Young Turk’s Policy of Approprition and Destruction
of the Armenian Cultural Values (1915-1918)
22.06.2019
The article presents the Young Turks’ policy of appropriation and destruction of the Armenian cultural values during 1915-1918 as part of a genocidal program with the following observations:
1. The paper shows the development of mechanisms for the further appropriation of the Armenian estate before the Genocide by the government. The Young Turks’ consistent policy of recognizing the Armenian church property as unclaimed/without legal heir is considered to be an example of such a deliberate step.
2. The paper presents the decisions of the government aimed at confiscation of the Armenians’ private and national property during the genocide, and their consistent application.
3. The paper discusses the issue of the involvement of masses and their role in the appropriation and confiscation of the Armenian cultural values.
Keywords: cultural value, national property, Young Turks government, governmental decisions, destruction, confiscation, appropriation, state policy, genocide, intent.
Armenian tattooed woman captured in harem
21.06.2019
17 years old Lutfieh Bilemjian from Aintab is in the photo. She was deported to Der el-Zor along with her parents and two brothers. Lutfieh's mother died while protecting her children. Her father and younger brother were killed, and the older brother disappeared. Lutfieh became a property of a Chechen. The latter sold her to a Kurd, and he handed the girl to Mahmoud pasha, a wealthy Turk, in whose house she stayed for 11 years.
Many Armenian women were subjected to inhuman sexual violence, and sold into slavery during the Armenian Genocide. Turks, Kurds and Arabs often kidnapped beautiful Armenian women and girls along the deportation road during night stops. Women, who had been forcibly converted to Islam, were given new Turkish names. Sometimes, according to their local tribal customs, tattoos were made on their faces and bodies. In Near East and Islamic countries tattoos were widely used as a talisman and protection: they often were in shape of dots or crosses, indicating tribal and religious belonging of women and changes occurred in their lives.
Opening of Museum Gallery and Exhibition at Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute
“Jansem: A Painter of Medz Yeghern”
18.06.2019
On 18 June, the solemn opening of the Armenian Genocide Museum’s gallery with its permanent exhibition "Jansem: A Painter of Medz Yeghern" took place at the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (administrative section, the hall next to the conference room).
The welcome and opening speech was delivered by the Director of “Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute” Foundation Harutyun Marutyan: “Organizing the exhibition of Jansem's works was principal for the Museum-Institute. We are glad that Ararat Museum has become a partner-supporter in this undertaking. Within the framework of inter-museum cooperation, the gallery with Jansem's permanent exhibition will open its doors to the visitors”.
Famous Lebanese publisher Naji Naaman visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute
08.06.2019
On June 8, at the Conference Hall of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation, a meeting-discussion was held with famous Lebanese publisher, cultural figure Naji Naaman.
Along with numerous publications on Arab culture, Naji Naaman has also presented around twenty books regarding the Armenian culture and history in various languages, including Arabic, French, and Armenian.
Among his books, there are two works which are of great significance, those dedicated to the Armenian Genocide, particularly the massacre of Mardin Armenians and its spiritual leader; Armenian Catholic Clergyman Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan (1869-1915), “Mardin, the Heroic city” and “Ignatius Maloyan; the Human and the Martyr”.
AGMI researchers participated at an International Conference held in Beirut
04.06.2019
On May 30-31, an international conference on “Armenians of Greece and Cyprus” was held at Haigazian University, Beirut.
AGMI Deputy Director Dr. Edita Gzoyan and Head of Educational Department junior researcher Kristine Najaryan participated at the conference.
Head of the AGMI Victims’ Documentation and Data Collection Department Dr. Shushan Khachatryan’s report “The Orphan of the Near East in Greece: Photos, Documents and Testimonies” was also included in the program. However, the speaker could not present her topic personally as she was unable to travel to Beirut.
Little Survivors of the Armenian Genocide: Episodes
Opening of Temporary Exhibition at AGMI
04.06.2019
On June 1, at the foyer of AGMI Conference Hall a temporary exhibition was opened under the title “Little Survivors of Armenian Genocide: Episodes”.
The bilingual (Armenian-English) exhibition includes interviews of Armenian children kept in the archives of the League of Nations, as well as original materials from AGMI archives and museum funds, photographs, postcards, stamps, etc.
A welcome speech was made by AGMI Director Harutyun Marutyan, after which senior researcher of AGMI Department of Organizing Exhibitions PhD Tehmine Martoyan presented the temporary exhibition.
As it was mentioned by the authors of the exhibition, the goal of the exhibition is the condemnation of the children's rights trampling during the genocides and to raise the issue of protecting their rights. PhD Edita Gzoyan delivered a lecture titled “Children and Genocides: The Force Deportation of Armenian Children during Genocide”.
The Signing օf Trilateral Cooperation Treaty: Expansion of Armenian Genocide Issue to French Museum Environment
29.05.2019
On May 29th, the Armenian-French trilateral cooperation agreement signing ceremony took place between the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Camp des Milles Foundation and Bouches-du-Rhône Departmental Council at the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute.
The French delegation headed by Mrs. Martine Vassal, the Chairman of Bouches-du-Rhône Departmental Council, the President of Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis visited Armenian Genocide Memorial in early morning. The delegation was accompanied by Grisha Tamrazyan, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of RA, Jonathan Lacote, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia, as well as Harutyun Marutyan, Director of Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute.
“One in Million”: Presentation of the Memories of a Young Boy, Survivor of the Armenian Genocide
23.05.2019
On 22 May, at the Conference Hall of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute the presentation of the book “One in Million: Memories of young Boy from Zeytun; Witness of Genocide” took place. The book is published by “Zartonk” newspaper and edited by Dr. Andranik Dakessian. It is the first book of “Zartonk” series.
A welcome speech was delivered by the AGMI Director Harutyun Marutyan, who stressed the importance of such publications and expressed hope that through the cooperation with Lebanese partners it will be possible to publish still a number of unpublished memories of great value, kept at the AGMI archive collection.
The Researchers of AGMI Took Part at the International Conference in Thessaloniki, Greece
23.05.2019
On May 10-12 an international conference titled “The Genocide of the Christian Populations of the Ottoman Empire and Its Aftermath 1908-1923” was held at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The representatives of AGMI also took part in this conference.
Edita Gzoyan, Deputy Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, and Regina Galustyan, PhD student and researcher at the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, have also participated at the conference. Dr. Gzoyan have delivered a speech on the “Reclamation of Armenian and Greek Women and Children after the Genocide: the Efforts of the League of Nations” and presented the forcible transfer of Armenian and also Greek women and children during the Genocide and the issue of their reclamation after the Genocide, concentrating on the activities of the League of Nations. Regina Galustyan has presented on the ideological dimensions of the Young Turks’ identity construction. Her paper was titled “Step towards Identity Construction or Genocide? Ideological Transformations in the Ottoman Empire in 1911-1913.”
“We Never Give up the Struggle for the Truth”, Interview of the AGMI Director to Famous Weekblad’t Pallieterke
21.05.2019
In May 2019, Belgian Weekblad't Pallieterke magazine published another article devoted to the memory of the Armenian Genocide, this time in Dutch. The author of the article Jens de Rycke had interviewed Harutyun Marutyan, Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation, Doctor of Historical Sciences, who also specializes in genocide memory and national identity, collective and historical memory issues. The author notes: “Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Harutyun Marutyan immediately points out the symbol of the monument”.
“In the monument I see the open wound of Armenians, because the cruelty of the genocide and the Turkish denial contribute in keeping the wound of Armenian souls unhealed”, the AGMI Director has mentioned. “Every nation has a memory that unites its population. Since the past century for Armenians it has been the 1915 Genocide Memory. Victims and lost homeland (Eastern Armenia) feed the call for justice. I think it is clear why, until today, Turkey continues to deny the fact of the genocide. On the other side there is a myth which connects all the Turks, in particular, that the Turkish Republic was reborn from the war that the Ottomans had lost. They want to make sure that their Turkish legend does not be "smeared" by the Genocide.
May 19th, the Greek Community in Armenia Commemorates the 100th Anniversary of Pontic Greek Genocide
19.05.2019
19 of May is the commemoration day of Pontic Greek Genocide. Representatives of Greek community in Armenia paid tribute at the Armenian Genocide Memorial to the memory of thousands of innocent victims of genocide.
The attendees prayed for the innocent victims, afterwards archbishop Yeznik Petrosyan conducted a memorial service.After the ceremony the participiants visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, and the openning of the exhibition dedicated to the occasion took place in the temporary exhibitions hall. The exhibition was prepared with the support of the AGMI archive.
Delegation of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation
18.05.2019
On 17 May, Delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Belarus Sergey Sheremetev visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial accompanied with acting RA Minister of Culture Tigran Galstyan. The Minister laid a wreath at the Genocide Monument than members of the delegation put flowers at the eternal fire and honored the memory of the innocent martyrs with a minute of silence.
Belarusian guests also visited the Genocide Museum and got acquainted with the exhibits.
The genetic picture of the historical Armenian population
17.05.2019
On May 17, at the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation conference hall a new methodological seminar took place.
The lecture was delivered by Prof. Levon Yepiskoposyan, Head of Laboratory of Ethnogenomics, Institute of Molecular Biology, NAS RA. The topic of the lecture was “The Genetic Picture of the Historical Armenian Population”.
As already informed, starting from February 2019 the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation has launched a series of public lectures and methodological seminars.
The head of AGMI Educational Department participated in a conference dedicated to Tumanyan’s 150th Birth Anniversary
14.05.2019
On May 11, YSU Ijevan branch hosted a republican conference dedicated to Hovhannes Tumanyan's 150th anniversary, organized by the Department of the Armenian Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities of YSU Ijevan branch.
Christine Najaryan, the head of the Department of Educational Programs of the “Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute” Foundation participated in the conference.
Ms Najaryan has presented a report under the title “Orphan care activities of Hovannes Tumanyan during the Armenian Genocide."
The head of Austria-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial
11.05.2019
On 11 May, the delegation headed by Gudrun Kugler, the head of the Austria-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group of Austrian National Council, visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex. The delegation was accompanied by Viktor Yengibaryan, the head of the NA Armenia-Austria Friendship Group, and Harutyun Marutyan, the Director of “The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute” Foundation.
The guests put flowers at the eternal fire and honored the memory of the innocent martyrs with a minute of silence. Then Austrian parliamentarians had a visit to the museum, got acquainted with the exhibits and wrote a note in the Memory Book of honorable guests.
Dear Visitor,
The museum will be closed on May 9th.
Sincerely,
Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation
Johannes Lepsius park in Yerevan
08.05.2019
On May 6, a park after German Armenophil Johannes Lepsius was opened in Yerevan, Zeytun district. The opening ceremony was attended by the director of “Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute” Foundation Harutyun Marutyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Armenia Bernhard Matthias Kiesler, the director of Lepsiushaus, Lepsius House-Museum in Potsdam, Rolf Hosfeld, Johannes Lepsius’ grandson Manfred Ashek and his wife, representatives of Yerevan Municipality and others.
A monument was also placed in the park in memory of the great Armenophil and humanist Johannes Lepsius: “He dedicated his life to the protection of Armenian people’s rights and to the salvation of the persecuted Armenians”.
Who was Lepsius and why the Armenian people remember him with gratitude?
Harutyun Kalents: Surviving a Genocide
04.05.2019
Armenian Diaspora is the undeniable consequence of the Armenian Genocide. Diaspora - “unaddressed", “landless homeland” became the great home of Armenians spread all over the world, where the Armenians were able to create their “Armenianness”. In this unique environment under foreign sky the same fate connecting all Armenians was the genocide. Among them were many artists whose works in some way or another expressed the theme of the Armenian Genocide. Harutyun Kalents (Harutyun Harmandayan) was one of such Armenians.
Kalents was born in 1910, in the town of Kyurin, Sebastia Province, Ottoman Empire, in the family of Tiratur and Alamst. He was the third of four brothers. The Harmandayan family was engaged in carpets and shawls weaving, so they enjoyed a prosperous life. It seemed that the childhood of the children was worriless and the future was safe. But the Armenian Genocide ruined the tranquility of Harutyun’s family.
The Annual Flower Gathering Event Took Place at the Armenian Genocide Memorial
27.04.2019
Today the annual flower gathering event took place at the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex. Humbled flowers at the eternal fire, put on April 24, were collected to be given a second life.
With the initiative of Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets, since 2010 humbled flowers at the Armenian Genocide Monument are being collected and used after a special processing. Flower stalks are removed from the petals: compost is derived from the first part and the flower petals are used to prepare recycled handmade paper. Candles made of petals were also presented this year.
Parliament of Portugal recognizes Armenian Genocide
27.04.2019
On April 26, the Parliament of Portugal adopted a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
The resolution reads “On April 24, 1915 some 250 Armenian intellectuals were rounded up and murdered by the order of the Young Turks' government. 1.5 million Armenians were ultimately killed in the Genocide between 1915 and 1923.”
“The systematic extermination by the Ottoman authorities directed at the Armenian minority in its territory is considered by the international community of historians as the first genocide of the twentieth century.”
Armenian Leadership Paid Tribute to the Memory of Armenian Genocide Martyrs
24.04.2019
The RA leadership paid tribute to the memory of Armenian Genocide martyrs at Tsitsernakaberd.
RA President Armen Sargsyan, RA Prime Minister Nikole Pashinyan, National Assembly Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, Chief of Police Valery Osipyan, RA NSS Director, Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, and other government members paid tribute to the memory of Armenian Genocide Victims. RA Prime Minister, RA President and RA NA President were accompanied by their wives.
Turkish Public Figure Visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial
24.04.2019
On 24 April, Ali Erdem, founder of the “Union against Genocide” in Germany and the members of the union visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and met the Director of the Museum Harutyun Marutyan.
The members of the organization also visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial and paid tribute to the memory of the victims.
Armenian Genocide 150 Year-Old Witnesses: Komitas Vardapet and Hovhannes Tumanyan
A new exhibition opened at Armenian Genocide Museum
23.04.2019
On April 23, at the temporary hall of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation a new exhibition has opened under the title “Armenian Genocide 150 Year-Old Witnesses: Komitas Vardapet and Hovhannes Tumanyan”.
A welcome speech was delivered by director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation Harutyun Marutyan, than by the Head of Exhibition department Seda Parsamyan: “The exhibition is unique and very teaching. It is being versatile in covering the connections of the two geniuses and in the same time their connection with the Armenian Genocide”. She expressed thanks to the RA museums for providing necessary items for the exhibition and Ministry of Culture for assisting in the transfer of materials, also the Director and staff of the museum-institute for assisting in the preparation works, as well as the audience for supporting the event.
Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Paid Tribute at the Armenian Genocide Memorial
23.04.2019
On April 23, Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yuri Sterk visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex along with AGMI deputy director Lusine Abrahamyan and laid flowers at the eternal fire honoring the memory of the innocent martyrs.
Bulgaria’s Ambassador to Armenia Maria Pavlova was accompanying the Bulgarian Deputy FM during the visit. They also visited the Genocide Museum.
Temporary Exhibition at AGMI
150 Year-Old Witnesses of the Armenian Genocide: Komitas Vardapet and Hovannes Tumanyan
19.04.2019
On April 23, 2019, at 12:00 PM, at the temporary exhibitions hall of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation the opening of the new exhibition “150 YEAR-OLD WITNESSES OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: KOMITAS VARDAPET AND HOVANNES TUMANYAN” will take place.
The exhibition is dedicated to the 150th anniversaries of two great Armenian intellectuals - Komitas Vardapet and Hovannes Toumanyan. The aim of the exhibition is to publicize their ties with the history of the Armenian Genocide. The exhibition has two main directions: on one hand friendly and creative relationship of the two geniuses is illustrated, and on the other hand, the impact of the Armenian Genocide and its tragic consequences on them.
Methodological Seminar at the AGMI: Lecturer Lusine Sahakyan
19.04.2019
On April 19, at the conference hall of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation a new methodological seminar took place.
The lecturer was Lusine Sahakyan, Head of the Chair of Music History at Komitas State Conservatory, specialist of Komitas. The lecture was titled “Komitas Vardapet and the Armenian Genocide”.
As already informed, starting from February 2019 the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation has launched a series of public lectures and methodological seminars.
Russian Ambassador Visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex
19.04.2019
Today Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Armenia Sergey Kopirkin visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex.
The guests were welcomed by the AGMI Director Harutyun Marutyan. Ambassador Kopirkin and the accompanying embassy guests put flowers at the eternal fire, honoring the memory of the innocent martyrs with a minute of silence.
U.S. Congressmen Visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex and Museum
18.04.2019
On April 17 within their visit to Armenia the U.S. Congressmen visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex accompanied by the deputies of the RA National Assembly, members of the Armenia-American Parliamentary Friendship Group Gayane Abrahamyan and Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, newly appointed US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Lynne M. Tracy.
The director of the AGMI Foundation Harutyun Marutyan welcomed the guests and presented the history of the Memorial Complex.
Donation of four new computers to the AGMI from an Armenian philanthropist
16.04.2019
We are glad to inform that recently the The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation have received a donation of four computers in their complete packages.
The chairman of “ Congrès National des Arméniens Occidentaux “ International non-governmental organization Suren Seraydarian has made a donation on his personal account, which is very important for the effective organization of the AGMI activities.
Archival Documents from US State of Georgia
11.04.2019
Today, at the conference hall of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute took place archival documents handing ceremony.
American-Armenian Harutyun Agha-Sargsyan and his sister Varduhi handed to the AGMI collection the archival documents on the Armenian Genocide Recognition by the US State of Georgia.
AGMI Director Harutyun Marutyan welcomed the guests and expressed gratitude for the donation: “In case of full collection of the Armenian Genocide recognition documents by the US States, we plan to organize a temporary exhibition. This is important for all of us; it is also part of Armenian-Americans history”.
France declares April 24 “Day of Remembrance for Armenian Genocide”
11.04.2019
On April 10, French president Emanuel Macron signed a decree declaring April 24 “a national day of remembrance of the Armenian Genocide in France”.
The decree states that every year April 24 will be marked in France as a national day of remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. Every year commemorating events will be held in Paris on that day, such events can also be organized in other French cities.
AGMI Director Participated at the Iternational Conference in Istanbul
11.04.2019
On March 22-23, Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation Harutyun Marutyan participated at the international conference in Istanbul. The conference was organized by Hrant Dink Foundation under the title “Memory Sites, Memory Paths towards another Future.”
AGMI Director Harutyun Marutyan’s speech was titled “The Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum in Post-centenary Period” “. He presented the conditions and process of the memorial construction, its composition, touched upon each of its elements in detail (20 minutes, more than five dozen photos) goals and issues of the museum-institute, its structure, and three big upcoming projects (Database of Genocide Victims and Survivors, Database of Survivor’s video testimonies, Database of memories). Dr. Marutyan also stressed the issue of adding accents in the thematic exhibition of the museum, taking into consideration the fact that during the genocide resistances were organized in many settlements.
Italian Lower House of Parliament Adopts Armenian Genocide Resolution
10.04.2019
On 10 April, the lower house of Italian Parliament approved a motion calling on the Italian government “to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide and raise the profile of this issue on an international level.”
The motion was approved with 382 votes in favor, none against and 43 abstentions.
The resolution reads: “Recognizing and commemorating the cruelties and atrocities committed in the 20th century must be a constant warning”.
Minister օf Defense օf the Czech Republic Visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex
10.04.2019
Within the framework of his official visit to Armenia on April 10, Czech Defense Minister Lubomir Metnar and the accompanying delegation visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex accompanied by the RA Deputy Minister of Defense Gabriel Balayan. Director of the AGMI Foundation Harutyun Marutyan welcomed the guests and presented the history of the Memorial Complex.
Czech Defense Minister laid a wreath at the genocide memorial after which members of the accompanied delegation put flowers at the eternal fire, honing the memory of the innocent martyrs with a minute of silence.
Transfer Your Memory
09.04.2019
Share your family story,
Transfer your memory to generations.
On the eve of April 24, the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute undertakes an initiative “transfer your memory”.
The heirs of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide are given a platform to share their family stories related to the Armenian Genocide. You can share your stories orally or in a written form, also the photographs of genocide survivors, or relic-pieces kept from those days.
Historian Prof. Arsen Avagyan Delivered a Lecture at AGMI
05.04.2019
As already informed, starting from February 2019 the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation has launched a series of public lectures. On April 5, a new lecture took place.
At the conference hall of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation Arsen Avagyan, PhD in historical science, professor at Yerevan State University, member of the AGMI Scientific Council, diplomat delivered a lecture titled “The role of mutasarif Salih Zeki (Monster Zeki) in the implementation of the Armenian Genocide and in the establishment of the Turkish Communist Party”.
The lecture was followed by an active discussion and questions and answers.
Ismail Hakki Bey Arrested by Soldiers of British Army
04.04.2019
The photo is of Hakki Bey, Ottoman Army General, who was arrested on March 7, 1919 by Scottish soldiers of the British Army.
The photo was taken at the train station of Afyon Karahisar by the official photographer of James Barton, Executive Director of the American Near East Relief, who had arrived in the city at the very same day.
The name of Hakki Bey (1883-1923), General of the Ottoman Army, head of the Military Conscription Commission, one of the direct perpetrators of the massacres, is associated with the slaughter and deportation of around 40.000 Armenians.
Stepan Astourian and Raymond Kevorkian delivered lectures at AGMI
03.04.2019
Starting from February 2019 the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation has launched a series of public lectures.
On March 29, at the AGMI conference hall, Stephan Astourian, Executive Director of the Armenian Studies Program and Adjunct Assistant Professor of History at the University of California-Berkeley, has delivered a lecture titled “The process of polarization of the Armenian-Turkish relations from 1850 to 1915”. The meeting was followed by an active discussion, question and answers.
US Ambassador at the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation
02.04.2019
Newly-appointed US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Lynne Tracy recently visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum.
Accompanied by the AGMI Foundation Director Lynne Tracy put flowers at the eternal fire and honored the memory of the innocent martyrs with a minute of silence. US Ambassador also toured in the museum and got acquainted with the exhibition.
At the end of the visit Ambassador Lynne Tracy left a note in the Memory Book of Honorable Guests. AGMI Director Harutyun Marutyan gifted to Ambassador Tracy the volumes «The Armenian Genocide: Prelude and Aftermath. As reported in the U.S. Press» compiled and edited by Vahan Ohanyan, the Archimandrite of the Mekhitarist Congregation, and Australian-Armenian Ara Ketibian.
PACE President Visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex
27.03.2019
On March 27, PACE President Liliane Maury Pasquier accompanied by Ruben Rubinyan, the Chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex.
The guests were welcomed by Lusine Abrahamyan, the deputy director of the AGMI Foundation, who also introduced the history of construction of the memorial complex and its symbolism.
A Letter from Exile
Stories from Museum Exhibits
29.03.2019
On April 2015, during the preparation works of the permanent exhibition of the museum a unique memorial relic was transferred to the AGMI - a letter written in 1915 from the exile to family.
Canadian-Armenian Sosie Chinkirian has found the letter in the family archive of her cousin Mari Gavanosian. The author of the letter is Khachik Gavanosian from Ordu. The letter was addressed to his wife, Onori Chinkirian-Gavanosian (1894-1951).
About Bangladesh Genocide
25.03.2019
The 25th of March is the Day of Commemoration of the Bangladeshi Genocide, during which Bangladesh commemorates the victims of the 1971 massacres. With the launch of a military operation “Operation Searchlight” in Eastern Pakistan (Bangladesh) on March 25, Pakistan sought to suppress Bangladesh's right to self-determination.
The Bangladesh Genocide, which was carried out by Pakistan in 1971, is rarely mentioned, but in the time of those horrific events, the world paid great attention.
“Komitas; the Last Night”
The theme of Armenian Genocide in the works of art
22.03.2019
The canvas “Komitas: the Last Night” by Sargis Muradyan (1927-2007), was one of the first to broke the long silence of the memory of the Armenian Genocide. The work was fatal for both the artist's future activities and raising the Armenian Genocide issue.
Sargis Muradyan graduated from the Institute of Fine Arts (now the Academy of Fine Arts) in 1951 with a diploma work "The Battle of Avarayr". However, the work was rejected and replaced by a work on the Stalin theme (now presented at “Sargis Muradyan” gallery).
The American press about the Armenian Genocide 1890-1922
20.03.2019
On March 20, a meeting took place with the authors of the collections of articles about the Armenian Genocide, published in the American press in 1890-1922 - Father of the Mekhitarist Congregation Vahan Ohanian and Australian-Armenian Ara Ketibian, at the Conference Hall of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation.
The publication of volumes «The Armenian Genocide: Prelude and Aftermath. As reported in the U.S. Press» has become possible thanks to the support of VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.
Harutyun Marutyan, the director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-institute Foundation, has presented a welcoming speech, and handed over the "Aurora Mardiganian" commemorative medal to the authors of the volumes for the compilation of these books and hence the contribution to the scholarship on the Armenian Genocide.
Aram Manukyan 140
19.03.2019
140 years ago, founder of the First Republic of Armenia Aram Manukyan was born in 19 March 1879 in Zeyva, village of David Bek nowadays, (Shushi in Artsakh according to Armen Asryan).
Activities of Aram Manukyan during the years of the Armenian Genocide are invaluable, especially in the organization of Van self-defense. In spring 1915, under his leadership, the local Armenian parties, taking into consideration the critical situation, convened a meeting and decided to apply for self-defense, saving their people from inevitable destruction.
The members of Van self-defense body were Aram Manukyan, Armenak Ekaryan, Gabriel Semirjyan, Kaydzak Arakel, Bulgarian Grigor (Kzoyan), Hrand Galikyan, Panos Terlemezyan.
Van self-defense ended with victory, the Turks had fled, Van was liberated, Aram Manukyan was appointed as a governor of Van. Later, after the fall of Van, Aram Manukyan organized the migration of thousands of Armenians to Eastern Armenia.
Dear Visitor,
From March 19, 2019 the working hours of the Armenian Genocide Museum are 10:00-17:00, last entry: 16.30.
Sincerely,
Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation
Presentation of the book “The Sin of the Fathers” at AGMI Foundation
16.03.2019
Today at the Conference Hall of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation presentation-discussion of the book “The Sin of the Fathers: Turkish Denialism and the Armenian Genocide” by Siobhan Nash Marshall, Professor at New York Manhattanville College, was held.
A welcome speech was delivered by Harutyun Marutyan, Director of the AGMI Foundation.
The meeting was attended by Antonia Aslan, Professor at the University of Padova and author of the bestseller “The Lark Farm,” who is the author of the preface of the presented book. “In the entire work the reader witnesses the built of the unbridled trap, which connects the parts of this death plan chapter by chapter”. “Siobhan Nash Marshal is one of the first who tries in her book to prove that the genocides committed by the Young Turks against Armenians and other nations and the denial of the crime by the Turkish Government are not separate acts and denial is part of genocide.The book is rich with documentary data from periodicals and newly discovered archival materials.
President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili Paid Tribute at the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex
13.03.2019
On 13 March, in the framework of an official visit to Armenia at the invitation of the RA President Armen Sargsyan, President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex. The President of Georgia was accompanied by the RA Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan and Mayor of Yerevan Hayk Marutyan.
The guests were welcomed by the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation Director Harutyun Marutyan, who presented to the guests the construction history of the monument and the symbolism of the monument. The President of Georgia laid a wreath at the Genocide Monument after which the members of the accompanying delegation put flowers at the eternal fire, honoring the memory of innocent martyrs with a minute of silence.
Vice-Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex and Museum
09.03.2019
Today the delegation headed by Lotta Johnsson Fornarve, the second vice-speaker of the Parliament of Swedish Kingdom accompanied by Lena Nazaryan, the vice-speaker of the RA National Assembly, visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex.
Lotta Johnsson Fornarve laid a wreath at the Memorial, and with the members of the delegation put flowers at the eternal fire, honoring the memory of the innocent martyrs with a minute of silence.
The guests were welcomed by Dr. Harutyun Marutyan, the director of the AGMI Foundation, who also introduced the history of construction of the memorial complex and its symbolism.
Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation Director’s visit to Berlin
02.03.2019
On 28 February, director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation Harutyun Marutyan had a meeting with Mr. Klaus Hesse, the deputy director of Topographie desTerrors Museum.
During the meeting Klaus Hesse presented the main directions of their museum’s work and the upcoming projects.
Both sides highlighted the importance of memory preservation policy and the activities of museums in this field.
Piloting of Educational Programs at the AGMI Foundation
01.03.2019
On February 26, the first day of pilot educational meeting took place at Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation. The program was attended by the students of the 8th grade of “Usum” school. The students visited the Genocide Museum and got acquainted with the history of the Armenian Genocide through a specifically prepared presentation.
At the AGMI Conference Hall the students participated in an interactive lecture with newly developed methodology, delivered by Seda Parsamyan, a researcher at the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation. The topic of a lecture was “The Significance of Self-Defense Battles in the Formation of Value System in Teenagers”.
During the lecture a video testimony of a survivor of Musa Dagh self-defense battle was used.
Massacres and Attacks against the Armenian Population in Sumgait on February 27-29, 1988
28.02.2019
The response of Azerbaijan to the democratic will of the Armenian population in Karabagh was initially in Sumgait, and later in other settlements of the republic in the form of murders and violence often referred as genocidal acts. The purpose of mass killings and violence in Sumgait intended to terrify the Armenians with the prospect of new bloody actions and force them to abandon their struggle for Karabagh. Planned violence, slaughter and forced deportation in Sumgait were particularly cruel. All the killings without exception were done with unprecedented cruelty and in front of many citizens of Sumgait. Evidence and testimonies of these horrific events help us to build on a whole chain of fraudulent images. Numerous Sumgait Armenians were killed, burned alive and tortured as a result of three-day violence. There were hundreds of wounded, and the Armenian population of nearly 17,000 of the city was displaced. More than 200 Armenian homes were robbed and destroyed.
Georgian Minister of Defense Paid Tribute at the Armenian Genocide Monument
22.02.2019
On February 21, in the frame of an official visit to Armenia, Minister of Defense of Georgia and the accompanying delegation visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex. Minister Levan Izorya laid a wreath at the Genocide Monument and members of the delegation put flowers at the eternal fire honoring the memory of the holy martyrs with a minute of silence.
AGMI Director Harutyun Marutyan presented to the Georgian guest the history of the Genocide Complex.
The Georgian delegation also visited the Genocide Museum.
Meeting-Discussion between the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and Shoah Foundations
21.02.2019
On 19-20 February meeting-discussions took place at the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation with the representatives of the USC Shoah Foundation.
The meeting was held by Dr. Kori Street, the Senior Director of Programs and Operations at the USC Shoah Foundation, Sedda Antekelian, education and information expert, and Manuk Avedikyan, Armenian Collections Development project expert.
During the two-day workshop, perspectives of digitalizing the archive collections s, particularly the survivors' records and the process of installing them in a high quality digital library was presented and discussed.Colleagues from the United States shared with the AGMI staff their remarkable experience in preserving and sharing the victims’ voices by the modern technologies. The representatives of the Shoah Foundation have also showed interactive videos and 3D cartoons, designed specifically for children in the framework of their educational programs.
Hovhannes Tumanyan 150
15.02.2019
The destiny of the Armenian nation has left a deep trace on the biography of Armenian writers, cultural figures and intellectuals in general.
Hovhannes Tumanyan was one of those farsighted intellectuals, who selflessly devoted himself to his people during the Armenian Genocide and a fair solution of its issue.
The poet of all-Armenians, as he is called, was born on 7 February 1869 (19 according to the new calendar), in the village of Dsegh, in Lori region. Lori or Gugark world, as it was called in the past, is one of the most charming places of historical Armenia. As for Avetik Isahakyan; “Lori is a patriarchal self-contained world; each corner of it is a traditional novel and each stone tells about its heroic past”.
Hovhannes Tumanyan lived his childhood in this beautiful nature.
Cyprus Minister of Defense visited Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex
13.02.2019
In the framework of an official visit to Armenia, Savvas Angelides, Cyprus Minister of Defense, and the accompanying delegation visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex. The Minister laid a wreath at the Memorial Monument, and members of the delegation put flowers at the eternal fire, honoring the memory of the innocent martyrs with a minute of silence.
The delegation also visited the Genocide Museum, and in the end of the visit Minister Angelides left a note in the Memory Book of Honorable Guests.
Dr. Harutyun Marutyan, Director of the AGMI Foundation, gifted the honorable guest volume publication «The Armenian Genocide: Prelude and Aftermath. As reported in the U.S. Press – The New York Times» by Archimandrite of the Mekhitarist Congregation Father Vahan Ohanyan and Ara Ketipyan, which collects articles published in the New York Times about the Armenian Genocide.
Basic Guiding Skills: Master Class at AGMI
11.02.2019
On February 9, a lecture on “Basics Guiding Skills” was delivered at the Conference Hall of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute. The lecture was delivered by Professor Lianna Grigoryan, lecturer at the Armenian State Pedagogical University, Deputy Director and chief archivist at the “Historical-Cultural Reserve-Museums and Historical Habitat Protection Service” SNCO of RA Ministry of Culture, author of educational-methodological manual “Basics Tour Guiding Skills.”
The meeting was attended by the Director of the AGMI Foundation, researchers and museum guides. In addition to the master class Mrs. Grigoryan also presented the modern developments in tour guiding research.
Appreciation Letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Supporting the Third Global Forum
06.02.2019
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, has sent a letter of appreciation to the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation, in particular Harutyun Marutyan for the support of the Third Global Forum against the Crime of Genocide held in Yerevan on December 9-11, 2018.
“Undoubtedly, the Third Global Forum was an important event in the international agenda of genocide prevention, which was successfully organized and conducted also with the assistance of your organization and your organization's deposit.On this occasion I would like to express my gratitude to you, for the support provided to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within the framework of organizational work and participation in the Third Global Forum against the Crime Genocide” - the Foreign Minister noted.
French President declared April 24 a National Day of Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide
06.02.2019
French President Emmanuel Macron has declared April 24 a national day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. Macron made the announcement in Paris, at the annual dinner of the Armenian community in France.
Speaking to the Armenian community, Macron said: "France is, first and foremost, the country that knows how to look history in the face, which was among the first to denounce the killings of the Armenian people, which in 1915 named genocide for what it was, which in 2001 after a long struggle recognized it in law."
Macron also added that in the next weeks France would make April 24 a national day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.
Let us remind, that in the framework of his visit to Armenia on October 11 2018, Emmanuel Macron with his wife Brigitte Macron paid a visit to "Charles Aznavour" residence in Yerevan, and spoke about Aznavour's struggle for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and mentioned that April 24 will be remembered as the Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide in France.
Turkification Methods in the Ottoman Empire State Orphanages
05.02.2019
During the Armenian Genocide a list of sanctions and violence was put in action against the Armenian orphans in the Turkish orphanages. The conversion and renaming were carried out by forcible means. The first mandatory condition to enter the orphanage was renaming. Nearly all the orphans speak about this in their memoirs.
Garnik Banyan, who spent about three and a half year at the orphanage in Antura, tells in his memoirs, that in the orphanage he was given the number 549 and named Ahmed. Melkon Petrosyan, another inmate of the same orphanage was given the name Nejip and the number 8. Harutyun Alboyajyan was renamed twice. The first time it was in Dera, later in Antura, where he was named Shyuqru and given the number 534. Khoren Gelchyan was transferred from Aleppo to the Harbiye military central school in Constantinople. Here copper seals with their new Turkish names were distributed to the children. He got the seal named Ali Oghlu Islam, which should always have been hanged on the neck by the order of the directorate. Grigoryan from the orphanage of Mardin, who got the name Aishe, tells about the renaming ceremony: “Passports were made for all of us, where the father names of all of us were mentioned Abdulah, and the names of mothers - Salihè”. Ervand Postaljyan, who carried the name Mehmed Oghli and spent 6 years in the orphanage of Adana mentions in his memoirs: “In order not to forget our names, all of us carried our names written on the papers.”
Articles on the Armenian Genocide Published in the New York Times (1890-1922) are in Two Complete Volumes
03.02.2019
Recently two volume book composed of the articles from The New York Times during 1890-1922 related to the Armenian Genocide was published by the Mkhitarist Publishing House in Yerevan. The volumes called «The Armenian Genocide: Prelude and Aftermath. As reported in the U.S. Press – The New York Times» are compiled and edited by Vahan Hovhannisyan, the Archbishop of the Mkhitarist Congregation and Austrian-Armenian Ara Ketibian.
The compilers create a chronological sequence of documents on the Armenian Genocide, eyewitness testimonies, reports, and other relevant information.
Memorial Event Dedicated to Holocaust Victims
29.01.2019
On 27th of January, representatives of the Jewish community in Armenia headed by Rima Varjapetyan were gathered near the monument of Genocide and Holocaust victims in Yerevan to pay tribute to the memory of the victims of Holocaust.
The ceremony was attended by Gersh Burshtein, chief rabbi of the Jewish community, Harutyun Marutyan, Director of Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation, Professor Hayk Kotanjyan, Lieutenant General, head of the Armenian-Jewish Forum, Vardan Asatryan, Head of the Department of National Minorities and Religious Affairs at the RA Government, Ruben Arutchyan, sculptor and author of the Genocide Memorial and Holocaust Memorial, as well as representatives of other national minorities in Armenia. The welcome speech was delivered by Rima Varjapetyan, who expressed hope that such tragedies would never be repeated.
Mary Anna Østergaard, Newly Discovered Materials at the AGMI Foundation
12.01.2019
The collection of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation has recently been replenished with the new exclusive materials donated by a Greek-Armenian Sargis Keshishoghlu. The donated units (photos, personal books and items) had belonged to the Danish missionary Mary Anna Østergaard, who had been active in Greece since 1927, greatly contributing to the resettlement and organization of care for the Armenian refugees after the Armenian Genocide. It is hard to say the exact number of the Armenian refugees in Greece because of the lack of statistical data and the constant move of the refugees. The vast majority of the refugees were children. According to the book “The History of Greek-Armenian Community” by Petros Kokkinos, 17 520 orphans were found in Greece, placed in the following orphanages: Utopia, 7 500 orphans, Lutraki 3 300, Corfu 2 720, Oropos 2 000, Zappeion 2 000. Later their number reached 20 000.
Unfortunately, no much information is available about M. A. Østergaard. It is known, that she was born in 1897 in Denmark. In 1927, she was established in Athens. She had been the director of the Danish Care Center that operated until 1961. After the closure of the center, Mary Anna Østergaard continued her mission in Greece.
AGMI Foundation Announces 2019 Lemkin Scholarship for Foreign Researchers
25.12.2018
The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute foundation announces 2019 LEMKIN SCHOLARSHIP program for foreign young researchers and PhD candidates. Raphael Lemkin scholarship is intended to extend research on the Armenian Genocide, promote multilayered research of the theme and engage young scientists.
The program will enable one up to 40-year-old foreign PhD students or young researchers who specialize in the field of genocide research and work on their doctoral thesis, to spend one month in Armenia and conduct their research at the archives of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, as well as other local scientific institutions and libraries.
The duration of the scholarship is one month.
The AGMI Foundation will cover travel and accommodation expenses.
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