GLENDALE, CA – Representatives from the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR) and its local ANC affiliates attended a town hall meeting hosted by California State Senator Jack Scott (D-21-Pasadena). The meeting took place on the evening of March 16, 2007 at St. Mary’s Armenian Church in Glendale. The community forum was attended by several ANCA-WR Board Members including Peter Musurlian and Leonard Manoukian as well as current ANCA-WR interns Andre Arzoo and Tina Avanessian. They were joined by Hollywood ANC Chairman Onnik Keshishian.

Several local elected officials and community leaders also attended the event, including Glendale City Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian and Glendale Community College Board of Trustees Member Vahe Peroomian as well as Deputy Consul of the Armenia in Los Angeles Harutyun Kojoyan. During the evening Scott addressed several issues of concern for the residents of the district including education legislation and the rising cost of higher education.

Scott also discussed the California-Armenia Trade Office (CATO) which was established through legislation he authored in 2002. CATO was established to promote international trade and investment between California and the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union, particularly the Republic of Armenia in which it operates its overseas office. The legislation, SB 1657, was the culmination of a three-year grassroots effort by nearly a dozen local ANC chapters as part of its efforts to promote greater and mutually beneficial relations between the United States and Armenia.

The California Armenia Trade Office is operated by the Foundation for Economic Development, a non-governmental, non-profit organization contracted by the state. The FED’s newly appointed Executive Director Johnny Nalbandian attended the event. He was joined by ANCA extern to the FED, Hovik Harutyunyan. Harutyunyan has been working with the FED as part of the 2007 Spring session of the ANCA-WR’s Internship-Externship Program.

“We appreciate the fact that Senator Scott continues to reach out to his constituents and the local Armenian American community to keep them informed and to hear from us about important issues that affect us,” said Manoukian.

The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

PHOTO CAPTION: California State Senator Jack Scott (D-21-Pasadena).