Hamparian: ‘Armenian-American Community Relies Less Upon Campaign Promises and More Upon the Political Strength of Our Community and the Moral Capital of our Cause.’
With the upcoming U.S. presidential elections in November, the Armenian-American community relies less upon campaign promises on the Armenian Genocide and more upon the political strength of the community itself. Armenia-based News.am recently interviewed Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian to learn about community’s expectations.
Aram Hamparian
Below is News.am’s brief interview with Aram Hamparian.
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News.am: What is the Armenian community of the Unites Sates expecting from this year’s presidential elections? Do the presidential candidates have differing positions on the Armenian Genocide?
Aram Hamparian: This year’s presidential elections are marked by the contrast between an outsider candidate and an insider candidate and the general polarization of the American electorate.
Secretary Clinton has an extensive record and a meaningful level of understanding regarding a range of Armenian issues, including, unfortunately, some highly objectionable actions and statements. Among these were her public assertion that the Armenian Genocide is a matter of “historical debate,” her ultimately successful efforts to defeat the Armenian Genocide Resolution before the U.S. House in late 2010, and the pressure she applied to Armenia to accept the reckless and irresponsible terms of the Turkey-Armenia Protocols.
By way of contrast, Donald Trump has essentially no record on Armenian issues, short of his multi-million-dollar hotel ventures in Turkey and Azerbaijan. In Baku, his business partners included the son of Azerbaijan’s Transport Minister, Anar Mammedov, whose Azerbaijan America Alliance spent over $10 million lobbying against Armenian American interests from 2012-2015. Mr. Trump has not yet made any public statements on issues of special concern to Armenian American voters – such as the Armenian Genocide, Nagorno-Karabagh (Artsakh/NKR), and U.S.-Armenia relations.
As someone involved in American politics for more than a generation, Hillary Clinton tends to have more connections to our community than Donald Trump, who is new to electoral politics.
There are ardent backers of both among Armenian Americans, as well as many who are dissatisfied with the two options offered this year by America’s two major parties.
N.A.: Can we expect any shifts in Washington’s policy on the Armenian Genocide and other issues concerning Armenians after the elections?
A.H.: If we have learned anything over the past several election cycles, it’s that we cannot be certain what either candidate would do after the election, even if they were to issue campaign pledges about the Armenian Genocide or other issues of special concern to Armenian Americans. As a practical matter, we rely less upon campaign promises and more upon the political strength of our community and the moral capital of our cause.
N.A.: Do you think any particular candidate’s election to the post might bring changes to Washington’s position on Turkey?
A.H.: Changes to the U.S.-Turkey relationship are being largely driven by Ankara, which is increasingly distancing itself from the U.S.-led security architecture of the post-World War II era, so it’s not clear at all that this election will mark a watershed in this regard.
Source: Armenian Weekly
Link: ANCA Executive Director Comments on Upcoming U.S. Presidential Elections