Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) national and regional leaders explored opportunities for broader U.S.-Armenia cooperation, expanded foreign assistance, checks on Azerbaijani aggression, and justice for the Armenian Genocide during a week of policy-level consultations with the White House, State Department, and Members of Congress.

ANCA National Chairman Raffi Hamparian led the delegation, which included ANCA Eastern Region Chair Steve Mesrobian, ANCA Western Region Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq. and national board member Aida Dimejian. They were joined by ANCA staff, including Government Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian.

A special focus was placed on ANCA priorities in the Fiscal Year 2018 Foreign Aid bill, including increased aid to Artsakh for HALO Trust de-mining and healthcare services provided by the Lady Cox Rehabilitation Center. Also among the ANCA's top aid priorities are maintaining U.S. economic aid to Armenia and expanding U.S. support for Armenia as a safe haven for Middle East refugees. The President’s proposed FY 2018 budget included extremely sharp proposed reductions to all aid programs, including those for Armenia. Parallel to the ANCA's assistance advocacy, the delegation pressed for key provisions of Armenia's aid-to-trade transition, including a Double Tax Treaty and direct commercial and cargo flights between Los Angeles and Yerevan.

Among topics of discussion were the May 16th beating of peaceful protesters in Washington DC, by President Erdogan’s security forces and the need for a fundamental re-evaluation of U.S.-Turkey relations, including its policies regarding justice for the Armenian Genocide and the ongoing occupation of Cyprus.

"On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of Americans of Armenian heritage east of the Mississippi River, we welcomed this most recent opportunity to build on our grassroots base and our Washington advocacy to ensure that our community's voice is heard and that our priorities are advanced in our nation's capital," said ANCA National Board Member and ANCA-ER Chair Steve Mesrobian.

At the State Department, the ANCA held policy meetings with officials responsible for a range of regional areas and issues, including senior Trump Administration appointee Pam Pryor. A separate meeting was held with the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the growth of U.S.-Armenia bilateral economic cooperation.

During consultations with Armenian Ambassador to the United States Grigor Hovhannisian and Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Permanent Representative to the U.S. Robert Avetisyan, ANCA leader discussed expanding US ties with both republics.