ARMENIAN DIASPORA STUDIES CENTER OPENS IN LEBANON
Noyan Tapan
2012-01-26
The opening ceremony of the Center for Armenian Diaspora Studies was
held on January 25.
The event was attended by Prelate of the Armenian Diocese in Lebanon,
Archbishop Gegham Khacherian, Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Ashot
Kocharyan, President of the University of Lebanon, former minister,
Dr. Adnan Seyid Hussein, state deputies, as well as representatives
of political parties and associations.
The event held at the Heritage building of Haigazian University started
with speeches by President of Haigazian University, the Very Reverend,
Dr. Paul Haydostian and the event's benefactor, founder of the Erjo
Samuelian-Tricolor Fund Erjo Samuelian, followed by a welcoming
speech by Professor of the University, Dr. Arda Ekmekj, who welcomed
the gathered and presented the program, attaching importance to the
establishment of such a center in Lebanon.
President of the University, the Very Reverend, Dr. Paul Haydostian
underlined that the establishment of a Center for Armenian Diaspora
Studies "pushes us toward a new stage of resisting challenges".
"Lebanon, with its exceptional contribution to culture and with the
large presence of Armenians, serves as an impetus, and the Haigazian
University is a natural setting for the study of Armenians and the
Diaspora in the Middle East," the Very Reverend underlined.
"For more than a decade, the establishment of such a center, which
was an issue on the agenda of Haigazian University and was proposed
during the conference attended by RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush
Hakobyan in September 2011, is now a reality," the Very Reverend
Haydostian said and expressed satisfaction with Minister Hakobyan's
congratulatory message.
Haydostian also expressed deep gratitude to the Center's benefactor
Erjo Samuelian, "without whom the establishment of this center would
be impossible". The Very Reverend Haydostian also thanked Haigazian
University's board of trustees, particularly Dr. Harutyun Nigolian
for their support and encouragement.
The President of Haigazian University also informed that Dr. Antranig
Tagesian had been appointed Head of the Center. In 2010, Tagesian
presented his dissertation at Suans University in Cales on the future
of Armenians and Kurds in Lebanon.
Then, Haydostian expressed his gratitude to former minister, President
of the University of Lebanon, Dr. Adnan Seyid Hussein and voiced
hope for efficient bilateral partnership. In his turn, President
of the University of Lebanon, Dr. Adnan Seyid Hussein welcomed the
establishment of the center, praised the initiating sides' efforts and
pledged to assist the development of this center through partnership.
Director of the Center for Armenian Diaspora Studies, Dr. Antranig
Tagesian stressed that the relationship between Armenians and the
Arabs in the East traces back to the first century B.C. and that the
Sisy family, which was a resident of the Sisy capital of the Armenian
Cilician Kingdom, settled in the Lebanese Qalamoon region in 1350 and
later in the Zgharta region. Dr. Tagesian listed the Armenian Studies
Centers of the University of San Josef (USJ), the Hamazkayin and the
AGBU in Lebanon that are aimed at encouraging the new generations of
Armenians to receive higher education. In the meantime, the Department
of Armenian Studies was established at Haigazian University in 1955.
Dr. Tagesian thanked benefactor Erjo Samuelian, Haigazian University's
board of trustees and President, the Very Reverend Paul Haydostian.
Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Ashot Kocharyan welcomed the
establishment of the center and read RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush
Hakobyan's congratulatory message for the event in which Hakobyan
voiced hope that "the mutual partnership would bring a new sweep to
the implementation of research on the Diaspora".
On this occasion, according to tradition, Dr. Paul Haydostian presented
special awards to benefactor Erjo Samuelian on behalf of Haigazian
University, reports Lebanon's Aztag Daily.
Noyan Tapan
2012-01-26
The opening ceremony of the Center for Armenian Diaspora Studies was
held on January 25.
The event was attended by Prelate of the Armenian Diocese in Lebanon,
Archbishop Gegham Khacherian, Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Ashot
Kocharyan, President of the University of Lebanon, former minister,
Dr. Adnan Seyid Hussein, state deputies, as well as representatives
of political parties and associations.
The event held at the Heritage building of Haigazian University started
with speeches by President of Haigazian University, the Very Reverend,
Dr. Paul Haydostian and the event's benefactor, founder of the Erjo
Samuelian-Tricolor Fund Erjo Samuelian, followed by a welcoming
speech by Professor of the University, Dr. Arda Ekmekj, who welcomed
the gathered and presented the program, attaching importance to the
establishment of such a center in Lebanon.
President of the University, the Very Reverend, Dr. Paul Haydostian
underlined that the establishment of a Center for Armenian Diaspora
Studies "pushes us toward a new stage of resisting challenges".
"Lebanon, with its exceptional contribution to culture and with the
large presence of Armenians, serves as an impetus, and the Haigazian
University is a natural setting for the study of Armenians and the
Diaspora in the Middle East," the Very Reverend underlined.
"For more than a decade, the establishment of such a center, which
was an issue on the agenda of Haigazian University and was proposed
during the conference attended by RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush
Hakobyan in September 2011, is now a reality," the Very Reverend
Haydostian said and expressed satisfaction with Minister Hakobyan's
congratulatory message.
Haydostian also expressed deep gratitude to the Center's benefactor
Erjo Samuelian, "without whom the establishment of this center would
be impossible". The Very Reverend Haydostian also thanked Haigazian
University's board of trustees, particularly Dr. Harutyun Nigolian
for their support and encouragement.
The President of Haigazian University also informed that Dr. Antranig
Tagesian had been appointed Head of the Center. In 2010, Tagesian
presented his dissertation at Suans University in Cales on the future
of Armenians and Kurds in Lebanon.
Then, Haydostian expressed his gratitude to former minister, President
of the University of Lebanon, Dr. Adnan Seyid Hussein and voiced
hope for efficient bilateral partnership. In his turn, President
of the University of Lebanon, Dr. Adnan Seyid Hussein welcomed the
establishment of the center, praised the initiating sides' efforts and
pledged to assist the development of this center through partnership.
Director of the Center for Armenian Diaspora Studies, Dr. Antranig
Tagesian stressed that the relationship between Armenians and the
Arabs in the East traces back to the first century B.C. and that the
Sisy family, which was a resident of the Sisy capital of the Armenian
Cilician Kingdom, settled in the Lebanese Qalamoon region in 1350 and
later in the Zgharta region. Dr. Tagesian listed the Armenian Studies
Centers of the University of San Josef (USJ), the Hamazkayin and the
AGBU in Lebanon that are aimed at encouraging the new generations of
Armenians to receive higher education. In the meantime, the Department
of Armenian Studies was established at Haigazian University in 1955.
Dr. Tagesian thanked benefactor Erjo Samuelian, Haigazian University's
board of trustees and President, the Very Reverend Paul Haydostian.
Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Ashot Kocharyan welcomed the
establishment of the center and read RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush
Hakobyan's congratulatory message for the event in which Hakobyan
voiced hope that "the mutual partnership would bring a new sweep to
the implementation of research on the Diaspora".
On this occasion, according to tradition, Dr. Paul Haydostian presented
special awards to benefactor Erjo Samuelian on behalf of Haigazian
University, reports Lebanon's Aztag Daily.