— “Tossing Christians under the bus is not a strategy,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian, at “In Defense of Christians” Press Conference Launching its 2016 Advocacy Convention
WASHINGTON, DC – Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram Hamparian slammed U.S. policy on Middle East Christians as shortsighted, irresponsible and reckless, calling for a new strategy based on fundamental American values, at the opening press conference of the 2016 In Defense of Christians (IDC) National Advocacy Convention.
“Sadly, in place of a truly American approach, successive U.S. Administrations have pursued policies imposed by foreign interests; allowed vetoes exercised by corrupt dictators; even enforced gag-rules silencing our moral voice as a nation,” said Hamparian. He went to offer three Armenian examples of failed U.S. policies, including “U.S. complicity in Turkey’s obstruction of justice for the Armenian Genocide; a U.S. green light on Turkey’s destabilizing offensives into northern Syria; and U.S. backing for a ‘peace plan’ that would force Christian Nagorno Karabakh under the rule of an Azerbaijani dictatorship.”
Hamparian then praised In Defense of Christians for its progress “against influential interests and the institutional inertia of more than a century of inaction,” citing the unanimous passage of H.Con.Res. 75, spearheaded by Representatives Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA), which condemned ISIS actions against Christians and minorities as ‘genocide’; a joint Knights of Columbus / IDC report detailing the genocidal campaign against Christians and other minorities in the Middle East; and the ongoing advocacy efforts defending the rights and safety of Christian communities in the region.
He went on to share the ANCA’s support for the policy recommendations being advanced during the IDC convention:
— Securing a truthful and just international resolution to Turkey’s still unpunished crime of genocide against Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks and other Christians through passage of H.Res.154.
— Establishing a province for the indigenous Christians (Assyrian, Chaldean and Syriac) and other peoples of the Nineveh Plain region.
— Generating U.S. support for security and stability in Lebanon and relief from the Syrian refugee crisis (including those who have reached Armenia).
— Encouraging reform of the legal regulations regarding the rebuilding and construction of churches in Egypt.
“These issues are all tied to one another,” explained Hamparian. “Progress on one reinforces progress on all. Justice for one represents a step toward justice for all.”
The complete text of Hamparian’s remarks are provided below.
The two-hour IDC press conference highlighted insights by Representative David Trott (R-MI); Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, former Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF); Robert Nicholson, Executive Director of the Philos Project; Alexis Moukarzel, former Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of the Holy Spirit in Kaslik, Lebanon; Andrew Doran, journalist and expert on religious persecution in the Middle East; and IDC Executive Director Kirsten Evans.
A complete overview of the press conference was released by In Defense of Christians and is available here: http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=00abc15267b1d0ce962b0c318&id=35e69809b1&e=1f12697960
Video of the complete press conference will be available shortly on the ANCA YouTube Channel.
On Wednesday evening, IDC Convention participants gathered at the historic Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Washington, DC for an ecumenical prayer service for Christians in the Middle East. Celebrants included Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Christophe Pierre, His Eminence Oshagan Choloyan, Archbishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Most Reverend Gregory Mansour and the Most Reverend Abdallah Elias Zaidan, both Bishops of the Maronite Catholic Church, the Reverend Canon Alistair MacDonald-Radcliff of the Anglican Church, the Very Reverend Father Gabriel Adde of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch, the Very Reverend Archdeacon William Toma of the Assyrian Church of the East, the Reverend Andre-Sebastian Mahanna of the Maronite Catholic Church and the Very Reverend Father Joseph Rahal of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church.
The conference will continue on Thursday with a National Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill, where participants will meet with Members of Congress to highlight the plight of Christians and other minorities across the Middle East. That evening, a formal dinner will be held at the Capitol Hill Club that will feature addresses from senior federal policymakers. The last day of the conference (September 9) will feature a policy and awareness symposium at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, followed that evening by the premiere of the movie “Our Last Stand” – a documentary on the plight of Christian communities in Syria and Iraq.
The complete schedule and listing of all speakers is available at: http://nac2016.org/schedule/
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Text of ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian’s Remarks at the IDC 2016 National Convention Press Conference
We are here today asking for nothing more than an American policy on Christians in the Middle East.
— A strategy consistent with American values – first and foremost religious freedom.
— An approach aligned with core U.S. interests – regional stability and open societies.
— And policies responsive to our nation’s citizens – including all of us here today.
Sadly, in place of an American approach, our own leaders, successive U.S. Administrations have:
— Pursued policies imposed by foreign interests.
— Allowed vetoes exercised by corrupt dictators.
— Even enforced gag-rules silencing our moral voice as a nation.
Examples that that speak directly to Armenians include:
— U.S. complicity in Turkey’s obstruction of justice for the Armenian Genocide.
— A U.S. green light on Turkey’s destabilizing offensives into northern Syria.
— U.S. backing for a “peace plan” that would force Christian Nagorno Karabakh under the rule of an Azerbaijani dictatorship.
Irresponsible policies, all too often enforced by U.S. government officials, based on narrow, short-sighted political considerations.
— Based on fear, not hope.
— Appeasement not engagement.
Reckless policies based on the false hope that just one more concession to the forces of intolerance, and this region will finally turn the corner.
It’s a lie. Always has been.
Let’s be clear:
— Tossing Christians under the bus is not a strategy.
— Betraying religious minorities is not an American value.
— And abandoning an entire region to intolerance is not a U.S. interest.
There is a better way.
And it begins with rejecting the false choice between our values and our interests
That is why we are here.
Why we support In Defense of Christians.
Why we are so pleased to join with all our coalition partners in charting a more sound – a more sustainable – American approach to Christians in the Middle East.
We can all be proud of IDC’s progress – against influential interests and the institutional inertia of more than a century of inaction:
— The passage of H.Con.Res.75 and S.Res.340, recognizing the ISIS Genocide against Christians and other religious minorities. Special thanks to Reps. Fortenberry and Eshoo, Senators Cassidy and Kirk, and so many others for this watershed victory.
— IDC’s ground-breaking report – compiled with the support of the Knights of Columbus – that led to the Administration’s official recognition of this crime.
— And sustained efforts – unprecedented advocacy – shining the spotlight of public scrutiny on any elected official, diplomat or bureaucrat who might try to barter away the rights or welfare of Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Armenians, Copts, Kurds, Yezidis, or far too many others.
This progress has been the result of vision, hard work, and a laser-like focus on smart solutions – but also because IDC’s mission is, fundamentally, an American one.
The principles that inform and inspire IDC truly represent our highest aspirations and our best hope for the future.
And so, it is in this spirit, that Americans of Armenian heritage join with all of you – brothers and sisters bound by a shared history and a common future – in a united front to advance our conference’s advocacy agenda:
— Establishing a province for the indigenous Christians (Assyrian, Chaldean and Syriac) and other peoples of the Nineveh Plain region.
— Generating U.S. support for security and stability in Lebanon and relief from the Syrian refugee crisis (including those who have reached Armenia).
— Encouraging reform of the legal regulations regarding the rebuilding and construction of churches in Egypt.
— Securing a truthful and just international resolution to Turkey’s still unpunished crime of genocide – Seyfo, Tzeghaspanoutioun – against Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks and other Christians. (H.Res.154)
These issues are all tied to one another.
Progress on one reinforces progress on all.
Justice for one represents a step toward justice for all.
Thank you.
Photo: ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian offering remarks at the IDC Press Conference, September 7, 2016
Հայ Դատը Միջին Արեւելքի Քրիստոնեաներուն Դիմագրաւած Մարտահրաւէրներուն Գծով Գործնական Քայլեր Կը Պահանջէ Ուաշինկթընէն
ՈՒԱՇԻՆԿԹԸՆ.- Սեպտեմբեր 7ին ընթացք առած քրիստոնեաներու պաշտպանութեան նուիրուած համաժողովի բացման մամլոյ ասուլիսին ընթացքին, Ամերիկայի Հայ Դատի յանձնախումբի գործադիր վարիչ Արամ Համբարեան «կարճատես եւ անպատասխանատու» որակեց Միջին Արեւելքի քրիստոնեաներուն նկատմամբ Միացեալ Նահանգներու իշխանութեան որդեգրած քաղաքականութիւնը, քրիստոնեաներուն դիմագրաւած մարտահրաւէրներուն դէմ դնելու համար ազդու եւ գործնական քայլեր պահանջելով Ուաշինկթընէն։
Նշենք, որ «Ցեղասպանութենէն անդին. Քրիստոնէութեան պահպանում Միջին Արեւելքի մէջ» խորագրուած համաժողովին գլխաւոր հովանաւորներէն մէկը կը հանդիսանայ Ամերիկայի Հայ Դատի յանձնախումբը։ Մայրաքաղաք Ուաշինկթընի մէջ սկսած համաժողովը պիտի աւարտի Սեպտեմբեր 9ին։
«Դժբախտաբար, յաջորդական ամերիկեան կառավարութիւններ որդեգրած են այնպիսի քաղաքականութիւններ, որոնք պարտադրուած են օտար ուժերու կողմէ, ինչ որ բնականաբար անոնց շահերուն ծառայած է՝ լռեցնելով Ամերիկայի բարոյականութեան ձայնը», ըսաւ Համբարեան եւ իբրեւ ամերիկեան ձախողած քաղաքականութեան օրինակներ տուաւ հետեւեալ երեքը.
– Հայոց Ցեղասպանութիւնը ուրանալու նպատակով Անգարայի բանեցուցած ճնշումներուն տեղի տալ.
– Արտօնութիւն տալ, որ Թուրքիան Սուրիա ներխուժէ, ինչ որ հիւսիսային Սուրիոյ մէջ կացութիւնը աւելի եւս ապակայունացուցած է.
– Նեցուկ կանգնիլ այսպէս կոչուած «խաղաղութեան ծրագիրին», որ մենատիրական Ատրպէյճանի իշխանութեան տակ պիտի դնէ Արցախի քրիստոնեայ բնակչութիւնը։
Համբարեան, միաժամանակ, դրուատեց քոնկրեսականներ Ճեֆ Ֆորթընպերիի եւ Աննա Իշուի կողմէ առաջադրուած թիւ 75 բանաձեւը, որ Մարտ 14ին վաւերացուած էր Ներկայացուցիչներու տան կողմէ, եւ որուն մէջ Միջին Արեւելքի քրիստոնեայ ու այլ փոքրամասնութեանց դէմ «Իսլամական պետութիւն» ահաբեկչական կազմակերպութեան ոճիրները ցեղասպանութիւն կ՛որակուին։ Բանաձեւին մէջ ներառնուած են նաեւ հայերու դէմ ոճիրներուն եւ հալածանքի պարագաները:
Ապա Համբարեան ներկայացուց հետեւեալ առաջարկները, որոնց նեցուկ կը կանգնի Ամերիկայի Հայ Դատի յանձնախումբը.
– Ցարդ, անպատիժ մնացող եւ Թուրքիոյ կողմէ իրականացուած հայոց, ասորիներու, յոյներու եւ այլ քրիստոնեաներու ցեղասպանութիւնները դատապարտող թիւ 154 բանաձեւի վաւերացում.
– Նինուէի (Իրաք) մէջ բնիկ քրիստոնեաներու յատուկ նահանգի մը հաստատում.
– Ամերիկեան աջակցութեան ապահովում Լիբանանի մէջ ապահովութիւն եւ կայունութիւն հաստատելու ջանքերուն, նաեւ օժանդակութիւն՝ սուրիացի գաղթականներու հոսքին պատճառով այդ երկրին դիմագրաւած դժուարութեանց դիմաց.
– Աջակցութիւն Եգիպտոսի մէջ եկեղեցիներու կառուցման եւ նորոգութեան համար հարկաւոր օրինական բարեկարգումներուն։
Համբարեանի ելոյթը կարելի է դիտել՝ այցելելով https://youtu.be/YeA0qtgw6WE կայքէջը։
Համաժողովին առաջին օրը կայացաւ նաեւ Միջին Արեւելքի քրիստոնեաներուն նուիրուած միջեկեղեցական պատարագ, որուն մասնակցեցան քրիստոնեայ աշխարհի հոգեւոր առաջնորդներ՝ Միացեալ Նահանգներու տարածքէն։
Համաժողովին նպատակն է ճնշում բանեցնել քաղաքական ղեկավարութեան վրայ, որպէսզի անիկա աւելի ազդու եւ գործնական քայլերու դիմէ՝ Միջին Արեւելքի մէջ քրիստոնէութեան պահպանման համար:
Համաժողովին մասին յաւելեալ տեղեկութեանց համար, այցելել http://nac2016.org/schedule կայքէջը։
ANCA, IDC and IGE Announce Policy Agenda at Press Conference
(ASBAREZ) WASHINGTON (In Defense of Christians)—On Thursday, at a press conference that kicked off its three-day convention, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), In Defense of Christians (IDC) and the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE), and U.S. Representative Dave Trott (R-IL), gathered to announce an ambitious policy agenda. The conference addressed human rights and foreign policy concerns in the Middle East, with an emphasis on the religious persecution of Christians and other ethno-religious minorities in the region.
Recalling the success IDC and its partners in getting the U.S. government to declare that the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) is perpetrating genocide against Christians and other ethno-religious minorities in territories under its control, the conference’s panelists asked what’s next, laying out a number of bold initiatives, frameworks and resolutions to address the concerns of some of the region’s most vulnerable communities.
The conference was held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Katrina Lantos-Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, commended IDC for the name of its convention: “Beyond Genocide: Preserving and Protecting the Future of Christianity in the Middle East”.
“Naming the evil alone is not enough,” said Lantos-Swett, who keynoted the conference. “With the focus of this convention, a call to action is implied.”
Lantos decried the destruction of Christian communities in the Middle East, stating, “I am baffled and broken, as the daughter of Holocaust survivors, to see the West so willfully blind or perhaps unwilling to act in the face of such destruction.” A personal call to action is needed, she continued. “The question should be: Am I my brother’s keeper? We dare not answer in any way other than the affirmative.”
Within that context, the press conference’s participants and panelists made some bold requests during the press conference, asking the U.S. government to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide, to support the establishment of a province for persecuted minorities in Iraq’s Nineveh Plain and to encourage the reform of Egypt’s legal regulations regarding the rebuilding of destroyed churches.
Rep. Trott announced his historic resolution, “The Coptic Churches Accountability Act” at the conference, stating, “Coptic Christians in Egypt are second class citizens, even though they are indigenous to the region.”
Trott recounted that after the Muslim Brotherhood came to power in Egypt in 2014, Coptic Christians experienced the worst violence the community had seen seen since the 14th century. Dozens of churches were destroyed. And although President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi should be commended for his pledge to restore the rights of the Copts, said Trott, the U.S. government should encourage this progress and hold the leadership of Egypt to account.
Andrew Doran, Senior Policy Advisor for IDC applauded Trott. “We are very proud to have Rep. Trott today and we will support his resolution,” he said. “This is a concrete example of what Washington can do in the face of such persecution and destruction.”
Not only are the initiatives we announce today in the interest of the Middle East’s persecuted populations, they’re also in the interest of the American people, continued Doran. “Violence and terrorism is not contained to the Middle East. And it’s not coming to America and the West; it’s already here — it’s ravaged our nightclubs, our public spaces, our churches.”
Toufic Baaklani, president of IDC, also commended Trott’s resolution. “We are the strongest country in the world. When Congress or our lawmakers act, the whole world listens,” he said. “With the question of justice in mind, I believe our next act should be to sanction the individuals and countries that have supported and funded ISIS.”
The discussion moved to the creation, within the framework of Iraq’s constitutional governance, of the Nineveh Plain Province in northeastern Iraq, which would be preserved as an autonomous zone for persecuted Christians, Yezidis and others who have faced persecution and genocide at the hands of ISIS.
“The Iraqi government and the Kurdish Regional Government have recognized the need for the Nineveh Plain Province. It’s time for United States to do the same,” said panelist Robert Nicholson, Executive Director of the Philos Project, noting that the plain is the ancient homeland of northeastern Iraq’s Christians and Yezidis, who were displaced when ISIS invaded the area.
“The problems of the Middle East never stay there,” Nicholson continued. “When ISIS is rolled back, we will need a vision, a long-term plan and Christians should be part of this plan. New provinces, based on a decentralized, federated Iraq, will allow Christian and minority communities to feel empowered in the post-ISIS future.”
The region’s indigenous peoples include Christian Assyrians, Chaldeans and Syriacs, Kurds, Yezidis as well as Shabaks. There are also significant numbers of Turkmen, Armenians, Kawliya and Mandeans.
The need for a safe zone for these persecuted minorities, rent from their Ninevah homeland during the ISIS onslaught in 2014, is more pressing than ever. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has stated that the Mosul invasion could result in a severe humanitarian crisis in a region already besieged by horrific human tragedy. UNCHR predicts that as many as 1.2 million refugees will flee the city and surroundings as the offense commences.
And the Assyrian, Chaldean and Syriac Christians, all victims of genocide, should be given first priority in support for the creation of the Nineveh Plain Province, he said. “The United States and the international community should help this community in securing safe passage, aid and administrative autonomy, in fielding their police and local security forces, and in saving their culture and languages”.
“The last act of genocide is cultural and historical erasure,” said panelist and Prof Alexis Mourkazel, Former Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of the Holy Spirit, noting the death and persecution of Christians and Yezidis in northern Iraq and Syria.
He shared his vision for a revitalized Nineveh Plain through the creation and support of intellectual, cultural and academic centers of learning that will be a focal point for the region and a link between East and West. “Let us create an interactive climate in the Nineveh Plain, where its scholars, artists and educated people can return and be a link to the world,” said Mourkazel. “If you leave the region dry, it will not survive; rather let it survive and grow through culture.”
The panelists also discussed how failing to recognize past genocides is not only a moral failure but also emboldens current and future perpetrators of genocide.
Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), decried a century of American inaction regarding the Armenian genocide, stating that IDC’s success in getting the U.S. government to recognize the genocide being perpetrated by ISIS set a powerful example.
“Sadly, the United States has been complicit in Turkey’s refusal to recognize the Armenian genocide, which is not in alignment with American values,” said Hamparian. “ANCA joins with all of you, bound together in support of IDC’s policy agenda, which asks for a truthful and just recognition of the Turkish genocide against Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks, and other minorities. Justice for one equals justice for all; progress for one equals progress for all.”
Doran set the tone for the rest of the conference, stating that the progress and initiatives IDC and its partners are advocating for are not sectarian in nature. “IDC does not advocate for the rights of Christians over and above Muslims or any other group,” said Doran. “More sectarianism will only lead to more violence. To the Muslims in the West and East, we say, we are not adversaries, but brothers and sisters, struggling against violence and extremism. They are welcome here as they have welcomed so many of us in their homes in the region. We are acutely aware of the suffering of millions of Muslims in the face of ISIS and the sectarian violence in the Middle East. The policies that IDC and its partners advocate for will support all peoples in the Middle East, of all faiths.”
The press conference participants and panelists included Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, U.S. Rep. Dave Trott, (R-IL), Rob Nicholson, Executive Director, the Philos Project, Prof. Alexis Mourkarzel, Former Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of the Holy Spirit, Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America, Andrew Doran, IDC Senior Advisor, Kirsten Evans, IDC Executive Director and Ninar Keyrouz, IDC Director of Media and Communications.
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ABOUT THE CONVENTION
IDC’s third annual convention, entitled “Beyond Genocide: Preserving the Future of Christianity in the Middle East,” is being held in partnership with the Philos Project, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE).
BACKGROUND ON IDC
This pro-activity with regards to protecting ancient Christian communities is par for the course for IDC. In March, both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. State Department declared the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) guilty of perpetrating genocide against Christians, Yazidis and other ethnic and religious minorities in the territories under ISIS control. This historic moment was the result of months of close, bi-partisan collaboration between In Defense of Christians (IDC), U.S. Representative Fortenberry (R-NE), U.S. Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA), the Knights of Columbus and other activists, religious scholars and human rights experts.
IDC believes that the future of the region depends on multi-ethnic, multi-religious, pluralistic societies, where Christians and other minorities can live in freedom and peace and contribute to the dialogues and debates of future governance structures.
For more detailed event information, please visit www.nac2016.org. For press inquiries and questions, please contact melissa@indefenseofchristians.org / 540-226-7215