NEW YORK, NY - More than 150 community activists attended the Armenian Assembly's Mid-Atlantic Membership Forum at Kavookjian Hall in the Diocese of the Armenian Church, on November 3, to learn more about the Assembly's activities and how they could get more involved on Armenian-American issues.

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) served as the keynote speaker for the event, emphasizing the importance of affirming the Armenian Genocide. She expressed her disappointment with the Republican leadership's decision to pull the House Resolution on the Armenian Genocide. Maloney also objected to the Administration's aggressive advocacy in opposition and their argument that this was not the right time for such a resolution. "There will never be an ideal time to approve a resolution on the Armenian Genocide. But, we must acknowledge these horrific acts for the sake of humanity," noted Representative Maloney. "I pledge to you that I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to acknowledge this important fact of history. In the meantime, I would like to increase public awareness of these atrocities through their inclusion in our school curriculum." he Armenian Assembly's Board of Directors Chairman Van Krikorian discussed and answered questions at length with the group about the recent legislative campaign to affirm the Armenian Genocide. At the same time, he emphasized the fact that while most people's attention was drawn to this issue, Congress voted to: retain Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act; provide funding for confidence-building measures to the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict; earmark assistance for the SESAME project in Armenia; and appropriate not less than $90 million in assistance to Armenia, significantly more than the Administration had requested. "We are all disappointed by the leadership's decision to pull the Armenian Genocide resolution from the House floor at the last moment. But, we clearly won the public relations and other battles, and a drive to get Turkey to come to terms with its own history is far from over."

Krikorian also reviewed Assembly programs such as the NGO Training and Resource Center, The Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial and the Armenia Tree Project.

Chris Atamian gave introduction comments, while Michael Candan and Carla Kapikian answered members' specific questions. Development and Membership Director Hrant Jamgochian provided an AV presentation on the Assembly's various programs and projects, so that members and non-members alike could see for themselves the tremendous impact the Assembly is making. Assembly's United Nations Representative Diane Paravasian was also present.

Congressman Rick Lazio (R-NY) used the Assembly Forum to highlight his strong record on Armenian-American issues and pledged his continued support if elected to the U.S. Senate. The First Lady also expressed her warmest wishes to the event's participants.

"I would like to give special thanks to the organizers of this event -- Christopher Atamian, Michael Candan and Carla Kapikian," added Board of Directors Chairman Van Krikorian. "Their leadership and enthusiasm for the Armenian Assembly has played an important role in increasing local awareness of the Assembly's activities and in strengthening the impact of our efforts."