YEREVAN — On September 10, Tekeyan Centre solemnly celebrated the 20th anniversary of its foundation. The Centre welcomed more than 200 guests, amongst who prominent officials, art and science workers, benefactors, friends and supporters from Armenia, Karabagh and the diaspora.
Tekeyan Centre was the dream of Armenians all over the world, and today it is a reality. But the path to success was thorny. In 1991, Armenia was struggling for its independence and it was forced to be at war. Most of the country was an area of a disastrous earthquake. Art and literature, education and science were striving to survive. Just at this very moment London Tekeyan Trust (LTT) made a decision to establish a cultural centre in the Motherland and to contribute to the preservation of the national identity. To overcome the obstacles and to succeed, LTT initiated an unprecedented fundraising campaign involving Tekeyan Cultural Association of United States and Canada, Tekeyan devotees, Garo Krikorian, Haigashen Ouzounian, Vartan Ouzounian, Angele
Tovmassian, Edmond Azadian and many others significantly contributed to this patriotic initiative both morally and financially. In 1997 the official opening of Tekeyan Centre took place. In 2001 Tekeyan Centre LLC was renamed the Tekeyan Centre Fund.
On the occasion of its 20th anniversary Tekeyan Centre hosted Armenians from various corners of the world. It was heartening to see the assemblage of Tekeyan devotees gathered at Tekeyan Centre in the Motherland to share the common happiness and to pay tribute to the individuals whose great efforts, today, in the heart of Yerevan, made it possible for Tekeyan members to enjoy the hospitality of the cultural centre.
The guests were greeted at Tekeyan Centre with classical music of Arno Babajanian performed by the Estrada-Symphony Orchestra of the Public Radio of Armenia conducted by composer Yervand Yerznkatsyan. The event was opened by Bishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, the head of Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin Publishing Centre who offered the invocation and congratulatory message.
Vartan Ouzounian, the chair of Tekeyan Centre Fund and the Honorary Secretary of London Tekeyan Trust, continued the official ceremony. In his speech, Ouzounian warmly congratulated all those present on the great occasion and expressed his deepest gratitude to all the benefactors and supporters both from Armenia and the diaspora who had contributed to the establishment of the fund. The chair described the history of the fund and its great achievements along with the difficulties. Now the fund successfully accomplishes purposes set forth in its statute. For two years it has been patronizing five Vahan Tekeyan Schools in Armenia and Artsakh making strong Tekeyan family ties. Due to its educational, cultural, sports and various other projects, the Fund turns the dull routine of students into inspiration and excitement and provokes them to achieve better results at school. Ouzounian also spoke about the further projects of the Fund amongst which are “The Diaspora Archives Library” in cooperation with the Ministry of Diaspora of and “Tekeyan Park,” with the help of Yerevan Municipality.
