OAKLAND–Representatives of the Armenian National Committee joined others from the Armenian–Greek–and Serbian communities to express support for Oakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee on Sunday–December 2. The reception was hosted by Dr. and Mrs. Karl Konstanin in their Oakland home.
Rep. Lee gave assurances to representatives of the three communities that she would continue to support their issues in Washington. As a member of the House Committee on International Relations–Lee has raised issues of concern to the Armenian-American community–as they arise in hearings and meetings of the committee.
Recently–she has attracted a great deal of publicity as a result of her lone vote against granting President Bush broad use of force powers in response to the September 11th attacks. Community representatives who were in attendance commended the courage which she has exhibited in maintaining her position.
ANC representatives Ara Makasdjian–Ani Boghigian Baghdassarian–Haig Baghdassarian reiterated the Armenian community’s concern with respect to the likely waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. Lee expressed her deep disappointment that there is a potential for US aid to Azerbaijan to be used for military purposes in the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. She indicated that although a battle may have been lost–she would continue to fight for Armenia. Rep. Lee also expressed her commitment towards achieving recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the US and Turkish governmen’s.
Rep. Lee joined the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues earlier this year–and pledged that she intends to visit Armenia’soon–hopefully during the summer of 2002.