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AGBU Celebrates Centennial Birthday in Cairo & Alexandria

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  • AGBU Celebrates Centennial Birthday in Cairo & Alexandria

    AGBU Press Office
    55 East 59th Street
    New York, NY 10022-1112
    Phone 212.319.6383, x118
    Fax 212.319.6507
    Email: [email protected]
    Website: www.agbu.org

    PRESS RELEASE

    Wednesday, May 9, 2006

    AGBU CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY IN CAIRO & ALEXANDRIA

    Hundreds from 17 Countries Attend Week-long Festivities in Egypt

    Between April 12 and 18, 2006, AGBU Egypt hosted the kick-off
    celebrations for AGBU's highly anticipated year-long centennial
    commemoration that began in Cairo and will conclude in April 2007 in
    Yerevan, Armenia. For this landmark in the history of the thriving
    organization, leaders and supporters gathered in the city of its
    founding to assess the past achievements and explore the future
    challenges that remain fundamental to securing a dynamic role for AGBU
    in years to come.

    Armenians in Egyptian History

    The six-day event began with a cocktail reception at the Armenian
    Embassy in Cairo, hosted by Ambassador Roupen Garabedian. Local
    Chapter Chair, Onnig Belekdanian, welcomed guests to the historic AGBU
    Chaker building located in the heart of Cairo's embassy row. This
    property was made available for the use of the Armenian Embassy by
    AGBU.

    In the official message of Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed
    Aboul Gheit, read by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Fatma El Zahraa
    Etman, Gheit acknowledged the significant role that Armenians played
    in the history of Egypt and emphasized the value of Armenian-Egyptian
    diplomatic relations.

    In a message addressed to AGBU President, Berge Setrakian, on the
    occasion of the centennial, the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Vartan
    Oskanian, highlighted the important position of AGBU in Armenian
    communities around the world and the significance of Egypt as its
    birthplace.

    Egyptian Tour

    The following morning, the Egyptian Armenian hosts treated the AGBU
    guests to the sights and sounds of the ancient land. The Great
    Pyramids of Giza and the Sakara step pyramid were among the landmarks
    visited by the seven tour buses of AGBU participants from five
    continents. The day concluded with an elegant nighttime Egyptian
    dinner cruise down the Nile on the Nile Maxim complete with
    traditional Middle Eastern entertainment and festivities.

    Armenian Language Conference

    A conference on Armenian language education dominated the Centennial
    program on Friday, April 13. Entitled "Armenian Education and Armenian
    Language Teaching," the panel of academic experts from four continents
    presented informed perspectives on the future of Armenian education
    while evaluating the current state of Armenian schools, particularly
    those administered by AGBU. The speakers also addressed the
    organization's role in diasporan education.

    Moderated by AGBU District Committee of Egypt Chairman, Berdj Terzian,
    the panel invited academics and educators to speak on critical
    topics. Educator and Secretary of the District Committee of Egypt,
    Gassia Djeghalian, addressed the question: "Is the Armenian Language
    Necessary for the Survival of the Armenian Identity?" Editor of AGBU's
    Egyptian publication, Deghegadou, Araxi Devletian, spoke for Jirair
    Tanielian, who was unable to attend, on "The Present Status of the
    Western Armenian Language in the Diaspora." Educator and former AGBU
    school principal, Dr. Nadya Sarafian, evaluated the current state of
    instruction by examining the "Level of Armenian Language Teaching in
    Schools." Principal of AGBU Manoogian Demirdjian School, Hagop
    Hagopian, proposed new directions in his presentation, "Suggestions
    for the Improvement or Planning of the Armenian Language Teaching and
    Armenian Education Programs." Ashot A. Melkonian, Director of the
    Institute of History of the National Academy of Science of the
    Republic of Armenia, offered a look at the history of the diaspora and
    AGBU in his discussion entitled, "The Armenian Language as a Means of
    Survival: Historical Perspective and Profiting from Existing
    Possibilities."

    All the papers presented at the panel were available at the conference
    in a bilingual (Armenian and English) publication.

    Gassia Djeghalian overviewed communities that have worked to maintain
    their linguistic identity, including the Celtic of the British Isles,
    the Maori of New Zealand, and the First Nations of Canada. She
    suggested that the Armenian language needed a revival like those
    experienced by other groups that had long been disconnected from their
    linguistic heritage. Araxi Devletian spoke extensively about the
    media's role in retaining language and used her knowledge as a
    diasporan editor to encourage greater efforts to energize a vibrant
    Armenian media culture. Nadya Sarafian spoke about her practical
    experience as longtime principal of the AGBU Manoogian School in
    Michigan, USA, its transition to a charter school, and its continuing
    success at increasing enrollment among Armenians and non-Armenians
    alike. She also cited the school's success at Armenian language
    instruction to non-Armenian students. In addition, Sarafian spoke
    about AGBU's prominent role in saving the Armenian nation from
    destruction during the perilous years of the Armenian Genocide, and
    addressed the new challenges of maintaining language instruction in
    the diaspora.

    Hagop Hagopian outlined current priorities of Armenian schools and the
    future obstacles facing diasporan institutions, namely, competition
    from free public schools and access to Armenian language resources.

    Ashot Melkonian delved into the history of the diaspora and the
    Armenian community's successes and failures at retaining its
    linguistic and cultural identity. He focused on Western Armenian as an
    endangered dialect that was almost wiped out as a result of the 1915
    Genocide. He reminded the audience about AGBU's own roots in the
    vibrant pre-1915 intellectual culture that sought to bridge the
    cultural and dialectical differences among its various members and to
    create a universal Armenian identity.

    Digitalizing Armenian Education

    AGBU Silicon Valley Chairman and 2005 IEEE (Institute of Electrical
    and Electronics Engineers) Industrial Pioneer Award Recipient, Yervant
    Zorian, concluded the daylong Armenian Language Conference by
    presenting an innovative online educational program to teach Armenian
    language, history and culture mainly to non-Armenian-speaking youths
    and adults alike.

    "We need to encourage students to learn," Zorian said when
    demonstrating the attractive bilingual multimedia website.

    The audience was captivated by the colorful demonstration that
    included learning puzzles, crosswords, memory flash cards, and short
    lessons, each emphasizing one aspect of a growing curriculum. AGBU
    President, Berge Setrakian, stressed that this project was to be
    officially launched on the occasion of the centennial.

    Celebrating Cultural Heritage

    The weekend's festivities highlighted the vast and varied cultural
    heritage of Armenians in Egypt. On Saturday, April 15, guests visited
    the world-renowned Egyptian Museum for a tour of the most remarkable
    repository of ancient Egyptian artifacts in the world. In the
    afternoon, AGBU Egypt District organized a unique book exhibition of
    60 publications in Armenian, Arabic, and English, printed in Egypt and
    made possible through AGBU Cairo's Satenig Chaker Fund.

    District Chairman Berdj Terzian addressed the attendees about the
    importance of Armenian books in the cultural continuity of the local
    and global communities.

    One of the highlights of the week was the official Gala Night at the
    Marriott Hotel, which attracted over 400 guests and featured famous
    pop vocalist Nune Yessayan from Armenia for her first performance in
    Egypt.

    At a ceremony to mark the official April 15th birthday of the
    organization during the Gala, Berdj Terzian, in his capacity as Chair
    of the Diocesan Executive Committee, welcomed AGBU delegates and
    guests. Terzian was joined by Roupen Garabedian, Armenian Ambassador
    to Egypt, Berge Setrakian, AGBU President, Onnig Belekdanian, Chairman
    of AGBU Cairo, Antranig Mesrobian, Chairman of the Cairo Diocesan
    Council, and Levon Katzaghian, Chairman of the Alexandrian Diocesan
    Council, for the ceremonial cake cutting.

    The following day, AGBU guests visited the city's St. Gregory the
    Illuminator Armenian Church for Easter service followed by the
    traditional Easter blessing of the salt, water and bread by Bishop
    Ashod Mnatzaganian, Primate of Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan and South
    Africa. The event was attended by AGBU Board Members and guests, and
    took place at the Egyptian Diocese adjacent to the church.

    Cultural Gala

    In the evening, a special cultural program was organized at Cairo's
    Gomhoreya Theater. Speeches by AGBU President Berge Setrakian and AGBU
    Egypt Chairman Berdj Terzian preceded the performance. Then, AGBU
    Chapter Chairmen or their representatives from around the world were
    invited to the stage to receive commemorative plaques marking the
    centennial celebration.

    Viennese Soprano Hasmik Papian and renowned Paris-based pianist Vardan
    Mamikonian performed a selection of arias and compositions by Verdi,
    Puccini, Catalani, and Chopin. The second half of the program was
    devoted to Armenian musical pieces by Komitas, Arno Babadjanian, and
    Armen Tigranian.

    For her debut Egyptian performance, Papian received thunderous
    applause from the large audience of Armenians from around the
    world. The performers ended the evening with a rousing rendition of
    the popular song "Cilicia."

    Day Trip to Alexandria

    With the conclusion of the Cairean leg of celebrations, AGBU guests
    ventured to the coastal city of Alexandria to visit the old Armenian
    community that continues to call Egypt's second-largest city
    home. Following a trip to the local Armenian Apostolic church, Saints
    Peter and Paul, the guests visited the elegant Nubar family memorials
    located on the grounds of the church and diocesan building complex,
    and were welcomed by Chairman Levon Katzaghian and his fellow Diocesan
    Council members.

    After paying respects to the AGBU founder and his family, the guests
    visited the new Alexandria Library, which has become a leading
    repository of learning in the Arab world and a modern facility for
    researchers and scholars. Director of Library Foreign Relations, Taher
    Khalifa, and Chief Librarian, Dr. Sohair Wastawy, welcomed AGBU guests
    and spoke about the importance of Armenia and Armenians in the history
    of the city and the Armenian love of the written word. As a ceremonial
    gesture, President Setrakian donated a vast array of books on Armenian
    topics on behalf of AGBU to the library to demonstrate AGBU's
    continuing commitment to education around the world.

    After taking in the magnificent views of the Mediterranean during a
    lunchtime break in Alexandria, the guests toured the manicured gardens
    of the Montazah Palace, a local landmark.

    In the evening, AGBU Alexandria organized a dinner reception for the
    visiting guests and local community in the AGBU Alexandria Center and
    HMEM Nubar Sports Club. Guests toured the historic facility and were
    treated to local musical talent and speeches by Alexandria
    representatives, including Dr. Garo Ansourian, member of the
    Alexandria Chapter.

    At the conclusion of the week's activities, Mr. Berdj Terzian,
    Chairman of AGBU Egypt said, "I and my fellow Committee Members of
    both AGBU District Committee of Egypt and Cairo Chapter are proud that
    the Centennial Celebrations of AGBU kicked off in Cairo, where it was
    founded 100 years ago by ten prominent Egyptian Armenians. It is a
    great feeling that the organization created by our ancestors was able
    to assist the Armenian people both in Armenia and the Diaspora during
    the most difficult moments of our history and is still contributing to
    the welfare of our nation and homeland. We have done our best to make
    the Cairo Celebrations as near as possible to perfection, in order to
    match a century of great achievements of AGBU, and hope we have
    succeeded."

    AGBU is the largest Armenian non-profit organization in the world and
    reaches 400,000 Armenians annually in 35 countries through its
    educational, humanitarian and cultural projects. For more information
    about AGBU and its centennial celebrations, please visit www.agbu.org.
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