AGBU organizes on-the-ground relief for Armenian evacuees from … Armenian Weekly
Day: October 11, 2023
April 15, 1915: Hidden from the conscience of mankind, 1.5 million Christian Armenian men, women and children perished under the hand of the Ottoman Turks—a crime against humanity now known as one of the first genocides of the 20th century.
September 19, 2023: 108 years later, in full view of the eyes, ears and conscience of mankind, 120,000 Christian Armenian men, women and children, living in the Armenian enclave of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), are forced to flee for their lives, a consequence of “ethnic cleansing” and terrorism, inflicted on them by the Azerbaijan regime, a perfect example of genocide in the 21st century.
Preceding the horror of September 19, 2023, the Azerbaijani regime executed an over nine-month blockade of the Berdzor (Lachin) Corridor, the only route connecting Artsakh to the outside world. This blockade resulted in dire consequences for the indigenous Armenians living there. They were deprived of food, necessary living supplies, medical and emergency care. Store shelves were barren. There was mass unemployment. Schools were closed. Families were separated. Armenians were being decimated by “ethnic cleansing,” and the deafening silence of the world was stunning.
Armenians around the globe are grieving, lamenting the loss of life and suffering of our fellow Armenians in Artsakh. Knowing that thousands of helpless, innocent human beings were forced to leave their homes with only the clothes on their backs and a bag holding their belongings is gut wrenching. We, with the support and resources of our secular and religious organizations, are working tirelessly to provide life-saving assistance, including food, water, shelter and sanitation to the thousands of victims of this humanitarian catastrophe. We are so grateful to all the non-Armenian people, countries and organizations around the world who are helping and supporting us in this time of crisis and upheaval.
Politics is a dirty business. It is the convergence of power, money and people. Unfortunately, Armenia is inadequately prepared for the realities of defending itself and Artsakh in the political environment in which it currently exists. It has become the leaderless casualty of an unjust war, caught in the crosshairs of a changing political alignment and balance of power.
The words of Raffi, the legendary Armenian writer and patriot, ring true today, as they did in 1915. He instilled in the Armenian psyche the ideas of education, self-reliance, love of nation and love of freedom. “Armenians,” he preached, “Take up arms and defend yourself. Don’t expect others to defend you!”
It is imperative that we, the descendants of the Genocide of 1915, heed Raffi’s words, embrace the battle cry “Never Again,” and take the necessary steps to prepare ourselves for an uncertain and challenging future. It is said that great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice. Let the tragedy that has befallen our sisters and brothers in Artsakh be Armenia’s impetus for initiating a compelling, bold and aggressive blueprint for change and justice—one that will energize and stimulate its economy; strengthen and mobilize its military; and expand and bolster its political policies and alliances in preparation for the hurdles that lie ahead. What we Armenians say and do in the days, months and years ahead will be a test of our mettle, wisdom, judgment, resilience and unity.
It is imperative that Armenia avenge the pain, suffering and death of its compatriots who were forced to flee Artsakh. The best revenge for the victim is to seek and secure the justice they deserve. Armenia must hold President Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani regime accountable for their criminal actions by demanding the International Criminal Court prosecute Azerbaijan for war crimes and genocide. It is the moral duty and obligation of all Armenians to do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to make our enemies pay the price for the atrocities they have inflicted upon our people. Artsakh’s pain is our pain. Armenia’s future is our future. Our fight has just begun. Time will tell if we have the brains, guts and fortitude to stay the course and strike back.
Hazel Barsamian
Scottsdale, Arizona
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Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles or press releases written and submitted by members of the community.
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The First Annual Couples Night Out in 2018
WATERTOWN, Mass.—Members of the New England clergy are delighted to announce the return of “Couples Night Out.”
The third annual “Couples Night Out” will be held on Thursday, November 9 at 6 p.m. at the social hall of St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church.
Launched in 2018, the program offers Armenian Christian homes the support and encouragement they need to make their marriage relationships a priority, with the ultimate goal of directly impacting a vibrant and healthy Armenian community.
This year’s keynote speaker will be Rev. Dr. John Mokkosian of the New England Pastoral Institute. Dr. Mokkosian is a renowned licensed pastoral psychotherapist, who specializes in individual, couple and family relationships. He will be leading an interactive session on “Giving and Receiving Love as a Couple: The Heart and Soul of a Marriage.”
In years past, dozens of Armenian couples in various stages of their marriage relationships have opened their hearts and been inspired and encouraged by “Couples Night Out.” It’s a unique opportunity for fellowship and supporting healthy and thriving marriages.
“Marriage starts like a big fire, burning hot and bright,” describes the committee. “Over time, the large fire burns down to small embers that need to be stoked once in a while to relight the flame that is always there at the core. During this ‘Couples Night Out,’ we will learn how to keep the marital love shining bright and how to rekindle the flame to keep your marriage healthy and alive.”
Rev. Dr. Avedis Boynerian, who has been married to his wife Dr. Arpi Boynerian for 35 years, describes the marriage relationship as a transition from a “self-centered life” to an “other-centered life.” “The ‘other-centered life’ is grounded in selflessness, which is an important ingredient in the covenant of marriage,” Rev. Dr. Boynerian explained.
Dr. Torkom Garabedian, pastor of Spring of Life Church Boston, is encouraging couples to center their relationships around the Word of God. “Family is the nucleus where God’s love is displayed. The nucleus of the family is the couple,” he said. “Today more than ever, it is paramount to grow strong in the unity of marriage. A couple found on God’s Word is unbreakable and can navigate through any turmoil in life.”
Tickets for “Couples Night Out” are $120 per couple and include a catered dinner. Please reserve your tickets by October 31 by calling or texting Arpi Boynerian at 617-229-9254 or e-mailing avedisb1@gmail.com.
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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.
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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.
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The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is the world’s largest non-profit organization devoted to upholding the Armenian heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs. Each year, AGBU is committed to making a difference in the lives of 500,000 people across Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenian diaspora. Since 1906, AGBU has remained true to one overarching goal: to create a foundation for the prosperity of all Armenians.
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Protesters at the JFK Building in Boston, Oct. 5, 2023
BOSTON—On October 5, the Zoravik Activist Collective, together with a coalition of Boston-area youth, activist and advocacy groups, held a silent protest outside the JFK Federal Building in Boston. The demonstration was the first in a series of planned protests organized to condemn the silence of the U.S. Congress and the inaction—or worse, the near-complicity—of the Biden administration regarding the blockade, invasion and ethnic cleansing of over 100,000 Artsakh Armenians by the genocidal regime in Azerbaijan.
The demonstrators demanded sanctions against Azerbaijan, accountability for war crimes and the release of all Armenian civilian hostages, kidnapped political leaders and prisoners of war held in Baku. Activists conversed with individuals entering and leaving the JFK Federal Building as well as with interested passers-by. All were directed to visit ArtsakhSOS.carrd.co, an informational and action resource put together by the organizers and embedded, via QR code, in all protest signs and handouts.
Senator Ed Markey talking with demonstrators at the protest in front of the JFK Building, Boston, Oct. 5, 2023
Senator Ed Markey and several of his senior staffers came out of the JFK Federal Building to personally meet with the protestors and to share a message of support and solidarity. Senator Markey announced that he had just signed legislation to provide humanitarian support to the “Armenians in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh impacted by the genocidal actions taken by the government of Azerbaijan and to establish sanctions against select Azerbaijani officials.” He declared his active involvement in a bipartisan effort to urge the State Department and Treasury Department to “impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act on select individuals in the government of Azerbaijan.”
Senator Markey also announced that he is “convening a roundtable with Armenian-Americans from Greater Boston in ten days so that I can hear, specifically, what their concerns are” adding, “But I don’t think I need much more than seeing all of you standing out here to [know what] your concerns are and what has to happen from the perspective of the United States government.”
The protesters thanked Sen. Markey for meeting with them and for his steadfast support of issues of concern to Armenian-Americans, including the bi-partisan initiatives on Artsakh he had mentioned. They also conveyed to him and his political staff that, during the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Artsakh and the existential threat confronting democratic Armenia from the autocratic regimes in Azerbaijan and Turkey, a significantly more vigorous and vocal level of advocacy is expected from allies of the community.
In conversations with Jim Cantwell, senior advisor and state director to Sen. Markey, the activists presented several additional actions that the senator can take to meet the expectations of the Armenian community. These include making one or more speeches on the Senate floor to demand that the leader of his party, President Biden, publicly condemn the ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh from their ancestral lands and lead the world in imposing punitive sanctions against the perpetrator regime in Azerbaijan.
These protests will be held in front of the JFK Federal Building every Thursday afternoon during the month of October. More information is available on Zoravik’s Facebook page. In a call to action, the organizers urge the community and activists to join their movement in pressuring U.S. representatives and federal authorities to take meaningful action on Artsakh.
The protests are organized and co-sponsored by the following Boston-area organizations: Zoravik Activist Collective, Armenian General Benevolent Union Young Professionals-Boston, Armenian Assembly of America-Massachusetts, Armenian National Committee of Massachusetts and Armenian Youth Federation-Greater Boston Njdeh Chapter. Organizations and ASAs that would like to join this effort should email zoravik@gmail.com.
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