ANCA-Western Region Endorses Sanders Over Clinton in California Democratic Primary

[Playinghardball]

Calls on Golden State’s Armenian-American Electorate to Back Sanders on June 7th

GLENDALE—The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region on Wednesday endorsed Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders as the Democratic candidate in the California presidential primary to be held on June 7. The ANCA-WR believes that Sanders is best positioned to advance foreign policies and international humanitarian principles supported by California’s Armenian-American electorate.

“The Armenian National Committee of America- Western Region is proud to endorse Bernie Sanders in California’s June 7th Democratic presidential primary as the only candidate with a proven record of consistent and strong support for issues that advance the Armenian Cause,” said ANCA-WR Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian.

As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1991-2007) and U.S. Senate (2008-present), Bernie Sanders has supported Armenian Genocide legislation, Section 907 restrictions on U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan, and efforts to secure Turkey’s return of confiscated Armenian and other Christian Churches.

As senator and later a presidential candidate in 2008, Clinton supported Armenian-American concerns, including her pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide. However, as Secretary of State, Clinton reneged on her promises and advanced an agenda through which she called the US recognition of the Armenian Genocide “a door that is a very dangerous one to go through” saying that it was a “matter of historical debate” rather than a political decision.

This stood in stark contrast to her pledge as a presidential candidate in 2008 when she unequivocally said: “I believe the horrible events perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians constitute a clear case of genocide.” In her book, “Hard Choices” Clinton characterized the Genocide issue as an “emotionally charged conflict” between Turkey and Armenia.

Immediately after assuming office as secretary of state, Clinton zealously shepherded the dangerous Armenia-Turkey protocols that posed a threat to Armenia’s national security. Her approach to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and her failure to properly condemn Azerbaijan’s military advances and rhetoric, further complicated the fragile peace process and resulted in loss of military and civilian lives in Artsakh.

In assessing the protocols process, as well as her worldview in the region, it is clear that Clinton’s motivations were to advance Azerbaijan’s oil interests over concerns for justice and human rights.

Clinton explicitly said in “Hard Choices” that the aim of the protocols and other initiatives in the Caucasus was not necessarily to achieve peace but to advance US interests.

In Clinton’s own words, “The conflict in the Caucasus posed problems for our plans for piping Central Asian natural gas to European markets to lessen their dependence on Russian energy.”

“Based upon Bernie Sanders’ positive legislative record, and in comparison to Hillary Clinton’s troubling opposition to Armenian-American issues as Secretary of State, it is our view that he would, as President, be more supportive of our community’s foreign policy priorities,” explained Hovsepian.

The California Primary Elections will be held on Tuesday, June 7. Polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The ANCA-WR urges all eligible registered Armenian-American voters living in California to vote on June 7.

More here: http://asbarez.com/151176/anca-western-region-endorses-sanders-over-clinton-in-california-democratic-primary/

[AzDar]

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