*Meet with President at White House briefing on social security and Medicare. WASHINGTON–Representatives of the Armenian American Democratic Leadership Council spoke to President Clinton in the White House this week about the need to recognize the Armenian Genocide and support the right to self-determination of the people of Nagorno Karabakh. Their discussion on Armenian American issues took place in the historic East Room–following a high-level briefing for one hundred leading community activists by the President–First Lady–Cabinet officials and Congressional leaders.
"The AADLC firmly supports the President’s efforts to save secure social security through 2075 and Medicare through 2020–and will mobilize Armenian American support to garner Congressional approval for the plan," said AADLC Executive Director Alex Sardar.
"At the same time–we continue to urge the President to properly characterize Turkey’s systematic extermination of its Armenian population as ‘Genocide,’ and to play a more balanced role in finding an equitable resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict."
At the briefing–President Clinton and the First Lady were joined by Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin–Senator Charles Robb of Virginia–and Representative Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin–each of whom emphasized the critical role of Social Security not only for elderly Americans–but to the young generation of Americans who will inherit the system.
The President in outlining his initiatives–stressed that because young Americans play a vital role in the future of the country–they must become actively involved in saving Social Security. President Clinton countered Republican plans to return large portions of the budget surplus as tax cuts by–noting that investing a part of the budget surplus in the fight for Social Security will enable America to have a sound Social Security system well into the first century of the new millennium.
The event was simultaneously webcast to more than 40 universities around the country. Other guests included Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.)–representatives from various governmental agencies–public and political organizations as well as White House staff. AADLC members attending the event included Executive Director Alex Sardar–Tamar Kazarian of Racine–Wisc. and Lucy Altounian of Springfield–Va.
The AADLC works with the Democratic National Committee to foster support within the Armenian American community for the Democratic Party and national Democratic office holders–while promoting the election of Armenian American Democrats to political office and encouraging participation by Armenian American Democrats at all levels of the public policy process.
