Press Room

(10/30/08) Washington, DC: ARMENPAC Co-Chairs Edgar Hagopian and Annie Totah urge Armenian Americans to exercise their right to vote this November 4th by casting a vote for the Obama-Biden ticket.

While many in the community are rightly skeptical about promises made during the campaign season, only to see them broken later, and while it is true that neither Presidential candidate has cosponsored the Armenian Genocide resolution, S.Res.106 or legislation (S.Res.65) honoring the legacy of Hrant Dink, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) has consistently made numerous statements affirming the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide.

On this day, September 21, Armenians and friends of Armenia everywhere celebrate the independence of the Republic of Armenia, and I extend my warmest and best wishes on this happy occasion. Throughout their long history, a spirit of independence, self-reliance, and survival defines the Armenian people. After centuries of living in the Persian, Russian, and Turkish empires, Armenians first achieved their modern independence in 1918 and regained it after 70 years of Soviet rule in 1991. Their struggle continues, but in the years of renewed independence they have been able to guide their own destiny through years of war and economic dislocation. Even in the face of genocide, the pain of the past has not defeated the Armenians, either in Armenia or the far-flung diaspora.

(9/11/08) IRVING, TX – Earlier this summer, ARMENPAC, The Armenian-American Political Action Committee, issued its 2008 Congressional Candidate Questionnaire to educate every candidate seeking election to the United States Congress on Armenian-American issues, and apprise Armenian-American voters of their candidates’ positions for their consideration before Election Day on November 4, 2008.

“ARMENPAC implemented this daunting research project not just to educate the Armenian-American community, but to also educate the candidates on our issues that they will face if elected to Congress,” said ARMENPAC Co-Chairs Annie Totah and Edgar Hagopian. “By beginning dialogues and building relationships with Congressional hopefuls early on, ARMENPAC is cultivating a bipartisan majority in support of Armenian-American issues.”

(6/18/08) Washington, DC - In its ongoing efforts to broaden the base of support for Armenian issues, ARMENPAC Co-Chair Annie Totah and Executive Director Jason Capizzi recently crisscrossed Capitol Hill in a bipartisan fashion to educate new friends on Armenian-American issues by attending the Jewish Historical Society’s annual gala as well as a reception in honor of Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA), a loyal and committed friend of Armenians.

(4/30/08) IRVING, TEXAS - Armenian American organizations, activists and friends capped off a busy week that included an Armenian Genocide Commemoration event on Capitol Hill, some powerful remarks from prominent federal legislators, several state legislative recognition efforts and many ceremonies throughout the country that remembered the state sponsored systematic massacre of 1.5 million Armenians.