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PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, May 9, 2006
AGBU CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY IN CAIRO & ALEXANDRIA
Hundreds from 17 Countries Attend Week-long Festivities in Egypt
Between April 12 and 18, 2006, AGBU Egypt hosted the kick-off
celebrations for AGBU’s highly anticipated year-long centennial
commemoration that began in Cairo and will conclude in April 2007 in
Yerevan, Armenia. For this landmark in the history of the thriving
organization, leaders and supporters gathered in the city of its
founding to assess the past achievements and explore the future
challenges that remain fundamental to securing a dynamic role for AGBU
in years to come.
Armenians in Egyptian History
The six-day event began with a cocktail reception at the Armenian
Embassy in Cairo, hosted by Ambassador Roupen Garabedian. Local
Chapter Chair, Onnig Belekdanian, welcomed guests to the historic AGBU
Chaker building located in the heart of Cairo’s embassy row. This
property was made available for the use of the Armenian Embassy by
AGBU.
In the official message of Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed
Aboul Gheit, read by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Fatma El Zahraa
Etman, Gheit acknowledged the significant role that Armenians played
in the history of Egypt and emphasized the value of Armenian-Egyptian
diplomatic relations.
In a message addressed to AGBU President, Berge Setrakian, on the
occasion of the centennial, the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Vartan
Oskanian, highlighted the important position of AGBU in Armenian
communities around the world and the significance of Egypt as its
birthplace.
Egyptian Tour
The following morning, the Egyptian Armenian hosts treated the AGBU
guests to the sights and sounds of the ancient land. The Great
Pyramids of Giza and the Sakara step pyramid were among the landmarks
visited by the seven tour buses of AGBU participants from five
continents. The day concluded with an elegant nighttime Egyptian
dinner cruise down the Nile on the Nile Maxim complete with
traditional Middle Eastern entertainment and festivities.
Armenian Language Conference
A conference on Armenian language education dominated the Centennial
program on Friday, April 13. Entitled “Armenian Education and Armenian
Language Teaching,” the panel of academic experts from four continents
presented informed perspectives on the future of Armenian education
while evaluating the current state of Armenian schools, particularly
those administered by AGBU. The speakers also addressed the
organization’s role in diasporan education.
Moderated by AGBU District Committee of Egypt Chairman, Berdj Terzian,
the panel invited academics and educators to speak on critical
topics. Educator and Secretary of the District Committee of Egypt,
Gassia Djeghalian, addressed the question: “Is the Armenian Language
Necessary for the Survival of the Armenian Identity?” Editor of AGBU’s
Egyptian publication, Deghegadou, Araxi Devletian, spoke for Jirair
Tanielian, who was unable to attend, on “The Present Status of the
Western Armenian Language in the Diaspora.” Educator and former AGBU
school principal, Dr. Nadya Sarafian, evaluated the current state of
instruction by examining the “Level of Armenian Language Teaching in
Schools.” Principal of AGBU Manoogian Demirdjian School, Hagop
Hagopian, proposed new directions in his presentation, “Suggestions
for the Improvement or Planning of the Armenian Language Teaching and
Armenian Education Programs.” Ashot A. Melkonian, Director of the
Institute of History of the National Academy of Science of the
Republic of Armenia, offered a look at the history of the diaspora and
AGBU in his discussion entitled, “The Armenian Language as a Means of
Survival: Historical Perspective and Profiting from Existing
Possibilities.”
All the papers presented at the panel were available at the conference
in a bilingual (Armenian and English) publication.
Gassia Djeghalian overviewed communities that have worked to maintain
their linguistic identity, including the Celtic of the British Isles,
the Maori of New Zealand, and the First Nations of Canada. She
suggested that the Armenian language needed a revival like those
experienced by other groups that had long been disconnected from their
linguistic heritage. Araxi Devletian spoke extensively about the
media’s role in retaining language and used her knowledge as a
diasporan editor to encourage greater efforts to energize a vibrant
Armenian media culture. Nadya Sarafian spoke about her practical
experience as longtime principal of the AGBU Manoogian School in
Michigan, USA, its transition to a charter school, and its continuing
success at increasing enrollment among Armenians and non-Armenians
alike. She also cited the school’s success at Armenian language
instruction to non-Armenian students. In addition, Sarafian spoke
about AGBU’s prominent role in saving the Armenian nation from
destruction during the perilous years of the Armenian Genocide, and
addressed the new challenges of maintaining language instruction in
the diaspora.
Hagop Hagopian outlined current priorities of Armenian schools and the
future obstacles facing diasporan institutions, namely, competition
from free public schools and access to Armenian language resources.
Ashot Melkonian delved into the history of the diaspora and the
Armenian community’s successes and failures at retaining its
linguistic and cultural identity. He focused on Western Armenian as an
endangered dialect that was almost wiped out as a result of the 1915
Genocide. He reminded the audience about AGBU’s own roots in the
vibrant pre-1915 intellectual culture that sought to bridge the
cultural and dialectical differences among its various members and to
create a universal Armenian identity.
Digitalizing Armenian Education
AGBU Silicon Valley Chairman and 2005 IEEE (Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers) Industrial Pioneer Award Recipient, Yervant
Zorian, concluded the daylong Armenian Language Conference by
presenting an innovative online educational program to teach Armenian
language, history and culture mainly to non-Armenian-speaking youths
and adults alike.
“We need to encourage students to learn,” Zorian said when
demonstrating the attractive bilingual multimedia website.
The audience was captivated by the colorful demonstration that
included learning puzzles, crosswords, memory flash cards, and short
lessons, each emphasizing one aspect of a growing curriculum. AGBU
President, Berge Setrakian, stressed that this project was to be
officially launched on the occasion of the centennial.
Celebrating Cultural Heritage
The weekend’s festivities highlighted the vast and varied cultural
heritage of Armenians in Egypt. On Saturday, April 15, guests visited
the world-renowned Egyptian Museum for a tour of the most remarkable
repository of ancient Egyptian artifacts in the world. In the
afternoon, AGBU Egypt District organized a unique book exhibition of
60 publications in Armenian, Arabic, and English, printed in Egypt and
made possible through AGBU Cairo’s Satenig Chaker Fund.
District Chairman Berdj Terzian addressed the attendees about the
importance of Armenian books in the cultural continuity of the local
and global communities.
One of the highlights of the week was the official Gala Night at the
Marriott Hotel, which attracted over 400 guests and featured famous
pop vocalist Nune Yessayan from Armenia for her first performance in
Egypt.
At a ceremony to mark the official April 15th birthday of the
organization during the Gala, Berdj Terzian, in his capacity as Chair
of the Diocesan Executive Committee, welcomed AGBU delegates and
guests. Terzian was joined by Roupen Garabedian, Armenian Ambassador
to Egypt, Berge Setrakian, AGBU President, Onnig Belekdanian, Chairman
of AGBU Cairo, Antranig Mesrobian, Chairman of the Cairo Diocesan
Council, and Levon Katzaghian, Chairman of the Alexandrian Diocesan
Council, for the ceremonial cake cutting.
The following day, AGBU guests visited the city’s St. Gregory the
Illuminator Armenian Church for Easter service followed by the
traditional Easter blessing of the salt, water and bread by Bishop
Ashod Mnatzaganian, Primate of Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan and South
Africa. The event was attended by AGBU Board Members and guests, and
took place at the Egyptian Diocese adjacent to the church.
Cultural Gala
In the evening, a special cultural program was organized at Cairo’s
Gomhoreya Theater. Speeches by AGBU President Berge Setrakian and AGBU
Egypt Chairman Berdj Terzian preceded the performance. Then, AGBU
Chapter Chairmen or their representatives from around the world were
invited to the stage to receive commemorative plaques marking the
centennial celebration.
Viennese Soprano Hasmik Papian and renowned Paris-based pianist Vardan
Mamikonian performed a selection of arias and compositions by Verdi,
Puccini, Catalani, and Chopin. The second half of the program was
devoted to Armenian musical pieces by Komitas, Arno Babadjanian, and
Armen Tigranian.
For her debut Egyptian performance, Papian received thunderous
applause from the large audience of Armenians from around the
world. The performers ended the evening with a rousing rendition of
the popular song “Cilicia.”
Day Trip to Alexandria
With the conclusion of the Cairean leg of celebrations, AGBU guests
ventured to the coastal city of Alexandria to visit the old Armenian
community that continues to call Egypt’s second-largest city
home. Following a trip to the local Armenian Apostolic church, Saints
Peter and Paul, the guests visited the elegant Nubar family memorials
located on the grounds of the church and diocesan building complex,
and were welcomed by Chairman Levon Katzaghian and his fellow Diocesan
Council members.
After paying respects to the AGBU founder and his family, the guests
visited the new Alexandria Library, which has become a leading
repository of learning in the Arab world and a modern facility for
researchers and scholars. Director of Library Foreign Relations, Taher
Khalifa, and Chief Librarian, Dr. Sohair Wastawy, welcomed AGBU guests
and spoke about the importance of Armenia and Armenians in the history
of the city and the Armenian love of the written word. As a ceremonial
gesture, President Setrakian donated a vast array of books on Armenian
topics on behalf of AGBU to the library to demonstrate AGBU’s
continuing commitment to education around the world.
After taking in the magnificent views of the Mediterranean during a
lunchtime break in Alexandria, the guests toured the manicured gardens
of the Montazah Palace, a local landmark.
In the evening, AGBU Alexandria organized a dinner reception for the
visiting guests and local community in the AGBU Alexandria Center and
HMEM Nubar Sports Club. Guests toured the historic facility and were
treated to local musical talent and speeches by Alexandria
representatives, including Dr. Garo Ansourian, member of the
Alexandria Chapter.
At the conclusion of the week’s activities, Mr. Berdj Terzian,
Chairman of AGBU Egypt said, “I and my fellow Committee Members of
both AGBU District Committee of Egypt and Cairo Chapter are proud that
the Centennial Celebrations of AGBU kicked off in Cairo, where it was
founded 100 years ago by ten prominent Egyptian Armenians. It is a
great feeling that the organization created by our ancestors was able
to assist the Armenian people both in Armenia and the Diaspora during
the most difficult moments of our history and is still contributing to
the welfare of our nation and homeland. We have done our best to make
the Cairo Celebrations as near as possible to perfection, in order to
match a century of great achievements of AGBU, and hope we have
succeeded.”
AGBU is the largest Armenian non-profit organization in the world and
reaches 400,000 Armenians annually in 35 countries through its
educational, humanitarian and cultural projects. For more information
about AGBU and its centennial celebrations, please visit