June 13, 2007
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First AGBU Chapter Observes 100th Anniversary

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    Some of the honored guests at the January 19, 2007, centenni
    Some of the honored guests at the January 19, 2007, centennial event for AGBU Alexandria (L to R): President of the Armenian Patriarchate Council Vahe Benohanian, Archbishop Ashod Menatsagian, Chairman of AGBU Alexandria Sarkis Vartzbedian, Archbishop Augustine Koussan, Lebanese Consul General Nedal Yehia, and AGBU Alexandria Vice-President Garo Ansourian.
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    Distribution of student scholarships made possible through t
    Distribution of student scholarships made possible through the Cairo Chapter's Satenig Chaker Fund.

Founded in 1907, the AGBU Alexandria chapter marked its 100th anniversary with two community events, which featured three Armenian-themed documentaries from Armenia, Lebanon and France on January 19 and March 9. Alexandria, Egypt, is home to the oldest of the AGBU organization's 73 chapters on six continents.

On January 19, 2007, over 100 guests attended the first centennial celebration. The evening's varied program began with welcome speeches by community members, Maro Mazlemian and Mary Kartalian. His Eminence Archbishop Augustine Koussan of the Armenian Catholic Church of Egypt, who had assisted in the production of one of the featured documentaries, also made opening remarks.

The first part of the program featured a documentary entitled "Armenians of Lebanon," a production of LBC International written and directed by Lebanese filmmaker, Carmen Labeki. The film tells the riveting story of one of the most active Armenian diasporan communities, and outlines many of the contributions Lebanese Armenians have made to the predominantly Arab nation.

Between the viewing of the first and second documentaries, scholarships, made possible by the Satenig Tchaker Fund of AGBU Cairo, were awarded to students of the local Boghosian National School, who had excelled in their studies.

The documentary, "Destination Armenia," which is produced by AGBU, led off the second half of the evening's program. It highlights the organization's educational, humanitarian and cultural projects in Armenia and Karabakh.

Guest speaker, His Highness Consul General of Lebanon Nedal Yehia, spoke about the historical relations between Lebanon and Armenia, the current political relations between the two nations, and the history of the Armenian community of Lebanon.

In his closing comments, Archbishop Ashod Menatsaganian of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Egypt encouraged people to put aside differences and work towards a common goal--a strengthening of bonds and support between the diaspora and Armenia.

On March 9, 2007, AGBU Alexandria hosted a second centennial event in the Melkonian Hall of the Boghosian National School, where they screened a documentary film about the Armenian Genocide entitled "Restitution," by French filmmaker Laurence Jourdan. The film tells the tragic story of the first genocide of the twentieth century and contains interviews with, among others, the noted historian Yves Ternon. The French film attracted a great deal of attention this year when it was included free of charge in the February 12, 2007 edition of "Time Magazine Europe," as part of a deal struck with European Armenian groups demanding "Time Europe" clarify its editorial policy on the Armenian Genocide. The controversy first began when in the June 6, 2005 edition of "Time Europe," a tourism DVD, paid for by the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, contained a pseudo-documentary that proposed that the Armenian Genocide never happened.

Special guests at the March 9 program were Father Krikor Mouradian, the Armenian spiritual leader of Alexandria; Levon Kaghtatsian, Chairman of the Diocesan Council of Alexandria; Mr. and Mrs. Vahe Benohanian; Asdghig Alexanian Papazian, Chairwoman of the Dikran Yergat Armenian Cultural Association; Sarkis Vartsbedian, Chairman of AGBU Alexandria; members of the National Authority with their spouses; executive committee members of athletic associations; Shushan Ganimian, principal of Boghosian National School; and a large crowd of Egyptian Armenian youth.

Closing remarks were delivered by the Armenian spiritual leader of Alexandria, who ended the program with the Lord's Prayer and benediction.

Established in 1907, Alexandria, Egypt, is AGBU's oldest chapter and is dedicated to preserving and promoting the Armenian heritage and identity through humanitarian, educational and cultural programs. For more information on AGBU Alexandria, please email, agbu@dataxprs.com.eg, or call, (20)(3) 592-0469.

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