Washington, D.C. – The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) welcomes the establishment of the California State Assembly’s first Select Committee on California and Armenia Mutual Trade, Art, and Cultural Exchange, spearheaded last month by Assemblymember John Harabedian (AD-41).
Armenian Assembly advocates and board member Valina Agbabian attended the committee’s inaugural hearing.
The Select Committee will examine ways to expand trade and business partnerships between California and Armenia, encourage investment and innovation, strengthen educational and academic exchanges, promote Armenian art, culture, and tourism, and elevate the contributions of California’s Armenian American community.
The hearing featured two panels: the first focused on California-Armenia international relations, with remarks from California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States of America Narek Mkrtchyan, Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles Anna Avetisyan, and Trade and Investment Representative for Europe, MEA, India with GO-Biz Tricia Utterback. The second panel addressed California–Armenia economic and business insights, with remarks by Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian, Vahe Kuzoyan, Co-founder of ServiceTitan, and Armine Galstyan, Head of North American Operations & Principal at SmartGateVC. Both panels highlighted the importance of deepening ties between California and Armenia, while emphasizing the positive advancements that have been made and continue to develop.
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“This committee marks a meaningful step forward for California’s relationship with Armenia,” said David Ojakian, Western Region Director of the Armenian Assembly of America. “California is home to the largest Armenian American community in the country, and this committee gives that community a structured platform to help shape trade, cultural, and educational partnerships for years to come. We thank Assemblymember Harabedian for his leadership.”
Mark Tashjian, David Ojakian, Valina Agbabian, Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles Anna Avetisyan, Armine Galstyan, Aden Ghadimi
In addition to the hearing, in the meetings held during the day, Assembly advocates educated members and staff on the current pro-Armenian advocacy priorities, including the release of Armenian hostages. Earlier in April, Assembly advocates also requested and helped rally support for a California Armenian Legislative Caucus bicameral letter to the Trump Administration calling for more to be done to secure the release of Armenian hostages, the right of return of Artsakh Armenians, the withdrawal of Azeri soldiers from sovereign Armenian territory, and the protection and preservation of Armenian cultural, religious, and heritage monuments of Artsakh. The letter was signed by 25 members of the California Armenian Legislative Caucus.
The Assembly’s Spring 2026 National Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC, held this past April, also emphasized the urgency of and the need for the unconditional release of Armenian hostages unjustly held by Azerbaijan.
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 strictly non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
Main photo: Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian, Assembly Western Region Director David Ojakian, Assembly advocate Mark Tashjian, Amb. John Harabedian (AD-41), Assembly board member Valina Agbabian, following the Select Committee Hearing
Armenian Assembly of America