Washington, D.C. Aida Dimejian, member of the Board of Directors of the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region, and Andrew Kzirian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region, met with Congresswoman Anna Eshoo and various U.S. Representatives and Senators on a trip to the nation’s capital on February 8-9, 2007. Working out of the Armenian National Committee of America’s national headquarters in Washington, D.C., Dimejian and Kzirian embarked on a two day schedule of meetings with Congressional offices to discuss issues of importance to Armenian American communities in the western United States.

“So far we have 176 cosponsors of H. Res. 106 but that number should be a lot higher – it is up to every Armenian American activist to call upon their Representatives to urge them to sign on to this resolution,” stated Dimejian. During the trip, Dimejian and Kzirian met with Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, who voiced her strong support for the passage of H. Res. 106 in the United States Congress.

H. Res. 106 calls on the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the U.S. record relating to the Armenian Genocide.

“The Armenian Genocide claimed the lives of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children and stands as one of the most tragic chapters in human history,” said Congresswoman Eshoo. “H. Res. 106 is an opportunity for Congress to follow the strong example set by the governments of Canada, France, Russia and others who have properly recognized the Armenian Genocide.”

“We hope to continue our already strong relationship with Congresswoman Eshoo – she stands for justice and is a highly principled leader which all young Americans can look to as an example,” stated Kzirian.

Congresswoman Eshoo has a long record of broad leadership and support for issues of interest to the Armenian American community. As the only U.S. Representative of Armenian descent, and as a member of the Armenian Issues Caucus in Congress, Representative Eshoo plays a key role in the legislative process as it applies to issues of importance to Armenian Americans. She has cosponsored numerous resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide and has participated in several Armenian Genocide commemorations on Capitol Hill. Representative Eshoo, through her strong efforts and principled approach to her representation of the Armenian American community, has continuously earned an A+ ANC Congressional Report rating.

During the trip, Dimejian and Kzirian met with the offices of Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Harry Reid (D-NV), and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and also Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA), Gerald McNerney (D-CA), Gary Miller (R-CA), Howard Berman (D-CA), Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Kenny Marchant (R-TX), Jane Harman (D-CA), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Dean Heller (R-CA), Diane Watson (D-CA), George Miller (D-CA), Harry Mitchell (D-AZ), Brian Bilbray (R-CA) and Adam Smith (D-WA).

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.