On Thursday, August 16th, 2007 members of the Armenian National Committee Orange
County met with California State Assembly member Van Tran at his offices in Costa
Mesa, CA.  The meeting proved to both highly productive and enlightening.

On July 17th, 2007, Assemblyman Tran was named Chair Of Select Committee On
International Trade for the California State Assembly.  The Select Committee on
International Trade was created to collaborate with California’s business community in
expanding import-export opportunities; to promote better relationships with foreign
entities, specifically to find economic opportunities for California businesses; and to
explore legislative policies to cultivate international trade while resolving regulatory
issues within the state.

The Select Committee On International Trade is of particular significance to Armenia as
Armenia has the only trade office currently operating in California.  Headed by Johnny
Nalbandian, the trade office is working to expand trade between California and Armenia.

During the course of the meeting with Assemblyman Tran, ANC-OC members Ara
Malazian, Chris Guldjian, Garin Sarkissian and recent ANCA intern Alex Der Alexanian
discussed various issues of importance to the Armenian Community in Orange County,
particularly with regards to renewing authorization for the trade office in Armenia.  “As one
of the key allies to the United States in the volatile Caucuses region, where Muslim
extremism runs high in states such as Azerbaijan, it is important that we do all that we
can to support Armenia’s economy,” commented ANC-OC member Ara Malazian.

Assemblyman Tran explained the importance of highlighting the benefits to California’s
economy through tangible results of the California Armenian Trade Office.  Armenia is
not nearly as well known as some of California’s other trading partners including Japan,
China, Mexico and Israel and as such has been the subject of some criticism in the
mainstream press that feels that countries like China and Israel should receive priority.  
It was pointed out by the ANC-OC that all of the other trade offices that were recently
closed were funded by the State of California, while Armenia’s Trade Office is not and as
such has no financial impact on the State’s Budget.

“Without the establishment of vital trading relationships with states like California it will
be much more difficult to maintain the stability of the most democratic and least corrupt
of the former Soviet states (Armenia)”, said Ara Malazian.  With the blockades of Armenia
from Turkey and Azerbaijan to the West and East respectively, the turmoil of Georgia to
the North and the inability to trade through Iran to the South, the CATO is one of the only
avenues available to Armenia to develop its economy, the ANC-OC pointed out.

The meeting ended on a very positive note with subsequent meeting to be scheduled
between Assemblyman Van Tran and the ANC Orange County.
ANC-OC Meets with CA State Assmenlyman Van Tran
Armenian National Committee of Orange County
Chris Guldjian, Ara Malazian, Assemblyman
Van Tran, Garin Sarkissian, Alex Der
Alexanian

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