This past Sunday, I had the honor of serving as host for the first-ever visit to Los Angeles by Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia. He was joined by his spouse, Anna Hakobyan, who visited Los Angeles and the City Council earlier this year.A crowd estimated at 10,000 or more gathered on the steps of City Hall and across Grand Park to hear the Prime Minister speak about the close and productive relationship between Armenia and the thriving Armenian-American community of Los Angeles. Prior to the speech Pashinyan was feted at a City Hall reception attended by federal, state, and city officials alongside local leaders in the Armenian community.
A former journalist, Pashinyan was elected prime minister in May 2018 by the National Assembly of Armenia. His election, a great victory for government reform and democratic values, has been termed the "velvet revolution."
As the first Armenian-American to be elected to the Los Angeles City Council, I was especially proud to be part of an historic event that celebrated the long and strong ties between the Republic of Armenia and the City of Los Angeles.
Take a look at LA This Week's story of last Sunday's historic event: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtEwWDXI6Gc