AZAD-HYE, Dubai, 1 March 2006: For the third time Armenia participated in the Gulf Food, Hotel & Equipment Exhibition (Gulfood) at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, from 19-22 February 2006.
Since 1987, Gulfood has been considered as the Middle East's and Africa's primary business platform for food, drink, foodservice and hospitality equipment. With over 1.800 participants from more than 60 countries, this year's exhibition witnessed a 15% increase in space. The region's food and beverage industry is one of the fastest growing worldwide, particularly since over 90% of the Gulf's food is imported.
The Armenian stand, which occupied more than 100 square meters, was represented by 9 companies, covering various food producing domains. On display were fresh, frozen and dry-packaged fish products, new sugar free jams, tomato paste, natural fruit powder, bottled water, coffee and tea, as well as natural juices and preserves.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Armenia SME Market Development Project (DAI-ASME), co-sponsored the Armenian national pavilion.
Mkrtich Ayvazyan, Business Advisor at DAI-ASME said: "Some of the participants have already been in the local market for considerable time and they are using the exhibition to enhance their presence and establish relations with new customers". One of the major concerns of the participants is to find a way for a united Armenian representation. "The concept of the so-called Armenian Trade House, a sort of joint company that will care for creating new distribution channels for the Armenian products in the local and regional markets, is gaining ground, although there is a lack of understanding of its role", he added.
The incentives to take part in the exhibition this year were higher than the previous years. DAI-ASME covered 100% of the space expense for each exhibitor. Thus the average cost for each exhibitor was limited to the air tickets, accommodation and other expenses (estimated by one exhibitor to be in the range of US$ 2.500- 3.000 per person).
Participating companies:
1) Akvatekh CJSC
1 Kajaznouni Street, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel: 00374 10 572256
Fax: 00374 10 554384
E-mail: akvatekh@netsys.am
Akvatekh breeds and farms trout and sturgeon. It produces ecologically pure fish. Water saturated with oxygen and constant temperature of 13-14 degrees and good balanced European feeds stimulate the breeding of fishes of good quality. It produces chilled, frozen, smoked, pickled fish products and high quality caviar.
Arkadi Gevorkyan, the General Director of "Akvatekh" said that he continued this year to receive serious queries from hotels, supermarket chains, airline catering companies, asking for trout and sturgeon fish products. The company operates several branches in Gumri, Masis and Etchmiadzin.
2) Arega
V. Jrvezh, Kotayk Region 375089, Armenia
Tel: 00374 10 646236
Fax: 00374 10 646235
E-mail: arega@arminco.com
Website: http://www.arega.am
Arega is specialized in the production of various vegetables and fruit based canned products.
Hakob V. Badalyan, the Director and Founder of the company participates in Dubai for the third time. "It is basically a place where you can meet people from the Gulf area, Europe and Asia. Dubai's market is based on the resale business, this is why companies press to buy the goods with the lowest possible rates. Then they can easily add their mark-up before reselling the product. It is important to have an Armenian company here, based, let us say, in the Free Zone area. This will help distributing the products. Distribution needs high management skills and the ability to communicate with the public", adds Badalyan.
3) Armen Hamik Eghbairner JV Co Ltd
Geghashen Village, Kotayk Region, 378512, Armenia
Tel: 00374 222 22231
Fax: 00374 222 30015
E-mail: original@web.am
Website: http://www.originalcoffee.am
Founded in 1995, this company is one of the leading coffee processing companies in Armenia and CIS countries. It imports green coffee beans from Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, etc. and offers a wide range of products, including cocoa powder, natural ground coffee, instant coffee, ice fruit tea. It has started also processing canned meat.
Arthur Anderasyan, President of the company said: "What sets us aside from other coffee producers is the taste of our product and the degree of its solubility. Companies from Iran to Pakistan have asked to represent our products in their countries. They like the quality of our coffee and they even find it competitive to internationally famed brands. After this exhibition we expect to receive several delivery orders immediately in the coming few weeks. Previously established contacts are also helping in widening the network of buyers".
Referring to the problems that his business is facing, Anderasyan said that it is very important to form a kind of a semi-governmental union or company, which would deal with distribution issues and prepare the ground for a more effective participation in exhibitions, including providing pre-event marketing and other services, like translations, etc. "Reselling products through Dubai to many other parts of the world is what companies aim at through their presence in this Exhibition. We are not prepared to this type of business. This is why the wholesalers try to force their rules on small or medium sized exporters like us. We need to combine our efforts in order to have a say in the wholesaling process", he concluded.
4) Ashtarak Kat CISC
Dro Street, Yerevan 375016, Armenia
Agarak Village, Aragatsotn Region
Tel: 00374 10 245430
Fax: 00374 10 245430
E-mail: info@ashtarakkat.com
Established in 1995, is one of the leading producers of high quality dairy and ice cream products in Armenia. The company has constructed milk stations in five regions in Armenia, all above 2000 meters from the sea level. It produces milk, yoghurt, sour-cream, curds, cheese, milk powder, ice creams and drinking yoghurts of different flavors. It also produces 23 types of jams, made from fresh fruits and berries, warmed by 270 days of sunshine in the year.
5) Raffael Contini Trading Company
5/3 Miasnikyan Street, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel: 00374 10 442810
Fax: 00374 10 431541
E-mail: rafaello2@hotmail.com
Established in 1998 is involved in the production of ground coffee. Since 2002 it has started to produce the "Rio Grande" ground coffee brand, which is mainly been exported to neighboring Georgia.
6) Sis Natural Cannery LLC
2 Mamikonyants Street
Yerevan 375014, Armenia
Tel: 00374 10 233336
Fax: 00374 10 233533
E-mail: armsis@arminco.com
Established in 2002 this company is involved in the production of more than 20 types of natural fruit juices.
7) Waterlok LLC
27 Fuchik Street, Yerevan 375108, Armenia
Tel: 00374 10 395884
Fax: 00374 10 395886
E-mail: info@waterlokllc.com
Website: http://www.waterlokllc.com
The well of the water "Aparan" is located on a high mountainous region of Armenia, at the height of 2000 metres, at the feet of two mountains: Aragadz and Ara, in an ecologically unique area, free of industrial and agricultural activities.
8) Hagenas LLC
23 Ogostos Street, Artashat Region, 372240 Armenia
Tel: 00374 91 368070
Fax: 00374 10 466466
E-mail: hagenas@arminco.com
Established in 1999, Hagenas produces natural oils, extracts and dietary supplements. It produces also various seeds (grape, pumpkin, apricot, rose-hip, peach).
Khachik Gevorkyan, General Director of the company says: "Our products are unique, for example the AprioTabs that we are promoting now are produced from freeze-dried Armenian apricot powder. It is recommended for health maintenance, in particular for replenishment of potassium, copper and natural antioxidants in food. Each tablet is equivalent of ten apricot fruits".
9) Noyan Natural Juices and Preserves
Address in the UAE:
Golden Spring LLC
P. O. Box 84762, Dubai, UAE
Tel: 009714 2674338
Fax: 009714 2674339
E-mail: gspring@emirates.net.ae
Golden Spring LLC is the exclusive distributor of Noyan natural juices, nectars, drinks, fruit and berry preserves and canned vegetables in the Middle East.
Press release of the organizing body:
DAI-ASME issued a press release few days before the Exhibition stating that "The economic development of Armenia requires increased production of
ecologically sound food products for domestic and international markets. The effective presentation and promotion of these products abroad is also necessary to develop new market opportunities and establish a foothold for Made in Armenia products worldwide".
The press release underlined the importance of the Middle East market to the Armenian producers. According to it 72% of imports to Dubai are re-exported to other countries providing access to 2 billion international consumers, 40 new 5-star hotels and 5 large shopping malls will open in Dubai in the coming two years, exports from Armenia to UAE in the last two years totaled $15 million.
It should be mentioned that in the previous exhibition DAI-ASME had allocated considerable space to the Armenian Tourism Development Agency, through which many tourism related material and brochures were distributed to the public. This year tourism was not highlighted in the official participation. We hope that this absence would be compensated during the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai from 2-5 May 2006.
The Armenians of the UAE did not have the chance to visit the Armenian pavilion. The event was not announced in the local Armenian news bulletin and no press release from the organizing part targeted that population.
We would like to thank Samvel Shahbazyan and Lilit Hakobyan of DAI-ASME for providing us with additional information and photos.
Middle East Armenian Portal
28 February 2006
Armenia participates in the 11th Gulfood Exhibition in Dubai
26 February 2006
The largest Armenian petition on the internet
Azad-Hye, Dubai, 26 February 2006: If you are against the debating of the Armenian Genocide with Genocide deniers and giving deniers equal air time, you are invited to sign the following:
“Petition Against the Armenian Genocide panel discussion on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)”
To: Ms. Jacoba Atlas, Senior Vice President of PBS programming
It is welcome news that PBS is planning to broadcast Andrew Goldberg's "The Armenian Genocide" documentary on April 17, 2006. However, we are immensely hurt by the news that this will be followed by a 25 minute long discussion by a panel that includes two genocide deniers.
We are confident that the Armenian Genocide scholars will present a superb scholarly case, but we strongly feel that debating the Armenian Genocide is akin to arguing about the Jewish Holocaust in order to project a sense of balance. Would PBS ever contemplate such a program?
Turkish denials of the genocide are part of a state-sponsored policy of propaganda that serves only the interests of Turkey. The historical truth of the Armenian genocide has been established beyond reasonable doubt by abundant documentary and eye-witness evidence from thousands of sources. Furthermore, denialist views of genocide are already included in the film; thus the panel discussion would serve to emphasize the Turkish state's official position and undermine the non political nature of your programming.
Broadcasting the panel discussion may result in a substantial loss of support from viewers of PBS.
We the undersigned urge you not to approve the airing of the panel discussion.
Click on this link to know more about the above petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/pbspanel
To proceed to signing the petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/pbspanel/petition-sign.html
View Current Signatures:
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?pbspanel
You are advised to use your first and last names when signing. Do not sign more than one time.
Why signing?
Referring to the ongoing campaign to sign the above petition, Appo Jabarian, the Executive Publisher and Managing Editor of USA Armenian Life Magazine, underlined that “Pro-truth activists kept themselves focused on tapping into the existing huge potential within the Armenian and non-Armenian circles. They remained steadfast in their campaign to gather many more signatures”.
“Many activists realize that this is the beginning of a new phase of a marathon in political struggles against the Turkish denialists”, he added.
By 25 February 2006 the total number of petition signers had surpassed 13,000, not including the direct e-mails, postal letters, direct telephone or fax contacts addressed to channel. Never before had so many Armenians and non-Armenians used internet for a petition of this scale.
As an example of the effectiveness of the campaign, American Armenian Berge Bulbulian received the following statement from his local Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) station in response to his e-mail:
“We will air the Armenian Genocide program April 17th at 10 pm and we have no intention of airing the denial program. I understand your intention, but threats are not appropriate. We would never intentionally air a program that demeans or harms our viewers in any way. Though we strive for balance in our programming, it is not necessary to seek balance where there is none. The Armenian Genocide is a fact, so there is no purpose in airing a denial program.”
In order to keep the momentum growing please sign the petition at the above provided link.
The “Petition Against the Armenian Genocide Panel Discussion on PBS” was created by and written by Vako Nicolian (tidort@gmail.com). It is hosted at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service.
Turks have counteracted and created their own petition where kinds of accusations against the Armenians could be found.
Additional links:
“USA Armenian Life”, front cover (PDF format)
http://www.azad-hye.com/media/g1/usa-armenian-life-magazine-front-cover.pdf
(issue no. 987, from 23 February to 1 March 2006)
Title: “World Media reports outrage of 10.000 viewers against PBS”
Pages 6-7 of the above issue (PDF format)
http://www.azad-hye.com/media/g1/usa-armenian-life-magazine-pages6-7.pdf
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newd=91
“Petition Against the Armenian Genocide panel discussion on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)”
To: Ms. Jacoba Atlas, Senior Vice President of PBS programming
It is welcome news that PBS is planning to broadcast Andrew Goldberg's "The Armenian Genocide" documentary on April 17, 2006. However, we are immensely hurt by the news that this will be followed by a 25 minute long discussion by a panel that includes two genocide deniers.
We are confident that the Armenian Genocide scholars will present a superb scholarly case, but we strongly feel that debating the Armenian Genocide is akin to arguing about the Jewish Holocaust in order to project a sense of balance. Would PBS ever contemplate such a program?
Turkish denials of the genocide are part of a state-sponsored policy of propaganda that serves only the interests of Turkey. The historical truth of the Armenian genocide has been established beyond reasonable doubt by abundant documentary and eye-witness evidence from thousands of sources. Furthermore, denialist views of genocide are already included in the film; thus the panel discussion would serve to emphasize the Turkish state's official position and undermine the non political nature of your programming.
Broadcasting the panel discussion may result in a substantial loss of support from viewers of PBS.
We the undersigned urge you not to approve the airing of the panel discussion.
Click on this link to know more about the above petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/pbspanel
To proceed to signing the petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/pbspanel/petition-sign.html
View Current Signatures:
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?pbspanel
You are advised to use your first and last names when signing. Do not sign more than one time.
Why signing?
Referring to the ongoing campaign to sign the above petition, Appo Jabarian, the Executive Publisher and Managing Editor of USA Armenian Life Magazine, underlined that “Pro-truth activists kept themselves focused on tapping into the existing huge potential within the Armenian and non-Armenian circles. They remained steadfast in their campaign to gather many more signatures”.
“Many activists realize that this is the beginning of a new phase of a marathon in political struggles against the Turkish denialists”, he added.
By 25 February 2006 the total number of petition signers had surpassed 13,000, not including the direct e-mails, postal letters, direct telephone or fax contacts addressed to channel. Never before had so many Armenians and non-Armenians used internet for a petition of this scale.
As an example of the effectiveness of the campaign, American Armenian Berge Bulbulian received the following statement from his local Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) station in response to his e-mail:
“We will air the Armenian Genocide program April 17th at 10 pm and we have no intention of airing the denial program. I understand your intention, but threats are not appropriate. We would never intentionally air a program that demeans or harms our viewers in any way. Though we strive for balance in our programming, it is not necessary to seek balance where there is none. The Armenian Genocide is a fact, so there is no purpose in airing a denial program.”
In order to keep the momentum growing please sign the petition at the above provided link.
The “Petition Against the Armenian Genocide Panel Discussion on PBS” was created by and written by Vako Nicolian (tidort@gmail.com). It is hosted at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service.
Turks have counteracted and created their own petition where kinds of accusations against the Armenians could be found.
Additional links:
“USA Armenian Life”, front cover (PDF format)
http://www.azad-hye.com/media/g1/usa-armenian-life-magazine-front-cover.pdf
(issue no. 987, from 23 February to 1 March 2006)
Title: “World Media reports outrage of 10.000 viewers against PBS”
Pages 6-7 of the above issue (PDF format)
http://www.azad-hye.com/media/g1/usa-armenian-life-magazine-pages6-7.pdf
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newd=91
24 February 2006
25th anniversary of the Armenian Community School of Abu Dhabi. Launching of website.
Azad-Hye, Dubai, 24 February 2006: Armenians have been living in the United Arab Emirates since the nineteen fifties. Around twenty five years ago the community started functioning as an organized entity, with a Community Council, various committees and a school.
2006 marks the 25th anniversary of the Armenian Community School of Abu Dhabi. Urged by parents and encouraged by the Community Council, two dedicated ladies, Ashkhen Arzoumanian and Sona Badalian started the school in March 1981 to cater for the needs of the Armenian children growing up in Abu Dhabi.
The response was positive and most of the children of the community started attending “Haygagan Tebrotz” as the school was fondly referred to. All these children attended the various schools in the city and came together once a week to learn the Armenian language and history under the supervision of volunteer teachers.
During the summer of 1984 both Arzoumanian and Badalian moved to the States with their families and Tamar Der-Ohannessian assumed the role of headmistress / principal.
The school started on a twice-a-week basis, and then changed to just Thursday afternoons, which changed again to Wednesday afternoons. Besides the Armenian language and history, cultural events and competitions are organized, feasts are celebrated and the school year ends with the much-awaited pageant, the “Amaverchi Hantes.”
The school is run by a group of dedicated teachers who volunteer their time and effort and is supported by the Community Council of Abu Dhabi
This is a worthwhile and important effort,which teaches the children about their roots and culture. To date, around 270 students have attended the school and sixty teachers have taught there on a voluntary basis.
Under the auspices of Archbishop Gorun Babian, Catholicosal Vicar of Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf countries, the 25th Anniversary celebrations will take place on 10th March 2006, at 6:00 p.m. in the main hall of “The Club”, Mina Road, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
See circular of the Council of the Armenian Community of Abu Dhabi in PDF format:
http://www.azad-hye.com/adschool/library/25th-anniversary-celebrations.pdf
A special publication will be ready on that day, with articles and photos on the school, some to be published for the first time.
On this occasion a new website have been launched, where old and new students of the school and their parents in Abu Dhabi and worldwide would find the following items:
- Photos of the President of the UAE (Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan), the Prelate of Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf countries (Archbishop Gorun Babian) and the Headmistress / Principal of the school (Tamar Der-Ohannessian).
- Contact e-mail for questions and comments. If you have pictures or documents related to the school, you can send them to the given e-mail address.
- Guestbook: Where you can leave your message to the readers. The Principal of the School has posted a welcome message encouraging others to share their views and to send their thoughts and memories.
- Press clips: A collection of what the Armenian press has been writing about the most important events related to the school (mainly end of the year theatrical plays and graduation ceremonies).
- Gallery: The most vibrant section, where some 60 photos are hosted, covering almost all the 25 years of the school (additional photos will be included in the book edition).
- Links: A list of Armenian schools worldwide. This list could be enriched with additional hyperlinks in the future.
- Contact us: E-mail and mobile telephone number of the Principal.
URL of the Abu Dhabi Armenian Community School’s website:
http://www.azad-hye.com/adschool/
Photos:
1) Logo of the 25h anniversary of the Abu Dhabi Armenian Community School.
2) Poet Silva Gaboudigian visits the school in Abu Dhabi, UAE (1996).
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newd=90
2006 marks the 25th anniversary of the Armenian Community School of Abu Dhabi. Urged by parents and encouraged by the Community Council, two dedicated ladies, Ashkhen Arzoumanian and Sona Badalian started the school in March 1981 to cater for the needs of the Armenian children growing up in Abu Dhabi.
The response was positive and most of the children of the community started attending “Haygagan Tebrotz” as the school was fondly referred to. All these children attended the various schools in the city and came together once a week to learn the Armenian language and history under the supervision of volunteer teachers.
During the summer of 1984 both Arzoumanian and Badalian moved to the States with their families and Tamar Der-Ohannessian assumed the role of headmistress / principal.
The school started on a twice-a-week basis, and then changed to just Thursday afternoons, which changed again to Wednesday afternoons. Besides the Armenian language and history, cultural events and competitions are organized, feasts are celebrated and the school year ends with the much-awaited pageant, the “Amaverchi Hantes.”
The school is run by a group of dedicated teachers who volunteer their time and effort and is supported by the Community Council of Abu Dhabi
This is a worthwhile and important effort,which teaches the children about their roots and culture. To date, around 270 students have attended the school and sixty teachers have taught there on a voluntary basis.
Under the auspices of Archbishop Gorun Babian, Catholicosal Vicar of Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf countries, the 25th Anniversary celebrations will take place on 10th March 2006, at 6:00 p.m. in the main hall of “The Club”, Mina Road, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
See circular of the Council of the Armenian Community of Abu Dhabi in PDF format:
http://www.azad-hye.com/adschool/library/25th-anniversary-celebrations.pdf
A special publication will be ready on that day, with articles and photos on the school, some to be published for the first time.
On this occasion a new website have been launched, where old and new students of the school and their parents in Abu Dhabi and worldwide would find the following items:
- Photos of the President of the UAE (Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan), the Prelate of Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf countries (Archbishop Gorun Babian) and the Headmistress / Principal of the school (Tamar Der-Ohannessian).
- Contact e-mail for questions and comments. If you have pictures or documents related to the school, you can send them to the given e-mail address.
- Guestbook: Where you can leave your message to the readers. The Principal of the School has posted a welcome message encouraging others to share their views and to send their thoughts and memories.
- Press clips: A collection of what the Armenian press has been writing about the most important events related to the school (mainly end of the year theatrical plays and graduation ceremonies).
- Gallery: The most vibrant section, where some 60 photos are hosted, covering almost all the 25 years of the school (additional photos will be included in the book edition).
- Links: A list of Armenian schools worldwide. This list could be enriched with additional hyperlinks in the future.
- Contact us: E-mail and mobile telephone number of the Principal.
URL of the Abu Dhabi Armenian Community School’s website:
http://www.azad-hye.com/adschool/
Photos:
1) Logo of the 25h anniversary of the Abu Dhabi Armenian Community School.
2) Poet Silva Gaboudigian visits the school in Abu Dhabi, UAE (1996).
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newd=90
Interview with Gibrahayer e-magazine Editor Simon Aynedjian
Azad-Hye, Dubai, 24 February 2006: Simon Aynedjian was born in Nicosia, Cyprus in 1959. He attended elementary education at the Ouzounian-Melikian School (present-day Nareg) and The English School in Nicosia. He studied Communications and International Relations in the US and continued his graduate studies at Intercollege and through correspondence. He is a Director in his family owned clothing manufacturing factory and in the last 3 years he has joined a leading Logistics company and holds the position of Executive Director of a major IT company in Cyprus - GAP Vassilopoulos E-Media Ltd, which is one of the companies within the GAP Group.
He is married to Louise Kaprielian and they have two daughters and a son. He has been active in the Armenian community for three decades.
He is also active in tennis. He is the over 35 and over 45 champion of Cyprus. In 2005 he won international championships on the world tennis tour and finished 2005 in the top 100 on the world senior tour.
Below is an interview with Simon Aynedjian specially for the readers of our webiste:
Could you tell us a few words about the Armenian community in Cyprus?
The Armenian community in Cyprus is not a newly formed one. It has a continuous history of almost one thousand years. However, the biggest wave of Armenians arrived in Cyprus after the Adana massacres (1909) and continued up to the time of the Genocide (1915-1921). The survivors of these two tragic historical events have created the Armenian community as we know it today numbering around 3,000. There have been population fluctuations though.
In the 1940s and 50s we witnessed the repatriation of hundreds of Armenians from Cyprus to Armenia. When the EOKA struggle and the inter-communal disturbances began in Cyprus in the 1950s another wave of movement, this time to the United Kingdom further reduced the number of Armenians. After the Turkish invasion in 1974, a fresh wave of emigration took place chiefly to the UK, further decreasing the numbers.
The Lebanese Civil War (1975-1991) and the Islamic Revolution in Iran (1979) resulted in an influx of temporary immigrants in Cyprus. They considered Cyprus as a transit station to the West, although some of them settled down in Cyprus and others returned back to their respective countries.
The latest wave comes from Armenia itself, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The economic difficulties in Armenia caused many to find shelter in countries providing employment and prosperity. However it should be noted that the majority of these Armenians were actually the children and grandchildren of those who had emigrated to Armenia during the repatriation period of 1940s and 50s.
In numeric terms the number of Armenians in Cyprus are about 3,000, around one third of them consist of Armenians who have come to Cyprus during the last 15 years. Unfortunately, this portion of Armenians is not yet fully integrated in the Armenian community, except for the elementary school where their children attend. I believe that this pattern is more or less true in all diaspora communities.
How about the political structures of the community?
The present political structure of the community could be characterized by the presence of two factions: Dashnaktsoutiun (ARS, AYMA/HMEM, Hamazkayin, AYF, ANC) and AGBU "affiliated" organisations (Ramgavars, Henchaks, Communists) pretty much in the same structure as all Armenian diaspora communities globally.
Recent elections (October 2005) for the post of the community Representative in the House of Representatives of Cyprus resulted in the election of Dr. Vahakn Atamyan (AGBU "affiliated") with a margin of 52% while Dr. Antranig Ashdjian (Dashnaktsoutiun) received 44 % and Parsegh Zartarian (independent) 4%.
And the life of Armenians in Cyprus?
The Armenian community of Cyprus is fully Armenian spoken. The average Armenian Cypriot speaks also fluent Greek and English. The older generation knows also Turkish to a certain degree. Before the 1974 invasion Armenians lived with the Turkish Cypriots in harmony. The invasion resulted in loss of considerable Armenian properties, which are now under Turkish occupation such as the Armenian monastery of Sourp Magar in Kyrenia, the Ganchvor Church in Famagusta and the Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church, Armenian elementary schools and Armenian Prelature in Nicosia.
The community has been active for the last three decades in supporting the Armenian Cause in all possible ways, especially propagating awareness about the Genocide in Cypriot political and media circles.
The community has sent large amounts of humanitarian and other assistance to Artsakh. In this effort which continues presently through the programs of the Armenian Relief Society Sossee Cyprus Chapter, the community always has the moral and financial support of Greek Cypriots. Currently, through a program administered by The Armenian Relief Society (HOM), some 400 orphans in Armenia and Artsakh are sponsored by Armenian and Greek Cypriots.
Relations between Armenia and Cyprus are cordial and at a very high level, with frequent visits of state delegations. The State Dance Ensemble of Armenia has recently performed in Larnaca and Nicosia.
A major setback in the life of our community has been the closure of Melkonian Education Istitute, and I believe that the full extent of the damage will surface in years to come. In the mean time I feel it is important that all parties - the AGBU and local administrators - involved in the scandal of the closure of the school account for their role in it.
Thousands of Armenians worldwide, especially those who use the Internet and electronic media, have been receiving Gibrahayer e-magazine. Could you give us an idea about this extremely popular project?
Gibrahayer is seven years old. It started with a list of 50 subscribers and has reached 5,000 subscribers globally (only 15% of the subscribers are from Cyprus). Cyprus is in the center of civilizations and conflicts. It is a politically vibrant area where Armenians live and prosper. The political, social and religious mix no doubt creates an active atmosphere and the need to communicate both at a community level and globally at Diaspora level and build bridges of communication between Cyprus, the diaspora and our homeland.
We feel we are an integral part of Cyprus. It is important that Armenians in Cyprus live and prosper. We feel that we have to stay here to safeguard whatever belongs to us: our church, our schools, our history, our homes, having in mind our new role of aiding economically and politically our newly formed Republic of Armenia and newly liberated lands in Artsakh and supporting our national cause. I am convinced that the Armenians of Cyprus will also become an example of co-existence with the Turkish Cypriots and as an extension will pave the road for a new Armeno-Turkish understanding.
The role of Gibrahayer therefore is to form a kind of bridge. You will be amazed - as you already know yourself as a subscriber of our e-magazine - by the articles received, letters as well as the discussions that have been taking place lately by our readers. A number of our subscribers have re-discovered each other through the pages of Gibrahayer.
Old friends, past students of the Melkonian Educational Institute, emigrants, people who have left Cyprus a long time ago and now live in other countries, have found each other and have renewed their friendships.
Where does the funding of Gibrahayer e-magazine come from?
The subscription of the e-magazine is free and will remain as such. It is neither funded by any organization nor does it accept financial assistance from anyone. We sometimes urge readers to donate sums for noble causes, our latest appeal being the assistance to a young Armenian tennis star, 15 year old Zarouhi Haroutyunyan from Armenia who currently practises with the Cyprus National Tennis Team. During the period that our readers have funded her tours, she has climbed an incredible 700 positions on the ITF Tour from 1245 to 575.
Is there any political line adopted by Gibrahayer e-magazine?
Any opinion or any event, even the simplest of statements, contains a degree of political attributes. Gibrahayer therefore has its political direction and a unique way that it views society and politics. This is visible in the way it presents news and the choice of articles and editorials.
Personally I have been involved in Dashnaktsoutiun and its affiliated organizations. That does not mean that I always adopt the "party line" as it comes.
We need to keep under check our organisations and parties and this is done through democratic institutions and procedures as well as transparency. In the case of party members and people involved in community affairs it is achieved through increased participation in our community structures and decision making processes.
I would like to think that Gibrahayer is also a tool that besides the information gateway it provides to its readers, it also invites them to think and act on the way we live our life in our communities and the way we contribute to our homelands.
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newd=89
He is married to Louise Kaprielian and they have two daughters and a son. He has been active in the Armenian community for three decades.
He is also active in tennis. He is the over 35 and over 45 champion of Cyprus. In 2005 he won international championships on the world tennis tour and finished 2005 in the top 100 on the world senior tour.
Below is an interview with Simon Aynedjian specially for the readers of our webiste:
Could you tell us a few words about the Armenian community in Cyprus?
The Armenian community in Cyprus is not a newly formed one. It has a continuous history of almost one thousand years. However, the biggest wave of Armenians arrived in Cyprus after the Adana massacres (1909) and continued up to the time of the Genocide (1915-1921). The survivors of these two tragic historical events have created the Armenian community as we know it today numbering around 3,000. There have been population fluctuations though.
In the 1940s and 50s we witnessed the repatriation of hundreds of Armenians from Cyprus to Armenia. When the EOKA struggle and the inter-communal disturbances began in Cyprus in the 1950s another wave of movement, this time to the United Kingdom further reduced the number of Armenians. After the Turkish invasion in 1974, a fresh wave of emigration took place chiefly to the UK, further decreasing the numbers.
The Lebanese Civil War (1975-1991) and the Islamic Revolution in Iran (1979) resulted in an influx of temporary immigrants in Cyprus. They considered Cyprus as a transit station to the West, although some of them settled down in Cyprus and others returned back to their respective countries.
The latest wave comes from Armenia itself, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The economic difficulties in Armenia caused many to find shelter in countries providing employment and prosperity. However it should be noted that the majority of these Armenians were actually the children and grandchildren of those who had emigrated to Armenia during the repatriation period of 1940s and 50s.
In numeric terms the number of Armenians in Cyprus are about 3,000, around one third of them consist of Armenians who have come to Cyprus during the last 15 years. Unfortunately, this portion of Armenians is not yet fully integrated in the Armenian community, except for the elementary school where their children attend. I believe that this pattern is more or less true in all diaspora communities.
How about the political structures of the community?
The present political structure of the community could be characterized by the presence of two factions: Dashnaktsoutiun (ARS, AYMA/HMEM, Hamazkayin, AYF, ANC) and AGBU "affiliated" organisations (Ramgavars, Henchaks, Communists) pretty much in the same structure as all Armenian diaspora communities globally.
Recent elections (October 2005) for the post of the community Representative in the House of Representatives of Cyprus resulted in the election of Dr. Vahakn Atamyan (AGBU "affiliated") with a margin of 52% while Dr. Antranig Ashdjian (Dashnaktsoutiun) received 44 % and Parsegh Zartarian (independent) 4%.
And the life of Armenians in Cyprus?
The Armenian community of Cyprus is fully Armenian spoken. The average Armenian Cypriot speaks also fluent Greek and English. The older generation knows also Turkish to a certain degree. Before the 1974 invasion Armenians lived with the Turkish Cypriots in harmony. The invasion resulted in loss of considerable Armenian properties, which are now under Turkish occupation such as the Armenian monastery of Sourp Magar in Kyrenia, the Ganchvor Church in Famagusta and the Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church, Armenian elementary schools and Armenian Prelature in Nicosia.
The community has been active for the last three decades in supporting the Armenian Cause in all possible ways, especially propagating awareness about the Genocide in Cypriot political and media circles.
The community has sent large amounts of humanitarian and other assistance to Artsakh. In this effort which continues presently through the programs of the Armenian Relief Society Sossee Cyprus Chapter, the community always has the moral and financial support of Greek Cypriots. Currently, through a program administered by The Armenian Relief Society (HOM), some 400 orphans in Armenia and Artsakh are sponsored by Armenian and Greek Cypriots.
Relations between Armenia and Cyprus are cordial and at a very high level, with frequent visits of state delegations. The State Dance Ensemble of Armenia has recently performed in Larnaca and Nicosia.
A major setback in the life of our community has been the closure of Melkonian Education Istitute, and I believe that the full extent of the damage will surface in years to come. In the mean time I feel it is important that all parties - the AGBU and local administrators - involved in the scandal of the closure of the school account for their role in it.
Thousands of Armenians worldwide, especially those who use the Internet and electronic media, have been receiving Gibrahayer e-magazine. Could you give us an idea about this extremely popular project?
Gibrahayer is seven years old. It started with a list of 50 subscribers and has reached 5,000 subscribers globally (only 15% of the subscribers are from Cyprus). Cyprus is in the center of civilizations and conflicts. It is a politically vibrant area where Armenians live and prosper. The political, social and religious mix no doubt creates an active atmosphere and the need to communicate both at a community level and globally at Diaspora level and build bridges of communication between Cyprus, the diaspora and our homeland.
We feel we are an integral part of Cyprus. It is important that Armenians in Cyprus live and prosper. We feel that we have to stay here to safeguard whatever belongs to us: our church, our schools, our history, our homes, having in mind our new role of aiding economically and politically our newly formed Republic of Armenia and newly liberated lands in Artsakh and supporting our national cause. I am convinced that the Armenians of Cyprus will also become an example of co-existence with the Turkish Cypriots and as an extension will pave the road for a new Armeno-Turkish understanding.
The role of Gibrahayer therefore is to form a kind of bridge. You will be amazed - as you already know yourself as a subscriber of our e-magazine - by the articles received, letters as well as the discussions that have been taking place lately by our readers. A number of our subscribers have re-discovered each other through the pages of Gibrahayer.
Old friends, past students of the Melkonian Educational Institute, emigrants, people who have left Cyprus a long time ago and now live in other countries, have found each other and have renewed their friendships.
Where does the funding of Gibrahayer e-magazine come from?
The subscription of the e-magazine is free and will remain as such. It is neither funded by any organization nor does it accept financial assistance from anyone. We sometimes urge readers to donate sums for noble causes, our latest appeal being the assistance to a young Armenian tennis star, 15 year old Zarouhi Haroutyunyan from Armenia who currently practises with the Cyprus National Tennis Team. During the period that our readers have funded her tours, she has climbed an incredible 700 positions on the ITF Tour from 1245 to 575.
Is there any political line adopted by Gibrahayer e-magazine?
Any opinion or any event, even the simplest of statements, contains a degree of political attributes. Gibrahayer therefore has its political direction and a unique way that it views society and politics. This is visible in the way it presents news and the choice of articles and editorials.
Personally I have been involved in Dashnaktsoutiun and its affiliated organizations. That does not mean that I always adopt the "party line" as it comes.
We need to keep under check our organisations and parties and this is done through democratic institutions and procedures as well as transparency. In the case of party members and people involved in community affairs it is achieved through increased participation in our community structures and decision making processes.
I would like to think that Gibrahayer is also a tool that besides the information gateway it provides to its readers, it also invites them to think and act on the way we live our life in our communities and the way we contribute to our homelands.
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newd=89
Vartanants Commemoration in Calcutta
Azad-Hye, Dubai, 24 February 2006: Vartanants was commemorated at the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy on 23 February 2006. The participants collectively said the Lord’s Prayer, followed by Saint Nersess Shnorhali’s hymn entitled “Norahrash Bsagavor”. The students of the College also sang a number of other hymns and patriotic songs.
Deacon Tigran Baghumyan, the Administrator of the College spoke about the spirit of Vartanants. First of all he congratulated the three students of the College named after Vartan and advised them to follow his and his brave friends’ example, who kept their indestructible spirit of patriotism. The trio then were given presents for their name day.
“ For centuries, - said Deacon Baghumyan-, our forefathers have been inspired by the strength of the unyielding spirit of Vartanants, have faced the enemy with the same spirit and have always been victorious. Today, dear students of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy, that same spirit is urging us to dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to the task of building a prosperous fatherland, keeping unshakable the faith of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church and the eternal bond between our people and God”.
According to the traditions of the Armenian Church Vartanants Feast is also nomenclature of His Holiness Garegin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, the College students sung the “Hayrabedakan Maghtank” and promised in the future to study with more dedication.
The programme of the commemoration concluded with a festive lunch.
Source: The College’s press release in Armenian language
http://www.azad-hye.com/communities/i1/vartanants-calcutta.pdf
We would like to thank Mr. Asadour Guzelian for the English translation
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newd=88
Deacon Tigran Baghumyan, the Administrator of the College spoke about the spirit of Vartanants. First of all he congratulated the three students of the College named after Vartan and advised them to follow his and his brave friends’ example, who kept their indestructible spirit of patriotism. The trio then were given presents for their name day.
“ For centuries, - said Deacon Baghumyan-, our forefathers have been inspired by the strength of the unyielding spirit of Vartanants, have faced the enemy with the same spirit and have always been victorious. Today, dear students of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy, that same spirit is urging us to dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to the task of building a prosperous fatherland, keeping unshakable the faith of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church and the eternal bond between our people and God”.
According to the traditions of the Armenian Church Vartanants Feast is also nomenclature of His Holiness Garegin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, the College students sung the “Hayrabedakan Maghtank” and promised in the future to study with more dedication.
The programme of the commemoration concluded with a festive lunch.
Source: The College’s press release in Armenian language
http://www.azad-hye.com/communities/i1/vartanants-calcutta.pdf
We would like to thank Mr. Asadour Guzelian for the English translation
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newd=88
Website of Armenian Cause in Arabic language launched in Beirut
Azad-Hye, Dubai, 24 February 2006: The National Armenian Committee in the Middle East has launched its all-Arabic website in February 2006. See the following link: http://www.ancme.org/
The committee is the Middle Eastern version of the Armenian National Committee of America (http://www.anca.org). It addresses the Arab public with a plain language and user friendly material.
The following sections are available on the main page of the website:
1- Latest news: series of news (mostly political) from international and regional news agencies, related to Armenia and Armenians, sometimes as short as few lines.
2- Studies and researches: A collection of articles and researches by Arab authors on Arab – Armenian relations, the Armenian Cause, Diaspora’s contribution to the recognition of the Armenian Cause, the dangers of the Pan-Turanianism, etc.
3- Publications: A list of publications by the Armenian Studies Center in Beirut since 1994 (totally 10 books).
4- Documentation: Treaties, maps, testimonies, including a list of parliaments and international organizations that have passed resolutions on the Armenian genocide. The interesting thing about this section is that almost all the texts of the above resolutions are given in Arabic language. This would certainly enable the Arab reader to have an overall view of the legal framework of these resolutions.
5- Photo gallery: Currently hosting series of photos related to the Genocide, Karabakh movement and the recent destruction of the Armenian historical cemetery in Old Julfa (Nakhichevan).
The website aims to present the Arab public with documents and scientific researches on the Armenian history and especially on the Armenian cause, for the purpose of enlightening the public opinion. Another target is the strengthening of the Armenian and Arab – Islamic ties through the encouragement of the diplomatic, cultural and economical exchanges between Armenia and the Arab World.
Much has to be done in the Arab and Islamic countries regarding Genocide recognition. Out of more than 50 Arab and Islamic states, only the Lebanese parliament has made a declaration condemning the Genocide. All the rest, including the countries that have historically accepted Armenian refugees and survivors of the Genocide, have not discussed the issue on official level.
The fact that the overwhelming majority of the Arab and Islamic countries do not have freely elected parliaments, definitely contributes to this policy of ignorance.
Supporting Turkey unconditionally as an Islamic country, without having a fair look into the historical facts, is another trait that is not helping much for the Genocide recognition campaign. Member countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference usually support each other without going into much details.
We hope that the website will help in introducing the Armenian cause to the general Arab public and will create more favorable stance towards the imminent need of recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newd=87
The committee is the Middle Eastern version of the Armenian National Committee of America (http://www.anca.org). It addresses the Arab public with a plain language and user friendly material.
The following sections are available on the main page of the website:
1- Latest news: series of news (mostly political) from international and regional news agencies, related to Armenia and Armenians, sometimes as short as few lines.
2- Studies and researches: A collection of articles and researches by Arab authors on Arab – Armenian relations, the Armenian Cause, Diaspora’s contribution to the recognition of the Armenian Cause, the dangers of the Pan-Turanianism, etc.
3- Publications: A list of publications by the Armenian Studies Center in Beirut since 1994 (totally 10 books).
4- Documentation: Treaties, maps, testimonies, including a list of parliaments and international organizations that have passed resolutions on the Armenian genocide. The interesting thing about this section is that almost all the texts of the above resolutions are given in Arabic language. This would certainly enable the Arab reader to have an overall view of the legal framework of these resolutions.
5- Photo gallery: Currently hosting series of photos related to the Genocide, Karabakh movement and the recent destruction of the Armenian historical cemetery in Old Julfa (Nakhichevan).
The website aims to present the Arab public with documents and scientific researches on the Armenian history and especially on the Armenian cause, for the purpose of enlightening the public opinion. Another target is the strengthening of the Armenian and Arab – Islamic ties through the encouragement of the diplomatic, cultural and economical exchanges between Armenia and the Arab World.
Much has to be done in the Arab and Islamic countries regarding Genocide recognition. Out of more than 50 Arab and Islamic states, only the Lebanese parliament has made a declaration condemning the Genocide. All the rest, including the countries that have historically accepted Armenian refugees and survivors of the Genocide, have not discussed the issue on official level.
The fact that the overwhelming majority of the Arab and Islamic countries do not have freely elected parliaments, definitely contributes to this policy of ignorance.
Supporting Turkey unconditionally as an Islamic country, without having a fair look into the historical facts, is another trait that is not helping much for the Genocide recognition campaign. Member countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference usually support each other without going into much details.
We hope that the website will help in introducing the Armenian cause to the general Arab public and will create more favorable stance towards the imminent need of recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newd=87
22 February 2006
Arousiak Sahakian (ethnographer) in the United Arab Emirates
Azad-Hye, Dubai, 22 February 2006: Arousiak Sahakian, philologist, ethnographer and folklore researcher has been a guest in the United Arab Emirates during January and part of February 2006. Azad-Hye had the opportunity to conduct the following interview with her on 14th January 2006:
Who organized your trip to the United Arab Emirates?
Initially I was invited by one of my old folklore dance students (Nvart Hovhannisian), who lives now in Sharjah (United Arab Emirates), but as you may realize, my trip needed to be arranged through official channels. For this I am obliged to Lorig Katrjian, the Principal of the weekly Armenian School in Sharjah, to whom I was introduced in Yerevan last summer. She happened to know a lot about my activities in Armenia and Diaspora, especially the 2 months of prolific presence in Aleppo, Syria in 1997, during which I gave series of lectures on folklore, mythology, customs, traditional crafts, songs and dances, etc. I even prepared a course in embroidery, although I am not an expert in it, but I could easily find a link with folklore and traditional crafts, especially in a location like Aleppo, where some of the oldest Western Armenian embroidery traditions are still alive.
Have you been frequently visiting Armenian communities?
During the Soviet era, our contacts were almost limited to few geographically close places, such as Aleppo, Beirut and Nicosia. My own impressions about the Diaspora are originated from my studies in Western Armenian Renaissance literature, which flourished during the 19th century in Constantinople (Istanbul). In our academic curriculum we used to review the works of many Western Armenian writers. This kind of knowledge proved to be useful when I started contacting Diaspora communities, but still I was lacking many other elements.
Armenia and Diaspora represent two different sets of values. Personally I respect both worlds. No side should prevail on the expense of the other one. This diversity should be seen as a source of wealth. Generations of Armenians living abroad have accumulated experience in communicating with other cultures in globally challenging environment. We should benefit from this experience.
Some people might consider the existence of these two worlds (Armenia and Diaspora) as a cause of division and duality.
This is narrow-mindedness. Although it is true that we aspire to see all Armenians living in the homeland, we cannot ignore the reality of the Diaspora. We have already two branches of the modern literary language. There are two transcriptions. Once I was asked about my position on reinstating the traditional Mesrobian transcription. I said it is a historical fact that we already have two literary languages, which we consider as a source of richness, so why we should opt to unify the transcriptions after using the new transcription for more than eight decades. Two of the Diaspora personalities Hilda Kalfayan and Hagop Balian, both from Paris, waged a tough war against the new transcription (branded by them as Abeghian or Soviet). Kalfayan wrote an open letter to the famous linguist Gevorg Tchahoukian (died last year), describing the new transcription with very offensive words.
In my opinion, demanding to have one dictation is already a project for division not unity, because you will have to force the dictation on the other side. This only can lead to split. I think the best way to deal with this subject is to let it to the test of time. The loss of Western and Eastern Armenian dialects is a greater issue than the adoption of the new dictation. Many elements of the ancient Armenian language were kept in the now distinct dialects. Why those critics are not worried about the loss of this treasure? Instead they are trying to exaggerate the case of the two transcriptions. Those who are raising the transcription issue are forgetting that the Western Armenian has lost a lot of its phonetic values compared to Eastern Armenian which preserved the phonetic values.
Do you think that the economic situation in Armenia is in progress?
Although I am not economic expert, but from what I see, the term “business” has acquired a different meaning in Armenia. For 7-8 decades Armenians did not really know what business is. What they are experiencing now are only one-sided transactions, concentrated on quick gains. This kind of understanding is harming the society and is creating unhealthy business atmosphere. We need to consider the individual as a core value.
How do you assess the experience of the Armenian communities in the Middle East?
The 80 years of tradition in the Middle East, which preserved the Armenian identity here rather than in any other place in the Diaspora should be continued. Armenians in these countries have experience in managing community life and caring for their traditions and language. I am pleased to see the UAE Armenians not divided into religious or political fractions. The organized community life especially in the educational domain has led to the introduction of a unified Western Armenian language in the Diaspora and has resulted in the loss of the rich dialects, but nevertheless the cause was noble. Armenians from different places and cultural backgrounds learned to live together and to accept a common language. This factor united them in the struggle for their national rights.
One of the painful experiences that Armenia had to go through and still is suffering from its results is human trafficking. You have expressed the view that prostitution in Armenia is to be blamed on the male population, because they are in fact paying for the offered “services”. What about the prostitution on a larger scale that crosses the border and transfers into the regional or international arena? What can we do about it?
I remember a saying in Armenian that goes as follows: All beggars should be sympathized except the Armenians, they should be discouraged. Why not apply the same to the prostitution and human trafficking? Provide employment opportunities and the problem will be solved.
In the earlier times, immediately after the devastating earthquake that rocked the northern part of Armenia (1988), some women were forced into prostitution just to keep their families alive. That was the result of the absolute necessity. The situation is different now. Armenia has been introduced into the network of international porno business, through internal collaborators. Definitely this is a new form of slavery.
The mission of rescuing the entrapped women from the control of the human traffickers is laid upon the Embassy of Armenia in the United Arab Emirates and other countries where Armenian Embassies exist. The Embassy should not be only involved in protocol meetings and sending congratulation letters on different occasions. It should not spend its time by preparing tour packages to high level government officials who pick UAE as a place for their seasonal vacations. Rather it should feel completely accountable for this shameful problem. On the other hand, I cannot understand how our male political leaders do not feel uneasy, when a sizable proportion of our female society is threatened to become victims of human trafficking. Let Ambassadors stop thinking that their job is hosting national day events with glamour, while citizens who need their urgent attention are only few kilometers away.
Embassies should do more than stamping or ratifying official documents. They should understand that the problem is directly affecting the “Hay Tad” (Armenian Cause) and the image of the Armenians in Diaspora communities. This is true especially in the Middle East, where the wider society is conservative. How can we convince our sympathizers that our grandmothers resisted the efforts of turkification, preferring to throw themselves into the Euphrates River, instead of surrendering to the Turkish soldier, when their granddaughters are dishonoring their memory? I do not believe that those Armenian women are doing so out of absolute need. The majority now know exactly what they are doing. I wonder what kind of Armenians are they and how did they emerge like a mushroom in our society during the last one or two decades?
What is the last word you want to say?
As a nation we should prove that immigration is not in our blood as some critics would like to hint at. We should find ways to prove that we belong to Armenia even if we are not living there. I understand that in most of the times we are not capable of taking big decisions like repatriation, due to economic burdens and prevailing lifestyles. Even in Armenia people of countryside origin, like me, find difficulty now to return back to the villages and live a different life than what they experience in Yerevan.
One final thought: Wherever one hundred Armenians come together, a new little Armenia will be born, but this is not to be confused with the homeland, which is one and single.
Arousiak Sahakian in few words:
Epical folklorist, specialist in national song and dance.
Researcher in women’s role in family, society and mythology, from ancient times until the present days.
Graduate of the Philological Faculty of Yerevan State University (1962).
Doctorate of Philological Studies (1971).
Senior staff member at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, National Academy of Sciences (1965-2000).
Published Works:
1) Comparative research of “Sasna Tzrer” Armenian epic variations, monography, Yerevan, 1975, 201 pages.
2) Collection of new variations of “Sasna Tzrer” Armenian epic, in collaboration with Sarkis Haroutounian, Yerevan, 1979, 582 pages (reprinted 1999).
3) Collection of popular Armenian music and songs from Taline, with other collaborators, Yerevan, 1984, 221 pages.
4) “Sasna Tzrer” Armenian folk epic monography, in collaboration with Alina Pahlevanian, Pasadena, California, 1996, 122 pages.
Who organized your trip to the United Arab Emirates?
Initially I was invited by one of my old folklore dance students (Nvart Hovhannisian), who lives now in Sharjah (United Arab Emirates), but as you may realize, my trip needed to be arranged through official channels. For this I am obliged to Lorig Katrjian, the Principal of the weekly Armenian School in Sharjah, to whom I was introduced in Yerevan last summer. She happened to know a lot about my activities in Armenia and Diaspora, especially the 2 months of prolific presence in Aleppo, Syria in 1997, during which I gave series of lectures on folklore, mythology, customs, traditional crafts, songs and dances, etc. I even prepared a course in embroidery, although I am not an expert in it, but I could easily find a link with folklore and traditional crafts, especially in a location like Aleppo, where some of the oldest Western Armenian embroidery traditions are still alive.
Have you been frequently visiting Armenian communities?
During the Soviet era, our contacts were almost limited to few geographically close places, such as Aleppo, Beirut and Nicosia. My own impressions about the Diaspora are originated from my studies in Western Armenian Renaissance literature, which flourished during the 19th century in Constantinople (Istanbul). In our academic curriculum we used to review the works of many Western Armenian writers. This kind of knowledge proved to be useful when I started contacting Diaspora communities, but still I was lacking many other elements.
Armenia and Diaspora represent two different sets of values. Personally I respect both worlds. No side should prevail on the expense of the other one. This diversity should be seen as a source of wealth. Generations of Armenians living abroad have accumulated experience in communicating with other cultures in globally challenging environment. We should benefit from this experience.
Some people might consider the existence of these two worlds (Armenia and Diaspora) as a cause of division and duality.
This is narrow-mindedness. Although it is true that we aspire to see all Armenians living in the homeland, we cannot ignore the reality of the Diaspora. We have already two branches of the modern literary language. There are two transcriptions. Once I was asked about my position on reinstating the traditional Mesrobian transcription. I said it is a historical fact that we already have two literary languages, which we consider as a source of richness, so why we should opt to unify the transcriptions after using the new transcription for more than eight decades. Two of the Diaspora personalities Hilda Kalfayan and Hagop Balian, both from Paris, waged a tough war against the new transcription (branded by them as Abeghian or Soviet). Kalfayan wrote an open letter to the famous linguist Gevorg Tchahoukian (died last year), describing the new transcription with very offensive words.
In my opinion, demanding to have one dictation is already a project for division not unity, because you will have to force the dictation on the other side. This only can lead to split. I think the best way to deal with this subject is to let it to the test of time. The loss of Western and Eastern Armenian dialects is a greater issue than the adoption of the new dictation. Many elements of the ancient Armenian language were kept in the now distinct dialects. Why those critics are not worried about the loss of this treasure? Instead they are trying to exaggerate the case of the two transcriptions. Those who are raising the transcription issue are forgetting that the Western Armenian has lost a lot of its phonetic values compared to Eastern Armenian which preserved the phonetic values.
Do you think that the economic situation in Armenia is in progress?
Although I am not economic expert, but from what I see, the term “business” has acquired a different meaning in Armenia. For 7-8 decades Armenians did not really know what business is. What they are experiencing now are only one-sided transactions, concentrated on quick gains. This kind of understanding is harming the society and is creating unhealthy business atmosphere. We need to consider the individual as a core value.
How do you assess the experience of the Armenian communities in the Middle East?
The 80 years of tradition in the Middle East, which preserved the Armenian identity here rather than in any other place in the Diaspora should be continued. Armenians in these countries have experience in managing community life and caring for their traditions and language. I am pleased to see the UAE Armenians not divided into religious or political fractions. The organized community life especially in the educational domain has led to the introduction of a unified Western Armenian language in the Diaspora and has resulted in the loss of the rich dialects, but nevertheless the cause was noble. Armenians from different places and cultural backgrounds learned to live together and to accept a common language. This factor united them in the struggle for their national rights.
One of the painful experiences that Armenia had to go through and still is suffering from its results is human trafficking. You have expressed the view that prostitution in Armenia is to be blamed on the male population, because they are in fact paying for the offered “services”. What about the prostitution on a larger scale that crosses the border and transfers into the regional or international arena? What can we do about it?
I remember a saying in Armenian that goes as follows: All beggars should be sympathized except the Armenians, they should be discouraged. Why not apply the same to the prostitution and human trafficking? Provide employment opportunities and the problem will be solved.
In the earlier times, immediately after the devastating earthquake that rocked the northern part of Armenia (1988), some women were forced into prostitution just to keep their families alive. That was the result of the absolute necessity. The situation is different now. Armenia has been introduced into the network of international porno business, through internal collaborators. Definitely this is a new form of slavery.
The mission of rescuing the entrapped women from the control of the human traffickers is laid upon the Embassy of Armenia in the United Arab Emirates and other countries where Armenian Embassies exist. The Embassy should not be only involved in protocol meetings and sending congratulation letters on different occasions. It should not spend its time by preparing tour packages to high level government officials who pick UAE as a place for their seasonal vacations. Rather it should feel completely accountable for this shameful problem. On the other hand, I cannot understand how our male political leaders do not feel uneasy, when a sizable proportion of our female society is threatened to become victims of human trafficking. Let Ambassadors stop thinking that their job is hosting national day events with glamour, while citizens who need their urgent attention are only few kilometers away.
Embassies should do more than stamping or ratifying official documents. They should understand that the problem is directly affecting the “Hay Tad” (Armenian Cause) and the image of the Armenians in Diaspora communities. This is true especially in the Middle East, where the wider society is conservative. How can we convince our sympathizers that our grandmothers resisted the efforts of turkification, preferring to throw themselves into the Euphrates River, instead of surrendering to the Turkish soldier, when their granddaughters are dishonoring their memory? I do not believe that those Armenian women are doing so out of absolute need. The majority now know exactly what they are doing. I wonder what kind of Armenians are they and how did they emerge like a mushroom in our society during the last one or two decades?
What is the last word you want to say?
As a nation we should prove that immigration is not in our blood as some critics would like to hint at. We should find ways to prove that we belong to Armenia even if we are not living there. I understand that in most of the times we are not capable of taking big decisions like repatriation, due to economic burdens and prevailing lifestyles. Even in Armenia people of countryside origin, like me, find difficulty now to return back to the villages and live a different life than what they experience in Yerevan.
One final thought: Wherever one hundred Armenians come together, a new little Armenia will be born, but this is not to be confused with the homeland, which is one and single.
Arousiak Sahakian in few words:
Epical folklorist, specialist in national song and dance.
Researcher in women’s role in family, society and mythology, from ancient times until the present days.
Graduate of the Philological Faculty of Yerevan State University (1962).
Doctorate of Philological Studies (1971).
Senior staff member at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, National Academy of Sciences (1965-2000).
Published Works:
1) Comparative research of “Sasna Tzrer” Armenian epic variations, monography, Yerevan, 1975, 201 pages.
2) Collection of new variations of “Sasna Tzrer” Armenian epic, in collaboration with Sarkis Haroutounian, Yerevan, 1979, 582 pages (reprinted 1999).
3) Collection of popular Armenian music and songs from Taline, with other collaborators, Yerevan, 1984, 221 pages.
4) “Sasna Tzrer” Armenian folk epic monography, in collaboration with Alina Pahlevanian, Pasadena, California, 1996, 122 pages.
18 February 2006
The Story of "Autobiography and Recollections"
Azad-Hye, Dubai, 18 February 2006: In October 2005 a new addition enriched the library of the Genocide memoirs and chronicles. Tamar Topjian Der-Ohannessian, the Principle of the Abu Dhabi Armenian Community’s weekly school and a long time resident in the United Arab Emirates, published a translation of a manuscript left behind as a family treasure by her grandfather Bedros Der Bedrossian (1884-1980), titled “Autobiography and Recollections”.
Below is the story behind the book, written by Tamar Der-Ohannessian specially to the readers of our website.
My maternal grandfather, Bedros Der Bedrossian was a survivor of the Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman government against its Armenian subjects during the First World War. After many trials and tribulations he finally ended up in Aleppo, where he married his fiancée, Noyemzar, also a survivor of the Genocide, and started a family. They had five daughters who eventually moved to Lebanon and from there to the United States where they all live now, with their respective families and extended families. In 1972 Bedros and Noyemzar finally moved to the states to be with their family.
During all those years, they rarely spoke of the suffering and sorrow they endured. As their grandchildren, we never heard them tell us stories of the atrocities they had experienced and witnessed.
After settling in Wynnewood, PA, with their third daughter and her family, Bedros started writing his memoirs just to keep himself occupied. He never thought anyone would read it, let alone have it in print. Despite his advanced age, he has told his story with a very logical sequence of events. He also managed to finish his story before passing away in 1980 at the age of 96.
But the manuscript stayed in a drawer at my aunt’s house for many years. We all wanted to read it some day, but it was just one copy and too precious to pass around. Also an old man’s handwriting was not very easy to read. Eventually, five Xerox copies were made; one for each daughter.
During the mid-nineteen eighties, computers were not very common, and Armenian fonts were virtually non-existent. But, I managed to obtain a Multiscribe version of the Armenian fonts and started typing the memoirs on our Apple II GS computer (the one you had to boot every time you wanted to use it). After many months of painstaking labor, a typed version of the manuscript was ready. All of a sudden there was great interest in the book, which was Xeroxed by the dozen and given to whoever showed interest and wanted to have a copy, be it members of the family, friends, Ourfatzi compatriots, as well as institutes such as the Zoryan Institute and other such establishments.
Still, the new generation in the family, the great-grand children, did not read it, because reading in Armenian was not very easy for them. They all meant to read it some day…
During a family reunion in December 1998 the subject of translating it came up. That was when I decided it would be a worthwhile effort to translate the memoirs to English, so that it would be accessible to everyone. It was finally completed in November 2004. My cousin, Dr. Vahan Janjigian, offered to edit it and the final version was ready in October 2005. The autobiography was translated the way it was written, with no changes or omissions, having Bedros Der Bedrossian’s progeny in mind. Leon, my husband, suggested having it printed as a paperback book rather than making Xerox copies like the Armenian version. And so, the printed “Autobiography and Recollections” was ready to be presented to the family during the Thanksgiving get-together in November 2005.
Tamar Der-Ohannessian’s e-mail: tderohannessian@yahoo.com
Table of Contents (PDF format):
http://www.azad-hye.com/media/g1/table-of-contents.pdf
Book title: “Autobiography & Recollections”
Author: Bedros Der Bedrossian (1884-1980), originally from Ourfa
Translated by: Tamar Der-Ohannessian, Granddaughter, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Edited by: Dr. Vahan Janjigian, Grandson, New York, USA
Number of pages: 308 (16.5 X 23 cm.)
Date and place of print: October 2005, Philadelphia, USA
Printing of the volume was made possible by Leon and Tamar Der-Ohannessian
Other translations by Tamar Der-Ohannessian:
1- “Tempest-Born Dro”, by Simon Vratsian, English abridged translation, New York 2000, 126 pages.
2- “St. Gregory the Enlightener and the Conversion of Armenia”, by Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian, English translation, Antelias 2001, 87 pages.
Below is the story behind the book, written by Tamar Der-Ohannessian specially to the readers of our website.
My maternal grandfather, Bedros Der Bedrossian was a survivor of the Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman government against its Armenian subjects during the First World War. After many trials and tribulations he finally ended up in Aleppo, where he married his fiancée, Noyemzar, also a survivor of the Genocide, and started a family. They had five daughters who eventually moved to Lebanon and from there to the United States where they all live now, with their respective families and extended families. In 1972 Bedros and Noyemzar finally moved to the states to be with their family.
During all those years, they rarely spoke of the suffering and sorrow they endured. As their grandchildren, we never heard them tell us stories of the atrocities they had experienced and witnessed.
After settling in Wynnewood, PA, with their third daughter and her family, Bedros started writing his memoirs just to keep himself occupied. He never thought anyone would read it, let alone have it in print. Despite his advanced age, he has told his story with a very logical sequence of events. He also managed to finish his story before passing away in 1980 at the age of 96.
But the manuscript stayed in a drawer at my aunt’s house for many years. We all wanted to read it some day, but it was just one copy and too precious to pass around. Also an old man’s handwriting was not very easy to read. Eventually, five Xerox copies were made; one for each daughter.
During the mid-nineteen eighties, computers were not very common, and Armenian fonts were virtually non-existent. But, I managed to obtain a Multiscribe version of the Armenian fonts and started typing the memoirs on our Apple II GS computer (the one you had to boot every time you wanted to use it). After many months of painstaking labor, a typed version of the manuscript was ready. All of a sudden there was great interest in the book, which was Xeroxed by the dozen and given to whoever showed interest and wanted to have a copy, be it members of the family, friends, Ourfatzi compatriots, as well as institutes such as the Zoryan Institute and other such establishments.
Still, the new generation in the family, the great-grand children, did not read it, because reading in Armenian was not very easy for them. They all meant to read it some day…
During a family reunion in December 1998 the subject of translating it came up. That was when I decided it would be a worthwhile effort to translate the memoirs to English, so that it would be accessible to everyone. It was finally completed in November 2004. My cousin, Dr. Vahan Janjigian, offered to edit it and the final version was ready in October 2005. The autobiography was translated the way it was written, with no changes or omissions, having Bedros Der Bedrossian’s progeny in mind. Leon, my husband, suggested having it printed as a paperback book rather than making Xerox copies like the Armenian version. And so, the printed “Autobiography and Recollections” was ready to be presented to the family during the Thanksgiving get-together in November 2005.
Tamar Der-Ohannessian’s e-mail: tderohannessian@yahoo.com
Table of Contents (PDF format):
http://www.azad-hye.com/media/g1/table-of-contents.pdf
Book title: “Autobiography & Recollections”
Author: Bedros Der Bedrossian (1884-1980), originally from Ourfa
Translated by: Tamar Der-Ohannessian, Granddaughter, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Edited by: Dr. Vahan Janjigian, Grandson, New York, USA
Number of pages: 308 (16.5 X 23 cm.)
Date and place of print: October 2005, Philadelphia, USA
Printing of the volume was made possible by Leon and Tamar Der-Ohannessian
Other translations by Tamar Der-Ohannessian:
1- “Tempest-Born Dro”, by Simon Vratsian, English abridged translation, New York 2000, 126 pages.
2- “St. Gregory the Enlightener and the Conversion of Armenia”, by Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian, English translation, Antelias 2001, 87 pages.
16 February 2006
Syria's Grand Mufti Meets Spanish Ambassador In Damascus
Ahmad F. ZAHRA
Aleppo (SANA)
Monday, February 13, 2006 - 05:10 PM
The Grand Mufti of the Republic Dr. Ahmad Badr Hassoun stressed that
Islam is the religion of amity and tolerance, and underscored deep
friendship and cooperation between Syria and Spain.
Dr. Hassoun, who met in Aleppo with the Spanish ambassador in Damascus
Juan Serat, the Spanish Honorary Consul in the city and the Resident
Representative of the United Nations Development program (UNDP) in
Syria, pointed out to the common cultural civilization between the
two countries.
The Spanish ambassador, for his part, expressed denunciation of the
cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad, stressing that freedom of expression
doesn't mean offending religious and humanitarian values.
Mr. Serat said that 'we are all called to enhance the dialogue and
understanding among civilizations so that the world can live in
peace and safety...we urge for respect to the religions and their
revered symbols'
He also voiced admiration of the spiritual and social coherence among
all the Syrians.
His Eminence Archbishop Butros Mrayati of Armenian Catholics and His
Eminence Archbishop Shahan Sarkisian of the Armenian Orthodox in
Aleppo denounced the publication of the offending drawings of the
Prophet Mohammad, stressing that this amount to inciting sedition
and do not reflect the freedom of expression.
Later, the Grand Mufti of the Republic and the Spanish ambassador in
Damascus presented a Spanish financial gift to three charity societies
in Aleppo: The Elderly House for the Armenians, the Syrian Fraternity
Family Socie"
Aleppo (SANA)
Monday, February 13, 2006 - 05:10 PM
The Grand Mufti of the Republic Dr. Ahmad Badr Hassoun stressed that
Islam is the religion of amity and tolerance, and underscored deep
friendship and cooperation between Syria and Spain.
Dr. Hassoun, who met in Aleppo with the Spanish ambassador in Damascus
Juan Serat, the Spanish Honorary Consul in the city and the Resident
Representative of the United Nations Development program (UNDP) in
Syria, pointed out to the common cultural civilization between the
two countries.
The Spanish ambassador, for his part, expressed denunciation of the
cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad, stressing that freedom of expression
doesn't mean offending religious and humanitarian values.
Mr. Serat said that 'we are all called to enhance the dialogue and
understanding among civilizations so that the world can live in
peace and safety...we urge for respect to the religions and their
revered symbols'
He also voiced admiration of the spiritual and social coherence among
all the Syrians.
His Eminence Archbishop Butros Mrayati of Armenian Catholics and His
Eminence Archbishop Shahan Sarkisian of the Armenian Orthodox in
Aleppo denounced the publication of the offending drawings of the
Prophet Mohammad, stressing that this amount to inciting sedition
and do not reflect the freedom of expression.
Later, the Grand Mufti of the Republic and the Spanish ambassador in
Damascus presented a Spanish financial gift to three charity societies
in Aleppo: The Elderly House for the Armenians, the Syrian Fraternity
Family Socie"
12 February 2006
Ambassador Poladian awarded "Independence Order"
Azad-Hye, Dubai, 12 February 2006: On 11 February 2006 the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has awarded the “Independence Order” to outgoing Armenian Ambassador Dr. Arshak Poladian, in appreciation of his efforts made during his tenure to strengthen and expand the ties between Armenia and the UAE.
The Order is the third highest in the UAE and is given only to envoys of foreign countries. Abdullah Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, the Foreign Ministry's Under Secretary decorated the Ambassador during a special ceremony held in the Ministry, wishing him success in his future assignments.
Al Nuaimi praised the political and scientific endeavors of Ambassador Poladian, pointing out that the Order is bestowed on the representative of a country, which has only recently established relations with the UAE, a fact that reflects the magnitude of the progress in the bilateral relations.
Earlier on the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held reception in the “Abu Dhabi Officers’ Club” to bid farewell to Ambassador Poladian (and his Russian and Bahraini colleagues).
The reception was attended by a number of Ambassadors and officials in the country (including Foreign Ministry’s Under Secretary Abdullah Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Director of Foreign Ministry’s Protocol Department Obeid Al Zaabi, President’s Legal and Religious Advisor Sheikh Ali Al Hashimi and others). Dignitaries from the Armenian community and members of the Embassy’s staff were also present.
Poladian, previously advisor to Armenia’s Foreign Minister, has first arrived in Abu Dhabi in 2000 and started his initial contacts from a hotel room, near the present location of the Embassy on Khalifa Street. Few months later, in September 2000, the Embassy was officially inaugurated with the presence of Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. The new building of the Embassy was inaugurated in September 2005 and is expected to be ready in two years time.
Serving as Charge d'Affaires (2000-2002), Poladian was promoted in August 2002 to the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, following the visit of President Kocharian to the UAE. He was appointed also as non-resident Ambassador to Kuwait and Bahrain.
During his term in Abu Dhabi he published three works (mainly of informative nature): "Studies in the History and Culture of the East" (2001), "History of Arab-Armenian Relations" (2002) and "Islam: Religion & State" (2003), besides his contribution in preparing a booklet on the occasion of the Armenian Cultural Week in Sharjah (December 2004).
Poladian is planning to stay in the United Arab Emirates until the first week of March 2006. He will be replaced by Vahagn Melikian (born 1967), graduate of oriental studies, presently Head of the Protocol Department in the Armenian Foreign Ministry, son of the well known Professor Gourgen Melikian, Dean of the Faculty of the Oriental Languages at the Yerevan State University.
Photos:
1) Poladian receives the "Independence Order" from Foreign Ministry's Under Secretary Abdulla Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, on behalf of the President of the UAE.
2) Farewell party to Ambassador Poladian (third from right) and his colleagues.
The Order is the third highest in the UAE and is given only to envoys of foreign countries. Abdullah Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, the Foreign Ministry's Under Secretary decorated the Ambassador during a special ceremony held in the Ministry, wishing him success in his future assignments.
Al Nuaimi praised the political and scientific endeavors of Ambassador Poladian, pointing out that the Order is bestowed on the representative of a country, which has only recently established relations with the UAE, a fact that reflects the magnitude of the progress in the bilateral relations.
Earlier on the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held reception in the “Abu Dhabi Officers’ Club” to bid farewell to Ambassador Poladian (and his Russian and Bahraini colleagues).
The reception was attended by a number of Ambassadors and officials in the country (including Foreign Ministry’s Under Secretary Abdullah Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Director of Foreign Ministry’s Protocol Department Obeid Al Zaabi, President’s Legal and Religious Advisor Sheikh Ali Al Hashimi and others). Dignitaries from the Armenian community and members of the Embassy’s staff were also present.
Poladian, previously advisor to Armenia’s Foreign Minister, has first arrived in Abu Dhabi in 2000 and started his initial contacts from a hotel room, near the present location of the Embassy on Khalifa Street. Few months later, in September 2000, the Embassy was officially inaugurated with the presence of Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. The new building of the Embassy was inaugurated in September 2005 and is expected to be ready in two years time.
Serving as Charge d'Affaires (2000-2002), Poladian was promoted in August 2002 to the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, following the visit of President Kocharian to the UAE. He was appointed also as non-resident Ambassador to Kuwait and Bahrain.
During his term in Abu Dhabi he published three works (mainly of informative nature): "Studies in the History and Culture of the East" (2001), "History of Arab-Armenian Relations" (2002) and "Islam: Religion & State" (2003), besides his contribution in preparing a booklet on the occasion of the Armenian Cultural Week in Sharjah (December 2004).
Poladian is planning to stay in the United Arab Emirates until the first week of March 2006. He will be replaced by Vahagn Melikian (born 1967), graduate of oriental studies, presently Head of the Protocol Department in the Armenian Foreign Ministry, son of the well known Professor Gourgen Melikian, Dean of the Faculty of the Oriental Languages at the Yerevan State University.
Photos:
1) Poladian receives the "Independence Order" from Foreign Ministry's Under Secretary Abdulla Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, on behalf of the President of the UAE.
2) Farewell party to Ambassador Poladian (third from right) and his colleagues.
11 February 2006
The International Armenian Black Belts Academy's (ABBA) annual ceremony in Aleppo, Syria
Azad-Hye, Dubai, 11 February 2006: Under the patronage of Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, ABBA's annual certificate awarding ceremony was held on 29 January 2006 in "Avedis Aharonian" Hall in Aleppo.
The Archbishop was welcomed by ABBA's director Avo Katerjian and prime coach George Dournaian. Among the special guests were Kamal Kheder (Director of the Arab Sports Union), Nour Shamsi (President of the Athletic Union of Aleppo), Garbis Tovmassian (Director of the Armenian General Athletic Union, Homenetmen, Aleppo Chapter) and specially invited from Lebanon Kung Fu Wushu expert Chen.
Tamar Bjakjian and Nora Der Sarkissian delivered welcome speeches, mentioning the role of ABBA in the community, especially within the ranks of the young generation.
Soon afterwards, ABBA athletes appeared on stage chanting the International ABBA anthem (lyrics by Avo Katerjian, music by Raffi Abedjian). This was followed by several Kung Fu Wushu exercises and movements that grabbed the attention of the audience.
After a broad presentation, Mr. Avo Katerjian thanked Archbishop Sarkissian for his presence and invited him to deliver his heartening words to the athletes of the Academy.
Coach George Durnaian handed the Archbishop a symbolic sword, referring to the bravery and martial arts skillfulness of the athletes. He also expressed his gratitude to Avo Katerjian, member of the founding board, for his continuous efforts in directing and managing the public relations and educational programs of the Academy and especially for writing the lyrics of the anthem. Additionally, a certificate by Grand Master Dr. Garo Kebabjian was handed to him.
From his side, Durnaian gave a commemorative present to Chen as a token of commemoration and honor.
168 athletes received various certifications, among them the first graduates of the Academy, who already completed a 6 year course this year. The efforts of the coaches George Khourie, Mosig Doshoglanlian and Baghdig Sarkissian were highlighted.
At the end of the ceremony, Archbishop Sarkissian addressed the attendants wishing them success. He expressed his happiness for being amongst them and congratulated the athletes and the directors for what they have achieved.
The parents left the ceremony satisfied with the physical and moral education their children were receiving.
Photo: George Dournaian presents award to Chen
09 February 2006
The archives of the French College in Aintoura, Lebanon
New Revelations on the Armenian Genocide
By Nora Parseghian.
English adaptation by Simon Beugekian.
"Aztag" daily armenian newspaper - Beirut
6th February 2006 (English supplement)
Subtitle: The French College in Aintoura, Lebanon or Jemal Pasha's orphanage where Armenian children were to be turkified.
Summary: Missak Keleshian discovers photos and documents about the transformation of the French College in Aintoura, Lebanon to an orphanage, where children survivors of the Armenian Genocide were gathered to be turkified.
The Armenian nation lived the most horrible phase of its history in 1915. The Ottoman authorities executed the Genocide which resulted in the killing of over 1.5 million Armenians, while most of the Armenians remaining on the western parts of historic Armenia were compelled to leave there cities and villages and deported, marched towards the deserts of Iraq and Syria.
Parts of the deported Armenians reached Lebanon where they believed that they were left in peace without realizing that in one of the not-so-far villages of Lebanon, namely Aintoura, which is about half an hour drive from the capital city Beirut, a plan of turkification of Armenian orphans had been put in motion in 1915.
Such a new page in the history of the Armenian Genocide was recently discovered by Missak Keleshian, who is an avid collector of all kinds of photos of the Armenian Genocide. This is how he speak about this most recent discovery: "A few months ago I was reading a book entitled "The Lions of Marash" by Stanley E. Kurr, who tells about his personal experiences with Near East Relief during the years 1919-1922. In the book I cam across a shocking photo with the following caption: "Jemal Pasha...on the steps of the French College at Aintoura, Lebanon. Jemal Pasha had established an orphanage for Armenian children in the college building and had appointed Halide Edib to be its directress". Halide Edib Hanum was a famous Turkish feminist and very well known for her efforts to turkify Armenian orphans. Beside being shocking, the photo was the first step that lead to a new discovery.
"On December 8, I visited the village of Aintoura and located the school where the photo was taken. It's a famous French College and it was established by the Jesuit priests. I met with the school principal and after showing him the photo, I asked for his permission to research the school's archives for additional information about it and reveal its entire history. He was also amazed by the photo and asked the archivist of the school to assist me."
"The archivist of the school came to Lebanon 43 years ago and has been since working in the archive of the French College in Aintoura.
I showed him the photo and explained to him what I was looking for.
To my amazement he was not only well aware of that part of the school's history that I was interested in but he had also gathered all the archival material pertaining to that period in a separate file which he gave to me."
According to Missak Keleshian, the most important revelation of the photo is the presence of Jemal Pasha and Halibe Hanum beside Armenian orphans. Halide Hanum was one of the world renown feminists of her times. She had received higher education and as one of the early feminists met with Gandhy and visited the United States of America for meeting with the leaders of the feminist movement there. She fell in love with Kemal Atatourk but the latter rejected her. Halide Hanum was a strong supporter of the pashas who planned, organized and executed the Armenian Genocide and played a crucial role in the efforts to turkify the remnants of the Armenians and was one of the leaders of that effort.
Read the rest of the article and see more pictures at:
http://www.aztagdaily.com/EnglishSupplement/FEA_02012006_0001.htm
URL at Azad-Hye: http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId=621jd41
By Nora Parseghian.
English adaptation by Simon Beugekian.
"Aztag" daily armenian newspaper - Beirut
6th February 2006 (English supplement)
Subtitle: The French College in Aintoura, Lebanon or Jemal Pasha's orphanage where Armenian children were to be turkified.
Summary: Missak Keleshian discovers photos and documents about the transformation of the French College in Aintoura, Lebanon to an orphanage, where children survivors of the Armenian Genocide were gathered to be turkified.
The Armenian nation lived the most horrible phase of its history in 1915. The Ottoman authorities executed the Genocide which resulted in the killing of over 1.5 million Armenians, while most of the Armenians remaining on the western parts of historic Armenia were compelled to leave there cities and villages and deported, marched towards the deserts of Iraq and Syria.
Parts of the deported Armenians reached Lebanon where they believed that they were left in peace without realizing that in one of the not-so-far villages of Lebanon, namely Aintoura, which is about half an hour drive from the capital city Beirut, a plan of turkification of Armenian orphans had been put in motion in 1915.
Such a new page in the history of the Armenian Genocide was recently discovered by Missak Keleshian, who is an avid collector of all kinds of photos of the Armenian Genocide. This is how he speak about this most recent discovery: "A few months ago I was reading a book entitled "The Lions of Marash" by Stanley E. Kurr, who tells about his personal experiences with Near East Relief during the years 1919-1922. In the book I cam across a shocking photo with the following caption: "Jemal Pasha...on the steps of the French College at Aintoura, Lebanon. Jemal Pasha had established an orphanage for Armenian children in the college building and had appointed Halide Edib to be its directress". Halide Edib Hanum was a famous Turkish feminist and very well known for her efforts to turkify Armenian orphans. Beside being shocking, the photo was the first step that lead to a new discovery.
"On December 8, I visited the village of Aintoura and located the school where the photo was taken. It's a famous French College and it was established by the Jesuit priests. I met with the school principal and after showing him the photo, I asked for his permission to research the school's archives for additional information about it and reveal its entire history. He was also amazed by the photo and asked the archivist of the school to assist me."
"The archivist of the school came to Lebanon 43 years ago and has been since working in the archive of the French College in Aintoura.
I showed him the photo and explained to him what I was looking for.
To my amazement he was not only well aware of that part of the school's history that I was interested in but he had also gathered all the archival material pertaining to that period in a separate file which he gave to me."
According to Missak Keleshian, the most important revelation of the photo is the presence of Jemal Pasha and Halibe Hanum beside Armenian orphans. Halide Hanum was one of the world renown feminists of her times. She had received higher education and as one of the early feminists met with Gandhy and visited the United States of America for meeting with the leaders of the feminist movement there. She fell in love with Kemal Atatourk but the latter rejected her. Halide Hanum was a strong supporter of the pashas who planned, organized and executed the Armenian Genocide and played a crucial role in the efforts to turkify the remnants of the Armenians and was one of the leaders of that effort.
Read the rest of the article and see more pictures at:
http://www.aztagdaily.com/EnglishSupplement/FEA_02012006_0001.htm
URL at Azad-Hye: http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId=621jd41
Oldest daughter of writer Oshagan passes away in Amman
From: "Azg" Yerevan Armenian language daily newspaper
7 February 2005
By Hakob Tsulikian
At the age of 86, Anahit Oshakan Voskerichian, honored teacher and founder-member of the Fund for Armenian Relief passed away in Amman, Jordan, The Armenian Mirror Spectator reports.
The oldest child of Hakob Oshakan and Arax Astrchian, Anahit was born in 1919 in Plovdiv (Bulgaria) and was brought up in Cairo and Cyprus where her father lectured for local Armenian schools. In 1934 her family settled in Jerusalem where Hakob Oshakan worked at Targmanchats Monastery.
Anahit graduated from the American Academy in Jerusalem but the WW II hindered her to continue her studies in Paris. In 1943 she married an architect from Erzrum named Tiran Voskerchian. For many years she taught history at the School of Christian Missioners in Amman and then was appointed headmistress of AGBU's local school. In her declining years, particularly after her brother Vahe Oshakan's death, Anahit made every effort to transport her father's legacy to Armenia.
"She was a well of knowledge. One could always learn something from her," one of her closest friends said.
Original title: "ANAHIT OSHAKAN VOSKERICHIAN PASSES AWAY"
Picture taken by Azad-Hye (the tomb of Hagop Oshagan in Aleppo).
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId=833js86
Benefection to Armenia has restarted in the United Arab Emirates
We received the following circular with the header of the Council of the Armenian Community in the Northern Emirates.
BENEFACTION
Dear Fellow Armenians,
We would like to inform you that the benefaction to Armenia has now restarted.
Anyone interested in donating used items (clothes, toys), but in good condition, kindly arrange to deliver your items to the watchman of the Armenian Church.
Thank you for helping needy families in Armenia.
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church Council
6 February 2006, Circular 01/0206
P.O. Box 41117, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971-6-5660320, Fax: +971-6-5660790
E-mail: armcom@emirates.net.ae
PICTURE: Door of the Sharjah Armenian Church (1998)
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId=140ja54
Reflections - past and present
From: “The Cyprus Weekly”
5 February 2006
John Guevherian presents his new paintings Apocalypse Gallery in Lefkosia (Nicosia) from 4th February at until 17th February 2006.
In this exhibition the artist presents two entities- paintings and abstract compositions with mixed media.
In the second entity, the artist brings to the surface another aspect of his talent, which perhaps was unknown until now. Putting together parts taken from electronic appliances, numbers and signs from already obsolete items he constructs an image which has a three dimensional sensation. The numbers and geometrical patterns in these works project an association of ideas and the end result is coherent, well balanced and exceptionally interesting.
The paintings of the artist are already very well known to the art-loving public for their distinctiveness and the iinfinite calmness and tranquility which they project. They seem to originate from the land of dreams as if existing only in the realm of thre world of fantasy.
The artist creates his own "landscapes" and reflections on specific historic, cultural as well as everyday events intrigue the onlooker with memories. There is ample movement on the canvas where paint is flowing thus creating motion and energy.
The works of John Guevherian project a surrealistic dimension, even though the real symbols used, such as ancient sculptures, remnants of historic buildings and amphorae, are clearly visible on the canvas. Opening frames within frames, cosmic scenes coexist on the same plane with familiar landscapes casting a bridge between the two and challenging the viewer.
Some constructional and cubist elements hint at the duel role of Guevherian, that of the Architect and the Artist.
Guevherian has distinguished himself in his professional domain of architect as well by participating successfully in numerous Pan-Cyprian architectural competitions and winning several first prizes, including the Headquarters of the Cyprus Sports Organisation (KOA) in Nicosia, the "Kition " covered athletic centre in Larnaca, including the Olympics swimming pool, and a housing project in Kaimakli of the Cyprus Land Development Organisation. His other prizes include the Ministry of Foreign affairs and the Sports Centre in Agros and Limassol.
John Guevherian lives and works in Cyprus and maintains a serious and steady presence in the art world with his solo exhibitions as well as participation in various group exhibitions. The present is the 10th solo exhibition of the artist.
URL: http://www.cyprusweekly.com.cy/default.aspx?articleID=7850&heading=Arts,%20by%20Glyn%20Hughes
Second volume of "Arevig" Armenian language computer-based course
Azad-Hye, Dubai, 7 February 2005: The second part of the computer-based popular Armenian language course “Arevig” was released recently. Similar to the first part, this CD also is funded by the Lisbon based Calouste Goulbenkian Foundation’s Armenian Communities Department and comes under the patronage of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. It is realized within the 1600th anniversary celebrations of the creation of the Armenian Alphabet by Mesrob Mashdots.
Asdghig Tchamkerten member of the Central Committee of the above Department points out in the introduction that appeared on the inner cover of the CD: “We are introducing the second part of a three folded project of learning the Western Armenian. Arevig 1 has addressed the alphabet recognition needs of pre-elementary and early elementary level children up to the third grade. Now the second release of this serial Arevig 2 will cover further level of study”.
The project is the outcome of cooperation between Lisbon, Beirut and Aleppo. The educational supervisor is philologist Garo Arakelian (Beirut), while technical staff is recruited from Aleppo. The head of the programming section is Michael Sarkissian.
Children who already know “Arevig 1” will be methodically guided to advanced features (grammar, language syntax, speech components), suiting higher elementary students, up to the seventh grade.
This project aims at teaching Armenian to the new Diaspora generations by using modern audio-visual technology. It goes beyond this to fulfill the language needs of grown-ups who did not have the chance to learn their mother tongue at earlier stages. Anyone who aspires to strengthen Armenian language skills can benefit from this valuable tool.
Although the work is almost flawless, we still detected some orthographic mistakes. It is noticed also that some pages load with accompanying music in a way that the user is obliged to wait until the end of the music, before carrying on to the body of the text.
Although Gulbenkian Foundation has the copyright ownership of the project, it is expected that the CD will be widely copied and duplicated without prior consent, as it happened with the “Arevig 1”.
For further suggestions and comments you are kindly asked to communicate with:
Garo Arakelian / Beirut (E-mail:artaki@terra.net.lb)
Asdghig Tchamkerten / Lisbon (E-mail: atchamkerten@gulbenkian.pt)
04 February 2006
Poetry reading by Dikran Kapoyan
Azad-Hye, Dubai, 4 February, 2006: Dikran Kapoyan is a young Syrian Armenian poet (born in Aleppo, 1974). He has graduated from Karen Jeppe High School (known also as Jemaran), followed by graduate studies in International Relations (Department of Politics) in Yerevan.
He has two poetry books: “Arrow released to sky” (1995) and “Disassociated” (2002), both published in Yerevan. He has signed articles in various Armenian magazines dealing with politics, literature and subjects of general interest.
On 27th January 2006, the poetry-loving audience in Aleppo was invited to a reading session by Dikran Kapoyan at the “Art River” Gallery (Villat Street). This was not the first time that Kapoyan met the public. In April 2004 he presented his second book to an audience eager to share with him moments of poetic inspiration and escalation.
This time the reading was accompanied by two guitarists (Sarkis Turbendian and Sarkis Matosian), who provided the evening with the necessary live and vivid sound tracks.
This one hour event enriched the public with the power of the poetic word. Following the session a dialogue was initiated between the audience and the poet on several crucial themes.
Kapoyan is in constant worry. He goes through all the suffering of the human soul, aiming always at understanding the human nature. This quest leads him to embrace global concerns. He tries to go deep into understanding the meaning of life and the idea behind the universe. In this respect he does not belong to Aleppo only. He is in fact a worldwide citizen, who aspires to establish dialogue with everyone and to share knowledge about everything.
He is a dreamer who captures the essence of the Armenian spirit, a spirit that wants to express itself in the mother tongue and reach a height beyond the usual spoken form.
Here are excerpts from his poetry in Armenian language:
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId=884hk16
He has two poetry books: “Arrow released to sky” (1995) and “Disassociated” (2002), both published in Yerevan. He has signed articles in various Armenian magazines dealing with politics, literature and subjects of general interest.
On 27th January 2006, the poetry-loving audience in Aleppo was invited to a reading session by Dikran Kapoyan at the “Art River” Gallery (Villat Street). This was not the first time that Kapoyan met the public. In April 2004 he presented his second book to an audience eager to share with him moments of poetic inspiration and escalation.
This time the reading was accompanied by two guitarists (Sarkis Turbendian and Sarkis Matosian), who provided the evening with the necessary live and vivid sound tracks.
This one hour event enriched the public with the power of the poetic word. Following the session a dialogue was initiated between the audience and the poet on several crucial themes.
Kapoyan is in constant worry. He goes through all the suffering of the human soul, aiming always at understanding the human nature. This quest leads him to embrace global concerns. He tries to go deep into understanding the meaning of life and the idea behind the universe. In this respect he does not belong to Aleppo only. He is in fact a worldwide citizen, who aspires to establish dialogue with everyone and to share knowledge about everything.
He is a dreamer who captures the essence of the Armenian spirit, a spirit that wants to express itself in the mother tongue and reach a height beyond the usual spoken form.
Here are excerpts from his poetry in Armenian language:
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId=884hk16
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