Central Board of Directors Meets in Paris

Paris - The AGBU Central Board's quarterly meeting was held in Paris on March 27-28, 2009. On the occasion of the global gathering, AGBU Europe organized a special meeting on March 27 for visiting board members at the local AGBU Alex Manoogian Cultural Center in order to better familiarize them with the recent activities and accomplishments of AGBU France and Europe.

In addition to members of the Central Board of Directors, guests attending the AGBU Paris meeting included board members of AGBU Europe, AGBU France and its regional chapters (Paris, Lyon, Valence, Marseille, Nice), and committee members of various local activities, including the AGBU Paris Saturday School, the youth group and YP Paris.

AGBU Paris Chairwoman Viviane Etjemesian spoke about Paris' objective to attract new members and non-Armenian visitors to the AGBU Alex Manoogian Cultural Center so that they can discover and enjoy Armenian culture and traditions. In this regard, AGBU Paris has been more active than ever, and their success has been augmented by the increased activity of new and established local committees.

After welcoming the Central Board members, AGBU Europe Chairman Alexis Govciyan described the objectives of AGBU Europe as coordinating and developing the Pan-European activities of AGBU and establishing a strong presence in the various European institutions, where AGBU will advocate for Armenian-related issues. "We have been surprised by the great success we are enjoying as the wave of interest in all things Armenian throughout Europe is unparalleled. One of these successes was the conference on Armenian heritage and its protection in European Parliament," Govciyan said.

AGBU President Berge Setrakian, who arrived after an official visit to Armenia, outlined the greater purpose for establishing AGBU Europe: "AGBU Europe helps to reorganize the Armenian communities scattered throughout Europe to come together in order to preserve Armenian identity." He concluded his speech, adding, "AGBU is not only a charitable organization. We have a vocation of national policy without being a political party, therefore we must have a national policy."

Central Board member Yervant Zorian, who has spearheaded the Armenian Virtual College initiative from the beginning, introduced the online AGBU project which will be launched in late spring. The program's objective, he said, is to teach through the latest Internet technology the Armenian language, history and culture in six languages for those not served by today's Armenian schools as a result of geography or other factors.

During the evening, Alexis Govciyan submitted, on behalf of the French Minister of Culture, Christine Albanel, the medal of "Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et Lettres," to Raymond Kevorkian, historian and curator of the AGBU Nubarian Library, for his significant contribution to the enrichment of the arts and literature in France and worldwide.

Former AGBU Central Board Member and AGBU France Chairman Levon Kebabdjian was awarded the title of AGBU Honorary Member by Berge Setrakian.

The following day, the Central Board of Directors convened at the AGBU Nubarian Library for their quarterly meeting, which was followed by a private meeting with members of AGBU Europe.

A closing dinner was organized at the Hotel Intercontinental in the presence of Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Devedjian, France's Minister of Economic Recovery Plan. A longtime supporter of AGBU's mission to promote the Armenian heritage around the world, Minister Devedjian remarked: "I've always valued my identity, which is reflected in my political career. In fact, we must always be aware of one's roots and act accordingly."