NEW YORK, NY - It was a historic event when two child psychiatrists and a child psychologist from Armenia participated in the 47"' Annual Meetings of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Hilton Hotel here from October 24-29, 2000. At the opening plenary session, Dr. Clarice Kestenbaum recognized past presidents of the Association, Award recipients and representatives of foreign affiliates from India, Korea, Cuba, Chile, and, for the first time, Armenia.

Maruke Yeghiyan, MD, Ph.D., was recognized at the dais as President of the Armenian Association of Child Psychiatrists and Psychologists (ACPP). Through the efforts of Louis M. Najarian, MD. and the International Relations Committee of the Academy, the Armenian Association is now a formal affiliate of the American Academy with other foreign countries. This affiliation allows exchange of scientific collaboration and recognizes Dr. Yeghiyan as an Honorary Member of the American Academy since he is president of the organization in Armenia.

In 1997 Dr. Yeghiyan organized the Association of Child Psychiatrists and Psychologists as a non-governmental organization. There are I 5 child psychiatrists and 25 child psychologists in the organization. They conduct research and organize regular scientific conferences on child mental health in Armenia. They host a radio talk program addressing contemporary topics on child and adolescent mental health issues for the public. They also conduct important clinical research and have presented their findings at international conferences throughout Europe.

At the recent meetings in New York, Dr. Yeghiyan and Dr. Arman Danielyan participated in a poster presentation on adolescent depression and treatment. They received much attention and interest on their findings. The International Relations Committee of the American Academy, under the chairmanship of Louis M. Najarian, MD, sponsored a symposium titled "The Effects of Politics on Child Development," in order to examine how different political systems around the world affect child development.

Dr. Kachik Gasparyan, Chief Psychologist at the Yerevan State Medical Institute and vice president of ACPP for Psychologists, presented an important paper addressing the effects on child development in Armenia from such events as the earthquake, the change in political system from communism to democracy, the war in Karabagh, corruption, and the recent assassinations in parliament on national television. Joining Dr. Gasparyan at the symposium were leading psychiatrists to discuss the effects of the political system on children in Cuba, the effect on children in Cambodia after the Pol Pot genocide and the effect of the American government policies on the American Indian children.

Dr. Robert Jay Lifton, an esteemed Professor of Psychiatry at John Jay College in New York, discussed all the papers and spoke about the situation in Armenia at length. Dr. Lifton is well known in academic circles as a scholar and has been extremely sympathetic and supportive of the Armenian Cause for recognition of the genocide by Turkey.

The Armenian delegation was well received by the Academy and they have established permanent ties for mutual collaboration with Dr. Kestenbaum and Dr. Marilyn Benoit of Washington DC, the next president of the Academy. The three professionals from Armenia represented the country well and have established a permanent affiliation with American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the leading organization in the world for child mental health. This affiliation will provide much valuable information for child mental health workers in Armenia and offer a vehicle for continued collaboration in research between both organizations.