community Archives

Glendale Community College to offer more Armenian language courses

March 23, 2018 by administrator

Glendale Community College

Starting next fall, it will be possible to earn an Armenian language associate’s degree or an Armenian language certificate at Glendale Community College, Glendale News-Press reports.

Completion of either requires 18 units starting with a beginning Armenian I class or Armenian for the Armenian speaking I class. Outside of three grammatical courses, students will have electives from which to choose, consisting of ancient and medieval Armenian literature, Armenian literature in the Enlightenment Era, 20th- and 21st-century Armenian literature, Armenian history and the Armenian diaspora (which are currently available).

As of this spring, Glendale Community College offers only three language degree programs: an associate’s degree, an associate’s degree for transfer in English and an associate’s degree for transfer in Spanish. That is despite 31% of credit students attending the local college identifying with Armenian ethnicity, according to 2016 figures.

The new classes brought immediate praise from one local group.

“We wanted to let you know that we are very excited about the additions to your curriculum in regards to the certificate and the new associate degrees in languages,” said Ida Bobayan, board member of the Glendale chapter of the Armenian National Committee of America, “especially the Armenian language.”

In total, eleven new programs, 18 first-time courses, and 19 revisions have been unanimously voted to be added to the Glendale Community College 2018-19 curriculum.

Along those lines, there will be both new associate’s degrees and certificate programs in French, Japanese, Spanish and Italian.

Armenian American community leaders salute Artsakh President’s successful week in Washington

March 19, 2018 by administrator

Armenian American community leaders from across the U.S. gathered in Washington, DC to congratulate Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) President Bako Sahakyan on his successful visit to the nation’s capital this week, celebrating the growth of Artsakh’s ties to America, its enduring commitment to peace, and its thriving democracy, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“In honoring President Sahakyan today, we honor his generation – some of whom are still with us and some of whom are not,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “A generation, starting in the late 80’s, that turned the tide of a thousand years. The tectonic plates of the Armenian nation pivoted on the shoulders of people like President Sahakyan. We went from losing land, from losing hope to a rebirth. The debt that we owe cannot be repaid and in some ways, its true scope cannot yet be fully understood.”

Hamparian went on to note that, “It’s what we do after we leave tonight that matters the most. We honor the President and those that serve under him by what we do — with our words, but ultimately with our hearts and hands. If they are the first army of the Armenian nation, we must be the second.”

“The Armenian community of America is one of the strongest and well-established segments of our Diaspora. You carry out great work to develop and deepen Artsakh-US and Armenian-American relations, cooperation, and friendship,” said President Sahakyan.

Expressing thanks to the United States for serving as safe-haven – a second homeland – to survivors of the Armenian Genocide, President Sahakyan noted the similarities between the Republic of Artsakh and the U.S. “The principles of freedom, democracy, initiative, are typical to our peoples. A no less significant factor for enhancing our cooperation is the geopolitical reality and its imperatives. Artsakh is open to such cooperation and we see the same willingness in our American friends, some of whom are here today.”

“We have chosen freedom and independence,” continued President Sahakyan. “We are building a democratic country and are able to defend it – and we will spare no efforts in this direction, with the support of Mother Armenia and Armenians worldwide, and our friends in different countries, including the support of people here today.”

Armenian community still influential in Lebanon

August 8, 2017 by administrator

The important role played by the Armenian community in Lebanon’s political arena since its independence was taken into account when the new Lebanese government distributed the posts; Three members of this community were thus given influential positions on the internal as well as on the external relations of the country of the Cedar. Houry Der-Sakisian was appointed Comptroller General of Lebanon. On the diplomatic front, Ara Khatchadourian was appointed

Idaho Armenian-American Community Defeats Pro-Azerbaijani Resolution In State Legislature in Less Than 48 Hours

February 17, 2016 by administrator

Thank-You-Idaho-HCR037-Graphic BOISE, IDAHO – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) announced today that it successfully defeated House Concurrent Resolution 37, which attempted to praise Azerbaijan’s interfaith tolerance and positive multiculturalism. The ANCA-WR led an advocacy initiative and mobilized Idaho’s local Armenian American community to defeat the measure in less than 48 hours.

“The quick defeat of Idaho’s resolution in praise of Azerbaijan is a testament to the strength of American democracy and yet another example

that our well-organized grassroots

efforts will have a stronger resounding effect than that of a foreign paid lobby ,” said Elen Asatryan, Executive Director of the ANCA-WR. “We are proud that the State of Idaho has joined the states of Hawaii, Colorado, California and others to reject the dictatorial regime of Azerbaijan, which is known for its oppression of citizens, press and its persecution of Christian communities.

“A dictatorship that has destroyed more Christian monuments than ISIS and is the world’s fifth most censored country should not be praised for anything, let alone interfaith tolerance.”

HCR 37, sponsored by Representative Thomas Dayley, was introduced by the Idaho House State Affairs Committee on Feb. 11, 2016. Once alerted to the resolution, ANCA-WR immediately alerted the local Armenian American community, submitted testimony to all House members in opposition to the resolution and called upon all members to encourage the withdrawal of this resolution. The complete statement by the ANCA-WR opposing the resolution can be found at www.ancawr.org/Idaho.

Earlier today, the Idaho House State Affairs Committee confirmed that the controversial measure had effectively been withdrawn killed.

“The sponsor of the resolution has requested that I hold the bill and not have a hearing on it,” stated Representative Thomas Loertscher, chairman of the committee, in an email. “That is what will happen and it will not advance and will not be considered for any further action.”

Local activists and ANCA-Idaho Chair Liyah Babayan, who is a well-respected entrepreneur and human rights defender in Twin Falls, commended joint efforts to defeat HCR 37.

“In coordination with the ANCA-WR, we have successfully organized opposition to this mockery of a resolution via phone calls, emails and quick action,” Babayan said. “Once I informed the ANCA-WR of the resolution, they instantly prioritized and pulled their resources together to help us stop this resolution.”

ANCA-Idaho chair Liyah Babayan was assisted by her mother Tamara and daughter Angeli as she shared her story of being a refugee from Azerbaijan with Idaho legislators.

Babayan, herself a refugee from Baku, Azerbaijan met with members of the State Affairs Committee and shared personal stories of persecution at the hands of Azerbaijan. Idaho lawmakers were appalled that they had been misled to believe that Azerbaijan was a utopian society.

Another human rights activist in Idaho, Jo-Ann Kachigian, received the following explanation from her lawmaker as to why the resolution was introduced in the first place: “I think it was well motivated, but with lack of information. [The sponsor] thought that unlike many of the other Islamic nations in the area Azerbaijan had a peacefully coexisting situation among Muslims, Christians and Jews which should be highlighted, but had not considered the Armenian history and had inadequate information on the Christian minorities there. I am not sure where he got his initial information, but I don’t think there was any underlying commercial motive.”

ANCA-WR also mobilized over 90 activists in Idaho, many of whom, with a moment’s notice spoke directly with their lawmakers and received assurance that they would not only vote against HCR 37, but would personally appeal for it to be withdrawn. The numerous calls and emails generated by the ANCA-WR and local residents caused legislators to educate themselves on Azerbaijan’s actual human rights record.

About the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

Thank you

ANCA Western Region

February 17, 2016

Aleppo’s Armenian community is in danger – expert

June 18, 2014 by administrator

Tensions are high in Aleppo. Insurgents have seized control of some districts and there is danger both for Christian neighborhoods and the Armenian community, Arabist Sargis Grigoryan told reporters in Yerevan.

“The government forces cannot take drastic measures since there is population in Aleppo and if they launch an attack, there will be casualties among the population,” he said.

The Armenian community is still in danger, he noted.

Arabist Hayk Kocharyan said for his part that according to logic, after Kessab, the government forces should engage in the liberation of Aleppo.

“Logically, the government forces will gain control of Aleppo and its neighboring areas,” he said.

Source: Panorama.am

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Evacuation of the Armenian community in Mosul

June 13, 2014 by administrator

On 11 June, sixty-five Armenian families and their priest have left Mosul to escape extremist Islamists who terrorize members of Christian communities in the city. The Armenian community of Basra to host families and grant them asylum.

The Armenian Church of the Holy Spirit, he destroyed a few years ago when she had just been completed and waiting for his consecration, was burned.

First Armenian church called Saint Echmiadzin was built in the city in 1857. In 1968, a larger church was built on the site of the first sanctuary and a school. The city had two other places of worship Armenian: the chapel of neighborhood “Guirgougui Ghoria” and the church of the Holy Mother of God (restored in 1997-1998).