Urges Congress to Oppose Legislation Authorizing Escalation of Violence; Launches ANCA SmartMail Campaign to Share Armenian American Community Concerns
WASHINGTON—The Armenian National Committee of America, citing the Armenian American community’s profound concern for the fate of Syria’s Armenian population and the welfare of all of Syria’s citizens, circulated letters Wednesday across Capitol Hill calling on Members of the U.S. House and Senate to oppose legislation authorizing U.S. strikes against Syria.
“As our nation’s elected representatives gather this week to consider potential U.S. actions against Syrian targets, we wish to add our voice, as Americans of Armenian heritage, to those of our fellow citizens who oppose American military strikes and are against any escalation of violence. Such an escalation would very likely create further challenges and lead to serious additional harm to Christian communities, including Syria’s Armenian minority,” said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian in letters to U.S. legislators. “We take this stand mindful of the horrific human suffering that armed conflict has already visited across Syria, including the death and destruction being endured, to this day, by Armenians and other Christian communities. There has already been too much bloodshed, too much brutality, and too much suffering. An escalation in aggression can neither save lives nor help bring about peace.”
The ANCA message went on to stress that, “We believe that the advancement of our national interests, the enhancement of U.S. standing, the strengthening of the international rule-of-law system, and the promotion of stability and humanitarian and democratic values in this vital region, will not be facilitated by American attacks. We look to our government to seek a diplomatic settlement, and to reinforce our nation’s call upon all parties to cease any attacks on civilians, to limit armed operations to military targets, and to refrain from violence, intimidation, and discrimination against Christians and other vulnerable minorities.”
As a follow up to longstanding ANCA advocacy for effective, needs-based delivery of humanitarian aid to Armenian and all at-risk populations, Hachikian noted that Armenian Americans “remain troubled that, despite the expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars, serious gaps remain in terms of U.S.-supplied and funded relief aid actually reaching at-risk Armenian and other minority populations, in Aleppo and throughout Syria.”
He added that ” Equally troubling has been the very limited U.S. support for landlocked and blockaded Armenia’s efforts to support and resettle thousands fleeing the Syria crisis. We urge you, in cooperation with your colleagues and our community (which is very actively engaged in relief efforts), to work with the Administration to urgently address these shortcomings.”
U.S. should not Strike Syria. Enough is enough. U.S. is interfering with everyone’s business.
American intervention is unadulterated war of aggresion . According to the standards of Nuremberg international law it is considered a war crime to commit and conduct ” war of aggression”. That is exactly what the Americans are embarking upon. We saw it in Iraq, the demise of Saddam ( Saddam government was very good for the Armenian community) through massive bombing not only destroyed that hapless country, but also obliterated the flourishing Armenian community of Iraq. Now enter Syria, and the same scenario as in Iraq is likely to be re enacted with cataclysmic consequences for the Armenian community. Armenia should urgently draft plans to uplift the endangered community back to Armenia. The Russian government should also be asked to co operate , provide logistic support and other essentials for such an operation . American interests are vested in Israel and Turkey. Armenia is a nuisance factor in their geopolitical schemes.
No to any kind of strike in Syria
Stop being on the wrong side of history each time a crisis erupts. It’s time to move on and emigrate to the homeland. We need to drop the fantasy homeland and accept reality. Either we accept Armenia or not, we need to make a final choice. It’s easy to live in a host country and dream. It’s high time to evolve and move along into the next phase. Syria has changed forever. Even if the conflict is resolved, Armenians have already garnered enough enemies to last a life time.
Syria will hit Turkey if he’s attacked and Kurds are ready to revolt.
You have the Obama and Kerry show on capitol hill,a pack of lies presented again to the American people for their hidden and sinister agenda basically for oil and pipelines.
Down with the Anglo-American-Zionist global order. The humanity will continue remaining on the brink of a world war as long as this evil axis is allowed to exist. If allowed to have their ways, this will be the third world war they have brought upon the global community.
I hope our Amerika-Hay community will finally wake-up from their deep sleep and stop doing the bidding of imperial officials in Washington. All NGOs, political/social/ecological activists and news organizations in Armenia that are funded by Western/American sources need to get shutdown and their directors need to be arrested as foreign agents.