Massachusetts Democrat pledges continued support to Armenians

by Tom Vartabedian

Published: Saturday November 19, 2011

ANC of Merrimack Valley (L-R: Stephen Dulgarian, Tom Vartabedian, Gregory Minasian and Armen Jeknavorian) present a photo of Lowell to Rep. Tsongas.

Lowell, Mass. - Since taking office four years ago, United States Congresswoman Niki Tsongas has pledged her unwavering support to Armenia.

She's not about to stop now.

"As a member of the Armenian Congressional Caucus, I look forward to continue promoting the mutual interest of our two countries and celebrate our rich history together," she said. "I will continue working to see that the mass murders by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenians are appropriately recognized as genocide in Congress."

Tsongas agreed to sign aboard House Resolution 306, calling for the return of confiscated church properties. In doing so, she joins 39 co-sponsors, including the chairs of the Armenian, Hellenic and Human Rights Caucuses.

The bill urges the Republic of Turkey to safeguard Christian heritage and join the United States in preserving the rights of national, religious and ethnic groups worldwide.

Tsongas had earlier affixed her name to the genocide resolution (H. Res. 304), which drew 84 co-sponsors and is currently studying a third resolution (H.J. Res. 83) seeking to stop an arms sale to Turkey.

The meeting took place inside her Lowell office with members of the Armenian National Committee of Merrimack Valley. Attending were: Stephen Dulgarian, Gregory Minasian, Armen Jeknavorian and Tom Vartabedian.

A number of other issues were raised with Tsongas, who represents the Fifth Congressional District of Massachusetts:

--- Increased economic assistance to Armenia

--- Humanitarian aid to the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh

--- Condemn Azeri aggression and sniping

--- Anti-Armenian actions by the Georgian government in Javakh

Tsongas was also updated on the $6 million genocide memorial currently being built on the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston, and well as a genocide monument currently in the planning stages to be erected by Lowell City Hall.

The Congresswoman agreed to look into all the matters proposed and stay connected with issues relevant to the welfare of Armenians in this country as well as abroad.

Throughout her brief tenure in Congress, Tsongas has supported U.S. investments that have helped spur Armenia's economic growth and advance the development of Armenia's democratic institutions while also helping the people of Armenia survive, despite Turkish and Azeri blockades.

"It is critical that the United States demonstrate appropriate diplomacy to improve relations between Armenia and Turkey," she confirmed. "I'm hopeful that with American leadership, normalization may soon take place. Armenians have made Merrimack Valley a more enriched ethnic community."

Elected in a special election in 2007, Tsongas is the first woman to serve in Congress from Massachusetts in 25 years. She holds the same seat that was occupied three decades earlier by her late husband, former Presidential candidate Paul Tsongas, who received an ANC Freedom Award from Merrimack Valley.

As a parting gesture, ANC members presented Tsongas with an enlarged photograph of Lowell which will proudly hang in her Washington office.