The blog contains articles and thoughts in English, Armenian and Arabic about Armenian issues, Artsakh-Karabakh issue, Armenian Genocide as well as the life of Armenians and Christians in Iraq and the Middle East.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
The Activities of the Cultural Week Dedicated to Hamshen
In the context of the cultural week dedicated to the heritage of Hamshen Armenians held in Yerevan
Hamshen Armenian “Vova” Ensemble Fascinates the Attendees
On July 22, 2008, “Vova” ethnographic ensemble presented a fascinating evening at the Narekatsi Art Institute. The concert came two hours after inaugurating a photo exhibition dedicated to Hamsheni Architecture at the Institute hall.
The ensemble, which consists of 8 Muslim Hamshen Armenians, has its first aboard concert in Armenia in Hamshen dialect. The Institute’s hall was full of attendees from Armenia and abroad. Following the concert, ensemble’s members and some attendees danced folklore dances.
It is noteworthy the ensemble released its first album titled “Vova” in 2005.
International Conference
Hamshen and Hamshen Armenians: History and Culture
On July 23, 2008, the RA National Academy of Sciences- Institute of Oriental Studies and “Yerkir” Union of NGOs for Repatriation and Settlement have organized the international conference entitled: “Hamshen and Hamshen Armenians: History and Culture” at the “Congress” Hotel in Yerevan.
The conference tackled various topics, dedicated to Hamshen and Hamshen Armenians history, culture, language and folklore.
Scientists (professors of oriental studies, linguists, ethnographers, historians and anthropologists) from Armenia, Russia and Turkey have taken part in the conference. The official language of the conference was the Armenian with simultaneous Turkish translation.
In the first session of the conference Rouben Melkonyan (Armenia) presented his research work entitled “The Issue of Ethnic Identity in Turkey and the Hamshenians”; Dr. Erhan Gursel Ersoy (Turkey) presented “The Economic, Social and Cultural Aspects of Identity of the Western Group of Hemshinlis”; Harutyun Marutyan (Armenia) presented “Traumatic Memory as Major Factor of Preservation of the Armenian Identity in Turkey”.
In the second session Lusine Sahakyan (Armenia) presented her research work entitled “The Linguistic Policy of the Ottoman Empire in the Armenian Hamshen District”; Aysenur Kolivar (Turkey) presented “The Use of the Hemshinli Dialect in Western Hamshen”; Haykanush Mesropyan (Armenia) presented “The Lexical Peculiarities of the Hamshen Dialect”; Karine Brutyan (Armenia) presented “Observations on the Musical Heritage of the Hamshen Armenians”; Zhenya Khachatryan (Armenia) presented “Dance as an Expression of Hamshen Rituals”; Harutyun Panosyan (Armenia) presented “The Musical Compositions of the Hamshen Armenians”.
In the third and last session of the conference Nvard Kochar (Armenia) presented her research work entitled “The Place of the Hamshen Armenians in the System of Other Armenian Ethno-Territorial Groups”; Sergey Vardanyan (Armenia) presented “On the History of Research of the Hamshen Armenians Converted to Islam”; Aleksan Hakobyan (Armenia) presented “The New Critical Text of -History of Taron- by Hovhan Mamikonyan and the Source Basis of the Legend About Hamamashen”; Aleksandr Safaryan (Armenia) presented “V. Gordlevskiy on the National-Religious Minorities of the Ottoman Empire and Process of Islamization”; Artavazd Tulumdjyan (Russia) presented “The Hemshinlis (Homshentci) living in the Russian Federation- the Current Situation”; Margarit Hakhnazaryan (Armenia) presented “The Armenian Architecture of Hamshen”.
Screening of Hamshen Films
On July 24, 2008, two Hamshen films will be screened at the Narekatsi Art Institute.
The first film entitled “Momi-Grandmother” is directed by Ozdjan Alper and the second entitled “Burdened by the Life” is directed by Yeshim Ustaoghlu. The two films are in Hamshen dialect and Turkish scripts.
Hamshen Armenian “Vova” Ensemble Fascinates the Attendees
On July 22, 2008, “Vova” ethnographic ensemble presented a fascinating evening at the Narekatsi Art Institute. The concert came two hours after inaugurating a photo exhibition dedicated to Hamsheni Architecture at the Institute hall.
The ensemble, which consists of 8 Muslim Hamshen Armenians, has its first aboard concert in Armenia in Hamshen dialect. The Institute’s hall was full of attendees from Armenia and abroad. Following the concert, ensemble’s members and some attendees danced folklore dances.
It is noteworthy the ensemble released its first album titled “Vova” in 2005.
International Conference
Hamshen and Hamshen Armenians: History and Culture
On July 23, 2008, the RA National Academy of Sciences- Institute of Oriental Studies and “Yerkir” Union of NGOs for Repatriation and Settlement have organized the international conference entitled: “Hamshen and Hamshen Armenians: History and Culture” at the “Congress” Hotel in Yerevan.
The conference tackled various topics, dedicated to Hamshen and Hamshen Armenians history, culture, language and folklore.
Scientists (professors of oriental studies, linguists, ethnographers, historians and anthropologists) from Armenia, Russia and Turkey have taken part in the conference. The official language of the conference was the Armenian with simultaneous Turkish translation.
In the first session of the conference Rouben Melkonyan (Armenia) presented his research work entitled “The Issue of Ethnic Identity in Turkey and the Hamshenians”; Dr. Erhan Gursel Ersoy (Turkey) presented “The Economic, Social and Cultural Aspects of Identity of the Western Group of Hemshinlis”; Harutyun Marutyan (Armenia) presented “Traumatic Memory as Major Factor of Preservation of the Armenian Identity in Turkey”.
In the second session Lusine Sahakyan (Armenia) presented her research work entitled “The Linguistic Policy of the Ottoman Empire in the Armenian Hamshen District”; Aysenur Kolivar (Turkey) presented “The Use of the Hemshinli Dialect in Western Hamshen”; Haykanush Mesropyan (Armenia) presented “The Lexical Peculiarities of the Hamshen Dialect”; Karine Brutyan (Armenia) presented “Observations on the Musical Heritage of the Hamshen Armenians”; Zhenya Khachatryan (Armenia) presented “Dance as an Expression of Hamshen Rituals”; Harutyun Panosyan (Armenia) presented “The Musical Compositions of the Hamshen Armenians”.
In the third and last session of the conference Nvard Kochar (Armenia) presented her research work entitled “The Place of the Hamshen Armenians in the System of Other Armenian Ethno-Territorial Groups”; Sergey Vardanyan (Armenia) presented “On the History of Research of the Hamshen Armenians Converted to Islam”; Aleksan Hakobyan (Armenia) presented “The New Critical Text of -History of Taron- by Hovhan Mamikonyan and the Source Basis of the Legend About Hamamashen”; Aleksandr Safaryan (Armenia) presented “V. Gordlevskiy on the National-Religious Minorities of the Ottoman Empire and Process of Islamization”; Artavazd Tulumdjyan (Russia) presented “The Hemshinlis (Homshentci) living in the Russian Federation- the Current Situation”; Margarit Hakhnazaryan (Armenia) presented “The Armenian Architecture of Hamshen”.
Screening of Hamshen Films
On July 24, 2008, two Hamshen films will be screened at the Narekatsi Art Institute.
The first film entitled “Momi-Grandmother” is directed by Ozdjan Alper and the second entitled “Burdened by the Life” is directed by Yeshim Ustaoghlu. The two films are in Hamshen dialect and Turkish scripts.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
A Cultural Week Dedicated to Hamshen Armenians
A cultural week dedicated to the heritage of Hamshen Armenians (Hamshentsi) will be held in Yerevan in the period from 21 to 28 July, 2008.
The week will include a photo exhibition dedicated to Hamsheni Architecture at the Narekatsi Art Institute and a seminar entitled: “Hamshen and Hamshen Armenians. History and Culture” at Congress Hotel. “Vova” ethnographic ensemble will take part in the cultural week.
Founded in the 8th Century by the Armenian princes Hamam and Shapuh Amatuni, Hamshen (first called Tambut then Hamamashen) was captured by the Ottoman Empire in 1489. By the 17th Century part of the Hamshen Armenians had been forcibly converted to Islam, while the majority escaped to preserve their Christian faith.
Some historians call the Hamshentsi a unique Armenian group since it contains both Christians and Muslims. While some Christian Hamshentsi do not know Armenian, some among the Islamized speak a dialect of Armenian as their native language.
Both Muslim and Christian Hamshentsi live in Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Armenia and Central Asia. Some historians estimate there are several hundred thousands of Hamshen Armenians in the world, while others speak of several thousands.
According to some research works, at least some 20-30,000 Hamshentsi Muslims who speak Armenian live in Turkey as well as some 100-200,000 Hamshentsi Turkish speakers. In Armenia, there are some 10,000 Hamshentsi.
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId=621kzd41
The week will include a photo exhibition dedicated to Hamsheni Architecture at the Narekatsi Art Institute and a seminar entitled: “Hamshen and Hamshen Armenians. History and Culture” at Congress Hotel. “Vova” ethnographic ensemble will take part in the cultural week.
Founded in the 8th Century by the Armenian princes Hamam and Shapuh Amatuni, Hamshen (first called Tambut then Hamamashen) was captured by the Ottoman Empire in 1489. By the 17th Century part of the Hamshen Armenians had been forcibly converted to Islam, while the majority escaped to preserve their Christian faith.
Some historians call the Hamshentsi a unique Armenian group since it contains both Christians and Muslims. While some Christian Hamshentsi do not know Armenian, some among the Islamized speak a dialect of Armenian as their native language.
Both Muslim and Christian Hamshentsi live in Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Armenia and Central Asia. Some historians estimate there are several hundred thousands of Hamshen Armenians in the world, while others speak of several thousands.
According to some research works, at least some 20-30,000 Hamshentsi Muslims who speak Armenian live in Turkey as well as some 100-200,000 Hamshentsi Turkish speakers. In Armenia, there are some 10,000 Hamshentsi.
http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId=621kzd41
Friday, July 18, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Armenia moves to welcome displaced Iraqi-Armenians
* USAPAC helps unlock UNHCR assistance--WASHINGTON – The Republic of Armenia, working closely with Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has opened the door to displaced Iraqi-Armenians, offering financial assistance and the opportunity for permanent resettlement and citizenship. One of the great human tragedies unleashed by the war in Iraq has been the wave of displaced individuals and families fleeing their homes to escape the ongoing violence. UNHCR estimates that over 2 million people have fled from Iraq, and that over 2 million additional people have been driven from their homes within Iraq. The Christian population, including Iraqi-Armenians, has been especially hard hit. U.S. Armenia Public Affairs Committee (USAPAC), the Washington-based Armenian advocacy organization, has provided leadership in the effort to bring together the governments and organizations needed to support Armenia’s refugee relocation program and to unlock the resources necessary for its implementation. Over $1,500,000 of emergency financial assistance has been delivered by UNHCR to support refugees that have already arrived in Armenia.
Working with UNHCR, the agency mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide, Armenia is providing assistance to nearly 1,000 individuals who have already arrived in Armenia, and have opened the door to welcome and integrate new refugees as they arrive. Now that the Iraqi-Armenian program has been established, individuals and international donor organizations will be better able to participate in and coordinate assistance to refugees in Armenia. The involvement of UNHCR and the U.S. government provides the international support and donor leadership to dramatically expand upon the previous efforts of Armenian NGOs. USAPAC and the Armenian advocacy community can now devote additional time and energy to building increased and ongoing support for this important program. UNHCR receives its support from a number of countries and donors around the world.
The United States is expected to play a leading role in support of UNHCR efforts on behalf of displaced Iraqis. USAPAC continues to work closely with UNHCR and the U.S. Congress and State Department to allocate additional funding for the new Iraqi- Armenian program. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Armenia to build a stronger ‘come home’ policy,” said USAPAC Executive Director Ross Vartian. “The door is open.
The American-Armenian community should play a leading role, both here in the United States and abroad, in advocating for additional resources and financial assistance in support of the Iraqi- Armenian refugee program. We commend the government of Armenia for taking on this responsibility on behalf of compatriots at risk, and we deeply appreciate the support of UNHCR and our own government for providing critical financial and policy support. Together we can transform tragedy into hope and a brighter future in Armenia.”
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Internet Misleading and Armenia’s National Security
On February 27, 2008, I published an article on the occasion of liberation of Khojalu (Khojaly) in Artsakh-Karabakh Republic (NKR) entitled: The Truth about Khojalu (Khojaly) Events- Azeri Sources Testify-(See: http://www.karabakh-open.com/src/index.php?lang=en&id=2&nid=7961; http://ara-ashjian.blogspot.com/2008/02/truth-about-khojalu-events-azeri.html#links).
In this article I mentioned: “The Azerbaijani party makes an active use of internet in an information war against Armenia and NKR. In connection with the fact that Internet-mass media influence becomes more and more dominant in the world, significance of information net on Artsakh-Karabakh conflict also increases. Besides, various internet-communities become more and more influential on public opinion shaping”.
I also mentioned: “The number of anti-Armenian sites on Artsakh-Karabakh issue, which are mainly created in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani communities settled in other countries, are increasing year by year. The sites of anti-Armenian character are focused on denying the Armenian Genocide, falsifying the Armenian history, the activity of ASALA organization are also being created by the initiative of Turkey, however, today Baku is more active than its “elder brother””.
Then, I said: “In this way Azerbaijan and Turkey have carried out much more propagandist work to succeed, which, to some extent has changed the state of affairs in the information war, and, is not always counteracted by the Armenian party. The Azerbaijani party has well-developed means for spreading disinformation”.
Besides, I stated: “It seems to be expedient to make the strategy of the RA information security more clear and work out mechanisms of corresponding “counterattacks””.
Days before, Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan referred to this fact during his visit to the National Security Service for a working meeting with its leadership. At the meeting President Sargsyan said:
“I have convened this meeting to have a detailed discussion with you of the National Security Service’s work. But before we get down to core discussions I would like to make a set of relating observations, which in my opinion are significant not only in terms of your work but also from the perspective of the consolidation of forces of all government agencies and public at large”.
The President added: “Our neighbors disseminate huge amounts of disinformation not only through printed media but also through Internet about the Armenian genocide and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I know also that we have numerous smart and well-educated young people, scientists, organizations, concerned citizens who rebuff these allegations as much as their resources allow. The role of our Diaspora Armenians is big in this area, but nevertheless this process needs daily coordination and management. I am deeply sure that the National Security Service can and is obliged to assume this responsibility” (President Serzh Sargsyan visits National Security Service, Yerevan, July 3 (2008), Armenpress).
It is the duty of the government, organizations and individuals in Armenia and Diaspora, to coordinate the efforts and resources to face the information war and the efforts exerted by the enemies to distort the facts about the Armenian Genocide and Artsakh-Karabakh conflict.
I, like many concerned Armenians, used to respond to such articles published in the Internet both in English and Arabic. While being in Iraq, I published my articles in the Internet since 2004-2005, when Iraqis made a wide use of Internet after the US-UK invasion of Iraq (in 2003). By using the web, I tried to reach to more readers; Arabs and foreigners. I also launched my blogs in February 2006. My blog (in English and Arabic- http://ara-ashjian.blogspot.com), for instance, has readers from different countries (as seen from the counter and the map on the blog which show the number of readers and the countries they enter from). I am glad to say that I have many readers from Iraq, other Arab countries including Gulf countries where, mainly, there are no Armenian communities or embassies. Well-known web sites in Arabic began to refer to my articles on Armenian history and Genocide despite the Turkish strong propaganda and Islamism dominated in these countries. I think, this arose from the academic nature of these articles. Armenia’s government has much work to do “in this process (that) needs daily coordination and management”.
Thus, by introducing facts and evidences, we can gain the trust of foreign readers and win the information war for the sake of our people and the just causes we defend.
Ara S. Ashjian,
Iraqi Armenian Civil Engineer (M.Sc.), researcher and journalist settled in:
Yerevan, Armenia
http://blog.ararat-center.org/?p=56#comment-63
In this article I mentioned: “The Azerbaijani party makes an active use of internet in an information war against Armenia and NKR. In connection with the fact that Internet-mass media influence becomes more and more dominant in the world, significance of information net on Artsakh-Karabakh conflict also increases. Besides, various internet-communities become more and more influential on public opinion shaping”.
I also mentioned: “The number of anti-Armenian sites on Artsakh-Karabakh issue, which are mainly created in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani communities settled in other countries, are increasing year by year. The sites of anti-Armenian character are focused on denying the Armenian Genocide, falsifying the Armenian history, the activity of ASALA organization are also being created by the initiative of Turkey, however, today Baku is more active than its “elder brother””.
Then, I said: “In this way Azerbaijan and Turkey have carried out much more propagandist work to succeed, which, to some extent has changed the state of affairs in the information war, and, is not always counteracted by the Armenian party. The Azerbaijani party has well-developed means for spreading disinformation”.
Besides, I stated: “It seems to be expedient to make the strategy of the RA information security more clear and work out mechanisms of corresponding “counterattacks””.
Days before, Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan referred to this fact during his visit to the National Security Service for a working meeting with its leadership. At the meeting President Sargsyan said:
“I have convened this meeting to have a detailed discussion with you of the National Security Service’s work. But before we get down to core discussions I would like to make a set of relating observations, which in my opinion are significant not only in terms of your work but also from the perspective of the consolidation of forces of all government agencies and public at large”.
The President added: “Our neighbors disseminate huge amounts of disinformation not only through printed media but also through Internet about the Armenian genocide and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I know also that we have numerous smart and well-educated young people, scientists, organizations, concerned citizens who rebuff these allegations as much as their resources allow. The role of our Diaspora Armenians is big in this area, but nevertheless this process needs daily coordination and management. I am deeply sure that the National Security Service can and is obliged to assume this responsibility” (President Serzh Sargsyan visits National Security Service, Yerevan, July 3 (2008), Armenpress).
It is the duty of the government, organizations and individuals in Armenia and Diaspora, to coordinate the efforts and resources to face the information war and the efforts exerted by the enemies to distort the facts about the Armenian Genocide and Artsakh-Karabakh conflict.
I, like many concerned Armenians, used to respond to such articles published in the Internet both in English and Arabic. While being in Iraq, I published my articles in the Internet since 2004-2005, when Iraqis made a wide use of Internet after the US-UK invasion of Iraq (in 2003). By using the web, I tried to reach to more readers; Arabs and foreigners. I also launched my blogs in February 2006. My blog (in English and Arabic- http://ara-ashjian.blogspot.com), for instance, has readers from different countries (as seen from the counter and the map on the blog which show the number of readers and the countries they enter from). I am glad to say that I have many readers from Iraq, other Arab countries including Gulf countries where, mainly, there are no Armenian communities or embassies. Well-known web sites in Arabic began to refer to my articles on Armenian history and Genocide despite the Turkish strong propaganda and Islamism dominated in these countries. I think, this arose from the academic nature of these articles. Armenia’s government has much work to do “in this process (that) needs daily coordination and management”.
Thus, by introducing facts and evidences, we can gain the trust of foreign readers and win the information war for the sake of our people and the just causes we defend.
Ara S. Ashjian,
Iraqi Armenian Civil Engineer (M.Sc.), researcher and journalist settled in:
Yerevan, Armenia
http://blog.ararat-center.org/?p=56#comment-63
Saturday, July 05, 2008
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