The Armenian Weekly

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Genocide Politics and People Power

Thoughts from Ahmet Altan’s Lecture at ALMA

On Saturday evening, Jan. 28, the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA) in Watertown hosted Ahmet Altan, the editor of the liberal Turkish newspaper Taraf, well known in Armenian circles as it often publishes material pertinent to and resonating with our cause. The event was organized by the Friends of Hrant Dink, in the memory of that seminal figure gunned down five years ago. After remarks by Barbara Meguerian and Harry Parsekian, noted historian Taner Akcam of Clark University praised the speaker for his work and went so far as to refer to Taraf as something of a political party, since it serves as a powerful outlet for the voice of the opposition in Turkey.

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Following the Remarkable Footsteps of Our Merchant Ancestors

Following the Remarkable Footsteps of Our Merchant Ancestors

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (A.W.)–Sebouh Aslanian, the recently appointed assistant professor and Richard Hovannisian Term Chair in modern Armenian history at UCLA, lectured at Harvard on Sept. 14 on the fascinating story of the Armenian merchants of New Julfa (Nor Jugha). Stretching across the Mediterranean, down through the Indian Ocean and all the way to the Pacific, encompassing the Middle East, the Russian Empire, India and Tibet, and the Far East, the Julfa Armenians commanded a vast and active network of trade in early modern times.

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What Makes a Diaspora?

What Makes a Diaspora?

I am a member of a mailing list and Facebook group that shares news articles and other interesting bits of information pertaining to the Armenian world. One of the topics of discussion that took place recently was the status of the Armenians of Constantinople, the Bolsahays. A recent article in the Armenian Weekly also took on this question, as did the discussions that stemmed from the visit of Armenian Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan to Istanbul not too long ago.

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Qu’est-ce qui fait une diaspora ?

Je suis l’un des membres d’une liste d’envoi et d’un groupe Facebook qui partage des articles de journaux et autres éléments d’information intéressant le monde arménien. L’un des sujets de discussion abordé récemment était le statut des Arméniens de Constantinople, les Bolsahays. Un récent article d’Armenian Weekly, en commentaire à la visite de la ministre de la diaspora Hranush Hakobyan à Istanbul d’il y a peu de temps, traite également de cette question.

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What makes a Diaspora?

I am a member of a mailing list and Facebook group that shares news articles and other interesting bits of information pertaining to the Armenian world. One of the topics of discussion that took place recently was the status of the Armenians of Constantinople, the Bolsahays. A recent article in the Armenian Weekly also took on this question, as did the discussions that stemmed from the visit of Armenian Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan to Istanbul not too long ago.

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What’s in an Armenian Name?

What’s in an Armenian Name?

I got an e-mail forward on Armenian surnames from a friend some time ago. The e-mail categorized them under four groups: surnames based on the name of an ancestor (such as Garabedian, Petrosian); surnames based on the name of a place (like Marashlian, Istanboulian); surnames based on a profession (Najarian, “carpenter,” Kouyoumjian. “jeweler”); and surnames indicating special characteristics (Geozebouyoukian, “big-eyed,” Mavisakhalian, “blue beard”). Of course, the above examples are derived more from Turkish and pertain to Armenians from the former Ottoman Empire to a greater degree, but nevertheless, they apply to Eastern Armenians as well, especially after a lot of movement across borders—voluntary or otherwise—which took place over the last century.

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What’s in an Armenian Name?

I got an e-mail forward on Armenian surnames from a friend some time ago. The e-mail categorized them under four groups: surnames based on the name of an ancestor (such as Garabedian, Petrosian); surnames based on the name of a place (like Marashlian, Istanboulian); surnames based on a profession (Najarian, “carpenter,” Kouyoumjian. “jeweler”); and surnames indicating special characteristics (Geozebouyoukian, “big-eyed,” Mavisakhalian, “blue beard”). Of course, the above examples are derived more from Turkish and pertain to Armenians from the former Ottoman Empire to a greater degree, but nevertheless, they apply to Eastern Armenians as well, especially after a lot of movement across borders—voluntary or otherwise—which took place over the last century.

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De Waal introduces Caucasus to the world | Book of the Week: ‘The Caucasus: An Introduction’ by Thomas de Waal

De Waal introduces Caucasus to the world

SANTA FE, N.M. – As with Black Garden, Tom de Waal’s magnum opus on the Karabakh issue, The Caucasus is not going to please everybody in the Caucasus.

De Waal is currently a senior associate at the Russia-Eurasia program of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington think tank. His presentation is balanced and comprehensive, offering a well-rounded overview and some insights into the details of the histories of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, including their territorial disputes which remain unresolved.

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Book of the Week: ‘The Caucasus: An Introduction’ by Thomas de Waal

The Caucasus: An Introduction By Thomas de Waal. Oxford University Press, 2010

As with Black Garden, de Waal’s magnum opus on the Karabagh issue, The Caucasus is not going to please everybody.

Everybody in the Caucasus, that is.

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Tanking Up on Music and Activism: Serj Tankian in Yerevan

Tanking Up on Music and Activism: Serj Tankian in Yerevan

YEREVAN (A.W.)—Some would call it a historical first, while others are already used to big names performing in Yerevan. However you would have it, Serj Tankian certainly created a stir in more than one way with his concert at Yerevan’s Hamalir (the Karen Demirchian Sports and Culture Complex) on Thurs., Aug. 12.

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Tanking Up on Music and Activism: Serj Tankian in Yerevan

YEREVAN—Some would call it a historical first, while others are already used to big names performing in Yerevan. However you would have it, Serj Tankian certainly created a stir in more than one way with his concert which took place at Yerevan’s Hamalir (The Karen Demirchian Sports and Culture Complex) on Thursday, August 12.

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Tanking Up on Music and Activism: Serj Tankian in Yerevan

YEREVAN-Some would call it a historical first, while others are already used to big names performing in Yerevan. However you would have it, Serj Tankian certainly created a stir in more than one way with his concert which took place at Yerevan’s Hamalir (The Karen Demirchian Sports and Culture Complex) on Thursday, August 12.

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Surreal, Funny, Extraordinary…Armenia!

Surreal, Funny, Extraordinary…Armenia!

Any person who has spent time in Armenia will have a story—or seven—to recount. I find that, in all my years in the country, I have come across some pretty interesting occurrences. All right, maybe “interesting” is too broad a word to use, but such mini-adventures in the Homeland can be anything from simply funny to downright surreal.

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