ANC Archives

ANCA urges US Ambassador to publicly support MCC grant to Armenia

February 4, 2017 by administrator

The Armenian National Committee of America urged U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills to publicly express U.S. government’s general support for both a potential new Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant to Armenia and the launch of direct U.S. to Armenia flights.

The call came as a part of an open online exchange between ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian and Ambassador Mills.

In his early response to ANCA’s concerns, Ambassador Mills said “the first step to a MCC for Armenia is to meet‎ the MCC criteria – why we are focused on fighting corruption and building rule of law so Armenia might again qualify; big test is how free and fair April elections are conducted. Even if these steps don’t lead to a new MCC, Armenia will be far better for it.”

Commenting on calls to open direct Los-Angeles- Yerevan flights, Ambassador recalled that the Armenian government and U.S. Embassy jointly achieved the open skies reforms that now allow Western air carriers to consider the Armenian market, and “now up to Armenian Gov’t to make the business case for scheduling air services to Armenia.”

ANCA also responded to Ambassador’s explanation that “a double tax treaty is an unnecessary diversion without a welcoming business environment in Armenia”.

“Due to the absence of such a treaty between the U.S. and Armenia, there is today no clear legal framework for investors and individuals that have business activities in both jurisdictions. This creates legal uncertainty that deters potential U.S. investors, diverts investment flows, and disadvantages American businesses,” Mr. Hamparian said.

He recalled that U.S. has double tax treaties with a number of smaller countries than Armenia, and with countries rated by Transparency International in the bottom half of its Corruption Perceptions Index.

ANCA congratulates Trump, calls for strengthening of U.S.-Armenia ties

January 21, 2017 by administrator

In marking the inauguration of the 45th president of the United States, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) congratulated President Donald Trump and Vice-President Pence, urging the new President to bring “new ideas and energy to U.S. policy on Armenian issues, further strengthening the robust U.S.-Armenia relationship, and reinforcing the enduring bonds of friendship that have long connected our two peoples.”

In a statement issued on Friday,January 20, the ANCA outlined three key policy areas including:

— Properly commemorating the Armenian Genocide as a clear case of genocide, challenging Turkey’s obstruction of justice for this still unpunished crime, and, more broadly, rejecting Turkey’s efforts to control U.S. policy on Armenian issues, and

— Advancing a durable and democratic peace in the Caucasus by recognizing and supporting the independent Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), and;

— Growing the U.S.-Armenia economic, military, and political partnership and supporting a secure, prosperous, and democratic Armenia.

An ANCA grassroots write-in campaign was launched in conjunction with the statement – anca.org/Trump – calling on supporters of Armenia to share their views with the new President.

A similar effort was launched in 2008, with the election of then President Barack Obama.

Hamparian, Tufankjian, Von Blum to Lead Alternative Activism Panel at Grassroots

October 17, 2015 by administrator

ANCA-WR Grassroots

2015 ANCA-WR Grassroots Conference guest speakers will discuss the genesis of community activism given the changing climate of outreach through art, education, social media and other modern avenues on October 24, 2015 at the Alternative Activism panel.ANCA-WR-Grassroots-Alternative-Activism-Panel

Beginning at 4:00 p.m., the panel will feature Scout Tufankjian, photographer and author of the New York Times and LA Times bestseller, Yes We Can: Barack Obama’s History-Making Presidential Campaign, and There is Only the Earth: Images from the Armenian Diaspora Project; Professor Paul Von Blum, a senior lecturer of the Holocaust, the African American struggle, and the Armenian Genocide at UCLA; and Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America. Former Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Los Angeles and expert in mass communication and democratic movements, Dr. Lucig H. Danielian will moderate the panel.

New York based photographer Scout Tufankjian is best known for her work documenting the Barack Obama campaigns. Tufankjian has spent the bulk of her career working in the Middle East covering the second intifada from Gaza and the Arab Spring in Egypt. After publishing her book on the 2007-2008 Obama campaign, Yes We Can: Barack Obama’s History-Making Presidential Campaign, Tufankjian returned to the Obama campaign trail in the summer of 2012. As a photographer for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, Tufankjian took an image of the President and the First Lady hugging that shattered all social media records at the time.

Tufankjian’s newest book, There is Only the Earth: Images from the Armenian Diaspora Project, is the culmination of six years documenting Armenian communities in over 20 different countries.

Paul Von Blum has been a civil rights activist for more than 50 years first as a student and now as a scholar and professor. Von Blum received Distinguished Teaching Awards at both Berkeley and UCLA. Prior to teaching at UCLA in 1980, Von Blum taught at the University of California at Berkeley for 11 years. He has authored several books and many articles on art, politics, history, and education as it pertains to genocide studies, struggles of African Americans, and civil rights, and is an expert in agitational communication. His newest book, Civil Rights For Beginners, will be out in early January, 2016. Von Blum also writes regularly for Tikkun, the Journal of Pan African Studies, and Truthdig.

Aram Hamparian is the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America. Hamparian serves as the organization’s primary national representative to the Administration, Congress, and the Washington foreign policy community. Prior to his work at the ANCA, he was an active member of the New Jersey chapter of the ANCA. He works day to day on a broad range of legislative, policy, research, political, campaign, media, coalition, and community-related concerns along with the ANCA’s national staff, and in coordination with regional ANCA offices and a network of more than 50 local chapters.

“The Alternative Activism panel will challenge our imagination to awaken our inner activist. Our participants will walk away from this panel with a set of new outreach tools that will be artistic, educational, and tech-savvy,” said ANCA-WR Grassroots committee co-chairman Ara Khachatourian.

The esteemed moderator of the panel, Dr. Lucig H. Danielian, supervised the first assessment of human rights education at all levels and institutions in Armenia. She has conducted dozens of sponsored research projects in Armenia and is an expert in survey and polling research and applying quantitative and qualitative research methods under difficult conditions. Dr. Danielian earned her Ph.D in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin and was a faculty member at the University at Albany, State University of New York, where she received a University Faculty Fellowship for research on mass communication and democratic movements in Armenia during the Soviet period.

Among Dr. Danielian’s extensive work in human and civil rights, she served as the first full-time executive director of the Armenian National Committee in Los Angeles, founding member of the Sassounian Defense Committee, organizing the Armenian-American response to the 1988 imprisonment of the Karabakh Committee, coordinating the former Soviet Union’s first independent election monitoring organization, was a founding member of Armenia’s first organization to defend the rights of political prisoners, was Board Chair of the Open Society Institute Armenia Foundation, and served as Provost and Vice-President of the American University of Armenia.

“Exploring new and creative means of activism is one of the most important projects we have this year as we enter a new phase of our Cause in the post-Centennial period. We are confident that the Alternative Activism panel will be innovative and provocative, and we are proud to have assembled such a stellar group of experts to discuss this topic,” stated ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq.

The ANCA-WR Grassroots conference will take place on October 23 and 24 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel. General admission to the conference is $85 and $50 for students. Visit www.ANCAWRGrassroots.org to register online or to learn about sponsorship and booth display opportunities.

This year’s ANCA-WR Gala Banquet will be one of the largest the organization has hosted and will top off a can’t-miss weekend for our community. The event, which has become one of the most anticipated events of the calendar year, will be held on Sunday, October 25 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel. For information about purchasing tickets, and corporate and tribute message sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.ANCAWRGala.org or call 818.839.1918.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

US Elections: Over 95% Of ANCA Endorsed Candidates Win in Tuesday’s Election

November 6, 2014 by administrator

2014 Elections Bring Sweeping Victories for ANCA-WR Endorsed Candidates
WASHINGTON, GLENDALE—Months of intensive voter registration efforts and grassroots campaigning contributed to lead to significant Congressional victories for pro-Armenian American issues candidates during Tuesday’s mid-term elections, with over 95% of Armenian National Committee of America endorsed candidates being elected to office.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) also welcomed the results of the 2014 General Election, with over 90 percent of its endorsed candidates — both new and old friends – triumphant in their races.

Congressional Races
Top winners in Tuesday’s elections included Bob Dold (R-IL), a former Republican Vice-Chairman of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, who won one of the most closely contested U.S. House races in the country.

“It’s always gratifying for the ANCA to empower Armenian American voters, especially during highly competitive election seasons like this, when our efforts contribute meaningfully to the victory of so many Congressional friends,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “While we’re certainly proud that our nation-wide electoral participation this season hit an all-time high-water mark, we’re already planning to top this unprecedented effort during the coming 2016 election cycle.”

Among other wins in competitive races were those by Congressman Michael Grimm (R-NY), the current Co-Chairman of the Armenian Caucus, who won by 13% in a high profile campaign; and David Valadao (R-CA), the co-author of the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution, with a convincing 18 point victory in a race that was rated a toss-up earlier in the election cycle. Congressman Jim Costa’s (D-CA) race for reelection was still too close to call, as were those contested by three other candidates endorsed by the ANCA: Mike Honda (D-CA), Peter Aguilar (D-CA), and Raul Ruiz (D-CA).

Other high-profile victories by ANCA-endorsed candidates included those by David Brat (R-VA), who will take the Richmond U.S. House seat formerly held by Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). U.S. Representative Gary Peters (D-MI), an ANCA-backed candidate, won a seat in the Senate.

Both Americans of Armenian heritage who serve in the U.S. Congress, Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Jackie Speier (D-CA), won reelection, with a host of Armenian American state and local candidates following suit, including: Assemblymembers Adrin Nazarian and Katcho Achadjian, who won reelection to the California State Assembly; Assemblymember Katherine Kazarian who won reelection in Rhode Island; Scott Avedisian who was re-elected Mayor of Warwick, RI; and Richelle Noroyan, who secured a seat on the Santa Cruz, CA City Council.

An ANCA Election Day on-line poll found that 73% of respondents believe that Armenian American voters are willing to cross U.S. party lines to support pro-Armenian candidates, results that are consistent with feedback from previous election cycles.

Western Region Races
“We welcome the re-election of statewide friends Governor Jerry Brown, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Kamala Harris and State Superintendent Tom Torlakson,” stated ANCA-WR Chair, Nora Hovsepian. “We’re also excited to see that Alex Padilla, John Chiang, and Betty Yee were successful in their races for new political office. They have all been supportive of the Armenian-American community in California and we look forward to building upon our relationship in their new term.”

While mid-term elections experienced record low voter turnout, Armenian-American participation was at an all-time high. Leading up to Election Day, the ANCA Western Region through its Hye Votes initiative, organized on the ground voter registration and Get-Out-the-Vote efforts that included a heavy field program, phone banking, direct mail, and voter education and mobilization through various media platforms. On Election Day, volunteers young and old, hit the ground running in key precincts, providing rides and guiding voters to ensure a high voter turnout.

“Building on our previous successes of registering thousands upon thousands of Armenian-Americans to vote, the ANCA-WR, in early 2014, expanded the program to key areas through the State of California, to register and engage community members in the electoral process,” commented ANCA-WR Executive Director, Elen Asatryan. “This unprecedented turnout was due to months of voter registration and on the ground efforts to make our community’s collective voice heard at the ballot box. We are grateful to all the community organizations and volunteers who aided in our efforts and look forward to doing the same for the 2015 and 2016 election cycles,” added Asatryan.

Learn about the ANCA WR Hye Votes initiative.

The ANCA-WR hailed the re-election of incumbents and freshman candidates alike to both houses of the California legislature. For the California Senate race, this year’s ANCA-WR legislator of the year, President Pro Tempore Kevin de Leon enjoyed a sweeping win in his district, which encompasses Little Armenia and Silver Lake. He will be joined by freshman members Robert Hertzberg (D-18), Tony Mendoza (D-32), and Ben Allen (D-26). The ANCA-WR regrets that candidate Jose Solorio was not able to win his seat, but wishes him good luck in his future political endeavors. In the State Assembly 11 of 13 candidates won their elections, ten being re-elected to their seats, while Mike Gipson will be a member of the freshman class. State Assemblyman Ian Calderon(D-57), a very close friend to the Armenian community in the San Gabriel Valley and this year’s author of AJR 41, a resolution recognizing the powerful work of the Near East Relief, received strong support from his community and was able to win re-election after a very low turnout primary election left him in second place.

Finally, in the County of Los Angeles, all but one of the Western Region’s endorsed candidates enjoyed overwhelming support from voters. Sheriff elect-Jim McDonnell, enjoyed the support of the ANCA-WR early on in the general election, having met with the leadership and participated in a town hall hosted by the organization at Woodbury University. LA Supervisor Elect Hilda Solis won her election during the primary, as she received over 51% of the total vote. In the County of Los Angeles, when a candidate receives over 51% they officially win their election. Jeffrey Prang also won his bid for LA County Supervisor. Regrettably, ANCA-WR endorsed candidate Bobby Shriver was not successful in his race for the third district supervisor’s seat. He was up against former state lawmaker, Sheila Kuehl in a much contested battle for this open seat. The ANCA-WR congratulates Ms. Kuehl and looks forward to a positive working relationship during her tenure as supervisor. Likewise, we wish Mr. Shriver success in his political career.

A complete listing of ANCA-WR Endorsed Candidates and their election results are provided below.

**Ordered by State, then by Administration, Senate and House District
**Names are listed as follows: Name, Position (Party)

Arizona
Doug Ducey, Governor – ELECTED
Michele Reagan, Secretary of State – ELECTED

California Administration
Edmund “Jerry” Brown, Governor- ELECTED
Gavin Newsom, Lieutenant Governor – ELECTED
Alex Padilla, Secretary of State- ELECTED
Betty Yee, State Controller- ELECTED
John Chiang, State Treasurer- ELECTED
Kamala Harris, Attorney General – ELECTED
Tom Torlakson, Superintendent of Public Instruction- ELECTED

Senate
Tom Berryhill (R-14) – ELECTED
Robert Hertzberg (D-18) – ELECTED
Kevin De Leon (D-22) – ELECTED
Ben Allen (D-26) – ELECTED
Tony Mendoza (D-32) – ELECTED
Jose Solorio (D-34) – NOT ELECTED

Assembly
Kristin Olsen (R-12) – ELECTED
Jim Patterson (R-23) – ELECTED
Katcho Achadjian (R-35) – ELECTED
Scott Wilk (D-33) – ELECTED
Steve Fox (D-36) – NOT ELECTED
Chris Holden (D-41) – ELECTED
Mike Gatto (D-43) – ELECTED
Matt Dababneh (D-45) – ELECTED
Adrin Nazarian (D-46) – ELECTED
Cheryl Brown (D-47) – ELECTED
Ian Calderon (D-57) – ELECTED
Mike Gipson (D-64) – ELECTED
Al Muratsuchi (D-66) – NOT ELECTED

Los Angeles County
Bobby Shriver, District Three Supervisor – NOT ELECTED
Jim McDonnel, Sheriff – ELECTED
Hilda Solis, District 1 Supervisor – ELECTED in the Primary over 51%
Jeffrey Prang, Assessor- ELECTED

ANCA 2014 Congressional Endorsements and Election Results
** Ordered by State, then by Senate and House District
** Names are listed as follows: District Name (Party)

Arizona
3 Raul Grijalva (D) — elected

California
1 Doug LaMalfa (R) — elected
6 Doris Matsui (D) — elected
10 Jeff Denham (R) — elected
11 Mark DeSaulnier (D) — elected
12 Nancy Pelosi (D) — elected
13 Barbara Lee (D) — elected
14 Jackie Speier (D) — elected
16 Jim Costa (D) — too close to call
17 Michael Honda (D) — too close to call
18 Anna Eshoo (D) — elected
19 Zoe Lofgren (D) — elected
21 David Valadao (R) — elected
22 Devin Nunes (R) — elected
23 Kevin McCarthy (R) — elected
25 Steve Knight (R) — elected
27 Judy Chu (D) — elected
28 Adam Schiff (D) — elected
29 Tony Cardenas (D) — elected
30 Brad Sherman (D) — elected
31 Pete Aguilar (D) — too close to call
32 Grace Napolitano (D) — elected
33 Ted Lieu (D) — elected
35 Norma Torres (D) — elected
36 Raul Ruiz (D) — too close to call
38 Linda Sanchez (D) — elected
39 Edward Royce (R) — elected
44 Janice Hahn (D) — elected
46 Loretta Sanchez (D) — elected
47 Alan Lowenthal (D) — elected
48 Dana Rohrabacher (R) — elected

Colorado
2 Jared Polis (D) — elected
5 Douglas Lamborn (R) — elected
6 Andrew Romanoff (D) — defeated
7 Edwin Perlmutter (D) — elected

Connecticut
2 Joe Courtney (D) — elected

Delaware
Sen. Chris Coons (D) — elected

Florida
11 Richard Nugent (R) — elected
12 Gus Bilirakis (R) — elected
22 Lois Frankel (D) — elected

Illinois
Sen. Richard Durbin (D) — elected
3 Daniel Lipinski (D) — elected
7 Danny Davis (D) — elected
9 Janice Schakowsky (D) — elected
10 Robert Dold (R) — elected
18 Aaron Schock (R) — elected

Iowa
Rep. Bruce Braley (D) for Senate — defeated

Kentucky
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) — elected

Maryland
3 John Sarbanes (D) — elected
5 Steny Hoyer (D) — elected
8 Christopher Van Hollen (D) — elected

Massachusetts
Sen. Edward Markey (D) — elected
2 James McGovern (D) — elected
3 Niki Tsongas (D) — elected
4 Joe Kennedy (D) — elected
5 Katherine Clark (D) — elected
7 Michael Capuano (D) — elected
8 Stephen Lynch (D) — elected

Michigan
Rep. Gary Peters (D) for Senate — elected
9 Sander Levin (D) — elected
11 David Trott (R) — elected
13 John Conyers (D) — elected

Minnesota
7 Collin Peterson (D) — elected

Missouri
4 Vicky Hartzler (R) — elected

Nebraska
1 Jeff Fortenberry (R) — elected

Nevada
1 Dina Titus (D) — elected

New Jersey
3 Tom MacArthur (R) — elected
4 Christopher Smith (R) — elected
5 Scott Garrett (R) — elected
6 Frank Pallone (D) — elected
8 Albio Sires (D) — elected

New Mexico
Sen. Tom Udall (D) — elected

New York
1 Tim Bishop (D) — defeated
3 Steve Israel (D) — elected
6 Grace Meng (D) — elected
11 Michael Grimm (R) — elected
12 Carolyn Maloney (D) — elected
14 Joseph Crowley (D) — elected
16 Eliot Engel (D) — elected
17 Nita Lowey (D) — elected
27 Chris Collins (R) — elected

Pennsylvania
2 Chaka Fattah (D) — elected
7 Patrick Meehan (R) — elected

Rhode Island
Sen. Jack Reed (D) — elected
1 David Cicilline (D) — elected
2 James Langevin (D) — elected

Texas
2 Ted Poe (R) — elected

Virginia
7 Dave Brat (R) — elected

ANCA Urges Obama to Challenge Turkey’s Support For ISIS

October 9, 2014 by administrator

Hachikian: “Mr. President, we need not lie for Turkey; nor are we obliged to passively accept its transparently false denials.”

WASHINGTON—The Armenian National Committee of Americajoined growing calls for U.S. leadership in challenging Turkey’s manipulation of the Syria crisis, through direct and indirect support for ISIS, as part of its century-long genocidal drive to weaken or destroy Kurds, Armenians, Arabs, Assyrians, Alawites, and other ethnic minorities within or near its borders.

In a letter sent to the White House Wednesday, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian urged President Obama to continue fighting ISIS militants, but noted that the international community cannot stop there, saying that the U.S. must, “in equal measure, forcefully confront Turkey, a treaty ally, that is using these terrorists as surrogate soldiers in a neo-Ottoman drive to destroy minorities, grow its regional influence and expand its borders – all at the expense of U.S. interests and counter to the core values of the American people.”

Expressing regret over Vice-President Biden’s recent “forced” apology to Turkey for speaking truthfully about the Erdogan regime’s destabilization of the region, Hachikian stated, “Mr. President, we need not lie for Turkey; nor are we obliged to passively accept its transparently false denials. Rather than turning a blind eye to Ankara’s ongoing aggression – in Kobane, Der Zor, Aleppo, Kessab and across northern Syria – we should press for a halt to Turkish support for ISIS, an end to its interference in Syria, and the unconditional opening of its border.”

The ANCA has launched a nationwide action alert urging advocates to write to the White House and call for an end U.S. silence in the face of Turkey’s destructive interference in Syria. Take action NOW. http://www.anca.org/savekobane

Over the past two days, ANCA representatives have joined with Kurdish Americans at White House protests calling for U.S. leadership in ending ISIS aggression.

The text of ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian’s letter to President Obama is available in full below.

Dear Mr. President:

In the wake of the devastating ISIS assault on Kobani, I am writing to urge you to challenge Turkey’s aggressive exploitation of the Syria crisis, through its active support of extremist fighters, in order to complete its century-long genocidal drive to weaken or destroy Kurds, Armenians, Arabs, Assyrians, Alawites, and other ethnic minorities within or near its borders.

Sadly, Ankara’s success in bullying successive U.S. Administrations into silence on the Armenian Genocide and inaction in the face of Turkish brutal repression of Kurds has spoiled Turkey’s leaders into believing, with considerable justification, that they can openly strong-arm the United States on other key regional issues. The most recent example of this troubling trend is, of course, the sad spectacle of Turkish President Erdogan forcing Vice President Biden into a public apology for telling an obvious truth about Ankara’s well-documented support for ISIS.

Mr. President, we need not lie for Turkey; nor are we obliged to passively accept its transparently false denials. Rather than turning a blind eye to Ankara’s ongoing aggression – in Kobani, Der Zor, Aleppo, Kessab and across northern Syria – we should press for a halt to Turkish support for ISIS, an end to its interference in Syria, and the unconditional opening of its border. Parallel to this, our government must issue strong warnings to ISIS to cease its attacks on civilian areas in Kobani, Aleppo and elsewhere, and to allow humanitarian corridors, including from Aleppo to Latakia.

We must roll back ISIS, an avowedly anti-American military force committing horrific atrocities, and, in equal measure, forcefully confront Turkey, a treaty ally, that is using these terrorists as surrogate soldiers in a neo-Ottoman drive to destroy minorities, grow its regional influence and expand its borders – all at the expense of U.S. interests and counter to the core values of the American people.

We thank you for your consideration of our concerns, and ask, once again, for a meeting with you to discuss the crisis in the Middle East, your unmet pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide, the security of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, and our community’s other policy priorities.

Sincerely,

Kenneth V. Hachikian
Chairman
Armenian National Committee of America