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AGBU CONCLUDES ITS 86TH WORLDWIDE ANNUAL ASSEMBLY: AGBU DIRECTORS, LEADERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD HEAD TO SOUTH AMERICA FOR LARGE CELEBRATION
Front Page News
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/?p=4148
Nov 1, 2010
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina
AGBU President Berge Setrakian opened the 86th Assembly.
The world's largest non-profit Armenian organization, the Armenian
General Benevolent Union (AGBU), concluded its 86th annual assembly
here, with the participation of delegates from Germany, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, United States, Lebanon,
France, Greece, Italy, United Kingdom, Russia, Syria, Switzerland,
Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina.
As of 2009, the net asset of the AGBU has been assessed at
$332,032,169. During that period, the AGBU has allocated $18,947,504
for educational, $8,905,988 for cultural, $2,113,586 for religious and
$3,143,586 for humanitarian purposes. AGBU runs and supports programs
in Armenia, such as the American University of Armenia, the St.
Nersess Hospital, AGBU Children's Centers, Armenian Philharmonic
Orchestra, the Ultrasound Center and the Vaskenian Theological
Seminary of Holy Echmiadzin. In Karabagh, they contribute to the
Karabagh Chamber Orchestra and the Karabagh Repopulation Project. In
the diaspora, AGBU sponsors over 30 day and Saturday schools in North
and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Australia. More than
6,500 students are enrolled in these schools, where the curriculum
includes instruction about their heritage and identity. Today, the AGBU
Scholarship Program offers financial assistance to a broader range of
Armenian students around the world such as AGBU Fellowships, Performing
Arts Fellowships, Religious Studies Fellowships, International
Scholarships and Heritage Scholar Grants, as well as the New York,
Paris and Yerevan Summer Intern Programs. Along with its many cultural
centers and day schools, the AGBU operates also Camp Nubar in the US,
Colonie de Vacances in France, and other sites in Bulgaria and Syria
where thousands of youth come together.
Since 1995, the AGBU Young Professionals have been a growing network
of YP groups and supporters from around the world who promote Armenian
identity and heritage for young Armenians between the ages of 22 to 40.
The 86th annual meetings program began on Wednesday, October 13,
with a concert by violinist Sami Merdinian in the French Embassy
of Argentina. The ambassador of France to Argentina, Jean-Pierre
Asvazadourian, accepted the petition of the local AGBU chapter
to host the delegates of the AGBU 86th Annual Assembly. (In 1984,
when the AGBU 69th General Assembly was held in Buenos Aires, the
US Embassy also hosted all the assembly delegates, headed by Life
President Alex Manoogian.)
Cutting the anniversary cake, from left, Ruben Kechichian, Elsa
Kechichian, Vera Setrakian, Eduardo Eurnekian, Anahid Karmirshalyan,
Ambassador Vladimir Karmirshalyan and Berge Setrakian
The concert was attended by the AGBU President Berge Setrakian and
his wife Vera; AGBU Central Board members, Ambassador of Armenia in
Argentina Vladimir Karmirshalyan and his wife; the Primate of the
Armenian Apostolic Church for Argentina and Chile, Archbishop Kissag
Mouradian; businessman Eduardo Eurnekian; members of delegations and
members of AGBU Buenos Aires. The concert was a true pleasure for
the delegates, which ended with cocktail reception by Asvazadourian.
Afterwards, the delegates moved to the AGBU headquarters on Armenia
Street, and at the Nazar and Artemis Nazarian Hall, the Young
Professionals of AGBU Buenos Aires officially greeted all the founders
and former chairmen of the local Youth League Organization on its
70th anniversary and the alumni of AGBU Marie Manoogian Educational
Institute. The Educational Institute was founded in 1974 and starting
in 1979 until now, it has graduated 605 young Armenians from its
high school. They were the first students in the diaspora who began
Friday night dinners with the help of their parents, to raise funds
for their graduate travels to the motherland, Armenia. This tradition
now has been adopted by hundreds of Armenian day schools all over
the diaspora today.
The next day, students at the Berdjuhi Emirian primary section of
the Marie Manoogian Educational Institute, received the delegates and
presented to them Argentine and Armenian traditional songs and dances.
Delegates, presided over by Berge Setrakian and other members of the
Board of Directors, toured the institution and visited the classrooms,
where students were learning Armenian history and culture through
AGBU Virtual College program, which was started two years ago by AGBU
Central Board of Directors.
At the French Embassy, from left, Berge Setrakian, Vera Setrakian,
Joseph Ougourlian, Ambassador Jean-Pierre Asvazadourian and Ruben
Kechichian
On Friday, October 15, the official gala-dinner of the 86th General
Assembly was held at the Hotel Four Seasons, during which Eduardo
Eurnekian was honored. From airports to agriculture, from energy
to banking, Eurnekian's name is synonymous with global business. A
native of Argentina, Eurnekian is a renowned entrepreneur who has more
recently been working to develop Armenia by investing in different
sectors and thus creating jobs for its citizens. Eurnekian was born
in 1932 in Argentina to Armenian immigrants. He began his career in
the textile industry and built one of the most important companies in
that sector in the country. In the early 1980s, Eurnekian purchased
the bankrupt Cablevision SA cable TV station and transformed it into
the largest private cable TV company in Latin America, with more than
a million subscribers. He later sold the company for $750 million. His
media involvement included, among other things, an open-air TV chain,
several radio stations and a financial newspaper. In 1988, he formed
a consortium called Aeropuertos Argentina 2000, and he was awarded a
30- year concession to operate many of Argentina's airports. He has
since expanded his business to incorporate major airports in Uruguay,
Ecuador, Italy, Armenia and Peru. In agribusiness, Eurnekian owns
the largest expanse of artificially irrigated land in Argentina and a
total of 400,000 acres of farmland. He recently formed a new company,
Tierras de Marruecos, which will explore the development of Morocco.
During the last decade, Eurnekian began taking an active interest
in Armenia and its future. In 2001, he started the renovation of
Zvartnots International Airport runway and platforms - which are
already completed - and the construction of a new high-tech terminal
(of which phases one and two have been completed, while phase three
is to be inaugurated in the fall of 2011.) His company, Tierras
Armenia, works to promote agribusiness in the nation, including
a focus on fruit and vegetable production in Arevadasht, just 40
miles outside Yerevan. He also sponsors Fruitful Armenia, a nonprofit
organization, which annually brings together various Armenian companies
and organizations in an effort to promote agricultural growth, boost
sustainable micro- usiness and train local workers. In 2006, Eurnekian
acquired the third largest bank in Armenia, Converse Bank. He is in
charge of the mail system in Armenia, HayPost, and the infrastructural
renovation of its approximately 900 branches. In addition, he provides
philanthropic help to the local Armenian communities and to the Holy
See of Echmiadzin.
Berge Setrakian and Eduardo Eurnekian
A visionary businessman, Eurnekian has been named Business Man of
the Year 1995 in Argentina, and in 1999 he received the Leonardo
Award from the Italian government, which is given to the leading
foreign businessman. In September 2001, he received the St. Gregory
the Illuminator Order medal and the decoration of St. Mesrob Mashtots
from President Berge Sargisian, the highest decoration of the country.
AGBU, which has always encouraged philanthropy and active involvement
in Armenian community life, honored Eurnekian in appreciation of his
commitment to bettering the lives of Armenians.
Setrakian made Eurnekian an honorary member of the Central Council
of the AGBU, which received a standing ovation and lengthy applause.
Eurnekian humbly announced that he is just doing his duty for his
people in Argentina and in Armenia. The whole episode and the gala
dinner was televised by the Local TV 5 and aired to the public
through YouTube.
Gala dinner participants
On Saturday morning, the 86th Assembly took place at Sahagian hall,
with the participation of more than 200 delegates and members. All
speeches were simultaneously translated into English, Armenian,
French and Spanish. After the Argentinean, Armenian and AGBU anthems,
Setrakian opened the assembly with an encouraging speech, emphasizing
AGBU's educational, cultural and humanitarian work. A financial report
of the last two years was presented to the delegates. After the reports
submitted by advisers, delegates voted to elect Joseph Ougourlian of
New York as new member of the Central Board of Directors, to replace
Dr. Arshavir Gundjian, whose term as member expired, according to
the AGBU by-laws provisions of reaching the age of 75.
Finally, Archbishop Mouradian surprised all the delegates by reading
Catholicos Karekin II's pontifical decree addressed to Bedros
Piandarian, long time financial director of AGBU Central Board
of Directors in New York, and a second decree addressed to Ruben
Kechichian, chairman of AGBU Buenos Aires Chapter, and decorated them
with the Nerses Shnorhali medals.
After the meeting, the delegates went to the land adjacent to Alex
Manoogian Cultural Center and laid the foundation stone of the new
General Antranik scouts' center.
(Compiled by Kevork Marashlian, sources included the ADL newspaper
Sardarabad of Buenos Aires, the AGBU website, contributions from Diana
Der Garabedian, editor of Sardarabad and AGBU Buenos Aires Chapter.)
From: A. Papazian
Front Page News
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/?p=4148
Nov 1, 2010
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina
AGBU President Berge Setrakian opened the 86th Assembly.
The world's largest non-profit Armenian organization, the Armenian
General Benevolent Union (AGBU), concluded its 86th annual assembly
here, with the participation of delegates from Germany, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, United States, Lebanon,
France, Greece, Italy, United Kingdom, Russia, Syria, Switzerland,
Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina.
As of 2009, the net asset of the AGBU has been assessed at
$332,032,169. During that period, the AGBU has allocated $18,947,504
for educational, $8,905,988 for cultural, $2,113,586 for religious and
$3,143,586 for humanitarian purposes. AGBU runs and supports programs
in Armenia, such as the American University of Armenia, the St.
Nersess Hospital, AGBU Children's Centers, Armenian Philharmonic
Orchestra, the Ultrasound Center and the Vaskenian Theological
Seminary of Holy Echmiadzin. In Karabagh, they contribute to the
Karabagh Chamber Orchestra and the Karabagh Repopulation Project. In
the diaspora, AGBU sponsors over 30 day and Saturday schools in North
and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Australia. More than
6,500 students are enrolled in these schools, where the curriculum
includes instruction about their heritage and identity. Today, the AGBU
Scholarship Program offers financial assistance to a broader range of
Armenian students around the world such as AGBU Fellowships, Performing
Arts Fellowships, Religious Studies Fellowships, International
Scholarships and Heritage Scholar Grants, as well as the New York,
Paris and Yerevan Summer Intern Programs. Along with its many cultural
centers and day schools, the AGBU operates also Camp Nubar in the US,
Colonie de Vacances in France, and other sites in Bulgaria and Syria
where thousands of youth come together.
Since 1995, the AGBU Young Professionals have been a growing network
of YP groups and supporters from around the world who promote Armenian
identity and heritage for young Armenians between the ages of 22 to 40.
The 86th annual meetings program began on Wednesday, October 13,
with a concert by violinist Sami Merdinian in the French Embassy
of Argentina. The ambassador of France to Argentina, Jean-Pierre
Asvazadourian, accepted the petition of the local AGBU chapter
to host the delegates of the AGBU 86th Annual Assembly. (In 1984,
when the AGBU 69th General Assembly was held in Buenos Aires, the
US Embassy also hosted all the assembly delegates, headed by Life
President Alex Manoogian.)
Cutting the anniversary cake, from left, Ruben Kechichian, Elsa
Kechichian, Vera Setrakian, Eduardo Eurnekian, Anahid Karmirshalyan,
Ambassador Vladimir Karmirshalyan and Berge Setrakian
The concert was attended by the AGBU President Berge Setrakian and
his wife Vera; AGBU Central Board members, Ambassador of Armenia in
Argentina Vladimir Karmirshalyan and his wife; the Primate of the
Armenian Apostolic Church for Argentina and Chile, Archbishop Kissag
Mouradian; businessman Eduardo Eurnekian; members of delegations and
members of AGBU Buenos Aires. The concert was a true pleasure for
the delegates, which ended with cocktail reception by Asvazadourian.
Afterwards, the delegates moved to the AGBU headquarters on Armenia
Street, and at the Nazar and Artemis Nazarian Hall, the Young
Professionals of AGBU Buenos Aires officially greeted all the founders
and former chairmen of the local Youth League Organization on its
70th anniversary and the alumni of AGBU Marie Manoogian Educational
Institute. The Educational Institute was founded in 1974 and starting
in 1979 until now, it has graduated 605 young Armenians from its
high school. They were the first students in the diaspora who began
Friday night dinners with the help of their parents, to raise funds
for their graduate travels to the motherland, Armenia. This tradition
now has been adopted by hundreds of Armenian day schools all over
the diaspora today.
The next day, students at the Berdjuhi Emirian primary section of
the Marie Manoogian Educational Institute, received the delegates and
presented to them Argentine and Armenian traditional songs and dances.
Delegates, presided over by Berge Setrakian and other members of the
Board of Directors, toured the institution and visited the classrooms,
where students were learning Armenian history and culture through
AGBU Virtual College program, which was started two years ago by AGBU
Central Board of Directors.
At the French Embassy, from left, Berge Setrakian, Vera Setrakian,
Joseph Ougourlian, Ambassador Jean-Pierre Asvazadourian and Ruben
Kechichian
On Friday, October 15, the official gala-dinner of the 86th General
Assembly was held at the Hotel Four Seasons, during which Eduardo
Eurnekian was honored. From airports to agriculture, from energy
to banking, Eurnekian's name is synonymous with global business. A
native of Argentina, Eurnekian is a renowned entrepreneur who has more
recently been working to develop Armenia by investing in different
sectors and thus creating jobs for its citizens. Eurnekian was born
in 1932 in Argentina to Armenian immigrants. He began his career in
the textile industry and built one of the most important companies in
that sector in the country. In the early 1980s, Eurnekian purchased
the bankrupt Cablevision SA cable TV station and transformed it into
the largest private cable TV company in Latin America, with more than
a million subscribers. He later sold the company for $750 million. His
media involvement included, among other things, an open-air TV chain,
several radio stations and a financial newspaper. In 1988, he formed
a consortium called Aeropuertos Argentina 2000, and he was awarded a
30- year concession to operate many of Argentina's airports. He has
since expanded his business to incorporate major airports in Uruguay,
Ecuador, Italy, Armenia and Peru. In agribusiness, Eurnekian owns
the largest expanse of artificially irrigated land in Argentina and a
total of 400,000 acres of farmland. He recently formed a new company,
Tierras de Marruecos, which will explore the development of Morocco.
During the last decade, Eurnekian began taking an active interest
in Armenia and its future. In 2001, he started the renovation of
Zvartnots International Airport runway and platforms - which are
already completed - and the construction of a new high-tech terminal
(of which phases one and two have been completed, while phase three
is to be inaugurated in the fall of 2011.) His company, Tierras
Armenia, works to promote agribusiness in the nation, including
a focus on fruit and vegetable production in Arevadasht, just 40
miles outside Yerevan. He also sponsors Fruitful Armenia, a nonprofit
organization, which annually brings together various Armenian companies
and organizations in an effort to promote agricultural growth, boost
sustainable micro- usiness and train local workers. In 2006, Eurnekian
acquired the third largest bank in Armenia, Converse Bank. He is in
charge of the mail system in Armenia, HayPost, and the infrastructural
renovation of its approximately 900 branches. In addition, he provides
philanthropic help to the local Armenian communities and to the Holy
See of Echmiadzin.
Berge Setrakian and Eduardo Eurnekian
A visionary businessman, Eurnekian has been named Business Man of
the Year 1995 in Argentina, and in 1999 he received the Leonardo
Award from the Italian government, which is given to the leading
foreign businessman. In September 2001, he received the St. Gregory
the Illuminator Order medal and the decoration of St. Mesrob Mashtots
from President Berge Sargisian, the highest decoration of the country.
AGBU, which has always encouraged philanthropy and active involvement
in Armenian community life, honored Eurnekian in appreciation of his
commitment to bettering the lives of Armenians.
Setrakian made Eurnekian an honorary member of the Central Council
of the AGBU, which received a standing ovation and lengthy applause.
Eurnekian humbly announced that he is just doing his duty for his
people in Argentina and in Armenia. The whole episode and the gala
dinner was televised by the Local TV 5 and aired to the public
through YouTube.
Gala dinner participants
On Saturday morning, the 86th Assembly took place at Sahagian hall,
with the participation of more than 200 delegates and members. All
speeches were simultaneously translated into English, Armenian,
French and Spanish. After the Argentinean, Armenian and AGBU anthems,
Setrakian opened the assembly with an encouraging speech, emphasizing
AGBU's educational, cultural and humanitarian work. A financial report
of the last two years was presented to the delegates. After the reports
submitted by advisers, delegates voted to elect Joseph Ougourlian of
New York as new member of the Central Board of Directors, to replace
Dr. Arshavir Gundjian, whose term as member expired, according to
the AGBU by-laws provisions of reaching the age of 75.
Finally, Archbishop Mouradian surprised all the delegates by reading
Catholicos Karekin II's pontifical decree addressed to Bedros
Piandarian, long time financial director of AGBU Central Board
of Directors in New York, and a second decree addressed to Ruben
Kechichian, chairman of AGBU Buenos Aires Chapter, and decorated them
with the Nerses Shnorhali medals.
After the meeting, the delegates went to the land adjacent to Alex
Manoogian Cultural Center and laid the foundation stone of the new
General Antranik scouts' center.
(Compiled by Kevork Marashlian, sources included the ADL newspaper
Sardarabad of Buenos Aires, the AGBU website, contributions from Diana
Der Garabedian, editor of Sardarabad and AGBU Buenos Aires Chapter.)
From: A. Papazian