Community Leaders Join Members of Congress, Armenian and Artsakh Diplomats for a Congressional Spotlight on Expanded U.S. Support for Armenia, Artsakh, and the Armenian Cause
WASHINGTON—The first day of the Armenian National Committee of America’s (ANCA) grassroots advocacy Fly-In campaign concluded on March 15 with a standing-room-only Capitol Hill program featuring congressional speeches, inspiring remarks by Armenia’s ambassador and Nagorno-Karabagh’s permanent representative, and a moving keynote address by the director of Stepanakert’s Lady Cox Rehabilitation Center—a regional clinic in urgent need of U.S. support.
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Robert Dold (R-Ill.) discusses Armenia and Artsakh aid priorities with the ANCA Board’s Raffi Hamparian, Aida Dimejian, and Ken Hachikian and Lady Cox Rehabilitation Center Director Vardan Tadevosyan during the ANCA Advocacy Day Fly-In.
House Intelligence Committee Ranking Democrat Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Armenian-American Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), and Representatives Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) were among House members offering powerful remarks regarding ongoing grassroots efforts to support peace, prosperity, and justice.
Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Grigor Hovhannissian and Artsakh’s (Karabagh) Permanent Representative to the U.S. Robert Avetisyan shared the Armenian nation’s efforts to foster regional peace and stressed the vital role of expanded ties with the United States. Offering impromptu remarks was Montebello, Calif. Mayor Jack Hadjinian, who shared his city’s efforts to assist Artsakh through a special sister-city relationship with its capital, Stepanakert. In his keynote remarks, Lady Cox Rehabilitation Center Director Vardan Tadevosyan discussed the life-changing work of the internationally renowned program that helps more than 1,000 adults and children with disabilities annually.
Rhode Island Congressman Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) discusses efforts to expand the Lady Cox Rehabilitation Center in Karabagh with its director, Vardan Tadevosyan, the ANCA Board’s Steve Mesrobian, and Kate Nahapetian, director of ANCA Government Affairs.
Tadevosyan traveled to Washington, D.C. to join with ANCA advocates from throughout the U.S. who are participating in two full days of meetings with congressional leaders on a host of community concerns, with special focus on expanded U.S. aid to Artsakh and Armenia; the implementation of Royce-Engel proposals for Artsakh peace; passage of the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution (H.Res.154); and support for a State Department determination of genocide in describing the ISIL/Da’esh attacks against Christians, Yezidis, and other minorities in the Middle East. A resolution, H.Con.Res. 75, led by Jeff Fortenberry (R-Nev.) and Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) condemning the genocide, was adopted unanimously on March 14. Secretary of State John Kerry’s statement on the issue is expected later this week.
On Wed., March 16, advocates will continue with a full day of meetings culminating in a reception at the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia.
The ANCA kicked off the week of grassroots activism with a National Congressional Call-In Day, with thousands of community calls advocating the peace, prosperity, and justice message reaching Capitol Hill.
Complete coverage of the Capitol Hill program and congressional meetings to follow.
Source: Armenian Weekly
Link: ANCA Advocates Bring Community Message of Peace, Prosperity and Justice to Capitol Hill