The Central Board of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party announces with deep sorrow the death of the Honorary Member of the ADL Central Board and Honorary Chairman of the Regional Board of France, faithful Comrade Garabed Baltopedrosian (born 1928), which occurred on 31 December 2020, in Lyon.
We live in difficult times. Today we commit to history an entire generation of the deserving. Still not having shaken off the sorrows and heavy grief of the year 2020, the mourning for our dear comrade’s death stirs all our souls.
The Armenian nation and the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, in the person of Comrade Baltopedrosian, have lost a faithful soldier of the cause, an unyielding servant of the Armenian nation. A man who gave meaning to his life through devotion. A man who, often forgetting himself, worked through the ADL in the name of our people, in the name of the Armenian Cause, and in the name of the homeland.
Our late comrade, as a faithful national figure of the Ramgavar Azadagan ideology, remained attached to the party’s principles. A principle that became a path of life, a furrow of devotion, a purpose and a means of elevating the interests of work, labour and Armenianness.
Comrade Baltopedrosian, throughout his entire conscious life, placed above all the high value of Armenia, set aside all political and ideological approaches of affiliation with the Armenian authorities, and, as a devoted son of the homeland, worked with everyone in the name of Armenia.
For decades, holding responsible positions, he had a rich party, national and social activity. He served as Chairman of the ADL Regional Board of France, member of the ADL Central Board, and then Honorary Member.
He was one of the important members and a devoted name in the Armenian General Benevolent Union; he was the first Chairman of the AGBU in Lyon (1984-1989), and in Vienne, Chairman, for more than 55 years.
During his fruitful national activity, he took an active part in the national and community life of the Franco-Armenian community. As a representative of the ADL, he was Vice-Chairman of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France (CCAF), within which he worked with his dynamic presence in the name of the general interests of the Armenian community of France.
Here is the comrade who embodied all this in his person; today he departs from us. He departs to join the devoted ones who forged the historical past of our proud party, the host of idealistic, deserving comrades.
On this sad occasion, the Central Board of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party expresses its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and party and union comrades of the deceased.
Today we commit to the earth our comrade, loved and respected by all, assuring that with the same unyielding will and spirit we shall continue the march and path of his and our elder generation’s faithful comrades.
The memory of Comrade Garabed Baltopedrosian shall remain bright in the souls of all who knew him.
Incense and prayer to his bright memory.
Eternal light and peace to his good soul.
May the earth rest lightly upon you, dear Comrade.
ADL Central Board
