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PRESS
RELEASE
For Immediate Release ~ August 16, 2000
Contact: Asbarez Armenian Daily Newspaper
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Democratic Platform Highlights Expansion of US-Armenia Economic Ties
Platform plank reflects economic priorities outlined in Armenian-American Democratic Leadership Council's testimony to DNC Platform hearing
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Falls Church, VA: The platform adopted today by the Democratic National Committee's Convention in Los Angeles reaffirmed America's long-standing commitment the "security and economic growth of Armenia," and highlighted Vice President Al Gore's ongoing efforts to "intensify economic cooperation between the United States and Armenia."
The Democratic Party platform plank on Armenia reads as follows:
"Remembering the historic suffering of the people of Armenia, and recognizing the need of the modern Armenian state for security and economic growth, Al Gore and the Democratic Party are committed to continuing our efforts to bring a permanent end to tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh, along with the restoration of diplomatic, commercial, and economic ties between Armenia and her neighbors, including Turkey. Al Gore helped bring about a special task force to intensify economic cooperation between the United States and Armenia."
"We welcome the Democratic Party's recognition of the historic and enduring bonds between the American and Armenian peoples," said Armenian Americans for Gore/Lieberman National Chairman Michael Mahdesian. "The Platform's emphasis on Armenia's security and economic growth reflects Vice President Al Gore's long-standing friendship with Armenia, as demonstrated by his leadership in creating the U.S.-Armenia Economic Task Force, which has already begun promoting increased trade, investment, and broad-based economic cooperation."
The Armenian American Democratic Leadership Council (AADLC) contributed to the Democratic Party's platform process by offering testimony at its July 6th platform hearings in St. Louis, Missouri. In its remarks, the AADLC underscored the importance of Vice President's US-Armenia Economic Task Force and outlined the views of Armenian American Democrats on a broad range of foreign policy issues, including Armenian Genocide Recognition; US Aid to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh; Self-Determination for the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, and; the Ban on US Aid to Azerbaijan. On the domestic policy front, the AADLC offered the Platform Committee its views on: Education Policy; Public Safety; Social Security; Healthcare, and; Housing. Armenians Americans for Gore/Lieberman is a project of the Armenian American Democratic Leadership Council, which works with the DNC to foster support within the Armenian American community for the Democratic Party and national Democratic office holders, while promoting the election of Armenian American Democrats to political office and encouraging participation by Armenian American Democrats at all levels of the public policy process.
The Honorary Co-Chairs of Armenian Americans for Gore/Lieberman are Congresswoman Anna Eshoo of California and Dick Harpootlian, the Democratic Party Chairman of South Carolina State. Also serving on the Honorary Committee are California State Senator Jackie Speier, Connecticut State Representative John Geragosian, as well as Massachusetts State Representatives Rachel Kaprielian and Peter Koutoujian. The organization's National Chairman is Michael Mahdesian of Potomac, Maryland. Members of the National Steering Committee include Raffy Ardhaldjian (NY), Sahag Baghdasarian (Calif.), Berge Bulbulian (Calif.), Tom Chaderjian (Ill.), Caro Danielian (Calif.), Aram Kailian (DC), Tamar Kazarian (DC), George Kazazian-Casen (Hawaii), Lucy Keshishian (Va.), Maria Mehranian (Calif.), Kate Nahapetian (Calif.), Richelle Noroyan (Calif.), Sylvia Parsons (Md.), Kyle Tertzag (Mich.), Zaven Sinanian (Calif.), and Hratch Zadoian (NY).
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