The Armenian Democratic Liberal Party’s Lebanon Regional Board organized a general membership meeting on Saturday, 29 January 2022, in the “Yercho Samuelian” Hall of the Prelacy, Bourj Hammoud, taking into account that the Founding Body of the Tekeyan Cultural Association of Lebanon, chaired by Hagop Gasargian, had prohibited the organization of this meeting at the Tekeyan Center or the Baikar Club.
Present at the meeting were the members of the Lebanon Regional Board and close to a hundred comrades and comrades. Our modest comrades from all clubs were present, intellectuals, artisans, of all ages, all happy for this beautiful occasion given to them. Members who had not been present for a long time were in attendance. This was our greatest joy. Everyone’s names were recorded.
On Sunday, 9 December, a group of party members, numbering barely 20 people, four of whom were officials at the Tekeyan Center, organized an illegal meeting under the direction of Hagop Gasargian, which in itself was a violation of the Party’s program and bylaws, and they elected Sevak Hagopian, who had been expelled from the Party, as chairman of an illegal “Regional Board.” Ten of the twenty people became members of the new “board.”
The opening of the General Membership Meeting was made by the Chairman of the ADL Lebanon Regional Board, Dr. Avedis Dagesian. Those present observed a minute of silence in honor of the memory of the nine comrades who died due to the Corona virus pandemic. Those comrades are: Dr. Vazken Jamkochian, Garabed Pabahikian, Aram Sepetjian, George Tafranian, Vache Hagopian, Garo Nikolean, Raffi Jikerian, Loris Tughlajian and Toros Ekmeksjian. Then everyone sang the party’s anthem.
Those present proceeded to the discussion of the agenda. The Lebanese parliamentary elections were the first item. Comrade Dagesian presented the general situation and announced that a coordination meeting of the national parties would be convened in the near future to decide on the steps to be taken. He called for participation in the elections with solid ranks, especially in the Beirut area.
The second agenda item was the celebration of the Party’s centennial, which is to take place in Armenia on 22 June 2022, within the Parliament compound. Comrade Dagesian asked everyone to register their names to participate in that celebration. Also, a centennial celebration is to be organized in Lebanon during the month of February. A large number of those present demanded that this celebration take place at the Tekeyan Center.
The third agenda item was the extension of the Regional Board’s mandate for a period of one year. Those present unanimously renewed their confidence in the current Regional Board, chaired by Dr. Avedis Dagesian.
Then the floor was given for questions and suggestions. A number of comrades complained about the socio-economic situation. It was also proposed to reorganize the clubs and to elect the next Regional Board member by member, and not by the current presidential system, where delegates elect only the chairman and he forms his board. It was also proposed to convene a general meeting of the Tekeyan Cultural Association. This meeting has not been convened for a long time for unclear reasons.
Unfortunately, this beautiful occasion was attempted to be disrupted by a number of rowdy individuals sent by Sevak Hagopian, who had been expelled from the party. They tried to enter the hall, presenting themselves as members of the Regional Board. Fortunately, the Regional Board had taken the necessary precautionary measures to prevent any unpleasant incident.
At the end of the meeting, everyone left the hall with great satisfaction, reiterating that they would stand by the Regional Board in all the steps to be taken to reorganize the Party’s Lebanon chapter and to establish legitimacy.
ADL Lebanon Regional Board
