We are confronting one of the most disgraceful and unprecedented moments in the history of the Armenian people. The government’s deliberate targeting and persecution of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church has crossed every red line. As part of an unlawfully initiated criminal proceeding, judicial action has been launched against His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, as well as several senior clergymen.

For centuries, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church has been, and remains, the unshakable spiritual, national, and cultural pillar of the Armenian people. It has guided our nation through its darkest trials, preserving our Holy Faith, national identity, language, and centuries-old values.

The actions taken by the authorities of the Republic of Armenia against the Church’s authority and spiritual mission are both unconstitutional and anti-national. They fundamentally undermine the constitutional principle of the separation of church and state, violate the right to freedom of conscience and the spiritual dignity of thousands of believers, deepen societal divisions, weaken the foundations of our national identity, and expose the state and society to further turmoil.

As faithful followers of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, we condemn the unlawful actions adopted by the authorities and reaffirm, with unwavering conviction, our full support for the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians.

We call upon the judicial and law enforcement authorities to remain faithful to the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Armenia and not yield to political pressure or manipulation.

Matters concerning diocesan administration, canon law, and the Church’s internal procedures fall exclusively within the jurisdiction of the Church, and any state interference is unacceptable.
We call upon our compatriots, guided by national consciousness and the principles of solidarity, to preserve our national unity and to rally around the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, its spiritual mission, and His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians.

ARF Bureau
August 7, 2026

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ANCA delegation with Chairman of the California Armenian Select Committee, Assemblymember John Harabedian

ANCA-WR Congratulates Effort Dedicated to California-Armenia Economic and Cultural Partnership

SACRAMENTO, Calif.– The California State Assembly’s newly formed select committee on California and Armenia Mutual Trade, Art and Cultural Exchange held its landmark inaugural hearing on Thursday at the State Capitol, marking a historic milestone in California-Armenia relations.

Chaired by Assemblymember John Harabedian, the bipartisan committee brought together state leadership, community advocates, and business leaders to chart an ambitious agenda for expanding economic partnership, cultural exchange, and principled engagement between California and the Republic of Armenia.

The Select Committee comprises Assemblymembers Juan Alanis, Isaac Bryan, Jessica Caloza, Mark Gonzalez, Diane Papan, Pilar Schiavo, Nick Schultz, Jose Luis Solache, Jr., and Rick Chavez Zbur.

Chairman of the California Armenian Select Committee, Assemblymember John Harabedian Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur Assemblymember Jessica Caloza Assemblymember Nick Schultz Assemblymember Isaac Bryan Assemblymember Juan Alanis

Zanku Armenian, National Board Member of the Armenian National Committee of America the nation’s oldest and largest Armenian advocacy organization, offered a crucial check to economic optimism. “Armenian advocates are going to be the reminders that we have to do this in a principled manner–and that’s the American way,” Armenian emphasized.

He stressed that sustainable economic growth cannot be divorced from political realities. 

“We all want to see economic prosperity both here in California and in partnership in Armenia. But making sure that economic prosperity is founded on something that is sustainable and just–in terms of economic justice–is tied to the political situation. We cannot brush the thorny issues under the rug for the sake of just economic advancement. These two things go hand in hand because we need it to be on a very sound foundation,” Armenian added.

He referenced ongoing concerns including political prisoners illegally held by Azerbaijan, the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh and its Armenian population, and the need for U.S. diplomatic intervention to secure the release of Armenian prisoners and protect Armenian’s right to self-determination.

California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, serving as Governor Newsom’s representative for International Affairs, delivered remarks underscoring California’s commitment to deepening ties with Armenia. 

“Since Governor Newsom took office in 2019,” Kounalakis explained, “his administration has worked hard to build upon and strengthen the ties that bind California and Armenia together.” 

She highlighted concrete achievements: a 2019 framework agreement between California and the Republic of Armenia, “This trade desk is one of only three our state has established, the other two being in two of our largest and most important trading partners, Mexico and Japan. It is designed to serve as a portal. for Armenian companies wishing to learn more about doing business with California and in California.” 

She also mentioned the opening of the robust academic partnerships spanning UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Irvine, Cal State Fresno, and USC’s Dornsife institute of Armenian studies. 

Kounalakis reflected on the profound impact of her own visit to Armenia as Lt. Governor, describing her experience at the Armenian Genocide Monument and Museum. “It was my great honor to plant a tree at the Armenian Genocide Monument and Museum in memory of those who perished in the Genocide. We in California will never forget them.”

The inaugural hearing underscored a singular reality: California is home to over one million Americans of Armenian descent–the largest concentration outside Russia–with Glendale alone representing the largest Armenian city outside Armenia itself. From startups to civic institutions, Armenian-Americans have built thriving communities and economic engines across the state. That foundation now forms the basis for intentional, institutional partnership with the Republic of Armenia.

Addressing the packed hearing, Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian struck the central theme:
“California should not think of its relationship with Armenia as distant foreign policy concern. It should think of Armenia as an economic, cultural, democratic and strategic partner, and it should recognize Glendale as a natural gateway for that partnership.”

Kassakhian, whose city of Glendale is home to the largest concentration of Armenians in any single U.S. city–clearly and strongly articulated the economic logic underpinning the committee’s work. 

“The relationship between California and Armenia is not a one-directional commitment. It is a genuine partnership. Capital, talent, and ideas move both ways,” Kassakhian said. 

“Companies founded by Armenian-Americans here create jobs in America as well as Armenia. Engineers in Armenia help California companies compete globally. And this is not aid. It is trade, investment and innovation,” he added.

Mayor Kassakhian called for immediate action on several fronts including, including completion of the Armenian American Museum as California’s first major institution documenting Armenian-American history and contributions, formal integration of Armenian-American businesses to the state’s supplier diversity programs from which they are currently categorically excluded and expansion of educational and professional exchanges between California universities and Armenian institutions.

The Select Committee will pursue an ambitious agenda spanning trade and investment expansion, deepening educational and academic exchanges among UC campuses and California State University with Armenian Universities and research institutions, supporting cultural preservation and tourism through institutions like the Armenian-American Museum, rectifying the categorical exclusion of Armenian-American owned businesses from state supplier diversity and procurement programs, and ensuring California’s voice advocates for Armenian sovereignty, human rights, and the release of political prisoners.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region stands ready to support the Select Committee’s work. The inaugural hearing demonstrated that California’s Armenian American community–spanning business, academia, local government, and civic organizations–possesses both the expertise and commitment to chart a new era of California-Armenia partnership.

“The bridge already exists. It was built by survivors, immigrants, entrepreneurs, and families over more than a century. Our task now is to strengthen it, to complete it, and to make sure it carries opportunity in both directions for generations to come,” Kassakhian concluded.

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Hamparian: White House is Bankrolling Aliyev Dictatorship as It Holds Armenian Hostages, Blocks Artsakh Return
 
WASHINGTON – The Armenian National Committee of America on Thursday condemned the Trump Administration’s signal of intent to extend a waiver of Section 907 restrictions on U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan, clearing the way for continued U.S. aid to Baku.
 
“President Trump continues to make a mockery of his America First promise by greenlighting foreign aid to Azerbaijan — shipping U.S. tax dollars to an oil-rich, genocidal dictatorship. A regime that holds Armenian hostages, occupies Armenian territory, bulldozes Christian churches, and blocks the return of refugees to Artsakh,” stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
 
“Azerbaijan’s ruling Aliyev family — a clan with net worth in the tens of billions of dollars — neither needs nor deserves the generosity of the American people,” concluded Hamparian.
 
The Senior Bureau Official for Legislative Affairs at the State Department transmitted the determination, titled “Extension of Section 907 Waiver,” to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. It was printed in the Congressional Record on July 28th (Vol. 172, No. 123, EC-4220) under Executive and Other Communications.
 
Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act has restricted U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan since 1992, in response to its aggression against Armenia and Artsakh. A 2002 amendment gave the President annual waiver authority, conditioned on reporting requirements that successive administrations have failed to meet.

The ANCA has long opposed the continuous reauthorization of this waiver, warning that it emboldens Azerbaijan’s regime by signaling there will be no consequence for its conduct — including the genocidal ethnic cleansing of Artsakh’s Armenian population in 2023 and its continued illegal imprisonment of Armenian hostages, occupation of Armenian territory, and destruction of Armenian cultural heritage.
 
The ANCA is backing the ARMENIA Security Partnership Act (H.R.6840), bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), which would prohibit the President from reauthorizing the Section 907 waiver unless Azerbaijan withdraws its forces from Armenian territory, releases all Armenian hostages, ends hostilities toward Armenia, and recognizes the right of return for Armenians forcibly displaced from Artsakh.
 
Armenian Americans can urge their Representatives to co-sponsor H.R.6840 — the ARMENIA Security Partnership Act — and hold Azerbaijan accountable to the peace process it continues to undermine.

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From left: Darren & Natalia Avanesian, lab technician Ani Azaryan

LOS ANGELES – The Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry has completed its second annual Summer Internship Program, in Yerevan.

Through this initiative, which took place during July and the first week of August, six high-school students from the United States and Canada received training and mentorship at ABMDR’s HLA-Typing Laboratory, in the Armenian capital.

Each student will receive a Certificate of Completion. Given the fact that the ABMDR Lab is accredited by the European Federation for Immunogenetics, the Certificate of Completion can be a valuable asset in job resumes as well as for college and university applications, said Dr. Frieda Jordan, president of ABMDR.

The interns included Darren Avanesian and his sister, Natalia Avanesian (both from Providence High School, in Burbank, California), Iren Babajanyan (from Lucille-Teasdale International School, Brossard, Quebec, Canada), Emma Kardzair (from Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School, Los Angeles), Jacqueline Khachadourian (from Immaculate Heart High School, Los Angeles), and Alexia Minassian (from Chaminade College Preparatory High School, West Hills, California).

“Ever since we launched our Summer Internship Program last year, the response by students and their families has been extremely positive,” Dr. Jordan said. “It’s wonderful to see the enthusiasm of our young interns, and also their sense of camaraderie, as they’re trained and mentored at our lab. These are our future scientists, researchers, and inventors, and we’re all so very proud of them!”

During their internship at the ABMDR Lab, the students gained basic theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in methodologies used in immunogenetics and bone marrow/stem cell donor matching.

Topics of the training encompassed DNA extraction, HLA-typing methodologies, gel electrophoresis, and interpretation of results, instructed by lab supervisor Armine Hyusyan and lab technician Ani Azaryan.

The interns were also provided with an overview of local and international donor databases (such as those of ABMDR and other national registries), and were given a demonstration of two major global donor-search platforms, namely those of the European Marrow Donor Information System and the World Marrow Donor Association. This component of the instruction was provided by ABMDR database manager Alina Sirunyan.

As importantly, the interns were familiarized with ABMDR’s core operations, including community outreach and donor recruitment, medical research, stem-cell harvesting, and cord-blood banking. This component of the instruction was provided by ABMDR Medical Director Dr. Mihran Nazaretyan.

Dr. Jordan said, “We hope that every student who has seen our work up close will go on to become an ABMDR youth ambassador, by going back to their communities and helping us with outreach and recruitment, and joining our NextGen team.”

Last year, four high-school students from California completed ABMDR’s inaugural Summer Internship Program. The interns included Emily Davoodian, Vahan Gadimyan, and Zara Ovanessian, all from Providence High School; as well as Alexander Galstyan, from Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School.

ABMDR’s HLA-Typing Laboratory is a state-of-the-art facility, recognized internationally by all major transplant centers. It is the only one of its kind in the whole of the Caucasus, and the only lab in the region to be accredited by the European Federation for Immunogenetics.

The ABMDR Summer Internship Program is open to college students (graduate and undergraduate), as well as high-school seniors, with a proper course background. Students interested in participating in the 2027 Summer Internship Program should submit a one-page request to [email protected]. The request should include a short biography and a list of courses taken in the fields of biology and chemistry.

Established in 1999, ABMDR, a nonprofit organization, helps Armenians and non-Armenians worldwide survive life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants. To date, the registry has recruited over 33,500 donors in 32 countries across four continents, identified over 9,000 patients, and facilitated 45 bone marrow transplants. For more information, call (323) 663-3609 or visit the ABMDR website.

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