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Monday, April 19, 2004

AGBU PRESIDENT BERGE SETRAKIAN’S REMARKS AT THE 2004 ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY
NATIONAL CONFERENCE

AGBU, along with the Eastern and Western Dioceses of the Armenian
Church, joined the Armenian Assembly of America in the organization of
the National Conference and Banquet, which was held in Washington
D.C. from April 18-20, 2004.

AGBU President Berge Setrakian addressed the convention during the
Gala event and below is the full text of his speech.

* * *

It is a sincere and rewarding pleasure to be here this evening with a
most outstanding and dedicated audience. The Armenian Assembly has put
much effort into arranging this important and worthwhile event. It is
an event that allows dedicated Armenians such as yourselves to become
advocates for the issues of importance to all Armenians. As President
of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, I am particularly proud that
our organization is a cooperating partner in the conference, along
with both the Eastern and Western branches of the Armenian Church of
America. Armenian organizations worldwide must establish vital
relationships with one another, and this conference serves as a great
example of how we can work together closely to create a momentum of
improvement in our community. In fact, at the AGBU worldwide
convention in New York two years ago, I called on our own membership
to begin a strategic process of working hand in hand to facilitate
cooperation-not competition-among A! rmenian organizations. This
spirit of cooperation must be encouraged and expanded, as it has the
potential to be one of our greatest sources of strength.

In the complex and changing world we live in today, it is even more
imperative for us to unite and strengthen our voices as we express our
concerns within the American political arena. Widespread understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues among our fellow Americans is an
important goal for each and every one of us. We must do all we can to
tell people about such issues and the need for their support from the
American government. The way we do that best is by remaining united
and remaining active, as we have been over the course of this
conference.

I would like to take this opportunity to share another major goal of
the AGBU at this moment, a goal with which I hope you can agree. More
and more at our organization, we are renewing our commitment to
serving the community by coming up with new ways to address its
needs. There is so much need in our community that we must constantly
reevaluate how to put our resources to their best and most effective
use. As we push to preserve our Armenian identity through cultural,
educational, and humanitarian efforts, we come to the conclusion that,
so to speak, doing ‘business as usual’ will no longer work. We face
new challenges, new conditions, and new parameters. We exist in a
world that is constantly changing, and we must adapt accordingly to
ensure our strength and survival indefinitely. To every challenge we
face in every program we run, we must design new responses that can
more effectively achieve our mission of serving the Armenian
people. This requires from us a certain vigila! nce-a promise that we
will create new programs and institutions to fulfill our urgent needs,
and dedicate our existing resources to that fulfillment.

Our need to evolve as a community and as individual organizations is
part of our responsibility to the Armenian youth, the new generation
who may not be as tightly linked to the traditional forms of identity
and heritage. Today, we serve a generation of young Armenian-Americans
who are more, if not fully integrated in American society. These are
young people who, even more than those of us who arrived as
immigrants, have an allegiance and loyalty to their native United
States. If a dedication to the Armenian homeland of their ancestors is
to exist, it will exist alongside an equal dedication to their
American homeland. Being Armenian-Americans does not mean that they
are 50% Armenian and 50% American. No-it means that they are 100%
Americans, who feel a strong and full commitment to their Armenian
identity. Therefore, as we work together in the future, we must take
into account that the next generation feels and lives its Armenian
identity in ways that are different from those! of our older
community. Our programs must understand this and take it as a premise
of how they operate and what they hope to achieve. We must commit
ourselves to building programs that make not only great Armenians, but
great Americans.

I believe that this conference has been an activity of that
nature-here, we have come together as full and active Americans
dedicated to the causes of Armenian concern. We have honored the goal
of unity, of service, and of being good American citizens and loyal
Armenians.

In closing, let me again express my gratitude and that of the AGBU to
the participants and supporters of this landmark event. We are proud
and grateful to have been part of this Conference in Washington and
look forward to moving together into a bright and prosperous future.