Armenians Swarm DC

It has been a whirlwind of a few days. Within just a few blocks in DC, all the big shots moved from event to event like a flock of birds. The ANCA crew spent all weekend moving into their new office building on 17th and N St NW in preparation for their office opening reception on Monday. Visitors were not sparse throughout the moving process as many people were in town for the Armenian Assembly Annual National Conference around the corner at the Mayflower hotel, and the Millenium Challenge Compact Signing Ceremony. I think the running theme of conversation was how incredibly fast we settled in. But all the action I attended took place on Monday, so I'll start from the beginning. All morning was devoted to preparing the building for our Opening Reception at 2:00 pm. We started the party in our new beautiful conference room and hosted Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and company, as well as Srpazan and Ambassador Tatul Markarian. With a cognac toast, we celebrated the opening and heard ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian speak along with Oskanian and the Ambassador. Without a break, we all funneled into a row of taxi cabs and were off to the State Department for the MCC Signing Ceremony. Of course as we all know, the sentiment between Ambassador Evans and the State Department is on the rocks and thus the tension was felt in the room. After much catching up with strange faces and old friends, reconnecting with peers and networking, everyone shifted their focus on the highlight of the day, the signing. Secretary of State Condaleeza Rice, Millenium Challenge Corporation CEO John Dalinovich, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, both Ambassadors Evans and Markarian and other members of the Armenian delegation collected on stage to speak on the historic event. Armenia is the 9th to accept a compact with the MCC, and has apparently received the largest package deal as of yet. The signing took place and all shook hands, and after an hour of shmoozing and eating, people moved on to prepare for the next even. The Armenian Assembly banquet immediately followed, taking place at the Mayflower. Raffi has talked a bit about the YerazArt Foundation, and I'll let him elaborate more, but basically I was there to take photos of the kids. In attendance were the usual suspects, Sen. Sarbanes, Sen. Allen, Rep. Pallone, Ani Totah, Carolyn Mugar, and the list goes on. I was a bit distracted in the back catching up with friends (the youth section) and playing with the YerazArt musicians. That, and it was a LONG day, I almost gave out near the end. But there was lots of talk about the great progress of Armenia and its future, including a well deserved standing ovation for Ambassador John Evans who went off script to talk from the heart. Needless to say his staff probably tensed up when he pushed away the script provided by the State Department.

Today there will be a reception at the Armenian Embassy to which I will try to attend, and then of course the children will be performing again this weekend at Soorp Khatch. It's needless to say a very exciting week in DC, and will continue to be. April holds the usual April 24th events with a twist. It has been confirmed that Serj Tankian and John Dolmayan from System of a Down will be attending our 3 day April 24th events from the 24th to the 26ths starting with the annual demonstration at the Turkish Embassy and ending with the Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide Observance. Publicity on this has not begun yet, but stay tuned, details to come.