Armenian Assembly Hosts Successful Event in California

Looks Ahead to Gala “Celebrating the Future” on March 4, 2017

Guests at the Armenian Assembly 2017 Annual New Year Gathering

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last month, the Armenian Assembly (Assembly) held its annual New Year Gathering at the home of Assembly Board Member Talin Yacoubian and her husband Varuj Babikian in Glendale, California.

Assembly Board Assistant Secretary Lisa Kalustian opened the program by welcoming guests and thanking hosts Talin Yacoubian and Varuj Babikian for their hospitality.

“We are delighted to host this year’s gathering and share the Armenian Assembly’s accomplishments over the past year with so many members and supporters,” Yacoubian stated. “We are especially grateful to have the Assembly’s Yerevan Office Regional Director Arpi Vartanian with us today. There is certainly a big difference between reading the news and hearing firsthand accounts of the situation in Armenia and Artsakh. We are proud that the Assembly continues to promote public awareness of Armenian issues and works to strengthen both U.S.-Armenia and U.S.-Artsakh relations,” she added.

(L-R) Sosy Hachigian, Talin Yacoubian, and Nicole Nishanian

Vartanian briefed the guests on a wide range of issues and activities on current developments in the Republics of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, including interviews she conducted in Tavush and other villages near the Line of Contact. During the gathering, Vartanian received a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) for strengthening relations between the United States, Armenia, and Nagorno Karabakh, as well as a Certificate of Recognition from the City of Los Angeles signed by Mayor Eric Garcetti for her commitment and selfless dedication to gathering stories from individuals in Armenia and Artsakh about the situation on the Front Line.

(L-R) Armenian Assembly’s Yerevan Office Regional Director Arpi Vartanian accepting a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from Rep. Judy Chu’s Field Representative Anna Iskikian and a Certificate of Recognition from the City of Los Angeles presented by Christine Jerian from Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office.

I am honored to receive these Certificates of Recognition on behalf of the Armenian Assembly’s work in Armenia and Artsakh,“ Vartanian said. "The work done by the Armenian Diaspora does not go unnoticed, and does have an impact on people’s lives. Our Diaspora should be proud of its role in that work. As Mayor Garcetti wrote, we give ‘a voice to the voiceless,’” she continued.

Also in attendance were California State Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, Glendale Mayor Paula Devine, Glendale Councilmembers Zareh Sinanyan and Vartan Gharpetian, Glendale Unified School District Board of Education President Dr. Armina Gharpetian, Armenian Caucus Vice Co-Chair Rep. Adam Schiff’s (D-CA) District Representative Mary Hovagimian, Rep. Chu’s Field Representative Anna Iskikian, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Representative Christine Jerian.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501©(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

Click here to see more photos from the Armenian Assembly of America’s 2017 New Year Gathering.

Click here to learn more about the upcoming Gala “Celebrating the Future” on March 4, 2017.