AGBU Concludes its 86th Worldwide Annual Assembly: AGBU Directors, Leaders From around the World Head to South America for Large Celebration

The next day, students at the Berdjuhi Emirian primary section of the Marie Manoogian Educational Institute, received the delegates and presented to them Argentine and Armenian traditional songs and dances. Delegates, presided over by Berge Setrakian and other members of the Board of Directors, toured the institution and visited the classrooms, where students were learning Armenian history and culture through AGBU Virtual College program, which was started two years ago by AGBU Central Board of Directors.

On Friday, October 15, the official gala-dinner of the 86^th General Assembly was held at the Hotel Four Seasons, during which Eduardo Eurnekian was honored. From airports to agriculture, from energy to banking, Eurnekian’s name is synonymous with global business. A native of Argentina, Eurnekian is a renowned entrepreneur who has more recently been working to develop Armenia by investing in different sectors and thus creating jobs for its citizens. Eurnekian was born in 1932 in Argentina to Armenian immigrants. He began his career in the textile industry and built one of the most important companies in that sector in the country. In the early 1980s, Eurnekian purchased the bankrupt Cablevision SA cable TV station and transformed it into the largest private cable TV company in Latin America, with more than a million subscribers. He later sold the company for $750 million. His media involvement included, among other things, an open-air TV chain, several radio stations and a financial newspaper. In 1988, he formed a consortium called Aeropuertos Argentina 2000, and he was awarded a 30- year concession to operate many of Argentina’s airports. He has since expanded his business to incorporate major airports in Uruguay, Ecuador, Italy, Armenia and Peru. In agribusiness, Eurnekian owns the largest expanse of artificially irrigated land in Argentina and a total of 400,000 acres of farmland. He recently formed a new company, Tierras de Marruecos, which will explore the development of Morocco. During the last decade, Eurnekian began taking an active interest in Armenia and its future. In 2001, he started the renovation of Zvartnots International Airport runway and platforms — which are already completed — and the construction of a new high-tech terminal (of which phases one and two have been completed, while phase three is to be inaugurated in the fall of 2011.) His company, Tierras Armenia, works to promote agribusiness in the nation, including a focus on fruit and vegetable production in Arevadasht, just 40 miles outside Yerevan. He also sponsors Fruitful Armenia, a nonprofit organization, which annually brings together various Armenian companies and organizations in an effort to promote agricultural growth, boost sustainable micro- usiness and train local workers. In 2006, Eurnekian acquired the third largest bank in Armenia, Converse Bank. He is in charge of the mail system in Armenia, HayPost, and the infrastructural renovation of its approximately 900 branches. In addition, he provides philanthropic help to the local Armenian communities and to the Holy See of Echmiadzin.

A visionary businessman, Eurnekian has been named Business Man of the Year 1995 in Argentina, and in 1999 he received the Leonardo Award from the Italian government, which is given to the leading foreign businessman. In September 2001, he received the St. Gregory the Illuminator Order medal and the decoration of St. Mesrob Mashtots from President Berge Sargisian, the highest decoration of the country.

AGBU, which has always encouraged philanthropy and active involvement in Armenian community life, honored Eurnekian in appreciation of his commitment to bettering the lives of Armenians.

Setrakian made Eurnekian an honorary member of the Central Council of the AGBU, which received a standing ovation and lengthy applause. Eurnekian humbly announced that he is just doing his duty for his people in Argentina and in Armenia. The whole episode and the gala dinner was televised by the Local TV 5 and aired to the public through YouTube.

On Saturday morning, the 86th Assembly took place at Sahagian hall, with the participation of more than 200 delegates and members. All speeches were simultaneously translated into English, Armenian, French and Spanish. After the Argentinean, Armenian and AGBU anthems, Setrakian opened the assembly with an encouraging speech, emphasizing AGBU’s educational, cultural and humanitarian work. A financial report of the last two years was presented to the delegates. After the reports submitted by advisers, delegates voted to elect Joseph Ougourlian of New York as new member of the Central Board of Directors, to replace Dr. Arshavir Gundjian, whose term as member expired, according to the AGBU by-laws provisions of reaching the age of 75.