Baroness Cox, Champion of Karabakh, Feted by AGBU Montreal & High-Ranking Canadians

AGBU Montreal launched a series of special programs, receptions, and exciting events during the weekend of May 18-21 in connection with its sponsorship of Nor Jraberd, the third village of the AGBU Karabakh Renewal Project, which seeks to rebuild villages for refugees who lost their lands and homes during the Karabakh war. Baroness Caroline Cox, speaker of the British House of Lords and avid crusader for the Armenians of Karabakh, was the celebrity guest during the gala weekend.

On Friday, May 18, 2007, amid the fanfare of the AGBU Montreal Scouts' marching band and scouts in uniform, crowds came out to greet the baroness at St. Gregory, Illuminator Cathedral in Montreal, Canada. After an inspiring concert in the church, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Canada, His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan, officially welcomed the baroness and presented her with a hand-carved glass khatchkhar (a traditional Armenian cross stone).

Immediately following, a reception was held in the Marie Manoogian Hall of the cathedral. The baroness spoke about her fond memories of girl guiding in England and her parents' longtime friendship with Lord Baden Powell, the founder of the worldwide scouting movement. As a token of friendship, she gave the AGBU scouts a precious, historical wedding photograph of her parents taken in the basement of scouting headquarters in East London, in the presence of Lord Baden Powell.

President of the AGBU Scouts' Council, Aline Egoyan-Pederian, praised Baroness Cox and declared her an honorary member of the worldwide AGBU scouting movement. Sossie Nahabedian-Rezian, Group Leader, presented her with a neckerchief with the AGBU badge and a silver hand-crafted woggle.

The evening concluded with the presentation of a medal to the baroness. In recognition of her inspirational role for youth and for her long service with the Girl Guides of the UK, the official delegation of the Metropolitan Montreal Scouts and members of the Board of Directors of the Association of Scouts of Canada declared Baroness Cox a "Knight of the Scouting Honorary Society," the highest distinction in scouting.

A Personal Portrait

On Saturday, May 19, a crowd of smiling parents and students gathered for an interview with Baroness Cox and the announcement of the winners of a student essay contest organized by two area Armenian schools at Tekeyan Cultural Center. An interview with the baroness, entitled "Up Close and Personal," conducted by Armenian Canadian journalist Levon Sevunts, was one of the highlights of the afternoon.

During the interview, the baroness spoke candidly about her personal life. She shared memories of her childhood, her great love of the nursing profession and her husband Dr. Cox, her work as a teacher and author, and her dedication to freedom and defending the oppressed in the world.

She explained that her involvement with human rights began when she helped bring medical assistance to Poland during the Communist era. She described her association with the Andrei Sakharov Foundation and how, during her many trips to Karabakh, she witnessed firsthand the monstrous treatment of Armenians by Azeris and forged a deep bond with the Armenians of Karabakh in their struggle to be independent.

After the question-and-answer period, Mego Malkhassian, director of the Nor Jraberd project team, invited Pat McGeachy, a member of the essay jury, to address the pupils from various Armenian schools who competed in the contest. The theme of the essay was "Karabakh and Caroline Cox's Humanitarian Assistance." Certificates of participation signed by Baroness Cox were presented to each of the young students. Due to the difficulty of judging the many excellent essays, more time was needed by the jury. Winners were to be announced at a later date.

On Sunday, May 20, the third day of the gala weekend honoring Baroness Cox, the baroness attended Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Cathedral and also at Soorp Hagop Apostolic Church. Following church services, the public gathered in A. Aharonian Hall of the Armenian Center to attend a book exhibition featuring the baroness' most recent publication, "This Immoral Trade: Slavery in the Twenty-First Century." The book was based on her research during her many visits to Sudan, Uganda, and Burma.

Present were His Grace Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Dr. Vagharsh Ehramjian, representative of the Central Committee of ARF Canada, Vicken Afarian, a representative on behalf of ARF, representatives of Armenian National Committee of Canada and sister organizations, as well as Mgrdic Mgrdician, head of the Toronto branch of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund.

After the presentation of the book by Raffi Bujikanian, manager of the Montreal office of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, the baroness spoke about the obligation of Christians to stand up against slave-owning and she urged the Christians in the West to contribute more funds toward this cause. Speaking about the Artsakh conflict and her ties to Armenians there, she said, "I feel glad and blessed because I have been on the sacred soil of Artsakh [Karabakh] and have sisters and brothers there."

A Fundraiser for a New Village

Sunday's festivities culminated in an official banquet held that evening at AGBU's Jirair & Elise Dervishian Hall. After the singing of the Armenian, Canadian, British, and Karabakh national anthems, Nor Jraberd project director Mego Malkhassian welcomed the impressive assembly of guests and dignitaries. Master of ceremonies Vicken Attarian introduced His Grace Bagrat, primate, AGBU Trustee Karnig Yacoubian, and AGBU Board Member Carol Aslanian. Malkhassian also recognized high-ranking Canadian government and Armenian individuals, including the representative of Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper, Republic of Armenia charge d'affaires Arman Hakobian, Armenian Doctors Association of Quebec (AMAQ) President Dr. Lena Terjanian, Mgrdic Mgrdician, and guest of honor, Baroness Cox, whom he referred to as the "Angel of Karabakh."

The baroness' speech was impressive, reflecting the strength of her Christian faith, particularly her love and devotion for the Karabakh people. Having seen Karabakh during its darkest days, she spoke also of the miracles during the course of her 61 trips to the country. "Artsakh is a holy land," she said. She explained that no matter how much Artsakh is attacked, it will become reborn.

After the pledging of gifts from young people and generous individuals to the ongoing Nor Jraberd project, Baroness Cox was presented with a copy of the three-volume "Heritage of Armenian Literature" edited by Agop Hacikyan, Nourhan Ouzounian, the late Gabriel Basmadjian and Edward Franciuk. After prolonged applause and a standing ovation, Master of Ceremonies Attarian concluded the memorable evening by thanking the baroness.

Reception in Ottawa

The gala weekend's festivities honoring Baroness Cox concluded on Monday, May 21. The baroness attended a special reception, which was dedicated to the 89th anniversary of the founding of the First Republic of Armenia. Present at the gathering held in the Armenian Embassy in Ottawa were Canadian Member of Parliament Jason Kenney and Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, prelate of the Diocese of Canada. Other honorary guests included Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Canada Central Committee members; executive committee members of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS); members of the Armenian General Athletic Union (AGAU); members of the National Council; representatives of the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Canada; and representatives of AGBU Montreal.

Arman Hakobian, the first charge d'affaires of the Armenian Embassy, welcomed the distinguished assembly of guests and invited Baroness Cox, the main speaker, to address the group. She acknowledged the remarkable faith and heroism of the Armenian people. The baroness hailed Kenney as one who has always lent a helping hand to all nations and peoples in fighting for human rights, regardless of race or religious background.

Nor Jraberd is a collaborative effort of AGBU Montreal, AGBU Toronto and other Armenian communities in Vancouver, Ottawa and Calgary to rebuild a village and name it Nor Jraberd (new water fortress) in the Mardakert region of Karabakh--the third village in AGBU's Karabakh Renewal Project. For more information, please visit www.norjraberd.org.