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ANCA LEADERS MARK ARMENIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY WITH SEN. MENENDEZ
http://asbarez.com/114655/anca-leaders-mark-armenian-independence-day-with-sen-menendez/
Friday, October 4th, 2013
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Rober Menendez addressing
Armenian American community leaders
"Today is a celebration of independence, but we cannot forget history.
And only by closing this dark chapter in human history [the Armenian
Genocide] can we rightfully honor its victims. Let me be perfectly
clear. . . there is no other word for it, there is no euphemism, there
is no avoiding it, there are no excuses." - Senator Robert Menendez
LOS ANGELES-Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, celebrated Armenia's Independence Day and
reaffirmed his commitment to the national and democratic aspirations
of the Armenian people at events with Armenian American community
leaders in Southern California on September 21, 2013. Chairman Menendez
was joined at Independence Day celebrations by local, regional and
national representatives of the Armenian National Committee of America,
which has supported the Senator's principled leadership for more than
two decades.
"Chairman Menendez is a true champion of human rights, democracy
and justice, who, in the best American tradition, works tirelessly
to ensure that our government's policies live up to our ideals as a
people," remarked ANCA National Board member Raffi Hamparian. "As a
proud fellow son of New Jersey, who also had the opportunity to work on
Capitol Hill during Senator Menendez's tenure in the U.S. House, I know
first-hand how very much he has done - sometimes in the public arena,
other times quietly and out of the spotlight - to advance the national
and democratic aspirations of the Armenian people," Hamparian added.
Vahe and Aida Yeghiazarian were the gracious hosts of an intimate
event with Chairman Menendez prior to a community gathering hosted
at the Glendale Youth Center
In moving remarks, warmly welcomed by the capacity crowd at the
Glendale Youth Center and also by ANCA supporters gathered at the home
of Vahe and Aida Yeghiazarian, Senator Menendez recalled the heroic
efforts that launched and sustained the first Republic of Armenia
and joined with Armenians worldwide in marking the 22nd anniversary
of Armenia's reborn independence. He reaffirmed his commitment to
Armenia's independence, stressing his support for her security,
democratic development, and sustainable, broad-based economic growth.
In keeping with his principled record, dating back to his service in
the U.S. House of Representatives, the New Jersey legislator spoke in
favor of a peaceful and democratic resolution of Nagorno Karabakh and
against Turkey's denial of the Armenian Genocide. He shared his high
regard for the Armenian American community's longstanding tradition
of democratic engagement and the ANCA's leadership in that regard.
Senator Menendez singled out for special praise the Armenian Youth
Federation and its pioneering Youth Corps program to host summer
camps in Armenia, educate young people, perform community service,
and strengthen diaspora and homeland connections. Chairman Menendez
warmly welcomed the presence of Ani Tchaghlasian, James Sahagian,
and other New Jersey Armenian community leaders on hand for his events
in Los Angeles.
Senator Menendez has been a longstanding supporter of Armenian American
issues and an outspoken advocate for U.S. affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide since his years in the House of Representatives.
Notably, he placed a "hold" on the nomination of Dick Hoagland,
President George W. Bush's nominee as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia,
after Hoagland denied the Armenian Genocide during his Senate
confirmation process. He also successfully blocked the nomination of
U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza due to his shortcomings
as a senior diplomat dealing with the Caucasus.
As Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Menendez leads
the consideration of foreign policy legislation and is responsible for
holding confirmation hearings for ambassadorial and other high-level
diplomatic positions in the Department of State. The Committee has
debated landmark treaties and legislation, ranging from the Alaska
purchase in 1867 to the establishment of United Nations in 1945.
During his remarks at a community gathering and a leadership
reception, Senator Menendez addressed a broad range of issues of
concern to Armenian Americans, including, notably, his high regard
for the Armenian American community. At the Glendale Youth Center
event, he said: "We are Americans first, and Armenians have proven
time and time again their great love of America, their strong, deep
faith and abiding sense of what our country is all about. But that
does not mean that an Armenian, or for that fact, any other citizen
of the United States with deep roots or heritage, should forget their
heritage or should not be able to raise their voice, as citizens of
the United States, about what they believe should be the policy of
the U.S. So I want to thank the ANCA for their tremendous advocacy -
all of the time - on these critical issues in Washington DC."
Hacob and Mina Shirvanian confer with Chairman Menendez as leaders
Karo Khanjian and Raffi Hamparian look on
In celebrating the 22nd anniversary of Armenia's renewed independence,
he recalled the heroism of the first Armenian Republic: "We remember
those four days in 1918 when volunteers and refugees united to defend
their nation from the Turkish army that was cleansing the Armenians. .
. Outgunned and outnumbered but extraordinarily courageous and united,
as they are today, to establish a democratic Republic of Armenia in
which the vision of a homeland would be their hope for over a century
of exile and Soviet domination."
Noting the history of the 1918 Republic's founding during the horrors
of the Armenian Genocide, Senator Menendez stated that: "Even in
the midst of this celebration when we remember that foundation of
independence and then the ultimate creation of the modern Armenian
state in 1991, we also remember one of the darkest events in human
history: the Genocide of 1915, and we are still talking about it
today. We will not, and I believe we cannot, ever forget. We remember
the victims by not only those who lost their lives, but in recognition
of how they died, and how history remembers their deaths." He added:
"To me, quite simply, genocide is genocide. I have for 21 years in my
time in the House and the House International Relations Committee,
and in the Senate, since I came eight years ago, and now as the
Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I continue to
support a resolution to recognize the Armenian Genocide and to use
the lessons of what clearly was an atrocity of historic proportions,
to prevent future crimes against humanity. If we do not remember the
past, we are destined to repeat it."
Chairman Menendez speaking with community stalwart and long time ANCA
supporter Frank Melkonian and national board member Raffi Hamparian
"The time has come, and it is actually passed time, for the United
States to join the European Union and 19 other nations that
have formally recognized the actions carried out by the former
Ottoman Empire, from 1915-1923 as, in fact, genocide. . . Only by
closing this dark chapter in human history can we rightly honor
its victims." "We, the people, remember the Armenians. The world,
remembers. Ninety-eight years later, the children, the grand-children,
and the great-grand-children of the survivors. . . we, remember,"
he declared, noting that modern-day Turkey should "give back the
churches that were taken, and have in many cases been destroyed,
to the Patriarchate."
Speaking to the challenges facing Armenia today, he said: "We look
forward to a day when we can be assured that the Armenian homeland will
survive and it will thrive... as an independent state. . . that can
fulfill the hopes and dreams and aspirations of its citizens," adding:
"We need greater engagement and more opportunities for the Armenian
people." He stressed that: "We value our relationship with Armenia,
one that is based on a deep and abiding respect and common interest.
Together, we have worked to reduce poverty, expand trade and
investment, promote good governance and the ongoing work of
non-governmental organizations and civil society groups, and broaden
access to healthcare."
http://asbarez.com/114655/anca-leaders-mark-armenian-independence-day-with-sen-menendez/
Friday, October 4th, 2013
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Rober Menendez addressing
Armenian American community leaders
"Today is a celebration of independence, but we cannot forget history.
And only by closing this dark chapter in human history [the Armenian
Genocide] can we rightfully honor its victims. Let me be perfectly
clear. . . there is no other word for it, there is no euphemism, there
is no avoiding it, there are no excuses." - Senator Robert Menendez
LOS ANGELES-Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, celebrated Armenia's Independence Day and
reaffirmed his commitment to the national and democratic aspirations
of the Armenian people at events with Armenian American community
leaders in Southern California on September 21, 2013. Chairman Menendez
was joined at Independence Day celebrations by local, regional and
national representatives of the Armenian National Committee of America,
which has supported the Senator's principled leadership for more than
two decades.
"Chairman Menendez is a true champion of human rights, democracy
and justice, who, in the best American tradition, works tirelessly
to ensure that our government's policies live up to our ideals as a
people," remarked ANCA National Board member Raffi Hamparian. "As a
proud fellow son of New Jersey, who also had the opportunity to work on
Capitol Hill during Senator Menendez's tenure in the U.S. House, I know
first-hand how very much he has done - sometimes in the public arena,
other times quietly and out of the spotlight - to advance the national
and democratic aspirations of the Armenian people," Hamparian added.
Vahe and Aida Yeghiazarian were the gracious hosts of an intimate
event with Chairman Menendez prior to a community gathering hosted
at the Glendale Youth Center
In moving remarks, warmly welcomed by the capacity crowd at the
Glendale Youth Center and also by ANCA supporters gathered at the home
of Vahe and Aida Yeghiazarian, Senator Menendez recalled the heroic
efforts that launched and sustained the first Republic of Armenia
and joined with Armenians worldwide in marking the 22nd anniversary
of Armenia's reborn independence. He reaffirmed his commitment to
Armenia's independence, stressing his support for her security,
democratic development, and sustainable, broad-based economic growth.
In keeping with his principled record, dating back to his service in
the U.S. House of Representatives, the New Jersey legislator spoke in
favor of a peaceful and democratic resolution of Nagorno Karabakh and
against Turkey's denial of the Armenian Genocide. He shared his high
regard for the Armenian American community's longstanding tradition
of democratic engagement and the ANCA's leadership in that regard.
Senator Menendez singled out for special praise the Armenian Youth
Federation and its pioneering Youth Corps program to host summer
camps in Armenia, educate young people, perform community service,
and strengthen diaspora and homeland connections. Chairman Menendez
warmly welcomed the presence of Ani Tchaghlasian, James Sahagian,
and other New Jersey Armenian community leaders on hand for his events
in Los Angeles.
Senator Menendez has been a longstanding supporter of Armenian American
issues and an outspoken advocate for U.S. affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide since his years in the House of Representatives.
Notably, he placed a "hold" on the nomination of Dick Hoagland,
President George W. Bush's nominee as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia,
after Hoagland denied the Armenian Genocide during his Senate
confirmation process. He also successfully blocked the nomination of
U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza due to his shortcomings
as a senior diplomat dealing with the Caucasus.
As Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Menendez leads
the consideration of foreign policy legislation and is responsible for
holding confirmation hearings for ambassadorial and other high-level
diplomatic positions in the Department of State. The Committee has
debated landmark treaties and legislation, ranging from the Alaska
purchase in 1867 to the establishment of United Nations in 1945.
During his remarks at a community gathering and a leadership
reception, Senator Menendez addressed a broad range of issues of
concern to Armenian Americans, including, notably, his high regard
for the Armenian American community. At the Glendale Youth Center
event, he said: "We are Americans first, and Armenians have proven
time and time again their great love of America, their strong, deep
faith and abiding sense of what our country is all about. But that
does not mean that an Armenian, or for that fact, any other citizen
of the United States with deep roots or heritage, should forget their
heritage or should not be able to raise their voice, as citizens of
the United States, about what they believe should be the policy of
the U.S. So I want to thank the ANCA for their tremendous advocacy -
all of the time - on these critical issues in Washington DC."
Hacob and Mina Shirvanian confer with Chairman Menendez as leaders
Karo Khanjian and Raffi Hamparian look on
In celebrating the 22nd anniversary of Armenia's renewed independence,
he recalled the heroism of the first Armenian Republic: "We remember
those four days in 1918 when volunteers and refugees united to defend
their nation from the Turkish army that was cleansing the Armenians. .
. Outgunned and outnumbered but extraordinarily courageous and united,
as they are today, to establish a democratic Republic of Armenia in
which the vision of a homeland would be their hope for over a century
of exile and Soviet domination."
Noting the history of the 1918 Republic's founding during the horrors
of the Armenian Genocide, Senator Menendez stated that: "Even in
the midst of this celebration when we remember that foundation of
independence and then the ultimate creation of the modern Armenian
state in 1991, we also remember one of the darkest events in human
history: the Genocide of 1915, and we are still talking about it
today. We will not, and I believe we cannot, ever forget. We remember
the victims by not only those who lost their lives, but in recognition
of how they died, and how history remembers their deaths." He added:
"To me, quite simply, genocide is genocide. I have for 21 years in my
time in the House and the House International Relations Committee,
and in the Senate, since I came eight years ago, and now as the
Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I continue to
support a resolution to recognize the Armenian Genocide and to use
the lessons of what clearly was an atrocity of historic proportions,
to prevent future crimes against humanity. If we do not remember the
past, we are destined to repeat it."
Chairman Menendez speaking with community stalwart and long time ANCA
supporter Frank Melkonian and national board member Raffi Hamparian
"The time has come, and it is actually passed time, for the United
States to join the European Union and 19 other nations that
have formally recognized the actions carried out by the former
Ottoman Empire, from 1915-1923 as, in fact, genocide. . . Only by
closing this dark chapter in human history can we rightly honor
its victims." "We, the people, remember the Armenians. The world,
remembers. Ninety-eight years later, the children, the grand-children,
and the great-grand-children of the survivors. . . we, remember,"
he declared, noting that modern-day Turkey should "give back the
churches that were taken, and have in many cases been destroyed,
to the Patriarchate."
Speaking to the challenges facing Armenia today, he said: "We look
forward to a day when we can be assured that the Armenian homeland will
survive and it will thrive... as an independent state. . . that can
fulfill the hopes and dreams and aspirations of its citizens," adding:
"We need greater engagement and more opportunities for the Armenian
people." He stressed that: "We value our relationship with Armenia,
one that is based on a deep and abiding respect and common interest.
Together, we have worked to reduce poverty, expand trade and
investment, promote good governance and the ongoing work of
non-governmental organizations and civil society groups, and broaden
access to healthcare."