U.S. SENATOR NORM COLEMAN HEADS TO ARMENIA
WASHINGTON, MAY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations
committee member Norm Coleman (R-MN) arrives in Armenia this week
for meetings with high level Armenian and U.S. officials in a trip
co-sponsored by the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) and the
Cafesjian Family Foundation. According to the AAA, during his 3-day
fact finding trip on the growing U.S./Armenia relationship, Senator
Coleman will meet with President Robert Kocharian, National Assembly
Chairman Arthur Baghdasaryan, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan,
Defense Minister Serge Sargsian, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
and Justice Minister Davit Haroutiunian. US Ambassador John Evans,
together with the US Embassy and USAID Mission teams, will provide
in-depth briefings for the Senator at the recently-opened US Embassy
in Armenia. Senator Coleman will visit the sacred Armenian Genocide
Memorial, attend the construction launch of the Gerard L Cafesjian
Museum of Art and more. The first-term Senator has been an active
supporter of Armenian issues, advancing last year’s passage of
a bill extending permanent normal trade relations and urging the
U.S. to encourage Turkey to lift its blockade of Armenia. Coleman has
co-sponsored a resolution ensuring that the lessons of the Armenian
Genocide, and other crimes against humanity, are not forgotten and
supported a 2005 congressional letter to President Bush urging him
to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. Prior to his election
to the Senate, Coleman served as mayor of St. Paul, MN where he
issued a proclamation declaring 1999 as Armenian Centennial Year. Two
years later, he signed a proclamation marking April 24th as Armenian
Remembrance Day. Country Director of the Armenian Assembly’s Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh Offices, Arpi Vartanian, has been working with the
Cafesjian Family Foundation, and US and Armenian officials to make the
Senator’s first visit to Armenia productive and successful. Vartanian
notes, “It is very important that U.S. officials visit Armenia and
witness first-hand the progress in Armenia, as well as the challenges
facing Armenians today. Only by understanding the successes, challenges
and developments, can the vital and ever-expanding U.S./Armenia
relationship be strengthened. We look forward to welcoming Senator
Coleman and introducing him to Armenia.” The Cafesjian Family
Foundation has been working closely with the Senator’s office to
schedule and organize the trip. Cafesjian and Coleman, who are
long-time friends, have worked together on Armenian and important
local community issues – including a project to preserve a historic
State Fair carousel in St. Paul, Minnesota.