ANCA endorses Rep. Edward Markey in Mass. Senate special election

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has announced its endorsement for Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA-5) in this month’s Massachusetts Senate special election to be held on Tuesday, June 25, 2013.

"For over 30 years, Congressman Markey has been a steadfast supporter on a broad range of Armenian American concerns – from justice for the Armenian Genocide to self-determination for Nagorno Karabakh and U.S. assistance for a stronger Armenia and Artsakh," said ANCA National Board member Stephen Mesrobian of Foxborough, MA. “We stand with Congressman Markey as he seeks to continue his service to the Commonwealth in the U.S. Senate, encourage Armenian Americans to vote for him on June 25th, and look forward to working with him following Tuesday’s special election victory."

Since first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976, Rep. Markey has been a strong and consistent advocate on Armenian issues, receiving multiple “A+” ratings from the ANCA in its Congressional Report Card, issued every two years.

He has been outspoken in support of U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide, cosponsoring all related legislation introduced in the U.S. House, including the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution (H.Res.227), introduced in May of this year. In his annual Armenian Genocide commemorative statement submitted for the Congressional Record this year, Rep. Markey explained, "Almost one-hundred years have passed since the Armenian Genocide, yet the suffering will continue for Armenians and non-Armenians alike as long as the world allows denial to prevail."

Since the independence of the Republic of Armenia, Rep. Markey has been a consistent supporter of robust U.S. assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, annually joining colleagues in urging the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations to maintain high-levels of funding, given the dual blockades of Turkey and Azerbaijan. In 2008, he joined over 50 of his Congressional colleagues in calling on then-Secretary Rice to challenge Azerbaijan’s threats of renewed war against Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, and to take concrete action to hold leaders in Baku accountable for actions that directly undermine the Administration’s policy of fostering peace and stability in the South Caucasus region.

The June 25th Massachusetts Senate special election will determine who will fill now Secretary of State John Kerry’s vacant seat for the remainder of his term, ending January 3, 2015.