On May 20, the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in New York attended the honoring evening to Charles Aznavour that was organized by the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR). The event was initiated by the AAC Eastern Eparchy primate Khajak Parsamyan.

The Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg, singers Liza Minnelli, Plácido Domingo, Celine Dion and Sir Elton John were included in the organizational committee of the honoring event.

Over 600 participants, including the USA Congressmen, American cultural figures and representatives of the Armenian community attended the event.

Delivering a speech at the event, Edward Nalbandian conveyed the warm greetings and best wishes by the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan to the eminent Armenian singer.

In his speech, the Armenian Foreign Minister highly assessed Charles Aznavour -the man, the artist and the great patriot- and said that he is happy, as being an Armenian Ambassador to Paris together with Charles Aznavour they implemented numerous projects dedicated to Armenia and new ones are scheduled to be held. Minister Nalbandian informed that on 28 September under the high auspices of the Presidents of Armenia and France, the Armenian Ambassador to Switzerland, National Hero Charles Aznavour will give a concert dedicated to the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the Independence of Armenia in the Olympia concert hall.

“Probably not all the Armenians would know who the Foreign Minister of Armenia is, but I am sure there is no single Armenian on the globe, who would not know who Charles Aznavour is. And not only the Armenians! I remember when together we entered the market of the faraway Samarkand, more than a hundred years old man, who was selling a traditional rice dish while sitting on the floor in front of his big cauldron, seeing you started to shout. “I know you, you are Aznavour, Charles Aznavour, La Boheme is your song!”

Talking about the greatness of Aznavour, Minister Nalbandian said, "I am confident that I am sure, that many people of different ages, origins and worldview, from different countries have likened themselves to one of the heroes of your songs and films. All of them are united by admiration for your art. Your life itself is a great film, bright and full of love, humanism and hard-work.

It is the wish of all of us that this film lasted endlessly, that its main hero would every morning."