Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: ancawr@anca.org
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
April 4, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR Joins Greek American Community at American Hellenic Council
Annual Banquet
LOS ANGELES, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America-Western
Region (ANCA-WR) along with local ANC leadership from the greater Los
Angeles area joined the Greek American community at the American
Hellenic Council’s 32nd Annual Honors Dinner Dance this past Saturday at
the OMNI hotel in downtown Los Angeles. ANCA-WR Community Relations
Director, Haig Hovsepian attended the event along with Burbank ANC
Chairman, Dr. Arbi Ohanian and his wife, Lara as well as fellow Burbank
ANC Board Member, Vahe Shahinian and ANC activist, Boghos Patatian.
Activists Arpi Siyahian and Nishan Pilikyan attended on behalf of the
West San Fernando Valley ANC.
The American Hellenic Council (AHC), a Greek American, grassroots
advocacy organization, hosts the event each year to honor dedicated
individuals who have demonstrated leadership in and continue to make a
difference for the Hellenic Cause. Congressman Adam Schiff and His
Excellency Alexandros P. Mallias, Ambassador of Greece to the United
States were among those honored during the evening’s program.
In his remarks, Schiff recounted his work on Hellenic American issues
and thanked the Greek American community for their support for
legislation affirming the Armenian Genocide. "Outside of the Armenian
community, nobody has been more supportive than Greek-Americans of the
need to honor the memories of the 1.5 million Armenians who were
murdered by the Ottoman Empire nearly a century ago," said Schiff.
The ANCA-WR enjoys a friendly relationship with the AHC and Greek
American community. This past November, the ANCA-WR stood in solidarity
with the AHC when it raised concerns regarding a joint educational
program between San Diego State University and Eastern Mediterranean
University in Cyprus. Earlier this month, Greek Americans joined
Armenian Americans in southeastern Washington State for an ANC-organized
meeting with Congressman Brian Baird’s district office in Vancouver, WA.
Following the meeting, Congressman Baird cosponsored H.Res.106, the
Armenian Genocide resolution that was co-authored by Congressman Schiff
and introduced earlier this year in the US House.
"We congratulate the AHC for its continued efforts to unite and empower
the Greek American community," said Hovsepian. "A common passion to
promote civic engagement and human rights underscores the relationship
between our two communities."
The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working
in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters
throughout the 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.
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PHOTO (#1) CAPTION: Congressman Adam Schiff (center) along with
Glendale City Clerk, Ardashes Kassakhian (far right) are joined by
Hovsepian (far left), Ohanian (right), and former ANCA-WR Intern, Allen
Yekikan (left).
PHOTO (#2) CAPTION: Hovsepian (right) with AHC Board Vice Chair, Aris
Anagnos (center) and AHC Executive Director, Ken Kassakhian (left).