YEREVAN (Yerkir)–Referring to worries that the US will adopt a negative policy toward Armenia because of the Armenian National Committee of America’s (ANCA) endorsement of Presidential candidate John Kerry–ARF Bureau Political and Armenian National Committee Director Giro Manoyan–called such concerns "baseless."
"I believe any shift in US policy toward Armenia will be positive because the activism of the ANCA and the Armenian community became even more apparent [during 2004 elections]," explained Manoyan–who stressed that in the US–support for one candidate doesn’t necessarily bring about hostilities. The three main Armenian political parties in the US also backed Kerry in a joint appeal to the community–released last month.
ANCA-backed Congressional candidates from both parties fared much better–with 199 of the 202 endorsed winning their races.
As for ANCA’s plans to work with the new Administration–Manoyan said that the goals are defined based on the organization’s mission to work with the US to strengthen Armenia–secure a proper resolution to the Mountainous Karabagh conflict–as well as–among other things–ensure appropriate commemoration of the Armenian genocide. "This is our agenda regardless who is in office," stressed Manoyan.