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ANCA-WR and American Hellenic Council Sign MOU on Collaboration

By on October 26, 2019

The American Hellenic Council of California and the Armenian National Committee of America–Western Region signed recently a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation during a special ceremony signaling a new chapter of even deeper and more institutionalized relations between the two organizations.

Back row, left to right: Arsen Shirvanyan, Governor Affairs Director ANCA-WR, ANCA-WR Board Member, Alexandra Warren, Vice President of AHC, ANCA-WR Board Member, ANCA-WR Board Member, ANCA-WR Board Member, Christianna Kontou, Executive Director of AHC, ANCA-WR Board Member, Zoi Palla, AHC Board Member, Armen Sahakyan, ANCA-WR Executive Director. Signing at the table, left to right: ANCA Western Region Chairperson Nora Hovsepian, Esq and Dr. James F. Dimitriou, AHC President and Chairman.

Back row, left to right: Arsen Shirvanyan, Governor Affairs Director ANCA-WR, ANCA-WR Board Member, Alexandra Warren, Vice President of AHC, ANCA-WR Board Member, ANCA-WR Board Member, ANCA-WR Board Member, Christianna Kontou, Executive Director of AHC, ANCA-WR Board Member, Zoi Palla, AHC Board Member, Armen Sahakyan, ANCA-WR Executive Director. Signing at the table, left to right: ANCA Western Region Chairperson Nora Hovsepian, Esq and Dr. James F. Dimitriou, AHC President and Chairman.

The ceremony took place at the ANCA-WR headquarters in Glendale, with ANCA Western Region Chairperson Nora Hovsepian, Esq. and AHC President James F. Dimitriou, PhD signing the document that went into effect immediately.

The Memorandum recognizes the historic relations between the Armenian and Hellenic communities, accentuates the importance of collaboration and mutual understanding, and commits both communities to ensure comprehensive cooperation.

“We look forward to the great opportunity for the AHC to work with ANCA in a common commitment for justice and respect for the rule of law,” said Dr. Jim Dimitriou, AHC Chairman. “Turkey must not be allowed to continue to violate international treaties and law. The Greek and Armenian people share a long and turbulent history and now share a common purpose. We must stand united against a Turkish rogue regime that violates human rights, internationally recognized territorial borders while promulgating continual threats and violations against its neighbors.” He added, “Our time is now! The opportunity is great. The value is justice, and in the words of Plato, ‘Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.”

“The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation elevates our relationship with the AHC to a deeper institutional level,” remarked ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq. “Our nations have lived side by side for millennia, and we’re codifying both traditional as well as novel areas for our extensive collaboration, taking our advocacy work to new heights.”

Following this memorandum, both AHC and ANCA-WR have agreed to continue in collaboration to undertake joint advocacy measures and public education initiatives promoting human rights, peace, and the rule of the law, and continue their commitment in seeking justice for the Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian Genocide.

In recent years, both groups have worked tirelessly to fight for truth and justice for the Genocide of 1915 and have garnered the support of elected officials from all throughout the western U.S.

Moving forward, the parties will also undertake joint activities and initiatives aimed at genocide education; divestment from Turkish government bonds, just and enduring reunification of Cyprus; stopping Turkish violations of Greece’s sovereign air and water; justice for the cultural and civilizational destruction in Nakhijevan by Azerbaijani authorities; international recognition of Artsakh; and a number of other priorities.

The close collaboration between AHC and ANCA-WR stretches back many years, as both organizations have already worked on a number of joint projects, most notably on seeking truth and justice for the Greek, Armenian, and Assyrian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish government.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

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