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PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
AGBU Central Board Launches European Entity, Meets in Brussels
On February 1-3, 2008, the Central Board of Directors of the Armenian
General Benevolent Union (AGBU) convened its Pan-European conference
in Brussels, Belgium. The three-day event, held in the capital of the
European Union (EU), was attended by the AGBU Central Board, members
of the newly appointed AGBU Europe board, AGBU chapters operating in
the EU, as well as members of the organization’s Young Professionals
(YP) network in Europe.
Over 100 members from 11 European countries, including Austria,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Macedonia,
the Netherlands and Spain, participated in the meetings and
deliberations regarding the European activities of the world’s largest
Armenian non-profit organization.
Official Visits
On the first day of the conference, AGBU leaders paid visits to
various local and European institutions. In the morning, AGBU Europe
board members attended a meeting at the mayor’s office. In the
afternoon, AGBU President Berge Setrakian and members of the board
visited the Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the EU. Armenian
Ambassador Viguen Tchitetchian welcomed AGBU leaders and explained the
mission’s role in Armenia’s evolving relationship with the
EU. Setrakian introduced some of the recent AGBU initiatives in
Armenia to the ambassador, including the projected Melkonian center
for diasporan youth, the new virtual Armenian university, the scout
camp in the Vanadzor-Dilijan region, the AGBU Yerevan Summer Intern
Program and the annual youth trip to Armenia. Ambassador Tchitetchian
reacted enthusiastically, commending AGBU for its Armenia programming
and praising AGBU’s continuing role in the development of Armenia as
well as its leading role in the Diaspora.
After the meeting, AGBU Europe board members continued on to the
European Parliament to meet with Jean-Christophe Filori, Deputy Head
of Unit Turkey, which is part of the European Commission’s Enlargement
Directorate-General. AGBU Europe President Alexis Govciyan spoke about
AGBU’s interest in openness and promoting a dialogue that will secure
the future of Armenians in Europe, whether in established member
nations or candidate states. Filori, in turn, welcomed AGBU’s
participation in educating EU’s entities about Armenian issues.
Welcoming Armenians From Across Europe
Berge Setrakian opened the European Conference by elaborating on the
vision of the Central Board of Directors that encouraged them to
establish AGBU Europe. "The concept of a united Europe is palpable
throughout the world, and our communities cannot remain indifferent to
this phenomenon. It is necessary to carry out activities in the
European Union, and pursue initiatives corresponding to its
standards. Europe today is a reality and we are finding ways to bring
together established and emerging Armenian communities in the European
Union. AGBU Europe represents the fruition of a new emerging
generation that has adopted a European identity while maintaining its
own national and cultural identities. AGBU Europe will have a real
presence first here in Brussels, its capital, and slowly the spirit
will spread to established and new Armenian communities in the
far-flung regions of Europe," he said.
Setrakian spoke about the vital role that the European Armenian
communities will play in the future of the Armenia/diaspora
relationship. At the crossroads of the Republic of Armenia, Russia and
the United States, and with a million-strong Armenian diaspora,
Europe, Setrakian said, will be an integral part of the future of
Armenians.
Setrakian introduced the new president of the AGBU Europe entity,
Alexis Govciyan, who in turn presented the members of the AGBU Europe
board: Richard Abdalian (France), Armine Afrikian (UK), Asdghig
Alexanian (Austria), Sonia Avakian-Bedrossian (Bulgaria), Isabelle
Capron (France), Roupen Chavoushian (Bulgaria), Eric Dadian (France),
Nadia Gortzounian (France), Annie Jafalian (France), Garbis Keshishian
(Greece), Krikor Istanboulli (Italy), Philippe Panossian (France),
Nicolas Tavitian (Belgium), and special advisors to the president –
Sona Attamian (France) and Michel Sabbagh (France).
"We envision creating new networks of communication, especially with
the youth, so that, for example, in the next five years, leaders of
the new generation may participate in the life of our communities in
Europe, infuse new breath, new ideas, and ties with Armenia may be
more immediate. In this way, our efforts can bring additional benefit
to Armenia, particularly through the infusion of young and
university-aged Armenians," Govciyan said.
As part of its mission, AGBU Europe will also promote research on
Armenian identity, history and culture, and develop teaching of the
Armenian language and civilization, through some of its global
programs and by supporting local initiatives. In essence, AGBU Europe
is poised to mobilize individuals and further the status and
reputation of AGBU throughout Europe.
During the event, representatives from across Europe introduced
themselves. The impressive list of partners from emerging and
established European Armenian communities demonstrated the new
youthful face of AGBU Europe.
Sharing Insights, Planning Ahead
Saturday, February 2, began with a plenary session on new directives
and initiatives chaired by President Setrakian, who discussed the next
15 years and the emerging needs of diasporan Armenians in Armenia. As
part of the morning session, Setrakian also talked about developing a
working and evolving relationship with the Armenians of Russia, who
number over a million in Moscow alone, and are the largest Armenian
community of the diaspora. The meeting concentrated on an assessment
of AGBU projects relevant to AGBU Europe; each program was introduced
and discussed at length by a specialist familiar with each project’s
mission and goals.
Alexis Govciyan elaborated on the new European entity and gave an
overview of the changing face of EU’s Armenian diaspora, Armenia’s
evolving relationship with the EU, and Turkey’s accession plans and
how they may impact both Armenia and the Armenian European
Diaspora. "AGBU can reinforce links between EU and Armenia and we
would like to see this happen," he said.
AGBU Nubarian Library director, Raymond Kevorkian, was invited to make
a presentation on this prestigious institute in Paris, France. An
important repository of Armenian Genocide-era source materials and
archival records, the Nubarian Library remains one of the premier
centers for academic research on Armenian topics. Kevorkian outlined
his vision of being a greater conduit of knowledge to academics and
writers all around the world interested in Armenian issues.
AGBU Central Board member Aris Atamian introduced the concept of the
future Melkonian Complex in Armenia that AGBU is planning to
develop. The project is expected to be carried out in three phases and
serve thousands of students of Armenian descent. Located in the Nork
neighborhood of Yerevan, the almost 200,000-square-foot international
campus will include dormitory towers, classrooms, common rooms, a
chapel, dining facilities and a health club to accommodate all the
modern needs of visiting college students. The ultra-modern steel and
glass facility will house college students studying in Armenia’s
state, American, French and Russian universities.
Setrakian spoke about the exciting new virtual university being
developed under the direction of AGBU Silicon Valley Chairman Yervant
Zorian. The online institute will reach out to and bring about access
for thousands of Armenians in various languages, including Armenian
(Eastern and Western), English, French, Russian, and Spanish. The
online school will offer courses in Armenian language, history,
architecture, religion and culture for those not served by Armenian
schools or conventional courses, particularly in the diaspora.
The early afternoon sessions consisted of an AGBU Central Board of
Directors meeting and an interactive workshop chaired by AGBU Europe
Chairman Alexis Govciyan for European board members, European
Chapters, YP representatives, and European and Central offices
staff. At the European roundtable, each participant had the
opportunity to briefly present his/her group’s activities and explain
his/her area of responsibility.
When the AGBU leaders and delegates reconvened for a second plenary
session, entitled "Europe, Armenia, and Armenians," Alexis Govciyan
and Michel Mahmourian, President of the Union of Belgian Armenians,
gave welcoming remarks and then turned the floor over to AGBU Europe
board member Nicolas Tavitian, who moderated the session. The speakers
were Ambassador Peter Semneby (EU Council Special Representative for
the South Caucasus) who discussed the EU’s perspective on the South
Caucasus and the importance of democratization and economic
development; Professor Bernard Coulie (Armenologist at the Catholic
University of Louvain, Belgium), who spoke about the "European
project" through the lens of cultural and historical issues; Marianne
Poncelet (Secretary General of the Yehudi Menuhin Foundation and
Assembly of Cultures of Europe), who gave an overview of the problems
cultural minorities face in the EU, and Taline Papazian
(Ph.D. candidate at Sciences Po-Center for International Research and
Studies), who made an extensive presentation about the evolving role
of Armenia’s public opinion, which is pro-Russian but slowly shifting
to a pro-EU perspective, on issues related to the country’s future.
Celebrating a New Union
That evening, a special reception at the Belgian Museum of the Comic
Strip commemorated the first conference of AGBU Europe. The event at
the art nouveau landmark coincided with a special exhibit celebrating
the 100th anniversary of cartoonist Hergé’s birth, creator of the
Tintin comic series. On this occasion, guests were treated to a free
copy of Tintin’s recently translated adventures in Armenian. A popular
European comic strip, Tintin has legions of fans the world over and
most recently in Armenia.
Following his closing remarks, in which he thanked all those that made
the pan-European conference a success, President Setrakian
acknowledged and paid tribute to former president of AGBU France,
Denis Ketchedjian, for his many years of longstanding services as
chair of the French District Committee. Ketchedjian, in return,
thanked AGBU for all the opportunities it offered him to be of service
to his nation and his community. He further wished the new president
of AGBU Europe, Alexis Govciyan, success in his mission and pledged
his full support in this regard. Ketchedjian also wished the
organization continued success under the noble vision of its Central
Board of Directors and the able leadership of its president, Berge
Setrakian.
Sunday’s Conclusion
The European Conference concluded on Sunday, February 3, with a review
of all the accomplishments during the weekend, including a clearer
understanding of AGBU Europe and Europe’s serious role in the global
Armenian diaspora. Delegates took advantage of the final moments to
network with one another and prepare for the challenges ahead as the
world’s largest Armenian nonprofit continues to strengthen its
connection to Europe in an effort to better serve the world’s evolving
Armenian community.
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City with
an annual budget of $34 million, AGBU preserves and promotes the
Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and
humanitarian programs, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians in 35
countries.