PRESS RELEASE
VIRGINIA’S ARMENIAN COMMISSION
Contact Person: Bedros C. Bandazian
Two Foxmere Drive
Richmond, Virginia 23238
Home: 1-804-741-8107
Office: 1-804-358-5543
Cell: 1-804-370-5468
Email: [email protected]
VIRGINIA’S ARMENIAN COMMISSION HOLDS FIRST MEETING
August 23, 2005, was a historic day for the Armenian-American
community in Virginia and the United States. The Governor’s
Commission on Armenian Affairs held its first meeting in the Patrick
Henry Building on the grounds of the State Capitol of Virginia. This
Commission was established by Executive Order #70 by the current
Governor of Virginia, The Honorable Mark R. Warner.
Bedros C. Bandazian of Richmond, Virginia was appointed as the
Chairman.
The goal of the Commission on Armenian Affairs will be to create a
relationship between the Commonwealth of Virginia, the
Armenian-American Community of Virginia and the Republic of Armenia by
creating projects and initiatives that will forge a greater bond.
Various proposals were presented and adopted by the commission in the
fields of medicine, academia, culture, government, business trade and
networking. The designated mission will be to advise the Governor
regarding development of economic, professional, educational and
governmental links between the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Virginia
Armenian-American Community and the Republic of Armenia.
The commission is empowered to undertake studies, symposiums,
research, factual reports and initiatives in order to work with the
Governor of Virginia in the implementation of its mission. It also
has the task of creating mutual exchange of cultural and historical
information between the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia and
the citizens of the Republic of Armenia.
The commission is entitled to have 20 members who must be of good
character and active in Community projects. The Commonwealth of
Virginia has allocated a minimum of $10,000 to the Commission to
assist its work. Additional funds necessary must be obtained from
either various governmental sources or private funds through grants
and/or contributions.
Barkev B. Baronian will work with the 400th Anniversary Commemoration
of the founding of Jamestown, Virginia in 1607 and will research the
history of the first Armenian on American soil, Martin the Armenian.
The Jamestown 2007 Commemoration will celebrate America’s 400th
Anniversary of the first permanent English colony in Virginia with new
museum exhibits, films, programs and rare treasures on loan from major
museums and international collections. The activities of Martin the
Armenian, as well as, other early Armenian settlers in the 17th
Century, have been documented in various archives. Research is being
conducted into their contributions to the Jamestown settlement and
their role in the early growth of America. Ideally, there will some
type of exhibit in Jamestown to recognize this first relationship
between Armenians and America.
Sarkis A. Satian of Northern Virginia will be involved in creating a
special networking system with academicians in Armenia and the
Commonwealthof Virginia in the field of technology and science. Haike
Gorgourants of the Armenian Embassy gave a presentation on this topic
and the viability of this type of endeavor. Rita S. Balian will be
initiating efforts to create networking in the medical field between
Virginia medical institutions and Armenian medical institutions.
Dr. Alice A. Kassabian who has experience in medicalfield will assist
with this project. Elizabeth Chouldjian will be working on creating a
system for networking between the General Assembly of Virginia and the
Armenian Parliament. Ms. Chouldjian will also investigate the
possibilities of establishing a Virginia/Armenia Trade Office in
Armenia. Stephen Druhot has done much work in Armenia in regards to
trade projects and will assistin promoting trade between Virginia and
Armenia.
Dr. Moorad Mooradian along with Ms. Chouldjian will work on creating a
networking system between university professors & scientists in
Armenian and Virginia. Dr. Mooradian teaches courses in conflict
management at YerevanState University and his experience in this field
is invaluable. Robert J. Mosher will be working on obtaining grants
and funding for these projects and will assist other committees as
needed. John M. Jerikian will endeavor to promote agricultural
activity between Armenia and Virginia. Virginia Tech University in
Blacksburg, Virginia, had initiated this contact a few years ago and
hopefully Mr. Jerikian will be able to revive this interest again.
Mr. Jerikian suggested that since Virginia is now second only to
California in wine production this may be an avenue for trade and
networking between Virginia and Armenia. Melanie B. Kerneklian will
begin work with the General Assembly to officially codify this
Virginia/Armenian Commission so that it will survive past the term of
any one Governor. Ms. Kerneklian is very active and involvedwith
Virginia General Assembly activities and is familiar with this
process.
Stephan Druhot and Robert J. Mosher will assist with this effort.
All Commission meetings are open to the public. The next scheduled
meetings will be October 13, 2005, and November 17, 2005, from 10:30
AM until 3:00PM in the first floor meeting room of the Patrick Henry
Building at 1111 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia.
It is the hope of all that the Governor’s Commission on Armenian
Affairs will be able to create positive projects that will benefit the
Commonwealth of Virginia, the Armenian-American Community of Virginia
and the Republic of Armenia. For more information, please contact
Louise Arnatt, at [email protected]_
(mailto:[email protected]) or Bedros C. Bandazian at
[email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected])