Note: The following text was submitted by the AADLC to the Democratic National Convention.

Armenian American Democratic Leadership Council Testimony to the 2000 Democratic National Convention Platform Committee
Submitted July 6, 2000

The Armenian American Democratic Leadership Council (AADLC) appreciates this opportunity to have input in the formulation of the Democratic Party's national platform for the 2000 general elections. The Democratic Party continues to serve as a home for all Americans who share the values of freedom, justice and opportunity for all, and today's testimony process is a clear demonstration of that.

The AADLC, as the only national Democratic organization in the Armenian American community, looks forward to mobilizing our community in taking back the House in November 2000, in addition to working with a Democratic Administration in furthering the principles of our Party and the issues of concern to the Armenian American community.

The AADLC's breadth of activity and concern spans the domestic and foreign policy areas, representing thousands of Armenian Americans' interest in the electoral process. Below is an outline of these issues of concern.

Foreign Policy/Armenian American Issues:

Armenian Genocide Recognition/Commemoration

Ottoman Turkey's deliberate plan to annihilate the Armenian people from its historic homeland of more than 3000 years, and the ensuing massacres and deportations of the Armenians of Western Armenia, constituted the first genocide of the 20th century. A majority of Armenian Americans today are direct descendants of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide. The AADLC believes that Congress should pass appropriate legislation commemorating the Armenian Genocide, while condemning Turkey's inhumane campaign of denial of this crime against humanity. At the same time, a Democratic Administration should clearly condemn the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide, calling on Turkey to come to terms with this chapter in its history.

US Aid to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh

AADLC supports the continued passage of legislation providing assistance to the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, to help these two democratic countries deal with the paralyzing effects of blockades imposed on them by Turkey and Azerbaijan. Congress and a Democratic Administration should ensure the timely delivery of any and all aid appropriated to Armenian and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Self-Determination for the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh

After living in constant persecution and fear for 70 years, as a result of arbitrary redrawing of the regional map by Stalin, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh were able to gain their independence defending themselves against Azerbaijani aggression. As such, a democratic and freely elected government exists today in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the AADLC strongly supports the self-determination rights of Nagorno-Karabakh, and finds that the Democratic Party is equipped with the moral and popular mandate to support freedom and self-government in Nagorno-Karabakh through legislation and initiatives aimed at strengthening democracy building processes.

Ban on US Aid to Azerbaijan

Under Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, certain types of US government to government assistance to the Republic of Azerbaijan is prohibited based on that country's aggression and its continuing blockade of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Congress and a Democratic Administration should continue to maintain this ban on aid to Azerbaijan, as long as it refuses to comply with the conditions set forth in the law.

Domestic Policy:

Education

With education as the backbone of a prosperous and progressive America in the 21st Century, the AADLC places great importance on strengthening the public education system in the United States, while ensuring that every individual living in the US is given a fair and equal opportunity to attain a quality K-12, as well as a college education. It is our belief that both secondary and higher education must be affordable and accessible to all individuals, regardless of socio-economic status. In addition, the AADLC believes in the maintenance of academic integrity in American colleges and universities, particularly ones financed with public funds, in order for quality education to be free of any political or social pressures, agendas or other inappropriate intentions.

Public Safety

Community safety is a primary concern to all Americans, and as such the AADLC places great emphasis on the creation and funding of programs dealing with gang and youth violence, law enforcement programs, as well as community-based mentorship and activity projects, aimed at involving young Americans in the shaping of a safe 21st Century. In addition, the AADLC would like to see the strengthening of hate-crime laws to include the appropriate prosecution of hate crimes committed against individuals and groups of European/Mediterranean ethnic backgrounds. An expansion in the definition of hate crimes should also be considered, taking into account the denial of various groups' histories, such as the denial of the Armenian Genocide by the Turkish government.

Social Security

The strengthening of the Social Security system is a high priority for the AADLC, in that the principles guiding the system today are those, upon which the Democratic Party has built its base, comprised of hard-working Americans. The Social Security system must be bolstered and sustained with the distinct goal of serving those Americans who will rely on the system to support themselves in the post-retirement years of their lives.

Healthcare

No American should ever be without healthcare; but unfortunately, millions of Americans today, so many of them children, go through life with great uncertainty, not knowing how they will survive an accident or any illness. With this in mind, the AADLC believes in a healthcare system, where the primary consideration is the health of patients, and not administrative costs and profit margins. All Americans must have access to an affordable healthcare provider for their basic needs, with the comfort of knowing that each physician is first and foremost concerned with the patient's needs, and not a pre-determined cost quota.

Housing

Affordable, senior citizen and low-income housing is an issue that touches each and every community in the United States. Nowhere is the issue of housing more pronounced than in communities with new immigrants, where the need for affordable housing, while first beginning a life in the US, carries great urgency. Therefore, more funding and more programs are needed to address this serious concern in the United States.

The Armenian American Democratic Leadership Council would like to thank the DNC Convention Platform Committee for your consideration of our testimony, as we, together, work toward a Democratic victory in November and beyond.