GLENDALE–At a town hall meeting Sunday, Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau member Vigen Baghoumian highlighted the important role the Iranian-Armenian community has played in the strengthening of ties between the two neighboring countries.
Speaking to a crowd of more than 400 community members, who gathered at the Homenetmen Ararat Center Sunday, Baghoumian said there are no countries in the region that have as strong a relation with their neighbor as Iran and Armenia, attributing this reality to the activism and vision of the Iranian-Armenian community.
The town hall meeting got underway with welcoming remarks from ARF Western US Public Relations office director Saro Nazarian, who invited Baghoumian and ARF Western US Central Committee member Anahit Stepanian to begin the discussion. Also present were ARF Bureau member Dr. Vicken Hovsepian and ARF Western US Central Committee chairman Avedik Izmirlian.
The visiting Bureau member took questions from the audience ranging in topics from Iran’s position on the Karabakh conflict resolution to the tenor of US-Iranian relations.
Baghoumian said that the Iranian government, from day one, has advocated a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
He also said recent threats of an attack against Iran by the US would be detrimental for not only to the two countries, but also the entire region, especially Armenia. He urged the leadership of the two countries to engage in diplomatic relations and resolve matters through negotiations.
Baghoumian also reiterated the ARF Bureau’s posturing that the fact of the Armenian Genocide was not up for discussion nor should it be a topic for commissions to discuss.
In conclusion, Baghoumian highlighted the importance of pursuing the Armenian Cause and strengthening of Armenia’s statehood.