Tag Archives: ANCA

ANCA RALLIES AGAINST WHITE HOUSE DECISION TO BLOCK SMITHSONIAN DISPLAY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ORPHAN RUG

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Coolidge_Armenian_Orphan_RugWASHINGTON, DC — Armenian Americans across the U.S. are calling upon the White House and Congress to secure a prominent and permanent public display of a historic rug woven by Armenian Genocide orphans and presented to President Calvin Coolidge in 1925, in appreciation for U.S. humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of Turkey’s murder of over 1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The ANCA campaign was initiated after The Washington Post reported, earlier this week, that a planned December 16th Smithsonian Institution exhibit featuring the rug, organized in conjunction with the Armenian Cultural Foundation and the Armenian Rug Society, was abruptly cancelled when the White House, reversing an earlier affirmative decision, refused to lend the iconic symbol of American and Armenian shared heritage to the museum.
Armenian Americans can take action by visiting:
Armenian_Orphan_RugWashington Post staff writer and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Philip Kennicott, reported, “There was hope that the carpet, which has been in storage for almost 20 years, might be displayed December 16th as part of a Smithsonian event that would include a book launch for Hagop Martin Deranian’s ‘President Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug.’ But on September 12th, the Smithsonian scholar who helped organize the event canceled it, citing the White House’s decision not to loan the carpet. In a letter to two Armenian American organizations, Paul Michael Taylor, director of the institution’s Asian cultural history program, had no explanation for the White House’s refusal to allow the rug to be seen and said that efforts by the U.S. ambassador to Armenia, John A. Heffern, to intervene had also been unavailing.”
Kennicott described the controversy as “a sign of the Obama administration’s dismal reputation in the Armenian American community that everyone assumes… must be yet another slap in the face for Armenians seeking to promote understanding of one of the darkest chapters in 20th-century history.”
The complete Washington Post article is available online at:
The White House response thus far has been vague – with National Security Staff Assistant Press Secretary Laura Magnuson offering the following comment to the Asbarez Armenian Newspaper: “The Ghazir rug is a reminder of the close relationship between the peoples of Armenia and the United States.  We regret that it is not possible to loan it out at this time.”  A statement with the same exact wording was released by the White House last week and included in Kennicott’s article.
“The White House should simply come clean,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.  “It’s time for the White House to open up about Turkey’s role, and lay out all the facts about its decision to block the Smithsonian’s exhibit of the Armenian Orphan Rug – a historic, Armenian Genocide-era work of art that speaks powerfully to the common values and shared experiences of the American and Armenian peoples.”
In a letter sent earlier today to President Obama’s Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian reminded the White House that “upon receiving the rug, President Coolidge wrote, ‘The rug has a place of honor in the White House where it will be a daily symbol of goodwill on earth.’ I ask you, in this spirit, to remove any obstacles to the Smithsonian’s display of this historic artwork and to secure a prominent and permanent public home for this powerful symbol of America’s humanitarian values and friendship with the Armenian people,” continued Hachikian.
Placing this latest controversy in context, Hachikian noted that: “since taking office, President Obama has not only failed to recognize the Armenian Genocide, but has actively blocked Congressional legislation (H.Res.252, 111th Congress) to commemorate this atrocity and, through his Solicitor General, officially opposed efforts in the U.S. courts (Arzoumanian v. Munchener Ruckversicherungs-Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft AG) to allow American citizens to pursue Genocide-era property claims.  In addition, the Administration has regularly sent senior officials to speak at events organized by Armenian Genocide deniers, while refusing repeated invitations to simply attend Congressional observances of this atrocity.  In these areas, and, sadly, many more, the President has not simply failed to honor his pledge, but rather – in both letter and spirit – worked to fundamentally undermine and reverse the very policies he pledged to pursue.”
According to Dr. Hagop Deranian, the Armenian orphan rug measures 11’7″ x 18’5″ and is comprised of 4,404,206 individual knots.  It took the Armenian girls in the Ghazir Orphanage of the Near East Relief Society 10 months to weave.  A label on the back of the rug, in large hand-written letters, reads “IN GOLDEN RULE GRATITUDE TO PRESIDENT COOLIDGE.”
Additional information about the history of the Armenian Orphan Rug is available in Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian’s book, “President Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug,” published on October 20, 2013, by the Armenian Cultural Foundation and soon to be available on Amazon.com

ANCA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ARAM HAMPARI AN FEATURED AT ANC OF ILLINOIS LOCAL FUNDRAISER

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ARAM HAMPARIANGlenview, IL — A crowd of supporters of the Armenian National Committee of Illinois (ANC-IL) gathered at the home of Dr. Khachig and Lena Ishkhan on Sunday, October 6, 2013, to hear about recent developments in Hai Tahd at the local, regional and national level.

The featured speaker of the event was ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. The long-time director of the ANCA’s Washington, DC office discussed the various phases that Armenian political activity has passed through. He described how Armenian political activity began nearly a century ago with efforts were centered around fostering sympathy, especially with regard to securing aid for victims of the genocide and for Armenia’s fledgling republic. He stated that, with the Soviet takeover of the republic, the community entered a stage of partisanship, which peaked during the Cold War, where different elements aligned themselves with the different poles.

Hamparian discussed how in the 1960s and 70s, the community began to take a more outward focus, organizing protests and becoming more forceful in our demands. In the 1980s and 90s, the community began to become much active in lobbying efforts and trying to influence the decision makers within our government structures. More recently, the ANCA has tried to expand the community’s reach by helping young Armenian Americans actually become the part of the government structures and eventually become the decision makers.

He also described how the ANCA’s palette of issues has expanded beyond human rights and the genocide to demands for reparations, support for Armenia, Karabakh and Javakhk, and support for Armenian communities in Iraq, Syria and other areas in turmoil.  He talked about the transition of Armenia’s relationship with the US from one that is aid-based, which began with earthquake relief, to one that is trade-based in order to help fuel economic growth.

Earlier, ANC of Illinois Chair Claude Ohanesian opened the program by thanking everyone for attending.  He then called hosts Khachig and Lena Ishkhan forward to thank them for their gracious hospitality, presenting them with a gift of a signed copy of the newly published book by Hrair Hawk Khatcherian, “one church, one nation.”

Reviewing some of the many activities of the ANC of Illinois, Ohanesian spoke about the ANC’s continuing efforts to raise awareness about Armenian issues with local, state, and federal officials, mentioning meetings with Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Cong. Michael Grimm, Congressman Brad Schneider, members of the Illinois State Assembly, and others.

Ohanesian spoke about the ANC’s 2013 Armenian Genocide commemoration, which featured noted author Peter Balakian and which was co-hosted by the Illinois Holocaust Museum. He also discussed continuing efforts with the Museum to mark the Centennial of Armenian Genocide.  He then introduced Illinois State Holocaust and Genocide Commission member and long-time ANC activist Greg Bedian to provide an update on the Commission and other outreach activities.

Bedian, who was appointed to the Commission by Gov. Quinn, described the newly organized Commission’s efforts to raise genocide awareness. He spoke about how the Commission was working to encourage the various communities impacted by genocide to work more closely together and learn from each other, and how the ANC had hosted a meeting of the Commission at the Armenian Community Center in March. He also discussed the importance of an international academic conference, held in May that the ANC co-organized with the Assyrian and Greek communities, and held at the Illinois Holocaust Museum, which was the first major conference ever held devoted to the three genocides committed by the Ottoman Turks.

Upon conclusion of the program, attendees were given copies of the book “A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide,” which was written by Samantha Power, the current U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

The Armenian National Committee of Illinois is a grassroots public affairs organization which works in coordination with a nationwide network of offices, affiliated organizations and supporters to inform, educate, and actively advance the concerns of the Armenian American community on broad range of issues.

 

ANCA EASTERN REGION ORGANIZES PETER KOUTOUJIAN PHONE BANK

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PK_phone bankFranklin, MA — The Armenian National Committee of American Eastern Region (ANCA-ER) organized a phone bank for Congressional hopeful Peter Koutoujian at Camp Haiastan on Saturday, October 6, 2013.

Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian is running for the vacant seat in Massachusetts’ 5th Congressional district, which includes Watertown, Belmont, Waltham, Lexington, Arlington, and many other towns heavily populated with Armenian Americans. The ANCA Eastern Massachusetts has been actively working on the campaign, volunteering at district phone banks and canvassing the district. Local Armenian youth have joined the local ANC and participated in this effort.

The ANCA-ER organized the phone bank at Camp Haiastan during the Armenian Youth Federation’s annual Senior Seminar, an educational event that attracted more than 85 Armenian youth from the East Coast, West Coast and Canada. ANCA-ER Executive Director Michelle Hagopian and ANCA National Board Member Steve Mesrobian instructed and helped the youth for an hour on Saturday. The group used the online system on www.koutoujianforcongress.com by doing a virtual phone bank, which allows individuals to make calls anywhere they have Internet access.

“The ANCA-ER strives to activate Armenian youth on all things important to the Armenian people. Volunteering with the ANCA-ER to phone bank for Peter is a privilege and the very least that Armenian youth can be doing,” said Hagopian.

The Special Primary Election for now Sen. Ed Markey’s old seat will take place on Tuesday, October 15, in Massachusetts’ 5th district. For more information on ANCA-endorsed Koutoujian and his campaign, visit www.koutoujianforcongress.comtoday.

ANCA HOLDS ROUNDTABLE ON EVE OF U.S.-ARMENIA ECONOMIC TALKS

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ancaroundtableWASHINGTON, DC – On the eve of the upcoming annual meeting of the U.S.-Armenia Economic Task Force, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) hosted a roundtable talk on the future of U.S.-Armenian relations.
The discussion, held in the ANCA’s Aramian Conference Room, featured a far-ranging and constructive exchange among a broad cross-section of stakeholders with a diverse set of experiences dealing with various aspects of America’s relationship with Armenia, Artsakh, and her own citizens among the Armenian American community.
“We were pleased to host an open exploration of the present state and future direction of U.S.-Armenian relations that was characterized by both a constructive exchange between those holding a diverse set of viewpoints and also a core consensus on shared national and democratic aspirations,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.  “We want to thank each and every person who participated, not only for the wisdom and vision they shared, but also for the very practical advice and suggestions that they brought to the table.”
Photos from the event are posted on the ANCA Facebook page at:
The U.S.-Armenia Economic Task Force meeting is set to address a broad range of issues impacting this bilateral relationship, with a special focus on growing the trade and investment levels between these two nations.  “This October, we’re looking to the U.S. leadership of this bilateral platform to build on more than a decade of largely aid-related discussions by bringing to the table a set of concrete deliverables: increased trade, new investments, and good jobs that will foster hope and opportunity in both nations,” added Hamparian, following the roundtable.
The ANCA has, against the backdrop of the downward trend in overall foreign aid levels, long advocated greater U.S. prioritization of the growth of economic ties with Armenia, in order to create jobs, reinforce the enduring friendship between the American and Armenian peoples, help offset the crushing impact of dual Turkish-Azerbaijani blockades, and – very significantly – provide Armenia with strategic options in terms of its economic and security relations with regional powers.

 

STATE DEPARTMENT CALLS ON ALL SIDES IN SYRIA TO PROTECT CIVILIANS

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save_aleppo—  Letter to ANCA Outlines U.S. Humanitarian Response to Syria Conflict
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of State, in response to concerns raised by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and a broad cross-section of Armenian American civic and church leaders, has stressed the urgency of ongoing U.S. diplomatic initiatives to remind all sides in Syria of their obligations under international law to protect civilians and to allow humanitarian organizations safe access to all people in need.
The Department’s letter comes following a July 17th U.S. government briefing on Syria humanitarian assistance efforts hosted by the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for representatives of Armenian American civic, church, and charitable organizations from across the United States.  The letter to the ANCA underscores the importance that the United States attaches to ensuring regular medical and humanitarian access to Aleppo, and notes the life-saving U.S. contributions to meeting basic needs for those in host countries, including Armenia and Lebanon.
The full array of urgent humanitarian issues of concern to Armenian Americans has consistently been raised by community leaders, including:
1) Ensuring the balanced and needs-based distribution of U.S. humanitarian aid to all areas of Syria, including those like Aleppo with large Armenian and other Christian populations;
2) Preventing humanitarian blockades of civilian populations, such as those creating crises in Aleppo;
3) Providing additional assistance to the Armenian government and NGO’s supporting and helping to settle Syrians who have fled to Armenia, and
4) Assisting the Armenian Church and charitable groups in Lebanon as they support the very considerable humanitarian needs of refugees from Syria.
In his August 5th letter to the ANCA, State Department Director of the Office of Europe, Central Asia and Americas, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration for John Underriner referenced community concerns about getting vital humanitarian aid to the affected communities in Syria and the devastating effects of a recent blockade of assistance to Aleppo.  “We recognize the critical need to ensure regular medical and humanitarian access to those who remain in Aleppo and for all displaced and conflict-affected people in Syria,” noted Underriner. “Humanitarian workers are risking their lives to provide life-saving assistance to those suffering and have worked tirelessly with contacts on all of the conflict to attempt to negotiate humanitarian pauses to allow aid delivery. We have reminded all sides to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians, and urge them to allow humanitarian organizations safe access to all people in need.”
The full text of Underriner’s letter is provided below. Since issuing the letter, President Obama announced an additional $185 million in assistance to those affected by the Syrian crisis, bringing to $1 billion the total U.S. assistance commitment to date.
The Armenian American community, along with Armenian communities around the world, has undertaken far-reaching and life-saving humanitarian efforts, through the Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, and Evangelical churches, Syrian Armenian Relief Fund, Armenian Relief Society, Armenian General Benevolent Union and other avenues. The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has undertaken a grassroots effort to educate Congressional legislators about the plight of Armenians and other affected minorities in Syria and urged Congress to provide relief and resettlement support for at-risk Armenians and other Christian populations in Syria and throughout the Middle East as part of the FY 2014 foreign aid bill.
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Text of State Department Letter to ANCA Regarding U.S. Humanitarian Assistance to those Affected by the Syrian Crisis

 

ANCA WELCOMES MARKEY SENATE VICTORY

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ed_markey_koutoujianBOSTON, MA — The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region (ANCA-ER) joined with friends from across the Massachusetts Armenian community in celebrating Congressman Ed Markey’s victory in Tuesday night’s special Senate election. Markey (D-MA-5) led at the ballot box against Republican businessman Gabriel Gomez throughout the day and won by a 10-point margin.

“We are very excited to see Rep. Ed Markey assume this new role in his career of public service. The ANCA of Massachusetts joins with Armenian Americans from across the state and country in welcoming his victory, and we look forward to his continued leadership on issues of concern to our community,” said Mikael Garabedian of ANCA-Massachusetts, who was among the Armenian-American contingent on hand to celebrate Rep. Markey’s success at his victory party.

Since he was 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.

ed_markey_koutoujianRep. Markey 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 25 Massachusetts Senate special election victory means Rep. Markey will fill now Secretary of State John Kerry’s vacant seat for the remainder of his term, ending January 3, 2015.

 

ANCA-GREATER WASHINGTON WELCOMES BROAD BACKING FOR JAMGOCHIAN MARYLAND DELEGATE CAMPAIGN

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jamgochian_pallone_lsiBETHESDA, MD – Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) joined an enthusiastic crowd of more than a hundred Maryland community leaders and activists in a strong show of support for House of Delegates candidate Hrant Jamgochian’s June 17th campaign fundraising kick-off, reported the Armenian National Committee of America – Greater Washington (ANCA-GW).

The reception, graciously hosted by Mrs. Nancy Greenspan at her Bethesda home, was an opportunity for area voters and supporters, including a diverse cross-section of the local Armenian American community, to stand with Jamgochian’s campaign and support Hrant’s positions on a broad range of local and state-wide issues, ranging from health care and education to the environment and economy.

jamgochian_group“We’re pleased to see Hrant in the lead as the front-runner in this race, and proud to support his campaign every step to victory,” said ANCA Greater Washington Chairwoman Sevan Kolejian. “We look forward to helping Hrant spread his message to Maryland voters and to playing our part in electing Maryland’s first-ever Armenian American to state-level office.”

Photos from the event can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.506150389453664.1073741826.181565881912118&type=1

In remarks voicing his support for Hrant’s campaign, Congressman Pallone cited his own long and productive working relationship with him on healthcare issues, saying: “He [Jamgochian] is an extraordinarily respected and strong voice on patients’ rights and works tirelessly in the non-profit sector to advance healthcare rights to the most vulnerable members of our society. As the Ranking Member in the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, I can tell you that Hrant has got it right when it comes to good democratic values and a true commitment when it comes to access affordability and quality of care for all Maryland residents.”

Jamgochian explained, “This election is about values, and communicating those values to our neighbors. We believe in protecting the most vulnerable members of society, in fostering an affordable and accessible educational system, and in an economy where people pay their fair share and we are able to find jobs in the fields we have spent years preparing for.”

On hand to lend their assistance to the Jamgochian campaign that evening were three of this year’s ANCA Leo Sarkisian summer interns: Manoug Alemian, Taleen Lachinian and Tamar Purut. “Hrant’s enthusiasm and commitment to community outreach and empowerment was inspirational,” said Lachinian, who had met Jamgochian and his wife, Lenna, the day before at the Soorp Khatch Armenian Church Father’s Day Picnic. “We need more Armenian Americans in elected office, and it’s encouraging to see dedicated professionals like Hrant devoting their lives to public service.”

To learn more about or to support the Hrant Jamgochian for Maryland State Delegate campaign, visit:http://www.gojamgo.com