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PRESS RELEASE
Monday, August 6, 2007
Baroness Cox, Champion of Karabakh, Feted by AGBU Montreal &
High-Ranking Canadians
AGBU Montreal launched a series of special programs, receptions, and
exciting events during the weekend of May 18-21 in connection with its
sponsorship of Nor Jraberd, the third village of the AGBU Karabakh
Repopulation Project, which seeks to rebuild villages for refugees who
lost their lands and homes during the Karabakh war. Baroness Caroline
Cox, speaker of the British House of Lords and avid crusader for the
Armenians of Karabakh, was the celebrity guest during the gala
weekend.
On Friday, May 18, 2007, amid the fanfare of the AGBU Montreal Scouts’
marching band and scouts in uniform, crowds came out to greet the
baroness at St. Gregory, Illuminator Cathedral in Montreal,
Canada. After an inspiring concert in the church, the Primate of the
Armenian Diocese of Canada, His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan,
officially welcomed the baroness and presented her with a hand-carved
glass khatchkhar (a traditional Armenian cross stone).
Immediately following, a reception was held in the Marie Manoogian
Hall of the cathedral. The baroness spoke about her fond memories of
girl guiding in England and her parents’ longtime friendship with Lord
Baden Powell, the founder of the worldwide scouting movement. As a
token of friendship, she gave the AGBU scouts a precious, historical
wedding photograph of her parents taken in the basement of scouting
headquarters in East London, in the presence of Lord Baden Powell.
President of the AGBU Scouts’ Council, Aline Egoyan-Pederian, praised
Baroness Cox and declared her an honorary member of the worldwide AGBU
scouting movement. Sossie Nahabedian-Rezian, Group Leader, presented
her with a neckerchief with the AGBU badge and a silver hand-crafted
woggle.
The evening concluded with the presentation of a medal to the
baroness. In recognition of her inspirational role for youth and for
her long service with the Girl Guides of the UK, the official
delegation of the Metropolitan Montreal Scouts and members of the
Board of Directors of the Association of Scouts of Canada declared
Baroness Cox a "Knight of the Scouting Honorary Society," the highest
distinction in scouting.
A PERSONAL PORTRAIT
On Saturday, May 19, a crowd of smiling parents and students gathered
for an interview with Baroness Cox and the announcement of the winners
of a student essay contest organized by two area Armenian schools at
Tekeyan Cultural Center. An interview with the baroness, entitled "Up
Close and Personal," conducted by Armenian Canadian journalist Levon
Sevunts, was one of the highlights of the afternoon.
During the interview, the baroness spoke candidly about her personal
life. She shared memories of her childhood, her great love of the
nursing profession and her husband Dr. Cox, her work as a teacher and
author, and her dedication to freedom and defending the oppressed in
the world.
She explained that her involvement with human rights began when she
helped bring medical assistance to Poland during the Communist
era. She described her association with the Andrei Sakharov Foundation
and how, during her many trips to Karabakh, she witnessed firsthand
the monstrous treatment of Armenians by Azeris and forged a deep bond
with the Armenians of Karabakh in their struggle to be independent.
After the question-and-answer period, Mego Malkhassian, director of
the Nor Jraberd project team, invited Pat McGeachy, a member of the
essay jury, to address the pupils from various Armenian schools who
competed in the contest. The theme of the essay was "Karabakh and
Caroline Cox’s Humanitarian Assistance." Certificates of participation
signed by Baroness Cox were presented to each of the young
students. Due to the difficulty of judging the many excellent essays,
more time was needed by the jury. Winners were to be announced at a
later date.
On Sunday, May 20, the third day of the gala weekend honoring Baroness
Cox, the baroness attended Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the
Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Cathedral and also at Soorp Hagop
Apostolic Church. Following church services, the public gathered in
A. Aharonian Hall of the Armenian Center to attend a book exhibition
featuring the baroness’ most recent publication, "This Immoral Trade:
Slavery in the Twenty-First Century." The book was based on her
research during her many visits to Sudan, Uganda, and Burma.
Present were His Grace Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Dr. Vagharsh
Ehramjian, representative of the Central Committee of ARF Canada,
Vicken Afarian, a representative on behalf of ARF, representatives of
Armenian National Committee of Canada and sister organizations, as
well as Mgrdic Mgrdician, head of the Toronto branch of Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund.
After the presentation of the book by Raffi Bujikanian, manager of the
Montreal office of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, the
baroness spoke about the obligation of Christians to stand up against
slave-owning and she urged the Christians in the West to contribute
more funds toward this cause. Speaking about the Artsakh conflict and
her ties to Armenians there, she said, "I feel glad and blessed
because I have been on the sacred soil of Artsakh [Karabakh] and have
sisters and brothers there."
A FUNDRAISER FOR A NEW VILLAGE
Sunday’s festivities culminated in an official banquet held that
evening at AGBU’s Jirair & Elise Dervishian Hall. After the singing of
the Armenian, Canadian, British, and Karabakh national anthems, Nor
Jraberd project director Mego Malkhassian welcomed the impressive
assembly of guests and dignitaries. Master of ceremonies Vicken
Attarian introduced His Grace Bagrat, primate, AGBU Trustee Karnig
Yacoubian, and AGBU Board Member Carol Aslanian. Malkhassian also
recognized high-ranking Canadian government and Armenian individuals,
including the representative of Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper,
Republic of Armenia charge d’affaires Arman Hakobian, Armenian Doctors
Association of Quebec (AMAQ) President Dr. Lena Terjanian, Mgrdic
Mgrdician, and guest of honor, Baroness Cox, whom he referred to as
the "Angel of Karabakh."
The baroness’ speech was impressive, reflecting the strength of her
Christian faith, particularly her love and devotion for the Karabakh
people. Having seen Karabakh during its darkest days, she spoke also
of the miracles during the course of her 61 trips to the
country. "Artsakh is a holy land," she said. She explained that no
matter how much Artsakh is attacked, it will become reborn.
After the pledging of gifts from young people and generous individuals
to the ongoing Nor Jraberd project, Baroness Cox was presented with a
copy of the three-volume "Heritage of Armenian Literature" edited by
Agop Hacikyan, Nourhan Ouzounian, the late Gabriel Basmadjian and
Edward Franciuk. After prolonged applause and a standing ovation,
Master of Ceremonies Attarian concluded the memorable evening by
thanking the baroness.
RECEPTION IN OTTAWA
The gala weekend’s festivities honoring Baroness Cox concluded on
Monday, May 21. The baroness attended a special reception, which was
dedicated to the 89th anniversary of the founding of the First
Republic of Armenia. Present at the gathering held in the Armenian
Embassy in Ottawa were Canadian Member of Parliament Jason Kenney and
Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, prelate of the Diocese of Canada. Other
honorary guests included Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)
Canada Central Committee members; executive committee members of the
Armenian Relief Society (ARS); members of the Armenian General
Athletic Union (AGAU); members of the National Council;
representatives of the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Canada;
and representatives of AGBU Montreal.
Arman Hakobian, the first charge d’affaires of the Armenian Embassy,
welcomed the distinguished assembly of guests and invited Baroness
Cox, the main speaker, to address the group. She acknowledged the
remarkable faith and heroism of the Armenian people. The baroness
hailed Kenney as one who has always lent a helping hand to all nations
and peoples in fighting for human rights, regardless of race or
religious background.
Nor Jraberd is a collaborative effort of AGBU Montreal, AGBU Toronto
and other Armenian communities in Vancouver, Ottawa and Calgary to
rebuild a village and name it Nor Jraberd (new water fortress) in the
Mardakert region of Karabakh–the third village in AGBU’s Karabakh
Repopulation Project. For more information, please visit
Established in 1906, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is
the world’s largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in
New York City with an annual budget of $34 million, AGBU
() preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and
heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs,
annually serving some 400,000 Armenians in 35 countries.