Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, CA 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
ancawr@anca.org

PRESS RELEASE
Friday, July 02, 2004
Contact: Ardashes Kassakhian
818.500.1918

CITY OF PASADENA AND ANC DELEGATION TO BEGIN OFFICIAL ARMENIA VISIT

YEREVAN, ARMENIA – An official California delegation led by membersof
the Pasadena Armenian National Committee (ANC), Pasadena Mayor Bill
Bogaard, Pasadena Police Chief Bernard Melikian began their official
visit to the Republic of Armenia. This is the first Pasadena City
delegation to visit the Republic of Armenia and will include a special
visit to Pasadena’s sister city of Vanadzor, Armenia. The Pasadena
delegation began their tour of Armenia onJuly 1st and will return on
July 5th.

Accompanying the Mayor and Police Chief are ANCA Pasadena ANC members
Suzanne Berberian, Sona Harytenian, Ara Sahakian. Mayor Bogaard is
servingout his second 4-year term as Pasadena’s first City-wide
elected mayor, after winning re-election with a vote of 85%. In 2003,
the Mayor was honored withthe Pasadena Armenian National Committee
Civic Leadership Award given to a public official who has worked
closely with the Armenian community and help build bridges between the
city’s diverse communities. Police Chief Melekian has been heading
the Pasadena police department since 1996. Prior to joining the City
of Pasadena, Chief Melekian served with the Santa Monica Police
Departmentfor 23 years. He was awarded the Medal of Valor in 1978 and
the Medal of Courage in 1980. He is of Armenian ancestry and this is
his first visit to the Republic of Armenia.

`We are very excited about this historic visit to Armenia and
particularly to Vanatzor,’ stated Pasadena ANC Chairman, Shahan
Stepanian. `This visit will serve to strengthen the ties between
Vanatzor and Pasadena and give our public officials a better
understanding of the rich Armenian culture and history.’ During the
four day visit, Mayor Bogaard and Chief Melikian are scheduled to meet
with the Mayor of Yerevan – Armenia’s capital, `Dzidzernagapert’ – the
Armenian Genocide Monument, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, and
`Ecthmiadzin’ the Holy See of the Armenian Church – one of the oldest
Christian Churches in the world.

The focus of the delegation’s visit will be a visit to Pasadena’s
sister city, Vanadzor. Vanadzor was established as Pasadena’s fourth
sister cityin 1991. Previously known as Kirovakan, it is located in
the northwestern region of Armenia, about 80 miles north of Yerevan.
With a population of about 175,000, it is the third largest city in
Armenia. Known for its rich natural beauty and mineral springs,
Vanadzor is undergoing a rebirth and revitalization after it was
nearly destroyed in the 1988 earthquake that rocked Armenia.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughoutthe 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.