WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) played its part this week in the successful start to the Save Darfur Coalitions Million Postcard campaign with remarks by Executive Director Aram Hamparian at the campaign’s national launch.

The aim of the campaign, supported by a broad range of human rights, ethnic, advocacy, and faith-based partners, is to ensure that the two Presidential candidates, John McCain (R) and Barack Obama (D), honor their joint pledge to demonstrate “unstinting resolve,” once in office, to end the genocide taking place in the Darfur region of Sudan.

The Washington, DC program opened with a prayer by noted Reverend Kim Barnes, and featured welcoming remarks by Save Darfur President Jerry Fowler, and moving speeches by Save Darfur Chairwoman Rev. Gloria White Hammond, and prominent radio and television personality Joe Madison. Hamparian closed the event with remarks about the moral imperative of ensuring U.S. leadership in ending the cycle of genocide (full text is provided below). Also in attendance were key coalition partners, including the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Investors Against Genocide, Genocide Intervention Network, Africa Action, Armenian Assembly, and B’nai B’rith International.

To learn more about the Million Postcard campaign, visit:
http://www.savedarfur.org[site retired]

To request postcards, write to: anca@anca.org

Save Darfur is an alliance of over 180 faith-based, advocacy and humanitarian organizations. The Coalition’s member organizations represent 130 million people of all ages, races, religions and political affiliations united together to help the people of Darfur.

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ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian’s remarks
Save Darfur Coalition – Million Postcard Launch
Washington, DC

September 9, 2008

Pride, Sadness, and Hope.

I’m proud today that Armenians, as descendents of genocide survivors, can give back in this small way – helping to ensure that the terrible lessons of our experience can in some way ensure that such horrors are not again visited upon others.

Saddened that – with such broad-based efforts, with such tremendous public awareness – we are still witnessing ongoing slaughter in Sudan – without, as has been the case for more than a century – any meaningful intervention by the United States or the international community.

Hopeful because this campaign – at this vital moment on the eve of the presidential elections – leverages Save Darfur’s tremendous work to get the noble cause of ending this genocide high on the agenda of the next President from day one.

Hopeful that we can help reshape how American foreign policy views genocide and – more broadly – our sacred role and our moral responsibility as our brother’s keeper.

Hopeful that we will, as a nation, begin to measures our strength not just in bullets, or barrels of oils, or bases, but in lives saved and suffering alleviated.

Hopeful that we bring our policies in line with our principles.

Because a Darfur policy that reflects the enduring values of the American people – not short-term, narrow interests in Washington – will be a policy that truly:

— Protects civilians

— Works for a sustainable peace

— and demands true justice & accountability

This is our chance. Now is our moment.

To show that ending genocide is not simply a moral issue or even simply a foreign policy issue – but an electoral issue.

— An issue with a constituency,

— A cause with a base,

— A policy that matters to voters and that will impact outcomes on November 4th.

Thank you.