Chanasser (Ջանասէր) March-April 2011 Issue
Lebanon like you haven't seen before
«Վասնզի Ես Կենդանի Եմ եւ Դուք Կենդանի Պիտի Ըլլաք» - Վեր. Յովհաննէս Սվաճեանի Քարոզը Ապրիլ 24-ի Պաշտամունքին
Daniel Decker "Adana"
Lyrics: Daniel Decker (USA)
Music: Ara Gevorgian
Performers: Daniel Decker (USA), Vitalie Dani (Moldova), Tsvetan Tsvetov (Bulgaria), Kai Aughagen (Germany), Inka (Finland), Gegham Grigoryan (Armenia).
Haigazian University Commemorates the 96th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
On Monday, April 25, 2011, Haigazian University commemorated the 96th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide through poetry, narrative and music at the First Armenian Evangelical Church in Kantari, Beirut.
Among the official attendees were: Rev. Megrdich Karagoezian, the president of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East; University President, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, Minister Jean Oghasabian, members of the Lebanese Parliament Sebouh Kalpakian, Arthur Nazarian, Shant Chinchinian, Dr. Bassem Shabb, former MPs Souren Khanamirian and Dr. Nourijan Demirjian, Director General of the Ministry of Environment Dr. Berj Hadjian, Mrs. Noura Joumblatt representing MP Walid Joumblat, the Mexican Ambassador George Alvares, the chair of the Social Democratic Henchag Party Dr. Mardig Jamgotchian; the president of the Near East School of Theology Dr. Mary Mikhael, the national director of World Vision Ms. Anita Delhaas-van Dijk, the secretary general of the Bible Society Lebanon Dr. Mike Bassous, in addition to representatives of different embassies, associations, University lecturers and friends of Haigazian University.
April 1915 was the beginning of a brutal extermination of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turkey, a genocide that changed the lives of all Armenians forever. Now, only four years away from the 100 year anniversary, the Armenians of the Diaspora still long for their homeland and recall the suffering of their grandparents and great-grandparents.
In remembrance of this tragic loss, a varied selection of beautiful pieces of poetry and prose were read to those in attendance. The powerful words of Hovhannes Toumanian, Kevork Emin, Siamanto, and other great Armenian poets went straight to the heart.
The prominent participants invited to read these passages came from various walks of life, including H.E. Mr. Ashod Kocharian, the Armenian Ambassador, Mr. Mohammad El Sammak, Secretary General of the Christian-Muslim Committee for Dialogue, and Secretary General of the Islamic Spiritual Summit in Lebanon; Father Marwan Tabet, Secretary General of the Catholic Schools in Lebanon; Maestro Dr. Harout Fazlian, Conductor of the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra; Mr. Wael Kheir, lecturer on International Law and Human Rights; Ms. Sarah Adams, the representative of the Mennonite Central Committee for Lebanon & Syria; Mrs. Carmen Labaki Kadian, movie director and producer; and Ms. Dima Matta, a Haigazian University graduate.
The poignant musical pieces selected for this solemn occasion were performed by the Ethno Vocal Trio of Armenia, led by Anna Mayilian, the artistic director, and vocalists Alina Avakian and Hasmig Zakarian, as well as pianist Elen Giragosian. The enthralling choral piece “Ov Hayots Ashkhar” was jointly sung by the Hamazkayin Ayk Choir and the Armenian Evangelical Armiss Choir, under the leadership of Mr. Zakar Keshishian.
The namesake of the University, Dr. Armenag Haigazian’s tragic suffering and death was remembered through the words of his grandson, in a filmed excerpt of the 2010 graduation ceremony.
Another moving video segment came from Peter Balakian’s lecture at Haigazian University, back in 2005, reading the story of “Manoug”, from his book “The Black Dog of Fate”.
In addition, a slide show of the famous French-Armenian artists, Jansem’s paintings depicted scenes of deportation and martyrdom, as Lucine Zakarian’s recorded music moved the audience with awe.
With the coincidence of the Resurrection of Christ with the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide this year, today was also a time for hope and for justice. In the words of Mr. Mohammad El Sammak, “people change, justice doesn’t.”
Among the official attendees were: Rev. Megrdich Karagoezian, the president of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East; University President, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, Minister Jean Oghasabian, members of the Lebanese Parliament Sebouh Kalpakian, Arthur Nazarian, Shant Chinchinian, Dr. Bassem Shabb, former MPs Souren Khanamirian and Dr. Nourijan Demirjian, Director General of the Ministry of Environment Dr. Berj Hadjian, Mrs. Noura Joumblatt representing MP Walid Joumblat, the Mexican Ambassador George Alvares, the chair of the Social Democratic Henchag Party Dr. Mardig Jamgotchian; the president of the Near East School of Theology Dr. Mary Mikhael, the national director of World Vision Ms. Anita Delhaas-van Dijk, the secretary general of the Bible Society Lebanon Dr. Mike Bassous, in addition to representatives of different embassies, associations, University lecturers and friends of Haigazian University.
April 1915 was the beginning of a brutal extermination of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turkey, a genocide that changed the lives of all Armenians forever. Now, only four years away from the 100 year anniversary, the Armenians of the Diaspora still long for their homeland and recall the suffering of their grandparents and great-grandparents.
In remembrance of this tragic loss, a varied selection of beautiful pieces of poetry and prose were read to those in attendance. The powerful words of Hovhannes Toumanian, Kevork Emin, Siamanto, and other great Armenian poets went straight to the heart.
The prominent participants invited to read these passages came from various walks of life, including H.E. Mr. Ashod Kocharian, the Armenian Ambassador, Mr. Mohammad El Sammak, Secretary General of the Christian-Muslim Committee for Dialogue, and Secretary General of the Islamic Spiritual Summit in Lebanon; Father Marwan Tabet, Secretary General of the Catholic Schools in Lebanon; Maestro Dr. Harout Fazlian, Conductor of the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra; Mr. Wael Kheir, lecturer on International Law and Human Rights; Ms. Sarah Adams, the representative of the Mennonite Central Committee for Lebanon & Syria; Mrs. Carmen Labaki Kadian, movie director and producer; and Ms. Dima Matta, a Haigazian University graduate.
The poignant musical pieces selected for this solemn occasion were performed by the Ethno Vocal Trio of Armenia, led by Anna Mayilian, the artistic director, and vocalists Alina Avakian and Hasmig Zakarian, as well as pianist Elen Giragosian. The enthralling choral piece “Ov Hayots Ashkhar” was jointly sung by the Hamazkayin Ayk Choir and the Armenian Evangelical Armiss Choir, under the leadership of Mr. Zakar Keshishian.
The namesake of the University, Dr. Armenag Haigazian’s tragic suffering and death was remembered through the words of his grandson, in a filmed excerpt of the 2010 graduation ceremony.
Another moving video segment came from Peter Balakian’s lecture at Haigazian University, back in 2005, reading the story of “Manoug”, from his book “The Black Dog of Fate”.
In addition, a slide show of the famous French-Armenian artists, Jansem’s paintings depicted scenes of deportation and martyrdom, as Lucine Zakarian’s recorded music moved the audience with awe.
With the coincidence of the Resurrection of Christ with the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide this year, today was also a time for hope and for justice. In the words of Mr. Mohammad El Sammak, “people change, justice doesn’t.”
«Ազգային Պատկանելիութեան Ամրապնդման» Թեմայով Մտաւոր Ասուլիս
General Manager of VivaCell-MTS, Ralph Yirikian meets with Haigazian Students
Beirut, 15/03/2011 – On Friday March 11th 2011, the general manager of Vivacell-MTS, Mr. Ralph Yirikian, delivered a lecture entitled “Management Culture: Secrets of Productivity and Business Efficiency” at Haigazian University.
President Paul Haidostian greeted the full audience in the auditorium, which included the Armenian Ambassador, Mr. Ashod Kotcharian and other dignitaries, as well as faculty and students. Haidostian reminded everyone of the memorandum of understanding that Haigazian University and VivaCell-MTS had signed the previous year, which resulted in 5 students spending a one month internship at VivaCell-MTS in Yerevan, fully covered by the company.
After publicly thanking Mr. Yirikian for this fruitful relationship, Haidostian presented the general manager with three books, all Haigazian publications.
As one of the five students who did the internship at VivaCell-MTS last summer, Talar Mandoyan shared some of her experiences, mentioning the helpfulness and support of the VivaCell staff during her stay. She thanked Mr. Yirikian on behalf of the five students and then presented him with a bouquet.
Yirikian began his presentation with a short video to introduce his company, which had risen from small beginnings in 2005 to now being Armenia’s leading mobile operator and the number one taxpayer in the country.
Yirikian shared some of the important decisions the management made that contributed to its growth, such as choosing to hire primarily young Armenian graduates rather than hiring professionals from abroad. He also trained his employees in customer service, a practice he was happy other companies were beginning emulate.
Watching his company grow to 1200 employees, Yirikian maintained that equality was key and that all people should be treated with respect. He offered equal opportunities to men and women as well as to those with physical disabilities.
His final point was on corporate responsibility, a relatively new concept that he believed was vital for any business and which his company had pioneered in Armenia. In a second video, Yirikian showed how VivaCell-MTS sponsored programs in art, sports, healthcare and education, their most recent project being to provide apartments for 20 homeless families.
“A company should always serve the nation,” Yirikian concluded.
The event ended with a question and answer session and the hope for a continually productive relationship with VivaCell-MTS, this year with 8 more Haigazian students planning to do their internships in Armenia this summer.
President Paul Haidostian greeted the full audience in the auditorium, which included the Armenian Ambassador, Mr. Ashod Kotcharian and other dignitaries, as well as faculty and students. Haidostian reminded everyone of the memorandum of understanding that Haigazian University and VivaCell-MTS had signed the previous year, which resulted in 5 students spending a one month internship at VivaCell-MTS in Yerevan, fully covered by the company.
After publicly thanking Mr. Yirikian for this fruitful relationship, Haidostian presented the general manager with three books, all Haigazian publications.
As one of the five students who did the internship at VivaCell-MTS last summer, Talar Mandoyan shared some of her experiences, mentioning the helpfulness and support of the VivaCell staff during her stay. She thanked Mr. Yirikian on behalf of the five students and then presented him with a bouquet.
Yirikian began his presentation with a short video to introduce his company, which had risen from small beginnings in 2005 to now being Armenia’s leading mobile operator and the number one taxpayer in the country.
Yirikian shared some of the important decisions the management made that contributed to its growth, such as choosing to hire primarily young Armenian graduates rather than hiring professionals from abroad. He also trained his employees in customer service, a practice he was happy other companies were beginning emulate.
Watching his company grow to 1200 employees, Yirikian maintained that equality was key and that all people should be treated with respect. He offered equal opportunities to men and women as well as to those with physical disabilities.
His final point was on corporate responsibility, a relatively new concept that he believed was vital for any business and which his company had pioneered in Armenia. In a second video, Yirikian showed how VivaCell-MTS sponsored programs in art, sports, healthcare and education, their most recent project being to provide apartments for 20 homeless families.
“A company should always serve the nation,” Yirikian concluded.
The event ended with a question and answer session and the hope for a continually productive relationship with VivaCell-MTS, this year with 8 more Haigazian students planning to do their internships in Armenia this summer.
Սուրիոյ Հանրապետութեան Նախագահի Խորհրդարանի Այցը՝ Վերապատուելի Համայնքապետ՝ Յարութիւն Սելիմեանի
Emmanuel Church's Soccer Team, Leading the League!
Diaspora Minister in Turkey: Official from Yerevan addresses concerns of Istanbul Armenians
The first visit of Hranush Hakobyan as Armenia’s Diaspora minister to Turkey’s largest city Istanbul gave answers to a number of concerns voiced not only by Istanbul-Armenians but also migrants from Armenia; children’s education was mentioned as the most urgent among the challenges they are facing living in Turkey.
Minister Hakobyan was invited to Istanbul between May 5 and 7 to take part in the UN-held Women’s World Summit at which a total of 82 countries were represented, with three first ladies – including Turkey’s first lady Hayrunnisa Gul – and 34 ministers among the participants.
Hakobyan, however, devoted most of her time to meetings with the Armenian community in Turkey. This was her second visit to Istanbul, but the first in the capacity of the Diaspora minister.
“Armenians of Constantinople [Istanbul Armenians are commonly referred to as such] are Armenia’s love and pride; I am grateful that despite all the hardship and under these difficult circumstances they stay true to their identity,” she said during her speech at the reception held in the hall of ceremonies at the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul after the Sunday liturgy.
During the reception she gave medals to 15 prominent Armenian intellectuals of Istanbul – writers, musicians, doctors and artists, who stressed that although they had been acknowledged and appreciated in their community and by the Turkish government, however Armenia’s official acknowledgement of their achievements mattered the most to them.
Afters visiting some of the Armenian community’s educational centres and churches, the minister said that the most important thing is to strengthen the ties with Armenia, for which frequent visits to their homeland are an important factor.
“By the end of the year, within the framework of various projects, some 500 young Armenians from Istanbul will be visiting Armenia to see their motherland and establish a contact with their country. We are also planning to hold ‘Days of Constantinople Armenians in Armenia’,” said the minister.
Although Armenians living in Istanbul do not consider themselves Diaspora, because, as they say, they “were born and now live in historical Armenia” and it is their “motherland”, nevertheless, they stress the importance of establishing closer bonds with Armenia.
The main issue raised during the meeting by the Istanbul Armenians was shortage of books and manuals at schools. Tuition at around 20 educational institutions of Istanbul (schools, seminaries, kindergartens) is done in accordance with the state curricula and books (all in Turkish) approved by the Turkish ministry of education, and the Armenian language is taught with outdated books or photocopies of more up-to-date manuals – this gradually leads to lack of interest in learning the language or, worse, to loss of the language itself.
Silva Kuyumcuyan, the principal of the Getronagan High Scool in Istanbul (founded in 1886), says that the issue of books was raised yet two years ago, but to no avail.
“Since Armenia and Turkey do not have diplomatic relations, our demands cannot be viewed as official, since schools belong to the state, the only thing we can expect is optional books that are not verified by the state but can help our children to improve the learning process of the Armenian language, and make the classes more enjoyable,” Kuyumcuyan, who has lead the lyceum for three decades, told ArmeniaNow.
Minister Hakobyan promised that the issue of Western-Armenian language manuals will be solved in the nearest future.
“Every year our teachers come to Armenia for training, and the manuals are being drafted; we have designated 70 places at state educational institutions for Diaspora applicants, who are eligible for state-funded tuition at any department and then return to their countries of residence and pass the knowledge to their communities,” the minister told ArmeniaNow.
Many of the migrants from Armenia attending the liturgy expressed no desire to meet with the minister for “lack of expectations”, as they put it.
“There is only one thing we need – employment, so that we can return home. We are here for solely one reason – to work and earn our living and the minister cannot solve that issue,” Susanna from Gyumri, who has been working in Istanbul for two years, told ArmeniaNow.
The main issue for an estimated 12,000 Armenian migrants working in Turkey is their children’s education, because, the parents’ illegal status in the country does not enable them to attend public schools (Armenian schools, too, are considered to be public or state-funded).
Many had not received any education for years – up until 2003, when an underground school opened in the basement of Gedik-Pasha’s Armenian Evangelical Church (founded in 1850) for some 70 children illegally residing in Turkey; the school uses the same curricula and books as in Armenia.
Last year, when Turkish newspapers reported on this school and the issue of education of migrants’ children, Turkey’s vice premier Bulent Arenc promised Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, Armenian Co-Patriarch of Istanbul, to attend to the problem.
Minister Hakobyan says that she discussed the issue with the Co-Patriarch and was told that the issue is being solved.
“Starting from September our children will be allowed to study at [local] Armenian schools, but they will not publicise it not to alarm their [Turkey’s] emigration services in order to avoid deportation of the illegal migrants. Besides that, we, too, have designed a program to solve this issue – we are not making it public yet, but are working in that direction,” minister Hakobyan told ArmeniaNow.
Gayane Abrahamyan is reporting from Turkey with the support of the Global Political Trends Center (GPoT) and Internews Armenia
Minister Hakobyan was invited to Istanbul between May 5 and 7 to take part in the UN-held Women’s World Summit at which a total of 82 countries were represented, with three first ladies – including Turkey’s first lady Hayrunnisa Gul – and 34 ministers among the participants.
Hakobyan, however, devoted most of her time to meetings with the Armenian community in Turkey. This was her second visit to Istanbul, but the first in the capacity of the Diaspora minister.
“Armenians of Constantinople [Istanbul Armenians are commonly referred to as such] are Armenia’s love and pride; I am grateful that despite all the hardship and under these difficult circumstances they stay true to their identity,” she said during her speech at the reception held in the hall of ceremonies at the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul after the Sunday liturgy.
During the reception she gave medals to 15 prominent Armenian intellectuals of Istanbul – writers, musicians, doctors and artists, who stressed that although they had been acknowledged and appreciated in their community and by the Turkish government, however Armenia’s official acknowledgement of their achievements mattered the most to them.
Afters visiting some of the Armenian community’s educational centres and churches, the minister said that the most important thing is to strengthen the ties with Armenia, for which frequent visits to their homeland are an important factor.
“By the end of the year, within the framework of various projects, some 500 young Armenians from Istanbul will be visiting Armenia to see their motherland and establish a contact with their country. We are also planning to hold ‘Days of Constantinople Armenians in Armenia’,” said the minister.
Although Armenians living in Istanbul do not consider themselves Diaspora, because, as they say, they “were born and now live in historical Armenia” and it is their “motherland”, nevertheless, they stress the importance of establishing closer bonds with Armenia.
The main issue raised during the meeting by the Istanbul Armenians was shortage of books and manuals at schools. Tuition at around 20 educational institutions of Istanbul (schools, seminaries, kindergartens) is done in accordance with the state curricula and books (all in Turkish) approved by the Turkish ministry of education, and the Armenian language is taught with outdated books or photocopies of more up-to-date manuals – this gradually leads to lack of interest in learning the language or, worse, to loss of the language itself.
Silva Kuyumcuyan, the principal of the Getronagan High Scool in Istanbul (founded in 1886), says that the issue of books was raised yet two years ago, but to no avail.
“Since Armenia and Turkey do not have diplomatic relations, our demands cannot be viewed as official, since schools belong to the state, the only thing we can expect is optional books that are not verified by the state but can help our children to improve the learning process of the Armenian language, and make the classes more enjoyable,” Kuyumcuyan, who has lead the lyceum for three decades, told ArmeniaNow.
Minister Hakobyan promised that the issue of Western-Armenian language manuals will be solved in the nearest future.
“Every year our teachers come to Armenia for training, and the manuals are being drafted; we have designated 70 places at state educational institutions for Diaspora applicants, who are eligible for state-funded tuition at any department and then return to their countries of residence and pass the knowledge to their communities,” the minister told ArmeniaNow.
Many of the migrants from Armenia attending the liturgy expressed no desire to meet with the minister for “lack of expectations”, as they put it.
“There is only one thing we need – employment, so that we can return home. We are here for solely one reason – to work and earn our living and the minister cannot solve that issue,” Susanna from Gyumri, who has been working in Istanbul for two years, told ArmeniaNow.
The main issue for an estimated 12,000 Armenian migrants working in Turkey is their children’s education, because, the parents’ illegal status in the country does not enable them to attend public schools (Armenian schools, too, are considered to be public or state-funded).
Many had not received any education for years – up until 2003, when an underground school opened in the basement of Gedik-Pasha’s Armenian Evangelical Church (founded in 1850) for some 70 children illegally residing in Turkey; the school uses the same curricula and books as in Armenia.
Last year, when Turkish newspapers reported on this school and the issue of education of migrants’ children, Turkey’s vice premier Bulent Arenc promised Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, Armenian Co-Patriarch of Istanbul, to attend to the problem.
Minister Hakobyan says that she discussed the issue with the Co-Patriarch and was told that the issue is being solved.
“Starting from September our children will be allowed to study at [local] Armenian schools, but they will not publicise it not to alarm their [Turkey’s] emigration services in order to avoid deportation of the illegal migrants. Besides that, we, too, have designed a program to solve this issue – we are not making it public yet, but are working in that direction,” minister Hakobyan told ArmeniaNow.
Gayane Abrahamyan is reporting from Turkey with the support of the Global Political Trends Center (GPoT) and Internews Armenia