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ARMENIA-DIASPORA RELATIONS EXPLORED AT TOWN HALL
by Ara Khachatourian
http://asbarez.com/106639/armenia-diaspora-relations-explored-at-town-hall/
Monday, November 19th, 2012
Raffi Hovanissian, Dr. Viken Hovsepian and Harut Sassounian during
Friday's town hall ARF's Dr. Viken Hovsepian urges Armenia Fund to
allocate 100 percent of telethon proceeds to Syrian-Armenians as an
expression of national unity and the advancement of a national ideology
BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN GLENDALE-The challenges facing Armenia-Diaspora
relations was the topic of a town hall meeting organized by the
Armenian Bar Association and the Glendale Youth Center on Friday at
St. Mary's Church Hall, where Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovannisian
and Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee
chairman Dr.
Viken Hovsepian highlighted the difficulties experienced in the last
21 years bringing together the homeland and Diaspora.
In his remarks Hovsepian told the capacity standing-room only crowd
that certain events of national consequence have brought the entire
Armenian nation together under one umbrella. He cited the 50th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 1965, the 1988 earthquake
and the Karabakh conflict as key turning points in recent history
that have united the Armenian nation.
Hovsepian continued by emphasizing the need for unity in purpose that
has been lacking in the past 21 years since Armenia's independence.
To achieve this imperative, Hovsepian emphasized that the Armenian
nation-the homeland and the Diaspora-need to move forward with a
national ideology, which calls for addressing issues based on the
national aspirations of all Armenians and taking into consideration
the entire Armenian nation.
Harut Sassounian, Dr. Viken Hovsepian, Raffi Hovannisian and ABA
chairman Garo Ghazarian As an example where the absence of a national
ideology has threatened and continues to threaten the national security
of the entire nation, Hovsepian cited the dangerous Armenia-Turkey
protocols, saying the fact that Armenia continues to be a signatory
of the documents poses a threat to not only Armenia proper but the
entire Armenian nation.
He cited the Syrian crisis as an example of one such incident that
sould have brought Armenians from the homeland and Diaspora under the
same tent, but instead, he pointed out, it has created a situation
whereby the need for financial and relief assistance has outweighed
the imperative of national unity.
Hence, Hovsepian urged that 100 percent of the funds to be collected
at the Armenia Fund Telethon on Thanksgiving Day be earmarked for
the Syrian-Armenian relief efforts. Hovsepian expressed hope that
governing board of the Armenia Fund will revisit its current decision
of allocating 10 percent of the total donation to Syrian relief efforts
and will follow his recommendation ahead of Thursday's telethon.
Hovsepian emphasized that it was not monetary allocation but rather
the expression of unity in purpose that should have galvanized this
effort from the onset. The plight of the Syrian-Armenian community
in the face of the current audience represents a national challenge,
which must be met from pan-Armenian standpoint, emphasized Hovsepian.
In his remarks, Hovanissian focused on the socio-political situation
in Armenia, emphasizing the Republic of Armenia cannot become
the possession of any political force or individual, adding that
Armenia-our homeland-belongs to each and every Armenian.
He expanded on this position by expressing his opposition to the
realities that have plagued Armenia since its independence, such as
the selling off of the controlling interest in key infrastructures in
Armenia, thus diminishing its ability to control the strategically
important aspects, such as energy, telecommunications and other
industry.
Hovannisian stressed that Armenia has not tapped into its fullest
potential to rise from post-Soviet challenges and become a true force
to be reckoned with in the international arena.
Hovanissian, who was the first foreign minister of the newly
independent Armenia, also pointed to missteps in dealing with critical
turning points during the past two decades in bringing together
homeland and Diaspora under the same banner.
He said only by taking ownership of one's destiny and thus one's
homeland can the challenges facing Armenia and the Diaspora be tackled
in a practical and positive manner.
The Friday town hall was organized by the Armenian Bar Association and
the Glendale Youth Center. On behalf of the Glendale Youth Center,
Miganoush Ajemian welcomed those in attendance by highlighting the
importance of the topic at hand. ABA chairman Garo Ghazarian also
addressed the gathering, expressing his gratitude to the panelists
and underscoring the need to confront these challenges from national
standpoint.
The discussion was moderated by activist, columnist and publisher of
the California Courier Harut Sassounian, who also spoke about the need
to bring together all forces in the Diaspora and tap their potential
to overcome challenges facing the Armenian nation.
by Ara Khachatourian
http://asbarez.com/106639/armenia-diaspora-relations-explored-at-town-hall/
Monday, November 19th, 2012
Raffi Hovanissian, Dr. Viken Hovsepian and Harut Sassounian during
Friday's town hall ARF's Dr. Viken Hovsepian urges Armenia Fund to
allocate 100 percent of telethon proceeds to Syrian-Armenians as an
expression of national unity and the advancement of a national ideology
BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN GLENDALE-The challenges facing Armenia-Diaspora
relations was the topic of a town hall meeting organized by the
Armenian Bar Association and the Glendale Youth Center on Friday at
St. Mary's Church Hall, where Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovannisian
and Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee
chairman Dr.
Viken Hovsepian highlighted the difficulties experienced in the last
21 years bringing together the homeland and Diaspora.
In his remarks Hovsepian told the capacity standing-room only crowd
that certain events of national consequence have brought the entire
Armenian nation together under one umbrella. He cited the 50th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 1965, the 1988 earthquake
and the Karabakh conflict as key turning points in recent history
that have united the Armenian nation.
Hovsepian continued by emphasizing the need for unity in purpose that
has been lacking in the past 21 years since Armenia's independence.
To achieve this imperative, Hovsepian emphasized that the Armenian
nation-the homeland and the Diaspora-need to move forward with a
national ideology, which calls for addressing issues based on the
national aspirations of all Armenians and taking into consideration
the entire Armenian nation.
Harut Sassounian, Dr. Viken Hovsepian, Raffi Hovannisian and ABA
chairman Garo Ghazarian As an example where the absence of a national
ideology has threatened and continues to threaten the national security
of the entire nation, Hovsepian cited the dangerous Armenia-Turkey
protocols, saying the fact that Armenia continues to be a signatory
of the documents poses a threat to not only Armenia proper but the
entire Armenian nation.
He cited the Syrian crisis as an example of one such incident that
sould have brought Armenians from the homeland and Diaspora under the
same tent, but instead, he pointed out, it has created a situation
whereby the need for financial and relief assistance has outweighed
the imperative of national unity.
Hence, Hovsepian urged that 100 percent of the funds to be collected
at the Armenia Fund Telethon on Thanksgiving Day be earmarked for
the Syrian-Armenian relief efforts. Hovsepian expressed hope that
governing board of the Armenia Fund will revisit its current decision
of allocating 10 percent of the total donation to Syrian relief efforts
and will follow his recommendation ahead of Thursday's telethon.
Hovsepian emphasized that it was not monetary allocation but rather
the expression of unity in purpose that should have galvanized this
effort from the onset. The plight of the Syrian-Armenian community
in the face of the current audience represents a national challenge,
which must be met from pan-Armenian standpoint, emphasized Hovsepian.
In his remarks, Hovanissian focused on the socio-political situation
in Armenia, emphasizing the Republic of Armenia cannot become
the possession of any political force or individual, adding that
Armenia-our homeland-belongs to each and every Armenian.
He expanded on this position by expressing his opposition to the
realities that have plagued Armenia since its independence, such as
the selling off of the controlling interest in key infrastructures in
Armenia, thus diminishing its ability to control the strategically
important aspects, such as energy, telecommunications and other
industry.
Hovannisian stressed that Armenia has not tapped into its fullest
potential to rise from post-Soviet challenges and become a true force
to be reckoned with in the international arena.
Hovanissian, who was the first foreign minister of the newly
independent Armenia, also pointed to missteps in dealing with critical
turning points during the past two decades in bringing together
homeland and Diaspora under the same banner.
He said only by taking ownership of one's destiny and thus one's
homeland can the challenges facing Armenia and the Diaspora be tackled
in a practical and positive manner.
The Friday town hall was organized by the Armenian Bar Association and
the Glendale Youth Center. On behalf of the Glendale Youth Center,
Miganoush Ajemian welcomed those in attendance by highlighting the
importance of the topic at hand. ABA chairman Garo Ghazarian also
addressed the gathering, expressing his gratitude to the panelists
and underscoring the need to confront these challenges from national
standpoint.
The discussion was moderated by activist, columnist and publisher of
the California Courier Harut Sassounian, who also spoke about the need
to bring together all forces in the Diaspora and tap their potential
to overcome challenges facing the Armenian nation.