AGBU Central Board Launches European Entity, Meets in Brussels

On February 1-3, 2008, the Central Board of Directors of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) convened its Pan-European conference in Brussels, Belgium. The three-day event, held in the capital of the European Union (EU), was attended by the AGBU Central Board, members of the newly appointed AGBU Europe board, AGBU chapters operating in the EU, as well as members of the organization's Young Professionals (YP) network in Europe.

Over 100 members from 11 European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, the Netherlands and Spain, participated in the meetings and deliberations regarding the European activities of the world's largest Armenian non-profit organization.

Official Visits

On the first day of the conference, AGBU leaders paid visits to various local and European institutions. In the morning, AGBU Europe board members attended a meeting at the mayor's office. In the afternoon, AGBU President Berge Setrakian and members of the board visited the Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the EU. Armenian Ambassador Viguen Tchitetchian welcomed AGBU leaders and explained the mission's role in Armenia's evolving relationship with the EU. Setrakian introduced some of the recent AGBU initiatives in Armenia to the ambassador, including the projected Melkonian center for diasporan youth, the new virtual Armenian university, the scout camp in the Vanadzor-Dilijan region, the AGBU Yerevan Summer Intern Program and the annual youth trip to Armenia. Ambassador Tchitetchian reacted enthusiastically, commending AGBU for its Armenia programming and praising AGBU's continuing role in the development of Armenia as well as its leading role in the Diaspora.

After the meeting, AGBU Europe board members continued on to the European Parliament to meet with Jean-Christophe Filori, Deputy Head of Unit Turkey, which is part of the European Commission's Enlargement Directorate-General. AGBU Europe President Alexis Govciyan spoke about AGBU's interest in openness and promoting a dialogue that will secure the future of Armenians in Europe, whether in established member nations or candidate states. Filori, in turn, welcomed AGBU's participation in educating EU's entities about Armenian issues.

Welcoming Armenians From Across Europe

Berge Setrakian opened the European Conference by elaborating on the vision of the Central Board of Directors that encouraged them to establish AGBU Europe. "The concept of a united Europe is palpable throughout the world, and our communities cannot remain indifferent to this phenomenon. It is necessary to carry out activities in the European Union, and pursue initiatives corresponding to its standards. Europe today is a reality and we are finding ways to bring together established and emerging Armenian communities in the European Union. AGBU Europe represents the fruition of a new emerging generation that has adopted a European identity while maintaining its own national and cultural identities. AGBU Europe will have a real presence first here in Brussels, its capital, and slowly the spirit will spread to established and new Armenian communities in the far-flung regions of Europe," he said.

Setrakian spoke about the vital role that the European Armenian communities will play in the future of the Armenia/diaspora relationship. At the crossroads of the Republic of Armenia, Russia and the United States, and with a million-strong Armenian diaspora, Europe, Setrakian said, will be an integral part of the future of Armenians.

Setrakian introduced the new president of the AGBU Europe entity, Alexis Govciyan, who in turn presented the members of the AGBU Europe board: Richard Abdalian (France), Armine Afrikian (UK), Asdghig Alexanian (Austria), Sonia Avakian-Bedrossian (Bulgaria), Isabelle Capron (France), Roupen Chavoushian (Bulgaria), Eric Dadian (France), Nadia Gortzounian (France), Annie Jafalian (France), Garbis Keshishian (Greece), Krikor Istanboulli (Italy), Philippe Panossian (France), Nicolas Tavitian (Belgium), and special advisors to the president - Sona Attamian (France) and Michel Sabbagh (France).

"We envision creating new networks of communication, especially with the youth, so that, for example, in the next five years, leaders of the new generation may participate in the life of our communities in Europe, infuse new breath, new ideas, and ties with Armenia may be more immediate. In this way, our efforts can bring additional benefit to Armenia, particularly through the infusion of young and university-aged Armenians," Govciyan said.

As part of its mission, AGBU Europe will also promote research on Armenian identity, history and culture, and develop teaching of the Armenian language and civilization, through some of its global programs and by supporting local initiatives. In essence, AGBU Europe is poised to mobilize individuals and further the status and reputation of AGBU throughout Europe.

During the event, representatives from across Europe introduced themselves. The impressive list of partners from emerging and established European Armenian communities demonstrated the new youthful face of AGBU Europe.

Sharing Insights, Planning Ahead

Saturday, February 2, began with a plenary session on new directives and initiatives chaired by President Setrakian, who discussed the next 15 years and the emerging needs of diasporan Armenians in Armenia. As part of the morning session, Setrakian also talked about developing a working and evolving relationship with the Armenians of Russia, who number over a million in Moscow alone, and are the largest Armenian community of the diaspora. The meeting concentrated on an assessment of AGBU projects relevant to AGBU Europe; each program was introduced and discussed at length by a specialist familiar with each project's mission and goals.

Alexis Govciyan elaborated on the new European entity and gave an overview of the changing face of EU's Armenian diaspora, Armenia's evolving relationship with the EU, and Turkey's accession plans and how they may impact both Armenia and the Armenian European Diaspora. "AGBU can reinforce links between EU and Armenia and we would like to see this happen," he said.

AGBU Nubarian Library director, Raymond Kevorkian, was invited to make a presentation on this prestigious institute in Paris, France. An important repository of Armenian Genocide-era source materials and archival records, the Nubarian Library remains one of the premier centers for academic research on Armenian topics. Kevorkian outlined his vision of being a greater conduit of knowledge to academics and writers all around the world interested in Armenian issues.

AGBU Central Board member Aris Atamian introduced the concept of the future Melkonian Complex in Armenia that AGBU is planning to develop. The project is expected to be carried out in three phases and serve thousands of students of Armenian descent. Located in the Nork neighborhood of Yerevan, the almost 200,000-square-foot international campus will include dormitory towers, classrooms, common rooms, a chapel, dining facilities and a health club to accommodate all the modern needs of visiting college students. The ultra-modern steel and glass facility will house college students studying in Armenia's state, American, French and Russian universities.

Setrakian spoke about the exciting new virtual university being developed under the direction of AGBU Silicon Valley Chairman Yervant Zorian. The online institute will reach out to and bring about access for thousands of Armenians in various languages, including Armenian (Eastern and Western), English, French, Russian, and Spanish. The online school will offer courses in Armenian language, history, architecture, religion and culture for those not served by Armenian schools or conventional courses, particularly in the diaspora.

The early afternoon sessions consisted of an AGBU Central Board of Directors meeting and an interactive workshop chaired by AGBU Europe Chairman Alexis Govciyan for European board members, European Chapters, YP representatives, and European and Central offices staff. At the European roundtable, each participant had the opportunity to briefly present his/her group's activities and explain his/her area of responsibility.

When the AGBU leaders and delegates reconvened for a second plenary session, entitled "Europe, Armenia, and Armenians," Alexis Govciyan and Michel Mahmourian, President of the Union of Belgian Armenians, gave welcoming remarks and then turned the floor over to AGBU Europe board member Nicolas Tavitian, who moderated the session. The speakers were Ambassador Peter Semneby (EU Council Special Representative for the South Caucasus) who discussed the EU's perspective on the South Caucasus and the importance of democratization and economic development; Professor Bernard Coulie (Armenologist at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium), who spoke about the "European project" through the lens of cultural and historical issues; Marianne Poncelet (Secretary General of the Yehudi Menuhin Foundation and Assembly of Cultures of Europe), who gave an overview of the problems cultural minorities face in the EU, and Taline Papazian (Ph.D. candidate at Sciences Po-Center for International Research and Studies), who made an extensive presentation about the evolving role of Armenia's public opinion, which is pro-Russian but slowly shifting to a pro-EU perspective, on issues related to the country's future.

Celebrating a New Union

That evening, a special reception at the Belgian Museum of the Comic Strip commemorated the first conference of AGBU Europe. The event at the art nouveau landmark coincided with a special exhibit celebrating the 100th anniversary of cartoonist Hergé's birth, creator of the Tintin comic series. On this occasion, guests were treated to a free copy of Tintin's recently translated adventures in Armenian. A popular European comic strip, Tintin has legions of fans the world over and most recently in Armenia.

Following his closing remarks, in which he thanked all those that made the pan-European conference a success, President Setrakian acknowledged and paid tribute to former president of AGBU France, Denis Ketchedjian, for his many years of longstanding services as chair of the French District Committee. Ketchedjian, in return, thanked AGBU for all the opportunities it offered him to be of service to his nation and his community. He further wished the new president of AGBU Europe, Alexis Govciyan, success in his mission and pledged his full support in this regard. Ketchedjian also wished the organization continued success under the noble vision of its Central Board of Directors and the able leadership of its president, Berge Setrakian.

Sunday's Conclusion

The European Conference concluded on Sunday, February 3, with a review of all the accomplishments during the weekend, including a clearer understanding of AGBU Europe and Europe's serious role in the global Armenian diaspora. Delegates took advantage of the final moments to network with one another and prepare for the challenges ahead as the world's largest Armenian nonprofit continues to strengthen its connection to Europe in an effort to better serve the world's evolving Armenian community.