AGSA Holds Graduate Networking Forum

By: Shahane Martirosyan
shahanemartirosyan@gmail.com

Armenian professionals mingled with the Armenian graduate students at a networking forum on April 2, 2009 hosted by UCLA’s Armenian Graduate Students Association. This was the second time that the AGSA hosted, now annual, Graduate-Professional Networking Forum. The mingling took place in the Kerckhoff Hall’s Charles E. Young Grand Salon where the evening began with the attendees enjoying catered food and wine.

The Executive Director of AGSA and J.D. Candidate Elina Mnatsakanian told Chronicles that they worked on the forum starting December because they had to coordinate with many people in order for the event to be successful. The event, in fact, can easily be classified as a success.

Professions from various professional backgrounds were present, including, but not limited to, financial analysts, lawyers, engineers, human resource representatives, and doctors. In addition, professional networking organizations such as the Armenian Professional Society of Los Angeles, the Armenian American Medical Society of California, the Armenian Bar Association, the Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America, Armenian General Benevolent Union - Young Professionals, and the Armenian National Committee Professional Network were all present at the event.
The AGBU – YP of Los Angeles usually coordinates events where they invite Armenian professionals to mixers and fundraiser in order to have the Armenians become more familiar with one another.

“I come to this event every year, it’s nice to meet Armenian professionals and get to know all the different careers and opportunities out there,” Arpine Hovasapian, a UCLA graduate who was there representing the AGBU Generation Next program along with AGBU – YP, stated.

After the guests were given the opportunity to get to know one anther, Mnatsakanian took the stage and welcomed everyone in attendance. The AGSA board also introduced all the professionals and thanked them for participating in the forum.
Chronicles spoke with various professions and many of them agreed on the great importance that networking forums play between professionals and graduate students.

Armen Vartanian, UC Berkeley graduate, was present at the event. He represented the Sun Capital Partners, which is a company that provides alternative investment for large institutions.

“I am very happy and excited for events like this that brings young intellectual talent to the work force. We’re here to network and help the Armenian community,” Vartanian stated, adding that being from Cal, they never had networking events that brought the Armenian work force together.

He also noted that networking events, such as AGSA’s annual networking forum, are almost imperative in this job market.

Another Armenian professional present at the event was Gerald Abrahamian who is the Executive Director of New Media Operations at Comcast Entertainment Group. He told the Chronicles that networking was largely lacking in the Armenian community, thus the event is admirable because it does what the community needs at this moment since the way to get a job today is through networking, “connecting is how you meet people and get jobs.”

“I like helping people, the more I can help, the better I’ll be,” Abrahamian added.
Abrahamian was talking to Dork Alahydoian at the event. Alahydoian does Business Development for MyDamnChannel, which is an internet studio that produces original, episodic video content. Another Cal graduate, he stated that the networking event is a great way to get students and the professionals in the same room talking to one another.

Some of the professionals also noted how they appreciate forums like this because when they were in college, there weren’t any Armenian networking events. Hence, they feel very happy to be involved in events such as this one. Hagop Karpanian, Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellow, from the UCLA Medical Center echoed this idea by stating, “It’s a good way for networking, when I was an undergraduate, we didn’t have a lot of people to ask questions to.”

“We’re really excited about the great turnout this year,” Mnatsakanian conclusively stated. “It’s nice to see many Armenians from different generations in one room interacting.”

UCLA's Armenian Students' Association Hosts Political Speakers' Panel

By: GK

The Armenian Students’ Association at the University of California, Los Angeles executed an event greatly missing in its style on a campus where most of the students are passionate in getting involved with politics. The ASA, for the first time in many years, organized a Political Speakers’ Panel with Armenian-American representatives actively involved in today’s politics locally and nationally.

Areen Ibranossian - Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa's reelection campaign manager, Haig Kartounian - Deputy District Director for Congressman Adam Schiff, Ardashes Kassakhian - Glendale City Clerk, and Larry Zarian - the first Armenian-American Mayor of Glendale visited UCLA on April 8th, 2009 to share their stories on how and why they became involved with politics. Additionally, the panelists answered students’ questions and enthusiastically encouraged the young Armenians at UCLA to get involved in their own communities.

The panel began with a light-hearted question and answer. The question being something along the lines of: What do you get when you put two Armenians together in a room? As Kassakhian, a UCLA alumnus mused: “About three political parties and five opinions on the same issue.”

While the Armenian politicians sitting before a UCLA student audience may have differed in opinion and party, they had each achieved notable things in their lifetime. Larry Zarian mobilized the Armenians in Glendale in order to become its first mayor - a difficult feat considering there were fewer Armenians in Glendale at the time he ran for office. Zarian was also the first Armenian-American to serve on the city council in the City of Glendale. As a veteran politician, it is no surprise that Zarian has strong feelings about Armenians’ role in the Genocide recognition issue.

“There is no one on the inside to fight for us. Every time we want recognition, we can’t go to an Armenian. We always depend on ‘odars’,” he stated. “We don’t have a lobby because there is no unity.”

Kassakhian, who started out his political career by walking a candidate’s dog while volunteering, played a huge role in UCLA history as a student. While he was on the ASA board, there was an attempt to establish an Ottoman-Turkish Studies Chair at UCLA with a $1.5 million grant from Turkey; this was under the precondition that the department would “maintain close and cordial relations with academic circles in Turkey.” Under the auspices of Dr. Richard Hovannisian, Kassakhian said that the students took on the Turkish lobby, harassing the chancellor and rallying the Armenian student population in order to win the David and Goliath battle.

This making-of-history can explain why Kassakhian is passionate about students getting involved in today’s issues, namely Genocide Recognition under the Obama regime, because his experiences as a college student have self-taught him the power of a young, passionate individual.

“Given the state of the environment, let’s give Obama time to do that,” Kassakhian said, immediately following up with a question to the audience: “What are you guys doing?”

Areen Ibranossian’s humble beginning included washing dishes while volunteering. The time he spent before moving up to become Mayor Villaraigosa’s re-election campaign manager was characterized by campaign hopping that he describes as similar to problem solving.

Kartounian began as an Armenian Youth Federation member. “Politics grew on me,” he said and continued to note that “the Armenian community’s interests or concerns are not different than other communities’ interests or concerns.”

Some of those interests included translating pamphlet information about candidates for non-English speaking Armenians in the community. Kassakhian undertook this challenge in 1999 while working on Raffi Manougian’s campaign. His crew ended up translating the pamphlets themselves, thereby increasing the Armenian vote in that particular election.

After short and impressive introductions, the panelists began advising and encouraging students to get involved by drawing from their past experiences to inspire the Armenian-American students.

“Politics is like show business for ugly people,” Ibranossian bluntly stated. “Once you’ve worked on a campaign, it’s not hard.”

Zarian mentioned the time he pressured Los Angeles Times to call the Armenian Genocide ‘genocide’ in the paper.

“If we can do it with L.A. Times, I believe we can do it at a higher level. We must speak with one voice,” he added.

The evening concluded with encouraging words from the gentlemen regarding the youth getting involved in politics. The majority of them admitted to getting excited over the Armenian youth taking initiative and getting involved.

"Rebirth" Aims to Take Different Approach on Genocide Commemoration

By: Mary Kandaharian
Kandaharian88@ucla.edu

On Wednesday, April 22nd, the UCLA Armenian Students' Association, the Armenian Youth Federation, and the Unified Young Armenians, in association with the All-ASA, joined together to commemorate the 1915 Armenian Genocide by examining its cultural legacy.

Ninety-four years ago, the Ottoman Turkish government began its attempts at race extermination by embarking on a campaign of genocide. Nearly a century later, the impact of the Armenian Genocide upon the Armenian ethnicity and culture as a whole is undeniably omnipresent. In 1915, one and a half million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Turks in what is considered to be the first genocide of the 20th Century. The enormous impact of the tragedy had an immense effect not only on the survivors but on our culture, the arts, and the continuing generation.

“Rebirth” aimed to take a different approach on commemorating genocide and concentrated more on illustrating the transformations of literature and art brought about by the Genocide rather than presenting factual information of the genocide through a combination of visual displays and speakers.

The heart of the event consisted of a memory play by Lily Thomassian entitled “Let the Rocks Speak,” which depicted the lives of three survivors, a father and his two daughters, and how the past and present collide. The play touched upon very profound universal issues such as the psychological state of the suvivors and the theme of balancing a new healthy life with the traumatic events endured in the past.

There were art pieces present from a variety of different artists which consisted of Alexander Sadoyan, Hrant Mirzoyan, Samvel Halajyan, Minas Halajyan, Sasha Harutunyan, Voskan Galstyan, and Arpine Shakhbandaryan. Another exhibit which was very unique and eye-catching was the Stamp collection display. The display featured stamps dating back to the First Republic of Armenia as well as a collection of Genocide commemorative stamps from around the world.

The night brought about a very mixed crowd consisting of students from different schools and individuals of different ages, all coming together to embrace their culture. The event’s speakers included the Award-winning playwright Lily Thomassian, artist/comedian Vahe Berberian, and the author of “Suriviors: An Oral History of the Armenian Genocide” Lorna Miller. This diverse group of speakers all provided a different perspective of the significance of culture and survival.

As the 94 year mark of the Armenian Genocide approaches, we hope that politicians, scholars, and educators will come to realize that the Armenian Genocide and basic human rights are interrelated, and the necessity of understanding their complexity is part of our historic past and is essential to creating a positive present and future. Until it gets acknowledged, we will not be sitting here victimized as a people, but rather we will be embracing, growing, and strengthening ourselves and in turn, our culture, creating the path to Rebirth.

Visit Your Motherland and Earn University Credit!

By: Christine Kojayan
Bruingirl0021@ucla.edu

When asked about what he wants this summer study abroad program to instill in its participants, Dr. Gregory E. Areshian replies, “To fall in love with archeology, particularly with Near-Eastern archeology, and to understand Armenian arts and culture on a much deeper level.”

Dr. Gregory E. Areshian, head of the study abroad program in Armenia this summer, first taught at UCLA in 1993 as a visiting professor in the History department. He has lectured at various academic institutions, such as the University of Wisconsin and the University of Chicago. In 2001, he returned to UCLA and has been teaching here ever since.

Dr. Areshian introduces Armenia to this study abroad program for two key motives. The first reason is mainly because Armenia has a lot to offer students who wish to pursue an education in the areas of the Arts and Humanities, especially from the perspectives of cultural history, archeology, history, folklore, and literature.

The second reason is that it is always better to study on location, which is much more interactive than plainly studying from books. “It was quite easy to organize,” Areshian states, “because it is the one country outside of Europe and North America that has the best infrastructure, good service, an increased level of safety, and good archeological work.”

This course will prove to be quite enrichening on a multi-faceted level. Not only will it introduce students to archeological studies in the field, but will also attempt to acquaint them with a theoretical basis and practice of field methods, and will provide them with working knowledge of excavations, lab work, and field cataloging methods.

Students will finish this program with erudite knowledge regarding the Armenian culture and heritage, and also Near Eastern archaeology and history. Through fieldwork, they will be able to illustrate the interdependence and practical interactions between various social and natural sciences and the humanities. The participants will be skilled in critical analytical thinking of the study of cultural heritage, the role it plays in contemporary societies, and its influences on the future of humankind.

From a general outlook, students will be visiting various significant cultural sites and museums. Some areas of interest that will be visited are Dvin, Garni, Geghart, Echmiadzin, Lake Sevan and its monasteries, Aygevan, and Oshagan.

The participating students will be given the opportunity to interact and socialize with many Armenian inhabitants through arranged informal meetings with Armenian students from different institutions of higher education, particularly from Erevan State University, and by living with Armenian families who reside near some of the excavations.

On a lighter note, any student that is enrolled into an institution of higher education is qualified, whether it is a four-year university or a community college. This opportunity is not restricted to any major or minor and its duration is five weeks. During this five-week period, students will earn a total of twelve units.

“Part of the tuition that students pay essentially gets impacted to us, so that money goes back to them in order for them to stay in Armenia,” says Dr. Areshian. UCLA is the most inexpensive field school that you will find in the United States.

Anyone interested? You should be! There are only four spots left and the deadline to enroll is May 13th. Visit your motherland and learn more about it. So hurry up and sign up for this event that you will not want to miss out on.

Professor Hovannisian Develops Community in All Aspects

By: Lilit Azarian
LilitAzarian@yahoo.com

Richard Hovannisian is no doubt a familiar name to anyone who has studied Armenian History. At UCLA, however, it is more than a mere name. Needless to say, as with most other students on this campus, his reputation had preceded him.

Everyone I spoke to made it a point to remind me that his courses were amongst the most difficult on campus. Being the adventurous and curious History student that I am, I decided that I must take at least one of these courses before I graduated as a personal challenge.

Preparing myself for the worst, I walked into his Comparative Genocide course utterly intimidated. Here was one of the premier historians in his field, teaching a seminar about a colossal topic, which for better or worse, has come to be a defining element of our identity.

As I struggled through the heavy reading and writing assignments, however, I found myself becoming even more engrossed in the subject I had thought I knew something about. This wasn’t about April 24 marches, protests, or commemorative events; instead, it was an exploration of man’s inhumanity to man, an attempt to understand what genocide entails and what it means for those unfortunate enough to experience it.

Two years later, I am currently enrolled in my third course with Professor Hovannisian - Modern Armenian History. After an exploration of Armenian history from Urartu to today’s Diasporas, I will walk out with not only an introductory overview of our rich history, but more importantly, with a better conception of who our people are…a better sense of my own identity.

More importantly, however, having been presented with various historic approaches, I am walking away with my own opinions and understanding of the various elements of our history.

As an acclaimed historian, Professor Hovannisian’s work takes him to conferences all over the world ranging from Calcutta to Munich. Yet, despite his fame in the international academic community, in the classroom Professor Hovannisian is far more than the researcher forced to teach.

Taking the time to learn the names of the students in his class, he will likely remember their faces for years to come. And despite the busy schedule, he is always available to meet with students who have questions, whether they are about further exploration or their grade on an exam.

Furthermore, although tough, his exams and papers are always fair and for those who stay on top of the reading and attend lectures, the classes are quite manageable. Many sleepless nights, countless red bulls, and cups of coffee later, I can confidently say that it doesn’t matter what grade I receive in these classes…it’s not the grade that counts. If you are looking for an easy A, by all means, avoid these classes. However, if you actually care about learning something of value, this is one of the best ways to go about it.

These courses are what you make of them, but don’t take my word for it, enroll in one and find out for yourself - that is my challenge to you.

All You Need Is Love and Faith…and the White Pages

By: Ani Khachoyan
akhachoyan@gmail.com

William Saroyan’s poem “The Armenian and the Armenian” ends with the following resonating line: “For when two of them [Armenians] meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” Saroyan clearly knew a great secret-a secret that has shined itself upon many small cities in the Diaspora. When one Armenian moves into town, see if he/she will not search for another Armenian, and together, create an Armenian community.

One of the strongest Armenian communities in the south is located in the heart of Music City, USA. Nashville is home to country and Christian music, the replica of the Parthenon, and the Tennessee Titans. You can also find about fifty Armenian families in Nashville who come together once a month on Sundays at the Church of Advent to attend Soorp Badarak (Divine Liturgy) and to later dine together with an Armenian feast.

How did Armenians come together in Nashville, TN and why Nashville? Well, even Rev. Father Tateos Abdalian is not sure of the latter question, but one thing is certain: without the help and dedication of three amazing women, the Armenian Church in Nashville, which is part of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of20America, would have not flourished so eloquently.

Imagine moving into a new city and yearning to find Armenians. How far would you go?
Back in the 90’s, popular social networking websites like Facebook were not as readily available. Things were done via white and yellow pages. In 1996, Helen Fakhoorian, Alla Foliyev, and Nancy Fox flipped through thousands of white pages looking for last names ending in “ian” and “yan”. The search was successful in that they found many last names. However, this white page search extravaganza was even more memorable with all the stories that followed it. One of the funniest calls they placed ended with Helen encouraging the man on the other line to attend the Armenian service when towards the end of the conversation he interrupted and simply said: “But I’m Turkish.”

In the beginning, many of the members were Armenians from Baku, Azerbaijan=2 0who were unaware of the Armenian customs and traditions that surrounded an Armenian Badark. However, many of these men and women from Baku were strong individuals in that they never gave up their Faith despite being repressed by the Azerbaijani government. Many of these families were also refugees who were placed in Nashville’s projects and received little support from the projects. When Helen was notified of many Armenians being placed in the projects, she decided to take matters into her own hands and one family at a time placed them into apartments and drove them around to look for jobs.

Within the first few years, Helen, Alla, and Nancy had gathered 30 families and had collected enough donation money from the Armenians to be able to reserve a small church and have Badark once a year. The Father at that time performed numerous Genoonks (baptism) for Armenians ranging from newborns to 50-year olds (with Helen’s husband standing in as Kavor Godfather to many of these children) and engagements Neshans. Day by the day the Armenian Faith was rejuvenated in their lives and the Armenian Church in Nashville started to flourish.

Helen Fakhoorian explains that the little things-like when the owner of the International market in Nashville would direct Armenians who shopped there to contact her-helped the Armenian community come together. She also explains that a lot of the Armenians who came from various places like Azerbaijan, Iraq, Iran, Armenia, Russia, Romania, and Turkey helped tremendously by providing food and service for the after-Badark feast.

Recently, the Nashville Armenian community was blessed to have Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, visit their parish. Archibishop Barsamian arrived in Nashville just in time for Valentine’s Day and was greeted at the airport by parish council members with bread and salt. Bread and salt symbolizes hospitality and eating a man’s bread and salt creates a sacred bond between the guest and host. The Armenian community in Nashville celebrated a reception in honor of Archbishop’s visit to Nashville on the night of Valentine’s Day where the pokreegner little one’s asked Archbishop Barsamian “Can we have service every week instead of once a month?”

The Armenian Church meets once a month to celebrate Badarak and with the dedication from the parish members, want to extend service to once a week so the pokreegner can come together each Sunday to learn about the Armenian Church and then attend Badarak.

In addition, the Armenian community in Nashville is hoping to one day have their own Armenian church of worship. Again, with the dedication from their tremendously dedicated members and parish council, this too will happen soon.
The Armenian community in Nashville, TN also plans socials. Recent trips to Percy Priest Lake and holiday festivities like Christmas brought together Armenians from Bowling Green, KY and Memphis, TN.

My experience in Nashville has been interesting. I have met many Armenians from Armenia who are currently studying at Tennessee Tech (what we call study abroad) and even Armenians who used to live in Glendale, CA. A good friend of mine once told me that I should start an Armenian Student Association (ASA) at the college here in Nashville, TN…that all it took was another Armenian to start one. I think Saroyan, the Armenian Church in Nashville, and my friend were precise---it only takes another Armenian to start something great.

The Problem with Loneliness

By: Sevak Antranik Karabachian
skarabac@gsd.harvard.edu

In all its emptiness, being lonely is full of surprises. On an unfilled day in the streets of Cambridge, I inevitably came across the "Almost Banned In Harvard Square Booksellers" book stand, where every book is priced pleasantly at two dollars. I browsed through the shelves to find a familiar name or a title and caught the IAN of an author’s last name. The book was titled "Mountains Stand Firm" written by John H. Aroian. It is the story of the first Armenians on the East Coast, working hard to establish the first Armenian Church – a characteristic of Armenians no matter in which part of the world they are found. I picked it up and read it in a few nights and realized that what I consider pain and suffering would seem like a joke when compared to the trials these first Armenians went through. So I will not try to explain to you how tough it is being away from family, or how much it hurts not having friends around. For that, you can turn to Mr. Aroian. Instead, I will tell you some of the surprises I unwrapped when I first moved to Boston to study Architecture at Harvard University.

First surprise arrived in the form of insanity. After three days of not talking to a single human being, I forgot what my voice sounded like. Naturally, I started talking to myself – just to hear something familiar and see if I still remembered it. It sounded so strange. "Is this really your voice?" I said, and immediately burst out in a loud laughter that went to incremental heights when I realized that not only was I talking by myself, I was also laughing alone in a room. I suppose that’s what they’re after when they put someone in solitary confinement.

As is the characteristic of any surprise, being lonely caught me off-guard and needless to say I felt trapped. Yet, I’ve never felt freer in my life. Everything I did, I did it for me without the thought that someone might be looking at, listing to, thinking about, or interpreting and judging what I do. So it was the first time in my life that I was able to unravel myself and see inside at who I really am. What would I read, write, or listen to if nobody was around and no one’s opinion mattered? What would I really wear if no one saw me? Would I really wear yellow shoes if my friends were around? Probably not; but here - nobody cares because there really isn’t anybody around that I care about. Through all this, a new me was revealed; one that did everything he liked without worrying about anyone’s opinion.

The surprise came with certain consequences. I had to apply the same logic of questioning to every aspect of my life. Would I really go to church if nobody saw me attend? Would I really do good if nobody was aware of it? This is the topic of a tho usand-page article, but bottom line is that I found out quickly that doing bad is so much easier.

Have you ever wondered why every Armenian is so firm on first building a church before building a school, or a library or even a house for himself? I suppose the first response would be "Of course they would first build a church - all Armenians are Christians…" Mr. Aroian would beg to differ. Without the church I would be nothing. Without the church Armenians would be nothing. Why the church exists is why we exist. It has shaped my morality and without it I will always be alone, and always do evil. So I am eternally indebted to those first Armenians that went through hell to build the First Armenian Church on the East Coast and I pray that one day, I’m able to return the favor to the generations that are on the way.

The Turkish-Armenian Diplomacy Ordeal: Political Insight & Analysis

By: Andre Arzoo
andrearzoo@berkeley.edu

‘Football Diplomacy’ since last September: Negotiations between the governments in Ankara and Yerevan – a process which began last summer following Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation to Turkish President Abdullah Gül to visit Armenia in host of the Turkish-Armenian World Cup Qualifying Football Match – have taken an uneasy and all to familiar turn this April. More importantly, there seems to be a lack of true insight.

Traditionally, Turkey-Armenia relations have been all but present. In 1993, the Turkish-Armenian border was closed by the government in Ankara as an act of solidarity with the ethnically-Turkic Republic of Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict (1987-94) between the latter and Armenian states. Since then, any manifestation in favor of reestablishing official diplomatic ties between Ankara and Yerevan - and thus reopening their mutual border as one of many results – have revolved around “set preconditions.”

These preconditions have been set forth and defended by both sides for almost two decades now; Turkey advocating for both an immediate settlement of the Karabakh Conflict along principles in favor of Azerbaijan and the establishment of a joint ‘Historical Commission’ made up of Armenian and Turkish historians to reevaluate and discuss the events of 1915 - a tragic event in which Armenians and elements of the International Community of States indisputably attribute as an act of genocide.

In contrast, the government in Yerevan – under former President Robert Kocharyan (1998-2008) - has traditionally advocated for Turkish Recognition of the Armenian Genocide and a reopening of their mutual border prior to the establishment of formal relations – both nations have yet to setup embassies or to have official representatives permanently established within each others’ borders. However, changes in Armenia’s Presidency following last February’s Presidential Elections, Russia’s political move in neighboring Georgia last summer, a crucial energy supply crisis in Turkey, and Western ambitions in the region directed by U.S. President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, seem to have dramatically changed this process to establish diplomatic relations within one of the key politically and military conflicted regions of the world.

After President Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation to his Turkish counterpart last year, numerous meetings have been held between the two sides – meetings that have taken place in countries from Russia and the Caucasus, to Europe – all of which fell along the sidelines of major international political and economic conferences outside of Turkey-Armenia talks. These meetings dramatically differed from those of the past due to both sides initially reaching an agreement to engage talks without set preconditions. However, it seems that this April has marked a change in the sensitive process of diplomacy or at least has revealed the hidden intentions behind them – which many have been arguing from the very beginning.

A vast political and social segment within the Armenian Community – both in Armenia and in the Diaspora – have expressed various sentiments and concerns regarding this new initiative by both governments to finally resolve their conflicting issues.

Outside Government-led Initiatives

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) - a historically influential political party/organization in the Diaspora and currently present member of the government coalition in Armenia - up until recent events this week (April 23-26) – has expressed serious concerns about the Armenian government’s forward-viewing pursuit to reestablish bilateral relations, a process led by President Sargsyan and his ruling Republican Party of Armenia faction.

The ARF bureau, the organizations leading committee, and the organization’s many senior members believe that the government in Ankara is craftily playing a political chess game in which Turkey is pushing the ongoing negotiations forward in order to prevent formal U.S. Recognition of the Armenian Genocide this year - distracting both President Obama with potential relations and the Armenian Government with a possible opening of the border. This concern has emerged within the context of refreshed preconditions that are being set forth by the Turkish Government; Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted several times earlier this month for statements he made in relations to these refreshed preconditions, quoted by ‘haberturk.com’:

“Forget about the opening of the border with Armenia before the settlement of the Karabakh problem.”

The Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan has also gone on the record to state that:

"We don't say, 'Let's first solve one problem and solve the other later'…We want a similar process to start between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We are closely watching the talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia.”

As of April 25, 2009 - the Armenian Revolutionary Federation has resigned from the Armenian government because of the recently announced rapprochement deal between Turkey and Armenia - breaking off from the government coalition that consisted of the Republican Party of Armenia (the ruling party), the Prosperous Armenia Party, Orinats Yerkir, and the ARF - reports Radio Free Europe (RFE) - a Western media publication directed by the U.S. State Department:

"In a written statement, the Dashnaktsutyun leadership in Armenia reiterated the nationalist party’s condemnation of an agreement on the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations announced by the two governments on Wednesday. 'We also have fundamental disagreements with the Armenian authorities’ position on some issues raised during Armenia-Turkey negotiations', it said.

The dramatic move followed a Saturday meeting between [Sargsyan] and two Dashnaktsutyun leaders, Hrant Markarian and Armen Rustamian. According to the latter, Sarkisian briefed them on the essence of the still unpublicized 'roadmap' for gradually normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations. 'The president’s explanations did not satisfy us', Rustamian said on Monday.

Rustamian, who heads the Armenian parliament’s committee on foreign relations, confirmed that Dashnaktsutyun’s departure from the four-party coalition government means all members of the party holding senior positions in the executive and legislative branches must now tender their resignations. 'That process has already begun', he said.

In accordance its March 2008 power-sharing agreement, Dashnaktsutyun has been represented in [Sargsyan's] four-party coalition cabinet by three ministers and several deputy ministers. The influential party also holds 16 seats in the 131-member National Assembly.

Its exit will still leave [Sargsyan] with a comfortable majority in the parliament. His Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) alone controls at least half of the parliament seats."

Former Armenian Foreign Ministers Vartan Oskanian (1998-2008) and Raffi Hovannisian (1991-92) have also expressed similar concerns – arguing that if Ankara’s true intentions are to establish diplomatic ties then these intentions should soon come to fruition by a set deadline. If this deadline is not met, so the argument goes, the Armenian Government itself should reevaluate the negotiations and seriously consider pulling away so as to avoid further conflicting with other Armenian issues of interest. Mr. Oskanian – who is now head director of the 'Civilitas Foundation', a political think-tank established in 2008 so as to conduct analysis and policy subscriptions revolving around Armenia’s political and economic spheres – was quoted by RFE:

“When you make a Turkish-Armenian dialogue public, the Turks always take advantage of that because they face the genocide issue, the issue of European Union membership and the issue of friendship with Azerbaijan…So publicity here, if we let it last for long, is not to our benefit. With every day passing without border opening or normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations, Turkey finds itself in a more beneficial position than Armenia.

[...]

The Armenian side should set a clear deadline for the Turks -- if we sign an agreement and the border is opened on a particular day, it will be fine; if not, let us interrupt the negotiations from that day. Something has to be done.”

Mr. Hovannisian – Foreign Minister under First President Levon Ter-Petrossian, Heritage (Zharangutyun) Party leader, and current leader of Armenia’s Opposition Movement – has also expressed similar concerns regarding Turkish-held preconditions:

“I don’t anticipate the signing of a Turkish-Armenian agreement in the near future.”

Instead, Hovannisian points to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s calls for the United Nations Security Council to “denounce Armenia as an ‘occupier’ and demand Karabakh’s return under Azerbaijani rule,” reports Radio Free Europe. Once again reaffirming Turkey’s links of Armenian political issues to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict – not to mention the Turkish Government’s precondition that Armenia recognize the current Turkish border - under the 1921 Treaty of Kars - and sacrifice any current or future claims to Western Armenia (or Eastern Anatolia).

The Armenian National Congress (HAK) – a political body formed outside of the Armenian National Assembly (Armenia’s Parliament) and made up of various key Armenian political parties opposed to the ruling government – seem to have the same stance in odds with the ongoing Turkey-Armenia negotiations. Levon Zurabian, a senior representative of the opposition’s National Congress has stated that:

“By and large, we welcome Turkish-Armenian reconciliation and the possible opening of the border…but there are some reports to the effect that Armenia will have to satisfy a number of conditions for the sake of that reconciliation. In particular, the establishment of the so-called commission of historians.”

A commission in which many in the Armenian political sphere believe will undermine the solidity of Armenian efforts to advocate for genocide recognition abroad – arguing that the very act of establishing such a commission would not only harm the validity of describing the events as genocide but will also redirect Armenian efforts of U.S. Genocide Recognition within the Diaspora toward a position that is less than favorable, as well as harming any future efforts for Turkish Recognition as well.

The argument is, or at least a clear analysis of, that once a commission is established – as a result, the U.S. Government would avoid domestic efforts for recognition and instead advocate for a Turkish-Armenian led effort to resolve the issue – as Obama’s visit to Ankara in March and his following statements have proven.

Similarly and more importantly, as of April 23, 2009 Armenia and Turkey announced a 'Road Map' to normalize ties - quotes RFE in a joint statement released by both Turkish and Armenian Foreign Ministries:

“The two parties have achieved tangible progress and mutual understanding in this process and they have agreed on a comprehensive framework for the normalization of their bilateral relations in a mutually satisfactory manner."

However, the statement released lacks any discussion of whether relations will be fully established before the settlement of the Karabakh Conflict and whether or not the mutual border will be opened any time soon. Instead, a Turkish government official is quoted by RFE as stating that the opening of the said border is "out of the question." The Turkish Foreign Ministry has gone on to state:

“We will continue with our policy of silent diplomacy. The time has not come yet to make announcements on specifics nor on timelines."

As a result of the April 23rd joint Road Map statement, President Obama stepped aside from his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide on April 24 as such, instead calling the events a "massacre" and "Medz Yeghren" - 'Great Calamity' in Armenian - in his attempt to please both sides and avoid "hampering" any ongoing negotiations between the two former nations:

"Ninety four years ago, one of the great atrocities of the 20th century began. Each year, we pause to remember the 1.5 million Armenians who were subsequently massacred or marched to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. The Meds Yeghern must live on in our memories, just as it lives on in the hearts of the Armenian people.

[...]

The best way to advance that goal right now is for the Armenian and Turkish people to address the facts of the past as a part of their efforts to move forward. I strongly support efforts by the Turkish and Armenian people to work through this painful history in a way that is honest, open, and constructive. To that end, there has been courageous and important dialogue among Armenians and Turks, and within Turkey itself. I also strongly support the efforts by Turkey and Armenia to normalize their bilateral relations. Under Swiss auspices, the two governments have agreed on a framework and roadmap for normalization. I commend this progress, and urge them to fulfill its promise."

April 24th is marked as "Armenian Remembrance Day" on the WhiteHouse calender, where the acting President at the time addresses the American public in regard to the Armenian Genocide - as former President Bush did throughout his presidency. However, each presiding President has failed to use the term genocide when describing the events of 1915 and instead describes the events as a result of "massacre" and "deportations." President Obama, on the other hand, not only failed to live up to his promise to the Armenian-American Community of rightfully describing the events as genocide but also failed to give a live public address; instead he released a statement on the WhiteHouse Website - which many criticize and compare to the actions of the former president where President Bush at least was straight forward in his denial.

Beyond the Political Game: Economic & Criminal Implications

Regardless of the political aspects behind this process of reconciliation – which has been publically identified as a process of "rapprochement" – there has been a short falling of any genuine or reasonable study and analysis of the social and economic implications that would follow both opening the borders and solidifying relations - a border which would not only open the Republic of Armenia and its population to Turkey but also to Europe via Turkey-Armenia. If tomorrow morning the Turkish and Armenian Governments were to make a deal in terms of formalizing permanent bilateral relations, and thus reopening the Turkish-Armenian border, what plans have the two governments laid forth in managing the process and what policies have been or are in the process of being formulated to deal with the exchange of commerce, human capital, and the possibility of criminal elements?

The Armenian domestic market is in size, input, and output, no way comparable to that of Turkey - with Turkey ranking in the top 20 economies in the world. In addition, the global economic crisis has substantially hit the Armenian economy in both its input and output - as well as Turkey's domestic economy and its workers abroad - forcing the Armenian Government to turn to external agencies for capital and has caused significant contraction from its once “double digit” yearly rise. This double digit pattern has repeated itself for the last decade or so, although a considerable amount of this pattern has been due to remittances from Armenians working and living abroad, foreign investment (Diasporan for the most part), and tourism. All of which have taken additional hits as a result of domestic political turmoil following last year's Presidential Election, the inflation of the Dram (which has only recently been adjusted), and reduction of tourism. The 'Armenian Economist' reports:

"Remittances, as measured by the inflow of noncommercial transfers to individuals through commercial banks, maintained a robust pattern of growth through December of 2008. This is truly impressive given all the shocks that the country experienced. January is a different story where transfers slowed down by some 25 percent year over year. Two questions: why did remittances continue to grow through December, and, two, what does January foretell about the future?"

The Armenian Economy has taken additional blows in terms of Real Estate and its national currency - the Dram - due to the ongoing global economic crisis and the recent Georgian-Russian War:

"Compared to 2007, sales dipped by 5 percent in March following the disturbances in Yerevan on the first of the month. In early August, war broke out between Georgia and Russia which in effect cut off Armenia's links to most of its trading partners. Real estate transactions dropped by 22 percent in that month compared to sales in August of 2007. And it has been on the decline ever since, with sales lower than the comparable figures for 2007 by 35 percent in November. Obviously instability in Georgia does not bode well for Armenia. It is not clear whether the global financial crisis has hit Armenia as of yet, and very difficult to glean its impact through the real estate market with the information at hand.

[...]

The share of Dram denominated bank deposits dropped from 63 percent of total deposits at the end of November to 39 percent in February. Other than the fear of the uncertainties of the global financial crises, and the related flight to quality, it is not clear what else explains this trend. What is certain however is that so much Drams cannot be dumped without depressing its value. The CBA could not defend the Dram at 305 units to the USD, and perhaps should not have intervened. In early March it gave up and stopped its intervention and the value of the Dram dropped to about 365 units per USD. Two questions: What would have happened had the CBA not intervened? The chart below may tell one story, but that is too simplistic. Second, why do econometric models of exchange rates ignore the composition of deposits and its information content?"

An open shared-border would equate to an even more open and shared-economic market between Turkey and Armenia. Hence, Armenia’s market would be open to excess consumer products coming in from Turkey replacing Armenian domestic products for cheaper Turkish ones, and decreasing production and distribution as a result. Unless regulation policies have already been set for implementation once the borders are opened so as to prevent such an influx of foreign products, Armenia’s domestic market would feel a dramatic shift at its base – the likelihood of which unemployment would rise as competing domestic producers close down in the face of new Turkish competitors.

On top of these issues, the real possibility of increased immigration out of Armenia also holds its own ground – further reducing the population, labor market, and societal base - a serious national security and population threat. Thus, a newly open boarder would give way to increased efforts in expatriation and human trafficking.

As one article published earlier this month in ‘The Armenian Weekly’ noted:

“Turkey is a relatively vast and largely populated nation with the second largest standing army in NATO and one of the 20 largest economies in the world, boasting centuries of experience in diplomacy, warfare, and the subjugation of weaker neighbors.

[...]

What has the government of Armenia done to address trade, regulatory, and logistic issues associated with the opening of the border? What steps has the government of Armenia taken to help establish industries that can compete in an open market? What products does Armenia have to offer to Turkey besides cognac, beer, juices, cigarettes, jams, and fruits, all of which are readily available in Turkey via internal production and import? At the current rate, the opening will result in the flooding in of Turkish products in Armenia, bypassing the pre-existing clandestine trade route through Georgia; Turkish ownership of the few remaining businesses and commodities that are not owned by Russia; and total foreign control of the local economy from grains to fuel and other necessities, resulting in the ultimate subjugation of Armenia to the economic and political will of foreign entities, specifically a state with Armenian blood on its hands.”

These are some broad issues and questions at the general level that are at the face of the economic factor when discussing the opening of the border – we’re just scratching the surface here. Regardless, the point is that serious and legitimate studies must be conducted – research which should have been done prior to beginning negotiations – research that should be conducted by the Armenian Government, Armenian Central Bank, and Armenian Economists Abroad so as to measure the costs and benefits of any economic implications that would follow a border opening. The question of whether or not the Armenian economy is ready for such an expansion should be at the top of government priority, as well as that of Armenians in general. Anyone who follows economics or the Armenian economy knows that Armenia’s domestic market is far from ready to compete with an increasingly more dominant and vast foreign economy.

Aside from these economic regulatory issues, but also in relation to, stands the issue of crime. Unfortunately, Armenia is plagued by its own criminal elements – in terms of economic monopolization by local oligarchs, post-Soviet sex trade networks, and organized crime in general, to name the more crucial ones. How much more so would these sectors expand once similar Turkish criminal elements wash up onto Armenia’s streets looking for a new base of operation and extraction? In contrast, how much more extensive will Armenian organized crime elements and oligarchs expand their power and influence once outreaching into Turkey as well? Dealing with Armenia’s criminal sector, both in the government hierarchy and on the ground level, have been serious issues for the young republic and society – to which a new border would only bring a further layer of criminal elements, resources, and even violence.

Turkish-Armenian Relations are a multi-faceted issue; one has to consider the economic, political, criminal, social, and human capital implications when genuinely assessing bilateral relations and the opening of borders. The Republic of Armenia is politically, socially, and economically a young and vulnerable player in this global game – Turkey being the closest threat in all of these regards. One may argue the same for Russia or Iran; however, the Armenian Republic has already had almost two decades of experience (whether in a positive or negative light) in dealing with these two foreign economies and their various consequences. Turkey, however, is a new factor – one in which history has REPEATEDLY demonstrated that we cannot afford to play games with, nonetheless lose.

Either way, a serious academic assessment must be made at the highest levels in order to defend the economic, political, and social rights of the Armenian nation and of ALL Armenian people - in Armenia and the Diaspora. Without which we are destined, yet again, to fall victim to the possibly fatal blows of globalization, regional power grabs, and exploitation by our surrounding neighbors. Nonetheless; Genocide Recognition, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Armenia’s economy should not be sacrificed, forced through, or endangered in any way shape or form so as to establish relations and open a border with a traditional foe who has repeatedly taken any opportunity at hand to deal blows to the Armenian nation. Establishing diplomatic relations and expanding the access along Armenia’s borders are crucial factors in developing and strengthening the republic, but at the right time and in the right way.

Not Just Any Commemoration

By: Sarin Kodchian
Bruinsrk17@ucla.edu

Images of emaciated bodies of children, beheaded young men, and terrified mothers clutching their children in despair have been engraved in our hearts and minds for almost a century now. Those figures that we’re all familiar with were a fading backdrop to a multitude of youth gathered to remember them. The black and white photos of sorrow sunken eyes continue to scream out the same thing, begging to be heard. If only those eyes could see what we take for granted everyday.

Those in attendance at the AYF Pasadena “Nigol Touman” 5th annual Armenian genocide commemoration event were reminded of it once again. The event was more than just another commemorative event, it was an attempt to unite and inspire a community by reminding them of our past and exposing them to our accomplishments. It was an opportunity for members to showcase their talents in the arts and the youth to prove to their elders how ready and capable they are of continuing the Armenian cause.

The event began with a flag ceremony presented by “Azadamard” scouts, and the national anthem sung by Nanor Momdjian. A beautiful rendition of Cilicia was sung by Tro Krikorian and Payla Kevorkian, with Rita Keshishian on the piano and Razmig Jierjian playing the guitar. Next was a Documentary of eyewitness accounts of the genocide. There were the faces and voices of the stories we’ve all heard of, but too quick to forget.

A woman recalled arriving to a closed school one day and upon returning home learning that all her teachers had been taken away. A man remembered having just three hours to gather all his belongings before the deportation. Another woman described her bloody feet as she walked through the desert, “Hot sun up there, hot sand down here, no water, no food”. “They killed everyone, in front of my very eyes, my three brothers and my father.” And one resigned, “It was hell, but I made it here.” One recalled how Turkish soldiers were told to feed only those children who couldn’t remember what happened. But the stories we’ve heard were passed down from children that escaped, and remembered. The documentary was followed by performances including Vana Kevorkian’s recitation of Kele, Lao and a moving dance performance by Aline Bogharian which expressed the deep pain of a love taken too soon.

The keynote speaker of the evening, Alice Petrosyan, a granddaughter of a survivor of the genocide and currently the Chief Academic Officer head of Pasadena Unified School District spoke about her hope for the future of Armenia, and told stories to inspire the future generations to get ahead. After all, that would be the greatest revenge. She pointed out how when an Armenian child behaves badly, it reflects poorly on our people; but when one is rewarded for their accomplishments, it’s as though our whole people are being celebrated. Each accomplishment is a reason for celebration and each failure, a shame.

At times a young Armenian may feel burdened by this sad page in our history and the responsibility it entails, but they have all the hopes of our people to push them forward. We are a small people, but a resilient one. The handful of badanees present at the event made up in spirit what they lack in numbers. Their presence at such an event is proof in and of itself that our people’s future is in the right hands. “As an Armenian, we are born with an inclination to lead, with the inspiration and drive to do good in the world”, said Petrosyan. The event closed with a candlelight vigil, lit by the children in attendance, symbolic of their role in keeping our people’s fire alive.

Every year AYF Pasadena “Nigol Touman” chapter aims to bring the members of their chapter, their families and friends together in an effort to unite them in remembrance of our past. The goal of the annual event is to gather Pasadena youth to remind them, to guide them in their actions, and to inspire political activism to further the Armenian Cause.

Tro Krikorian, one of the performers and organizers of the event said, “The Armenian cause isn’t just about the genocide, but the genocide is a part of it.” A century ago, half of our population was murdered and now, thousands of miles from our homeland, Armenian youth are granted the opportunity to learn and grow, not being restrained by our past but being inspired by it. “Remembering is important, we can’t ever forget to remember,” said Tro. “It is our job as an organization to remind them.”

The event was more than just another way to commemorate the Armenian genocide; it answered the growing question of the significance of commemoration. The annual commemorative event that the Nigol Touman chapter organizes isn’t an attempt to do something remarkable, but it does. Year after year, commemoration seems less and less important. But this event captured what commemoration is in its very definition: it is not just a duty, but a celebration. By commemorating the past we remind ourselves of our resilience and what we’re capable of. Let’s not take for granted how far we’ve come, because if we forget that, then we forget the importance of that survival, and we can’t ever forget that. We all have the opportunity to think, and to do things. Let’s not waste it.

Eulogy

By: Arpine Lusikyan
arpine.lusikyan.53@csun.edu

I ask myself, why do people love to hate, and hate to love? Why can’t we just accept what we have and who we are? Why do we have to witness hatred and death? Why should a mother bury her child? I ask myself, but I don’t know.

April 12, 2009 was Easter Sunday, the holiest and most celebrated holiday in the Christian religion, the Armenian religion, my religion; we celebrate this day in honor of Jesus and the journey of his soul to heaven. It is a day of family, friends, religion, and most importantly, happiness.

Every year on this day, our entire family gathers and celebrates, as we did this year. All the formalities took place as planned, all family members were in attendance, but one thing was missing from within me, happiness. I wasn’t happy; instead I was angry, I was sad, and I was in mourning.

April 12, on Easter Sunday, I found out that Hayk Oganyan was murdered. He was attending a birthday and graduation party and briefly left the house to get something from his car when three heartless, evil, and cowardly men approached him and attempted to rob him. They stabbed him and killed him in cold blood. Not only did they rob Hayk of his life, but they robbed his family of happiness, his friends of smiles, and in return gave all the people who loved Hayk grief for the rest of their lives.

Hayk was a 19 year-old Armenian boy; he would turn 20 on April 16, just four days after he was murdered. I had only met Hayk twice, had exchanged a few words, but were never close friends. Today, I mourn his death. His smile and his lively eyes left an impact on me, something I will never forget in my life and I am saddened to say that no one will ever see that beautiful smile ever again.

I sat for hours trying to make sense of this tragedy. I cried, and cried, and cried. How can people have it in their hearts to kill? Are they not children of parents as Hayk was his mother’s son? Do they not have an ounce of compassion in their soul to save a life? Why do they have to hate? I suppose I’ll never find answers to these questions or even understand the motives of those three men. I’ll never understand why these men killed Hayk. But I know I can only understand one thing. I can understand the thousands of people who are crying today, who are mourning Hayk’s loss and who, like me, are searching for answers. I don’t think anyone can even begin to understand the pain and anguish that Hayk’s family is suffering. You know the pain you feel? Well, multiply it by a million, that might get you close to what his family is going through, but I suppose it’s even more than that.

I am dreading to attend Hayk’s funeral. I really want to be there to pay my respects and say goodbye, but just the thought of seeing his mother’s tears, her trying to say her final goodbye, her burying his son… I don’t think I can bear to see that. I can only imagine it. Hundreds of people: parents, grandparents, relatives, friends, and strangers dressed in black circling Hayk’s grave, crying, bowing their heads to a boy who impacted their lives. As you may have noticed, I mentioned strangers. I know that many people who didn’t even know Hayk will attend his funeral because he is a young Armenian and because his story, in some way, has touched the lives of strangers. Yes, a young Armenian and yet another one is gone, yet another tragic tale.

To everyone mourning Hayk’s death, to all those who knew him and loved him, and to those who had never met Hayk but are touched by this tragedy… hang in there. Deal with the pain in your own way. If you want to cry, then cry. If you want to express your emotions by writing, then write it down. If you want to smile, then smile and remember the good memories. But, in whichever way you choose to mourn, make sure you always keep Hayk alive in your memories. I might have only met him twice, but he has truly touched my life. God give his family patience and the strength to survive this unforeseen tragedy.

We have lost a treasure on earth, but heaven has gained an angel. Yes, Hayk is truly an angel. May the journey of his soul to heaven be guided by God. Astvats hokit lusavorvi, Hayk jan. You will be missed. We love you. Rest In Peace.

Armenian Life on Hellenic Soil

By: Thora Giallouri
a_tgiallouri@yahoo.com
The Armenian Blue Cross, with financial help from their U.S. chapter, as well as members of the community, was able to establish Armenian kindergartens, elementary schools and high-schools throughout Greece. Until the Armenian community was able to stand on its feet, those charitable organizations undertook the task of feeding, lodging, clothing and offering health services to the refugees and orphans.

These organizations also dedicated themselves to maintaining strong cohesion within the community, encouraging the teaching of the Armenian language and history, and preserving the Armenian culture and tradition. The community was built in large part through the work of Armenian schools, financial support to Greek-Armenian press, the issuing of grants and scholarships to Greek-Armenian students, the establishing of a blood-bank, the hosting of camps for poor children and adolescents, as well as through cooperation with many other Greek-Armenian foundations.

As the years passed, the community found itself less and less in need of philanthropic contributions. The economic boom of the 80s and Greece’s membership in the European Economic Community, the precursor of the European Union, enabled Greek-Armenian businesses, along with the rest of the population, to flourish. The vast majority of Armenians own businesses that can be described from successful to very successful, while many occupy themselves in administrative positions within the community and artistic professions. Only recently, have Armenians begun to seek careers in academics, entering the social sciences to study fields such as political science, history, public administration, psychology and journalism.

A cause to rally behind
Prosperity offered the community the opportunity to help Armenians elsewhere; funds were allocated to face the difficulties that tormented then Soviet Armenia and still torment the Republic of Armenia. On numerous occasions throughout the 90s, the Greek-Armenian community mobilized to assist the emergent Republic of Armenia, contributing greatly to relief efforts after the 1987 earthquake.
But it wasn’t until the outbreak of the Karabakh conflict that humanitarian aid to Armenia became a systematic effort adopted by the Greek Armenian community. Greece was one of the first countries to offer asylum to Armenian refugees fleeing Azeri aggression. The community mobilized itself along with the Hellenic State to address the difficulties Armenia faced during its first years of independence, mobilizing aid to combat famine, the lack of fuel resources, the stranglehold caused by the Turkish-Azeri embargo. Two kindergarten schools were also established in Nagorno-Karabakh due to donations from the Armenians of Greece.

After 2000, financial aid to Armenia also took on the character of investments in Armenia’s economy from Greek corporations. Unfortunately, such ventures are still limited due to the difficulties investors face in Armenia's market. There have, however, been examples of successful cooperation such as the launch of a Hellenic Aid Chapter. The chapter, managed in collaboration with the Greek ANC, is responsible for collecting fruit crops and pushing them in other European countries' markets.

Challenges
Despite these accomplishments, the community finds itself facing some serious challenges. Years of prosperity have created an environment of political and cultural apathy among the community’s younger generation. A very serious generational gap also exists in the community. The older generation, in a sense, retired from cultural and political life after Greece recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1996. While the younger generation, born into assimilation, is largely apathetic to pan-Armenian issues outside their own community. Traditionally, the majority of the community had supported the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and thus, participated in the activities of the Greek ANC. But having grown up in a prosperous environment, the younger generation had very little incentive or encouragement to become active in Armenian issues. Although integration is very important for an ethnic community’s ability to thrive in a host country, the fact that Armenians did too well within Greek society, may eventually cost them their identity.

One could expect that residing in a more than friendly state would have led Armenians in Greece to fight harder for Armenian interests and set grander goals than simply providing humanitarian aid to Armenia in times of need. This not being the case, the outside observer is led to the conclusion that social success, as well as success in the genocide recognition issue, may have given reason for the community to rest on its laurels.

Even though political parties have expressed their support on Greek-Cypriot issues and have urged the Hellenic state to act in the case of Karabakh, there has not been much done other than verbal expression. Cooperation between the community and the Greek government in common areas of interest is nonexistent, while representation of Armenians in the Greek Parliament has been limited to one single occasion, once when Kevork Papazian was elected to the Parliament for the 1920-1924 session.

When observing the community one is presented with an image of older members idly watching the course of events, void of ideas that will rejuvenate the political will and movement of a younger generation. Despite the existence of an Armenian Youth Federation chapter, Greek-Armenian youth seems to mobilize itself only once a year in the month of April, with the organized events receiving minimal media coverage and the attendance of people decreasing each year.

It was only 20 years ago that the Greek-Armenian community presented a more vivid and militant image of Armenian activism, now the political element is steadily wearing off.

The community seems to be active only through holding cultural events; the quantity of cultural, athletic and educational associations shows the great tendency and talent of the community towards the arts and letters.

Each year, many dance, music and theater performances are held, usually organized by the Hamazkayin Association, while the Homenetmen Association has a soccer, basket-ball and volley-ball team under its wings along with the Armenian Boy Scouts. In addition to that, the charity foundations mentioned above organize bazaars and camps, where children and youngsters from Armenia participate in cultural activities.

Since 2001, there has been an exchange of cultural groups between Greece and Armenia through the Sister Cities Association. The Halandri municipality in the greater Athens area is now sister-cities with Noyemberian. Through this relationship, the aforementioned municipality has been able to offer assistance for the renovation of Noyemberian’s main square, the set-up of a public computer and web classroom and the reconstruction of public streets. On a similar base, the Nea Smyrni municipality donated medical machinery and street-cleaning vehicles to Sissian while the city of Korinthos is now connected to Vanatsor.

Thanks to cultural events, the few Armenian schools left in Greece and the existence of two newspapers and a periodical, the majority of Greek-Armenians are still able to speak their mother language. Unfortunately, the importance of the written language has also been neglected by a large part of the community and gradually fewer and fewer people know how to write in Armenian.

Another matter of concern is the influx of economic immigrants from Armenia in the past years; their numbers are estimated around 20,000 people. That means that they count almost the same as the traditional diaspora in Greece, even though they find themselves in a significantly worse position. Most of them do not speak Greek and have a hard time integrating into Greek society. However, the community has exerted much effort to helping them in any way possible, offering work positions and providing for their education. It is of great interest whether newly arrived Armenians will trigger the inactive and indifferent community to take action in a more meaningful way, thus ensuring, for the new generation of Greek-Armenians, a more sustainable community.

Will the community be able to preserve its Armenian element in 20 years from now? Chances are gloomy. Being an active and informed citizen within one's community is no easy task. It takes time, effort, knowledge and passion. And if there is no passion, then the community is bound to lose its character and motivation. The only solution would be for the younger generation to wake up, realize the favorable position in which it has evolved all these years and take advantage of it to pursue Armenian interests more effectively.

Unfortunately, the Greek-Armenian community has failed to do that partially because it did not entrust its organization and management to professionals. That is, Armenians with a background in history, politics and the social sciences--people who would make the pursuit of Greek-Armenian interests a profession and not a once-a-week activity by people passionate, but nevertheless unable to thoroughly occupy themselves with the needs of the community and the Armenian state.

The community, as it grew, became too comfortable and did not make use of its prosperity the way it should have. It has also shown stubbornness in changing its ways when the need for evolution was evident. One can only hope that the new generation of Armenian scientists and students will aspire to bring about a much needed change.

The Political Seeds of the Black Garden: Nagorno-Karabagh

By: Iren Tatevosyan
irentatevosyan@yahoo.com

Nagorno-Karabagh, a small mountainous territory affixed between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia, has witnessed the most contentious battles in Transcaucasian history. Called the “black garden” for its fertile lands, the vegetation of Karabagh has been cultivated by the blood of Azeri and Armenian warriors and civilians. In 1994 the body count reached 20,000 – notwithstanding the 40,000 Azerbaijanis who fled and the 90,000 Armenians that were displaced. Why such an intense and unrelenting struggle over this small region?

Part of the ancient Armenian province of Artsakh and Utik, Karabagh was annexed by Greater Armenia before the 5th century. This prominent ancient Armenian state would eventually succumb to the invasions and conquests of the Arabs, Seljuk Turks, Mongols and Persians. Subject to the rule of these foreigners, Armenians would be a stateless people until 1918, with some autonomy in Karabagh as the only exception.
In the 20th century, the once semi-obliterated Armenians would rouse a collective essence and pronounce their self-determination, spurring Karabagh Armenians to approve a referendum in 1991 asking for the independence of Nagorno-Karabagh from Soviet Azerbaijan.

The Azeris, once known as Tartars, are believed to be an ethnical mixture of Turks and Iranians who converted to Islam and adopted the Turkic language under Seljuk rule. It was not untill after 1750 that Azeris settled in Sushi. However, to predate their history and establish legitimacy over Nagorno-Karabagh, Azeri historians argue ties to Caucasian Albanians.

Nagorno-Karabagh is the focal point of the clash between these two civilizations and the battle is entrenched in nationalism and territorialism, as both cultures build their self-image by contrasting their nationalities. ATurcopholic identity further fueled Azeri hatred for the Armenians as Pan-Turkic plans to destroy Armenia were hailed by those who wanted to obliterate the Republic of Armenia and unite with their Turkish brethren. Moreover, the religious difference added fiery color to the completed painting of the Christian Armenian and Muslim Azeri distinctiveness.

To understand the strategic importance and hostility over Mountainous Karabagh, the international actors that have an irrefutable interest in this land must also be explored.

Under Soviet rule, divide and conquer tacticts caused the relatively homogenous Mountainous Karabagh to be torn from the remainder of Armenia and granted to Azerbaijan. In seeking to strengthen their borders and protect their power, Bolsheviks turned to the Turks to redefine boundaries, seeing this allied relationship as a means of expanding the Bolshevik propaganda to the Muslim states in the hopes that these minorities would become indifferent to their past and join the international struggle for class consciousness. It was under this false pretension that the provinces of Nagorno-Karabagh and Nakhichevan were given to Soviet Azerbajian and Kars and Ardahan to Turkey.

To their miscalculated dismay, however, the Soviets soon realized that Bolshevism would never trump the growing sentiments of Pan-Turkism, awakening to Turkey’s quests for power in Central Asia by taking an active stance against the belligerent assaults directed at the Armenians following the 1991/92 victories in Karabagh.

Turkey’s obsessive interest in the Mountainous Karabagh region and Armenia is strictly geopolitical. Azerbaijan is naturally endowed with a plethora of oil and natural gas and its Turcopholic identity makes Turkey the primary beneficiary of these reserves. To get Baku’s oil to Turkey, however, a pipeline must be laid which would run through Armenia and settle north in the Black Sea, ideally abolishing the Republic or Armenia. Such a drastic alteration to the geopolitical scene of the Near East and Central Asia would establish Turkey as the greatest political power in the region- threatening Soviet and Iranian interests.

Iran, more so than the Russia, is in a bitter struggle with Turkey to gain control of the Middle East. Yet, it the Soviet Union, with its internal resources, economy, military, population and territory, commanded the highest esteem and fear in the region. Their ability to threaten the outbreak of World War III upon Turkey’s intervention in Karabagh is a testament to their position as a great power.

As Azerbaijan’s second largest trading partner, Great Briatain also had an interest in the oil equipment, communications, agriculture and banking in Azerbaijan. In fact, it leads a consortium of oil firms seeking contracts with the Azeris and has hailed Azerbaijani legitimacy over the region of Mountainous Karabagh.

It was the efforts of Great Britain which had originally curtailed the union of Mountainous Karabagh via the Lachin Strip to Armenia in 1918. General Thomson of Britain ordered the great Armenian General Andranik to halt his procession to Karabagh, organized to open the aforementioned connection to Armenia, in return for peace negotiations. Andranik’s compliance, later his greatest regret, allowed for the return of the Azeris to the Armenian villages which were burnt and pillaged.

Today, the Republic of Armenia has become a prisoner of its geography. Sandwiched between Turkey and Azerbaijan, its government has taken a neutral stance fearing invasion of Armenia’s southern provinces. Unfortunately, with Turkish support, Armenia is clearly disadvantaged.

What then explains the sheer survival of the Mountainous Karabagh Armenians against these insurmountable forces? For one, the conflicting interests of the great power stakeholder’s account for the deadlocked policies produced toward the region. Each pursues its own agenda of power aggrandizement, yet must recount its ambitions in consideration of its fellow player’s ability to arm against them.

Thus, this minute yet geopolitically significant garden has become an ethical and international thorn on the side peace.

Logically, the Armenians of Karabagh should have surrendered due to the inferiority of their weaponry and sparseness of allies. Yet, Armenians argue that Karabagh is a matter of life and death, while for Azerbaijanis it is a matter of ambition. The nationalism, borne domestically in the mountainous region, matters more to these people. Their words and identities usurp the famine, threats, and tortures that have plagued them. They will not trade off their rights to what used to be their last bastion of hope for independence for a zero-sum compromise—no matter what they are threatened with.

Hrair Hawk Khatcherian: Inspiration to All

By: Jano Boghossian
JanoBoghossian@ucla.edu

Hrair Hawk Khatcherian was lying on a hospital bed in 1993 counting down the final days of his battle with cancer. He was undergoing chemotherapy on his 32nd birthday as the doctors said there was no hope that he could ever survive. As the days passed, there was nothing to do but simply wait.

In the hospital room where the bland white walls and the smell of pharmaceuticals usually causes the patients to be more depressed, hung a cross that would inspire the Hawk to continue his fight. Time was running out, but Hrair Khatcherians faith kept him physically and mentally strong. He vowed to go to the ends of the earth and photograph every house of God his ancestors had built as a way of expressing his gratification if he ended up surviving.

Khatcherian was born to an Armenian family in Beirut, Lebanon. Ever since he was a child, he wanted to become a pilot, and was able to accomplish that dream later on in life. For this reason, he calls himself Pazeor Hawk in Armenian, which also symbolizes his physical and spiritual rebirth after a near encounter with death. He currently lives in Laval, Quebec, Canada with his wife and two children. As of today, he has been to over 44 countries since his recovery from the hospital, documenting and capturing everything from beautiful landscapes, architecture, and portraits to still lives and nudes. As an avid pilot, Hawk began his quest by regularly flying to the Armenian Highlands to take photos of the region and its people. He eventually released his first book of photographs in 1997 titled Artsakh, which is a chronicle of the survival of a nation caught between the collapse of the Soviet Union and a struggle for independence. He has published various books depicting life in Armenia, and also about the land they live on, but his original project is still in the works.

This project, One Church, One Nation, was started over sixteen years ago and is still in progress. Once published, it will be the first book to have shots of every Armenian Church in the world, seen through the eyes of the Hawk. According to Khatcherian, it was fairly easy to locate most of the churches because they were usually built close to a populated area. The most difficult part was doing research to find churches in remote locations and finding transportation to get to the destination. Friends and other enthusiasts would sometimes contact him to assist in locating various churches in foreign countries, but once he pinpointed the individual churches, the rest was easy.

This long quest consisted of visiting countries in the Middle East, Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Khatcherian says each and every single church has its own story and is special in its own unique way. He believes the most interesting church is located in Córdoba, 700 kilometers west of the capital of Argentina, because it was built by the donations made by the poor from the region, which is also the case for several other churches. As for the most spiritual, he felt it was Soorp Hagop (Saint James) in Jerusalem. Khatcherian said he used to wake up at four in the morning, sit in the back of the church, and savor the lighting ritual of oil lamps before prayer time."

Many Armenians are surprised to hear about Armenian merchants in East Asia during the Ottoman Empire, let alone the existence of Armenian churches. The one instance that surprised Hawk himself was Saint Johns Armenian Church in Burma (Myanmar). When he went to visit the country, there was only a soft-spoken Armenian gentleman who kept the church doors open, preserved the interior, and kept it dust-free, so that even a single Armenian who visits from Canada can pray.

Hrair Hawk Khatcherian’s travels were very smooth for the majority of the time, and he felt blessed everywhere he went because he rarely found himself in a dangerous situation. After all, it was a vow he had made while battling cancerhe was only trying to keep his end of the bargain after getting a second chance at life after beating all the odds, even after being given the 10-day dying period granted by the doctor in 1993.

The only dangerous circumstances he found himself in were during his travels in historical Armenia (present-day Turkey). On his first visit to the area in 1997, the late Archbishop Mesrob Ashdjian took him along with a group guided by Armen Aroyan from Los Angeles to visit ancient Armenian ruins. During that trip, and each subsequent one that followed, they came across danger, whether it was physical or verbal.

A group of 13-year-old Turkish children gathered in Bitlis and threatened to slaughter them yet again if they were in Turkey to claim anything from the past. While traveling through eastern Turkey, commandoes raided and circled their location while photographing the only half surviving church of Sourp Sarkis of Khdzgonk, which was once a complex of five churches before they were blown up in the 1970s.
Ever since his recovery in 1993, Hawk has lived a life that many of us can only dream of. Many Armenians envy his countless adventures around the world and the photographs that he has taken along his travels. His current project is almost complete; his only challenge will be to find funding for this unique book. Khatcherian is still very active with his photography, and he has a fearless attitude about his works. He has no trouble traveling to the most dangerous parts of the world because he has already faced death.

His other works include his second book, Karabagh: 100 Photos, published in 2002, which explores the existential mysteries and the eternal paradox of life and death. Yergir, a book about Western Armenia, was published in 2005. Later on that year, he also published Flying Hye, which provides a bird's eye view of Armenia.

Hrair Hawk Khatcherian was as close to death as anybody could be. His encounter with cancer led him to become a stronger person and inspire many others. Sixteen years ago he made a promise, and once he was given a second chance at life, nothing could stop him from carrying it out. He does what he loves best, and truly lives life to the fullest. His photographs compel the viewers to ponder for themselves; for this he will live on through his works forever.

Our Recession; Their 'Depression'

By: Ruben Vardanyan
RubenVardanyan@yahoo.com

One need only look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishing of unemployment figures to grasp the grim economic tides America finds itself in today. Forward going updates by the media have reassured us time and again of the uncertainties that lay ahead. It eventually became apparent that the catalyst of this supersized blunder was the unregulated packaging and repackaging of so called mortgage-backed securities. The incessant resale of these bundled mortgages as stock market instruments gradually increased the price of the houses they represented, as each intermediary seller aimed to profit from his sale. If it’s not about profit, it doesn’t belong on Wall Street!

Alas, this was only the beginning. Defaulted mortgages, hedge bets gone awry, poor loan recovery, curtailed lending and many others became headline worthy issues indicating the cat-and-mouse nature of problems clogging the financial infrastructure. The effect of failing institutions such as Fannie and Freddie served as the cause for other instabilities, the most prominent of which became the credit freeze within the banking sector. In retrospect, the past ten months or so have been seriatim “reality checks” for Americans. They have coaxed all of us to micromanage our finances by shedding the impractical spending practices of an age in which debt was just an unfriendly neighbor and credit, a teenager’s best friend.

But what bearing does our domestic dilemma have on nations halfway across the globe one might ask? Given modern day’s interconnectivity, primarily the influx of capital flow across borders, one could easily invoke the “world is flat” doctrine and answer that other states in fact have much to lose.

Let us briefly analyze the standing of the Armenian state and consider the consequences that may stem out of a tumultuous economy. Long been admired for its mountainous but tranquil beauty and its persevering heritage, this land of Tigran the Great and Artashes the Conqueror is not immune from the modern fixtures of econo-politics.

The recession plaguing the West has most definitely spilled over to the Caucasus, where nations like Armenia were already burdened by disproportionate imports to exports. Large scale layoffs have become prevalent in various regions of the state as producers of key exports like copper, gold, and zinc are raking in less revenue due to the depreciated value of these commodities on the world market. These businesses, most of which are within the mining complex of Armenia are unfortunately not the only beneficiaries of ill-fate. The job shedding has crept into construction firms, farming and harvesting corporations and even the services industry, as some non-governmental entities estimate nationwide unemployment to be at twenty seven percent.

But although lay-off figures in Armenia remain within the thousands, Sona Harutunian, head of the State Employment Agency, claims that since Armenia has such a small labor market, “the [loss] of even several hundred jobs creates serious problems.” The toll of job losses has reverberated in the consumer sector of the population as citizens are more inclined to spend frugally, not knowing if the next paycheck awaits them or not.

The Dino Gold Mining Company, a sixty percent Canadian-majority owned gold processing facility is a paradigm example of the difficulties beleaguering the state. It is one of the largest employers near the Armenia-Azerbaijan southern border, once sustaining 1,526 laborers. For the past three months though, the company’s doors have been shut and operations sealed off. Strikes were waged by company employees, and intervention by three ministers was needed to resolve the situation and ameliorate the conflicts.

The situation mirrors itself in the northern region of the state as well. Half of Armenian Copper Program Company’s 1,044 employees were laid off beginning late last year. Portentous waves such as these two may signal not only the domestic capping of Armenia’s economic capacity, but can incite large scale civil unrest as well. In addition, given the baggage of the 2008 presidential elections, Armenia’s fragile union system, and the poor communication between local governments and the state, the spark of protests seems inevitable in areas hardest hit by the disintegrating employment.

It’s unfair to compare Uncle Sam’s governmental resources to Armenia’s futile interventionist policies. Whereas Treasury and Federal Reserve funds are for the taking in America by corporate giants like AIG and Citi to keep themselves afloat, most Armenian businesses will end up swallowing losses since the government’s apportioning of aid will be fractions of what they need to survive. Furthermore, since the recovery process of Armenian firms will be far more protracted, the government has yet another incentive to invest less, even if it has hopes of capitalizing on these buy-ins.

The pros of global synchronization are myriad. The cons, however, surface in smaller nations like Armenia, whose economies are still in their infancies. Armenia would benefit handsomely by looking at Western strategies for dealing with prolonged economic downturns. Some say experience is the best teacher. But if so, then Armenia is still an untrained youngster. While Armenia was under the auspices of the Soviet Union in the 1930’s, America was independently blueprinting its way out of the Great Depression.

Though circumstances are not as severe now, the tools of the past are nevertheless invaluable. Given the growing opposition between employers and employees in Armenia today, the government should already look at preemptive measures to forestall large scale protestations. The restructuring of unions and their lobbying efforts in government must be realized sooner rather than later. Also, the government may at least temporarily experiment with subsidizing (lenient taxation, greater resource availability, etc.) the setup of foreign corporations so as to attract investment and broaden employment opportunities. Little by little, headway can be made into more self-sufficient infrastructures and a sounder economy. In the caucuses, Armenia can undoubtedly be a pioneer state in this capacity and serve as the mold for struggling nations on its periphery as well.