Brea, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) held a
productive and positive meeting with the Chairman of the House Foreign
Affairs Committee, Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA), on a wide variety of
topics, including efforts to bring peace and freedom to the
independent Republic of Nagorno Karabagh (Artsakh). The meeting was
held at the Chairman’s district office in Brea, California on August
17, 2016 and included the participation of national, regional and
local ANCA officials. The ANCA has had a long and constructive
relationship with Chairman Royce based on the outstanding work of the
ANCA of Orange County and accompanied the Chairman during his 2014
Congressional Delegation visit to the Republic of Armenia.
“Armenian Americans living in California’s 39th Congressional
District are fortunate to have a senior Member of Congress like Ed
Royce,
ANCA Orange County leader Garo Madenlian, Esq., House Foreign Affairs
Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), ANCA Western Region Chair Nora
Hovsepian, Esq. and ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian
who chairs the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, representing
them in Washington, DC,” expressed ANCA Western Region Chair Nora
Hovsepian, Esq. after meeting with Chairman Royce. “Chairman Royce is
unique because of his total command and understanding of issues
ranging from Artsakh to the Armenian Genocide. We look forward to
continuing our work with Chairman Royce to secure peace and freedom
for Artsakh and to secure justice with respect to the Armenian
Genocide. The ANCA is especially eager to work with Chairman Royce in
the coming days to secure implementation of the Royce-Engel
initiative,” Hovsepian added.
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The meeting with Chairman Royce focused on the pressing need to make
sustained progress on the Royce-Engel initiative launched last year by
the Chairman and the Ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY). The Royce-Engel
initiative, which is strongly backed by the ANCA, includes three
common-sense measures to secure Artsakh peace. 1.) An agreement from
all sides not to deploy snipers, heavy arms, or new weaponry along the
line of contact. 2.) The placement of OSCE-monitored, advanced
gunfire-locator systems and sound-ranging equipment to determine the
source of attacks along the line of contact. 3.) The deployment of
additional OSCE observers along the line of contact to better monitor
cease-fire violations. Armenia and Artsakh have long agreed to all
three measures; Azerbaijan opposes their implementation. The
Royce-Engel proposals, have received the support of over 90 U.S.
Representatives through two Congressional letters sent to the Obama
Administration in November of 2015 and March of 2016.
ANCA leaders also highlighted the reckless nature of the “Madrid
Principles,” which are being discussed in the context of a final
settlement for Artsakh. Originally discussed in 2007 with the
specifics largely kept secret until recently, the “Madrid Principles”
set forth a proposed formula which purportedly calls for Artsakh’s
up-front surrender of 7 regions of its sovereign territory in return
for only a vague promise that Azerbaijan will allow a future
“expression of will” that would determine its status, setting the
stage for continued conflict and increased regional instability. The
ANCA shared with Chairman Royce that the organization considers the
“Madrid Principles” to be reckless, irresponsible and – as noted by
many Members of Congress – not a sound recipe for peace.
Next month, ANCA leaders will join Chairman Royce at the In Defense of
Christians (IDC) national advocacy convention in Washington, DC. The
IDC convention, which is being sponsored by the ANCA, is seeking to
safeguard health and welfare of the remaining Christians in the Middle
East. During the 114th Congress, Chairman Royce was a powerful force
in advancing legislation that led the Obama Administration to label
the crimes against humanity occurring today against Christians,
including Armenians, and other minorities in the Middle East – as a
genocide.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.
Photo caption – ANCA Orange County leader Garo Madenlian, Esq., House
Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), ANCA Western
Region Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq. and ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian