Los Angeles, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR) along with local ANC leadership from the greater Los Angeles area joined the Greek American community at the American Hellenic Council’s 32nd Annual Honors Dinner Dance this past Saturday at the OMNI hotel in downtown Los Angeles. ANCA-WR Community Relations Director, Haig Hovsepian attended the event along with Burbank ANC Chairman, Dr. Arbi Ohanian and his wife, Lara as well as fellow Burbank ANC Board Member, Vahe Shahinian and ANC activist, Boghos Patatian. Activists Arpi Siyahian and Nishan Pilikyan attended on behalf of the West San Fernando Valley ANC.

The American Hellenic Council (AHC), a Greek American, grassroots advocacy organization, hosts the event each year to honor dedicated individuals who have demonstrated leadership in and continue to make a difference for the Hellenic Cause. Congressman Adam Schiff and His Excellency Alexandros P. Mallias, Ambassador of Greece to the United States were among those honored during the evening’s program.

In his remarks, Schiff recounted his work on Hellenic American issues and thanked the Greek American community for their support for legislation affirming the Armenian Genocide. “Outside of the Armenian community, nobody has been more supportive than Greek-Americans of the need to honor the memories of the 1.5 million Armenians who were murdered by the Ottoman Empire nearly a century ago,” said Schiff.

The ANCA-WR enjoys a friendly relationship with the AHC and Greek American community. This past November, the ANCA-WR stood in solidarity with the AHC when it raised concerns regarding a joint educational program between San Diego State University and Eastern Mediterranean University in Cyprus. Earlier this month, Greek Americans joined Armenian Americans in southeastern Washington State for an ANC-organized meeting with Congressman Brian Baird’s district office in Vancouver, WA. Following the meeting, Congressman Baird cosponsored H.Res.106, the Armenian Genocide resolution that was co-authored by Congressman Schiff and introduced earlier this year in the US House.

“We congratulate the AHC for its continued efforts to unite and empower the Greek American community,” said Hovsepian. “A common passion to promote civic engagement and human rights underscores the relationship between our two communities.”

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: Congressman Adam Schiff (center) along with Glendale City Clerk, Ardashes Kassakhian (far right) are joined by Hovsepian (far left), Ohanian (right), and former ANCA-WR Intern, Allen Yekikan (left)