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At the Diocesan Center, Armenia's New Un Ambassador Meets Community

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  • At the Diocesan Center, Armenia's New Un Ambassador Meets Community

    PRESS OFFICE
    Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
    630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
    Contact: Karine Abalyan
    Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Website: www.armenianchurch.net


    September 15, 2009

    ___________________________________


    At the Diocesan Center, Armenia's New Un Ambassador Meets
    Armenian-American Community



    On Monday, September 14, a reception was held at the Diocesan Center to
    welcome His Excellency Garen Nazarian, the newly-appointed Permanent
    Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations.

    Organized by the Eastern Diocese and the Fund for Armenian Relief, the
    evening was attended by some 150 people, who gathered to meet the ambassador
    and to hear him speak about his delegation's goals at the United Nations.

    Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
    of America (Eastern), called the new ambassador "especially well-practiced
    in the arena of international organizations, having served as Armenia's UN
    ambassador in Geneva, Switzerland, and on several influential international
    bodies."

    He also noted his personal qualities, among them "his ability to stand on
    principle, as well as his eagerness to engage others and seek common
    ground."

    Acknowledging that he assumes his position at a critical moment in history,
    Ambassador Nazarian said the Nagorno-Karabagh peace process and
    Armenia-Turkey relations will be two central issues for Armenia's UN
    Mission.

    He stressed that the delegation would treat each matter independently, and
    would work toward both the continuation of Nagorno-Karabagh negotiations and
    the normalization of relations with Turkey.

    More broadly, Ambassador Nazarian said Armenia plans to extend its
    involvement in global agenda issues and strengthen its international
    presence.

    "Protection of peace in our complex region is another vital issue," he said.
    "We consider that the key to it is multilateral cooperation among all
    countries of the region and among the neighbors."

    Also speaking during the evening's program, Diocesan Council chairman Oscar
    Tatosian reflected on the Diocesan Center's prominent role in
    Armenian-American life, as the hub of major community events.

    "So many great and influential figures of our generation-Armenian and
    otherwise-have come here, to meet the people, and address our concerns," he
    said.

    Dr. Movses Abelian, Armenia's past UN ambassador, said he experienced a warm
    reception at the Diocese when he first came to New York 17 years ago. He
    recalled how Armenia's diplomats occupied an office at the Diocesan Center
    even before Armenia became a member of the UN in 1992, and thanked
    Archbishop Barsamian for his assistance and encouragement.

    Dr. Abelian-who currently serves as the secretary of the UN General
    Assembly's Administrative and Budgetary Committee and as a member of the
    Committee on Programme and Coordination-also thanked Mr. and Mrs. Kevork and
    Sirvart Hovnanian for generously donating the elegant brownstone in Midtown
    Manhattan, where the offices of Armenia's UN Mission are housed.

    Addressing Ambassador Nazarian, Dr. Abelian said he was hopeful that Armenia
    would continue to build on its diplomatic ties and overall development.

    "I'm sure the coming months and years will show that it is a time for peace,
    it is a time for prosperity for Armenia," he said.

    Archbishop Barsamian spoke about the close relationship between the diaspora
    and Armenia.

    "The existence of the Republic of Armenia is not merely important to us, as
    members of the diaspora: it is our other half, as it were. And the success
    or failure of the Armenian people as a whole depends on the strength and
    mutual support, the good will and trust, of both the diaspora and our
    homeland," the Primate said.

    "With such thoughts in mind, it is a pleasure to be able to look to a man
    like Ambassador Nazarian-well-educated, accomplished, experienced in
    diplomacy-as Armenia's official representative here in the United States."

    Ambassador Nazarian most recently served as Armenia's ambassador to Iran.
    Prior to that, he acted as the advisor and chief of the cabinet to the
    foreign minister of Armenia; as ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva;
    and held a staff position in Armenia's embassy in Moscow.

    He has also served as a member of the United States Intergovernmental
    Commission and as a vice president of the World Conference Against Racism,
    Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance.

    Ambassador Nazarian is a graduate of Yerevan State University and the
    Diplomatic Academy of Moscow. He is married, with a daughter and son.

    ###

    Photos attached.

    Photo 1: His Excellency Garen Nazarian, the newly-appointed Permanent
    Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations, speaks at
    the Diocesan Center



    Photo 2: Ambassador Garen Nazarian and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian speak
    with members of the Armenian-American community during a reception at the
    Diocesan Center held to welcome the ambassador to New York.

    Photo 3: Randy Sapah-Gulian, chairman of the FAR Board of Directors; Dr.
    Movses Abelian, secretary of the UN General Assembly's Administrative and
    Budgetary Committee and member of the Committee on Programme and
    Coordination; Mr. and Mrs. Garen Nazarian; Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
    Primate of the Eastern Diocese; Oscar Tatosian, chairman of the Diocesan
    Council; Arto Vorperian, program manager at FAR.
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