BUENOS AIRES — On March 16, Edmond Azadian, president of the Tekeyan Cultural Association of the United States and Canada, during his official visit to reinaugurate the Tekeyan Center of Buenos Aires, participated in the bestowal of certificates of distinction on members of the local Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) at the AGBU Nazarian Hall.
AGBU Central Board Managing Director Anita Anserian, who came from New York to Buenos Aires for this occasion, read the congratulatory message of Berge Setrakian, President of AGBU International for benefactor Juan Chahinian.
Antonio Sarafian, president of AGBU Buenos Aires, commenced the ceremony by explaining the meaning of the certificates and praised Chahinian, the first recipient, who has donated extensively towards renovating and improving the building of the Marie Manoogian Educational Institute and adjacent rooms of the AGBU.
Other recipients were Very Rev. Fr. Aren Shaheenian, Locum Tenens of the Armenian Church, Marta Emirian, Chairman of Women’s Committee, Alejandro Kalpakian, President of All Armenia Fund Argentina, Dr. Khatchik Der Ghougassian, a professor of International Relations at the Universidad de San Andrés in Argentina, Alejandro Tantanian, playwright, and Elena Achdjian, one of the first graduates of the Marie Manoogian Educational Institute, teacher, former Director of the Armenian Department of the School and now visiting Director of Armenian Department of the Rosario University.
Also present were Ambassador of Armenia in Argentina Hovhannes Virabyan, representatives of the clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and members of the local AGBU Board of Directors, committees and the General Antranig Scouts, as well as numerous members of the community at large.
