Foundation for Economic Development
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, Ca 91206
Tel: 323.888.0049
Fax: 323.888.0043
PRESS RELEASE
: August 15, 2007
Contact: Taleen Mardirossian
Tel: 818-500-1918
"Dodger Dogs may make it to Armenia"
Consul General of the Republic of Armenia Visits Dodger Stadium for the
first time
LOS ANGELES, CA- California Trade Office (CATO)/Foundation for Economic
Development (FED) and Armenian National Committee – Western Region (ANC-WR)
representatives accompanied Armen Liloyan, Consul General of the Republic of
Armenia to an evening game at Dodger Stadium on July 16, 2007. In
attendance were CATO International Trade Specialist, Johnny Nalbandian, and
Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee-Western Region,
Antranig Kzirian. Liloyan’s nine year old son, Rouben, also joined them for
his first ever baseball game.
The division leading Los Angeles Dodgers took on the Philadelphia Phillies.
The stadium was flooded with Dodger fans including Nalbandian, while
Kzirian, a native Philadelphian and avid Phillies fan, rooted for his home
team.
Perhaps the most excited fan in the stadium was Liloyan’s son, Rouben, who
instantly fell in love with the sport. He was unfamiliar with the game but
soon learned the rules and quickly became a fan. "When I go back to Armenia
I’m going to teach my friends how to play baseball," he remarked.
"I was pretty impressed with the Consul General’s knowledge of the game,"
said Nalbandian, "I have been coming to this stadium since the day it was
built, yet he brought up statistics about the team that I did not even
know."
During the game Nalbandian and Liloyan discussed the relationship between
companies promoting trade in the Caucuses, Western Asia, and Eastern Europe
and possibly taking baseball to that part of the world. "We have all heard
of the Cactus League. Here comes the Caucus League," said Kzirian. The
evening’s event was a casual occasion to build on the growing relationship
between CATO/FED and the Armenian Consul General’s office.
CATO/FED, the Armenian General Consulate and the Armenian American Chamber
of Commerce have been working closely together and recently established a
joint task force including CATO’s International Trade Specialist, Johnny
Nalbandian, FED board member, Al Cabraloff, Vice-Consul of the Consulate
General of Republic of Armenia, Sahak Sargsyan, and director of the Armenian
American Chamber of Commerce, Nicholas Hacopian. The task force was
developed to explore ways in which the organizations may collaborate on
initiatives of common interest, including a prospective trade event.
"The highlight of my evening was seeing Rouben Liloyan’s face light up when
we walked into the stadium because it reminded me of my childhood," noted
Nalbandian. "Dodger Stadium has such a fun atmosphere for people of all
ages and backgrounds, so it was nice to be able to enjoy the game and also
discuss some business in a relaxed environment." Nalbandian also mentioned,
"since Los Angeles and Yerevan are now sister cities, can you imagine the
Dodgers playing in Yerevan one day soon?"
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