Category: 2023

Krikor Khanjian’s mural The Creation of the Armenian Alphabet

In the month of October, Armenians all over the world celebrate the Feast of the Holy Translators. The Holy Translators were a group of Armenian scholars, headed by two towering Armenian churchmen, St. Sahag and St. Mesrob, who laid the foundations of Armenian literature in the fifth century A.D. That century was known as the Golden Age of Armenian Literature.

In order to understand and appreciate the magnitude of the work of the Holy Translators, one has to know the political and religious situation of Armenia at that time. 

In 387 A.D., the two superpowers of the era, Byzantium and Sasanid Dynasty of Persia, had partitioned Armenia into two sections, Western and Eastern Armenia. In Western Armenia, the official government language was Greek, while in Eastern Armenia, it was Persian. Besides these two languages, Syriac was also used because of its wide usage in religious literature. In fact, all Bible readings and liturgy were read from either Greek or Syriac texts and translated or interpreted by men who were known as “Translators.”

St. Sahag Bartev (348-438) and St. Mesrob Mashtots (361-439) saw the gravity of the political and religious state of the Armenian nation. They realized the importance of a literary Armenian language for the propagation of the Christian faith among Armenians. They knew that without the Bible in the hands of the lay people, the Armenian Church would not grow and could not stand very long in the midst of the pagan world.

St. Sahag and St. Mesrob also realized that a common literary language would unite the Armenian people in the Byzantine and Persian sections of Armenia. King Vramshabouh (Eastern Armenia) could see their logic, and thus, he lent his financial and moral support.

The only thing lacking was an Armenian alphabet. St. Mesrob was commissioned to do the task: inventing an Armenian alphabet as a tool for evangelism as well as a unifying force.

Mesrob traveled extensively and examined different alphabets. Finally, in 406 A.D., he invented the 36 letters of the Armenian alphabet.

The invention of the Armenian alphabet ushered in a new age of intellectual and spiritual enlightenment. The Armenian literary language and literature freed the Armenian people from the domination of the Persian, Syriac and Byzantine cultures. With the establishment of schools and the proliferation of writing, wider horizons opened up to the people, and their national consciousness was solidified. A host of disciples were trained under the guidance of St. Sahag and St. Mesrob, ushering in a new period of translating the Bible and other major Christian and philosophical texts into Armenian.

The group of scholars who launched the venture of translation of the Bible and other works came to be known as “The Holy Translators” or “Soorp Tarkmanitchk.” 

The first translation of the Bible into Armenian, starting with the Book of Proverbs, was made from one version of the Syriac text, probably the Pershitta.

There was a second translation of the Bible into Armenian from the Greek Septuagint Bible under the supervision of Catholicos St. Sahag. The final revision was rendered between the years 432-438, and in 438, Catholicos Sahag approved it and authorized its use in the Armenian Church.

We owe an eternal debt to St. Sahag and St. Mesrob, the chief architects of the Golden Age of Armenian Literature, and their venerable disciples, the Holy Translators, who became a source of inspiration, generation after generation, to numerous Armenians throughout our history.

Feel neither guilt nor regret.

We realize the dire straits in Artsakh. How can we not with the constant barrage of bad news? Our hearts weep every day for those in need. We could spend every hour of every day reading on social media and in the Weekly about this injustice. We must all rise above this.

I agree with my friend Steve Piligian on most issues related to Armenia. Recently, he posted on Facebook a statement that I respectfully disagree with:

“I know that life must carry on, but I feel empty with celebratory and social functions in our community given our Artsakh tragedy. Too soon…Too serious.”

I know it is hard to decouple our sadness and outrage from the importance of moving forward. But we must.

The weekend following the events in Artsakh, the Providence community held their annual Armenian Food Fest. It is the largest fundraiser for Sts. Vartanantz Church, which will allow the church to continue to serve the Armenian community in a multitude of ways. It allowed us to celebrate our culture, our heritage which identifies who we are. 

More importantly, in these trying times it allowed us to bring to light the plight of our brothers and sisters in Artsakh. We took the occasion to have a booth dedicated to bringing awareness to both Armenians and non-Armenians of the Artsakh situation complete with a video presentation. We collected funds at every booth to donate to those in need in Artsakh. We invited politicians, so they would hear from us firsthand what we expect of them in regards to Artsakh. We heard from community leaders, such as Hagop Khatchadourian, who through emotional speeches encouraged the community to get involved and to help our homeland in any way they can. Having this event did more to help the cause than if it was canceled due to our sadness.

I am not sure how many share my feelings. However, I am sure that everyone would agree that at this time, it is most important that we stand together, in the light, proud of being Armenian and collectively defiant against those who aim to do us harm.

“When the blood in your veins returns to the sea, and the earth in your bones returns to the ground, perhaps then you will remember that this land does not belong to you. It is you who belong to the land.” –Unknown 

The issue of colonization has been tossed around heavily this week. I say tossed around, because sometimes it feels like people weigh in on issues, because they feel forced to and unknowingly take the side that their values do not align with—whether it be Azerbaijan’s ruthless displacement of the Armenian people from their ancestral homeland, the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the Russo-Ukrainian War, or the celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, October 9. If you keep up with the news or have a social media account, I am almost certain that these topics, with the various opinions surrounding situations of this gravity, are all you’re consuming through your preferred media sources. 

In 2021, I wrote a brief piece about my thoughts on Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Something I wrote in that piece still resonates today: “[…] As an Armenian, I can draw historical parallels. I know what it feels like to be called an ‘occupier’ by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. I know how relentless we are in always choosing to fight assimilation. I know that Native Americans feel the same way. All natives, both Armenian and of the Americas, understand that survival lives in our bones, and our respective genocides bind us together. And nevertheless, we are here. And no matter what, we will flourish.” 

As an Armenian-American, I grew up with the falsified narratives of Native Americans in my history and social studies courses—that Native Americans wanted to give up the lands they had spiritual ties to and happily accepted the colonization that unfolded with little to no resistance. When I started attending college, these false perspectives came to light. The Native peoples of America were not happy to leave their homes. They were not happy to be forced to follow a religion they don’t believe in and to adopt a lifestyle they are not accustomed to. 

Now, with social media and other sources we can cite for the hockey-stick level of growth when it comes to the amplification of peoples’ voices, I know that the lies we were fed were simply a form of propaganda on behalf of the colonizer—and I can relate. Just this month, I have felt the greatest loss in my lifetime. With Artsakh under total control of the enemy, of the colonizer, I feel that my heart has shattered a thousand times over. 

The European nations’ colonization of the Americas heralded the genesis of a devastating era in history. Indigenous communities, who possess an extensive mosaic of cultures and histories dating back thousands of years, experienced the brunt of this turbulent era. Their territories were taken, mainly by brute force, and treaties, in rare instances when they existed, were seldom respected. Displacement of indigenous populations from their ancestral lands was an abominable injustice that still resonates today.

Armenia-Turkey border (Wikimedia Commons)

When it comes to Armenia, a more recent history unfolds under the banner of the late Ottoman Empire and modern-day Turkey. The 1915 Armenian Genocide was a catastrophic event in the annals of human history. It resulted in the systematic extermination of nearly 1.5 million Armenians by means of a ruthless, premeditated campaign of brutality that the international community now universally regards as genocide. 

It especially hurts when I think about the Armenian people and Native Americans, because it’s not necessarily about territorial gain or control. We possess a spiritual tie to the land, viewing the natural world as sacred and as a source of guidance and interconnectedness with the rest of the universe. There was a special feeling I felt when I first stepped on Armenian soil. It felt like home, like I was suddenly part of something greater than myself. 

Indigenous peoples of the Americas and Armenians have both shown extraordinary cultural resilience. Their fortitude in the face of calamitous losses exemplifies their communities’ immense strength and determination, showcasing an unshakeable dedication to preserving their languages, traditions and identities. Both share a common thread in their disputes over land and territory. Indigenous peoples in the Americas fervently advocate for land restitution and the acknowledgment of their sovereignty, while Armenians have wrestled with conflicts driven by a pan-Turkic goal at the hands of Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Despite the loss of a significant portion of the Armenian population in the 1915 Genocide, I am always left in a state of awe at how the Armenian people have tenaciously held onto their language, traditions and identity. In an uncontrollable situation, we survived. The survival and worldwide revival of the Armenian language and culture is a triumph. I’m not naive. I know we have a lot to cry about. But isn’t it fair, for just a moment, to recognize that we have so much to celebrate as well? 

The international recognition of these historical injustices remains a global concern. Calls for reparations are still reverberating on both the indigenous rights platform and within Armenian advocacy, highlighting the persistent wounds of colonization and the need for rectifying historical injustices. While the colonization of Indigenous peoples in the Americas and Turkey’s colonization, followed by genocide, of the Armenian people differ in many ways, they have common themes of relocation, cultural losses and territorial struggles. This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, these histories emphasize the urgency of being cognizant of historical injustices, as well as the critical importance of safeguarding indigenous and historically marginalized communities’ rights and cultures. 

The photo of the grave showing the date

While most mothers can effortlessly recite the precise date, time, weight, height and other details of their babies’ births, my family would attest that while I hold those first moments with my own children dear, I am not good at remembering dates. Yet, I know the exact date, time and location of the birth of Who She Left Behind. It was on Saturday, May 23, 2015, at 11:48 a.m. when I had the epiphany: it’s a girl, and her story needs to be told.

On this particular Memorial Day weekend, the sky was clear with vast visibility to take in the miles of gravesites at North Burial Ground in Providence, RI, where many Armenians have been laid to eternal rest. My husband Jim and I followed our customary route, navigating the winding roads until we reached the corner leading to Aunt Vicky’s gravesite. There, we were met with a mysterious surprise—carefully planted tattered white silk flowers placed in front of her grave. Aunt Vicky and her husband had not been blessed with children, and Jim and I carried on my late mother’s legacy as caretakers of family graves. We were stunned. 

Who had left those flowers?

The question hung in the air like the gentle breeze. The journey of creating Who She Left Behind thus began, a labor of love that would take eight years to nurture and be named. 

As an enthusiastic reader and proud Armenian, the idea of writing a historical fiction novel inspired by my family’s tales was always a dream. I hadn’t anticipated taking on this project until post-retirement. However, it seems destiny, guided by God and the spirits of my ancestors, had a different path in mind. I hope you too will be as moved as I am, believing that they left behind a trail of breadcrumbs for me to follow, revealing answers and nourishment along the way.

My initial and naïve belief in knowledge of our family history was quickly shattered. Growing up in a multi-generational Armenian home, I had the privilege of firsthand accounts from our grandparents and their loud and opinionated siblings and spouses. Wow, was I mistaken! That false sense of confidence was my first shocking awakening. The more questions I asked, the more I recognized the voids in timeframes and experiences they never discussed. 

This predicament is universal among all Armenian families. Enter the magic of Facebook, where I connected with individuals and a wealth of knowledge. Suddenly, I found myself in the company of kindred spirits from all corners of the world. We would eventually provide each other with hints of missing information. 

Grandma Lucy Kasparian’s needle lace tools from Aleppo (Photo: Ken Martin)

My journey began with a collection of needlelace and tools that had been brought from Aleppo by my grandmother. To my surprise, an Armenian art critic from Ukraine informed me that my grandmother’s technique was exceptionally rare, and she expressed a desire to study the entire collection. Some items were adorned with labels, which proved instrumental when a retired librarian friend helped identify the likely location of an exhibition that had taken place during Providence’s 300th anniversary in 1936. Fortunately, my mother had the foresight to preserve a collection of treasures from my grandmother and great aunts, including handcrafted items, photos from Aleppo, and a full wedding trousseau of a wedding gown, invitation, original engraved wedding rings and photos. These remarkable items had been tucked away in boxes in my mother’s basement, unbeknownst to me.  

Traditional Armenian dolls (Photo: Ken Martin)

As in many Armenian families, my cousins and I were urged by our grandparents to return to our ancestral home in Gurin and dig up our family’s buried gold. Our grandmothers also spoke of their buried dolls that they naively believed they would play with upon returning from the temporary relocation ordered by the gendarmes. Little did I know that the countless hours spent as children planning this expedition to our ancestral home would be re-imagined and come to life on the pages of a book I would author. 

I set out to honor this cherished memory in a meaningful way in the novel and became a student and collector of Armenian dolls and their associated traditions. I sought the guidance of Marina Khachimanukyan, an expert doll curator at the Museum of History in Yerevan. During fascinating lessons and conversations with Gary and Susan Lind-Sinanian of the Armenian Museum of America in Watertown, MA, I learned that Armenian girls would lovingly name their dolls “Nuri,” much in the same way that Americans might name their dogs “Spot.” Drawing inspiration from the insights of the finest museum curators, while weaving in my own cherished childhood memories of playing with dolls, I breathed life into Nuri dolls through my writing. 

The Dilemma

How do I balance telling lived experiences and facts, while recognizing the information gaps, to create a captivating novel? 

I realized I had an opportunity to leverage the “fiction” part of the historical fiction genre and create plausible characters and plots to write the story that I wanted to tell and to read. I aimed to leave behind a legacy of resolving this creative dilemma of writing a crucial chapter of history in a way that it hasn’t been told nearly enough.

Once I forged ahead with a focused mindset to look for stories and plots that needed to be told, I was put on a path to meet fascinating people and places. 

Breakthrough moments came through the works of great authors who had come before me: Khatchig Mouradian, Aline Ohanesian, Judy Saryan and Dana Walrath. I immersed myself in their writing, books and interviews. It became clear to me that I had a commitment to fulfill—to tell a story that would pay tribute to the voices that had been overlooked for far too long, from a place of strength and without spreading hate. While the documented history is undoubtedly valuable, it is incomplete. I was reminded that women, too, have shaped history, and their significant contributions often remain untold. Women endured, suffered, saved lives and succeeded while playing both key roles and critical support roles. 

A study inspired by the Vida Count Project of recent popular history books in America reveals a genre dominated by generals, presidents and male authors. In an article published by Slate titled “Is History Written About Men, by Men?”, staggering numbers are reported by journalists Andrew Kahn and Rebecca Onion: 75-percent of history books are written by men and 71-percent are written about men; 31-percent of women biographers have written about men, while only six-percent of male biographers have written about a woman’s life.

This shocking revelation fueled my determination and led me to become a student of Karen Jeppe and the Rescue Home of Aleppo, a fitting example of lesser told stories of extraordinary heroism. My goal became to make Armenians, especially women, the heroes of their stories, rather than just victims as they are largely represented. 

The Quest for Hidden Treasures

The house on Whipple Street in the historically Armenian Douglas Avenue neighborhood of Providence, R.I.

I was introduced to a group I privately referred to as “the disciples”: Matthew, Mark, Luc and George (John has yet to appear). Each of these remarkable individuals held a vital piece of the puzzle to uncovering the hidden treasure we all sought.

Matthew Karanian’s extensive research on the Armenian Highlands, Mark Arslan’s wealth of data and access to historical documents, Luc Vartan Baronian’s expertise in Gurin and George Aghjayan’s deep knowledge of genealogy and maps all played pivotal roles. They provided copies of ship manifests, naturalization records, photographs and more, setting the stage for a thrilling scavenger hunt filled with clues and mysteries waiting to be unraveled.  

My husband and I embarked on a journey that took us to every address listed on the ship manifests, each a potential link to the homes that had once welcomed my ancestors to Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Not surprisingly, all but one of these residences had been demolished. The exception was the house my grandfather had spoken of so fondly. Not only did the house still stand, but it was situated just off Douglas Avenue in Providence—a place I had driven past countless times on my way to the Armenian church that also was built in the predominantly Armenian neighborhood.

Another stroke of fortune occurred as I pored into my search for information about Armenian weddings in Worcester during the 1920s. While there was no shortage of exquisite portraits of brides and grooms, there was a conspicuous absence of images depicting the entirety of a wedding day. Questions swirled in my mind: Were there festive dinners? Where would they have taken place? Which traditions were observed from their homeland? Most importantly, who might remember these memories today?

Once again, the breadcrumbs of this miraculous journey led me to another remarkable encounter. Imagine my delight meeting the daughter of the caretakers who had lived next door to the first Armenian church in the United States, located in Worcester, Massachusetts. I was introduced to Pauline (Pailoon) Agazarian just before she celebrated her 100th birthday, and her recollections flowed with memories upon memories. Her childhood home had doubled as the church office, hosting meetings, gatherings for celebrations, henna parties and more. To preserve and immortalize her vivid memories, I gave her family a special place as characters in the book, reenacting the Armenian traditions of that era. 

Truth or Fable?

My curiosity led me to dig deeper into my family’s history in the village of Gurin. The stories passed down by my grandparents painted a vivid picture of their lives before the Genocide—an illustrious past featuring a high-ranking father, a life of opulence in a palatial residence adorned with marble floors, a babbling creek meandering through the property, and the presence of magnificent horses and stables. They insisted that this grand house was spacious enough to conceal another family and was repurposed into a Turkish hospital following the Genocide.

Karedelian men, Gurin, pre-1915

Filled with enthusiasm, I approached the dream team of seasoned genealogists, historians and photographers Matthew, Mark, Luc and George, seeking to confirm my family’s existence and the alleged Turkish hospital. However, I was ill-prepared for their response. “Who?” they asked. They said they found no mention of a Hovsep Karadelian in the census or within the book of Gurin’s history. While the ship manifests confirm their origin in Gurin, there is no other evidence of their existence. They offered words of encouragement, reassuring me that such investigations often require time and patience.

The revelation left my brother, cousins and me dumbfounded, as we grappled with the sense of being deceived—our supposedly illustrious and esteemed family seemingly erased from history. We began to question the extent to which these stories might have been embellished over the years. I was left humbled, mortified and confused. The lines between fiction and non-fiction were even more blurred.

Several months passed, during which I diligently continued my research and writing. Then, one fateful day, I received an unexpected email from Luc that would change the course of my investigation. He had uncovered a vital clue in the form of a passage on page 274 of the Badmakirk (History of Gurin). This passage included a caption beneath a picture, which when translated, read: “Gharadelian and Choulijian buildings in Gurin built on a spacious field beyond a large stream and across from a cemetery.” Luc was convinced that the reference to “Gharadelian” pointed directly to my Karadelian family’s ancestral home. It was a moment of exhilarating breakthrough.

Once again, the Gurintsi Armenians Facebook page proved to be an invaluable resource. In response to my inquiry about connections to the Choulijian family, a woman reached out to me and shared that her own great-grandmother, who was a Piranian, had married into the Choulijian family. She recalled that their home in Gurin had boasted marble floors and a serene creek, painting a vivid picture that matched the stories passed down in my own family.

Amman…it was true!

Yet the story didn’t end there. George, who is also a mapping expert, used that brief description and his expertise to speculate the Google Earth coordinates of my ancestors’ long-lost home. It showed nothing more than a grassy field surrounded by a rural street. There were no traces, no markings of the former inhabitants who had long since departed. It seemed as though messages of encouragement were arriving from the universe itself, reassuring me that with my ample research and unwavering passion, I possessed all that was necessary to see this remarkable journey through to its conclusion.

Making This “Our Story”

As much as this story is about my family, it is also about our collective story. Great care was taken to maintain the integrity of the historic events and people I fictionally placed in the novel.  My hope is that it will be endeared and shared by readers who are not familiar with Armenian culture and history, as well as commended by readers whose lives and identities are connected to Armenian heritage.  

My wish is for every reader to find a memorable piece to take away. 

• For Locals—to recognize familiar places the novel travels through in Gurin, Aleppo, Istanbul, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
• For Culture Enthusiasts—to enjoy the rich traditions thoughtfully reenacted, such as Armenian coffee cup readings, evil eye beliefs, wedding rituals, lullabies, games, foods, language and handcrafted textiles. 
• For Character Development Followers—to remember long after the book ends the people whose lives they have come to know, along with their faults, strengths, bonds, healing and resilience.  
• For Literature Lovers—to appreciate the common themes that span several generations and how history authentically meets fiction to tell the human stories. 
• For Fans of Female Literature—to be inspired by the deep stories of sisterhood, of healing one another from shame and trauma, and of sacrifice and bravery to save others. 
• For Romance Readers—to find love to warm their hearts and souls. 

The Making of “What’s Next”

As I am writing this, I am watching the fall of Artsakh unfold with the world silently watching.  “Never again” is happening again, and again, and again. I have only just begun, with more stories to tell and books to write. Proudly starting with a monthly column in The Armenian Weekly titled “Victoria’s Voice,” my renewed commitment is to provide a voice not only to the Armenians of the past but also to those of the present and future.

Who She Left Behind will be released on October 17.  It is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and select local bookstores and libraries. International hardcovers can be ordered through the publisher, Historium Press. 

Armenian youth from Artsakh enjoying a full course warm meal in the Vayots Dzor region of Armenia

Over the past week, tens of thousands of Armenians finally concluded a long and arduous trip out of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) to begin another journey in Armenia. That road begins in the town of Goris in the southern region of Armenia, where many of the forcibly displaced, for the first time in nearly a year, were served a fresh, warm, nutritionally balanced meal—compliments of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), working with international NGO, World Central Kitchen (WCK). Since then, AGBU has prepared and distributed over 10,000 meals per day, with the demand increasing exponentially. 

As soon as the WCK team arrived on the scene on September 29, they immediately joined forces with friend and kindred spirit Aline Kamakian, a prominent Lebanese-Armenian restauranteur and lifelong member of the AGBU global network, the world’s largest Armenian nonprofit organization with deep experience in humanitarian relief dating even prior to the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Collaborating with WCK, AGBU is ready to tackle this humanitarian crisis of historic proportions. 

“With an influx of over 100,000 displaced people entering in a matter of days, AGBU is ready to provide for people who have suffered through a nine-month blockade of vital supplies, as part of the ethnic cleansing campaign of Armenians by Azerbaijan,” stated AGBU President Berge Setrakian. “Working with World Central Kitchen and our friend Aline Kamakian once again is a critical partnership of resources, know-how and reach.” 

Kamakian and WCK had collaborated and cooperated before, in the aftermath of the 2020 Beirut Blast. That was when Kamakian found herself on the front lines of humanitarian relief, feeding hundreds of disaster victims for weeks and months on end. Working with the WCK team in person gave Kamakian and AGBU the opportunity to learn from this experienced group what is entailed in solving massive food insecurity in a disaster zone. Now the team is back in action to bring comfort and hope to ever-growing numbers of forcibly displaced Armenians.  

Last week, within hours of the first reports of those seeking refuge in Armenia from Artsakh, Kamakian was in Armenia working with the local AGBU office and its volunteers in the Syunik region near the Azerbaijani border. In short order, they set up a command post in Goris with nearby hubs in Sisian and Ishkhanasar. Another location was then established in the historical Vayots Dzor (Vayk) region, where many forcibly displaced are headed in the next leg of their journey to recovery. More hubs in Ararat, Massis and Yerevan were up and running, as those forced to leave Artsakh have spread out to the north, east and western regions of Armenia. Back in Goris, distribution is now focused on local hotels, hospitals and schools, as well as private residences where the refugees are sheltering. This aid has spread to seven regions and counting. 

In all cases, hot meals are prepared in local restaurant spaces, using locally sourced ingredients and recipes. In a full-circle AGBU moment, some local restaurant owners happened to be alumni of the AGBU EmpowerHer Initiative, which offers support to Armenia’s women entrepreneurs.  

“Many of these evacuees, including the very sick and ailing, had to pack up in a hurry only to face standstill traffic for hours upon hours to cross the border to safety in Armenia proper. This only added to the trauma of the situation,” explained Kamakian. “The shock to the body, mind and spirit is something we have seen before, when victims of disaster and catastrophe are in no condition to fend for themselves. That’s where a balanced warm meal made with fresh ingredients—with lots of dignity and compassion added to the mix—may be the first sign of hope for them. It gives them the physical and moral strength to begin a new and uncertain chapter in their lives.” 

AGBU has made it possible for WCK and Kamakian to waste no time setting up the logistics of this immense effort, providing them with the resources, volunteers and anything else she needs to ensure that her fellow Armenians have a chance to rebuild their shattered lives. With the support and generosity of WCK, she is confident that this vital aspect of humanitarian relief will make an important difference in this very difficult transition period. 

Setrakian went on to say, “We appreciate that WCK immediately recognized the tragic dimensions of this crisis and is able to provide free meals for an extended period to evacuees, including those in hospitals in desperate need of emergency care. We also owe our thanks to Aline Kamakian for her take-charge spirit and professional skill set that enable her to organize such an urgent and multifaceted undertaking. Her presence here in Armenia during this critical time is both reassuring and inspiring for all.”

Donations to the humanitarian effort for Armenians forcibly displaced from Artsakh can be made to AGBU Global Relief Fund.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—The Congressional Office for International Leadership (formerly known as the Open World Leadership Center), an agency of the U.S. Congress, will send a delegation of young women from local governments across Armenia to Cambridge, Massachusetts from October 13-21, 2023. The group consists of five delegates who currently serve on local councils and will be accompanied by a bicultural and lingual facilitator and an interpreter. While in the Cambridge area, the Open World program participants will be hosted by the Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City Association (CYSCA). The delegation will stay in the homes of local residents who serve as hospitality hosts.

Prior to their arrival in Cambridge, the participants will have completed an orientation in Washington, D.C. 

In the Cambridge area, delegates will collaborate on best practices for good governance and advancement of women’s leadership. Delegates will meet staff of U.S. Representative Katherine Clark (MA-DISTRICT #5), local leaders in Cambridge and other communities and state legislators. Additional activities will include a visit to Tufts University Tisch College of Civic Life, the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Women and Public Policy program, meetings with the MA Caucus of Women Legislators and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), and a social/networking event with the AGBU Young Professionals group. In addition, the delegates will participate in a panel discussion on “Advancing Women’s Leadership in Local Government in Armenia” at NAASR on Thursday, October 19 at 7:30 p.m. that is open to the public. 

More than 30,000 current and future leaders from partner countries have participated in the Open World program, which offers one of the most effective U.S. exchange programs to promote mutually beneficial options for depolarized engagement between future national leaders. It is a unique but no less powerful tool for Congress to engage legislatures in critical regions of the world.

The Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City Association, Inc. (CYSCA) is a sister city association between Cambridge, Massachusetts and Yerevan, the capital city of the Republic of Armenia. CYSCA is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization that for over thirty-five years has been actively engaged in a wide variety of citizen exchanges, including Open World exchanges, U.S. State Department “Community Connections” programs for professionals, youth exchanges and many other educational, cultural, humanitarian and philanthropic projects with its sister city based on shared values.

Founded in 1999 by Congress, the Congressional Office for International Leadership (COIL) maintains a vast network of more than 30,000 alumni in partner countries. Its Open World program supports legislative diplomacy efforts for members of Congress by conducting exchanges that establish authentic communication and enduring relations that are maintained through its extensive alumni network. Program participants are provided with exposure to the work of Congress, American politics, accountable governance and volunteerism while being home hosted by American families.

The road from Goris to Vorotan in the Syunik province of Armenia (Photo: Former Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan, Aug. 26, 2021)

YEREVAN—Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced his plans for a meeting with the president of Azerbaijan to discuss a durable peace agreement, a few weeks after Azerbaijani forces took control of Artsakh.

In an interview with Armenian Public TV on Tuesday, Pashinyan claimed that the principles for negotiation were set in Granada and that the suggested meeting in Brussels must follow the same principles. “When Aliyev tries to suggest another platform for negotiations, it neutralizes the agreed upon principles,” said Pashinyan.

The announcement comes a week after Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev pulled out of an EU-brokered meeting with PM Pashinyan in Granada, Spain on October 5. Aliyev had requested the presence of Turkey at the meeting, to which France and Germany objected. Aliyev stated that Baku felt “an anti-Azerbaijani atmosphere” had developed among the meeting’s potential participants and refused to participate.

During his interview on Tuesday, Pashinyan said that the meeting in Granada delivered two important statements with European leaders: a quadrilateral statement with French President Emmanuel Macron Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Council President Charles Michel and a bilateral statement with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. 

These statements highlight the deepening relations between Armenia and the EU. Pashinyan asserts that these statements outline the pillars of “peace” in the region, including mutual recognition of territorial integrity, delimitation of borders based on the Alma Ata declaration and USSR maps, and the unblocking of communications under the protection of sovereignty, jurisdiction, equality and reciprocity. However, Aliyev’s decision not to attend the meeting and refusal to recognize the territorial integrity of Armenia complicate prospects for the protection of sovereignty, equality and any sort of reciprocity. 

The quadrilateral statement signed by Pashinyan in Granada recognizes 86.6 thousand square kilometers of Azerbaijani territory, which includes not only Artsakh but also the enclaves liberated during the First Artsakh War. While the Prime Minister’s press office has denied these allegations following the meeting in Granada, Pashinyan stated that the 86.6 thousand square kilometers include these enclaves during a press conference in May 2023. 

Indeed, the recent phone conversation on October 7 between Aliyev and Michel highlighted the ongoing territorial disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan. President Aliyev reiterated the presence of eight occupied Azerbaijani villages in Armenia and emphasized the importance of liberating these areas. 

During the first Artsakh War in the 1990s, Armenia liberated approximately 60 square kilometers of land from Azerbaijan. This included the enclaves of Verin Voskepar, Tigranashen, Sofulu and Barkhudarlu, as well as several villages near Baganis in the Tavush region and a small area near Sarigyugh. Conversely, Azerbaijan seized around 71 square kilometers of territory from Armenia, including Artsvashen (51 square kilometers), the village of Berkaber (12 square kilometers), and territory near Sevkar in the Tavush region (about 5 square kilometers).

The enclaves controlled by Armenia hold significant strategic importance for the modern Armenian state. Tigranashen is crucial as it lies on the interstate highway connecting central Armenia with Syunik, Artsakh and Iran. Losing Tigranashen would limit Armenia’s access to Artsakh and Iran, with only one exit through the village of Vedi. This would allow Azerbaijan to launch attacks on central Armenia and potentially isolate Syunik. Additionally, the Voskepar enclave is vital as it hosts the gas pipeline from Georgia to Armenia, and losing control over it would pose risks and potentially lead to an energy blockade. 

The sloping mountain of Tigranashen (Photo: George Tsangaris)

A few days after the summit in Granada, Aliyev said France would be to blame for any new conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, following Paris’ promise to deliver military equipment to Armenia last week. “The provision of weapons by France to Armenia was an approach that was not serving peace, but one intended to inflate a new conflict, and if any new conflict occurs in the region, France would be responsible for causing it,” said Aliyev.

Following Aliyev’s statement regarding the enclaves, in an interview with Brussels Signal, Armenia’s ambassador-delegate to the EU Davit Balayan said that Armenia expects Azerbaijan to invade within a few weeks. According to Balayan, Azerbaijan may not stop at the capitulation of Artsakh and could potentially launch an attack on Armenia itself. Balayan expressed concern that President Aliyev’s expansionist plans have not faced any concrete repercussions. He emphasized the need for practical steps from the collective West to confront Azerbaijan and prevent further aggression. 

Armenia says that President Aliyev intends to target the “Zangezur” corridor, which refers to the strategic transportation route extending from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to Kars, Turkey’s eastern province, passing through sovereign Armenian territory in the Syunik province near the country’s border with Iran. Balayan suggested that the EU should set a deadline for Aliyev to withdraw his army from the Armenian border region and consider suspending Azerbaijan’s visa-free travel agreement. He also mentioned that individual sanctions could send a clear message.

In parallel to the peace process brokered by the European Union led by France, other major players in the region continue their efforts. In an interview with Russian RBC news, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin noted that Moscow is considering the possibility of a meeting between the foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan at the CIS summit in Bishkek on October 13. 

Galuzin expressed hope for continued dialogue between the three countries and emphasized the importance of Armenian participation in the negotiations. He also discussed the potential for cooperation between Russia, the U.S. and the European Union in normalizing Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, highlighting the need to acknowledge the progress made through Moscow’s mediation. However, the office of the Armenian Prime Minister said that Pashinyan will not travel to Bishkek to participate in the CIS summit.