Armenian National Committee of America
Encyclopedia
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenia
n America
n grassroots organization
. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States
and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
by Vahan Kardashian, the former Consul of the Ottoman Empire
in Washington. Many prominent American and Allied leaders including James W. Gerard, the U.S. Ambassador to Germany
, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
, Charles Evans Hughes
(later appointed Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court), Elihu Root
and others participated to this organization. The goal of ACIA was the independent Wilsonian Armenia
. The ACIA had a Central Office in New York City
and 23 regional offices in 13 states.
Later, these offices gradually evolved into the Armenian National Committee of America, which expanded its activities to include public relations efforts to acquaint local communities about Armenian issues including the Armenian Genocide
and Armenian National aspirations. Other activities included April 24th commemoration activities, public forums, voter registration efforts, support for local and state political candidates, and updating the local community on Armenian issues.
Beyond the national headquarters of the ANCA which are located in Washington, there are two regional offices in New York City
and Los Angeles
, and more than fifty local chapters and thousands of activists, it is cooperating with a large web of regional Armenian National Committees (or Armenian Cause/Hay Tad Offices) in Armenia
, Russia
, France
, the Middle East
, Canada
and Australia
.
Since the early 1990s, the ANCA has defended Section 907
of the Freedom Support Act
, restricting aid to the government of Azerbaijan
.
The ANCA was among the major organizations backing US House Resolution 106 which called for the United States to recognize the Armenian Genocide
committed by the Ottoman Empire
during World War I
.
The Chairman of ANCA is Ken Hachikian
, and the Executive Director is Aram Hamparian
. Other employees include: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian, Communications Director; Kate Nahapetian, Esq., Government Affairs Director; Raffi N. Karakashian, Esq., Legislative Affairs Director; Christopher Hekimian, Chief Financial Officer; and Serouj Aprahamian, Capital Gateway Program Director.
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
n grassroots organization
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
History
The ANCA is an outgrowth of the American Committee for the Independence of Armenia (ACIA) which was founded after World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
by Vahan Kardashian, the former Consul of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in Washington. Many prominent American and Allied leaders including James W. Gerard, the U.S. Ambassador to Germany
United States Ambassador to Germany
The United States has had diplomatic relations with the nation of Germany and its predecessor nation, the Kingdom of Prussia, since 1835. These relations were broken twice while Germany and the United States were at war...
, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
Henry Cabot Lodge
Henry Cabot "Slim" Lodge was an American Republican Senator and historian from Massachusetts. He had the role of Senate Majority leader. He is best known for his positions on Meek policy, especially his battle with President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 over the Treaty of Versailles...
, Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes, Sr. was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican politician from New York. He served as the 36th Governor of New York , Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States , United States Secretary of State , a judge on the Court of International Justice , and...
(later appointed Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court), Elihu Root
Elihu Root
Elihu Root was an American lawyer and statesman and the 1912 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He was the prototype of the 20th century "wise man", who shuttled between high-level government positions in Washington, D.C...
and others participated to this organization. The goal of ACIA was the independent Wilsonian Armenia
Wilsonian Armenia
Wilsonian Armenia refers to the boundary configuration of the Armenian state in the Treaty of Sèvres, drawn by US President Woodrow Wilson State Department. The Treaty of Sèvres was a peace treaty that had been drafted and signed between the Western Allied Powers and the defeated government of the...
. The ACIA had a Central Office in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and 23 regional offices in 13 states.
Later, these offices gradually evolved into the Armenian National Committee of America, which expanded its activities to include public relations efforts to acquaint local communities about Armenian issues including the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
and Armenian National aspirations. Other activities included April 24th commemoration activities, public forums, voter registration efforts, support for local and state political candidates, and updating the local community on Armenian issues.
Structure
ANCA has main regional offices in the Eastern and Western regions of the USA. Steve Mesrobian is the chairman for the Eastern region, and Aida Dimejian is the chairman for the Western region. They are also ANCA National Board Members.Current activities
The ANCA is active in different areas of political and educational activities, including:- initiating the legislation on issues of concern to the Armenian American community, such as strengthening Armenia as a secure, prosperous and democratic state; supporting Nagorno Karabakh's right to self-determination and independence within secure borders; etc.
- participation in the American electoral process at the federal, state, and local levels by educating elected officials about Armenian American issues and providing Armenian American voters with up-to-date information about the positions of candidates on Armenian American concerns.
- publication of congressional testimony, position papers, press releases, fact sheets, and regional newsletters.
Beyond the national headquarters of the ANCA which are located in Washington, there are two regional offices in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and more than fifty local chapters and thousands of activists, it is cooperating with a large web of regional Armenian National Committees (or Armenian Cause/Hay Tad Offices) in Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Since the early 1990s, the ANCA has defended Section 907
Section 907
Section 907 of the United States Freedom Support Act bans any kind of direct United States aid to the Azerbaijani government. This ban makes Azerbaijan the only exception to the countries of the former Soviet Union, to receive direct aid from United States government under the Freedom Support Act...
of the Freedom Support Act
Freedom Support Act
The FREEDOM Support Act of 1992 is an act passed by the United States Congress. It is not to be confused with the Iran Freedom and Support Act of 2005 ....
, restricting aid to the government of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
.
The ANCA was among the major organizations backing US House Resolution 106 which called for the United States to recognize the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
committed by the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
The Chairman of ANCA is Ken Hachikian
Ken Hachikian
Ken Hachikian is an Armenian-American economist and public activist, the chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America since 2000.He received his BA in Economics and MBA from Harvard University...
, and the Executive Director is Aram Hamparian
Aram Hamparian
-External links:*****...
. Other employees include: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian, Communications Director; Kate Nahapetian, Esq., Government Affairs Director; Raffi N. Karakashian, Esq., Legislative Affairs Director; Christopher Hekimian, Chief Financial Officer; and Serouj Aprahamian, Capital Gateway Program Director.