LONDON, England - A grateful community has paid homage, and said a sincere "Thank you," to The Earl of Shannon, a founder of the British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group (BAAPPG), on the occasion of his retirement after nine years as its first president.

With 56 members, representing Conservatives, Labor, Liberal and Cross-Benchers, the BAAPPG is the largest of the organizations representing the countries of Eastern Europe and former Soviet Union. Its co-founder and prime mover is Mrs. Odette Bazil.

A tireless worker on behalf of Armenian matters, he has visited Armenia and Karabagh on many occasions and has taken part in 123 Armenian-oriented debates in the House of Lords.

The testimonial dinner was chaired by the new president of the Group, The Lord Walpole. Before he began the short program, he read messages of thanks and regrets for their absence from Levon Ter-Petrossian, former president of the Republic of Armenia; Papken Ararktsian, a former speaker of the Armenian Parliament; Baroness Caroline Cox; and Lady Shannon.

The program began with a short film that showed Lord Shannon in Armenia, in Karabagh, and hosting meetings with and dinners for visiting Armenian officials.

Among the speakers were His Excellency Timothy Jones, Her Majesty's Ambassador to Armenia, and Dr. Armen Sarkissian, former Armenian Ambassador to the Court of St. James's. In lauding Lord Shannon, Ambassador Jones praised him for his tireless efforts on behalf of Armenia, and he announced that, as a result of the efforts of Lord Shannon and the Parliamentary Group, the decision has been made for a branch of the British Council to be set up in Armenia. The significance of this act will be covered in future reports from here.

Dr. Sarkissian recalled the early days of the Group, and he, too, praised Lord Shannon's efforts on behalf of building the links between Britain and Armenia. He coupled his name with those of Lord Byron and William Gladstone. He presented Lord Shannon with an inscribed copy of the official publication prepared for last year's art exhibit at the Vatican.

Also lauding Lord Shannon for his guidance of the Group was one of its members, Paddy Tipping, MP for Hucknell, near the birthplace of Lord Byron and which is paired with Gumri.

For his part, Lord Shannon thanked the Parliamentary Group for enabling him to make so many warm and good friends, and learn about Armenia, a country, he admitted knowing too little about before his tie with the Group. Speaking from his military background, he said that he was immensely proud of the military achievements of the Armenians in Karabagh.

To show his admiration of the Armenians, he said that he helped found the Ararat Armenian Lodge of the Freemasons in his Berkshire community.

The 9th Earl of Shannon, Richard Bentinck Boyle (as he was born), is also Viscount Boyle of Bandon, Baron Castlemartyr, and Baron Carleton. He was born in India, educated at Eton College, served in the Irish Guard as Captain, in the Royal West African Frontier Force, and as Assistant Military Attache in Dublin. Like Lady Cox, he is a Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords.

In addition to the Vatican publication, Lord Shannon was presented with an Armenian carpet.

The cost of the evening was underwritten by the Vache and Tamara Manoukian Fund.