SAN FRANCISCO, CA – On Wednesday, April 6th, Member of Armenia’s Parliament, Arthur Khachatryan of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation paid a working visit to the San Francisco Bay Area where he met with community leaders, as well as Government officials in San Francisco. Accompanying him was longtime ANC activist and current ARF Western United States of America Central Committee member Khatchig Tazian, as well as ANCA-SF longtime activist Ara Makasdjian.
MP Khachatryan is on a weeklong visit to California at the invitation of the ARF Western United States and was the keynote speaker at the organization’s 131st anniversary event on April 3rd.
The ANCA San Francisco chapter arranged for MP Khachatryan to visit San Francisco City Hall where he met with Supervisor Mirna Melgar. Supervisor Melgar has been instrumental with addressing the issues as a result of Azerbaijan’s hate-inspired vandalism and shooting attack that took place targeting the Krouzian Zekarian Vasobouragan (KZV) Armenian School in 2020-2021. MP Khachatryan briefed the supervisor on the current situation on the ground in Armenia and Artsakh. The two also spoke of the potential synergies that could be harnessed in economic cooperation between companies based in Armenia and those located in San Francisco, especially in the information technology field and specifically in Artificial Intelligence. The two parted ways with the promise of a potential visit by the Supervisor and her staff to Armenia in the near future.
MP Khachatryan also engaged with the Bay Area Armenian community including a visit to the Krouzian Zekarian Vasbouragan Armenian School where he was greeted by school Principal Mrs. Grace Andonian and the director of Armenian Studies Mrs. Garineh Panossian and several faculty members and students. The group gave MP Khachatryan a tour of the campus, presented the school’s history and discussed current and future projects. MP Khatchatryan then visited various classrooms where he interacted with the lower grades, then proceeded with a group discussion with the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students on issues having to do with Azerbaijan’s renewed threats to Artsakh, current day negotiations to ‘normalize’ relations between Armenia and Turkey, and ‘peace negotiations’ between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
MP Khachatryan also visited St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church where he was greeted by Father Smpad Sabounjian. Father Smpad gave MP Khachatryan a comprehensive history of the church, the San Francisco Armenian Community, its history and role in supporting Armenia, Artsakh, and the Armenian Cause. He then gifted him a bible, wished him success and perseverance in his endeavors in service of our nation.
Mr. Khachatryan’s San Francisco Bay Area tour was capped with a town hall meeting organized for the community by ARF Krisdapor and ARF Sartarbad Gomidehs which took place in the Khatchatourian Center, Saroyan Hall. MP Khachatryan was introduced by ARF Gomideh executive member Krikor Der Abrahamian. MP Khachatryan then went into great detail answering questions regarding the state of affairs in Armenia, Artsakh, and the negotiations having to do with both Turkey and Azerbaijan. The program came to a close with a light reception hosted by the San Francisco Krisdapor Gomideh.
