Tweet
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, April 21, 2009
AGBU Central Board of Directors Meets in Paris
Paris - The AGBU Central Board's quarterly meeting was held in Paris on
March 27-28, 2009. On the occasion of the global gathering, AGBU Europe
organized a special meeting on March 27 for visiting board members at
the local AGBU Alex Manoogian Cultural Center in order to better
familiarize them with the recent activities and accomplishments of AGBU
France and Europe.
In addition to members of the Central Board of Directors, guests
attending the AGBU Paris meeting included board members of AGBU Europe,
AGBU France and its regional chapters (Paris, Lyon, Valence, Marseille,
Nice), and committee members of various local activities, including the
AGBU Paris Saturday School, the youth group and YP Paris.
AGBU Paris Chairwoman Viviane Etjemesian spoke about Paris' objective to
attract new members and non-Armenian visitors to the AGBU Alex Manoogian
Cultural Center so that they can discover and enjoy Armenian culture and
traditions. In this regard, AGBU Paris has been more active than ever,
and their success has been augmented by the increased activity of new
and established local committees.
After welcoming the Central Board members, AGBU Europe Chairman Alexis
Govciyan described the objectives of AGBU Europe as coordinating and
developing the Pan-European activities of AGBU and establishing a strong
presence in the various European institutions, where AGBU will advocate
for Armenian-related issues. "We have been surprised by the great
success we are enjoying as the wave of interest in all things Armenian
throughout Europe is unparalleled. One of these successes was the
conference on Armenian heritage and its protection in European
Parliament," Govciyan said.
AGBU President Berge Setrakian, who arrived after an official visit to
Armenia, outlined the greater purpose for establishing AGBU Europe:
"AGBU Europe helps to reorganize the Armenian communities scattered
throughout Europe to come together in order to preserve Armenian
identity." He concluded his speech, adding, "AGBU is not only a
charitable organization. We have a vocation of national policy without
being a political party, therefore we must have a national policy."
Central Board member Yervant Zorian, who has spearheaded the Armenian
Virtual College initiative from the beginning, introduced the online
AGBU project which will be launched in late spring. The program's
objective, he said, is to teach through the latest Internet technology
the Armenian language, history and culture in six languages for those
not served by today's Armenian schools as a result of geography or other
factors.
During the evening, Alexis Govciyan submitted, on behalf of the French
Minister of Culture, Christine Albanel, the medal of "Chevalier de
l'ordre des Arts et Lettres," to Raymond Kevorkian, historian and
curator of the AGBU Nubarian Library, for his significant contribution
to the enrichment of the arts and literature in France and worldwide.
Former AGBU Central Board Member and AGBU France Chairman Levon
Kebabdjian was awarded the title of AGBU Honorary Member by Berge
Setrakian.
The following day, the Central Board of Directors convened at the AGBU
Nubarian Library for their quarterly meeting, which was followed by a
private meeting with members of AGBU Europe.
A closing dinner was organized at the Hotel Intercontinental in the
presence of Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Devedjian, France's Minister of Economic
Recovery Plan. A longtime supporter of AGBU's mission to promote the
Armenian heritage around the world, Minister Devedjian remarked: "I've
always valued my identity, which is reflected in my political career. In
fact, we must always be aware of one's roots and act accordingly."
Established in 1906, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is the
world's largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New
York City, AGBU (www.agbu.org) preserves and promotes the Armenian
identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian
programs, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians in 35 countries.
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, April 21, 2009
AGBU Central Board of Directors Meets in Paris
Paris - The AGBU Central Board's quarterly meeting was held in Paris on
March 27-28, 2009. On the occasion of the global gathering, AGBU Europe
organized a special meeting on March 27 for visiting board members at
the local AGBU Alex Manoogian Cultural Center in order to better
familiarize them with the recent activities and accomplishments of AGBU
France and Europe.
In addition to members of the Central Board of Directors, guests
attending the AGBU Paris meeting included board members of AGBU Europe,
AGBU France and its regional chapters (Paris, Lyon, Valence, Marseille,
Nice), and committee members of various local activities, including the
AGBU Paris Saturday School, the youth group and YP Paris.
AGBU Paris Chairwoman Viviane Etjemesian spoke about Paris' objective to
attract new members and non-Armenian visitors to the AGBU Alex Manoogian
Cultural Center so that they can discover and enjoy Armenian culture and
traditions. In this regard, AGBU Paris has been more active than ever,
and their success has been augmented by the increased activity of new
and established local committees.
After welcoming the Central Board members, AGBU Europe Chairman Alexis
Govciyan described the objectives of AGBU Europe as coordinating and
developing the Pan-European activities of AGBU and establishing a strong
presence in the various European institutions, where AGBU will advocate
for Armenian-related issues. "We have been surprised by the great
success we are enjoying as the wave of interest in all things Armenian
throughout Europe is unparalleled. One of these successes was the
conference on Armenian heritage and its protection in European
Parliament," Govciyan said.
AGBU President Berge Setrakian, who arrived after an official visit to
Armenia, outlined the greater purpose for establishing AGBU Europe:
"AGBU Europe helps to reorganize the Armenian communities scattered
throughout Europe to come together in order to preserve Armenian
identity." He concluded his speech, adding, "AGBU is not only a
charitable organization. We have a vocation of national policy without
being a political party, therefore we must have a national policy."
Central Board member Yervant Zorian, who has spearheaded the Armenian
Virtual College initiative from the beginning, introduced the online
AGBU project which will be launched in late spring. The program's
objective, he said, is to teach through the latest Internet technology
the Armenian language, history and culture in six languages for those
not served by today's Armenian schools as a result of geography or other
factors.
During the evening, Alexis Govciyan submitted, on behalf of the French
Minister of Culture, Christine Albanel, the medal of "Chevalier de
l'ordre des Arts et Lettres," to Raymond Kevorkian, historian and
curator of the AGBU Nubarian Library, for his significant contribution
to the enrichment of the arts and literature in France and worldwide.
Former AGBU Central Board Member and AGBU France Chairman Levon
Kebabdjian was awarded the title of AGBU Honorary Member by Berge
Setrakian.
The following day, the Central Board of Directors convened at the AGBU
Nubarian Library for their quarterly meeting, which was followed by a
private meeting with members of AGBU Europe.
A closing dinner was organized at the Hotel Intercontinental in the
presence of Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Devedjian, France's Minister of Economic
Recovery Plan. A longtime supporter of AGBU's mission to promote the
Armenian heritage around the world, Minister Devedjian remarked: "I've
always valued my identity, which is reflected in my political career. In
fact, we must always be aware of one's roots and act accordingly."
Established in 1906, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is the
world's largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New
York City, AGBU (www.agbu.org) preserves and promotes the Armenian
identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian
programs, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians in 35 countries.