Author: Emil Lazarian

BY MADELEINE MEZAGOPIAN

In the early years of the 20th century, Khachatur Malumian, an Armenian intellectual and martyr of the Armenian Genocide, was impressed with the ongoing endeavors of the women in Armenia, who attended to the needs of the most vulnerable members of society under the umbrella of the Red Cross.

Motivated by this great contribution, Malumian initiated a project in the United States to enrich the lives of Diasporan Armenian women by actively working to enhance education, health, and social services, while preserving the Armenian identity. Thus, the Armenian Relief Society, very much interconnected with the original concept of the Armenian Red Cross, was born – spreading first throughout the U.S. and Canada and subsequently wherever Armenian Diasporas were born, including Jordan where the ARS opened a chapter in 1946.

Today, Armenians in both the Homeland and the Diaspora are still facing many challenges. As a result of the socioeconomic and political challenges being faced, the ARS have doubled their efforts – organizing programs and activities, and using diverse social media tools, which have increased community engagement.

Members of the ARS in Jordan stand next to a banner that reads ‘ARS: With the People, For the People’

In October, Armenian scholars and intellectuals met in Yerevan to discuss how to best promote the interests of Armenia and the region at large. Simultaneously, members of the ARS in Jordan had their annual meeting in Amman to reelect their board and reflect on current activities. During their meeting they discussed youth outreach programs, emphasizing the importance of finding ways for Armenian youth to use their skills for the betterment of the Homeland and Diaspora.

The Covid-19 pandemic and the accompanying restrictions did not hinder the work of the ARS in Jordan. Members of the chapter continued to organize, providing aid to the most vulnerable members of the local Armenian community while building solidarity between their own community, the Armenian Diaspora, and the Homeland.

During this last year, the ARS in Jordan provided aid to Armenians in Lebanon and Artsakh. They initiated programs to alleviate the suffering of Lebanese Armenians who, until today, have been struggling with the financial crisis and accompanying devastations in Lebanon, as well as for individuals and families who were wounded, killed, or displaced as a result of the 2020 Artsakh War.

The ARS in Jordan firmly believes that interacting with the Armenian youth and providing opportunities for them to serve their communities in the Diaspora and in the Homeland is of utmost importance. They are determined to recruit Armenian youth, so that each can contribute their own skills to the organization’s efforts in promoting the Armenian identity and serving the needs of the most vulnerable members of our communities – an approach that should be considered by all ARS branches worldwide.

The past and the current activities of the ARS in Jordan well represent a much-needed Armenian solidarity, which was and will remain the best path to preserving and strengthening the Armenian identity, the Homeland, and the legacy of Khachatur Malmulian.

Madeleine M. Mezagopian is a scholar and an academician based in Amman, Jordan.

President Armen Sarkissian (right) had discussions with President Joe Biden and other world leaders during a climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland

President meets Biden, other world leaders

In an address to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow, Scotland, President Armen Sarkissian warned that Azerbaijan’s use of illegal weapons during its aggressive attack on Artsakh last year caused an environmental disaster.

“Exactly one year ago during its war against Nagorno-Karabakh Azerbaijan used internationally banned weapons to target not only civilians but also beautiful forests of the large area, causing massive forest fires and creating environmental disasters. We call on international community to step up its efforts to prevent such irresponsible, inhumane behavior,” said President Sarkissian.

“The environmental challenges do not recognize borders and conflict lines, and we should bring all states of the world into comprehensive cooperation,” the president added.

He went on to say that Armenia is committed to becoming a “smart state” and is dedicated to fighting climate change and preserving the environment.

“If we change our mentality and form our ambition and strategy, then we can effectively use the finances and the wealth that the world has created during this phenomenal development and use the technology to handle the problems that we are facing. But not only to resolve the problems but also to create the basis of development to the brighter future years to come,” advised President Sarkissian.

“Armenia is committed to becoming a really Smart State, devoted to our Nature, Planet and Humanity. And I’m optimistic that we can overcome these difficulties and build a brighter future for all of us,” added Sarkissian.

According to the World Bank analysis, Armenia is the fourth most vulnerable country to climate change in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region. Armenia has registered a 1.3-degree Celsius increase in temperature, and a nine percent decrease in precipitation.

Sarkissian told the conference that Armenia’s long-term objective is to achieve climate neutrality in the second half of this century. “Transition to climate neutrality is at the core of the country’s energy independence, energy security and green growth policies,” said Sarkissian, who highlighted the imperative for creative approaches to tackling climate change.

He told the conference about Armenia’s “Debt-for-Climate Swap” initiative, which he said “presents a new climate finance instrument. And it will help developing countries to adapt more efficiently to climate change finance, provides new economic opportunities.”

On the margins of the conference, Sarkissian met with President Joseph Biden and other world leaders, among them President Emanuel Macron of France and German Chancellor Angela Merkel among others.

Sarkissian arrived in Glascow on Monday and was welcomed by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Other world leaders with whom President Sarkissian had discussions include: Prince Albert II of Monaco, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, President of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, Argentine President Alberto Fernández, Montenegro President Milo Đukanović, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg, President of the European Council Charles Michel, according to the president’s press office.

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Credits: Ruptly