YEREVAN (Azg) – The Writers Union of Armenia celebrated the 80th birthday of the well-known American-Armenian intellectual, activist, literary critic, analyst and editor Edmond Azadian on May 21 in its Yerevan center. Warm words of appreciation were spoken by President Edward Militonyan of the Writers Union, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Armenia A. Poghosyan, President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia Radik Martirosyan, Rector of the Pedagogical University Ruben Mirzakhanyan, President of the Union of Journalists of the Republic of Armenia Astghik Gevorgyan, literary critics Davit Gasparyan, Petros Demirchyan and Suren Danielyan, poet Artem Harutyunyan, and editor of the newspaper Azg Hagop Avedikian.
A telegram of congratulations and praise for many years of activity as a writer, editor and public figure working to help Armenia and the Armenians was read from the president of the Republic of Armenia, Serge Sargisian. Following this was the presentation of a letter from Dr. Haroutiun Arzoumanian, the president of the central board of the Tekeyan Cultural Association of the United States and Canada.
Various medals, awards and certificates were bestowed upon the honoree, and the Pedagogical University granted him an honorary doctorate. After Azadian’s wife, artist Nora Azadian-Ipekian, recited two poems of Vahan Tekeyan, Azadian spoke some heartfelt words.
(Translated from the Armenian)
