LOS ANGELES–Members of the Armenian National Committee – Political Action Committee (ANC-PAC) met with Congressman Thaddeus McCotter in Los Angeles, California to discuss foreign policy issues important to the Armenian American community.
The centerpiece of the discussion was the Turkish-Armenian protocols, Armenian Genocide recognition and President Obama’s failure to honor the memories of the victims of the Genocide. The meeting took place hours after the protocols were signed in Zurich, Switzerland. The signing was delayed at first, but according to press reports, all concerns were silenced with the assistance of the United States and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The meeting was conducted at the request of the Michigan Congressman who was in Los Angeles and wanted to meet with the Armenian American community.
“Despite campaign promises to officially recognize the Genocide, the Administration has failed to deliver on its commitment,” said McCotter. “Further, this Administration has worked with Turkey in pressuring Armenia into accepting an allegedly neutral historical commission to determine the facts surrounding the Armenian Genocide. Importantly, the United States should never support efforts to question the veracity of the Armenian Genocide, a crime that U.S. diplomats risked their lives to document.”
“Turkey must end its blockade of Armenia without imposing preconditions and end its genocide denial campaign,” continued McCotter. “To demonstrate its good intentions, Turkey should refrain from issuing official statements which attempt to link the settlement of the Azerbaijan/Nagorno Karabakh conflict to diplomatic normalization with Armenia.”
“Congressman McCotter was deeply knowledgeable about foreign policy, the Caucuses region and Armenia in general. We are encouraged with the Congressman’s position in the Republican leadership and his vocal support for our community” said ANC-PAC board member Kris Demirjian. “The fact that Congressman McCotter took an hour and a half from his busy schedule during his short trip to Los Angeles to meet with us shows us his commitment to being a vocal advocate of issues of concern to the Armenian American community” added Demirjian.
Rep. McCotter has been a strong supporter and vocal on Armenian issues. He has been a Member of the Armenian Caucus since his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002. He is currently a co-sponsor of H. Res 252- Affirmation of the U.S. Record on the Armenian Genocide Resolution. Recently, in the 110th Congress, he co-sponsored H. Res. 106- the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H. Res. 102- Condemning the Assassination of Hrant Dink and H.R 6079- End the Turkish Blockade of Armenia Act. Rep. McCotter consistently participates in the Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide Observations in April. He currently serves on the Republican House Policy Committee, a leadership position once held by former President Gerald Ford.
The ANC-PAC is a non-partisan federally registered political action committee established to support campaign committees for Members of Congress who share the values of the Armenian American community. The ANC-PAC is at the forefront of efforts to ensure that the voice of the Armenian American community is clearly heard in our nation’s capital. The ANC-PAC continues a century old tradition of Armenian American engagement on the public policy issues facing national political leaders, both in the U.S. Congress and the White House. For more information, you may logon to www.ancpac.org.
