Lory in Ha! Ha! Land
The divine comedy of writer, actor, and producer Lory Tatoulian
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November 05, 2010
Marseille Chapter Celebrates 100th Anniversary
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Alexis Govciyan, President of Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) and AGBU Europe, and Hranoush Hakobian, Diaspora Minister of the Republic of Armenia, surrounded by guests during AGBU Marseille's centennial gala at the Palais du Pharo. -
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Academy Award-winning composer Michel Legrand (center) with his sister Christiane Legrand (left) and wife Catherine Michel (right) after his performance in the Pharo auditorium in honor of AGBU Marseille's 100th anniversary.
On June 26, 2010, AGBU Marseille celebrated its 100th anniversary by organizing a special centennial gala at the Palais du Pharo. More than 200 people attended, including Hranoush Hakobian, Diaspora Minister of the Republic of Armenia; Vicken Tchitetchian, Armenian ambassador to France; Monsignor Norvan Zakarian, representative of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Europe; Alexis Govciyan, President of Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) and AGBU Europe; film producer Alain Terzian, who was the evening's master of ceremonies; film maker Patrick Malakian; Elyane Kazandjian, president of CCAF-Marseille Provence; Didier Parakian, deputy mayor of Marseille; Caroline Pozmentier, Deputy Mayor of Marseille; and Pascal Chamassian, elected councilman and ex-president of CCAF-Marseille Provence.
Many of the invited guests who came to the celebration were AGBU members from Paris, as well as the cities of Barcelona, Geneva, and Milan. The day before the event, a roundabout in the suburbs of Marseille, at Bouc-Bel-Air, was inaugurated and named "rond-point Hrant Dink," in memory of the Turkish-Armenian journalist who was assassinated January 19, 2007 in Istanbul. Rakel Dink, the wife of the slain journalist, was present at the event.
Prior to the evening's event, over 600 attendees gathered in the Pharo auditorium on Saturday afternoon to listen to a concert given by three-time Academy Award-winning composer Michel Legrand. The renowned musician, whose mother is Armenian, talked about his connection to Armenia and his background, saying, "There is a whole side of me that is Armenian. I was very much interested in the family of my Armenian grandfather. I have gone a few times to Yerevan, to see it, to work, to speak with them, and give concerts with a lot of joy. I go back whenever I have the opportunity."
During the centennial gala -- which was hosted by master of ceremonies Alain Terzian -- AGBU Marseille chairman Sahag Karalekian spoke about the Marseille Chapter's history, which dates back to 1910. He thanked the successive chairmen who have contributed their efforts throughout the years, and addressed those former chairmen present at the gala, including Bernard Besoian (2003-2008), Christian Shahum (2000-2003), Jean Melkonian (1993-2000), Jean Mellian (1989-1993), and Roger Kouyoumdjian (1986-1989). President Karalekian presented his predecessors with trophies symbolizing the AGBU flame, and later in the evening was presented with his own honor, a gold medal from Diaspora Minister Hranoush Hakobian.
In the history of AGBU, Marseille is an important city. In 1907, one of the original founders of the organization, Yervant Aghaton Bey contacted his compatriots to ask them to support the organization's work. On September 22, 1910, 16 members of the Marseille Committee met for the first time and elected their first president, Agop Selian. Shortly thereafter, Marseille became the cradle of the Armenian diaspora in France and welcomed many refugees of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
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