`Yereven My Love’: Prince Charles Hosts Dinner to Celebrate British
and Armenian Charities at Windsor Castle

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By Asbarez Staff on Feb 19th, 2010

LONDON – An historic charity event in support of Armenian and British
charities took place at the Windsor Castle on 10 February hosted by
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.
Project initiator and main benefactor Armen Sarkissian, former Prime
Minister of Armenia and President of Eurasia House International,
welcomed more than 200 guests from around the world with the Royal
couple.

`I think I can say with some certainty that it is the first time in
Windsor Castle’s nearly one thousand year history that there has been
an Anglo-Armenian celebration,’ said the Prince of Wales in his
remarks.

`Yerevan-My-Love’ is a heritage-led regeneration project dedicated to
preserving architecturally significant buildings in Yerevan and
putting them to use to improve the life experience of disabled
children, young people and disadvantaged families.

`The projects that we are supporting today combine both elements of
our rich cultural heritage: the physical restoration of
architecturally significant buildings and the centrality of human
community, especially children,’ explained Armen Sarkissian, former
Prime Minister of Armenia and initiator of the fundraising, who has
been working with HRH The Prince of Wales closely and his charities.

The fundraising will support the reconstruction of four buildings: two
of them in Yerevan’s Kond district and two in the centre. Once
completed and fully furnished with facilities and equipment, one of
the Kond buildings will be used to house a nursery for deaf and mute
children from deprived families and the other will serve as a centre
for single mothers with children. The other two buildings in the
centre will become a music school for national instruments for
deprived children and youth. The school will be run by world famous
master duduk player Djivan Gasparyan, who was an orphan himself and
grew up under the care and tutelage of musicians and artists of his
time.

Members of the royal family, dignitaries, world renowned political,
cultural and civic leaders, and senior executives of global
corporation, including Areva, HSBC, Barclay’s Bank, Merrill Lynch,
Elettronica, attended this unique charity event. A high level
delegation from Armenia was headed by President Serge Sargsyan and His
Holiness Catholicos Garegin II of All Armenians, the Mayor of Yerevan
and Armenia’s Foreign Minister.

Master duduk player Djivan Gasparyan and his grandson Djivan Jr.
played the opening piece of the concert with the Philharmonia
Orchestra (Hans Zimmer’s opening theme from the film Gladiator),
conducted by young artists Sergey Smbatyan (Yerevan) of the National
Youth Orchestra of Armenia. Young violinist Mikhail Simonyan (New
York), internationally recognized as one of the most celebrated
talents of his generation, performed Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto,
first movement. Mezzo-soprano Dariga Nazarbayeva (Almaty) sang `O del
mio dolce ardour’ by Gluck and a selection of Armenian and Kazakh folk
songs; followed by Aram Khachaturian’s Adagio from Spartacus &
Phrygia.

The encore was Roever Korb’s `Highland Cathedral’ played by the
traditional Scottish bagpipe. This was a surprise piece requested by
the Prince of Wales for Armen Sarkissian as a gesture of his
appreciation. Turning to Armen and Nouneh Sarkissian, The Prince said:
`I could not be more grateful to you for your wonderful vision, energy
and generosity’.

The Prince of Wales underlined that `it is an occasion to strengthen
further the strong ties between the United Kingdom and Armenia’. He
expressed his admiration for Armenia as the oldest Christian nation in
the world and `for its vast and unique architectural heritage’. He
drew the attention of the guests to the fact that it is `a challenge
to care for this `open air museum’, that is so much a part of the soul
of the country, and to continue the tradition it has established.
This is why I am so delighted to be giving this dinner to support the
charity, `Yerevan My Love’, which will help with the redevelopment and
revitalization of some of the oldest parts of the city in a way that
preserves and continues traditional Armenian architecture and
craftsmanship. Perhaps this approach will also provide an example and
model to be adopted elsewhere in Armenia’.

In explaining the connection of the two charities, The Prince of Wales
said `Both projects are examples of what I call heritage-led
regeneration – using the rich architectural and craft heritage that
both Armenia and the United Kingdom are so fortunate to have to
inspire and lift the spirits and also to enhance communities by
creating employment and prosperity.’

Some three years ago the Prince of Wales had managed to save a unique
historic house and estate in South-West Scotland, together with its
contents. `Dumfries House, as it is called,’ said the Prince, `had
retained, remarkably, much of the furniture commissioned for it from
Thomas Chippendale and from the wonderful contemporary Edinburgh
furniture makers William Mathie, Alexander Peter and Francis Brodie’.
By forestalling the separate sales of the House and its contents to
private bidders, His Royal Highness has assured that the House and its
unique collection of furniture have been `preserved as an entity for
the nation and future generations, not only so that people can visit
and enjoy the art, craftsmanship and beauty, but also so that saving
the House can act as a catalyst for the economic regeneration of the
whole local area’.

In his address, Armen Sarkissian put the two charities and the event
itself in a broader context. `The world is becoming smaller and
increasingly more burdened with human conflicts, economic challenges
and environmental concerns,’ he said and asked: `What kind of future
do we want for our children? In the end, I believe, this is the
biggest question’. Along with a cleaner and sustainable environment,
Dr Sarkissian underlined that the `preservation of cultural and
spiritual heritage is vital for the survival of any nation and,
indeed, for humanity.’
He thanked His Royal Highness for being a pioneer in finding
innovative solutions to many of the critical problems related to the
future of the planet and for his visionary leadership and foresight in
many critical issues facing not only Britain but the entire globe.
`Thank you, Sir, for your full support and cooperation in making this
night a very special occasion in this magnificent historic home of Her
Majesty the Queen. We pray for Her Majesty’s good health and many more
years of reign, full of blessings for the United Kingdom and the
Commonwealth,’ said Dr. Sarkissian.

He then expressed his deep appreciation to all the benefactors,
patrons, sponsors and supporters for their generous contributions,
`but most important, for their participation and faith in this
charitable journey together.’
The dinner was held in the vast historic Waterloo Chamber, which was
built in tribute to the success of the forces of Great Britain,
Austria, Prussia and Russia at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815
when Napoleon Bonaparte was finally defeated. Official state dinners
hosted by The Queen are held in this Chamber. Especially brought from
London and displayed throughout the chamber for this special occasion
were magnificent gold and silver objects from the royal collection.

Donors of this fundraising event
(in support of first project of `Yerevan My Love’)

Main sponsor and benefactor Dr. & Mrs Armen Sarkissian and family;
benefactors: Mr & Mrs Sergey Ambartsumyan (Russia), Mr & Mrs Enzo
Benigni (Italy), Mr & Mrs Haig Didizian (UK), Mr & Mrs Samvel
Karapetyan (Russia), Ms Louise Manoogian Simone (USA), Mr & Mrs Vatche
Manoukian (UK), Mr & Mrs. Joseph Oughourlian (USA), Mr & Mrs Samir
Traboulsi (UK), Mr & Mrs Ruben Vardanyan (Russia); Corporate
benefactors: ArmRusGasprom (CEO Karen Karapetyan); Energoproekt (CEOs
Gagik Zakharyan & Evgeny Bobylev); ENI (CEO Paolo Scaroni), HSBC
(Chairman Stephen Green), ITERA (CEO Igor V. Makarov); Patron: Areva
(CEO Anne Lauvergeon); Mr Eduardo Eurnekian (Argentina), Wafic Said
(UK); Sponsors: and VimpelCom (CEO Boris Nemsic); Mr & Mrs Carl
Bazarian (USA), Mr & Mrs David Bezhuashvili (Georgia), Mr Pierre
Fattouch (Lebanon), Mr & Mrs Ray Irani (Occidental Petroleum, USA), Mr
& Mrs Berge Setrakian (AGBU), Mr & Mrs Igor Tsukanov (Russia), Mr &
Mrs Davit Varagyan (Kazakhstan), and Mr Gagik Zakaryan (Russia);
Supporters: Mr & Mrs Bedo Eghiayan (UK) and Mr & Mrs Assadour Guzelian
(UK).

What is `Yerevan My Love’?

`Yerevan My Love’ is an all embracing `philosophy’ or culture of life;
it is love for one’s hometown in the fullest sense of the word and in
the widest implication of the idea,’ said charity initiator Armen
Sarkissian. Heritage-led regeneration and reconstruction of
architecturally significant buildings is only part of the overall
concept. `It is first and foremost an effort to change attitudes
toward the city and engender sense of respect for not only its
physical cleanliness, landscape, and public spaces, but also its
cultural heritage and values.’ For instance, Yerevan was once known
as the `city of Masters’ and creativity, where artists, poets,
literary figures, architect, musicians, scientists and craftsmen of
all sorts thrived. The ultimate goal of `Yerevan My Love’ is to work
along with every Yerevantsi to preserve the rich heritage and unique
character of the city. Future projects include training of young
architects in Armenia at leading European institutions, organizing
conferences on various aspects of people-centered city development,
support of educational institutions, and others.