ANCA to State Department: Back Off!‏

September 30, 2009 ANCA Town Halls Details Community Concerns on Turkey-Armenia Protocols photo credit: Emil Sanamyan, Armenian Reporter | Watch Complete Video | Learn more about the Protocols: -- Point by Point Analysis -- Sign a Petition - Votch.org -- Take action at stoptheprotocols.com or justicenotprotocols.com ANCA Action: Urge Chairman Berman to Schedule a Vote on H.Res.252 Send a Free WebMail now. 1) ANCA Calls on Clinton to Lift Pressure on Armenia 2) Over 10,000 Call for Committee Vote on Armenian Genocide Resolution 3) National Security Advisor Dodges Congressional Call on President to Honor Armenian Genocide Pledge 4) Recent Court Ruling Against Genocide Victims Rights Discussed at Glendale Forum 5) Celebrating Grassroots Participation Across the U.S.: New York City - October 3, 2009 Eastern Region Banquet Mark Geragos to Introduce David Krikorian at ANCA Eastern Region Banquet Pasadena, CA - November 8, 2009 ANC Western U.S. Banquet - Sassounian to Receive ANC Legacy Award 1) ANCA Calls on Hillary Clinton to Lift U.S. Pressure on Armenia WASHINGTON, DC - Ken Hachikian, Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America, today called upon Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to lift the unfair and heavy pressure the U.S. government is using to force Armenia to accept a set of highly controversial Protocols on the normalization of relations with Turkey. In his letter, dated September 30, 2009, Hachikian expressed the Armenian American community's concern that "these one-sided agreements, which are being imposed upon a landlocked Republic of Armenia that remains blockaded by Turkey and that is still working to overcome the devastating demographic, economic and geopolitical legacy of the Armenian Genocide, would, if adopted, call into question the reality of the Armenian Genocide, threaten Armenia's security, jeopardize the freedom of Nagorno Karabagh, and compromise the inalienable rights of all Armenians." Click here to read the complete letter 2) Over 10,000 Call for Committee Vote on Armenian Genocide Resolution California Rally Urges Chairman Howard Berman to Immediately Schedule Human Rights Measure for a Vote of the Foreign Affairs Committee WASHINGTON, DC - More than 10,000 Armenian Americans from throughout California, who gathered in Glendale yesterday for a grassroots rally, called upon U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman and longstanding friend of the Armenian American community Howard Berman (D-CA) to immediately schedule a vote of his panel on the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.252, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The grassroots resolution, prepared by the organizations serving on the rally's host committee, represents the broad range of grassroots constituencies and Armenian American civic groups active in California. It was read in full before the capacity crowd in Pelanconi Park and adopted by a unanimous roar of approval from those in attendance. A second resolution was also adopted that called on the Armenian government to refuse to approve a set of highly controversial protocols that represent a surrender of Armenian rights, security, and dignity. Read more. . . -- Watch the video from the Setpember 27th rally against the Turkey-Armenia protocols, organized by the Unified Young Armenians, ARF, ADL-Ramgavar party and the SDP - Hunchakian party -- Read coverage of the September 27th "stop the protocols" rally -- Community Leaders Voice Concern about Turkey-Armenia Protocols in a 4-hour Marathon televised on Horizon Armenian Television. Watch YouTube Clips (in Armenian and English) 3) National Security Advisor Dodges Congressional Call on President to Honor Armenian Genocide Pledge WASHINGTON, DC - President Barack Obama's National Security Advisor James L. Jones, in a letter sent recently to a bipartisan group of 82 U.S. Representatives, failed to meaningfully respond to the specific concerns raised by these legislators with the President regarding Turkey's ongoing efforts to block U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The letter from Jones, dated September 17, 2009, sidestepped concerns regarding Turkey's backtracking from the commitments it has made as part of its discussions with Armenia, and, most notably, Ankara's use of this dialogue to serve its longstanding interest in preventing Presidential commemoration and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide. In his letter, Jones used the very evasive and euphemistic terminology, in the place of an honest and straightforward recognition of this genocidal crime, that President Obama powerfully condemned as "inexcusable" while a U.S. Senator and Presidential candidate. On July 30th of this year, 82 members of the U.S. House shared their concerns with President Obama about Turkey's efforts to manipulate the public perception of its dialogue with Armenia to block U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The legislators stressed in their letter, that, in light of Turkey backtracking from its commitments, it was especially important for the President to honor his campaign pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Read more. . . 4) Recent Court Ruling Against Genocide Victims Rights Discussed at Glendale Forum GLENDALE, CA -- Nearly 200 community members including young professionals, attorneys, and students gathered at Saint Mary Armenian Church's community hall in downtown Glendale. The public briefing addressed the implications of the recent 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision regarding California's Armenian Genocide Life Insurance Recovery law. The educational event was organized by the Armenian National Committee Western Region (ANC-WR) Legal Research Team, in collaboration with the Armenian Bar Association (ABA), Armenian Youth Federation USA-Western Region (AYF-WR), and the ARF Shant Student Association. "There are currently several major developments impacting the Armenian nation at every level - locally, nationally and internationally. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recent ruling is no different," remarked Raffi Kassabian, an attorney and head of the ANC-WR's Legal Research Team. "Locally, it directly impacts the genocide heir who is seeking the recovery of insurance proceeds in a California court; nationally, it impacts our Diaspora living in the United States who is seeking its Federal Government to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide; and internationally, it impacts every genocide and holocaust survivor living around the world by establishing a dangerous and chilling precedent to prohibit survivors from seeking reparations under a court of law." Panelists included Mark Geragos, one of three attorneys representing Genocide victims, heirs, Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) National Board member Seto Boyadjian, ABA Board Member Armen Hovannisian, as well as attorney and community activist Steve Dadaian. Harut Sassounian, publisher of the California Courier, moderated the event. The speakers provided background and fielded questions from the audience regarding the case and what is being done by the plaintiffs as well as community organizations such as the ANCA and the ABA to challenge the ruling. Read more. . . 5) Celebrating Grassroots Participation Across the U.S.: Mark Geragos to Introduce David Krikorian at ANCA Eastern Region Banquet Limited Seating at the October 3rd ANCA Eastern Region Banquet still available. | Purchase tickets | NEW YORK, NY - Prominent Armenian American defense attorney Mark Geragos will introduce David Krikorian at the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Eastern Region Banquet on Sat., Oct. 3. The third annual banquet is being hosted by the Armenian Cultural Association of America (ACAA) and will be held at Espace in New York City. The ANCA Freedom Award will be presented to Senator Robert Menendez, and the ANCA Vahan Cardashian Award will be presented to Bedros Bandazian and Melanie Kerneklian. The former U.S. ambassador to Armenia, John M. Evans, the 2007 ANCA Freedom Award honoree, will also be in attendance. Geragos, known for his numerous appearances on Larry King Live and other television programs, is a nationally recognized leader in the legal community. His office handles some of the highest profile cases in California and the United States, including defending prominent figures in politics, entertainment, and business. Most notably, Geragos is currently involved in a case representing the banquet's master of ceremonies, David Krikorian, who is fighting a complaint brought by Rep. Jean Schmidt of Ohio. Read more. . . Sassounian to Receive ANC Legacy Award Reserve your tickets to the ANC Western Region Banquet on November 8th | Purchase tickets | LOS ANGELES, CA - Community legend and Armenian National Committee long-time activist Harut Sassounian will be honored with the ANC Legacy Award at the organization's annual banquet. The honor is among the organization's highest awards and is being granted to Sassounian for his volunteer support for the ANC and many other sister organizations for more than 30 years. The banquet, which is set to be a sold out event, will be held on November 8th at the Pasadena Convention Center. "For the past three years, the ANC-WR has been bestowing the Legacy Award to individuals who have made a difference in the Armenian community and the advancement of Hai Tahd," said Aida Dimejian, ANC-WR Board Member. "We are honored to award Mr. Sassounian with this distinguished award." Sassounian is the Publisher of The California Courier - the nation's oldest independent Armenian weekly newspaper. His political columns are reprinted in scores of U.S. and overseas publications and posted on countless websites. In tandem, he is the President of the United Armenian Fund, a coalition of the seven largest Armenian-American charitable organizations. The U.A.F. has supplied $575 million of humanitarian assistance to Armenia and Artsakh over the past 20 years. "Wait. There's more," exclaimed Dimejian. "Harut serves in many capacities." Read more. . . Search the web with www.goodsearch.com and money from Yahoo advertisers will go to the ANCA without you spending a dime. A penny per search! Use www.goodshop.com for online purchases from hundreds of popular sites and a percentage comes back to the ANCA. When you GoodSearch & GoodShop - Choose the ANCA ! Published by the Armenian National Committee of America 1711 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 Tel: (202) 775-1918, Fax: (202) 775-5648, E-mail: anca@anca.org, Web: www.anca.org