Europe Board Meets in Bucharest

From January 27-30, 2011, AGBU Europe's board members – led by chair Alexis Govciyan – gathered for their first board meeting of the year in Bucharest, Romania where they met members of the Union of Armenians of Romania (UAR) and key members of the Romanian government. After establishing partnerships with ACAB in Spain (Barcelona), HAYK in Germany (Frankfurt), and its representation in Belgium (Brussels), AGBU Europe is continuing its European expansion policy in Romania, which includes the oldest Armenian community in Europe.

On January 28, the AGBU European delegation -- accompanied by His Excellency Hamlet Gasparyan, Armenian Ambassador to Romania, Senator Varujan Vosganian (former economy minister and current chairman of the Senate Committee on the Economy), and MP Varujan Pambuccian (chairman of the parliamentary group of national minorities in Parliament) -- met with Attila Marco, Secretary of State, Head of Department of Interethnic Relations in the Romanian government.

The delegation also had the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister of Romania Emil Boc, who was accompanied by Karoly Borbely, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economy. A one-on-one talk took place between Prime Minister Boc and Armenian Ambassador to Romania Hamlet Gasparyan. During the private exchange, the two dignitaries exchanged views on Armenian-Romanian relations, particularly in promoting and strengthening ties in economic, educational, scientific, and cultural areas. The Prime Minister welcomed the idea of organizing joint events in 2011-2012 concerning the common cultural heritage of Armenians and Romanians alike. Both agreed that the Romanian government had succeeded in preserving the identity of the national minorities. Prime Minister Boc emphasized the importance of the third session of the upcoming Intergovernmental Mixed Commission (Armenian-Romanian) on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation, which was held on March 10 in Bucharest, as well as the business forum organized in conjunction with the conference, during which there was discussion of frameworks of mutual interests and ways to achieve concrete agreements.

The main topics during the joint group discussions were the role of the Armenian community in Romanian history, economic development, and the experience and strategy of the Romanian government in preserving the identity of national minorities. (More than 20 ethnic minorities live, develop, and express their religion, language, culture, and traditions freely throughout Romania.)

AGBU Europe chair Alexis Govciyan presented the objectives and primary purpose of AGBU, and then focused on youth issues, preservation of Armenian heritage, the teaching of future leaders of the Armenian community in Europe, and working with European institutions on various issues related to Armenia and Karabakh. The memory of the genocide and the law on Armenian genocide recognition adopted by France in 2001 were also discussed.

The European Board re-convened on January 29 to discuss current and upcoming projects of AGBU Europe. The board paid tribute to the French people and parliament, which adopted a law just 10 years ago on the recognition of the Armenian genocide. While in Bucharest, AGBU Europe leaders met with various individuals and organizations, including the President and Vice President of the UAR and the Reverend Father Tatev Hagopian.

The Union of Armenians of Romania in Bucharest has become a strong link among Armenians and has helped to organize and maintain traditional community life. The main purpose of the January meetings was to present the goals and the mission of AGBU Europe, exchange views on important issues, and explore opportunities for partnership and collaboration.

A visit to the Armenian Cultural Center in Bucharest was also organized. The center brings together the Armenian Apostolic Church, the museum, Saturday and Sunday School, Ararat and Nor Ghiank publications, and the Dudian library. Following the meetings, Reverend Father Tatev Hagopian received the AGBU Europe delegation at the "Episcopia Armenia" church of Bucharest and presented the history of the church and the Armenian community in Romania, as well as the continuing cooperation between the Armenian Apostolic Church and AGBU.