution of regional issues."
The Azerbaijani delegation included four parliamentarians and three
representatives of SOCAR. Bay Area State Senator Leland Yee reportedly
walked off the Senate floor in protest, when a brief ceremony was held
in honor of the Azerbaijani parliamentarians. Diamond Bar Republican
Bob Huff introduced the group, praising Azerbaijan's democratic
tradition, followed by remarks by delegation leader Samad Sayadov,
who offered glowing praise of the "shared values" between California
and Azerbaijan.
"Just one day before their CA State Senate visit, the Aliyev
regime used water-canons and rubber bullets to disperse a peaceful
demonstration in Baku," said AYF member, Sevag Tchekidjian. "Those
certainly aren't the values and democratic tradition that California
or anyone in the U.S. should be sharing or condoning."
Later in the evening, several CA State Senators hosted a dinner with
their Azerbaijani guests and high-priced Azerbaijani government
lobbyists at the Sutter Club, where the Armenian American protest
took place. State Senators Marty Block (D), Bill Emmerson (R), Ted
Gaines (R), Ted Lui (D), Fran Pavley (D) and Board of Equalization
member George Runner and his wife, former Senator Sharon Runner,
were reportedly seen entering the Sutter Club during the Azerbaijani
Delegation event.
The April 15th ANCA-WR Advocacy Day will be an opportunity for
Armenians across the Great State of California to attend the
annual Genocide commemoration and speak to their legislators about
issues that are of concern to the Armenian American community,
including the Azerbaijani delegation visit to the Capitol. This
year, participants will also be able to see a month long exhibit
featuring inventions by Armenians who have contributed to the thriving
California culture. For more information, and to register, visit:
http://www.itsmyseat.com/ancawr
http://asbarez.com/108752/armenians-protest-california-senate-hosted-azerbaijani-delegation/
Armenian demonstrators in Sacramento protest Senate reception for
Azeri delegation
SACRAMENTO-Calls for Karabakh freedom were heard across the California
State Capitol yesterday as Armenian Americans from throughout the
state converged to protest an Azerbaijani Parliamentary and State
Oil Company (SOCAR) delegation visit to the CA State Senate, reported
the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region.
"The California State Senate is a great seat of American democracy,
and certainly no place for grandstanding by representatives of
Aliyev's dictatorial regime," said ANCA External Affairs Director
Tereza Yerimyan. "The California Armenian community looks forward to
speaking with each and every legislator in the upcoming weeks and
at the annual April 15th advocacy event to present the true face
of Azerbaijan and strengthen the bonds between the Golden State,
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh."
California State Assemblymen Katcho Achadjian (R), Adrin Nazarian
(D), Jim Patterson (R) and Scott Wilk (R) joined the Armenian Youth
Federation (AYF) and ANCA-WR led protest, which included broad
participation by the United Young Armenians (UYA), local Armenian
Student Associations, the ANCA Sacramento, St. James Armenian Church
Pastor Fr. Asoghig Jamgochian and a cross section of the burgeoning
Armenian community in the State's Capital. ANCA and AYF Chapters
in Southern California, the San Francisco - Bay Area and Central
California had bused in activists from the across the state.
"I am proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with Assembly members
Nazarian, Wilk, and Patterson and Armenian Americans from throughout
the State to protest the Azeri government's aggression and efforts
to use its oil wealth to purchase international legitimacy," said
Assemblyman Achadjian. "I would also like to thank ANCA-WR and AYF
for helping organize the event."
Assemblyman Nazarian concurred, noting, "Twenty-five years after
Azerbaijan's attacks against innocent Armenians in Sumgait and
the subsequent pogroms in Baku, Kirovabad and Maragha, threats
and aggression against Armenia and Artsakh continue. Welcoming
representatives of Aliyev's repressive regime sends all the wrong
messages to Baku, interferes with broader U.S. calls for democratic
reforms in Azerbaijan, and undermines international efforts toward
a peaceful resolution of regional issues."
The Azerbaijani delegation included four parliamentarians and three
representatives of SOCAR. Bay Area State Senator Leland Yee reportedly
walked off the Senate floor in protest, when a brief ceremony was held
in honor of the Azerbaijani parliamentarians. Diamond Bar Republican
Bob Huff introduced the group, praising Azerbaijan's democratic
tradition, followed by remarks by delegation leader Samad Sayadov,
who offered glowing praise of the "shared values" between California
and Azerbaijan.
"Just one day before their CA State Senate visit, the Aliyev
regime used water-canons and rubber bullets to disperse a peaceful
demonstration in Baku," said AYF member, Sevag Tchekidjian. "Those
certainly aren't the values and democratic tradition that California
or anyone in the U.S. should be sharing or condoning."
Later in the evening, several CA State Senators hosted a dinner with
their Azerbaijani guests and high-priced Azerbaijani government
lobbyists at the Sutter Club, where the Armenian American protest
took place. State Senators Marty Block (D), Bill Emmerson (R), Ted
Gaines (R), Ted Lui (D), Fran Pavley (D) and Board of Equalization
member George Runner and his wife, former Senator Sharon Runner,
were reportedly seen entering the Sutter Club during the Azerbaijani
Delegation event.
The April 15th ANCA-WR Advocacy Day will be an opportunity for
Armenians across the Great State of California to attend the
annual Genocide commemoration and speak to their legislators about
issues that are of concern to the Armenian American community,
including the Azerbaijani delegation visit to the Capitol. This
year, participants will also be able to see a month long exhibit
featuring inventions by Armenians who have contributed to the thriving
California culture. For more information, and to register, visit:
http://www.itsmyseat.com/ancawr
http://asbarez.com/108752/armenians-protest-california-senate-hosted-azerbaijani-delegation/