Month: February 2019

ARF-D Bureau member, responsible for ARF-D political affairs office Giro Manoyan considers it strange that no reference was made to the Armenian-Turkish relations at government’s program.

As to whether it is equivalent approach if to consider Turkey’s zero interest toward regulation of relations with Armenia, Manoyan said, “It is not so, because if we do not refer to it, it means that it is not of any significance for us. In such case Turkey’s stance would have been justified. It will mean that the regulation of Armenian-Turkish relations is important neither for Turkey nor for Armenia. Of course, we do not have anything to concede but it will be right for us to always demand from Turkey non-hostile attitude toward Armenia, establishment of diplomatic relations and lifting the blockade,” he said.

Giro Manoyan refrained from any other comments, adding that the ARF-D will come up with an extended statement about the program of the government.

A rug business that’s been run by an Armenian family in New Haven, U.S. for 137 years continues to grow and give back to its community.

Kebabian’s Oriental Rugs has been woven into the fabric of the Elm City and its business is stretching overseas to help refugees, WFSB reports.

Hundreds of exotic runs are stacked up and hanging from the front windows to the back walls.

“We’re the oldest hand-made rug business in quarters in the United States,” said John Kebabian, owner, Kebabian’s Oriental Rugs.

The shop can be found on Elm Street underneath a neon sign.

“This is our 137th year,” John Kebabian said. “We began in 1882, when my great great uncles came over from Turkey to go to Yale, and they set up shop first in order to sell rugs to finance their education.”

The legacy of the Armenian family that emigrated from Turkey is that they built a foundation and that nothing was given.

“It’s a lot of hard work and dedication, but we don’t inherit it. What we do is inherit the reputation,” John Kebabian said.

John Kebabian said he bought the store from his father in 1992 and his son Joshua Kebabian will have to do the same.

“I’m 29 and I just want to steward this business and do this product the best that I can,” said Joshua Kebabian

To get these hand-woven rugs, John Kebabian said he travels to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Joshua Kebabian covers India and Nepal.

“It’s done all by hand and our specialty [is] natural dye stuff so people search us out from actually all over the country,” John Kebabian said.

Prices range anywhere from $25 for a small rug to more than $100,000 for high-end ones or antiques. Customers can also find a large rug on clearance for around $400.

Wednesday, more than 800 rugs were delivered to them from Afghanistan. It was the largest shipment in the store’s history.

“So many rugs today that are being heavily marketed are machine made and they’re made of plastic,” Joshua Kebabian said. “We prefer to use all natural products like the wool and silk.”

Their business helps employ hundreds of people overseas and they have some refugees working in their store as well.

“We work with an organization called IRIS in New Haven,” John Kebabian said.

IRIS stands for Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services.

“We have two guys from there, they are phenomenal,” said John Kebabian. “They are from Afghanistan.”

They’ve been growing the business with interior designers, online and with social media.

“Family, history, passion, style, quality hand-made rugs since 1882,” Joshua Kebabian said. “I think that just sums up who we are.”

Sona Truzyan, the adviser to the Armenian Investigative Committee’s chairman, has resigned, unveiling plans to continue her activities in the private sector.

“During this period, I continued to fulfill my duties until the resignation was accepted. I intend to continue my future professional activities in the private sector,” she said in a post on Facebook.

Truzyan didn’t provide any other details.