Were Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus Turkish too?
This is like reading Quran, where even Alexander the great (including Adam and all the Jewish prophets) were portrayed to be Muslim.
Is Obama's origin Turkish, likewise Queen Elizabeth might be Turkish too.
Ok, you got it. Were Hitler, Stalin and all the murderers Turkish too?

My wife's grandmother came to the U.S in 1917 at age 15; pregnant with a son. Her husband had been butchered by a Turk. Their farm was taken over by the same Turk who was their stable keeper.

She was born in Gesaria (Kayseri). She could not speak Armenian but as soon as she landed on Ellis Island she changed her Turkish name to Armenian. She had traveled with an Ottoman passport after selling all she had to bribe officials and had booked passage on a Greek ship. Not long later she found similar Armenian "kaghtagan's" from Anatolia. Although some had Turkish names and most couldn't speak Armenian--they could all recite the Lord's Prayer in Armenian. In many places in Anatolia--even before Mustafa Kemal's dictatorship--Armenians were not allowed to speak their language. Ethnic cleansing started in Anatolia long before the Genocide, depending on location.

My point is what Turk in his right mind would leave Anatolia for the frozen lands of North America, and miss on the plunder of the Christian infidels? The currently rich landowners of Turkey are proof  how they amassed their riches. To acknowledge the killing and raping of the Armenians is easier than to compensate the rightful owners. I don't care if they ask for forgiveness: they will answer to a higher authority for their bloody crimes, but I want what is rightfully mine.

Avedis,
I do not think it matters whether a president of the U.S is an idiot, a hypocrite or not, speaks of Armenians with passion or never speaks of his love for the Armenians when it comes to acknowledging or not the Genocide of Armenians.

Obama, Bush and their predecessors--save for Reagan for his remark--are one and the same as far as U.S policy with regard to the Genocide of the Armenians is concerned. They are all deniers of the Genocide of the Armenians and there are no degrees of the denial a truth. To treat some otherwise is more of a reflection of personal bias than anything else.

Marcel Kirkor Garabedian
France

Avedis,
Do you refer to President Obama as "President Meds Yeghern" because he is in office? It was President George W. Bush who used the term for the first time and set the pattern.

I am a registered Republican. When it comes to the Genocide of the Armenians, I find both one-and-the-same.
 

Armenians, with their prized DNA and immense talents from crafts to the sciences were, are, and shall be a prized possession of sub-cultures, "benza antiqua", and plain lazy, racist, backward tribes who have no skills to govern themselves and take charge of their future. We are a flower in the desert. History has taught us one thing and one thing only: play along but NEVER trust them.

Why not put the question to the priests themselves? It's not fair for a priest to go through life without the love, comfort, and support of a life companion and, yes, why should they be immune to a nagging wife?

Set an example by what you do, not by what you preach. Trust me, priestly eyes are as sinful: coming from Jerusalem, I should know, and don't take pride in the fact. Human needs can not be suppressed for long.

Thank you, Vahe, for this article. Great.
Keep on going by digging the pages of our rich history and traditions. Our new generation will be proud of their ancestors and will write new rich pages to our history.

With best wishes and prayers.

Rev. Serop Megerditchian
Aleppo
 

Avedis, their government and establishment are experienced liars when it comes to anything pertaining to Armenians. The best weapon--which we have at our finger tips--is the truth. Despite their diplomatic, economic, military, and propagandistic clout, we --without money, without PR agencies, without state support in the Diaspora--have managed to tell the world what really happened. Obama and the rest of the hypocrites know too well what happened, but for reasons we are familiar with, join the braying denialist camp. By the way, Obama, for all intents and purposes, is irrelevant now.

Re Santa Claus being Turkish ...  I guess you don't know that King Midas, Hector and Paris of Troy and the great Mihritades were also Turkish. The Gordian Knot was a Turkish Rubic Cube. You've to get up pretty early in the morning to come up with bigger lies than those disgorged by the Turkish propaganda machine.

Because Turkey will have no real basis on which to build a case that it, too, has been a victim of a genocide, does not mean that it will not try.  So, someone should keep one eye on this fascinating story to see how (not “if”) Turkey exploits it.

It is fascinating how many lies and distortions Turkey can come up with to re-write history. 

What Turkey has on its side is the general ignorance of the main publics it is trying to impress with its distortions and lies.  And, that includes the media.  I am convinced that most leaders of the West are reasonably knowledgeable about the Armenian Genocide, for instance, but that doesn’t mean they will stand up for the truth.

In a recent letter sent to President Meds Yeghern, on April 24, the President of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) made the astounding statement that one of the prime reasons for the relocation of the Armenians was because--sit well back in your chair, please--“In November 1915, the relocation included the western port city of Izmit, where Armenian homes were being used to import and store weapons to help the Russians and Armenian rebels in the east.”  Think of it:  In war-time Turkey the Armenians in a west-coast city were collecting arms to send a thousand miles through war-time Turkey to the Eastern front!!!!!  In a letter.   To the American president. 

Also, in a lighter note, the Turks keep reminding editors that Santa Claus/Father Christmas was a Turkish bishop! 

So, laugh if you will, but don’t underestimate Turkey’s creativity--nor overestimate the intelligence of the average person.

Avedis Kevorkian
Philadelphia, PA  USA

Կ'ըսուի թէ ամէն անձ փոխարինելի է, մանաւանդ աշխատանքային շրջանակի մէջ:

Կ'ըսեմ թէ սխալ է այդ, յատկապէս մարդու մը տարած աշխատանքին իսկ պատճառաւ:

Եւ եթէ մենք մեր գործն ենք, եւ ո'չ միայն մեր խօսքերը, Արամայիսը՝ ըստ ինծի,  պիտի մնայ միշտ անփոխարինելի:

Չեմ ճանչցած զինք անձնապէս դէմ հանդիման, սակայն ծանօթ եմ իր գործին եւ մանաւանդ գրութիւններուն եւ կրնամ շատերուն նման վկայել թէ ամէն բանէ առաջ իր մի'տքն էր պայծառ ու յստակատես:  Իսկ վերջին տարիներուն ունեցած եմ պատիւը իրեն հետ համակարգչով նամակագրելու:

Երբեմն երբեմն, ցուրտ Գանատայի ցուրտ օրերուն տաքուկ ելեկտրոնային նամակներ կը ստանայի նոյնքան ցուրտ Շուետէն:

Պիտի կարօտնամ զինք, եւ իր միտքը մանաւանդ:

Ցաւակցութիւններ ո'չ միայն իր հարազատներուն եւ բարեկամներուն, այլ ամբողջ հայ ազգին:

Մեծն Արամայիսը ո'չ եւս է:

Բայց կը մնան մեր ժողովուրդին ապագային հանդէպ ունեցած իր երազները:

Անոնց իրագործումին լծուելու աշխատանքը հիմա կը մնայ մեզի:


Գլխիկոր եւ բարեկամօրէն

Վիգէն Լ. Ադդարեան


 

 

Հարգան Հին ու հոգնած "պայքարի" -ն  որ մնալու են պատմության արխիվներում, սակայն նոր կրակ է վառվել եւ բացկլտում Հայոց ազատագրական պայքարի հորիզոնում... եւ այդ փրկարար պայքարը  սկիզբ է առել ՍԱՐԴԱՐԱԲԱԴ եւ ՆԱԽԱԽՈՐՀՐԴԱՐԱՆ երիտասարդ եւ մտավորակաների գործնական պայքարողների առաջամարտիկներ. Նույն ժամանակ երկրագնդի քաղաքներում ծաղկում է "Հայ ազգային վերածնունդ" շարժումը որ թիկունք է կանգնում Հայաստանում Նախախորհրդարանի ազգային պայքարի կերտելու տարիների երազած "Նոր Հայաստան":    Հոգով սրտով ՀԱՎԱՏԱՆՔ եւ նվիրվենք այս պայքարին;
Որակյալ եւ Հզօր "Նոր Հայաստան"-ի կերտումն է բերելու մեզ վերջնական փրկություն:

մեր հինավուրց մուրացող պայքարի ճամբան փակուղի հասավ...     

Gardzik has the notion "I do not know" while axiom has the notion "it is true until proven wrong".

One of my favourite rooms at the British Museum, with artefact from Ancient Armenia, is being subverted. It is not the first time Turkey has influenced a cultural venue to manipulate the facts. There is an online petition to the British Museum where you can sign, if interested. We need all the signatures we can get:  Petition

Lia jan,
I am very happy to learn you are from HAYASTAN.
Fight for your rights. Launch a petition. I will sign it, if it will benefit the Armenian people.
Hachoghutiun.

Maria Cristina

Recently, while reading a copy of a letter sent by a Turkish-American organization to the White House, I could not believe the utter nonsense of some of the statements and I commented at the author’s audacity--for I was sure that the person who signed it did not create the ridiculous document.

And, then it hit me. I was looking for a theme for this comment.  “De l’audace, et encore de l’audace, et toujours de l’audace,” from a speech by the French Revolutionary Danton, suddenly came to me.  Although “l’audace” is generally translated as “boldness” (both words would apply), I prefer “audacity” to “boldness.”

I refer to that magnificent quote that Rouben Galichian has discovered. The almost casual way that the Turks distort history, and then force others to run to catch up--and expend many, many sentences to refute a one-sentence lie and many, many paragraphs to challenge a one-paragraph falsehood. 

But, I am not concerned with that quote, other than to thank Roupen.

I want to get back to Turkey’s plan for the opening of the world’s largest museum as one of the hallmark events for its centenary in 2013. It will take up 2.5 hectares. That is about 13 football fields!  And it will be called “The Museum of Civilization,” because, as I indicated, Turkey is going to adopt for itself all the cultures, civilizations and peoples that have inhabited the Anatolian Plateau over the past 10,000 years and, thus, claim to be the “Mother of all Nations,” as the afore-mentioned quote seems to indicate. No, being a Muslim country where women are second-class citizens, make that the “Father of all Nations.”

And, it would seem, to have the co-operation--or confirmation--of the British Museum, which is why I am writing.

What the British Museum is doing is a monumental insult to the Armenians in its re-titling of Room 54 as “Ancient Turkey.”

Consider: Yesterday, Turkey tried to kill all the Armenians and destroy their heritage and, today, the British Museum is rewarding the Turks (whatever else it might be, it is a “reward”) by including in and under “Ancient Turkey” some of that Armenian heritage, thus leading the visitor to believe that the Armenians are the newcomers (as some Turks already try to argue), and that whatever skills and talents the Armenians may have (had) is by and from the largesse of the Turks.

This is made so obvious by the British Museum’s problem with the khatchkar given to it by His Holiness, the late Catholicos Vazken with the understanding that it would be displayed or returned.  Accepting what the British Museum is doing to Room 54, the fact that it does not exhibit the khatchkar there speaks volumes: “Turkey is a Muslim country and the khatchkar is a Christian Cross.  We can’t insult the Turks by displaying it there.”

If anyone out there has any influence with His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, perhaps he can get His Holiness to formally request the return of the khatchkar. Now, that would make headlines. It would serve the British Museum right to be so embarrassed,

Until then, perhaps British Armenians should follow Viken’s advice. The British Armenians make their presence felt on April 24. This insult should be taken almost as important.

If my bishop had children, I wouldn't be surprised if they pursued an ecclesiastical profession too! 

To LG.

The op-ed is about "doom and gloom" because the situation is one of doom and gloom. Far too many Diaspora Armenians prefer to retain a fantasy image of their homeland and maintain that the problems Armenia faces are temporary and not gigantic. This willful blindness helps perpetuate--if not strengthen--the authorities and their affluent, corrupt and goonish cliques.

The op-ed did cite other problems (war, Turkish-Azeri blockade, Soviet mentality) which hurt Armenia's economy. However, the corruption, the incompetent and authoritarian bureaucracy, the klepto-elections, the commonplace bribery, the strong-arm tactics of the rulers, the indifference of the authorities to the plight of the Armenians... deny Armenia the chance to combat its external enemies. To say that "corruption is socio-cultural and will take quite some time" to vanish is irresponsible. What time frame? Another 20 years? Fifty years? Will there be an Armenia then to be reformed?

"Meg dzaghigov karoon chikkar" (One flower doesn't signal spring) says all about the handful of small businesses developed by Diaspora Armenians in Armenia. These are one off, individual patriotic efforts with little impact on the economy. Since you say you know of many successful Diaspora businesses in Armenia, it would be useful to find out how much Diaspora Armenians (other than Eurnekian, the New Jersey real estate family, and Russian-Armenians) have invested in Armenia in recent years.--Editor.

Sir, you have failed to show how your piece is not just another doom and gloom/sky is falling, sensationalist article.

Armenia lies about its population but Azerbaijan and Georgia do not?  Try again. There are more migrant workers in Russia from Azerbaijan than from Georgia or Armenia.

We don't need to look at the world economy. Let us instead look at the EU. More than half of its 27 members are in a bad economic state. This also brings us to the theory that closer integration with the EU will eradicate corruption in Armenia and improve the standard of living. False. Please take a look at the articles on Bulgaria's elections which took place today. Here is the most recent example of an EU state which is plagued by corruption, low standard of living, dysfunctional political parties, and an angry populace. Bulgaria has been a member of the EU since 2006, and a NATO member since 2004. Yet earlier this year the capital, Sofia, was hit by brownouts and even blackouts causing mass protests. Here we have a country which is a member of the EU and NATO, is not in a state of war, didn't suffer a genocide 100 years ago, doesn't have two borders closed, and (unlike Armenia) has access to the sea. However, in some important ways is doing worse than Armenia. The point is that corruption is socio-cultural and will take quite some time to lesson to the point of irrelevance.

And I will state this again, Armenians wishing to do business in Armenia will run into problems only if they are naive. Your claim that only those Diaspora Armenians with hard government connections being successful is not true and runs counter to my personal and family experience. I too have heard some 'horror' stories but they are less than the successful ones.

My mother used to tell me that a pastor’s effectiveness is his wife’s doing. There is a profound truth in the matter that a divorced pastor or a pastor going through the trials and tribulations of a divorce can possibly be as effective at the pulpit.

Darwin, I did not understand the implication of your statement. Should our ecclesiastical hierarchy decide to do away with celibacy? The effectiveness of married pastors, as a spiritual leaders, will also be their wives’ doing who may not necessarily be Armenian. Marriage is a matter of the heart, after all.
 

Could that be why so many Armenian women in the Diaspora aren't particular to whom they marry and give up their faith?

The question of women serving at the altar in the Armenian Apostolic Church rose when the newly-elected Catholicos-of-All-Armenians, Karekin I Sarkissian, made his first pontifical visit to the  St. John’s Church in Detroit.

His response to the question was: “Not under my watch. Because of our of tradition with Jesus choosing his disciples from among men”. He then added, making light of his statement, that this was not meant to be discriminatory to our sisters and mothers but that there are things in life that "are the way they are". He then raised his gaze and arms toward heaven and asked forgiveness for his statement, adding “after all, God chose to send His son to be among us”.

I do not see any harm if women serve at the altar or that such a development would have any significant effect on my spirituality as practiced through the rites of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
 

I agree with the title of this article. However, the respectful author makes basic mistakes in the conclusions, repeating the principles found in Turkish propaganda.

For a better understanding, I have to draw your attention to the beginning of the 1990s, when the USSR shattered into 15 pieces and the new neo-liberal governments of 13 countries including now independent Armenia, started to destroy their own industries and manufacturing base. Only Kazakhstan and Belarus kept theirs; this is because their former leaders survived the power transition and their establishments were able to think on their own. That is why you can very rarely notice any Kazakh and Belarus “gastarbaiters” in Western Europe and America.

Meanwhile, I remember vividly the tall tales of the consultants of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), EU, USAID and many other foreign structures, about the inexpediency of saving our own industrial infrastructure and population. “You are a small country, so small workshops instead of great factories are enough for you,” they repeated endlessly. “We need no more than a population of 800,000,” repeated their mouthpiece, Vano Siradeghian, at the time.

This was the best way to organize a roadside racket of our material wealth and population resources; to bring “independent” Armenia into the condition of a banana republic, dependent on foreign subsidies and occupied by foreign capital tranches. I have to remind Keghart.com readers that this plan was dictated and put into practice in a small country, which was fourth among the 15 Soviet republics, in terms of gross national product (GNP) after giant Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Armenia was the producer of modern computing machines, missile guidance heads, several finished components for aerospace and defense elements, while exporting 80% of its light-industrial products.

To keep Armenia away from asserting its own independent policy, the political agents that pretended to be “ecologists”, insisted on shutting down the only serious source of electricity for the country–the Metzamor nuclear power station. At the same time started the Azeri provocations of ethnic cleansing in Artsakh, the same cleansing that had started in Abkhazia and Ossetia by the Georgians.

Thus the borders of Armenia were blocked by Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The only “life line” by land was (and remains) Iran, which is also experiencing economic blockade by the same international structures. Please do not forget that among our national fortune, the first that was immediately “privatized” and sold for pennies to unknown foreign organizations, was the water and sewer system, the electricity network, and the mail, railway and telephone infrastructures–everything that becomes an arena for the desperate struggle of the country’s defense in times of major challenges. Levon Ter-Bedrossian and his team had handed those tools to foreign capital on a silver platter.
 
It has been more than 23 years since Armenia withstood siege and survived, despite all difficulties. There is no precedent for this in history or geography. Every cargo brought from abroad, including school accessories, paper for printing, toys, clothing, computers, spare parts, units of machinery becomes four times more expensive because of the flight and the double-tax expenditures. The same “benefits” are paid when Armenian business tries to export its own production.

In such conditions, the market is unable to survive, and this is the basic reason of the blossoming of the oligarchic structure of our economy. Yes, our oligarchs are disgusting–as are all similar robbers around the world. But this is the overwhelming consequence and effect of the blockaded borders of the country. An open market is not possible when two of Armenia’s four borders have been closed for decades, and one is shut by Georgia for months, immediately after we sent Armenian schoolbooks to Abkhazia, helped our church in Sukhumi or voiced support to this neighboring country that seeks freedom from the former micro-empire of Georgia.
   
However, our people are tidy and full of hospitality; the children are unique in their talents; and according to the International Institute of Human Resources last year, among 78 countries in Europe, Asia and America our youth were among the happiest people. In fact, they are much happier than are their affluent cousins abroad.

I can cite many countries which were founded under easier conditions and which started to "eat literally each other" in a shorter time. That is why I am not surprised when our poor peasants, fed up by the payments for the land, water and the other benefits of the Creator, leave the country. I am never surprised when the loafers, alimony dodgers and all types of losers who seek “democracy” and “freedom”--freedom from their responsibilities to their family and motherland.

But I am entirely surprised when our respectful Armenians of the real historical Diaspora repeat the slogans of Turkey’s anti-Armenian propaganda; that the political and economic awful circumstances are not connected to the permanent blockade of our country. Of course, Turkey and its patrons are interested in making people think that our problems are only due to internal corruption, bad governance, etc. and not because Turkey keeps us shut from the rest of the world.

But why my Armenian brothers and sisters abroad take after Turkey in all these slanders? Might it be to calm down their conscience that they have done nothing to help? I don’t mean to seek their financial help, but the simple and very much needed support to raise all the Diaspora’s voice against the Turkish-Azeri blockade, for example, is a definite must.

A week ago I signed a petition demanding President Obama close the Guantanamo prison. None of my relatives, friends or neighbors were kept and tortured there, but my sense of justice and responsibility made me join those who are struggling against this medieval center of torment. It would have been much easier to have sat on a comfortable sofa and suspect that all those chained prisoners in Guantanamo are bad people who don’t deserve their day in court.

Why all the authors and readers of this respectful Keghart.com site do not try to start a signature-gathering campaign for the opening of Armenia's borders, especially the one closed by Turkey? Why do we wait until the bad people in the governments of Turkey, Azerbaijan and elsewhere think about the high price Armenia’s government should pay for them to reopen these borders, which they have blockaded on their devilish whim?

Let us consider this will be a campaign-letter well written by the same respectful author of this article, Mr. Tutunjian, for example, addressed to the EU, which is still negotiating with Turkey for its possible membership. Let us be confident: we will be able to gather 1,000,000 signatures of the inheritors of the First Genocide of the 20th Century, together with their friends and neighbors. And let us consider the title of this campaign to be “The Second Genocide Still Continues Every Day”.

Lia Avetissian

Yerevan

JT

No celibacy on one condition. The priest marries a true Armenian so the Church does not shrink from ethnic cleansing and the next generation feels like they are wholly Armenian. 

Avedis Kevorkian could not have been clearer.

There are at least a dozen VERY STRONG arguments in his article.  I would suggest, that Keghart organize and launch a global letter writing campaign to the British Museum with content along all of those themes.

Why should Avedis do this alone?  Either we agree with him or we don't.  If we agree with  him, then we should do something about it.

Armenians in London should be outraged and should organize sit-ins on the steps of the "venerable institution" distributing copies of Avedis' article.

Paregamoren

Viken L. Attarian

The author ought to state his points without using what cab drivers told him as evidence that things are going to hell in a hand basket. Cab drivers worldwide are known to complain even about the most mundane things in society.

To people putting all the blame on Sargsyan and the RPA, I ask you, what political party in Armenia offers a real vision and real statesmen that would be able to handle the very serious socio-economic and geopolitical issues that confront Armenia. The opposition couldn't even unite for the Yerevan elections because all the party leaders are egotists who put their name and 'legacy' above the common good and the commonwealth.  Until Armenia has a real opposition, we will not see the RPA lose.

As for the emigration, Azerbaijan is facing the same problem yet they have petro-dollars flowing in, and only one closed border. Georgia too is faced with high unemployment and emigration. The EU is in serious trouble as well, particularly Spain, Greece, Portugal, Slovenia, and Bulgaria. The problems Armenia faces are not unique nor are they easy to solve. Changing the leadership in Armenia will only do so much, but will not solve the underlying geopolitical causes.  

It is way past time that Armenians looked at ways to invest in Armenia and in Artsakh, work with the authorities, to build a self-sustaining republic. We have a good opportunity with Armenians from Syria who are looking to settle in Armenia, but what Diaspora organization or wealthy individual has put their money where their mouth is, and started up a program to build or refurbish homes, and establish some sort of income-generating enterprise in Armenia? 

No one seems to understand the spirituality of celibacy, and how it plays a unique role in how the faithful may serve the church. It is one form of devoting one's life exclusively to God and the Church.

If family will be a distraction, then nobody should get married.  Is being a clergy more important than being a President, Prime Minister, a King, etc.?
Why people regard them as such high-valued people when in reality they are not!

Mr. Garabed,
You are so right, but politically incorrect.
Some years ago a famous US sportscaster said, on TV, that the reason black athletes excel is because slave merchants picked the best physical specimen from West Africa and later only the strongest of the strong survived the terrible conditions in plantations. Although he was a very prominent sportscaster, the man was fired, accused of being a racist.

Counter comment to Vahe:
First of all, I made no mention of DNA, but it is possible that it plays a role.
But, nature or nurture, it cannot be denied that propagation of a society's best educated can only benefit that society.
Secondly, are we to believe that those clergymen who practice celibacy as a matter of doctrine are performing their duties more effectively than those who marry and raise families?
Surely this must be news to the evangelicals among us.

Յարգելի  Համօ Մոսկոֆեան,
Համաձայն եմ Քո յօդուածին: Չափից դուրս զբաղուելով անցեալի պայմանագիր-դաշնագրերով, որոնց, այժմ անկարող ենք փոխել կամ ընդհանրապէս անփոփոխ են մնալու և կամ այս և այն նախագահը արտասանելու՞ է ցեղասպանութիւն եզրը, թէ ոչ, շեղում է մեր ուշադրութիւնը, մեր շուրջը ծաւալւող և զարգացող, Հայաստանի հետ առնչւող քաղաքական հոլովոյթից: Դժբախտաբար այս ընտացքը շարունակուելու է այնքան ժամանակ, մինչև Հայաստանում չունենանք արդար ու ժողովրդական իշխանութիւն, որտեղ օրէնքն է գերակայում:

Ժիրայր Քոչարեան

I think the whole church has outlived its usefulness, if it ever had any. 

We, Armenians, in Armenia are sick and tired of Serge Sarkissian and his junta. The biggest threat to Armenians and their future is the ruling Republican Party. Quite recently one of the notorious Republicans--Galust Sahakyan--told said the Republicans will hold power until Armenia is at war with Azerbaijan. This means the authorities will never a sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan, even if an agreement is reached, simply because they would lose power, according to Sahakyan's logic.

War is not an excuse for the current situation in the country. If the so-called ruling elite had the slightest responsibility for the future of country, it would use the cease-fire to strengthen the economy, build true democracy, develop infrastructure, uproot Soviet corrupt traditions, etc. What we have instead is a vicious cycle of rigged elections, oligarchic structure of economy, terrible emigration, extreme poverty, deteriorating infrastructure, corrupt courts and police, a weakening army and the worst of all, the hopelessness of people.

At least after having resolved the issue of holding power (no matter how), the so-called president will start real reforms, since the current situation threatens his rule, which will lead to a major blast in the near future with negative outcomes for the people and the regime.

Sarkissian and his junta have declared war on the Armenian people and Armenia. To understand this, look at the so-called "new" government, where nothing is actually new: all the same corrupt ministers have been re-appointed, and some have been occupying their seats for more than 10 years and all of them have failed in their work. Some of them are criminals. It is not even worth mentioning that almost all of them are big businessmen, among them the notorious head of State Income Committee.

I wish I could write something good about Armenia, but I can't. There is nothing positive happening in our country. It is time for all Armenians in the world to save the motherland. We are blaming Turkey and Azerbaijan; we are announcing territorial and financial claims against Turkey, but we do not understand that this is a ridiculous enterprise since we are losing the last piece of land due to our inability to arrange our nation's life as a result of subjective reasons. We do not look serious to the outside world, and nobody, including Turkey, will take as seriously unless we become a strong nation.

Well, educated brains are not inherited. Traits that drive people to a pinnacle whether in ecclesiastical, social, political, cultural, artful matters are not necessarily passed on to their progenies through his or her DNAs. Let us be mindful that biology has assured ultimate equality of the sexes when a single strand from  the double stranded DNA of each equally complement each other at conception to give a new life. Consequently, the rabbi’s progeny is as much a product of Mrs. Rabbi as her spouse’s however learned he may be in Torah.

Trdat was the King over temporal matters whose son inherited or would inherit his powers. Our first few Catholici, for all I know, were kings in ecclesiastical matters and their sons inherited Dad’s spiritual power. When and why the practice changed, would be interesting to hear from our historians.

Celibacy is a complex issue. Naturally it has its pros and cons. It is a difficult choice to make. There have always been those who made the choice and kept our church going for 17 centuries.  Without the burden over family matters that naturally comes and should come and should consume the energies and the times of those who took the responsibility to procreate; the celibate priest is freed from that burden, instead he espouses not only the church but also the people and become the shepherds that keep us going.
 

While it's a given that the community should support its lobbyists, it's incumbent upon our lobbyist to apprise the community of the work of the lobby. There's too much of "we know best" attitude among some of our lobbyists. They should invite community input, rather than decide unilaterally what's best for Hye Tadd. The lobby committee should not be the exclusive club of a handful of people.--Editor

Dear John,
You are way too solicitous re Prof. Hovhanissian. He has done good work, but he is not infallible by any stretch of the imagination. Many of his theories about ancient Armenia are challenged by historians in Armenia and elsewhere. You are right about the Akkadian (Naram Sin) inscriptions which show that Armenia existed as early as 2,250 B.C. He is not only wrong about Armenians being newcomers, but he inadvertently buttresses the Turkish "historians" thesis that Armenians are newcomers from Thrace.

Armenia knows that if it joins the Eurasia Union it can't associate with the European Union, as your previous editorial pointed out. So Armenia's current decision is perplexing.

Dear reader, please do not forget that some Armenian villages like Zakho, Hawrez and Avzruk in Iraqi Kurdistan were part of the Historic Western Armenia, where live thousands of Armenian-speaking Yezidis of Armenian roots. Zoroastrians and Islamized Armenian-speaking compatriots live near villages of Mosul, which is also historic Assyria! The Kurdish Regional government has done everything to make Armenian Christians remain or settle down in Iraqi Kurdistan today, while our 'so called' leaders in the Republic of Armenia are forcing the native population to leave their homeland!

I live in USA, born to an Armenian family & I'm proud they sent me to Armenian school. My family is Christian. 
Absolutely our Hemshentsi, Moslem brothers & sisters are Armenian. Religion in history caused more problems than can be documented.

My Hemshen Armenian brothers & sisters, we count every day for you to come out, declare your nationality and to the arms of your awaiting people. Ignore those who do not understand the difference between nationality & religion, many of them pose as Armenian.  History comes, goes and continues, but our proud Armenians shall always survive. What religion you choose, or perhaps were forced to choose, is something for you to decide.

A day will come when our people will live in one nation, we join our lands and show a new century to the world - we are a symbol of resilience. President Obama, whom I love, called Armenians yesterday on the White House website, INDOMITABLE - meaning UNCONQUERABLE, RESOLUTE, DETERMINED.

Տե´ր Աստված,
Փրկի´ր և պահպանի´ր...
Ամեն..

Replacing the suffix IAN with YAN started in the 1990s for Armenians emigrating from Armenia. 
Before that all Armenians leaving Armenia had their last name with IAN suffix. Every time I come across somebody who's last name has YAN suffix I can instantly be (almost 100%) sure that person is emigrated from Armenia. But with suffix IAN you know that person is Armenian, but would not know more.
Changing suffix IAN to YAN is like imbedding an "identification" tag to these immigrants (call it conspiracy if you want).

A great article, but let's not start by pointing fingers, we are fighting against a giant when it comes to deep pockets.
Canadian politicians are no different; they all care to be re-elected and this is where we should zero in and hit hard.
No politician would dare to question the Jewish Holocaust  in the US or Canada , how do they do it?

I just read your editorial with all its information about the Turkish PR propaganda. 
It is up to every knowledgeable Armenian to respond to the news and information detrimental to our cause. 
What have you done in seeking meetings with MP, MPP etc or news reporters or letters to the editor. 
Accusing those who are involved to the extent possible with doing nothing is ignorance to the extreme. 
It is the obligation and the duty of every Armenian to support our work both morally and financially. 

 

In the first part of the editors’ view you have (quite understandably) looked through the still prevalent Cold War prism of dividing the world into eastern (Russian) and western (US) camps.

Just as there seems to be some difficulty in remembering that the Armenian community of Iran is also part of the Diaspora, some people apparently choose to ignore the importance of a sizeable number of countries such as Iran which consider themselves non-aligned.

In the early ’90s Iran was a (if not the) major trade partner of Armenia, providing basic needs such as food, clothing and utensils ( granted not of a very high quality) and thus helped curb the acute want. Later there was the gas treaty, and now there are hints of an unofficial cooperation to check Azerbaijan’s aggressive intentions. And let us not forget that successive Iranian regimes of the past four or five centuries have held their Armenian minority in very high esteem.

Fortunately, this was not lost on the Armenian government. I remember Prime Minister Robert Kocharyan saying that Armenia had managed to have good relations with both the US and Iran.

Excellent analysis; nice editorial. Thank you. The subject is long overdue; also I did not find any racial tone in your article. But what I was waiting for is the punch line, which was never delivered: after all that beautiful analysis. What is the plan? How does one get there at about the same level as the Big Players?

I was at school and had gone down from the lab (where fuel was being mixed) to Nonosh (you all must remember Nonosh. Bless his soul) when the blast occurred. Worst hurt was Hrair Aintablian. Does anyone know where he is these days?
 

Steve,
I read about the Aralez decades ago in a memoir. I can't remember whose memoir it was.

Like many of my generation, I also, although not in my teens, was taught about Ara the Beautiful and Queen Shamiram. The story fired our youthful imagination. What has fascinated me, as an adult, is that the myth has not only lasted but that there was an Armenian village named after the myth. Not only that, the villagers knew the location of the mythical event. It was on a hill in or on the outskirts of the village where they had erected a chapel. There was even a picture of the hill with the chapel on top.
 
Steve, how is it that you seem to know about the Aralez in such detail? Could you please share your knowledge of that village now turned into a town? I bet very few Armenians have heard of the village. I had no clue that the place is known as Aralik / Kalechik and that it is no more a village.
 
Incidentally, I hail from Keurkune, Kessab. In the outskirts of our ancestral village there is a small hill we call "kalachek". It may be that kalachek means hill in Turkish.  

Vahe
 

I do not agree in full with Mr. Hovasapian. I believe we can pursue Genocide recognition, and claim reparations parallel to strengthening and democratizing Armenia. We cannot just criticize the Diaspora for pursuing the Genocide; we need to understand the reasons behind it. It gave a very powerful motivation to survive as Armenians, and contribute to the independent Republic of Armenia. As to Dink's approach, he has a point that the recognition will come from within Turkey through Turkish renaissance. That doesn't mean you have to wait another 200 years for Turkish mass conscience to dictate recognition. After all, we spent 100 years pressuring Turkey (including terror) and we just got their attention, would they have listened if they did not have to recall their ambassadors?
I realize the condition in Armenia is not good, but as Mr. Hovasapian says, it can be helped. Diaspora has to get united and focus on the two main objectives: strengthening Armenia, and pursuing justice.

Իմ կարծիքով, ճիշդ է որ պէտք է աշխատիլ եւ Հայաստանաբնակ հայ ժողովուրդին օգնել աւելի մարդավայել կեանք ապրիլ, խաղաղ յեղափոխութեան ճամբով, բայց նոյն ատեն պէտք չէ մոռնալ որ մենք պահանջատէր ազգ ենք եւ պահանջներ նեկայացնենք Թուրքիոյ եւ այլ պետութիւններու միջազգային պայնագրերու վերանայումով: Յեղափոխականները իրենց գործը կ'ընեն եւ վստահ եմ որ կրնան Հայաստանը փրկել: Նոյն ատեն կան հայեր որ կ'աշխատին մեր հողերու ազատագրութեան հարցով, օրինակ հանրածանօթ պարոն Արա Պապեանը որ հսկայական աշխատանք կատարած է եւ ճիշդ ճամբուն վրան է: Պէտք է հայ ժողովուրդը իր կողքին կենայ մինչեւ վերջ: Իսկ ցեղասպանութեան ճանաչման հարցը արդէն անիմաստ դարձած է եւ ինչ որ ըսած է Հրանդ Տինքը՝ ճիշդ ըսած է: Ժամանակը եկած է որ մեր ուժեր ուրիշ տեղ օգտագործենք՝ Հայաստանաբնակ հայերու բարեկեցութեան, արտագաղթի կասեցման  եւ հողերու ազատագրման հարցին վրայ:
 

Շատ ճիշտ է տիկին պրոֆեսոր ՓԻՐՈՒՄՅԱՆԸ ՊԱՀԱՆՋԱՏԻՐՈՒԹՅԱՆ ՀԱՐՑԸ առաջ քաշել - ՀԱՅ ԱԶԳԻ ՊԱՀԱՆՋԱՏԻՐՈՒԹՅԱՆ ԱՌՋև ՈՐևԻՑԷ ՊԱՏՃԱՌԱԲԱՆՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ ՀԱՐԳԻ ՉԷ և ԱՐԴԱՐԱՑՎԱԾ ՉԷ

Dear Dr. Zaven Guiragossian:

Thank you very much for your comment and the question. I am sorry for my late answer as I had not visited this page at Keghart.com for some time. I was pleased to see your question and the number of readers for my three articles which now totals almost 9,000. I appreciate all of you for the interest toward our language, literacy and civilization.

I am glad to inform you that my new book “ARMENIA: the Taste of Hospitality” will be published in St. Petersburg at the end of April. Unfortunately, it is written in Russian. You know, there are almost three-million Armenians in that country who read mostly in Russian, like you do in English in North America. Russian-Armenians also are eager to know much more about our history, traditions and famous Armenians, such as Tchaikovsky, Leonardo da Vinci, Verdi and other greats. It helps them to remain Armenians and to raise their children as representatives of the great nation that lives surrounded by another great nation.

There are chapters in this book about our best kings like Abgar and his uncle Tigran the Great. Also, there is a chapter about Armenian power overseas from the very beginning of navigation (Նաւը Navi and all the terminology in this area of activity were and still are pure Armenian) till the swallowing and destruction of the Armenian companies by the East-India Company and the other Western  restricting alignments in the 18th century.

There are lots of Armenian cookbooks in the world published in different languages, but in this one I  introduce the Armenian source of the cookery that are claimed by others as being Georgian, Middle Eastern or Turkish. The deep knowledge of Armenian language and the grammar of the many other ones, their literature, history and mode of life, help me to understand and describe that this cookery could be born only in the palaces of the Armenian kings. By the way, we consider kitchen as the equivalent of Խոհանոց (khohanots), while in an earlier age, kitchen was called Հացատուն (hatsatoun)--a house for bread, and khoh/anots was a place of thoughts. Why? Because our kings and princes preferred to negotiate and reach important decisions while eating and drinking with their officials – just as you do at your business lunches now: we did always do so in Armenia. In short, this book is something like an encyclopedia of Armenian culture and history – also full of jokes, toasts and poetry.

Now I am writing a book in English about our language, history and civilization; as I have found amazing phenomena and developments on these subjects, and wonder what our historians did before. My recent three articles, which appeared at Keghart.com , were just the tip of the “iceberg” that the new book will present. I hope to finish work on the book by the end of this summer. You asked who is the publisher and when will it be printed? I wonder too…

Denying the facts of assimilation is futile. I believe Armenians have made great contributions to many neighboring or even far-away cultures. At the same time, obviously, we have assimilated many others into our culture.

What I wonder about is whether all the described characters, who converted to other religions, moved to a Muslim or Christian country (or were forced to do so) are any different from us today? Even though legends are written about them in their converted cultures, their generations eventually assimilated and disappeared. Instead, those who stayed and assimilated the others into the Armenian culture ended up being our grandfathers and grandmothers.

Isn't the same happening today with our Diaspora? Aren't we all, even in these glorious days, with many bright and known Armenians in many countries, going to disappear one day into the dominant culture we live in? And isn't the only culture that will remain Armenian is the the one actually based in Armenia?

Russified or Iranized, or whatever, that culture has more chance of remaining Armenian on Armenian lands than 60% of the nation who do not. Therefore, that culture will write the history the way it wants to write, maybe covering up some truths and invent some legends.

I am looking forward to reading the books.

It's a very impressive and touchy story. We should never give up hope. God's plans are different. In the end everybody will be surprised. If Jesus Christ is with us, who can be against us? Amen.
 

In addition to Internet sites, the publisher, and Armenian bookstores, the book(s) are available at ABRIL Bookstore in Glendale. It's at 415 Broadway, Suite 102, Glendale, California 91205. Tel: 818-243-4112 and Fax: 818-243-4158--ED.

Looking from a Polish perspective, it seems that some Jewish human rights activists, such as the ADL or the SWC, have problems with recognizing genocides other than the Holocaust. The Armenian Genocide is only one example; the argument about Auschwitz (the crosses, the Carmel) is another.

Only uniqueness guarantees the top position in victim ranking. A problem arises in countries with Holocaust denial laws, when non-Jewish human rights activists, such as Africans, Ukrainians, Native Americans, and last but not least Armenians, dispute the uniqueness of the Holocaust, paralleling it to the genocides perpetrated against their people. German as well as French law makes "trivializing the Holocaust" punishable, and courts in both countries have decided that violation of the uniqueness axiom is such an offense. France has found a way out. Law No.2001-70 from January 29, 2001, which already stated that "France publicly recognizes the Armenian genocide of 1915," was amended in October 2006 by two articles: #2 making "disputing the existence of the Armenian genocide of 1915" punishable with fines up to 45,000 euro and/or one year of imprisonment (like Holocaust denial), and #3 defining which groups, in a case of a trial, can appear as civilian parties (and demand damages). So the Holocaust, which is punishable according to the Gayssot Law of 1990, is separated legally from the Armenian genocide. On the continent, France and Germany, are the vanguards not only in persecuting Holocaust deniers by penal law as well. France also has the greatest number of laws that deal with history (critics say: that define history), about the Holocaust and other Nazi crimes, slavery, colonialism, and now the Armenian genocide. Mr. Foxman can be happy that he doesn't live in France. His half-hearted retraction would not help him in court.

Dearest Harout,

I enjoyed reading your articles while I was in Saudi Arabia. I appreciate your consistency and believe in the credibility of your sources. I will communicate with you re these specific issues in a few days. After all, wherever we are, we are proud of our Armenian origin and certainly proud of our land, Armenia. However, we do still request this 'pride' to be revalued, since what is on the ground is not what we anticipated.

Let's give higher consideration to our national affiliation, as well as upgrade the values of our national land, our Armenia.

All the best, dear Keghart and Harout.
Regards,

Hovig

Andrea: "Unhappy the land that has no heroes! . . ."

Galileo:  "No. Unhappy the land that needs heroes."

                                                     --Life of Galileo

                                                                       Bertolt Brecht

Hayorti,

Much as I would wish that your comments that Serge Sargsyan is a good president (when the arena is vacant), I wish to reiterate that the reason hundreds of thousands of our suffering brethren and sisters are leaving our homeland is due to government mismanagement.

My wish/viewpoint is that even if Sargsyan is imposed upon us by METZABEDAGANS (the powers  around us), then he should, at the very least, immediately place most of those around  him to posts that suit their capabilities. He did so as a couple years ago, but on a small scale. Enough of the merit-less, so-called MPs placed in the National Assembly because of money and connections. Time for reform now.

The familiarity of it all made me chuckle. I agree that there's no harm in telling people who we are, despite how comical the famous "list" sounds to us by now. In any event, I'm much more comfortable naming famous Armenians than telling people that Armenia is the land of origin of the apricot (i.e. who cares?).

Now let me go in commercial mode myself... System of a Down gains much more recognition than many of the *cough* older media types listed above. And it doesn't hurt that lead singer Serj Tankian has also become a voice for civil society in Armenia. I'd also argue that Tigran Hamasyan and Sergey Khachatryan, from the Republic of Armenia, are definitely making quite a name for themselves internationally. We have good things going for us now, too, let's not forget.

 

Turkey is guilty of committing the Genocide of Armenians. I demand my HOMELAND. Viva United Armenia

Surely we may stretch it a bit and display selective amnesia at times but, as said, we should not be too ‘queasy” about it.

It may be that Gregory Peck was not the anglicanized Krikor Ipegian (Գրիգոր  Իփէկիան) and that he may not have been related to the other Armenian titan of theater, Kaspar Ipegian (Գասպար Իփէկիան). However, we should not be, as said, that queasy about it and curtail our natural inquisitiveness. After all, sometimes there are linkages. Let me explain.

Once the father of a speckled faced handsome kid, my son baseball mate, approached me to let me know their family name was Kerian and that the family attributes the name to have been derived from the Irish name Keiran, but then again his paternal great-grandfather was Armenian and his family name was Shishmanian.

Well, it did not take me long to make the connection of Shishmanian (Շիշմանեան) to the converted Kerian (Քէրեան) made by his astute Armenian great-grandfather. He must have taken advantage of a once-in-a-life time chance this great country grants to immigrants when they become citizens and may adopt a new family name of their liking.

 Both family names refer to being chubby if not fat, one in Turkish and the other in Armenian. So there it goes, at times there is a truth to the matter.

Simon,

Your first sentence  clarifies who is Armenian or not. I have several contacts in Turkey that are "Hands on " anything Armenian.  Simon's first sentence does not apply to present day Hamshentzis. Very few of them mention their past background without any refferal to their real feelings. Some might feel stronger than others but so far there has been no movement toward  " coming home". Thus I can not consider them Armenian because  political atmopshere of today allows  the contrary.

Take the example of certain Kurds from Dersim (Tunceli in present Turkey). Due to relaxation of Turkish policies these Kurds are saying that they were muslim Kurds but now they accept their origins and would like to join their brethren. They have formed  Social Solidarity Association of Dersim Armenians (Dersim Ermenilerin Sosyal Yardimlasma dernegi). There you are..THOSE ARE ARMENIANS...not the ones who say  " well...in the past we might have been Armenians but today we are Turks and Muslim"

The "Commercial" was fun to read, I enjoyed it. Cher is half Armenian, however  she visited Armenia. I recognized two others who visited Armenia: Egoyan and Aznavour .
That says a lot to me.

"On 27 March 2001, after reading Friedman's 'mock memo' I wrote a letter entitled Mandela's first memo to Thomas Friedman to the op-ed editor of The New York Times and I posted the memo on the Thomas Friedman Discussion Board of the New York Times, hoping that Thomas Friedman would read it and that the New York Times would publish it. However, after two days, I came to the conclusion that the New York Times would not dare publishing this piece and I sent it on March 30, 2001 to Media Monitors, "a Platform for Serious Media Contributors", an online daily, which regularly published my contributions.

Soon, however, I found the 'mock memo' I wrote and which clearly indicated that I wrote it, on various listservers and websites. For example, I found my 'mock memo' on the website of Houston Peace and Justice Center, Progressive Activism in Austin, TX, and listservers such as soc.culture and Indymedia and in different languages, for example German (in which it was claimed that the author is from South Africa) or Spanish. Later, I even found it on the website of the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Information. Again, without mentioning the original author." - http://arjansweblog.blogspirit.com/mandela_memo

Despite his shortcomings and the blatantly fraudulent elections, Serge Sarkissian is the right man to lead Armenia through these challenging foreign policy choices. I can't imagine that Raffi Hovhanissian could manage such tightrope walking. I don't think Putin, the EU or the Americans would take Raffi seriously. Sarkissian has stood up against Putin's blackmailing for over a year. He shouldn't have succumbed to Hilary Clinton's pressure, but Armenia was isolated then. Raffi is a good man. He would make a good minister of education, tourism, natural resources...anything but finance, defense or foreign ministry.

Thank you, Mr. Piligian for this very important article.

God bless you and empower you for more news about our history which are under cover or not complete.

Best regards,
NJD

 

Abri arevt SS Armenia.

Dear Bedros,
The problem is that different people understand in different ways as to what's "best for the country." For example, Serge Sarkissian and his HHK party find it necessary to rig elections and stick to power as long as possible (please see his reply to singer Serje Tankian). But there is no doubt that it [his election] will have a devastating effect on Armenia's future. As responsible citizens, the best thing we can is to oppose the HHK rule and stop them as soon as possible. That would be for the benefit of our country and nation. HHK is the biggest problem and threat to Armenia's future.

To my dear people,
We should have national  dignity and integrity towards our nation through our actions.
Do your best for your country and GOD will bless the rest.
You do something wrong, you pay for it sooner or later including myself.
With love,
Bedros Zerdelian

Dear Hovsep Ghumashian,
Not all of us are unaware of  what goes on in our homeland. Give me your  email address; I will email you my articles that shed light on many issues there. Unfortunately, space is limited here.
Other Keghart readers also may contact me at gayzagpal@aol.com to receive copies of the said articles.
Regards,
G.P.

I frequently read Keghart and appreciate the work you are doing. I live in Armenia, but currently work in Oman. Like so many citizens of Armenia, I have to work abroad to support my family.

Dear Vahe,

I. About the Sounds of the Letters.
It is in the Eastern Armenian language that we use all the sounds represented by all the letters of the Armenian alphabet, where we have three quintuples of letters, each voicing a unique consonant sound that also preserves our heritage found in Գրաբար (Grabar—Classical Armenian):

a) The first quintuple consists of single consonants: Հ (H); Լ (L); Մ (M); Ն (N); Յ (Y or soft H).

b) The second quintuple has pairs of adjacent consonants: Զ-Ս (Z-S); Ղ-Խ (Gh – Kh); Վ-Ֆ (V-F); Ռ-Ր (Rr-R); Ժ-Շ (Zh- Sh).

c) The third quintuple contains a triad of related consonants: Բ-Պ-Փ (B-frontal lip-P- soft P); Գ-Կ-Ք (G-soft K-Q); Դ-Տ-Թ (D- rigid-T-soft T); Ջ-Ճ-Չ (J-Tch-Ch); Ձ-Ծ-Ց (Dz-Tz-Ts). 

Unfortunately, under the influence of Arabic, Turkish and various Western languages, in the Western Armenian language the pronunciation disappeared from the first or middle consonants in the triads of the third quintuple; this happened also in the truly Armenian names of persons and places. In Western Armenian we are accustomed to hear Baruyrs, Dikrans, Giragoses and even Keghart etc., instead of Paruyrs, Tigrans, Kirakoses and other wonderful Armenian names, and Geghard, while each of those names represents its own specific sacral idea.

Apparently, you mean not about both Armenian literary languages, but the grammar difference that was imposed in 1927 under the Soviet general political decision “to develop and make easier the grammar of the Armenian language.” This brought stupid changes in the classical Mesropian orthography of the Eastern Armenian in Soviet Armenia; while the Armenians of Iran, for example, continued their correct way of writing in Eastern Armenian. However, the only sign that was lost in this “new-time” orthography was the letter «ւ» (vyune), and instead, two “new letters” were created as «ու» and «եւ» that were not letters at all. By the way, there is a struggle now between our true intellectuals and the Soviet-minded officials on this problem, and I am certain we will see Armenian youth soon writing in the classical way of our orthography, which is much more logical and reveals the roots of the words exactly. 

II. About the Order of the Letters.

Of course, our alphabet is a vivid expression of dialectical rules. I would call it an art work of the Creation of the World and its hierarchical system of values. It starts with Արարիչ (Ararich) and the illustrations of ideas, which I’ve described in this article, and finishes with Ք (Q) - a reflection of Քաոս - qaos (Chaos), Քայքայում – qayqayum (Destruction), with all the forms of its reflections. It is easy for me to affirm, that in fact the Armenian alphabet is much older that the Greek or another ones. And one of the talking-points is an ancient expression «from Alfa to Omega», that means “From the Beginning till the End” in all the languages («From A to Z» in English; «от А до Я» in Russian etc.) in the figurative sense. But having this expression means either outlining the development of the idea of Creation evolving to Destruction in each subsequent following letter of the Armenian alphabet, or just making a loaned translation into a foreign language with its own alphabetical system. This base language is the Armenian. Also, the age of this alphabet is much older than the founding of Christianity. Moreover, I am certain that the real, correct orthography of the name of Jesus is Կրիստոց (Cristots) coming from կրել [խաչը] – krel (carry [his cross]). And not քերել – qerel (tо scrape off) something so much important, that it was immortalized in His name.  But this is a too long of a story to tell it here.

III. About the Biblical Revelations.

I am also certain that the Seventh Chapter of John the Apostle’s Revelation is dedicated to the divine Armenian language, its basic composition, its 144,000 root words and 6 classical phonetic vowels, whereby 24 major languages emerged from this ancient protolanguage, giving birth to 24 dialects (or new languages) from it. I am also sure that neither Jehovah with his witnesses, nor Jesus’ brides or other sects had anything to do with this Revelation or sensibility. In general, reading Gospel texts as an ancient document and using the Armenian language as an embodiment of common sense, I am filled with optimism, because Apocalypses are nothing more than Ապագա իղձս – My Dreams about the Future. And I share it with all the readers of Keghart.com.

Սիրելի Վահէ,

Այստեղ նաև մանրամասն բացատրւում է ինչպէս Մաքի վրայ  լռելեայն հայերէն դասաւորութիւնը տեղադրել՝

hy.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ինչպես_գրել_հայերեն/ՕԷս_Տաս

Welcome back keghart.
We welcome you with open arms.

Are all of the 36 original characters of the Armenian alphabet still in use in Eastern Armenian? I have, may be, an erroneous impression that not all of them are in force since Soviet diction of our language came into effect.

I have remained under the impression that our alphabet is religiously inspired.  I have been told that it starts with Ա (A) for God (Աստուած - Asdo'wadz) and ends in Ք for Christ (Քրիստոս-Qrisdo's). Its seventh letter is  է (e’) signifying divine Being. The letter is prominently displayed above the Armenian Apostolic Church alter. Some even have even attributed the 36 original letters to the sum of total of Jesus’s age when he died and his three years of ministry. The alphabet’s Mendeleev -ian properties are news to me.

On a further note, the 144,000 root Armenian words reminded me of the Witnesses of Jehovah who claim that is the number of those who will inherit the Heaven. For a Jehovah Witness the 144,000 Armenian root words may have a divine mystery as well.

Shavarsh asks " who will volunteer ?". Certainly it is great to have ideas for the benefit of the nation. However, I ask you; which idea, which steps have benefited our nation? None. wishful thinkings  remain  just whishes.  Our history proves that we can not accomplish anything from Diaspora  for Armenia. Oh...yes....we can help financially, as a matter of fact, that is the only thing we  are doing.

All these slogans, the  establishments of umpteen organizations all remain on paper .

Suppose  Shavarsh's monitors do their job. Monitor the voting procedure...So what? So they find irregularities...so what? Do you think one moment that the results will change?

It happened...now that elections are over, now that foreign observers have seen and reported ballot stuffing and other irregularities the Mafia is still in power. By hook or by crook they stayed in power .

The last chance Armenia has is to have a president who is enlightened, is  law abiding, is western educated  who will get rid of all these crooks, oligarchs  etc...namely Raffi Hovanissian

An Armenian-Iranian prevented secession of Iran's Azerbaijan

In early 1970 on Armenia I came across an old, frail and tired Ardashes Ovanessian, Iran's highest-ranking Communist Leader. This honorable man was still able to lecture about his ideology, even though he was well aware that contrary to the old days in Iran, nobody in Soviet Armenia cared about his speeches.

This man was a brilliant, dedicated and a knowledgeable pharmacist and politician, fluent in almost a languages, but he wasted his precious time in vain supporting a failed ideology. 

I asked him many questions about Iran, the Soviet Union, international affairs and Soviet Armenia.  

He recounted the change of events of 1945 in Iranian Azerbeijan.  Ardashes Ovanessian, who was the Director-General of Iran’s Azerbaijani Pishavari government, disclosed his very important role. He had prevented the separation of Iranian Azerbaijan from Iran. He said, “The main goal of separatist movements in Iranian Azerbaijan in 1945 was entirely to separate Iran’s Azerbaijan from Iran and finally unify both Soviet and Iranian Azerbaijans.” He had been against the separatist movement and had prevented the separation of Iran’s Azerbaijan and thus its annexation to Soviet Azerbaijan.

Ovanessian continued, “I sent a secret massage to the leadership of the USSR that the separation movement in Azerbaijan was based on the personal and nationalistic interest of Soviet Azerbaijan leader Bagirov, and the separatist leader of Iran’s Azerbaijan, Pishevari. Bagirov wanted to unite the population of Iran’s Azerbaijan to a small minority in Soviet Azerbaijan. Because of my objection to ceding Iran’s Azerbaijan, they tried hard to get rid of me but they could not.”

I enjoyed talking with and learning from this dedicated and intelligent Armenian, but my meeting with him was bittersweet, as I was disappointed that such a knowledgeable and experienced man had wasted his entire life for a fruitless cause that had produced so many disastrous results.

This old and weak, but proud Armenian, who spent many years in hiding, prison, exile, and after having been sentenced to death in absentia by an Iranian court, was now retired and had left behind his vagrant life to come to his ancestral land and live at the mercy of the KGB.  This man had been my hero, especially when I found out that  he prevented  secession of  Iran's Azerbaijan from motherland Iran.

At the end of our meeting, I invited Ardashes Ovanessian to my wedding.

Ishkhan  Babajanian MD
USA

Dear Vahe
Thank you so much for translating the "Heavenly Kessab", a Chapter from Zaven Khanjian's newly published book and thank you for updating and informing us about this new book.
Indeed Kessab is Heavenly .
With best wishes and prayers
Rev. Serop Megerditchian
Aleppo
 

Varant,
No problem.there will pop up yet another soon  enough.Such is the Armenian  mindset unfortunately.Never to  converge-cooperate and come together-BTW, with all due respect to your  above  title,may I suggest  that we  in general do not use word describing  ourselves  with an  ism at the end...
The Spanish Speaking Armenians  have translated  that word  as ARMENIDAD,like Comunidad(community).Armenian(ism) bodes  bad and is not correctly translated   it should be  Armenity,like in community etc.,so much for  that.As to this new movement shall we say or whatever,i.e., the Renaissance.... yet another  NAKHAKHORHRDARAN, Haybachdban in France and the one  in Moscow  a  few  yrs ago  The world Armenian Congress and the one  in the making  perhaps to be hatched  soon in the U.S.  perhaps  and more  in  Homeland-Oh I near forgot  yrs ago when in Yerevan(I am there every year since  14 times or 15 don´t recall. I inquired  at the beginning  they had  66  political parties,last  year  come down to some 20  or less.What a mess... in my ¨¨Projections on a New Statute  for the Armenian Diaspora,published  January Yearbook of USArmenian Life ,I advocate like always since  30 or more  yrs for a Supreme Council of the Armenian Diaspora  with  5 Depts.  1.Legal-political In Strasbourg next to RA Delegation(not sitting alongside,but in same town)  in France,. 2the Economic  in Geneva CH. 3.Executive,in  NY  next to RA UN delegation as  above,4. Social Services& Repat.  in Moscow, (future  Repatriation organizing,near abroad) and Spiritual in  St. Etchmiadzin in conjunction with Great House  of Cilicia. All in constant contact  with best  communications means ,plus with all community country Central Councils.With all delegates  elected  for their MERITS.
Meanwhile  each community country with a Central Council .And in each Armenian dense Townships  of the Diaspora with a Central Body, submitting  to  the Central Council.
Why should we  opt  for  such Grandiose  names  as  Congress, Parliament   etc.,Nakhakhorhrdaran(what against the one  in Yerevan)The Diaspora´s stance  requires a more suitable  name to it  which after  many yrs of contemplation and writing preparing  the Charter  of same came to conclusion  that  Supreme Council is the most adequate  ,as rgds its  being a non local entity,but with ties to its  Homeland!!
Please excuse  me if   I have made errors  in spelling, due to typing  fast.BTW, recently another  weekly,namely  Nor Gyank(Armenian Life) has begun to publish  some  of my viewpoints etc.,the others,the partisan press ,as yet  have  not.

Varant,

There are no followers, not at least in this day and age that has empowered the single person way, way more than anytime in history.

There are however those of us who mold ourselves into a team and abide by collective good conduct, not necessarily at work only to make a living but elsewhere where we chose to volunteer.

It would be wrong of you to assume that the fine men and women who make up the ranks of ARF, or Ramgavars, or Hnchags or Renaissance as a matter of fact are mindless followers. The difference I see is the following, the former have endured and have made history that need to be built upon and  their moral capital put for good use while the likelihood of the latter, Renaissance, to long endure is questionable nor is indeed outside what i consider to be Diaspora establishment.

I would like to hear the status of Renaissance a decade from now, should Keghart and I be around.

Both Curzon and I have discussed the alegeld genocide here numerous times before. Search the archives as I don't feel like going at it again here. Simply put, attacking people who aid an invading enemy is not genocide. There was no aim to eliminate Armenians as was the case w/ jews in WW2.

Dear Ms. Gasparyan,

Mr. Siraki and Hayorti are absolutely correct in their assessments and many thanks to them for initiating the dialogue with you.

I would like to add, that Armenian Renaissance stands unequivocally on the side of non-violence.  Also, the movement is not about remote criticism or trying to bring down any government.  Armenian Renaissance strongly believes that it is the CITIZENRY of ARMENIA and Armenia alone that should determine its future.  That is why Armenian Renaissance stands shoulder to shoulder with any and all civil society movements in Armenia who work towards enhancing democracy and the spread of the true rule of law.  All Armenians want an Armenia to be proud of and a model country for the rest of the world.  The journey to achieve this will be long and arduous but it must start and there are many in Armenia who have embarked on it already.

Mr. Siraki is also right that this is a unique opportunity for the Diaspora(s) to mobilize around an idea of a better country for all Armenians.  It would be an excellent unifying vehicle to work towards that common goal.

Everyone has a role to play.  And everyone can play a role.  Thank you for stepping up to the challenge.  Please spread the word.

Paregamoren

VLA

Dear Anne, besides supporting a family of four (non relatives) both boys went through university then military service, one engaged since to be married all three are ready to get their feet wet in the real world.

In my opinion the Armenian economy needed our upmost attention so I gave the Armenian government clear instructions on how to start and create an economy, revitalize the old to the point where according to the latest Armenian press release Germany has become the largest investor and the US has 27 corporations operating in Armenia.

The open letter was sent about 5 years ago to President Serjz Sargsyan and was shared in the 24April@yahoo-group, you are welcome to access the membership correspondences and copy your Keghart members/readers.

Օգնելը, Հայաստանի զարգացման մասնակցիլ կը նշանակէ, եւ որպէս գործունեայ տարր, շատ կարեւոր է մեծ պատկերը տեսնել, որոշելու համար ձեր յաջորդ քայլը։ Եւ այդ պատկերը յաճախ քննադատութիւններ կարդալով կը կազմուի եւ կը յստականայ։ Յաճախ քննադատութիւնները կրնան ըլլալ արհամարհական, բայց ես վստահ եմ որ դուք կրնաք զատել առողջը եւ օգտուիլ․

Dr. Dikran Abrahamian,

I am so sad to hear about your health and losing my beloved keghart.com. I am confident you will be back; keghart.com means a lot to me.

Vrejouhy
Calgary, Alberta

Հարգելի Varvara Gasparyan,

Ուղարկում եմ քո ցանկացած տեղեկություները:

https://www.facebook.com/Nakhakhorhrdaran.33
եւ e-mail nakhakhorhrdaran@gmail.com

Սարդարապատ շարժումը համագորձակցում է նախախորհրդարանի հետ եւ իրենց կայքը հետեւյալն է  http://www.sardarapat.net/

Հարգանօք,

Թոմաս.

Dear Mrs. Gasparyan,
I don't think Renaissance's focus is to criticize from outside regarding political, economic, and social conditions in Armenia.  After reading the Renaissance "pitch",  I believe the movement wants to help civic groups in Armenia which want to improve life in Armenia.. In other words, the civic movements would be encouraged, promoted and even helped financially by Renaissance. This mostly-Diaspora movement will not set the agenda of Armenia civic movements nor would it become member in progressive Armenia movements. The agenda to establish a state, where the rule of law is paramount, has been set by Armenia groups and not by people "who live in comfort in faraway countries and give free advice" to Armenians living in our homeland. I would imagine Renaissance's would not provide blind support to Armenia civic movements. For example, if these groups opt for violence, I doubt Renaissance would support them.

Նայինք, թէ որքանով կ՝օգնենք Հայաստանին քան թէ որքան կը քննադատենք:

Commentaire trop fort!

Hello, Mr. Thomas Siraki,

Thanks for the reply. I am seriously considering myself to help the Armenian communities in Armenia. However, I am not so powerful to believe that “mi zaxikov garun kga. Petk en shat zaxikner vor garune ga u ereva.” I am happy that there are people who really are concerned and want to help. I was often in Armenia, and know what is going on there, but there must be an organization outside of Armenia, the members of which must be careful at the beginning when they try to  get involved in the local problems.

Could you give information on recently established Nakhakhorhertaran (Նախախորհրդարան) in Armenia? Who organized it and where is it located? Good luck in every attempt to help Armenia.

Regards,
Varvara Gasparyan

Dear friend,

You became Oxygen for the Armenians worldwide, and I am sure that you will return. Do not abandon us, please !!!!
Any help that I can make?

This movement would be a great help to the people of the homeland. It is enough to criticize from outside or give helpless advice; if we want to help our people, we have to be involved in their everyday life and see and feel how they live. Only then we will understand what is going on and what to do for a real help. I want to  participate in the Armenian Renaissance movement and get involved in organizing the  Նախախորհրդարան in Armenia. This coming summer I will be in Armenia, stay for a long period, and hopefully be helpful.

Varvara Gasparyan
RI, USA

This seems to be a great movement that may be considered as the Diaspora wing of recently established Nakhakhorhertaran  (Նախախորհրդարան) in Armenia.

Dear Dr. Abrahamian,
Very sorry to learn of your poor health. Your web site was an infinite source of knowledge for us Armenians and specially for the younger generation. Thank you.  I wish you speedy recovery and look forward to reading you again soon. 
Kind regards,
Maria Lucia   

Parev Baron Hovasapian,

Shad urakh em yev hbard vor spyurqum tsez nman patkareli Hay kapri, ov sharunakum e Hayapahpanutyan gortsy gir yev grakanutyan, hodvatsneri michotsov artsartsum eq karevoraguyn hasarakakan hncheghutyun unetsogh temaner. Shahnuri veraberyal tser gaghaparnery hamamardkayin siro, hamamardkayin arjeqnerin haghordakits linelu hrashali gaghapary hianali eh. Bravo TSEZ! Miteh otarnery karogh en antarber mnal  METSN TUMANYANI poemneri steghtsagortsutyunneri nkatmamb? Voch, iharke voch! Hiravi hpartanum em tzezanov. Lusavor apaga em tsankanum tsez yev bolor Hayeris.
 

Շատ շնորհալի գործ եք անում, վերջերս նկատեցի Ձեր կայքը, պատրաստ եմ աջակցել հայապահպանության, հայախոսության զարգացմանը, տարածմանը: Ինձ մեծ հաճույք է պատճառում կարդալ, մանավանդ լսել մեր ոսկեղենիկ արևմտահայերենը, որը դժբախտաբար Հայաստանում պակասում է, եթե կան արևմտահայերենով հեռուստալիքներ համացանցով դիտման, կխնդրեի հղումները ուղարկել: Ես ոչ մի կերպ չեմ կարողանում գտնել

Unedited

Եթէ կը մտնամ այս կայքէջ,աւելի ճիշտ կը վերադառնամ,միմիայն քո նման Հայորդիներու հետ շփւելու ,  դրդւած, մտաւոր հարաբերութեանց պահանջէն է :Քանզի քուկին վերջին  պարբերութեան   համար ունիմ  լայնածաւալ բացադրութիւն, սակայն  մերժւած, հրատարակւելէ:

Աւելի ճիշտ ծաւալուն ԶԿՈՅՑ*paper է  ան, զոր որոշ անձինք-ըստ ընկեոջս,տեսակ մը հիւանդ-չուզեցին լոյս ընծայւէ: Սակայն  իմ պայքարը ,հինեն  կուգայ,դուն  լաւ  գիտես: Շուտով մէկ  երկու  Հայատառ շաբաթաթերթերու  մէջ պիտի հրատարակւէ,*to the chagrin  of  some  of my unfriends.Միմիայն  մէկ բան աւելցնեմ:  Ես  կը հաւատամ գաղաբարներու բազմազանութեանց,կը յարգեմ  բոլորին ալ,ուրեմն կը նախընտրեմ  ըսել  ՄԻԱԲԱՆԻՆՔ-Միաբանւինք,cooperate: Միութիւն չի կարող լինել -օրինակ- Ձախ եւ Աջ հոսանքներու  մեջ,բայց  ինչու  չէ Միա բանիլ   հնարաւոր  է:Վկայ  Ֆրանսիոյ  պէս Երկիրներ....
Յարգանօք, ինչպէս  միշտ
Կայծակ Փալանճեան

Khendrem asek  te inch  konkret  kayler ek arrajarkum  vorpeszi  irok arjani  mardik  enterven Azgayin "Himnadir" Khorherdaran, yev inchpes karogh e ays nor khorherdarane dzerrk berel  gortsadir  uj-ishkhanutyun.
 

Հարգելի ազնվական անձիք, իբրեւ մի անծանօթ հայ մարդ, գնահատում եմ այսքան հսկայ մտածելակերպից:  Այո, հենց ձեր տված լուծումն էլ տրված է վերջին նախադասության մէջ:  Խորին համոզումով եւ համաձայնելով գրվածքի բովանդակության, կը-ցանկանամ հավելացնեմ որ ԺԱՄԸ ՀԱՍԵԼ Է հենց այդ ԳԱՂԱՓԱՐԻ շնչով հենց այդ ԽԵՆԹԵՐԻՆ գտնել եւ ԳՈՐԾՆԱԿԱՆ ՔԱՅԼ ՎԵՐՑՆԵԼ, երկիրը փրկելու:

I hardly knew about the Zaza a decade ago but recently a friend from Dersim gave me an unexpected gift, the CD Petak.

What a wonderful reconstruction of music which was lost and buried like much of the grand history and highly developed culture of historic Armenian provinces in present day Turkey which was deliberately dismantled and destroyed or stolen and misattributed after the Genocide. I congratulate the composers, producers and performers, all worked to achieve a high degree of authenticity and inventiveness in restoring and bringing it back to life. 

This collaboration between excellent musicians from Armenia, Turkey and the Diaspora, shows great sensitivity in respecting the folklore traditions which were exceptionally rich in the Armenian provinces exemplified by the superb textiles, carpets, silverwork, pottery and other artifacts I have examined in the History Museum of Yerevan. Since the majority of Armenian ethnography was lost in Turkey it has become all the more precious.

On this CD each track has its own character, flavour with marvellous singers and excellent instrumentation on authentic instruments.  Petak is one of the best collections I have heard and deserves to be widely heard, broadcast and praised. I look forward to the next Petak.
 

 Very few have filled me with so much admiration.

Dear VTiger

I owe you and the readers of Keghart.com an apology.

I checked the Internet many a time searching for a picture of the cover of the book and hence came across to the book's title numerous times, yet again apparently I saw what has remained etched in my mind about the book, Ourfa. Thus you have the erroneous title depicted on my "art work" and in the body of the text.

Several years ago I donated a good number of my books about Armenians to the Armenian Library and Museum of America Inc. located in Watertown, MA. I had brought some of these books with me and I had others sent after settling here. They had been my silent companions for many years. ALMA is where they are now safely secured. I am under the impression Henry W. Clockler’s book was one of them. Any reference to the book in my text is from memory.

A short while ago I sent an email to the Executive Director of ALMA Inc., Susan Pattie, asking her to kindly look for the book in their collection and should they have a copy, have the cover of the book scanned and sent either to me or Keghart.com as a response to your well observed commentary.

Hopefully the book will be located there and a copy of the cover will be available for a visual correction of my error.

Apologetically

Vahe

Sad to see you go after so much investment.

Establishing Keghart.com has been a courageous step and it has been an interesting and inspiring source of information. I hope it is not a too serious health condition and I am counting on seeing you here again soon.

I hope there is an army of worthy successors to keep up with the good job till your return.

Antsadz ella.

Shnorhagalootyounner yev pari abakinoom!

Dikran,

Recover quickly and come back.... As we always have... victoriously... Armenians never get defeated, and you will not!

Thank you for the quality content shared.

Warm regards,

Sevag

Dikran - I am very sorry that you will no longer be able to continue your work with Keghart. Please send me the 5 year anthology.

Dear Dikran,
My best wishes for you and speedy recovery.
Thank you for serving us with good quality articles and discussions  with your website.

Best regards,
Hagop

Sorry to see you go, Dikran.

Your work was really an A+.

May you be rewarded with blessings !!!

Best always,

Harry

 

GT,

I agree with you.

The fact is many countries and their scholars have manipulated the history of languages and etymology for political ends. The Europeans and Americans have insisted that the fatherland of Indo-Europeans is in Europe and proto I-E language was born in Europe. Tinged by racism, cultural and political superiority complex, they couldn't abide by the truth: the fatherland of the Indo-Europeans are the Armenian Highlands and the mother language of Indo-Europeans was born in historic Armenian lands. The Western academics published history books, language books, etc. to "prove" their false thesis. Armenians, who have limited resources, couldn't put up an effective rebuttal to the Western falsehood. But finally, the truth caught up with the biased West. For more than 40 years evidence has been piling proving the Western scholars wrong. As recently as two months ago, a New Zealand team again established that the homeland of the Indo-Europeans is Eastern Asia Minor.

The unfortunate fact is that scholars are susceptible to biases, to pressures and the inevitable self-interest. Ajarian was under Soviet pressure. I foresee Armenian philologists, etymologists going over Ajarian's oeuvre in the next decade. He was not infallible. According to him (see his "Armadagan Pararan") more than 50% of Armenian words were imported from Persia. This reflects badly on Armenians, indicating a culturally barren colony, north of Persia. As anyone who studies etymology knows, words and their derivations can be twisted. Since Armenia is the fatherland of the Indo-European race and language, why not postulate that it was the Persians who imported words from Armenia?

Perhaps it gives you a good feeling to sound "universalist" and say you don't mind who borrowed from whom. The world doesn't work like that, not even the academic world. Armenians, members of a small nation, have often been  maliciously ignored by odar scholars. They have tried to diminish our contributions to human civilization. We have to fight to make sure our contributions are no longer dismissed, our Khorenatsis not ridiculed as fantasists.

When we recognize the contribution of an Armenian genius, we lift the prestige of Armenia and Armenians. Please remember that in another context, Hitler said: "Who now remembers the Armenians?" Had we not been ignored and had our 4,000-year-old civilization not ignored, I bet the Austrian sergeant wouldn't have uttered that notorious sentence.

Dear Mr. Guiragossian,

Thank you very much for the comment. You ask me, when you will see the whole book? Well, it is easy to write for me, but is astonishingly complicated to publish one in my country: our “publishing houses” demand money for that event instead of paying to the author. That’s why I am forced to write those in foreign languages and am well-known in Russia as an author of a bestseller. Who knows? Maybe someday, there will crop up a publisher in the US or Canada who will ask me to write this book. I will do it with pleasure in a couple of months. The number of readers of this article shows that the publisher will not be disappointed.

Ridiculous.

Armenians (foolishly) believed in Wilson and the Entente Powers after the genocide and World War I, and now they're being asked to "believe" in some sort of just "world public"? The same world public that considers Karabagh to be "Armenian-occupied," right? Please.

As GT said: get real.

With respect, correct me if I am wrong, isn't that paper for the denial of genocide in general or the Armenian Genocide in particular? I think it is the former. In which case, while commendable, it does not do much to the topic in question-- that of the Azeri-Turko reaction toward Armenia and Artsakh.

President Hollande has been building bridges with Turkey and is probably distancing himself form the Armenian topic.
The question here is not the Armenian Genocide which is exactly what the original writer of this article is stating: it is the growing power (s) around us and their potential threat.
 

You must  have  noticed  by now that our advocacy for return of land is being tied with Restitution and Reparations.  I am advocating Claim to be lodged against Turkey on the basis of Blood  Money, a factor  that  has precedents--Jewish and our own successful claims viz NY Life and AXA  Life insurance policies of many Armenians who did  not die  in their sleep in  Ottoman and Kemalist Turkey,  but were killed. Those two companies honoured  and paid  up.

With respect to the land claim  I suggest to be patient  until the Kurdish factor becomes  ripened. You may rest  assured  that  there have been contacts with the Kurdish parliament in exile (Belgium).  BTW, Dr. Henry Astarjian  is quite  an authority  on the subject being from Mosul,  Iraqi Kurdistan.

The word landlocked  has been given to us by the powers to be. Armenia is not, at least totally locked  and even if it is or was, has successfully pulled through being  on very good  terms with Iran  and Georgia, good transit routes, and up North via Georgia to Russia  and Europe, elsewhere by the oceans.

Land  to and in  Western Armenia  is well guarded  mainly by some 18 or more million Kurds. By now they are quite well acquainted with Turkish brutality  leaning towards  us. Thence  Land  issue can wait..

As to your  hints  that  Diaspora Armenians are unwilling as yet to go to RA/Artsakh, regretfully there have  not been serious plans to realize a real repatriation..
 

Յարգելի ԵՐԵԲՈՒՆԻ լրատուի խմբագրական կազմ, գնահատելի աշխատանքի նախաձեռնած էք ԵՐԵԲՈՒՆԻ ցանցային մամուլի նորահիմնումով: Ձեր նպատակադրած «անաչառ, եւ հաւասարակշռուած  լրատուութիւն» կարգախօսով հիմնաւորուիլը կը պարտաւորեցնէ ձեզ վճռակամօրէն հարատևել  ձեր ճշգրիտ ուղիին մէջ, տիրանալու համար համընդհանուր մեծաթիւ ընդերցասէրներու:

Յաջողութիւն և բարի երթ ձեր բարդ ճանապարհին:

It is clear there is an imperative urgency to give all possible assistance by able Armenians to Armenian refugees in distress due to the Civil War in Aleppo.  

. 

"We want our lands back. The lands we have lived on since—at least—2,250 B.C."

I know, a lot of readers of this website will hate me, but when you people will get real? Maybe 30 years ago this statement had some emotional value. After the establishment of the Armenian Republic 20 years ago and the subsequent war with Azerbaijan you should have learned two simple facts:

1. You can not demand a land; you can only win it spilling a lot of blood in a war. No other government or court in the world can or will give land to you. And no matter how many maps President Wilson and his successors drew, it's up to Armenians to liberate and protect their lands.

2. This may sound very patriotic statement if you live in Los Angeles or Marseilles or somewhere else in the world where there are a significant number of Armenians, but for a citizen of Armenia, living (surviving) in a landlocked and blockaded country, there are more vital needs than the return of a land where none of you will live.

The question of who is going to live on these lands is not an easy one. A small piece of land (compared to Western Armenia) was liberated in Artsakh/Karabakh and around it in a brutal war. Why don’t you first address the re-population of these territories before dreaming of Kars? You may well know that Armenia is losing population, instead of gaining it.

Also, do not neglect the fact that these lands are populated by Kurds who strive for their own independence and state. Did you ever consider making any sort of alliance with them? Oh, I know your answer: they butchered us; they are murderers we can not form alliance with the Kurds. That's bad politics. Politics is a dirty business. Realpolitik demands that we use them against the Turks the way the Turks used them against us. Kurds are many; they might be armed, but they need a lot more. They need lobbying for their case to the powerful Western nations. We are good at it, we got resources and the tools. They will need a lot more arms if they are going to fight the Turkish army seriously. Russians may be happy to arm them, but would never do it directly. I'm sure we still got a few “Sarkis Soghanalian”s who might contribute to that. As a matter of fact, they may just need good advice which might be worth sharing the land with us.

And then we might need to learn to live in a multi-ethnic Armenia, because if we look at the facts we may realize that not many of us are going to move from Glendale to Kars, and not many who are forced to move (like Syrian Armenians nowadays) like to work on the land. We prefer big cities--Constantinople, Tiflis, Moscow, Paris, Los Angeles or at least Yerevan.  But the land needs tending.

I do want to see the the Genocide acknowledged by Turks, and reparations made in form of land or money. I want to see Armenia strong and prosperous. But please, let's get real if we want achieve anything. Just demanding the land where we lived for 4,000 years (mind you, stateless for 700 years) is not the way to accomplish that.

I'm not sure if the insinuated divide is within Armenians or a perception from outside. Since they adopted Christianity, Armenians seem to have been striving to protect Western/Christian values, while being exploited and rejected by the West due to Armenians' Eastern pedigree/nature.

My congratulations to yet another Armenian on-line publication. Well done. I wish you all the best.

However, I have a bone to pick with you. It's the choice of Armenian fonts in "Yerepouni" and "Keghart.com". The Keghart font has that enormous Armenian "R" which is still being used with resolute obstinacy (despite remarks from readers) and now the Yerepouni site has chosen a font so small and grey that it is illegible on the grey background of the site. Don't we have the equivalent of Arial-style Armenian fonts? What is wrong with our IT people who cannot come up with fonts which are legible at first glance and don't force the reader to resort to magnifying the size of their browser? Come on, guys! We are not in the Dark Ages anymore! Everything is possible at the touch of a button.

Yours hopefully.....

 

Firstly, I wonder why Salpi Ghazarian--all of a sudden--in her communication, compares Iran to Syria. Probably it is because of her being Armenian from an Arab country. Let's talk clearly, please. The Arab-Armenian factor is sharper than, say, the Persian-Armenian one. Armenians of Iran, who have left that country for Armenia, for Europe, North America, and Australia, do not miss Persian books for their children in  Armenian schools in the aforementioned  countries.

I suspect  the Arabian effect  has had a stronger stamp on the Armenians from Arab countries. I noticed that when I first set foot here in  North America. I think it  is well past the time that our compatriots--whether from Arab countries or other such second fatherland countries abandoned that feeling and came home to the nation state of the Republic of Armenia.

 

Dr. Demirdjian, contrary to your view, I find the Armenians united, as unison can be, especially for the dynamic society they are. Then of course it all depends how one understands and values unity. I am under the impression that we do not distinguish enough between being united and being centralized.  True, the Armenians continue not to be centralized in political, social, spiritual, literary matters.

The unified will of the Armenians to survive as a distinct race against all adversity and at times odds has been the reason for us to continue to have a history that is being written and lived as we speak. I  find no other reasonable explanation for the millennia old society the Armenians are.

I take with a grain of salt your assertion, within the context of its implied message, that “ A glance at the Armenian history would show one that Armenians have been disunited even in the face of the enemy “.

Good luck to the new website!

Thank you Lia for the response.

I do not have an Armenian dictionary for synonyms, but I have English-Armenian, Armenian-English dictionaries and that is where I looked and hence wondered about the number of synonyms you mentioned.

The listing of the synonymous words for love you posted may have been from the dictionary you mentioned. I cannot say that I relate to each one of them as being synonymous to the word սէր "ser" (love), the way I understand being synonymous means, such as “buy” or “purchase”. Then again love has always been difficult to understand, explained and defined.

Dear Compatriot,
Mosul is mostly populated by Kurds who enjoy U.S. protection. The Kurds are the partial owners of the oil there. Indeed, the distributing oil-producing companies are a threat in their own right and modality.
The famous Caloost Sarkis Gulbenkian had a 5% stake right from the beginning of exploration and production of  the oil. I wonder if it forms part of  his will. A brilliant nephew of  his is there in that same field as a professional in the oil industry. The rest is upon us, Armenians (in teamwork, i.e. my earlier suggestion), for example, through an Armenian bar association.
Hasgtsoghin  Barev.

Dear Gaytzag, comments are supposed to be short and to-the-point.  Mr. Yenikomshian has not written a comment yet, his submission was an article, submitted to Keghart, called A More Actionable Road Map...

As for posting in the comments section, you may consider doing the following:

1. Write on a Word document (very long posts may not be published)
2. Edit it properly and do not use ALL CAPS.
3. After you have finished your editing copy your text.
4. Then open the comment section and click on the W icon in the menu bar. It will open a box.
5. Paste your text in the box and click on OK.

Regards,
keghart.com

Muy Senor mio:

Este articulo me interesaba muchisimo!  Yo soy armenio cien porciento y naci en los Estados Unidos de padres que nacieron de Lebanon.  Quiero agregar mi experiencia de una cuidadita en Ecuador que se llama "La Armenia."  Tenia novia de Ecuador y fuimos alli para encontrar este pueblita.  Cuando lo encontre, pregunte la gente por la razon del nombre de la cuidad, y nadie me pudo dar una respuesta.  Pues, hice una investigacion para que sepa la razon del nombre de Armenia.  Apparentamente, habia armenios alli, pero cuando fui no aparecio ni uno.  Este tema me interesa muchisimo, y muchas gracias para el articulo y solo queria compartir mi experiencia.  Me voy a columbia en marzo, y buscare por mas armenios!!  Si conocen algun area que tenga armenios por favor indicame para que pueda conocerlos!  Muchas gracias..

-Harout Doukmajian

Hdoukmaj@terpmail.umd.edu

Fabulous article. So much new and interesting material. I can hardly wait for Part III. Thank you, Ms. Avetissian. I am shocked and hugely disappointed that, so far, only 18 people have read it. This is material that elevates us individually and collectively. The series also exposes how Western "scholars" have misrepresented our culture and in the process tried to diminish us. Ms. Avetissian is fighting whole schools of Western academics who, often for political reasons, try to bury our contributions to civilization. Join the fight against these anti-Armenians by reading Ms. Avetissian.

Hamasdegh,

Indeed, it is not "too much to expect of Armenians to develop a strategic thinking and a plan for best dealing with the challenges we face". Well and above the differing views you have noted in the various comments here, none of which you seem to espouse to build a consensus for a strategy, I wonder if you have a proposal for one. 



 

Reading the various comments posted here, I conclude that most of us are confused about Armenian issues, and have differing views as to how to address these, depending where we come from, and because of that how we see the world around us. It is obvious that in matters of  pan-Armenian nature and importance, we still live in antiquity!!! I see more discordant notes than ability to pull together a common view that represents OUR common position and strategic thinking rather than a myriad of perplexing statements that bear no relation to reality. So how can you expect non-Armenians to show  understanding of, and support for our cause when we are unable to articulate a solid, simple, common perspective that advances our cause?  Is it too much to expect of Armenians to develop a strategic thinking, and a plan for best dealing with the challenges we face?  

Try two comparison of your examples:
1) French colonization has failed in Algeria, Frenchmen had to return to their country. Currently, there is an important Algerian immigration in France. Over the decades an important minority causes disturbance in France;
2) Could you replace Algerian with Armenian and French with Turks and conclude "Armenian youth riots in Mongolia"? A dream!

Dear Hayorti,
I agree with your discussion, except for your first point. I stress that our relationship with France goes far beyond the last 700 years, and the Levon Lusignans, the last king of Cilicia, was buried next to his cousins, because the French kings were much more Armenian than Frenchmen.

Let me clarify first a minor detail for readers of Keghart.com.

The French Foreign Minister did not say what he said to "Hurriyet Daily News" in an interview. "Hurriyet" printed an excerpt of an article that FM Laurent Fabius  wrote and which was originally published in the Fall 2012 issue of Turkish Policy Quarterly (TPQ). Here is the link : http://www.turkishpolicy.com/article/831/france-and-turkey-new-horizons-for-a-long-standing-relationship-fall-2012/

So essentially Mr. Fabius was not responding to a question, but rather developing his views,and I am sure those of France,in an article he authored on bilateral Turkish-French issues, including the reference he made to the Armenian Genocide.

If there are still Armenians on this earth that believe that our efforts in the diaspora for the wide recognition and acceptance of the Armenian Genocide are sufficient, energetic, comprehensive,compelling in focus  and effectiveness the way we conduct them at this moment and hence can  bring Turkey to its knees on this matter, I am sorry to say they are deluding themselves. Nor am  I among those who sees an enemy in every corner.

The way things are now, and will be definitely so in the future unfortunately, is that we offer little in building knowledge and support across the board in European and world public opinion about what happened almost a century ago, and why it is important for citizens of the world to recognize the crime and stand for justice.

It is only when we have an overwhelming support from  fellow citizens of the world to our cause and when such citizens are able and willing to  ring pressure on their politicians to say and do things that push the Genocide recognition agenda forward that we can expect results. Otherwise we will have people like Fabius and others who will use double talk to appear as wise politicians who are promoting the " building of bridges" among nations while actually doing nothing except serving the interest of their state and nation the way they see it fit.

It took the Jewish diaspora 45 years of intensive, wide ranging, mutli-purpose effort after 1967 to bring the Holocaust to the forefront of public discussion and implant it in the consciousness of the world so that no one had or has the slightest doubt about the evil that Nazi Germany committed.What we are doing is so amateurish, so disjointed that the best we are getting is half baked "sympathy" pronouncements  from certain quarters sprinkled with some political double talk based on commercial, trade, political and military interests related to the Turkish presence in the Middle East, even though the long term prospects of Turkey as a united republic, hence a forceful presence, is at best problematic.

I am sorry I have fallen to day in the trap of those who talk and make speeches...  I do recognize my utter failure here. My apologies. I think we better shut up and work with two or three long term results  in mind and the intelligence that goes with it. Intelligence here means ability to gather facts, put them together and analyze them for better understanding the trends that affect our life.
 
 

Parev,

After reading the descriptions and discussions on the subject, I would recommend all of you to express yourselves in Armenian, because all what have said is being read by non Armenians, you name it,  and this is harmful intelligence and it works and is working  against us, Syrians, of Armenian ethnic origin.

Pajanvadz azki me jagadikire arants herades ghegavaroutyants tejvar oreroun aysbisi hedevank gounena. Ouji tem ouj bedkeh kordzadzel. Hasguetsoghin shad parev. 

Mr. Kavafian,

If you want to exchange opinion, first you have to be civil: calling me delusional, when you don't know me, is the wrong way to start the conversation. Also, "rats @#%, etc." is unseemly. I'm surprised Keghart editors did not delete your crude word.

Re the 700-year connection: there's hard politics and there's soft politics. Cultural relations are soft politics; historic links are soft politics. A great deal of Israel's diplomacy in its early days was soft politics (the Bible mainly). It still works.

You say we should praise Mr. Fabius, win him over... Praise him for working against our interests? Mr. Fabius is a lost cause. For years he has demonstrated a diplomatic anti-Armenian bias. Just as there's no reason to elaborate on his motives, so is there no reason to think he would budge in his anti-Armenian stance. This is not the first time he has gone against his president. He also fought President Sarkozy on this issue.

You say Armenians have to make themselves likeable to him. I guess you mean the French-Armenians. What do you want them do? Kiss the august Fabius' hand? Take him to lunch at the Maxim's? Wish him "Happy Hannuka?" French-Armenians have contributed more than enough to France for fabulator Fabius to "like" us.

I don't know whether you are correct when you say there are more Turks than Armenians in France. Even if you were, that doesn't place Turks on equal footing with the Armenians in that country. If you were correct, it would also  mean there are more Turks than Jews in France. Yet there are no French-Turkish presidents, foreign ministers, prime ministers, cabinet ministers in France, the way there are French-Jews. Armenians are also part and parcel of society there; they have given many great men and women to France in the past 80 years. Meanwhile, Turks are newcomers who are regarded--rightly or wrongly--by suspicion.
.
The threat that French workers would lose jobs, if the bill passes, is an empty one. Every time a country has recognized or signaled that it would recognize the Genocide, Ankara has dispatched threats, recalled ambassadors...and then a few months later, with its tail between its legs, has reconciled to the reality which you preach.

President Hollande wants to pass the bill. He needs all the ammunition to fight his errant foreign minister who apparently has his own agenda. I think the Keghart editorial contains some information, views and phrases which can be useful to French-Armenians in the next phase of their battle against Turkish blackmail and Fabius' kowtowing to Ankara.

When you compare Obama's treachery and Hollande's promise you betray lack of understanding of international politics. America has a population of  335 million. American-Armenians count for fewer than 1.5 million. France has a population of around 60 million. French-Armenians are about 500,000. They also have a high and positive profile in that country, while in the U.S. millions wouldn't know the difference between Armenian and Albanian. You say Obama went back on his word therefore Hollande will also do so. I don't see the logic of that argument.  One has to be careful when one makes comparisons.

What do you mean when you say Armenians should stop whining? After reading your letter, I re-read the Keghart editorial. I didn't see any whining. Perhaps you were making a "State of the Union" message to the 8-million Armenians around the globe.

Finally, Fabius' candle has burnt long enough. He is at the tail end of his career. "Au revoir" to him would be a more appropriate communication as he leaves the stage. Perhaps there's an Antalya all-inclusive vacation waiting for him, courtesy of Erdogan-Davutoglu-Gul.

The Keghart editorial is on target. 

What is most disappointing is that the Armenian government has had nothing to say about Fabius' statement.  Fabius called into question the veracity of the Armenian genocide and essentially kowtowed to Turkey, and yet Armenia remains silent?  

What the Armenian Foreign Ministry could do, if it did not want to make a public statement, is leak some comments to the media in which it takes France to task for Fabius' statement and reminds the French of the times that they have betrayed Armenians in the past. 

I maintain that when Armenians are insulted, they must strike back. 

Well, the French are wimps and the Armenian government is pathetic.
 

With all documents and iron-clad proof that "would fill a room at the Louvre" (and they have rather large rooms there) what is stopping us from going to the World Court of Justice at the Hague? It is long overdue. I guess there is  a reason of why we haven't done so. Perhaps a legal expert can explain to us why it can or cannot be done. Is it not the purpose of this court to decide?
 

Hayorti,

I'm afraid that you are delusional in your expectations. Trying to connect events of 700 years ago to today and expect sympathy from the population of today is so unrealistic that it borders on science fiction. In politics you take what you can get. There is nothing Armenians can do; so align yourself tightly with Mr. Fabius; praise him; thank him and win him over. Who gives a rats' @#%$ today in France that France betrayed us in 1923 as much as that is an important issue to us. You can't force someone to like "you". You have to make yourself "likeable".

There are just as many Turks in France, if not more than there are Armenians. The French government has been a cheerleader for Armenian causes and Armenians. Better start appreciating that. Every politician has to be able to double-talk. No government official will be able to tell French workers that they lost their jobs because Turkey chose a competing nuclear plant or subway trains because of France's position on the Armenian Genocide that took place in the previous century. You have to be realistic.

If you force a decision on someone, you may not like the answer you are going to get. Push comes to shove, Hollande can say forget it. We are not going to support the Armenian Cause. What will you gain by that? And what can you do? Obama won the U.S. election by completely ignoring the Armenians. What leverage you have now?

Stop whining and use what Fabius is doing to your advantage.
 

I think your analysis of Mr. Fabius' column in Hurriyet is unfair and misleading. Instead of always feeling victimized, Armenians should celebrate a column such as this one written by Mr. Fabius. What else do you want after 100 years from a foreign power? What is important to Armenians is not so important to non-Armenians and yet even so, a foreign minister of a great power is lecturing Turkey on the Armenian genocide. He is mentioning the Armenian Genocide in his column and he is calling on Turkey to make peace with its past. You are misunderstanding the letter and I believe you have unrealistic expectations of what foreign governments can do for the Armenian cause. I believe they are doing enough and we should be thanking them instead of criticizing them. I was elated at reading his column a few days ago. Bravo and thank you Mr. Fabius.

Best regards

We ought to update our trends. Today's world prefers novelty, hybrid cars, faster communication tools, etc. To pursue  something that is considered a "failed" objective by many is meaningless. We  must opt for films, such as about the war in Artsakh, and/or from novels comparable to books on which movies such as "Schindler's List" were based. In other words, movies more in line with contemporary trends and which might thrill an audience.

I "suggest" that we assign a professional to write a movie script of  Jack Hashian's "Mamigon" novel. Hashian is
American-Armenian. I reversed the descriptive from Armenian-American because he was a State Department official and his novel is easily adaptable to local likes, mores, expectations.

"Mamigon" begins in Western Armenia and ends in Boston. It's a thriller which talks about the mass killings and  deportation of 1915 before moving to the U.S. I suggest our compatriots read it. "Mamigon" has a plot which would make a popular contemporary movie.

I am not saying we shouldn't try to produce another "Forty Days of Musa Dagh". There was such a film, but it was not very successful.

Vahe,
I don't know whether "dessoutune" is derived from "dessnel". I wish I did.
The point I am making is that rather than checking various sources, Armenians tend to rush to Ajaryan's "Armadagan Pararan" whenever there's a question about the origin of Armenian words. His is not the only source; he is not infallible. The tendency to assume Ajarian is the only or final word would freeze research into the origins of the Armenian language.

Vahe jan,

Cilicia was ours, Aleppo is not.

We need to assist the Armenians in Syria, but I am more concerned about the children, the young. I wish if the Melkonian Institute was functional so that those boys and girls could have been salvaged from the trauma of the war at least. Many have argued that Armenia would have been a better choice, but it seems Armenia is not ready yet...

Just a thought but we need action.

Respectfully,
Hagop Toroyan

A Syrian-Armenian's decision to emigrate would weaken our presence there but might be beneficial to him. So be it. Thinking that we are being "good" Armenians, we have no right--thousands of miles away from the bullets and the bombs--to put our national "interests" ahead of the interests of endangered Armenians and advocate that they stay put. It's easy to give advice far from the bullets and the bombs.

Syrian-Armenians should decide what they want to do and tell us what kind of assistance they need--whether they want to stay, to emigrate to Lebanon, Armenia or to the West.

What does the outcome of the war in Syria mean for Armenians? According to Henry Kissinger, “If Assad wins, it would be bad for the West and if the opposition wins it will also be bad for the West."

No matter what happens, Armenians will be in a worst situation. Those who could afford, have already left Syria; those who could not, are still there. It is ironic that we always expect the poor to pay the price of "survival".

Shouldn’t the poor have a dignified exit from a country that offers no future to our compatriots for the next three decades? We should not forget the Lebanese experience. The prospect of a Lebanese-Armenian in 1975 was far better than it is now.

Ted is right. Ted has challenged the status quo.

Respectfully,
Hagop Toroyan

Dear Mr. Seraydarian,

Thank-you for your thoughts. I'll address your points in turn.

1. We can agree to disagree.

2. Lebanon is an example of a country where [Syrian] refugees can go. It is not a necessary destination. In fact, you can make an argument that every country or region I proposed is not an ideal destination.

3. I do not know the particulars of the restrictive visa requirements in the West. In fact, I said as much and thought the Armenian Bar Association would be a good resource. However, seeing how you seem to know, maybe you can further discuss this point. 

4. Go for it. 

5. Prove me wrong that unemployment in Armenia is a false argument. Lots of Armenians from Armenia leave Armenia do so for this very reason.

6. We can agree to disagree.

Best,  

Ted

Yerp, aysbess gochvads mer lrakroghneruh, bidi kdnvin irents isgagan terin mech? Aysinkn,

1. Pokhanag lradevagan-verloudsagan midk zarkatsenogh keroutunnerov hantess kalou, tatrin zgatsagan yev voch meg tsevov joghovourti kaghakagan midki magartaguh partsratsenogh ardahaydoutunner kordsadseleh? Orinag, Fransayee  hastseyeen oughvads "gardjades","neghmid","dkhmar","tadargabord" pareruh

2. Mer norelloug krogh-herosneruh tatrin kidtsads-chekidtsads, Hayasdani ishkhanoutunneruh, masnavorapar nakhakahuh, (antsyalin, LDB, Kocharian, isg nergayis Sarkissian) knnatadeleh.

3. Yev verchabes, kren voch te krelou sirouyn.

Sorry to tell you that the picture you've posted as that of an Armenian church most probably is a Greek Orthodox church.
 

Tell us something we don't know.

This article by an expert in Armenian language-an Armenologist - tells me how far apart the Western and Eastern Armenians have grown linguistically and idiomatically.

In our family, grandparents and on, we have never used հաց ուտել (eat bread). Instead we use կերակուր ուտել (east food). Also, I have never been to a հոգեհաց but I have been to հոգե-ճաշ.

If you ask me, I would say that I do not think թէորէա is an Armenian word. To me it is an Armenianized word for the non-Armenian word theory. The correct word for me is տեսություն (eastern Armenian spelling). I was surprised to read that the author thinks that  "(տեսութիւն) for theory" is a ridiculous choice.

I have never used in conversation Ակս/զ/իմա, which is another odd word for me. In fact this is the first time I come across the word. Instead I have often used the word կարծիք (opinion).

There goes the "one" nation.................... 

Vahe,

I am not related to either of them.

Warm regards,

Ted 

I carefully read Garabed's comments. I respect his thoughts, and he does have a point. I would like to state that my presentation will not be a sentimental speech, nor contemplation on a "paradise lost." I will not just simply enumerate the places I visited: just the opposite. I will expound on certain issues we have to contemplate for the sake of taking positive actions for a better future. Furthermore, I intend to publish my book in Turkish and in English, because it is enriched with a great deal of information on the history of the Armenian people and its heroic past. I think that my readers, especially the younger generation of Armenians and Turks, will greatly benefit from the information therein. The main focus of my presentation, and ultimately my book, will be on the preservation of our communities, the role of the new generation of Armenians, in the Diaspora and the Motherland, and, of course, the future of Armenia.

Minas Kojayan

BB - 

The question you pose should not be looked at from a destination point of view, but a labor mobility point of view. No specific country is the answer, it is whether the Syrian-Armenian refugees' skills provide a fit with their new home.

Refugees will always have a difficult time finding employment in a new country, regardless of economic conditions.  Just to reiterate two points in the article: a) Armenians in Syria face grave danger; and b) aid allocated for Syrian Armenians is alloted for projects in improving Armenian infrastructure in Syria.  Since Armenians in Syria face one of two options; death or escape,   providing aid to ensure Armenians stay in Syria will go to waste (i.e. renovating buildings that will once again be damaged because of terrorist actions, or errant artillery shells).

Armenian organizations providing aid for Syrian Armenian refugees must start addressing the issue of labor mobility in order to effectively ensure Syrian Armenian refugees land on their feet outside Syria. Addressing this issue is the start of answering your question.

Thank-you for your input,

Ted 

 

Mr. Tourian, your article is a thorough analysis. Many countries are suffering from economic slowdown. If a country's citizens are unemployed, there will be less opportunity for new immigrants to find jobs and stabilize their life in that country. Which countries will be the most viable for Syrian-Armenian refugees?

If I were to characterize this upcoming presentation, it would say it is a "de'ja vu all over again".

During the past two decades I have read articles, attended public presentations, have seen videos, and read books with sentimental titles such as "The Stones Are Crying Out" (A. Meymarian), "Is This Your House or Mine?" (Z.Khanjian) and now another public presentation in Armenia Capital U.S.A., Glendale. I read some of Minas' travel reports while he was still on his journey. I wonder now if they are the prelude for another book with another sentimental title.

I often ask myself "are we bolstering Turkish tourism?" Do we need to have so many "exploratory" sight seeing in Turkey? I admit there is something innate that compels us to do so and to hear about it and be moved. Do we need to heed that innate call and for how long and at what cost in time and money? I admit that more likely than not I probably will attend and be moved again. I am being more introspective than critical.

There is a lot in our Armenian Diaspora reality that may not move me by the slightest but I know I should know; to begin with, here in the United States. Just imagine how many Armenian communities, small and not so small, we cross while driving on the east-west Interstate 80 or on the north-south Interstate 75, let alone on the highways of America.

Each Armenian community is becoming an island. Although the Internet has facilitated communication, real time ties among these communities are fast disappearing to the detriment of opportunities where our sons and daughters can meet and get to know each for self-evident reasons.

Stones carved in Armenian in Turkey, a pat by a Turk or Kurd on the back of a young Armenian tourist, a Turkified or Kurdified Armenian seem to move us more and fire our imagination more than similar realities of our current communities.

It may be time to for us to reassess our priorities,  find out and connect more with our living reality.
 

My name is Hrair Keleshian and I am one of the original Dreamers of the Haigazian College Rocket Society. A few weeks ago I accidentally came across the trailer video titled "Lebanese Rocket Society, A tribute to Dreamers". I would like to contact Dr. Manoog Manoogian, if it is OK with him, to let him know that I am OK and I was not the one that got burned in 1964. I have a lot of happy memories of our association from the 1960-61 period at Haigazian College. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Parev Sireliner,

Yes Bolis-en guh krem tsez. Eem ındaniks vor Cilicia goghmen yen (Adana) Azadyan guh gochvin, orovhedev orenagan maganunneruh pokhvadz yen Turkiayi mech 1925-in, yevaylın. Eem undanikis maganunu verafzvads eh Azatoglu'yi.

Sad tsavali eh ints hamar tartsyal badmel te eerents Adana'yi kughin mech medzhayrs--Vahan Azadyan--yev  yegpayruh Harutyun Azadyan vorp tartsaz yen. Kisheruan mı mech arants mayri yev hayri yergu manoug minagnin jamportadz yen minchev Gesaria. Esdibuads yen irents pun annunneru degh Sadık yev Ibrahim annuneruh kordzadzelu yev Gasario mech degavoruadz yen. Parepaghdapar irents Haygagan koyutiunuh chen gorsuntsustadz yev amusnstasadz yen Hayuhinerov yev irents Hay anunneruh kordzadzelov irents Hay undanikneruh gazmadz yen.

Mishd guh hisheyin irents hayrı Bogos Azadyan, irents undaniki antamnerı Harutyun Azadyan, Hagop Azadyan (yev shad mı ourish Azadyanner), yev guh badmeyin teh Fransa gam Ameriga pokhatrvads ein irents sireli ındanikuh. Tjpahdapar yergukn al mahatsan heru irents undaniken.

Yes bidi khıntrei tser poloren te artyok deghegutiun unesogh ga AZADYAN ((Azadian) undanike Adana'yen (Cilicia) vor gardzem gabrin Fransa gam Ameriga.

Hazarnerov shnorhagalutunner ser polorin.

Selin Azadyan

Dr. Ouzounian has hit the nail on the head with his poignant "Winds of Change" editorial. The time is running out--if it hasn't already--for the Armenian Nation (as he put it) to stop talking and start acting. A stubborn reliance on century-old Armenian institutions that are no longer able to serve the Armenian Cause (no matter how good their intentions) are a futile and colossal waste of resources. 

Since the pre-election atrocities of March 2010 and the cold blooded murder of Vaheh Avetyan a number of small grass-roots activist groups have emerged in Armenia and the Diaspora. These independent movements are focusing on a wide range of issues which span the social, political, cultural, and environmental spectrum. Their appearance is cause for the rebirth of hope. Perhaps these fledgling movements can be the sparks that would ignite the change that Dr. Ouzounian is referring.  

The Armenian Nation is in dire need of a new organizational construct that would make full use of the wealth--financial, youth, expertise, technologies, etc.--that exists in the Diaspora to help “liberate” our homeland. Perhaps a page from Obama’s winning strategy could teach us how to network, organize, and bring together these grass-root movements under one organizational construct. Kudos to Dr. Ouzounian for his observations.

Dear Mrs. Gasparyan,
Mr. Hovsepyan was not invited in his capacity as public prosecutor. Invitations were sent to a number of compatriotic associations in line with the policy of the National Congress of Western Armenians (NCWA) to establish contacts with them. Mr. Hovsepyan attended the meeting as chairman of the Abaran Compatriotic (Hayrenagtsagan Mioutioun) Association. He is not a member of NCWA .

Souren Seraydarian

President, NCWA












 

Արէն Դուրգարեան,

Ձեր առջին տողը մտրակում է շատերին եւ նրանց մտածելակերպը, իրաւամբ:  Իսկ Շեփորելով որ Հայաստանը Չորորդ երկրի է մոտենում եւ այլն, դեռ էլ աւելի վնասակար:

Շատ ճիշտ բնորոշում նաեւ որ ոչ թէ Կանադայի պէս մի երկրում, այլ աշխարհի ամենահարուստ երկրում էլ շատեր գիշերը սոված են քնում.....Կոռռուպցեայ?

Այդ մէկի ՕՐՐԱՆՆ էլ նոյնպէս, ահա նոյն երկրում պէտք է փնտռել:  

Կան անձինք որ ի բնէ վատատես եւ նախընտրում են միշտ վատը տեսնել,եթէ  նոյնիսկ կան որոշ նշաններ աւետաբեր:

Իսկ  Շւէտացի Ընկերս,  Էնդրուս Վէրնէր,  ինձ  բացադրեց  որ  իր հոր հսկայական  գործարանը-SWEDA արտադրող .....իրենց  ընկերութեան տարեկան -ենթադրենք-տաս  միլիօն  տոլարի  միմիայն  շուրջ քսան տոկըսն էր  իրենց  մնում,  մնացածը  կառավարութիւնը յատկացնելով  Հանրային Ծառայութիւնների..

Այդ  ինձ  պատմում  էր եռեսու  տարիներ  առաջ:

Բայց  օդանաւում--դէպ Հայաստան--կողքիս նստած Հայ ուսանող որ uովորում էր նոյն երկրում, պատմեց որ այո Շւէտական Կառավարութիւն իր ուսման բոլոր ծախքեր հոգում էր, ամիսը Վեց հարիւր Էւրո էլ իրեն իբր hամալսարանի Ճաշարանի վճարելու շատ մատչելի գներով--պայմանաւ երբ աւարտի ԵՐԷՔ ՏԱՐԻ կԱՌԱՎԱՐՈՒԹԵԱՆ համար անվճար աշխատի, իհարկէ նորէն Ճաշասրահի մէկ երկու Էւրոանոց ճաշեր իրենք յանձն առնող:

Եկուր դիմացիր հիմայ չարախօսներու որ չեն ուզէր  ցանկալ որ Հայաստան առնւազն այդ վարչակարքի պիտի անցած ըլլար. At least a transitional period of some 10 years or so. Spain, Portugal and Greece did  that. All were dictatorial regimes, but going through that Nordic socialistic system by-and-by entered into the so-called free market economy. Hayastan and the 14 former Soviet republics  ...  OVERNIGHT from Communist dictatorial regime turned into the "wild" free market economy.

Անցածը անցած է: Հիմայ Նայինք սա մեր պզտիկ Երկիր ինչպէս փրկենք, թորքերէ Եւ այսպէս կոչւած  ԼԹՓ ականններէ:

Hi Vatche, I agree. These young and smart activists in and out of Armenia just want things to change for the better. They continue to work for that. Here's a website community anyone like you can join to keep up-to-date with developments:  www.Facebook.com/ArmenianActivistsNOW . And come to Armenia. People power is the key to success.

Dear Magaar,
We are back from a trip to Armenia/Artsakh and the highlight of our trip was a long hug that we got from a dadik (caretaker of a school in Stepanakert) who was so happy to see Armenians from the Diaspora visiting Artsakh and their school. We met proud  Karabakhtsis who told us that one simply needs to fight for his freedom; it is a normal thing to do. There, I realized why one of the characters in Gostan Zarian's novel ("Nave Leran Vra") says that there are different types of Armenians, like those from Bolis (like myself) and those from Karabakh. So why am I saying all this? I guess, I am so overwhelmed with joy and pride, now that I have seen Artsakh and met its people. So to your legitimate concerns, all I can say is that individual acts count, too. Imagine if  tens of thousands of Armenians visited Artsakh each year, supported local projects, started new projects or simply visited towns and villages for unforgettable memories. Let us not wait for guidance that may never come.

See you in Artsakh next year.


 

My hat goes off to Dr. Ouzounian and those ready to answer his calling.

The number of participants from the Diaspora to make a change in Armenia is irrelevant. There is no need to clean our house or have established organization to engage for us (the Diaspora) to participate. A little bit of research will tell you which organization or civil movement inside Armenia is worthy of your support. (Dr. Ouzounian mentioned one of them which I support without being a “member”).

An example of such support occurred a few months ago with individuals in the Diaspora standing up and making their voices heard. This pan-Armenian stance helped to expel then MP Ruben Hayarpetyan (aka Nemets Rubo) from parliament. Though there were members of an Armenian organization present at the protests, they were not representing anyone other than themselves. I can tell you that the protests in L.A. were not organized by any organization, but rather it was a collective effort by concerned individuals, myself being one of them (see dedicated page to the movement: www.ttmbt.com). The first protest was small in size (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-BQECP8shc ) but kept growing as word got out of what we were doing (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7CLiP_7QSw).

Out of 7 million Armenians in the Diaspora (assuming that there are 9 to 10 million Armenians in the world), less than 1% of them are card-carrying members of Armenian political organizations. In addition to that, less than 1% of Diaspora Armenians each year provide financial support to the largest Armenian charitable organization in the world, the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund. I present these two facts as what the Diaspora is supporting today does effect change in Armenia, be it good or bad. I, as well as the majority of Diaspora Armenians do not fall within the two groups noted above.

If we could get less than 1% of the Armenian Diaspora to support a popular and just social/civic movement in Armenia, which is focused on making the changes as stated in Dr. Ouzounian editorial, this could have the potential of saving Armenia from what threatens its very survival. And this is something that everyone can start doing NOW.

Հարգելի պրն. Փալանջյան,

Հայտնի է,որ հայոց լեզուն բարդ է և տիրապետելը դժվար... Ես «գուշակություններով» չեմ զբաղվում... Հավանաբար «վատատես, չհավանող...» բառերը մատչելի չեն եղել Ձեզ համար...

Դիտեք և լսեք թե ինչ է ասում աշխարհահռչակ ծանրամարտիկ, Հայաստանի Հանրապետության նախագահի խորհրդատու  Յուրի Վարդանյանը.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unEi_aYC54M&feature=related

Հարցազրույցի ժամանակ նա ասում է.

 «...Շատ ամաչելու բաներ կան, ամաչեցնող պահ է, երբ տեսնում ես, որ ծեր մարդիկ են զիբիլի ամանների մեջ, սկսում են փորփրել ,որ իրենց ստամոքսը լցնեն ու կարողանան այդ գիշեր գլուխները դնեն չոր բարձին ու քնեն: Ա՛յ, ամաչում եմ դրանից...» :

Պարոն Փալանջյան, ես էլ եմ ամաչում Յուրի Վարդանյանի հետ միասին, ամեմ մեկ արժանապատիվ հայ պետք է ամաչի և ձգտի բարելավելու վիճակը և ոչ թե ծածկելով թերությունները արջի ծառայություն մատուցի հայաստանաբնակ մեր հայրենակիցներին:

«ՏԺՎԺԻԿ»- ի հոգեբանությունը  դատապարտելի է, երբ նեցակցության մասին է խոսք գնում , սկկսվում է թելեթոների, հանգանակությունների, նվիրատվությունների գումարները ՏԺՎԺԻԿԻ նման հայաստանցիների ու արցախցիների երեսով տալ...

Այսօր Հայաստանի հայությունը անկեղծ բարոյական նեցակցության պահանջ ունի: Պրն. Փալանջյան , այստեղ է, որ սփյուռքը ուշացել և ուշանում է: Փոքրաթիվ մտավորականներ Միջինարևելքից, ԱՄՆ-ից, Եվոպայից ճիգեր են գործադրում բարոյապես թիկունք կանգնելու Հայաստանին, այն էլ անխոհեմաբար « չարագուշակություն» է պիտակավորվում:

Կարող եք հանգիստ լինել, Հայաստանի հետ ամենօրյա կապ ունեմ: Իմ ստեղծած լաբորատորիան Պոլիտեխնիկական համալսարանում աշխատում է, և ամեն տարի այնտեղ եմ լինում դասախոսություններով:

Երբ Հայաստան եք գնում, Ձեզ նեղություն տվեք և այցելեք Հայաստանի սարի գյուղերը, Սիսիանի շրջանի, Նոյեմբերյանի, սահմանամերձ գյուղերը , Գյումրի...Անկեղծ լինելու դեպքում, կհամոզվեք,որ Յուրի Վարդանյանի ու իմ նմանների դիտողությունները ու անհանգստությունները անտեղի չեն և գալիս են հայրենիքի նկատմամբ ունեցած անկեղծ ու ջերմ գուրգուրանքից, ու մեր ժողովրդի բարեկեցության ու ապահովության բուռն ցանկություններից:

Հարգանքներով՝

Դոկտ. Արամայիս Միրզախանյան:

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"Armenian Activists NOW! Birth of Movement" is a film about the activists in Armenia and the obstacles they face. It also shows how great change is truly coming. The film inspires hope for future Armenian activists to become involved in their society--for change. Make a difference, share it. https://vimeo.com/46480938   or bring interested youth to a screening on Saturday afternoon, December 1st, at The Egyptian Theater on Hollywood Blvd. in LA as part of the ARPA Film Festival.

Անշուշտ Բնական, Բայց  եկուր տես Փարիզ, ինչ որ հայրէնակիցներ  ելէր ՀԱՅՊԱՇՏՊԱՆ անւան տակ կը շեփորէին  ԲԱՐԼԱՄԷՆԹ Արեւմտեան  Հայաստանի: Այս տեղի  կունենար չորս-հինգ  տարիներ առաջ: Տողերիս գրող, զոր  հրցաւիրւած էի նոյնի մաս կազմելու, պատասխանեցի--սիրով, բայց Բառլամէնթ անւանումը լքեցէք Քանզի ունինք այդ Հայաստանի  Հանրապետութիւն: Հորդորելով կայ աւելի հարմար անուն....ՍՓԻՒՌՔԻ ԳԵՐԱԳՈՅՆ ԽՈՐՀՈՒՐԴ: Իսկ մէկ շաբաթ առաջ ելեր նոյնը կը կրկներ Ատլանտեանի այս ափէն մէկը.այս մէկը արդէն  անհասկանալի.

Ինչպէս ազգականըս ատենին երբ  ՀԱՅԿԱԿԱՆ hավաքի կերթայի--առաջին անգամ Լիօն--ըսեց կերթաս, գնայ, բայց լաւ գիտցիր մենք իւրաքանչիւրնիս ԻՇԽԱՆ, ԻՇԽԱՆՈՒՀԻՆԵՐ ենք, պատախանեցի, գիտեմ, բայց պիտի միշտ ջանամ ազգին օգտակար լինել:

Հայաստանը և Սփյուռքը պարզապես չեն կարող մեկ ամբողջություն չլինել: Այսօր մեկն առանց մյուսի այլևս հնարավորություն էլ չունի գոյություն ունենալ, Հայաստանն իր հիմնախնդիրների պատճառով, Սփյուռքն՝ իր ծանրության կենտրոնը վերջին 50 տարվա ընթացքում ուծացման համար բարենպաստ քրիստոնեական միջավայր տեղափոխելով:

Այսքանով հանդերձ, Սփյուռքում դեռ կան շատերը, որ հայրենիքից «անկախություն» են հայտարարել, շտապելով ազատվել Հայաստանի ներկա խնդիրների համար սեփական պատասխանատվությունից: Կան նաև այնպիսի սփյուռքահայ «հայրենասերներ», որոնք ոչ թե ներկա Հայաստանն են իրենց հայրենիքը համարում, այլ՝ Կիլիկիան: Հրեաներին վկայակոչելու կարիք չկա, պարզապես հարկավոր է ազատվել օսմանյան բարդույթներից: Եթե մի օր մեզ հաջողվի էլ վերատիրել Կիլիկիան, միևնույնն է, մեր մայրաքաղաքը շարունակելու է Երևանը լինել: Այո, Կիլիկիայի վերատիրման բանալին գտնվում է Երևանում, լծվեք պետության կարգի բերմանը, այլապես պատրաստ եղեք վայելել տարատեսակ «արձանագրությունների» պտուղները:

Եթե Սփյուռքը իրեն տարանջատի էլ Հայաստան պետությունից, ներկայիս հայկական իշխանությունները, միևնույն է, իրենց իրավունք են վերապահելու ներկայանալ Սփյուռքի անունից: Վերջապես, ներկայիս Հայաստանը, որքան էլ փոքր, զարմանալիորեն իր մեջ ներառում է հայ ժողովրդի ինքնության հենասյուներից շատերը, սկսած Խոր Վիրապից ու Էջմիածնից և վերջացրած Արցախյան Տիգրանակերտով: Պետություն չունեցող ժողովուրդը որբ է, Սփյուռքը մեզ համար կդառնա մի մեծ որբանոց, ապա գերեզման, որտեղ կհանգչեն հազարամյա մշակույթի մասունքները, եթե կորցնենք  Հայաստան պետությունը:

Իսկ Հայաստանում նորակառույց մզկիթի դահլիճում կստորագրվի հերթական ռուս-թուրքական «եղբայրության ու բարեկամության» պայմանագիրը: Ահա թե ինչու՛ մեր պետականությունը հավասարապես կարևոր է, թե՛ հայաստանաբնակների, թե՛ սփյուռքաբնակների համար: Ահա թե ինչու՛հարկավոր է ամեն կերպ փայփայել սեփական հողում սեփական իրավունքների համար ոտքի կանգնած քաղաքացիական շարժումը: Չէ՞ որ նրանք էլ մի օր կարող են համալրել Սփյուռքի հեռուներից Կիլիկիան երազողների շարքերը:

Berje,

You and others here forget that we have to put our own house in order (the Diaspora) before we can venture into homeland affairs. And when we (my friends and I) have suggested--through our Web postings--a remedy not a single person has responded. If you are interested in my thoughts on these issues, you can see my articles by clicking  www.armeniannews.info .

Paregamoren, 

Gaytzag

I completely agree with Dr. Ouzounian.

We all have talked enough. The time for talking is over. Each Diasporan with genuine concern should lend a hand to the process of change. Most Diasporans lead busy lives and cannot lead, yet they can participate if systems for participating are in place. Those who can lead should lead and help organize. Each Diasporan should respond to contacts from others to organize. A positive spirit should spread throughout the Diaspora and galvanize the latent but deep-seated concern of good people. The same is happening in the homeland, and the two forces for good will meet, will harmonize, and will lead a bloodless revolution. The ruling oligarchy is utterly weak and helpless. It has absolutely no genuine support.  When those supporting it for immediate needs and benefits feel the tide of change, they will brush them aside. The time for talking is over. The action needed is no more than extending a hand and it can be as simple as taking an honest stance. See you all in upcoming meetings and rallies in cities of the Diaspora, in Gyumri, in Yerevan.

"The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crises maintain their neutrality." Dante Alighieri.

Berge

Սեփական երկրին վերաբերվել որպես երրորդ աշխարհի խուլ անկյուն, համարել որ այսպես էլ պիտի լինի, մենք սրան ենք արժանի և այլն.., այդ դեպքում երբեք դեպի լավը չի փոխվի, միայն դեպի վատը, դա հաստատ է: Հայտարարել, որ, հագստացեք, որ իբր ամեն տեղ էլ կա կոռուպցիա, նույնիսկ Կանադայի պես երկրում, դա է դեմագոգիան կամ, ցավոք, մի մոլորություն` Սփյուռքում ապրող շատ մարդկանց հատուկ:

Պրն. Ուզունյանի կոչը ուղված է առաջին հերթին Սփյուռքին, այն ոգեշնչող և   միևնույն ժամանակ սթափեցնող է: Եվ, եթե թեկուզ մեկ մարդ Սփյուռքում այս կոչի արդյունքում արթնանա և դադարի դիտարկել իր հայրենիքը որպես 4րդ աշխարհ, այդ ժամանակ դեպի փոփոխության տանող ճամփան ավելի կարճ կլինի:

Ապրելով Հայաստանում, ես,ցավոք, դեռ այդ փոփոխության քամին չեմ զգում, բայց այն միտքը, որ ևս 5 տարի մեր ներքին ծանր հիվանդությունները չեն բուժվելու,  այ սրա համար վաղուց ժամանակն է, որ զարթնեն բոլորը` երկրում և երկրից դուրս:     

Small correction Liz,

The Church in Dhaka is on No. 4 Armenian Street :-)

I've had the pleasure of visiting there twice and spending some very valuable time with Mr. Martin.  I must have been there last around 2004...

Kind regards

Philip

We are glad to see that true intellectuals and patriots from the Diaspora have noticed the tectonic changes which have commenced to shake the swamp our mountainous homeland was turned into in the past 17 years. Three presidents succeeded in discrediting and destroying the political life in Armenia, always eager for their personal survival and enrichment only. A loss of one-third of the population, the annihilation of the national industry, the devastation of the agriculture and the state-backed robbery of natural resources turned the flourished and developed country into the failed and sick colony of the local and transnational oligarchs. Armenia became an object, a toy for the big and small games inside and outside.

Armenia is occupied. We must liberate it just as we did Artsakh. Unfortunately, traditional political means and mechanisms, political parties and elections do not work, because local dictatorship manages to use democratic institutions as a smokescreen and tool for its own reinforcement and survival. Unfortunately, the so-called opposition became a part of this vicious circle and has just legitimized the tyranny by its participation in the violent process of "election" fraud. The answer and the solution come from the civil society. Environmental and human rights groups, student activists and Artsakh war veterans, a growing number of responsible citizens of Armenia join the resistance movement that unifies us in a struggle against the regime of lies, violence and corruption. We are shaping the cells of alternative power, just as we did in 1988, when we challenge the foreign threat. Now the danger is inside the Armenian fortress, but we shall overcome; we have no choice but victory. We rely on our righteous power and we count on the Diaspora supporters. Armenia belongs to all Armenians of the world. There's no Diaspora without Armenia and there's no strong Armenia without a strong Diaspora. Together we will win.

Dear Dr. Ouzounian,
In principal, it is not hard to agree with your points. However, as they say, the devil is in details. It is always easy to judge from afar what goes on in Armenia. Even after spending a few weeks every year in Armenia, one should stay from the temptation of getting involved in local politics. We all understand that Armenia and Artsakh “belong to the whole Armenian Nation”, but that is not true with the Diaspora. “Armenia is not Disneyland”. Armenia is a third-world country that is struggling to survive against all odds. Armenia, like any ex-Communist country, will learn from its experience.

As Diaspora Armenians we have ignored for so long values such as “transparency, justice, and accountability". Just look around you and judge whether the institutions you belong to are “transparent and democratic”. How can the Diaspora lecture Armenia when Diaspora institutions are in shambles? Imagine an Armenian cultural centre, newly built with modern facilities, has been serving the Indian and Filipino population in Toronto. A school closes down because it is not profitable…when was any Armenian school  profitable anyway?

We are not against change. We should always be very careful not to fall into the Turkish trap by over criticizing our tiny ancestral country. Just look how bad the situation is in Syria. Turkey had a major role in destabilizing that country. No government is perfect, no politician is clean. Corruption is a global problem and it is not only an Armenian disease. Yet we should always be ready to speak out, but only with kindness and respect, even to our adversaries. And we should start right from our small quarters: bring forward transparency and accountability to our communities, churches, and schools and then Armenia might learn from our example.

Respectfully,
Hagop Toroyan

Dr. Ouzounian could not be more on the mark.

The winds of change need sails to drive our great national boat to the top of the mountain, as Gostan Zarian had so presciently predicted close to a century ago. The crew of that great ship are and should continue to be the people of Armenia. The power of the great winds can and should be harnessed by the Diaspora(s).

The Diaspor(s) need to play their role as those "sails" providing the impetus and converting the energy. The method is the involvement of individuals and organizations at all levels on a global scale, with direct one-to-one connections to all the grassroots movements in Armenia.

Dr. Ouzounian is right. There have been many victories, but these movements need to gel around a political coalition NOT driven by demagoguery, NOT driven by a sense of "revenge" against those who came before, NOT driven by individual agendas.

That is the challenge, one of a real long-term transformative policy agenda for the betterment of the country. The Diaspora(s) themselves need to seize this moment by coming together around ideas and helping to shape those policies.

There are many institutional seeds that have already been planted. Policy Forum Armenia is one example, the global networks of Armenians acting together on specific transformative projects (e.g. the Tumo Center, the Ayb Educational Foundation, the Louys Scholarship fund, and many others) are setting the example of how international project-specific mobilization can create sustainable positive change in Armenia.

It is now time to take the next step. The journey will be long, difficult and perilous. But, it we want to choose between being vs. not-being, we have to embark on it. Because the alternative is our disappearance into the history books.

Because the Diaspora(s) have only a short lifespan in of themselves, and now is the time to give meaning and relevance to their existence that can sustain them for longer periods.

«Բարբարոս»ները շատոնց անցած են մեր դարպասներէն եւ արդեն իսկ միջնաբերդն է որ վտանգուած է:

The "Barbarians" have well passed the gates for a while now. It is the central fortress that is under siege.

Միմիայն մեր բոլորին յանապազօրեայ գործով ի գին մեր ժողովուրդին վերապրումին կարելի է պիտի ըլլայ փրկել մեր ապագան:

Only by all of us standing up and by being counted by our actions every single day, would we be able to save our future.

Paregamoren,
Viken L. Attarian
Mount Royal
Canada
 

Thank you Vartkes for asking for my opinion.

I have mixed feelings about Syrian Armenians. In the past few years I have met many Syrian-Armenians who have  settled in Armenia, have become proud citizens, started businesses, some married local Armenians. Then the civil war in Syria became ugly and Armenians in large numbers began arriving in Yerevan and making it clear that they will be returning to Syria--just like the Lebanese-Armenians have done in the past-- and demanded housing and free medical treatment. This irritates the locals.

Not one family ended up in tents like those Syrians that went to Jordan or to Turkey. The Armenian government  provided temporary housing; children were enrolled in schools. 

Every Syrian-Armenian was offered citizenship. Some accepted it on condition that the male children not be registered, to avoid the draft one day in Syria.

Every Armenian who lives in countries where Christians and Armenians are in danger should make the move to Armenia, accept citizenship unconditionally--even if it means some hardship and starting all over again. We have sang long enough about freedom in the homeland; we have argued in our clubs, schools, and churches. 

Vrejouhy





 

Selective is much too mild a word. All participants in this heated issue agree that Armenian Diaspora means the United States, Canada and (just) maybe Western Europe. The rest -- who?

Dear Viken,

Thank you for your supportive comment. 

In an earlier article I wrote that our belonging to the same nation is not so much by our informed choice as much it is by being identified by odars who use the same word "Armenian" for all of us. The only unifying, informed choice for us should be a strong and fair statehood in Armenia, serving as an object of national pride. This is a test we have no right to fail.

Aram.

Hello Vahe,
I read about you and Sevan Aslanian. I'll be flying to Addis Ababa next Thursday morning, from Muscat, Oman. My plane will arrive at 7:30. I attempted to make reservations at Z Guest House, close to the Armenian club. I hope to visit with some of the Armenians of your community.

Gail Roberts Yeramian

Ոսկանեանը անձ է կազմակերպութիւն չէ. եթէ ժամանակէն առաջ խօսէր ճիշդ Րաֆֆի Յովհաննիսեանի օրին կ'՛իյնար: Եթէ դաշնակցութեան պէս կազմակերպութիւն մը այդ ոճրագործութիւնէն ճիշդ յաջորդ օրը իրենց համար Հայաստանէն կտոր մըն ալ իրենք առնեն ըսելով կառավարութեան հետ սեղան նստան, այս տեսակ փառքերով ժողովուրդին ղեկավարութեան հասնելու ձեւը, երեւի իրեն պէս շարժիլն է․

 

Papken,

When I wrote  stop the Hysteria, it was  not directed  only to you but - as  you can see- to many others. This is a very sensitive  issue, no doubt  about  that . It should be tackled very carefully.  After all Mr. Oskanian was the foreign minister of the Republic of Armenia for 10 years, that's half of the life of the present republic, and served under the administration of two presidents.

Thence, people who are  hard trying -actually are close to attacking  him- should show some restraint in their expressions. He is not  an ordinary person, just another compatriot in RA.. The man represented  the Whole of Armenidad/Armenity, globally and did whatever he could for  his Homeland. People may differ in their opinion of how he handled various foreign policy issues, but what I see is that some people are just  badmouthing  him here and elsewhere.  FMs  of other countries ARE WATCHING  what  is going  on in tiny Armenia!

Let us think twice before going any further on this issue. If this deplorable process goes all the way to completely strip him of  having served as the FM for ten years, then it  bodes  very bad for Armenia and Armenians. For our fledgeling Republic is in need  of support, especially from abroad, its Diaspora, from where  he  hails and went to Armenia to serve  his homeland.

In regards to Mr Vartan Oskanian (Voskanyan) 

When I'm not sure who is right or wrong in Armenia, I refer to my childhood trustworthy friend and Kavor (Professor G.M.)  in Armenia, who is one of the rare, non-corrupt and impartial patriot in Armenia. His response in a Persian phrase "Na  Qom khube' Na Kashan La'nat Behar Dotashan", means from the two cities "Neither Qom  is good Nor Kashan. Curse to both of them".  In this case he thinks both sides are not clean...

Dr. Babajanian
USA 

Avedis,

All you said might be right, except all you said concerned an element of a PR for yourself. It's all too glorified - a European bank of this, a Chamber of Commerce of that, etc.

Have you tried helping an individual Armenian or Armenians directly? Have you tried identifying groups of those you can trust, not in the government, but in professional circles, and work with them directly?

Why not pick up the phone, and call some of the honest friends you've (i hope) made in Armenia and suggest them to cooperate - with no photos, no PR, just help them get somewhere, even teach them how to work properly and ethically.

Are you saying you're not aware of such groups? Or are you saying that every last Armenian in Armenia is a crook and a thief and a thug?

Artur

Mr. Gaytzag Palandjian:  I have not started anything. I simply tried to answer your questions as good as I could. It is your right to reject or accept my answers. "Please be measured in your remarks and think of OTHER.." I would be more than happy if you can refer to my remarks, specifically, being misplaced in any way. Of course there are many important issues in our country to be resolved ASAP. However, resolving this particular issue should not be disregarded in the expense of those more important issues.

Mr. Papken Hartunian,

It is simply not in Armenians’  interests  to ¨wash  our  dirty clothes¨  in public even  if  it  were for the case  of dear former Minister  V. Oskanian  here,  and above  all at  the National Assembly...unheard  of  in our  Republic’s  history.

This simply is absurd. Only those who have actually embezzled a hundred, nay a thousand times more such amounts --given to the Republic by odar entities-- ought to be judged and condemned and made to pay back, if not able to give accounts. Whereas Mr.  Oskanian did declare in his own defense that the rest of the amount is in his possession. Moreover, he declared that he has even spent from his own pocket for Homeland. Please stop the hysteria.

It has escaped the authorities that they are actually harming Armenia’s interests, prestige and image by persecuting Oskanian. I believe that some will grasp the importance of creating a good worthy image for our Governmental Apparatus abroad instead of lowering it to the standard of a failed country. Let me add that those who might really enjoy from this fiasco are our two neighbours...

Please be measured in your remarks and think of OTHER, much more important issues that need immediate attention.