CHICAGO—Chicago-area Armenians, members of the city’s consular corps, and countless associates celebrated the establishment of the city’s first Honorary Consulate of The Republic of Armenia on the evening of March 22. The Consulate will serve the States of Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
A scene from the opening of the consulate (Photo: Honorary Consulate of the Republic of
Armenia, Chicago)
Following the earlier consecration of the Consular Office at 120 West Kinzie Street, nearly 500 guests gathered at the Union League Club of Chicago for the official proclamation of Oscar S. Tatosian as the Republic of Armenia’s Honorary Consul in Chicago.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago addresses the crowd at the opening (Photo: Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Armenia, Chicago)
The evening’s program included the invocation and remarks by His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, Diocese of the Armenian Church in America; remarks by the Hon. Grigor Hovhannissian, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States; and a formal welcome by Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago.
A scene from the official opening (Photo: Honorary Consulate of the Republic of
Armenia, Chicago)
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Eastern U.S. was represented by Central Committee member Greg Bedian.
(L to R) Maral Abrahamian, Armenian National Committee of Illinois Chair; Honorary Consul Tatosian; and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (Ill.-8)
Also in attendance were Berj Apkarian and Adroushan Armenian, respective Honorary Consuls from the other two U.S. Armenian consular offices in Fresno, Calif. and Las Vegas, Nev.
Halle M. Butvin, Director of Special Projects for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., inspired those assembled with details on the upcoming Armenian Folklife Festival, which run for 10 days this summer on the National Mall.
The Honorary Consulate will focus on matters of interest to the Republic of Armenia primarily in trade in the areas of technology, agriculture/wine, and tourism, and other areas such as education.
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Source: Armenian Weekly
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