In a letter dated addressed to H.E. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, dated November 23, Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, Interim General Secretary World Council of Churches, wrote “these cites possess a powerful spiritual and cultural legacy to impart. The loss of this heritage would be an irreparable loss for the whole of humanity.”
 
Indisputably, every Armenian shares that same sentiment. Consequently, under the leadership of the Diocesan Primate, the Western Diocese has established a Committee to assist in this aforementioned vital mission. In close collaboration with the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and UNESCO, the Committee of clergy, scholars, attorneys and researchers will offer their expertise to ensure that history is not re-written.

An official introduction of all committee members was made during a Zoom Conference on Monday, December 7, 2020. With the participation of the Very Rev. Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan, Coordinator of the Program at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the committee members exchanged thoughts and ideas to bring this critical mission to fruition.

The Committee Members for the Preservation of the Armenian Heritage are

H.E. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian - Primate - Western Diocese
Very Rev. Fr. Pakrad Dz. V. Berjekian - Vicar General - Western Diocese
Dr. Mary Papazian - President - San Jose State University
Prof. Heghnar Watenpaugh - Professor of Art History, UC Davis
Prof. Barlow DerMugrdechian - Director of the Center for Armenian Studies Program - CSU Fresno
Dr. Sergio LaPorta - Professor of Armenian Studies - CSU Fresno
Garo Ghazarian, Esq. - Criminal Defense Attorney 
Prof. Rachel Goshgarian - Associate Professor of History - Lafayette College
Mr. Simon Maghakyan - ANCA - WR Community Development Coordinator
Dr. Hratch Tchilingrian - Oriental Studies Assoc. Faculty Member - Oxford
Karnig Kerkonian, Esq. - International Lawyer
Dr. Hagop Panossian - Founder - ARPA Institute