From: Sebouh Z Tashjian <sebouhz_tashjian@yahoo.com.au>
Subject: AGBU hosts thanksgiving dinner in honor of Argentine lawmaker

AZG Armenian Daily #222, 29/11/2008

Diaspora

AGBU HOSTS THANKSGIVING DINNER IN HONOR OF ARGENTINE LAWMAKER AND WIFE
IN PASADENA

PASADENA, Calif. ‘ A capacity crowd attended the Boyadjian Hall of the
Armenian General Benevolent Union’s Alec Manoogian Center in Pasadena
on Saturday, November 22.

The occasion was the customary Thanksgiving Dinner organized by the
Ladies’ Auxiliary Committee. The guest of honor was Sergio Nahabetian,
Argentina’s only Member of Parliament of Armenian extraction,
accompanied by his wife Susanna.

Also at hand was Paul Krekorian, the only member of California’s
Assembly in Sacramento of Armenian extraction.

The chair, Angel Karayan, made the welcoming remarks. She then asked
Haig Messerlian to introduce the guest of honor. Messerlian, who had
just returned from a working tour of the Armenian communities in
Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, took Sergio Nahabetian receives a
plaque from AGBU SCDC members Haig Messerlian and Vahe Imasdounian. to
the podium.

Messerlian said that Nahabetian comes from a family with a long
history of service to the Armenian community in Argentina. His father,
Nahabed, is one of the pillars of that community. He then paid tribute
to the hard work Nahabetian had embarked on in passing the resolution
to recognize the Armenian Genocide in Argentina.

Finally, he asked the guest of honor to come to the podium for his
remarks.

Nahabetian thanked everyone for the warm welcome he had received, and
then he gave a brief description of the composition of the Armenian
community in Argentina, pointing out that the Armenian General
Benevolent Union was the most sizeable and vibrant of all the sub
groups, with its state of the art school and center.

The honored guest also talked about his engagement in the Argentinean
political scene and encouraged every Armenian to get actively involved
in the political arenas of their local governments. "That’s how," he
continued, "we help not only our newly-independent homeland, but also
how we survive as minorities in our many adopted homelands throughout
the world."

Sergio Nahabetian and California State Assembly Member Paul Krekorian
Vahe Imasdounian, chairman of AGBU’s Southern California District
Committee, then presented him with a plaque commemorating his visit to
his "home, away from home."

He was also presented with a resolution from the California Assembly
by Krekorian.

Earlier that day, Sergio and Susanna Nahabetian had paid a visit to
the Armenian Monument in Montebello, and the following day they
attended the Divine Liturgy at the St. Gregory Armenian Church in
Pasadena, celebrated by Archbishop Barkev Mardirossian, the Primate of
Artsakh. Sergio Nahabetian, Haig Messerlian, Paul Krekorian and Vahe
Imasdounian Pediatrician and former chairman of AGBU’s Southern
California District Committee, Dr. Hovig Melidonian, was keynote
speaker. He gave a brief historical description of Thanksgiving and
then enumerated the different things we had to be thankful for during
these festive times.

Dinner was served following the singing of the Lord’s Prayer, led by
Elize Jevardian-Tashjian. Violinist Peniamin rendered musical
selections during the eventful evening.

By Kevork Keushkerian