The Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation: Social democracy in practice

The Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation (HMF), a social democratic think tank founded in 2009 in the Republic of Armenia is a non-profit Armenian foundation committed to the development and advancement of public policy issues that espouse the basic values of social democracy through education, training, research, and regional and international cooperation.

Reality and Necessity

Our groups’ time in Gyumri is quickly coming to an end, and before we make our way to Shushi I want to reflect on the city of Gyumri and its current condition. Gyumri is Armenia’s second largest city and in a lot of ways it’s a microcosm of Armenia.

FOUR YEARS LATER: The Assassination of a Journalist in Turkey

January 19, 2007. Istanbul, Turkey. At this place and on this date, a middle-aged man in a brown suit was shot dead at point-blank range. The three gunshots that shattered the cool air that day sent shockwaves through his country and the world at large.

Verba Volant, Scripta Manent: The Words of My Grandfather that Never Flew Away

I am the (un)fortunate grandchild of four individuals who all had their respective immediate experiences with the Genocide.

Displaced Person Strengthening Communities; The Story of the Montebello DPs

In the 1940’s, Adolf Hitler and his Nazi army battled Russia for control of Eastern Europe in World War II. Consequently, tens of thousands of people who called these warn torn pieces of land home were reluctantly uprooted and shipped off to labor camps in Germany. Among the thousands of displaced persons, or DPs, were Armenians.

Their Generation, My Generation – Arpa Hatzbanian

As a child, Arpa spent a lot of time with her maternal grandmother who told her stories about her great-grandfather and especially “Jebel Musa” (Musa Ler). She spoke about people resisting and struggling.

Have You Climbed Ararat, Lately?

It is mid-August again and the heat may be unbearable here in Yerevan, but it is perfect conditions for climbing Mt. Ararat (elevation 5,137 m/16,854 ft)—the best time of year for such an undertaking. In the past month or so, I have heard of a few groups of climbers who have successfully climbed Ararat and proudly announced their achievement. A bit of controversy has been hitting the online news services, as a result, mostly about the reaction from Turkey. There has been a lot of noise regarding whose flag was up there and what it really represented.

Երկտող Մը Ձեզի, Ընկերուհիներ

Մինչեւ որ առնես վերջին շունչդ թող գրիչդ թուղթի մտերիմ մնայ: Գրէ կեանքիդ մասին, գրէ երազներուդ մասին, գրէ ոչինչի մասին, բայց գրէ՛: Նոյնիսկ եթէ վկայական չունիս, գրէ: Նոյնիսկ եթէ Սիամանթօ կամ Տէրեան մը չես կամ չես իսկ կարդացած, գրէ:

The Cost of Living: Life in Armenia’s Second City

My summer in Armenia was an eye opening experience to say the least. While Americans worry about the release of the latest Ipod or the new fashion trends of the season, Armenians worry about affording day-to-day necessities such as gas and water. As time progresses, it is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain a living, which has made staying in the homeland a difficult decision.

Flashing Gyumri Before My Eyes: A Look Into My Birthplace

When in 1899 the construction of a railroad tunnel in Jajur (the birthplace of the renowned painter Minas Avetisyan) was completed and the first steam locomotive entered Gyumri, the inhabitants of the city gathered at the rail station to see the otherworldly sight. It is said that two youths, Poloz Mukuch and his friend Madoyents Napo, were there as well. After watching the approaching train for a while, Mukuch asked:

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