Dr. Davit Babayan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh, will be the keynote speaker at a public forum organized by the Pan-Armenian Council of the Western United States. The event will take place on Monday, September 26, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America in Burbank, California.
Dr. Babayan was invited to the United States by the Armenian National Committee of the Western Region of America. Babayan, who from 2005 to 2007 served as an adviser to the president of Artsakh and a spokesperson for the president, will lead a delegation to the United States to meet with congressional and state leaders. He will also attend the ANCA-WR Grassroots Conference and receive the ANCA-WR 2022 Freedom Award at the annual banquet in Los Angeles. Babayan’s itinerary will include meetings with local, state and federal officials, think tanks, academic and political institutions, community representatives and the press, in an effort to raise awareness of growing tensions in the Republic of Artsakh. and the threat posed to Armenia’s sovereignty.
In his presentation to the Western Diocese, it is expected that Dr. Babayan will give the audience an insightful presentation on the current situation in the Republic of Artsakh against the backdrop of the devastating 44-day war of 2020. Furthermore, he will offer insight into Artsakh’s push for self-determination and the government’s future plans for redevelopment and growth.
As the Armenian homeland faces an existential threat due to the ongoing Azerbaijani aggression, Babayan’s involvement in the government of Artsakh for many years and his in-depth knowledge of the region’s geopolitical landscape will provide an opportunity invaluable and timely to enlighten the Armenian American community and American policy makers for the benefit of the Armenian nation.
In 2021, Babayan appealed to several international organizations, including the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the OSCE Minsk Group, to demand the release of Armenian civilians and soldiers illegally detained as prisoners of war in Azerbaijan. . His thoughtful letters underscored that the actions of the Azerbaijani government were a
direct violation of Article 4 of the Geneva Convention and that their detention and mistreatment of prisoners constituted a flagrant violation of international law.
Pan-Armenian Council Western USA Moderator Lena Bozoyan said, “We are so honored and fortunate to be able to host this event where our very distinguished guest, Dr. Davit Babayan, will address the concerns and questions of members of our community regarding the fate of their brothers and sisters in the Republic of Artsakh. We encourage the community to participate.
Access to the public forum is free. The Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in North America is located at: 3325 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, CA 91504.
The Pan-Armenian Council of the Western United States of America was founded in Burbank, California in 2019 and comprises 25 organizations, the largest religious, political, cultural and professional organizations in the Armenian community. Through the Board, these entities strive to fulfill the organization’s mission statement, which is to implement and carry out projects of a community-wide nature; encourage and assist projects that advance the collective interests and rights of Armenian communities throughout the western United States; take measures to resist actions and efforts contrary to the collective interests and rights of Armenians; to gather and use the resources of the Armenian community for the benefit of the interests of the community, as well as the well-being of the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh; always be mindful of the collective health and protection of the Armenian community.
