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PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Armenian Minister of Diasporan Affairs Visits AGBU Groups in
Argentina, Brazil and California
On November 10, 2008, the newly appointed Minister of Diasporan
Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Hranush Hakobyan, traveled to
Argentina to become acquainted with local Armenian organizations and
she made a special stop at the AGBU Center on Armenia Street. His
Excellency Vladimir Karmirshalian, Ambassador of the Republic of
Armenia to Argentina, and his wife, Anahid Sharbatyan, hosted Minister
Hakobyan during her stay.
The Minister and her hosts stopped by the AGBU Marie Manoogian School,
where they were greeted by Principal Diana Dergarabetian de Perez
Valderrama and school staff, as well as Representative Sergio
Nahabetian, a local politician and president of the South American
Democratic Liberal Armenian Organization. The group discussed
different aspects of Armenia-diaspora relations, and the possibility
for new ministry opportunities created by Armenia’s leadership. Many
stressed the value of uniting voices across the Armenian diaspora and
the importance of tourism to Armenia as a means of fostering good
relations. Hakobyan later praised the Argentines for working to
promote the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in their home
country.
"My forefathers dreamed of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide
and I feel a warm satisfaction in having achieved this goal in the
Buenos Aires province," Hakobyan said. "We are not a vengeful people
but we demand justice."
On November 15, Hakobyan arrived in Sao Paolo, Brazil for a
three-night stay. On November 16, she attended an official dinner
attended by 120 guests, including local congressman Arnaldo Faria de
Sá. The dinner was preceded by an official meeting where Hakobyan met
with Armenian community leaders from across the country.
On November 21, Hakobyan departed for the United States of America
and, upon her arrival, she and the Republic of Armenia’s Consul
General Armen Liloyan were greeted by several AGBU
Manoogian-Demirdjian School officials and board members, including
Noubar Agopian, John Berberian and Vice Principal Dr. Ellie
Andreassian. Executives from Armenia Fund USA, including Chairwoman
Maria Mehranian, Vice Chairman Ara Aghishian and Director Sarkis
Kotanjian, also welcomed Minister Hakobyan and her staff to the
school.
A brief meeting, which included a candid question-and-answer session
between the diaspora minister and several staff and faculty
representatives, student council executives and members of the Parent
Teacher Organization and Booster Club, was held in the school’s
library shortly after her arrival. During this session, she explained
the mission of the minister of diaspora affairs of the Republic of
Armenia, and a variety of other important issues were also
discussed. Armenian language and culture teachers expressed concern
about the lack of modern Armenian storybooks, to which the minister
responded that educational programs are now being put into place with
the latest technology to resolve such concerns.
After the discussion, the Minister toured the classrooms and was
treated to a special poetry recitation from the school’s fifth
graders. She also visited Armenian-language classrooms in the high
school and saw the newly renovated Nazarian Hall.
"Many years ago, I visited this school and when I was leaving, I was
worried that students would grow up as Americans without a sense of
their Armenian heritage," the Minister said at the end of her
visit. "Today, I am leaving with the satisfaction that the students
are true Armenians and are doing a great job and are on the right
track."
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually serving some
400,000 Armenians on six continents.