Washington, D.C. – Earlier this month, the leadership of the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) met with government officials and representatives of international and non-governmental humanitarian organizations in Armenia. During the meetings, a wide range of issues and topics were discussed, including Armenia’s security, increased U.S. engagement, the release of POWs, Diaspora relations, and the need for humanitarian relief, among other issues.
“Increasing and expanding U.S. engagement to support democratic Armenia and ensure its security is paramount. We continue to urge more U.S. and international delegations to travel to Armenia and Artsakh, and express our solidarity with the Armenian people,” said Assembly Co-Chairs Anthony Barsamian and Van Krikorian.
“Most importantly, we met with both government and opposition to discuss the need to bridge differences in support of the common goal of protecting Armenian lives and our future in Armenia and Artsakh. We feel there is no room for partisan politics when it comes to defending against another Genocide, and we greatly appreciated our reception.”
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Assembly Co-Chairs Anthony Barsamian and Van Krikorian, Assembly Board of Trustees Member Herman Purutyan, Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, Assembly Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan, and Assembly Regional Director Arpi Vartanian, were joined by Michigan State Representative Mari Manoogian (D-MI) in Armenia, where they met with the President of the Republic of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, former President Serzh Sargsyan, former President Robert Kocharyan, the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan, the former Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan, the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan, International Committee of the Red Cross Director Thierry Ribaux, the Ambassador of France to Armenia Anne Louyot and Premier Conseiller Christophe Katsahian, as well as with representatives of the The HALO Trust, where demining and the clearing of cluster munitions in Armenia and Artsakh were discussed, as well as the critical need of continued U.S. assistance. Additional meetings were organized with Chip Laitinen, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the U.S. in Yerevan, Armenia, John Allelo, Mission Director of USAID/Armenia, and His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, in addition to attending the annual AGBU General Assembly.
The Assembly delegation also visited Yerablur and Tsisternakaberd in honor of the fallen soldiers and Armenian Genocide martyrs.