On June 17, the RA Ministry of Diaspora hosted great national benefactors, Alecco and Ani Bezikian, who are in Armenia for the opening of the Ani Bezikian Youth Center, which was built and furbished in Yerevan through funding provided by the Bezikian family.

Prior to the meeting, Minister Hranush Hakobyan suggested that everyone respect the memory of great national benefactor Kirk Kerkorian with a moment of silence.

Afterwards, Minister Hranush Hakobyan greeted the gathered and expressed kind words of gratitude and appreciation. “The Bezikians were among the first to extend a helping hand to Armenia in the wake of the devastating 1988 earthquake. Since then, they joined other Armenians in fortifying the bridge between the Homeland and the Diaspora. This family not only carries out charity acts in Armenia, but has also sponsored and continues to sponsor numerous pro-national programs and projects in the Armenian Diaspora. The Bezikians will soon open the museum built through funding provided by the Bezikian family. The museum is located near the “Trchnots Buyn” orphanage and is a unique memorial complex dedicated to the history of the Armenian Genocide and Armenian orphans,” the minister mentioned, adding that Alecco and Ani Bezikian fully convey their feelings of patriotism to their children and grandchildren. It is with the consideration to reinforce the feeling of patriotism that the youth center in Yerevan is named after their granddaughter, 9-year-old Ani, who is perhaps the youngest Armenian benefactor and is aware of how important her role as a benefactor is.

Touching upon the Bezikian family’s charities and other patriotic acts in detail and attaching importance to them, Minister Hranush Hakobyan presented Alecco Bezikian with the Gold Medal, which is the highest award of the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

Expressing gratitude for the appreciation, Alecco Bezikian mentioned that he was deeply aware of the nation and felt a duty to the Homeland like his family and that he is trying to transmit that to the future generations.

“Our dream is to see Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora safe, strong and united as one. We believe if there is faith, aspiration and devotion, we can achieve anything. It is with that faith that we serve our nation and the Homeland with great pleasure,” Alecco Bezikian concluded.