NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.—In an era marked by violence and chaos throughout the world, more and more schools throughout the Merrimack Valley are looking to learn about the Armenian Genocide.

Participants in a human rights forum at Pentucket Regional High School. (L-R) Students Alyson Ruzycky and Cody Sedler; George Aghjayan (Armenian Genocide), Dr. Ivy Helman (Jewish Holocaust), Claude Kaitare (Rwandan Genocide); and instructor JC Honer.

Whether it’s in the form of a classroom presentation or panel discussion on human rights, schools are looking for answers to help curb dissention and turmoil among their fellow man.

Members of the Armenian Genocide Education Committee of Merrimack Valley have embraced a more active stand in what has become their seventh year of activity inside public high schools and colleges.

Joining the group is Dr. Ara Jeknavorian, an ANC activist and church deacon, replacing Albert S. Movsesian, a longtime presenter who retired due to health reasons.

“Ara’s presence on this committee adds a new dimension,” said Dro Kanayan, committee chairman. “His knowledge of world history and genocide studies makes him an important teaching tool in our schools. He’s prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice of time and commitment.”

A number of schools have already been approached this year, joined by newcomer Pentucket Regional High School of West Newbury, Mass. Four separate classrooms were taught about the genocide, numbering some 100 students.

More than twice that number attended an assembly on human rights titled, “The Causes and Legacies of Genocide.” Among the speakers was George Aghjayan, an historian, writer, and political activist.

Aghjayan drew from his own family accounts, including a grandmother who escaped brutality by becoming a slave.

Chelmsford High students hold up signs commemorating the Armenian Genocide during a panel discussion on human rights. (L-R) Instructor JJ Doak, Rebecca Holland, Nick Andre, Joseph Fontaine, and Shelagh Curran.

“Prejudices still exist,” he said. “We’ve become children of the sword. Desecration is still taking place in Turkey with no admission of guilt. It behooves us all to approach the United States government and demand recognition. I hope to see the day when Armenians will have their land restored.”

Aghjayan was joined by Dr. Ivy Helman, speaking on the Jewish Holocaust, and Claude Kaitare, telling of the Rwandan Genocide.

Aghjayan was asked, “What are your impressions of why the Turkish government is not recognizing the genocide?”

“I think it’s coming,” he answered. “Whether to join the European Union or to avoid greater embarrassment. It’s been tremendously harmful to the Turks. Just look at all the money they’re spending to deny the genocide.”

At Chelmsford High, students held up signs commemorating the Armenian Genocide, joined by their instructor JJ Doak, a long-time catalyst toward genocide studies at this school.

“As young adults, make yourselves aware when you see violence in the world,” she told the students during her introduction. “You need to be upstanders, not bystanders.”

Jeknavorian presented an overview of Armenian history, covering the turbulent years and leading into the immigration process and current status. He, too, talked about his family’s experience in the genocide.

“It’s inconceivable for me to see my own children ever facing such a horror,” he lamented. “During an actual genocide, don’t assume that some guardian angel will come to the rescue. It just won’t happen. We need an action plan to stop it. We need to remain vigilant. Make your voices be heard among deniers.”

He was joined by Dr. Helman and Azem Dervisevic, who spoke about the Bosnian Genocide.

The programs have drawn press coverage from local papers. In all, a dozen schools will hear the Armenian Genocide message, including a double session at Northern Essex Community College. Two Greater Boston schools have also joined the curriculum: Melrose and Newton South. A North Shore home schooling consortium also recently welcomed Armenian Genocide education.

Additional support is being rendered through the organization Facing History and Ourselves, based in Brookline.

This April, a delegation of students and instructors from Wilmington High will be recognized during a commemoration at the Massachusetts State House for their proactive role as lobbyists.

With next year’s Centennial approaching, efforts are being made to reach out to the private school sector as well, along with major programs at the college level.

“Many of the students who have learned from this platform have turned into ambassadors for Armenian issues,” said Kanayan. “They’re writing their political constituents and federal authorizes, demanding justice for the Armenians. We’ve mobilized teachers in these schools to play an assertive role. We’ve gotten the point across and intend to continue with our mission.”

AMHERST, Mass.—The Jones Library in Amherst is holding its second “On the Same Page” community reading program, and will feature The Sandcastle Girls by best-selling author Chris Bohjalian.

The following series of programs, sponsored by the Friends of the Jones Library System, will be held during the month of March at the Jones Library, and are based on topics and themes from the novel. “On the Same Page” will culminate in an appearance by Bohjalian on Tues., March 25, at 7:30 p.m., at the Amherst Regional Middle School Auditorium. For complete program descriptions, visit www.joneslibrary.org/onthesamepage/osp2014.html.

Tues., March 4 at 7 p.m., Woodbury Room. A screening of the documentary, “The Armenian Genocide,” produced in 2005 by Two Cats Productions. A discussion will follow, led by Henry Theriault, Professor of Philosophy at Worcester State University.

Sat., March 8 at 2:30 p.m., Goodwin Room. A book discussion led by Barry O’Connell, Professor of English Emeritus at Amherst College and a former professor of the author. A friendly discussion, open to all.

Thurs., March 13 at 7 p.m., Woodbury Room. “The American Missionaries and the Armenians: Successes and Limitations of Humanitarianism,” a presentation by Barbara Merguerian, vice president of the Armenian Museum of America, will take a look at the role of American missionaries in bringing aid to the Armenian people.

Tues., March 18 at 7 p.m., Woodbury Room. “Overcoming Evil: Preventing Genocide and Other Group Violence and Creating Peaceful Societies,” by Ervin Staub, Professor of Psychology Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, will take a look at the societal conditions that can lead to violence against groups and discuss how to prevent such conflicts.

Tues., March 25 at 6 p.m., Woodbury Room. Join the Friends of the Jones Library System and Chris Bohjalian at this special reception. Sponsored by the FOJLS, the event is free and open to the public.

Tues., March 25 at 7:30 p.m., Amherst Regional Middle School Auditorium. “On the Same Page…with Chris Bohjalian.” Bohjalian will talk about the book, with an introduction by novelist Cammie McGovern. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

Copies of The Sandcastle Girls can be borrowed from the Jones Library and branches, requested and checked out from the C/W Mars library catalogue, or purchased at Amherst Books or Food for Thought Books in Amherst.

The Sandcastle Girls is a New York Times bestseller that was included on several “Best Book of 2012” lists and Arts and Letters Award from the Armenian National

Chris Bohjalian (Photo by Tom Vartanedian)

Committee of America and the Saint Mesrob Mashdots Medal by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. This novel tells the parallel stories of Elizabeth, a Mt. Holyoke College graduate who, in 1915, accompanies her father to Aleppo, Syria, to aid Armenian refugees, and current-day Laura, a New Yorker trying to make sense of the life story of her grandmother Elizabeth, as well as her own past. The selection of this title is particularly timely, as the novel addresses the Armenian Genocide that began in 1915; the 100^th anniversary of this tragedy is approaching, and is sure to receive media attention in 2015.

Bohjalian is the author of more than a dozen books, including the New York Times bestsellers The Night Strangers, Secrets of Eden, Skeletons at the Feast, The Double Bind, Before You Know Kindness, The Law of Similars, and Midwives. He won the New England Book Award in 2002, and his novel Midwives was a selection of Oprah’s Book Club. His work has been translated into more than 25 languages. He has also written for a wide variety of magazines, including Cosmopolitan, Reader’s Digest, and the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine, and he has been a Sunday columnist for Gannett’s Burlington Free Press since 1992. A graduate of Amherst College, Bohjalian lives in Vermont with his wife and daughter.

NEW YORK (A.W.)—The ARS Youth Connect Program (YCP), featuring a powerful lineup of speakers and dynamic discussions, be held at NYU on March 1.

The full-day program for university students 18-25 years old, includes discussion sessions on Armenian-American experiences, the social and economic challenges facing Armenia, and Islamized Armenians.

The ARS Youth Connect Program will be held at NYU on March 1.

The morning panel on Armenian-American experiences features novelist Nancy Kricorian, filmmaker Talin Avakian, and journalist Raffi Khatchadourian (The New Yorker).

The afternoon panel tackling challenges facing Armenia features three speakers with extensive experience and involvement in Armenia: Armenian Weekly columnist and organization development advisor to the Center for Victims of Torture Kristi Rendahl, Counterpoint International vice president of programs Alex Sardar, and ARF Eastern US Central Committee member and Tufenkian Foundation executive director Antranig Kasbarian.

The program also features a discussion on Islamized Armenians and identity with Khatchig Mouradian, this year’s ARS Youth Connect Program director.

The program will be held on Saturday, March 1, from 10a.m.-5p.m. at New York University’s Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life, Room 461. A dinner will follow the program.

Registration is required. A $25 registration fee includes meals and the evening dinner. Overnight accommodation will be offered for out of town students. To register, click here.

For more information, contact the ARS of Eastern USA office at (617) 926-3801, e-mail arseastus@gmail.com, or go to the program’s Facebook event page.

Talin Avakian is an award-winning young filmmaker who has produced, shot, and directed several of her own films. Her most recent film, Demi Pointe, won the Indie Soul Best Picture Award at the 2013 Boston International Film Festival (BIFF). Avakian holds a bachelor’s degree in Film and Video from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She resides in Worcester County, and works full time as a Videographer and Editor at an Advertising Agency.

Antranig Kasbarian works professionally as Executive Director for the New York-based Tufenkian Foundation. His work focuses on Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh, involving small business development, social and economic recovery, and the resettlement of strategic border areas. He holds a PhD in Geography from Rutgers University, where his doctoral dissertation dealt with the geography of nationalism during the 1988-1994 war in Karabagh. He is a former editor of The Armenian Weekly, and currently serves on the Central Committee of the ARF Eastern United States.

Raffi Khatchadourian became a staff writer at The New Yorker in 2008. His first piece for the magazine, a Profile of Adam Gadahn, an American who joined Al Qaeda, was published the year before, under the title “Azzam the American,” and was later nominated for a National Magazine Award in profile writing. Khatchadourian has also written for the Village Voice, The Nation, and the New York Times, among other publications. In 2005, he was a journalism fellow at the International Reporting Project, which is based at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, in Washington, D.C.

Nancy Kricorian is a writer, essayist, and activist who lives in New York City. She is the author of three novels: Zabelle (1997), Dreams of Bread and Fire (2003) and, most recently, All the Light There Was (2013).

Khatchig Mouradian is the Editor of the Armenian Weekly and the Coordinator of the Armenian Genocide Program at the Center for the Study of Genocide, Conflict Resolution, and Human Rights at Rutgers University. He teaches history and political science at Rutgers University and Worcester State University as adjunct professor. Mouradian is a PhD Candidate in Genocide Studies at Clark University, where he is currently writing his dissertation on the second phase of the Armenian Genocide.

Originally from a family farm in North Dakota, Kristi Rendahl lived and worked in Armenia from 1997-2002 and visits the country regularly. She works with the Center for Victims of Torture as the organizational development advisor to 10 torture treatment centers around the world, and is pursuing a doctorate in public administration. Rendahl writes a monthly column for The Armenian Weekly.

Alex Sardar is an ardent advocate for the voice of citizen activists and leaders as they collaborate to find real solutions for real challenges across the globe. As Vice President of Programs at Counterpart International he currently leads the organization’s $60 million programs portfolio in more than 20 countries, partnering with 3,400 organizations to deliver services to 1.8 million people. Alex spent more than a decade living and working in Armenia on citizen engagement and civil society support initiatives. He’s done similar work in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.

Special for the Armenian Weekly

You may not have heard of Harry Nakashian or his organization, Armenia Assist, and its nearly decade-long endeavor to assist villagers living in poverty. Their humble efforts to sponsor Armenia’s neediest have virtually flown under the radar. Through the website, www.ArmeniaAssist.org, the organization collects money and supplies from individual donors, mostly through word of mouth. Nakashian’s self-described “mom and pop” two-person brigade, which includes Yerevan-based overseer Sona Baluyan, has been sending supplies to villagers in need since 2004. With relatively limited media publication thus far, Nakashian hopes to expand Armenia Assist’s outreach goals. Below, he speaks to the Armenian Weekly and describes the work that this charitable service does—and what’s to come.

‘Because we do direct help, and have been doing this for nine years, we have the reward of seeing good results first-hand.’

***

Lilly Torosyan: How did the idea of creating Armenia Assist come about?

Harry Nakashian: Well, originally I wanted to visit Armenia and adopt one family. On my first trip there, I had a chance to travel extensively, including Karabagh. What I saw in many villages was very humbling. I met many wonderful families with various problems living in bad conditions. I realized many of these families had no access to help. They were on their own. We got to know them well. I thought I would put the word out, and facilitate assistance through my network of friends, and create a website to put a face on it. It was just an extension of my adopting one family, and a feeling that I wanted to do much more.

LT: Describe some of the work the organization does.

HN: We address emergencies when they arise, but normally, we try to educate the kids and provide basic needs, as there are many.

For education, we have hired tutors and teachers, provided university tuition, school supplies, and some laptop computers. We arranged classes for the kids at a telecommunications company, where they became computer literate. We also made an agreement with an NGO to teach English.

For basic needs, we have shipped many 70-pound boxes over the past 9 years. An Armenian couple in North Hollywood handles that for us. My friends (and also strangers) have given very nice supplies, including clothes and shoes, boots, school supplies, vitamins, toys, blankets, winter coats, handbags, backpacks, socks and gloves, stuffed animals, books, and laptops.

We have also arranged for many field trips into Yerevan from the villages. These include going to the movies, bowling, karaoke, amusement parks, aquariums, and eating pizza. Kids need fun, too. There are also basic needs that require services, such as trips to the dental clinics and hospitals in Yerevan—even a few operations.

We have helped village families that we met in Alapars, Solak, Charantsevan, Vanand, Metsamor, Stepanakert, Norq, Yerevan, Sissian, and Goris. We have also provided much food to many families. They often rely on what their garden yields, and it is often not enough. We get food in Yerevan; sometimes we fill up an entire van, and just take it there ourselves. It doesn’t solve the deeper rooted need for sustainability, but with cold winters and no cash—and in some villages, no stores—this helps them a lot, especially families with infants.

LT: Who makes up the team? What is the status of the organization? Is it a recognized NGO?

HN: We really are a mom and pop operation, an office without walls. I am lucky to have some friends who are very devoted to my effort, both in the U.S. and Armenia. In the U.S., they have been very helpful with collecting things and shipping boxes, as well as making personal financial contributions. They introduce our work to others who often become donors. In Armenia, Sona Baluyan is in touch with all of the village families and disburses the funds she receives. She also takes receipt of the boxes and goes to the villages to personally give the items to the families. She and I are in constant contact, and it works very well. We know everything that we receive is being given to the families we assist, and new ones, too.

So far, that is our only status. Our expenses are almost nil. We are under the radar, but we may reach a point where that might change. The way we have networked through word of mouth has been good. A lot of people want to get involved for no other reason than to help. We will evolve with our status if it proves to be a big benefit. What brings the most help for the kids will clinch the decision.

LT: How successful would you say you have been in accomplishing your mission thus far? Where would you like to go?

HN: Because we do direct help, and have been doing this for nine years, we have the reward of seeing good results first-hand. We are limited at times, due to emergencies and limited funds. Many of the donors trust our judgment of where the funds are directed, and this allows us to serve the greatest need at a particular time. Of course, with so many challenges that we are aware of, it is easy to feel that we need to do more—always. I think it is fair to say we can show success, as this all started as a quest to adopt one family. Now, we have many kids speaking English fluently and attending universities in Yerevan. We also help kids get vocational skills if they don’t attend college. Recently, we had a girl open a small hair salon that she owns. We would like to have more families be sponsored, and we know we have a good system in play.

LT: How do you hope to amass more funding and support?

HN: We don’t receive any help from either the Armenian government or local organizations. I am aware that the government knows about me. We do get discounts from an NGO, and some tutors when they understand what we are doing. I would welcome help if it didn’t come with conditions that changed our way of doing what we do.

I hope to increase funding several ways. Friends here in the U.S. are organizing fundraisers, and another friend will make changes and update my website. We would like people to make direct donations via the site. Also, there has been a growing ripple effect. My friends ask their co-workers, and word spreads fast and far. It has been nice to see this grow. Also, we hope new publicity and print material we want to publish will reach people who like our way of helping truly needy families. A friend in New York has been given free use of a theater in Manhattan for one night, and she is planning a fundraiser there.

LT: On your website, you say, “I wanted to do something that was direct, and something that I could be involved with, rather than just donate something to a group that may not represent my wishes.” How would you suggest other diasporans who are looking to make a fulfilling change in Armenia go about doing this?

HN: I would first say come to Armenia if you need to be convinced how bad conditions are, and how wonderful the people are. I would add, don’t come as a tourist. You would miss much.

If you are already of the mind that you want to do something, you can contact Sona (through my website) in Armenia and she would be happy to meet with you, listen to your ideas, and answer questions. She would want to make your ideas a reality.

At this time, there is a crisis for Syrian-Armenian refugees who have been displaced on account of war and are now in Armenia. They have many urgent needs and their future looks bleak, given the current war status. I can’t say enough about becoming involved first-hand. To know these people and enable improvement in their lives is a great reward. You would not be disappointed.

LT: What lies ahead for you and Armenia Assist?

HN: We want to continue to grow while maintaining our hands-on and direct giving approach. One of the great rewards has been to watch the kids grow up and lead much better lives. We have some programs in the works to enable the village kids to adjust to urban living after they graduate from university. I am working with a professor at Yerevan State University on this idea.

For myself, I have been to Armenia 16 times (I pay my own airfare) and Karabagh 5 times. I am hoping to return in late spring 2014 for an extended stay. My friends in the U.S., and on the internet, make this a good arrangement. Besides, I just like living in Armenia.

For more information about Armenia Assist, visit http://armeniaassist.org.

Human Rights Association of Turkey Urges Switzerland to Appeal European Court Decision on Genocide Denial

ISTANBUL, Turkey (A.W.)–The Human Rights Association (HRA) in Turkey issued a letter addressed to the Swiss Minister of Justice, expressing the organization’s disappointment with the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Armenian Genocide denial.

“As human rights defenders in Turkey, we are the most immediate, most direct witnesses of how the denial of the genocide against Amenians and other Christian ethnic groups of Asia Minor has right from the start generated an anti-democratic system, allowing racist hatred, hate crimes and violation of the freedom of expression and the human rights in general,” argued HRA in a copy of the letter received by the Armenian Weekly.

HRA concluded: “In the name of human rights, of the struggle against racist hatred and of justice in Turkey and elsewhere, we would like to express our belief that the Swiss Court’s decision to penalize Doğu Perinçek’s denialism was a step to protect us all, the entire humanity against racism, and our heartfelt support to Swiss Court’s exercising its right to appeal against the ECHR decision dated 17 December 2013.”

Below is the full text of the letter.

***

To:

Mrs. Simonetta Sommaruga

Minister of Justice and Police of the Swiss Confederation

Prof. Dr. Frank Schürmann

Chief of the Division European Law and International Protection of Human Rights, the Federal Office for Justice

We, as the Human Rights Association in Turkey (HRA), are writing this letter to you to express our disappointment at the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECHR) decision dated 17 December 2013 rejecting the Swiss court decisions of 2007 to penalize Doğu Perinçek’s denial of the Armenian genocide and our unconditional and firm support of Swiss jurisdiction’s using its right to appeal against ECHR’s decision.

As human rights defenders in Turkey, we are the most immediate, most direct witnesses of how the denial of the genocide against Armenians and other Christian ethnic groups of Asia Minor has right from the start generated an anti-democratic system, allowing racist hatred, hate crimes and violation of the freedom of expression and the human rights in general.

In the case of the successive governments of the Republic of Turkey, the ultra-nationalists and the Turkish public loyal to the official thesis, denial is not just to say “We didn’t do it” or “What we did was no genocide.” Here in Turkey denial means criminalizing the victims and encouraging hatred towards Armenians. In other words denial becomes the continuation of the genocide and the genocidal intent in Turkey. In order to deny the genocide, the system argues and urges the society to believe that:

(i)                  It is the Armenians to blame, i.e., they deserved what they got.

(ii)                Armenians are the enemies of Turkish people.

(iii)               Armenians stabbed the Ottomans and the Turks in the back, they are treacherous and what was done to them was a war-time necessity for the survival of Turkey.

(iv)              Armenians, both at home and abroad, are still a threat to the Republic of Turkey and Turks.

Not a passive, peaceful denial but aggressive onslaught

Consequently in Turkey denial is not just a passive position, but it is an active aggression, creating a racist environment fully exposed to sheer violence. This has paved the way for Armenians in Turkey to be treated as a “fifth column” throughout the Republican history, to be discriminated against, to be destined to lead their lives in constant fear as their lives were threatened during various nationalist upheavals and pogroms that took place during the Republican period. The word “Armenian” has become a word of curse so widespread to include an interior minister of the Republic who openly used it in public (in 1997 by Meral Akşener). This racist hateful environment led to not only verbal but physical assaults on Armenians. Hrant Dink, the chief editor of Agos, the first and only Armenian weekly newspaper published in Turkish in Republican history, and a prominent supporter of human rights, democracy and freedom of expression was assassinated in cold blood in 2007, although he had always been against hatred and animosity on the part of Armenians towards Turks, advocating instead a reconciliatory stance of mutual understanding. The Armenian private Sevag Şahin Balıkçı, was shot dead on 24 April 2011 (i.e. on the day when Armenians worldwide commemorate the beginning of the genocide of 1915) while doing his military service in the Turkish army in southeast province Batman by another Turkish private. The investigation leading to trial was totally untrustworthy, as the witnesses’ superiors putting pressure on them to confirm the suspect’s statement that it was an “accident” was reported in the newspapers. The court decided that the intentional murder was a result of “gross carelessness,” disregarding all evidence that it was a hate crime, and sentenced the suspect to only 5 years’ imprisonment. Another incident took place on 26 February 2012 when, orchestrated by Turkish and Azerbaijani governments, a big demonstration took place on Taksim square, the largest and most central square in Istanbul, for condemning the “Khojaly Genocide,” the massacre of civilians in Karabagh that Armenian and former Soviet troops allegedly committed ten years before. During the rally, which was announced days before by means of posters bearing the slogan: “Don’t believe Armenian lies” posted all throughout Istanbul, anti-Armenian slogans containing hate speech were chanted and professionally printed signs that read “You are all Armenians, you are all bastards” were carried, in reaction to the slogan “We are all Armenians,” which had been chanted at the funeral of Hrant Dink. In 2013, within one and a half month, four elderly Armenian women were attacked in Samatya, a neighborhood with a high agglomeration of Armenians, cruelly beaten, until one of them died from heavy beating with numerous deep fatal cuts on her body inflicted by a sharp object. In short, persistent denial of genocide is the main reason for the Armenians’ threatened existence in Turkey, a reason provided by the official narrative itself.

On the other hand, the ECHR decision establishes that the Armenian genocide is somehow disputable, arguing that the denial of events which are not qualified as a genocide cannot provoke racist hatred.

However this is not what Doğu Perinçek and the “Talaat Pasha Committee” (named after Talaat, the main author of the Armenian genocide), of which he is one of the leaders have been doing since the Committee’s inception. They deny all the sufferings and horrible massacres—genocide or not—and thus openly insult the victims and their descendants. They deny all the sufferings of the Armenian people under Turkish rule and declare that what had happened to them is an “imperialist lie.” They deny the extermination of the Armenian people and their civilization, playing a vital role in the Ottoman Empire not only demographically, but economically, culturally. In other words, it is not a question of naming what happened to Armenians, it is a question of denying their very existence, their historical heritage and the enormous contribution they made to the country they were an integral part of.

Talaat Pasha Committee already condemned by the European Parliament

Perhaps most important of all, is the European Parliament’s resolution dated 27 September 2006 on the EC Progress Report on Turkey, where Turkey was called to put an end to the racist and xenophobic Talaat Pasha Committee’s activities. The according paragraph reads: “[The European Parliament] strongly condemns the xenophobic and racist Talaat Pacha Committee, run by extreme right-wing organisations, for gravely infringing European principles, and the denialist demonstrations in Lyon and Berlin organised by those same organisations; calls on Turkey to abolish this committee and to end its activities.” (See: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P6-TA-2006-0381+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN#def_1_2)

It is clear that the Talaat Pasha Committee where Doğu Perinçek was one of the founders and leaders was condemned with the above words by the European Parliament itself. We, as the human rights defenders of Turkey would expect the ECHR to take into consideration the European Parliament’s official views as referred to above.

Coming back to the ECHR decision, we would like to draw your attention to the opposing opinion of two ECHR judges. The main arguments in their dissenting opinion were (paraphrased by ourselves in English based on the original document in French) as follows:

• To accuse the victims of distorting history is an invitation to most violent racist defamation and hate. The sufferings of an Armenian due to the Ottoman Empire’s genocide policy is not less serious than those of a Jew under the Nazi’s genocidal policies. Denial of the Meds Yeghern (“Great enormity,” i.e. “infamous crime” in Armenian) is not less dangerous than the denial of Shoah.
• The defendant has openly denied the Armenian genocide as an “international lie,” accused the Armenian people of aggression towards the Turkish state and stated that he supported Talaat Pasha’s ideas. His statements provoke a grave intolerance and hatred against a defenseless minority. The Defendant declared that he would never recognize the Armenian genocide even if an expert or academic committee decides on the existence of such a genocide.
• Expressions such as “international lie,” “historic lie,” “imperialist lie” obviously go beyond the acceptable boundaries of freedom [of] expression, because these expressions declare the victims to be “liars” and suggest an international conspiracy against Turkey or Turks. Besides, D. Perinçek’s identification with a major genocide perpetrator, who in 1919 was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity by an Ottoman court makes the situation even more repugnant.

The dissenting judges refer in their statement to our Association’s press release of 24 April 2006 (the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide) as follows (again a paraphrase of the original document in French):

“Tolerance to denialism is to ‘kill the victims for the second time,’ as Elie Wiesel puts it, or ‘denialism is part of the genocide and enables the perpetuation of the genocide. Denial of genocide is in itself a violation of human rights,” as Human Rights Association, Turkey, had declared in their press release dated 24 April 2006 for the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.”

Talaat Pasha Committee: an organisation of violent action

Genocide denial, as indicated above, directly contributes to the racist hatred environment in Turkey. Furthermore, the Talaat Pasha Committee is anything else than an organisation of peaceful “thought,” or a think tank. It operates on active, sometimes violent militant denialism. Members of the Labour Party led also by Doğu Perinçek have raided and sabotaged meetings related to the Armenian “question.” In 2005 for the first time in Turkey a conference had been organised with the title “Ottoman Armenians during the decline of the Ottoman Empire.” Although the term genocide didn’t appear neither in the conference title, nor in any of the papers presented there, the Labour Party militants, who would soon become part of the Talaat Pasha Committee demonstrated outside the conference building, shouting denialist slogans and hatred towards the organizers, throwing eggs and tomatoes against those who left the conference. The Committee organised demonstrations in 2007 in France, Germany and Switzerland to protest against “Armenian genocide lies,” insulting genocide victims’ memories, hurting the feelings of their children and grandchildren.  Doğu Perinçek’s Labour Party members had in 2009 also staged a demonstration against our press conference in Ankara. The meeting was hosted by our association HRA and the Ankara Initiative for Freedom of Expression on Friday June 26, 2009. Our guests were Lord Avebury, the then vice-chairman of the Human Rights Group in the British Parliament, and historian Ara Sarafian from the Gomidas Institute, London, the publisher of the uncensored edition (2000; 2005) of the 1916 parliamentary “Blue Book,” titled The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 1915-16, a collection of first-hand testimonies of the Armenian genocide compiled by Viscount Bryce and Arnold Toynbee. In the press conference it was declared that the copies of the Turkish translation of the book were sent to the members of the Turkish Parliament (who in 2005 had signed a letter to the British Parliament arguing that the Blue Book was a wartime propaganda material and a mere fabrication, and for that reason the current British parliament should formally withdraw it) “in an effort to enable them to be better informed about their subject matter.” While the press conference was going on, the Labour Party members gathered in front of our Human Rights Association offices in Ankara, chanted slogans against “false Armenian genocide allegations,” harassing and alarming both the audience and our guests from abroad, Sarafian and Lord Avebury. In the meantime, the copies of the “Blue Book” sent were not delivered to the Turkish parliamentarians, thus it became clear that the Turkish Grand National Assembly refused to discuss the witness reports in the book.  .

ECHR decision encouraged racist denialism

What is very alarming and unacceptable is that the ECHR’s decision to acquit Doğu Perinçek has fueled hostility against Armenians in Turkey. The Talaat Pasha Committee held a meeting for the first time after many years, on 19 January 2014, on the 7th anniversary of Hrant Dink’s assassination. The headline of the press report read: “This is only a beginning. New victories are on the way!” It is reported that Doğu Perinçek, sentenced to 117 years’ imprisonment in Turkey, had reportedly sent a message to the meeting saying: “We will now get out of the circle [that limits our mobility] and encircle/besiege Turkey’s enemies and win victories on every front.” In the statement issued during this meeting the Committee misled the Turkish public by claiming that the ECHR decision had confirmed that the Armenian genocide was a lie, whereas in fact the Court only ruled that the Armenian genocide is open to debate and its denial was within the boundaries of freedom of speech.

Members of Doğu Perinçek’s Labour Party reappeared right after the ECHR decision and ambushed a meeting on 1 February 2014 organised by “Say Stop to Racism and Nationalism” initiative with the topic “Why should states apologize?” chanting denialist slogans such as “Armenian Genocide: an American Lie.”

We call on the the Swiss authorities to appeal against ECHR decision

The reason for us to take your time and give an account of the denialist history of Doğu Perinçek and the Talaat Pasha Committee, is to underline that denial of genocide cannot be considered as a simple disagreement of views. This land that is now Turkey, was a land where at the turn of the 19th century one of every 5 residents was a Christian, corresponding to the 20% of the overall population. Now the proportion is below 0.01%! Under these circumstances denialism, which is woven in the very texture of the society, provokes racism and hatred against Armenians, threatens those who challenge the official theses and constitutes one of the biggest obstacles to democratization which is a precondition of Turkey’s membership to EU. In this context we would also like to quote the European Parliament’s resolution of 1987 in which the acknowledgment of the Armenian genocide was named as a pre-condition for Turkey’s admission to the EU. (see  http://www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/euro/pcc/aag/pcc_meeting/resolutions/1987_07_20.pdf)

In view of the above we, as the Human Rights Association in Turkey, in the name of human rights, of the struggle against racist hatred and of justice in Turkey and elsewhere, we would like to express our belief that the Swiss Court’s decision to penalize Doğu Perinçek’s denialism was a step to protect us all, the entire humanity against racism and our heartfelt support to Swiss Court’s exercising its right to appeal against the ECHR decision dated 17 December 2013.

Sincerely yours,

Öztürk Türkdoğan

Chairman,

Human Rights Association

TURKEY

Senator John McCain is a prime example of how U.S. officials so often misjudge overseas crises, believing that the best way to bring democracy to a country is through massive U.S. bombing and invasion.

The Arizona Senator has been highly critical of President Obama’s “arm the rebels strategy,” urging more direct U.S. military intervention in Syria. McCain does not seem to understand that toppling President Bashar Al-Assad would result in more deaths and destruction, and turn Syria into a major hub of international terrorism. Over 30,000 Islamic jihadists from dozens of countries are currently fighting the Syrian government and each another—surely, not to bring democracy to Syria!

The former Republican presidential candidate is so obsessed with beating the drums of war that he reportedly behaved in an ill-tempered and discourteous manner with a group of high-ranking Christian Syrian leaders, just because they were not advocating violent regime change. The church delegation had come to Washington last month seeking a peaceful resolution to the Syrian conflict and protection for Christians who number around 2 million, or 10 percent of the country’s population.

The visiting church leaders included Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Damascus, and representatives of the Presbyterian, Evangelical, Syrian Orthodox, and Greek Orthodox churches of Syria. The delegation met with members of Congress, State Department officials, NGO’s, academics, religious leaders, and members of the media.

The Syrian clergymen were gratified with their Washington visit, except for their unpleasant encounter with McCain, as described by Judicial Watch: “Hell-bent on arming opposition forces in Syria—despite strong evidence that they’re run by Islamic terrorists—John McCain displayed behavior unbecoming of a United States Senator during a recent meeting with Syrian Christian leaders touring Capitol Hill. … Senator McCain, an Arizona Republican, evidently doesn’t want to hear negative stories about the rebels he’s working to arm. So he stormed out of a closed-door meeting with the Syrian clergy officials last week. … McCain marched into the committee room yelling, according to a high-level source that attended the meeting, and quickly stormed out. ‘He was incredibly rude,’ the source told Judicial Watch. … Following the shameful tantrum, McCain reentered the room and sat briefly, but refused to make eye contact with the participants, instead ignoring them by looking down at what appeared to be random papers.”

During their meetings in Washington, the Syrian Christian leaders informed U.S. officials about the unfolding massive human tragedy in their country and the precarious situation of the Christian communities; the kidnapping of Christian Bishops, priests, nuns, and parishioners; the attacks on Christian villages; the desecration of churches and holy sites; and the violations of religious freedom by armed Islamists.

Given the escalating bloodshed in Syria, the church leaders asked the United States to:

- end all military and financial aid to the armed rebels;

- demand from U.S allies (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey) not to support the terrorists;

- ask that all sides of the conflict stop the violence, including bombings and terrorism;

- resolve the conflict through dialogue, not military action;

- ensure the Syrian people’s security;

- protect the Christian minorities;

- protect the churches and mosques;

- protect the religious, historical, and cultural monuments; and

- assist in the distribution of humanitarian aid in Syria.

The website of the Syrian Armenian Committee for Urgent Relief and Rehabilitation (SACURR; www.syriashdab.com) reported that as of Sept. 30, 2013, the war has caused serious harm to the Armenian community: 64 civilians murdered, 172 injured, 110 kidnapped, and 15 soldiers killed in action. Moreover, various Armenian institutions have been damaged: 7 Apostolic and 3 Catholic churches, 13 schools, and 10 community centers. Close to half of Syria’s 65,000 Armenians have fled to Armenia, Lebanon, or elsewhere.

SACURR, which is comprised of nine major Armenian social, religious, and political organizations in Syria, reported that by the end of September it had received $1.7 million from overseas Armenian entities. Even though this is a small fraction of the amount needed, SACURR has been able to provide food, shelter, security, and medical and educational assistance to Syrian Armenians, including $500,000 in tuition aid to 6,436 students in 38 schools.

McCain and other foolhardy U.S. officials would do well to heed the wise counsel of the visiting Syrian-Christian leaders. Dispatching more weapons to Syria would only exacerbate the fighting, resulting in endless bloodshed.

BOSTON, Mass.—The Signature Music Series at Berklee continues on March 3 with Berklee’s 6^th annual Middle Eastern Festival: The Music of Armenia. The program will feature Perspectives Ensemble, directed by flutist Sato Moughalian, presenting “Dark Eyes/New Eyes” with a cappella folk trio Zulal and live painting by Kevork Mourad. Special guests include Ludo Mlado and acclaimed Armenian folk singer Aleksan Harutyunyan.

Berklee World Strings

The concert will also feature music from neighboring regions, including a set of Bulgarian music with Berklee’s Pletenitsa Choir, the Ludo Mlado Dance Ensemble, and the Berklee World Strings directed by Eugene Friesen.

Berklee Middle Eastern Festival: The Music of Armenia takes place on Mon., March 3 at 8:15 p.m., at the Berklee Performance Center (BPC), 136 Massachusetts Ave., in Boston. Reserved seating tickets are available for $8 in advance, $12 day of show, by visiting berklee.edu/bpc. The venue is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call the BPC at (617) 747-2261.

Kevork Mourad

The festival brings visiting artists from the Middle East and the Mediterranean together with students to experience the musical traditions of the regions; in past years, it has highlighted Flamenco, Balkan, Turkish, Lebanese, and Palestinian music. Festival founder and director Christiane Karam, assistant professor of voice, chose Armenia this year because she is part Armenian. “My grandparents were exiled in 1915 and my mother was born in Beirut,” said Karam. “It was important to me to go back to my roots and tell the story of the people and the culture through their music.”

Perspectives Ensemble was founded in 1993 by its artistic director, Sato Moughalian. The ensemble presents the works of composers in cultural context with thematic programs on subjects that bridge the visual, musical, and literary arts. “Dark Eyes/New Eyes” had its genesis in the friendship and collaboration that developed between Moughalian, Eve Beglarian, and Kevork Mourad. “These two New York-based Armenian artists and I share aspects of our family histories,” said Moughalian. “All of us being the descendants of people who were displaced, and then went on to create vibrant new lives.”

“Dark Eyes/New Eyes” incorporates a wide range of Armenian music–very old and very new. The program traces the arc of a life, from beginnings in a mountainous Armenian village, spending youth in a city learning an ancient art form, desolation, recovery, and regenerating in a new place. “‘Dark Eyes/New Eyes’ honors our ancestors and our friends–those who have passed into the great beyond but have left with us the gifts of their art and their spirits,” added Moughalian.

Sato Moughalian (Photo by Devon Cass)

Syrian-born artist Kevork Mourad will paint live on-stage during “Dark Eyes/New Eyes.” Mourad got the idea to combine visual art with his love of music after receiving his master’s from the Yerevan Institute of Fine Arts in Armenia He has worked with many world-class musicians using his technique of spontaneous painting.

On Feb. 28, Moughalian and Zulal will present a public clinic at Berklee. For more information, visit Berklee.edu/events/music-armenia.

The “Dark Eyes/New Eyes” program is co-curated by Moughalian, Mourad, and Karam. The Signature Music Series at Berklee embraces the college’s global community and Boston’s diverse musical tastes.

Berklee College of Music was founded on the revolutionary principle that the best way to prepare students for careers in music is through the study and practice of contemporary music. For more than 65 years, the college has evolved to reflect the current state of the music industry, leading the way with baccalaureate studies in performance, music business/management, songwriting, music therapy, film scoring, and more. With a focus on global learning, Berklee in Valencia, a new campus in Spain, is hosting the college’s first graduate programs, while Berklee Online serves distance learners worldwide with extension classes and degree-granting programs. The Berklee City Music Network provides after-school programming for underserved teens in 45 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. With a student body representing nearly 100 countries and alumni and faculty that have won more than 305 Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards, Berklee is the world’s premier learning lab for the music of today—and tomorrow.

Special for the Armenian Weekly

The two key human rights concepts of “crimes against humanity” and “genocide” have their roots in the response to the Young Turk mass deportations and massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Following the April 24, 1915 mass arrests of hundreds of Armenian political, religious, and community leaders in Constantinople and their subsequent exile and deaths, and the massacres of multitudes of other Armenian civilians, the Entente allied powers of England, France, and Russia on May 24, 1915 warned that the Young Turk dictatorship would be held accountable for the massacres and the “new crimes of Turkey against humanity and civilization.”

Drawing intellectual inspiration and editorial guidance from Israel Charny, a pioneering project was launched. In 1999, the two-volume Encyclopedia of Genocide, (Santa Barbara, ABC-CLIO, 1999) was published.

In 1921, Soghomon Tehlirian was put on trial in Germany for having assassinated Mehmet Talat, one of the key Young Turk triumvirate responsible for the deportations and massacres of the Armenians. Raphael Lemkin, a young Polish university student, who would later become a lawyer, wondered why there existed domestic laws to deal with the murder of one person, but no international law to punish those responsible for the mass killing of a million or more persons. During the 1930’s, Lemkin suggested the twin concepts of “vandalism” and “barbarism” to deal with such crimes. The former dealt with the destruction of cultural artifacts, while the latter related to acts of violence against defenseless groups. By 1944, these twin concepts had merged into his proposed international term: “genocide.” The new concept, along with “crimes against humanity,” would become a key pillar of international law.

With the introduction of the two crucial legal concepts of “crimes against humanity” and “genocide,” it remained for scholars and prosecutors alike to apply these principles to specific cases. Over time, there emerged the need to compare different historical and contemporary examples. Pioneering analytical and comparative books, such as Irving Horowitz’s Genocide (New Brunswick, Transaction Books, 1976) and Leo Kuper’s Genocide (Harmondsworth, Penguin Books, 1981), were penned in this regard. Before long, the field of genocide studies emerged and was formalized with the birth of the International Association of Genocide Studies (IAGS) in 1994. However, a challenge familiar to many in comparative politics arose; given that most individuals and scholars lack the global expertise to know sufficient details about all of the major case studies, there was an urgent need for encyclopedias and dictionaries on genocide.

Drawing intellectual inspiration and editorial guidance from Israel Charny, a pioneering project was launched. In 1999, the two-volume Encyclopedia of Genocide, (Santa Barbara, ABC-CLIO, 1999) was published. With substantial input by Rouben Adalian, the encyclopedia included two-dozen entries about the Armenian Genocide and the Ottoman Young Turk regime. The encyclopedia also contained several thematic entries that cited reference to the Armenian case. Adalian led the way with 17 entries that he penned on such such as the Hamidian Massacres, Adana, Musa Dagh, the Young Turks, Woodrow Wilson, and Henry Morgenthau, Sr. Other prominent authors included Vahakn Dadrian (Armenian Genocide documentation and courts martial), Roger Smith (Armenian Genocide denial), Robert Melson (comparison of the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust), Samuel Totten (genocide films and literature), Peter Balakian (poetry on the Armenian Genocide), Sybil Milton (Armin T. Wegner), and Steve Jacobs (Raphael Lemkin). The two volumes were not only pioneering, but remain quite useful even today. This is a testament to their strong scholarship and the continued importance of the topic.

Soon after the appearance of the English-language two volume Encyclopedia of Genocide, a French-language one-volume version appeared: Israel Charny, ed., Le Livre noir de l’humanite: Encyclopedie mondiale des genocides (Toulouse, Editions Privat, 2001). For the most part in the French edition, the entries on the Armenian Genocide and other genocides were the same, but there were a few additions and deletions. Overall, students of the Armenian Genocide were exceptionally well served by the two editions.

The three-volume set edited by Dinah Shelton, titled Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity (Detroit, Thomson Gale, 2005), provided extensive material on the Holocaust and attempted to be more inclusive of other genocides. However, the coverage on the Armenian Genocide (with under 10 full entries) was less in this 3-volume account than in the earlier and smaller English and French Encyclopedia of Genocide. Nevertheless, the entries were written by prominent figures: Vahakn Dadrian (Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, Talat), Dennis Papazian (Armenians in Russia and the USSR), Michael Hagopian (Armenian Genocide documentary films), Atom Egoyan (Armenian Genocide feature films), and Peter Balakian (poetry, including a section on the Armenian Genocide).

The cluster of entries was stronger on the arts angle of the Armenian Genocide than the history or sociology. For example, Henry Morgenthau, Jr. addressing the Holocaust was listed, but not Henry Morgenthau, Sr. on the Armenian Genocide. The entry on Benjamin Whitaker was an important one, but remained silent on the Turkish government’s powerful efforts to thwart the UN’s Whitaker Report, which contained an important historical reference to the Armenian Genocide. The encyclopedia did, however, include an entry by Christopher Simpson on German missionary Johannes Lepsius and his brave report during World War I on the Armenian massacres. On another positive note, some of the thematic entries provided references to the Armenian Genocide.

The one-volume account edited by Leslie Horvitz and Christopher Catherwood, Encyclopedia of War Crimes and Genocide (New York, Facts on File, 2006), contained only one main entry on the Armenian Genocide and one partial reference in the entry on “crimes against humanity.” This was inadequate coverage of one of the major genocides of the 20^th century. It seemed that the pattern had become one of declining coverage. But that was about to change.

The two-volume collection co-edited and co-authored by Samuel Totten and Paul Bartrop (with some assistance from Steve Jacobs), titled Dictionary of Genocide (Westport, Greenwood, 2008), saw a return to more comprehensive coverage. While no Armenian Genocide specialist authors were listed as contributors, the volumes included at least 40 entries on the Armenian Genocide and covered a wide range of topics. Entries dealt with the key perpetrators (Abdul Hamid II, Committee of Union and Progress/CUP, Ahmed Djemal, Ismail Enver, Mehemet Talat, Mehemed Nazim), famous places and incidents (Adana, Deir ez Zor, Forty Days of Musa Dagh), key humanitarian figures (Johannes Lepsius, British Viscount James Bryce, Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, German military medic Armin T. Wegner), international reaction (British and the Bryce Report on the “Treatment of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire,” American on the formation of the “Armenian Atrocities Committee”), films (“Ararat,” “Voices from the Lake,” “Armenia: The Betrayed”), genocide centers (Armenian Genocide Institute Museum, Zoryan Institute), Armenian Genocide denialist authors (Bernard Lewis, Justin McCarthy), links to related Ottoman genocides (Assyrians, Pontic Greeks), and the Holocaust. It is a highly readable set of volumes that provides useful summary information about the Armenian Genocide. However, some readers would want more detailed entries, and that was about to appear.

In the internet age, it was inevitable that an online encyclopedia of genocide would emerge. The American educational publisher ABC-CLIO recently created a large database on genocide that was primarily intended for high school students and teachers, but would also be valuable to university students and professors. Entitled “Modern Genocide: Understanding Causes and Consequences,” it is available for an annual subscription fee. Developed in consultation with an advisory board comprised of Paul Bartrop, Steven Jacobs, and Suzanne Ransleben, the database continues to grow and be updated. At the current time, it contains seven main entries on the Armenian Genocide (Overview, Causes, Consequences, Perpetrators, Victims, Bystanders, International Reaction) by Alan Whitehorn. There are also several discussion essays by various authors (including Colin Tatz and Henry Theriault) on Armenian Genocide recognition and how well the genocide has been known, and about 70 individual subject entries. Entries include pieces done by Rouben Adalian, Paul Bartrop, Zaven Khatchaturian, Robert Melson, Khatchig Mouradian, Rubina Peroomian, George Shirinian, Roger Smith, and others. However, not as many Armenian Genocide specialists have contributed as one might have expected. In addition to the encyclopedia entries and genocide timeline, there are some primary source documents and photos. The online database provides useful insight on the Armenian Genocide. It also suggests what might be possible if all of the entries were to be gathered together into a separate encyclopedic volume that is focused on the genocide. Unfortunately, this is something that has not yet been done, but that one hopes will occur before 2015.

Quite significantly, all of the genocide encyclopedias together show that the Armenian Genocide constitutes an important case study, as it is included in each and every genocide encyclopedia from the first to the most recent. This reflects academic consensus among genocide scholars that the mass deportations and killings of Armenians constitute genocide. These important scholarly reference works thus provide significant academic documentation that can serve to repudiate the Turkish state’s repeated polemical denials of the Armenian Genocide. Accordingly, these genocide encyclopedias ought to be cited by scholars, jurists, and citizens alike. The European Court of Human Rights, in its recent (Dec. 17, 2013) flawed decision on Armenian Genocide denial, should have been aware of such key academic reference works. If they had, their reasoning, in all likelihood, would have been different. Without a doubt, these encyclopedias’ coverage of the Armenian Genocide remind us that time is long overdue for the Turkish government and its citizens to face the dark pages of their history.

State Legislators Defeat Khojaly Measure Backed by Azerbaijani Government

PIERRE, S.D.—The South Dakota House of Representatives this week tabled action on an anti-Armenian resolution initiated by Azerbaijan, effectively dealing a serious setback to a biased and historically inaccurate measure pressed aggressively by Baku’s U.S.-based lobbyists, reported Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Western Region. Sources from the State Capitol report that following an extensive discussion in the House Republican Caucus on Mon., Feb. 24, the sponsor of the resolution, Rep. Lance Russell, agreed to defer and ultimately officially withdrew the measure. “It’s unfortunate this resolution made it this far in our process, but the positive side of that is there are now 105 legislators in South Dakota who got a real earful on the plight of persecuted Armenian Christians,” said Rep. Steve Hickey (R-09), pastor of the Church at the Gate in Sioux Falls, who was among the vocal opponents to the resolution.

“We are deeply gratified that the elected leaders of yet another U.S. state have stood up to the oil-rich and corrupt president of Azerbaijan’s efforts to export his hateful anti-Armenian campaign to the American heartland,” said Elen Asatryan, ANCA-WR executive director. “We share our profound thanks with the proud people and principled leaders of South Dakota, a state that has shown remarkable care and compassion for the Christian nation of Armenia since the Armenian Genocide era.” A two-page flyer used by local opponents of the Azerbaijani-backed measure is available at www.anca.org/assets/pdf/No_on_HCR1020.pdf.

In the days leading up to the vote on HCR 1020, the ANCA-WR worked with local community leaders and activists to alert state legislators about Azerbaijan’s efforts to use the Khojaly issue to somehow enlist South Dakota in its increasingly virulent campaign against the landlocked and blockaded Armenian homeland. The ANCA action alert to South Dakota legislators can be viewed at www.anca.org/action_alerts/action_disp.php?aaid=63108851.

“Having found safety and the blessing of freedom here in South Dakota—after having been driven from my home by the Azerbaijani government’s brutality—I am deeply thankful that my state legislators, today, took a principled stand against intolerance, lies and hatred,” said Vazgen Mikhayelyan of Sioux Falls, who was among those actively opposing the measure, including Igor Avetisov and Bella Musayelyan.

Similar legislation promoted by Azerbaijan was also defeated in Hawaii following testimony by Hawaii-Armenian community members spotlighting the growing democracy in Nagorno-Karabagh and ongoing Azerbaijani aggression.

Earlier this month, ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian issued an open letter to all U.S. state legislatures urging them to take a stand against foreign interference in American civic life by Aliyev. “It is truly a tribute to our great American democratic tradition that even a regime as flagrantly corrupt as Ilham Aliyev’s is allowed to operate freely within our open society, ” explained Hamparian. “But that does not mean that American citizens need to remain silent in the face of meddling by foreign leaders who neither respect our rights nor share our values –especially when they try to export their intolerance to our shores.”

ANCA Engages Prime Minister on the Socio-Economic Situation in Javakhk During his First Official Visit to Washington

WASHINGTON, DC – Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili pledged to develop all the regions of the Republic equally, including Samtskhe-Javakheti, during an address at the Atlantic Council held as part of his first official visit to the United States this week, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Georgia Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili comments on the socio-economic development of Javakhk in response to an inquiry by ANCA Fellow Lilit Gasparyan at an Atlantic Council briefing.

“We have a plan to develop all regions and without making any separations or any discrimination,” explained Prime Minister Garibashvili.  ”Please be sure that I treat Samtskhe-Javakheti as any other region.  Samtskhe-Javakheti is my region. I mean all country is my regions. I don’t separate it from other regions.”

The comment came in response to a question by ANCA Fellow Lilit Gasparyan, who noted the poor economic situation in Samtskhe-Javakheti prompted by past discriminatory practices.  ”To correct this, would you agree to have a portion of the international assistance, in this case U.S. aid, be earmarked clearly for the socio-economic development of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region,” asked Gasparyan.

Video of the exchange is available at: http://youtu.be/fCVwpdiLJ3Q

“We welcome Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s public affirmation, here in Washington, of his government’s prioritization of economic development in Javakhk and all the regions of Georgia, and hope that this constructive commitment will translate into concrete action, including the acceptance of development assistance being offered by Armenian communities around the world,”  noted ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

During his visit to Washington, DC Prime Minister Garibashvili met with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, prior to offering remarks on February 25th at Atlantic Council.   The Prime Minister also spoke about Georgia’s European Integration Process and confirmed that the EU’s Association Agreement with a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Component will likely be signed in July.

(Agencia Prensa Armenia)—The Armenian National Committee (Consejo Nacional Armenio, or CNA) of South America this month held a series of meetings with Swiss representatives in Argentina and Uruguay to express the community’s concern over the recent European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling in the case “Perincek vs. Switzerland.”

In a letter given to the representatives, the CNA stressed the “damaging consequences that could bring this ruling, not only for the fight for recognition and reparations of the Armenian Genocide, but also for the whole rules and principles of the international laws regarding Human Rights.” The letter concluded, “That is why we respectfully ask, through you, the Swiss State to appeal the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights.”

On Feb. 13, the CNA of Uruguay met with the Swiss ambassador in Uruguay, Didier Pfirter, who said he was fully aware of the just claims of the Armenian people, and has been interested in issues related to the Armenian Genocide for years. Ambassador Pfirter promised to deliver the letter to his government.
On Feb. 14, the CNA of Buenos Aires, Argentina, handed the letter to the Swiss ambassador in Argentina, Johannes Matyassy. On Feb. 20, the CNA of Córdoba, a province of Argentina, met with the honorary consul of Switzerland in Cordoba, Dr. Ricardo J. Rysler.

LOS ANGELES—Defying Fate, the memoirs of Aram and Dirouhi Avedian and the fifth volume of the Genocide Library, was published recently in Los Angeles.

The Avedian family in 1938, Aleppo.

Dirouhi Cheomlekjian (later Avedian) was born circa 1907 in Izmit. In 1915, she and her family were deported by the Turkish government and marched to the Der Zor desert in Syria, “the mass grave of the Armenian people.” The only one to survive her family’s massacre in Al-Shaddadeh, Dirouhi was adopted by local Arabs. She grew up in the Syrian desert, where years later she met Aram Avedian, her future husband. After spending 13 years in near captivity, she escaped to Aleppo.

Aram Avedian was also born circa 1907, in the Armenian village of Tsitogh, near Erzurum. In 1914, his father froze to death while serving in the Turkish army. At the onset of the genocide, Aram and his family were exiled to the Syrian desert. After being marched for almost a year and witnessing the horrors of the deportation and massacres, Aram and his family reached Al-Raqqah, Syria, where the young boy was kidnapped by an Arab horseman. Aram, too, spent the next 13 years in the Syrian desert, among various Arab families, and he, too, ended up escaping to Aleppo.

Aram and Dirouhi Avedian eventually moved to Los Angeles, where, in the late 1970’s, they wrote down their individual memoirs, wishing to document their experiences of the genocide and survival as testaments for future generations. The couple died within less than three months of each other: Dirouhi passed away in 1987, Aram in 1988.

The Avedians’ handwritten memoirs were later collected and edited by their daughter, Knar Manjikian, who also annotated the resulting volume, Defying Fate, and wrote its introduction. The text was translated into English by Ishkhan Jinbashian. “Whenever my mother spoke of the family members she had lost, she said all she wished was to see them in her dreams,” Manjikian writes.

She adds that after having lived among Arabs for so long and all but forgotten how to speak and write in Armenian, her parents relearned their mother tongue after the age of 20. They achieved this, she writes, by becoming avid readers of Armenian literature and Aleppo’s Arevelk Daily. Her mother further honed her Armenian by
corresponding with her brother, who lived in Istanbul, and through public service, as she went on to become a lifelong member of the Armenian Relief Society.

In the foreword to Defying Fate, Hagop Manjikian writes: “Despite the sparseness of [the Avedians’] writings and their humble designation by the authors as a ‘notebook’ and a ‘journal,’ respectively, we had no doubt that they deserved to be published as a full-fledged book, in keeping with our principle of favoring quality over quantity, substance over size, and depth over appearance.”

Copies of Defying Fate can be ordered in the United States by mailing a check to H. and K. Manjikian, 10844 Wrightwood Lane, Studio City, CA 91604. The price of each copy, including shipping, is $15.

A project of H. and K. Manjikian Publications, the Genocide Library was established in 2005 by Mr. and Mrs. Hagop and Knar Manjikian with the goal of publishing key chronicles of the Armenian Genocide. Titles published to date include Passage through Hell by Armen Anush (first and second editions), The Fatal Night by Mikayel Shamtanchian, Death March by Shahen Derderian, The Crime of the Ages by Sebuh Aguni, and Defying Fate by Aram and Dirouhi Avedian. The Genocide Library’s next title is Our Cross, by M. Salpi (Aram Sahakian), slated to be published this year.

YEREVAN—In a recent interview with the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Press Office, ARF Bureau member and head of the party’s Political Central Council Hagop Der Khatchadourian spoke about a letter from Kurdistan Workers Party’s jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan. In the letter addressed to Armenians, Ocalan had called on Ankara to confront the past.

Below is the text of the interview.

ARF Press Office—About four weeks ago, on the occasion of the anniversary of Hrant Dink’s assassination, PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan’s letter was first published in Istanbul’s “Agos” weekly. So far, the ARF-D has not officially commented on this letter; what is the party’s official position?

Hagop Der Khatchadourian—First, I should say that Ocalan’s letter was published later than expected, presumably because it had to go through the corresponding Turkish state structures. About twenty days before the publication of the letter, Ocalan had announced that on “the day of the anniversary of Hrant’s assassination”—that is January 19— he will send such a letter “directed to our Armenian compatriots.” It was exactly then that Bese Hozat, a co-chair of an organization led by Ocalan, the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), had made controversial statements about Armenians. Ocalan, in response to the indignation regarding the statements by Hozat, had announced that he will send a letter to convince the Armenians. However, Ocalan’s letter does not clearly fulfill the required rectification.

ARF Press Office—Do you mean to say that you are dissatisfied with the letter?

H.D.K.—We welcome the fact that the imprisoned leader of the Kurdish people’s liberation struggle, Apo, has sent a letter to the Armenians. The circumstances, in his words “the difficult conditions” in which Ocalan is, should absolutely be taken into consideration and the contents of the letter should be understood and evaluated accordingly. We are glad, that once again, Ocalan gives the Armenian Genocide the proper characterization and considers that the Republic of Turkey will inevitably have to confront this painful history.

What are incomprehensible in Ocalan’s letter are the references to “lobbies.” In a letter addressed to the Armenians these references at the minimum cause bewilderment: are these references regarding Armenian communities and lobbies in the Diaspora? Especially that Ocalan calls on the Armenian people to “continue its struggle without falling into racist-nationalist traps” and, against all those, “calls for a careful, clear examination of the issue.” There were negative expressions about Armenian lobbies in the Diaspora or in Turkey in Hozat’s comments too, and, about a year ago, in purported comments by Ocalan himself. In the Diaspora, what are called “Armenian lobbies” are the active structures which express the political will of large popular masses of the Armenian people.

I do not comment on evaluations and criticism which appeared in the Armenian media regarding thoughts expressed or not expressed in the letter. Apart from all this, we have strong reservations —to put it mildly— about Apo’s reference to Turkey’s prospect, that it can become “a republic crowned with democracy, which will both come to terms with the past and be a republic in which all different identities will live freely.”

However, I repeat that this appeal by itself, in spite of its shortcomings and contradictory thoughts, is a welcome step which can pave the road to the development of Armenian-Kurdish relations. Of course, those relations should be based also on justice for the Armenian Genocide and the rights of the Armenian people, as assurance to the establishment of real democracy and equal rights.

The Armenian Weekly has published the baptism records of Sourp Krikor Lusavorich Church in Gesaria (Kayseri) 1914-1914 in full on its website. To access the records, click here. Below is a letter we received from a reader who learned details of her family history through these records.

Dear Editor:

I would like to thank George Aghjayan for his article, which was accompanied by the baptism records from the Armenian Church in Gesaria (Kayseri).

You have no idea how you renewed our life. My father passed three years ago never knowing his birth date or much about his childhood. All we knew is that he was born in Gesaria, Turkey, around sometime in 1915. The Turks had cut his grandfather’s tongue because he spoke Armenian and conducted village business and government matters in Armenian. That is why our last name became Dilsizian from Deukmejian: The “one who has their tongue cut by the Turks” was on everyone’s mind.

From the 1914-15 baptism records of Gesaria that you published, I found my father’s name, Hagop Delsezian, baptized on May 10, 1914. This was such a great revelation for me and my 89-year-old mother.

My family wants to thank you all and I wish my father had known his baptism date at least before he passed. He was so emotional when the immigration officers wanted to know his birthday and he didn’t know how to answer. He said in Armenian, “I’ll give my wedding date, I was born again that day.”

It was incredible after all these years to find out that my father Hagop Dilsizian was baptized in the beautiful Armenian Church in Gesaria on May 10, 1914.

Thank You!

Vicky Dilsizian Kherlopian

Belmont, Mass.

YEREVAN—The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia (FCHA) and the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabagh) have reached an agreement to assist low-income families build safe, decent, and affordable homes.

FCHA representatives meeting with Ara Haroutyunyan and Artsakh government representatives.

“We invited the Fuller Center for Housing to assist our efforts to bring greater stability to the families of our region,” said Ara Haroutyunyan, the prime minister of Artsakh. “Our government is ready to provide maximum organizational support to this new program. Therefore, I call upon all donors to support the Artsakh Project of the Fuller Center for Housing.”

Over the past five years, FCHA tried to initiate a home building program in Artsakh, but was met with a number of challenges. In August 2013, by coincidence Artak Beglaryan, the official spokesperson for Haroutyunyan, and Gohar Palyan, FCHA’s development director, were in the same group of hikers who trekked Mt. Ararat. Climbing to the summit at 5,165 m. (16,945 ft.), they proudly raised the flags of Armenia, Artsakh, and the FCHA, and made a commitment to begin working together to build homes in Artsakh.

With more than five years of experience providing housing to homeless and needy families, FCHA is pleased to establish the Artsakh Project in collaboration with the government. The goal is to expand FCHA’s impact by implementing its successful housing model and sharing its construction expertise in the region.

“The housing need in Artsakh is high, and helping underprivileged families build simple homes for their children not only has humanitarian significance, but also high strategic importance,” said Ashot Yeghiazaryan, president of the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia.

FCHA has already begun to raise funds for homes in Artsakh. The first house is being sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. N. Minakian and by Mr. H. Candan.

All Armenians and interested sponsors are encouraged to participate in the Artsakh Project. The completion of a half-built home is $10,500, and a renovation project is $2,900. To join this new movement, send your donation to: The Fuller Center for Housing, Inc., P.O. Box 523, Americus, GA 31709. Be sure to add “Armenia-Artsakh” in the memo line. To make an online donation, click here. All donations from the U.S. are tax-deductible.

The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia is a non-government, charitable organization that supports community development in the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh by assisting in building and renovating simple, decent, and affordable homes, as well as advocating the right to decent shelter as a matter of conscience and action. FCHA provides long-term, interest-free loans to low-income families. The monthly repayments flow into a Revolving Fund, which is used to help more families, thereby providing a financial foundation for sustainable community development. In its five years of operation, the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia has assisted 278 families. For more information, visit www.fullercenterarmenia.org or e-mail fcarmenia@fullercenterarmenia.org.

Special for the Armenian Weekly

This year, we traveled to Beirut to celebrate Christmas with my family. It was a joyful time despite the stresses of frequent suicide bombings and already nerve-wracking traffic, compounded by the Syrian refugee crisis and holiday mayhem. We shared great laughs, had mouth-watering food, admired the resilience and candidness of the people and, of course, heard many stories.

One of these stories has been stuck in my mind ever since, giving rise to questions about what it means to be Armenian, how we “stay” Armenian in the diaspora, and what role the existence of Armenia plays in this.

When a friend’s sister picked up her three-year-old daughter from a French school in a suburb of Paris, she was confronted with a question she was not prepared for: “Mum, why do I speak French at school and Armenian at home?”

“Because we are Armenian,” she responded.

Then: “But what does it mean to be Armenian?”

Sometimes kids ask the most difficult questions.

Of course, growing up in Lebanon I did not have to ask that question. Not when I was as young as three anyway. We didn’t need to wonder what it meant to be Armenian. It did not require additional effort or measures that seemed to be at odds with other aspects or realities of life. We just were Armenian. School was Armenian, agoump was Armenian, scout club was Armenian, we spoke Armenian at home and with friends, we had all-day long Armenian radio (more than one) and even satellite Armenian TV. My mum would have the radio on in the kitchen, and the TV on in the sitting room, so she could listen to Armenian in whichever part of the house she happened to be.

Even now, despite the impact that decades of civil war and ongoing political unrest have had on community life, you can still feel it when you’re in Lebanon. You still hear Armenian conversation from every corner while walking the streets of Bourj Hammoud, or have random encounters with complete strangers in Ainjar, which leads to a lunch invitation because he knows your husband’s aunt from when they worked together in Titsmayree years ago. My husband loves it all. Born and having lived in Australia all his life, he has the thirst for it.

After many years of living abroad, now so do I. I don’t know how the rest of the conversation with my friend’s niece went, but I’ve tried to imagine how I would have reacted, if I were her mother.

“There is a country called Armenia where we come from,” I would have said. It is the “simplest” and most logical response I can think of.

Identity is one of those concepts that are beyond straightforward definitions. What it means to be Armenian will differ from one person to another and involve a variety of cultural, political, religious, and geographic factors. However, looking at the diaspora there is no question that for many of us our Armenian identity has been so closely intertwined with the Armenian Genocide—that colossal event that has shaped so much of our thinking, collective memory, traditions, emotions, sense of justice, and both national and personal consciousness.

For most of us, the Armenian Genocide is the “starting point” of our individual family stories because we either don’t know much about what was before 1915 or because we don’t have “access” to it.

Beyond what it means to be Armenian, for the typical diasporan what involves being Armenian has come to be equated with taking part in community life. Community organizations and institutions, social events, and political awareness activities typically set the parameters of how we “exercise” being Armenian.

Yet, in recent years there has been another colossal event in our nation’s history: the emergence of an independent country, the longest surviving independent Armenian state of modern times. But its impact on what it means to be Armenian has been minimal. Many of us in the diaspora are yet to take ownership of Armenia, make it ours in one way or another, make it a part of our individual and family stories.

In diasporan communities where it is increasingly difficult to “remain” Armenian, relying solely on language, history or culture, and the parameters of community life, Armenia is that critical element that can make being Armenian more “real” than ever before.

This has certainly been the case for me. These days, when I’m getting takeaway coffee and the barista is trying to guess where I am from, I tell them the short version: “I am from Armenia.” While my family originates from Kayseri and Harput, over the years I have tried to make today’s Armenia mine and I have written some beautiful stories along the way. Armenia is where I met my husband, where we fell in love, and where got married. Armenia is where my niece was born, where I met her for the first time, and then a year later where I was godmother at her beautiful Christening ceremony. Armenia is what I studied, researched, and wrote about in my master’s thesis. Whether or not I got my degree hinged on that thesis. It is where I encountered and befriended all types of Armenians from all over the world. And it’s what I’ve made this column about.

These are the stories that form an intrinsic part of what it means to be Armenian for me, and they all involve Armenia. They connect me to my identity and ground that identity in a place I can touch and feel. And I know that our family has so many more stories that are yet to be written in and on Armenia.

“On March 1, we will hang them by their feet and chop off their heads” said Ashot, a taxi driver in Armenia. “They are sucking the life out of this nation through their corrupt and oligarchic practices.”

In the three years since my cab ride with Ashot, the Republic of Armenia has held parliamentary and presidential elections that have neither changed the government, nor the oligarchic system in place.

In fact, Armenia has not experienced a significant political change since President Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s resignation in 1998. But while the country has remained in a hibernation mode, the world around it has changed.

The revolutionary wave that originated in the Middle East has recently swept the globe. With uprisings in Venezuela, Thailand, and more significantly in Ukraine, there is a growing urgency to the question: Will revolution arrive to Armenia?

In a recent interview with RFE/RL’s Armenian service, Armen Martirosian, the deputy chairman of the Heritage Party stated, “If the revolutionary wave in Ukraine succeeds, it can reach Armenia.”

At this critical stage, I can’t help but recall the remainder of my conversation with Ashot.

When I arrived at my destination, I noticed that the taximeter was off. I inquired about the fare, and Ashot replied, “1,000 drams.” In truth, it was a regular 600 AMD route in the center of Yerevan. Nonetheless, I handed him the 1,000 drams and asked, “Have you heard of Michael Jackson?”

Ashot replied, “Of course I have. Who hasn’t?”

As I was leaving the cab, I smiled and told him, “Mr. Ashot! You should consider listening to MJ’s ‘Man in the Mirror’ before you go around chopping people’s heads off.”

Ashot is neither the norm nor the exception. Corruption exists in every country around the world, but it has a unique mold in Armenia. It is prevalent in the government, the opposition parties, non-governmental organizations, and even within the church. More importantly, corruption, nepotism, and cronyism are engrained in Armenian society.

Unfortunately, most of the opposition is not interested in bringing change to Armenia, but rather in the illusion of change. They seek to replace the ruling elite, while preserving the oligarchic system. Their objective is simple: assume positions of power that would enable them to benefit from the existent rotten system.

In the midst of this scandalous power struggle between the government and the opposition, the Armenian nation has to ensure that its national security is preserved. More importantly, the nation needs to realize that the blueprint of a true Armenian transformation has already been laid out.

In July 2013, following the government’s decision to increase the public transportation fares, the Armenian youth held a series of protests in central Yerevan, which resulted in the reversal of that law. This act of civil disobedience, along with the Mashdots Park movement also spearheaded by the youth, constitute the most successful campaigns for change in the 23-year history of the Republic of Armenia. Most importantly, these campaigns were not initiated or led by any political party.

For years, Armenians in both the diaspora and Armenia have claimed that a generational change is needed to transform the republic. Well, in case people have failed to realize, the generational change has already occurred, and whether we admit it or not, the youth in Armenia is brighter than ever.

Nonetheless, with each passing day, the possibilities for change diminish, as corrupt practices are further consolidated.

The time for change is now!

A Revolution by the youth and for the people is in order…

By Arevig Caprielian

For once, I really don’t mind the passage of time. How delightful it is that already two years have passed since the day the inaugural readings by contemporary Armenian authors took place at the Armenian Center in Queens, N.Y. At the time, there were trepidations and hope that the event would earn the respectable annual title. There was much pride as well for the idea and the fact that four writers—all women to boot—read their works with admirable generosity toward the audience. No covert glances at their watches, no acceleration of the speed of reading… Just a marvelous disposition and honest sharing of their works, that is to say their thoughts and feelings with the audience. Here is an opportunity to thank again, Nora Armani, Lucine Kasbarian, Lola Koundakjian, and especially Aida Zilelian-Silak, who offered her invaluable assistance in the subsequent literary events.

The Third Annual Readings, organized by the New York chapter of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, took place on Feb. 22 at the cafe Waltz in Astoria, N.Y.

Two now evidently short years later, the Third Annual Readings, organized by the New York chapter of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, took place on Feb. 22 at the cafe Waltz in Astoria, N.Y. The participants were Maryam Dilakian, Aaron Poochigian, Meline Toumani, and Aida Zilelian-Silak. Almost nothing ever goes as planned, and because “life happened” to multitalented Arto Vaun, he could not be with us, as it was planned. We are sorry about his absence, yet are looking forward to enjoying his presence next year.

The opening remarks on behalf of Hamazkayin of New York were made by Dr. Ara Caprielian, one of the founding members of the New York chapter. In his brief outline of Hamazkayin’s origin and history, he stated: “The Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society is a major organization of the Armenian Diaspora, with a presence in every significant Armenian community worldwide. In addition to organizing cultural events, the Hamazkayin runs schools, publishes books through its printing press, maintains bookstores, publishes a literary magazine, ‘Pakine,’ and organizes the Hamazkayin Forum in Armenia. It was founded on May 28, 1928, in Cairo, Egypt by a group of nine Armenian intellectuals, including the writer and educator Levon Shant; historian, critic, and the first Minister of Education of Armenia, Nigol Aghbalian; former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia Dr. Hamo Ohanjanian; and stage director and art critic Kaspar Ipekian.”

Caprielian evoked Hamazkayin’s mission statement: “To nurture and safeguard the Armenian language, ethnic identity, traditions and intellectual legacy. To promote cultural values and share them with other communities in the United States and throughout the world.” He added that acknowledging Armenian writers who happen to write in English and introducing them to the Armenian community at large is very much within the sphere of responsibilities of Hamazkayin. He then introduced the master of ceremonies and one of the organizers of the evening, Zilelian-Silak.

Zilelian is a New York writer whose stories have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, such as Wilderness House Literary Review, The Writer’s Block, Ararat Magazine, and Theurgy (UK). She is the curator of the Boundless Tales reading series in Astoria. In 2011, her first novel, The Hollowing Moon, was one of four semi-finalists of the Anderbo Novel Contest. The sequel, The Legacy of Lost Things, was recently accepted for publication and is slotted for release in July 2014 (Bleeding Hearts Publication).

The first reader was poet Aaron Poochigian, whose pensive and soulful poems captured the audience. Poochigian earned a Ph.D. in classics from the University of Minnesota in 2006 and now writes poetry full-time “in a state of non-romantic poverty,” in his own words. His book of translations from Sappho, Stung with Love, was published by Penguin Classics in 2009 (with a preface by UK Poet laureate Carol Anne Duffy). Penguin will publish his translation of the Greek epic Jason and the Argonauts later this year. For his work in translation he was awarded a 2010-11 Grant in Translation by the National Endowment for the Arts. His first book of original poetry, The Cosmic Purr (Able Muse Press), was published in March 2012, and several of the poems in it collectively won the New England Poetry Club’s Daniel Varoujan Prize. His work has appeared in the Financial Times, Poems Out Loud and Poetry periodicals.

The second reader was Yerevan-born Maryam Dilakian. She received a master of international affairs degree at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, focusing on international security policy and the domestic and foreign policies of post-Soviet states. She worked for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, chaired by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. She helped shape democratic development programs for Armenia, and worked with civic advocacy and election-monitoring organizations in Central Asia, the Balkans, and Africa. True to her upbringing in a humanitarian family and her natural inclinations, Dilakian left the international political arena and joined the New York City Teaching Fellows program. She holds a master of science in education degree from the City College of New York, and is now in her seventh year as an English teacher for immigrant students. Her prose is gripping, emotionally charged, and often autobiographical. Her next book, Meet Me in 412: Diaries of a New York City Teacher, will be completed by the end of this year.

After a short intermission, Meline Toumani took the stage. Toumani’s name and writing are familiar to those Armenians who follow her reportage. She has written on diverse topics, including foreign affairs, books, and music, for the New York Times Sunday Magazine and Culture pages, the Nation, n+1, Salon.com, the Boston Globe, GlobalPost, the National, and Travel & Leisure. Between 2003 and 2009, she spent much of her time working abroad, reporting from Armenia, Turkey, Russia, and Georgia, and was a journalism fellow in residence at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna in 2007. She graduated from U.C. Berkeley with high honors in English and public policy, and holds a master’s degree in journalism from the Cultural Reporting and Criticism Program at New York University. Her first book, There Was and There Was Not: Turkey, the Armenians, and the Story of a Never-Ending History, will be published by Metropolitan Books in November 2014. Toumani’s style is professional, yet does not have that heartless-colorless and nowadays tiresomely common “journalistic” sterility. She tells the story in her own steady voice, and yet her “heartbeat” is also audible.

The fourth reader, Aida Zilelian-Silak is no stranger to the reading public. She has established herself as a serious writer, dedicated to her work. She is certainly a “raconteur” who can easily take you to the place she depicts, and make you walk with her willingly. Her astute observations and her subtle humor make her prose all the more enjoyable. For those who are not yet in the loop, her published works can be found at www.aidazilelian.com.

Members of the current executive committee, Asdghig Sevag (vice-chair), Berjouhie Yessayan, Hovhannes Yessayan, as well as Arevig Caprielian, a member of the New York chapter and the Eastern Regional Executive Committee of Hamazkayin, were in the audience.

The receptive audience and the forthcoming disposition of the readers created an uncommonly warm atmosphere, and everyone lingered long after the program, despite the cafe manager’s stern looks.

Get ready for next year’s reading, fellow Armenian Writer, because Hamazkayin of New York is determined to continue those annual events for as long as there are talented authors. Since there is multi-millennial evidence that Armenians never suffered from a lack of brilliant writers, this annual event might go on indefinitely.

Special for the Armenian Weekly

Approximately 12,500 fans were on hand at Kuban Stadium in Krasnodar, Russia on Wed. March 5 to witness Armenia fall to a disappointing 2:0 defeat at the hands of rivals Russia. Goals from Alexander Kokorin and Dmitriy Kombarov gave the home side a deserved victory.

(C) 2014 HAKBER

The opener came on 21 minutes when a sweeping Russian move, which started from the left flank and was worked nicely to the right channel, saw Samedov square invitingly to Kokorin, who in turn found the net with a deft flick from close range. The terrific move made the Armenian defenders look like school boys, having been easily pulled out of position and ultimately left chasing shadows by Russia’s intricate passing as Samedov and Kokorin made it look all too easy.

Armenia offered little in response with Russia dominating possession in midfield and cutting off any quality supply to the Armenian front line. A long range effort from Mkhitaryan on 3o minutes was the fruit of Armenia’s labor in the first half, a half that came to a close with Russia doubling their lead. Samedov was again the instigator as he slalomed into the Armenian penalty area only to be upended clumsily by the hapless challenge of Artak Yedigaryan. Kombarov stepped up and slotted the spot kick into the corner with a crisp left footed finish, past the dive of Berezovsky in goal who guessed right but was unable to make the stop.

As is the norm with International friendlies, many changes in personnel took place at the break and throughout the course of the second half. The Russian team didn’t miss a beat, however, and the course of the game was never in doubt. Armenia rarely attacked with any meaningful purpose and failed to threaten on the occasions when a sight of goal was afforded to them. A tame shot from Movsisyan from outside the 18 yard box and a miscued header by Arzumanyan from a corner were meat and drink for the Russian defense who had a comfortable afternoon at the office.

(C) 2014 HAKBER

The lethargic and labored performance from Armenia was in stark contrast to the lively Russian players, who showed little signs of rust, despite the fact their domestic league is currently on a winter break. Russia has begun preparing for their World Cup appearance in Brazil this summer with desire and intent. Perhaps the competition between players for a place in the final squad added an extra “spring in their step” while under the watchful eye of their experienced Italian manager Fabio Capello.

For Armenia, with the advent of a new coach, management style and perhaps playing philosophy, one would have thought the Armenian players would have been looking to impress. Suffice it to say that none of them put in a performance worthy of note, except perhaps Berezovsky in net who made countless saves as he was left exposed on a number of occasions.

Put it down to rust, put it down to lack of preparation in light of the imminent change in management, but this type of performance has been seen before from the team. Armenia is notoriously up and down in terms of form. Knowing the team is capable of world class performances, as seen versus Italy and Denmark in the last campaign, makes the flat, unimaginative performances that have sprinkled their results over the last few campaigns all the more frustrating. Yes, the match versus Russia was a friendly, and yes managerial changes are afoot, but consistency is a characteristic in which this team is seriously lacking. Unless consistency can be attained, the talented pool of players at the national team’s disposal will be wasted, left to look back on their career as nearly men.

(C) 2014 HAKBER

As with any change in setup, there is a mixture of hope, anticipation and perhaps a little fear of the inevitable changes and the unknown. Vardan Minasyan manned the touch line for the final time, as he deputized for the incumbent Swiss manager Bernard Challandes. With the Russian match now in the books, Challandes takes over a team that has been shaped by Minasyan in recent years, a team that has shown tremendous promise and a team that is poised to take the next step. Only time will tell if Challandes is the right man to guide Armenia to Euro 2016, but the table has been set nicely for him and it will be up to the Swiss to make the most of what Armenia has to offer on the field.

Armenia: Berezovsky (C), Haroyan, Arzumanyan, Mkoyan (80’ Hambardzumyan), Artak Yedigaryan (68’ Hovhannisyan), Mkrtchyan, Pizzelli, Ghazaryan (83’ Papikyan), Mkhitaryan (64’ Dashyan), Sarkisov (46’ Artur Yedigaryan), Movsisyan (88’ Adamyan)

Coach: Minasyan

Russia: Akinfeev, Ignashevich, Berezutski, Yeshenko (46’ Kozlov), Zhirkov (46’ Kerzhakov), Kombarov, Glushakov (YC), Fayzulin (46’ Dzagoev), Shirokov (47’ Denisov), Samedov (76’ Shennikov), Kokorin (64’ Shatov)

Coach: Capello

Special for the Armenian Weekly

YEREVAN (A.W.)–A capacity crowd filled the halls of Yerevan’s National Opera and Ballet Theater on Feb. 10 for a performance of the “Anoush” opera. Instead of a classic cultural evening, however, they found themselves in the middle of a contentious social battle gripping the nation.

Thousands gather in Yerevan’s Freedom Square in protest against a reform that would force citizens to make monthly payments to private pension funds.

As the show was set to begin, an opera administrator suddenly appeared before the crowd and announced that the event was being postponed. The performers, he said, were sick.

But the truth of the matter awaited opera-goers outside. As attendees walked out to get their refunds, they were met by scores of staff and artists, flanked by activists, chanting “Menk enk terruh mer yerkrin” (We are the owners of our country) and “Dem enk partadireen” (We are against the mandatory system).

The performers, it seemed, were sick from a controversial pension privatization reform being pushed by the government. The new law requires Armenians younger than 40 to make mandatory contributions of up to 10 percent of their salaries to private pension funds selected by the government.

The U.S.-backed privatized system—an extreme model only adopted in a handful of countries such as Chile, Kazakhstan, and Estonia—was set to take effect in Armenia on Jan. 1. But the Constitutional Court issued a temporary freeze on the law following a challenge filed by four opposition parties represented in parliament. They are set to rule on whether the mandatory pension payments are constitutional on March 28.

Despite the High Court’s freeze, the government has put pressure on employers to move forward with wage deductions foreseen in the reform. Both the Central Bank and State Tax Service issued official statements contradicting the legal suspension and warning employers to pay the deductions now to avoid facing “heavier consequences” in the future.

President Serge Sarkisian himself has publicly campaigned for the measure, hailing it as a “great program” which—although he himself admitted is opposed by 80 percent of the population—will be considered “historic” by future generations.

A young protester holds a Dem.am civic initiative sign during a Jan. 18 rally against the mandatory privatized pension system.

Meanwhile, the public backlash against the law has been nothing short of unprecedented. At the forefront have been young activists, mostly from the budding IT sector, who have coalesced around a non-partisan civic initiative named “Dem Em” (I Am Against). This young crop of new activists has galvanized a broad cross-section of society through their sophisticated use of online resources (such as their website Dem.am) and campaign techniques against the reform.

Also, for the first time in recent history, the main opposition political parties are working together in unison. This long-desired development (for many) has not been seen since perhaps the rigged presidential elections of 1996.

What’s more, the political parties are, for the first time, taking their cues from a non-partisan civic initiative. There is no question that the frontline of the movement are the professionals and young activists mobilized around Dem.am.

Even traditional, lower wage workers have entered the fray. Labor strikes and threats of stoppages have taken place by railway, metro, and electricity workers in response to the pension reform.

In a country with no labor movement to speak of, such spontaneous actions are truly telling of the state of social discontent. They point to the extent that even unorganized state employees are willing to go—under the threat of pressure, firing, and blacklisting—to express their opposition.

This wave of popular activism and mobilization holds the potential of being an extremely powerful force for social change. As one local newspaper pointed out, “If the interests of an opera singer and ordinary train conductor have started to converge [add on top of this IT professionals, student activists, and opposition political parties], there is nothing stopping them from joining forces and fighting together for the same goal.”

An anti-pension reform Dem.am sticker adorns the frame of an HSBC teller machine in Yerevan. Financial institutions are to gain thousands of new clients should the private pension reform go through.

It is yet to be seen whether the protest movement can be coordinated to the degree needed to defeat the government’s unpopular measure. However, one thing is clear: There are serious changes in political attitudes and behavior taking place in the country.

A growing segment of citizens are shifting their focus to grassroots mobilization and direct action for social change. This is taking shape in the midst of, and in counteraction to, the state’s continued use of autocratic, top-down, and coercive practices for ramming through regressive policies.

In this way, the current battle over the pension system in Armenia is not just for the future of people’s retirement. It is a critical battle for the very future of the country’s democracy.