WATERTOWN, Mass.—Preschool registration is now open for the 2016-2017 academic year at the St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School. The Preschool will hold an Open House at 9 a.m. on March 15 for parents to learn more about the school and its program.

Preschool registration is now open for the 2016-2017 academic year at the St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School

The Preschool is a child-centered, loving, caring, and nurturing environment where the safety and security of the children are a top priority. The Preschool building has spacious, bright and inviting classrooms and a large outdoor innovative playground.

St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School is accredited by the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE), and the Preschool is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).  The school has experienced and certified faculty, a low student:teacher ratio, and an extended-day program is available.

The Preschool is located at 46 Elton Avenue in Watertown, Mass. To register for the Open House or for more information please call the Preschool office at (617) 923-0501, email morchanian@ssaes.org or visit the school’s website at www.ssaes.org.

PARIS, France (A.W.)— The Armenian community of France will be protesting Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s Paris visit on March 14, according to Co-chairman of the Coordination Council of Armenian Organization in France and Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau member Franck Papazian.

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev at a Security Council meeting on April 2, 2016 (Photo: president.az)

“Aliyev will be meeting with the President of France… We are protesting to condemn his visit to France, the Aliyev regime, and the militarization of Azerbaijan, while showing our support to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh) and the self determination of the people of Artsakh,” Papazian told Yerevan-based Armenpress news.

According to Papazian, a large crowd is expected to protest the visit. “We must do what we can in order for the media to cover our issue,” added Papazian. “The demonstration will take place at a location where there’s a large number of people, including tourists.”

Aliyev will arrive to France on March 14 as a part of an official two-day visit.

YEREVAN—A visit to Armenia Tree Project’s (ATP) nursery in Karin Village is still one of Armenia’s best-kept tourist secrets. The organization has opened up its operations to the public in recent years, hosting monthly “Get Rooted” tours of the nursery.

ATP’s chief propagator Tigran Palazyan shows guests around the Karin Nursery in a tour that is always animated and informative. (Photo: ATP)

Local residents, diasporans, and tourists from all over the world have visited the site where ATP is propagating tens of thousands of fruit and decorative trees for its planting activities. The goal of the tours is to introduce the public to ATP and raise awareness about environmental challenges and solutions.

“We are making a difference.  This year, our goal is to put another quarter-of-a-million trees in the ground,” explains ATP Executive Director Jeanmarie Papelian. “We invite you to join us on a tour in Karin, whether you are a concerned citizen, a local environmentalist or an Armenian reconnecting with your ancestral homeland. With your support, we will continue towards our goal of a sustainable and green Armenia. Please contact us for a visit.”

The first Get Rooted tour of the year is scheduled for April 29, with trips to follow on May 30, June 5, and July 5. The public is invited and the suggested donation is $20. The entire trip is approximately three hours including travel time, and it includes a light lunch provided by ATP.

Many of the guests sign our visitor’s book during the tour, from ambassadors to schoolchildren. “Thank you very much for doing what you do for our planet. Without people like you the world would shed a tear. Keep greening up our planet,” wrote Grammy-award winning artist Joss Stone after a visit the day after performing at an international jazz festival in Yerevan.

Visitors stroll in the nursery, discovering more than 50 different species of trees and shrubs and various plants being grown in the fields and in the James and Evelyn (Talanian) Mukjian Greenhouse. ATP’s friendly experts provide insight and share interesting facts and stories about some of the species.

Guests stop by the Michael and Virginia Ohanian Environmental Education Center, where thousands of schoolchildren come to learn about the environment. The afternoon ends with a light lunch and the “green tourists” leave inspired and energized.

ATP’s nurseries in Karin and three other villages provide employment for 42 people, most of whom were Armenian refugees relocated during the war with Azerbaijan.

Fall dates are also scheduled for the tours, and anyone interested is encouraged to contact ATP in Boston or in Yerevan. Details and RSVP information are posted on ATP’s Facebook page.

Armenia Tree Project has planted 5,216,500 trees since its inception in 1994. ATP is the only major tree planting program in the country and in its 22 years has successfully established four nurseries, two environmental education centers and has greened community areas in every province of Armenia and Artsakh. In the process, the organization has provided employment for hundreds of people and provided vital resources to thousands of village residents. For more information, visit www.ArmeniaTree.org.

George Washington University Law School and the Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights (ALC) Cosponsor talk by Dr. Ümit Kurt

WASHINGTON—Dr. Ümit Kurt, a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Harvard University’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies, outlined the complex laws promulgated by Turkey to systematically dispossess Armenians of their properties during and after the Armenian Genocide, in a Feb. 28 talk at George Washington University Law School.

Dr. Ümit Kurt speaks at George Washington University Law School.

“We were honored to partner with George Washington University Law School and Dean Susan Karamanian on the lecture by Dr. Ümit Kurt, which has revealed many important questions about Armenian property claims that the Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights will continue to systematically pursue,” Kate Nahapetian, Executive Director of the Armenian Legal Center noted.

“One of the many unsettled consequences of the Armenian Genocide is the status of the property once held by the Armenians.  Dr. Kurt provided critical insight into the laws and practices of the Ottoman Empire as they related to the property of Armenians and their continuation under the Republic of Turkey.  His work relied on important original sources and shed new light, in particular, on the liquidation of Armenian assets,” explained Susan Karamanian, Associate Dean for International and Comparative Legal Studies at George Washington University Law School, who hosted the talk.

In his talk, Kurt noted that the state-orchestrated plunder and impoverishment of victims was an integral aspect of the Armenian Genocide.  “Despite widespread incidents of private plunder and corruption, there is no doubt that the seizure of Armenian property was primarily state-orchestrated genocide. . . . By losing all their … assets… [Armenians] were turned from existence to non-existence,” Kurt explained.  The impoverishment of the victim ensured that they would not be able to return to their native lands and helped fund the genocide machine.

(L to R) Associate Dean Susan Karamanian, Dr. Ümit Kurt, and Kate Nahapetian

The dispossession did not stop after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, but continued into the new Turkish Republic.  Kurt explained that both the Ottoman Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) and Turkish Republic’s Kemalist leaders concocted ways to make the illegal process of property confiscation look legal through complex laws, regulations and decrees.

For instance, the first act of the new Turkish Republic’s Kemalist government was to annul provisions meant to return properties to Armenians.  The Kemalist government brought back the liquidation laws of the Ottoman perpetrators and even expanded them.

After the Lausanne Treaty was signed, which required the return of confiscated properties, Turkey created a virtual wall that prohibited Armenians’ return and ability to reclaim their assets, Dr. Kurt observed.

Convoluted laws and regulations were used, once again, to consolidate the fruits of the genocidal crime.  Kurt focused on the US-Turkey Compensation Agreement of 1934 as an example of this.  After the genocide, Armenians, who had not received Ottoman permission to become naturalized American citizens, were, for practical purposes, stripped of Turkish citizenship rights and prohibited from returning.  However, when the United States tried to resolve their property claims through the US-Turkey Compensation Agreement of 1934, Turkey insisted that Armenian American claims be excluded, refusing to recognize their US citizenship.  As a result, Americans of Armenian heritage were denied justice in both their adopted and native countries.

Kurt also touched on the issue of archival records, noting that the abandoned properties and liquidation commissions set up to dispose of Armenian properties kept meticulous records, but these records are still inaccessible.  Dr. Kurt tried unsuccessfully for more than a year to gain access.  He was able to publish one record from the commissions, which was maintained by an Armenian family, that detailed the properties down to the spoons and knives that were taken and to whom they were sold.

As for the Land Registry records, which are well-organized and can provide a detailed history to Armenian heirs of their families’ properties, Dr. Kurt explained that plans in 2005 to make them publicly accessible were quickly prohibited by Turkey’s National Security Committee.

Ümit Kurt received his Ph.D. from Clark University, History Department, in 2016. He got his MA and BA degrees in Turkey at Sabancı University and Middle East Technical University respectively. He taught in the Faculty of Arts and Science in Sabancı University and has been a visiting professor in the Armenian Studies Program at California State University. He has published numerous articles on confiscation of Armenian properties during the genocide. More details about Ottoman and Turkish laws surrounding the plunder of Armenian assets can be found in his latest book with Taner Akcam, The Spirit of the Laws: The Plunder of Wealth in the Armenian Genocide (New York and Oxford: Berghahn Books, 2015).

The Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights (ALC) fights to redress human rights violations emanating from the Armenian Genocide that continue to this day and undermine stability in a region that has for far too long been marred by policies founded on genocide, not human rights and justice.  ALC promotes scholarship on the legal avenues for addressing the challenges emanating from the Armenian Genocide, in addition to pursuing cases in national and international courts, while promoting the protection of Armenian cultural heritage through the return of stolen properties and artifacts.

Video of the lecture will soon be posted on the ALC’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/armenianlegalcenter/

FAR Launches New Project to Support Syrian-Armenian Entrepreneurs

YEREVAN—Sevag Aroyan and Maria Maronian’s inspiring success is due to a lot of hard work. It was only a year ago when on March 7, 2016, they held their very first class at ETC-English and Exam Training Center that they had just opened in the heart of Yerevan. They started their business with a loan and by using the good reputation they had acquired during their short stay in Armenia.

The Maronians

Just three years earlier, in March 2013, they had risked everything to leave the war in Aleppo.

“We came with nothing, traveling alongside many other people in different minibuses. The possibility that we would reach our destination was 50/50. Our one-year-old son was with us,” Maria recalled.

A few days after they arrived they both found jobs as English teachers. They started working at one of Yerevan’s foreign language training centers. “We started at the lowest pay scale. So, I had to find another job,” Sevag said.

He started alternating his work days between the language center and a second job as a waiter. Although his salary at the café was above average, the 19-hour work days he endured took a real toll on his health.

After two years, Sevag became a lead teacher. Yet while their salaries rose, the money was only just enough to pay the babysitter and to cover rent and other expenses.

Sevag began considering starting his own business in the field when he heard about an organization aiding Syrian Armenians wanting to start their own businesses. He took some classes at the Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development National Center with the hope of also receiving one of the center’s low-interest loans.

When it turned out that the promised funding was postponed for a year, the couple had already quit their jobs and rented space for the new business. Sevag applied for a loan at a local bank and the couple started their business with that money. One year later, they are happy they took the risk.

“We don’t have time for a social life; we usually work from early morning to late in the evening. Our businesses requires it. Since we offer the most competitive pricing in the field, the Center has been successful. We even managed to increase the number of our classrooms from 2 to 11,” Sevag said.

Currently, they have 11 teachers, 2 administrators, and about 150 students. ETC-English and Exam Training Center provides a broad range of services, including general English, TOEFL and IELTS certification, Business English, and English for young learners.

In January, Sevag and Maria were awarded a FAR (Fund for Armenian Relief) business grant and a zero-interest loan to further develop their center. They were among nine other Syrian-Armenian business owners selected as the first recipients of FAR’s latest Small Business Assistance Pro-gram (SBA) that specifically helps Syrian-Armenian entrepreneurs to economically integrate in Armenia. SBA enables them to either further develop or start their own businesses in Armenia.

Selected businesses focus on the areas of jewelry, metal work, food production, antique furniture repair, and language teaching, among others. The new project, which is supported by Armenian-American philanthropist Howard Atesian, kicked off in early 2017.

With their award, Sevag and Maria stocked the ETC-English and Ex-am Training Center with some resources for advanced materials and extra furniture to make the classes more comfortable.

Since their business has expanded, the couple now feels more and more comfortable in Armenia and they continue to make bigger plans.

“We aren’t looking for options outside of Armenia. Honestly, we never really knew what this place would be like, but when we moved here I really fell in love with it. The feeling of safety and of belonging here is really something,” Sevag said.

His wife feels the same. “I love the city very much. My son speaks Eastern Armenian and even some Russian words that we don’t understand. Our babysitter is local. We are here to stay,” said Maria.

On March 6, Little Free Libraries in Armenia, an initiative started in 2015 by Laurie Alvandian and Nina Romá Agvanian, launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund the building, painting, and installation of at least 40 Little Free Libraries throughout Yerevan, the Armenian Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh), and each of Armenia’s 10 provinces.

Little Free Libraries are free, public book exchanges, usually located outside in accessible public spaces. While they come in all different shapes, sizes, and designs, they usually resemble small wooden boxes or “houses.” The concept was started in 2009 in the United States, and has since spread around the world. There are now over 50,000 Little Free Libraries in over 70 countries. The motto of Little Free Library is “take a book, return a book.” Anyone in the community is welcome to take a book from the library or bring a book to place in the library for someone else to read.

On March 6, Little Free Libraries in Armenia, launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund the building, painting, and installation of at least 40 Little Free Libraries throughout Yerevan, the Armenian Republic of Artsakh, and each of Armenia’s 10 provinces.

In 2015, Laurie and Nina received a Next Step Alumni Fund grant from Birthright Armenia to build 15 Little Free Libraries in Armenia. In July 2016, with the help of Four Peaks Landscape + Architecture, the first official Little Free Library in Armenia was installed on Arami Street in Yerevan. Since then, Laurie and Nina have installed two more libraries in Yerevan, have attracted over 1,600 Facebook followers, and have at least seven exciting library locations scheduled for installation in spring/summer 2017, including Dilijan (Cafe #2), Kapan (ARK Armenia), and more.

Laurie, a librarian from the United States, and Nina, a social worker and artist from the United States and Spain, both came to Armenia in 2014 to participate in Birthright Armenia, an organization that brings young diasporan Armenians to Armenia to work as volunteers. They had never met before, but quickly bonded over their mutual love of books and sharing stories. After several months of living in Armenia, they agreed that they felt a deep connection to the country and that they wanted to move there permanently and create something meaningful together.

Laurie and Nina had both come across Little Free Libraries in their home communities, and agreed that the project could be a very accessible, high-impact initiative that would yield a lot of positive results in their new home. In the context of the rapid change that they noticed taking place in Armenia, they also noticed a lack of access to books and information for themselves, their peers and their communities, despite a growing reading culture. Thinking about ways to be a part of the change in a country they had come to care deeply about, they conceptualized Little Free Libraries as a way to contribute to community development through information and book sharing. Additionally, amidst hopelessness and stories of corruption that they heard from local friends and family, they wanted to find a way to reignite hope ad empower people.

After checking the official map of registered Little Free Libraries around the world, they saw that no Little Free Libraries appeared in Armenia. It was then that they decided to put Armenia on the map.

The main goals of the project are: to provide free and easy public access to information, promote reading culture, preserve and celebrate the Armenian language, attract book-loving tourists, and encourage community development, all while engaging local and diasporan artists to contribute beauty to Armenia’s public spaces.

The overwhelmingly positive response that Laurie and Nina received from the community after the first official Little Free Library was launched in Armenia has encouraged them to now set their sights even higher. Their $15,000 crowdfunding goal aims to ensure that Little Free Libraries will live a long and healthy life in Armenia, and covers the costs of building, painting, and installing 40+ Little Free Libraries, storing them until installation, transporting libraries to regions around the country, purchasing additional books for the libraries, creating a website, shipping books from donors overseas, and more.

Any funds raised beyond the initial goal will be put towards the newly established Open Book Initiative, an NGO started by Laurie and Nina in 2017 that is dedicated to the promotion of literacy and access to information in Armenia through implementation of initiatives and educational programming related to access to books, libraries and library resources, reading, languages, and the literary arts.

Visit https://www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/little-free-libraries-in-armenia-and-artsakh

LISBON, Portugal—The Armenian Communities Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is launching the educational project “Zarmanazan” as part of its Western Armenian revitalization program. The initiative will incorporate two components that will mutually nourish each other:

The Armenian Communities Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is launching the educational project ‘Zarmanazan’ as part of its Western Armenian revitalization program.

• A summer camp for children between the ages of 10 to 15, in a creative and playful world, aimed at encouraging the practice of Western Armenian.
• A training internship designed for Western Armenian teachers or teachers-in-training in the Armenian Diaspora, leading to university certification by the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales, Paris (INALCO).

For 25 days, children and teenagers will reside together with a team of 15 experienced facilitators in an inspiring environment. While totally immersed in Western Armenian, they will create, discover, learn, and have fun through engaging workshops in music, arts, theater, dance, as well as various sports and games. Through these activities, language will become a natural means of communication and creation.

The Zarmanazan camp, organized in partnership with the Mille et un Mondes organization in Lyon, will offer a space for meeting and interaction between all participants who will have the opportunity to learn from one another and develop friendships, living an enriching and unique experience.

The camp is open to all children and teenagers living in the Armenian Diaspora. The number of places is limited to 40. There is no requirement for a minimum level of proficiency in Armenian.

The teacher development component of the camp will host 15 teachers (or teachers-in-training). They will follow an intensive program combining expert direction with practical training, interactive lectures, and the latest pedagogic approaches and materials.

The location of the camp is in La Bourboule, France.

Deadline for applications: Saturday, March 25, 2017, 11pm Greenwich Mean Time.

For more information please visit zarmanazan.com.

TORONTO, Canada—Former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans and Gomidas Institute director Ara Sarafian, will be in Toronto on March 12 for the book launch of Evans’ book Truth Held Hostage.

The event will take place on March 12.

The event will consist a reading of excerpts, Evans’ reflections as a former U.S. diplomat to Armenia and his motivation for writing the book, followed by a moderation discussion with Evans and Sarafian.​

Truth Held Hostage chronicles Evans’ diplomatic career, his growing experience with Armenians and the Armenian Genocide recognition issue, his eventual decision to publicly use the term “genocide” that led to his dismissal, and how he believes the U.S., Turkey, Armenia, and the international community need to move forward. The book was published by the Gomidas Institute in 2016.

A veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service, Ambassador John Evans gained notoriety in 2005 by publicly dissenting from the stated policy of the Bush and previous administrations on the 90-year-old issue of the Armenian Genocide and using the term “genocide.” He was dismissed from his post as a result and forced into early retirement, although not without a fight over the issue in the U.S. Congress.

The event is organized by the Armenian National Committee of Toronto (ANCT) and the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society “Klatsor” chapter.

Born in Virginia, Evans studied Russian history at Yale University and later pursued his doctoral studies at Columbia University before serving for the US foreign service in various capacities in Iran, Czechoslovakia, the former Soviet Union, and with NATO from 1972 to 1989. He then served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Prague (1991-94), and as Consul General in St. Petersburg (1994-97). He was then chosen to lead the OSCE Mission to Moldova, an international mediation and peace-keeping mission, during the Danish, Polish and Norwegian OSCE chairmanships (1997-99). On June 25, 2004, he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and was sworn-in as the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia on Aug. 11, 2004. He served within that capacity until he was dismissed in 2006, due to his explicit support for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Sarafian is the founding director of the Gomidas Institute in London, which sponsors and carries out research and publishes books on modern Armenian and regional studies. Among the institute’s book publications are English translations of Armenian texts related to the Armenian Genocide. Additionally, Sarafian has published Talaat Pasha’s report on the Armenian Genocide and he has edited a critical edition of The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, 1915-1916, commonly known as the Blue Book (originally published in 1916 by British historians Lord James Bryce and Arnold Toynbee), as well as a Turkish edition of the book. He has also collaborated with the Hrant Dink Foundation.

PARAMUS, N.J.—The Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society New Jersey chapter recently announced that it will host a six-week course entitled “Love in the time of Genocide: Letters, poems, and memoirs from the Great Crime, 1915-1923,” taught by Dr. Khatchig Mouradian.

‘Love in the time of Genocide: Letters, poems, and memoirs from the Great Crime, 1915-1923’

In the course, Mouradian explores the theme of romantic love during the Armenian Genocide through the writing of a number of survivors of the crime. The literature under study includes letters, poetry, diaries, and memoirs exploring the role romantic love played in the lives of deportees during and in the immediate aftermath of the Great Crime.

Mouradian argues that Armenian deportees often found in romantic love a sense of normalcy in a world gone mad, and a form of resistance against the Ottoman Turkish effort to break apart, destroy, and annihilate.

The instructor will provide English translations for readings that are in Armenian or Armeno-Turkish.

Mouradian is the former editor of the Armenian Weekly and a visiting professor at the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies (MESAAS) at Columbia University. He has taught courses on imperialism, mass violence, human rights, concentration camps, urban space and conflict in the Middle East, and collective memory at Rutgers University, Worcester State University, and California State University-Fresno. He is the author of several articles and book chapters.

The course will be taking place every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. from March 28 to May 9  (no class on April 18), at St. Matthews Church (167 Spring Valley Road, Paramus, N.J.)

The course fee is $100. To register, contact Ani at 201-233-0208.

VIENNA, Austria—The Yerevan Physics Institute (YerPhI) Director Ashot Chilingarian on January 13 met in Vienna with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) leaders Wei Huang, the IAEA’s Director of the Planning, Information and Knowledge Management Department of Nuclear Energy, and Michail Chudakov, Deputy Director General, Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy to discuss the organization’s interest in helping YerPhI establish a modern scientific library.

The Head of the IT department of YerPhI Zaven Akopov and YerPhI director Ashot Chilingarian visiting the IAEA headquarters in Vienna.

The IAEA gathers nuclear data, information and knowledge resources on the peaceful use of nuclear energy and makes it available to its Member States, contributing to advancing research and development and helping countries achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

“The project has not only allowed YerPhI to acquire and reuse the scientific information, but has also introduced modern technologies to support the operation of Armenia’s research facilities,” said Zaven Akopov, INIS coordinator at the IAEA.

Installation on the servers of  the YerPhI IT department of the digital repository “Invenio” will not only provide access to YerPhI preprints and other scientific information, but also the possibility to develop special data bases with scientific data collected during experiments in high-energy physics worldwide with participation of YerPhI physicists and unique data collected at Aragats stations.

 The people of Artsakh Face a Constant Threat, But That Threat Isn’t Limited to the Line of Contact with Azerbaijan

The Problem

Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh) is riddled with landmines, remnants of the bloody conflict with Azerbaijan beginning in 1988. These mines lay hidden and forgotten. Residents (men, women and children alike) are constantly in danger of accidentally stepping on one. Since 1995 there have been 370 civilian casualties, as a result of landmines and unexploded ordnance, a third of which involved children. This is, per capita, one of the highest rates in the world.

Artsakh is riddled with landmines, remnants of the bloody conflict with Azerbaijan beginning in 1988. (Photo: HALO Trust)

ONEArmenia, in partnership with The HALO Trust (HALO), has launched a crowdfunding campaign, Mine Free Lachin, to clear one minefield (31,839m² of land) in the Lachin Corridor, near the village of Meghvadzor. A total of 31 minefields remain in Lachin. Once this land is cleared, the people living there can go about their lives, cultivating the fields, grazing their cattle, and further developing their communities safely and without fear of life threatening accidents. Freeing the land of mines is an integral step towards development of the region.

The HALO Trust has cleared 88% of the known minefields in Artsakh and is hopeful that by the year 2020 Artsakh will be 100% mine free. When it is, Artsakh will serve as a shining example of how very possible it is to revitalize a land that has been ravaged by war.

“We are working to permanently remove a finite, solvable problem. Once the mines are found and destroyed they don’t come back, allowing people to get on with their lives without fear of permanent physical, mental and emotional trauma.” said Ash Boddy, HALO Program Manager in Artsakh.

The HALO Trust

HALO has been working to clear Artsakh of landmines since 2000 and is the only organization doing so. To date they have cleared 453 minefields totaling 45,872,000m of land and impacting the lives of approximately 125,000 people. They have engaged the local population, empowering them to take matters into their own hands when it comes to creating a safe environment for their children to grow up in. One hundred and sixty six local men and women are employed by HALO and trained to find and destroy mines. In doing so they are able to support their families and secure the future of their respective communities.

he HALO Trust has cleared 88% of the known minefields in Artsakh and is hopeful that by the year 2020 Artsakh will be 100% mine free. (Photo: The HALO Trust)

For the majority of the minefields they have cleared, HALO has received funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). However the village of Meghvadzor, and the entire Lachin corridor, do not fall into the boundaries of what was considered Artsakh during the Soviet Union. For this reason governmental organizations will not assist in the clearance of the land. This means that HALO is reliant on donations from individuals who are willing to invest in the development of Artsakh. One such donor, who prefers to remain anonymous, is willing to match every donation made.

“With the assistance of our generous anonymous donor, there is an opportunity now for ordinary people who want to make a difference to be part of the solution, to see their donation and their impact doubled, and to create safe steps for the future generations of Nagorno-Karabagh.” said Mr. Boddy.

Remove Landmines from Lachin

During what has come to be known as the “Four Day War” in April of 2016, Armenians from around the world showed their support of Artsakh by donating to a variety of crowdfunding campaigns. Over $200,000 was raised to support soldiers and their families, purchase medical supplies and to bring in international journalists to encourage objective coverage of the events in the media. It quickly became evident how much the global community wanted to do everything in their power to help. Their donations, emotional support and words of encouragement spoke volumes.

Though the conflict between Artsakh and Azerbaijan has not escalated to the severity it did in April, there is still a very real need to be addressed. It has been almost a year, and there is a long way to go towards the development of Artsakh. Clearing the land of mines is imperative to building a safe and productive environment for the people living there.

“Our mission is to build paths towards economic sustainability throughout Armenia and Artsakh.  From Yerevan to Lachin, the time to invest in the future is NOW.” said Patrick M. Sarkissian Founder of ONEArmenia.

Donate to Remove Landmines from Artsakh today and help invest in the future.

Program Director Tereza Yerimyan Shares Insights and Experiences at ARS Youth Connect

WASHINGTON—University students interested in an intensive Armenian American advocacy training program in the nation’s capital have less than a month to apply for the Armenian National Committee of America’s (ANCA) Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship (LSI), with the 2017 application deadline now extended to April 1.

The ANCA’s Tereza Yerimyan sharing information about the ANCA Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship Program and the ANCA Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program at the ARS Youth Connect program, held at Columbia University. (Photo : Zenop Pomakian, Zenproimage Photography)

The 2017 ANCA LSI session will run from June 19 to Aug. 11.  Additional information and the online application form are available at: anca.org/internship

“As a 2012 alumnus of the ANCA Leo Sarkisian Internship Program, I can personally attest to the great educational and professional benefits of this Hai Tahd (Armenian Cause) training program for college students,” said ANCA Eastern Region Board Member Armen Sahakyan. “Throughout its 30-year existence, the LSI program has trained the future leaders of the Armenian American community, who’ve gone on to pursue their careers in a multitude of areas, ranging from the government to private sector.”

ANCA Western Region Executive Director Elen Asatryan concurred, noting, “The ANCA-WR is proud to contribute to the success of our youth by equipping them with the necessary skills, knowledge and contacts they need to begin their career paths.  Each of our youth and leadership development programs – from the ANCA WR Internship in Glendale, Karabian Fellowship in Sacramento, the ANCA Leo Sarkisian Internship and the Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program in Washington D.C. are designed to mentor and cultivate young leaders, and prepare them for future service opportunities in the public affairs arena.”

ANCA Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program Director Tereza Yerimyan, a 2011 alumna of the LSI Program, herself, will be administering the LSI 2017 session.  Yerimyan reminisced about her experiences and discussed the program’s broader benefits with students at the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Youth Connect Program, held at Columbia University this past weekend.  She will be reaching out to youth groups and campus Armenian students associations in the upcoming months to share more information about this program as well as the ANCA’s broad suite of public policy career opportunities.

Join the ANCA for a Summer of Armenian American advocacy in Washington, D.C.

“Special thanks to the ARS Eastern Region Board for the opportunity to engage with the dynamic student audience at the ARS Youth Connect program this weekend,” said Yerimyan.  “We share the ARS’s commitment to empowering our youth to engage more broadly in civic life in order to advance our community’s core priorities. I encourage all interested in working on national issues related to the Armenian Cause to apply to this unique internship, where the camaraderie among interns, staff and the community are part and parcel of the entire experience.”

Established in 1986, and named after the ANCA Eastern U.S. leader Leo Sarkisian, who spearheaded grassroots advocacy for more than four decades, the LSI program is a cornerstone of the ANCA’s nationwide efforts to educate, motivate, and activate Armenian American youth to expand advocacy efforts in their hometowns and campuses. The participants work on a wide variety of projects based on their individual interests, while gaining hands-on experiences within the American political system. A bi-weekly lecture series features guest lecturers, including Members of Congress, Ambassadors, and Armenian-American leaders.  During the eight-week Washington, DC program, interns live at The Aramian House, located a short distance from the ANCA National Headquarters.

Applications are reviewed and approved by the ANCA Eastern Region and ANCA Western Region Boards, following careful consideration of individual academic records and demonstrated community or campus leadership on Armenian American concerns.

LITTLE ARMENIA, Calif. (Asbarez)—On the occasion of International Women’s Day, community members gathered to celebrate the diversity and strength of Armenian women–past and present–during a March 5 event “Armenian Women: Resisting, Rising, and Reframing,” organized by the Armenian Youth Federation’s (AYF) United Human Rights Council (UHRC) and the Hollywood “Musa Ler” chapter.

Held at Hollywood Armenian Center, the event displayed biographies of Armenian women past and present, spotlighting their contributions to Armenian women’s history.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, community members gathered to celebrate the diversity and strength of Armenian women–past and present–during a March 5 event “Armenian Women: Resisting, Rising, and Reframing.”

The event was commenced by the UHRC Chairperson Christina Mehranbod, who conveyed the objective of the event as a celebration of the legacies of Armenian women in history and its reflection on Armenian women today.

“My friends used to say I was lucky,” Mehranbod shared. “I was lucky to have parents that did not talk about getting married, or ever used to the word amot (shame) to describe disappointment in their daughters.”

“But the reason we host events like this is so that one day our generation and the next generation will not be considered lucky to have parents that embrace gender equality. It would be considered the norm, she continued. “It would be the norm to be different, to be powerful, and to break all boundaries that hold us from reaching our maximum potential.”

Christina Mehranbod delivering opening remarks

After the opening remarks, Nare Kupelian, PhD candidate at UCLA and member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Shant Student Association, gave a history of International Women’s Day and its evolution.

“At its inauguration, International Women’s Day was designed to honor and celebrate female economic, political, scientific, and cultural achievements,” Kupelian said. “It was designed to merge women’s rights with worker’s rights, urging equal rights for women in the workplace, access to higher pay, and normalized working hours.”

Nare Kupelian presenting on the history and evolution of International Women’s Day

She explained that the day’s socialist and political roots were mutated beyond its original designation. Today, in most countries, International Women’s Day has lost its political flavor and has become a hybrid of Valentine’s Day/Mother’s Day, which the event strived to change.

The earliest observance of International Women’s Day was in 1909 in New York, as a commemoration of the strike of the International Ladies Garment Union in 1908. Yet, the designation of March 8th as International Women’s Day took root during the February Revolution in St. Petersburg, Russia. On March 8, 1917, demonstrations on Women’s Day led to the initiation of the Russian Revolution when four days of demonstrations ensued and the Russian Army sided with the revolutionaries and led to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. In Armenia, March 8th is celebrated along with April 7th, as the Day of Beauty and Motherhood. The days in between March 8th and April 7th are designated as Women’s Month in Armenia.

Kupelian’s presentation was followed by eighteen Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School students reading notable Armenian women’s’ thoughts, reflections, and ideas in their contribution to shaping education.

Eighteen Rose and Alex Pilibos students presented on women who were active participants in shaping the role of the women in society.

The event continued with Nora Hovsepian, Armenian National Committee-Western Region Chairperson, who spoke about the interconnectedness of fighting for the Armenian Cause and how women play a diverse role in accomplishing that task.

“It is not easy to be Armenian, especially in the Diaspora, and we can choose, if we want, to forget about our national identity, assimilate, and have much simpler lives, relayed Hovsepian. “But in reflecting on the sacred mission of the Armenian mother in our life, in reaffirming our deep love and respect for her, and in reminding her, in reminding ourselves, of the importance of maintaining our unique role and true image, we must choose this more difficult path because to our proud Nation, we certainly owe nothing less.”

Hovsepian concluded her speech with an empowering message: “You have it within you to be bold, fearless, passionate and committed to yourselves, your families, your community, and Hye Tad, all at the same time. And when you do, I, along with my sisters, will see you in the trenches.”

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region Chairperson, Nora Hovsepian, presenting a gift to the AYF

Proceeding, a traditional Armenian women’s dance was performed by AYF Glendale “Roupen” Chapter member Lori Shirajian.

Activist and counselor at AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School Nora Kayserian spoke of her continued fight to defend women’s rights through self-defense. Kayserian in founded Yerevan’s branch of SheFighter, the country’s first women’s self-defense program. “My challenge [with SheFighter] was a lot greater than just getting women to class,” she said. “The challenge was breaking gender stereotypes that have been embedded into our lives since we were born in a country that upholds the idea that the family must be preserved at all costs.”

Kayserian said that teaching self-defense became a very concrete way of encouraging resistance. “Resistance to the patriarchal system that insists that men are inherently dominating, superior to women and endowed with the right to rule over them. This idea of power is not natural; we cannot possibly look at things as they are and have been, and be okay with it.”

The UCLA graduate and member of the ARF Shant Student Association noted that everyone contributes to sexism in some way, shape, or form.

Lori Shirajian dancing traditional Armenian dance

“We’ve all learned to do it, which means we can all unlearn to do it as well, Kayserian concluded. “The fight for women’s liberation doesn’t start and end on international women’s day–it’s a daily struggle that needs more angry feminists.”

Prior to the Aya Ensemble’s dance performance, group member Natalie Kamajian revealed the goals of the dance group, described the significance of the group’s namesake, and provided brief descriptions of their performed dances.

“Through this ensemble, we practice the tradition of Armenian ethnographic music and dance,” Kamajian said. “Teaching and learning through oral traditions, we aim to preserve Armenian cultural heritage which has been passed down in this same way for centuries.”

Literally meaning “great-grandmother,” the group’s name “Aya,” represents sunrise, fertility, love, water, encompassing the concept of Mother Earth and “mother goddess.”

Aya Ensemble danced Madzun Em Merel, a traditional women’s folk dance born from communal yogurt-making, and two military dances, Msho Khr from Western Armenia’s Mush inspired by the movements of horses, and Karno Kochari from–Karin or Erzurum–personifying battling rams.

Nora Kayserian delivers a message on the importance of feminism and her work with SheFighter

Following the performance, Elia Bilemjian, an AYF member and part of the event’s organizing committee, conveyed his message as an ally to the women’s movement. “As a man who believes in equality, I am sick of my fellow female Armenian peers customarily being confined to the one-dimensional roles of mayr, kuyr, aghchik, keen—or mother, sister, daughter, wife— ver and above anything else they may be,” he stated.

“If we all just blindly follow what we are told is manly, if we just adapt to these narrow restrictions, if we just follow the path of least resistance, we become nothing more than a set of social cues, not a real, live person.”

Aya Ensemble performing at event

During his message, the AYF San Fernando Valley “Sardarabad” Chapter member stated that he feels embarrassed to express more emotion than is expected from his gender. “It can feel difficult for us sometimes to open up and discuss issues, anxieties, and feelings with others, but that shouldn’t be the case,” Bilemjian said, adding that “emotional intelligence is crucial for men as well as women; suppressing feelings can be harmful for our health and strain our relationships with others.”

“Coping with anger, sadness, and shame should not mean locking it up inside. As we transform beyond these self-imposed limitations, we will all thrive as one.”

Elia Bilemjian giving delivering his message as an ally to the Women’s Movement

Bilemjian further announced the upcoming establishment of the AYF-UHRC’s educational toolbox aimed at capturing crucial themes within the realm of social issues, which includes but is not limited to the hidden presence of diverse women in society and how to approach masculinity through honest and flexible lenses.

A video message by comedian Mary Basmadjian ensued, who spoke about the challenges she has faced as an Armenian woman within her profession. She is known by the community as “Funny Armenian Girl” and regularly makes fun of stereotypes of an Armenian female.

A shot of the video message by comedian Mary Basmajian

Dr. Talar Chahinian–a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and lecturer in the Department of Comparative World Literature at California State University, Long Beach–told her story of pursuit of fighting against the dominating patriarchal system. Despite her efforts in trying to defy the patriarchy’s narratives and definitions, Chahinian professed that she has failed to do so.

Chahinian connected the Armenian women’s struggle as an intersection with ethnicity, race, class, religion, and sexual orientation.

“We cannot critique patriarchy without confronting the misogyny embedded within nationalist narratives or without framing cultural nationalism within the larger context of imperialism and power dynamics of the world,” she affirmed. “We cannot critique patriarchy without calling into question the heteronormative behavior it mandates or without revising our understanding of a nuclear family. We cannot champion women’s rights while condoning homophobic behavior. We cannot champion women’s rights while we invest in capitalist systems that don’t compensate for women’s labor equally. We cannot champion women’s rights while supporting institutions that support racism.”

“Otherwise, our efforts of resistance will be futile, for they will further enslave young generations of women with a bankrupt model of ‘being all’ and ‘doing it all.’ Let’s not be afraid to dismantle and rebuild… or as today’s program title suggests, let’s not be afraid to resist, rise, and reframe!”

Registered marriage and family therapist intern Alina Havtevani, representing the Armenian Relief Society’s Child, Youth and Family Guidance Center spoke of the center, which provides services to children, adolescents, and adults through individual, family, couples, group, and child therapy.

Dr. Talar Chahinian delivering her message

The center’s focus is to help individuals overcome challenges and obstacles in their lives, to guide them toward their journey to self-awareness, self-growth and self-actualization, stated Havtevani. “The center further aims to address the cross-generational and cultural proponents which add a layer of complexity in treating our Armenian population.”

“A large portion of the center’s clients are Armenian women struggling with a variety of issues,” Havtevani said during her presentation. “The center helps our clients rebuild their self-esteem, re-examine their self-worth and help them learn skills and strategies which will help them enjoy a more meaningful and fulfilling life.”

The UHRC and the AYF’s Hollywood “Musa Ler” Chapter sold t-shirts during the event, where all proceeds will be donated to ARS’s program. T-shirts will be available for sale online soon.

AYF’s United Human Rights Council committee members

The United Human Rights Council (UHRC) is a committee of the Armenian Youth Federation. By means of action on a grassroots level, the UHRC works towards exposing and correcting human rights violations of governments worldwide, and aims to foster dialogue and collaboration between peoples who share this common vision.

Founded in 1933 with organizational structures in over 17 regions around the world and a legacy of over eighty years of community involvement, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian-American youth organization in the world, working to advance the social, political, educational, and cultural awareness of Armenian youth.

This article originally appeared in our sister publication Asbarez. 

Local members of the Armenian community of Rhode Island, led by Dorothy Martiesian, are bringing a performance of the acclaimed play, “Women of Ararat” to Providence on Sunday, April 30 at 3 p.m. This performance will be in tribute to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide and will take place at the Scottish Rite Auditorium, 2115 Broad Street, Cranston, R.I., 02905.

The performance will be in tribute to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide and will take place at the Scottish Rite Auditorium, 2115 Broad Street, Cranston, R.I., 02905.

“Women of Ararat” is a poignant play written by Boston playwright Judith Boyajian to mark the Centenial of the Armenian Genocide. Judith Boyajian Strang-Waldau’s first play focuses on her family’s role in the Armenian Genocide. “Women of Ararat” tells the love story of two young musicians who meet in London during the 1970’s—Julie and William—and their relationship with Julie’s family, four generations of Armenian women living in Watertown, Mass. The play explores the themes of family, memory, pain, love—and ultimately, hope—through the relationships of the characters.

Proceeds from the performance will benefit Mer Doon, The Women’s Resource Center, and The Women’s Support Center, all located in Yerevan, Armenia. Mer Doon’s mission is to help orphaned and disadvantaged young women in Armenia break the cycle of dependency by providing education, job training, and a loving, family environment, while instilling leadership skills and teaching self-sufficiency.

The Women’s Resource Center is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that was founded in 2003 by women from Armenia and the diaspora, and is the first resource center created in the post-soviet Armenia for young women. The Women’s Resource Center is working in the area of women’s human rights, reproductive rights, sexual violence and women’s role in conflict resolution and peace building in the region of South Caucasus.

The Women’s Support Center’s objective is to create a safe environment for women—a place where they receive support, empathy, and the knowledge that they are not alone in their struggles. Women are provided with practical learning about domestic violence, as well as counseling that bolsters self-esteem and confidence. The Center offers a hotline, walk-in services, legal and psychological counseling, training sessions, and community outreach.

Teachers and students are encouraged to attend this performance of “Women of Ararat” at a special discounted rate. The flyer for the event is included for your information.

By Shirley Ventrone

PROVIDENCE, R.I—On March 4, the Cultural Committee of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church, presented an engaging concert featuring local Rhode Island artists. The event took place in the Egavian Cultural Center in Providence, R.I.

The performers

The featured artists of the evening were Gohar Manjelikian, Mezzo-Soprano; Dalita Getzoyan, flute; Raffi Rachdouni, piano; Bethany Sousa Rachdouni, violin; and Nune Hakobyan, piano accompaniment.

The performers exhibited their talent through a wide range of musical work.  The capricious Chem Krna Khagha, by Komitas, as sung by Gohar Manjelikian, was light and whimsical, whereas the reverent tone of Petrossian’s Tiramayr was deep and stirring. Gohar sang the aria from Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, Voi, Che Sapete, with much conviction.

Dalita Getzoyan (flute), Raffi Rachdouni (piano)

The Flute Concerto in D minor, part II: Andante Sostenuto by Aram Khatchatourian is a technically challenging work, which was given life by Dalita Getzoyan. Raffi Rachdouni was the accompanist. Dalita’s rendition of this work was truly moving. She also played La Flute de Pan by Mouquet beautifully.

Gohar Manjelikian (soprano) , Nune Hakobyan (piano)

The selection of works for this program was quite varied.  The opening number by Aram Khachatourian  was performed impressively by Raffi Rachdouni.  He then accompanied Bethany Sousa Rachdouni who performed Kakachner by Avetisyan so beautifully on the violin. Elegy by Babajanian, as played by Bethany, was quite lyrical.

The performance ended with the familiar and light-hearted  folk song Kakavik  (little partridge) with Dalita, Bethany, and Raffi.

Bethany and Raffi Rachdouni

The evening ended with the audience being invited to a reception held by the Cultural Committee and an opportunity to meet with the performers. People had an opportunity to chat with each of the musical guests.  Many of these young people live extremely busy lives teaching and honing their craft.

Everyone agreed that this event was quite special.

BELMONT, Mass.—The National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) will host a lecture entitled “The Massacre in the Sasun Mountains (1894): Interpretations of Violence at the End of Empire,” by Dr. Owen Miller of the Institute for Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies, Emerson College on March 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the NAASR Center (395 Concord Avenue, Belmont, Mass.).

In the late summer of 1894, several battalions of Ottoman soldiers were ordered into the mountains of Sasun, south of the fertile plains of Moush, in current day southeastern Turkey. The commander of the troops, Colonel Ismail, gave orders for battalions to be assembled into a square. Just that morning, Colonel Ismail had been given direct orders from Abdulhamid II himself to destroy the Armenian bandits who were operating in these remote mountains.

After this order was given, the soldiers advanced on the villages of the Shadakh valley in the Sasun Mountains. The entire Armenian population of the region was regarded as rebellious and one to two thousand men, women and children were murdered.

The 1894 violence in Sasun has been viewed quite differently by scholars who work within the vein of Ottoman Studies and those in Armenian Studies. The former usually present it as the first major rebellion of Armenian nationalists against the state, while the latter present the 1894 events as the first major episode of Ottoman State mass violence against its Armenian populace. Both tend to view the violence as an outcome of competing nationalisms. In his research, Miller has shown that the Ottoman governor relayed intentionally false reports that thousands of Armenian villagers in Sasun had rebelled against the State. After establishing that the Sasun massacre took place, he shows that there was a concerted effort made both by local and central Ottoman authorities to cover it up. In this lecture, Dr. Miller will examine what has been unaddressed by prior accounts of these events along with a detailed account of why the violence took place, and how it is remembered.

Dr. Owen Miller is an affiliated faculty member at the Institute for Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies at Emerson College in Boston. He is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, and holds an MA and PhD in history from Columbia University. His 2015 dissertation was entitled “Sasun 1894: Mountains, Missionaries and Massacres at the End of the Ottoman Empire.”

The Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe broke ground on a new Family Life and Cultural Center in June 2016 in Bradford, Mass. on Route 125.

The Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe broke ground on a new Family Life and Cultural Center in June 2016 in Bradford, Mass. on Route 125.

This new center is the second phase of a three-phase project that started over 15 years ago.  In 2002, our two local parishes, Holy Cross Apostolic Church in Lawrence and St. Gregory’s Apostolic Church in Haverhill, merged with the approval of the Diocese, creating one unified church named The Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe.

Parishioners of both churches have become one new community, developing a legacy for their children and grandchildren to carry on the strong Armenian faith and culture here in the Merrimack Valley.

Construction progress for the new church and center is on schedule with the targeted occupancy date in the first week of April 2017.  The Hye Pointe Parish Council has found a buyer for the Haverhill church and while awaiting construction completion, the parish is worshipping at the Sacred Hearts Catholic Church in Bradford.  We thank the Sacred Heart community for opening their doors and hearts to our parishioners.

The Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe has received tremendous spiritual support for the construction of their Family Life Center.  The church has received guidance and direction from it’s Parish Council in the funding and building of the facility.  Many local professionals have donated their time and expertise serving on the committees established to support the Parish Council in their fundraising efforts to construct this wonderful Armenian cultural center.

According to Father Vart Gyozalyan, pastor of the church, the new Family Life Center will provide the needed space for fellowship and gatherings. “You will enter a warm and inviting Family Life and Cutural Center to welcome you to Hye Pointe. The new Family Life and Cultural Center will allow us further growth for our worship, educational and fellowship experiences at The Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe, as follows:  new choir room, offices, and classrooms.  New conference rooms will provide future growth and enhancement of youth, Christian education, and cultural programs, plus dedicated meeting spaces. The Family Life and Cultural Center will provide us sufficient space which will allow for many new fellowship events and activities,” Father Gyozalyan said.

The Family Life and Cultural Center’s grand opening is scheduled for April 22, at 5 p.m. under the auspices of his Eminence Archbishop Khahjag Barsamian. Armenian gymnast, Houry Gebeshian will be speaking to our community about her experiences representing our proud nation on the world stage.

Those who wish can make a Building Fund donation to the Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe. Donations can be made payable to: “The Armenian Church at Hye Pointe Building Fund”, PO Box 8069, Bradford, Mass. 01835

http://www.hyepointearmenianchurch.org/

Please be a lasting part of the Merrimack Valley Armenian Apostolic community.  For us, for our children.  Thank  you for your support.

For more information, please contact Gary Townsend at (508) 517 6488 or call The Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe at  (978) 372-9227.,

YEREVAN—The American University of Armenia (AUA) recently announced that Sarah Ghazarian, a second year student in the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, has been awarded the first place in a nationwide competition for “Best Student” among health professionals (masters level) in 2017 by the Republic of Armenia (RA) Ministry of Education and Science (MOES). Minister Levon Mkrtchyan of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) presented the awards to the recipients during the award ceremony that took place at Yerevan State Medical University.

Ghazarian receiving her award from Education Minister Levon Mkrtchyan (Photo: AUA)

Sarah Ghazarian is one of the top performing graduate students in her cohort; she is an exceptionally committed student to her education in the Master of Public Health (MPH) Program. She received the MOES Award for the Best Student, as she is not only one of the top academic performers of her cohort, but has tremendous potential to be an extremely successful professional with high standards of ethical conduct. She has been working in health related projects throughout her studies for bachelor and master degrees, she participated in multiple scientific workshops to deepen her professional knowledge and skills, coordinated the Science Club for students to discuss new journal articles and organize seminars, and she has helped the teaching process serving as a teaching assistant. What is more, she served in Syrian/Palestinian Refugee Camps as a volunteer to promote their health and provided emergency medical service as a volunteer in Lebanese Red Cross. During her time at AUA she has received merit-based scholarships.

Since 2012, the RA Ministry of Education and Science has organized a nationwide annual competition for “Best Student” to promote educational excellence and support top students in their professional development. The selection committee looks at nominated students’ academic performance, commitment to community service, professional achievements, and scientific work. The awarded students receive a monetary prize.

The AUA Gerald and Patricia Turpanjian School of Public Health works actively to improve population health and health services in Armenia and the region through interdisciplinary education and development of public health professionals to be leaders in public health, health services research and evaluation, and health care delivery and management.

“Spotlight on Nagorno-Karabagh: The Four Day War and its Aftermath – Perspectives on Security, Diplomacy, and the Prospects for a Lasting Peace” Took Place on March 9

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – On March 9, the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR)/Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Lecture Series on Contemporary Armenian Issues, in conjunction with the MIT Armenian Society (MITAS), presented a panel discussion titled “Spotlight on Nagorno-Karabagh: The Four Day War and its Aftermath – Perspectives on Security, Diplomacy, and the Prospects for a Lasting Peace” at MIT.

Artsakh Ombudsman Ruben Melikyan presenting (Photo: The Armenian Weekly)

Held at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the panel was moderated by Tufenkian Foundation program director Dr. Antranig Kasbarian and featured panelists Ruben Melikyan (Artsakh Ombudsman), Ani Sargsyan (Tavitian Scholar at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy/NKR Foreign Ministry spokesperson), and Ambassador Rouben Shougarian (Tufts University Professor and Armenia’s first Ambassador to the U.S.).

The event began with a set of brief remarks by Marc Mamigonian, NAASR’s Director of Academic Affairs, who spoke about the recent works of NAASR and their cooperation with student organizations in the Boston area.

Former Tavitian scholar at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Ombudsman Melikyan presented the human rights report he published following the April War that took place between Artsakh and Azerbaijan in 2016. Melikyan began by noting that he refers to the events of April as the “April War”—not the often-used “Four Day War”—since fighting and heavy casualties continued until the end of April 2016.

Melikyan explained that the first interim report, which included war crimes against civilians, war crimes against Artsakh Defense Army servicemen, and Armenophobia was published on April 21, 2016. He defined Armenophobia as “a policy of the Azerbaijani state by injecting hatred into the Azerbaijani society toward Armenians.” He recalled his experiences with it and stressed that it was a very crucial aspect of the first interim report.

According to the Ombudsman, the second document produced was a legal assessment issued on May 2, which covered indiscriminate attacks and human shielding. He added that these first two documents were produced using open sources.

Following his appointment as the human rights defender, he began an independent fact finding mission in May to create a report analyzing all the human rights violations from the April War. Melikyan explained that his methodology consisted of on-site visits, interviews, data requests from relevant authorities, consultations with experts, and the monitoring of open sources.

Melikyan said that the report was ultimately published in Talish—the site of much Azerbaijani aggression—on on Dec. 9, the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims, with two additions: one private and one public.

Melikyan’s report covered definitions of relevant war crimes, facts of atrocities, responsibility, and his conclusions.

In regards to the war crimes, his presentation listed the different types of crimes committed by Azerbaijan including torture, execution, and mutilation. He provided the statistics and geographic locations of where the violations occurred.

“The martyrs seemed to be executed simply for being Armenian,” said Melikyan during his presentation. “This evidence is even stronger today, following the recent events, than it was on Dec. 9,” he added.

During his presentation, Melikyan also displayed videos that were posted on social media by Azerbaijani’s portraying the inhuman acts they committed during the war. The videos were taken down shortly after being posted but were downloaded by the human rights defender’s office to use as evidence.

“It was a systemic and well organized nature as they were done in all regiments of the Azerbaijani Defense Army,” added Melikyan.

The statements by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) condemning the violence but failing to blame one side was also mentioned in Melikyan’s report.

“We have many details of alleged atrocities by the Azerbaijani side,” said Melikyan. “War crimes are war crimes everywhere and we need to handle them.”

Melikyan concluded his report by bringing up the recent escalation in late February in Martuni and Askeran—the most serious escalations since the April 2016. In this case, the Azerbaijani side suffered five casualties. He reiterated that there was a lack of reaction from the international community, which has lead to further impunity of the Azerbaijani side. “This is very dangerous,” said Melikyan.

His report concluded with a poll, which showed that the main concern of the Artsakh population is their security.

In between the panelists, moderator Dr. Antranig Kasbarian addressed questions ranging from the factors that facilitated the April 2016 war, what was learned from it, and how do the different role players view the dispute.

As he expressed some of his opinions, Kasbarian explained how he believed that a part of why the war was sparked was Azerbaijan’s desire to test out some of its new weaponry. He added that Artsakh’s presence at the negotiating table is essential and that principles like the Madrid principles need to be revaluated in light of these human right violations being committed by Azerbaijan.

Panelist Ani Sargsyan discussed a series of points that explained Azerbaijan’s intentional provocation of war last April. She explained how Azerbaijan had been preparing actively by building up their military and had also instigated anti-Armenian sentiments in the country.

Sargsyan also mentioned that Azerbaijan had rejected any suggestions made on the negotiating table ranging from removal of snipers, placing an OSCE office in Yerevan, and the implementation of mechanisms to track who violates the ceasefire.

She noted that in the last year, the caliber of the weaponry used my Azerbaijan has steadily increased. She mentioned that based on its actions, Azerbaijan shows that their attempt at solving the issue is only by resorting through military means.

She concluded her remarks by stressing that efforts need to be concentrated on implementing the use of mechanisms at the Line of Contact (LoC) in order to ensure a peaceful coexistence of Nagorno-Karabagh and Azerbaijan.

Ambassador Shougarian began his presentation by discussing the need for Armenia to readjust its negotiating position in this conflict. Shougarian touched upon the seriousness of the issue and added how a once local issue has now transitioned into a global security concern.

“It became a unique example of Russian, American, and European cooperation in the former Soviet Union,” said Shougarian when explaining the complexity of the case.

According to Shougarian, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s statements regarding shooting down civilian aircrafts in Artsakh, the Ramil Safarov case, and the April War are significant because how these events happened can be compared to ISIS.

“The style, the beheading, mutilation, and torture, is showing that Azerbaijan is trying to transform this conflict into a religious one,” said Shougarian. “It is not a religious conflict, but the fact that Azerbaijan is trying to transform it needs to be spoken about today.”

Shougarian then went on to explain the notion of responsibility to protect and how the international community needs to interfere in the sovereignty of the state if that state persecutes and commits crime against their own people.

“Azerbaijan considers the people of Nagorno-Karabagh their citizens, and if that’s the case, the crimes committed against them should not be tolerated by the international community,” said Shougarian.

“Nagorno-Karabagh was able to win against Azerbaijan in the first war, but the price they paid was international recognition,” added Shougarian.

Shougarian stressed that that because Karabagh is facing this constant threat, a message to the international community needs to be sent in addition to territorial integrity and self-determination, which is remedial recognition.

Following the panelist’s remarks, several questions by audience members were asked that addressed the role of Russia and the OSCE, the effect of the Trump administration, Artsakh’s recognition by Armenia and the international communtiry, and Artsakh’s current state of preparedness.

Efforts by Armenia to stop “playing by the rules” and criticisms of how Armenia and its Foreign Ministry handled the situation during the April War were also discussed during the question and answer period.

Exibit to Benefit Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA Education Fund

The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of the Eastern United States is proud to sponsor an art show that features the rare works of Arthur Pinajian (1914-1999) on March 31-April 2, in the Pashalian Hall of Saint Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27^th Street, New York.

No. 2410 (Gouache on paper, 14.5 x 19 inches)

The proceeds from this special event will benefit the ARS educational fund that provides undergraduate and graduate grants to Armenian students, studying in the U.S. The  grants are awarded based on financial need, merit, and involvement in the Armenian community.  In 2016 $40,000 was distributed to deserving students.

No. 4417, Untitled, 1964. (Oil on canvas, 18 x 27 inches)

Admission to attend this special event is free. The official opening is on April 1, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. All other viewing hours are as follows:

March 31, 2017 – 4 – 10 p.m.

Saturday April 1, 2017 – Noon – 4 p.m.
Sunday April 2, 2017 – 1:00 – 4 p.m.

ARS, Inc. was founded in 1910 in New York City to provide educational and humanitarian assistance to Armenians throughout the world. The ARS of Eastern USA programs and projects are:

• ARS Youth Connect Program
• Lazarian Graduate and Undergraduate Scholarships
• Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
• AYF Camp Haiastan, Franklin, MA
• Support for the Eastern USA Armenian Schools
• ARS Mother and Child Clinic, Birth Center, Akhourian, Armenia
• Sponsor a Child Program in Armenia and Artsakh
• Orphan Education Program in Armenia and Artsakh
• Medz Tagher “Soseh” Kindergarten in Artsakh
• Support rebuilding Stepanakert “Soseh” Kindergarten, Artsakh
• Artsakh Relief Fund
• Humanitarian and Educational Support to Syrian Armenians

For more information, contact the ARS of Eastern USA at arseastus@gmail.com, 1(617)926-3801.