Sen. Kerry Thanks ANCA Supporters for Sponsoring Major Campaign
Fundraiser
DISCUSSES SUPPORT FOR ARMENIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
WITH ANCA LEADERS
LOS ANGELES—Democratic Presidential
candidate John Kerry thanked Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) Chairman Ken Hachikian, and other leaders and supporters
of the ANCA, who participated as sponsors in a major Beverly Hills
campaign fundraiser that brought an estimated $3 million dollars
into the Kerry campaign.
During a private reception, Hachikian spoke
with the Massachusetts Senator, who noted his long-time support
for Armenian American issues and his close relationship with the
Massachusetts Armenian community. He recalled the 1990 bipartisan
Senate battle to adopt the Armenian Genocide resolution, led by
Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, noting his commitment to the passage
of that and subsequent legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
The 1990 bill was defeated with a filibuster by Sen. Robert Byrd
(D-WV), an outspoken advocate in the Senate of Turkish Government
interests. In a September, 2003, meeting with ANCA Western Region
Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian and community activist Mihran
Toumajan, Sen. Kerry commented on the 1990 Genocide recognition
effort, stating "I was incensed when the Turkish lobby and
its allies disrupted the bill in the Senate... It is called justice,
and we will get there together."
Former Clinton Administration official and leading
community activist Mike Mahdesian, who took part in the event, commented
on the key role of Armenian Americans in the upcoming presidential
race, noting the community presence and activism in key swing states
around the country. "This was a great opportunity to speak
to Senator Kerry and build on his strong twenty-year relationship
with the Armenian American community," commented Mahdesian
following the function. "Senator Kerry spoke highly of the
efforts of the Armenian National Committee and looks forward to
working closely with the Armenian American community on the road
to victory in November." Mahdesian served for more than seven
years as Deputy for the Bureau of Humanitarian Response at the State
Department and US Agency for International Development. During this
period, he was integrally involved in the US response to crises
in Haiti, Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo, Indonesia, and other trouble spots
around the world.
A leading group of Armenian American activists
joined Hachikian and Mahdesian at the gala event, including ANCA
Western Region Chairman Raffi Hamparian, Board Members Aida Dimejian
and Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian, Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian,
United Armenia Fund Executive Director Harout Sassounian, as well
as several other long-time ANC supporters.
The March 30 event was held at the home of noted
Los Angeles businessman Ron Burkle and featured a concert by James
Taylor. Among the notable Hollywood stars present at the event were
Barbra Streisand, Danny DeVito, Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt, Michael
Keaton, Jason Alexander, Lucy Liu, Sharon Stone, Leonardo DiCaprio,
Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Christina Applegate, Oliver Stone,
Dustin Hoffman and Angelica Huston.
Senator Kerry, during his long tenure in the
US House and Senate, has consistently been a leading advocate of
issues of concern to Armenian Americans. As a US Senator, Kerry
has forcefully fought for US recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
He is currently a cosponsor of the Genocide Resolution, S.Res.164,
and he voted, in 1990, on the Senate floor for Senator Bob Dole's
(R-KS) Genocide Resolution.
The Massachusetts Senator has been a vocal and
effective champion of stronger US-Armenia relations and has consistently
backed legislative initiative to increase aid and expand trade with
Armenia. He is currently a cosponsor of legislation, S.1557, which
would grant Armenia permanent normal trade relations status.
Senator Kerry has spearheaded a number of initiatives
to lift the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades. In 1991, he was the
lead sponsor of legislation, which was later enacted as Section
907 of the Freedom Support Act that restricted US aid to the government
of Azerbaijan until it lifted its blockades of Armenia and Nagorno
Karabagh. He also worked for the adoption of the Humanitarian Aid
Corridor Act, which called for US aid to Turkey to be cut off unless
Turkey lifted its blockade of Armenia. As recently as this January,
Senator Kerry formally called on President Bush to press the visiting
Prime Minister of Turkey to lift his nation's illegal blockade of
Armenia.
First elected in 1984 from Massachusetts, Sen.
Kerry is currently serving a fourth term in the US Senate, where
he represents one of the largest Armenian American communities.
He serves on the Senate Finance Committee, the Committee on Commerce,
Science and Transportation, the Committee on Foreign Relations,
and the Subcommittee on Central Asia and South Caucasus.
The ANCA recently released its Armenian American
Presidential Report Card, which gave the Bush Administration generally
low marks on fifteen issues of special concern to Armenian American
voters.
For the latest news on Armenian American
issues, visit Asbarez.com
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