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 Tuesday, November 22 2022 11:30
Marianna Mkrtchyan

AAA honors Speaker of House of Representatives with Henry Morgenthau  Award

AAA honors Speaker of House of Representatives with Henry Morgenthau  Award

ArmInfo. The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) commemorated its landmark 50th anniversary with a special event honoring the Speaker of the House of  Representatives, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), with the Assembly's Ambassador  Henry Morgenthau Award for her strong support of and leadership on  U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.

The event, representing a cross-section of Armenian American  organizations, and filled with an impressive number of young and  mid-career professionals, took place on Thursday, November 17, 2022,  at The Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C., and included a salute to  the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, led by Reps.  Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Jackie Speier  (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA).

Speaker Pelosi, who received multiple standing ovations throughout  her remarks, expressed her gratitude to the Assembly for the "very  distinguished honor" of receiving an award created in honor of an  outstanding and heroic diplomat who courageously promoted human  rights and helped save the Armenian people.  Speaker Pelosi noted  that it was a "privilege" to receive an award named after Ambassador  Morgenthau, "who sounded the alarm on the Armenian Genocide  unequivocally and without hesitation."

She thanked the Assembly Board for its "excellent leadership" and  emphasized that the Assembly has been an "invaluable force for half a  century in creating bonds between America and Armenia."

"It's been a joy to work with you in our treasured Armenian American  community, and in my hometown of San Francisco," she said. "All of  you are active advocates, and I thank those of you who I saw  firsthand strongly lobbying and advocating."

She stressed that visiting the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan  was a "life-changing experience, where we learned the horrific truths  of the 1.5 million Armenians murdered, and where we spoke the names  of the communities that were erased. At that eternal flame, we felt  the pain and open wounds."

Reflecting further on her trip, she said it was a "thrill" to lead  the delegation, alongside Reps. Anna Eshoo, Frank Pallone, and Jackie  Speier.

"We made it very clear the U.S. strongly condemns Azerbaijan's  attacks as illegal, brutal and escalatory, threatening prospects for  a long-awaited and deeply needed peace agreement," said Speaker  Pelosi. "In the weeks since, both parties and the Biden  Administration have redoubled diplomatic efforts to pave a way  towards peace."

Speaker Pelosi continued that the world must formally recognize the  Armenian Genocide, and the passing of H.Res.296 in 2019, authored by  Rep. Adam Schiff, was a culmination of a decades-long fights. Thanks  to the support and leadership of President Biden, the historic step  of formal recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the U.S., which was  rooted in "bipartisan cooperation in Congress," came to fruition.

"We pledge to fight efforts to erase history that denies the truth,"  said Speaker Pelosi. "America is committed to upholding liberty and  security in Armenia and around the world...in this difficult moment  we draw inspiration from the Armenian people who keep the flame  burning now and for centuries to come."

In his remarks, Rep. Pallone thanked the Assembly and fellow  organizations across the diaspora who work on behalf of Armenia and  Artsakh.

"We in Congress would not be able to do the things that we do without  you, because you are our backbone that support all of our  initiatives, and get people to join the Armenian Caucus," said Rep.  Pallone. "While it may be frustrating at times, stick with it because  what you do is so important."

Turning to Speaker Pelosi's efforts within the Armenian Caucus, Rep.  Pallone said she "really knows when to make a difference."

"Speaker Pelosi knew when the time was right to get the votes for  Armenian Genocide recognition, and that's one of the main reasons why  we were able to accomplish getting H.Res.296 passed," he said.

On the most recent occasion of the latest aggression by Azerbaijan,  he said that Speaker Pelosi "understood the dangers Armenia and  Artsakh faced, and she was determined that she'd take us to Armenia  at that crucial time to make the point that the U.S. was with Armenia  and it was going to speak out against the aggression taking place."

In his introduction of Speaker Pelosi, Assembly Executive Director  Bryan Ardouny emphasized her 35- year record as a champion of human  rights and democracy, and on Armenian issues. He cited the many times  Speaker Pelosi participated in Armenian Genocide commemorations on  Capitol Hill.

He also elaborated on her strong support of Section 907 of the  FREEDOM Support Act, and her efforts to stop the provision from being  repealed.

"The Speaker stood with us on the House floor, and when forces tried  to repeal that provision of law, we prevailed on the floor 231-182,"  said Ardouny. "And this September, when the Speaker, the highest-  ranking U.S. official to visit Armenia, traveled during a critical  time and condemned Azerbaijan's 'illegal and deadly attacks on  Armenia,' she helped diffuse the escalation by Azerbaijan and helped  save lives."

He concluded: "The Speaker has been with us every step of the way and  was on the House floor leading by example, speaking in strong support  of the Armenian Genocide resolution" that passed the House by a vote  of 405-11.

Assembly President Carolyn Mugar expressed her "gratitude and love"  to Speaker Pelosi.

"There's no substitute for being present, and you showed the world  you were present when you demonstrated that the U.S. is an ally of  the Armenians," said Mugar. "From the bottom of our hearts, you will  be enshrined in our hearts and in our history books."

In her welcoming remarks, Assembly Board of Trustees member Annie  Simonian Totah stated that 2022 has been a very important year for  the Assembly as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. She acknowledged  distinguished guests, Ambassadors, Embassy representatives, military  attach‚s, elected public officials, and current and former statesmen,  including Ambassador John Evans, a former recipient of the Ambassador  Morgenthau Award, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S. Oksana  Markarova, and the Ambassador of Armenia to the U.S. Lilit Makunts.  Addressing Speaker Pelosi, she said:

"Madam Speaker, you have been and continue to be a remarkable lady  and role model, and we are sure your unbelievable career is going to  be enshrined in the Halls of the U.S. Congress, and in American  government and history textbooks, where students are going to learn   all about you." Assembly Co-Chair Anthony Barsamian recognized the  importance of and saluted the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on  Armenian Issues. Barsamian thanked Speaker Pelosi for "highlighting  the human rights violations that are happening" in the South Caucasus  region, and appreciated the support of the United States, the largest  democracy, towards the Republic of Armenia, an emerging democracy.

Assembly Co-Chair Van Krikorian in his closing remarks noted the  presence of major Armenian American organizations in attendance.   "This is the same concept that led to the Assembly being formed 50  years ago," said Krikorian. "Our commitment to bipartisanship has  paid off over the years, both in the Armenian and American contexts,  and Speaker Pelosi, when we say thank you, we mean it from the depths  of our hearts." The closing prayer was led by Archbishop Vicken  Aykazian, Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Director of the Diocese of  the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), who stated that Speaker  Pelosi is "part and parcel of Armenian history," and that  "generations to come" will speak about her.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest  Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public  understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a  non- partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.  

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