PRESS RELEASE
October 21, 2004
Contact: Sarkis Kotanjian
818.243.6222
[email protected]
www.ar meniafund.org
Prime Minister of Karabakh Concludes Statewide Tour of California
-Tour Highlights AFI Accomplishments, Karabakh Economic Development-
Glendale, CA (October 21) – The Prime Minister of Nagorno Karabakh Republic
(Karabakh), H.E. Anushavan Danielyan, concluded a statewide tour of
California’s Armenian-American communities in support of Telethon 2004 Make
It Happen – Armenia Fund’s (AFI) annual fundraising event scheduled for
Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25, 2004.
Visiting Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and San Francisco,
the prime minister’s delegation attended numerous community briefings and
receptions, as well as met with AFI donors and Armenian-American political
and cultural organizations. The delegation included Maria Mehranian, AFI
Chairperson; Gagik Kirakossian, Consul General of the Republic of Armenia;
Ara Aghishian, AFI Vice-Chairman; and Vardan Barseghian, NKR Permanent
Representative in the US.
AFI hosted several public briefings that provided opportunities for
community members to learn more about Karabakh’s economic progress, as well
as AFI’s accomplishments in implementing $100 million of humanitarian aid
and infrastructure projects in Armenia and Karabakh. The delegation also
visit numerous Armenian-American owned agriculture businesses in California’s
Central Valley. “The Prime Minister’s tour helped us generate greater
momentum and support not only for Telethon 2004, but also for future
economic and development opportunities in Karabakh. AFI is committed to
providing such vital links between the Diapsora, Armenia and Karabakh,” said
Mehranian.
On Tuesday, October 12th, AFI supporter Kosti Shirvanian hosted a reception
honoring the prime minister at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach. The event,
attended by Newport Beach Mayor Tod Ridgeway, Orange County Sheriff Michael
Corona and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, raised over $30,000 for
Telethon 2004 and the North-South Highway.
In a final public appearance, AFI hosted a kick-off reception with the prime
minister for the upcoming presidential gala dinner. The reception held on
Thursday, October 14th in Glendale, California, sold 45 tables for the
November 21st dinner welcoming Karabakh’s president, Arkady Ghoukasian. The
prime minister stressed the strategic and economic significance of
completing the North-South Highway in Karabakh – Telethon 2004’s beneficiary
project. Upon completion, the highway will link over 150 villages and towns
in Karabakh and provide increased economic, trade and foreign investments
opportunities, as well as significantly enhance the security of the region.
Throughout the statewide tour, the prime minister met with numerous federal,
state and local officials including Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), State
Assemblyman Ronald Calderon (D-CA), Montebello Mayor Norma Lopez-Reid and
Solana Beach Mayor Joe Kellejian.
The delegation also met with H.E. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of
the Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, H.E. Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church of America as well as with the leadership of the Armenian
Assembly of America, Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian National
Committee of America, Armenian Ramgavar Azatakan Party, Armenian Relief
Society, Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Knights of Vartan and the Social
Democratic Hunchakian Party. Danielyan also met with the students and
faculties of the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School, the Rose and Alex Pilibos
Armenian School and the Arshag Dickranian Armenian School.
Scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, November 25 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
(PST), Telethon 2004, airing live from Glendale, California, is a 12-hour
event that will be broadcast throughout the United States, Europe, South
America, the CIS, Armenia, Karabakh and the Middle East. The broadcast will
feature live entertainment by various Armenian performers, interviews with
numerous celebrities and political leaders, development and construction
footage from Armenia and Karabakh, stories of individuals impacted by AFI
projects, as well as a phone bank with 50 operators and volunteers.
To provide increased opportunity for international viewing and
participation, Telethon 2004 will also be available in full-motion webcast
on Internet users will be able to view and make secure
contributions online.
For more information regarding the prime minister’s visit and/or Telethon
2004, please call the Armenia Fund office at 818.243.6222 or visit
Armenia Fund, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation, is the US
West coast affiliate of the “Hayastan” All-Armenia Fund (HAAF). Established
in 1994 to facilitate humanitarian assistance to Armenia and Karabakh, HAAF
has administered over $100 million in humanitarian, rehabilitation and
construction aid through the united efforts of Armenian communities
internationally.
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