Glendale Mayor Elen Asatryan participated in the inaugural U.S.-Armenia Local Democracy Forum, organized by the U.S. Department of State, with the goal of enhancing bilateral relations, exploring economic opportunities, and promoting cultural and educational exchanges between Armenia, Glendale, and the United States.
The U.S. delegation was led by Ambassador (ret.) Nina Hachigian, Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy, and included notable figures such as Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs Sarah Morgenthau, Mayor Elen Asatryan of Glendale, Director Samuel Assefa of the Office of Planning and Research of California, Mayor Paige Cognetti of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Mayor Wilmot Collins of Helena, Montana, Mayor Victor Gordo of Pasadena, California, Deputy Secretary Kelsey Olson of the Kansas Department of Agriculture, and Chief Information Officer Ted Ross of Los Angeles, California.
The forum commenced with remarks from U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma and included presentations from various Sister Cities. An in-depth discussion with U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien highlighted plans for new partnerships between Helena, Montana, and Stepanavan; Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Armavir; and the state of Michigan and Tavush province.
Mayor Asatryan expressed her commitment to the initiative, stating, “I am deeply honored to have been invited to participate in this historic inaugural U.S.-Armenia trip. Our role as changemakers is to create a lasting positive impact. I am fully committed to strengthening and enhancing our Sister City relationships and look forward to our collective work ahead.”
During the visit, Mayor Asatryan joined the delegation in paying respects at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial, honoring the 1.5 million Armenian souls lost from 1915 to today. This tribute was particularly poignant for Asatryan, given the historical ties with Special Representative Sarah Morgenthau, the great-granddaughter of Henry Morgenthau Sr., the U.S. ambassador who documented the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide.
Mayor Asatryan, along with Sam Aseffa, also visited Glendale’s Sister City, Kapan, where they met with Mayor Gevorg Parsyan, toured redevelopment sites, and discussed future collaboration on wildfire prevention, emergency response, and student exchanges. Kapan has been a Sister City to Glendale since 2006.
In Gyumri, Mayor Asatryan engaged with Mayor Samvel Balasanyan, toured the Gyumri Technology Center, and participated in discussions on IT development, public-private partnerships, climate response, and tourism promotion. She also attended the opening of the third housing project of the “My Gyumri” Program, providing new homes for families affected by the 1988 earthquake.
Throughout her visit, Mayor Asatryan focused on strategies for community engagement and strengthening government services. She met with Kentron District Head Petros Petoyan, visited Armenia’s Women’s Center, and explored potential partnerships between the Glendale YWCA and the Glendale Police Department for domestic violence response training.
Upon her return, Mayor Asatryan placed the discussion of structuring Sister City relations on the council agenda, with plans to enhance communications and partnerships. A Glendale Sister City delegation trip is planned for late September 2024.
The U.S. Department of State covered all travel expenses for Mayor Asatryan’s participation.
