LOS ANGELES, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) released the results of a public policy survey that gauged the Armenian American community’s position on a number of major issues. As reported earlier this month and covered by media outlets around the world, the survey found that 97 percent of Armenian Americans are opposed to the confirmation of genocide denier Richard Hoagland to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Armenia.

The ANCA-WR Internet poll was conducted between December 28, 2006 and January 8, 2007 and included the participation of individuals across the Western United States. The internet poll surveyed the opinions of 648 individuals and had an error margin of plus/minus 3 percent.

“The results of this survey demonstrate the widespread support for U.S. Senate opposition to the nomination of Richard Hoagland as Ambassador to Armenia,” stated Andrew Kzirian, ANCA-WR Executive Director. Furthermore, Kzirian added, “participants in the survey expressed overwhelming support for the passage of a Congressional Resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide, in addition to promoting US-Armenia trade relations and relations with Nagorno-Karabagh. These results suggest an increasing sense of political engagement within our Armenian American communities.”

In a remarkable finding that marks the powerful changes being enabled by the Internet, the survey showed that 42 percent of the respondents primarily use the Internet to secure Armenian-related news by accessing websites operated by Armenian newspapers. 38 percent of those polled preferred receiving Armenian news by reading the print versions of Armenian newspapers. A number of individuals registered that they primarily receive Armenian-related news through GOOGLE searches, the Groong news collection service or through organizations like the Armenian Youth Federation and publications like the AGBU magazine.

On the eve of the introduction of an Armenian Genocide resolution in the 110th Congress, the public policy survey indicated that over 99 percent of Armenian Americans feel that the U.S. Congress should pass such a resolution by April 24th of this year. The survey found that over 98 percent of respondents felt that the U.S. Government has a responsibility to promote and expand bilateral U.S.-Armenia trade and investment. The same percentage believed that state governments should support economic initiatives, like California-Armenia Trade Office (CATO), that was recently established through the efforts of the ANCA-WR. According the poll’s findings, 96 percent of respondents believe that the U.S. should formalize its relationship with Nagorno-Karabagh’s government in Stepanakert.

With regard to prioritizing issues, survey participants showed strong support for the ANCA’s efforts to improve media coverage of Armenian issues, broadening bipartisan Congressional support of Armenian American issues and registering more Armenian American voters. 44 percent of the poll’s respondents were supportive of efforts to increase the participation of young Armenian Americans in the fields of media and politics. Nearly half of the survey respondents emphasized the importance of broadly encouraging pro-Armenian State Department policies.

Almost three quarters of survey participants identified ANCA webfaxes as the most preferred method of keeping in contact with their elected officials – surpassing all other methods polled. More than three quarters of those surveyed identified ANCA e-mail updates as their major source for news on Armenian issues.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.