By Carnie Armenian & Antranig Avedissian
On Tues., March 1, and Fri., March 4, members of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF-YOARF) met with the United States Ambassador to Armenia, the Honorable Richard Mills, in New York and Boston. Mills was accompanied by the mission director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Karen Hilliard, in Boston.
AYF representatives with Ambassador Mills and USAID Mission Director Karen Hilliard in Boston
AYF representatives in New York included Vartenie Kachichian, Kevork Ourfalian, and Tamar Samuelian, alongside members of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Young Professionals. In Boston, Carnie Armenian, Antranig Avedissian, Alec Kotician, and Shant Maroukhian represented the AYF. During both meetings, the Ambassador discussed Armenia’s stability and transparency in domestic affairs; a three-tier checks-and-balances system among businesses, employees, and the government; and the successes of these systems thus far. Mills explained that he is dedicated to creating job opportunities and equal employment throughout the country.
Hilliard discussed Armenia’s increasing popularity in tourism and the centuries-old religious architecture and history. She spoke about forming ties between religious architectural sites in Armenia and neighboring Turkey to promote cross-border relations. “Should the two countries [Armenia and Turkey] one day be able to maintain stable political relations, we should be prepared for it,” said Hilliard, noting that cross-border trade and relations are on the forefront of USAID’s initiatives.
After hearing about the new programs implemented during Mills’ first year in office, members of the AYF spoke about their experiences in Artsakh, Javakhk, and the Armenian Diaspora; they also noted the plight of Syrian Armenians. They also spoke about the significance of Armenian Genocide remembrance and commemoration, and the way these events bring together the community at large.
Source: Armenian Weekly
Link: AYF-YOARF Meets with US Ambassador Mills