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PRESS RELEASE
Friday, July 29, 2005
AGBU FRANCE DISTRICT HONORS SERGE TCHURUK ON THE OCCASION OF THE 95TH
ANNIVERSARY OF MARSEILLES CHAPTER
Paris, France – On July 2, 2005, AGBU France District honored Serge
Tchuruk, Chairman and CEO of the multinational corporation Alcatel and
one of the world’s most prominent business leaders of Armenian
descent, on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Marseilles
Chapter. Over 250 AGBU supporters and friends from Belgium, France,
Lebanon, Russia, Syria and the United States attended the gala dinner
at the Prefecture of Marseilles in the presence of Mr. Tchuruk, local
political dignitaries and AGBU representatives.
In attendance were AGBU President Berge Setrakian and wife Vera; AGBU
Vice President Sarkis Demirdjian and wife Seta; AGBU Central Board
Members Karnig Yacoubian and wife Ani, Sam Simonian and wife Sylva,
Carol Aslanian, Michael Ansour and Aris Atamian; AGBU France District
Committee Chairperson Denis Ketchedjian with District Committee
Members Sona Attamian, Meliné Caumon, Mihran Chakardjian, Nadia
Gortzounian and Michel Sabbagh; AGBU Marseilles Chairperson Bernard
Besoian; and AGBU Chapter Chairpersons from Lyon, Saint-Etienne,
Valence and Vienne.
After welcoming remarks by Christian Fremond, Prefect of the
Provence-Côte D’Azur region, and Bernard Besoian, keynote speaker
Denis Ketchedjian said that, since the founding of AGBU in 1906 and
the local Marseilles Chapter in 1910, the organization has remained
committed to preserving and promoting the Armenian identity and
heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs for
the benefit of all Armenians. AGBU has faithfully upheld its long-term
mission, while adapting to the current state of affairs; today, a new
generation of Armenians is emerging – 90 years after the Armenian
Genocide and emigration – who are well integrated and able to join the
top echelons of society, while remaining loyal to their ancestry.
An excellent model of his generation, Serge Tchuruk was a son of
Armenian immigrants from Marseilles, France, steadfastly involved in
AGBU and a graduate of the best French schools in Marseilles and
Paris, including École Polytechnique, one of the most prestigious
French Grandes Écoles. He has had an illustrious professional career
in multinational corporations, including Mobil and Total, and since
1995, has held the position of Chairman and CEO of Alcatel.
Ketchedjian added that it would only be fitting that AGBU honor a
child of the Marseilles Armenian community, whose mother had served
for years as the Treasurer of the AGBU Marseilles Chapter, and who is
a source of pride for all Armenians of his generation and an
outstanding model for the new generation of young Armenians.
Prior to decorating Tchuruk with AGBU Honor Membership and receiving
the mark of distinction of the Armenian Church on behalf of His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, Berge Setrakian
commended AGBU France District for celebrating the success of Serge
Tchuruk and holding him up as an example to the younger generation of
the level of excellence Armenians are capable of when offered the
opportunity.
After remarks of goodwill by former French Cabinet Minister, Patrick
Devedjian, who was honored by AGBU France District in November 2003 in
Paris, a very moved Tchuruk thanked AGBU and reiterated his pride in
belonging to a martyred nation whose children and grandchildren have
kept the culture alive in the Diaspora.
Throughout the entire evening, a film on the life of Serge Tchuruk and
the accomplishments of AGBU in Armenia and the Diaspora was
screened. Thanks to the support of AGBU France District and the
remarkable work of the Organizing Committee, notably Sona Attamian and
Lucie Kouyoumdjian, along with Master of Ceremonies Jacky Nercessian –
a French actor of Armenian descent who starred in Henri Verneuil’s
film “Mayrig” and was raised in Marseilles’ Armenian community – the
celebration was an extraordinary success.
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City with
an annual budget of $26 million, AGBU preserves and promotes the
Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural, and
humanitarian programs, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians in 34
countries.
For more information on AGBU France District, please email
[email protected] or visit