Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:34:20 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Armenia: Charles Aznavour Ambasssador In Switzerland

ARMENIA: CHARLES AZNAVOUR AMBASSSADOR IN SWITZERLAND

Agenzia Giornalistica Italia
Feb 13 2009
Italy

(AGI) – Erevan, 13 Feb. – Charles Aznavour has been nominated as
ambassador in Switzerland by the government of his native country,
Armenia, which the 85-year-old artist has always supported in any way
possible, even when it was still under the rule of the former Soviet
Union. Aznavour, born in Paris 1924 and son of Armenian immigrants,
accepted the post with enthusiasm, saying that "It is a great honour
for me. At first I had some doubts, but then I thought that if it
matters for Armenia, it matters for all of us. I accepted with joy
and pleasure". Authorities in Erevan granted Armenian nationality to
Aznavour last December, and before that he was already acting as a
permanent delegate with Unesco for the country.

Born under the name Shahnour Vaghinagh Aznavourian, in 1988 the famous
singer went out of his way to help the victims of an earthquake that
counted approximately 25,000 victims: he created a specific foundation
and financed humanitarian assistance with a long series of charity
concerts. He is the author of more than a thousand songs, and during
his career he sold more than 100 million records around the world. He
was also the first French author to gain a platinum record in Europe.