Khatchig Babikian
Encyclopedia
Khatchig Babikian was a philanthropist, attorney, a Lebanese
politician of Armenian
origin and a former member of the Lebanese Parliament (1957–1999)
, on the island of Cyprus
, he studied in France, Lebanon and Italy. A perfect polyglot, he spoke Arabic, Italian, French, Armenian, Turkish, English and Latin. He was imprisoned in 1940 in a concentration camp in Italy
, where he finished his baccalaureate. He later obtained his law degree from the Saint-Joseph University of Beirut
.
He became one of the most brilliant lawyers and most eloquent of his generation, always supported by the Tashnag party Dashnak (Tachnag) in Lebanon
.
Babikian was elected and appointed Armenian orthodox of Beirut
in 1957 and remained a member of the Parliament until the date of his death in 1999. He was replaced by André Tabourian. He was a minister of State to the administrative Reform (1960–1961), of Health (1969), of Tourism, of Information (1972–1973, government Saëb Salam), of the Plan and the Foreign Affairs (1973, government Hafez Amine) and of Justice (1980–1982, government Chafic Wazzan and 1990–1992,).
.
The fund is to contribute to the welfare of Lebanese Armenians in particular, and Armenians
in general. It was the will of Babikian to establish such a charitable fund to benefit Armenians in humanitarian, educational and cultural projects.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
politician of Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
origin and a former member of the Lebanese Parliament (1957–1999)
Biography
Born in LarnacaLarnaca
Larnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort...
, on the island of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, he studied in France, Lebanon and Italy. A perfect polyglot, he spoke Arabic, Italian, French, Armenian, Turkish, English and Latin. He was imprisoned in 1940 in a concentration camp in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, where he finished his baccalaureate. He later obtained his law degree from the Saint-Joseph University of Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
.
He became one of the most brilliant lawyers and most eloquent of his generation, always supported by the Tashnag party Dashnak (Tachnag) in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
Babikian was elected and appointed Armenian orthodox of Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
in 1957 and remained a member of the Parliament until the date of his death in 1999. He was replaced by André Tabourian. He was a minister of State to the administrative Reform (1960–1961), of Health (1969), of Tourism, of Information (1972–1973, government Saëb Salam), of the Plan and the Foreign Affairs (1973, government Hafez Amine) and of Justice (1980–1982, government Chafic Wazzan and 1990–1992,).
Khatchig Babikian Fund
The Khatchig Babikian Fund was created on January 2007 by the five daughters of the late Khatchig Babikian (1925–1999). The fund honors the memory of Mr. Babikian, a philanthropist, attorney, former member of the Lebanese Parliament (1957–1999), cabinet minister successively of Administrative Reform, Health, Tourism, Information, and Justice in the Lebanon government, and former chairman of the executive council of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia — Antelias, LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
The fund is to contribute to the welfare of Lebanese Armenians in particular, and Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
in general. It was the will of Babikian to establish such a charitable fund to benefit Armenians in humanitarian, educational and cultural projects.