Armenian Ambassador Hosts Celebratory Banquet Marking The 25Th Anniversary Of Armenia’s Independence - Gala Event Organized By Armenia Fund

At the invitation of H.E. Grigor Hovhannissian, the Armenian Ambassador to the United States, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian accompanied by Diocesan benefactor Mr. Ray Hartoonian and Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan from the Eastern Diocese, our Sister Diocese, attended a special gala banquet in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, September 28, 2016.

This was the first time in a decade that such a grandiose event had been organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Washington, D.C. The banquet was attended by close to 500 guests including US Senators, US Representatives Jackie Speier, Frank Pallone, Anna Eshoo, Loretta Sanchez, foreign diplomats, clergy and other guests.

The historic banquet, held at the Hall of the Americas at the Organization of the American States (OAS), was organized by Armenia Fund. Mrs. Maria Mehranian, President of Armenia Fund, served The Mistress of Ceremonies. Ambassador Grigor Hovhannissian was the keynote speaker of the evening who most eloquently reflected upon the 25 years of a free and independent Armenia noting the country’s upheavals and accomplishments since gaining independence in 1991.

“His Excellency Grigor Hovhannissian is the most respected Ambassador of Armenia in the United States. It was during his tenure as the Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles, that House of Armenia was acquired and a number of diplomatic missions were launched. His charm and charismatic personality brought the Armenian-American community on the West Coast together,” stated His Eminence the Diocesan Primate.