–Boundary_(ID_Yu+g60TCROCy/7B58l3BHQ)
Content-typ e: message/rfc822

Content-return: allowed
From: Assembly <info@aaainc.org>
Subject: AAA: Board of Directors Chairman Meets With Kocharian, Ghoukasian
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-transfer-encoding: 8BIT

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: info@aaainc.org
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
June 29, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: ckojoian@aaainc.org

ASSEMBLY BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRMAN MEETS WITH PRESIDENTS KOCHARIAN,
GHOUKASIAN IN ARMENIA
Official 10-Day Visit Includes Stops to Karabakh and Georgia

Washington, DC – Armenian Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony
Barsamian concluded a series of high-level meetings in Armenia Saturday,
assessing first-hand the impact of U.S. policies and actions in the region
and exchanging perspectives on a wide range of regional and bilateral
issues. During the course of a 10-day, three-country visit, Barsamian and
Country Director for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh Arpi Vartanian conferred
with several government leaders, including Presidents Robert Kocharian and
Arkady Ghoukasian and Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania.

Beginning in Armenia on June 18, Barsamian and Vartanian met with Prime
Minister Andranik Margarian, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and Trade
Minister Karen Chshmaritian. Talks centered on economic development
initiatives – with emphasis on the Millennium Challenge Account, a new U.S.
financial assistance program which Armenia is eligible to apply for. The
Assembly delegation also raised issues pertaining to Armenia’s economic
growth during talks with President Robert Kocharian on June 25.

“Regional integration and economic development will be a vital component to
the growth and sustainability of the Armenian economy,” said Barsamian, who
was on his first visit to Armenia since assuming chairmanship of Board. “We
appreciate the willingness of government leaders to work with us in
promoting sustainable development programs and initiatives.”

While in Yerevan, Barsamian and Vartanian also met with NKR President Arkady
Ghoukasian – addressing ways in which to keep that country’s development
moving forward – before traveling to Karabakh for meetings with Prime
Minister Anoushavan Danielian and Foreign Minister Ashot Ghulian.

The Assembly delegation also visited Georgia for meetings with Prime
Minister Zurab Zhvania, as well as Armenian community leaders, including
Armenian Ambassador Georgi Khosroev, Georgian Parliamentarian Van
Baybourtian and Archbishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian, Primate of Georgia.
Barsamian, in those meetings, encouraged Georgia to build transportation
infrastructures between the Capital city of Tiblisi and Javak, a region in
southern Georgia populated largely by Armenians.

Barsamian and Vartanian also met with several U.S. officials including
Ambassador to Georgia Richard Miles and outgoing Ambassador to Armenia John
Ordway, who spoke about his tenure in Armenia and hopes for the country’s
future.

Prior to returning to the U.S., Barsamian also met with His Holiness Karekin
II and visited historical sites in and around Armenia including the
Gandzasar Monastery, the Amenaprkich Church in Shushi and the Pantheon in
Tiblisi where famous Armenians such as writer Hovhannes Toumanian and
composer Magar Yegmalian are buried.

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#2004-062

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

Caption: Armenia President Robert Kocharian, far right, with Assembly Board
of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian and Country Director Arpi Vartanian
in Yerevan.

Caption: Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady Ghoukasian flanked by Assembly
Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian and Country Director Arpi
Vartanian.

Caption: L to R: Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian,
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and Country Director Arpi Vartanian.

Caption: Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian, seated,
listens as a HALO Trust official explains the importance of clearing deadly
landmines that threaten people and livestock in Nagorno Karabakh.

Caption: Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian and Country
Director Arpi Vartanian with Father Hovhanes at the Gandzasar Monastery in
Nagorno Karabakh.

Caption: Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian with NKR
Prime Minister Anushavan Danielian.

Caption: Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian with His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
–Boundary_(ID_Yu+g60TCROCy/7B58l3BHQ)–