AAA intends to utilize Diaspora potential in full, to the benefit of Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - A delegation of the Armenian Assembly of Americamet with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information Kiyo Akasaka this month in New York, to exchange views on a broad scope of issues, including international peace and security, regional development, democracy and civil society-building, and human rights as it pertains to the South Caucasus, and Central and Eastern Europe.



The Under-Secretary-General noted how impressed he is of Armenia's progress towards social and economic development since independence, and how important the Armenian Diaspora's contribution has been to that effort.



The Assembly delegation, led by Board of Trustees Member Jirair Haratunian, Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, and Director of Research and Analysis Armen Kharazian, reiterated its interest in sharing knowledge and expertise, within the broader UN framework, regarding the methodology and practice of development advocacy, in benefit of historic homelands.



"Armenia may be a small country, but the Armenian Diaspora, with its geographic reach and organizational capacity, imparts a global dimension to the Armenian people - a tremendous value in today's globalized world," said Kharazian, the Assembly's Main Representative to the United Nations. "The Assembly intends to utilize that potential in full, to the benefit of Armenia and its region, as well as the international community as a whole."



The Assembly delegation also met with Shamina de Gonzaga, Special Advisor on NGO Relations of the Office of the President of the General Assembly. Both meetings were requested by the Assembly, to discuss issues of interest or concern to the Armenian-American community, including universal affirmation of the Armenian Genocide in the light of the growing global focus on genocide prevention and other crimes against humanity.