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Item Սուրիահայութիւնն Ու Յետպատերազմեան Սուրիան(2018) Hagopjian, KevorkTaking the Syrian’s minorities’ perspectives into consideration, one may argue that neither “Islamism” nor “Arabism” seems likely to unite the diverse communities of Syria. Sectarian tensions among the Muslims; non-Muslim minorities’ and Muslim moderates’ fears of the emergence of an Islamic state; Kurdish (and other ethnic minorities’) concerns about Arabisation are issues that should be taken seriously. Therefore, the adoption of Syrian state citizenship as a unifying factor may lead the diverse multinational and multi-ethnic communities of Syria to reconcile their disagreements. Bearing in mind the integrating role various ethnic and religious minorities played in building modern Syria, Syrian citizenship can serve as a common denominator and ensure equality and the rule of law to all Syrians without any sort of discrimination. In this context, the paper highlights the preoccupations of the Syrian Armenian community concerning the current political instability and Syria’s ambiguous future. The paper notes a number of matters of principle which, arguably, could guarantee minority rights and their sustainability in the Syrian state. These include protection of Armenian identity; equality and non-discrimination; active participation in political social and economic life; respect for human rights provisions; minority group rights vis-à-vis historical or cultural places and transactional considerations; measures against marginalization and exclusion in all walks of Syrian socio-political, cultural and economic life.Item Reconstructing Aleppo(2018) Tokmadjian, ArmenakՍուրիոյ մէջ շարունակուող հակամարտութիւնը բազմաթիւ քաղաքներ ծանրօրէն աւերակեց: Պատմութիւնը կը հաստատէ, սակայն, որ մեծ քաղաքներ – ինչպէս Հալէպը – չեն մեռնիր: Ընդհակառակը, անմիջապէս որ բրտութեան ալիքը դադրի, լայնածիր վերակառուցման աշխատանքներ կը սկսին հոն: Հեղինակը կ'արծարծէ Հալէպի վերակառուցման ծրագրերը: Ան կ'ընդգծէ որ վերակառուցման ծրագիրը պէտք է լաւապէս սերտուի, մտածուի եւ քննարկուի՝ պատերազմի աւարտէն առաջ: Հեղինակը կը հիմնաւորէ իր այս տեսակէտը՝ բերելով օրինակները նախորդ փորձերու, ինչպիսիք են Սարայէւօն եւ Պէյրութը: Զեկոյցը կը մատնանշէ որ յետ-պատերազմեան շտապ վերակառուցումը բազմաթիւ ընկերային, տնտեսական եւ ճարտարապետական բարդութիւններ յառաջացուցած է, որոնցմէ վերոյիշեալ երկու քաղաքները ցարդ կը տառապին: Հեղինակը կը քննադատէ նման շտապողական եւ ոչ-խորապէս քննարկուած վերակառուցումը, ուր նախապատուութիւն կը տրուի տնտեսական շահերու, մինչ նախկին բնակչութեան մեծ շերտ կը մնայ դուրս, եւ մինչ շինարարական ընկերութիւնները կը կառուցեն փայլուն, ապակեպատ շէնքեր, անդին նախկին քաղաքաբնակները կը կառուցեն խրճիթներ՝ ու կ'ընդարձակեն քաղաքը: Հեղինակը կը միտի Պէյրութի եւ Սարայէւոյի փորձէն մեկնելով յառաջադրել վերակառուցման տարբեր ծրագիր մը Հալէպէն:Item Սուրիահայ Մշակութային Կորուստը (Ակնարկ)(2018) Pilavdjian, SoseThe paper notes that Aleppo was the first station of Armenian refugees and a principal settlement area for them. She argues that this fact has led Armenians and others to venture into collecting Armenian cultural artifacts in Syria. Indeed a number of Syrian-Armenian collectors have been instrumental in collecting Armenian cultural materials including manuscripts, 19th century photos, souvenirs and mementos of the fatherland, songs and tales, carpets, handcrafts, needlework, documents, coins, etc. Based on personal experience, the author details the loss of her father’s rich collection of Armenian cultural artifacts, lost when their apartment and the whole building was demolished by the very first bombs that hit Aleppo. The paper surveys the damage a number of Armenian medieval architectural monuments have suffered in the ongoing war in Syria, alongside the destruction and ruining of 20th century Armenian churches, cemeteries and monuments, erected in memory of the Armenian Genocide, particularly those in Aleppo, Der Zor and Margade.Item Հալէպահայութեան Կրած Վնասները (Ակնարկ)(2018) Katerdjian, AvoThe author briefly reports on the losses the Armenian community of Syria faced during the war years. Against the backdrop of a general overview of the Armenians of Syria, the report highlights specifically the financial, demographic, cultural, business, and educational losses and implications of the war on the Aleppo Armenians, the new demographic map of the Armenians of Syria and their future prospects.Item Սուրիոյ Հայ Աւետարանական Համայնքի Գործունէութիւնը (2005-2017ի Ամփոփ Պատկեր)(2018) Selimian, HaroutiounThe Armenian evangelical community of Syria has a significant presence in the Armenian spiritual, cultural, and national space of Syria. From the early 1990’s, the community was further and more actively incorporated into the Syrian Armenian space. The community is present in Aleppo, Kesab, Homs and Damascus and is administered by the Central Committee of the Near East Armenian Evangelical Church Union, the Administrative Body of the Armenian Evangelical Community and the Educational Council of the Armenian Evangelical Community. The report highlights the milestones of the community in Syria and describes the socio-cultural, national and spiritual activities of the community prior to and during the war years in Syria. Prior to the war years considerable emphasis was put on Christian education; school buildings as well as the content and quality of the education and learning provided was revised in line with changes in school structure policies by the ministry of education. Tuition fees and financial aid were revised and a secondary section started in 2009. On the cultural side a music school, library and reading hall were launched in 2006. War realities, however, imposed a different agenda. The community became geared more towards social and economic relief by providing food, financial help, medical care, everyday life utilities (gas, water, etc.), and it organized gatherings for children and the elderly. An infirmary was inaugurated in 2013. Due to danger in war zones, certain schools were relocated or had to send their students to other schools. Nonetheless, school jubilees were celebrated, yearbooks were published, and both inter- and intra-communal relations and relations with the Republic of Armenia, the Diaspora and the global Christian community were maintained. In a nutshell, the report emphasizes the fact that against the odds of war the community survived and did its utmost to bear the impact and consequences of the war with strength.Item Սիրիայի Հայ Համայնքի Հետ Տարուող Աշխատանքները(2018) Zakarian, FirdusSome 15-20,000 Syrian-Armenians have taken refuge from the war waging in Syria in the Republic of Armenia. Currently there are 13,000 Syrian-Armenians in Armenia. The paper is an extensive report on the work the Ministry of the Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia, conducted between 2008 and 2015 with the Syrian-Armenians who left Syria because of the ongoing fighting in the country. The Ministry’s initial efforts targeted certain basic issues, namely how to cooperate with the community, survey the difficulties, analyze them and develop methods to resolve them, and incorporate their results in pan-Armenian projects like youth activities, pan-Armenian conferences, and publishing of studies on the issues the community faces. The report details the efforts the state has made regarding the Syrian-Armenian community of Armenia through the Ministry of the Diaspora, which is the coordinator of the efforts and projects produced and conducted by various departments of the government. The efforts include the establishment of an ad hoc team, an interministerial commission, and a coordinating body composed of Syrian-Armenians. Among the practical efforts, the report highlights the easing of visa and naturalization procedures, entitling Syrian-Armenians to use their Syrian cars in Armenia for a period of time without any taxation, providing them with accommodation, health services, job placement services, and legal advice, channeling financial aid and relief to the needy, providing credit to launch businesses, providing free courses to help them integrate into local society, settling them in agricultural areas for land cultivation, providing the children with relevant education and covering the tuition fees of 350 university students, incorporating Syrian-Armenian youth in relevant projects, organizing fund raising cultural events, etc.Item Բերիոյ Հայոց Թեմի Մշակութային Վերելքը (1995-2015)(2018) Kaprielian, MariaThe paper describes the functional activities of the Armenian Orthodox Church Beria Prelacy in the last twenty years (1995-2015) and covers almost all geographic Syria, specifically the Aleppo, Coastal and Jezira districts. In brief, the paper presents the administrative structure of the Perelacy and its four basic types of organizational activities, namely education, public relations and publications, Christian education and nurturing the new generation. It details the extent of work done in these fields, as well as the purpose, results, trends, and difficulties that such an endeavor faces. The paper notes that due to the war in Syria, the Prelacy reshaped itself and made accommodations to deal with war emergencies and to address the growing challenges. The paper concludes with a brief description of the current conditions of the the Prelacy and the course which will be taken by the Prelacy in the post-war period.Item Սիրիահայերը Հայաստանի Եւ Լեռնային Ղարաբաղի Հանրապետութիւններում. Խնդիրներ, Լուծման Տարբերակներ(2018) Mardoyan, TehminéThe paper portrays how the repatriation of Syrian Armenians to the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh (Karabagh) has been accomplished. It discusses the existence of systematic and clear-cut plans for their incorporation into local society and the basic problems the refugees currently face. In fact their repatriation took place in difficult conditions; thus, their incorporation is complicated and takes time. The paper argues that care from the fatherland is very important and needs to be ongoing. Consistent care should be given to address the difficulties of those repatriated. As some of the Syrian Armenians are having thoughts of further migration, the paper argues that efforts should be made to enable them to reconstruct their lives and envisage their future in their fatherland. In this regard the paper emphasizes the various contributions that these settlers have brought to Armenian society. The paper argues that support for the Syrian Armenian settlers has been generally successful. Nonetheless, steps should be taken to alleviate any further difficulties that might arise at any moment.Item Տեղահանութիւն. Հաւաքական Յիշողութիւն Եւ Անձնական Փորձառութիւն (Քեսապի Պարագայ)(2018) Ashekian, ShoghigAgainst the backdrop of the first two deportations from Kesab (1909 and 1915), the paper analyses the third deportation from Kesab in 2014. Based on observations and analysis of collective memory experiences, exclusively from an Armenian perspective, the paper examines, from diverse angles, the 2014 uprooting and its connections with the Armenian Genocide and the basic issues of the Armenian Cause. The Kesab case is presented as a case-study of Armenian history, yet, at the same time, as part and parcel of Syrian Armenian history. Accordingly, the conclusions of the paper are deductive reflecting a line of thought from one case to generalities.Item Ակնարկ Պատերազմի Օրերու Հալէպահայ Գրականութեան (2012էն Այսօր)(2018) Yeramian, MarushNotwithstanding the fact that the Syrian crisis is having a very strong impact on Aleppine Armenian daily community life, the local leadership as well as social and volunteer groups are involved in a daily effort to maintain a flow of life-as-usual. The paper highlights Aleppine literature which can be given this status of "life-as-usual". Aleppine daily literature has started to reflect war in general and the daily fighting through poetry, short stories, diaries, essays, etc. Alongside the usual means of publishing materials, namely newspapers, books, etc., the internet and Facebook have been instrumental in giving broad exposure to Aleppine Armenian literature.Item Ակնարկ Վերջին Տասնամեակի Հալէպահայ Բանաստեղծութեան(2018) Yeramian, MarushThe paper focuses on the sinuous road Aleppene Armenian poetry has taken lately. It is said that Aleppo gives birth to writers but cannot keep them, because these fly away to other Armenian destinations at the first chance. In recent decades, however, right before the Syrian crisis, the young generation stayed in the city due to the relative stability of the country. This was conductive to the development of a small group of young authors trying to give shape to Armenian-Aleppene literature. The group used the literary pages of the Prelacy Kantsasar weekly, which is still functioning. Later on a broader group of upcoming and well-established authors gathered around a yearbook, Yert, which included both literary works and translations as well as research. Some Aleppene Armenian authors published their books themselves; others made use of the Cilicia Catholicosate-based Kevork Melidinetsi Literary prize, which published a number of their books.Item Գարեգին Քեսապցի Կաթողիկոսի Բառապաշարը Հայերէնի Հարստացման Միջոց(2018) Mesrobian, HayganushThe published sermons, interpretations and theological research of Karekin I, Catholicos of All Armenians, are among the best expressions of Armenian public speech. Answers are given to a multiplicity of questions in an encyclopedic manner that includes philosophical generalisations. The answers are significantly pictorial and have literary significance since they are expressed in different styles and at times by means of new words, particularly compound words. According to the paper, Catholicos Karekin I brought to life some 2000 new words in Armenian, thus enriching the Armenian lexicon. The paper analyses the formation and structure of these new words, which were molded according to the rules and regulations of Armenian word formation. Alongside these new words, the paper notes that certain other words are used with new connotations and usage. The paper also notes that a large number of these new words come from the Bible, where words like God, Jesus, Christ, Mesrob, light, Armenian, soul, gospel, prayer, saint, disciple, and self constitute the first part of the newly formed compound word. The paper ends by highlighting a number of examples of these new words, which are an interesting combination of Western and Eastern Armenian literary languages.Item Հայ-Արաբ Թարգմանական Գրականութեան Զարգացումը Սուրիոյ Մէջ(2018) Mikayelian, HagopArmenian-Arab relations can be tracked back to pre-Christian times and have been uninterrupted ever since. These relations have involved the diverse spheres of politics, medicine, literature, sciences and trade. Arab domination of Armenia had a very strong impact on the Armenian language, yet culturally the influence was mutual. As of the early 20th century, right after the Genocide, a new set of relations, which are significant particularly in culture and literary translations, was established between the two nations. These new relations promoted mutual cultural recognition. Indeed between 1970 and 2000 translation from Armenian into Arabic and vice versa flourished in the fields of both literature and history. The paper highlights the result of this effort and its impact on bridging the gaps between these two nations and promoting knowledge of mutual national issues and concerns. The significant achievements of this translation, however, are not considered enough. Indeed, this translation effort has not gone much beyond limited professionalism, has not been institutionalized and has remained the result of individual, self-motivated efforts.Item Aleppo College(2018) Khanjian, JohnՀեղինակը՝ իբրեւ աշակերտ, ապա նաեւ իբրեւ ուսուցիչ՝ Ալեփփօ Քոլէճի, իր անձնական յիշողութիւններուն հիմամբ կ'անդրադառնայ հոն անցուցած տարիներուն եւ կը վերակերտէ քոլէճին ներքին կեանքը, կենցաղը, ուսումնական դրուածքը, առօրեան, փոխյարաբերութիւնները, լուսարձակի տակ կ'առնէ աշակերտութեան այլեւայլ երեսակներ, ջանալով տալ իր պատում-վկայութիւնը նշանաւոր այս կրթարանին մասին:Item Քեսապը Հայ Գրականութեան Մէջ(2018) Apelian, SilviKesab is an ancient Armenian settlement and a community that has gradually attracted ethnographic interest, particularly during the second half of the 20th Century. During the last six decades Kesab’s dialect, ethnography and folklore have been extensively studied. Kesab and its Armenian community have become the subject of several literary works, too, both poetry and prose. The paper focuses on the presence of Kesab and the Kesab Armenian community in literature. As of the 1940s Kesab is included in informative almanacs and handbooks. Several ethnographic books dedicated to the area were published. Dikran Mandjigian, Mihran Minasian and Hagop Cholakian indulged in the collection of Kesab Armenian folklore and published it. Cholakian published several volumes of his scientific research on Kesab ethnography as well as its dialects, fairy tales, sayings, proverbs, songs, etc. Another significant work is that of Albert Apelian, which was published posthumously. The paper studies the literature which is dedicated to Kesab, grouping the authors as native-born and other. It analyses the content of these writings and the reasons for the authors’ interest. The paper groups these writings in different categories of poetry and prose.Item Դամասկոսի Հայերը 1920-40ականներուն (Ակնարկ)(2018) Arissian, NoraNotwithstanding its small size, the Damascus Armenian community constitutes a historical part of the Syrian Armenian community. These Armenians settled in Damascus after the Genocide and revived the old community there. Based on diverse sources, archival materials, Prelacy registers, Arabic newspapers, and Syrian Arab memories and accounts, the paper sheds light on Damascus as an Armenian center and its history in the post-genocide era. The paper highlights the growth and formation of the community, its schools, voluntary organizations, and churches, as wells as its socio-cultural growth in the last one hundred years. It underlines the role of a number of prominent Damascene Armenians had in various aspects of Syrian politics, society, economy, and culture. Furthermore, the paper examines the relations of the community with local cultural circles and assesses the Damascene Armenian community from the local Arab perspective.Item Քամիշլիի Հայ Համայնքը Եւ Ճեզիրէի Հայոց Առաջնորդական Փոխանորդութիւնը (1920-1960ականներ)(2018) Fishenkjian, AniThe paper details the origins and development of the Armenian Orthodox vice prelacy in Jezire, and the factors that gave birth to its establishment. The author describes the arrival of hundreds of Armenian families from the eastern regions of Turkey, who were persecuted and forced to take refuge on the Syrian side of the border. The paper highlights the efforts of Armenian local and regional lay and religious authorities made to legalize their settlement on Syrian lands, the allocation of arable lands for them to cultivate and make a living and their eventual integration into the tiny local Armenian communities of north-eastern Syria. The author argues that their number necessitated the establishment of a vice-prelacy in the region, particularly after the formation of an Armenian school network and other organizations. The vice-prelacy was established in 1942, at a time when the Armenian population of Jezire was around 35,000. However, soon after, in 1946-47 a significant number of these new settlers were repatriated to Soviet Armenia.Item The Syrian Armenian Rural Community of Ayn El-Arous(2018) Kellugian Baran, HasmigՀրատարակութիւններու, արխիւային նիւթերու, հարցազրոյցներու, յուշերու, անձնական յիշողութիւններու միջոցով հաւաքուած նիւթի հիմամբ հեղինակը կը վերականգնէ մինչեւ 1950ականներու աւարտը մեծամասնութեամբ հայաբնակ Այն Արուս գիւղին կեանքին պատումը: Հեղինակը կը ներկայացնէ հայոց այդ գիւղ հաստատուելուն նախաեղեռնեան հանգրուանը, ապա՝ Եղեռնէն ետք հոն հաստատուած հայ գաղթականութեան կեանքի պայմանները, կենցաղը, առօրեան, տան եւ առտնին աշխատանքային բաժանումը, այդ աշխատանքներուն ընթացքին տեղաբնիկ օգնականներուն առնչումը, անասնաբուծութիւնը, երկրագործութիւնը եւ հաւաքական աշխատանքներունը, մարանն ու հանդերձանքը, արհեստները, արաբ քոչուոր ցեղերու հետ յարաբերութիւնները, դպրոցական ու եկեղեցական կեանքը, մշակութային թէ մարզական միութիւններուն գործունէութիւնը, հանգստութեան ժամանցները, աւանդական տօնակատարութիւնները եւն.:Item Հայ-Սիրիական Դիւանագիտական Եւ Քաղաքական Յարաբերութիւնների Պատմութիւնից (Դեկտեմբեր 1992-Մարտ 2011)(2018) Israelian, ArthurSyria is a powerful member of the Arab league, member of the Islamic Cooperation Organization and member of Club of 77. The country also has a strategic location on the Mediterranean and is an important junction on the economic transit highway between the Indian Ocean and Black Sea. Armenian-Syrian relations have traditionally been friendly and cooperative since the days of the Soviet Union when, in 1979, President Hafez Assad paid a visit to Soviet Armenia on his way back from a visit to Moscow. The current Syria-Armenian community was formed due to the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Decades after the settlement of the refugees, the Armenians have turned into one of the most law-abiding communities of Syria and have contributed immensely to the growth of the Syrian economy. Syria was among the first to recognize the independence of the Republic of Armenia. Soon warm relations were established in the political, cultural, economic and scientific spheres, which gradually developed and deepened. Currently these relations are being strengthened. The paper highlights the two basic tracks of these relations: a) Armenian-Syrian diplomatic relations between 1991 and 208 and their development and extent, b) Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding signed between the two countries.Item Սփիւռքահայութեան Հետ Մշակութային Կապի Կոմիտէն Եւ Սիրիահայութիւնը(2018) Yeghiazaryan, ArmanFrom its inception in 1964, Soviet Armenia’s Committee on Cultural Relations with the Diaspora Armenians established a strong relationship with the Syrian Armenian community. Special attention was paid to the Middle East Armenian communities as these were deemed very important due to their number and organizational network. Through archival materials, the paper analyses various aspects of the relations of the Committee with the Armenian community of Syria. Prior to the establishment of these relations thorough research and study of the Syrian Armenian community was conducted to asses who’s who in the community. Eventually two types of relations were established: personal and organizational. The paper underlines, however, that these relations were partial as they excluded nearly all relations with individuals and organizations that were not considered “progressive.”