NEW LONDON, Conn.–The Connecticut College Art Department is currently presenting a retrospective of artist Elizabeth Tashjian’s paintings, drawings and sculptures from the 1930s through the late 1990s. “Revisiting the Nut Museum: Visionary Art of Elizabeth Tashjian” opened on Oct. 21 and runs through Dec. 6 at Cummings Art Galleries. 

The exhibition recreates the Nut Museum’s main exhibition gallery with all of its original furnishings, art and displays. It also features a compilation of the “Nut Lady’s” media appearances on national television. Organized and curated by Professor Christopher Steiner and students from his advanced seminar, the exhibition features a comprehensive view of Elizabeth Tashjian’s artistic vision over the course of her nearly 70-year career. 

Born in 1912 in New York City, Tashjian’s artistic interest in nuts began shortly after her arrival at the National Academy of Design, where she painted both nut still-lifes and highly magnified cross-sections of nuts. After moving to Old Lyme, Connecticut with her mother in 1950, Tashjian became active in the Lyme Art Association, where she often exhibited her work. On a whim in April 1972, Tashjian opened the Nut Museum. The museum was housed on the ground floor of her sprawling 19th-century Victorian mansion on Ferry Road. The home’s dining room served as the main exhibition gallery and featured Tashjian’s nut paintings, as well as a collection of nuts, nutcrackers and nut-related memorabilia.

Although the Nut Museum’s original mission was to highlight the beauty of nuts as depicted in Tashjian’s art, the museum’s scope soon expanded. “As creator and curator of the Nut Museum, I became aware that some people have a load considering themselves to be a nut,” said Tashjian. “So, my motives changed. I set out to remove the demerit marks from the word ‘nut.’ My painting then used the power of art to make social commentary.”

In 1981, Tashjian appeared on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Her success with Carson led to scores of other talk show appearances, including interviews with David Letterman, Jay Leno, Howie Mandel, Roseanne Barr and Howard Stern. Tashjian’s television performances generally included a rendition of one of her songs: Nuts Are Beautiful (1973) or the March of the Nuts (1978).

Under Professor Steiner’s stewardship, Connecticut College was entrusted to preserve approximately 150 paintings, 200 drawings, 20 sculptures, 100 boxes of documents and photographs, and all furniture and displays from the museum portion of the house. 

Gallery hours for the fall are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 1–4 p.m. Galleries are not open to the public during breaks (Sept. 29–Oct 1; Oct. 9, and Nov. 26–Dec. 1).

About Connecticut College

Founded in 1911, Connecticut College is a highly selective private liberal college located on a 750-acre arboretum campus overlooking Long Island Sound and the Thames River. Our innovative educational approach, Connections, integrates everything our 1,800 students experience here—classes, majors, study abroad, internships, residence hall and campus life—so they learn how to look at problems from multiple angles and find value in differing points of view. Our mission is to educate students to put the liberal arts into action as citizens in a global society. For more information, see www.conncoll.edu or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

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Guest Contributor

Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles written and submitted by members of the community, which make up our community bulletin board.

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The U.S. House of representatives passed “House Resolution 296” recognizing the Armenian Genocide. This has been all the rage in Armenian circles with everyone congratulating everyone, especially the ANCA, for the success.

It has been 35 years since this last happened under very different circumstances, so the cynic in me is not too excited. But the political animal in me is jazzed.

During those 35 years, Turkey has done much in U.S. political circles to cast doubt on the veracity of the Armenian Genocide or, at least, to bury passage of any resolutions/legislation that are inimical to its interests on this matter. Inaction by Congress, repeatedly, has also muddied the waters and caused the judiciary of the country to make decisions based on the absence of proper, unadulterated, unequivocal recognition by the political branches of government (legislature and executive).

The text of the resolution is excellent in that it wraps-in previous instances of U.S. recognition to state the kind of unambiguous, permanent (not episodic or commemorative e.g. “recognizes/declares April 24, 20?? a day of remembrance of…” etc.) recognition needed to go forward.

Nevertheless, in some sense we’re still in a “back to the future” state of affairs since the last resolution to pass was in 1984, giving pessimists among us ammunition to whine about the alleged “unimportance” of this type of legislative activity. Plus, what we need is comprehensive recognition by the legislature, so passage of the same resolution (named S. Res. 150) by the U.S. Senate is the next important step.

Here, our compatriots and friends in Kentucky and Idaho have an important roll to play over the coming days and weeks. Kentucky is the home of Mitch McConnell, the current leader of the Senate who has the power, usually unchallenged, to schedule votes on matters pending before that body. But before that, Sen. James Risch, as chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, has analogous power in that committee, which must hear, discuss, and pass S. Res. 150 before it is addressed by the full Senate. That’s where residents of these two states come in. elected officials pay the most attention to their own constituents. No amount of lobbying in D.C. or petitioning country-wide can compare to letters and requests received by these two senators from people in their states.

Equivalent, definitive, recognition by the Executive branch would be the step that follow, but that’s beyond the scope of this article.

As often happens, Turks and Turkey have helped us in achieving this success. The invasion of Syria and its bloody results, particularly regarding the Kurds, have angered most members of Congress, creating the current environment which enabled the overwhelming passage (405 votes out of a possible 435) of the House resolution. The Senate is a bit more challenging, but now is the time to strike. I suspect that Turkey’s being a source of opium/heroin in the 1970s may have contributed to the House’s passage of an Armenian Genocide resolution in 1975. Let’s use the moment to our advantage to pass the current Senate resolution which has the same, unambiguous and permanent text as the one just passed by the House.

And, in another example of Turks helping, Simon Maghakyan, perhaps best known for his work on Baku’s destruction of Armenian monuments in Nakhichevan, posted this in Facebook: “Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson’s chief of staff Murat Gokcigdem told me her boss will vote NO on HRes 296 since he is a Turk. I told him to follow in the footsteps of the kind Turkish woman who saved my great-grandmother during the Armenian Genocide. He called her a traitor.” All I can say is “WOW!” Even as a citizen of the U.S. more than a century after the fact, a Turk is proud of committing the Genocide against Armenians. Johnson should fire this guy immediately, whether or not she changes her mind regarding the resolution. He’s making her look VERY bad.

And, since Baku has entered the discussion, it’s interesting to note that Asbarez reported, just one day after passage of the House resolution, that the frequency of Azerbaijan’s shooting across the front into the Republics of Armenia and Artzakh had increased. I can’t help but wonder if this isn’t Aliyev’s way of trying to assuage Erdoğan’s rage over passage of the resolution. You know, he’s saying “Here, Rejep, I killed a few Armenians for you.” Erdoğan, reliable as always to further exacerbate situations with his arrogance, stated, “We do not recognize this step, this decision you have taken… [you] have no right to give lessons to Turkey.”

Another interesting aspect of this whole situation is an article in “The Nation” titled “This Is Not How You Show Solidarity” addressing Rep. Ilhan Omar’s voting “present” instead of “yes” on the resolution. I will not address the merits of her vote, itself. Rather, what’s more important to observe is the way in which her vote created discussion that further wove the Genocide into the fabric of American society and consciousness.  The same goes even for those who voted against, or commented about the resolution in any way or in any setting. This kind of atmosphere is, in some ways, even more important than passage of the resolution itself. It makes the Genocide part of everyone’s every-day reality, severely blunting, if not obliterating, Turkey’s denial campaign.

Let’s savor the moment then get back to work recruiting the support of the 78 remaining senators who have not yet cosponsored S. Res. 150.  What a great Christmas present passage of that resolution would be!

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Garen Yegparian

Asbarez Columnist

Garen Yegparian is a fat, bald guy who has too much to say and do for his own good. So, you know he loves mouthing off weekly about anything he damn well pleases to write about that he can remotely tie in to things Armenian. He's got a checkered past: principal of an Armenian school, project manager on a housing development, ANC-WR Executive Director, AYF Field worker (again on the left coast), Operations Director for a telecom startup, and a City of LA employee most recently (in three different departments so far). Plus, he's got delusions of breaking into electoral politics, meanwhile participating in other aspects of it and making sure to stay in trouble. His is a weekly column that appears originally in Asbarez, but has been republished to the Armenian Weekly for many years.

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WASHINGTON, DC – Members of Congress joined with Washington’s foreign policy community and Armenian American leaders for a special Capitol Hill celebration of Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) independence that featured powerful remarks by Artsakh Foreign Minister Masis Mayilian, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“As we stand here in the Halls of Congress, we are reminded that Artsakh is a very American story, the victory of free people over foreign rule,” said ANCA Government Affairs Director Tereza Yerimyan. The ANCA was among the co-hosts of the annual Capitol Hill event.

Members of Congress – several of whom had recently traveled to the Republic of Artsakh – spoke emphatically about the Republic’s progress and shared their commitment to ensuring closer U.S.-Artsakh ties.  Each also shared their profound satisfaction over the House passage of Armenian Genocide legislation (H.Res.296) just a day earlier.

The ANCA live-streamed the celebration on the ANCA Facebook and Twitter pages.

“Artsakh was just so beautiful with great food – in fact, I am enjoying Artsakh wine right now – it was so friendly, it reminded me of countryside in the south of France,” said Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) said of her recent Artsakh visit. “Being there made me even more determined to protect Artsakh,” noted Rep. Chu, who had spearheaded the Chu amendment to the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to put in place the Royce-Engel peace proposals, including the removal of snipers, addition of OSCE monitors at the line of contact, and the placement of a gunfire locator system to clearly identify those breaking the ceasefire.

She noted that prior to her travels to Artsakh, she was visited several times by the Consulate of Azerbaijan, which cautioned her from traveling there due to violence, and threatened dire consequences. Upon her return, Rep. Chu was added to the Azerbaijani government’s notorious ‘blacklist’ – prohibiting her from traveling to Baku – a designation that she considers a “distinctive badge of honor.”

Commenting on House passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.296), Rep. Chu noted, “finally we are putting the U.S. on the right side of history and thanks to this vote, we can ensure that the world doesn’t forget.”

Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ), who is the most-traveled U.S. Representative to Artsakh, commented about his most recent trip just weeks ago. “I was amazed at how much progress the country has made in the last 10 or 20 years. […] This is a country that is not only democratic and transparent and committed to the rule of law, but economically is better every time we go.” Rep. Pallone stated that he and his Congressional Armenian Caucus colleagues were already hard at work to implement new programs following their trip to Armenia and Artsakh.

Regarding the Armenian Genocide Resolution, Rep. Pallone thanked all the members of Congress who spoke out in support of the resolution and the Armenian American community for their decades of dedicated efforts to make that happen.

Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Jackie Speier (D-CA), quoted Winston Churchill, who famously stated, “Never, ever, ever, ever, ever give up. We saw the most extraordinary vote – 405-11 – achieved it because of all of you. […] Thank you for never giving up hope and always keeping the faith.”

Rep. Speier described her first visit to Artsakh as “beyond wonderful” and an “exceptional experience.” It was “wonderful to see the hopefulness, the sense of pride, that was evident everywhere,” said Rep. Speier, who went on to share her uplifting visit to The HALO Trust to review their de-mining efforts and pledged to help secure funding to finish the project.

Senior House Foreign Affairs Committee member Brad Sherman (D-CA) stated, “We are no longer co-conspirators of Armenian Genocide denial,” noting that “now a stain on the honor of America has been lifted.”  Rep. Sherman stated that the House should pass Armenian Genocide legislation every year to commemorate the April 24th anniversary. The Congressman presented the Foreign Minister Mayilian with a framed copy of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, as a memento of the great victory.

Regarding Artsakh, Rep. Sherman discussed his two decades commitment to ensuring the continuation of Artsakh assistance and the recent passage of the Sherman amendment to the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would block the sale of U.S. defense articles which could be used by Azerbaijan to shoot down civilian aircraft – a threat Azerbaijani authorities made as early as 2011.

Central California Congressman TJ Cox (D-CA), who led the Cox amendment to the FY20 Foreign Aid Bill to ensure continued aid to Artsakh, noted, “I am humbled to have met the Foreign Minister of Artsakh, and look forward to the opportunity to visit the region in person someday. Also, we will continue to support de-mining efforts to ensure the residents of Artsakh can live safe, happy lives.”

Ambassador of Armenia to the U.S. Varuzhan Nersesyan cited the progress of the Republic of Artsakh and its commitment to peace.  “Both Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) are firmly committed to the peaceful resolution of the conflict. But I want to be clear – that conflict is supposed to be resolved on the basis of the right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh to exercise its own right – on its ancestral lands – to self-determination.  This is a fundamental right and there is no doubt that this right will be exercised and recognized by the international community.”

Foreign Minister Masis Mayilian offered the keynote address of the evening, quoting President George Washington in describing reasons for Artsakh victory. “If we had secret resources unknown to the enemy, they consisted of the unshakable determination of our citizens, awareness in righteousness of our position, and the assurance that God will not abandon us,” noted Mayilian, who then added, “we always felt the support of compatriots, our friends, and all those for whom the ideals of freedom, equality, democracy and human rights were not meaningless.” Mayilian went on to make the case for international recognition of the Republic, arguing that “is the most appropriate response to the threat that comes from Azerbaijan.” He stressed that “international recognition of Artsakh will ensure the irreversibility of the peace process, and will become an incentive for a final resolution of the conflict through negotiations.”

Mayilian, who was present in the U.S. House of Representatives gallery with Ambassador Nersesyan, Artsakh Representative to the U.S. Robert Avetisyan and ANCA leaders and staff from across the United States to witness the historic Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.296) vote, congratulated Congressional leaders and Armenian American community members alike for the historic victory. “The recognition of the Armenian Genocide is extremely important for the security of Artsakh and the entire region,” said Mayilian.

In addition to the Capitol Hill celebration, Foreign Minister Mayilian was in Washington for a series of Congressional meetings and discussions with think tanks and Armenian American organizations, including the ANCA, where they reviewed the ANCA’s pro-Artsakh priorities and efforts to expand U.S.-Artsakh cooperation. At a special Armenian Embassy Reception on October 31, Foreign Minister Mayilian honored ANC of Michigan co-Chair Lara Nercessian with the Artsakh President’s Medal of Gratitude for her leadership in securing Michigan’s recognition of Artsakh in 2017. Nine U.S. states have recognized the Republic of Artsakh, including California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan and Rhode Island.

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ANCA

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues. To learn more, visit www.anca.org.

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ANCA-Eastern Region

The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region is part of the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots organization, the ANCA. Working in coordination with the ANCA in Washington, DC, and a network of chapters and supporters throughout the Eastern United States, the ANCA-ER actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

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WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) this week voiced support for a recent U.S. Embassy announcement that U.S. assistance to Armenia will reach $60 million in 2019 and requested a detailed description of these funds, with emphasis on the disparity in U.S. military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“We welcome Ambassador’s Tracy’s announcement that aid to Armenia will top $60 million for FY19, which she described as a 40 percent increase over the previous year,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We look forward to the U.S. Embassy publicly providing a detailed breakdown by fiscal year, sponsoring agency, area of activity and specific program – with a particular focus on how U.S. Defense Department aid to Armenia matches up against its spending in Azerbaijan.”

On Monday, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia released a statement noting the 40 percent increase in aid to Armenia, in “projects managed by not only the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development, but also the Department of Energy, the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Defense.”

“The United States has sought to support the development of democratic processes and institutions in Armenia for the last 27 years, and we certainly do not intend to change that now, at a time when democracy in Armenia is stronger than ever,” U.S. Ambassador Lynne M. Tracy said in a statement posted on the U.S. Embassy to Armenia website. “That is why we are proud to announce more than $60 million in assistance funding to Armenia this year.”

According to the U.S. Embassy, the additional funds will cover a broad range of programmatic areas, including “anti-corruption, security, energy, education, English language, forest service, human rights, civil society and the strengthening of transparent and accountable government institutions, including the law enforcement, justice and judicial sectors.”

Alongside increased U.S. assistance to Armenia, the ANCA has been working closely with the Congressional Armenian Caucus to clarify reports of a dramatic increase in U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan, breaking parity in military aid to Armenia. According to a September 27th letter by Congressional Armenian Caucus leaders Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), Azerbaijan received Department of Defense security assistance of $42.9 million in FY2019, compared to $2.8 million provided to Armenia. The letter outlined Congressional concern that military assistance to Azerbaijan “will be used to further perpetuate aggression against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.”

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ANCA

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues. To learn more, visit www.anca.org.

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On October 29, 2019, Armenian Americans scored a major victory in the halls of US Congress. For the first time in 35 years, the US House of Representatives adopted Resolution 296 affirming the facts of the Armenian Genocide.

I used the term affirming because contrary to many Armenian and non-Armenian commentators, this was not the first time that the United States has recognized the Armenian Genocide. In fact, this was the fifth American governmental recognition. As I have reported dozens of times in past years, the United States government first recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1951 when it sent an official document to the International Court of Justice (World Court) presenting the Armenian Genocide as an example of genocide. The US House of Representatives recognized the Armenian Genocide in two Resolutions adopted in 1975 and 1984, and Pres. Ronald Reagan issued a Presidential Proclamation on April 22, 1981 mentioning the Armenian Genocide.

Among the misrepresentations made by various commentators were statements like:

1.  “The October 29, 2019 recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the House of Representatives was the first time in a century that the United States has recognized the Armenian Genocide.” It was not! In fact, the text of Resolution 296 itself lists all the previous US recognitions of the Armenian Genocide and describes it as affirmation, not recognition.

2.  “Resolution 296 set a policy on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the US government.” It did no such thing. This Resolution, like the others before it, is a non-binding Resolution, expressing simply the will of Congress. It is not a law and it has no legal consequences.

3.  “Resolution 296 obligates Pres. Trump to use the term genocide in his next April 24 statement.” It does not. The President can still use other euphemisms to describe the Armenian Genocide, if he wishes to, as he and other US Presidents have done since Pres. Reagan.

4.  “Resolution 296 will allow Armenians to file lawsuits in US courts against Turkey demanding restitution for damages suffered during the Genocide.” This is not true. As mentioned above, two similar Congressional Resolutions were adopted in 1975 and 1984 and neither one helped Armenians win a single lawsuit against Turkey in US courts.

5.  “After the passage of Resolution 296, if the US Senate adopts the counterpart Resolution (SRes.150), and if Pres. Trump signs it, then the Resolution becomes a law.” This is untrue, since both the House and Senate versions are “stand alone” Resolutions. Should the Senate version also be adopted, the Resolution will not go to Pres. Trump for his signature, since the House and Senate versions were not submitted as a “Joint Resolution.”

Nevertheless, none of the above clarifications are made to minimize the value of the adoption of Resolution 296 on October 29, 2019. Here are the reasons why this Resolution was a major victory for the Armenian Cause:

1.  After trying to pass a genocide resolution in the House for 35 years, it is a major accomplishment for the Armenian American community to be able to finally score such a victory. It is not possible to continue demanding that the Armenian public support a cause for decades without a concrete result from time to time. This victory will energize Armenian-Americans to continue their commitment to the Armenian Cause and work harder to attain greater accomplishments.

2.  While the passage of Resolution 296 does not obligate the President of the United States, it will increase the pressure on him to properly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide in his April 24 statement.

3.  Resolution 296 also makes it more difficult for the Turkish government to continue its denials of the Armenian Genocide.

4.  Paradoxically, the harsh reactions of the Turkish leaders to the adoption of Resolution 296 helped remind the Turkish people and others worldwide about the Armenian Genocide.

5.  Thousands of articles, television reports and social media posts on the adoption of Resolution 296 helped further publicize the Armenian Genocide around the world. Over 100 years after the Genocide, the cry for justice remains alive thanks to the activism of Armenians and their supporters.

6.  The passage of Resolution 296 is another step in Armenia’s struggle to pressure Turkey and the world community to take further steps to undo the damage caused by the Genocide, albeit delayed over a century!

7.  Beyond setting straight the historical record, the effort over the passage of the genocide resolution is a political battle between the Armenian American community and the Turkish government and its paid lobbyists as to which side has more political clout in Washington. The overwhelming victory (405 to 11 votes) is a clear indication of the smashing defeat of Turkey and the total victory of Armenians.

8.  The Turkish government has wasted tens of millions of dollars over the years hiring high-powered American lobbying firms in a failed attempt to block the approval of Armenian Genocide Resolutions by the US Congress. It is impossible to misrepresent genocide as a humane act no matter how many billions of dollars Turkey spends on lobbyists!

9.  Turkey’s defeat also sends a message to the Turkish public that the taxes they have paid are being squandered by their government to deny the undeniable.

10.  Some have made the excuse that Congress took advantage of the souring relations between Turkey and the United States to pass Resolution 296. While this is true, there are several counter-arguments:

– Congress is a political body; hence all its deliberations and decisions are of a political nature;

– If it weren’t for the diligent efforts of Armenian-American organizations and the Armenian community, there was no guarantee that this Resolution would have appeared on the agenda of the House of Representatives. Since the US Congress was unhappy with Turkey’s invasion of Northern Syria, the House of Representatives would have been satisfied by passing a Resolution on October 29, 2019, placing sanctions on Turkey for its barbaric attacks against Kurds. However, because of Armenian activism, the House also adopted on the same day the Resolution on the Armenian Genocide.

– We cannot be so naive as to expect that any government would defend the Armenian Cause if doing so would have been contrary to its own interests. It is perfectly reasonable that the condemnation of the Armenian Genocide happened to coincide with Congress’ anger at Turkey for other reasons. In fact, the more Armenians can find reasons to match their interests with those of other countries, the more successful they will be in their pursuit of the Armenian Cause.

For the next step, I hope the US Senate will shortly pass Senate Resolution 150. This is important, since the US Senate has never adopted a Resolution acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. And maybe next year, the Armenian Genocide Resolution could be reintroduced, but this time as a “Joint Resolution,” which would mean that should the Resolution pass both Houses of Congress and the President signs it, the Armenian Genocide would become US law, not just a “non-binding” Resolution. This would obligate all future American Presidents to use the term Armenian Genocide in their April 24 statements or on any other occasion.

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Harut Sassounian

California Courier Editor

Harut Sassounian is the publisher of The California Courier, a weekly newspaper based in Glendale, Calif. He is the president of the United Armenian Fund, a coalition of the seven largest Armenian-American organizations. He has been decorated by the president and prime minister of the Republic of Armenia, and the heads of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic churches. He is also the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

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NEW YORK, NY—Ara Gevorgyan’s instrumental folk song “Artsakh” was blaring from the speakers of historic Madison Square Garden in New York City as 21-year-old Edmen Shahbazyan made his walk to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) octagon for the most important mixed-martial arts fight of his young career at UFC 244.

And in the short time it took “The Golden Boy” to make that walk, the number 10-ranked middleweight contender was able to earn his 11th career win as a professional, knocking out veteran Brad Tavares in just two minutes and 27 seconds with a vicious head kick in the first round.

“I knew he was rocked, so I threw the kick,” Shahbazyan said in his post-fight media availability. “Like I wanted to mix it up. He thought punches were going to come, so I created distance, threw the kick, and it landed and knocked him down.”

After the fight, Shahbazyan stood proudly with both the Armenian tricolor and American stars and stripes draped around his shoulders. Outside of the octagon, Shahbazyan fans were proudly displaying the Armenian flag in the crowd, in support of the young up-and-comer.

“(I’m) in the east coast for the first time. (In) New York City and holding, representing the Armenian flag. It was incredible. I saw all of the flags out there, and it motivated me.”

The knockout was the ninth of the middleweight fighter’s career, who improved to 11-0 as a professional and 3-0 in the UFC promotion. Ten of Shahbazyan’s 11 wins have come in the first round. The Glendale, Calif. native is quickly rising in the rankings of the UFC’s 185-pound division, and he has bigger plans ahead.

“I believe I’m the new hot prospect of the (middleweight) division and I’m coming,” Shahbazyan said. “I’m not trying to rush anything, but I do want to be the youngest (UFC) champion.”

Shahbazyan’s stunning performance also impressed UFC president Dana White.

“He wants to be the youngest champion ever, and he comes in tonight against Tavares who’s a gritty, tough, hard-hitting, durable veteran. He’s been around for a while and (Shahbazyan) looked good. He performed,” said White.

Shahbazyan, who trains at Glendale Fighting Club in California with legendary coach Edmond Tarverdyan, has just less than two years to achieve the historic feat of becoming the youngest-ever UFC champion. Jon Jones holds the record after he became the UFC’s light heavyweight champion in 2011 at 23 years and 242 days old.

Shahbazyan wasn’t the only Armenian who had a successful night at UFC 244. Katlyn Chookagian earned herself a shot at the UFC women’s flyweight title after she defeated Jennifer Maia via unanimous decision. She couldn’t help but notice a few Armenian flags in the crowd during her fight.

“It’s amazing. I just kind of wish my grandfather was still alive to see that. He passed away right at the beginning of my MMA career,” recalled Chookagian. “If he could’ve seen that, it would’ve meant the world to him. The Armenian crowd and the support that I’ve gotten from them is like nothing else. It’s amazing.”

The 30-year-old Pennsylvania native has now won five of her last six fights and has propelled to the top of the women’s flyweight rankings, where she is the number one contender. White confirmed during his post-fight press conference that Chookagian’s next fight would most likely be for the title belt against current champion Valentina Shevchenko.

“I think my striking is very technical,” Chookagian said about her potential matchup with Shevchenko. “I think other girls she’s fought are just tough. I have higher technical knowledge when I’m in there with the striking, whereas I feel like other girls who have faced her are just tough and aggressive. My style might not be the most exciting, but it frustrates opponents a lot and it throws their game off and that’s when I’m able to capitalize and get the win.”

In its 26 year history, no Armenian has ever won the UFC championship title.

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Andre Khatchaturian

Andre Khatchaturian is a digital content producer at the New England Sports Network (NESN). At NESN, he has produced written and video content related to the New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, combat sports and other trending national sports news. He has also produced content on location at two Super Bowls, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, NBA Playoffs and dozens of UFC fights. Andre is from Glendale, California and graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. He moved to Boston in 2013, where he attended Boston University and graduated with a master's degree in broadcast journalism.

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The Knights and Daughters of Vartan in Boston are inviting the public to join them on Sunday, November 17th in honoring Jack Medzorian for a lifetime of service to Armenians, both here in the United States and especially in Armenia itself. Ararat Lodge Number 1 and Arpie Otyag Number 9 will host the event which will be held in Keljik Hall at the Saint James Cultural Center beginning at 5pm. The gala celebration will include dinner followed by a program of anecdotes, entertainment and tributes from Armenia.

The party will come just two days after Mr. Medzorian celebrates his 93rd birthday. As a Knight of Vartan, Jack Medzorian has served in numerous positions including twice as Lodge Commander or Sbarabed. He and his wife Eva have together made nearly 100 trips to Armenia since 1972, many of which have been for humanitarian purposes in which they delivered medical equipment, educational supplies and funding to rural areas where such resources were and are badly needed.

He is also a co-founder with his wife Eva of the Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City Association (CYSCA) and has been instrumental in bringing Armenian students to America to both visit and study. Jack Medzorian has also served The National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) where he serves on the Board of Directors, The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), The Counsel of Armenian Executives and the Armenian American Veterans of Greater Boston, formerly the Cpl. Paul Mesrobian AMVETS Post 41 of which he is a founding member. He is also a former superintendent of the Saint James Armenian Church Sunday School. He and his wife Eva have four children. Their son David is a member of Ararat Lodge, and their daughter Ruth is a member of Arpie Otyag.

All friends are invited to come and join in the festivities on November 17. Tickets may be purchased by going to https://squareup.com/store/knights-of-vartan-ararat or by calling (781) 820-4860.

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Guest Contributor

Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles written and submitted by members of the community, which make up our community bulletin board.

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At the SMART Center, programs are offered beginning at the age of three and extending to adulthood. There are three tracks: Seed (3-5), Root (6-18), and Stem (19+). The aim is to equip individuals with the skills and ability to achieve what is called SMART Citizenship. By fostering a supportive environment with engaging educational tools, SMART is preparing their pupils to be well-rounded, 21st century thinkers. 

Each week, SMART receives a new batch of 100 prospective students, along with their parents, and begins the onboarding and orientation process. Ultimately, the orientation takes six days to complete and provides the students with fundamental skills to build a foundation of success for the path to SMART Citizenship. In this introductory week, children learn digital literacy, healthy lifestyle choices, human rights, and emotional intelligence. 

It’s a major year for SMART with the recent implementation of the new curriculum. As the families arrive, they are welcomed in and begin to file into The Andrea Martin Performing Arts Auditorium, soon filled with 100 children each with their parents. The room is flooded with hesitant excitement and anticipation. 

In 2018, SMART served six nearby communities. Today, they have nearly doubled their numbers. By the end of December, COAF SMART hopes to provide education and support to 30 villages. The number of enrolled individuals is also growing exponentially. Hundreds of students are applying online each month and projected enrollment is 1350 students at the conclusion of 2019. 

COAF’s Managing Director, Korioun Khatchadourian, welcomes everyone, makes introductions, and dives right into the orientation. A video outlining the newly implemented SMART Curriculum is shown to the families. It discusses the class options and requirements for becoming a SMART Citizen. Students will have the ability to self-design their studies. There are three dimensions, each with two programmatic disciplines which contain three core classes. The children all watch intently, most likely taking mental notes on what most appeals to them. There are a plethora of interesting options, from VR fitness to engineering to Mandarin Chinese. 

After the video, official registration begins. Names are called, clipboards are handed out, and children look on as parents and guardians fill out forms. Before the orientation week continues, SMART collects each child’s name and relevant information to get them official started on their journey to SMART Citizenship. 

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Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles written and submitted by members of the community, which make up our community bulletin board.

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LOWELL, Mass.—The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region will host its 13^th annual ANCA-ER banquet on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center located at 50 Warren Street, Lowell, MA 01852. The banquet is an opportunity to celebrate the year’s accomplishments and honor those who have worked tirelessly for the Armenian cause. The evening will begin with cocktails and a silent auction at 6:00 p.m. followed by dinner and an awards program at 7:30 pm.

This year’s silent auction features an impressive selection of items from Armenia, unique pieces of art, jewelry, gourmet wine and coffee, books and natural skincare products with ingredients from the highlands of Armenia.

“We are so happy to feature these new and unique items in the auction this year,” said ANCA-ER Banquet Co-Chair Nairee Hagopian. “The planning committee thanks all of the donors and encourages our community members to patron these Armenian-owned businesses.”

Corporate donors featured in this year’s silent auction include:

• Henry’s House of Coffee – San Francisco based coffee roasting company. The Kalebjians have been roasting coffee since 1965 specializing in darker roasts that have a smooth finish and are never bitter.
• Nairian Natural Skincare donated an essential set of products to keep your skin moisturized and radiant through the winter months. Lovingly crafted from ingredients grown, created and bottled in the Armenian highlands.
• Truly Madly Ink – Los Angeles based calligrapher Angela Kazanchyan designed a limited edition Armenian Alphabet espresso cup and saucer.
• Lebanese Arak Corporation a.k.a. LAC Products – Founded by Garabed Kurkjian in 1938, it grew under his sons Krikor and Garbis, then grandsons Garo, Ara and Brett. LAC has evolved from its origins in Lebanon to a modern international beverage company in the U.S.
• Everything you want to know about Armenian wines the book “Armenian Vine and Wine” donated by Abril Bookstore teaches us about the history of the people who made it and about the traditions and culture of places where this amazing diversity of native grapes gives birth to unique wines.

Other items include an AYF Camp Haiastan and Armenian Heritage Cruise package, a copy of “The Promise” script donated by Terry George, as well as other items donated by: Angel Dulgarian, Sona Dulgarian, Armen and Sossy Jeknavorian, Pearl Bargamian, Anoush Bargamian, Ani Babayan, Linda Kechejian, Vartouhi Chiloyan, Ara Jeknavorian, Aram Jeknavorian, Tamar Kaloustian, Valot Athakhanian, Maral Karagozian, Astghig Kevorkian, Chris Bohjalian, Terry George, BRAG Jewelers, ARF Hairenik, Claire Karibian, Story Time Foods, Mark K., Houri Guevikian and Nairee Hagopian.

For more information about this year’s banquet, call (917) 428-1918 or email erbanquet@anca.org.

The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region is part of the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots organization, the Armenian National Committee of America. Working in coordination with the ANCA in Washington, DC and a network of chapters and supporters throughout the Eastern United States, the ANCA-ER actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues. 

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ANCA-Eastern Region

The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region is part of the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots organization, the ANCA. Working in coordination with the ANCA in Washington, DC, and a network of chapters and supporters throughout the Eastern United States, the ANCA-ER actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

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WATERTOWN, Mass.—Thousands from across New England walked through the doors of the Armenian Cultural and Education Center (ACEC) with beaming smiles and big appetites this past weekend to attend the 63rd St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church Bazaar.

“It’s a wonderful experience and many people come. Just like sometimes they come to church twice a year, they come to the bazaar once a year,” said Reverend Archpriest Antranig Baljian smiling. “They come from near and far… And people from the other churches also. Der Arakel is here too [from St. James.] I think that’s the best part. It brings us together,” said Der Antranig as he described the sense of community the two-day bazaar creates in Watertown every year.

The bazaar showcased homemade and imported Armenian crafts, clothing, jewelry, jams and memorabilia in addition to raffles and silent and live auction items. While generations young and old sip, stroll, socialize and shop, they always seem to gravitate to the mouthwatering meals.

The manpower behind the famous Armenian barbecue is fueled by husbands, brothers and sons of the community. The line wrapped around the ACEC as volunteers served savory chicken, beef and losh kebab and delicious kufteh and kheyma dishes. Experienced patrons know to head to the bakery section early, as the 12,000 choregs and countless pounds of manteh, katah, khadayif and baklava quickly sell out in just a few short hours.

The dedication behind the counters and the masterminds of the kitchen are a zealous group of ladies who have tirelessly served the church through multi-generations. Beginning in mid-summer, the women meet once a week on two different teams: pastry on Tuesdays, gourmet on Thursdays. “There’s a lot of comradery,” said Krista Aftandilian. “We love the church, and we love the people and that’s why all the ladies have the best time doing it.” While she was working in the kitchen, her daughter Lia was a volunteer serving the food.

“I’ve been with the church for 55 years and every summer, the week after the fourth of July, we start the process for the bazaar…making katah, choreg, boreg, and all the desserts like khadayif, paklava, ghourma… all that just to make enough money for the church,” said longtime volunteer and Ladies Guild member Zabelle Hoosian, whose daughter Lucy also volunteered at the bazaar. 

This bazaar is the largest fundraiser of the year for the church; the money raised helps defray the cost of the church’s operating budget.

Rev. Archpriest Baljian noted the hard work of the devoted volunteers and said that everyone’s support “keeps the doors open and allows the church to minister to the people.”

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Kristina Ayanian

Kristina Ayanian is a recent graduate of Bentley University with a double major in finance and global studies and a minor in corporate communications. She was a reporter for ABC's Teen Kids News, whose episode interviewing Prince Edward of England was nominated for the 2014 Emmy's. She enjoys performing and has been invited to sing and play piano at Carnegie Hall.

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WATERTOWN, Mass.—Olympian Houry Gebeshian has joined the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR), an international organization whose mission is to match unrelated donors to patients in need of stem cell transplants. Boston chapter volunteers took swab samples from inside Gebeshian’s cheeks last week at the St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church bazaar, adding her to an international registry of 31,000 donors. 

At the ABMDR table, Gebeshian was greeted by dozens of admirers. Back in 2016, she became the first female to represent Armenia during the Summer Olympics. “It wasn’t the actual competition that was really cool,” said Gebeshian. “It was walking out in the opening ceremonies behind the Armenian flag that was the biggest highlight of my athletic career.”

The Boston native attended preschool and kindergarten at St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School. Since she didn’t continue her Armenian education, she missed out on having a larger circle of Armenian friends. But the Olympic stage was an opportunity for her to reconnect. “Competing for Armenia really gave me a sense of who I was and helped me with my identity as an Armenian,” she said. 

Now, Gebeshian is a physician’s assistant for labor and delivery. But she tells the Weekly she is still actively involved in the gymnastics community as a coach. She also started her own company called Full Out Collegiate Recruiting. Earlier this year, she traveled to Armenia to evaluate the development of a women’s gymnastics program. “That’s a big dream of mine,” she said, “to build that program and to give girls the same opportunity that I had.”

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Kristina Ayanian

Kristina Ayanian is a recent graduate of Bentley University with a double major in finance and global studies and a minor in corporate communications. She was a reporter for ABC's Teen Kids News, whose episode interviewing Prince Edward of England was nominated for the 2014 Emmy's. She enjoys performing and has been invited to sing and play piano at Carnegie Hall.

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Editor’s Note: The previously published version of this article inaccurately described the youth wing of the ARF’s communique, writing that it specifically referenced the Ministry’s funding for houZANK u ZANQ.

YEREVAN—A public dance performance in central Yerevan ended in violence on Saturday as a mob chanting ultra-nationalist slogans attacked performers. According to organizers, the production entitled houZANK u ZANQ (“Excitement and Call”) examines the role of women in revolution reinterpreted as a contemporary homage to the futurist poetry tradition of early 20th-century Armenia. The women-led living exhibit consisted of a poetry reading by Lilith Petrosyan spoken over an interpretive dance routine choreographed by Hasmik Tangyan.  

The show’s organizers, CoChoLab, had applied for and received the appropriate permits from both the Yerevan Municipality and the Metro to hold their event near the entrance of the Republic Square metro station. However, these legal endorsements did little to discourage a dozen protesters from harassing the group, shouting “shame” and accusing the dancers of introducing satanism into Armenian society. Some of the protesters reportedly burned incense while chanting prayers. In a particularly tense confrontation, a shirtless protester who identified himself as Narek Sargsyan was apprehended by police after he sprayed performers with a green-colored topical antiseptic known by its Russian name “zelyonka.” 

Zelyonka, a staple in Soviet hospitals for treating minor cuts and scrapes, is known for leaving a bright green stain on a patient’s skin. The diluted triarylmethane dye has recently gained notoriety in Ukraine and Russia as a non-lethal weapon used to shame prominent anti-government critics and their supporters. Notable targets of zelyonka attacks include prominent Russian oppositionist Alexei Navalny, blogger Ilya Varlamov and Ukrainian-Armenian politician Arsen Avakov. Saturday’s attack may be the first such instance of zelyonka use in Armenia.

In a bizarre twist to the story, a video was posted to Facebook over the weekend superimposing footage of Sargsyan’s arrest with a recording from a phone conversation where he admits to frequenting “gay parties.” The video was shared almost 500 times on the platform. The implication that the zelyonka attacker might himself be a closeted homosexual received a somber response from Armenia’s LGBT community. “No surprises here on who the most vocal homophobes really are,” tweeted Mika, who authors the Unzipped: Gay Armenia blog. Sargsyan has since admitted to attending these parties “for research purposes”.

Organizers had apparently been anticipating some sort of provocation. The dance group had been approached by two men during a rehearsal the previous evening demanding their immediate departure from the premise. These self-appointed art critics argued that their “feminist satanism” had “nothing to do with art.” One of the men’s insistence that a woman’s only role is to marry and raise children was met with audible laughter and ridicule from the crowd.    

Following the dispute, a post on CoChoLab’s Facebook page announced that the next day’s performance would go on as planned, inviting Yerevan’s creative community to attend in solidarity. “The fact that any woman who dances in public is considered a stripper or any woman who sings Hip-Hop is deemed hysterical is precisely why tomorrow’s show must go on at any cost,” read the post. 

Protesters also singled out Education and Culture Minister Arayik Harutyunyan for his alleged support of ‘satanic behavior’ in Armenia following his ministry’s approval of a 2.7 million AMD ($5,700) grant towards CoChoLab’s artistic performance. The presence of Hasmik Khachunts, a city councilwoman from the governing My Step Alliance, at the event was also interpreted by ultraconservative elements as an official endorsement.

Groups with close ties to the former regime have attempted to capitalize on the new administration’s alleged lack of commitment to “traditional Armenian values” to stoke public opinion. They have been involved in increasingly public confrontations with the government, such as last week’s demonstration in front of the National Assembly over the Istanbul Convention.

The government’s taste for modern art was not shared by all parties at the National Assembly, however. Opposition leader Naira Zohrabyan, who incidentally chairs the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Public Affairs, condemned the performance. In a Facebook post, she derided the performers’ intellectual elitism, insisting that no artist “would ever qualify yesterday’s events in front of the metro as ‘art.’” Appealing to the silent majority, she warned that contemporary art leads down a slippery slope at the bottom of which “free-thinking artists” would “perform the Kama Sutra at elementary schools.”

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the issue head-on during a Facebook Live broadcast on Monday evening, warning that a dogmatic interpretation of Armenian culture would lead to an “inquisition” against any alternative form of artistic expression. Alluding to a comment made by one of the performers, Pashinyan noted that aside from his magnum opus “Yes Im Anoush Hayastani,” much of the work of famed poet Yeghishe Charents had been banned by Soviet censors as immoral. The Prime Minister reminded viewers that homogeneity of thought is antithetical to Armenia’s cultural and economic development.

During the broadcast, Pashinyan also touched upon another controversy surrounding Minister Harutyunyan. The Prime Minister defended the Education Ministry’s decision to merge religious studies into Armenian history as part of the official curriculum, arguing that “The history of the Armenian Apostolic Church is an integral part of Armenian history and should be taught as such.” The Education Ministry, which has seen a substantial boost to its operational budget for 2020, is also considering turning Armenian language, history and literature into elective subjects at the university level.

The Armenian Constitution specifically establishes a judicial separation between Church and State but recognizes the unique role of the Apostolic Church in shaping Armenian identity. While the introduction of religious studies into the curriculum is only a recent development, the Ministry’s decision to scrap the course provoked the ire of social conservatives and church leaders. Some students also opposed the move, calling for walkouts. 

On Monday, the youth wing of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) in Armenia called for Harutyunyan’s immediate resignation. The communique, which was released days after the outdoor performance in Yerevan, cited his Ministry’s funding for curriculum changes, as well as financial support for a film documenting the life of transgender athlete Mel Daluzyan as evidence of the Minister’s complicity in eroding Armenian values.

Harutyunyan hit back at his accusers. “Let’s be clear, so long as I am Culture Minister, there will be no censorship,” he announced at a press conference. “One of a sovereign State’s most important commitments is to artistic freedom.”

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Raffi Elliott

Columnist & Armenia Correspondent

Raffi Elliott is a Canadian-Armenian political risk analyst and journalist based in Yerevan, Armenia. As correspondent and columnist for the Armenian Weekly, he covers socioeconomic, political, business and diplomatic issues in Armenia, with occasional thoughts on culture and urbanism.

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Sevana Tchakerian may be a household name among contemporary Armenian music connoisseurs as the singer and accordion player for the trad band Collectif Medz Bazar, which has toured in over 20 countries so far. But the Franco-Armenian musician has set her sights on a much more ambitious mission: pulling Armenian folk music education into the 21st century.

Her latest project, Tsap Tsapik (Clap Clap) consists of two parts: an educational guidebook designed to help music instructors teach Armenian folk music to children and an album containing traditional and original compositions. The project was born out of her frustration with the state of musical education in Armenian schools following years of travel and providing workshops for children in both Diaspora communities and in Armenia. “There is a real disconnect between the way we transmit Armenian culture and the reality of modern life for Armenian children,” says Sevana. 

She says she observed a creeping lack of enthusiasm for Armenian language and culture among children in the Diaspora due to a failure of the “guardians of culture” to keep these values relevant for modern life. Sevana maintains that folk music as a medium for cultural transmission conveys more than rustic melodies. Folk music keeps language, stories and traditions alive for the next generation to add to. Studies have also shown that musical training develops creativity, critical thinking, listening and math skills among children. 

Of course, children are naturally drawn to music, and yet there is still no Armenian version of “Baby Shark.” Parents in the Diaspora hoping to immerse their children in Armenian culture and language have few options to turn to since virtually no sustained efforts have been made to effectively modernize folk music education for children in over two decades. Ironically, children in Armenia face a similar problem, this time, brought on by chronic underfunding for music programs aggravated by a lack of access to teaching resources.

Initially resolving to organize traveling “teacher trainings” for music instructors across Armenia, Sevana quickly realized that her time and resources would be more efficiently used by authoring a clear and up-to-date guide to assist teachers to instill an appreciation for folk music in today’s Armenian children. Inspired by the early childhood music education programs of her native France such as Eveil Musical, she created Tsap Tsapik as an instruction manual for teachers.

The guide book, which has been beautifully designed and expertly illustrated to provide simple and easy to follow instructions, contains an entire academic year-length lesson plan for teachers as well as material on setting up workshops and even printouts. Enlisting the help of the Lisbon-based Gulbenkian Foundation and the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), Sevana has received validation for the book from the Armenian National Institute for Education and is now working to include it in the national curriculum. She hopes to place a copy of the book in the hands of every music teacher in Armenia. 

Since contemporary resources in folk music education are needed just as urgently in the Armenian schools of the Diaspora as in the elementary schools of Armenia, Tsap Tsapik is available in both an Eastern Armenian and Western Armenian edition. The same universalist approach to Armenian music can also be seen in the accompanying audio tracks.

United by a desire to innovate Armenian folk traditions, Sevana enlisted the help of big-name musicians like the Gata Band and Mikael Voskanyan to collect and record a repertoire consisting of 40 tracks. Traditional folk tunes were supplemented by original compositions written by Sevana herself, again, in both eastern and western Armenian. 

Another collaborator, Anahid Sarkissian, has written lyrics for Sevana’s music intentionally designed to transmit Armenian cultural references to listeners. The song “Gatsain Mech,” for instance, contains detailed instructions on the preparation and cooking of dolma, while the tune “Dadik Alyr Kmadce” is about the Armenian tradition of baking lavash bread.

The young artist has already turned some heads with her new initiative. She says she regularly receives invitations to showcase her educational method at schools across the Diaspora. The first 20 tracks of Tsap Tsapik Volume 1 are already available on most digital music streaming services, while the book version is expected to hit Amazon shelves in the near future. Still, Sevana insists that her work is part of a larger effort to provide the educational resources which will ensure that Armenian culture remains resilient and innovative both in Armenia and the Diaspora. 

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Raffi Elliott

Columnist & Armenia Correspondent

Raffi Elliott is a Canadian-Armenian political risk analyst and journalist based in Yerevan, Armenia. As correspondent and columnist for the Armenian Weekly, he covers socioeconomic, political, business and diplomatic issues in Armenia, with occasional thoughts on culture and urbanism.

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An historic weekend was celebrated by the National Association of Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), beginning on November 1, with the much-anticipated ribbon cutting ceremony at its new Belmont headquarters. Over 300 people attended the afternoon event on Concord Avenue, including Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian and MA State Representative David Muradian. The building, now the NAASR Vartan Gregorian Building, was designed by the SMMA Architecture, Engineering, Interior Design and Site Design Firm, led by President Ara Krafian. “The NAASR headquarters is a very special place,” said Krafian. “It’s informed by 3,000 years of history to inspire contemporary scholars. It’s a building that can call itself Armenian.”

NAASR Executive Director Sarah Ignatius stressed that everyone in the community is a part of the building and the focus of its design. “Look at these spaces and think of them as your own,” said Ignatius. “NAASR’s mission, as you know, is to advance Armenian studies and to build a worldwide community around Armenian culture, history and identity. You don’t have to be Armenian to do that. Think of this as your destination and a place where you can come at any time.”

Gracing the exterior of the building is a magnificent sculpture by famed artist Michael Aram. “I was very inspired by the idea of eternity and how it related to NAASR’s mission to safeguard and preserve our culture, perhaps, we can say, for time and all eternity.” Aram’s sculpture begins with the circle as a reflection of eternity and includes peacocks, feathers, vines and laurel leaves, all designed to symbolize eternal life. In the center is “a simple flower…the petals lilting slightly clockwise to the future, representing progression and growth.” Aram concluded, “In contemplating what eternity meant for me, my realization is that love is eternal, and if we can agree that God is love and that God is all things, then we can agree that the sum of all things is eternity.”

The excitement of the ribbon cutting ceremony continued at the elegant banquet the following day at the Royal Sonesta Boston. The ballroom was humming with the energy of a sold-out event, and the theme for the evening seemed to echo the previous day’s with numerous expressions of gratitude and cause for celebration.

“Constructing a building is a gift from the past and present to the future,” said emcee David Ignatius, associate editor and columnist for the Washington Post. Ignatius acknowledged several honored guests and dignitaries present, including H.E. Varuzhan Nersesyan, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the US, Mher Margaryan, Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Northeastern University president Joseph Aoun, Harvard University president Lawrence Bacow, San Jose State University president Mary A. Papazian, former Boston University president Dr. Aram Chobanian, former American University of Armenia president Bruce Boghosian and honoree Dr. Vartan Gregorian, former president of Brown University.

Ignatius called NAASR’s new headquarters “a place where we can bring our children, our grandchildren, and their children, if we live that long, to understand the culture and history of our Armenian heritage.”

This sentiment was echoed by the chairman of NAASR’s board, Yervant Chekijian, who proceeded to thank everyone in attendance for their generosity and support for the association’s 65th anniversary and inauguration of the new building. Chekijian acknowledged Edward and Pamela Avedisian as the principal donors of the building and “for naming the building, not after themselves, but after one of the most distinguished intellectuals in the world, Vartan Gregorian.” Through the support of many, NAASR raised $6.5 million, with the final cost of the building $7.2 million. Chekijian expressed his hope that by January 2020 there would be no mortgage on the building. The theme of gratitude continued with his presentation of the NAASR Leadership Award to past chairpersons Nancy Kolligian and Raffi Yeghiayan in appreciation for their outstanding commitment and decades of extraordinary dedication and service to NAASR’s mission. Chekijian stressed the new era for NAASR and the next generation while discussing the modern features of the new building. However, he said, “The building only has meaning because of the people who inhabit it. The building is not an end in itself. It is only a platform for all the people who will come together to continue NAASR’s mission. That is where the real future of NAASR is. It’s the people who will inhabit the space to study, collaborate, write and explore our precious heritage.”

NAASR’s mission includes supporting students in their educational and research pursuits. In that vein, the association held an essay contest on the transformative power of education. Students were asked to write about a teacher or a professor who left a positive influence on their lives. Contest winners Lillian Avedian, a senior at the University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley) and Gurgen Tadevosyan, a senior at New York University (NYU), traveled long distances to attend the banquet—Avedian from Santiago, Chile and Tadevosyan from Abu Dhabi. Each student eloquently delivered their essays for an appreciative audience.

“When I envision a powerful Armenian woman, I see a teacher,” said Avedian. After feeling stifled by her Armenian heritage as a young woman, Avedian had the good fortune to take a class with Dr. Myrna Douzjian at UC Berkeley in her sophomore year where she was introduced to modern Armenian feminist poet Violet Grigoryan. “For me, she placed Armenian literature in front of me as a mirror in which I could see myself reflected for the first time,” recalled Avedian. She began to write voraciously, for the first time feeling as if she could authentically express herself in Armenian. Expressing her admiration of Dr. Douzjian, Avedian said, “I have found my voice, and that voice is indisputably that of a proud, powerful Armenian woman. I owe this immense lifelong gift to Prof. Douzjian for standing in front of a classroom and asserting her own voice, for daring to suggest that Armenian women deserve to be heard, and that when provided the platform, they may transform literary landscapes.”

A student of political theory at NYU, Tadevosyan spoke about his experiences as an Armenian from Yerevan with Prof. Nancy Rosenblum. He expressed it as “manifestation of intimidating admiration.” Through the study of David Thoreau’s account on his refusal to pay taxes, Tadevosyan drew a parallel to the civil disobedience in Armenia and was inspired to study politics and become a teacher in his homeland. Rosenblum taught him to respect and fight for freedom, particularly in Armenia where he could have the most impact. Tadevosyan concluded, “She helped me realize that being an Armenian from Yerevan is what makes me special – I can use my identity to connect the western political thought to what Armenians do subconsciously. She changed my worldview and my future; the way I perceive myself as a thinker and how I want to change my community. I am still intimidated by her. But it is not because I am scared but rather because of how much I admire her.”

A highlight of the evening was a spectacular performance by world-renowned operatic sensation, Isabel Bayrakdarian, who was accompanied by the illustrious Borromeo String Quartet. Bayrakdarian sang several selections by Gomidas on the year marking the 150th anniversary of his birth. “I think the work Gomidas did was to preserve the Armenian soul,” said Bayrakdarian. “These songs are vessels of history, of culture and identity. He created a musical link to our past, which was meant to be completely annihilated.”

Capping off the memorable evening was Edward Avedisian’s introduction of the evening’s honored guest, Dr. Vartan Gregorian. Avedisian, a board director for the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), highlighted Gregorian’s storied background, including his refusal to accept the presidency at Columbia University while president of Brown University because “he had given his word that he wouldn’t leave until he raised their endowment to over one billion dollars.” Gregorian, president of the Carnegie Corporation, called Avedisian “a stubborn philanthropist” due to his insistence on having Gregorian as the namesake of NAASR’s new headquarters. Gregorian expressed his hopes for Armenia after a recent visit, during which he visited the Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian K-12 School and Community Center in Yerevan and was heartened because he “saw the Armenian youth, eager to learn, eager to become and eager to be.” Gregorian concluded his remarks with appreciation for NAASR’s continuing mission and celebrating the new headquarters by stating, “This institution itself is the manifestation of the unity of Armenian efforts.”

Author information

Pauline Getzoyan

Pauline Getzoyan is an active member of the Rhode Island Armenian community. Currently, she serves as the communications coordinator of Sts. Vartanantz Church, having been office manager for several years prior. A longtime member of the Providence ARF, she is also a 15-year member of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) and serves as chairperson of the Providence Ani” chapter, as well as a former member of the Central Executive Board. Pauline has been a long-time advocate for genocide education through her work with the ANC of RI, and she was a member of the coalition group responsible for passage of legislation in RI requiring the teaching of genocide in the state’s secondary schools. In this capacity, Pauline is co-chair of the RI branch of The Genocide Education Project, as well as a member of the RI Holocaust and Genocide Education Coalition. Serving as editor of The Armenian Weekly fulfills a lifelong goal of communicating issues of importance to the Armenian community. Pauline holds a BA in Communications from Rhode Island College and an MA in Education from Roger Williams University. She has been an adjunct instructor of developmental reading and writing in the English department at the Community College of Rhode Island since 2005.

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WATERTOWN, Mass.—Members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF/Dashnaktsutyun) and the Armenian community of New England paid tribute this week to the nationalist and democratic socialist political party, marking its robust and solemn 129-year history and sharing in the optimism and vision of its future.

“Throughout its history, Dashnaktsutyun has earned the love and gratitude of the Armenian people for the unconditional service it provided the nation even in the most difficult and sometimes insurmountable circumstances,” said ARF “Sardarabad” Gomidehoutiun member Mourad Manougian, “begging the question: what would have been the fate of the Armenian people if this giant was not born out of the bosom of the Armenian people?”

Organized by the ARF “Sardarabad” Gomideh of Boston and the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Greater Boston “Nejdeh” Chapter, the event welcomed members of the local New England clergy including Reverend Archpriest Antranig Baljian on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian and St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, Reverend Father Stephan Baljian of St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church of Merrimack Valley and Reverend Dr. Avedis Boynerian of Armenian Memorial Church; members of the Armenian Relief Society Central Executive Board; and members of the ARF Eastern US Central Committee; board members and representatives of the ARS, AYF, Hamazkayin and Homenetmen regional and local chapters. Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian and representatives from other Armenian educational and cultural organizations were also in attendance.

“For the past 129 years, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation has been the party for the worker and laborer, craftsman and merchant, the intellectual and soldier, the student and the teacher, the villager and the statesman,” said ARS Executive Director and organizing committee member Verginie Touloumian in her formal remarks. “Yes, the party was established when we did not even have an independent country. But throughout its entire span, the party has never stopped working for the welfare, strengthening, empowerment and prosperity of the Homeland.”

“We are responsible for continuing the fight of our forefathers and creating a brighter future for Armenia,” said AYF Greater Boston “Nejdeh” Chapter co-chair Ida Barsoumian. She was accompanied by fellow co-chair Saro Sakaian and dozens of other members from their chapter, which led the group of about 200 guests at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC) in anthems and revolutionary songs throughout the program. The AYF was also responsible for producing two short videos—one featuring junior AYF members and the other a historical account by Armenian National Committee of America-Eastern Region (ANCA-ER) chair Dr. Dikran Kaligian and former ARF director Tatul Sonentz Papazian of pivotal moments in recent ARF history—the 1975 Boston commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, the 1988 Spitak earthquake and the Arstakh War.

Sunday evening’s celebration occurred on the heels of a momentous accomplishment in Washington, DC where the US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly for House Resolution 296, reaffirming the US recognition of the Armenian Genocide and exemplifying the tireless efforts of the Armenian National Committees and their loyalty to the Armenian Cause. “This is, once more, a testimony to the resolve and dedication of an energized and engaged community that believes in and is committed to the fight for justice,” said keynote speaker and ARF Bureau chair Hagop Der Khatchadourian. “It is this same courage, engagement and commitment that have characterized the Dashnagtsagans, the army of volunteers that have sworn to dedicate themselves to the service of Armenia and the Armenian nation.”

A son of the Diaspora, Der Khatchadourian recalled growing up in Lebanon in the late 1960s and early 1970s, dreaming of a free, independent and united Armenia. “We adhered to the notion of one nation, regardless of where we lived, with one overwhelming struggle,” said Der Khatchadourian during his eloquent remarks delivered almost entirely in the English language.

That unyielding dream, as Der Khatchadourian explained, would be kept alive long-term despite the fight against corruption, assimilation, a seemingly indestructible Soviet Union, an invincible Turkish government, divisive politics and authoritarian administrations. “The ARF became a target as the most organized and disciplined force in the Homeland,” said Der Khatchadourian. “The ARF believed that statehood is a permanent value to be cherished and protected, while authorities are by nature temporary and replaceable.”

On the Artsakh front, Der Khatchadourian expressed optimism in his reference to the recently established international Friends for Artsakh network. As for negotiations with the OSCE Minsk Group, the situation has maintained a status quo. “We do not view this negatively because we’re aware that any immediate push to produce results will not end up with a deal favoring the Armenian side,” he explained. “We’re ready to help Armenia and Artsakh resist such pressure and never give up its victories gained through sweat and blood.”

Der Khatchadourian concluded his remarks with a hopeful focus on the Armenian Diaspora and a call to create a consensus on a national agenda and open a new era of cooperation with pan-Armenian organizations.

The event was streamed live on the Armenian Weekly Facebook page.

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Leeza Arakelian

Assistant Editor

Leeza Arakelian is the assistant editor for the Armenian Weekly. She is a formally trained broadcast news writer and a graduate of UCLA and Emerson College. Leeza has written and produced for local and network television news including Boston 25 and Al Jazeera America.

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Sitting beside the sociologist, Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian at the NAASR gala on Saturday evening was fortuitous. Throughout the evening’s agenda, I peppered him with a few questions asking him where he’s from, why he was there and what he would be doing during the rest of his trip. It’s not often you can sit beside a person who doubles as a consolidated historical Armenian reference and ask them questions to your heart’s content. I knew he had returned from a youth forum at Yale earlier that day and quickly learned that on Monday evening he would deliver a lecture in New Jersey on the topic of Armenians in Turkey – something I admittedly have never thought about.

As if to frame the discussion, I began asking him such questions as how many Armenians we had living in present day Turkey, what conditions were like and how many churches remained there. I was pleased with the delivery of his answers, but unfortunately it was not the appropriate place to go in more depth. Could I make it to New Jersey on Monday evening to further educate myself on this important topic? Yes!

I walked into New Milford, New Jersey’s Hovnanian Armenian Elementary School around 6:50PM, well ahead of the scheduled start of the lecture. Unbeknownst to me, I was greeted by the principal of the school, Shakeh Tashjian, as she directed me upstairs to where the lecture would take place. An intimate classroom with a small capacity would later be filled with coffee, cookies and an eager audience of two dozen Armenians. The event was sponsored by the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of New Jersey and Hovnanian School.

Dr. Tchilingirian began with a piece of video. “A picture is worth a thousand words,” he said, “unfortunately the reality today is that many Armenians are seen as the equivalent to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party or PKK.” The video portrayed an Armenian widow, crying over her husband’s casket during his burial ceremony. Another man is heard shouting anti-Armenian rhetoric, proclaiming that Armenians are part of the PKK. “These PKK are Armenian and are hiding the fact, but we know it. I am a Muslim Kurd, but I am not Armenian,” translated Dr. Tchilingirian.

It was clear to me that Armenians are being demonized and what little we have left of our identities was being further blurred and ground to dust. Dr. Tchilingirian argued that an isolationist mentality, whereby the remaining Armenians continue to live in their own enclaves as minorities is not sustainable any longer. The reality is that they have been discriminated against in this land for over 100 years, and they continue to be discriminated against. They are denied a voice, a position of office or other influential positions within society.

The sociologist presented the population figures since 1914, but what struck me as most interesting were the downward trends over the past 30 years of all minorities. Tchilingirian’s research based on census data demonstrated that Greeks, Armenians and Jews have decreased their populations since 1990. In other words, all minorities are being marginalized in Turkey, not just the Armenians. In 1990, there were 29,000 Jews. Now, there are 16,000. The Armenians were 67,000 strong at that time, and they stand at far less than 50,000 today. Some have been entangled in conflict and killed or those who were able to have fled their homeland.

It is difficult as a diasporan population to make an impact on Turkish policy, offered the Oxford professor. What we need to do is enable the Republic of Armenia to unite and continue the discussions with the Turkish government directly because they are an entity within themselves. He argued that while the diaspora is strong, it is not a recognized entity. I believe that this is a powerful message. It forces us to think of how, as diasporans we can get involved in Armenian government, how can we unite and become one with them so that we may further defend our people inside and beyond our homeland? This should be our objective to protect the humanity of our people and of others who are being oppressed persistently.

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Sebouh Arakelian

Sebouh Arakelian is an IT professional and a graduate of Northeastern University. He is the husband of the Weekly’s assistant editor Leeza Arakelian. They live in Sudbury, Massachusetts with their son.

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Dear Harry,

In the early twenties, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, a little Armenian boy was playing with his brother and sisters in the snow. That little boy was you, Harry.

Like so many Armenians, your parents, Charles and Mary Zadoorian, were forced to leave their beloved land to escape genocide. They settled in Canada and started a new life.

Guess you remember every single moment shared with your mom. How could you ever forget the sound of her voice, the touch of her hand and the goodness of her heart. At that time, you were too young to see the pain and sorrow hidden behind her smile. A few years before you were born, her first child was murdered in the Armenian Genocide, and a part of her heart died on that day.

Looking back on your childhood, there were unforgettable moments that became treasured memories, and there were also struggles. One of the most painful moments must have been when your father walked out the front door and abandoned the family. Just like that, your dad was out of your life. As a consequence, your big brother Bert dropped out of school after ninth grade and started working to help support the family.

A few years later, your family moved to Detroit, Michigan, and you married Lucy. She was the one, and you couldn’t wait to spend the rest of your life with her, but in a world of chaos and terror, you did what you had to do. Like many Armenians, you joined the U.S. Army to liberate Europe and defeat the Nazis. Just before going overseas, you said goodbye to your loved ones and told Bert to look after your mother.

As a proud member of the 853rd Bomber Squadron, 491st Bomber Group, you played your part and fought for our freedom…until March 24, 1945. On that fateful day, you were on a mission over Germany when anti-aircraft fire hit your B-24 bomber, taking out two of its engines. Only God knows what you thought about seconds before the aircraft crashed and exploded. You had so much to live for, so many dreams to fulfill, and so much love to give, but you sacrificed everything for us. 

You were then buried with full military honors at the Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupré, Belgium, and here we are, more than 74 years after your death, thinking about you and still missing you. In a world at war, you were one person, but for many persons, you were the world. Hope you know how grateful we are for what you did, and that we will never forget you. 

In the early nineties, at the Ardennes American Cemetery, snow was falling and a little boy was looking at all the white marble crosses. That little boy was me, Harry.

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John Dekhane

John Dekhane grew up in Paris before moving to the South of France. He works for a sport organization in Monaco. Since he was a child, he has always been interested in World War II with particular emphasis on American soldiers. In order to honor them, over the past years, he has located and purchased WWII U.S. artifacts in Europe and donated these items to more than a hundred museums in the United States.

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Whenever I am excited about our accomplishments in the western diaspora, I think about the irony of our success given how the diaspora was created. The infrastructure of our American diaspora began prior to the genocide but became a permanent reality as a result of that evil event. Armenians had migrated before 1915 primarily as a result of earlier oppression or for economic opportunities. My paternal grandfather came to these shores in 1913 as a young unmarried man sent here by his father to earn money and avoid the instability of pre-world war western Armenia. It was always his intent, like thousands of others, to return to the homeland. He never saw his parents again. Eventually, he joined the Armenian Legion, fought in the Levant and helped liberate our Cilicia. He found his siblings, met my future grandmother and returned to this country when we were abandoned by the French in 1920. These stories, repeated thousands of times, became the full establishment of the American diaspora. For the ultra-nationalist racist Turks, it was their belief that those who escaped would be unable to re-establish their sense of community or pass our faith and heritage to succeeding generations. Scattered to the wind, the remnants of a murdered nation would dissipate into humanity. The timeline of our history ending was their horrific objective. 

Well, we know how that worked out. They failed miserably. Our “greatest generation,” without wealth and education, gifted us a miracle. We not only survived, but began to thrive four generations later. Communities have been functioning for decades with a focus on education, culture, faith and philanthropy. Problems? Yes. Challenges? Of course. But we have carried the cause of justice, and since 1989, have turned our collective attention to Armenia and Artsakh while sustaining the infrastructure and challenges of our diaspora. We all appreciate our heritage in the privacy of our families, but it is only through participation in the greater communities of the diaspora that we gain a full appreciation for our journey.

I am particularly moved by the commitment and generosity of our nation. From the tireless workers laboring to hold church bazaars and cultural festivals to the nationally visible philanthropy of building both here and in Armenia, the volume and impact are impressive. Armenians in the diaspora have used their good fortune to become educated, professionally accomplished and wealthy. These are the same attributes that our ancestors possessed in the western homeland. They were denied the privileges of human dignity as a result of the barbarity of the genocide, but their values remained intact and were ingrained in succeeding generations. It is remarkable that our philanthropy to the diaspora has been maintained while the incremental investing in Armenia and Artsakh has been initiated. The good news is that there are any number of causes and organizations through which all Armenians can participate by investing in the diaspora and Armenia. The challenging news is that it can be overwhelming, and concerns grow over saturation. We all worry about how our parish, our foundation, our projects or our organizations can be supported. All Armenians should take pride in the significant expansion of our investment, while the breadth has increased. While millions are rightfully invested into the educational, medical and economic infrastructure of Armenia, we are building churches, educational centers and museums in the diaspora. Think about that. We tend to focus on the problems we have for obvious reasons. They can erode confidence and dilute our impact. No one wants to see our churches accomplish wonderful work when we have a cloud of corruption hovering over our leadership. It is important, however, to put these challenges in context.

The good things are more impactful than the challenges. I remember a number of conversations with friends in the pre-Pashinyan era. Several were concerned that the corruption was a reason not to invest in Armenia. My response was that while the corruption issue would eventually become manageable, there were countless “under the radar” projects that would be transparent and serve as worthy investments in Armenia. That analogy can be applied to our diaspora in general. Problems and challenges are never the reason to avoid investing. They are the reason to invest.

It is quite heartening to see our philanthropic capability expand as the opportunities have grown. It appears that saturation has not been an issue. Hard work? Yes, but the fruit is on the vine. Let me offer a current reality that exemplifies this point. This has been a particularly busy autumn for public events and fundraising in New England. Despite increased communication and cooperation, there are only so many “windows” to hold major events. The Armenian Heritage Park held a gala celebrating the immigrant experience and honoring Noubar Afeyan in mid-September. The target of the fundraising was to complete the perpetual fund for the maintenance of this treasure on the Greenway. The AMAA held its 100th anniversary gathering in Boston a few weeks ago, celebrating the philanthropy and faith of the Armenian Evangelical and Protestant community. Just this past weekend, NAASR opened its new center in Belmont with a spectacular two-day celebration. The new seven million dollar Vartan Gregorian Center will open a new era of Armenian studies, education and research. St. Stephen’s Armenian Day School will celebrate its 35th anniversary with a major event in the middle of November. The ANCA Eastern Region will hold its annual gala in New England this weekend featuring awards and celebrating successes. This is particularly timely given the recent House Resolution. Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) will hold its annual gala and fundraiser in NYC later in the year. These are not advertisements. They all have a common thread. All of these important gatherings either have been or will be sold-out events raising significant sums of money for Armenia, for education, for our political and human rights and for the sustainability of our faith. Each of these examples are in and of themselves a reason to celebrate.

Another reason to feel pride is to view them in aggregate. This is a major accomplishment given the density of worthy activity. They represent in total the fullness of our Armenian experience, education, culture, political rights and faith. There were many who supported multiple events. God bless them. We can’t all go to everything, but supporting can also mean placing a value on its importance. I am a lifelong adherent to the Apostolic faith, but I respect and appreciate the contributions of  the Armenian Protestant and Catholic community. They are fellow Christians and an important part of our greater family. Our present and future lie in pan-Armenian thinking. That does not mean that we are all the same or that we do not share different perspectives. Our diversity should enhance us not divide us. 

This past weekend I had the honor to hear Vartan Gregorian speak at the NAASR Gala and also share his thoughts in smaller groups. With the emergence of Armenia and Artsakh, it has served as a unifier for the diaspora. Our differences become subordinated to the needs of our homeland, and thus our true capabilities emerge.

Vartan went on to say that if our enemies did not differentiate us, how can we divide ourselves? Such wisdom. This applies beyond the genocide to today. So you think the Azerbaijani aggressors are finding Armenian Protestants when randomly attacking Tavush? Do they only look for Dashnags in Artsakh? Does the invisible arm of assimilation and loss of identity only apply to Apostolics? I think you get the point. We need to walk the talk. I do see enlightenment in our midst. The diaspora now has a new mission to revitalize its sense of purpose. We must invest in Armenia and Artsakh, and the diaspora must remain strong to be capable of investing. There you have it! A closed looped identity process. Stay strong so we can help others. 

We are fortunate as Armenians to live in an exciting time with a vibrancy in our community. All of us have moments of despair or disappointment in our Armenian identity. That is the time to take a more “macro” view to gain a fresher perspective. It is only then that you realize the incredible progress made in several areas of our communal life. The emergence of the Aurora Prize, for example, represents unprecedented enlightenment in our nation in several dimensions. The diaspora and Armenia are featured together in this initiative. The concept of Armenians recognizing and gifting others elevates our people as world citizens. It puts the genocide in a new context and brings support to Armenia with a new and complimentary approach. During this November season of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the dynamic reinvention taking place in our community. New ideas, fresh thinking and generational transitions are happening. Our people are responding with their hearts influencing their minds and frankly their wallets. We will not be known as a victim community that simply became successful individually. We will be recognized as a survivor people who took advantage of their misfortune and have applied those opportunities to thrive for the benefit of others. 

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Stepan Piligian

Columnist

Stepan was raised in the Armenian community of Indian Orchard, MA at the St. Gregory Parish. A former member of the AYF Central Executive and the Eastern Prelacy Executive Council, he also served many years as a delegate to the Eastern Diocesan Assembly. Currently , he serves as a member of the board and executive committee of the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). He also serves on the board of the Armenian Heritage Foundation. Stepan is a retired executive in the computer storage industry and resides in the Boston area with his wife Susan. He has spent many years as a volunteer teacher of Armenian history and contemporary issues to the young generation and adults at schools, camps and churches. His interests include the Armenian diaspora, Armenia, sports and reading.

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YEREVAN—In October, Armenia became the innovation hub of the world. More than 90 scientists and 1000 participants from 20 countries participated in the Global Innovation Forum (GIF). Dubbed “Transforming Intelligence,” the three-day event was organized by the Foundation of Armenian Science and Technology (FAST). It was held during the Aurora Forum, which is a new arena for global citizens who aspire to tackle the world’s pressing challenges by embracing the best humanitarian and educational practices to further social, cultural and scientific-technological developments.

“We used to look at the human being through the lenses of – ‘I am what I am,’” said FAST CEO Armen Orujian. “In the era of technology, we look at us through the lenses of, ‘I am what I want to be.’ It is not an out of body desire, rather it is fate that is controlled by the species itself. And, how now that physical and social construct changes when you apply Artificial Intelligence (AI). How do we improve our bodies with new discoveries in genomics, genetics, and biotechnology in general?”

GIF acts as a platform to bridge academia, industry, governments, policymakers, international organizations and financial institutions, assembling the brightest minds and executives from diverse worlds to shape the future of scientific and technological transformation.

The second Global Innovation Forum (GIF) on “Transforming Intelligence” was set to explore the impact of AI on science and society from scientific, technological and industrial perspectives. At GIF19, leading scientists and thought leaders engaged in academic discussions and visionary debates, sharing their expertise and research findings. The GIF19 was held in the atmosphere of futurism enlivened with an immersive experience.

“We believe strongly that the world is changing,” said co-founder and FAST board member Ruben Vardanyan. “And the world is changing the way in which we will see very important transformations. The human being is not not based on how much money he or she earns or what is their professional development. The meaning of life is now superseding this. The meaning of life will become clear or at least you can get some answers only if you live in an ecosystem which allows you to professionally and personally develop yourself. So, with my partners, we are trying to create an ecosystem in Armenia which could be attractive not only to Armenians in Armenia, but also Armenians who live abroad, non-Armenians who come to Armenia who feel that Armenia is a unique place where they can self-develop, and be happy.”

“We happen to be in Armenia, which is a special privilege because the promise of progress is very encouraging,” said co-founder and FAST board member Noubar Afeyan. “Only by bringing people from all over the world, so they can learn from our experience, and we can learn from their experience. We live in a world where we are meant to be reasonable, where are meant to be logical, where we are meant to be highly knowledgeable. And yet if you ask yourself the question of why there should be the extraordinary results coming from the reasonable people doing reasonable things that’s a difficult question to answer. Reasonable states are very gradual and implemental, and we think that change in the world happens through unexpected huge leaps. And the people who make these leaps, many in the room hopefully today are completely unreasonable.”

Speakers included founders of leading Silicon Valley startups and representatives from Google DeepMind, Google Brain, Facebook AI, Microsoft, Flagship Pioneering organizations and ABBYY company groups. There were also scientists and professors from Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Edinburgh.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan introduced his formal remarks with an important announcement, inviting the Minister of Environment of the Republic of Armenia Eric Grigoryan and the founding director of FAST Armen Orujyan to the stage. “Our government has developed a very ambitious plan that should reach its peak on October 10, 2020. On this day, we plan to plant 10 million trees in the Republic of Armenia on the 10th day of the 10th month, which will symbolize the unity of 10 million Armenians around Armenian statehood, the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Armenia.”

This article is a press release submitted to the Armenian Weekly. If your organization has news it would like to submit to the paper for consideration, please email us at editor@armenianweekly.com. 

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Guest Contributor

Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles written and submitted by members of the community, which make up our community bulletin board.

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