The Armenian Mirror Spectator writes that Armenia Fund USA 20th Anniversary Gala commenced on Saturday, September 29 at Manhattan’s Gotham Hall.
“As gala host, attorney Mark Geragos offered warm words of welcome. True to form, his breezy charm did not disappoint. Keynote Speaker Eduard Nalbandian, Armenia’s foreign minister, brought an appropriate level of gravi- tas to the tribute, while French-Armenian entertainer Patrick Fiori, in his US premiere, and electrified the room.
A recurring theme throughout the evening was how the nation-building mission of Armenia Fund USA transcended divisions and cut across generations. The 300 guests in attendance attested to this fact, as they came from all community and institutional affiliations.
As Geragos observed in his opening remarks, “It doesn’t matter if you are from the Prelacy or Diocese, the AGBU or Assembly, or any other organization. You can check all that at the door,” he proclaimed.
In a letter of congratulations from New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Armenia Fund USA was again cited as a unifying force on the community level. “The Fund’s efforts have also benefited Armenian Americans, especially those across the five boroughs, and have united these individuals in a common purpose,” the letter stated.
A congratulatory statement from Serge Sargisian, the president of Armenia and the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the All- Armenian Fund, took the unity theme to the Hirair Hovnanian at the event next order of magnitude — the relationship between diaspora and homeland, and “the common dream of living in a prosperous and powerful motherland.” In turn, the message from President of the Republic of Karabagh Bako Sahakyan characterized it as the “trinity of Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora.”
Frank Lautenberg, US Senator of New Jersey, sent a statement attesting to the unity that Armenia Fund USA is now enjoying with the international development community at large. He properly commended the Fund for its “focus on rural communities” which “further strengthens Armenia’s population.”
Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Garen Nazarian also noted the fund’s growing relationship with the global community by announcing that, “as part of its broader efforts to engage international agencies in eradicating global poverty, Armenia Fund has entered into a partnership with UN entities, including United Nations Development Program and United Nations Children’s Fund, which is beginning a promising cooperation in effectively targeting rural development.”
Unity also extended to the religious realm, with the presence of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese (Eastern), performing the invocation, and Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America, delivering the benediction.
The event was largely underwritten by The Hirair and Anna Hovnanian Foundation, in addition to co-sponsors from the local business community, including: Acopian Power Supplies; Brach Eichler, LLC; Cullari, Carrico, Soojian, Bruke, LLC; Estreich & Company, Inc.; Harvest Song; Michael Aram; The Tiger Buying Group; Toufayan Bakeries, Worldwide Express and anonymous.
When Armenia Fund USA Chairman Khoren Bandazian stepped up to the podium, he took a few moments to describe the original vision behind the founding of the Hayastan All Armenian Fund. It was “a global effort to channel diasporan resources into Armenia in a strate- gic manner. And given the strength of the Armenian community in the United States, the leaders in Armenia looked to us.”
Then Bandazian pointed out how all the activities of Armenia Fund over the last 20 years mirrored that of Armenia. “When it became apparent that Armenia needed a lifeline to connect to its brothers and sisters in Karabagh, they called Armenia Fund; and we built the Goris- Stepanakert Highway. When Karabagh needed an artery to traverse its mountainous landscape, they called Armenia Fund; and we built the North-South Highway, the ‘backbone of Artsakh.’ When new healthcare facilities were required in Karabagh, they called Armenia Fund. When Agriculture development became paramount, they called Armenia Fund. They tell us what they need and we respond in kind,” he concluded.
Bandazian recognized the invaluable contributions of his predecessors, former chairmen Berj Setrakian, Hagop Kouyoumdjian, Kevork Toroyan and Raffi Festekjian and acknowledged Hirair Hovnanian, Louise Simone Manoogian, George Pagoumian, Sarkis Acopian and “countless others” who had gone above and beyond the call.
Nalbandian centered his keynote speech on the true meaning of homeland, both internally and externally. He explained that the word Armenia itself literally means “Home of the Armenians” and “That Home has passed through the tests of centuries. Sometimes it was taken away from us. But today we are the owners of that Home.”
He developed the metaphor further, positing that, “I often say that, founding their own homes in different parts of the world, Armenians established thousands of little Armenias…. But today, the common home of the Armenian people is called Armenia. Many peoples and nations have…failed to keep their house, so that they do not have such home today. But we have.”
Nalbandian also addressed some sensitive issues, commenting that “regardless of how the Armenians live in different parts of the world,” he said, “in a modest hut or luxurious mansion, foreigners judge us by the resistance, beauty and safety of the house called Armenia. Today foreigners follow how Armenians have built their home. Most of them are friends, but there are also those who want harm. They are not many. I do not think they are more than two,” he said, clearly referring to Azerbaijan and Turkey.”
