ARMENIA OVERTURE OFFICIAL SEEKS CITY TIES.Byline: Helen Gao Staff Writer GLENDALE - Attracted by the city's large, well-established Armenian population, a high-ranking official from Armenia who is visiting Glendale this week has asked the City Council for help in strengthening cultural and trade ties. Armen Rustamyan, vice chairman of the standing committee on foreign relations Foreign relations may refer to:
In an interview Thursday, Rustamyan said through an interpreter that such a relationship would be mutually beneficial Adj. 1. mutually beneficial - mutually dependent interdependent, mutualist dependent - relying on or requiring a person or thing for support, supply, or what is needed; "dependent children"; "dependent on moisture" . ``Having a delegation go from Glendale to Armenia would be very beneficial in creating understanding ... of the cultural context of Armenians,'' he said. Rustamyan believes that Armenian leaders, in turn, would learn from their Glendale counterparts how to best make the transition from being a former centralized Soviet government to democracy. ``My first impression of Glendale is this is a model of self-rule and self-governance,'' he said. Having declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia has been undergoing major political, social, legal and economic reforms. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s has prompted a new, steady wave of immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. from Armenia to the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. throughout the last decade. To help Armenia stem the tide Stem The Tide An attempt to stop a prevailing trend. Sometimes referred to as "stop the bleeding." Notes: If a stock is continually falling, stemming the tide would be an attempt to halt the free fall and change its direction. See also: Reversal, Trend of immigration and improve socioeconomic conditions in the fledgling democracy, Rustamyan said his country needs the help of local Armenian-Americans. ``Armenia is in great need of investment. With the large Armenian population in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , there is a great opportunity for trade ties to be established,'' he said. ``I see an opportunity to move toward a more organized and well-orchestrated campaign to encourage investment in Armenia.'' While many dignitaries from Armenia have visited Glendale over the years, no city delegation has ever made an official trip to Armenia. Councilman Bob Yousefian, an Armenian-American who was born in Iran but has never been to Armenia, said he supports closer ties with the country, but believes matters of trade and foreign affairs foreign affairs pl.n. Affairs concerning international relations and national interests in foreign countries. are federal issues. ``It would not be a bad idea for us to have a sister-cityship with one city in Armenia and, basically, trade information as far as how to run a municipality,'' he said. ``I don't think we want to get involved in the foreign affairs of the country because that gets into a realm of federal government,'' he said. The Armenian National Committee of America The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is an Armenian-American grassroots organization that actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues. is currently working with state Sen. Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, to establish a trade office in Yerevan. Rustamyan aspires to make Armenia a place that Armenian-Americans would like to return to one day. More Armenians currently live outside Armenia than inside the country - a nation the size of Rhode Island Rhode Island, island, United States Rhode Island, island, 15 mi (24 km) long and 5 mi (8 km) wide, S R.I., at the entrance to Narragansett Bay. It is the largest island in the state, with steep cliffs and excellent beaches. squeezed between Turkey, Iran, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Alex Sardar Sardar, in some senses also Sirdar (Persian: سردار ) (Sardār , executive director of the Armenian National Committee's western region office estimates 2 1/2 million to 3 million Armenians live in their own country while 6 million have been dispersed around the world as a result of massacres in the early part of the 20th century. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Armen Rustamyan, an official of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, is proposing a sister-city relationship between Glendale and Armenia's capital. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer |
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