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Agbu Armenia Newsletter Issue 18, January-February, 2012 Agbu President Speaks to French News About Passing of Genocide Bill by the French Senate

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Agbu Armenia Newsletter Issue 18, January-February, 2012 Agbu President Speaks to French News About Passing of Genocide Bill by the French Senate ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION AGBUAGBU ARMENIAARMENIA NEWSLETTERNEWSLETTER Yerevan, Armenia IN THIS ISSUE ISSUE 18, JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 2012 AGBU Central Board meets in Geneva (p. 1) ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION AGBU President speaks about CENTRAL BOARD MEETS IN French Senate’s draft bill on Armenian Genocide (p. 2) GENEVA AGBU-AYA “Ahramjian” The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Central Board of Directors Center opens in Beirut (p. 2, 3) just completed two days of meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, where Board AGBU Central Board member members discussed a host of topics, including new programs and projects, Sam Simonian received by the education initiatives and upcoming events across the globe. Also attending Yerevan Mayor (p. 3) the meetings were AVC virtual tour in Matenada- representatives of ran (p. 4) AGBU Council of AGBU AVC presentation in Trustees, AGBU Tbilisi (p. 4) Europe and the AGBU AVC announced Strategic Advisory Spring Term 2012 (p. 4) Council to the Bo- Second phase of NUR starts in ard. Artsakh (p. 5) AGBU Yerevan Scouts ascend "It had been the mount Hatis (p. 5) practice and tradi- Eduard Topchjan’s first con- tion of the Central cert with Spain’s Premium Board to hold its Symphony Orchestra (p. 6) meetings from ti- Winter events of AGBU me to time in Swit- Youth Centers (p. 6) zerland, where the worldwide organi- UGAB Jeunes receives RA AGBU Central Board and AGBU CB member Vahe Gabrache of Geneva Diaspora Ministry award (p. 7) zation has been incorporated since 1924. In addition, Geneva provided an ideal location for AGBU Diaspora Youth pro- grams in Armenia and Mos- Board members from around the world to convene, report on projects under- cow for summer 2012 (p. 7) way and break ground on new initiatives," said AGBU President Berge Se- Editor-in-chief of AGBU- trakian. "With Armenia, Karabakh, our Church, and the Diaspora all at critical AYA “Khosnag” magazine junctures, the work of AGBU and our chapters on every continent has never Hampig Mardirossian awarded been more important." RA state medal (p. 8) Central Board member and representative of AGBU in Switzerland, Vahe AGBU Veteran member Dr. Andreas Zoulikian passed Gabrache of Geneva, coordinated the weekend meetings and discussions, away (p. 8) and with his spouse, Huguette Gabrache, helped organize the social activi- ties. Among the events was a dinner hosted by the Hagop Topalian Founda- tion, a Swiss-based AGBU affiliate, where local Armenian community leaders had the opportunity to meet and speak with the AGBU leadership on issues specific to the Ge- neva community, as well as Armenia and the Diaspora. "To have all these talented professionals from diverse backgrounds and geographies come to Geneva was gratifying," said Board member Vahe Gabrache. "Their commitment to AGBU and its many programs in Armenia and the Diaspora is obvious as was their appreciation for the hospitality of the local Armenian community here in Geneva." Armenian General Benevolent Union was incorporated in Lausanne in 1924 and it serves as the holding company for most of AGBU's assets in Europe and the Middle East. Vahe Gabrache serves as its "administrateur délégué" and legal representative of the organization in Switzer- land. AGBU carries its activities in Switzerland through its affiliate organization, the Topalian Foundation. Page 1 AGBU ARMENIA NEWSLETTER ISSUE 18, JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 2012 AGBU PRESIDENT SPEAKS TO FRENCH NEWS ABOUT PASSING OF GENOCIDE BILL BY THE FRENCH SENATE On January 24th, ignoring all the threats of sanctions from Turkey, French senators approved a measure outlawing the public denial of genocides, including the Armenian Genocide. The draft law passed by the Senate makes it illegal for anyone to deny that the mass killing of ethnic Armenians by the Ottaman Turks in 1915 amounted to genocide. Under the law public denial would be punishable by a jail sentence of one year and a €45,000 fine. The vote, which came after an eight-hour debate, is now likely to incite the wrath of Turkey who had earlier threatened to impose “permanent” sanctions against Paris if the law was passed. Soon after the passage of the bill in the French Senate which criminal- ized denial of the Armenian Genocide, France 24 spoke to the AGBU President for his perspective: “This law will bring the Armenian issue to a different international forum,” said AGBU Berge Setrakian, speaking to France 24 from New York. “The major powers will focus more on this issue and hopefully now we can try and find a solution with Turkey. This will be good for Turkey too because they have been in a permanent state of denial about it.” Setrakian accepted the fallout from the bill could have a detrimental ef- fect on Armenia’s own relations with their neighbours. “I think it is most likely Turkey will retaliate and render our lives more difficult, but this is a price the Armenians are willing to pay”, he said. France’s lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, had already approved the bill in a vote on December 23, 2011. That vote had prompted Turkey to recall its ambassador for consultations. The author of the bill was Valerie Boyer, member of the French parliament, who AGBU President Berge Setrakian could not help her tears and excitement after the adoption of the bill. The bill was approved by a vote of 127 and 86 and empowers the courts to jail anyone who denies the genocide claim. However, the parliament members, who were against the adoption of the bill, managed to collect 76 signatures, instead of the required 60, to appeal the bill in the Constitutional Court of France. The Court discussed the matter on February 28th and declared the draft law anti-constitutional. President Sarkozy assigned the government to prepare a new draft. France officially recognized the Armenian killings as geno- cide in 2001. RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY TAKES PLACE FOR AGBU-AYA AHRAMJIAN CENTER IN BEIRUT Attended by a crowd of hundreds of enthusiastic AGBU members, community supporters and leaders, the opening of the AGBU-AYA Ahramjian Cultural Center took place on January 28, 2012, in Beirut Lebanon. The ceremony was held in conjunction with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the AGBU Armenian Youth Association (AYA). Cutting the ceremonial ribbon was AGBU President Berge Setrakian. In attendance were Lebanon's Min- ister of Industry Vrej Sabounjian; Armenia's Ambas- sador to Lebanon Ashot Kocharyan; AGBU Lebanon District Chairman Gerard Tufenkjian; Archbishop Ke- gham Khatcherian, Prelate of the Diocese of Leba- non; Lebanese MP's Arthur Nazarian and Hagop Pakradouni; Bourj Hammoud mayor Antranig Misir- ian and Baouchrieh-Jedeideh mayor Antoine Bshara; AGBU President Berge Setrakian (second from left) AGBU Central Board member Vasken Yacoubian; cuts the ceremonial ribbon to the AGBU Ahramjian Cultural Center AGBU AYA Lebanon Chairman Garo Djeghelian; be- nefactor Yercho Samuelian, and several other AGBU Lebanon and AYA members to applaud the joyful occasion. (Continued on page 3) Page 2 AGBU ARMENIA NEWSLETTER ISSUE 18, JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 2012 RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY... (see page 2) On this occasion, welcoming remarks were delivered in Arabic by Aida Rizk, who noted that the intention of the Ahramjian Center was to encourage youth and to cultivate educational programs. She also expressed the hope that this facility would play its role in society to promote Armenian culture. Hampig Mardirossian, editor of Khosnag, the official organ of AGBU Lebanon District Committee, emphasized that, despite various difficulties, the Lebanese-Armenian community has maintained its vitality and continues the commit- ment in preserving and cultivating the Armenian iden- tity. In his remarks, AGBU President Berge Setrakian gave special thanks to all those who made this project a re- ality. He went on to emphasize AGBU's role in unifying the efforts of all Armenian organizations operating in Lebanon. Speaking on behalf of the AGBU Central Board of Directors was Vasken Yacoubian, the body's Middle East and Armenia coordinator, who noted that this center was bound to become the hub of the entire local Armenian community through its productive and lively activity. Stressing in his benediction that the establishment of this center was the continuation of AGBU's devoted service to the Armenian nation, Abp. Khatcherian ad- ded that the contribution of benefactor Yercho Samue- AGBU Central Board member Vasken Yacoubian addresses those present lian, founder of the Tricolor Fund, reflected true philanthropy. Through a major gift, Samuelian had underwritten the costs for furnishing the entire facility. Appreciation was also expressed to Shahe Khatchadourian, who had donated not only a piano, but assisted in the task of equipping the center, and to Vergine Jerejian, who had donated the en- tire book collection belonging to her husband, Vahrich. The Ahramjian Center was originally built in 1953 through a donation by the Ahramjian Brothers to AGBU, and was used as a school for some five decades by the Prelacy of the Armenian Church of Lebanon. Following the closure of the school, the facility was transferred to AGBU. The structure will now house the Khosnag offices, the Vahram Pa- pazian Theater Group, the Amanos Chapter and youth division, a small library, as well as a seated auditorium. FOUNDER OF “TUMO” CENTER AND AGBU CENTRAL BOARD MEMBER SAM SIMONIAN RECEIVED BY MAYOR OF YEREVAN Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan had a meeting with AGBU Central Board member and the founder of Tumo center for creative technologies Sam Simonian and the administration of the center. Greeting the implementation of out-of- school educational programs of the center, Taron Margaryan offered continuous support of the Municipality in the center’s activities. Speaking about the activity and the mission of the cen- ter for creative technologies, the founder of the center Sam Simonian noted that this center had been the dream of his family for 10 years and it came true in the capital.
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