Armenian National Committee of America Chairman Ken Hachikian conducted a series of high-level meetings with Georgian authorities and Armenian community leaders in the organization’s efforts to call broader attention to the plight of the Armenian community in that country.

“This trip was an excellent opportunity to have a frank and open discussion with Georgian authorities and our own U.S. representatives in that country about the opportunities and challenges facing the Armenian communities in Javakhk and Tbilisi,” said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. “In the upcoming months, we look forward to working with the Administration and Members of Congress and exploring ways to expand cooperation with our compatriots in the region.”

In a week-long trip to Georgia’s capital Tbilisi and the Armenian populated Samtskhe-Javakheti (Javakhk) region, Hachikian was joined by ANCA Communications Director Elizabeth Chouldjian in discussing the Armenian American community’s concerns about the socio-economic situation in the regions and efforts to maintain the Armenian culture and language of the community in the broader tapestry of Georgia’s cultural diversity.

Hachikian and Chouldjian met with Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze, Cultural Minister Nikoloz Rurua, and representatives of the Ministries of Education, Justice, Regional Development and Infrastructure, Regional Integration and the National Security Council, which assisted in coordinating the meetings. They also discussed U.S. policy and assistance efforts in the region with U.S. Ambassador to Georgia John Bass, outgoing USAID Country Director Jock Connelly and Millennium Challenge Corporation Resident Country Director Jim McNicholas.

In Javakhk as in Tbilisi, the ANCA representatives spoke with a broad range of Armenian representatives of non-governmental organizations and the Armenian Church. The ANCA looks to continue this dialogue with Armenian community leaders, the Georgian government as well a U.S. Administration and Congressional leaders in an effort to help address the needs of the local community, Asbarez reported.