Anca Honors Senator Menendez

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SENATOR ROBERT MENENDEZ HONORED AS ANC-NJ MAN OF THE YEAR


Garden State Armenians Thank Senator for Blocking the Hoagland Nomination

RIDGEFIELD, NJ - More than two hundred supporters of the Armenian National Committee of New Jersey (ANC-NJ) were on hand this weekend for the granting of the grassroots organization's prestigious Man of the Year award to U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ).

The ceremony took place on Sunday, February 11, 2007 at the Rockleigh Country Club in Rockleigh, New Jersey. The elegant program was attended by a cross-section of Armenian American leaders from the New York metropolitan area, Church leaders representing Armenian Apostolic, Evangelical, and Catholic communities, and, from the Republic of Armenia, a very special guest, the Honorable Vahan Hovhannisyan, Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament.

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian introduced the Senator, noting his long history of support for the democratic aspirations of the Garden State's Armenian community. Hamparian reviewed the Senator's strong support for expanded U.S.-Armenia ties, his devotion to the proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide, his energetic protests of the unfair firing of the former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, for speaking truthfully about this crime, and - most recently - the Senatorial "hold" he has placed on the President's new nominee for this post, Dick Hoagland, over his denial of this crime against humanity. To thunderous applause and an extended standing ovation, ANC-NJ chairperson Ani Tchaghlasian invited Senator Menendez to accept his award.

In accepting the award, Sen. Menendez offered heartfelt remarks, stating that, "despite denials by the Turkish Government, despite the current Administration's position, we know, we know, the atrocities committed between 1915 and 1923 constitute genocide." Noting that countless historians had characterized the events of 1915 to 1923 as genocide, he reminded those gathered of his unwavering support for truth and justice.

"When I saw what happened to the previous Ambassador, and when I saw what Ambassador Hoagland referred to in his proceedings, I was glad to have arrived in the United States Senate in time to send a very clear message, and use my power as an individual Senator of the United States to put a hold on his nomination. I will continue that hold on his re-nomination." Interrupted repeatedly by applause, the Senator concluded his powerful remarks by thanking his supporters, in particular the Armenian National Committee of New Jersey.

The Armenian National Committee of America 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.