{"id":9752,"date":"2016-09-08T11:23:58","date_gmt":"2016-09-08T11:23:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ancnews.info\/?p=9752"},"modified":"2016-09-08T11:23:58","modified_gmt":"2016-09-08T11:23:58","slug":"anca-calls-for-a-sustainable-u-s-policy-addressing-the-existential-challenges-facing-middle-east-christians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ancnews.info\/?p=9752","title":{"rendered":"ANCA Calls for a Sustainable U.S. Policy Addressing the Existential Challenges Facing Middle East Christians"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>&#8212; \u201cTossing Christians under the bus is not a strategy,\u201d said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian, at \u201cIn Defense of Christians\u201d Press Conference Launching its 2016 Advocacy Convention<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ancagrassroots\/\">Armenian National Committee of America<\/a> Executive Director Aram Hamparian slammed U.S. policy on Middle East Christians <!--more Continue reading \/ \u0531\u0574\u0562\u0578\u0572\u057b\u0568 \u2192--> 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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cSadly, 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,\u201d said Hamparian. He went to offer three Armenian examples of failed U.S. policies, including \u201cU.S. complicity in Turkey&#8217;s obstruction of justice for the Armenian Genocide; a U.S. green light on Turkey&#8217;s destabilizing offensives into northern Syria; and U.S. backing for a \u2018peace plan\u2019 that would force Christian Nagorno Karabakh under the rule of an Azerbaijani dictatorship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hamparian then praised In Defense of Christians for its progress \u201cagainst influential interests and the institutional inertia of more than a century of inaction,\u201d 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 \u2018genocide\u2019; 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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He went on to share the ANCA&#8217;s support for the policy recommendations being advanced during the IDC convention:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; Securing a truthful and just international resolution to Turkey&#8217;s still unpunished crime of genocide against Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks and other Christians through passage of H.Res.154.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; Establishing a province for the indigenous Christians (Assyrian, Chaldean and Syriac) and other peoples of the Nineveh Plain region.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; Generating U.S. support for security and stability in Lebanon and relief from the Syrian refugee crisis (including those who have reached Armenia).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; Encouraging reform of the legal regulations regarding the rebuilding and construction of churches in Egypt.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThese issues are all tied to one another,\u201d explained Hamparian. \u201cProgress on one reinforces progress on all. Justice for one represents a step toward justice for all.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The complete text of Hamparian\u2019s remarks are provided below.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YeA0qtgw6WE\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">A complete overview of the press conference was released by In Defense of Christians and is available here: <a href=\"http:\/\/us4.campaign-archive1.com\/?u=00abc15267b1d0ce962b0c318&amp;id=35e69809b1&amp;e=1f12697960\">http:\/\/us4.campaign-archive1.com\/?u=00abc15267b1d0ce962b0c318&amp;id=35e69809b1&amp;e=1f12697960<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Video of the complete press conference will be available shortly on the ANCA YouTube Channel.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">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 &#8220;Our Last Stand&#8221; &#8211; a documentary on the plight of Christian communities in Syria and Iraq.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The complete schedule and listing of all speakers is available at: <a href=\"http:\/\/nac2016.org\/schedule\/\">http:\/\/nac2016.org\/schedule\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">#####<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Text of ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian\u2019s Remarks at the IDC 2016 National Convention Press Conference<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We are here today asking for nothing more than an American policy on Christians in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; A strategy consistent with American values &#8211; first and foremost religious freedom.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; An approach aligned with core U.S. interests &#8211; regional stability and open societies.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; And policies responsive to our nation&#8217;s citizens &#8211; including all of us here today.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sadly, in place of an American approach, our own leaders, successive U.S. Administrations have:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; Pursued policies imposed by foreign interests.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; Allowed vetoes exercised by corrupt dictators.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; Even enforced gag-rules silencing our moral voice as a nation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Examples that that speak directly to Armenians include:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; U.S. complicity in Turkey&#8217;s obstruction of justice for the Armenian Genocide.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; A U.S. green light on Turkey&#8217;s destabilizing offensives into northern Syria.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; U.S. backing for a &#8220;peace plan&#8221; that would force Christian Nagorno Karabakh under the rule of an Azerbaijani dictatorship.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Irresponsible policies, all too often enforced by U.S. government officials, based on narrow, short-sighted political considerations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; Based on fear, not hope.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; Appeasement not engagement.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It&#8217;s a lie. Always has been.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let&#8217;s be clear:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; Tossing Christians under the bus is not a strategy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; Betraying religious minorities is not an American value.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; And abandoning an entire region to intolerance is not a U.S. interest.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is a better way.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">And it begins with rejecting the false choice between our values and our interests<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">That is why we are here.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Why we support In Defense of Christians.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Why we are so pleased to join with all our coalition partners in charting a more sound &#8211; a more sustainable &#8211; American approach to Christians in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We can all be proud of IDC&#8217;s progress &#8211; against influential interests and the institutional inertia of more than a century of inaction:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; 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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; IDC&#8217;s ground-breaking report &#8211; compiled with the support of the Knights of Columbus &#8211; that led to the Administration&#8217;s official recognition of this crime.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; And sustained efforts &#8211; unprecedented advocacy &#8211; 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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This progress has been the result of vision, hard work, and a laser-like focus on smart solutions &#8211; but also because IDC&#8217;s mission is, fundamentally, an American one.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The principles that inform and inspire IDC truly represent our highest aspirations and our best hope for the future.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">And so, it is in this spirit, that Americans of Armenian heritage join with all of you &#8211; brothers and sisters bound by a shared history and a common future &#8211; in a united front to advance our conference&#8217;s advocacy agenda:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; Establishing a province for the indigenous Christians (Assyrian, Chaldean and Syriac) and other peoples of the Nineveh Plain region.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; Generating U.S. support for security and stability in Lebanon and relief from the Syrian refugee crisis (including those who have reached Armenia).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; Encouraging reform of the legal regulations regarding the rebuilding and construction of churches in Egypt.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212; Securing a truthful and just international resolution to Turkey&#8217;s still unpunished crime of genocide &#8211; Seyfo, Tzeghaspanoutioun &#8211; against Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks and other Christians. (H.Res.154)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">These issues are all tied to one another.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Progress on one reinforces progress on all.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Justice for one represents a step toward justice for all.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thank you.<\/p>\n<p><em>Photo: ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian offering remarks at the IDC Press Conference, September 7, 2016<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>\u0540\u0561\u0575 \u0534\u0561\u057f\u0568 \u0544\u056b\u057b\u056b\u0576 \u0531\u0580\u0565\u0582\u0565\u056c\u0584\u056b \u0554\u0580\u056b\u057d\u057f\u0578\u0576\u0565\u0561\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582\u0576 \u0534\u056b\u0574\u0561\u0563\u0580\u0561\u0582\u0561\u056e \u0544\u0561\u0580\u057f\u0561\u0570\u0580\u0561\u0582\u0567\u0580\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582\u0576 \u0533\u056e\u0578\u057e \u0533\u0578\u0580\u056e\u0576\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0576 \u0554\u0561\u0575\u056c\u0565\u0580 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9\u056b\u0576\u0589<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u00ab\u0534\u056a\u0562\u0561\u056d\u057f\u0561\u0562\u0561\u0580, \u0575\u0561\u057b\u0578\u0580\u0564\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0576 \u0561\u0574\u0565\u0580\u056b\u056f\u0565\u0561\u0576 \u056f\u0561\u057c\u0561\u057e\u0561\u0580\u0578\u0582\u0569\u056b\u0582\u0576\u0576\u0565\u0580 \u0578\u0580\u0564\u0565\u0563\u0580\u0561\u056e \u0565\u0576 \u0561\u0575\u0576\u057a\u056b\u057d\u056b \u0584\u0561\u0572\u0561\u0584\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0576\u0578\u0582\u0569\u056b\u0582\u0576\u0576\u0565\u0580, \u0578\u0580\u0578\u0576\u0584 \u057a\u0561\u0580\u057f\u0561\u0564\u0580\u0578\u0582\u0561\u056e \u0565\u0576 \u0585\u057f\u0561\u0580 \u0578\u0582\u056a\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582 \u056f\u0578\u0572\u0574\u0567, \u056b\u0576\u0579 \u0578\u0580 \u0562\u0576\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0576\u0561\u0562\u0561\u0580 \u0561\u0576\u0578\u0576\u0581 \u0577\u0561\u0570\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582\u0576 \u056e\u0561\u057c\u0561\u0575\u0561\u056e \u0567\u055d \u056c\u057c\u0565\u0581\u0576\u0565\u056c\u0578\u057e \u0531\u0574\u0565\u0580\u056b\u056f\u0561\u0575\u056b \u0562\u0561\u0580\u0578\u0575\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0576\u0578\u0582\u0569\u0565\u0561\u0576 \u0571\u0561\u0575\u0576\u0568\u00bb, \u0568\u057d\u0561\u0582 \u0540\u0561\u0574\u0562\u0561\u0580\u0565\u0561\u0576 \u0565\u0582 \u056b\u0562\u0580\u0565\u0582 \u0561\u0574\u0565\u0580\u056b\u056f\u0565\u0561\u0576 \u0571\u0561\u056d\u0578\u0572\u0561\u056e \u0584\u0561\u0572\u0561\u0584\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0576\u0578\u0582\u0569\u0565\u0561\u0576 \u0585\u0580\u056b\u0576\u0561\u056f\u0576\u0565\u0580 \u057f\u0578\u0582\u0561\u0582 \u0570\u0565\u057f\u0565\u0582\u0565\u0561\u056c \u0565\u0580\u0565\u0584\u0568.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2013 \u0540\u0561\u0575\u0578\u0581 \u0551\u0565\u0572\u0561\u057d\u057a\u0561\u0576\u0578\u0582\u0569\u056b\u0582\u0576\u0568 \u0578\u0582\u0580\u0561\u0576\u0561\u056c\u0578\u0582 \u0576\u057a\u0561\u057f\u0561\u056f\u0578\u057e \u0531\u0576\u0563\u0561\u0580\u0561\u0575\u056b \u0562\u0561\u0576\u0565\u0581\u0578\u0582\u0581\u0561\u056e \u0573\u0576\u0577\u0578\u0582\u0574\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582\u0576 \u057f\u0565\u0572\u056b \u057f\u0561\u056c.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2013 \u0531\u0580\u057f\u0585\u0576\u0578\u0582\u0569\u056b\u0582\u0576 \u057f\u0561\u056c, \u0578\u0580 \u0539\u0578\u0582\u0580\u0584\u056b\u0561\u0576 \u054d\u0578\u0582\u0580\u056b\u0561 \u0576\u0565\u0580\u056d\u0578\u0582\u056a\u0567, \u056b\u0576\u0579 \u0578\u0580 \u0570\u056b\u0582\u057d\u056b\u057d\u0561\u0575\u056b\u0576 \u054d\u0578\u0582\u0580\u056b\u0578\u0575 \u0574\u0567\u057b \u056f\u0561\u0581\u0578\u0582\u0569\u056b\u0582\u0576\u0568 \u0561\u0582\u0565\u056c\u056b \u0565\u0582\u057d \u0561\u057a\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0575\u0578\u0582\u0576\u0561\u0581\u0578\u0582\u0581\u0561\u056e \u0567.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2013 \u0546\u0565\u0581\u0578\u0582\u056f \u056f\u0561\u0576\u0563\u0576\u056b\u056c \u0561\u0575\u057d\u057a\u0567\u057d \u056f\u0578\u0579\u0578\u0582\u0561\u056e \u00ab\u056d\u0561\u0572\u0561\u0572\u0578\u0582\u0569\u0565\u0561\u0576 \u056e\u0580\u0561\u0563\u056b\u0580\u056b\u0576\u00bb, \u0578\u0580 \u0574\u0565\u0576\u0561\u057f\u056b\u0580\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0576 \u0531\u057f\u0580\u057a\u0567\u0575\u0573\u0561\u0576\u056b \u056b\u0577\u056d\u0561\u0576\u0578\u0582\u0569\u0565\u0561\u0576 \u057f\u0561\u056f \u057a\u056b\u057f\u056b \u0564\u0576\u0567 \u0531\u0580\u0581\u0561\u056d\u056b \u0584\u0580\u056b\u057d\u057f\u0578\u0576\u0565\u0561\u0575 \u0562\u0576\u0561\u056f\u0579\u0578\u0582\u0569\u056b\u0582\u0576\u0568\u0589<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u0540\u0561\u0574\u0562\u0561\u0580\u0565\u0561\u0576, \u0574\u056b\u0561\u056a\u0561\u0574\u0561\u0576\u0561\u056f, \u0564\u0580\u0578\u0582\u0561\u057f\u0565\u0581 \u0584\u0578\u0576\u056f\u0580\u0565\u057d\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0576\u0576\u0565\u0580 \u0543\u0565\u0586 \u0556\u0578\u0580\u0569\u0568\u0576\u057a\u0565\u0580\u056b\u056b \u0565\u0582 \u0531\u0576\u0576\u0561 \u053b\u0577\u0578\u0582\u056b \u056f\u0578\u0572\u0574\u0567 \u0561\u057c\u0561\u057b\u0561\u0564\u0580\u0578\u0582\u0561\u056e \u0569\u056b\u0582 75 \u0562\u0561\u0576\u0561\u0571\u0565\u0582\u0568, \u0578\u0580 \u0544\u0561\u0580\u057f 14\u056b\u0576 \u057e\u0561\u0582\u0565\u0580\u0561\u0581\u0578\u0582\u0561\u056e \u0567\u0580 \u0546\u0565\u0580\u056f\u0561\u0575\u0561\u0581\u0578\u0582\u0581\u056b\u0579\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582 \u057f\u0561\u0576 \u056f\u0578\u0572\u0574\u0567, \u0565\u0582 \u0578\u0580\u0578\u0582\u0576 \u0574\u0567\u057b \u0544\u056b\u057b\u056b\u0576 \u0531\u0580\u0565\u0582\u0565\u056c\u0584\u056b \u0584\u0580\u056b\u057d\u057f\u0578\u0576\u0565\u0561\u0575 \u0578\u0582 \u0561\u0575\u056c \u0583\u0578\u0584\u0580\u0561\u0574\u0561\u057d\u0576\u0578\u0582\u0569\u0565\u0561\u0576\u0581 \u0564\u0567\u0574 \u00ab\u053b\u057d\u056c\u0561\u0574\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0576 \u057a\u0565\u057f\u0578\u0582\u0569\u056b\u0582\u0576\u00bb \u0561\u0570\u0561\u0562\u0565\u056f\u0579\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0576 \u056f\u0561\u0566\u0574\u0561\u056f\u0565\u0580\u057a\u0578\u0582\u0569\u0565\u0561\u0576 \u0578\u0573\u056b\u0580\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0568 \u0581\u0565\u0572\u0561\u057d\u057a\u0561\u0576\u0578\u0582\u0569\u056b\u0582\u0576 \u056f\u055b\u0578\u0580\u0561\u056f\u0578\u0582\u056b\u0576\u0589 \u0532\u0561\u0576\u0561\u0571\u0565\u0582\u056b\u0576 \u0574\u0567\u057b \u0576\u0565\u0580\u0561\u057c\u0576\u0578\u0582\u0561\u056e \u0565\u0576 \u0576\u0561\u0565\u0582 \u0570\u0561\u0575\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582 \u0564\u0567\u0574 \u0578\u0573\u056b\u0580\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582\u0576 \u0565\u0582 \u0570\u0561\u056c\u0561\u056e\u0561\u0576\u0584\u056b \u057a\u0561\u0580\u0561\u0563\u0561\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0568:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u0531\u057a\u0561 \u0540\u0561\u0574\u0562\u0561\u0580\u0565\u0561\u0576 \u0576\u0565\u0580\u056f\u0561\u0575\u0561\u0581\u0578\u0582\u0581 \u0570\u0565\u057f\u0565\u0582\u0565\u0561\u056c \u0561\u057c\u0561\u057b\u0561\u0580\u056f\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0568, \u0578\u0580\u0578\u0576\u0581 \u0576\u0565\u0581\u0578\u0582\u056f \u056f\u0568 \u056f\u0561\u0576\u0563\u0576\u056b \u0531\u0574\u0565\u0580\u056b\u056f\u0561\u0575\u056b \u0540\u0561\u0575 \u0534\u0561\u057f\u056b \u0575\u0561\u0576\u0571\u0576\u0561\u056d\u0578\u0582\u0574\u0562\u0568.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2013 \u0551\u0561\u0580\u0564, \u0561\u0576\u057a\u0561\u057f\u056b\u056a \u0574\u0576\u0561\u0581\u0578\u0572 \u0565\u0582 \u0539\u0578\u0582\u0580\u0584\u056b\u0578\u0575 \u056f\u0578\u0572\u0574\u0567 \u056b\u0580\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0576\u0561\u0581\u0578\u0582\u0561\u056e \u0570\u0561\u0575\u0578\u0581, \u0561\u057d\u0578\u0580\u056b\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582, \u0575\u0578\u0575\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582 \u0565\u0582 \u0561\u0575\u056c \u0584\u0580\u056b\u057d\u057f\u0578\u0576\u0565\u0561\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582 \u0581\u0565\u0572\u0561\u057d\u057a\u0561\u0576\u0578\u0582\u0569\u056b\u0582\u0576\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0568 \u0564\u0561\u057f\u0561\u057a\u0561\u0580\u057f\u0578\u0572 \u0569\u056b\u0582 154 \u0562\u0561\u0576\u0561\u0571\u0565\u0582\u056b \u057e\u0561\u0582\u0565\u0580\u0561\u0581\u0578\u0582\u0574.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2013 \u0546\u056b\u0576\u0578\u0582\u0567\u056b (\u053b\u0580\u0561\u0584) \u0574\u0567\u057b \u0562\u0576\u056b\u056f \u0584\u0580\u056b\u057d\u057f\u0578\u0576\u0565\u0561\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582 \u0575\u0561\u057f\u0578\u0582\u056f \u0576\u0561\u0570\u0561\u0576\u0563\u056b \u0574\u0568 \u0570\u0561\u057d\u057f\u0561\u057f\u0578\u0582\u0574.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2013 \u0531\u0574\u0565\u0580\u056b\u056f\u0565\u0561\u0576 \u0561\u057b\u0561\u056f\u0581\u0578\u0582\u0569\u0565\u0561\u0576 \u0561\u057a\u0561\u0570\u0578\u057e\u0578\u0582\u0574 \u053c\u056b\u0562\u0561\u0576\u0561\u0576\u056b \u0574\u0567\u057b \u0561\u057a\u0561\u0570\u0578\u057e\u0578\u0582\u0569\u056b\u0582\u0576 \u0565\u0582 \u056f\u0561\u0575\u0578\u0582\u0576\u0578\u0582\u0569\u056b\u0582\u0576 \u0570\u0561\u057d\u057f\u0561\u057f\u0565\u056c\u0578\u0582 \u057b\u0561\u0576\u0584\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582\u0576, \u0576\u0561\u0565\u0582 \u0585\u056a\u0561\u0576\u0564\u0561\u056f\u0578\u0582\u0569\u056b\u0582\u0576\u055d \u057d\u0578\u0582\u0580\u056b\u0561\u0581\u056b \u0563\u0561\u0572\u0569\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0576\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582 \u0570\u0578\u057d\u0584\u056b\u0576 \u057a\u0561\u057f\u0573\u0561\u057c\u0578\u057e \u0561\u0575\u0564 \u0565\u0580\u056f\u0580\u056b\u0576 \u0564\u056b\u0574\u0561\u0563\u0580\u0561\u0582\u0561\u056e \u0564\u056a\u0578\u0582\u0561\u0580\u0578\u0582\u0569\u0565\u0561\u0576\u0581 \u0564\u056b\u0574\u0561\u0581.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2013 \u0531\u057b\u0561\u056f\u0581\u0578\u0582\u0569\u056b\u0582\u0576 \u0535\u0563\u056b\u057a\u057f\u0578\u057d\u056b \u0574\u0567\u057b \u0565\u056f\u0565\u0572\u0565\u0581\u056b\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582 \u056f\u0561\u057c\u0578\u0582\u0581\u0574\u0561\u0576 \u0565\u0582 \u0576\u0578\u0580\u0578\u0563\u0578\u0582\u0569\u0565\u0561\u0576 \u0570\u0561\u0574\u0561\u0580 \u0570\u0561\u0580\u056f\u0561\u0582\u0578\u0580 \u0585\u0580\u056b\u0576\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0576 \u0562\u0561\u0580\u0565\u056f\u0561\u0580\u0563\u0578\u0582\u0574\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582\u0576\u0589<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u0540\u0561\u0574\u0562\u0561\u0580\u0565\u0561\u0576\u056b \u0565\u056c\u0578\u0575\u0569\u0568 \u056f\u0561\u0580\u0565\u056c\u056b \u0567 \u0564\u056b\u057f\u0565\u056c\u055d \u0561\u0575\u0581\u0565\u056c\u0565\u056c\u0578\u057e https:\/\/youtu.be\/YeA0qtgw6WE \u056f\u0561\u0575\u0584\u0567\u057b\u0568\u0589<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u0540\u0561\u0574\u0561\u056a\u0578\u0572\u0578\u057e\u056b\u0576 \u0561\u057c\u0561\u057b\u056b\u0576 \u0585\u0580\u0568 \u056f\u0561\u0575\u0561\u0581\u0561\u0582 \u0576\u0561\u0565\u0582 \u0544\u056b\u057b\u056b\u0576 \u0531\u0580\u0565\u0582\u0565\u056c\u0584\u056b \u0584\u0580\u056b\u057d\u057f\u0578\u0576\u0565\u0561\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582\u0576 \u0576\u0578\u0582\u056b\u0580\u0578\u0582\u0561\u056e \u0574\u056b\u057b\u0565\u056f\u0565\u0572\u0565\u0581\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0576 \u057a\u0561\u057f\u0561\u0580\u0561\u0563, \u0578\u0580\u0578\u0582\u0576 \u0574\u0561\u057d\u0576\u0561\u056f\u0581\u0565\u0581\u0561\u0576 \u0584\u0580\u056b\u057d\u057f\u0578\u0576\u0565\u0561\u0575 \u0561\u0577\u056d\u0561\u0580\u0570\u056b \u0570\u0578\u0563\u0565\u0582\u0578\u0580 \u0561\u057c\u0561\u057b\u0576\u0578\u0580\u0564\u0576\u0565\u0580\u055d \u0544\u056b\u0561\u0581\u0565\u0561\u056c \u0546\u0561\u0570\u0561\u0576\u0563\u0576\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582 \u057f\u0561\u0580\u0561\u056e\u0584\u0567\u0576\u0589<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u0540\u0561\u0574\u0561\u056a\u0578\u0572\u0578\u057e\u056b\u0576 \u0576\u057a\u0561\u057f\u0561\u056f\u0576 \u0567 \u0573\u0576\u0577\u0578\u0582\u0574 \u0562\u0561\u0576\u0565\u0581\u0576\u0565\u056c \u0584\u0561\u0572\u0561\u0584\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0576 \u0572\u0565\u056f\u0561\u057e\u0561\u0580\u0578\u0582\u0569\u0565\u0561\u0576 \u057e\u0580\u0561\u0575, \u0578\u0580\u057a\u0567\u057d\u0566\u056b \u0561\u0576\u056b\u056f\u0561 \u0561\u0582\u0565\u056c\u056b \u0561\u0566\u0564\u0578\u0582 \u0565\u0582 \u0563\u0578\u0580\u056e\u0576\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0576 \u0584\u0561\u0575\u056c\u0565\u0580\u0578\u0582 \u0564\u056b\u0574\u0567\u055d \u0544\u056b\u057b\u056b\u0576 \u0531\u0580\u0565\u0582\u0565\u056c\u0584\u056b \u0574\u0567\u057b \u0584\u0580\u056b\u057d\u057f\u0578\u0576\u0567\u0578\u0582\u0569\u0565\u0561\u0576 \u057a\u0561\u0570\u057a\u0561\u0576\u0574\u0561\u0576 \u0570\u0561\u0574\u0561\u0580:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u0540\u0561\u0574\u0561\u056a\u0578\u0572\u0578\u057e\u056b\u0576 \u0574\u0561\u057d\u056b\u0576 \u0575\u0561\u0582\u0565\u056c\u0565\u0561\u056c \u057f\u0565\u0572\u0565\u056f\u0578\u0582\u0569\u0565\u0561\u0576\u0581 \u0570\u0561\u0574\u0561\u0580, \u0561\u0575\u0581\u0565\u056c\u0565\u056c http:\/\/nac2016.org\/schedule \u056f\u0561\u0575\u0584\u0567\u057b\u0568\u0589<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>ANCA, IDC and IGE Announce Policy Agenda at Press Conference<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">(ASBAREZ) WASHINGTON (In Defense of Christians)\u2014On 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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">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\u2019s panelists asked what\u2019s next, laying out a number of bold initiatives, frameworks and resolutions to address the concerns of some of the region\u2019s most vulnerable communities.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The conference was held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr. Katrina Lantos-Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, commended IDC for the name of its convention: \u201cBeyond Genocide: Preserving and Protecting the Future of Christianity in the Middle East\u201d.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cNaming the evil alone is not enough,\u201d said Lantos-Swett, who keynoted the conference. \u201cWith the focus of this convention, a call to action is implied.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lantos decried the destruction of Christian communities in the Middle East, stating, \u201cI 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.\u201d A personal call to action is needed, she continued. \u201cThe question should be: Am I my brother\u2019s keeper? We dare not answer in any way other than the affirmative.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Within that context, the press conference\u2019s 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\u2019s Nineveh Plain and to encourage the reform of Egypt\u2019s legal regulations regarding the rebuilding of destroyed churches.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rep. Trott announced his historic resolution, \u201cThe Coptic Churches Accountability Act\u201d at the conference, stating, \u201cCoptic Christians in Egypt are second class citizens, even though they are indigenous to the region.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Andrew Doran, Senior Policy Advisor for IDC applauded Trott. \u201cWe are very proud to have Rep. Trott today and we will support his resolution,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is a concrete example of what Washington can do in the face of such persecution and destruction.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Not only are the initiatives we announce today in the interest of the Middle East\u2019s persecuted populations, they\u2019re also in the interest of the American people, continued Doran. \u201cViolence and terrorism is not contained to the Middle East. And it\u2019s not coming to America and the West; it\u2019s already here \u2014 it\u2019s ravaged our nightclubs, our public spaces, our churches.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Toufic Baaklani, president of IDC, also commended Trott\u2019s resolution. \u201cWe are the strongest country in the world. When Congress or our lawmakers act, the whole world listens,\u201d he said. \u201cWith 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The discussion moved to the creation, within the framework of Iraq\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThe Iraqi government and the Kurdish Regional Government have recognized the need for the Nineveh Plain Province. It\u2019s time for United States to do the same,\u201d said panelist Robert Nicholson, Executive Director of the Philos Project, noting that the plain is the ancient homeland of northeastern Iraq\u2019s Christians and Yezidis, who were displaced when ISIS invaded the area.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThe problems of the Middle East never stay there,\u201d Nicholson continued. \u201cWhen 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The region\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">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. \u201cThe 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\u201d.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThe last act of genocide is cultural and historical erasure,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">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. \u201cLet 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,\u201d said Mourkazel. \u201cIf you leave the region dry, it will not survive; rather let it survive and grow through culture.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">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\u2019s success in getting the U.S. government to recognize the genocide being perpetrated by ISIS set a powerful example.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cSadly, the United States has been complicit in Turkey\u2019s refusal to recognize the Armenian genocide, which is not in alignment with American values,\u201d said Hamparian. \u201cANCA joins with all of you, bound together in support of IDC\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">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. \u201cIDC does not advocate for the rights of Christians over and above Muslims or any other group,\u201d said Doran. \u201cMore 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">*********<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">ABOUT THE CONVENTION<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">IDC\u2019s third annual convention, entitled \u201cBeyond Genocide: Preserving the Future of Christianity in the Middle East,\u201d is being held in partnership with the Philos Project, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">BACKGROUND ON IDC<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For more detailed event information, please visit www.nac2016.org. For press inquiries and questions, please contact melissa@indefenseofchristians.org \/ 540-226-7215<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8212; \u201cTossing Christians under the bus is not a strategy,\u201d said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian, at \u201cIn Defense of Christians\u201d Press Conference Launching its 2016 Advocacy Convention WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram Hamparian slammed U.S. policy on Middle East Christians<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9753,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[172,115,174],"tags":[126,382],"class_list":["post-9752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-the-news-","category-news","category-174","tag-anca","tag-382"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>ANCA Calls for a Sustainable U.S. Policy Addressing the Existential Challenges Facing Middle East Christians - 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