Saturday, March 6 2021 12:07

ArmInfo. With a new  Administration and Congress, this timely Virtual National Advocacy  Conference and Advocacy Week will kick off on Monday, March 8, 2021.   Special guest speakers during the conference include Senator Bob  Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee;  David Babayan, the Republic of Artsakh's Foreign Minister; and His  Excellency Varuzhan Nersesyan, Armenia's Ambassador to the U.S, the  press release of the Armenian Assembly of America reads.  The  conference will feature in-depth panel discussions on congressional  priorities, defending human rights, post-war Artsakh, and preserving  cultural heritage. Participants will have opportunities to meet  online with their respective Members of Congress and advocate for a  robust assistance package to help the Armenian people, including at  least $100 million in assistance; enforcing Section 907 of the  Freedom Support Act; urging support for legislation calling for the  immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war held by Azerbaijan;  and garnering support for this year's April 24th Armenian Genocide  statement by President Joe Biden. 

''The upcoming Conference and Advocacy week are an effective way to  make sure that Members of Congress and their staff hear directly from  their constituents, and the concerns we all share with respect to  Armenia, Artsakh and U.S. priorities to help the Armenian people,"  said Assembly Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan.  "Given the responses so far, I have no doubt that meetings will  continue throughout this month," she added. "It is inspiring to see  so much enthusiasm." Confirmed conference speakers include Armenian  Caucus Co-Chairs, Reps. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Jackie Speier  (D-CA). Featured panelists include Armine Aleksanyan, Republic of  Artsakh's Deputy Foreign Minister; Robert Avetisyan, Republic of  Artsakh's U.S. Representative; Artak Beglaryan, former Republic of  Artsakh Human Rights Ombudsman; Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate  of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America; David  L. Phillips, Director of the Program on Peace-building and Rights,  Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University; Dr.  Rachel Goshgarian, Lafayette College; Dr. Lori Khatchadourian,  Cornell University; Jeff King, President of International Christian  Concern; Dr. Christina Maranci, Tufts University; Dr. Michael Rubin,  American Enterprise Institute; and Amasia Zargarian, The HALO Trust  (USA).

The Assembly's National Advocacy Conference aims to reinforce  awareness and support of Armenian issues in the U.S. and connect  Armenian Americans with Members of Congress and congressional staff.