ABRAMYAN PITCHES WORLDWIDE ARMENIAN CONGRESS DURING VISIT TO ST. VARTAN CATHEDRAL

The founder and president of the Union of Russian Armenians, Mr. Ara Abramyan, came to New York City's St. Vartan Cathedral July 17 to promote his idea of a worldwide union to leaders of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern).

CHANGING THE FACE OF RUSSIA

A native of Armenia but now a Russian citizen, Mr. Abramyan said the Union of Russian Armenians has been successful in strengthening the Armenian community and making its voice heard in Russian society.

"We were able to unite the whole Russian Armenian community," he told about 80 guests attending a reception held in his honor at the cathedral complex. "Our greatest achievement was to use our efforts and influence within Russian corporations so they could get into the Armenian economy and help integrate the Armenian and Russian economies."

The group has also helped organize forums in Armenia to look at ways international investment can help Armenia's economy.

But the goal of the Union of Russian Armenians is not just economic; the group is working to establish social assistance programs and has already amplified the voice of Armenians in Russian society as a vocal opponent of nationalistic sentiments that have flashed up in Russia. It has also brought together a wide array of non-profit groups to address issues facing Russia's ethnic minorities.

WORLDWIDE GROUP PLANNED

Mr. Abramyan is working to expand his model by inviting Armenian community leaders from around the world to attend the first organizational meeting of a World Congress of Armenians.

"Armenians were spread all around the world after the Genocide. And in many localities they may be organized and present some sort of organized voice; but they do not speak as a worldwide community," Mr. Abramyan said. "We want to find common interests that unite Armenians and bring them together around those ideas."

Three areas have been identified to unite the new worldwide organization:

• the preservation and development of the Republic of Armenia
• resolving the Genocide issue and the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict
• helping the Diaspora become economically stronger, so it can use that economic strength to make Armenia stronger.

"Uniting Armenians around the world is an idea that has been around for 500 years," said Mr. Abramyan. "I'm just one person who believes in the concept and is trying to act on it."

UNIQUE STRUCTURE

The organization will be funded by revenue from a new international investment company, and 10% of all revenues will be used to pay for the worldwide union's activities. A similar system is used to cover the costs of the Union of Russian Armenians, which received $5 million from a company established to provide funding through revenues.

The group would also not replace any other organization, but will work to complement and unite efforts already being made. Mr. Abramyan has pitched the idea in Lebanon, Europe, South America, Armenia, and now America.

"Wherever I have described the idea, it has been accepted well," said Mr. Abramyan, who before traveling to New York to attend the reception was in Paris, where the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named him a goodwill ambassador.

"Mr. Abramyan is a patriotic, pious, and God-loving man," said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, who has known Mr. Abramyan for about 10 years.