The Post-Centennial ‘What’s Next’: Where Music Videos Will Not Help

Anahit Sargsyan

While we all understand that one hundred is only a number, given the iconic roundup of the century, the Centennial provided the perfect opportunity to stop, reevaluate and re-plan. The worldwide commemoration ceremonies, coupled with unprecedented media attention, made it clear that raising awareness has ceased being the main issue in the Armenian Genocide recognition process. Certainly, raising genocide awareness is a strong foundation, yet it is still only a foundation, a platform, on which we should continue to build. It is also essential that we take a step back to explore the ways that we can practically use the recognition that we have achieved so far. This is a simple concept that most Armenians realized during the Centennial. However, what is not so simple is the attempt to understand what exactly the next step should be. Although it is compelling to consider that reparations should be the new focus of our attention, in reality, the question of “what’s next” requires a far more comprehensive approach. In fact, “what’s next” is not a single goal, but rather a chain of interconnected objectives that we should consider equally. Inevitably, this chain must start with a strong and reliable Republic of Armenia. It requires modifications in the way genocide is studied in the Armenian educational system. In addition, it demands an unprecedented focus on international law within Armenia. Working together, these will lead to increased credibility for Armenia in the international sphere as a qualified candidate to take the lead in the pursuit of remedies for the Armenian and other unrecognized genocides.

More than One April 24, 2015, in Istanbul

Nareg Seferian

 

It was the evening of April 24, 2015, and I was sitting on the street in Istanbul, right near where Istiklal Avenue starts off from Taksim Square. The area had been closed off especially for us—a part of town usually bustling (bursting, really) with people. Those around me were holding placards, mostly of the Armenians who had been placed under arrest that day 100 years earlier. I got a placard with one Hagop Terzian on it. “I must look him up,” I thought, somewhat ashamed of the fact that I had not heard of him before, one of the many whose memory was being honored that evening.

Armenian Genocide Museum in Uruguay: The First Step

Vartan Matiossian

In 1963 a joint initiative of the youth organizations of the local Armenian community led to the unprecedented commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the genocide and its recognition by Uruguay in 1965. A communique dated July 5, 2013, signed by Archbishop Hakob Kelendjian, Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Uruguay, and Mr. Ruben Aprahamian, honorary consul of the Republic of Armenia, has reported the formation of the Commission of Commemoration of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide of the Armenian Community of Uruguay. The committee has been formed by representatives of all religious and lay organizations of the community, whose center is Montevideo, the capital.