YP Boston and ARF Sardarabad Collaborate on Genocide Recognition Symposium

On May 12, 2011, AGBU’s Young Professionals (YP) of Boston and ARF Sardarabad collaborated to co-sponsor a successful symposium attended by 85 people, which was titled "Genocide Recognition: The Road Ahead." Chris Mensoian and Nicole Meregian of AGBU YP Boston, and Jirayr Beugekian of the ARF Sardarabad, served as event chairs. Together, the groups organized a panel of four distinguished Armenians: Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA; Marc Mamigonian, Director of Academic Affairs of NAASR; Dr. Michael G. Mensoian, Professor Emeritus, Middle East and Political Geography, UMASS Boston; and Khatchig Mouradian, editor of the Armenian Weekly and PhD student in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Clark University. Alin Gregorian, editor of the Armenian Mirror-Spectator, served as moderator.

Chairwoman of YP Boston, Nicole Meregian, gave opening remarks and introduced the participants and special guests, including Massachusetts State Representative Jonathan Hecht (D-Watertown/West Cambridge).

The panelists discussed and debated a wide range of topics within the realm of genocide recognition, including reparations, the role of the Armenian diaspora in genocide recognition, the future security of Javakhk and Karabakh, and the importance of genocide education in U.S. academic institutions.

Following the discussion, moderator Gregorian and the audience directed questions to the panelists. Speaking of the importance of the symposium, event co-chair Chris Mensoian said, "Discussions like this are very important and necessary to engage and educate the community and to avoid further apathy, which results in less participation in, and donations to, worthy Armenian organizations and causes. It's a small victory, but a victory nonetheless, each time an event like this takes place and there is an open discussion of Armenian issues."

Each speaker added something to the discussion from his or her own perspective. In the context of Turkey, panelist Mouradian highlighted the importance of justice for the Armenian genocide, and noted that, often, calls to being "realistic" in the quest for justice -- and other attempts to reject demands for more than symbolic recognition -- are part of the structural violence against Armenians. Mouradian also emphasized the importance of genocide education as part of the curriculum of U.S. schools, so that children are taught correct history from a young age, and so that it will be increasingly difficult for the U.S. government and future leaders to ignore historical facts.

Dr. Mensoian expressed his deep concern for the future of Javakhk and Karabakh, and emphasized that diasporan organizations need to invest more into these lands so that Armenia does not lose them. Hamparian stressed the importance of both genocide recognition and the security of the above regions, explaining in detail how the ANCA works hard on both of these Armenian causes. He also went on to explain how Turkey invests heavily into lobbying against genocide recognition, and it is therefore imperative for Armenians to counter this, to donate more to groups like the ANCA, Armenian Assembly, and other similar organizations.

Mamigonian added to this discussion from an academic perspective, stating that Turks donate hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to American universities in order to establish Turkish Studies programs, which employ American professors, who in turn teach and state publicly that the Armenian Genocide never occurred. There is a strong need for more genocide and Armenian studies programs to counteract the detrimental effects of genocide denial, and there is an urgent need for funding from the Armenian diaspora.

AYF Great Boston Nejdeh Chapter chairman, Stepanos Keshishian, was in attendance and shared his thoughts on the event. "Personally, I thought it was a great initiative to bring together Armenians of different sub-communities for a discussion. Although we may have differing political beliefs or ideologies, the important thing is that we all work for the health of our nation and for the well-being and comfort of all our brothers and sisters around the world," he said.

AGBU YP Boston and ARF Sardarabad were pleased with the success of the event and felt it was important to collaborate on the symposium because of the common goal shared by all Armenians – genocide recognition and education. All Armenians stand together on this issue, and should continue to promote this type of collaboration and collegiality so that one day Armenian Genocide recognition is a reality, not just a dream.