An Interview with Andrew Moore, the Director of Development of the HALO Trust

Moore: ‘Karabagh is one of the Easiest Places in the World for HALO to Conduct its Work’

WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.)—Twenty years ago, the late Diana, Princess of Wales, was famously photographed wearing body armor with the words “The HALO Trust” written across the chest as she entered a minefield in Angola.

Twenty years ago, the late Diana, Princess of Wales, was famously photographed wearing body armor with the words ‘The HALO Trust’ written across the chest as she entered a minefield in Angola. (Photo: The HALO Trust)

And just like that, the landmine issue shot to international prominence.

“That was a key moment for landmine clearance generally, because it brought the world’s attention to this humanitarian catastrophe that was happening in so many countries around the world,” admits Andrew Moore, the Director of Development of the HALO Trust.

The minefield that Diana visited in Angola is now a thriving suburb with houses and a college. “There is absolutely no trace now that there was ever a minefield there,” Moore says.

The HALO Trust is the oldest and largest landmine clearing organization, operating all around the world. It was established in 1988 and its first program took place in Afghanistan as Soviet troops withdrew from the country. While the organization employs around 7,500 people across the world, the HALO trust is a British and U.S. registered entity with significant funding from the British and American governments.

Prior to becoming HALO’s Director of Development earlier this year, Moore was the organization’s European Regional Director for seven years. “Karabagh was one of my programs, so I would visit there three or four times a year. It’s a place that is very dear to my heart,” he explains.

According to HALO, there have been about 370 civilian casualties in Artsakh since they began recording the figures in 1995. (Map: The HALO Trust)

HALO first started working in Artsakh in 2000. “We had conducted some work with training local capacity in Karabagh prior to that, but there were a variety of issues. By 1999 we got an appreciation of the size of the landmine problem there and realized that it was significantly greater than we had initially anticipated,” Moore explains.

According to HALO, there have been 370 civilian casualties in Artsakh since the organization began recording the figures in 1995. “Per capita, given that Karabagh has a tiny population, it has one of the highest accident rates anywhere in the world,” says Moore. “It’s up there with the conventional countries, which we expect to have landmine problems, like Cambodia and Afghanistan.”

According to HALO’s figures, a third of the recorded incidents in Artsakh have involved children.

Since officially entering Artsakh, HALO has employed as many as 280 local residents, who, among other things, have been responsible for conducting the clearance. According to Moore, HALO currently employs around 220 locals. “We are clearing mines that were left during the war by both sides,” he explains.

Anti-personnel mines—designed to be initiated by individuals standing on them—and anti-vehicle and anti-tank mines—designed to be initiated by vehicles driving over them—were used during the war of 1988-1994. In the wide, fertile, open valleys of Artsakh, the anti-tank mines were used extensively and have been the significant cause of the casualties.

Although HALO Trust has secured substantial USAID funding for de-mining Artsakh, that funding is confined to territory within what was once the Soviet oblast of Nagorno-Karabagh, for what Moore assumes are “political reasons.” “We cannot use U.S. government funds to clear minefields in areas adjacent to [the Soviet oblast], but that are still part of Karabagh, or Karabagh-controlled territory. So, we can’t, for example, use them in Lachin,” he explains.

Artsakh de-miner Marina Barseghian is a mother of six children. Her eldest son is a policeman and her eldest daughter is a nursing student. (Photo: The HALO Trust)

Of the minefields within what was Soviet Nagorno-Karabagh, HALO has cleared about 96 percent of them with U.S. government funding. The majority of the remaining minefields are now in what Moore calls the “adjacent territories” and the organization has been seeking private funds to clear them.

Two and a half years ago, a foundation based in the U.S. with no Armenian connection, who had funded HALO on a relatively small scale previously, became interested in significantly increasing its investment in landmine clearance. Even with the substantial resources available, in somewhere like Cambodia where the problem is enormous, it would still be making a relatively small dent. “They were interested in somewhere where they could show leadership and somewhere where they could really make a difference,” Moore explains. “We said that Karabagh was the place to make that huge difference. They have since given us grant funding.”

HALO has estimated that the clearance of the mines in the remaining territories will cost $8 million U.S. dollars. The foundation, which has wished to remain anonymous, has committed to donate up to half of that on a match-funding basis. “For every dollar that we raise, we get a dollar matched from the foundation,” Moore says.

In July 2015, the HALO Trust dispatched their first all-female team of de-miners to Artsakh. (Photo: the HALO Trust)

So far, the HALO trust has raised a million of that $4 million dollars and are seeking to raise the remaining $3 million over the next couple of years, in order to make Artsakh landmine free by 2020.

The organization ran a small crowdfunding campaign last year—what Moore believes to be the first crowdfunding campaign ever conducted to clear a minefield anywhere in the world. With that, HALO raised the funds to clear one minefield in Lachin—a mission that is currently underway.

HALO’s crowdfunding efforts really took off though, when the organization partnered with U.S./Armenia-based OneArmenia, which wished to make HALO the focus of its first campaign of 2017. “Although we are a large organization in many respects, in terms of communications and especially the work that is required for crowdfunding, it’s all very new to us,” Moore admits, “so, working with a partner—especially one that is so engaged—was very appealing to us.”

Moore says that he was incredibly impressed with the enthusiasm, inventiveness, and dedication of the people at OneArmenia. “They were a fantastic partner to work with and did a wonderful job bringing the campaign alive. They worked really hard to achieve the goals and now, the de-miners who will be clearing there are being trained as we speak and will start their clearance any day now,” he says.

Most of donors to the joint crowdfunding campaign were Armenian—from Karabagh, Armenia, and the worldwide Armenian Diaspora—Moore explains. “We also got donations from non-Armenian sources. People are interested in the region. People are interested about Armenia and Karabagh,” Moore says.

A majority of the million dollars that HALO has raised for Karabagh so far has come from non-Armenian sources.

However, for most of the countries that fund landmine clearance and for most Western donors, Karabagh is politically contentious. “That is our biggest obstacle,” he says.

Though funding has been one of the key challenges from the outset, one thing that has not been a challenge for HALO is actually working in Karabagh itself. “We have absolutely excellent cooperation with the [Artsakh] authorities. They allow us to work and there is no interference in what we do. Of course, everything we do is coordinated with [the authorities]. They trust us and we have a longstanding relationship,” he explains.

According to Moore, from an operational perspective, Karabagh is one of the easiest places in the world for HALO to conduct its work.

When asked why he thinks that is the case, Moore says that one reason may have to do with trust. “There is no suspicion or distrust in Karabagh. Very often, in countries that are emerging from war or have had longstanding wars, people are suspicious of our motives and why we’re there. That isn’t really the case in Karabagh. We have extremely strong support at all levels and it’s a very welcoming environment altogether,” Moore says.

In a global first, the HALO Trust launched a $30,000 crowdfunding campaign to clear a minefield in Myurishen village in Artsakh. Photographed are Mikhail and Zabella Merjumian of Myurishen. (Photo: The HALO Trust)

It has not always been easy to work in the region, however. There have been major security challenges, especially since the 2016 April War, that HALO had not encountered previously in Artsakh. “When we are working closer to the Line of Contact (LoC), we have to be more mindful of that. We’ve had instances where we have had to temporarily suspend work on minefields close to the LoC. That’s been a real challenge in recent years,” Moore explains.

One of the other main challenges the HALO Trust is constantly up against is what Moore calls “Azerbaijan’s objection to all activities regarding Nagorno-Karabagh.”

To help overcome these challenges, this month, Boston-Armenians Nina and Raffi Festekjian, the Co-Chairs of HALO’s “Safe Steps for the People of Karabagh” campaign, will be opening their home and hosting a special fundraiser to help complete the de-mining in the small, but growing, Armenian republic. The Festekjians have become the figureheads for HALO’s Karabagh fundraising and are what Moore describes as “great advocates” for the organization’s work. “Raffi and Nina instinctively connect with what we’re doing and the reasons why we’re doing it,” he says.

According to Moore, the purpose of the June 10 fundraiser is two-fold. “We obviously want to raise money, and every dollar raised that evening will be matched by our donor and go towards the $4 million,” he explains. “In addition, we have five exclusive photographs of Karabagh taken by [famed Armenian-American photojournalist] Scout Tufankjian that will be auctioned that night. We’ve also had a donation from Zorah Wines, which we will be auctioning off. These are award-winning wines that are not currently available in the U.S.—or certainly not in Massachusetts.”

Following the Boston event, there is a second fundraiser planned in New York on June 15, which will be hosted by Sandra Shahinian Leitner—a longtime HALO donor and supporter.

There is no doubt that HALO’s work has hugely aided Artsakh and its people. A recent USAID evaluation estimated that of the population of around 150,000, close to 125,000 people have directly benefited from the work that HALO has done since 2000.

Nor Maragha village school in Artsakh’s Martakert region was built after HALO had cleared the area and returned the land back to the community in 2006. (Photo: The HALO Trust)

“The impact has been huge,” Moore says. “For example, the gas and water supplies to Martakert town were put in through minefields that we cleared. There have been irrigation channels and water supplies to many villages that have been installed. Huge areas of agricultural land has been freed up to be used for cultivation of wheat and grapes,” he explains.

The impact of HALO’s work in the country is manifold—from stopping people from being killed and injured, to allowing land to be used productively, all while employing 220 Armenian staff. “We’d like to increase that to 300 if we can raise all of this money,” Moore says. “That provides investment in Karabagh.”

Around 90 cents of every dollar collected is spent directly in Artsakh—on employment, supplies, fuel for the vehicles, food for the de-miners, accommodations, and so forth.

“As you know, Armenian families are extended families—it’s not like we’re supporting typical American or European nuclear families; we’re supporting grandparents, brothers, sisters, grand-kids… generations, really,” Moore says. “This leaves a huge impact.”

H.Res.354 Passes Unanimously, Calling for the Perpetrators to be ‘Brought to Justice’

WASHINGTON (A.W.)—The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.Res.354 on June 6, condemning the May 16 attack by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s bodyguards against peaceful protesters in Washington D.C., through a bipartisan resolution “calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.”

The resolution passed with a vote of 397 for and none against.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.Res.354 on June 6, condemning the May 16 attack by Turkish President Erdogan’s bodyguards against peaceful protesters in Washington D.C.

“With today’s vote, Congress started rolling back Ankara’s occupation of Washington, D.C.,” said Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “After far too many years of appeasing Ankara turning a blind eye to its genocidal horrors, abuses at home, and aggression abroad—the United States, starting with the House of Representatives—today turned an important corner, challenging Turkey’s violence and confronting its increasingly anti-American conduct.”

H.Res.354, spearheaded by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.), Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), was adopted unanimously by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on May 25. The measure had also received the public backing of House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).

The resolution condemns the violence against peaceful protesters outside the Turkish Ambassador’s residence on May 16, and calls for “the perpetrators to be brought to justice and measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.”

Chairman Royce led floor discussion of the measure, noting, “the violent attacks by officers assigned to Turkish President Erdogan’s security detail against peaceful protesters back on May 16 were designed to do one thing: they were designed to silence those protesters’ criticism of the Turkish government. And that is why it is so important that we speak out.  We must speak loudly and clearly that we will protect our citizens, our citizens and their fundamental rights to free speech and to assembly.”

House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) was adamant in his condemnation of the attacks. “It should be clear to Turkey and to all nations that we will oppose any attempt to suppress dissent or the freedom of speech. That is why that is in the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Because our founding fathers and, frankly, those who follow western values and, yes, some eastern values believe that free speech is the absolute essential for democracy to succeed and flourish.”

Maryland Congressman Sarbanes called for a complete re-evaluation of the U.S.-Turkey relationship, noting that the incident “unmasked President Erdogan for the bully he is… It reflects a deeply embedded reflex that in the modern era has brought the world, among other things, the unlawful invasion and occupation of Cyprus, the Armenian Genocide and the violent repression of the Kurdish people. We cannot pretend that it is business as usual with a foreign leader that has attacked our nation’s most cherished democratic value—cherished democratic values on our very own soil.”

D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton expressed particular concern that the beatings are part of a pattern or repression by President Erdogan’s bodyguards. “A similar incident occurred about a half dozen years ago at the United Nations. Same head of state. Same thugs attacking peaceful protesters. Last year, just this past year, there was an attack on journalists outside of the Brookings institute. So if we don’t tell them it’s time to stop when we had the third attack, they will persist, that is for sure.”

New York Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-Calif.) said: “Erdogan simply decided to treat Americans the way he treats his own people. His guards even had the nerve to attack law enforcement officials who were protecting him and his delegation. This behavior cannot stand. And the resolution before us sends a clear, decisive message that congress won’t tolerate it.”

“It’s outrageous that Erdogan and his thugs felt they could beat up peaceful protesters on the streets of Washington. We don’t need him exporting his violence and repressive tactics to the United States,” said Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), who helped lead last week’s House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into the attacks on peaceful protesters. “I’m pleased that the House took this initial step today. Moving forward, we must make clear to Erdogan that freedom of speech is the law of the land in this country.”

The full text of the resolution can be read here.

Janfida is a village on Armavir province’s south central border with Turkey. From the village, Mount Ararat is clearly visible through the summer haze.  Nearby, atop a hill, are the ruins of Urartu’s ancient Argishtikhinilli fortress (776 B.C.). Immediately south of the village is the security zone along the Armenian-Turkish border which is patrolled by CIS (primarily Russian) forces; the Arax river being the actual border.

The entrance to Janfida village (Photo: Joseph Dagdigian)

Ancient civilizations here are attested by Urartian artifacts found in or near the village, and by early medieval Armenian artifacts discovered in 1990. Just outside the village, in what was a medieval Armenian and Kurdish cemetery, khachkars (cross stones) were found from the 7-8^th century. Just across the nearby Arax river, in what is now Turkey,  my map shows a number of churches, which are undoubtedly Armenian.

A medieval khachkar (Photo: Joseph Dagdigian)

During past centuries, much of the Armenian population here was forced to leave due to invasions by Turks and Persians who fought over this territory. Later Russia occupied this region. From 1828-1830 many displaced Armenians returned here to what became Russian Armenia, part of the Russian Empire, thanks to provisions of the Treaty of Turkmanchay. This treaty terminated the Russo-Persian war of 1826-1828 and guaranteed the right of Armenians to return to their homeland. This treaty, negotiated by Russian playwright and diplomat Alexander Griboyedov, played an important role in restoring the demographics of Caucasian Armenia. A statue of this hero stands on Tigran Metz street in Yerevan, with a village in Armenia’s Armavir province named in his honor as well. While still in Persia he was killed by a mob.

Mount Ararat from Janfida village (Photo: Joseph Dagdigian)

During the Armenian Genocide and its aftermath, many of the survivors found refuge in Caucasian Armenia. This included many of the ancestors of Janfida’s current families, whose origins are in Van, Mush, Sasun, and other Western Armenian regions. Initially these survivors sought refuge near Lake Sevan, but later moved to Janfida, closer to their ancestral villages, intending to return at the conclusion of WWI. But that was not to be.

Statue of Alexander Griboyedov, Tigran Metz street, Yerevan (Photo: Joseph Dagdigian)

In the early 1940s, at the onset of WWII, many Kurds who remained here decided to relocate to Turkey, across the Arax river. Though the border was closed, they somehow managed the move.

Janfida village (Photo: Joseph Dagdigian)

Turkey, though “neutral” during most of WWII, was sympathetic to Germany. Shortly before the end of the war, Turkey hypocritically sided with the allies. It was believed, however, that Turkey might take advantage of the war to invade Soviet Armenia. Though this did not happen, preparations were made for such an eventuality.  On the opposite side of Janfida village from the Turkish border, there remains concrete bunkers with tank turrets on top—their barrels pointing towards Turkey.

WWII bunker and tank turret, Janfida village (Photo: Joseph Dagdigian)

From 1941-1945, 121 citizens of Janfida, out of a total population of about 1,400, fought in WWII. Of these, 87 died. Additionally, many were wounded. In memory of the large sacrifice this village made during the war, noted sculptor Ara Sargsyan sculpted a memorial statue, which stands in the village center, next to the St. Garabed (2014) Church.

Memorial to WWII martyrs, statue sculptured by Ara Sargsyan (Photo: Joseph Dagdigian)

The memorial’s sculptor was born near Constantinople displayed enormous artistic talent in his youth. In the aftermath of the genocide, while studying art in Europe, he was a clandestine Nemesis operative and friend of Arshavir Shiragian, helping impose justice on those responsible for the Armenian Genocide. Concealing his Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)-Nemesis activities, he moved to Soviet Armenia where he played a key role in establishing Armenia’s artistic institutions. While recovering from a non-life-threatening injury in the hospital he unexplainably died, likely the work of the KGB, who likely discovered his previous activities and considered him dangerous, although he participated in no anti-Soviet activities.

At the onset of the Artsakh (Karabagh) liberation movement, a detachment of Janfida volunteers, the “Black Panthers”, served in Artsakh. Sixteen of these volunteers sacrificed their lives during the struggle. Others chose to remain in Artsakh establishing a village with the same name, Janfida, in Artsakh’s Kashatagh province.

Memorial to WWII martyrs and St. Garabed church (Photo: Joseph Dagdigian)

Janfida’s current population is around 3,500, and unlike many other villages, is stable, with only a few choosing to leave the village. The economy is based on growing apricots and cherries, with some wheat grown as well. Three hundred students are enrolled in Janfida’s school system with 90 children in kindergarten. Roads to the village are good. We traveled via train from Yerevan’s Sasuntsi Davit station to Armavir, the center of the province, and from there by cab to nearby Janfida. The train fare was less than a dollar and took about an hour.

The name “Janfida” is a commonly used term for irregular Armenian freedom fighters; heroes. It appears the name was used prior to 1900 but exactly when or under what circumstances the name was adopted is unknown.

The area around Armavir city contains much of interest. There is the Sardarabad museum and war memorial, the ancient Metsamor archaeological site and museum, the ancient Urartian fortress of Argishtikhinili atop a nearby hill, and when in season the local apricots are amazingly sweet. And there is Janfida village—its history, and its people.

ANKARA, Turkey (A.W.)—Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ambassador Hüseyin Müftüoğlu criticized the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of H.Res.354 on June 6, which condemns the May 16 attack by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s bodyguards against peaceful protesters in Washington D.C. The spokesperson’s comments came on June 7 in response to a question regarding the resolution.

(L to R) Hüseyin Müftüoğlu and Aram Hamparian

“The steps taken by the U.S. legislative branches to distort and politicize the matter are not constructive,” said the spokesperson, who added that the resolution was against the “spirit of alliance and partnership” between Turkey and the U.S.

“Erdogan’s claiming that Congressional condemnation of the attack he ordered on American protesters runs counter to the spirit of Turkey’s alliance with the U.S.—but what he’s really voicing is his frustration that the free pass that Ankara has long enjoyed here in Washington has been revoked,” Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian said in his comments to the Armenian Weekly.

“As much as he might like a resurrect Ankara’s old arrangements, its clear today that U.S. policy-makers—from both parties and in both the legislative and executive branches—won’t countenance a return to the days when Turkey crossed every line, confident that America would remain silent about its sins,” Hamparian added.

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.Res.354 on June 6, which  called for “”the perpetrators to be brought to justice and measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.” The resolution passed with a vote of 397 for and none against.

H.Res.354, spearheaded by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.), Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), was adopted unanimously by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on May 25. The measure had also received the public backing of House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).

WASHINGTON—In a speech delivered on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on June 7, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) strongly condemned the May 16 attack on peaceful American protesters in Washington, D.C.

In a speech delivered on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on June 7, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) strongly condemned the May 16 attack on peaceful American protesters in Washington, D.C. (Photo: C-SPAN video screenshot)

“I stand here today to affirm that we will not allow Turkey to beat innocent protesters on the streets of our nation’s Capitol. We will continue to pursue justice, and to make clear that America will always stand up for the right of peaceful and free expression,” Schiff said in his remarks.

The House of Representatives unanimously passed H.Res.354 a day earlier, forcefully condemning the attack and demanding that the perpetrators be held accountable.

The full text and video of Congressman Schiff’s remarks are provided below.

***

Mr. Speaker, on May 16th a group of peaceful protesters gathered at a public park outside the Turkish Ambassador’s residence in Northwest Washington, D.C. They came from a variety of backgrounds – Armenian, Kurdish, Ezidi, and more. But they shared a common concern about developments in Turkey, including the crackdown on political opposition and free speech in that country and Turkey’s continued denial of the Armenian Genocide.

About a mile away, Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan was received warmly by President Trump at the White House, with no mention of Turkey’s human rights abuses and growing authoritarianism. The protesters felt, rightly so, that they had to exercise their First Amendment rights and raise their voices in dissent—the very dissent which has been violently squelched by Erdogan in his own country.

What happened next was a chaotic and violent confrontation that left 11 people injured, two of whom required hospitalization. Tensions were already high, with pro-Turkish counter-protesters outside the residence scuffling with protesters. When Erdogan and his entourage arrived, the situation quickly spiraled out of control. As he exited his car, observing the protests, Erdogan can be seen on video speaking briefly to his security detail, and soon thereafter, several of these men, some of them armed with handguns, rushed past D.C. police officers to violently confront protesters, causing severe injuries.

The images are indelible and bloody. A Kurdish woman was put in a chokehold, and told by the dark-suited man who attacked her that he was going to kill her. Protesters, men and women alike, were knocked to the ground and assaulted with kicks to the face and torso. This was not a “scuffle,” it was a full-fledged assault by professional thugs on a peaceful protest.

Such scenes have become common in Turkey, where state sponsored violence and repression have become the chief instrument to cement Erdogan’s power. Selahattin Demirtas was until recently the leader of the Kurdish HDP party, and whom I had the honor to meet two years ago, now sits in prison as prosecutors seek to sentence him to 143 years of confinement. Turkey has become the world’s leading jailor of journalists, most recently adding French photojournalist Mathias Depardon, held in solitary confinement and without charge, to the ranks of the 81 journalists currently imprisoned.

Mr. Speaker, Erdogan cannot export the violent repression he visits on his own citizens to our streets. The violence of May 16th cannot go unanswered or forgotten. Yesterday, the House unanimously passed H. Res. 354, condemning the attacks and calling on the Administration to pursue justice and hold those who carried them out responsible, whether they be Turkish or not.

That is a good start, but it cannot be the end. The D.C. police department is carrying out an investigation into the attacks, and ultimately they will require cooperation from Turkish authorities in identifying those responsible.

Nothing that Turkey has done so far indicates that cooperation will be forthcoming, and indeed rather than show even the slightest contrition after their security forces assaulted Americans, authorities in Ankara instead summoned the U.S. ambassador to lodge a complaint against the United States and police officers who sought to keep the peace. The message from Turkey is clear as day: We can do as we please, whether at home to our citizens or on your own American soil.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to affirm that we will not allow Turkey to beat innocent protesters on the streets of our nation’s Capitol. We will continue to pursue justice, and to make clear that America will always stand up for the right of peaceful and free expression.

Rev. Dr. Vahan Tootikian, Pastor Emeritus of the Armenian Congregational Church of Greater Detroit (ACCGD), has a new book to his credit—his 39^th, which deals with his many years of experience as a teacher and a man of the cloth.

Rev. Dr. Vahan Tootikian

The book is dedicated to the Armenian Congregational Church of Greater Detroit on its centennial anniversary—“The church I served as minister from 1975-2005; as interim minister from 2012-2013; and since 2005 as Minister Emeritus; the church where most of my pastoral experience took place,” says Tootikian.

In his generosity, Badveli Tootikian created many happy recipients of Experiences, which he gave to those attending a recent function at the ACCGD. He signed each book with a personalized message.

The cover of Experiences

As in previous publications, they are bilingual, in English and Armenian. They describe different topics dealing with Rev. Tootikian’s personal and professional experiences, which he says “cannot be borrowed from others, because they are part and parcel of our beings.”

The pastor is a man to be respected on many levels particularly for his true faith as a Christian Armenian. He possesses the credibility to be inspirational, to be truly believed.

Among the book’s 31 chapters, you’ll find “Christian Behavior In Church,” “The Act Of Comforting,” “Go Fly A Kite,” “Looking At Ourselves,” “Alcholism,” “What Kind of Church Do People Prefer,” and “Honesty and Integrity,   topics that should and can be thought provoking to a mindful reader. That’s why you should take advantage of this latest book. Try it, you will like it for the sound advice and insight to the experiences of the man who has lived a full life in service to Christianity and many Armenian communities.

He asks, “What does it take to be a good witness for Christ? Answer: An important characteristic of a genuine witness is credibility with personal knowledge of the circumstances.”

You will be drawn to certain chapters such as “New Year’s Wishes.” His addresses to local churches include “The need to develop sympathy for others; make the church open to the world—for youth, middle-aged, and senior citizens.”

I believe the message he realizes the Armenian Church needs to be cognizant of is that it has the need to reach out more to its people, not to just always be taking but also giving back, to be there when they are hurting and need moral and perhaps even financial support. Armenians are people of pride and for the most part do not want their personal vulnerability to be of public knowledge, even to a clergyman. We are, after all only human. If the church is supposed to be “family” why are they not there to give support? Armenians are not made of stone. If anyone bears the suffering of their ancestors, it is the Armenians.

To fellow ministers, he wishes their goal would be to serve God with loving hearts and gratitude for the privilege of serving. There is no doubt Badveli has followed his own advice in this matter.

He continues: “I wish you would be positive people who won’t allow anyone or anything to cripple your dreams and paralyze your hopes.” This he directs to the community and national leaders and there are people who should heed this advice.

He is emphatic about bringing Christ back into Christmas and all the positive aspects that would have on everyone’s lives.

Like others, Rev. Tootikian has had his share of personal pain and when we ask “Lord why me?” We can only accept our fate and move forward in life as almost impossible it is. Badveli lost his first wife to a serious illness leaving him with three daughters, which now are adults and have brought honor to him. Rosette came into his life and together project love for each other, for the Lord, and for the community they continue to be a vital part.

Before arriving in Detroit, the proud Kessabtsi served as pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Church of Damascus, and as the principal of the local school. His ministry then took him to Cairo, followed by his arrival in the U.S., where he served the Armenian memorial Church of Watertown, Mass. Detroit hit the jackpot when he came here to serve the Armenian Congregational Church of Southfield.

He has served as a teacher, community leader, and administrator. The life he leads is exemplary, one of high standards, which all people should endeavor to strive for, to elevate themselves.

As a visionary, Badveli hopes young Armenians will seek out other Armenians with which to wed to keep the Armenian genes continued. As the film The Promise conveys, “our revenge is to survive.”

Through it all, Badveli remains a down to earth humble man who most likely will grimace at accolades laden at his feet. Badveli and Rosette are a welcome asset to the Detroit Armenian community as well as wherever they travel around the world. They are respectfully greeted with open arms.

To the credit of Rev. Tootikian and wife Rosette, they can be found supporting activities of the entire Detroit Armenian community. Badveli has participated in church services of all the local Armenian houses of worship without discrimination, setting an example of togetherness for all Armenians to follow. Who better to set that example than a man of the cloth, someone from centuries long ago Armenians in their villages always looked up to for spiritual guidance and leadership?

Rev. Dr. Tootikian is a graduate of the Near East School of Theology. He did graduate work at Hartford, Harvard, and Andover Newton Theological Seminary earning two masters and a doctorate. He has been a lecturer at Lawrence Technological University and also at the University of Michigan. He is Executive Director of The Armenian Evangelical World Council.

He has membership in many educational, religious, and philanthropic organizations.

His authored books are currently used as college textbooks in North America and overseas. He has been actively involved in bringing attention to the plight of and raising funds for the Armenians of Syria.

From Kessab, to Egypt, to highly respected American universities, to Watertown, and finally to the Motor City, may Rev. Dr. Vahan h. Tootikian continue to shine his bright light on those of us privileged to be part of his life.

The book is a publication of the Armenian Heritage Committee and can be ordered by writing to:

3922 Yorba Linda Blvd
Royal Oak, Mi. 48073

Price: $25.00 – s & h add $3.50

All Parliamentarians—Including Two Armenian Deputies—are Safe and Unharmed

YEREVAN (A.W.)— On June 7, Armenia expressed solidarity with Iran as it condemned the deadly attacks on the Iranian Parliament and the mausoleum of the Republic’s founder.

Iran’s Parliament building (Photo: QSTA/Wikimedia Commons)

Armenian President Serge Sarkisian and Parliament Speaker Arno Babloyan condemned the attacks in letters of condolence sent to their Iranian counterparts.

“While strongly condemning the acts of terror and forms of extremism, we are convinced that we need to work together internationally to fight against this terror,” read a part of Sarkisian’s letter.

“At this difficult time, I express my condolences and my solidarity to Your Excellency and the people of Iran as well as the families of all the victims, while wishing all those wounded a speedy recovery,” concluded the letter.

At least 12 people were killed and dozens more injured in Tehran, after gunmen and suicide bombers attacked the Iranian Parliament and the mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. A third attack was stopped, according to Iran’s Intelligence Ministry.

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks on the two sites, publishing a brief video that purported to show the assailants inside the Parliament. If an ISIS role is confirmed, this would be the first attack conducted by the terror group inside Iran, according to The Guardian.

The Parliament assault began when four gunmen armed with rifles burst into the building. One of the attackers blew himself up as police surrounded the building.

Soon after, two assailants entered the grounds of the shrine, firing at the visitors. One detonated a suicide vest, while the other was shot dead.

“We strongly condemn attacks at Iran’s Parliament and Mausoleum of Ayotollah Khomeini. In Solidarity with people of Iran,” said Armenian Foreign Ministry on the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s Twitter page.

The Armenian Embassy in Iran also urged Armenian nationals to stay away from the scenes of the attacks as well as Tehran’s markets and other crowded places. “The Embassy is following the course of events. If necessary, additional information will be provided,” said the Embassy on their Facebook page.

According Tehran-based Armenian newspaper Alik Daily, all Parliamentarians—including two Armenian deputies Karen Khanlarian and George Abrahamian—are safe and unharmed. All deputies were at the session hall of the Parliament and were away from any threats, Khanlarian told Alik.

By Allison Racicot

WORCESTER, Mass. (WPI)— One of the staples of an undergraduate education at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is the Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP), a project experience in which students work together to tackle and solve a real-world problem. In addition to local project centers around Massachusetts, students may choose to complete their projects at one of over 40 centers around the world—locations range from England and Albania to South Africa and China.

The brainchild of Diran Apelian, professor and founding director of the Metal Processing Institute (MPI), and Michael Aghajanian, adjunct professor and member of the Foisie Business School’s advisory board, the Armenia Project Center is an endeavor years in the making.

Starting this summer, students now have another option to add to their list of prospective destinations: Armenia.

The brainchild of Diran Apelian, professor and founding director of the Metal Processing Institute (MPI), and Michael Aghajanian, adjunct professor and member of the Foisie Business School’s advisory board, the Armenia Project Center is an endeavor years in the making.

Both Apelian and Aghajanian have Armenian roots and clicked immediately upon meeting, like many people around campus had said they would. “It was one of those meetings where you connect with someone almost instantly and you feel like you’ve known them for a long time,” Apelian says.

According to Aghajanian, it didn’t take long after their first meeting for them to start making the Armenia Project Center a reality. “I brought up the idea to Diran a few minutes into our conversation, and right away he said, ‘I’ve been thinking about the same thing for years, let’s do it!’”

A small country about the size of Maryland with a population of roughly three million, Armenia celebrated its 25th year of independence from the Soviet Union in Sept. 2016, and Apelian is quick to point out the impressive amount of varied opportunities available in the young country. “It’s 25 years old, but it has 3,000 years of history,” he explains. “It’s perfect for students to see the impact of technology on society while figuring out plans, executing them, and delivering results.”

Aghajanian began getting involved with IQPs five years ago, co-advising projects in Melbourne, Australia; Venice, Italy; and Santa Fe, New Mexico. “Each time I was working on projects, I could see that in addition to the great things students get out of it and the satisfaction I get by helping and teaching them, the communities we work in are getting a tremendous amount of benefits from these young, highly intelligent students,” he says. “I realized that Armenia could really benefit from getting access to these students, as well. There’s a mountain of projects they could work on, and their work would be extremely impactful for Armenia. The citizens would be very grateful to get those resources.”

Additionally, Aghajanian says that he hopes the project center will spur students on to potentially partner with Armenia when working with various companies after graduation. “Armenia was known as the Silicon Valley of the Soviet Union, with all of its technology,” he explains. “Most people aren’t aware of or have much familiarity with it, but maybe the students will look to Armenia someday as a country to partner with in the future.”

Apelian and Aghajanian faced several challenges while creating the Armenia Project Center; complications that ranged from securing housing to determining appropriate sponsors for projects, but one of the biggest hurdles that had to be overcome was the program’s cost.

Because of schedule constraints—as a professor, and due to his work with the MPI, Apelian’s free time is minimal, and while Aghajanian is retired, he’s busier than ever with charitable, business, and academic work—the only feasible time to host the program would be in E-Term. However, students interested in traveling to a project center during the summer have to pay additional tuition. With the decision that it wasn’t fair to penalize the students because of their respective schedule constraints, Apelian and Aghajanian raised the funds to cover the costs.

“We were able to fund the trip for all eight students… tuition, a round-trip ticket, housing, and a stipend.”
As a young country full of possibilities, Armenia is the perfect place for WPI students to begin their project experiences. Because the center is a pilot program, rather than the usual four to six projects, two are available to students:

My Armenia Cultural Heritage Tourism Program comes from a collaboration between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Smithsonian Institution. It centers around the impressive amount of tourists Armenia attracts—between 400,000 and 500,000 per year. Most tourists stay in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, and do not venture out to the more remote regions where there is much to discover. Armenia is a country that has distinct national treasures—architecture, viniculture and the culinary arts, craftsmanship. It is a paradise for birdwatchers—the country has more bird species than anywhere on earth (due to the landing of Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat, according to legend). WPI students working on this project will help develop a website that approaches the goal of increasing tourism in the rural areas through a market segmentation approach.

Armenian EyeCare Project (AECP) will challenge students to build upon Armenia’s Mobile Eye Hospital (MEH), which travels to the country’s remote villages to serve those unable to travel to Yerevan for eye care. The AECP is in the process of building five Regional Eye Centers to provide care on a more consistent basis. The students’ project work will revolve around examining the current situation, researching best practices used to deliver medical care in remote areas of developing countries, and providing recommendations on how to best meet the eye care needs of Armenian citizens.

WPI’s decision to establish the new project center is even more fitting, due to the fact that the city of Worcester is home to a prominent Armenian population. “When Armenians in the ‘old country’ talked about going to America, they meant going to Worcester,” Apelian says, citing the vast historical and cultural connections to Armenia throughout the city. “WPI has many Armenian alumni and connections with the Armenian community within the city, so this partnership makes sense.”

After spending just a short amount of time with Apelian and Aghajanian, I could see their passion for and dedication to the Armenia project center; seeing their efforts come to fruition is exciting—and for Apelian, it was almost as if the stars had aligned to set everything into motion. “When those things happen in life, you should grab them,” he says. “When those opportunities come, you should do it.”

This article by Allison Racicot was first published on the Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s website on June 2.

LATAKIA, Syria (A.W.)— On June 7, an aircraft carrying humanitarian aid from Armenia to Syria arrived at Latakia’s Khmeimim military airbase, reported the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to the Syrian Arab Republic.

On June 7, an aircraft carrying humanitarian aid from Armenia to Syria arrived in Latakia’s Khmeimim military airbase.

The aid, which was transported by Russian military aircrafts, was received by the Armenian Embassy of Syria, and will be distributed by vans to four cities including Damascus, Aleppo, Kessab, and Latakia. According to the Embassy statement, the aid will be distributed to families most in need. A total of around 40 tons of food and goods were sent.

The aid, which was transported by Russian military aircrafts, was received by the Armenian Embassy of Syria, and will be distributed by vans to four cities including Damascus, Aleppo, Kessab, and Latakia.

This is the third time aid has been sent to Syria by Armenia in the last year.

‘With wishes of peace from Armenia, to our brotherly Syrian people’ reads the message on the aid.

The Hairenik Association is seeking a full-time assistant editor for the Armenian Weekly English-language newspaper.

Responsibilities include providing editorial assistance, writing daily news items, writing long-form articles, providing research and administrative support, and managing the newspaper’s social media presence.

A bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, such as journalism, English, communications, public relations, or a related field, is required. Excellent command of English as well as writing and editing skills are also required.

Candidates should also have a keen interest in Armenian political, social, and cultural affairs. Candidates with knowledge of the Armenian language will be preferred.

To be considered, candidates should e-mail their CV and a cover letter to jobs@hairenik.com.

BERLIN, Germany (A.W.)—Germany will pull all of its troops and aircraft from Turkey’s Incirlik airbase, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen announced on June 7.

German soldiers arriving at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey in 2015 (Photo: Thorsten Weber/European Pressphoto Agency)

Approximately 270 troops stationed at Incirlik, as well as Tornado reconnaissance jets and a refueling plane, will be moved to Jordan over the next two months.

Two days earlier, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel announced that Germany would pull its forces, despite negotiations in the Turkish capital with Turkish Foreign Ministry Mevlut Cavusoglu. The negotiations, which were aimed to defuse the diplomatic dispute between the two countries, fell through according to Gabriel, who made the announcement during a joint press conference with Cavusoglu.

“We have to respect that Turkey for domestic political reasons cannot approve visits. But then you know the opinion of the German parliament which will now in the very near future make reference to that part of the mandate which says that, if visits aren’t possible, the German government will have to look for another location,” Gabriel was quoted as saying by Europe-based Euronews news outlet.

The diplomatic dispute between Germany and Turkey escalated after German Parliamentarians were refused access to the air force base. Currently, Germany has more than 250 military personnel stationed at Incirlik. They have been responsible for operating reconnaissance and refueling flights as part of the international mission against ISIS/Daesh.

Although Turkey has refused German Members of Parliament (MP) to access to Incirlik, it has granted them access to base in Konya. “German MPs can visit the Konya base. There is no problem to visit Konya where we have a NATO base. And we are working on the technical details. At the moment there is no decision for Incirlik,” Cavusoglu said at the press conference, according to Euronews.

In a May 17 interview, the German Foreign Minister criticized Turkey’s decision to block a German delegation from visiting Bundeswehr (The unified armed forces of Germany) soldiers stationed at Turkey’s Incirlik base. “[If] the German Parliament is to be blackmailed, then the limit of tolerance has been reached,” Gabriel told German newspaper Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung.

In that interview, Gabriel noted that if cooperation regarding the situation is no longer possible, then Germany would consider other options including Kuwait, Cyprus, and Jordan. According to Deutsche Welle, Turkey’s was allegedly in response to the German government’s decision in early May to grant asylum to Turkish military personnel.

The German newspaper Bild reported on May 16 that two more high-ranking members of Turkey’s military applied for asylum at the international airport in Frankfurt. Bild added that these two men were Turkish generals who were involved in last July’s failed military coup.

Relations between Turkey and Germany have grown increasingly tense over the last few months and worsened during Turkey’s referendum campaign on expanding Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s powers. Turkish Ministers who were campaigning for the support of expanding powers for Erdogan were prohibited from holding rallies in Germany.

Last year, Ankara blocked German Parliamentarians from visiting the Incirlik airbase after the Bundestag passed a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

WASHINGTON—The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) announced on June 8 that it welcomes a renewed Congressional effort—spearheaded by Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and other Democratic members of the Armenian Caucus—to reverse “harmful cuts” to U.S. foreign aid to Armenia included in the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget.

The ANCA announced on June 7 that it welcomes a renewed Congressional effort to reverse “harmful cuts” to U.S. foreign aid to Armenia included in the President’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget.

“Congressional leadership is essential in rolling back the President’s proposed deep cuts in U.S. aid to Armenia,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Attempts to slash aid to Armenia need to be met with strong bipartisan opposition and a renewed focus on empowering Armenia’s aid-to-trade transition, including the negotiation of a badly needed U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty and establishment of direct Los Angeles to Yerevan commercial and cargo flights.”

In a June 6 letter to Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY), the leaders of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, over 25 U.S. Representatives raised alarms about President Trump’s call for a 67% cut to U.S. foreign aid to Armenia (reducing overall aid from $20.4 million in FY16 to $6.8 million in FY18), urging the restoration of aid levels for both Armenia and Artsakh.

Among the priorities that would suffer from the President’s proposed cuts is American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA), a USAID program that has provided substantial aid to both the American University of Armenia and the Armenian-American Wellness Center.

“At a time of tremendous global uncertainty, the U.S. should continue to foster the progress of its allies, not retreat from its responsibilities as the world’s leading democracy,” stated the Congressional letter.  The full text of the letter is provided below.

Joining Representatives Anna Eshoo, Frank Pallone, Jackie Speier, and Adam Schiff in cosigning the letter were: Representatives Michael Capuano (D-Mass.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Ruben Kihuen (D-Nev.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), James McGovern (D-Mass.), Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.), Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.), and Tim Walz (D-Minn.).

In an earlier March 30 letter to Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Lowey, a bipartisan group of more than two dozen U.S. Representatives underscored the importance of “the U.S.-Armenia partnership, a relationship founded upon a shared commitment to faith, freedom, and democratic values.” They stressed that “U.S. assistance has empowered progress in the areas of democracy, rule of law, freedom of expression, and free enterprise.”

Among the specific priorities cited in that Congressional Armenian Caucus-led letter were:

• U.S. support for Armenia as a regional safe haven for Middle East refugees, in the form of a $40 million appropriation to support transitional programs, including short-term housing/rental assistance and social and economic integration initiatives.
• A renewed focus on aid to Artsakh, with an appropriation of at least $8 million for de-mining, rehabilitation programs (such as the Lady Cox Rehabilitation Center), and water supply systems.
• A focused effort to check Azerbaijani aggression, through the appropriation of at least $20 million to support implementation of the Royce-Engel peace proposals, the suspension of U.S. military aid to Baku, and the strengthening of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act.
• An appropriation of at least $40 million in economic aid to Armenia, and no less than $11 million in military aid, with a focus on advancing U.S.-Armenia defense cooperation goals, promoting NATO interoperability, and supporting increased Armenia’s participation in global peacekeeping operations.

Thousands of Armenian American community advocates from across the U.S. have urged lawmakers to include these items in their annual foreign aid budget priorities, using the ANCA’s action alert portal—anca.org/aid.

On March 16, Representatives Schiff and Pallone delivered powerful testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations, echoing the priorities shared in the Congressional Armenian Caucus letter.

The House and Senate foreign aid subcommittees are currently drafting their versions of the FY18 State-Foreign Operations bill. Once adopted by each chamber, they will aim to reconcile these two versions and send a final appropriation to the President for his signature.

***

Text of the June 6 Congressional Letter on Aid to Armenia, Addressed to Chairman Hal Rogers and Ranking Democrat Nita Lowey

Dear Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Lowey,

As Members who care deeply about strengthening the bilateral relationship between the United States and the Republic of Armenia, we urge you to reject the harmful cuts to U.S. foreign aid to Armenia included in the President’s Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) budget.

The President’s FYI8 budget calls for a 67 percent cut to U.S. foreign aid to Armenia, reducing overall aid from $20.4 million in FY16 to $6.8 million in FY18. These cuts come at a critical time in Armenia’s history as it continues to integrate into the global economy and advance democratic institutions and political freedoms at home and will directly limit the ability of the

U.S. to promote American standards and values within a critical ally in a sensitive region of the world.

Specifically the FYI8 budget eliminates funding for critical programs under the Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia account that promote economic growth and civil and democratic institutions within Armenia, a nation that continues to emerge from decades of rule under the former Soviet Union. The budget also eliminates funding for programs that support Armenia’s efforts to aid the U.S. in the global war on terrorism and bring peace and security to the South Caucasus. Finally, the budget would eliminate aid provided under the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) program of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which provides assistance to schools, libraries, and medical centers outside the U.S. to demonstrate American health and education practices. ASHA helped to fund Armenia’s first woman’s mammography center, which has since expanded into a nine­ department hospital that sees over 150 patients a day.

Furthermore, this budget omits language supporting critical humanitarian assistance in Nagorno Karabagh, especially for the demining of civilian areas. We recommend assistance for victims of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict in amounts consistent with prior years, and ask for continued funding to ensure sufficient support allowing for the completion of demining efforts by 2020.

These relatively modest investments make it possible for the U.S. to promote democratic institutions and values among critical allies located in strategically important regions of the world. At a time of tremendous global uncertainty, the U.S. should continue to foster the progress of its allies, not retreat from its responsibilities as the world’s leading democracy.

As the U.S. and Armenia commemorate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations, we urge the committee to reject the harmful cuts to U.S. aid to Armenia proposed by the President’s FYI8 budget.

Sincerely,

YEREVAN—The Provost of the University of Southern California, Dr. Michael Quick, and Dr. Anthony Bailey, University of Southern California’s (USC) Vice-President for Strategic and Global Initiatives, as well as dignitaries and over 20 scholars from Armenia and around the world participated in the second part of “The End of Transition: Shifting Focus a Quarter Century After the Soviet Collapse” international conference, held on May 23-24, in Yerevan.

A scene from the panel Governance and Economy (Photo: USC Institute of Armenian Studies)

Organized by the USC Institute of Armenian Studies, the conference’s first part was held on the USC campus April 9-10, and featured scholars and specialists from across the globe as they discussed Armenia’s trajectory since independence in 1991.

Salpi Ghazarian, the director of the Institute, opened the conference. Provost Quick, Vice President Bailey, and Deputy Director of the USC School of International Relations and moderator of the conference, Professor Rob English, presented the opening remarks.

“This conference reflects our commitment to be that essential bridge between the problems and challenges facing Armenia and Armenians, and those with the intellectual and academic skill and passion to tackle them.” said Salpi Ghazarian, director of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies.

Salpi Ghazarian, Director of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies (Photo: USC Institute of Armenian Studies)

Provost Quick, who spent his first day in Yerevan visiting the American University of Armenia, TUMO, and CivilNet, as well as the Genocide Memorial and Museum and other sites in Yerevan, reflected on his experences. “The past is present in Armenia like no other place I have ever visited in the world, whether it’s around the issue of genocide, or whether it’s around the issue that we’re going to be talking about today and tomorrow about the 25 years since the break up of the Soviet Union. But I realize it’s not just about the past. It’s about how that past influences the future.”

Vice President Bailey said, “Part of my role here today is to tell you that the USC Institute of Armenian Studies is the most important international center at USC.”

The conference opened on the afternoon of May 23. In addition to the USC guests, special speakers included Ambassador Jack Matlock, the last U.S. envoy to the USSR; Ambassador Ed Djerejian, director of the Baker Institute at Rice University and a former U.S. diplomat with extensive experience in Russia and the Middle East; Tim Judah, a Balkans expert and writer for the Economist and the New York Review of Books; Professor Ronald Suny of the University of Chicago who has specialized in the Soviet and post-Soviet space, with a special focus on the Caucasus; Dr. Hans Gutbrod founder of Transparify, formerly with the Caucasus Research Resource Centers; Garik Hayrapetyan of the UN Fund for Population Activities on the demographics of transition, and finally, Russia-based author and journalist Anna Arutunyan.

Professor Ronald Suny presented the first talk of the conference, summarizing the relations between the West, Turkey, and Russia.

Ambassador Jack Matlock (Photo: USC Institute of Armenian Studies)

Suny noted that one of the most important factors to remember is how important and central Russia is to any of the problems in the South Caucuses. “What if Russia were the power that, in fact, could bring some kind of solution to the problems in the South Caucasus?” he said.

Ambassador Matlock, who served between 1987 and 1991, discussed the evolution of US-Russia relations since the fall of the Soviet Union and the impact of this relationship on the South Caucasus region. Matlock noted that, as long as Russia continues to sense growing hostility and rivaly from the US, it will take reactionary steps to ascertain itself not only regionally but internationally. “What Putin, internationally, has reacted negatively to is what he considers an effort to put him down,” Matlock said.

Ambassador Ed Djerejian took the stage next. He further expanded on the important role of US-Russia relations on Armenia. “Armenia’s future is linked, in an important way, to the way in which the US-Russia relationship is going to evolve,” Ambassador Djerejian noted.

Following the individual presentations, Professor Suny, Ambassador Matlock and Ambassador Djerejian engaged in a conversation moderated by Professor English. They focused on the impact of regional and global hegemons on Armenia’s transition since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Professor Robert English, Deputy Director of the USC School of International Relations (Photo: USC Institute of Armenian Studies)

The panelists agreed on the growing role of Russia in the region and the need for the U.S. to take into account Russia’s regional interests.

“Armenia should, of course, act in its own interests, but those interests involve the other great powers around it and the limits placed on it by those particular powers. And those interests have to maybe be more carefully defined at times. They go in all kinds of different directions,” Ron Suny concluded.

USC Provost Michael Quick (Photo: USC Institute of Armenian Studies)

The conference continued with the next speaker, Anna Arutunyan, a journalist and author of The Putin Mystique. Arutunyan highlighted the focal points of transition for both Russia and the independent states during the last 25 years.

She said, “In the case of Russia, when we look at it as transitioning, we think transition from point A to point B, from yesterday to tomorrow, from tyranny to freedom. It’s a binary issue. And that in itself, that view, has embedded with it a path dependency.”

Following the conversation on Russia, Garik Hayrapetyan of the United Nations Population Fund summarized the data related to the demographics of transition. Out-migration, sex-selected abortions, and an aging population are all part of this conversation. Talking specifically about sex-selected abortions, Hayrapetyan noted, “If we continue the trend like this, by 2060, Armenia will lose 93,000 girls.”

Dr. Hans Gutbrod, director of Transparify, a policy research and advocacy organization based in Tbilisi, Georgia, discussed global and regional trends in democracy development, or what he called “ten years of backsliding of democracy.” Gutbrod’s presentation focused on local activism and policy changes that can have impact on the next stages of transition. He highlighted Georgia as an important example of transition.

Anthony Bailey, USC’s Vice-President for Strategic and Global Initiatives (Photo: USC Institute of Armenian Studies)

“Why was change possible? Small teams of people who trusted each other worked together, a mix of insiders and outsiders that brought relevant expertise, and an emphasis on delivery in the first six months so you could actually make change and have an impact. Georgia shows that change is possible, even in places where it seems like people have given up,” he noted.

Changing the topic from regional to domestic issues, Gutbrod discussed the need to tackle more specific domestic issues, such as immigration, women’s rights, and more. “We need to also have a transition in our thinking. It’s not only enough now to target fertility in our policies. What we need to target is more gender equality, increasing of women’s roles in our society because it’s women who decide if they should have more children or not.”

Tuesday’s final speaker was Tim Judah, the Balkans correspondent for The Economist. To offer a comparative element, Judah explained the transitional processes in the Balkans, noting, “In the former Yugoslavia, nobody had much time for expectations. And communism, unlike in Armenia, didn’t collapse, it just fizzled out.”

He mentioned that the Kosovo War was also important because it propelled Bulgaria and Romania into NATO and sooner, rather than later, into the EU. This significantly impacted the transition process in the Balkans.

The conference continued on May 24.  The first panel—The Beginning and End of Transition—was chaired by Anna Arutunyan.

Professor Robert English opened the panel with a talk entitled, “Russia, Trump, and a new Détente.” He addressed Washington’s obsession with Russia’s potential meddling in U.S. elections and the need to move beyond smaller issues into the larger picture of the relations between the two powers. “As long as this cloud hangs over the Trump administration, any progress or relations with Russia will be viewed as Kremlin manipulation; Congress will not provide any funding or support any initiative,” Professor English noted.

Professor Ugur Ümit Üngör from the Netherlands addressed the evolving relations between Armenians and Turks. His talk was focused on the Armenian Genocide and its aftermath; evolving social and political relations in the past decades; and the issue of leadership in both countries.

A scene from the panel Civic Culture and Social Change (Photo: USC Institute of Armenian Studies)

Referencing Professor Suny’s discussion on transitology, he noted that there is one element of this that is relevant to Armenian-Turkish relations, which is transitional justice. This is a burgeoning field that looks at the aftermath of mass crimes, such as genocide.

Pointing out the importance of the event in the present, Professor Üngör said, “There is no single interaction between any single Armenian or Turk, either at a café or at a university or in a business setting that the genocide does not cast a shadow on. The genocide looms large.”

Continuing the conversation, Director of the Armenian Communities Department at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, Dr. Razmik Panossian, asked in his presentation on Trends and Lessons from Transitions, “Where are we now, globally?” His talk addressed issues of electoral illiberalism, consolidation of elites in government, as well as ineffective or “tired” civil societies.

Calling on the Diaspora, Dr. Panossian asked again, “The choice that we, as Diasporan Armenians, have vis-à-vis Armenia itself, given this rather bleak picture, is, do we accept it as it is with the occasional visit, do we engage with Armenia for change, or do we turn back and move on?”

Professor Georgi Derlugian from New York University in Abu Dhabi, focused his talk on the development of democracy in Armenia and all the various factors that affect this.

Despite all the challenges in Armenia, Derlugian stressed that one should not take for granted the independence of Armenia. “We have a multilingual population…we have refugees now arriving from countries like Syria. This is a burden in the short term. This is, if we manage to keep them, a great investment. So the situation is actually begging for a developmental state.”

The second panel—Civic Culture and Social Change—was moderated by Professor Don Miller, Director of the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at USC.

Professor Miller opened the panel by defining the term civil society, noting that, “Central to civil society are the values of free speech, the right to advocate for the public. A vibrant civil society typically has multiple contending voices that are a part of that.

The first presenter of the panel was Dr. Pål Wilter Skedsmo from the Fridtjof Nansen Institute in Norway. Dr. Skedsmo’s talk focused on environmental rights in Post-Soviet Armenia. Yerevan’s urban landscape since independence was discussed by Vrej Haroutounian, a graduate student at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. The conversation turned to Georgia with Professor Anton Popov from the UK, who presented a talk entitled, “Rebabilitating Telavi: Politics of Historical Heritage in Post-Soviet Georgia.” The changing roles of Armenian churches was discussed by Sabrina Papazian from Stanford University. Dr. Antranig Kasparian addressed the changing motives and modalities of charitable assistance from the Diaspora over a quarter century. The Diaspora conversation continued with Eviya Hovhannisyan from European University at Saint-Petersburg in Russia.

In between the panels, the audience enjoyed a brief presentation by filmmaker Eric Nazarian on the transitioning of post-Soviet cinema in Armenia. He mentioned the urgent need to present Armenia and Armenians in cinema with its new, 21st century identity.

“The first time audiences around the world were exposed to the concept of an Armenian was of a destroyed, victimized, repressed, brutalized, raped race…as they say, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. This was the first impression the world got of Armenians—as a victimized nation, aka the starving Armenians.”

Following Nazarian, philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, took the stage to discuss approaches to the next stage of transition in Armenia. He talked about his desire to do something more systemic to address development in Armenia. “Let’s try to go from the vision to execution, which is sometimes the more difficult part of transition,” he said.

Ruben Vardanyan (Photo: USC Institute of Armenian Studies)

Mr. Vardanyan discussed the impact of his initiatives, taken by his family foundation, or with the collaboration of friends and other investors. Those initiatives range from development projects which focus on advancing education, expanding tourism, and developing local economies through the IDEA Foundation. In turn, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative aims to put Armenia in a global context.

Dr. Irina Ghaplanyan moderated the third panel on Governance and Economy.

Professor Armenak Atinyan from Tianjin University in China opened the panel with a presentation on the impact of temporary migration in the South Caucasus. Dr. Taline Papazian discussed the role of the Yerkrapah in the institutional development of democracy. Discussing ‘hybrid regimes,’ Babken DerGrigorian presented Armenia as a case of anocracy. The conversation changed to healthcare as Shant Shekherdimian of the University of California, Los Angeles, discussed the efficiency, or lack thereof, of the Diaspora’s efforts in healthcare in Armenia.

Building on previous research done by Professor Don Miller, Dr. Karena Avedissian presented a talk on her current research on post-Soviet perceptions of poverty and unequal wealth. Arsen Stepanyan addressed the transition in legislative processes in Armenia since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Eric Nazarian (Photo: USC Institute of Armenian Studies)

The last panel of the conference, entitled Foreign Policy and Regional Integration, was moderated by Dr. Hans Gutbrod. Presenters focused on Russia, Iran, the European Union, and Georgia.

Professor Mikayel Zolyan of Yerevan’s Brusov University addressed the paradoxes of Russian-Armenian relations. Iran’s relationship with Armenia was covered by Iran-based scholar Robert Markarian. Armen Grigoryan of the Central European University in Hungary presented on Armenia and the European Union, with a focus on lessons from Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Georgia-Armenia relations were addressed by Tamar Kutsishvili.

“Apart from the evident value of bringing together the experiences of these scholars and diplomats, this conference is proof of the need to support deeper research into all aspects of development in the Republic of Armenia. The Institute has embarked on supporting research in and about Karabagh; we continued with offering assistance for research on aspects of the transition process. We intend to continue to identify critical areas of research needed to address national challenges,” said Salpi Ghazarian.

Video of the two-day conference in Yerevan is available below.

Video of the two-day conference in Los Angeles is available below.

The Institute of Armenian Studies promotes research, scholarship and programming that address national and global challenges and seek to contribute to policy that impacts the development of Armenian communities and the Armenian Republic.

WARSAW, Poland (A.W.)— On June 8, the Director of the Organization for Securoty and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Michael George Link expressed concern over the alleged abduction and ill-treatment of Azerbaijani journalist and human rights defender Afgan Mukhtarli by Azerbaijani authorities.

Afghan Mukhtarli (Photo: Facebook)

“The allegations of the ill-treatment of Afgan Mukhtarli and the circumstances of his return to Azerbaijan should be thoroughly investigated to establish the facts of his case, and should be duly considered in judicial review,” the ODIHR Director said in a statement. “Any identified abuses of power or criminal actions by law-enforcement authorities should be investigated, and anyone responsible for such actions should be held legally responsible,” the statement went on.

On May 31, a court in Baku ordered Mukhtarli to be held in pre-trial detention for three months, on charges of illegal border crossing, smuggling, and violence against police authorities. However, according to his lawyer, Mukhtarli was abducted on May 29 in Tbilisi, Georgia, and then forcibly transferred to Azerbaijan after 10,000 euros were planted in his pockets. The lawyer added that Mukhtarli was subjected to ill-treatment during the abduction, and showed visible sign of injures.

Director Link added that the ODIHR will continue to monitor the case closely and if the criminal charges against Mukhtarli are based on fixed evidence, the authorities must drop the charges.

YEREVAN (A.W.)— On June 8, 14 members of the armed opposition group known as “Sasna Tsrer,” who seized a police station in Yerevan, went on trial in Yerevan.

The defendants are facing a series of charges including illegal seizure of government buildings and weapons as well as hostage taking. Two of them have also been accused of murdering three police officers during the armed group’s two-week standoff with Armenian security forces. All of the suspects have denied the accusations.

Sasna Tsrer member Pavel Manukyan at the June 8 trial in Yerevan (Photo: news.am)

The defendants were greeted with applause as the entered the courtroom. They also refused to stand up when the presiding judge entered. Some defendants made angry statements denouncing the court and protesting their innocence, while three others reacted furiously when they were told to keep silent by the judge. Police officers in the courtroom intervened and the first court hearing adjourned. The next hearing is scheduled for June 21.

The defendants also included two men who were not part of the armed group itself. One of them is accused of providing a truck that transported some of the gunmen to the police station while the second was charged with having assisted the gunmen by urging Armenians to rally near the compound and spreading “false information” during the standoff.

According to Armenia’s Special Investigative Service (SIS), more than 60 individuals are prosecuted in connection with the hostage crisis. Some of them will have a separate trial.

The gunmen seized the police compound in Yerevan’s southern Erebuni district and took several police officers hostage on July 17, 2016. They demanded President Serge Sarkisian’s resignation and the release of Jirair Sefilian, the jailed leader of their Founding Parliament movement.

The group surrendered to law enforcement authorities on July 31, 2016.

2017 Armenian Youth Federation Senior Olympic Games, Hosted by the AYF-YOARF Racine “Armen Garo” Chapter, to Take Place in Downtown Milwaukee

The Saturday of an AYF Olympic weekend is usually the day that families, and extended families and friends, venture out and take in the cultural attractions of the host city. And downtown Milwaukee certainly can accommodate!

This year’s Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Olympic Games are here in Downtown Milwaukee and hosted once again by the AYF-YOARF Racine “Armen Garo” chapter, Aug. 31-Sept 4.

There are five major museums in the downtown, all within a mile of the Hyatt Regency… and three of them are grouped together on the lakefront!

The closest museum (besides the Milwaukee County Historical Society located across the street from the Hyatt Regency) is the Milwaukee Public Museum which is only three blocks away and houses 4.5 million specimens in 150,000 square feet of exhibit space.  You can visit the turn of the century at the Streets of Old Milwaukee and European Village exhibits, see one of the largest and oldest dinosaur skulls in the world, as well as view exhibits on Africa, Asia, Europe, the Arctic, South and Middle America, the Pacific Islands, and a Costa Rican Rainforest.  And don’t forget to see the live butterflies in the Puelicher Butterfly Wing and enjoy the first venue in the world to debut brand new Digistar 6 technology in the museum’s dome theater and planetarium.

The Betty Brinn Children’s Museum is just under a mile away, but once there, you will be a stone’s throw away from Discovery World, the Milwaukee Art Museum, and the greatest of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan.  Betty Brinn is Milwaukee’s only museum designed specifically for children 10 and younger, featuring hands-on exhibits and interactive programs. Home Town is a kid-sized community where children can explore a manufacturing exhibit, post office, construction site, TV studio and more. Pocket Park provides preschool-age children and infants with hands-on learning opportunities that help young children build academic, physical, and social skills.

Discovery World is a spectacular 120,000-foot museum complex that brings science, technology and water to life through fun and educational activities. There’s 3-D journey into virtual environments, a chance to lie on a bed of nails, and drive a racecar simulator. The Reiman Aquarium contains aquatic life from the Great Lakes, North Atlantic and the Caribbean in their 10 tanks, including a walk-through tunnel and creatures to interact with in the Touch Tank. There is also a life size re-creation of the 1852 schooner The Challenge, day sails on the Sailing Vessel (S/V) Denis Sullivan—the world’s only three-masted replica of a 19th century Great Lakes cargo schooner, and the Kohl’s Design It! Lab, where visitors can make 3-D DIY projects to take home.

The Milwaukee Art Museum is one of the city’s most iconic attractions, thanks to a collection of 30,000 works spanning from antiquity to the present as well as the striking architecture of the Quadracci Pavilion, featuring the moveable “wings” of the Burke Brise Soleil.  The collection includes paintings, sculpture, prints, decorative arts and photographs from such genres as American decorative arts, German Expressionism, folk and Haitian art, American art after 1960 and one of the largest collections of works by Wisconsin native Georgia O’Keeffe.  Children won’t be bored if you stop by the Kohl’s Art Generation Open Studio so they can create an art project to take home.

Finally, back in 2006, if you wanted to discover the Harley Davidson Experience, you had to be one of the lucky few that signed up for the special AYF Olympic tour of Harley’s Powertrain Operations facility.  In 2017, everyone can discover the Harley Davidson Experience at the Harley Davidson Museum, which houses more than 450 motorcycles and artifacts, dating back to the oldest known Harley-Davidson motorcycle: Serial Number One.  Inside the Experience Gallery, you can hop on board a variety of bikes and children try on pint-size leather jackets and rev an engine in the Imagination Station.

For more information, stay tuned to this column or go to www.ayfolympics.org, https://www.facebook.com/AYFOlympics/, or https://twitter.com/ayfolympics.

“Oor eh? Hos eh!”

YEREVAN—On the occasion of the 99th anniversary of the First Armenian Republic, Armenia’s President Serge Sarkisian presented Vartan Gregorian, President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, with the Order of Honor.

Vartan Gregorian wears the Order of Honor bestowed on him by the president of Armenia.

The award, which recognizes significant services in the defense of the state and the protection of the national interests of the Republic of Armenia, thanked and honored Gregorian for his contributions to the strengthening of U.S.-Armenia relations.

Gregorian was one of a group of individuals presented with high state awards and honorary titles for their contributions to the areas of “science, education, healthcare, economy, arts, culture, and sports, efficient work, patriotism, boundless dedication, deepening and expansion of the Fatherland-Diaspora relations.” The bestowing ceremony took place on May 28 at the presidential palace in Yerevan, Armenia.

The bestowal of the Order of Honor on Gregorian coincided with the second annual Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity ceremonies, also held on May 28 in Yerevan. Founded on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, the Aurora Prize seeks to raise awareness of humanitarians and their efforts around the world. In 2015, Gregorian, Noubar Afeyan, and Ruben Vardanyan cofounded the “100 Lives” initiative and the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity.

YEREVAN (A.W.)—On June 8, Azerbaijani forces fired shots on several Armenian villages in the Tavush province along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Shots were registered in the villages of Baghanis, Voskepar, and Koti between 9-10 p.m. with no casualties reported.

Baghanis village

According to Armenian Defense Ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan, there were no military losses as well.

Hovhannisyan said that the Azerbaijani forces fired primarily towards military positions, and also used large-caliber rifles. Some of the villages’ houses sustained minor damages as a result.

Five New Members Join Chapter

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—A gathering took place in Philadelphia that focused on the present activities and future trajectory of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society in the area. Upon the invitation of the Philadelphia Hamazkayin Executive Committee, Hamazkayin Central Executive member unger Hrair Baronian, together with Hamazkayin Eastern Regional Executive members ungerouhis Anny Aghajanian (secretary) and Kari Ghezarian (treasurer), held a meeting with the Hamazkayin Executive Committee of Philadelphia, as well as members of the local chapter and the parents of the youth enrolled in the Hamazkayin Meghety dance group. The meeting took place on April 30 in the Terhanian Hall of Saint Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church.

A gathering took place in Philadelphia that focused on the present activities and future trajectory of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society in the area.

Unger Hrand Jilizian, chair of the Philadelphia Hamazkayin chapter, opened the meeting and welcomed the invitees and those present, and invited Baronian to address those gathered. Baronian congratulated the chapter for its five new members who joined the organization in recent weeks. He spoke about the mission of the organization, which aims to nourish and teach the Armenian culture and language to the new generation. He emphasized the importance of engaging the youth in organizational life, to prepare them for leadership roles. He stressed that the future of the organization, as well as the nation, rests in the engagement of the younger generations.

Later, the parents of the youth enrolled in the dance group joined the meeting. Baronian thanked the parents for their dedication and commitment to Armenian culture exhibited in their children’s engagement in the Hamazkayin dance group. He also spoke about the importance of keeping the culture alive through dance and music, as well as Hamazkayin’s mission of supporting cultural and educational initiatives.

The meetings were warm and inspiring, and gave way to discussions on the work of the organization, as well as the needs of the community.

PROSPECT, Penn.—Tucked deep into the woods of Pennsylvania, the strings of an electric guitar hummed the tune to Sari Siroun Yar, a traditional Armenian melody swirling in the cool air thousands of miles away from its birthplace.

Juniors enjoying a game of basketball (Photo: AYF-YOARF)

The musician, once a camper turned counselor was, that evening, a performer.

This decades-long commitment to the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF-YOARF) Junior Seminar surrounded me during my first experience at the educational weekend held at Camp Lutherlyn, an hour outside Pittsburgh, where campers, counselors, advisors and lecturers alike gathered to explore the theme, “The Power of Purpose.” And while there were no barbecues or cell phones during this Memorial Day weekend, there was, more significantly, the creation of new friendships, the sharing of knowledge, the nature-like surroundings—and a very lively game of esheg.

Invited to speak to the youth about the power of film and theater, I shared with the campers, aged 10-17, the impact of Armenians in the performing arts, not only within the community, but also of those who have made and continue to make great strides and significant contributions in world cinema and theater. We viewed film and theater clips of Armenian actors and directors and I shared my story of how a simple idea can manifest into a cultural phenomenon when I penned and staged “Where Is Your Groom” (“Pesad Oor Eh”) and its sequel. The last half of our sessions was dedicated to the campers flexing their creative muscles to write and act out a one-page scene of their own. Their interest, respect, and engagement were unparalleled.

When not working with the campers, I had the chance to sit in on two other lectures—Ara Dinkjian’s “The Power of Music,” where the renowned oud player highlighted the importance of music as a way to unify people and encouraged campers to listen to their impulses and to stand for something in their lives—and Asbarez editor Ara Khachatourian’s session “The Power of Writing,” where he instructed campers to write and mail letters to Washington of political concern, aiming to show them the significance of their voice, no matter their age. Other lecture topics on the powers of science, community service, sports, and Hai Tahd, were just as thought provoking.

During our breakfast, lunch and dinners, I learned more about the lecturers and their ties to AYF Junior Seminar. Most had attended as children—and in some cases, the other lecturers present had been their counselors. One pair was fresh from a trip to Artsakh, participating in the opening of six new homes in the border village of Arajamugh. Their conversations were warm, decades in the making, as they caught up on their childhood friends, recent weddings and births. I thought of the lecturer’s bonds as I looked at the campers during my sessions, envisioning them too to have these same conversations years from now on the picnic tables on the porch of that dining hall.

I never grew up in the AYF/Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) world—my grandfather was Chairman of the Ramgavar Central Committee in Beirut, Lebanon—but I always welcomed invitations to speak at an event or commemoration and what I saw, time and time again, was an inherent unity.

AYF Junior Seminar was no different—no one had an ego and no one scoffed at an airport run. As a friend of mine noted, everyone eats the same food, everyone stays in the same cabins; there is no division among rich or poor nor social hierarchies and cliques.

Armenians, take note.

The potential ability of a single idea to flourish and create a cultural movement was at the center of my talk and as the weekend progressed, I realized the same could be said of the AYF Junior Seminar. A simple thought of gathering Armenian youth for a weekend of education and awareness 40 years ago manifested into cross-country friendships, marriages, children, and new families. The ties among everyone were incredible and each inspired me in their own way: the counselors, many in college or in the post-college phase of their lives, who reserved their Memorial Day Weekend year after year for an important cause close to their hearts; the campers who came wide-eyed and ready to learn; the lecturers who made time to prepare presentations; and the advisors who willingly passed the torch onto the next generation but stood right behind them as support. This is how to transfer power.

When I arrived at the Pittsburgh airport and entered the Junior Seminar van, the greatest hits of Manuel emanating from the speakers overcame the need for any introductions. While being Armenian encompasses many complex feelings, it also elicits a discernible bond rooted in a shared upbringing that only your Armenian brothers and sisters will understand. It digs deeper than the language, the food, and the history—it flows through each of our hearts. And as the guitar strings strummed on fingers that strummed hundreds of years ago, we echoed our distant past, that for one weekend, didn’t seem so distant at all.