GLENDALE, CA — Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region Executive Director Alex Sardar, in a phone conversation with California State Senator Jack Scott, thanked him for initiating and championing a budget item, which will provide the Armenian Film Foundation the necessary funds to continue the production and completion of the landmark trilogy on the Armenian Genocide—The Witnesses. At the urging of Senator Scott, funds in the amount of $150,000 have been allocated to the Armenian Film Foundation for this project. The first installment of the trilogy, the independent film Voices from the Lake—The Secret Genocide, was produced, principally under grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, the Foundations of the Milken Families, and the J. Roderick MacArthur Foundation.

Touching on a number of other issues affecting the 21st State Senate District, which covers the cities of Glendale and Burbank with a large Armenian American community, the ANCA-WR representative and Senator Scott spoke about the impending Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the State of California and the Republic of Armenia—a project that has been at the forefront of the ANCA-WR’s and Senator Scott’s agenda since his election in November 2000.

According to Senator Scott, the draft proposal for the text of the MOU is in the process of being finalized by State officials and Armenian government officials, and the signing of the agreement will create a more structured environment for trade and exchanges between California and Armenia.

“The ANCA-WR has been involved since last year in moving forward the MOU and Trade office process,” explained Sardar, “and we’re encouraged to see that Senator Scott is continuing to push the issue with the State Trade and Commerce Agency, while we continue to work in our community to advocate for the MOU and the California trade office in Yerevan.”

Senator Scott thanked the ANCA-WR for its continued leadership on Armenian American issues, including the MOU and trade office matters, and its cooperation in working closely with him and his staff in realizing common goals for the 21st State Senate District.