Dear Reader,

In 2018, we look forward to working with you for education and culture, to connect people, to work for the prosperity and security of Armenia and to promote excellence in leadership. As a global organization, AGBU is committed to the success of the Global Armenian Nation and and we are convinced that, more than ever, Armenians have much to contribute to the world.

As this is our first newsletter of 2018, we would like to take this opportunity to share key moments on our calendar of the first 6 months of the year.

 First of all, the year will be marked by two major commemorations.

The first of these, in 1918, gave birth to the Armenian republic. The second, in 1988, eventually led to the creation of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic.

On February 13, 1988, the population of NK started demonstrating in Stepanakert. On February 27 and 28, progroms started in the city of Sumgaït, near Baku. There is no question that the birth of the Karabakh movement, and the eventual emergence of the Republic of Artsakh are among the major events that marked the Armenian world in recent decades.

 On May 28, a whole century will have passed since the foundation of the first Armenian Republic, in 1918. This was a dramatic resurgence for the Armenians, who had lived as minorities or as a diaspora since the 14th century and who had been devastated by a genocide in 1915. The first republic of Armenia established the foundation for Soviet Armenia, which was followed by the modern Armenian Republic in 1991. It created the conditions for extraordinary achievements to follow.

Both the events of 1918 and of 1988 will be commemorated in Armenia and around the Diaspora. They will serve to remember and reflect, but also to educate our contemporaries on our collective experience. We will also bring both commemorations to the heart of the European institutions, with an event in the European Parliament on February 28, and a musical week-end from June 1 to 3 in Brussels.

Naturally, we will also commemorate the Armenian genocide across Europe on April 24, as we do every year.

We will also bring the AGBU family together across Europe.

As in previous years, AGBU will host a “Summit” and a major event in London in the spring (April or May). Details to follow – watch this space!

We hope you will be able to enjoy many of these occasions with us in 2018!

Nicolas Tavitian