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PRESS RELEASE
Fund for Armenian Relief
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Edina N. Bobelian
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.farusa.org
October 7, 2004
____________________
DIOCESE AND FAR WELCOME NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
Leaders Discuss Partnerships and Goals
On October 1, 2004, Diocesan and Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) leaders
met with the new U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans in New York, NY
to reaffirm their partnerships with the State Department and USAID.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern) and President of the FAR Board of Directors,
extended a warm welcome and conveyed the help and support of the Diocese
and FAR to the U.S. Embassy to continue assisting Armenia.
With the American Embassy in Yerevan moving to its new state-of-the-art
facilities later this fall, Ambassador Evans iterated the U.S.
government's long-term commitment to Armenia and the Caucasus region.
Wishing to build on the tradition of his predecessors, he emphasized the
need for dialogue and communication with the Armenian-American community
to promote awareness of the situation in Armenia today.
To this end, Ambassador Evans pointed to the importance of maintaining
strong relations with the Diocese and FAR as a link between the Diaspora
and Armenia. He acknowledged FAR's excellent track record in Armenia,
making reference to FAR's two USAID contracts and noting in particular
the $15 million USAID contract for Karabagh.
Ambassador Evans was heavily involved in the coordination of U.S. relief
effort to the victims of the Spitak earthquake in December 1988, for
which he earned a medal and statement of appreciation from the Armenian
government. He has followed FAR's growth to become the preeminent
Diasporan relief and development organization operating in Armenia.
"One of FAR's goals to continue assisting Armenia is not just to bring
help but to strengthen the independent nation," said Archbishop
Barsamian on behalf of Dr. Edgar M. Housepian, Vice Chairman of the FAR
Board of Directors, Randy Sapah-Gulian, FAR Board member, Garnik A.
Nanagoulian, FAR Executive Director, who also attended the meeting.
Mr. Nanagoulian expressed the hope that the existing relation between
FAR and the American Embassy in Armenia would continue to grow and
encouraged the possibility of further joint-partner programs. He also
presented Ambassador Evans the 2003 Annual Report and invited him to
tour FAR's projects throughout Armenia to personally witness the
organization's work aiding the people of Armenia.
A native of Williamsburg, Virginia, Ambassador Evans brings a wealth of
experience to his new position, having served at American Embassies in
Iran, the former Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Russia, and most
recently serving as Director of Office of Russian Affairs at the State
Department. His foreign languages include Russian, French, Farsi,
Czech, and he has begun taking Armenian lessons.
Ambassador Evans informed the Diocesan and FAR leaders that within his
first year of his diplomatic mission to Armenia his objectives include
continuing to work closely with the government of Armenia for the
Karabagh solution, encouraging dialogue between the governments of
Armenia and Turkey for the reopening of the borders, and introducing
volunteerism to help spur Armenia's economic growth and alleviate
poverty, notably outside of Yerevan. He indicated that he would rely on
the Diocese and FAR to help the people of Armenia.
"The Diocese has always considered it a privilege and a duty to work
with the American Embassy in promoting communications and collaborative
efforts for the benefit of Armenia and for the U.S.," said Archbishop
Barsamian. "If it is beneficial for Armenia, it is also good for
America."
Dr. Sam Mikaelian, Executive Director of the Diocese, repeated the
Primate's sentiment that the Ambassador and the U.S. Embassy should feel
free to look to the Diocese for support at anytime. "The Diocese is
ready to serve to help the Armenian and American people," said Dr.
Mikaelian.
FAR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in New York,
with offices in Yerevan, Gyumri, and Stepanakert. For 15 years, FAR has
implemented various relief, development, social, educational, and
cultural projects valued at more than $250 million.
For more information or to send donations, contact the Fund for Armenian
Relief at 630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016; telephone (212)
889-5150, fax (212) 889-4849; www.farusa.org, [email protected].
-- 10/7/04
E-mail photo available upon request.
CAPTION: Diocesan and FAR leaders met with the new U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia John Evans on October 4, 2004: left to right, front row: Bishop
Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Officer, U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia John Evans, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and President of the
FAR Board of Directors, Randy Sapah-Gulian, FAR Board member, back row:
Dr. Edgar M. Housepian, Vice Chairman of the FAR Board of Directors,
Garnik A. Nanagoulian, FAR Executive Director, and AaronO: <Sherinian,
Political Officer of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.
Fund for Armenian Relief
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Edina N. Bobelian
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.farusa.org
October 7, 2004
____________________
DIOCESE AND FAR WELCOME NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
Leaders Discuss Partnerships and Goals
On October 1, 2004, Diocesan and Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) leaders
met with the new U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans in New York, NY
to reaffirm their partnerships with the State Department and USAID.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern) and President of the FAR Board of Directors,
extended a warm welcome and conveyed the help and support of the Diocese
and FAR to the U.S. Embassy to continue assisting Armenia.
With the American Embassy in Yerevan moving to its new state-of-the-art
facilities later this fall, Ambassador Evans iterated the U.S.
government's long-term commitment to Armenia and the Caucasus region.
Wishing to build on the tradition of his predecessors, he emphasized the
need for dialogue and communication with the Armenian-American community
to promote awareness of the situation in Armenia today.
To this end, Ambassador Evans pointed to the importance of maintaining
strong relations with the Diocese and FAR as a link between the Diaspora
and Armenia. He acknowledged FAR's excellent track record in Armenia,
making reference to FAR's two USAID contracts and noting in particular
the $15 million USAID contract for Karabagh.
Ambassador Evans was heavily involved in the coordination of U.S. relief
effort to the victims of the Spitak earthquake in December 1988, for
which he earned a medal and statement of appreciation from the Armenian
government. He has followed FAR's growth to become the preeminent
Diasporan relief and development organization operating in Armenia.
"One of FAR's goals to continue assisting Armenia is not just to bring
help but to strengthen the independent nation," said Archbishop
Barsamian on behalf of Dr. Edgar M. Housepian, Vice Chairman of the FAR
Board of Directors, Randy Sapah-Gulian, FAR Board member, Garnik A.
Nanagoulian, FAR Executive Director, who also attended the meeting.
Mr. Nanagoulian expressed the hope that the existing relation between
FAR and the American Embassy in Armenia would continue to grow and
encouraged the possibility of further joint-partner programs. He also
presented Ambassador Evans the 2003 Annual Report and invited him to
tour FAR's projects throughout Armenia to personally witness the
organization's work aiding the people of Armenia.
A native of Williamsburg, Virginia, Ambassador Evans brings a wealth of
experience to his new position, having served at American Embassies in
Iran, the former Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Russia, and most
recently serving as Director of Office of Russian Affairs at the State
Department. His foreign languages include Russian, French, Farsi,
Czech, and he has begun taking Armenian lessons.
Ambassador Evans informed the Diocesan and FAR leaders that within his
first year of his diplomatic mission to Armenia his objectives include
continuing to work closely with the government of Armenia for the
Karabagh solution, encouraging dialogue between the governments of
Armenia and Turkey for the reopening of the borders, and introducing
volunteerism to help spur Armenia's economic growth and alleviate
poverty, notably outside of Yerevan. He indicated that he would rely on
the Diocese and FAR to help the people of Armenia.
"The Diocese has always considered it a privilege and a duty to work
with the American Embassy in promoting communications and collaborative
efforts for the benefit of Armenia and for the U.S.," said Archbishop
Barsamian. "If it is beneficial for Armenia, it is also good for
America."
Dr. Sam Mikaelian, Executive Director of the Diocese, repeated the
Primate's sentiment that the Ambassador and the U.S. Embassy should feel
free to look to the Diocese for support at anytime. "The Diocese is
ready to serve to help the Armenian and American people," said Dr.
Mikaelian.
FAR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in New York,
with offices in Yerevan, Gyumri, and Stepanakert. For 15 years, FAR has
implemented various relief, development, social, educational, and
cultural projects valued at more than $250 million.
For more information or to send donations, contact the Fund for Armenian
Relief at 630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016; telephone (212)
889-5150, fax (212) 889-4849; www.farusa.org, [email protected].
-- 10/7/04
E-mail photo available upon request.
CAPTION: Diocesan and FAR leaders met with the new U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia John Evans on October 4, 2004: left to right, front row: Bishop
Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Officer, U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia John Evans, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and President of the
FAR Board of Directors, Randy Sapah-Gulian, FAR Board member, back row:
Dr. Edgar M. Housepian, Vice Chairman of the FAR Board of Directors,
Garnik A. Nanagoulian, FAR Executive Director, and AaronO: <Sherinian,
Political Officer of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.