12:06,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Foreign Ministry has congratulated Czechia on Independence Day.
''Our heartfelt congratulations to Czechia on Czechoslovak Independence Day. Wishing peace and prosperity to the people of Czechia. Looking forward to further enhancing our relations anchored in shared values of democracy and human rights,'' the Armenian foreign ministry said in a post on X.
12:22,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS. President Biden met Friday with China’s top diplomat at the White House ahead of a potential meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Hill reports.
''Biden met with Wang Yi, the foreign minister and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission, and the president “emphasized that both the United States and China need to manage competition in the relationship responsibly and maintain open lines of communication,” the White House said in a readout of the meeting.
He underscored that the United States and China must work together to address global challenges,” the White House said.
Wang also met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and with national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, was in conversation with a Turkish diplomat about the deadly effects of World War One on their Armenian community. With some confusion, the Muslim Ottoman diplomat asked Ambassador Morgenthau why, as a Jew, he was so concerned about the Armenian Christian minority.
In the 1960s, a US citizen registered as a student at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, was called to the office of the Dean of Students within days after classes began. The Dean discussed the issues raised because the student had noted on his registration form under religion that he was an atheist. The Dean noted that AUB had nothing against atheists and welcomed them; but needed to know for their data base whether he was a Jewish atheist, a Christian atheist, a Muslim atheist, or some other kind of atheist!
The history of Southwest Asia—a major part of what we call the “Middle East” where many faiths originated—is still dealing with the way to handle the ethno-religious-cultural nationalisms as they relate to the present political realities. In the USA, the separation of religion and state is a key part of our Constitution; but this did not avoid these issues that are still with us today.
Armenian oral tradition notes that their ancestry can be traced to Haik, grandson of Noah via his father Japeth. Two disciples of Christ brought their faith to the Armenians in the first century: Bartholomew, and Thaddeus (Jude). Since then, the Armenians have had many serious persecutions resulting in survivors spreading into many parts of the world.* During the several Russo-Turkish wars, the Turks assumed that their Armenian minority Christians were pro-Russian—some were.
Many claim that the killing of up to two million Armenians during and after World War One can be called the “Armenian Holocaust.” To use the term “Holocaust,” where Hitler bragged that six million Jews were killed, is not the only misnomer. As soon as Hitler invaded a European country, his first step was to round up Jews and put them on trains headed for extermination camps in Germany. Hitler’s aim was extermination: Turkey’s aim was expelling Armenians from Turkey. The forced exodus has resulted in seven to nine million ethnic Armenians in the world today, three million of which remain in Armenia.
Russia and the USA have the greatest number of citizens with Armenian origin. Many have distinguished careers. In Russia, aeronautic engineers Mikoyan and Gurevich created the MiG. In the USA, Kim Kardashian needs no introduction. A well-known playwright and author is William Saroyan.** The famous actor and singer Cher is Cherilyn Sarkissian. These are just four examples of distinguished Armenians ‘in diaspora’.
Religion plays an historical role today in politics, often a subtle one. Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz has praised a coalition of mostly conservative Christians (not all are MAGAcolytes) with: “I am so grateful for the commitment and the passion of the Faith and Freedom Coalition because freedom, religious liberty and the Constitution are under attack right now, and yet I am encouraged that you are standing up to defend liberty.”
Meanwhile, back in Gaza during the Israeli bombing, a grieving Palestinian girl(about eight years old) cried: “We don’t have water to wash our hands before we pray, and we need it to drink also!” (The Qur’an’ requires the washing of hands and feet before the five daily prayers).
*The most recent has been in the news in late September 2023—the fate of Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in Azerbaijan.
**Most Armenian names end in “-ian.” When another vowel precedes the ‘i,” a “y” replaces both.
MOSCOW
Russian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers discussed preparation for an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty in a telephone call Saturday.
Sergey Lavrov and Jeyhun Bayramov confirmed the need to step up efforts to normalize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
They also spoke about unblocking transport communications and delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
The Azerbaijani army initiated an anti-terrorism operation last month in Karabakh to establish constitutional order in the region, after which illegal separatist forces in the region surrendered.
Azerbaijan, having now established full sovereignty in the region, has reiterated its request to the Armenian population in Karabakh to become part of Azerbaijani society.
On Wednesday and Saturday nights, if you follow the narrow, stone streets in Gaziantep, Turkey's old Armenian district to an unmarked silver door and knock three times, you're in for a treat.
Moments later, a man with a long white ponytail and round glasses will appear, welcoming you to his cafe, Jazz ve Kahve, and whisking you away for a night of food and traditional Middle Eastern music. Inside a room filled with Persian carpets, locals will be listening to the melody of a ney (a Turkish wind instrument) intertwining with that of a Syrian lute-like oud in a 19th-Century Armenian mansion overlooking a scenic courtyardstrewn with dangling lights.
"Gaziantep is a city at a crossroads in the heart of old Mesopotamia. When they were under the same empire, Armenians, Turks and Arabs all coexisted peacefully," said Murad Uçaner, the ponytailed cafe's owner. "In these few square metres, we are trying to revive that ancient vibe."
In the past few years, Uçaner's intimate cafe has become an institution in Gaziantep – one of the cities impacted by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the Turkish-Syrian border in February 2023. Several buildings around this old Armenian neighbourhood of Kayacık were damaged or collapsed, but Jazz ve Kahve is still standing, and Uçaner is motivated to preserve its legacy.
"This is not just a place where people eat and drink," he said. "It is also a place where people from different cultures and countries meet, exchange information and get to know each other's cultures."
The story of Jazz Kahve goes back to 2017 when Uçaner, a historian, translator and novelist, became fascinated with the history of Armenians in Gaziantep. While noticing the construction of more and more high-rise buildings across the city, Kayacık's cobbled streets and Ottoman konak residences made him feel nostalgic for a past he wanted to revive.
Uçaner researched archival footage of the area and stumbled on a photograph taken in 1907 whose caption mentioned it was an Armenian house. As Uçaner explained, not only is the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks that took place during World War One something that is generally denied in Turkey, but he never learned that Gaziantep was once home to a thriving Armenian, Kurdish and Arab population. "It made me question the accuracy of the history they teach us," Uçaner said. "I discovered that even though Armenians survived for thousands of years in these lands, there have been attempts to erase the memory of their presence here."
Ümit Kurt, a Middle East historian and the author of the book The Armenians of Aintab: The Economics of Genocide in an Ottoman Province, explained that approximately 32,000 Armenians lived in Gaziantep before WW1, but as the war intensified, most were deported to Syria and other nations to remove this non-Muslim ethnic group from Anatolia.
For nearly a century since the war's end, most of these families' homes were left abandoned and in ruins. But after Gaziantep was named Turkey's capital of gastronomy in 2015, many of these crumbling buildings were transformed into cafes and hotels in an effort to draw tourists while preserving the architectural heritage of the city.
Inspired to take part in the city's collective urban renewal, Uçaner hatched a plan to combine his love of history and music.
"For 10 years, he dreamt about opening a cafe, but he was worried he would have had to leave his job in translation," said Murad's sister, Mujgan Şahin, who helps him run the cafe. "One day I stumbled upon an abandoned Armenian building dating back to the 1890s. I encouraged Murad to rent it."
After a year-long restoration, Jazz ve Kahve's (which means "jazz and coffee") opened in 2018. Uçaner never had to leave his full-time job, and the cafe has become a hub for the city's intellectuals, who come to share knowledge about Gaziantep's shared Turkish, Armenian and Syrian history.
After knocking at the silver door, visitors walk by the building's 19th-Century frescoes and engravings in the Armenian alphabetas Uçaner explains the area's unique history. Sometimes, he even guides guests around the neighbourhood to see similar examples of Gaziantep's multi-ethnic past, such as the Papirus Cafe, which was once the house of a prominent Armenian politician. Guests are then treated to Turkish and Arabic music and can order Turkish teas or wines alongside traditional Syrian food that was once commonly eaten in Gaziantep under Ottoman rule, such as muhammara (walnuts and roasted red peppers) and mutabbal (aubergine dip).
Ironically, the recent earthquakes that struck the region have made the cafe's role as a cultural meeting point even more symbolic.
When Uçaner was jolted awake by the earthquake (whose epicentre was near Gaziantep) that February morning, he was scared to see if his cafe was still standing. Hours later, he saw that the minaret and dome of the city's famous Liberation Mosque (which was formerly an Armenian church) located just in front of his cafe were in ruins.
"It was almost like a heartbreak," Uçaner said. The region's seismic capacity had destroyed much of its rich history, and he feared Gaziantep's culture and past may one day be forgotten. As such, Uçaner says he now feels his role as one of the custodians of Gaziantep's fading multicultural past is more important than ever.
"It is important to preserve the memory and transform it into a lesson for future generations to not hate your neighbour, because we were all one population once," Uçaner said. "These buildings speak for us, and they need to be protected and repurposed to be part of our present."
Since the 1970s, Gaziantep has grown from a 120,000-person town of primarily ethnic Turks to a bustling two-million-person metropolis – and much of this growth is due to the Syrian civil war. Thanks in large part to its location along the southern border with Syria, Gaziantep has absorbed an estimated 500,000 Syrian refugees fleeing the nearby conflict. Despite the fact that Syrians once peacefully co-existed here with Turks and Armenians, the recent influx of Arabic-speaking residents has led to tensions.
Yet, Uçaner hopes his secret jazz cafe can not only preserve the memory of a more cosmopolitan Gaziantep but serve as a bridge connecting its past with its present. In recent years, it has displayed photo exhibits documenting the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis and hosted panels and lectures about the city's multicultural past.
In 2021, Uçaner and several customers – including a sociologist, an urbanist and a musician – also launched the project Memory of Anteb to highlight the architectural and cultural legacy of Armenians and Muslims who once lived in Gaziantep.
"The history of Gaziantep was written by official historians in line with the denial policy of the country. We wanted to rewrite that history in a more peaceful present," Uçaner said.
Today, during lazy summer afternoons or cold winter nights, artists and musicians of all backgrounds come to drink a hot cup of tavsan kani çay (red "rabbit blood tea"), chat and get inspired by music from around the region.
"It's here, playing with other musicians, that I learnt we play the same songs but with different lyrics, depending on our language," said Ezzat Dahman, a Syrian-Palestinian oud player who regularly performs Turkish and Syrian music at the cafe. "That shows just how similar our cultures are and how many things in common we have."
Dahman had the idea to launch his own music project at the cafe, called Music Against Racism, to bring Turks, Syrians and Kurds closer together. "The idea will be to play Syrian and Turkish traditional songs that have the same melody together, to foster mutual understanding."
Regular customers are also treated to Turkish folk music, which bears traces of Arab and Armenian melodies. "We like to discover new forms of music we had never been accustomed to, like jazz or classic," said customer Irem Deniz Adali, holding a glass of Suryani red wine, typical of south-eastern Turkey, as she tapped the wooden table to the rhythm of an old folk song. "But what's even more beautiful is how this place gives us a chance to revive the old, diverse, festive past of this region."
The earthquake may have temporarily stopped these gatherings, but they quickly returned in full force as the building didn't suffer any major structural damage. "If you're aware of a place's past, its community can move forward to build a more peaceful present," Uçaner smiled, before welcoming a few other guests at the door.
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20231027-a-turkish-secret-hiding-in-plain-sight
14:32,
15:20,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS. It is necessary to "stop" in the Gaza Strip and announce humanitarian programs, said in an interview with BelTA.
"It is necessary to stop, it is necessary to announce humanitarian programs to save the population, which has found itself in a blockade: no water, no electricity, no food – there is none of this," Lavrov said.
He stressed that if the Gaza Strip is destroyed and two million people are expelled, it will be a catastrophe for many decades or even centuries.
16:13,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenian High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan believes that many of the problems facing Armenia today have a legal component. Given that the Armenian Diaspora has a great legal potential in almost all fields, using the potential of lawyers to address issues related to the Armenian agenda can yield significant results.
Sinanyan mentioned that the organization of the forum entitled "For Armenian Interests and the Rule of Law" in Yerevan, along with all the events organized by the commissioner's office, pursue one goal that is to involve the Armenian potential in the common domestic activities of Armenia.
"Our primary objective is to establish networks, in this case between lawyers and professionals whose work is connected to the field of law.
In terms of collaboration, several key components are of great significance. First, the direction should be clarified through joint discussions with colleagues.
Secondly, the coordination of collaborative work, and thirdly, the proper utilization of work results are very important. Our work style involves applying the principle of cooperation to address all issues," said Sinanyan.
"In the past, Armenia-Diaspora relations were primarily focused on charity, involving the giving and receiving of material support, which proved to be destructive for all parties in the long term. However, over the last 3-4 years, there has been a significant shift in approach, focusing on the collaborative efforts to carry out vital ideas.
"When we speak of strength, we don't refer solely to financial resources. In this sense, the Diaspora has great potential, but the most important thing is to use the professional capabilities of our compatriots. This enables them to share the burden and responsibility equally in building our statehood because Armenia represents the aspirations of all Armenians," added Sinanyan.
''We all aspire for Armenia to become a country governed by the rule of law," concluded the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs.
Book release for Victoria Atamian Waterman’s debut novel Who She Left Behind at the Worcester Historical Museum (Photo: Ken Martin)
WORCESTER, WHITINSVILLE, Mass.—Over 75 friends, family members and fans from both the Armenian and Worcester communities gathered to celebrate the release of Who She Left Behind, the debut novel by Victoria Atamian Waterman. The event, held at the Worcester Historical Museum, was hosted by Valerie and Steve Loring and Judy King, renowned philanthropists and cherished friends of the author.
Pictured at the book release event in Worcester (l-r): Steve Loring, Val Loring, Jim Waterman Victoria Atamian Waterman and Judy King (Photo: Ken Martin)
Kicking off the event, King introduced her sister, Val Loring, a dedicated supporter of causes that empower women and girls in Worcester. It was through their shared commitment to these causes that they crossed paths and formed a close friendship with Victoria and her husband, Jim Waterman. Loring delivered a stirring and emotional introduction, emphasizing how the motto of a magnet she had left behind in Massachusetts when she moved to Maine aptly describes how Waterman has embraced opportunities and pursued her passions: “Carpe Diem – Seize the Day!”
Book Release for Who She Left Behind by Victoria Atamian Waterman’s First Novel, at the Worcester Historical Museum.
The program took on a fireside chat format, skillfully guided by the author’s longtime friend and colleague Alicia O’Connell Rogers, who serves as the youth librarian at Worcester Public Library. Their engaging conversation began with Rogers’ inquiry about the book’s themes and its portrayal of family. Waterman explained that the prologue and epilogue of the book are set in present-day North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island, while the pages in between vividly recount the journey of her family’s survival during the 1915 Armenian Genocide and their subsequent relocation to Massachusetts and Rhode Island to build new lives.
Waterman then shared that her favorite part of the book is found in the very first chapter. She recounted how, as children, she and her cousins used to concoct plans to follow their grandmothers’ instructions to uncover the treasures they had buried under a tree back in Gurin, Armenia, believing they would one day return. Waterman emphasized that burying gold and small valuables was a common practice among many Armenian families facing deportation in 1915, but her great-aunts’ poignant treasures were the dolls they had hidden under the tree. A collective “aww” was heard through the room, and the author continued, explaining her deep-rooted intention to memorialize this touching memory. Throughout the book, she weaves a recurring theme of dolls and doll-making, crafting a meaningful thread that runs through the heart of the story.
The conversation then explored the significant connection between the Worcester Historical Museum and the vital role Worcester played in Armenian history. Waterman elaborated on how Worcester was home to the first Armenian church in the western hemisphere. She also highlighted the invaluable documents held in the museum’s library, which are often challenging to locate elsewhere.
Waterman spoke about her commitment to respectfully representing the historical context that supports the fictional characters in her novel. To achieve this, she conducted thorough research, digging into a wide range of scholarly works and resources. These included memoirs, history books, historical fiction, firsthand accounts, oral histories and more. She shared an example of her diligent efforts, noting her desire to depict a fictional friendship between her Aunt Vicky and Alice Stone Blackwell, a renowned feminist and humanitarian who brilliantly translated Armenian Poems. This translation was of immense significance and had strong ties to Worcester, as it played a pivotal role in raising funds for Armenian causes. Notably, Blackwell was the daughter of Lucy Stone, a leading reformer and advocate of women’s rights, who spoke at the first National Woman’s Rights Convention held in Worcester in 1850. Stone’s portrait adorns the walls of historic Mechanics Hall in the city. Unfortunately, Aunt Vicky and Blackwell were not in Worcester in the same decade, and the fictional friendship ended there.
Waterman then discussed how she infused her personal experiences from her career in girls’ and women’s leadership into her writing. In the initial stages of her writing journey, she grappled with uncertainty regarding the storyline and the message she wished to convey. However, as she searched for stories and narratives that demanded recognition, she experienced breakthrough moments that profoundly resonated with her. She discovered a disheartening truth—that over 70-percent of historical accounts are authored by men and predominantly focus on male perspectives, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of history. She said it became crystal clear that she had a commitment to fulfill—to tell a story that would pay tribute to the voices that had been overlooked for far too long. It was of paramount importance that she portrayed the stories of women as strong and resilient individuals rather than as powerless victims.
This sense of purpose became the driving force behind her writing and led her to become a student of Karen Jeppe and the Rescue Home of Aleppo, whose extraordinary heroism she incorporated into her narrative. Waterman holds Jeppe in the highest regard, describing her as a mission-driven leader who employed her business acumen and humanitarian spirit to rescue Armenian women trapped in horrifying circumstances and providing skills to empower self-sufficiency.
The author signing books and speaking with guests at the Worcester Historical Museum (Photo: Ken Martin)
The conversation would have been incomplete without connecting the historical events in the story to current headlines. Waterman’s tone turned somber as she discussed the recent developments, particularly the fall of Artsakh, which unfolded in a matter of weeks while the world watched in silence. Approximately 120,000 people were forcibly displaced by Azerbaijan following a 10-month blockade that prevented food and medical supplies from reaching severely malnourished individuals in desperate need. She expressed her frustration that this story has gone largely unnoticed in the news. She urged the audience to remain aware of the ongoing humanitarian crisis affecting Armenians worldwide and not to simply scroll past these mentions in their newsfeeds. Victoria emphasized the reality of generational trauma and the lasting impact it has on people, stating, “Your Armenian friends are not okay.”
The author also pointed out the recent events in the past week where terrorist groups, such as Hamas, invaded Israel, resulting in the tragic loss of thousands of lives, including barbaric acts against the Jewish and Palestinian communities.
As the session neared its conclusion, a lively Q&A unfolded, during which more of Waterman’s remarkable research findings were revealed. Before wrapping up, Rogers posed a crucial question: How could the audience contribute to the success of the novel? According to Victoria’s publisher, Historium Press, the initial 30 days following the book’s release are pivotal to its success. To support her goal, she encouraged the audience to help her garner 50 favorable reviews on platforms like Amazon and Goodreads by November 16. These reviews need not be extensive; even a simple 5-star rating and some positive comments would be greatly appreciated if readers found the book deserving.
Waterman also requested that people spread the word among their friends and networks and consider inviting her to participate in group meetings, book clubs, speaking engagements and other events. She emphasized that the book has much more to offer beyond its exploration of Armenian culture, and she welcomed opportunities to share these diverse facets with a wider audience.
What lies ahead in the author’s literary journey? She’s already hard at work on her second book, which explores her grandfather’s incredible story of survival and chronicles his upbringing in a Greek orphanage and the miraculous reunion with his father and cousin in Providence, Rhode Island.
On a lighter note, for those with connections in the film industry, Waterman wants to put in a good word that she envisions she and her husband being portrayed by Amal and George Clooney, though her husband humorously leans more toward the idea of Danny DeVito.
The guests enjoyed an elegant evening with celebratory spirits and Middle Eastern-inspired hors d’oeuvres artfully provided by Struck Catering. Eager readers lined up to purchase books from TidePool Bookshop and have them personally signed by the author. Special thanks for capturing the moments go to Kenneth Martin for the photographs and Craig Martin for the videography.
Victoria Atamian Waterman and Rev. Fr. Mikael Der Kosrofian during the blessing of the book service (Photo: Ken Martin)
The congregation of the Armenian Church of Whitinsville, St. Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church, gathered on the first Sunday of the book’s release to participate in the book blessing service. Rev. Fr. Mikael Der Kosrofian and Deacons Raffi Samkiranian and Jeff Kalousdian officiated the service with the tradition of pouring Armenian red wine over the pages of the book while praying: “Lord God, Omnipotent and Almighty, giver of all goodness and prosperity, you are a forgiving Lord, and we turn to you for strength. Guide Victoria to continue to be an example for women of all ages. Bless this book O Lord, Who She Left Behind, and inspire those who will read the untold stories of the brave and resilient women who became the pillars of reconstructed communities after the Armenian Genocide. Lord Jesus, from the abundance of your mercy, enrich Victoria and safeguard her. Inspire her to author new works. Strengthened by your blessings, may we always be thankful to you and bless you with unending joy, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Future Book Signing Events in MA & RI:
Nov. 12, RI – Providence, by AHARI Armenian Historical Assoc. of RI
Nov. 13, RI – North Smithfield Public Library
Nov. 15, MA – TidePool Bookshop, Worcester
Nov. 18, MA – Tatnuck Bookseller, Westborough
Dec. 9, RI – Warwick Public Library
Dec. 12, MA – Watertown Public Library and Armenian Museum of America
Local readers can pick up a copy of Who She Left Behind at TidePool Bookshop, 327 Chandler Street, Worcester, MA, and Tatnuck Booksellers, Westborough Shopping Center, 18 Lyman Street, Westborough, MA. Or, buy a book online and contact Waterman on her website with personalization and mailing address. The author will mail you a personalized bookplate to insert in the front cover. Join the subscriber list and enter to win a free signed book.