The Armenian Mirror Spectator

Saturday, May 17, 2008

PARIS — The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) chapters in the French cities of Paris, Marseille, Valence and Lyon, in cooperation with the ADL Tchobanian Institute, organized a lecture tour titled, “The Foundations for Armenian Security and Means to Ensure It.” The ADL Tchobanian Institute is an independent research center devoted to strategic studies in the South Caucasus, Asia Minor and the Middle East.

With the participation of Armen Ayvazyan, director of the Ararat Strategic Research Center and attending professor
of Political Science at the American University of Armenia (AUA), the first event took place on April 4, in Paris. More than 150 people attended the event at AGBU Alex Manoogian Centre in Paris.

Varoujan Sirapian, president and founder of the ADL Tchobanian Institute, participated in the lecture tour as moderator. Geopoliticist François Thual joined Ayvazyan and Sirapian for the Paris leg of the tour.
After a presentation and analysis of the major threats that face Armenia and Karabagh, Ayvazyan discussed the issues facing Armenian-Turkish relations, including territorial sovereignty, demographics and the strategic importance of the Armenian-populated territory of Javakhk in Georgia.

He offered a thorough analysis of the issues at hand and suggested that political and strategic concerns excluded the possibility of armed attacks on behalf of Azerbaijan and Turkey on Armenia. He said the real danger facing Armenia was the shrinking population, which is in stark contrast to the rapidly increasing population of neighboring Azerbaijan. The presentations were followed by a question-and-answer period when members of the public asked about Armenia’s demographic crisis, as well as the current post-electoral situation in Armenia.
Among the distinguished guests attending the Paris lecture were Alexis Govciyan, president of AGBU Europe, Nelly Tardivier-Henrot, commissioner of last year’s “Year of Armenia” celebrations in France, AGBU leaders, local Armenian clergy, community leaders and French- Armenian youth.
The tour continued on Tuesday, April 8, at the AGBU Center in Marseille and was attended by approximately 100 people. Michel Guéviguian, vice president of AGBU Marseille, introduced the event and Robert Der Merguerian provided translation assistance throughout the evening.
On Wednesday, April 9, Ayvazyan and Sirapian traveled to Valence in southeastern France to speak to an audience of 100 at the local AGBU center. Philippe Panossian, president of AGBU Valence, welcomed the audience, which included members of the local town council, former AGBU Valence leaders, as well as representatives of various French-Armenian organizations.
The final stop was on Thursday, April 10, at the AGBU Center in Lyon. Attended by more than 80 people, the Lyon event was hosted by Michel Sandjian, president of the chapter.

From left, Varoujan Sirapian, Armen Ayvazyan and the editor of Haratch weekly, Arpine
Missakian

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