"While it is hard to compare the strength of lobbies that are working on very different issues, it is clear that the Armenian lobby is strong and growing stronger, confident in the knowledge that as Armenians - in the homeland and the Diaspora - we are collectively the authors of our own destiny," Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian stated in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. "Here are just a few examples of our progress. We launched the pioneering California-Armenia Trade Office to increase bilateral trade and create jobs in the U.S. and Armenia. In just the past two years, due in large part to our efforts to normalize U.S.-Armenia trade relations, Armenian exports to the U.S. rose from $37.6 million (2003) to $45.8 million (2005). The growth of our local ANCA chapters to more than fifty - particularly in non-traditional states such as Nevada, Arizona, Florida, and Texas. The increased level of assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, which has amounted to $1.6 billion since 1991 - and especially the new $235 million Millennium Challenge grant to Armenia. The growing opposition to Turkey's denial of the Armenian Genocide in the U.S. Congress, the media, and academia. For example, within the past year the Armenian Genocide Resolution passed a key Congressional committee by a vote of 40 to 7, a dramatic increase over the 24 to 11 vote on a similar measure in 2000. Also, 38 of the 50 U.S. states have recognized the Armenian Genocide," he said.

Full text of the interview