The passing of Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) longtime Bureau member Unger Vahan Hovannesian has reverberated through the veins of the party—from the Bureau to the Gomidehs. There was Hovannesian the man—with his stories and humor. There was Hovannesian the politician, “seasoned” and committed to the Armenia he helped emerge from the rubble of the Soviet Union, the destruction caused by the devastating earthquake of 1988, and the hard-earned liberation of Artsakh. There was Hovannesian the ambassador, serving his term—through the debilitating illness he was battling—until his last days. His path to serve the Armenian nation tied him to the ARF until the end—he was Vahan the unger.
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) leader Vahan Hovannesian (photo: Photolur)
Hovannesian came to represent something larger than himself—his drive and dedication, coupled with his charisma, encapsulated the determination of the ARF.
During his funeral, ARF Bureau Chairman Hrant Markarian noted, “Your pointed and relentless criticisms, your wise and responsible appearances were no longer yours, they were done in the name of the people, in the name of all.”
Those who believe in the struggle Hovannesian devoted his life to, will find his voice silenced. But in this struggle, voices are lent, joined, and echoed.
When I asked Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Central Executive Chief Financial Officer Ojik Gregorian about what she will remember about Unger Vahan, she told me a story—a story that took her back to the early days of independence; 1992, to be exact. During a gathering, Hovannesian rose to drink a toast in Gregorian’s honor upon learning that she is a Barsgahay (Persian-Armenian); and he told her this story:
It was in the early days of Armenia’s independence when hundreds gathered in an open space—some were sitting, others standing. Those gathered did not exchange any words with one another. This went on for a little while. Then, suddenly, from that silence, out came a voice. A man began to sing an Armenian revolutionary song—“Menk angeghdz zinvor enk” (we are honest soldiers). And then, the crowd joined in; and they all realized that they had gathered there for the same reason. They were there to join the ARF.
The reason Unger Vahan told this story to Ungeruhi Ojik was simple. She was a Barsgahay, and a line in that song is about a letter arriving from Persia (“Barsgasdani khorkits yegel e namag”). Gregorian, a dedicated member of the ARS, was there when help was needed in the relief efforts after the earthquake—a time of urgency, requiring immediate action, much like what the song lyrics depict.
The reason I am highlighting this story is also simple. There are some dreams and visions that cannot be put out. Passions fueled by core truths, by non-negotiable principles, and by hope can withstand the test of time. And, when the moment is right—like that lone voice in the sea of silence—they will break out.
The voices we hear become a part of us, and Hovannesian’s voice is here to stay.
In the days following Hovannesian’s passing, The Armenian Weekly reached out to East coast community leaders and activists, asking them to share anecdotes, comments, and thoughts on unger Vahan’s legacy. These stories and comments attest to a life spent with humor, passion, dedication, and vision.
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Antranig Kasbarian, Vice Chairman of ARF ER Central Committee:
Vahan Hovannesian was among the important actors during the ARF’s re-establishment in Armenia. He was at the forefront of party activities from the earliest days of the Artsakh struggle. He then continued his efforts in building the ARF organization in Armenia, while gradually immersing himself in the formal political realm. In Parliament, through his activities as commission head and eventually as deputy speaker, he gradually became one of the more seasoned politicians in Armenia’s political reality.
To my mind, Vahan came of age during the difficult early years of Armenia’s newfound independence. During the [Levon] Ter-Petrosyan administration, he was among the few who spoke truth to power, standing against that regime’s apparent turn away from nationalism and from the democratic principles that had brought them to power only a few years earlier. Although Vahan did occasionally reflect on these years, his retrospective views on Armenia’s development were never fully realized due to his untimely passing. We can only hope that others will step up to fill the major void he has left.
Angele Manougian, member of ARF ER Central Committee:
I had the honor and pleasure to meet unger Vahan in Yerevan. We had all rushed to go to Armenia to lend a hand to our brothers and sisters in the reconstruction efforts after the earthquake hit the region.
I met him in one of our meetings, where ARF ungers from diaspora and Armenia had come together. What surprised me was that all those in the ARF leadership were very young; they were writers, educators, and historians. These politicians were ready to organize the future of our nation…
Unger Vahan was very knowledgeable about our past and history. After meeting all those ungers I walked away with great hope for Armenia’s future. For me, the passing of unger Vahan is a great loss for our nation and our ranks… He could have still given so much to his country in the coming years.
Unger Vahan, vartskt gadar. Hankist knir.
Hayg Oshagan, former ARF Bureau member:
Unger Vahan Hovannesian was one of the most accomplished political leaders of our generation, and will always remain for me, one of the great leaders in the storied history of the Tashnagtsoutiun. As both a party leader and national political figure, Unger Vahan was an example of courage and conviction, of commitment and sacrifice. He fought for justice and our national rights against foreign powers, and he fought for our people’s rights and against injustice in our Parliament. Those of us privileged to serve with him also saw and admired in him his humility and compassion, a common touch that made him the charismatic and popular leader that he was. He understood our people, and his powerful rhetorical skills and incisive wit came from a deep connection with our nation, people and traditions.
He began his career as a scholar—intellectuals are often introspective and private people. And although an academic life called him, during our nation’s most desperate hour, when great leadership and sacrifice were needed, Unger Vahan thrust himself onto the most public of stages and became a political figure, a leader, a symbol of our unbending national will. He was at the center of our nation’s struggle for independence, Artsakh’s fight for freedom, and then, at the helm of creating in Armenia a functioning democratic and civil society. His popularity and respect within and outside the ARF are testament to his abilities and accomplishments.
We have lost Unger Vahan at the height of his powers, with many battles left to wage and many to finish, with unmatched oratory skills and wit that would lead the way, and a personal presence that always lifted and inspired.
Our nation was fortunate to have Unger Vahan at our side. For the hard work that still lies ahead, Unger Vahan Hovannesian’s life should be an inspiration for all of us.
Tatul Sonentz Papazian, director of publications at the Armenian Relief Society (ARS):
What can one say, confronted with the untimely loss of one of the most dedicated fighters—both on the battlefields of the Artsakh liberation war and the—often treacherous—political and diplomatic fields of our renascent statehood. It is a tragic loss, not easily replaceable.
The memory of this multi-talented, totally committed volunteer during the most difficult times of our recent struggle for the liberation of our people and homeland will be cherished and honored by his comrades in arms, as well as coming generations, as a true patriot.
Elizabeth Chouldjian, Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Communications Director:
Unger Vahan Hovannesian has been a force of nature in the Armenian political landscape, advancing Armenian interests on the international stage with his quick wit, geopolitical understanding, and diplomatic prowess, all the while setting the standard for lively and constructive political discourse at home.
During his numerous visits to Washington, DC, he has had the uncanny ability to relate the most pressing Armenian concerns—from Artsakh freedom to an expanded U.S.-Armenia relationship to justice for the Armenian Genocide—with ease and effectiveness. Whether it was House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi from California or former Alabama Congressman Sonny Callahan—Vahan spoke their language. And while they may not have agreed on everything—the meeting always ended with a smile and a commitment for future collaboration.
On the domestic front, I remember his run for the Armenian presidency as the ARF candidate in 2008. His voter empowerment campaign, through efforts like his “Contract with Voters” that was signed by over 150,000, set the bar for future candidates of all political parties to match and surpass.
His lifelong devotion to our nation and unwavering commitment to advance our collective cause will certainly continue to inspire me and the legion of ungers and colleagues who had the honor and pleasure to know and work with him.
Zaven Torikian, editor of Hairenik Weekly:
We lost a charismatic leader; an icon who was a politician, diplomat, writer, archeologist, and freedom fighter. Unger Vahan Hovannesian was a great speaker, debater, and writer. At the same time he was an academic who was knowledgeable, but also full of humor. In the summer of 2013, he wrote a series of articles, titled, “Sundown, that Must Be Stopped.” The theme was the sociopolitical life in Armenia since the 1990s, the early years of independence. It is my Bible. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to stop his sundown… I am in deep sorrow.
Henry D. Astarjian M.D., longtime activist, author of The Struggle for Kirkuk
Vahan Hovannesian was a man of conviction and unwavering dedication to things Armenian. A mild mannered man with inner strength of steel, he had dedicated himself—first and foremost—to the territorial integrity of Armenia and Artsakh, where he had rolled his sleeves and lent a hand to the liberation war.
He was a well-educated gentleman who, through his studies and education, had dipped into the vagaries of history and collective experiences, and was able to correlate them to the events of the day. Above all, he was a good listener; keeping cool, even if he disagreed with what his interlocutor said.
Throughout the 8 hours of solo time I spent with him in his car—where he had suggested we meet, because the meeting room was compromised (who knows, may be so was the car)—we exchanged ideas and opinions about the Nation in general, and Javakhk in particular.
His departure is a loss for us, but he departed with his integrity, decency, and legacy intact.
Ojik Gregorian, chief financial officer at the Armenian Relief Society Central Executive Office:
Sometime after Vahan got out of jail, he was at an ARS event; I approached him and asked about his time in jail. He said, “It was great. I at least got to learn English. If it had lasted longer, I would have perhaps learned Spanish; a few month later, perhaps I would have learned another language.” He told me this in 1992. He had a great sense of humor.
Another time, a group of us had gathered over dinner, and we were going around the table making toasts. He decided to toast to me, because I am a barsgahay (Persian-Armenian). And he told us a story. It was soon after Armenia gained her independence, when hundreds of Armenians gathered outside in an open space. Some were sitting, some standing. Many did not know each other, and they were not speaking to one another. Then, suddenly, one Armenian cupped his hands around his mouth so that his voice would travel farther, and began singing, “Menk angeghdz zinvor enk,” (we are honest soldiers) which has this line in it, “Barsgasdani khorkits yegel e namag” (A letter arrived from the depths of Persia), and then everyone joined in, and that’s when people realized that they were all there for the same reason: they were all joining the ARF.
He is irreplaceable. He still had so much to give to the Armenian nation.
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