PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Karine Abalyan
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: publicrelations@armeniandiocese.org
Website:

August 21, 2009

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PRIMATE WELCOMES ARMENIA’S NEW UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR

On Thursday, August 20, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese
of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), welcomed His Excellency Garen
Nazarian, the newly-appointed Permanent Representative of the Republic of
Armenia to the United Nations.

Visiting the Diocesan Center with his delegation, Ambassador Nazarian
stressed the important role of the Armenian Church in the Armenian community
and expressed his desire to carry forward the close working relationship
between Armenia’s Mission to the UN and the Eastern Diocese.

Archbishop Barsamian assured the ambassador that the Diocese’s warm ties
with the Mission would continue in the coming years. The Primate prayed that
Ambassador Nazarian’s efforts for the benefit of the Republic of Armenia and
the larger global community would bear fruitful results for peace and
stability.

Also present were the Very Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Najarian, Diocesan Vicar, and
Arto Vorperian, project director for the Fund for Armenian Relief. During
the meeting, participants discussed possible joint projects and spoke of
ways they could assist each other in future endeavors.

Ambassador Nazarian most recently served as Armenia’s ambassador to Iran.
Prior to that, he acted as the advisor and chief of the cabinet to the
foreign minister of Armenia; as ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva;
and held a staff position in Armenia’s embassy in Moscow.

He has also served as a member of the United States Intergovernmental
Commission and as a vice president of the World Conference Against Racism,
Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance.

Ambassador Nazarian is a graduate of Yerevan State University and the
Diplomatic Academy of Moscow.

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Photo attached: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern), welcomes His Excellency Garen
Nazarian, the newly-appointed Permanent Representative of the Republic of
Armenia to the United Nations.