The Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe was founded in Switzerland in 1998 by Toros Sakerian (Saghryan), a Swiss-Armenian public figure and great specialist in jewellery with the participation of representatives of different Armenian communities from seven European countries – Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Italy, England, Hungary, Russia. The FAAE has been functioning for 10 years under the leadership of Mr. Sakerian.
It conducted general meetings in different European countries, and during these meetings, separate thematic discussions on urgent issues Armenian communities faced were also discussed. The FAAE organized various symposia and conferences in a number of European countries – Hungary, Austria, France, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden and elsewhere until 2008. Professional conferences for businessmen (Budapest, Vienna), lawyers (Paris), journalists (Bratislava) and other spheres (Geneva, Uppsala, Vienna, Bratislava, Venice, Lodz, etc.) were also held. FAAE hosted an international Armenian Media Forum in Bratislava the first time in 2003, which later became traditional. The homeland of the FAAE has also not been out of sight. It was one of the main organizers of the first forum of Armenia-Diaspora media in Tsaghkadzor in 2003.
Dr. Ashot Grigorian was elected as president of the FAAE during the conference held in Bratislava in 2008, and he is in the office up to now. Starting from 2008 the FAAE headquarter moved to Bratislava. Thanks to professional lobbying and media events, the FAAE leadership has succeeded in the adoption of a law criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide in 2009, based on the resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide adopted by the National Council of Slovakia in 2004, initiated and lobbied by Dr. Grigorian.
The 15th anniversary of the foundation of the FAAE in 2013 was a key event and representatives of the FAAE from 23 European countries took part in it. The FAAE started carring out activities in the Motherland to address both the domestic issues and implement investment programs in the economic sphere by the decision of the FAAE Congress in 2013.
Over the course of twenty years, the FAAE has struggled for the interests of Armenians, Armenia, and Artsakh. The organization has appealed to a number of international organizations, heads of states and government officials regarding topics which are of concern of Armenians. The FAAE has been engaged in lobbying activities aimed at neutralizing the damage caused by the anti-Armenian activities of the Turkish-Azeri tandem.
FAAE MAIN ACTIVITIES IN BRIEF
FAAE Foundation Conference 18 – 20 July, 1998 Geneva, Switzerland
1st Annual Conference 29 April – 2 May, 1999, Brussels, Belgium
Constitutional Meeting 12 – 13 February, 2000, Venice, Italy
2nd Annual Conference 9 – 12 June Budapest, Hungary
3rd Annual Conference 1 – 4 June 2001 Bonn, Germany
4th Annual Conference 21 – 23 June, 2002, Uppsala, Sweden
5th Annual Conference 6 – 9 June, 2003, Venice, Italy
Extraordinary Conference 12 – 13 September 2003, Geneva, Switzerland
6th Annual Conference 28 – 30 May, 2004,Vienna, Austria
7th Annual Conference 29 – 30 May, 2008, Bratislava, Slovakia
15th anniversary of the foundation of the FAAE, 2013, Bratislava, Slovakia
ARMENIAN BUSINESS FORUM OF EUROPE
1st Armeina Business Forum 19 – 20 November 1999, Budapest, Hungary
2nd Business Forum 9 – 11 March, 2001 Geneva, Switzerland
3rd Business Forum 26 – 28 April, 2002, Geneva, Switzerland
ARMENIAN MEDIA FORUM
1st Armenian Media Forum 21 –23 March, 2003, Bratislava, Slovakia
2nd Armenian Media Forum 14 – 17 December, 2003, Tzaghgatzor, Armenia
ARMENIAN LAWYERS OF EUROPE
1st Armenian lawyers Forum 1 –3 February, 2002, Paris, France
APRIL 24 CONFERENCE
“Never Again 24 APRIL” Conference 16 – 18 April, 2004, Valance, France
Forum Member Organisations
Declaration – Appeal – Letters