CONSUL GENERAL OF ARMENIA IN LOS ANGELES AMBASSADOR ARMEN BAIBOURTIAN VISITED THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AND CITY OF FRESNO

03 June, 2021

FRESNO - On May 28, Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles Ambassador Armen Baibourtian paid a working visit to the San Joaquin Valley. Fresno area is the first place in the U.S. West Coast where the Armenian community has taken root. Armenians have settled here since the 1880s. Presently, 50 thousand Armenians live.

The three-day visit was organized by the Honorary Consul of Armenia in Fresno Berj Apkarian. First, a meeting was held with local Armenian religious leaders, where Ambassador Baibourtian met with the spiritual pastors of the Armenian Apostolic and Armenian Evangelical Churches in Fresno. Topics pertinent to enhancing a closer cooperation between Armenia and the Diaspora for the benefit of the Homeland were discussed.

On the same day, the Consul General visited the Fresno Armenian Ararat Cemetery, and paid tribute to peerless writer William Saroyan at his grave. Ambassador Baibourtian also took part in a Talent Show initiated by the "Daniel Varuzhan" branch of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society. Later on, the Consul General toured the Charlie Keyan Armenian daily school greeted by Dr. Houri Kalamakerian along with the staff and got first-hand information about the school and its activities.

Ambassador Baibourtian met with the leaders of all major Armenian organizations and political parties in Fresno, including ARF, ADLP, Knights of Vartan, Hamazkayin, AGBU, ARS, Keyan School, Tekeyan, Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State, Mousa Ler, and XXX. Discussions were held in relation to areas of cooperation with the Consulate General of Armenia in Los Angeles. Ambassador Baibourtian expressed his gratitude for the financial-humanitarian support of the Armenian community of Fresno to Artsakh during the 44-day war. The role of the Armenian community in the context of the Homeland-Diaspora dynamics was discussed.

During the visit, Ambassador Baibourtian visited Yettem and its St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church. The Consul General was hosted by Rev. Fr. Mashtots Keshishian and the Parish Council Chairman Mayron Sheklian. Ambassador Baibourtian also visited two Armenian Evangelical churches (Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church and First Armenian Presbyterian Church) in Fresno. A. Baibourtian met with Senior Pastors Rev. Nerses Balabanian and Rev. Greg Haroutunian as well as members of the parish councils, who presented the mission and activities of their churches. Ambassador Baibourtian also visited the Armenian Apostolic Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Fowler, which was founded in 1910 and is considered to be the oldest Armenian church in California. The Consul General was received by Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Gomidas Zohrabian and the members of the Parish Council. Armen Baibourtian attended the Divine Liturgy, after which he took part in the lunch with parishioners.

On May 29, on the occasion of the Armenian Republic Day, Ambassador Baibourtian gave a talk at St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church titled "The Armenian Nation's Aspiration for the Independent Statehood and its Realization". The event was organized by Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Director of the Center for Armenian Studies at California State University in Fresno and co-sponsored by Berj Apkarian, Honorary Consul of Armenia in Fresno. Rev. Fr. Ashod Khachadourian of the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Fresno, Rev. Fr. Yessai Bedros of St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church in Fresno, Rev. Fr. Gomidas Zohrabian of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church in Fowler, and Rev. Fr. Mashdots Keshishian of the St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church in Yettem conducted a ceremony of the blessing of the Armenian flag and prayers for the Republic of Armenia.

In an interview to Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian for the "All Things

Armenian" program of the local radio, Ambassador Baibourtian spoke about this visit, activities of the Consulate General, as well as many topics pertinent to Artsakh and Armenia.

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