GERARD CAFESJIAN AND ROSS VARTIAN FOUNDS NEW LOBBYING GROUP IN U.S.
Noyan Tapan
Dec 14 2006
WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. According to Radio Liberty,
another Armenian lobbying group, the U.S. Armenia Public Affairs
Committee (USAPAC), will function from now on in the United States. One
of the main goals of the organization founded by a group of American
Armenian activists, including, representatives of the Armenian
Assembly of America Ross Vartian and opulent Gerard Cafesjian will
be to withstand possible increase of influence of Azerbaijan in
Washington. Gerard Cafesjian made a serious financial investment
in the affair of foundation of the structure. "I and Mr.Cafesjian
continue remaining members of the Armenian Assembly of America. Before
foundation of the organization we informed the Armenian Assembly of
America what we’ll do and why," Vartian said in the interview to the
radio station. Gerard Cafesjian stands rather close to the government
of Armeniaa, but, as Ross Vartian assured, "the government of Armenia
may assist us, but it does not mean that we must move forward in
Washington the government’s agenda." Ross Vartian also emphasized that
unlike the American Assembly of Armenia, which may not take part in
the U.S. electoral processes because of tax privileges, the USAPAC
has no similar obstacles and may take part in them.