Ղարաբաղեան շարժման ձախողած ղեկաւարութիւնը

Վահէ Յ Աբէլեան 

Ղարաբաղեան շարժման. ձախողած ղեկաւարութիւնը կը ջանայ իշխանութեան վերատիրանալ եւ որուն զարմանալիօրէն կը ձայնակցի սփիւռքի ՀՅԴ-ը։

Անկասկած որ Վարչապետ Նիկոլ Փաշինեանի վերջին յայտարարութիւնները, թէ Ղարաբաղեան շարժումը «ճակատագրական սխալ»  էր, «Արցախը  երբեք  Հայկական  չէ եղած»  եւ Հայաստանը իր ստեղծման օրէն «պատանդ» դարձած էր այդ շարժումին, սուր  բանավէճ մը ստեղծեց   հայ հասարակութեան մէջ։

Դժբախտ իրողութիւնը այն է որ Ղարաբաղեան շարժումը, ճշդեմ որ շարժումը սկսաւ այդ անուանակոչութեամբ եւ ոչ թէ որպէս Արցախեան շարժում, բացառձակապէս ձաղողած շարժումը մըն է։ Կարելի չէ այլապէս որակել։ Եւ այդ ձախողութեան պատճառը, Ղարաբաղեան շարժումին առաջնորդերն են որ տակաւին կը գործեն Հայաստանի քաղաքական կեանքին մէջ տիրանալու իշխանութեանը։ Անհրաժեշտ է որ Հայաստանի քաղաքացիները, այդ օրուայ իշխանութեան ձախողած քաղաքականութեան իրողութեանը յաղորդ մնան։ 1988 ին, ՔՊ կուսակցոթեան անդրմաներէն ոմանք ծնած ալ չէին, իսկ ուսոմնատենչ Վարչապետը 13 տարեկան էր։

Ես համոզուած եմ որ Ղարաբաղեան շարժման, վարչապետ Փաշինյանին ընդիմախօսները սփիւռքէն ոչ թէ չեն ուսոմնասիրած, այլ նոյնիսկ չեն կարդացած Ղարաբաղեան շարժման ղեկաւար եւ ապա նախագահ Լեւոն Տէր Պէտրոսեանին ՊԱՏԵՐԱԶՄ, ԹԵ՞ ԽԱՂԱՂՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ. ԼՐՋԱՆԱԼՈՒ ՊԱՀԸ քաղաքական տեսութիւնը որ հրատարակեց 1 նոյեմբերի, 1997 թ.-ին։ Կը մէջբերեմ այս յատուածը՝

«Թող չփորձեն ժողովրդին մոլորեցնել, ասելով, թե փոխզիջումն այլընտրանք ունի. փոխզիջման այլընտրանքը պատերազմն է։

Փոխզիջման մերժումը եւ մաքսիմալիզմը (առավելագույնը եւ ոչ թե հնարավորը ձեռքբերելու ձգտումը) Ղարաբաղի իսպառ կործանման եւ Հայաստանի վիճակի վատթարացման ամենակարճ ճանապարհն է։ 

Խոսքը չի վերաբերում Ղարաբաղը տալուն կամ չտալուն։ Խոսքը վերաբերում է Ղարաբաղը հայկական պահելուն. 3000 տարի այն բնակեցված է եղել հայերով եւ 3000 տարի հետո էլ պետք է բնակեցված լինի հայերով։»

ԼՏՊ-ի քաղաքական տեսութեան ընդիմացան Ռոպէրթ Քոչարյանը, Սէրժ Սարգսյանը, Վարդան Օսկանեանը եւ ոչ թէ միայն  իշխանութիւն խլեցին իրմէ, այլ վարեցին յաջորդող քսան տարիներուն, մինչեւ  Մայիս 8, 2018 Թավշեայ յեղափոխութիւնը։  իսկ այժմ կը ջանան իշխանութիւնը կրկին ձեռք ձգել, որուն զարմանալիօրէն կը ձայնակցի ՀՅԴ-ը սփիւռքէն։

Կը կցեմ Նախագահ Լեւոն Տէր Պէտրոսեանին ՊԱՏԵՐԱԶՄ, ԹԵ՞ ԽԱՂԱՂՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ. ԼՐՋԱՆԱԼՈՒ ՊԱՀԸ քաղաքաքան տեսութիւնը որ հրատարակեց 1 նոյեմբերի, 1997-ին եւ այդ քաղաքական տեսութեւն իմ Ագնլէրէն թարգմանութիւնս։

Երէկ Մայրերու օր էր։ Մտահան չկրցայ եւ չեմ ալ կրնար մտահան ընել հանգուցեալ Արայիկ Խանդոյանին եւ իր չորս եղբայրներուն մայրը, որուն հինգ զաւակներէն, չորսը մասնակցեցան Ղարաբաղեան ձախողած շարժումին։ Չմասնակցողը, առողջական պատճառնրերով չէր կրնար մասնակցիլ։

Ղարաբաղեան շարժման  պատասխանատուութիւնը բացառձակապէս կը կրեն այդ օրերուն ձաղողած Ղարաբաղի ղեկաւարները եւ որոնք օգտագործելով օրուան հայրենասիրական տրամդրութիւնները Հայաստանի եւ սփիւռքի մէջ, ձեռք ձգեցին վարել Հայաստանի ղեկաւարութիւնը բայց բացառձակապէս չարագործածեցին իրենց վստահուած ղեկաւարութիւնը եւ բառին բացառձակ ճշմարտութեան, կողոպտեցին Հայաստանի քաղաքացիները եւ կամ ժողովուրդը։

Ինչպէս գրած էի, այժմ կը ջանան կրկին ձեռք ձգել Հայաստանի ղեկաւարութիւնը եւ որուն զարմանալիօրէն կը ձայնակցի ՀՅԴ-ը սփիւռքէն, անկասկած Հայաստանի Գերագոյն Մարմինի տրամդրութեան համաձայն եւ ոչ թէ Սփիւռքի զանազան եւ այլազատն պահանջքներուն համար։

Իմ համոզումս է որ հրամայականը, Սովեատական Հայաստանի ժառանգը պահելն է, որմէ հեռու պէտք է մնան, Ղարաբաղեան պատրուակով իշխանութիւն հասած եւ տակաւին ինչաքաղց մնացած երբեմնի Ղարաբաղի ղեկաւարները եւ այդ իրենց այդ մեծ կողոպուտին մասնակից եղածները։ 

Link: A document for history: “War or peace, time to get serious" - "Պատերազմ թէ՞ խաղաղութիւն՝ լրջանալու պահը" : https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/10/a-document-for-history-war-or-peace_20.html

It is the gifting that counts, but.......

 True, it is the gifting that counts and not the gift. But, well, you got to read the rest of the text.

The drawing I posted, reminded me of the following memorable incidents about gifting, I had written about in a differently titled blog. 

*

I was in my HS junior or senior year when a guest came from the United States and stayed in the inn my father ran, the famed Hotel Lux. She said she had brought a gift to a friend of mine from his relative in the U.S. 

I told my friend to come and pick the gift and he did. But he, I, and my parents as well were taken back when she presented the gift. It was a dispenser of single razor blades we used for shaving. This was fifty plus years ago and the United States of America was the distant land of milk and honey for us. My friend courteously accepted the gift, inquired about his relative but he left the dispenser behind when he took leave of us, letting us know that I can keep it or give it to someone else.  Surely there  was an element of understandable hurt there for having received shaving blades from his relative from the U.S.A. To ease him out of the situation I did not refuse him. The incident has remained etched in my memory. I refrain from mentioning my friend’s name. Many of my readers know him.

*

I remember the following incident about gifting that happened to me in 1995/96, during my visit and only to Lebanon after an absence of almost twenty years. Throughout my stay there I became a guest of my cousin the Hoglinds and with a few other relatives. As a parting gift I bought a set of worry beads, or middle eastern social rosary to my elder relative who hosted me and I presented him the gift after our lunch as a family with his children and their families. He thanked me but not only he did not open the gift but took it to his room and left it there. I had forgotten that in Lebanon we considered a gift a private matter and did not open it in front of the presenter of the gift especially if there was company. I am not sure if that was a universal custom in Lebanon but it was within my social circle in contrast to the expected customary proclamations of appreciation I had come to learn during the past twenty years in the United States where we unwrapped the gift we received and uttered our unabashed appreciation. Ofcourse in doing so we show our appreciation of the gesture more so than to the gift itself.  I saw our elder relative using the worry beads the next day. It was not an ordinary worry bead. No word was uttered, but I knew he had liked it and had already started using it.

*

The following story about gifting was told by our frequent Afghan guest to Hotel Lux, Mr. Mohammad Zaman. He told us about the incident with amusement. There was a time when the United States and Afghanistan had warm relations.  President Eisenhower and his Vice President Richard Nixon visited Afghanistan. According to Wikipedia it was in 1953 when Vice President Nixon visited Afghanistan. It so happened that a high placed friend of Mr. Mohammed Zaman was designated as Nixon’s driver. The talk of those who knew driver had been the tangible monetary gift the driver would likely be receiving from the vice-president of the U.S. Nixon at the end of his tour. But at the end of the tour, all that Mr. Nixon had presented to the driver, to the driver’s astonishment, was his personalized White House business card. The gesture had not only caused a huge disappointment but also an embarrassment, if not an insult, to the driver. I doubt that the driver could have made use of that business card then as a tender for a loaf of bread in Afghanistan. Gifts can be no gifts at all.

*

As to that single blades-dispenser, I soon realized that it was not the ordinary matchbox size dispenser. It contained far more blades than the ones we purchased from the store. Consequently, I ended up using the blades from the dispenser for months and whenever I discarded the used blade and replaced it with a new one from the dispenser, I remembered the gift and I realized how a beautiful and thoughtful gift it was.

That incident also set a pattern for me. Next to books, on most occasions I gift razor blades. Things have changed, so have the razor blades. The single blade razor is now gone into history. A new generation of cutting-edge technology houses up to five sharp edges on single blade. Such blades are a la mode nowadays and can be expensive.  One cannot go wrong with such a useful gift to the guys. As to gifting the gals, that is my wife’s domain.

But gifting books remain my favorite because books make for far more lasting gifts, provided they are personalized. The gifted books may not be read, but more likely than not, it remains on a book shelf or somewhere in the house and pop out at an unexpected moment rekindling memories and remembrances. Recently my paternal cousin Ara Apelian, M.D., posted a snap shot of a book I have gifted him over thirty years a. I realized what I had suspected all along that books make for a far more lasting gift. 

It sure is the gifting that counts, not the gift. But we cannot discount the thought that goes with the gift as well.

 

 

Աստուած Հայաստանը աւելիէն պակաս չընէ – May God not deprive Armenia from the more.

Vaհe H Apelian

The official pre-election campaign for the June 7, 2026, parliamentary elections in Armenia officially began today, on May 8, 2026, 30 days prior to election day, and concludes at midnight on June 6.

Nineteen parties have been registered to take part in the upcoming election some with unusual name for a political party, such “Coalition” Party. Just do not ask who have formed a political coalition with whom. No. 9 is "Kocharian National Revival and Awakening of the Nation" Party. One wonders, why has it jot joined the Kocharian “Armenia Alliance”. 

That may be why, they list the number in which they have been registered in their campaign brochures. Number 12 is Christian Democratic Party. No. 16 is the Civil Contract party.  No. 2 is “I am against everyone party”. The popular way of naming seems to color Armenia, such as “Strong Armenia” Party, “Prosperous Armenia Party”, “Bright Armenia Party”. Then there is the ultimate political party, “Armenia Alliance”.  The list of the parties vying for power is listed below.

Haygaganeh badvagan eh – The Armenian is venerable – is a phrase I have not heard a long while. It was said more in amusement than  veneration. That phrase came to my mind as I translated this long list of parties taking part in the upcoming election. I was also reminded of the saying, paraphrasing it - Աստուած Հայաստանը նոյնիսկ աւելիէն պակաս չընէ – May God not deprive Armenia, even from the more.

And of coure- Long Live Democracy ! 

 

Parties participating in the June 7, 2026  Election in Armenia
1. "Reformists" Party	1. «Ռեֆորմիստներ» կուսակցություն
2. "I am against everyone" Party	2.  «Բոլորին դեմ եմ» կուսակցություն
3. "Strong Armenia" Alliance	3 . «Ուժեղ Հայաստան» դաշինք
4. "Meritocracy" Party	4. «Շնորհապետական» կուսակցություն
5. "New Force" Party	5. «Նոր ուժ» կուսակցություն
6. "Wings of Unity" Party	6. «Միասնության թևեր» կուսակցություն
7. "Prosperous Armenia" Party	7. «Բարգավաճ Հայաստան» կուսակցություն
8. "National Democratic Pole" Party	8. «Ազգային ժողովրդավարական բևեռ» կուսակցություն
9. "Kocharian National Revival and Awakening of the Nation" Party	9. «Քոչարի ազգային վերածնունդ և ազգի զարթոնք» կուսակցություն
10. "Armenian National Congress" Party	10. «Հայ ազգային կոնգրես» կուսակցություն
11. "Republic" Party	11. «Հանրապետություն» կուսակցություն
12. "Christian Democratic" Party	12. «Քրիստոնեա-ժողովրդավարական» կուսակցություն
13. "Alliance" Party	13. «Դաշինք» կուսակցություն
14. "Democracy, Law, Discipline" Party	14.  «Դեմոկրատիա, օրենք, կարգապահություն» կուսակցություն
15. "Democratic Solidarity" Party	15.  «Ժողովրդավարական համախմբում» կուսակցություն
16. "Civil Contract" Party	16. «Քաղաքացիական պայմանագիր» կուսակցություն
17. "Armenia" Alliance՚	17. «Հայաստան» դաշինք
18. "For the Republic" Party	18. «Հանուն Հանրապետության» կուսակցություն
19. "Bright Armenia" Party	19. «Լուսավոր Հայաստան» կուսակցություն

 

 

The Armenian Church

I read today that Catholicos Aram's book on the Armenian Church has been translated, apparently in Croatian. I attached my review of the book, I had posted a few years ago. Vaհe H Apelian

Announcement for the translation of Catholicos Aram's book
"The Armenian Church"

In a superb narration Aram I presents to his readers, in his book titled “The Armenian Church”,  “The Christianization of Armenia and the Armenianization of the Christianity” because “The Armenian Church is the birthplace of Armenian culture and since the beginning of the 5^thCentury it has been its epicenter, not only creating the wonder of the Armenian Alphabet, but also playing a pivotal part in promoting, enriching, and protecting all manifestations of Armenian culture.’

Aram I, early on in the book, presents the different names by which the Armenian Church is known: Church of Armenia, Holy, Apostolic, Catholic, Orthodox Armenian Church; Armenian Gregorian Church, Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Church or Church of Armenia. He then explains why he chose “Armenian Church” as the title of his book, when it was known as Church of Armenia during its early founding years. The one time church confined in Armenia now extends its jurisdiction from America to Australia and in all continents of the world in between where Armenians have now scattered.

Along with the customary Preface and Introduction of a book, Aram I presents the Armenian Church in 10 chapters in each of which he presents the essence of the inferred topic in a clear, easily understood, and captivating manner even though it may entail theological discussion as to why the Armenian Church rejected the Council of Chalcedon while it upheld the teachings of the first three ecumenical councils and explains the Armenian Church’s understanding of the Trinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

To give a breath and the scope of this superbly narrated book that encompasses all aspects of the church for the interested lay reader, I will have to enumerate the chapters and the topics under each chapter Aram I presents in a simplified manner. Only those who have full command and grasp, resort to such simplified and pleasant narration to transmit their knowledge in a simple manner to the interested not to bore them but retain their attention and help them understand the working of the Armenian Church.

The chapters and their subtitles are as follows:

LONG HISTORY IN BRIEF(pages 21-53), comprises:

The major periods of the history of the Armenian church,  The Origin of the Armenian Church, Christianity as the state religion,  The Golden Age,  The Rejection of the Council of Chalcedon, The Arabs in Armenia,  The Formation of Armenian Cilicia,  A Period of uncertainty and stagnation,  The Armenian Genocide,  Soviet Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora,  New hopes and promises.

HIERARCHY AND DECISION-MAKING (pages 54-76), comprises:

Hierarchy,  Catholicos,  Patriarch, Archbishop,  Bishop,  Vartabed and Supreme Vartabed,  Celibate Priest,  Married Priest,  Deacon,  Decision-Making Structures,  Hierarchical Sees, Two Catholicosates within One Church.

ESSENTIALS OF FAITH (pages 76-95) comprises:

The Bible, Ecumenical Councils, Local Councils, Liturgy, Exegetical Literature, Hagiographic Writings, Treatises and Homilies, Encyclical, pastoral letters, exchange of letters, and Confessions of Faith; Historiography.

RICH SPIRITUALITY (pages 96-140) comprises:

Liturgy, Daily Services,  Feasts,  Liturgical Books,  Sacraments,  Baptism, Confirmation,  Repentance,  Holy Lucharist,  Holy Orders,  Marriage,  Anointing of the Sick,  The Holy Muron,  Images,  Cross-Stone, Music, Liturgical Vestments, Liturgical Vessels,  Relics of Saints, Architecture, Armenian Calendar.

CULTURAL ACTIVITY (pages 141-156) comprises:

The Translation of the Bible and Church Fathers,  Major Figures of Armenian Original Literature, Contribution to painting, printing and music.

SOCIAL ACTION (pages 157-167) comprises:

Characteristic features of the Church’s diakonia, Armenian Diaspora: the focus of the Church’s diakonia,  Social action: a continuing concern.

EDUCATIONAL ROLE (pages168-174) comprises:

The first Armenian school, Monasteries: centers of education, Community schools, Authors in Christian education.

ECUMENICAL ENGAGEMENT (pages 175-196) comprises:

Relations with the Oriental Orthodox churches, Relations with Eastern Orthodox churches,  Relations with Catholic churches,  Relations with the Anglican Communion,  Relations with Protestant churches,  Participation in ecumenical councils and bilateral theological dialogues,  Collaboration with the Armenian Catholic and Armenian Evangelical churches.

PEOPLE’S CHURCH (pages 197-205) comprises

Indigenization of Christianity,  The Church as a unifying factor,  The leadership role of the Church, Church-state relations.

CHALLENGES AND PRIORITIES (pages 206-217) comprises:

A dynamic pastoral engagement, An active spiritual ministry, Redefining of the national identity of the Church, Renewal of the Armenian Church and urgent imperative.

The rest of the book comprises Notes, Appendices, and a listing for Further Reading.

At the end Aram I lists his prodigal output in Armenian, English and in French, totaling 28 titles!

Those who have followed Aram I have come to know that the basic tenets of his ministry can be summed up paraphrasing President Abraham Lincoln’s famous quote from his Gettysburg Address, “Of the People, by the People, and for the People”. Catholicos Aram I writes that “The Armenian Church should not become a museum of spiritual heritage; nor should it remain imprisoned in a petrified institutionalism. It is called to respond, in faithfulness to the core value of the Gospel, to the expectations of its people and to the challenges of the present-day world”.

It is not hard to envision that Aram I is burdened with the administrative responsibilities of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia whose jurisdiction extends globally. He also is a revered spiritual leader and an ecumenical figure. He has served as two terms moderator of the World Council of Churches and as two terms president of the Middle East Council of Churches. God has bestowed upon Catholicos Aram I a powerful intellect and a tireless stamina, which he has put in service towards to the Armenian People through the Armenian Church.

The book was first published in 2016 by the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon. The book I read was its second edition in 2017. The book measures  5 inches x 7.5 inches making it handy to carry for reading in leisure. Each chapter is an entity in itself and thus can be prioritized per the reader’s interest. Reading the book in its entirety will give a reader a vital knowledge for his or her better appreciation of and understanding the Armenian Church that has withstood the test of time but continues to face new challenges.

Historically “accurate” movies

Vaհe H Apelian

Recently, I came across a listing of movies that are deemed to be historically “accurate”. However, the following introduction was posted: “Whenever the words "based on a true story" are at the start of a movie, it's hard not to get a little suspicious. Most Hollywood movies are going to take some dramatic liberties with historical events, whether it's to make them more interesting to watch or to make a complex chain of events more digestible.

So, stories get changed, plot points that didn't happen are added, and multiple people that a historical figure knew are compressed into one composite character. But while almost all biopics and historical movies are guilty of this to some extent, not all of them play so fast and loose with the facts. So, we're celebrating the ones that got as much right as possible. Read on to learn more about these historically accurate films.”

I have seen a few of these films. Some I had not even heard of. Here is the list. 

Gandhi (1982)

Schindler's List (1993)

United 93 (2006)

All Quiet On The Western Front (2022)

Lincoln (2012)

Apollo 13 (1995)

Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World (2003)

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Rush (2013)

12 Years a Slave (2013)

A Man for All Seasons (1966)

Downfall / Der Untergang (2004)

Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)

The Last Emperor (1987)

Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)

Hotel Rwanda (2004)

The Big Short (2015)

The Witch (2015)

The Right Stuff (1983)

We Were Soldiers (2002)

Zodiac (2007)

Selma (2014)

Barry Lyndon (1975)

The Death of Stalin (2017)

Spotlight (2015)

Grave of The Fireflies (1988)

Cromwell (1970)

Glory (1989)

Black Robe (1991

Paths of Glory (1957

Gangs of New York (2002)

Das Boot (1981)

Waterloo (1970)

Come and See (1985)

A Bridge Too Far (1977)

Fury (2014)

The Battle of Algiers (1966)

The Pianist (2002)

Bridge Of Spies (2015)

The Baader-Meinhoff Complex (2008)

Link: https://www.outdoorrevival.com/more/31-historically-accurate-movies-that-got-it-right.html?utm_source=jf&utm_campaign=120245956431720503-120245956440370503-jf&utm_medium=Facebook_Desktop_Feed&utm_content=120245956475670503-jf&utm_term=-&utm_id=120245956431720503&fbclid=IwY2xjawRmubFleHRuA2FlbQEwAGFkaWQBqzMPetDNN3NydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6Lcx37R74izj1q4G7gjL8pYt3_zDEVT3Cm7BpOUkrxeAoT6rP2mAbT9nR6AA_aem_WXJSk1rUGU85C2_LOlY9-A

 

 

 

 

 

Mount Ararat and us

 Vaհe H Apelian

Ararat, Avedik Isahakyan, Antranig Zarougian

Ararat has been a sight to us since 1920 and remains a sight. The region of Surmalu (Mount Ararat region) was under the administration of the First Republic of Armenia in 1918. The district fell under Turkish occupation during the Turkish invasion of Armenia in 1920 and was formally ceded to Turkey by the Treaty of Moscow in March 1921, following Armenia's Sovietization. The cessation was confirmed in the Treaty of Kars, signed in October of that same year. Such has been our history and Ararat has been a sight to  us since 1920

Obviously, it would be the understatement of our history when I also note that there is no other landscape with which we, as Armenians associate ourselves more than Mount Ararat. The mountain is the principal national symbol of Armenia. It is featured prominently in Armenian literature and art and is the icon of what constitutes being an Armenian

On April 28, 2026, PM Nikol Pashinyan and Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan presented to the public the new Armenian passport and went over each photo-illustration in the passport commenting on each and especially dwelling more on the photo-illustrated depiction of Khor Virab Monastery without Mount Ararat appearing in the background. Khor Virab monastery complex was photographed and presented in the passport at an angle that sidelined Mount Ararat. It is at the Khor Verab monastery that visitors, especially Armenian visitors, like to be photographed because of the majestic view of Mount Ararat in the background. 

Although the Prime Minister and the Interior Minister revealed during their presentation of the new passport about Khor Virab monastery depiction, but it was not news. Zartonk Media had reported it weeks earlier, on September 14, 2025. The Armenian government has its own understandable reasons to have all the photo-illustrations of the Armenian passport depict Armenian real estate only. 

But, the citizens of Armenia have codified Mount Ararat in their constitution since its inception in 1995, but with a caveat. The Constitution of Armenia established Mount Ararat as a core element of national identity, featuring it on the state Coat of Arms. Article 21 describes the emblem as a shield containing Mount Ararat with Noah's Ark, supported by an eagle and a lion. 

We have to accept that the Armenian Constitutional depiction of Mount Ararat is with Noah’s Ark on it. 

Regrettably Mount Ararat is often weaponized not by Turkey, but by the opposition, not only in Armenia but also in the Diaspora by going as far as accusing PM Nikol Pashinyan of wanting to remove the image of the Ararat from the Armenia’s coat-of-arms, when it should have be well understood that only the citizens of Armenia can bring a change in the constitution and not a sitting government. 

The reason the Mount Ararat depiction was removed from Armenia’s entry and exit stamp could very well be ascribed for not being a constitutionally mandated depiction. It is surprising to hear that learned individuals allege that the Nikol Pashinyan government rather have the people not view Mount Ararat. Of course, that is not so. Those interested in Armenia will continue to look at Mount Ararat and will be continued to be inspired by it as Antranig Zarougian and Avedik Isahakyan were.

Antranig Zarougian wrote his poem vow to Mount Ararat in 1935, in Aleppo, when he was 22 years old, and Mount Ararat was in Turkey, as it is at the present. (see the link)

Avedis Isahakyan wrote his famous poem about Ararat in 1920’s when he lived in Italy, noting that, “To the old dome of Ararat, centuries have come like a second, and passed away. Countless flashing swords have been dulled by the diamond hard mountain, and left. Generations at its brink, have gazed the light on its summit, and moved on. It's your turn now, for a moment look at its furrowed forehead, and move on.” Avediak Isahakyan moved to Soviet Armenia in 1936 and settled there as an esteemed poet. 

Avedik Isahakyan and Antranig Zarougian wrote their timeless poems when Ararat was no more in Armenia.  Was their vision for Mount Ararat be in Armenia? It could be. But it could very well be argued that their vision was for creating at Ararat’s slope an exemplary, a pristine society if you will. Antranig Zarouigian titled the book he wrote in 1958, "Old Dreams, New Paths" (Հին երազներ, նոր ճամբաներ), and "New Armenia, New Armenians" (Նոր Հայաստան, նոր հայեր) in 1983. Their vision may very well have been for a sovereign Armenia that lives in peace with its neighbors and with itself and within itself, and resolves its historical wrongs not by war and aggression, but by negotiation and peaceful state relations. 

Is it naïve to think that way? But I never expected to see in my lifetime, the Armenian Tricolor flag raised at the U.N. on March 2, 1992, nor Armenia hosting a European summit today, on May, 2026.

So, I rather stick with that notion. 

Link: Vow to Mount Ararat - https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2017/07/vow-to-mount-ararat.html 

Political parties aplenty in Armenia

Vaհe H Apelian

The official pre-election campaign for the June 7, 2026, parliamentary elections in Armenia begins on May 8, 2026, 30 days prior to election day, and concludes at midnight on June 6. While the regulated campaign starts then, active campaigning and voter outreach have been ongoing since before that date, as permitted by the Armenian Central Electoral Commission. Nineteen parties have been registered to take part in the upcoming election. The list of the parties vying for power is listed below.

 The principal parties vying for power are already known. The question whether the rest of the parties, some with comical names, are vying for power or they are there to disrupt the election process, is anyone’s guess. 

Haygaganeh badvagan eh – The Armenian is venerable – is a phrase I have not heard a long while. It was said more in amusement that veneration. That phrase came to my mind as I translated this long list of parties taking part in the upcoming election.

 

 

Parties participating in the June 7, 2026  Election in Armenia
1. "Reformists" Party	1. «Ռեֆորմիստներ» կուսակցություն
2. "I am against everyone" Party	2.  «Բոլորին դեմ եմ» կուսակցություն
3. "Strong Armenia" Alliance	3 . «Ուժեղ Հայաստան» դաշինք
4. "Meritocracy" Party	4. «Շնորհապետական» կուսակցություն
5. "New Force" Party	5. «Նոր ուժ» կուսակցություն
6. "Wings of Unity" Party	6. «Միասնության թևեր» կուսակցություն
7. "Prosperous Armenia" Party	7. «Բարգավաճ Հայաստան» կուսակցություն
8. "National Democratic Pole" Party	8. «Ազգային ժողովրդավարական բևեռ» կուսակցություն
9. "Kocharian National Revival and Awakening of the Nation" Party	9. «Քոչարի ազգային վերածնունդ և ազգի զարթոնք» կուսակցություն
10. "Armenian National Congress" Party	10. «Հայ ազգային կոնգրես» կուսակցություն
11. "Republic" Party	11. «Հանրապետություն» կուսակցություն
12. "Christian Democratic" Party	12. «Քրիստոնեա-ժողովրդավարական» կուսակցություն
13. "Alliance" Party	13. «Դաշինք» կուսակցություն
14. "Democracy, Law, Discipline" Party	14.  «Դեմոկրատիա, օրենք, կարգապահություն» կուսակցություն
15. "Democratic Solidarity" Party	15.  «Ժողովրդավարական համախմբում» կուսակցություն
16. "Civil Contract" Party	16. «Քաղաքացիական պայմանագիր» կուսակցություն
17. "Armenia" Alliance՚	17. «Հայաստան» դաշինք
18. "For the Republic" Party	18. «Հանուն Հանրապետության» կուսակցություն
19. "Bright Armenia" Party	19. «Լուսավոր Հայաստան» կուսակցություն