Author: Kanayan Tamar

Robertson: Talaat Pasha, the “Turkish Hitler”

15:02, 28.01.2015

Dogu Perincek is a Genocide denial window shopper. The aforesaid was
stated by internationally renowned attorney Geoffrey Robertson, who
represents Armenia’s interests at Wednesday’s European Court of Human
Rights (ECHR) Grand Chamber hearing in Strasbourg, France, of the
“Dogu Perincek v. Switzerland” case.

Addressing the court, Robertson stated that Talaat Pasha was the
“Turkish Hitler.”

“We have to live freely, without discrimination and hatred,” the
attorney also noted.

The Prosecutor General of Armenia, Gevorg Kostanyan, had addressed the
court prior to Geoffrey Robertson.

In 2008, a Swiss court had convicted Dogu Perincek for denying the
Armenian Genocide. In December 2013, the ECHR had ruled in favor of
Perincek’s lawsuit that was filed against Switzerland. Subsequently,
the Government of Switzerland had decided to petition that the Dogu
Perincek case be referred for a review by the ECHR Grand Chamber.
Afterward, Armenia had petitioned to the ECHR, and it now acts as a
third party in this case. The ECHR hearing of this case has begun on
Wednesday.

Dogu Perincek is Chairman of the socialist Workers’ Party of Turkey.
In addition, he heads the Talaat Pasha organization, which actively
fights against the Armenian Genocide’s recognition in Europe.

Photo from Twitter of EAFJD

Armenian delegation to PACE raises Armenian Genocide issue

14:53 * 28.01.15

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is holding
its winter session in Strasbourg.

Although Armenia-related issues are not on the agenda, the Armenian
delegation is nit missing a chance to raise issues on Armenia’s
agenda.

On Tuesday, Armenian delegation members Naira Karapetyan, Arpine
Hovhannisyan, Mher Shahgeldyan and Hermine Naghdalyan (head of the
delegation) exercised their right and raised the issue of the Armenian
Genocide in Ottoman Turkey.

April 24, 2015, marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
in the Ottoman Empire. However, 100 years is not enough for Turkey to
admit the fact and face its own history even with the fact that as far
back as 1919 the Turkish military court convicted the organizers of
that crime.

Mistaken are all those considering the Armenian Genocide a problem of
Armenians alone. Any crime against humanity has no period of
limitation. Moreover, it involves all the mankind. Armenians, who have
for a century been seeking to have the Armenian Genocide
internationally recognized and condemned, are not solving their own
problem. Rather, they are solving a universal problem, Ms Naghdalyan
said.

ARMENIE
L’Arménie et l’UEE : le président de l’association des fabricants
locaux appelle à une production intérieure dynamisée

Les étapes prises jusqu’ici par l’Arménie ont été suffisants pour son
adhésion à l’Union économique eurasienne (de EEU), cependant, comment
le pays va faire usage de cette adhésion sera tiré de la volonté
politique manifestée par le gouvernement arménien, selon un politicien
arménien et président de l’association des producteurs.

Vazgen Safarian, le président du Parti progressiste-communiste
arménien, a déclaré que beaucoup dépendra de l’activité favorable des
fonctionnaires arméniens affectés à l’UEE.

“C’est pourquoi, peut-être, une sélection plus importante [des
fonctionnaires] aurait dû être fait,” a dit Safarian, considérant la
création du ministère de l’intégration économique internationale et
des réformes comme inefficace et suggérant à la place un ministère de
l’Industrie et du Commerce extérieur.

>, a déclaré Safarian.

Par Sara Khojoyan

ArmeniaNow

mercredi 28 janvier 2015,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

ARMENIE
Lavrov : Ni les gouvernements arménien et russe ne veulent politiser
la tragédie de Gyumri

Le ministre russe des Affaires étrangères Sergueï Lavrov a critiqué
les réactions en Arménie face aux décès dans une famille de Gyumri,
tués la semaine dernière par un soldat russe qui a avoué le meurtre de
sept personnes.

“Nous pouvons voir les tentatives de politiser cette situation qui
découlent ni du gouvernement arménien, ni de la Russie. Nombreux sont
ceux qui désirent utiliser cette tragédie pour recevoir ses dividendes
géopolitiques “, a déclaré M. Lavrov lors d’une conférence à Moscou en
soulignant que les relations russo-arméniennes ne vont pas souffrir à
cause de cette situation.

Les fonctionnaires arméniens semblent être d’accord avec M. Lavrov,
parce que, même si la société exige la plupart du temps que l’accusé
soit remis à la juridiction arménienne, les responsables politiques
préfèrent préserver les relations avec leur allié militaire.

Selon l’analyste politique Sergey Minasyan, directeur adjoint de
l’Institut du Caucase, c’est exactement par opportunisme politique,
géopolitique et militaire que le gouvernement arménien n’exige pas que
l’enquête leur soit remis parce que juridiquement tous les faits
parlent pour eux.

“Je ne pense pas qu’il y aura des changements importants dans les
relations internationales russo-arméniennes ; en outre, de nouveaux
mécanismes pratiques juridiques seront formés pour la base militaire
afin de prévenir que de tels incidents ne se répétent à l’avenir, “a
déclaré Minasyan.

Selon l’analyste politique, l’Arménie a besoin de bonnes relations
avec la Russie pour des raisons de sécurité, tandis que

New Administration of Akhtala Ore Dressing Combine CJSC Planning to
Construct A New Tailing Dump

14:31 January 26, 2015
EcoLur

The new administration of Akhtala Ore Dressing Combine CJSC has
started enhancing its production and intends to construct a new
tailing dump in the area of Mets Ayrum and Tchotchkan communities,
Lori Region. For this purpose, 12.10684 ha in Mets Ayrum and 27.98901
ha of agricultural land areas shall change their category to
industrial land areas. On Facebook the Centre for Community
Mobilization and Support posts,

“Currently, an old tailing dump is operating in Tchotchkan and Mets
Ayrum communities, which has posed many difficulties and hazards for
the community residents during these years.

1. Safety rules haven’t been adhered to and the pets owned by the
community residents have fallen into the tailing dump.

2. The community residents have complained many times of headaches,
felling dizzy and other illnesses conditioning their health state with
the presence of the tailing dump.

The Aldermen’s Councils of Tchotchkan and Mets Ayrum communities shall
make a decision on changing the category of the land areas.

Nevertheless, the Aldermen’s Council of Mets Ayrum hasn’t done it so
far and on 29 January, at 12:00, it invites to open discussions.

Reminder: 100% shareholder of Akhtala Ore Dressing Combine CJSC is
“MASCOMINE” CSJC, which, under some sources, is owned by Maksim
Hakobyan, Ex Director of Zangezour Copper and Molybdenum Combine.

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Jan 27 2015

Heiko Langner: contrary to Merkel, Russia helps settle the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

27 January 2015 – 12:30pm

“Russia is not a party of the international Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but does play the role of the most
important mediator of peace within the framework of the OSCE Minsk
Group,” political analyst Berlin Heiko Langner told a reporter of
Vestnik Kavkaza, commenting on Angela Merkel’s statement on the
participation of Russia in this conflict.

On January 21 during a joint press conference after meeting with the
Azerbaijani President, Angela Merkel touched on Russia’s role in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, saying that Russia and Armenia are working
together on some aspects.

“Russia plays an important role in this conflict. Armenia and Russia
stick to a common position on this issue, so you can assume that we
have a unified approach,” she pointed out.

“The statements by German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a joint press
conference with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the policy of
Russia in the South Caucasus could cause confusion and are not useful
for the peace efforts of the OSCE,” Heiko Langner says.

The expert expressed confusion at the position of the Chancellor of
Germany. “The EU has not yet found it necessary to impose sanctions
against Armenia in connection with the military occupation of
Azerbaijani territory. It is unclear why the Chancellor of Germany,
speaking on the role of Russia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at the
moment, emphasizes a unified approach of the policy of comprehensive
sanctions imposed by the EU against Moscow and rendered in connection
with the current conflict in Ukraine,” he wondered.

According to Langner, Merkel’s point of view on Russia’s role in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict hardly corresponds to reality, and her
application cannot be considered as constructive.

“The federal government in its responses to several parliamentary
initiatives has always emphasized that it will support Russia’s
efforts to mediate in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. And if we want to
make progress, that’s how it’s supposed to be. The resolution of the
conflict is already quite heavy, and it is important that members of
the Minsk Group hold a common position,” the expert said.

Germany’s position on the Crimean issue, according to Langner, is thus
in contradiction with its position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“The German Federal Government should define its position in another
important aspect: it has clearly criticized the inclusion of Crimea
into Russia and affirmed the territorial integrity of Ukraine. In the
case of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Government of Germany
expressed extreme caution, although the international legal situation
is also evident there. Armenia’s occupation policy has been violating
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan for more than 20 years, and
this should be clearly stated,” he explained.

“Anything else will be a policy of double standards. Even the United
Nations, trying to speak in the most diplomatic way, has clearly
expressed its position on several resolutions on the conflict. And
Germany should not lag behind,” Heiko Langner concluded.

According to Langner, Merkel’s point of view on Russia’s role in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict hardly corresponds to reality, and her
application cannot be considered as constructive. “The federal
government in its responses to several parliamentary initiatives has
always emphasized that it will support Russia’s efforts to mediate in
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. And if we want to make progress, that’s
how it’s supposed to be. The resolution of the conflict is already
quite heavy, and it is important that members of the Minsk Group hold
a common position,” the expert said.

Germany’s position on the Crimean issue, according to Langner, is thus
in contradiction with its position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
“The German Federal Government should define its position in another
important aspect: it has clearly criticized the inclusion of Crimea
into Russia and affirmed the territorial integrity of Ukraine. In the
case of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Government of Germany
expressed extreme caution, although the international legal situation
is also evident there. Armenia’s occupation policy has been violating
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan for more than 20 years, and
this should be clearly stated,” he explained.

“Anything else will be a policy of double standards. Even the United
Nations, trying to speak in the most diplomatic way, has clearly
expressed its position on several resolutions on the conflict. And
Germany should not lag behind,” Heiko Langner concluded.

Channel 4 News, UK
Jan 27 2015

Genocide: a term we use too often or not enough

Young, old, school uniforms and zimmer frames – they came. Muslms in
veils and hijabs. Christians too, people no doubt of no faith and of
course Jews. Jews like Solly Irving who survived a number of Nazi
forced-labour camps like Buchenwald. Here today, he said, because it
matters so much to tell young people about it.

“I live in Plymouth now and you know? I have spoken to over 25,000
school children there down the years. For 30 years I said nothing. But
now, if these children meet someone who denies the Holocaust they can
say, ‘No – Solly Irving came to see us. He stood before us. He told
us’.”

Aptly enough school children were a major part of the audience today
along with Solly, Prince Charles and the prime minister at
Westminster’s Central Methodist Hall. Here David Cameron announced a
£50m education programme for Holocaust education in the UK.

And not just the Final Solution. Today’s organisers, the The
Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT), emphasise that it is about
recognising the series of genocides said to have happened since the
Nazis.

Any use of the term is highly controversial but, by one legal
definition, it includes Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur, and they
are remembered in today’s commemoration ceremony.

In 1946 the UN resolved that genocide be a crime under international
law, its convention defining it as any of the following acts committed
with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethical,
racial or religious group by:

a. Killing members of the group
b. Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group
c. Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated
to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part
d. Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group
e. Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group

So why Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur? Or why not Armenia or the
US or Australian ravages of their indigenous people? Or England and
the Irish Famine? Indeed some would want Palestine cited after Israeli
actions in Gaza – the definition is nothing if not controversial.

Well, the HMDT goes with international criminal tribunal rulings
since 1946, where suspects have been indicted for war crimes up to and
including genocide.

Genocide cases are currently before the Extraordinary Chambers of the
Court of Cambodia. Dozens of perpetrators have been found guilty of
genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

In 2004 the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for
the former Yugoslavia ruled that the 1995 Srebrenica massacre
constituted genocide.

In 2010 Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was indicted with three
counts of genocide by the International Criminal Court, for his role
in ordering the genocide in Darfur.

The UK government recognises the term genocide as applicable to the
Holocaust, the 1994 killings in Rwanda (as found by the International
Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda) and the 1995 massacre at Srebrenica, and
is monitoring the outcome of the tribunals relating to Cambodia and
Darfur.

But this is of course just one position. Notably absent is the widely
cited Armenian genocide carried out by Turkey during and after world
war one in which up to 1.5 million Armenians were systematically
slaughtered. To this day, Turkey refuses even to recognise that it was
genocide.

Equally to deny it is a criminal offence in at least three European
countries – Switzerland, Slovenia and Greece. One example – one
starting point for a much wider debate on whether genocide is an
over-used term, or not nearly widely used enough.

On April 24, Vladimir Putin will speak on behalf of Armenia

January 27 2015

The reality is unacceptable for Tigran Khzmalyan Turkish Prime
Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu had made a statement related to the 8th
anniversary of Hrant Dink’s assassination, urging the Armenians to
start all over again. Turning to Armenians, DavutoÄ?lu called on all
Armenians, and invite all those who believe in Turkish-Armenian
friendship to contribute to a new beginning. He also noted that Turkey
shares the sufferings and is endeavoring to re-establish empathy
between the two peoples. He hoped that these two nations can
demonstrate the wisdom to understand each other and contemplate a
future together. As to what pre-parliamentary member, also filmmaker
Tigran Khzmalyan (in the photo) thinks about all of this, he said the
following in the conversation with `Aravot’: `It is a brilliant
speech, he has long been an eloquent orator. There is nothing to
counteract here, except one thing. Turkey as an Ottoman Empire, a
successor of Young Turk legacy, should understand one simple reality,
we do not discuss the Centennial of the Genocide with them, and if I’m
not mistaken, on May 24, 1915, the three great states, Britain, France
and Russia have recognized the Armenian Genocide. The word is not
spoken, but a joint statement was voiced on behalf of the members of
the three countries regarding the Armenian massacres and thus
recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Turkey just has to understand that
we are discussing something different with them, the Centennial of
Genocide recognition. Hence, to call it a genocide, as Obama was
saying, or something else, it generates a number of specific legal and
legislative conclusions, and that is what we can discuss with Turkey,
nothing more.’ To the observation that Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu has also said
in his statement that only by breaking taboos can we hope to begin
addressing the great trauma that froze time in 1915, and has
emphasized that for its part, Turkey has transcended this critical
threshold, Tigran Khzmalyan said, `Whether Turkey has transcended or
not, I cannot comment, this is up to them, this is a matter of
civilization, if we’re talking only about the moral side, it can be
transcended only in one way, in other words, like Germany did it, this
is a judicial example, this is first of all apologizing at the state
level and then giving compensation. Our true questions are not with
the Turkish government and it is not essential, our questions are from
inside as to who will raise the Armenian Cause issue. Just a few days
ago, we saw that the Armenian government is unable to protect the
issue of one family from the national interests and dignity viewpoint,
in this case, how we can trust this pack to present national issues,
protect and discussed. We need to resolve this problem over the next
90 days.’ To the next question that Turkish prime minister made such a
statement, so in this context, what our actions should be like, by
what form of actions, whether we need to show that we agree, accept or
not, Tigran Khzmalyan replied, `First of all, I would like to
understand who is this `we’, whether it is about the government, the
public or the authorities, if it is about the government authorities,
then I do not acknowledge these authorities, I’m not their speaker,
and as to what the Armenian society should do, I will say that first
and foremost it should solve the issue of the RA authorities, people
who are competent and worthy and capable to protect national
interests. Now, to discuss or recommend to the puppets appointed by
Russia is ridiculous. In fact, on April 24, Vladimir Putin will speak
on behalf of Armenia. Whereas this is unacceptable to me, and if we do
not realize this, then we have the greatest problem.’

Eva HAKOBYAN
Read more at:

Razmik Panossian: Roots of Classical Diaspora lie in Western Armenia

Razmik Panossian
Interviews | January 27, 2015 09:39
exclusive

On the threshold of the Armenian Genocide Centennial, Mediamax starts
a series of interviews with the intellectuals of Armenia and the
Diaspora. It will be an attempt to collect opinions as to whether the
Armenian Genocide Centennial will serve a certain “New Beginning” for
Armenians or not.

Our today’s interlocutor is Head of the Armenian Communities
Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Razmik Panossian.
Razmik Panossian is a Canadian-Armenian who holds a Ph.D. from the
London School of Economics and Political Science. He is the author of
“The Armenians: From Kings and Priests to Merchants and Commissars”
book published by the Columbia University Press in 2006.

Upon the initiative of the Armenian Communities Department of the
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, several dozens of Armenian
intellectuals from around the world came together in Lisbon in October
2014, to discuss what awaits Armenians in 2115.

– What will happen on April 25? Can it stand for a “New Beginning”
through which Armenia and the Diaspora will attempt to cast a new
glance at their future?

– April 25 will be both a continuation and a new beginning.

By continuation I mean Genocide Centennial will leave us with the same
questions and challenges. On the other hand, it will be quite
different: “what now?” – if asked this question, neither Armenia, nor
the Diaspora will today be able to give a precise answer to it.

The symbolic significance of April 25 is to think of 2115.

Indeed, there will be various approaches and opinions. I believe the
leadership and people should jointly discuss the next step. Where
should we head to as a state and as people? Obviously, various
Armenian and Diaspora structures and parties will have varying
opinions but at least the main issues that have long been on-wait for
a solution should be agreed on. It will be so much the better if it is
possible to find basic points for a consensus. The answers might
differ but we should at least try to agree on the issues our nation is
concerned about.

– But no intellectual debates are carried on over these issues in
either Armenia, or Diaspora. Everybody seems to focus on short-term
issues and there is no discussion over the vision for the future.

-I don’t think it right to seek a single and common vision. We might
have several visions – we are versatile people. But we should really
be able to look into the future and think about it. It’s what our
initiative craves for – to assist in creating those visions.

Apparently, we will be hearing about the Armenian Genocide time and
again in coming three months. But we should think of where we will
head to afterwards. Some of the Diaspora organizations are committed
to finding choices. I hope the Armenian government also works on it
and is discussing projects to this end.

– Do you find it possible to set up a non-official platform for
regular debates between Armenia and the Diaspora?

– I think Diaspora organizations should engage in this process in a
decentralized way and present their vision for 20-30 years. After
that, a debate should carry on. But those should not be just formal
talks – they should be concise and substantial.

– The Armenian Genocide is said to be one of the elements uniting the
“traditional” or “classical” Diaspora and its significance is believed
to dwindle after the Centennial.

– The Armenian Genocide is the pivotal reality of Classical Diaspora’s
identity but it is not represented as merely a historic reality but
also in the context of Turkey’s denial of the Genocide. Denial also
plays a huge role in the mobilization and unification of the Armenian
Diaspora.

Will this loosen in the course of years? There does exist such a risk
when the link with Genocide survivors or their memories is cut off in
the kin. My generation was the last to hear about the genocide from
their grandfathers or grandmothers. The next generation lacks the
direct link. For them, Genocide appears as a concept, which does not
relate to a particular person.

– Wasn’t independent Armenia to become a uniting force for the new
generations of the Diaspora?

– It might be one of the vision constituents but not the sole one for
the Diaspora.

To the Classical Diaspora, the lost lands and ancestral villages and
cities “incarnate” their motherland.

As an independent state, Armenia plays a significant role in the
formation of identity but we should not forget that the cultural roots
of the Classical Diaspora – its language and mode of life – lie in the
Western Armenia.

The Armenian national identity has always been Eastern and Western.
Indeed, Armenia’s role as a cultural and national center cannot be
undermined but the Diaspora’s identity and the idea of being Diaspora
Armenians – generations succeeding Western Armenians – is equally
important.

How the connection to historical lands will move on in coming decades
also represents interest. We should see whether Turkey will become a
democratic state within the next 20 years or not. If it does become a
democratic state and Armenian has its role in it, the Armenian culture
might reinstate its place in Istanbul or historic Armenia.

I believe this consolidation should have its pivotal and main place in
the vision for future.

– Will your initiative oriented toward the 2115 be ongoing, and what
outcome do you expect to receive? Do you plan to devise a certain
document on the results of Lisbon discussions?

– I hope the report will be ready by late January, and we will start
distributing it.

We have two programs for 2015 and 2016 – one is related to IT and
Armenian culture. We have good IT specialists but we are not able to
juxtapose IT and culture and bring them side by side. For instance,
the number of Armenian, especially Western Armenian e-books and
network resources is very sparse.

Lisbon meeting participants

The second program refers to reconstruction of education sector in
Diaspora schools. We have placed the emphasis on the enhancement and
progress of the Western Armenian.

– Why does Armenia not appear implicitly attractive for the Diaspora?
Where does the main issue lie? Is it the internal situation,
monopolies or absence of independent judiciary? Or, are there any
issues in the Diaspora which impede the strengthening of ties with
Armenia?

– Apparently, there is some distrust. However, there is a graver
issue. Soviet and post-Soviet Armenia was attempting to control the
Diaspora – I have touched upon it in my studies.

The Diaspora is often viewed as the continuation of Armenia that
should be controlled or ruled. This circumstance has fomented an
uprising in the Diaspora.

The other important point is that our national identity has always had
two most important centers strongly dependent on Eastern Armenian and
Western Armenian and thus, on two cultural spheres and viewpoints. The
first center was Tiflis, which also involved Saint Petersburg and
Moscow. After the establishment of the USSR, Yerevan came to be that
center. The second center was Polis incorporating European and Western
quality. Our present-day identity was formed within these two centers.

The Genocide almost completely razed the center. But it does not mean
we should have only one center. It is highly important to realize
this. Both should be kept, shielded, strengthened and developed. Both
should carry on a dialog without obliging one another. As soon as the
Western no longer exists, we will then know that the genocide has
served its purpose.

The future should not be based on statements claiming Yerevan is our
only center and neither on those stating Yerevan and Armenia do not
matter for us.

Armenia is the motherland and it does matter, but the Diaspora is the
post-genocide reality. We have a challenge and it is to maintain that
equilibrium, and to do our best to find a right way between those two.

Ara Tadevosyan talked to Razmik Panossian

THE MAIN DIRECTIONS OF ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTERS FOR ARMENIAN STUDIES IN THE USA

26.01.2015

Tigran Ghanalanyan
Expert, Center for Armenian Studies, Noravank Foundation

Till mid-20th century Armenian Studies in America were developed by
individuals and there were no organizations in this area. However,
certain things had been done that prepared ground for future
establishment of centers for Armenian Studies1. Their creation was
driven by Armenian-Americans who realized the need to establish
scientific organizations related to Armenian language, history and
culture. Establishment of The National Association for Armenian
Studies and Research (NAASR) in 1955 was an especially important
milestone. NAASR was grown from the vision of a group of sixty
Armenian-Americans and Harvard professors who wished to advance
Armenian Studies in the USA. An objective was set for this structure
to become a non-profit, non-political, unifying organization and to
achieve far-reaching results in fostering Armenian studies, research,
and publication on a permanent, scholarly, and objective basis.2 Seven
years before that the first periodical journal of Armenian Studies in
America had already been established, the Armenian Review, which
continues to be published to date. In 1950-1960s thanks to the work
done by NAASR departments of Armenian Studies were created at Harvard
University and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Later
activities were implemented in other universities, among which the
Armenian Studies Program at California State University, Fresno is
worth mentioning, though establishment of centers for Armenian Studies
reached truly large scale in 1980s. In this period the two departments
of Armenian Studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, the
Zoryan Institute and other institutions were established. It has to be
mentioned that some new centers for Armenian Studies were established
in recent years as well.

Thus, establishment of centers for Armenian Studies in the USA can be
conditionally divided in three main phases. The first phase covers
1950-1970s, when the first departments were created, among which the
NAASR had a primary importance. In this period, when Soviet Armenia
was in the political camp opposite to the USA, the Armenian Studies
(especially those related to contemporary issues) were to some extent
part of the Soviet Studies. The second phase encompasses 1980s, when
many new centers for Armenian Studies were established. This was due
to many circumstances, including that the USA already had the largest
Armenian community abroad and many challenges have emerged. In this
period there was an increased interest in the Armenian community
toward Armenian Studies. Also, perhaps the process of independence
gaining by Armenia and the Artsakh movement had a boosting effect to
the Armenian Studies, especially related to these issues. The period
from 2000s up to date can be considered the third conditional phase.
Although there was some gradual or relative decline in the activities
of older centers in this period, still some new centers were
established, for example the UCLA Research Program in Armenian
Archaeology & Ethnography at the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology and
others. In this period an expansion of Armenian Studies in terms of
disciplines is observed, as today the Armenian Studies in America
incorporate not only language, history and culture, but also
ethnography, archaeology, sociology, etc.

The second and third phases were characterized by greater activity in
terms of the ties with the homeland, as compared to those in the first
phase. However, currently the cooperation of American centers for
Armenian Studies with relevant scientific/educational institutions in
Armenia has not reached a sufficient level.

Educational Activities

Most of the reviewed thirty units are involved in education and a
significant part of them are limited only to that. In particular, many
departments and programs are limited to education only, such as the BA
degree program in Armenian Studies at the UCLA Department of Near
Eastern Languages and Cultures, the Armenian program of the Department
of Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures at the California State
University, Northridge, the Armenian Language course at the Department
of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations of the University of
Chicago, etc. Teaching of individual subjects of Armenian Studies is
certainly an educational activity, too: for instance, Christina
Maranci teaches the Art of the Armenian Manuscript subject at Tufts
University Department of Art and Art History.

Chairs of Armenian Studies at various universities perform an
important function of organizing the education process. Among them are
Chair in Modern Armenian History at the UCLA, Chair in Modern Armenian
History and Genocide Studies at the Clark University, and others.
These are not limited to education and carry out also research
activities.

A number of programs for Armenian Studies at universities also combine
educational and research functions, among which are the following:
Armenian Studies Program at California State University, Fresno, the
Armenian Studies Program at UCLA, Armenian Studies Program at
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, the Armenian Studies Program of the
Institute of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies at UC
Berkeley, etc.

Educational functions are performed also at institutes and research
centers. Armenian Studies associations are indeed instrumental in this
aspect, for which the educational component is not less important than
the research one.

The taught subjects include Armenian language (both Western and
Eastern Armenian), Armenian history, culture, etc. Within the scope of
the Armenian history the following subjects are taught: Armenian
History (from ancient to modern times), Introduction to Armenian Oral
History, Caucasus under the Russian and Soviet rule, Diaspora,
Armenian Genocide, etc. Armenian language programs include courses in
Grabar, Western Armenian and Eastern Armenian for different levels
(basic, intermediate, high). Armenian literature courses include Art,
politics and nationalism in Armenian literature, the Armenian
literature in 19-20th centuries, Armenian-American literature and
culture. For example the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State
offers such courses as Art of Armenia, as well as Armenian painting,
architecture and cinematography. Norian Armenian Studies Programs at
the University of Connecticut organize archaeological field works in
Armenia under the Archaeological Field School in Armenian Prehistory.

A number of courses are also offered by the undergraduate program in
Armenian Studies at the UCLA Department of Near Eastern Languages and
Cultures. An Armenian language course is offered among other languages
at the Melikian Center of the Arizona State University, which in
addition to teaching Armenian on campus also offers a two-month course
in Yerevan.

Research Activities

With respect to the research area of Armenian Studies in America,
first of all the institutes and research centers are to be mentioned,
such as the Armenian National Institute (Washington, DC), Armenian
Research Center at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, etc. Research
plays an important role in the activities of chairs and programs for
Armenian Studies. There are projects and groups involved in research,
for example the Armenian International Economic Studies Group, and the
Armenian Research Project of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide
Studies at the University of Minnesota.

The Armenian Review scientific periodical plays a critical role in the
research area, as it provides a platform for publication of research
results regarding various issues in Armenian Studies.

With regard to the research activities, it is interesting to know what
topics are considered primary for the centers of Armenian Studies in
the USA. In this respect personal circumstances play an important
role, for example, the research interests of a person that at a given
time is appointed chairperson of a department. It is even possible
that the research directions of a department are determined by the
research interests of an available professor, rather than research
directions decided by the department at the time of its establishment
and researchers selected accordingly. This reality is due to the fact
that especially in the initial stages the choice of candidates for
faculty positions has been quite limited.

As the centers for Armenian Studies have been established mostly
thanks to the Armenian communities and their individual
representatives, it is quite natural that they are interested in
problems deemed important by Armeniancy and representatives of the
Armenian community. Armenian language studies, as well as research of
various issues of Armenian history, but especially the Armenian
Genocide are noteworthy among these topics.

At the initial stages the researchers’ attention was mainly focused on
the ancient and especially Medieval period of the Armenian history3,
which was a result of the above mentioned circumstance ` the research
interests of the leaders. Later the Armenian Studies researchers got
involved also with contemporary problems, such as the Genocide,
history of Diaspora and other topics. Currently, some centers for
Armenian Studies in the USA work exclusively or primarily on studies
of the Armenian Genocide. Among those are the Armenian National
Institute (Washington, DC), Chair in Modern Armenian History and
Genocide Studies at the Clark University, Armenian Genocide Museum of
America (Washington, DC), etc. Sometimes the centers for Armenian
Studies in the USA also carry out lobbying activities.4

Gradually, some centers emerged that are involved in researching
modern problems, in particular, the challenges faced by Armenia. They
initially studied Armenia as part of the Soviet Union, at opposite
political pole, but later the independence of Armenia increased the
interest of the local Armenian communities toward the Homeland.

Armenian Studies are also essential in the context of historical and
philological studies related to the Middle East region. Several
centers focus their attention on the linguistic and literary studies.
Grigor Narekatsi Chair in Armenian Language and Culture at UCLA, Marie
Manoogian Chair in Armenian Language and Literature at University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor are among these.

Recently some programs emerged where archaeology has a major role.
These include UCLA Research Program in Armenian Archaeology &
Ethnography at the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, and the
Archaeological Field School in Armenian Prehistory of the University
of Connecticut.

1 With regard to Armenian Studies in the USA before establishment of
centers for those, see: Ô±Õ¢Õ£Õ¡ÖÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Ô³., ÕÕ¡ÕµÕ¡Õ£Õ«Õ¿Õ¸Ö?Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö?Õ¶Õ¨ Ô±Õ´Õ¥ÖÕ«Õ¯Õ¡ÕµÕ¸Ö?Õ´,
«Õ?Õ¸Õ¾Õ¥Õ¿Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ ÕÕ¡ÕµÕ¡Õ½Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶», 1987, Õ©Õ«Õ¾ 3, Õ§Õ» 16-21:

2 See: National Association for Armenian Studies and Research:
History,

3 See: Ð`аÑÑ?оÑ?н Ð’., Ð?Ñменоведение в СШÐ?, «Ô¼ÖÕ¡Õ¢Õ¥Ö Õ°Õ¡Õ½Õ¡ÖÕ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶
Õ£Õ«Õ¿Õ¸Ö?Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö?Õ¶Õ¶Õ¥ÖÕ«», 1971, Õ©Õ«Õ¾ 10, Õ§Õ» 23-34:

4 Regarding their role in the Armenian Cause, see: Õ?Õ¡ÖÕ¸Ö?Ö?ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Ô±.,
Õ?Ö?ÕµÕ¸Ö?Õ¼Ö?Õ« Õ»Õ¡Õ¶Ö?Õ¥ÖÕ¨ Õ´Õ«Õ»Õ¡Õ¦Õ£Õ¡ÕµÕ«Õ¶ Õ¯Õ¡Õ¦Õ´Õ¡Õ¯Õ¥ÖÕºÕ¸Ö?Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö?Õ¶Õ¶Õ¥ÖÕ« Õ¯Õ¸Õ²Õ´Õ«Ö? ÕÕ¡ÕµÕ¸Ö?
Ö?Õ¥Õ²Õ¡Õ½ÕºÕ¡Õ¶Õ¸Ö?Õ©ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Õ³Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ¹Õ´Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¸Ö? Õ¤Õ¡Õ¿Õ¡ÕºÕ¡ÖÕ¿Õ´Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¢Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ±Ö?Õ¥ÖÕ¨ Õ¨Õ¶Õ¤Õ¸Ö?Õ¶Õ¥Õ¬Õ¸Ö? Õ£Õ¸ÖÕ®Õ¸Ö?Õ´,
«Õ?Ö?ÕµÕ¸Ö?Õ¼Ö?Õ¡Õ£Õ«Õ¿Õ¸Ö?Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö?Õ¶» Õ¿Õ¡ÖÕ¥Õ£Õ«ÖÖ?, ÔµÖÖ?Õ¡Õ¶, 2013, Õ§Õ» 40Ö?

`Globus’ analytical bulletin, No. 11-12, 2014

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