National public figure Ara Aharonian is sure
Recently, the Armenian Diaspora public figure, a longstanding leader of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramgavar), Ara Aharonian visited Armenia
The author of numerous works presented the Minister of Diaspora his new “The Paths of the Greats” two-volume study. In the interview with “Aravot”, Mr. Aharonian said that he has inherited the love towards the Homeland and national identity from his ancestors, his father and mother were survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Our interlocutor noted that for many years he had been the chairperson of the US West Coast and Canada Regional committee and at work, assessing the Armenian community in the US, says that work here is much more as compared, in his words, to the Armenian community in the Middle East. Bringing the new generation closer to its roots and introducing them to the path of the old generations give rise to his eight books, part of which is translated into English. As for the book entitled “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic”, he has not only presented it to the NKR National Assembly Speaker Ashot Ghulyan, but also distributed 100 copies to the US Congress. Ara Aharonian is happy that thanks to the efforts of the University students, some of his works have appeared on the internet, this means that they win the attention of the young people.
Aharonian wrote also about Javakhk, Nakhichevan, and Hamshen Armenians, saying that 4-5 Western American newspapers have addressed this issue. Speaking about the Diaspora, our interlocutor says that there is a good community in Argentina, although they speak Hispanic, however, they have encouraging excitement to the homeland, they have a street named Armenia and the Hispanic students sing “Kilikia” and “Our Homeland” songs. As for the Armenians living in America, here too, as Aharonian says, they are mostly educated at the Armenian Saturday Schools, and only 4% sends their children to the Armenian schools. Ara Aharonian said that the picture was different in the Middle East, once, when the renowned cultural figures, such as composers Alexander Harutyunyan and Arno Babajanyan were going to Lebanon, they felt what an appreciative colony it is. However, Ara Aharonian believes that Armenians has no future in the Muslim countries, and he urges to leave the country that has a crescent and come to inhabit in Artsakh.
Read also
He notes that he was leading the pan-colonial initiatives dedicated to the Armenian Cause and the Genocide of united parties since 1999, he regrets that some of them driven by political interests have begun dragging the unity. During our conversation, there was a reference to the “California Courier” newspaper’s publisher and editor, Harout Sassounian’s offer to establish a par-Diaspora structure. He said that it is possible to organize Diaspora elections by the principle of “one Armenian, one vote” and the 18-year-old Armenians in any community shall elect a deputy or a representative by the majority of votes. Ara Aharonian is in favor of such structure and brings an example that the Jews have a World Jewish Congress that coordinates their issues, Armenians do not have a head of Diaspora. He is upset that the clergy is involved in the national initiatives. “In the democratic country, the church has no right to interfere in building the country… the business of the priests is the blessing, keeping the Armenian as an Armenian rather than interfering in the politics.”
During the course of our conversation, there was also a reference to the call of Diaspora Minister, Hranush Hakobyan, saying that it would be good for the Diaspora Armenians to invest a 1000 USD to our national banks. Ara Aharonian said, “It is a nice offer, but the “Hayastan” Fund was a great experience in terms of the RA government’s approaches to the Diaspora…” Diaspora Armenian national public figure believes that the Diaspora needs to have a Congress, and it is not the Ministry of Diaspora. He said that this Congress should work with the RA Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the existence of the Diaspora Ministry in this context is simply needless.
Gohar HAKOBYAN,
“Aravot” daily
