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AAA: Assembly's Young Leadership Group Mission Returns From Armenia

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  • AAA: Assembly's Young Leadership Group Mission Returns From Armenia

    Armenian Assembly of America
    1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
    Washington, DC 20036
    Phone: 202-393-3434
    Fax: 202-638-4904
    Email: [email protected]
    Web: www.armenianassembly.org

    PRESS RELEASE
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    August 1, 2005
    CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
    Email: [email protected]

    ASSEMBLY'S YOUNG LEADERSHIP GROUP MISSION RETURNS FROM ARMENIA
    Trip Encourages Youth toward Community Activism

    Washington, DC - In a major push to encourage future generations to
    increase their community activism, the Assembly led its first-ever
    "Young Leadership Group Mission to Armenia," from June 29 through July
    11. Some 60 Assembly intern alumni, young professionals and families
    with children participated in the trip for a first-hand look at life
    in their ancestral home.

    "We are extremely pleased to offer this Mission as a way of bringing
    young families to Armenia to rediscover their roots," said Assembly
    Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian, who was in Yerevan
    for an official visit. "Everyone in the group, including our youngest
    travelers, enjoyed Armenia's rich culture and heritage and recognized
    that they too can help shape Armenia's future."

    During their 12-day excursion, Mission participants discussed the
    latest economic, social and political developments during meetings
    with Armenia's Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, Karabakh's Foreign
    Minister Arman Melikian and U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans.
    The group also traveled to Etchmiadzin where they met with His
    Holiness Karekin II and presented him with a plaque, commending him
    for inspiring Armenian youth toward community service and thanking
    him for his recent visit to the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church.

    The 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide also made it an
    especially poignant time to be in Armenia. On July 6 the group visited
    the Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial at Tsitsernakabert where
    they laid flowers and discussed how the atrocities impacted their
    ancestors and brought their families to the United States.

    Travelers also explored the sights and sounds of Armenia through
    guided tours of Lake Sevan, the Voske Ser dairy farm and cheese
    factory and the Armenia Tree Project nursery in the village of Karin.
    The Mission also visited the Armenian-American Wellness Center,
    which was co-founded by Assembly Associate Trustee Rita Balian,
    and toured the Center for Aesthetic Education in Gyumri.

    "My trip to Armenia really opened my eyes to the needs of this
    developing country," said Nikki Hatza, 17, of Merion, Pennsylvania.
    "In many places even the most basic services such as running water,
    were not available. Although Armenia is making progress, I really feel
    that with the help of diasporan Armenians great strides can be made."

    "It's especially important that young Armenian-Americans let our
    representatives in Washington know what is happening in Armenia
    and how important it is for the U.S. to continue to provide aid,"
    Hatza continued. "I am planning to attend the Assembly's National
    Convention in Washington, DC in March so that I can work with others
    toward a strong and economically stable Armenia."

    Children ages five through fifteen also met new friends in Armenia via
    the Assembly's "Camp Yerevan" program. Six local Armenian children
    joined the Mission group and took part in a series of activities
    including a major clean-up project at the park adjacent to the Genocide
    Monument. Kids cleaned the grounds - removing brush and pruning trees -
    in preparation for new planting at the site. During a lighter moment,
    youngsters enjoyed making their own handmade crafts with the help of
    local artisans, courtesy of Made in Armenia Direct.

    "During the course of the Mission, we saw our families grow closer
    together and bond with their ancestral home and its people," said
    Deputy Executive Director Peter Abajian, who was on the Mission.
    "Most of the children and young professionals recognize that this is
    a life-changing trip and have plans to return."

    Assembly Leaders Meet with Government Officials

    Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian and Executive Director
    Bryan Ardouny, who were on a working visit in Armenia the week of
    July 13, met with several government officials including President
    Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, Foreign Minister
    Vartan Oskanian, Defense Minister Serge Sargsian, Parliament Chairman
    Arthur Baghdasarian, Transport and Communications Minister Andranik
    Manoukian and Karabakh Foreign Minister Arman Melikyan.

    Prior to their visit to Armenia, Barsamian and Ardouny were in Brussels
    for a series of meetings to discuss EU policy as it affects the South
    Caucasus and Turkey. Barsamian and Ardouny met with the U.S. Ambassador
    to Belgium Tom C. Korologos and Armenian Ambassador to Belgium Vigen
    Chitechian, as well as numerous European Commission officials.

    In Armenia, talks centered on the peace process, U.S.-Armenia military
    cooperation and a proposed Kars-Akhalkalaki rail link which would
    connect Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan but not traverse Armenia.
    Yerevan officials again reiterated their concern for the ill-proposed
    route which would isolate Armenia from economic and commercial
    opportunities and potentially destabilize the region.

    Additionally, Barsamian praised the Armenian government for its wise
    decision to prevent the Kapan-Meghri strategic highway from cutting
    through the Shikahogh State Preserve, a virgin forest in Armenia.
    Both Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian and President Carolyn
    Mugar, also founder of the Armenia Tree Project, personally intervened
    in the campaign to preserve the ancient habitat for future generations.

    "Our visit to Armenia was a continuation of the Assembly's
    long-standing policy of meeting with Armenia and Karabakh leaders,"
    said Ardouny. "The Assembly is committed to help foster strong
    U.S.-Armenia, U.S.-Karabakh relations and to ensure that Armenia is
    not isolated by Turkey's and Azerbaijan's blockades or any attempts
    to marginalize and weaken our homeland."

    Barsamian added that Assembly leaders will continue such trips to the
    region as an integral part of strengthening bilateral relations and
    also encouraged Assembly supporters to take part in future Mission
    trips.

    "In October, the Assembly will be back in Armenia for its tenth
    annual Trustees Mission led by Board of Directors Vice Chair
    Annie Totah," said Barsamian. "We hope our supporters will help us
    celebrate this milestone occasion which will mark the Assembly's
    first-ever international banquet celebrating the strong U.S.-Armenia
    relationship."

    The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
    nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
    of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
    organization.

    ###

    NR#2005-083

    Photographs available on the Assembly's Web site at the following link:

    http://www.aaainc.org/images/press/2005-083/2005- 083-1.jpg

    Caption: During their first full day in Yerevan, Assembly Mission
    participants took a bus tour of Yerevan, stopping along the way to
    see the Matenadaran, a famous repository and research center named
    after Mesrop Mashtots who created the Armenian alphabet 1600 years ago.

    http://www.aaainc.org/images/press/2005-083/2005-083-2.jpg

    Caption: On July 1, Mission participants spent the day at Lake Sevan,
    where they toured the monastery, went swimming and enjoyed lunch at
    the resort.

    http://www.aaainc.org/images/press/2005-083/2005-083-3.jpg

    Caption: The group met with His Holiness Karekin II at Etchmiazdzin
    on July 3, which marks Vartavar Day, a pagan holiday celebrating water.

    http://www.aaainc.org/images/press/2005-083/2005-083-4.jpg

    Caption: On July 4, participants celebrated U.S. Independence Day
    at the Cascades. The group enjoyed a special concert and fireworks
    display, courtesy of the Cafesjian Museum Foundation and the Armenian
    Assembly.

    http://www.aaainc.org/images/press/2005-083/2005-083-5.jpg

    Caption: The group paid their respects at the Armenian Genocide
    Museum and Memorial at Tsitsernakabert. After a tour of the Museum,
    the oldest and youngest participants planted a memorial tree together.
    http://www.aaainc.org/images/press/2005-083/2005-083-6.jpg

    Caption: Parents and children spent the day milking cows and enjoying
    hay rides during a visit to the Voske Ser dairy farm and cheese
    factory in Ashotsh. The farm, owned and operated by Assembly Members
    Sarkis Bedevian and Aram Khachadurian, employs the majority of the
    local residents.

    http://www.aaainc.org/images/press/2005-083/2005-083-7.jpg

    Caption: Armenia President Robert Kocharian, right, with Assembly
    Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian.

    http://www.aaainc.org/images/press/2005-083/2005-083-8.jpg

    Caption: L to R: Assembly Country Director for Armenia and NKR Arpi
    Vartanian, Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian, Armenia's
    Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and Assembly Executive Director
    Bryan Ardouny, during their meeting in Yerevan.

    http://www.aaainc.org/images/press/2005-083/2005-083-9.jpg

    Caption: L to R: Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny,
    U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Tom Korologos and Assembly Board of
    Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian.

    http://www.aaainc.org/images/press/2005-083/2005-083-10.jpg

    Caption: L to R: Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony
    Barsamian, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, Assembly Country
    Director for Armenia and NKR Arpi Vartanian and Executive Director
    Bryan Ardouny.

    ####
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