PRESS RELEASE                                                      
May 29, 2008

Ambassador Tatoul Markarian Visits Los Angeles, Meets Armenian American Organizations

Ambassador Tatoul Markarian visited Los Angeles on May 16-17, 2008, for meetings with the Armenian-American community leaders and organizations. He also took part in the USC Armenian Studies Institute Gala Banquet.

The Ambassador visited the Consulate General of the Republic of Armenia where he discussed the Consulate’s activities with Consul General Armen Liloyan and Consulate staff. On May 16, Ambassador Markarian held meetings with representatives of the Armenian National Committee and the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, and other Armenian-American political and cultural organizations and media representatives. During his stay in Los Angeles, Ambassador Markarian visited the Western Diocese and Western Prelacy, meeting with Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Diocesan and Prelacy Councils, parish pastors, and local community activists.

During all his meetings, Ambassador Markarian presented the policies and initiatives of the newly-elected President and the new government. He expressed appreciation to all the leading Armenian-American organizations throughout the Diaspora for their wisdom, their great sense of national unity and solidarity, and unreserved support to the leadership and the people of Armenia. He stressed that the national unity is undoubtedly the best guarantee for success in achieving the national goals, such as building a strong and prosperous Armenia, defending the freedom of Artsakh, and the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

On May 18, the Ambassador of Armenia also participated in the USC Armenian Studies Institute Gala Banquet honoring 50 years of achievements of California’s Armenian American community, which was attended by Lincy Foundation’s Kirk Kerkorian, former California Governor George Deukmejian and the leadership of a wide spectrum of Armenian-American religious, cultural, business, and political organizations..