Remarks by Ambassador Mher Margaryan, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN - Concert and Exhibition Dedicated to 100 Years Anniversary of Charles Aznavour - Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations

Remarks by Ambassador Mher Margaryan, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN - Concert and Exhibition Dedicated to 100 Years Anniversary of Charles Aznavour

22 May, 2024

President of the General Assembly, Excellencies,
Colleagues, Dear Friends,

It is with great pleasure and honor that we welcome you today to a very special event co-hosted together with the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations.

We are delighted to share this occasion with all of you as we join in celebrating the 100 years anniversary of the legendary Charles Aznavour – a world renowned artist and an exceptional human being, whose music has touched millions of hearts across the globe, transcending borders, cultures and generations. A man, whose life and work epitomized the very spirit of the French-Armenian friendship, Charles Aznavour was more than a musician; he was a luminary as a man of rich cultural heritage; a national hero, an Ambassador of Armenia, and a symbol of hope and resilience, whose remarkable legacy continues to inspire us today.

His centennial has been included in UNESCO's Calendar of anniversaries of eminent personalities and important events, by a joint application which was supported by over 80 countries – a testament to the lasting global impact left by his extraordinary talent.

Today, on the actual birthday of Charles Aznavour, a series of celebratory events commence – exhibitions, concerts, and film screenings – that will take place across the globe. These events will honor Aznavour’s immense legacy: his fascinating songs along with their brilliant storytelling and artistic renditions, his unique voice, which will forever resonate in our hearts, and, of course, the movies that have captivated millions worldwide. With a career spanning more than seven decades, Aznavour continued performing with unflagging enthusiasm even into his 90s, selling out concert halls from Paris to Los Angeles and New York, from Yerevan to Osaka.

In his own words, Aznavour was “one hundred percent French and one hundred percent Armenian.” While indeed he was both, he was truly a citizen of the world, and it is, indeed, symbolic to be celebrating his centennial at the United Nations – at an organization, which is the embodiment of the world community of nations - large and small. He composed and performed over a thousand songs in French, English, German, Russian, Spanish, Italian, and of course, in Armenian. He toured the globe, embraced the world, and the world loved him back.

Beyond his incredible career, Aznavour was also a great humanitarian. His fundraising campaigns were critical in overcoming the devastation of the massive earthquake that hit Armenia in 1988. Since then, he has fundraised for numerous humanitarian projects throughout the world, collaborated with fellow artists to aid victims of Haiti’s earthquake of 2010, and funded research projects targeting the prevention and treatment of grave diseases.

Today, I am indeed proud to host this event that includes a formidable exhibition dedicated to the life and career of Charles Aznavour, with photographs by Roger Kasparian, capturing his artistry, legacy, and spirit. We have with us today, Madame Lidia Kasparian, the daughter of the famous photographer who arrived from Paris to present the exhibition.

And of course, no event dedicated to Aznavour could have been complete without his timeless music. I would like to thank the United Nations Staff Recreation Council – the UN Singers, whose commitment to promoting harmony and understanding through the universal language of music is widely appreciated. Tonight, we will have an opportunity to enjoy the power of music of the great chansonnier Charles Aznavour as presented by the UN Choir.

I thank you all for joining us today and I want to pass the floor to my friend and colleague Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière, the Permanent Representative of France.

MFA RA
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