Fresno Bee, CA
Jan 20 2015
Q&A: New Fresno Armenian honorary consul Berj Apkarian shares vision, progress
By Andrea Castillo
Berj Apkarian made history last October, becoming the country’s first
Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia.
Apkarian, executive director of physician relations at Community
Medical Centers, immigrated to Fresno from Syria in 1979.
He wasted no time deciding what he’d do as consul. For his first big
project, Apkarian said he wants to take a team of 15-20 medical and
dental professionals to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia in October to
host a medical education conference and provide free care for needy
people in surrounding rural communities.
The Bee caught up with Apkarian to see how things are going three
months into his appointment. Answers have been edited slightly for
clarity and brevity.
Q. What have you been working on the past three months?
A. Opening the office has been very positive for the community and for
the region. In fact, since the inauguration Oct. 20, we have had
several organized events, including inviting the president of Nagorno
Karabakh to the Valley for the first time.
We started providing consular services to citizens of the Republic of
Armenia so individuals don’t need to travel to L.A. to apply for
citizenship, passport renewals and other documents.
On Nov. 2, I attended the groundbreaking of the Armenian Genocide
Monument on the Fresno State campus. On Nov. 13, we hosted the
Khachaturian Trio before their performance at Fresno State. In the
past, Armenian cultural events and meetings have taken place without
having a home that represents the homeland. So this office is key in
terms of fostering that relationship.
Nov. 19-21 I participated in a training through the Consular Corps
College in Washington D.C. On Thanksgiving day I participated in the
17th International Armenia Fund Telethon in Los Angeles (proceeds will
help construction of the Vardenis to Martakert Highway). On Jan. 9, we
did a New Year’s open house to share what we’re doing and where we are
with our vision.
Q. What is the consulate’s vision?
A. Bringing the community together in support and solidarity of the
homeland and encourage commerce, culture and enhance the relationship
between the Central Valley and the republic. This is one of the oldest
Armenian communities in the United States. One of my goals is to also
encourage the younger generation to take part in these activities.
The other thing we’re working on is trying to create a stronger
relationship between the consulate and local government. I have
reached out to the mayor.
In all our events, both consuls, the Mexican consul and honorary
consul of Italy, have taken part. We meet regularly as the three
foreign diplomatic offices in the central San Joaquin Valley.
Q. What can people expect from the consulate this year?
A. I’m working to bring KOHAR, a very famous symphony orchestra and
choir group from Armenia, at the end of May.
If you look at it from a big-picture standpoint, consular work is
applications and documents — that’s one endeavor. But this being the
centennial of the genocide, I’m also the chair of the monument
project, so making sure this project is completed is an absolute
priority for me.
The planning process has already started for the first Medical Mission
and Symposium, scheduled for Oct. 1-12. We’re going to do it annually,
in phases where we can meet the need over there as determined by the
minister of health.
Q. Has anything about your new role surprised you?
A. No, actually it has been very gratifying. Yes, it takes time away
from my family. However I think as you see the results, you see smiles
on peoples’ faces as they say, “Thank you for processing the consular
work so I don’t have to drive 200 miles,’ or when you see support from
the community in raising funds, for example, for the monument project,
that is absolutely the best that could happen to an individual who
wants to serve. The time and the effort is just well worth it. I see
that pride with every individual I interact with. This honor belongs
to them.
Q. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the genocide,
which killed as many as 1.5 million Armenians in the declining Ottoman
Empire from 1915-1923. What is the consulate’s role in commemorating
the anniversary?
A. I think the presence of the consulate and the honorary consul
becomes a rock and a foundation people can lean on, and a point of
support for various endeavors that the community either seeks and/or
plans to accomplish.
I feel privileged to witness this time of history. The generation
before me gave their lives to keep our heritage, our language and to
keep the torch alive so that we never forget that such atrocities took
place. For me, it’s very important that we get a worldwide
recognition. In particular current Turkish denial continues despite
all the facts that speak very loud and clear.
The centennial, for me, it’s time for renewal of our commitment, not
to forget, but stand in solidarity with our homeland. A stronger
Armenia becomes a testimony that whatever was perpetrated did not
succeed. Here we are after 100 years, we have an independent homeland
and we have prosperous Armenian communities throughout the world.