Legislators seek increased aid to Armenia‏

November 4, 2009 Lawmakers Urge $48 Million for Armenia; $10 million for Karabagh Reps Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) were joined by 30 House colleagues in urging Senate and House Appropriators to reverse proposed cuts by Obama Administration | Read | Take Action: Urge Legislators to Support the Armenian Genocide Resolution Senate | House Turkish Ambassador Cites Protocols in Renewed Attack on Genocide Resolution | Read | Majority Leader Reid Shares Community Concerns over Protocols with Secretary Clinton | Read | ANCA on Horizon180 Broadcasts with Paul Chaderjian Kate Nahapetian's Update on Legal Cases dealing with Genocide Denial | Watch | Vicken Sonentz Papazian on the Turkey-Armenia Protocols | Watch | Reps. Pallone and LoBiondo Lead Bipartisan Congressional Effort WASHINGTON, DC - Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and New Jersey Republican Frank LoBiondo were joined by dozens of their House Colleagues in urging Senate and House Appropriations Committee leaders to maintain $48 million in U.S. assistance to Armenia, increased aid to Nagorno Karabagh, and continued military assistance parity to Armenia and Azerbaijan in the fiscal year (FY) 2010 foreign aid bill, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). "We want to thank Congressmen Pallone and Lobiondo for leading this bipartisan outreach to members of the State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee - and also to express our appreciation to our friends serving on this panel, including Nita Lowey, Adam Schiff, Mark Kirk, Steve Rothman, and Jesse Jackson - for their work in support of the pro-Armenia provisions in the FY2010 foreign aid bill," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "We are hopeful that the conference committee, which will be called to reconcile the Senate and House versions of this legislation, will approve the higher House figures for aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, endorse the House's decision to maintain military aid parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and support the House language reaffirming Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act." Earlier this year, both the House and Senate adopted their versions of the FY 2010 foreign aid bill, with the House adopting higher figures for Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh and including new language reaffirming Section 907 restriction on U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan, due to that country's ongoing blockade of Armenia. Read more. . . Turkish Envoy Links Denial to Newly Signed Turkey-Armenia Agreement in televised VOA segment WASHINGTON, DC - Turkey's Ambassador to the United States, Nabi Sensoy, appearing on a Voice of America television news segment on the Senate introduction of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, cited the newly signed Turkey-Armenia Protocols as a new reason for his government's intensifying campaign to block U.S. recognition of this crime against humanity, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Responding to a question on this legislation, the Turkish envoy stressed: "I hope that there will be no progress on this issue. I don't think it was the right time to take this step since the resolution was introduced immediately after the signing of the Turkey-Armenia Protocols. It is wrong and sad. I am hopeful that it [the resolution] will not reach the [Senate] floor." ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian, who was interviewed by Voice of America's Aram Vanetsyan for this segment, cited the broad-based support for the Armenian Genocide Resolution from President Barack Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during their years in the Senate. Responding to reports that the Turkey-Armenia Protocols would harm international Armenian Genocide affirmation efforts, Hamparian explained that Turkey entered into negotiations with Armenia, not because of any charitable impulse, but, rather, because of its desire to somehow derail the growing pressure of Armenians worldwide in isolating Ankara's bankrupt campaign of denial. Armenian Americans will, Hamparian added, continue to press, assertively, powerfully, and effectively for a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide. Read more. . . | Watch Video. . . Senate Majority Leader Urges Secretary of State to Meet with Armenian American Leaders WASHINGTON, DC - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has formally shared the reservations of the Silver State's Armenian community regarding the dangers of the recently signed Turkey-Armenia Protocols with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). In a October 30, 2009 letter to ANCA-Nevada activist Razmig Libarian, the Senate leader reported that he had recently written to Secretary Clinton to pass along the concerns of his state's citizens of Armenian heritage, and to encourage her to meet directly with the national leadership of the Armenian American community regarding the state of Turkey-Armenia relations. In his letter to Secretary Clinton, dated October 20, 2009, Senator Reid wrote: "I am sure you are aware that this agreement has raised concerns in the Armenian community inside the United States. I have received many letters from Nevadans who do not support the creation of an international commission to examine the historical record on the genocide and who believe that the agreements are unfair to Armenia. (I have included a sample letter below). Given the serious nature of the community's concerns, I felt it was important to raise them directly with you. The commission is particularly sensitive to the Armenian-American community since the Armenian genocide has never been recognized by Turkey." Read more. . . 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