AGBU Hosts 84th General Assembly and Centennial Gala in Paris, France

Over 800 Members and Friends Fete a Hundred Years of Excellence

On the occasion of AGBU's 84th General Assembly, which took place on December 9, 2006, in Paris, France, over 800 AGBU members and supporters from 17 countries convened in the French capital to attend a weekend of events, meetings and activities, including a Saturday-night banquet at the Grand Hotel Intercontinental, a concert at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, and a gala at the world-renowned Château de Versailles.

Founded in 1906, a century later AGBU has grown from its visionary beginnings as a non-political philanthropic organization for the benefit of all Armenians to become the world's largest Armenian non-profit organization with an annual budget of $36 million and programming on six continents.

Today, with a steadfast belief in maintaining a clear dedication to its mission in the 21st century—to promote the Armenian heritage around the world—AGBU marked the beginning of a new century of adaptation, innovation and excellence, with a festive weekend in Paris, the home of the organization's central office from 1922 to 1940. Guests from the four corners of the world joined AGBU leaders, benefactors and members to toast the foremost organization, which continues to safeguard the global Armenian heritage for future generations.

Organized by AGBU France District, the weekend-long event was organized by dozens of volunteers who tirelessly devoted their time to ensure the success of the festivities. During this Centennial weekend, AGBU also launched the first of its two-volume History of AGBU published by AGBU Nubarian Library in Paris and written by leading French Armenian historians Raymond Kévorkian and Vahé Tachjian. Also commissioned for the landmark event was a special 90-minute documentary written and directed by Manuel Toulajian on the history of the organization. The film integrates rare archival footage of AGBU's early educational and humanitarian programs, and presents the powerful and rippling effect of the organization's programs on the lives of Armenians today.

Strengthening a Powerful Institution

Hosted at the Intercontinental Hotel, the Saturday-morning General Assembly welcomed AGBU leaders, donors, members and visiting dignitaries to discuss matters relevant to the organization's mission and work. During the 2006 Opening Session, AGBU President Berge Setrakian spoke about the ongoing effort to modernize AGBU and the pursuance of the organization's mission to improve the lives of Armenians globally within the framework of its humanitarian, educational and cultural programs.

In addition, the 2006 Assembly witnessed the election of eight new members to AGBU's distinguished Central Board. The recently elected members are Yervant Demirjian, Nazareth Festekjian, Vahé Gabrache, Sarkis Jebejian, Ruben Kechichian, Levon Nazarian, Berge Papazian and Vasken Yacoubian.

The following Central Board directors will continue to serve in their capacity as sitting members: M. Michael Ansour, Carol Bagdasarian Aslanian, Aris Atamian, Joseph Basralian, Arshavir Gundjian, Levon Kebabjian, Sam Simonian, Sinan Sinanian, and Dickran Tevrizian.

Michael Ansour presented AGBU's financial statement to the General Assembly, indicating that the assets of the organization at the end of 2005 totaled $272.5 million, a $22.5 million increase from 2003.

During the Assembly, AGBU France District Chairman, Denis Ketchedjian, introduced two short films that were created on the occasion of the Centennial, one of which illustrates the breadth of the organization's historical and current projects on six continents, while the focuses on the AGBU's European programs in France, and its growing success at creating programs that serve the diaspora, Armenia and, most recently, Karabakh.

Saturday's biennial meeting was attended by a number of dignitaries, including His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; His Excellency Vartan Oskanian, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia; His Excellency Edward Nalbandian, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to France, Israel and the Vatican; Patrick Devedjian, Member of the French Parliament and former Cabinet Minister; François Rochebloine, Deputy of the French National Assembly and President of the “France-Arménie” friendship group; Alexis Govciyan, President of the pan-French Armenian organization CCAF (Comité de coordination des associations arméniennes de France); His Eminence Archbishop Barkev Mardirossian, Primate of Karabakh; His Eminence Kude Nakashian, Primate of Paris and the Pontifical Legate of Western Europe; and Nelly Tardivier-Henrot, Commissioner General for the Year of Armenia in France.

Setrakian spoke about the organization's dedication to the original vision of AGBU's founders with an emphasis on meeting the challenges of the upcoming century through new programs which will allow the Union to pursue and address the needs of its new constituencies. He further emphasized the importance of investing in Armenia for the development of projects that will benefit the diaspora, such as the development of a student center for diasporan youth in Yerevan that will facilitate college exchanges. He addressed the symbiotic relationship between the diaspora and Armenia, “It is necessary to develop a close and fruitful relationship between the two faces of our people, the diaspora and Armenia. It is a privileged relationship for the diaspora but equally essential for the prosperity of Armenia.”

Patrick Devedjian spoke about AGBU's crucial role in the lives of Armenians through its programs, which he feels complements the Armenian Apostolic Church's role as spiritual guardian. He expressed a great optimism about the flourishing of the Armenian identity in the new global age, an era when organizations like AGBU will prosper, “Globalization does not offer the same risk to us that conversion once did in our history. Armenians are a people of resistance…their history, their dispersion have given us a disposition to globalization. I think French Armenians are possibly better equipped to adapt than others, including other French citizens.”

His Holiness Karekin II spoke about the solid foundations of AGBU, and quoted Luke 6:48, “He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” He lauded the bond that AGBU creates between Armenians, one that brought together hundreds of people from around the world to mark the important celebration, “We see all of you from various parts of the diaspora, from Armenia and Karabakh, assembled here together to mark this great historic occasion of AGBU's Centennial. The mission of AGBU was established with faith, hope, love and charity and built on solid foundations.”

The Armenian Pontiff praised Boghos Nubar's idea to create an organization with the breadth and reach of AGBU, and paid tribute to past presidents, Calouste Gulbenkian, Zareh Nubar, Arshag Karagheusian, Alex Manoogian, Louise Manoogian Simone, and current president, Berge Setrakian, who have never veered from the original vision. His Holiness blessed the past and present leaders of AGBU and its worldwide membership. On the occasion of the Paris gathering, He prayed for the continuing friendship between Armenia and France, and mentioned France's decision to honor that special relationship with this year's “Year of Armenia” initiative, which is creating bridges between the people of both nations.

In a small ceremony that concluded the day's assembly, AGBU recognized the longstanding tireless devotion and service to AGBU of two French District Committee members whose efforts made the Paris Centennial weekend possible, Sona Attamian and Michel Sabbagh. Setrakian bestowed each honoree with Honor Membership and an engraved crystal award to mark the occasion.

Visiting Paris' Armenian Landmarks

Following the General Assembly, members of the AGBU Central Board of Directors and guests visited the mausoleum of Boghos Nubar, which is located in the city's famed Père-Lachaise cemetery. A brief service, presided over by Archbishop Kude Nakashian, Primate of Paris and the Pontifical Legate of Western Europe, blessed the memory, vision, lifetime devotion and achievements of AGBU's founding father and first president. On this occasion, in a brief address at the conclusion of the prayers, President Setrakian asked for a minute of silence in the memory of the Founder and stated “Here we are a hundred years later to pay tribute to our founder and renew our pledge to continue his visionary mission we inherited for the future of the organization.”

As a further honor to his memory as an AGBU pioneer, visitors continued on to “Maison Arménienne,” a dormitory that houses students of Armenian descent which was founded by Boghos Nubar as part of the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris. The majestic building, inspired by historic Armenian architecture and stone carving and built in 1927, has helped to encourage generations of Armenians to reconnect with their cultural heritage.

A Musical Fest

On Saturday and Sunday nights, French organizers treated the international gathering of guests to two exciting musical events that underscored the organization's commitment to cultural excellence. During Saturday night's gala at the Grand Hotel Intercontinental, AGBU showcased the finalists of the inaugural Sayat Nova music competition, which sought out the most gifted young composers demonstrating an understanding and appreciation of the Armenian musical heritage. Juried by world-renowned composers and musicians, both Armenian and non-Armenian, the contest attracted entrants from France, Armenia, Argentina, Italy and the United States.

AGBU Board Member Aris Atamian introduced the evening's program and was joined by President of the Jury, Marie-Madeleine Krynen, to present the awards to the winning composers, along with a bursary to help support their growing interest in Armenian music. 2006 Sayat Nova award winners are Arthur Akshelyan of Armenia (first prize) for his composition “Pray,” Grégoire Lorieux of France (second prize) for his “Mémoire Pleine Étoile,” and Hernân Dario Palmieri of Argentina (third prize) for his “Suite Arménienne.”

Guests were treated to a special performance of Akshelyan's winning composition and received a CD in their program booklet, which contained a recording of all three award-winning songs.

Sunday night's concert at Théâtre des Champs-Élysees—one of the city's leading venues for classical music—attracted an audience of 1,200, which was a vibrant mix of the city's classical aficionados and AGBU members. Organized by AGBU France District, with the creative input of pianist Vahan Mardirossian, the program featured compositions from various European composers, including Arno Babadjanian, Claude Debussy, Manuel De Falla, Edward Grieg, Aram Khachaturian, Edward Mirzoyan, and Piotr Ilitch Tchaïkovski, and the debut of the Ensemble Maestria at Champs-Élysees. The evening's performance showcased four emerging soloists of Armenian descent who have been garnering a growing international reputation for their musical mastery: violinist Jean-Marc Phillips-Varjabédian, cellist Xavier Phillips, pianist Vahan Mardirossian and harpist Iris Torossian.

A Youthful Presence

Throughout the Paris Centennial Weekend, a strong contingent of young AGBU members and Young Professionals (YPs) was highly visible and eager to participate in each activity to demonstrate the growing enthusiasm of the emerging generation for AGBU and its mission to promote the Armenian heritage.

In addition to the over 150 YPs who attended Saturday night's gala event, YPs were welcomed Friday night with an introductory dinner at the popular restaurant and nightclub, La Suite, while on Sunday afternoon YPs were treated to a lecture on feminism in the workplace by Valérie Toranian, editor in chief of French Elle magazine.

A Palatial Gala

Under the patronage of French President Jacques Chirac, Monday night's black-tie gala at the French royal palace of Versailles was one of the pinnacle celebrations that marked the first century of the world's foremost Armenian non-profit organization.

Armenian and French dignitaries, political, business, cultural and community leaders from around the world were among the over 600 guests who joined His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and His Excellency Vartan Oskanian, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia, for the event hosted by AGBU.

Among the distinguished guests were French Armenian musical legend, Charles Aznavour; Patrick Devedjian, former French cabinet minister; François Rochebloine, deputy of the French National Assembly and president of the “France-Arménie” friendship group; René Rouquet, deputy of the French National Assembly and Mayor of Alfortville; André Santini, deputy of the French National Assembly, Mayor of Issy-les-Moulineaux and former French cabinet minister; Jacques Toubon, former French cabinet minister; Nelly Tardivier-Henrot, Commissioner General for the Year of Armenia in France; His Excellency Edward Nalbandian, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to France, Israel and the Vatican; His Excellency Viguen Tchitetchian, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union; Her Excellency Sylvie Fadlallah, Ambassador of Lebanon to France; Her Excellency Dina Kawar, Ambassador of Jordan to France; His Excellence Archbishop Kude Nakashian, Primate of Paris and the Pontifical Legate of Western Europe; Bishop Norvan Zakarian of Lyon; Alexis Govciyan, President of the CCAF (Comité de coordination des associations arméniennes de France); and a vast cadre of AGBU benefactors, donors and members from 17 nations.

Upon entrance to the royal palace, guests were welcomed in a reception hall lined with statues of French monarchs. The visitors were then led on a tour through the palace's regal rooms, some of which had musicians, attired in eighteenth-century costumes, playing tunes that marked the golden era of Versailles.

After touring room after room of majestic splendor, including the crystalline Hall of Mirrors, dinner guests were escorted into the grand Hall of Battles for a dinner celebration. The banquet hall, which houses an epic series of paintings recounting the historic battles of France, was an appropriate setting to reflect on the sweeping history of an organization that has had a powerful impact on the lives of the Armenian nation. Six hundred guests joined together to celebrate AGBU's successes in the past and ambitions for a united future for all Armenians.

After the invocation by His Holiness Karekin II, and welcoming remarks by AGBU France District Chairman, Denis Ketchedjian, President Setrakian, in his address, thanked President Chirac for extending his patronage to the Paris Centennial events and then renewed his appeal to all Armenian organizations and individuals to work together to meet the overwhelming challenges facing the nation in general and the diaspora in particular.

Foreign Minister Oskanian, who proudly stated that he himself has been a beneficiary of AGBU educational and youth programs, lauded the Union's role as one of the leading institutions in the Armenian world, “The Armenian diaspora is a means of widening the living space of our nation, a way to pass the cultural wealth of the nation to each other, a solid basis for economic and political investments, with the help of which the Diaspora can participate in awakening of the state and people. After independence in Armenia, AGBU became one of those national structures, which actively participates in reconstruction of the Armenian state. I am sure that in the upcoming 10 years Armenia will be on a steady path to progress. We do not have an alternative. Only by this way we can preserve the national originality of the new diaspora, offering them a democratic and prospering Armenia, to which they can resemble and be proud of.”

Laurent Bili, Diplomatic Advisor of French President Jacques Chirac, delivered a special Presidential message on this important occasion applauding the devotion of so many AGBU members to an organization that continues to grow and help more and more individuals.

To date over 50 Centennial events on six continents have marked AGBU's century of accomplishments. Celebrations will continue until April 2007, when the organization will sponsor a working conference in Yerevan, Armenia to conclude a yearlong salute to its proud past and its exciting and dynamic future.