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PRESS
RELEASE
For Immediate Release ~ June 17, 1998
Contact: Kate Nahapetian
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AADLC CO-SPONSORS "DNC ETHNIC DAY ON CAPITOL HILL"
Armenian American Delegation Urges Vice President Al Gore to Recognize Armenian Genocide
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Falls Church, VA: The Armenian American Democratic Leadership Council (AADLC) joined with over 200 ethnic American Democratic Party leaders, representing more than fifteen Democratic ethnic groups, on June 10th in a day-long series of briefings and meetings with Vice President Gore and senior Democratic officials to address the concerns of ethnic constituencies and expand their participation at all levels of the public policy process.
The day culminated in a meeting with the Vice President, during which AADLC representatives discussed the broad-based participation of Armenian Americans in support of the Democratic Party. On behalf of these activists around the nation, the AADLC specifically called upon Vice President Gore to openly and fully recognize the Armenian Genocide.
"The success of Ethnic Day is a tribute to the Democratic Party's fundamental commitment to ethnic diversity and strong communities - enduring values which have attracted Armenians and those of other ethnic backgrounds to the Democratic ticket for more than a century," said AADLC Outreach Coordinator Lucy Keshishian. "We look forward to expanding our partnership with the NDECC to strengthen the Democratic Party by invigorating one of its core constituencies, the tens of millions of Americans with roots in Europe and the Mediterranean region."
The participation of more than a dozen Armenian Americans in the AADLC delegation was made possible through the efforts of Bedros Bandazian of Richmond, Virginia, who was announced publicly and cited in the program's schedule as one of five major sponsors of "DNC Ethnic Day on Capitol Hill." He is a member of the National Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Committee (NDECC) and is a founding member of the AADLC. In the weeks prior to the event, AADLC Executive Director Alex Sardar worked with Tom Albert of the NDECC to ensure the ultimate success of Ethnic Day.
AADLC Consults with Democratic Party Officials on Key Congressional Races:
The first session of the day opened with a moving address by DNC National Chairman Steve Grossman, who emphasized the importance of ethnic communities participating in the American political system. Following his remarks, AADLC members spoke with him about a number of detailed political issues, including the pivotal role of Armenian American votes in key Congressional races this November. Also making presentations in the opening session was DNC Base Vote Director Regena Thomas, who outlined the Democratic Party's outreach mechanisms to core Democratic constituencies. James Zogby of the Arab American Institute, who serves as Co-convener of the NDECC, then led a district-by-district analysis of Congressional races nationwide and the pivotal role that ethnic votes can play in winning these elections for Democratic candidates.
Sarbanes, Torricelli, & Gephardt Lead Outreach Effort to Ethnic Americans:
Following the opening session, AADLC members had an opportunity to meet with various Democratic leaders including Maryland Senator Paul Sarbanes, who has led the effort to maintain the restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan, and Senator Robert Torricelli of New Jersey, a long-time Armenian American issues supporter who now serves as Vice-Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The AADLC delegation also met with House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt and thanked him for attending the Armenian Genocide Commemoration on Capitol Hill in April of this year. Governor of Colorado Roy Romer, the DNC's General Chairman, held a lengthy discussion with Bedros Bandazian, who updated the Governor about AADLC activities within the Democratic Party nationwide.
Hamilton, Kucinich & Kaptur Cite Impact of Ethnic Groups on Foreign Policy:
During the closing session of the day, House International Relations Committee Ranking Democrat Lee Hamilton of Indiana and Ohio Representatives Dennis Kucinich and Marcy Kaptur offered briefings on foreign policy issues currently before the Congress, with special attention to the role that ethnic American communities play in shaping U.S. policy. The workshop concluded with a detailed presentation about the coming Congressional elections by Craig Smith, the Assistant to President Clinton for Public Affairs.
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