AYF Meets with Ambassador Heffern

Contact: Sevag Tchekidjian
Tel: (818) 507-1933
E-Mail: AYF@AYFwest.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GLENDALE, CA – On Saturday, December 8th, members of the Armenian Youth Federation Western Region met with U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Heffern, and USAID Public Private Alliance Specialist, Jeffery Paretchan, in order to discuss critical issues relating to Armenia.

“Much of the influence placed on the Republic of Armenia derives from its strong diaspora. As the leading Armenian youth organization around the world, the AYF has an innate responsibility to habitually assess the social, economic, and political landscape of our homeland, and to take appropriate action in order to create solutions to problems, and to progress the development of our young nation,” explains AYF Executive Director, Stepan Keshishian.

The event was held at Glendale Public Library, and was attended by AYF Central Executive members Avedis Shanlian and Levon Abrahamian, AYF Hollywood Chairperson, Arek Santikian, and AYF Executive Director, Stepan Keshishian. These youth met in a very open and inviting setting with the ambassador, and covered a range of issues, including U.S.-Armenian economic relations and trade, the regional security of Armenia, the Syrian-Armenian situation, the upcoming elections in Armenia, the AYF Youth Corps summer camp program in Armenia, the AYF With Our Soldiers program for providing medical assistance to veterans in Armenia, and other topics.

“This meeting was an opportunity for the Armenian youth to relay their voice and to affirm their interest in issues relating to Armenian and U.S.-Armenian ties, as stakeholders in their homeland,” states Avo Shanlian. “It was an important and highly beneficial first step in establishing a strong working relationship with the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, and we are grateful for their time and for their shared dedication to improving our homeland.”

Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian American youth organization in the United States, working to advance the social, political, educational and cultural awareness of Armenian-American youth.

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