AGBU President Visits Armenia

AGBU President Berge Setrakian paid a visit to Armenia from May 28 - June 3, 2011 to participate in the first session of the state committee coordinating events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the 20th session of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund's Board of Trustees. As part of his visit, Setrakian had a number of meetings with important government officials, including president of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, chairman and speaker of the National Assembly, Hovik Abrahamian, Armenian prime minister, Tigran Sargsyan, the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II, Armenia's minister of Defense, Seyran Ohanian, Armenia's minister of Education and Science, Armen Ashotyan, and Diaspora Minister Hranoush Hakobian. During the meetings, Setrakian was accompanied by AGBU Central Board member Yervant Zorian and director of AGBU's Armenian Representation, Ashot Ghazarian.

On May 29, along with the Pontifical retinue of His Holiness Karekin II, the AGBU president left for Rostov-on-Don (New Nakhijevan) in Russia to attend the consecration and the Divine Liturgy at the newly built St. Harutyun Church. In his speech, Setrakian congratulated the local Armenian community and all those present. Since he had been present at a similar ceremony in the United States, Setrakian drew parallels between the two events, noting that the Armenian traditions, rituals and atmosphere are always the same, whether in Armenia or abroad. He welcomed the unification of the Armenians around the Church and praised the fact that Armenian communities in the post-Soviet territory are becoming increasingly organized. On behalf of AGBU, Setrakian presented an organ to the congregation on the occasion of the consecration.

On May 30, accompanied by the AGBU delegation, Setrakian participated in the first session of the Armenian Genocide 100th Anniversary State Committee, established and presided by Armenian President Sargsyan.

On June 1, Setrakian took part in the 20th session of the "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund's Board of Trustees. That evening, Setrakian attended the 90th anniversary celebration of the Howard Karagheusian Commemorative Foundation, which was held at Yerevan's Arno Babajanian Hall. President of the board of directors of the Karagheusian Foundation, Michael Haratunian, and the executive director, Walter Bandazian, were both in attendance, as were many other board members, chairmen, and friends of the corporation's offices in New York, Lebanon, Syria, and Armenia.

In his speech, the AGBU president spoke about the wide scope of national and humanitarian activities of the Karagheusian family, particularly focusing on Arshak Karagheusian's activities as AGBU President (1942-1953) during World War II and the years that followed. During Karagheusian's presidency, AGBU had undertaken the mission of holding national fundraisers to support war survivors, organize repatriation, and help Armenia.

Setrakian praised the devoted national activities of the members of the Karagheusian family -- Arshak, Mihran and Leila -- and underscored their role in the construction and improvement of AGBU's Middle East schools, contributing profoundly to humanitarian activities in the past decades. He also mentioned the lasting cooperation and historic warm relations between AGBU and the Foundation. The Howard Karagheusian Commemorative Foundation was established in 1921 in New York by Mihran and Zabel Karagheusian, brother and sister of Arshak Karagheusian, for the purpose of caring for, healing, and educating orphaned children. In honor of the anniversary, Setrakian visited the Karagheusian office, dental clinic, and the Karagheusian Museum in the Nork district of the Armenian capital.

That same day, Setrakian had a meeting with Armenia's Education and Science minister, Armen Ashotyan, to discuss cooperation between the Ministry and AGBU in the field of education. Following the meeting, he was received by Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian. Prospects of AGBU's educational assistance in the form of scholarships to army officers pursuing their education in such fields as law, management, and international relations were discussed. Setrakian went on to participate in the jubilee event dedicated to the 70th birthday anniversary of Jirair Tanielian, a prominent linguist, editor, bibliographer, educator, and social figure. The celebration was held at the Tekeyan Cultural Association. In his speech, Setrakian praised the honoree's active role in education and in his activities as the longtime principal of AGBU Tarouhi-Hovagimian Secondary School and thanked him for the generations of Armenians that he helped cultivate.

On June 2, Setrakian was received by the National Assembly chairman and speaker, Hovik Abrahamian. The two discussed strengthening Armenia-diaspora relations, preservation of the Armenian identity, and possible projects between the Ministry and AGBU. They also went over the results of the recent international conference entitled "Prospects of Diaspora in a Globalizing World." Later in the day, Setrakian had a meeting with Diaspora Minister Hranoush Hakobian to discuss the joint projects of the Ministry and AGBU.

On June 3, Setrakian was hosted by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Both discussed the process of joint educational and faith-based projects of AGBU and the Mother See. His Holiness expressed his gratitude to the AGBU president for the continuous devoted and cordial support to Holy Etchmiadzin by the members of the organization. On his behalf, Setrakian emphasized the importance of the established cooperation between AGBU and the Mother See, stating that AGBU is ready and willing to continue assisting the mission of the Armenian Church.