Three videos you don't want to miss. . .

September 15, 2008 Student from the Roupen Der Minassian School in Akhalkalak, Javakhk. Photo: Tamar Yardemian / AYF Western Region Help Target US Aid to Javakhk & Armenia ANCA Action: Call Your Representative TODAY! Sherman Calls for Proposed Aid Package to Include Assistance to Armenia | Video | Pallone Radanovich Seek Congressional Support for Post Conflict Aid to Javakhk and Armenia Focus: Darfur ANCA Helps Launch Save Darfur's Million Postcard Campaign. | Video | Soccer Hypocrisy ANCA Calls on Congress to Look at Turkey's True Intention and Real World Actions Pallone Calls on Turkey to Follow Soccer Diplomacy with Real Steps Toward Peace | Video | Sherman Calls for Proposed Aid Package to Include Assistance to Armenia WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Brad Sherman has called for the Administration's proposed post-conflict aid package to Georgia to include assistance to Armenia, a nation he described as an "innocent victim" in the war between Georgia and Russia, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). "We appreciate Congressman Sherman's principled and persistent efforts to ensure that the post Georgia-Russia conflict aid package addresses the substantial economic harm inflicted upon Armenia - estimated at up to $1 billion - in the form of drastically increased transportation costs, higher food and fuel prices, and a slow-down in overall investments," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "We are, in equal measure, disappointed by Dan Fried's callous and shortsighted rejection, on behalf of the Bush Administration, of this badly-needed assistance package." Speaking during a September 9th hearing of House Foreign Affairs Committee, the California legislator stressed that, "in addition to the combatants, Armenia has suffered tremendously as a result of this war, and Armenia is totally blameless." He then asked the Administration witness, Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried: "does the Administration plan on providing economic aid to Armenia as part of this package and if so, how much" Read More. . . Pallone and Radanovich Seek Congressional Support for Post-Conflict Aid to Javakhk and Armenia Collecting Signatures on Congressional Letter to President Bush WASHINGTON, DC - In a bipartisan appeal, Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and George Radanovich (R-CA) reached out today to their Congressional colleagues to support targeting portions of the proposed $1 billion post Georgia-Russia conflict aid package for the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia and to help offset the economic impact of the recent crisis on Armenia, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). In a September 12th Dear Colleague letter, the two legislators explained to their fellow Representatives that Armenia, which continues to be materially harmed by the fighting to its north, has remained "a constructive partner to Georgia through ensuring safe transit for humanitarian needs, reconstruction assistance, and diplomatic measures." They also stressed the urgency of providing funds specifically for Samtskhe-Javakheti, a chronically underdeveloped region in Georgia, heavily populated by Armenians. "We thank Representatives Pallone and Radanovich for their vision and compassion in addressing the pressing humanitarian and developmental needs, both in Georgia and in Armenia, created by the recent fighting," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We are hopeful that their colleagues will join with them in ensuring that the United States lends a helping hand to the people of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Armenia during this difficult time." Read More. . . ANCA Helps Launch Save Darfur's Million Postcard Campaign "We're working to bring U.S. policies in line with American principles, because a Darfur policy that reflects the enduring values of the American people - not short-term, narrow interests in Washington - will be a policy that truly protect WASHINGTON, DC - The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) played its part this week in the successful start to the Save Darfur Coalitions Million Postcard campaign with remarks by Executive Director Aram Hamparian at the campaign's national launch. The aim of the campaign, supported by a broad range of human rights, ethnic, advocacy, and faith-based partners, is to ensure that the two Presidential candidates, John McCain (R) and Barack Obama (D), honor their joint pledge to demonstrate "unstinting resolve," once in office, to end the genocide taking place in the Darfur region of Sudan. The Washington, DC program opened with a prayer by noted Reverend Kim Barnes, and featured welcoming remarks by Save Darfur President Jerry Fowler, and moving speeches by Save Darfur Chairwoman Rev. Gloria White Hammond, and prominent radio and television personality Joe Madison. Hamparian closed the event with remarks about the moral imperative of ensuring U.S. leadership in ending the cycle of genocide (full text is provided below). Also in attendance were key coalition partners, including the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Investors Against Genocide, Genocide Intervention Network, Africa Action, Armenian Assembly, and B'nai B'rith International. Read More. . . Noted Turkish Writer Temel Demirer condemning the assassination of Hrant Dink at a rally in Istanbul, Turkey. He is currently being prosecuted for his remarks. ANCA Calls on Congress to Look at Turkey's True Intention and Real World Actions WASHINGTON, DC - The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) today called the attention of Members of Congress to statements and actions by Turkish leaders following the September 6th "soccer-diplomacy" match in Yerevan that directly undermine the prospects of moving toward an enduring Armenia-Turkey peace based on truth and justice. Attached to each "ANCA Memo to the Hill" was a copy of the two-page September 4th ANCA letter circulated to Members of the House and Senate outlining the Armenian American community's hopes, concerns, and reservations regarding Turkey's approach to this matter. Among its points, the ANCA Memo spotlighted Turkey's post-soccer match prosecution of noted Turkish writer Temel Demirer, who had condemned the 2007 assassination of the Armenian-Turkish editor Hrant Dink because of his statements recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Demirer's lawyer called to Turkey's promises to improve human rights "fairy tales." Read more about the Demirer prosecution. Read the full text of the ANCA memo to Congressional offices is provided below. Pallone Calls on Turkey to Follow Soccer Diplomacy with Real Steps Toward Peace WASHINGTON, DC - Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) welcomed Armenia's diplomatic outreach to Turkey and called on Turkey to reciprocate this gesture of good will with concrete steps toward an enduring peace based on truth and justice, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The New Jersey legislator's House floor statement comes in the wake of the recent Armenia-Turkey World Cup soccer qualifying match in Yerevan that Turkey's President Abdullah Gul attended at the invitation of his Armenian counterpart, Serzh Sargsyan. In his remarks, the Congressman specifically calls upon Turkey to end its denial of the Armenian Genocide, to remove Article 301 and other free speech restrictions on the discussion of this crime, and to lift its illegal 15-year old blockade of Armenia. In the days prior to the soccer match, the ANCA circulated a letter explaining to every Member of Congress that, "for this initiative to succeed, Turkey's leaders need to view this as a true opportunity for enduring peace, not simply as a photo opportunity to help alleviate the growing international pressure it is under to recognize the Armenian Genocide." Read More. . . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~