The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) recently participated in the three-day World Congress of the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) in Asunción, Paraguay. IUSY is the biggest political youth organization in the world, representing about 150 member organizations from more than 100 countries. IUSY is the youth wing of the Socialist International, bringing together the socialist, social democratic and labor political youth organizations from around the world that work to enhance principles of democratic socialism, equality, human rights and social justice.

The AYF, as a member organization, exercised its full member status by sending two delegates to the Congress. This year ARF Shant Student Association executive member Nora Kayserianand AYF South America executive member Guillermo Ferraioli Karamanian represented Armenia at the Congress. “This was an opportunity for AYF to share with the rest of the world’s leading youth organizations its mission and activities, while learning from and networking with other socialist parties from around the world,” stated Guillermo.

The World Congress entitled “An Equal World is Possible! Struggling for Democracy and Social Justice for all,” held its opening ceremony at the Parliament, where delegates listened to talks highlighting how the left in Latin America has taken the lead in the fight for democracy. Delegates also had the chance to meet the President of Paraguay, Fernando Lugo. The rest of the weekend was focused on the election of the new leadership, as well as the adoption of the IUSY Global Political Manifesto.

“It was inspiring to meet activists from around the globe who are fighting the same fight. While it is indeed an uphill struggle, we are not alone. Our struggle for democracy and social justice is one of hope and resistance and as long as we continue to fight for what we believe in, we will see change,” said Nora Kayserian.

By: Gev Iskajyan

The 24th of April has come and gone for the 97th time since the Turkish government’s failed attempts to eradicate the Armenian race. That’s 1,164 months since the systematic murder, rape, and deportation of over a million and half Armenians began in the city of Constantinople.

This battle came to be out of necessity for continuity as a People: the Persian Empire wanted Armenians to abandon their faith. Their king, King Yazdigerd II, loathed Christianity and wished to destroy their individuality on the whole.

Those who grew up going to an Armenian school have undoubtedly heard of Vartan Mamigonian (Վարդան Մամիկոնեան), and the epic battle during which he led the Armenian forces against a vastly outnumbering Persian army. Vartan, who was later canonised, was of noble lineage whose family tree includes Saint Gregory the Illuminator (Սուրբ Գրիգոր Լուսավորիչ). His father, however, was General Hamazasp (Սպարապետ Համազասպ) and, like him, Vartan became a soldier. He was a highly respected soldier at that, with integrity and wisdom: in addition, he had a strong Christian belief. The fact that he had Holy Communion with his soldiers; prayed, recited the 23rd Psalm and shared food with them, all prior to the commencement of battle, can attest to these.

It was in this period immediately before the battle when Vartan was quoted as saying “We have served until now mortal kings… now it is time to serve the immortal king”. Vartan’s speech instilled inspiration and stimulated his troops towards defending not only their religion but also, in the wider scheme, their culture and entire way of life. Finally, the battle commenced on May 26th, 451 AD, on the Avarayr Plain (Ավարայրի Դաշտ). Vartan Mamigonian led 66,000 Armenians against an army outnumbering them almost 4-to-1 and consisting of war elephants too.

Many Armenian martyrs were made that day – Vartan Mamigonian included – but, while the battle was lost, their sacrifice was not in vain. The Persian king, astounded by the valour of his opponents and acknowledging that this could only stem from their passion for their beliefs, developed a great respect for Armenians and put an end to his attempts at converting them. In this way the Armenians of the time lived on in relative peace, their traditions safeguarded for another period.

We’ve suffered countless episodes such as this where, for one reason or another; our rights, customs, traditions, faith, freedom and uniqueness have been challenged. We’ve endlessly endured stiff oppression, but, as a brilliantly proud and zealous People, we’ve largely staved off assimilating.

1600 years have since passed, our identity all the while maturing, and we’ve spread across the globe achieving many things. As a persevering people we must continue to uphold our identity in whichever corner of the world we find ourselves. Wherever we may be and whatever we pursue we all share a common history: a story of constant struggles for peace which unites us and enriches our lives. As Hrant Dink, Serj Tankian and Monte Melkonian (to name a few) have done, by digging deep towards our roots we can find and adopt the same spirit with which Vartan’s soldiers fought in defending our heritage.

Heros Jojaghaian

AYF London “Khanasor” Chapter

All that makes existence valuable to any one depends on the enforcement of restraints upon the actions of other people.
–John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)

Last week, the French Senate approved a bill that, in effect, makes it a criminal offense to deny the genocide committed by Ottoman Turks against Armenians. Predictable Turkish “outrage” has included threats to recall its Ambassador to France, restrict trade between the nations, and a move to deport Armenian laborers from Turkey. The legislation has also aroused public debate about the freedom of speech and expression as it relates to genocide denial. While the law should be applauded as a milestone in punishing an ongoing genocide, some are misrepresenting it as a violation of a universal right.

The purpose of the law (as stated by the French Senate; translated into English), “aims to punish those who have publicly made an apology for, trivialized, or denied crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes…or [crimes] recognized by France.”

This bill is written in the same spirit as the Gayssot Act, enacted in France in 1990. The Gayssot Act responded to “revisionism” by individuals who justified their writings by their (perceived) status as historians, who challenged the existence of the Holocaust. To the French government these revisionist arguments constituted a contemporary form of anti-Semitism that warranted a limitation of the freedom of speech in France. The law has since been challenged and upheld, by the United Nations Human Rights Committee, as a necessary restriction of expression “intended to serve the struggle against racism and anti-Semitism.” ¹

The committee’s judgement mentioned Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as justification for upholding the law. Article 19 of the Covenant states that “Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference, and everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression…[however,] the exercise of these rights carries with it special duties and responsibilities [and] may therefore be subject to certain restrictions [which are] provided by law and are necessary for respect of the rights and reputations of others; [and] for the protection of national security or of public order.”

In recognizing the legality of the Gayssot Act, the Human Rights Committee acknowledged the duality of “the freedom of speech and expression” as both a right and a duty. Free speech is only a right as far as it does not infringe on rights of others to be free from assaults on their dignity. Moreover, free speech carries with it the duty to act responsibly and with respect to others and to society as a whole.

These laws highlight differences between European and American value systems and resulting legal responses. While the United States prides itself on being a protector of individual liberties², European countries place a higher onus on the inviolability of human dignity.³ For this reason, denialist speech is not understood to be a right, rather it is seen as an indefensible form of racism.

Regardless of geographic location, it is absurd to think that societies exist today or should exist, which place no boundaries on speech and expression (consider laws that prohibit child pornography, advertising cigarettes to kids, or exposing state secrets). So the question is not whether to place limits, rather the question is where to place the limits.

Even in the United States, considered the bastion of liberty, the concept of free speech has never been absolute. US courts have agreed that not all speech is protected speech. Unlawful speech, under the United States Constitution, includes defamation, perjury, incitement and several other categories.

Unlawful Speech (under the US Constitution)
Defamation: False statements about another person, which causes harm to that person.
Perjury: False statements made during a judicial proceeding while under oath to speak the truth.
Incitement: Speech that is intended to cause an immediate breach of the peace.

To better understand where the limits to speech and expression should be, the question that must be asked is, “Does the speech in question further or hinder our society’s most fundamental values/goals?” While it is said, “truth emerges from the clash of ideas,” governmental intervention is necessitated in many instances.

In American society, we value dignity and aim to protect it from untruths; therefore we punish defamation because it spreads lies, which hurt people’s reputation and honor. We value due process, a truthful historical record and honesty; therefore we punish perjury because false testimony becomes a part of court transcripts that can be used to unjustly convict (or acquit) others. We value peace and lawfulness; therefore we punish incitement because instigating illegal activity is dangerous.

Genocide is understood to be a crime against all of humanity, and it remains society’s obligation to punish it and prevent its recurrence. In order to do so, a strong message must be sent that recognizes historical facts and simultaneously condemns their distortion. This is important, not to “prove” the history to the perpetrators, but to safeguard the education of future generations, and to isolate and discredit the revisionists.

The International Association of Genocide Scholars has stated, “The single best predictor of future genocide is denial of a past genocide coupled with impunity for its perpetrators.” Since denial is the last phase of genocide, Turkey represents a continual threat to Armenia’s national security (not to mention the safety of its minority populations) as an unrepentant human rights violator, and a threat to the international community through its audacious state-sponsored denial campaign and political bullying. Steps, such as those taken by France, should be adopted without cowering to threats of reprisal, implicit⁴ or explicit⁵, from the Turkish government.

The notion that today’s Turkey is organically and voluntarily coming to terms with its past, and should therefore be left to its own devices is dangerously misguided. If not for international condemnation, resulting from decades of global activism, the Armenian genocide would be a non-issue relegated to the annals of history. Moreover, Armenian genocide-related human rights violations continue to this very day in Turkey, from the failure to investigate state culpability in Hrant Dink’s murder, to the arrest of Ragip Zarakolu, to the calls for new deportations. Therefore, it is justifiable and reasonable for the international community to condemn Turkey through their legislative bodies.

External pressure and international isolation have finally led to discussion about the genocide inside of Turkey. However, as long as the government of Turkey continues its current policies, these measures will remain necessary to raise the issue, for the sake of the victims, their descendants, Turkish citizens, and the international community at large.

Notes
1. In 1993 Holocaust-denying “academic” Robert Faurisson challenged the legality of the Gayssot Act. He claimed the law curtailed his right to freedom of expression and academic freedom in general, guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ratified by 67 nations, including France: 1980; Turkey: 2003; Armenia: 1993; United States: 1992). The United Nations Human Rights Committee found that Faurisson was convicted for “violating the rights and reputations of others” and ruled that the Gayssot law was a necessary restriction of his expression “intended to serve the struggle against racism and anti-Semitism.”

2. Seen in the Bill of Rights, most notably in the First Amendment’s protection of free speech and press.

3. Seen in Article 1 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union; Article 4 of the Declaration of the Rights of Man; Article 1 of The Constitution of Germany

4. Concerning the well-being and safety of the remaining Armenian communities within Turkey today

5. Concerning threats from the Turkish government to severe political ties, trade relations, and military cooperation with countries that condemn the Armenian genocide and its denial

Vaché Thomassian is the Chairperson of the ARF “Shant” Student Association, Editor of Haytoug magazine, and a member of the executive board of the Loyola Law School Armenian Law Students’ Association.

By Raffi Hamparian
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence from the Soviet Union on September 20, 2011

This day belongs to Armenian heroes.

To the farmer who feeds our nation.

To the mother who cares for our young.

To the teacher who educates our students.

To the baby who represents our future.

To the worker who builds our roads.

To the freedom fighter who gave us our Independence.

And yes – this day also belongs to you.

Here in America – in this nation– on our July 4th – our independence was born of a fight.

A fight against oppression.  A fight against tyranny.

And a fight FOR the American Dream.

Citizens – from George Washington – to the Minuteman soldier in Massachusetts won independence by risking everything.

Their homes.

Their wealth.

Their social status.

Their families

Their lives.

Armenia’s independence – now 20 years old – will be more brilliant, more genuine, when its leaders govern with this same spirit.

By willing to lose everything – Armenia’s leaders can gain everything for the Nation.

They can achieve – with your support – the Armenian Dream for all Armenians.

Yet – twenty years after Armenia regained its Independence – some have mistaken the meaning of this wonderful Independence Day.

Some have viewed our new found independence as a license, as a freedom:

Freedom to steal.

Freedom to rob.

Freedom to pillage.

Freedom to monopolize.

Freedom to sell out our national cause.

Freedom from the Rule of Law.

We know – here in Los Angeles and in the homeland – that Armenia’s Independence – is fragile.

We also know – in our hearts and in our minds – that twenty years on – Armenia needs a housecleaning.

We need to open our nation’s windows – to let fresh air in.

We need to open our nation’s curtains – to let the sun in.

We need to open our nation’s doors – to let new people in

Here in America we can encourage this housecleaning by declaring this.

Our national Independence – today and forever – belongs not to a few.

Not to the oligarch.

Not to the rich.

Not to the dirty politician.

Armenia’s Independence belongs to you.

Our Independence belongs to the majority – a MORAL MAJORITY in Armenia and in the Diaspora.

A moral majority that is waiting – perhaps too patiently –  for the fruits of Independence.

The freedom born of Independence.

The prosperity born of Independence.

The unity born of Independence.

A moral majority who believe that our Nation’s best days are ahead of us.

A moral majority who want to do good, be good.

This majority is who we are.

This majority is who you are.

This is our destiny.

And the truth is – our Independence will not be fully realized until all the people of Armenia have the right and freedom to pursue their very own Armenian Dream.

And that Armenian Dream will not simply appear one day.

It will not be handed to us. Granted to us. Delivered to us. Assigned to us. Emailed to us, Faxed to us, FedExd to us.

No.

We. Together. United.

With people of good will – of all political persuasions, from all backgrounds, of all ages, rich and poor alike.

We will have to force the spring to achieve the Armenian Dream.

And in so doing – we will honor the heroes of Armenia’s Independence – the farmer, the solider, the teacher, and the mother.

Getseh Azad, Angakh yev Miatsial Haiastan.

And now, a year later, I’m in Armenia once again, this time with the AYF Youth Corps program. While walking up Tumanyan street, I ran into one of the scouts from Armenia that I became friends with last year at the jamboree camp, Karen. It’s difficult and a little cheesy to explain, but I felt such joy in seeing my “yeghbair” once again. After a year of thinking I would only see my friend over facebook, I feel a little ecstatic about this reunification. And none of this wouldn’t happen if it wasn’t for the AYF.

Most people can’t relate to bonds and friendships formed as a result of organizations like the Armenian Youth Federation or Homenetmen, but those who can I think really understand how I feel. Most of the time, it seems these organizations have selfless goals and are based on hard working individuals volunteering their time and resources while expecting little in return other than the satisfaction of contributing to the greater good of their community. I think I now understand that it’s much more than that satisfaction of helping others. It’s relationships formed and new experiences made that are the real rewards for the individual working within these organizations. If it wasn’t for either of these organizations, I would never had these experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.

Shant Mirzaians

The Armenian Weekly

The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Tri-Regional Seminar: Most see it as an opportunity to attend a series of lectures and debates, to improve our understanding of current events in Armenia, and to learn the details of our organization’s history. This was exactly what my expectations were. Being from Las Vegas, the “Sosse Mayrig” AYF Chapter sits at a distance from the rest of the Western Region. Hearing of the AYF Tri-Regional Seminar, taking place at Camp Haiastan from June 3-8 in little Franklin, Mass., I could not pass up the opportunity. As a member who loves our organization and is wholly dedicated to the Armenian Cause, I am always eager to learn from ungers of our ranks and to bring this knowledge back to the Las Vegas chapter.

Throughout the week, the 80 attendees from the AYF Western Region, Eastern Region, and Canada participated in a number of educationals. Hovsep Avakian (Eastern Central Committee) and Hayg Oshagan (Bureau) held a discussion regarding the goals and struggles our organization has and will encounter. This lecture opened our eyes to the harsh truth that as Armenians we are a dying race. This is why our generation must choose to stand up and continue fighting for a Free, Independent, and United Armenia. It was during this lecture that I saw the passion in my fellow ungers’ eyes grow stronger as the fight within each one of us continues untouched. It is discussions like these, in our nation and across the globe, where we become “re-motivated” and our enthusiasm for the Armenian Cause grows stronger. And as Hagop Der Khatchadourian (Bureau) reinforced in us, “There is no such thing as a dream that is not realizable.” After all, our previous generation could have never imagined an independent Armenia. With this dream now a reality, we must set our sights towards a new dream.

The attendees also had the privilege to be given a lecture by Antranig Kasbarian (Eastern Central Committee) regarding the ARF, and by Dikran Kaligian (Eastern Central Committee) regarding Turkish-Armenian reparations. Additionally, George Aghjayan (Eastern Central Committee) discussed the assurance of the success of the Armenian Diaspora and Jirair Beujekian (executive director of the ARS) discussed the necessity to work with our sister organizations to aid our country.

The weekend’s youngest lecturer, Raffi Sarkissian (published author and Canada ARS Day School vice principal), proved to us that the time to make a difference is now; our celebrated revolutionaries were our age when they chose to step forward to lead the cause. He instilled in us that it does not matter what we do, as long as we contribute to the Armenian nation. And for us the AYF is our greatest source and outlet to benefit the Armenian communities. Sarkissian’s accomplishments at his young age genuinely inspired and proved to our members that we can find a way to make a difference in our communities doing what we love; for him, it has been literature and education.

The Pyunik Band leads as a great example, as they perform in the U.S. and Canada staying true to their Armenian roots. You may have heard their music and appreciate their passion, but from the members’ interactions at the seminar I felt their enduring dedication to our people, to our nation, and to our cause.

The future of our nation is our choice and is in our hands, the hands of young revolutionaries. We can no longer idly stand around; rather, the time has come to take a stance. On the final day, members participated in a round-table discussion regarding how each region operates, what has proven to work and what does not work, and how to ensure the organization will succeed in the future. On behalf of all the attendees, I can say that we learned greatly from the Tri-Regional Seminar, and have a better understanding of the direction of the AYF as well as our nation.

Clearly, our expectations were met and the goals of the agenda were accomplished. But the critical moments where the Tri-Regional Seminar proudly exceeded any and all expectations was when we were able to relive thehistory of our organization through a tour of the Hairenik Building in Watertown, Mass. We were able to stand in the exact spots where our forefathers established this organization that has added such meaning to our lives. As we laid our eyes on the endless archives and generations of history, we felt the duty we hold to our country, to our fedayis with the same goals in mind, to our ancestors who suffered, and to our lands wrongfully taken from us.

Yes, each of us realized the duties we hold, but seeing that we are not alone in this made the biggest impact on me. As we united in singing revolutionary songs, we guaranteed one another that this is not the end of our path. Our new friendships provided assurance that through each struggle and each fall, we will continue to push each other to always fight for more. We continue to dream of our nation together as one, but for now I am more than satisfied to say that our diaspora has come together, as one.

by William Bairamian

Euphemisms have always played a part in racism. For those disposed toward cowardice, subtle overtures of a perceived enemy have allowed segregationists to convey their message to the like minded without saying what the masses think. This has been happening in Glendale, and throughout the Los Angeles area, for at least a decade, and now it has come to a silent fever pitch.

Last week, Zanku Armenian artfully examined the state of politics in the City of Glendale. This week, his observations were put on public display. In the Crescenta Valley Weekly, John Drayman, who is running for re-election to the Glendale City Council, attests that “On April 5^th some are hoping that you won’t vote”. Wait, I’ve heard that somewhere before.

I wonder, are these the same people that Mr. Drayman’s supporter, Gerri Cragnotti, a popular Glendale real estate agent, was referring to when she sent out an invitation for select Glendalians to come meet Mr. Drayman and Dave Weaver, another council candidate, at her home? That message read, “Maybe certain special interest groups, groups that win by absentee ballots, may not want you to go to the polls to vote on Tuesday April 5?”

Cloaked in ambiguity and doublespeak, the messages don’t arouse suspicion to the casual onlooker but to their constituents, they serve as an effective fear mongering tactic to suggest that there is some Armenian conspiracy that non-Armenians do not vote.

There are few, if any, “special interest groups” that are more engaged in the empowerment of voters in the Glendale area than the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). And, because a part of the ANCA’s voter registration efforts aim to help elderly, incapacitated voters, these individuals are registered, and vote, by absentee ballots, primarily because they cannot go to the polls because of their disabilities. This has been shamefully twisted into an ironic rallying cry that “special interest groups”, like the ANCA, who has registered thousands of new voters, are interested in people not showing up to the polls.

But Ms. Cragnotti was right. There are people in the city that do not want their fellow citizens to vote and their names are John Drayman, Dave Weaver, and Frank Quintero.

In 2008, these three members on the City Council voted for an ordinance that effectively made it more difficult for non-English speaking (which, in Glendale, means Armenian) voters to apply to vote absentee.

The effects of this measure were real. In 2007, the percentage of Armenians in Glendale that voted by absentee ballot was 70%. In 2009, after the measure was passed, that number fell to 62%. The three councilmen who voted for passage of this measure, Messrs. Weaver, Drayman, and Quintero, certainly achieved their objective of temporarily lessening the strength of the most powerful voting group in our fair city.

For all the bemoaning of the complaints against him, Mr. Drayman has curiously taken to projecting his troubles unto others – when he’s not curbing voter access, that is. He has made tacit suggestions, in meetings like the one at Ms. Cragnotti’s home, that Ardy Kassakhian, the City Clerk of Glendale, possibly the most upstanding of all Glendale city officials, has been remiss in his duties, with nary a factoid to support his hyperbolic discharge.

It might come as a surprise, then, that while he’s taking shots at Mr. Kassakhian in both public and private, Mr. Drayman is under investigation for criminal activity. It is he, after all, who was cited in the Los Angeles Times, as having work done on his condo by not one, but six, subcontractors for a firm that defrauded the City of Glendale out of millions of dollars.

This is not even something that Mr. Drayman rejects. He simply says that he did not know. It must have been, then, the merest of coincidences that six different subcontractors, all of whom were associated to a company whose services he had dedicated millions of taxpayer dollars to, were the same six doing renovations on his condominium.

Mr. Drayman is adept at deflecting any exposure of his transgressions. Either by trying to focus the attention on someone else by making baseless claims or by smugly ridiculing allegations against him as though they were incredulous. Well, one can only claim for so long that their character precludes them from such misdemeanors while establishing a steady track record of them.

All this ruckus simply underscores the success of the Armenian-American community in becoming politically engaged and active – they vote in higher numbers than any other group in Glendale. But for some reason, cynical people like John Drayman, Dave Weaver, and Gerri Cragnotti, have a problem with this. They have a problem with (certain) Americans exercising their right to vote. They have some inexplicable problem with the same people whom they underhandedly defame. They have created a false conspiracy to serve their own interests.

April 5 is Election Day. Some people don’t want you to vote – and some of those people are running for re-election to another four year term. It takes five minutes to vote. Should the Armenian-American community have to take another four years of attempts to marginalize and disparage them? You decide.

In the below clip, economist and ARF Parliamentarian, Ara Nranyan, discusses the disastrous neoliberal economic prescriptions of successive governments in Yerevan that have pushed down wages and working conditions, forcing Armenians to look for better opportunities abroad.

Racing to the bottom will only leave you in last place.

Until the privation and financial hardship caused by unbridled capitalism is not checked, we can expect more people leaving the homeland. Until the current conditions are not reformed and the root causes of inequality are not erased, no patriotic speech or sermon will stop the flight of our people toward more opportune shores. Striving for decent living and working conditions is a natural trait of all humans.

The key is not to scold those who have left but to create those conditions which will have them return.

It is no secret that the year 2010 was one of scandal and controversy surrounding incidents of abuse in the Armenian army. A spate of hazings, assaults, and non-combat violence in both Armenia and Artsakh were reported on heavily in the media.

Such occurrences are cause for concern for any conscientious and patriotic Armenian. Not only is it a national tragedy anytime an Armenian soldier, for any reason, is wounded or killed but these developments have also raised the specter of disillusionment toward the country’s military institutions among segments of the Armenian public.

Unfortunately, an incompetent administration in Yerevan has failed to root out these problems adequately. At the end of the day, it is the state which is responsible for the condition of its soldiers. Rather than a few marginal punishments of officers and a penchant toward military celebrations, the fundamental reforms and atmosphere needed to prevent such misdeeds from ever occurring seem to be lacking.

In this context, it is incumbent upon us, the Armenian people, to stand with the men fortified on the frontlines for the protection and security of our homeland. We must reinforce and strengthen the Republic of Armenia’s army by lending every means of support at our disposal.

Coupled with this is the need to reaffirm our sense of unity in regards to the armed forces, while at the same time calling for a truly democratic, people’s army in Armenia; an army which unites both soldiers and society around the concept of moral virtue and sacrifice for the homeland; an army which holds its figures accountable and does not tolerate any form of abuse; an army which stresses sacrificing for the nation above all other values; and an army which strives to empower its soldiers around a true sense of brotherhood and leading by example, consciously imparting the heroic traditions of our history (such as the liberation struggle of Artsakh) as the guiding light of its character.

It is the obligation of all Armenians to ensure the well-being and high morale of our soldiers. We must internalize the true spirit of solidarity required in those critical junctures of battle and secure it for all seasons.

2011 must be the year of ensuring our nation’s security. The creation of an impenetrable harmony among army and nation is a critical component toward this end.