LOS ANGELES, CA — The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region will be hosting a community forum with Ambassador Rudolf Perina, during the Ambassador’s four-day visit to the Southland to meet with Armenian community leaders, activists and organizations. Ambassador Rudolf Perina is serving as the Special Negotiator for Nagorno-Karabakh and NIS Regional Conflicts.

During his visit to California, Ambassador Perina plans to visit local churches, schools and meet with community leaders and the public to better understand the sentiments of the Armenian American community regarding the just and peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict. The ANCA – WR will host a special community forum with Ambassador Perina on Thursday, February 21, 2002 at 6 p.m. at the St. Garabed Church Hall in Hollywood. The event is free of charge and open to the public. A question and answer session is scheduled following the Ambassador’s comments and community wide participation is welcomed.

Ambassador Perina assumed his duties as the Special Negotiator for Nagorno-Karabakh and Eurasian Conflicts in October 2001 replacing Ambassador Carrey Cavenaugh. Before returning to Washington for his current assignment, he served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova from 1998 – 2001. Ambassador Perina earned his B.A. at the University of Chicago and did graduate study at Columbia University, where he received his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in European History. For more information on Ambassador Perina’s tour of the Southland or the community forum at St. Garabed Church, call the ANCA-WR central office at 818.500.1918.