HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND NOW IN GREECE
Aysor.am
October 15, 2009
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund establishes affiliate in Greece, growing
number of its worldwide offices to 17.
Now Greece became home to the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s newest local
committee. On October 6, the fund’s Greek affiliate was officially
launched when its founding assembly convened in Athens.
Among the participants in founding Assembly were Vahram Kazhoyan,
former ambassador of Armenia to Greece, representatives of Armenian
political parties, and Greek-Armenian community leaders. Hrach
Hovhannisyan, advisor to the executive director of the Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund, familiarized attendees with the particulars
of the fund’s organizational structure, current programs, and
methodology. Also there were discussed various fundraising measures
and mechanisms as well as the coordination of the Greek affiliate’s
day-to-day activities. Subsequently the attendees examined the new
affiliate’s scope of upcoming activities and determined the relevant
next steps.
The participants were further familiarized with the fund’s objectives
as they watched a documentary film on Shushi. The reconstruction and
development of Shushi, along with the ongoing development of rural
communities in Armenia and Artsakh, are at the heart of the fund’s
current goals. The Shushi documentary will have its public debut on
November 26, during the Telethon 2009 broadcast.
"I salute the Greek-Armenian community for joining the worldwide
ranks of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund," said Hrach Hovhannisyan in
his remarks at the founding meeting.
"Due to historical circumstances, today we Armenians live and work in
various countries of the world, yet we’re united by our overarching
mission to develop our homeland and help it become prosperous."
The founding assembly unanimously elected Vatche Der-Garabedian as
chair of the Greek affiliate. Der-Garabedian is an ophthalmologist
and a highly respected member of the Greek-Armenian community. The
assembly han Bzdikian and Bedros Kassardjian as deputy chairs.
Plans for the establishment of the Greek affiliate have been underway
since this year’s April, when the fund’s executive director, Ara
Vardanyan, who at that time was acting executive director, met with
prominent members of the Greek-Armenian community and discussed the
possibility of founding a local affiliate.
With this latest addition, the fund now boasts 17 affiliates in
15 countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
