Ending Turkey's Blockade

May 15, 2008 STUDENTS SPEAK OUT against genocide denial in campuses across the U.S. Visit CampusCause.com for coverage of Armenian American student action. Photo: Paul Wellman 1) Rep. Schiff Introduces Bill Calling for End of Turkey's Blockade of Armenia 2) ANCA Chairman Sharply Criticizes Bush's Final April 24th Statement 3) Abrahamian Joins Capital Gateway Program ANCA Action: End Turkey's Gag Rule on Congressional Recognition of Armenian Genocide Contact Congress NOW! Darfur Action: Rebel Attacks Raise Specter of Atrocities Beyond Darfur's Borders Urge Pres. Bush to Take Action | Learn More Blogwatch: HyeOctane.com: Defeating Foreign Influence CampusCause.com: Student Activism in April. Your campus not featured? Send us coverage! The ANCA on -- Subscribe Now REP. SCHIFF INTRODUCES BILL CALLING FOR THE END OF TURKEY’S BLOCKADE OF ARMENIA Legislation Calls on Secretary of State to Submit Report on U.S. Efforts to Lift Turkey’s Blockade WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced legislation today calling on the President and Secretary of State to urge Turkey to lift its 15 year blockade of Armenia and outline concrete steps taken by the Administration in that effort, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA.) Titled the "End the Turkish Blockade of Armenia Act," the legislation notes that "Turkey’s ongoing blockade of Armenia does not promote regional security and prosperity, thereby undermining the short-term and long-term policy objectives of the United States." It goes on to cite that the "Department of State has estimated that the blockade is inflating Armenia’s transportation costs by between 30 and 35 percent, thereby stifling its trade and economy." The resolution, in addition to calling for the immediate lifting of Turkey’s blockade, would mandate that the Secretary of State "submit to Congress a report that outlines the steps taken and plans made by the United States to end Turkey’s blockade of Armenia," within thirty days of the bill’s passage. Read More. . . ANCA CHAIRMAN SHARPLY CRITICIZES BUSH’S FINAL APRIL 24TH STATEMENT Hachikian Attacks White House Policy as "Morally Bankrupt" in Letter to President WASHINGTON, DC – Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Chairman Ken Hachikian strongly criticized President George W. Bush’s most recent April 24th statement as the final step of his betrayal of his campaign promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide, and a symbol of his Administration’s “morally bankrupt” eight-year policy of complicity in Turkey’s lies and denials. The letter also notes that the President, during his two terms in office, has refused repeated requests by the leadership of the Armenian American community to discuss the Armenian Genocide and other issues of mutual concern. Earlier this year, on April 4th, Hachikian wrote a separate letter to the Secretary of State outlining 13 specific areas in which the Administration pursued policies at odds with the views and values of America’s one and a half million citizens of Armenian heritage. Read More. . . ABRAHAMIAN JOINS CAPITAL GATEWAY PROGRAM WASHINGTON, DC - During the height of April's Armenian Genocide commemorative events in the Nation's capital, recent college graduate David Vahe Abrahamian of Burbank, CA became the latest to join the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Capital Gateway program, designed to open internship and career doors for young Armenian Americans seeking to make their mark in American politics, the media, or the think tank scene. Abrahamian's participation in the program was made possible through the Hovig Apo Saghdejian Memorial Fellowship, a special fund established for young Armenians seeking opportunities in politics and public service. After receiving a double Bachelor's in History and Political Science from UCLA in the Fall of 2007, Abrahamian chose to apply for the Capital Gateway Program and explore career opportunities in Congress. He was informed of the program through a classmate of his at UCLA and felt it was a perfect way of gaining first-hand experience following his graduation. "I decided to come to DC as an extension of my political interests," said Abrahamian. "My goal is to find a position working on foreign policy matters within a Congressional office." Read More. . .