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AGBU Camp Antranig Opens in Armenia

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  • AGBU Camp Antranig Opens in Armenia

    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

    Tuesday, August 5, 2008

    AGBU Camp Antranig Opens in Armenia

    On July 24, 2008, the AGBU Camp Antranig, which will cater to Armenian
    scouts from around the world, officially opened in the forests near
    Lermontovo village, between the cities of Vanadzor and Dilijian, in
    the Lori region of Armenia. Executive Director of the Armenian Youth
    Association (AYA) of Lebanon Kevork Santourian is the director of the
    new scout camp.

    The opening ceremony, which was widely covered by the Armenian media,
    was attended by a number of dignitaries, including Lori Governor Aram
    Kocharian; Bishop Sepuh Chuldjian, Primate of the Gugark Diocese of
    the Armenian Apostolic Church; Bishop Ararat Galtakchian, Grand Sexton
    of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin; Simon Ter-Simonian, President of the
    Republic of Armenia's Humanitarian Aid Committee; Ashot Kirakossian,
    Director of the Armenian Social Investment Fund; Ashot Ghazarian, AGBU
    Armenian Representation Director; Hovig Yeordekian, AGBU Armenian
    Representation Deputy Director; and other Lori region officials.

    The event began with a procession of scouts and was followed by
    Santourian's welcome speech. After declaring the opening of the first
    scout camp in Armenia as a historic occasion, he thanked all those who
    contributed to the success of the camp. Bishop Chuldjian also took
    part in the opening and conducted a blessing ceremony for the
    facility. Bishop Galtakchian passed on the blessing of His Holiness
    Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.

    Lori governor Aram Kocharian and AGBU representative Ashot Ghazarian
    also welcomed the scouts and talked about the symbolism of the camp,
    which seeks to unite scouts of Armenian heritage around the world
    through camping. In addition to the educational activities organized
    in the camp, the facility will also organize trips to historic
    landmarks throughout Armenia for visiting scouts.

    During his visit to Armenia in the fall of 2007, Berge Setrakian,
    President of Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), laid the
    foundations for the first scout camp in Armenia, among other national
    programs of AGBU. For that purpose, AGBU purchased private land in the
    village of Lermontovo in the northern Lori region of Armenia, which is
    renowned for its natural beauty. The planning, preparation and
    construction was able to be completed in a very short period of time.

    Three hundred scouts are expected to attend the two sessions, which
    run from July 22-August 5, and August 8-22, 2008. This year's visiting
    scouts hail from cities across the region, including Aleppo, Baghdad,
    Damascus, Kamishli, Tehran and various Lebanese locales (Antelias,
    Beirut, Zahlé).

    Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest
    non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
    preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
    educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually serving some
    400,000 Armenians on six continents.
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