LAS VEGAS–Supporters of the State of Nevada’s largest Armenian American public affairs organization hosted a fundraising event for the reelection of United States Senator John Ensign on Friday–July 21.
A dinner-reception honoring the Senator was hosted by Mr. & Mrs. Levon & Zaruhi Gulbenkian. Mr. Gulbenkian–who serves as a Board Member of the Nevada ANCA Chapter–was joined by over fifty local community members in supporting Senator Ensign’s campaign. The Nevada legislator is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Steering Committee–the group that shapes the party’s legislative agenda.
On behalf of the Armenian National Committee-Political Action Committee–Ara Bedrosian presented Senator Ensign with the Nevada ANCA Freedom Award in recognition of his leadership in advancing the cause of human rights and genocide recognition. The Senator was commended by a number of Nevada Armenian leaders for his outstanding advocacy on behalf of the growing Armenian-American community in the state. Bedrosian–a Los Angeles based lawyer–formerly served as a Congressional aide in Washington to Republican members of Congress.
"Since his election to the US Senate in 2000–Senator Ensign has twice drafted and authored resolutions that reaffirm the commitment of the American people to recognizing the Armenian Genocide and to ensuring that its lessons are applied in preventing future crimes against humanity. No other Senator–since Bob Dole–has twice authored such Genocide resolutions," stated Hriyr Dadaian–Las Vegas ANCA Board Member. "John Ensign is our community’s best friend–his leadership on human rights issues is deeply appreciated–not only by Armenian Americans in Nevada–but by Armenia’s throughout the country," Dadaian added.