Los Angeles, CA – The Armenian National Committee – Western Region (ANC-WR) is pleased to report that its Executive Director Antranig Kzirian will join with the ANC-ER Executive Director Karine Birazian and ANCA Legislative Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian on the 11th Annual Armenian Heritage Cruise to provide educational briefings during the week of January 14, 2008. Kzirian, Birazian and Karakashian will provide briefings to thousands of Armenian Americans set to cruise the high seas later this month.

“It is an honor to join ANCA leaders like Raffi and Karine on the Armenian Heritage Cruise,” stated Kzirian. “I look forward to working with my counterparts in the Eastern Region and the National Office in Washington, DC to educate Armenian Americans on the important initiatives the ANCA has and will continue to undertake,” he added.

Kzirian will be participating in a “Cruise out of Congress” rally set to take place in Boca Raton, Florida on January 12th that will focus media attention on genocide denier Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL-19). On Monday, January 14th he will join Birazian and Karakashian in providing an executive briefing on all facets of the ANCA’s work on national, regional and local levels. On Tuesday, January 15th the ANC staffers will visit with Puerto Rico Territory Senator Juan Hernandez Mayoral to raise awareness of community activities. In October of 2007 Hernandez publicly supported the Armenian Genocide resolution (H. Res. 106) and strongly criticized Representative Fortuno (R-PR-AL) for his flip-flop on the resolution. Finally, on January 16th the group will visit the office of Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen (D-VI-AL) in the U.S. Virgin Islands. All activities will focus closely on raising awareness on issues of concern to Armenian Americans.

In addition to advancing the Armenian Cause on the cruise, Kzirian (who plays the oud and guitar) will be performing with a traditional ensemble of Armenian American folk musicians to provide entertainment to attendees.

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.