President Berge Setrakian’s Farewell Address Delivered at the 93rd General Assembly

It is my privilege to be with you today. The General Assembly is the forum that allows our Central Board to report on our achievements over the preceding two years, assess the state of the organization, and plan for its future.

Accountability to our members and communities at large is foundational to the culture of AGBU. It is part of our ethos, which has led Armenians worldwide to believe in us as a trustworthy institution. Given that confidence and trust, AGBU stands tall, with an annual budget of $50 million globally and close to one billion in assets.  Our board meticulously cares for our finances, programs and projects to ensure we make responsible investments and bold decisions as necessary to ensure a bright future. 

Over the 22 years of my presidency, the Central Board has continued the tradition of its predecessors in delivering to you a clean and transparent financial report.  

When I think of our great organization, I must remark that for over a century, we have attracted talented and committed leaders in all corners of the world. People who are successes in their own right, who have not forgotten their roots and are dedicated to giving back to their communities. This loyalty to an Armenianness makes our people special. But for AGBU, we remain open-minded and inclusive of any individual who wishes to participate or lead in their local communities so long as he or she upholds the same values of our organization. Not only those who are traditionally defined as Armenian. For this reason, we now enjoy a global network that extends as far as South Korea and Australia. That’s a total of 33 countries in 72 cities, not to mention our digital and online access to as many as 50,000 Armenians in 98 countries. Among these individuals are scores of new faces and Young Professionals who are ready to connect and build together. The growth of the Young Professional movement is perhaps our proudest achievement over the past years. I am confident in the values they hold. They have a personal drive and a vision for the future of the Armenian nation. 

The late Alex Manoogian said it best during his own farewell address upon his retirement as President of AGBU in 1989.  He said: “When I became President (in 1953), they used to say that the sun never sets on the British Empire, and, let me tell you, maybe this is not true anymore for the Brits, but today the sun never sets on AGBU’s empire.” 

Today, I am making a farewell speech of my own, as this will be the last time that I chair the proceedings of an AGBU General Assembly as President. Therefore, I wish to speak to you about my perspective of the current status of AGBU through the lens of the condition of the world today and how it impacts the Armenian world in particular.  

For the last 22 years, we have witnessed major developments affecting Armenians in the Diaspora and in Armenia and have responded to them accordingly.  The rapid advancements in technology across the planet have certainly impacted the modus operandi of AGBU. Today, we are able to operate as a global organization serving a global Armenian nation with the instant access to the Internet and virtual reality. Of course, I always say, this is no substitute for in-person engagement and that is why global gatherings like the General Assembly or regional conferences are so important in keeping our network cohesive and unified.  

The most dramatic events of the last two years that shook the Armenian world was the systematic invasion of Artsakh in 2023, and the forced deportation of its entire population of 120,000 fled to Armenia in less than a week, creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the country. AGBU’s response to this devastated and traumatized community was nothing short of heroic.  The spike in donations that poured into our AGBU Global Relief Fund, which we established precisely to be prepared for crisis, made it possible for us to act on a moment’s notice.  

Within just one year since this catastrophic event, the invaders defaced, and/or eliminated Armenian historic cultural monuments and century-old Armenian churches, monasteries, and holy sites, in addition to ethnically cleansing the rightful owners of this rich early Christian inheritance.  

Artsakh was the only land that, for centuries, was continuously inhabited by a vast majority of indigenous Armenians. How many of our ancestors originated from Karabakh!  More than some of us would imagine.  

Yet the world powers that were in a position to stop this devastating international crime, took the unscrupulous way out. For us, it was a dèja vu of 1915, a century later. 

As we know, Armenia’s population has been shrinking since independence with multiple waves of emigration, reducing an estimated one-third of its population.  This remains a concern because a land without a population exposes itself to the ambitions of its neighbors.  

Now the Armenian state is facing an existential problem. And no Armenian should become indifferent with the excuse that the geopolitics is too complex, the possible outcomes are too unclear and the future too uncertain. Rather than give up in frustration and despair, the Diaspora must regroup and regenerate its forces in support of their rightful homeland, to which AGBU has been committed since its inception.  

Our AGBU leadership continues to forge ahead in the homeland, like our predecessors once did. No matter the state of the statehood, AGBU will invest to ensure there is opportunity for the people of Armenia to thrive.  

As for the Diaspora at large, the population in our vibrant Middle Eastern countries has shrunk substantially, with the vast majority winding up largely in the U.S. and, more particularly, in Southern California. It’s the largest community of the Western Diaspora, with its many schools, centers, churches and an active and vibrant population. Many who left Armenia have also established new communities there, as well as in Europe and especially in Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, and other countries in the West. These migrations no doubt create more cultural variations on the identity theme. Nevertheless, AGBU, through its chapters, continues to reach out to these newcomers and engage them as members and friends of our global family.  

In 1977, when I joined the Board of Directors, the Armenian world was different. Armenia was safely guarded against its enemies, and, like the Diaspora, it was living an era of cultural renaissance. Our communities around the world were engaged and involved, united behind the cause of Genocide Recognition and to hold genocide deniers to account.  

The independence of Armenia and the demographic shift in the Diaspora have changed all that. Our communities, while fully integrating in the dominant society, are facing the challenge of assimilation and a disassociation from their Armenian identity. Today, we witness decline in the use of Armenian language. Moreover, the weakening of religious practice is a growing trend among all Christian denominations, and the Armenian Church is not exempt.  The new generation has the option to accept or reject their Armenian identity.  

The Armenian Nation is presently at a crossroad. It is divided almost equally between the Homeland, the Russian and Western Diasporas. Each has its own expression of national identity. This makes us different while also the same. We need to reinforce the bridges to maintain our global nation. The State cannot do it alone, nor can the Diaspora.  For as long as I have been active in the governance of AGBU, we have tried to bridge these gaps throughout our own global network. I think our organization is a shining example of how, despite our cultural nuances and diverse national experiences, unity prevails. This is especially true when crisis strikes Armenians anywhere in the world. When we see how our AGBU chapters, regional districts, local volunteers and Young Professional groups mobilize in solidarity to help their fellow Armenians, it is truly impressive. And I assure you, this care, support, and compassion are felt by those who receive it. That is what we mean when we say: “In unity is strength.” 

The Armenian identity has been tested and challenged time and again. The loss of Western Armenia in the early 20th century. The loss of Artsakh in the 21st century. Today, the existence of the Armenian state is under threat.  

The problems we are facing are common to many small nations. The question is how to navigate these sea changes in society that put civilization itself on the edge of an uncertain future. That makes our dreamers and our visionaries all the more important to guide us through. We also need to open up to the world, as we cannot live in isolation.  We need full integration and participation in the communities we live in, while never forgetting the shoulders we stand on and the lessons of those who came before us. Their stories put life in perspective and remind us to never give up.  

Another unifying force that has kept the Armenian culture intact more universally is the Armenian Church. That is one place in which our values, traditions, history, and spirituality transcend borders across the ages.   

AGBU has always, since its foundation, in fact, worked in deep collaboration with the Armenian Church to implement projects and reach the masses.  

And it is the Armenian Church that nurtures the Armenian spirit. In these times of social, financial, and political upheaval, where traditional family values, business ethics, and civility are threatened, we humans are in dire need of spiritual inspiration and support from our Church for the transformative spiritual connection with the world.  

Therefore, we look to the leaders of our Church to renew their mission by identifying and cultivating talented missionaries to pastor our communities.  Continuing the higher education of our future clergy is a priority.  Our national Church will remain the bastion of our cultural identity by engaging with our communities with a more personal and one-on-one approach. So that each and every Armenian seeking to connect with a community of faith or just seeking answers can count on the attention, guidance and teachings of their parish leaders.  

As we have demonstrated throughout our history, AGBU is the name that Armenians worldwide know and trust to adapt to change, be prepared for crisis, and stay open to opportunity—all while staying true to our timeless values and mission.  

Before I conclude, I want to thank all Armenians who have put their confidence and support in this unique organization. We look forward to developing innovative signature programs under the leadership of my successor and friend, the eighth President of AGBU Sam Simonian. He is highly qualified and determined to take the organization to new horizons.  

This past 22 years as your president has been the journey of a lifetime. It’s been a long road with many twists and turns, highs and lows. Yet because of the trust and friendship each of you has extended to me, I was always motivated to lead this organization forward. 

It is a calling to serve our global nation without any expectations other than the satisfaction of empowering, transforming and uplifting lives while instilling Armenian pride and purpose across generations.  I hope each of you feels called to make a positive difference through AGBU.  

I want to thank all of my fellow Board and Council members, present and past, our District and Chapter Chairs, our members across the globe, our staff who diligently serve this organization, benefactors and friends, and in particular, the Chairman of our Council of Trustees, Vatche Manoukian for his unwavering support. I also thank His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. He has been a personal source of inspiration every step of the way.  He has been a friend, an advisor, and a fierce supporter of AGBU all along, with his faith and belief in the mission of the Union.  He has set a new standard of leadership in our Church during the most difficult times since our independence.    

Finally, I wish to thank my fellow traveler on this incredible journey.  My dear Vera. She has the patience,  the wisdom, and sound judgment of an Armenian woman.  Her compassion and sense of responsibility towards others and her belief in the mission of AGBU have kept me going.  And I am pleased to see that my daughters Ani and Lara are following her lead.  

God bless you all. 

God bless AGBU. 

God bless the Armenian Nation.  

And may God protect our homeland.

Watch the address in the video below: