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RICHARD HOVANNISYAN'S "REPUBLIC" RELEASED IN ARMENIAN
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 22 2006
Yerevan--Professor Richard G. Hovannisian, chairholder in Modern
Armenian History at UCLA, was publicly honored today on the occasion
of the Armenian-language publication of the first volume of his
four-part epic, entitled "The Republic of Armenia: The First Year,
1918-1919." The event was organized by the National Academy of
Sciences and the Writers' Union of Armenia, with support from the
Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS). The
presentation brought together prominent specialists in Armenian
studies, leading scholars and intellectuals, political and public
figures, diplomats, and media representatives.
Held in the auditorium of the Writers' Union of Armenia, the program
was opened by Academician Vladimir Barkhudarian, vice president of
the National Academy of Sciences. "There remain historical phenomena
which call for further, deeper research. One such experience is the
history of the first Republic of Armenia which, through four decades of
diligent dedication and groundbreaking work with a wealth of primary
sources, Academician Richard Hovannisian has fully and objectively
brought to light," he said.
The next speaker was chairman Levon Ananian of the Writers' Union. In
his words, "The Republic of Armenia" is a colossal oeuvre and thus
one of the greatest achievements in contemporary Armenian studies.
"It is noteworthy that the author of the book is a unique symbol of our
national pride. An incisive thinker and a scholar with professional
methodology, Hovannisian's international standing and pre-eminence
in the field keep growing."
Volume One of "The Republic of Armenia" was presented in detail by
Professor Ashot Melkonian, director of the Academy's Institute of
History. He first underlined the historiographic value of the work.
According to Melkonian, in the 1960s and 1970s, when the historical
truth about the First Republic was concealed by political strictures,
this masterpiece by Richard Hovannisian was an underground imperative
for those in Soviet Armenia who were researching and studying the
topic. "The ultimate importance of this book is that the concept of
statehood forms its entire backbone," he concluded.
In his turn, Professor Babken Harutiunian, chairholder in Armenian
History at Yerevan State University, commended "The Republic of
Armenia" in terms of its reliance on a broad spectrum of sources as
well as its application of the precept of continuity in historical
science. "Aside from presenting the historical record completely and
truthfully, each chapter and every line of the work are founded in a
supreme notion of patriotism." It is not a coincidence, he continued,
that owing directly to the incessant efforts of Professor Hovannisian
a school of modern Armenian history has been developed in the diaspora.
Raffi Hovannisian, founding director of ACNIS and Armenia's
first Minister of Foreign Affairs, congratulated his father on
the accomplishment of finally bringing the whole history of the
First Republic home to Armenia. "Comprehensively researched and
objectively presented, Richard Hovannisian's authoritative account
both gives cause for moments of historic pride and achievement and
offers a record of losses and shortcomings which the new Armenia must
avoid repeating. It is a valuable lesson of liberty and legitimacy,
democracy and diplomacy, sovereignty and security, which must be
drawn today--in the name of the Republic of Armenia, past and present."
Also noteworthy were artistic contributions by literary expert Svetlana
Khanumian and professor of theology Khoren Palian.
Finally, Richard Hovannisian took the floor and extended his
deep appreciation to the organizers of the event, the scholars,
intellectuals and everyone present, and acknowledged Vrezh Markosian,
director of the Tigran Mets Publishing House, for his high-caliber
production of the volume. Hovannisian shared vignettes from his
childhood, his student years, and his four-decade quest for "The
Republic of Armenia." A well-rounded understanding of the history of
the First Republic, he said, will enable its modern-day heir to steer
clear of mistakes and never place false hope in paper guarantees for
security, which we have trusted on numerous historical occasions and
suffered setbacks as a result.
The capacity crowd of assembled leaders, intellectuals, and students
stood to express their appreciation of the work and its creator.
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 22 2006
Yerevan--Professor Richard G. Hovannisian, chairholder in Modern
Armenian History at UCLA, was publicly honored today on the occasion
of the Armenian-language publication of the first volume of his
four-part epic, entitled "The Republic of Armenia: The First Year,
1918-1919." The event was organized by the National Academy of
Sciences and the Writers' Union of Armenia, with support from the
Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS). The
presentation brought together prominent specialists in Armenian
studies, leading scholars and intellectuals, political and public
figures, diplomats, and media representatives.
Held in the auditorium of the Writers' Union of Armenia, the program
was opened by Academician Vladimir Barkhudarian, vice president of
the National Academy of Sciences. "There remain historical phenomena
which call for further, deeper research. One such experience is the
history of the first Republic of Armenia which, through four decades of
diligent dedication and groundbreaking work with a wealth of primary
sources, Academician Richard Hovannisian has fully and objectively
brought to light," he said.
The next speaker was chairman Levon Ananian of the Writers' Union. In
his words, "The Republic of Armenia" is a colossal oeuvre and thus
one of the greatest achievements in contemporary Armenian studies.
"It is noteworthy that the author of the book is a unique symbol of our
national pride. An incisive thinker and a scholar with professional
methodology, Hovannisian's international standing and pre-eminence
in the field keep growing."
Volume One of "The Republic of Armenia" was presented in detail by
Professor Ashot Melkonian, director of the Academy's Institute of
History. He first underlined the historiographic value of the work.
According to Melkonian, in the 1960s and 1970s, when the historical
truth about the First Republic was concealed by political strictures,
this masterpiece by Richard Hovannisian was an underground imperative
for those in Soviet Armenia who were researching and studying the
topic. "The ultimate importance of this book is that the concept of
statehood forms its entire backbone," he concluded.
In his turn, Professor Babken Harutiunian, chairholder in Armenian
History at Yerevan State University, commended "The Republic of
Armenia" in terms of its reliance on a broad spectrum of sources as
well as its application of the precept of continuity in historical
science. "Aside from presenting the historical record completely and
truthfully, each chapter and every line of the work are founded in a
supreme notion of patriotism." It is not a coincidence, he continued,
that owing directly to the incessant efforts of Professor Hovannisian
a school of modern Armenian history has been developed in the diaspora.
Raffi Hovannisian, founding director of ACNIS and Armenia's
first Minister of Foreign Affairs, congratulated his father on
the accomplishment of finally bringing the whole history of the
First Republic home to Armenia. "Comprehensively researched and
objectively presented, Richard Hovannisian's authoritative account
both gives cause for moments of historic pride and achievement and
offers a record of losses and shortcomings which the new Armenia must
avoid repeating. It is a valuable lesson of liberty and legitimacy,
democracy and diplomacy, sovereignty and security, which must be
drawn today--in the name of the Republic of Armenia, past and present."
Also noteworthy were artistic contributions by literary expert Svetlana
Khanumian and professor of theology Khoren Palian.
Finally, Richard Hovannisian took the floor and extended his
deep appreciation to the organizers of the event, the scholars,
intellectuals and everyone present, and acknowledged Vrezh Markosian,
director of the Tigran Mets Publishing House, for his high-caliber
production of the volume. Hovannisian shared vignettes from his
childhood, his student years, and his four-decade quest for "The
Republic of Armenia." A well-rounded understanding of the history of
the First Republic, he said, will enable its modern-day heir to steer
clear of mistakes and never place false hope in paper guarantees for
security, which we have trusted on numerous historical occasions and
suffered setbacks as a result.
The capacity crowd of assembled leaders, intellectuals, and students
stood to express their appreciation of the work and its creator.