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December 23, 2001
Bay Area Armenian, Greek,
Serb Communities Host Rep. Barbara Lee
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(L to R) ANC-SF member Ani Baghdassarian,
Rep. Barbara Lee, and ANC-SF members Ara Makasdjian
and Haig
Baghdassarian |
Oakland, CA,
Dec. 2, 2001 - Representatives of the Armenian National Committee joined others
from the Armenian, Greek, and Serbian communities to express support for Oakland
Congresswoman Barbara Lee on Sunday, December 2.
The reception was hosted by Dr. and Mrs. Karl Konstanin in their Oakland
home.
Rep. Lee gave
assurances to representatives of the three communities that she would continue
to support their issues in Washington. As
a member of the House Committee on International Relations, Lee has raised
issues of concern to the Armenian-American community, as they arise in hearings
and meetings of the committee.
Recently, she
has attracted a great deal of publicity as a result of her lone vote against
granting President Bush broad use of force powers in response to the September
11th attacks. Community representatives who were in attendance
commended the courage which she has exhibited in maintaining her position.
ANC
representatives Ara Makasdjian, Ani Boghigian Baghdassarian, Haig Baghdassarian
reiterated the Armenian community's concern with respect to the likely waiver of
Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. Lee
expressed her deep disappointment that there is a potential for U.S. aid to
Azerbaijan to be used for military purposes in the conflict over
Nagorno-Karabagh. She indicated that although a battle may have been lost, she
would continue to fight for Armenia. Rep.
Lee also expressed her commitment towards achieving recognition of the Armenian
Genocide by the U.S. and Turkish governments.
Rep.
Lee joined the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues earlier this year, and
pledged that she intends to visit Armenia soon, hopefully during the summer of
2002. |
