Rep. Schiff discusses Armenian community issues at ANCA gatheringMay 12, 2012 - 11:35 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and a host of state and local legislators and their staff joined over 300 Armenian American community members from throughout the area to celebrate ANCA Burbank successes and recommit to expanding the role of the local ANCA in all aspects of civic and community life. Rep. Schiff, a favorite with the local Armenian American community for his leadership on efforts to secure Congressional affirmation of the Armenian Genocide and promote high levels of U.S. aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, was eloquent in his remarks detailing Congressional efforts to address the difficult economic times facing the nation. He then outlined a series of Congressional initiatives and strategies addressing U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, and the December, 2011, passage of House legislation, H. Res. 306 which calls on Turkey to return the thousands of confiscated Christian churches to the Armenian, Greek, Assyrian and Aramean (Syriac) communities. On the foreign aid front, Rep. Schiff discussed an expanded focus on U.S. assistance to the Armenian community in the Republic of Georgia, citing his recent discussion of the plight of the Samtskhe-Javakheti Armenian populations with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. Rep. Schiff spoke of the important and effective role groups like the ANCA play in Burbank’s civic life. “Through your grassroots activism, we have made great progress on issues, and we have a lot more work to do. But without an incredible ANCA staff in Washington, and incredible ANCA organizations throughout the Western Region and around the country, all we have accomplished would have been absolutely impossible,” explained Rep. Schiff. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenian government besieged by protesters Protesters led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan poured into Yerevan’s Republic Square to try to surround the seat of Armenia’s government. Armenia, Russia agree on repairing railway destroyed in floods Yerevan and Moscow have agreed to repair a flood-stricken railway in northern Armenia. EU calls on Azerbaijan to release all political prisoners The European Union calls on Azerbaijan to release all those imprisoned for exercising their fundamental rights. |