Her name is Kami

Krikor Kradjian

 

 A heart wrenching testament Krikor Kradjian shared with friends in an email. He approved the translation for posting.

 

Her name is Kami.

Every morning her young mother, carrying Karmi, passed in front of my pharmacy. She saluted me with a smile while hurrying to her parents to leave her child under their care so that she would be able to go to work.

Kami was six months old when I met her first. In vain, I tried to approach her attempting to have the tip of my index finger touch hers or offer her something that would catch her attention. Kami would cling to her mother, who gave her all the security she craved.

Kami started growing up. After mustering her initial attempts to walk on her own, she no longer wanted to be held by her mother. The world had become hers to conquer. She wanted to walk. She was a big girl now. At the beginning she let her mother hold her hand but months later she no longer let her mother hold her hand any more. She wanted to walk on the sidewalk by herself. She lived up to her name Breeze and more. She was growing into a veritable tempestuous girl. I am sure in no time she would start stirring the hearts of the boys.

I started waving to her or sending her air born kisses as they passed by and she continued accompanying her mother who seemed to be content seeing her daughter growing up friendly and reciprocating the attention she received.

Two days ago, Kami and her mother crossed the street from their side of the sidewalk into the pharmacy and inquired about what has become a common place conversation post Beirut explosion.

- “Hope you fared well. I hope no harm came to you.” She said.

- “We are just fine. The damage was financial.”

- “Just like with us.” She said.

But Kami was no longer the tempestuous girl she was. She no longer wants to walk on her own without holding her mother’s hand. She held tightly on to her mother in her lap. Offering her a gift, or something sweet to taste or attempting to approach her did not distract her away from her mother she held tightly.

All Kami wants is the security she misses.

 

***** 

Անունը Քամի է։

Ամէն առաւօտ, երիտասարդ մայրը փոքրիկ Քամին գրկած, դեղարանին առջեւէն կ՚անցնէր, քաղաքավար եւանուշ կը բարեւէր եւ աճապարանքով կը շարունակէր ճամբան. պէտք էր պզտիկը հասցնէր ծնողքին եւ ինքշտապէր գործի։

Քամին մօտաւորապէս վեց ամսու էր երբ ճանչցայ զինք։ Որքան ալ որ փորձեցի մտերմանալ, ցուցամատսիր ցուցամատին դպցնել, շաքարով մը սիրաշահիլ, անօգուտ. Քամին մօրը փաթթուած( ոչ, կը կարծեմ մայրըամուր սեղմած փոքրիկը), չէր ուզէր ընդունիլ ո՚չ անուշ խօսք, ո՚չ համով բան։ Մայրը իրեն  կու տար իր ամէնէնշատ պահանջածը՝ ապահովութիւն։

Քամին սկսած էր մեծնալ։ Քալելու առաջին յաջող փորձերէն ետք, այլեւս չէր ուզեր մօրը գիրկը մնալ։Աշխարհը իրեն էր, կ՚ուզէր քալել եւ ցոյց տալ բոլորին, որ ինք մե՛ծ աղջիկ է։ Սկիզբները, մօրը ձեռքը ամուր մըբռնած իսկ ամիսներ ետք արդէն ինքնավստահ, կ՚ուզէր մայթին վրայ առանձինը, առանց ձեռք բռնելու քալել։Իսկական փոթորիկ մը, որ վստահ եմ պիտի ալեկոծէր տղոց սրտերը շուտով։

Հեռուէն-հեռու թաթիկով բարեւ մը կամ օդէն ղրկուած համբոյր մը «օրս օր կ՚ընէր», ընկերացածերիտասարդ մօր գոհունակ ժպիտին, ի տես փոքրիկին մարդամօտ վարուելակերպին։

Երկու օր առաջ, Քամին եւ մայրը դիմացի մայթէն եկան այս կողմ, Պէյրութի պայթումէն ետք մարդոց միջեւկրկնուող խօսքերը փոխանակելու՝

- Անցա՛ծ ըլլայ, յուսամ բան մը չեղաւ ձեզի։

- Ապակիի եւ նիւթական վնաս։ Լաւ ենք

- Մեզի ալ. մենք ալ։

Քամին հիմա երկու տարեկան է։ Ան այլեւս չուզեր առանձինը, առանց մօր ձեռքը բռնելու քալել։ Մօրըգիրկը, ամուր մը փաթթուած կը մնայ եւ ոչ մէկ բան՝ նուէր, մատիկներու հպում, անուշեղէն կը շեղեն իրուշադրութիւնը։ 

Քամին միայն ու միայն կը պահանջէ

ապահովութի՛ւն։

 

They Were, are no more” (Կային Չկան) (No. 1)

Vahe H. Apelian

"The Greats and the Others" by Antranig Zarougian

 

“They Were, (and) are no more” (Կային Չկան) is the title of the last chapter of Antranig Zarougian’s “The Greats and the Others” (Մեծերը եւ Միւսները) book.

The book was published in 1992, at least that is the publication date indicated in my copy of the book. I have read Antranig Zarougian’s books, but this book I have read more than once. In seven chapters Zarougian depicts his perception of those he considered greats and not so greats, but non-less, devoted to Armenian culture and cause. The last, and the eight chapter, is devoted to the “others”.

The book is 351 pages long and was printed in Antelias, ostensibly by the Catholicosate of Cilicia printing office. Mr. Kegham Ohanian had undertaken the printing expenses in memory of his wife.

Zarougian made the following comment at the very beginning of the text, which I believe encapsulates a state of Diasporan life, he perceived to be starkly true.  I quote, “Diaspora, is an unsettled and a fluid state, where the real greats cannot succeed remaining great and those who are gifted for greatness, have no room to become great”.

In a superb narration, characteristic of Antranig Zarougian’s writing, he reminisced about those he considered were greats. But, at the same time, palpable in his opening remarks, there seemed to permeate a pessimistic undertone that those whom he considered to have been great, have faults of their own, having personally known them and dealt with them. 

The quote might also be a reflection of Zarougian’s frustration. Zarougian was cognizant of his genius and might have expected that he should have had a more prominent standing in the Armenian Diaspora as a whole. Let us be mindful that the book was written twenty-eight years ago and there was a time when a segment of the Armenian Diaspora shunned him and his literary works and the “Nairi” Weekly he published.

Antranig Zarougian

The personalities he presented in the book are the following:

- Levon Shant and Nigol Aghpalian. Both are depicted as his teachers in the famed Jemaran. Levon Shant, the school’s founding principal, “was an Armenian playwright, novelist, poet and founder of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society.” (Wikipeida).  Nigol Aghpalian “was an Armenian public figure and historian of literature” was a teacher after having been the Minister of Public Education, of the first republic of Armenia.  Both were prominent members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)) and were depicted in the first chapter of the book titled “The Contrasting Twins ” (Հակադիր Երկուորեակներ), pages 9 to 62. I translated an abridged version of this chapter and posted it on my blog in five installments.

- Hagop Oshagan, was an eminent writer and literary critic. The chapter is titled “Solitary Giant” (Մենակեաց Հսկան), pages 65 to 118.

- Arshag Chobanian, was a “short story writer, journalist, editor, poet, translator, literary ciritc, playright and novelist” (Wikipedia). The chapter is titled “The Patriarch of Armenian Literature” (Հայ Գրականութեան Նահապետը), pages 121 to 170.

- Arshavir Shiragian and Drasdamag Ganayan (Dro). The former, Arshavir Shiragian, “was an Armenian writer, who was noted for his assassination of Said Halim Pasha and Gemal Azmi as an act of vengeance to their roles in the Armenian Genocide” (Wikipedia). These assassinations were part of Operation Nemesis run by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF). The latter, Drastamad Ganayan, “better known as Dro, was an Armenian military commander and politician, a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. He served as Defense Minister of Armenia in 1920.” (Wikipedia). The chapter is titled,  “The Stinging Bee and the Tiger” ( Խայթող Մեղուն եւ Վագրը), pages 173 to 227..

- Hamo Ohanjanian and Vahan Papazian (Goms).  The former, Hamo Ohanjanian, “was a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. He served as the third Prime Minister of the First Republicl of Armenia from May 5 to November 20, 1920.” (Wikipedia). The latter, Vahan Papazian, “also known by his pseudonym Goms, was an Armenian political activist and a community leader in Van, a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.” He was also an  author. The chapter is tiled “ Man Picture and Picture Man” (Մարդ Պատկերը եւ Պատկեր Մարդը), pages 231 to 257.

- Gostan Zarian, was “an Armenian writer, who produced short lyric poems, long narrative poems of an epic cast, manifestos, essays, travel impression, criticism and fiction” (Wikipedia).  The chapter is titled “The Passenger and his Roads” (Անցորդը եւ իր Ճամբանները), pages 264 to 301.

- Shavarsh Missakian, was a poet, critic, translator and the founding eminent editor of “Haratch Daily” of Paris. In his youth he was one of those who occupied the “Ottoman Bank”. The title of the chapter is “The Triumph of the Ordinary” (Պարզին Յաղթանակը), pages 305 to 316.

- “They Were, (and) are no more” (Կային Չկան), is the last chapter. It is a reminiscing of persons who, in one way or another, have remained etched in Zarougian’s memory for their devotion to things Armenian. The chapter is tilted “ Travel Notes” (Ճամբու Նօթեր), pages 319 to 351.

Note: To be continued. 

Left to Right,  Seating: Yetvart Boyadjian, Shavarsh Missakian, Hagop Oshagan (a day before he died). Standing: Minas Tololyan, Antranig Zarougian, Armen Anoush-Marashlian.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organically Tied: Ամերիկահայեր եւ Լիբանահայեր

Vahe H. Apelian

Indeed, the Armenian Americans (Amerigahayir) and Lebanese Armenians (Lipanahayer) are organically tied to each other. There may not be another two  Armenian Diaspora  communities that have such historic and organic ties than the Armenians in the United States and in Lebanon.

Armenian American community’s roots in America extend well even before the Hamidian massacres. The Armenian American community’s epicenter is the town of Worcester in Massachusetts, as amply noted by its denizen the late Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian whose book titled “Worcester is America” is an actual quote uttered by an early Armenian immigrant who, upon the immigration official’s welcome to the U.S. of America, has emphatically noted on record, “No, no, Worcester is America !”. 

The first Armenians churches were established in Worcester; Catholicos Khrimian Hayrig established the Armenian Apostolic church diocese in Worcester. The Armenian Missionary Association was founded in the city as well in the oldest Armenian church in the U.S. still in use, the Armenian Church of the Martyrs at 22 Osmond Street, Worcester, MA.  Since mid 2018 , my wife and I have been living in one of its suburbs named Boylston. 

It is fair to note that the American Armenian community came into being on its own, thanks to the persevering efforts of the early Armenian immigrants.  But, along the way, Armenian Americans extended vital assistance to their compatriots in Lebanon assisting them in laying the foundation of the Armenian community in Lebanon.

Seizing this year’s celebration of the 90the anniversary of the famed  Armenian educational institution Jemaran, I will cite the following from Antranig Zarougian’s book titled “The Greast and the Others” (Մեծերը եւ Մոյսները), relating to the Armenian Americans assisting Jemaran during its formative years.

After the passing away of the founding principle of  Jemaran, Levon Shant in 1951, Simon Vratsian was invited from America, where he was the editor of Hairenik Daily to take the helm. The newly appointed principal assisted by Antranig Zarougian  embarked on a fund-raising drive in the United States by visiting its large and small communities. The following incident took place during such a fund-raising event. 

Antranig Zarougian reminisced in his book: 

“Once Simon Vratsian was presiding over a large fund-raising gathering. He ended his introductory remark inviting me to the podium , saying:

- Whatever I tell you about Jemaran,  a tree is recognized by its fruit. Here we have both the tree and the fruit.

The fruit from the tree….. I wish that no one present knows that it’s all about a fruit that was picked prematurely (alluding to his dismissal from Jemaran a year before his graduation).

After my speech, someone from the backrows of the hall, raised his hand and asked….

- Is it true that the Lebanese Armenians say that the Armenian Americans are like a cow, let us go and milk it?

The attendees mechanically had turned their gaze to the back of the hall and with the same speed fixated their gaze on the podium, expecting an answer from me.

- It is true, there is a story about the cow but it has been interpreted wrongly. You do not have Armenian school here. We have many of them, but they are costly to run. We have come to ask you to give the milk of your cow you do not use, to us so that we take it to our  kids….

The applause ended. In the evening, during dinner, Vratsian told me

- Antranig, you spoke well, especially your response to the cow story

Vratsian was particularly well disposed that day. In the afternoon we were together when he spoke with Boston and learned that our fund-raising drive had netted $ 125,000 dollars.” Their fundraising drive had even surpassed Levon Shant’s drive that had raised $100,000, Vratsian had been anxious to meet.” (Note $125,000 in 1951 is estimated to be worth around $1,500,000 in 2020).

Generously donating towards the laying of the foundation of the Jemaran is but one of many such assistances the Armenian Americans have extended to the Armenian community in Lebanon over the decades. The late Catholicos Karekin Sarkissian poignantly recalled the generous financial assistance of early Armenian Americans to the Catholicosate of Sis in Antelias, Lebanon.  Along with the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA); the Jinishian Memorial Foundation, the Howard Karagheusian Foundation, were all established in the United States and continue to render much needed service to the Armenians in Lebanon.

Surely much has changed over the decades. During the 1950’s and 1960’s   there were not as many Armenians in the U.S. as there are now.  And yes, the community  did not have Armenian school then. But presently there are at least twenty day schools since Gabriel Injejikian founded the first Armenian Day school in America, The Holy Martyrs Ferranian High School in 1964 in Encino, California.

The Armenians in Lebanon, in turn, have remained grateful to the Armenian American community. I recall fondly when Garbriel Injejikian issued promissory notes in Beirut in 1963, when he was teaching in Haigazian University, a college then. Vicken Hovsepian, his nephew was our classmate. All of us in the class signed those promissory notes attesting that we will donate the amount we promised should Gabriel Injejikian, upon his return to the U.S. started an Armenian day school in the U.S. The first signatory of the promissory note Gabriel issued was Khoren Catholicos of blessed memory, in his red ink.. We were so much enthused at the prospect of the Armenian American community having an Armenian day school in America, a venture that was considered nearly impossible then.

A catastrophic disaster stuck Beirut on August 4, 2020. Almost right after the explosion, Armenian American organizations appealed the Armenian Americans to extend a helping hand  to the Armenians in Lebanon to patch their lives after the devastating explosion that inflicted extraordinarily devastating damage to the Armenian community as well.

It would not surprise me as this tragedy unfolds and the wounded are cared for and the damaged homes, churches, community centers are reconstructed, the Armenian Americans would emerge as the ones who extended the most help to their compatriots in Lebanon with whom they have and maintain organic ties.

Vahe H. Apelian

Worcester, MA

 

 

 

Diana Apcar: "Armenia Crucified" and "One Thousand Tales"

Vahe H. Apelian

Google-ի Հայերէն թարգմանութիւնը՝ կցուած է ներքեւը

 

Most Armenians know of Diana Apcar as the first Armenian woman diplomat. She is also considered to be one of the first women to have been appointed in any diplomatic post in the twentieth century. What is noteworthy is that Dian never set foot in her beloved homeland she represented as the First Republic of Armenia’s  Honorary Consul in Japan. Those interested may read her biography in Wikipedia

Recently I read two of her books that were gifted to me by Ara Ghazarian, a childhood friend in my days in Keurkune, Kessab. After the death of his wife, Ara married Ellen Ayvazian whom he met in an Armenian Embassy function in Ottawa. Ellen was born in Tehran and studied in Armenia. She was appointed chief executive assistant to the Armenian Ambassador when the Republic of Armenia opened its embassy in Tehran and subsequently in Ottawa. 

Diana Apcar is also the author of several books. The two books Ara gifted me are: “Armenia Crucified” and “One Thousand Tales”. These two books have altogether different, if not contrasting themes. The first is historical and political analysis about Armenia and Armenians. The latter is a collection of tales presumably as told to her by the Armenians passing through Japan. These tales were surely peppered by figments of the Diana Apcar's imagination. 

 “One Thousand Tales” languished as a manuscript. It saw the light of day 67 years after Diana Apcar’s death thanks to the efforts of her granddaughter Lucille Apcar, encouraged by many. It is presumed that Diana Apcar wrote the manuscript between 1920-1923. The book is a collection of sixteen short stories. As to Lucille Apcar, I quote: “Lucille Apcar, born in Yakohama, Japan of Armenian heritage, presently resides in Mariposa, California, her retirement home after 44 years living and working in the San Franciso Bay Area…She has written several short fictions dealing with the personalities of Sierra Nevada foothills, her present home.” 

 Diana Apcar, as noted, is fairly known as the first Armenian woman diplomat. But what seems not  to be known about her is that she was a woman of wide imagination and comes across also as a woman of deep Christian conviction besides being an astute student of the Armenian history, savvy in politics to be entrusted with the the representation of  the first  Republic of Armenia in the imperial Japan. 

As a testament to Diana Apcar’s imagination, Ara Ghazarian,  who happens to be my friend’s namesake but is not elated to him, introduced the book noting that: “Diana Apcar never lived in her beloved homeland or visited such districts as Van, Zeitoun, Kars Hisar, Erzerum, Talvorik, Erznka Edessa, Tigranakert, Konia, Cilicia, or Kharberd. We believe that these stories are based on the reports and stories of the survivors who made their way to Japan from Harbin, China and Siberia: Vlladivostok, and Sakhalin, Russia. The stories with eloquent and impeccable English are among the earliest and most original pieces written about the survivors of the Armenian Genocide.” 

It is highly likely that altough Diana Abcar heard these stories from Armenians, but she she left her own imprint retelling the stories in her book. A Christian theme also permeates in some of the tales which  is no less a testament of her Christian faith, I quote her reflection on behalf of the hero of the first  story or tale she recounted in her book. 

“ But though they dominate over our bodies and earthy possessions, they cannot dominate over our spirit and it is the spirit within us that we must endeavor to keep noble and valiant by always striving to follow our Lord Jesus in all things.""

"Time makes changes and there may come our time when our ancient land will be freed from the yoke of the alien oppressor. But we cannot be freed unless we keep the spirit of the nation noble and valiant."

"As a nation we are beggared  of independence, but we can abound in good works and continue morally rich."

"Independence is a very precious thing, but noblessness and valor of spirit are more precious even.”

It was a pleasure to read these two books that enabled me to have a better visualization of this unique woman and staunch Armenian, well beyond the general knowledge that Diana Apcar was a trailblazing woman diplomat.

Google-ի Հայերէն թարգմանութիւնը՝ 

«Ծանոթություն Դիանա Ապքարի հետ

 Ճանաչում ենք Դիանա Ապքարի՝ «Խաչված Հայաստանը» և «Հազար հեքիաթ».

 

Վահէ Հ.Ապելեան

 

 

Հայերի մեծ մասը Դիանա Ապքարի մասին գիտի որպես առաջին հայ կին դիվանագետի։ Նա նաև համարվում է առաջին կանանցից մեկը, ով նշանակվել է որևէ դիվանագիտական ​​պաշտոնում քսաներորդ դարում։ Ուշագրավն այն է, որ Դիանը երբեք ոտք չի դրել իր սիրելի հայրենիք, որը ներկայացնում էր որպես Ճապոնիայում Հայաստանի Առաջին Հանրապետության պատվավոր հյուպատոս։ Ցանկացողները կարող են կարդալ նրա կենսագրությունը Վիքիպեդիայում

Վերջերս կարդացի նրա երկու գրքերը, որոնք ինձ նվիրել էր Արա Ղազարյանը՝ իմ մանկության ընկերը Քեսաբի Կևրկունեում: Կնոջ մահից հետո Արան ամուսնացել է Էլեն Այվազյանի հետ, ում ծանոթացել է Օտտավայում Հայաստանի դեսպանատանը։ Էլենը ծնվել է Թեհրանում, սովորել է Հայաստանում։ Նա նշանակվել է Հայաստանի դեսպանի գլխավոր գործադիր օգնական, երբ Հայաստանի Հանրապետությունը բացեց իր դեսպանությունը Թեհրանում, ապա՝ Օտտավայում։ 

Դիանա Ապքարը նաև մի քանի գրքերի հեղինակ է։ Արայի կողմից ինձ նվիրած երկու գրքերն են՝ «Խաչված Հայաստան» և «Հազար հեքիաթ»։ Այս երկու գրքերն ունեն բոլորովին տարբեր, եթե ոչ հակադիր թեմաներ: Առաջինը պատմաքաղաքական վերլուծությունն է Հայաստանի և հայերի մասին։ Վերջինս հեքիաթների ժողովածու է, ենթադրաբար, նրան պատմել են Ճապոնիայով անցնող հայերը։ Այս հեքիաթները, անշուշտ, համալրվել են Դիանա Ապկարի երևակայությամբ: 

 «Հազար հեքիաթ»-ը ձեռագրի պես մնաց. Այն լույս տեսավ Դիանա Ապկարի մահից 67 տարի անց՝ շնորհիվ իր թոռնուհու՝ Լյուսիլ Ապկարի ջանքերի, որոնք խրախուսվում էին շատերի կողմից: Ենթադրվում է, որ Դիանա Ապքարը ձեռագիրը գրել է 1920-1923 թվականներին։ Գիրքը տասնվեց պատմվածքների ժողովածու է։ Ինչ վերաբերում է Լյուսիլ Ապքարին, ես մեջբերում եմ. «Լյուսիլ Ապքարը, ծնվել է Յակոհամա, Ճապոնիայի հայկական ժառանգություն, ներկայումս բնակվում է Կալիֆորնիայի Մարիպոսա քաղաքում, իր ծերանոցում 44 տարի ապրելուց և աշխատելուց հետո Սան Ֆրանցիսոյի ծովածոցում… Նա գրել է մի քանի կարճ գեղարվեստական ​​գրականություն: գործ ունենալով Սիերա Նևադայի ստորոտների, նրա ներկայիս տան անհատականությունների հետ»: 

 Դիանա Ապքարը, ինչպես նշվեց, բավականին հայտնի է որպես առաջին հայ կին դիվանագետը։ Բայց այն, ինչ թվում է, թե հայտնի չէ նրա մասին, այն է, որ նա լայն երևակայության տեր կին էր և ի հայտ է գալիս նաև որպես խորը քրիստոնեական համոզմունք ունեցող կին, բացի հայոց պատմության խորաթափանց ուսանող լինելուց, քաղաքականության մեջ խորաթափանց, որին վստահված է եղել ներկայացնելու գործը։ Հայաստանի առաջին Հանրապետությունը կայսերական Ճապոնիայում։ 

Որպես Դիանա Ապքարի երևակայության վկայություն՝ Արա Ղազարյանը, ով պատահաբար ընկերոջս անվանակիցն է, բայց նրա հետ չհիացած, գիրքը ներկայացրեց՝ նշելով. Հիսար, Էրզրում, Տալվորիկ, Երզնկա Եդեսիա, Տիգրանակերտ, Կոնիա, Կիլիկիա կամ Խարբերդ։ Մենք հավատում ենք, որ այս պատմությունները հիմնված են փրկվածների զեկույցների և պատմությունների վրա, ովքեր ճանապարհ են ընկել դեպի Ճապոնիա Հարբինից, Չինաստանից և Սիբիրից՝ Վլադիվոստոկից և Սախալինից, Ռուսաստան: Խոսուն և անբասիր անգլերենով պատմվածքները Հայոց ցեղասպանությունը վերապրածների մասին գրված ամենավաղ և օրիգինալ ստեղծագործություններից են»: 

Շատ հավանական է, որ թեև Դիանա Աբքարն այս պատմությունները լսել է հայերից, բայց իր գրքի պատմությունները վերապատմելիս իր հետքն է թողել: Որոշ հեքիաթներում ներթափանցում է նաև քրիստոնեական թեմա, որը ոչ պակաս վկայում է նրա քրիստոնեական հավատքի մասին, ես մեջբերում եմ նրա արտացոլումը առաջին պատմության կամ հեքիաթի հերոսի անունից, որը նա պատմել է իր գրքում: 

«Բայց թեև նրանք գերիշխում են մեր մարմինների և երկրային ունեցվածքի վրա, նրանք չեն կարող տիրել մեր ոգու վրա, և մեր ոգին է, որ մենք պետք է ձգտենք ազնիվ և քաջ պահել՝ միշտ ձգտելով հետևել մեր Տեր Հիսուսին ամեն ինչում»:

«Ժամանակը փոխում է, և կարող է գալ մեր ժամանակը, երբ մեր հինավուրց երկիրը կազատվի օտար կեղեքիչի լծից: Բայց մենք չենք կարող ազատվել, եթե չպահենք ազգի ոգին ազնիվ և քաջարի»:

«Որպես ազգ, մեզ անկախություն են խնդրում, բայց մենք կարող ենք առատ լինել բարի գործերով և շարունակել բարոյապես հարստանալ»:

«Անկախությունը շատ թանկ բան է, բայց ազնվությունն ու ոգու քաջությունը նույնիսկ ավելի թանկ են»։

Հաճելի էր կարդալ այս երկու գրքերը, որոնք ինձ հնարավորություն տվեցին ավելի լավ պատկերացնել այս եզակի կնոջը և հավատարիմ հայուհուն, ինչը գերազանցում էր այն ընդհանուր իմացությունը, որ Դիանա Ափքարը հետագային կին դիվանագետ էր:

Ուրբաթ, 14 օգոստոսի, 2020 թ»

 

ARF Lebanon: Post Explosion Report

In two postings on its Facebook page, the ARF in Lebanon reported on the extent of the destruction affecting the Armenian community.  The first report mostly dealt with  the sparsely populated Armenian community in West Beirut. The second report dealt with the East Beirut where the Armenian community mostly settled especially after the extended civil war in Lebanon that lasted from 1975 to 1990.

 

FIRST REPORT. THE SITUATION IN THE ARMENIAN REGIONS AFTER THE BEIRUT PORT DISASTER

• The highest number of Armenian victims is registered in Mar Mikhael, Beirut. 

• In the same neighborhood, the Armenian houses are almost collapsed and need major repairs.

• In Ashrafieh and Khalil Badawi, windows, doors, electrical items and some furniture are mostly destroyed.

• In Western Beirut and Hadath, houses are relatively less damaged.

• According to ARF "Kristapor" Chapter, the houses of about 600 Armenian families were damaged in Beirut.

• Immediately after the disaster, the youth of the region started carrying out rescue work. The cleaning and removal of wrecks has being carried out with the support of Homenetmen Beirut, and, in some cases, with the help of Homenetmen Antelias and Jdeideh branches. Members of AYF and ZSA have also actively participated in these activities. 

• Once the first stage of cleaning has been completed, the windows and doors are being temporarily repaired.

• Homeless families have been temporarily relocated to hotels, and a large number of families have taken refuge in their relatives' homes in other areas. Relatives of many families living abroad are already reaching out for help.

• Food is being supplied through the joint efforts of foreign organizations and the ARF “Kristapor” Chapter. Lunch, breakfast and dinner, as well as canned food are provided.

• Youth service groups coordinate their fundraising and relief activities with the Chapter so that the immediate needs of all families can be met.

• The ARF “Kristapor” Chapter, in cooperation with the ARCL, also tries to provide medical care through psychologists to the Armenians who have mentally suffered from the horrors of the disaster.

• Other than food supply, the “Kristapor” Chapter also provides financial assistance to needy families for their immediate and other necessities.

• It should be added that the churches, clubs and educational institutions in the region have been subjected to extensive demolition.

• The renovation of the houses in the Beirut region and the reconstruction of some are part of the general work of the Lebanese-Armenian rehabilitation process. 

• Armenian communities abroad are organizing internal fundraising campaigns. This big tragedy that hit Armenians of Beirut needs full pan-Armenian support, for which the work has already passed from the stage of planning to implementation.

STATEMENT №2: THE SITUATION IN THE ARMENIAN STREETS OF BOURJ HAMMOUD AFTER THE BEIRUT PORT DISASTER

ARF “SARDARABAD’’ CHAPTER. 

• Arax, Marash, Armenia, and Abraham Ashdjian Streets suffered the most damage. Giligia Street suffered relatively minor damages.

• Around 125 people were injured in those regions. Some of them were passerby and shop owners, since shops were still open at that time. 

• 12 persons are seriously injured. 

• The balconies and interior walls of some houses have collapsed, while in other houses, windows, doors and household items are damaged.

• According to preliminary estimates, 75% of the Armenian houses and 80% of the shops are damaged.

• Immediately after the disaster, ARF youth and volunteers transported the injured people to Sardarapat Club, where, on the initiative of the Chapter, emergency volunteers performed preliminary treatments until the ARCL Socio-Medical Center was opened and the majority of the injured people were treated there, where a big number of Armenian doctors have rushed.

• The Sardarabad Chapter is conducting preliminary damage assessment at this stage to be prepared for future reconstruction and rehabilitation initiatives.

• The Chapter also collaborates with Armenian and foreign humanitarian associations to distribute food and other necessities, as well as directs the relief work of a range of competent individuals and supports the basic needs of needy families.

“ROUPEN” CHAPTER IN TIRO REGION

• 75% of the Armenian houses, and 80% of the shops are damaged. Some houses have serious damages.

• There are 4 seriously and 35 lightly injured people.

• ‘’Roupen” Chapter is now conducting damage assessment, as well as assisting needy families.

‘’TRO” CHAPTER IN ARAKATZ

• 80% of the houses are damaged. The balconies and internal walls of 3 houses are destroyed.

• There are 1 severely and 10 lightly injured people.

• The Chapter is providing humanitarian assistance, as well as conducting damage assessment by visiting Armenian families. 

“ISHKHAN” CHAPTER IN SIS

• 35% of the houses, and 50% of the shops are damaged. 3 houses are completely destroyed.

• There are 2 severely and 6 lightly injured people.

• The Chapter is providing humanitarian assistance and conducting damage assessment.

“NIGOL TOUMAN” CHAPTER IN TRAD

• 25% of the houses, and 25% of the shops suffered some damage, which is relatively less than in other areas. 

• There are some lightly injured persons.

• The Chapter is conducting damage assessment.

“S. TEHLIRIAN” CHAPTER IN AMANOS

• 20% of the houses, and 10% of the shops have minor damages.

• There are 2 lightly injured persons.

• The Chapter is conducting damage assessment.

THE INITIATIVES AND ACTIVITIES OF BOURJ HAMMOUD MUNICIPALITY

• An hour after the disaster, the mayor of Bourj Hammoud mobilized the police and municipal working groups, who carried out road clearing and debris removal activities. 

• Members of HMEM, ZSA and AYF, non-governmental organizations, municipalities of other regions, as well as a large number of Armenian volunteers from other Armenian regions participated in this work. Through big public support, it was possible to complete the initial cleaning phase in a very short period of time.

• The municipality coordinates and cooperates with international and local humanitarian organizations, which provide food and other necessities to the people.

• The municipality supports and facilitates the activity of professional groups from the UN, the local and the international non-governmental organizations. In the first stage, they will examine the damaged buildings and conduct damage assessment. This activity is performed to check the safety of the buildings. 

• One week after the disaster, life in Bourj Hammoud is relatively normal, but the rehabilitation of this central cradle of Armenians should be the priority of all Armenians at this stage. 

• Bourj Hammoud is not just an Armenian territory, but a region and a people that has left its great mark in the modern Armenian history. We believe that the guarantee of its persistence will be fulfilled by pan-Armenian efforts and work.

P.S. - We will address the situation of the national, religious, partisan, union, educational and humanitarian establishments of Bourj Hammoud in a separate statement. 
ARF MEDIA OFFICE