Armenian National Committee of America

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

History

The ANCA is an outgrowth of the American Committee for the Independence of Armenia (ACIA) which founded after World War I by Vahan Cardashian, the former Consul of the Ottoman Empire in Washington. Many prominent American and Allied leaders including James W. Gerard, the U.S. Ambassador to Germany, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Charles Evans Hughes (later appointed Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court), Elihu Root and others participated to this organization. The goal of ACIA was the independent Wilsonian Armenia. The ACIA had a Central Office in New York City and 23 regional offices in 13 states.

Later, these offices gradually evolved into the Armenian National Committee of America, which expanded its activities to include public relations efforts to acquaint local communities about Armenian issues including the Armenian Genocide and Armenian National aspirations. Other activities included April 24th commemoration activities, public forums, voter registration efforts, support for local and state political candidates, and updating the local community o­n Armenian issues.

Current activities

The ANCA is active in different areas of political and educational activities, including:
*initiating the legislation on issues of concern to the Armenian American community, such as strengthening Armenia as a secure, prosperous and democratic state; supporting Nagorno Karabakh's right to self-determination and independence within secure borders; etc.
*participation in the American electoral process at the federal, state, and local levels by educating elected officials about Armenian American issues and providing Armenian American voters with up-to-date information about the positions of candidates on Armenian American concerns.
*publication of congressional testimony, position papers, press releases, fact sheets, and regional newsletters.

Beyond the national headquarters of the ANCA which are located in Washington, there are two regional offices in New York City and Los Angeles, and more than fifty local chapters and thousands of activists [ [http://groong.usc.edu/ADconf/199909/speeches/anca.html ANN/Groong - DiasporaConf99: ANCA's Address ] ] , it is cooperating with a large web of regional Armenian National Committees (or "Armenian Cause/Hay Tad" Offices) in Armenia, Russia, France, the Middle East, Canada and Australia.

Since the early 1990's, the ANCA has defended Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, restricting aid to the government of Azerbaijan.

The ANCA was among the major organizations backing US House Resolution 106 which called for the United States to recognize the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire during World War I.

The Chairman of ANCA is Ken Hachikian, and the Executive Director is Aram Hamparian. Other employees include: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian, Communications Director; Kate Nahapetian, Esq., Government Affairs Director; Raffi N. Karakashian, Esq., Legislative Affairs Director; Christopher Hekimian, Chief Financial Officer; and Serouj Aprahamian, Capital Gateway Program Director.

ee also

*Armenian Youth Federation

External links

* [http://www.anca.org/ Armenian National Committee of America website.]
* [http://www.ancfresno.org/ ANC of Central California Official site]
* [http://www.armeniantimes.eu/index.php?q=node/267 An interview with ANCA executive director Aram Hamparian ]

References