Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
ancwr@anca.org

PRESS RELEASE
February 20, 2008
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANC-WR Visits Chamlian to Discuss Javakhk Armenians

Los Angeles, CA – On Thursday, February 7, 2008, Armenian National
Committee – Western Region (ANC-WR) Executive Director Antranig
Kzirian met with Chamlian students to discuss the current political
situation in Javakhk. Armenians are the third largest ethnic minority
in Georgia, and Javakhk, located in the southern portion of Georgia,
has remained historically Armenian in terms of population. Armenians
tend to be underrepresented in all spheres of public life and
experience rampant discrimination and treatment as second-class
citizens.

"Connecting with students is an important part of our work at the
ANC-WR," stated Kzirian. "The plight of the Armenians of Javakhk is
an issue about which we must educate our communities. A special focus
on schools is necessary to ensure that future generations are fully
aware of the oppression that Armenians face in Javakhk," he added.

Speaking to over 100 Chamlian students and teachers, Kzirian discussed
what Armenians in Javakhk face on a daily basis, including difficulty
finding jobs, language restrictions and oppressive governmental
policies related to cultural sustenance and overall hardship. Kzirian
also noted the importance of the Baku – Ceyhan pipeline as it passes
through an area of Georgia that is in close proximity to Javakhk.
Taking questions from the student audience, Kzirian described the
other ethnic conflicts that have taken place in Georgia, including the
regions of Abkhazia, Ajaria and Ossetia, among others.

"We appreciate the work of the ANC-WR in raising awareness of issues
like Javakhk," stated Armenian Department Co-Chairperson Saro
Nazarian. "We hope to continue talks like this for our student body
to get the very latest in information on issues that matter to the
community," he added.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in
the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States
and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances
the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.