NORA Mourns the Death of President Ford
December 27, 2006

Los Angeles, CA - The National Organization of Republican Armenians mourns the loss of President Gerald R. Ford who passed away on December 26, 2006 at his California home at the age of 93. He is survived by his wife Betty Ford and family.

President Gerald Ford
Courtesy: Ford Presidential Library & Museum

President Gerald Ford was a true friend of the American-Armenian community. He properly recognized the early calamities of the 20th century as genocide - the Armenian Genocide - and spoke with all due moral clarity during the 50th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

President George W. Bush, Former President Gerald Ford and Betty Ford greet the media at the end of his visit in Rancho Mirage, California, Sunday, April 2006 Courtesy Office of the President, White House; Eric Draper

President Ford represented the State of Michigan in Congress for more than 25 years, prior to his presidency. While President, Ford signed the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 with the Soviet Union. This treaty established the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which later evolved and established into the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The latter currently serves as the negotiating body between the Republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan over the final fate of the mountainous enclave of Nagorno Karabakh.

As a champion of human rights and liberty, President Ford's legacy is proudly celebrated amongst American-Armenians. In fact, thanks to his efforts in signing the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 with the Soviet Union, the Republic of Armenia, in 1991, was able to declare its independence from the USSR. Armenia used the legal justification set forth in the Helsinki Final Act to gain full statehood and become a member of the international community as an independent republic.

The National Organization of Republican Armenians plans to establish a scholarship endowment in the memory of President Ford for American-Armenian college students who are currently studying political science and government affairs.

NORA proudly celebrates the life and legacy of President Ford, a great man who led our country during difficult times.