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Community groups welcome committee, urge principled economic engagement
Summary
Representatives of the Armenian National Committee of America and the Armenian Assembly of America thanked the committee for launching the select body, urged that economic partnerships be paired with principled attention to human‑rights, and proposed initiatives such as direct flights and expanded delegation coordination.
During the public‑comment portion, community advocates emphasized that deeper trade and cultural ties must be founded on human‑rights protections and sustainable, principled engagement.
Zanku Armenian, a national board member of the Armenian National Committee of America, told the committee that economic progress should not "brush thorny issues under the rug" and stressed the need to pair partnerships with attention to political prisoners and the legacy of genocide. He urged principled advocacy alongside economic work.
David Ojak, western region director of the Armenian Assembly of America, expressed gratitude for the select committee's launch and pledged organizational support for sustained engagement between California and Armenia. Other public commenters encouraged exploring options such as direct flight routes and more robust delegation planning to facilitate travel and commerce.
Committee members thanked speakers and said the hearing would be followed by additional meetings to convert the ideas raised into measurable goals and agency coordination.
