March 7, 2003

European and US ANC Leaders at Bay Area "Hai Tad Evening"

Art and Margit Hazarabedian Honored for their Commitment to Hai Tad

San Francisco, March 1 - ANC Europe president Hilda Tchoboyan and ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian were special guests at the annual Bay Area Armenian National Committee's "Hai Tad Evening" last Saturday at San Francisco's Pier One.

Introducing the guests and giving a report of the past year's activities, Bay Area ANC member Roxanne Makasdjian spoke of the changed political atmosphere since September 11, 2001 and the war on terrorism.

	(L to R) Bay Area ANC Chairman Khajag Sarkissian, ANC Europe president Hilda Tchoboyan, and ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian

"We knew our job in promoting Hai Tad had instantly become more difficult, although none of us could have predicted just how much more difficult our job was to become," said Makasdjian, who outlined the new challenges facing the Armenian-American community. Describing the efforts which led to the reversal of the government's plan to include Armenia on an Immigration and Naturalization registration list, Makasdjian said the experience displayed the community's strength and ability to mobilize quickly and effectively.

Makasdjian also spoke of the successes in the passage of the California-Armenia Trade office, the Holocaust and Genocide Education Act, and the various initiatives the ANC is currently advancing regarding Armenian Genocide recognition.

Hilda Tchoboyan, president of the European-Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy, ANC's pan-European office which opened in Brussels in 2001, spoke about the achievements of Armenian Cause efforts since the office opened at the site of the headquarters of the European Union. Tchoboyan discussed efforts to block Turkey's accession to the EU, to include denial of the Armenian Genocide in France's criminal code as is denial of the Holocaust, to increase Kharabagh's independent profile within Europe, and the inclusion of the Armenian Genocide in European school instruction. She also described the recent, successful Pro-Armenia conference organized by her office, which brought together dignitaries and representatives from 22 countries to discuss the future of Armenia and the Armenian Cause.

ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian described the current "hostile" atmosphere in Washington towards Armenian-American issues, but said the community's interests have a large presence in Congress where 120 Congressmen are members of the Caucus on Armenian Issues, despite there only being two members of Armenian descent. Hachikian also spoke of the ANC's efforts towards the upcoming introduction of an Armenian Genocide resolution in Congress, and of Turkey's potential role in the impending war on Iraq.
"Over the past two weeks, Turkey has done a very good job of alienating a lot of people in Washington," said Hachikian, referring to Turkey's request for more money from the US in exchange for its cooperation in the war. He characterized Turkey's recent refusal of the US request to put its troops in Turkey as an opportunity to stop Turkey's position as a US ally from working against Armenian-American issues.

	(L to R) Art Hazarabedian, Margit Hazarabedian, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, and Bay Area ANC member Roxanne Makasdjian

Longtime Bay Area activists Art and Margit Hazarabedian were honored by the ANC for their selfless contributions to the Armenian Cause. In addition to years of support for the ANC, Art Hazarabedian, an expert in Veterinary Science and Agricultural Economics founded the Armenian Technology Group, dedicated to the development of modern agriculture and a free market economy in Armenia. The ATG is now involved with some 30,000 individual farmers , has over 40 agronomists in Armenia, and has facilitated some of their training in the US.

Margit Hazarabedian received her doctorate degree from UC Berkeley in  "Comparative Epic, Folklore and Armenian Studies." Her PhD project on the Armenian epic David of Sassoun, decoded the epic's hidden symbolism and revealed how and why the oral narrative was instrumental in Armenia's cultural survival for centuries.

Both Art and Margit have participated in civic organizations throughout their careers, and were instrumental in getting San Francisco's Armenian day school, KZV, established 20 years ago, and continue to be involved in the Armenian Studies program at UC Berkeley. They have four grown sons.

The 200 Hai Tad supporters gathered gave the Hazarabedians a lengthy standing ovation and applause.