I actually saw this on TV and it pissed me off. The groups they listed for
Armenia were mentioned as Islamic groups. They are the furthest thing from
that. And they haven't been very active in the past several years.
Jared
----- Forwarded message from ANCA <[log in to unmask]> -----
Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 16:39:25 -0500
From: ANCA <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: ANCA <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: ANCA Action: Help Ensure Accurate Media Coverage of Armenia
To: ANCA News List <[log in to unmask]>
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Media Action Alert
9/20/2001
HELP PREVENT MEDIA MISREPRESENTATION OF ARMENIA
-- Report Inaccurate or Misleading Coverage to the ANCA
================================================================
Situation:
================================================================
During this difficult period of national crisis, it is critically
important for the news media to provide accurate information to the
public concerning the tragic events surrounding the September 11th
terrorist attacks against our nation.
It is understandable that media outlets, particularly in the
broadcast media, may make errors due to the flood of incoming
information and the urgency of sharing it with the public.
However, we must be vigilant to not allow inaccurate or misleading
reporting to play a role in shaping public opinion or to impair
the ability of citizens to make sound judgments concerning our
collective response to this national tragedy.
With these thoughts in mind, in addition to taking part in blood
drives, prayer services, fundraising campaigns, and other relief
efforts, we can also do our part to help ensure accurate media
coverage, particularly in regard to Armenia and the Caucasus
region.
One example of inaccurate coverage was broadcast by the CBS Evening
News in its September 18th "Eye on America" segment. Commenting on
Islamic terrorist groups active in the Middle East, CBS London
Bureau-based correspondent Mark Phillips listed:
"...Iraq... the Popular Front for the Liberation
of Palestine, the PFLP GC, The Palestine Liberation
Front and the many branches of the Abu Nidal group
including the Fatah Revolutionary Council and Black
September. And, in Iran, the Mujahadeen. The
poisonous alphabet soup of terror spills into Turkey
and Armenia. And obviously to Afghanistan and bin
Laden's al-Qa'ida group. And that's just radical
Islamic terrorism leaving out all the rest."
The inclusion of Armenia by CBS in a list of nations in any way
linked to "radical Islamic terrorism," is completely without
foundation.
A video clip of this segment is one of several posted on the CBS
News website:
http://www.cbsnews.com/now/story/0,1597,311678-412,00.shtml
================================================================
Action:
================================================================
1) Please report media misrepresentations regarding Armenia to the
ANCA. Please include relevant details, including:
* Newspaper, magazine, television/radio station, or website
* Date and time
* Name of reporter
* Description of coverage
Forward to:
ANCA Eastern U.S.
80 Bigelow Avenue
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel: (617) 923-1918
Fax: (617) 926-5525
Email: [log in to unmask]
ANCA Western United States
104 North Belmont
Glendale, CA 91206
Tel: (818) 500-1918
Fax: (818) 246-7353
Email: [log in to unmask]
3) Visit the ANCA website to send a letter to media outlets that
have provided inaccurate coverage of Armenia. A sample letter is
provided for your reference, although a personalized letter is
always more effective.
http://www.anca.org
3) Contact the CBS Evening News to point out the inaccuracy of
their September 18th "Eye on America" report that Armenia is
somehow tied to "radical Islamic terrorism." You may wish to thank
CBS for its otherwise excellent coverage and commitment to high
journalistic standards.
Al Ortiz
Executive Producer
CBS Evening News with Dan Rather
524 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019-2902
Tel: (212) 975-3691
Fax: (212) 975-1893
Email: [log in to unmask]
================================================================
ANCA Statement on the National Day of Prayer:
================================================================
On this national day of prayer and remembrance, the Armenian
National Committee of America and the entire Armenian American
community throughout the United States join with all Americans in
condemning the September 11th terrorist attack on the United
States, in mourning those lost in this tragedy, and in summoning
our collective national resolve to stand up against - and hold
accountable - the perpetrators of these terrible crimes and their
supporters.
On behalf of Armenian Americans from throughout the country, we
extend our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to the families and
friends of the victims in Washington, New York and Pennsylvania,
including those from our communities. Armenian American churches,
institutions and individuals continue to contribute to the efforts
to recover from this national tragedy. We stand with President
George W. Bush as he leads the effort to discover those responsible
for this atrocity and bring them to justice. Our thoughts and
prayers remain with the victims of this attack on the American
people.
================================================================
Armenia Supports U.S. Response to Terrorism:
================================================================
* Armenia has pledged its support for United States military
action against terrorist camps in Afghanistan and other states in
retaliation for last week's attacks.
* The President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, was among the first
to write to President Bush following the attacks to condemn the
"evil of terrorism," and to "join the world in condemning this most
deplorable and inhuman act of violence."
* Armenians have suffered, first hand, from the same brand of pain
and destruction inflicted by the perpetrators of the recent
terrorist attacks against the United States. In 1992 and 1993 the
government of Azerbaijan deployed hundreds of Afghan-trained
mujahadeen mercenaries in their illegal and immoral war against the
Armenian population of Nagorno Karabagh.
================================================================
Sample Letter to Media Outlets:
================================================================
Dear news editor:
I am writing to pass along several points that may be of use to you
as you cover the aftermath of the horrific terrorist attacks on
September 11th.
* Armenia has pledged its support for United States military
action against terrorist camps in Afghanistan and other states in
retaliation for last week's attacks. (See RFE/RL, 9/19/01,
"Armenian Defense Chief Backs U.S. Anti-Terrorist Effort -
www.armenialiberty.org)
* The President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, was among the first
to write to President Bush following the attacks to condemn the
"evil of terrorism," and to "join the world in condemning this most
deplorable and inhuman act of violence." (See www.president.am)
* Armenian Americans continue to help our nation recover from this
tragedy. For more information on blood drives, prayer services,
fundraising, and other relief efforts, please contact the Armenian
National Committee Eastern U.S. - Email: [log in to unmask], tel:
(617) 923-1918; Western U.S. - Email: [log in to unmask], tel: (818)
500-1918.
* The Armenian National Committee of America, on the National Day
of Prayer and Remembrance, noted that "the entire Armenian American
community throughout the United States joins with all Americans in
condemning the September 11th terrorist attack on the United
States, in mourning those lost in this tragedy, and in summoning
our collective national resolve to stand up against - and hold
accountable - the perpetrators of these terrible crimes and their
supporters." (see www.anca.org)
* Armenians have suffered, first hand, from the same brand of pain
and destruction inflicted by the perpetrators of the recent
terrorist attacks against the United States. In 1992 and 1993 the
government of Azerbaijan deployed hundreds of Afghan-trained
mujahadeen mercenaries in their illegal and immoral war against the
Armenian population of Nagorno Karabagh.
* Yossef Bodansky, the former director of the U.S. Congressional
Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare, has documented
the link between Azerbaijan and Bin Laden's extensive terror
network. He wrote in the October 1999 issue of "Defense & Foreign
Affairs' Strategic Policy" that "Among the mujahedin presently
handled in Azerbaijan are numerous would-be shahids (suicide
terrorists) who had been trained in Osama bin Laden's camps in
Afghanistan."
* Despite concerns for his travel safety, Pope John Paul II will
still visit Armenia on September 25th to help celebrate the 1700th
anniversary of Armenia's adoption of Christianity as its state
religion.
Thank you for your consideration of these points and best wishes to
you and your colleagues as you cover this critically important
story.
Sincerely,
____________________
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[log in to unmask] Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience
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Please forward this message only to friends and family, who you
know would be interested in this issue. Please note that sending
unsolicited e-mail is considered "spam" and is illegal.
If you know of other activists who would be interested in receiving
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