GLENDALE, CA—The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) announced this week that Armen Carapetian has joined the organization to serve as its Government Relations Director. Carapetian will be working with ANCA-WR Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian.

As Government Relations Director, Carapetian will represent the ANCA-WR before federal, state and local officials. He will be responsible for educating public officials on a range of issues important to Armenian-Americans living in the Western United States. Carapetian will work closely with local ANC chapters to promote issues of concern to Armenian-Americans.

Carapetian, a longtime ANC activist, most recently led the successful effort to pass an Armenian Genocide resolution in the Maryland State Legislature in the face of vigorous opposition by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, the Turkish Embassy in Washington, DC and a number of major defense companies. In addition to his efforts on various local projects, Carapetian, an alumnus of the ANCA Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship Program in Washington, DC, has helped advance ANCA initiatives on the Congressional front.

“I am proud to add another talented individual to our staff,” remarked ANCA-WR Chairman Raffi Hamparian. “Having known Armen for many years, I look forward to working with him again in advancing the Armenian Cause. With the dedicated combination of ANCA-WR Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian and Armen Carapetian, the ANC will become a stronger, more effective advocate for the Armenian-American community,” added Hamparian.

Prior to joining the ANCA-WR staff, Carapetian worked for the Burlington Free Press, which is Vermont’s largest daily newspaper. Before moving to Burlington, he lived in the Republic of Armenia, where he worked for the International Executive Service Corps and for Arlex International, a highly regarded legal and business consulting firm established by noted Armenian American attorney Tom Samuelian. Carapetian, who holds a Master’s degree in Economics, also served as an energy analyst at Pace Global Services of Fairfax, Virginia from 1999 to 2001.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) 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.

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