Category: 2022

WASHINGTON, DC – Republic of Artsakh Foreign Minister David Babayan will hold policy consultations across Washington, DC – including Congressional briefings, think tank roundtables, university lectures and community gatherings – during an upcoming visit to Washington, DC coinciding with an Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Federal Policy Seminar.

Minister Babayan will offer the keynote speech at an ANCA event dedicated to Artsakh security and liberty held at the historic Woodrow Wilson House, the museum honoring the US President who championed efforts to secure a US mandate to support the Armenian Republic in 1918. He will also be the featured speaker at the “Capitol Hill Salute to Artsakh’s Independence,” organized in cooperation with the Congressional Armenian Caucus, which will be held on Monday, September 19. Due to Congressional regulations related to COVID-19, supporters of Artsakh freedom must request to attend the Capitol Hill event.

“We welcome Minister Babayan’s consultations across Washington with US policymakers and foreign policy stakeholders – as well as his remarks on Capitol Hill, at the Wilson House and at our policy conference – as a meaningful contribution to constructive US engagement on Artsakh Republic status and security issues,” said ANCA executive director Aram Hamparian. “Artsakh’s voice – in Washington and on the world stage – represents the unbending resolve, the abiding democratic aspirations, of the Armenian nation to endure, to survive and thrive on the very frontier of world freedom against the forces of darkness and dictatorship.”

The ANCA Federal Policy Seminar – a four-day series of presentations, roundtable discussions and Capitol Hill visits for chapter and community leaders – will focus on targeted initiatives to advance ANCA strategic priorities: saving Artsakh, strengthening Armenia, holding Azerbaijan and Turkey accountable, and securing justice for the Armenian Genocide.

Following his Washington, DC visit, Babayan will be traveling to California for a series of events and meetings with Armenian American community leaders and elected officials.

Born in Artsakh’s capital Stepanakert, Babayan has served as Foreign Minister of the Republic of Artsakh since January, 2021. Prior to that, he has held positions in government ministries of the Artsakh Republic including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2000 – 2001); the Presidential Planning Group (2001 – 2015); Assistant to the President (2005 – 2007); Head of the Central Information Department of the Office President (2007 – 2021).  He founded and currently leads the “Artsakh Conservative Party.”

Babayan has received a degree in economics from the Yerevan Institute of National Economy, and master’s degrees from American University of Armenia and the Central European University (Budapest). He holds a doctorate in historical science from the Armenian National Academy of Sciences Institute of Oriental Studies. He has authored more than 300 articles and monographs of scientific research in the areas of the Azerbaijan – Artsakh (Karabakh) negotiations, Caucasus geopolitics, great power competition and Chinese geopolitics.

August 31 marks the 114th birth anniversary of Armenian American writer William Saroyan—the son of Bitlis’ Armenak and Takoohi and a first-generation Fresno Saroyan. But the story of the Fresno Saroyans did not start or end with the most famous Saroyan family member. 

Mampre as a child (third in top row from left) with his classmates in Bitlis, circa 1893

William’s mother Takoohi had a first cousin named Mampre Saroyan, a fellow Bitlisian, who in his private memoirs credited the Hairenik newspaper as the source for the improvement of his native Armenian tongue. Mampre and his family escaped the Armenian Genocide a few years after Takoohi and Armenak had already settled in America. But it took several decades for the separated Saroyan families to reunite in Fresno, California.

Dr. Tony Saroyan

In a recent interview with the Weekly, Dr. Tony Mampre Saroyan, the great-grandson of Mampre Saroyan, a doctor of psychology and a mental health advocate, shared his great-grandfather’s story of survival and his thoughts about being related to one of the most famous Armenians who ever lived.

While William Saroyan was growing up as a little boy in America, the Armenians who remained in occupied Western Armenia were experiencing the apotheosis of the Armenian Genocide. 

“I was the shoemaker for the Kurdish mayor of Khnus,” recalled Mampre Saroyan of his escape in Dr. Richard Hovannisian’s essay “Shades of Altruism in the Armenian Genocide.” “I said, ‘Bey, all the shoemakers from here are being deported.’ He replied that if I would stay he would protect me and my family.”

The Kurdish mayor of Khnus allowed Mampre and his family to hide out from the Ottoman Turks until it was safe for him to escape. Then, they traveled to Istanbul where they were able to take a boat to America.

“They were eventually able to leave once they were told the coast was clear,” recounted Dr. Tony Saroyan. “It was pretty brutal when he had to escape. Hearing women and children crying, seeing dead bodies on the river.”

“There was no Armenian left in the city,” were Mampre’s chilling words in Dr. Hovannisian’s essay.

According to the Armenian Immigrant Project, Mampre’s cousin Aram, most notably known as “Uncle Aram” (the lovable uncle of William Saroyan), sponsored Mampre’s journey to Ellis Island.

But when Mampre and his family landed at Ellis Island in May of 1921, they were turned away for reasons still unclear. They decided to settle in La Merced, Mexico along with 200 other Armenians. 

That’s where Dr. Tony Saroyan’s grandfather Dr. Suren Saroyan grew up and adopted much of the culture. “Armenians had to assimilate to Mexican culture because there were no Armenian churches, no Armenian schools,” said Dr. Tony Saroyan.

After graduating from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Dr. Suren Saroyan became the first in the family to move to Fresno, where he did his residency as an anesthesiologist at Fresno Community Hospital. A few years later, around 1952, he was enlisted into the US Navy and became a lieutenant and surgeon during the Korean War. During this time, Mampre and his wife Ardemis followed suit to Fresno, a long-awaited Saroyan family reunion.

Mampre and his wife Artemis

Over the years, Dr. Suren Saroyan built a relationship with William Saroyan. When he was in Mexico, the acclaimed author even sent Dr. Suren Saroyan a copy of his book in Spanish.

“The stories [themselves] though,” said Dr. Tony Saroyan with a sigh, “I wish I had more of them.”

Dr. Suren Saroyan was a prominent Armenian in his own right, becoming a founding member of the Holy Martyrs Ferrahian Elementary and High School, the first Armenian day school in America. He was also awarded the Order of the Grand Cross of the Knights of Cilicia by His Holiness Khoren I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.

Dr. Suren Saroyan and William Saroyan died in the same year—William on May 18, 1981 and Suren on August 28, 1981.

Last photo taken of Dr. Suren Saroyan before his death

Proof of their relationship is in a signed book gifted to Dr. Suren Saroyan in which William wrote, “All good wishes to the first Saroyan doctor, Suren. With sure faith that his work will be eminent and good.” 

Handwritten note from William Saroyan to Dr. Suren Saroyan

It took Dr. Tony Saroyan some time until he realized the rich history that came along with his last name. “It wasn’t a big deal for me initially because I didn’t grow up around Armenians. Once I got a little older, I would read his books for middle school projects, and I felt a sense of connection to that,” he explained. “Having the last name puts positive pressure on me. I don’t want to be just a Saroyan.”

Once again, I feel compelled to write about the dearth of meaningful dialogue regarding the recent developments in Armenia and Artsakh. Worse, the existing discussion continues to miss the mark and perpetuates and reinforces ill-conceived messaging. One cannot help but conclude that such an unproductive approach is desired to distract the Armenian people from some very uncomfortable facts.

Let us start with the relinquishing of Berdzor and Aghavno to Azerbaijan. When I was in Aghavno in December 2020, the Armenian government was doing everything in its power, not with a carrot but with a stick, to force the Armenians living there to leave. They had turned off the water and power to the village and sent officials to remove the people. We must accept that they knew this day was coming and wanted to avoid the embarrassment that transpired this month. 

But there are much more far-reaching implications for what has occurred. First, we must make special note of Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan’s recent comments regarding the Russian peacekeeping forces in Artsakh. His criticisms harken back to similar antagonism of Russia in the days leading up to the 2020 war. One must ask now, as back then, what objectives are hoped to be achieved by such actions. 

There are complex global power politics in play, and Armenia has suffered the fate of similar focal points in the past, particularly during the Cold War.

US policy toward Russia has not really changed in 75 years, so nothing done in that regard should come as a surprise or be unanticipated. Constraining Russia and its influence is of primary importance to the US, and when Armenia is viewed from that lens, it is clear that, first, lessening Russia’s influence in Armenia and, ultimately, its military presence in Armenia and Artsakh is a strategic objective of the US. Pashinyan’s rise to power and actions since taking office must be seen within this light. 

The US actions prior to, during and after the 2020 war must also be understood through this perspective. This does not mean that the US objective was necessarily a defeat and removal of Armenians from Artsakh. That was just a by-product of their fundamental objective stated above. If we understand these interests, then we also must understand that Artsakh’s current status is extremely precarious. Artsakh is as much at risk as Aghavno and Berdzor, and for similar reasons.

Whether Pashinyan is naïve enough to truly believe that once all aspects of the November 9 agreement are fulfilled, there will be peace with Azerbaijan, or whether his sole objective at this point is self-preservation, I cannot say. But Azerbaijan and Turkey will continue to be encouraged to press on Artsakh until the Russian peacekeepers are gone and then, like Aghavno and Berdzor today, there will no longer be Armenians in Artsakh. Maybe the loss of control of gas and electricity to Artsakh is truly symbolic of the commonality. Also, don’t be surprised if the same people criticizing the Russian peacekeeping force today say that there is no longer any need for them to be there in the future.

The arch of Armenia’s independence can be seen as balanced on a seesaw with east and west alternately pulling one way then the other. The view of Armenians is often guided by these competing global power structures, instead of the best interests for Armenia and the Armenian people. That is the discussion that should be taking place today. The discussion should be grounded on understanding Armenia’s diplomatic capabilities and opportunities, if they still exist.

Appearance and messaging matter, and currently the Armenian people’s messaging is that we are defeated and unwilling to fight to defend our nation. The government has thrown up its hands in defeat and relinquished all responsibility for the security of the Republic to Russia. One should be asking what objectives are being served by such a policy of the current administration. While the Armenian people may be ignoring the signs, rest assured that outside interests are not so blind, and when they react, we should not be surprised. 

The interests of Azerbaijan and Turkey are very clear. It is equally clear that any Armenian unfortunate enough to find that they now live within either of these two countries must either leave, assimilate or be killed and that the international community recognizes this as normal and acceptable. These are diplomatic levers that Armenia seems incapable, or unwilling, to make use of. Regardless, as we play out the various potential scenarios in the decision tree, these realities cannot be ignored. 

One should not be mistaken; the Pashinyan regime has already made its decision, and its actions indicate the side it has chosen. But a decision of such magnitude and far-reaching implications should be vetted by the Armenian people. If the current regime is deemed to be on the right path, so be it; but the decision should not be made from the perspective of a defeatist mentality—that nothing more can be done than what is being done—for the Armenian nation still has some agency in shaping its own fate even if it does not appear so today.

I often see comments online that go something like this:

• Only the citizens of Armenia have the right to decide the fate of the country.
• Diasporan Armenians should have done more since independence. It is our collective fault for what has transpired.

These views are typically espoused by the same people without any shame at their hypocrisy and with an aim of stifling discussion or, more specifically, criticism. Yes, of course, it is the citizens of Armenia who will decide the fate of the Republic, but all Armenians have a right to weigh in and contribute to the best of their abilities. For it is not simply the fate of the Republic at stake, but the entire Armenian nation is at a critical juncture. Instead of trying to limit dialogue through such pigeonholing, let us foster dialogue and critical thinking and challenge pervading views, so that in the end, we can choose the actions in the best interests of the Armenian people. The Armenian people are best served by a vibrant Diaspora and a secure, sustainable, democratic and independent Armenia. These qualities should not be viewed as mutually exclusive and neither should be viewed as a mute resource to be exploited by the other.

Orran’s ”Theatre Art and Creative Speech” group organizes an event on the occasion of World Poetry Day. (Photo: Facebook/Orran Armenia)

Several years ago while visiting Armenia, my wife and I had the privilege of visiting Orran (Haven). It was founded by Armine Hovannisian in response to the number of children on the streets of Yerevan who were not attending schools. It has grown into a remarkable after-school program where children receive age appropriate tutoring, outdoor activity and cultural classes. The program is based on an agreement with the parents that the children will attend school and receive support through this program in the afternoon. They are off the streets, receiving an education and valuable mentoring from a professional staff, including volunteers who offer the kids subject tutoring, homework time, a meal, as well as music, dance, woodworking and art classes. The results have been impressive.

During our visit, we interacted with children who may have been begging or selling wares on the streets a few months earlier. They were smiling, happy and full of life. This organization has literally saved lives and is an investment in the future of Armenia. There is nothing like the enthusiasm of a group of young children to inspire the rest of us. As we walked through the building to visit the classroom activity, the sheer joy was evident. The objective is simply to afford each of these precious gifts the opportunity to become their best. I vividly remember one classroom of third or fourth grade students. Each child was asked to introduce themselves to us and share what they wanted to do when they became adults. We were brought to tears with their confident and passionate statements about becoming a soldier, dancer, doctor or teacher. In a follow-up discussion with Armine and her staff, she mentioned something that has remained with me to this day. She told us that these children were “dreaming again.” In their former lives of street survival and family economic despair, they were robbed of their childhood and the freedom of imagining their future. They were trapped in a day-to-day life of existence. They did not have the luxury nor the environment to dream. That ability has been restored and with it their future. It truly has become a haven to allow these children and families the dignity they deserve. Dreams begin the creative process, and when refined, they become our life’s work.

As adults, there is much we can learn from our children. The beauty of their unconditional love is unconstrained by a world of “learning” and “experiences” that often lead to biases and narrow thinking. There is something remarkable about a young mind that possesses the freedom of no limits. It is so fulfilling to hear my five-year-old granddaughter say, “This is the best day of my life” or “ I love those animals.” Unencumbered by the rigors of “maturing,” our children teach us that all good things start with a dream. It is one of the essentials of human development that is carried forward from adolescence. Dreaming is the beginning of creative thought leading to a vision which inspires action. Our ability to act as individuals, as a family or as a community is what sustains our betterment. In its absence, we stagnate and either dwell on the past or are stuck in the present. The greatest accomplishment of the Orran team is the restoration of dreaming in these precious children. If we truly have internalized that these children are tomorrow’s leaders, then this transformation ensures the opportunity for hope.

This core essential can be understood in the context of our global nation. A nation that has experienced independence for a small percentage of time in the last 150 years is highly dependent on the catalytic nature of dreaming. The idea of a sovereign nation was kept alive during almost 500 years of Ottoman Turkish rule. After the Genocide and the humiliation of expulsion, many abandoned the vision of an independent state as impractical. Some continued to dream, and the First Republic was born under unlikely circumstances. After the Sovietization and Turkish aggression, again many set aside the dream in the interests of survival. Others were able to hold onto the dream and rebuild in the diaspora or in Armenia. Patriotic notions of freedom were retained in the diaspora and taught to a new generation. We would chant “Azad Haiastan” as an ideal without a clear plan. It was in our hearts. In Armenia, these ideals were never extinguished, but simply were embedded in their souls. A nation that continued to dream, build a vision and work survived attempts at extinction by defying sociological norms. Maintaining the mental freedom of conscience to dream is a powerful tool and an essential in our nation’s recipe. It rewards us with fresh air to breathe. Once we stop, we enter despair.

Something has changed, however, in our experience with this time tested formula. Do we still have dreams as a nation? Do we have a unifying vision fed by the dreams of our people? My observations both in the western diaspora and in the homeland is that our dreams have been interrupted by a reality that we cannot seem to shake. There was a time when euphoria for the homeland not only was a unifying signal, but it had re-energized the diaspora. For decades under the Soviet regime, there was an artificial wall between the diaspora and Armenia. With the emergence of the Republic in 1991, there was great hope that the walls would be replaced with a singular purpose. Although progress has been made to that end, most Armenians are disappointed with the depth of the relationship. Plotting the relationship on a line graph resembles the current volatility of the stock market. It seems that many in the diaspora have taken a step back in the last few years, given the regional turmoil and political crisis in Armenia.

Certainly and thankfully, there are still thousands of Armenians from the diaspora who are still living their dreams through the educational, economic, cultural and social nonprofits that serve the citizens of Armenia and Artsakh. The mood, however, is troubling. Our dreams have been interrupted with conflicts and turmoil. Everyone seems to have an ominous opinion about the current state in the homeland. I have spoken with many, and the unscientific perception has become reality. People are not visiting because they fear unrest. Individuals are not donating because they fear corruption in the church and are confused on how to resolve their lack of trust. There is almost unprecedented concern about the future of Armenia given the lack of political leverage. Our disunity globally is being exploited by our enemies. Erdogan and his neo-Ottoman cronies never fail to mention the “diaspora” as an obstacle to normalizing relations. Our public conflicts feed their propaganda. It is one matter to have disagreements in a democratic society. We have them, and it does not exist in Turkey or rogue Azerbaijan. We must ensure that it does not reduce the effectiveness of the Republic. On the west coast, the political debates have impacted the functioning of the community. When debates over the homeland start affecting our communities in the diaspora, we have gone too far. Our Achilles’ heel has always been our disunity, or shall I say our inability to subordinate our egos to a greater mission. Beyond the public distractions, I fear that our cause has taken a backseat to our obsession with political squabbles. If we knew how to keep them in the right perspective, we would never allow debate to evolve into conflict. We must all take responsibility for our role in this global nation. While we play battle of the titans with each other, the Turks are tightening the noose. One thing is clear. Regardless of the time, the venue, the current issues or the players, the Turks have a single objective: to see to the elimination of Armenia and Armenians in order to facilitate regional hegemony. Pick an era—1895, 1920 or 2022. The goal has remained constant. While our children dream in their world, the adults have become dangerously distracted.

The disappointment that has engulfed the global Armenian nation is understandable. We are still in shock over the loss of life and territory in the 2020 ambush by the Turkish cousins. We have a history of loss, and the impact has influenced our psyche as a people. It is particularly damaging after the heroic defenses from 1991-1994 that led to a liberated Artsakh. It reminds us of the First Republic’s inclusion of Kars, Ardahan and Ararat, only to lose it to Turkish aggression in 1920. The diaspora was founded essentially as a result of the death and destruction of the Genocide. The recovery of what was lost (Hai Tahd) and the sensitivity to any aggression from the Turks are ingrained in the generational mentality of the diaspora. Justice is not only a valid political issue, it is a moral one for the descendants of the victims. It has created generations of dreaming. The Turks and others who will exploit our global diversity will work overtime to create dissension among us. Teasing our wounded Republic with “normalization” and then shedding the olive branches to reveal the same wolf appearance of their ancestors is intended to weaken us as people. We must be wise to keep our debate and concerns within the “family” and never let our differences become fuel for the Turks. This requires less emotion and more discipline.

Dreaming again as a nation is not an exercise in impractical thoughts. It is the beginning of clarity and vision that creates a sense of purpose. When those children at Orran began dreaming again, they restored a sense of direction in their lives and that of their families. Each of us has a responsibility to enable working together under a common vision. Those of us in the diaspora must realize that any backing off from the homeland not only damages our potential, but does not support Hai Tahd. If we allow ambivalence to replace negativity, we will still swing and miss. The only answer is to define common ground and build upon it. A nation must always dream.

Memoirs of a Soldier: About the Days of Tragedy
By Bedros Haroian
Tadem Press, 2022
480 pp.
Hardcover, $42.95

As we crossed the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, more and more memoirs written by survivors are becoming accessible, either for the first time or translated into English/French. Among the latest additions to this growing literature is the English edition of Bedros Haroian’s Zinvori Muh Husheruh: Arhavirki Oreren, originally published in Armenian in 1963. Under the editorship of Gillisann Harootunian, PhD, and an afterword by Fatma Müge Göçek, Haroian’s translated memoirs, Memoirs of a Soldier: About the Days of Tragedy, have been published by the Tadem Press (Fresno, California).

There is an abundance of genocide survivor testimonies and memoirs, broadly known as the Houshamadian literature in Armenian. In this respect, rendering Haroian’s story accessible to an English-speaking/reading audience is a welcome contribution and provides rich material for the study of Ottoman-Armenian life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many aspects of the work share some of the same characteristics of other Houshamadians, including a thorough description of Haroian’s native village Tadem (Kharpert), a portrayal of his extended family and the traditions that made up Ottoman rural life in Anatolia. Therefore, the first chapters of the book are vivid accounts of Armenian-Turkish relations in the larger region of Kharpert, social and economic ties between Turkish landowners and Armenian peasants, as well as the situation in Tadem after the 1895 Hamidian massacres—an important turning point that pushed the young Haroian to join the revolutionary committees. 

Translation: My maternal uncle, my brother Kachadoor Haroian, and me [young boy in fez]. Next to me: Asadoor, Guleeg Haroian [middle, back row], and my sister’s daughter Yeghsan [girl with braids]Two major themes distinguish the work from other Armenian memoirs of the same period, though. A devout member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) since his teenage years in Tadem, Haroian was forced to abandon his native land in the early 1900s after some Turkish notables of the town threatened his life. Encouraged by his brothers’ earlier journey to the United States, Haroian decided to join them in search of employment. He meticulously describes his voyage from Ottoman lands to Chicago and Massachusetts, a phenomenon (male immigration) that gained momentum throughout the mid-1890s. Haroian became a part of this larger exodus of Armenian men who were embarking on the long and arduous journey to the New World in pursuit of better social and economic conditions. He provides us insights into the early American-Armenian communities, the networks and administration established by those early settlers, as well as the intra-Armenian (ARF versus Ramgavar) feuds, which are discussed at length in later chapters.

The second major feature that characterizes this work is the thorough description of the author’s conscription into the Ottoman Army on the eve of World War I and his participation in the battles on the Eastern Front (Ottoman-Russian), including the infamous Sarikamish campaign (December 22, 1914-January 17, 1915). While the fate of Ottoman-Armenian soldiers during the war is one of the most understudied aspects of the Armenian Genocide, Haroian’s memoirs shed fresh light on the ordeal of many Armenian conscripts who shared the same suffering as their Muslim counterparts during the fighting yet were later disarmed only to be integrated into labor battalions where many perished. Therefore, Haroian’s memoirs are not only an Armenian soldier’s perspective on the Battle of Sarikamish and the early months of the war, but they are also an insider’s account of the Ottoman general mobilization, the toll that the war had on the local population and the Ottoman authorities’ increasing radicalization toward the empire’s Armenian population, as Haroian describes the horrendous massacres committed around Garin/Erzurum and in his native Kharpert. 

It was in the spring and summer of 1915 that Haroian also became an eyewitness of the Genocide. He recalls the large caravans of deportees who were forced to march only to be killed by ambushing gendarmes and bandits. Haroian, who was serving in a labor battalion, witnessed the carnage at Keotur Bridge and was ordered to bury the bodies of the raped and slaughtered Armenian women and girls, a daunting task he describes in detail. Subsequently, he decided to escape with some fellow Armenians. As soon as they approached the villages in Kharpert, they made plans to cross into the Russian side, as the Czarist Army was fast advancing in Eastern Anatolia in 1916. Filled with a desire for revenge, he wanted to reach the Armenian volunteer battalions under the comradeship of the Russian troops, which he accomplished with the assistance of some Kurdish chieftains in Dersim.

From 1916 onwards, Haroian was a soldier in the Russian Army. Soon after the Revolution of 1917, Russian forces began to withdraw from Eastern Anatolia, leaving Armenian volunteers alone against an offensive Ottoman Army. Haroian traveled to Tiflis where he met General Andranik Ozanian and joined the soldiers fighting for “Armenian freedom” in the Caucasus (p. 212), using his military experience at the service of the First Republic of Armenia (1918). Despite his arrest and torture in Baku, he succeeded in making his way to Cilicia and joining the Armenian Legionnaires (originally known as the Legion D’Orient) in 1919, a small auxiliary force under French command that help the Allied Forces’ takeover of the region after the Armistice of Mudros (October 30, 1918). In this respect, Haroian’s account is a timely addition to the growing materials on the history of the Legion, the legionnaires’ disillusionment with the French authorities and their final abandonment of Cilicia, bashing the hopes of many Armenian survivors and legionnaires (including Haroian himself) for an independent Armenian statehood.

Memoirs of a Soldier: About the Days of Tragedy is a critical and a welcome addition to the accounts by Armenian Genocide survivors. What makes this book uniquely useful for students and academics in Middle Eastern Studies broadly defined is Haroian’s involvement in the Ottoman, Russian and French armies, a rare feature that not many contemporaries shared. Therefore, his testimony brings a fresh perspective to several aspects of the history of the Great War, the Armenian Genocide, Armenian political parties in the early 20th century, the turmoil in the Caucasus 1917-1919 and the early years of the French Mandate in the larger Levant. In this respect, it serves as an insightful and helpful resource and a primary source that can be readily used in the classroom as well as be of interest to a broader audience. The extensive footnotes guide the reader through the many events and characters that Haroian mentions in the memoirs, making the work much more accessible to non-specialists.

It is that time of the year again. Time to get out the suitcases, charge up the camera batteries, suspend delivery of the mail and newspapers, print the boarding passes, arrange for a taxi to the airport, lay out the clothes and pack your bags. We are excited about our trip.  

Are we traveling to Europe? Asia? Hawaii? No, we are off to someplace even better, someplace even more special.  

We are going to Worcester, Massachusetts. 

When I told my colleagues where we were going, the reaction was “Where?” and even “Why? What for?” I would respond, “Well, that is where the Olympics are this year.” This would of course be followed with a lengthy explanation about the Armenian Youth Federation and why the annual gathering for athletic events and social activities we call the Olympics is so very important to us. Beginning with our grandparents and extending to our grandchildren, five generations of our family have attended this annual gathering. And we are not alone. I can name several other families that proudly claim this kind of generational participation. It wouldn’t surprise me if some families can even claim six or seven generations.

And Worcester… Wistah… Ooster is indeed where it all began.  

It is the city in the US where the Armenians first settled en masse. It is the city where we built the first Armenian church in the Western Hemisphere. It’s where my paternal grandfather Aram lived before settling in Watertown. It is an important city for all Armenians in the United States.

The last time the Olympics were in Worcester was 1974. I was 21 years old and in my senior year of college. It was during a time when you could go to the Olympics without having a room knowing you would “crash” someone’s room and, of course, contribute to the hotel bill. I distinctly remember walking into the lobby of the hotel, oud and suitcase in hand. The first people I saw were Rich Berberian, Ron Tutunjian and John Harotian with instruments and suitcases in their hands. Rich said, “Who are you staying with?” I said, “No one… yet.” They said, “Stay with us.” That was the start of an epic Olympic weekend. We had way too many people in the room; you could do that back in those days. But it didn’t matter. Music was our focus, not sleeping. We had our own hook-ups (those words meant something more innocent back in those days as well) which were about as much fun as I ever had at an Olympics. We played in the afternoons and after the dances.

Now, 48 years later, I go to Worcester, cameras, laptop and suitcase in hand. Due to Tom Vartabedian’s influence and charm, Bob Tutunjian (Ron’s older brother), Harry Derderian and I have inherited what Tom used to do all by himself. We write the articles for the Armenian Weekly documenting the weekend. I join Sona Gevorkian and Tamar Kanarian (who is actually missing this year’s festivities… what will we do without her) in taking all the photos of the various athletic and social events. It is a labor of love for all of us that extends a few weeks after the Olympics when the Special Issue is published.

Since golf and tennis take place first thing Friday morning, I travel to the host city on Thursday. This year, my good friend Ara Topouzian of Detroit is going to the Olympics with his family as it is time to bring his AYF Juniors Alec and Aline to the grand tradition. They went out early to make a longer vacation out of it. Of course, he texted me this afternoon, “Hey, I am in Worcester, I thought you would be here. Where are you?” Later in the evening, he sent a photo of a Worcester restaurant he highly recommends, again chastising me for not already being there.

Pictured left to right: David Melkonian, Ara Topouzian, and El Basha owner George Sakhat

It will be good to be back at the Olympics. I have not attended since 2019 in Chicago. The 2020 games were canceled due to Covid, but we still pulled off an Olympics Special Issue of the Weekly. Last year, the games were in Providence. Out of caution or being total wimps, we did not attend. The team still worked hard to have a magnificent Olympics Special Issue with Harry and I both working from home. This year, we are so happy to return to the Olympics and so happy that it is finally in Worcester again.

As always, I look forward to seeing one and all.  

Tebi Worcester.

The studio at the Antranig and Alice Karjian Hairenik Media Center (Photo: Leeza Arakelian)

WATERTOWN, Mass.—The Hairenik Association is seeking interested and qualified candidates to staff its state-of-the-art media center at the historic Hairenik Building.

An initiative of the Armenian Cultural Association of America (ACAA), the newly-named Antranig and Alice Karjian Hairenik Media Center will include a television studio and control room, both designed by Varto Technologies.

The production schedule is expected to begin with the launch of regular programming in the fall/winter of 2022 and will initially include a weekly flagship news program, covering current affairs in Armenia and stories across our Diaspora.

Original broadcast content will converge social media and television and will be livestreamed across platforms belonging to the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), the Armenian Weekly and their family of organizations, including the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), Hamazkayin, Armenian Relief Society (ARS), Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) and Homenetmen. 

Once the Antranig and Alice Karjian Hairenik Media Center is up and running, Varto Technologies and Weekly staff will be training field photographers, in-studio producers and technical directors on the proper use of the equipment. There will also be openings for on-camera presenters and reporters. Staff members, freelancers and volunteers will also receive training, if necessary, on video editing software (Adobe Premiere Pro).

Concurrently, the Armenian Weekly Editorial Board, which oversees the print and online publication of the Armenian Weekly—the historic newspaper of the ARF Eastern Region, established in 1934—is looking to grow with the addition of part-time staff members and interns. These positions will be responsible for helping copy edit articles, post content on social media, create weekly e-newsletters and cover local events, among other responsibilities.

For experienced and inexperienced candidates alike, please submit a resume, cover letter and broadcast reel (if applicable) to Armenian Weekly assistant editor Leeza Arakelian.

Technical Directors

Core Duties and Responsibilities

– Experience with Newtek Tricaster TC1, or TC1 Pro software
– Familiar with Behringer x32 audio mixers
– Understands Dante audio networks, NDI technology and can troubleshoot issues
– Familiar with Camcorder and color balancing, white balancing, focusing
– Switch live video sources from multiple cameras and inputs on an NDI network
– Set up and configure lighting, audio and video equipment
– Able to mix audio for talent using mics and IFBs
– Help with studio setup, equipment maintenance, configuration, etc.
– Create PIPs when needed and more
– Familiar with keying greenscreen and working in a virtual set environment

Minimum Qualifications

– At least three years experience in a studio and/or live video environment
– Experience using Windows 10 Pro
– Must be highly organized and a great communicator
– Well-rounded in all aspects of live video production and can act as a one-man band if needed
– Proficient with Newtek Tricaster software, NDI streaming, and networks, as well as traditional SDI and connected video (Blackmagic or VMIX experience accepted)

Field Photographers

Core Duties and Responsibilities 

– Gather footage (b-roll) and sound-on-tape from local events, interviews and rallies using a Panasonic AG-CX350

Minimum Qualifications

– Ability to operate or at least have a working knowledge of audio and video equipment
– Experience with non-linear video editing (Adobe Premiere Pro) a plus
– Creativity and attention to detail

On-camera host, reporters

Core Duties and Responsibilities

– Interview program guests and moderate conversations with local/national political experts for the weekly news program
– Assist in writing scripts, research and identifying story ideas

Minimum Qualifications

– Must have the ability to speak on camera, moderate conversations, interview guests and provide standard news updates
– Possess the knowledge and understanding of the Armenian Diaspora and the Armenian political climate and current events
– Ability to read off a teleprompter
– Located in or near Watertown, MA or have the ability to be on-site on a weekly basis

Recommended Qualifications

– Fluent in Armenian (Eastern/Western)
– College degree in broadcast journalism
– Exceptional oral and written skills

The application period is now open for the International Armenian Literary Alliance’s two $2,500 grants, one for a translation from Armenian into English, and one for contemporary creative writing. Applications will be accepted from September 1-30, 2022. 

IALA’s Creative Writing Grant will award $2,500 annually to one Armenian writer whose work-in-progress shows exceptional literary and creative ability. In 2022, the grant will be awarded for a work of fiction, and in the coming years, to works of poetry and creative nonfiction, as well as other mixed genre forms. The 2022 grant will be judged by Raffi Wartanian, Aline Ohanesian, Aida Zilelian and Nancy Agabian.

The Creative Writing Grant is meant to foster the development of contemporary Armenian literature in English through an annual monetary award. Additionally, IALA will support grant recipients in promoting their publications through marketing on our website and social media channels, through book reviews and readings and discussions.

IALA’s Translation Grant will award $2,500 to one translator working from Armenian source texts into English. In 2022, the grant will be awarded for any work of prose written in Western Armenian by a female author. Although preference will be given to more recent (post-20th century) works, we welcome works from any time period. The 2022 grant will be judged by Tatevik Ayvazyan, Gagik Stepan-Sarkissian and Garen Torikian.

Given the traumatic history of the Armenian diaspora, many readers are unable to read works in the original Armenian, and therefore, have centuries of literature inaccessible to them. Translators working with Armenian texts have traditionally lacked resources in the publishing world, as well as access to other funding, due to the overwhelming influence of so-called “majority languages.” IALA’s Translation Grant is meant to foster the development of contemporary Armenian literature in English through a monetary award. 

Additionally, in partnership with the Armenian Institute and Mashtots Press and with funding from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, IALA will support the grant recipient in publishing and promoting the selected work. As Western Armenian is on UNESCO’s endangered languages list, we believe that it is imperative to bring more attention to Western Armenian literature. As female authors producing Armenian literature are a minority within a minority, it’s also necessary to highlight the works of these writers.

Please read the eligibility criteria and guidelines in full before applying. 

Both grants were made possible by a generous donation from the Armenian Allied Arts Association, an organization based in Southern California that discovered, encouraged and promoted new talent of Armenian descent for over 80 years.