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Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
February 23, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR JOINS LOS ANGELES MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL IN INAUGURATING LOS ANGELES
AND YEREVAN AS SISTER CITIES
LOS ANGELES, CA - In a special ceremony during the February 23rd Los Angeles
City Council session, the Armenian National Committee of America-Western
Region (ANCA-WR) joined Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Council President Eric
Garcetti, Yerevan Mayor, Yervand Zakharyan and the entire Los Angeles City
Council in inaugurating the Los Angeles-Yerevan Sister City relationship and
association. The Los Angeles-Yerevan Sister City Association (LAYSCA) was
established by a resolution adopted by the council and the agreement was
signed on February 23 by both mayors during the city council session before
a standing-room only crowd in City Hall.
During the ceremony Mayor Villaraigosa reiterated his interest in forging
the relationship with Yerevan. "Today we are bridging two communities and
forever linking two cities together. Los Angeles and Yerevan have much in
common, and the establishment of this Sister City relationship will only
strengthen our commonalities and bring new ones to light," said Mayor
Villaraigosa. "I am proud to say that Los Angeles is home to the largest
Armenian population outside of Armenia and that Armenian-Americans have been
an integral part of Los Angeles' economic and cultural vitality for
decades."
Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti recognized the importance
of the day in his remarks. "It's great to see so many Armenian
organizations represented here today, you must all be proud, please take
ownership of this Sister City organization and make it the best we've ever
seen, because we all know that Armenian Americans have always been an
integral part of Los Angeles' cultural vitality. Thank you, Mayor
Zakharyan, for accepting our invitation and coming out to celebrate this
momentous occasion with us, we have a lot to learn from Yerevan, a City that
is 2,789 years old, and I hope in return we will have much to offer your
city," said Garcetti.
The inauguration marks the culmination of an on-going effort by the Armenian
American community of Los Angeles to establish the partnership between
Armenia's capital city and the U.S. city with the largest population of
Armenian Americans. In August 2005, Councilman Garcetti traveled to Armenia
with leaders of the ANCA-WR and the Los Angeles Armenian community in order
to meet with Armenian officials and identify potential programs between Los
Angeles and Yerevan.
In acknowledging the role the ANCA-WR played in supporting the formation of
the association, Garcetti noted, "I also want to thank the Armenian National
Committee, the organization that I work closely with, the organization that
sponsored our trip to Yerevan."
"Thanks to our combined efforts with Mayor Villaraigosa, City Council
President Garcetti and Mayor Zakharyan, today marks a new milestone as we
forge an official relationship between Los Angeles and Yerevan, two cities
which hold tremendous importance for the Armenian Americans and citizens of
Armenia," said Raffi Hamparian, Chairman of the ANCA-WR.
"Armenian-Americans are both proud Angelinos as well as proud Armenians and
it is our intention that the establishment of the sister city association
will usher in the next era of meaningful cooperation and partnership between
these two great cities of the world."
"We are grateful for the leadership shown by the ANCA-WR, Mayor Villaraigosa
and Council President Garcetti in getting the Los Angeles-Yerevan Sister
City Association off the ground," said Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian, President
of the LAYSCA. "With the help of the entire Armenian American community of
Los Angeles, the association's vision and commitment is to expand the
working relationship between the two city governments in order to build
meaningful programs that will benefit the citizens of both cities."
ANCA-WR board members and staff accompanied the mayors, city council members
and board members of the newly formed LAYSCA during official meetings and
the signing ceremony. In attendance for the special occasion was Los
Angeles Consul General of Armenia, Armen Liloyan, Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirosian of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Church, Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church and dozens of
leaders from a wide cross-section of cultural, social and community
organizations.
The Armenian National Committee of America 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.
###
PHOTO CAPTION: Mayor Villaraigosa, Yerevan Mayor Yervand Zakharyan, and
City Council President Garcetti are joined by the Los Angeles City Council,
members of the LAYSCA and community following the inauguration of the
Association.
(Photo Available Upon Request to [email protected])
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
February 23, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR JOINS LOS ANGELES MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL IN INAUGURATING LOS ANGELES
AND YEREVAN AS SISTER CITIES
LOS ANGELES, CA - In a special ceremony during the February 23rd Los Angeles
City Council session, the Armenian National Committee of America-Western
Region (ANCA-WR) joined Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Council President Eric
Garcetti, Yerevan Mayor, Yervand Zakharyan and the entire Los Angeles City
Council in inaugurating the Los Angeles-Yerevan Sister City relationship and
association. The Los Angeles-Yerevan Sister City Association (LAYSCA) was
established by a resolution adopted by the council and the agreement was
signed on February 23 by both mayors during the city council session before
a standing-room only crowd in City Hall.
During the ceremony Mayor Villaraigosa reiterated his interest in forging
the relationship with Yerevan. "Today we are bridging two communities and
forever linking two cities together. Los Angeles and Yerevan have much in
common, and the establishment of this Sister City relationship will only
strengthen our commonalities and bring new ones to light," said Mayor
Villaraigosa. "I am proud to say that Los Angeles is home to the largest
Armenian population outside of Armenia and that Armenian-Americans have been
an integral part of Los Angeles' economic and cultural vitality for
decades."
Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti recognized the importance
of the day in his remarks. "It's great to see so many Armenian
organizations represented here today, you must all be proud, please take
ownership of this Sister City organization and make it the best we've ever
seen, because we all know that Armenian Americans have always been an
integral part of Los Angeles' cultural vitality. Thank you, Mayor
Zakharyan, for accepting our invitation and coming out to celebrate this
momentous occasion with us, we have a lot to learn from Yerevan, a City that
is 2,789 years old, and I hope in return we will have much to offer your
city," said Garcetti.
The inauguration marks the culmination of an on-going effort by the Armenian
American community of Los Angeles to establish the partnership between
Armenia's capital city and the U.S. city with the largest population of
Armenian Americans. In August 2005, Councilman Garcetti traveled to Armenia
with leaders of the ANCA-WR and the Los Angeles Armenian community in order
to meet with Armenian officials and identify potential programs between Los
Angeles and Yerevan.
In acknowledging the role the ANCA-WR played in supporting the formation of
the association, Garcetti noted, "I also want to thank the Armenian National
Committee, the organization that I work closely with, the organization that
sponsored our trip to Yerevan."
"Thanks to our combined efforts with Mayor Villaraigosa, City Council
President Garcetti and Mayor Zakharyan, today marks a new milestone as we
forge an official relationship between Los Angeles and Yerevan, two cities
which hold tremendous importance for the Armenian Americans and citizens of
Armenia," said Raffi Hamparian, Chairman of the ANCA-WR.
"Armenian-Americans are both proud Angelinos as well as proud Armenians and
it is our intention that the establishment of the sister city association
will usher in the next era of meaningful cooperation and partnership between
these two great cities of the world."
"We are grateful for the leadership shown by the ANCA-WR, Mayor Villaraigosa
and Council President Garcetti in getting the Los Angeles-Yerevan Sister
City Association off the ground," said Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian, President
of the LAYSCA. "With the help of the entire Armenian American community of
Los Angeles, the association's vision and commitment is to expand the
working relationship between the two city governments in order to build
meaningful programs that will benefit the citizens of both cities."
ANCA-WR board members and staff accompanied the mayors, city council members
and board members of the newly formed LAYSCA during official meetings and
the signing ceremony. In attendance for the special occasion was Los
Angeles Consul General of Armenia, Armen Liloyan, Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirosian of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Church, Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church and dozens of
leaders from a wide cross-section of cultural, social and community
organizations.
The Armenian National Committee of America 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.
###
PHOTO CAPTION: Mayor Villaraigosa, Yerevan Mayor Yervand Zakharyan, and
City Council President Garcetti are joined by the Los Angeles City Council,
members of the LAYSCA and community following the inauguration of the
Association.
(Photo Available Upon Request to [email protected])