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'HAI TAHD' DOWN UNDER: KAHRAMANIAN OFFERS A GLIMPSE INTO COMMUNITY LIFE AND EXPANDING ADVOCACY EFFORTS
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/08/29/hai-tahd-down-under-kahramanian-offers-a-glimpse-into-community-life-and-expanding-advocacy-efforts/
By Lilly Torosyan // August 29, 2013
The Armenian community in Australia is fairly young, but as its numbers
grow, so does its activism. Last October, the parliament of New South
Wales became the third state in the world to officially recognize
the independence of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic. This summer,
the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANCA) accompanied
a group of Australian politicians on a weeklong visit to Armenia
and Karabagh. ANCA Executive Director Vache Kahramanian spoke with
the Armenian Weekly about this trip, as well as other facets of
Armenian-Australian life.
Kahramanian (R) with Torosyan
Lilly Torosyan: Talk about the Armenian community in Australia.
Vache Kahramanian: The Armenian community in Australia was founded in
the early 1960's. The first wave of immigrants arrived predominantly
from Egypt, fleeing the social unrest that had started to occur there.
The main wave of immigration occurred in the 1970's when many Armenians
came from Lebanon during the Civil War, and also from Syria, Iran,
and other countries throughout the Middle East. The community at
present numbers around the 50,000 mark, and is predominantly based
in the Sydney metropolitan area, with small pockets of communities
in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and other Australian cities.
Like most diasporan communities, there exists a wide range of community
organizations, including the Armenian National Committee, the Armenian
Relief Society, Hamazkayin, Homenetmen, the AGBU. And of course the
church plays an important role in the community, as well.
The ANC of Australia was formed many decades ago to carry on
the role of advancing the Armenian Cause within the context of
the Australian political environment-that is, to promote genocide
recognition; recognition of the independence of Artsakh; a strong,
free, and united Armenia; and economic aid and security to Armenia and
Artsakh. Those four pillars are the driving force behind what the ANC
does in Australia, and of course, what it does all around the world
through its offices, whether in Washington, D.C., Brussels, London,
or the Middle East.
L.T.: You recently visited Armenia with a group of Australian
politicians. How was that experience?
V.K.: We had a group of Australian state legislators from the state
of New South Wales, which is the largest, most populated state in the
country. Australia has a population of 22 million people, 7 million
of which live in New South Wales. That state became the first in 1997
to recognize the Armenian Genocide by passing a unanimous motion in
both houses of parliament. In 1998, the parliament passed a motion to
erect a khachkar [Armenian cross-stone] memorial in its peace garden
to honor the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide and to
mark April 24th each year as a day of remembrance in that state.
In 2012, that state again became the first in Australia-the third
internationally-to recognize the right to self-determination by the
Republic of Nagorno Karabagh. It came only behind Rhode Island and
Mass., which were the first two states in the world to pass similar
motions.
In New South Wales, there is multi-partisan support for all issues
of importance to the Armenian community, whether that is Artsakh
[Karabagh], genocide recognition, or a strong and secure Armenia. So
we had the opportunity to take seven members of parliament on an
official visit to the Republic of Armenia, whereby they had the
opportunity to meet with the president, His Holiness Karekin II, and
other high-ranking government officials, including the speaker of the
House and various members of parliament within the National Assembly.
In a broader context, they had the opportunity to see Armenia with
their own eyes-a country of descendants of the genocide-and to see
what the modern-day implications of genocide recognition mean, not
only to the people, but to the national security of Armenia...
The members of parliament also had the opportunity to make a historic
visit to the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh, and what that allowed them
was to experience first-hand the brutality of Azerbaijan. They saw
the destruction and also the hope that had come out of the Armenian
people to rebuild Stepanakert to the wonderful and majestic city it
is today, only 25-odd years after it was ravaged by war. They had
the experience to address a special sitting of the National Assembly,
where they conveyed a message of hope and solidarity with the people
of Nagorno-Karabagh.
They also had the opportunity to meet with everyday people on the
street, to realize the hardship and difficulties they went through,
and the massive loss of life that Armenian families experienced during
the war. But they also witnessed the hope and optimism of the people
who were living there on the ground, and the work they have done to
rebuild society in a truly democratic fashion.
They left Nagorno-Karabagh with the viewpoint that it is a land of
great optimism, and that the motion they passed in 2012 was the right
thing to do. By recognizing the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh, they
expressed their solidarity and continued support to ensure further
recognition, throughout Australia and on an international level. What
was most interesting to see with this foreign delegation visiting
Armenia, and in particular Artsakh, was that they were expecting a
war-torn ravaged country, but what they saw was the complete opposite.
They saw the resilience of the people, where almost 100 years ago,
they experienced the genocide; 20 years ago, they experienced the
brutality of the Azeri armed forces. And through all of the struggles
the Armenian nation has lived through, they were able to see the
hope and prosperity of the people to create what is today a free and
independent Armenia and a free and independent Artsakh.
L.T.: How strong are the Azerbaijani and Turkish communities in
Australia? Are they a growing community?
V.K.: The Turkish lobby that exists in Australia is very similar
to what we have seen across the world. The empty threats and,
in particular, the blackmail that they use against legislators,
threatening all sorts of actions, including severed economic ties
and so forth, is a common thing that we have seen Turkey portray over
the last three or four decades on an international level. That is no
different to what has occurred in Australia. Thankfully, there are
members of parliament who have stood steadfast in the face of this
blackmail to ensure that such issues are not politicized or used for
political advantage. At the end of the day, we're playing with human
lives and human emotions, and these issues trump all forms of party
politics, and are common to each and every person. We are grateful
that there are many members of parliament all across the nation who
have stood firm against the continued empty threats of the Republic of
Turkey and the Azerbaijani lobby, whether it be on recognition of the
genocide or Artsakh. It is a continuing battle, and we have to stay
steadfast because it is very easy to one day have this conversation
and not be talking about a free and independent Armenia, and a free
and independent Artsakh.
L.T.: What is left on the agenda for ANC-Australia?
V.K.: We never rule out anything in terms of future strategy or action
plans. We will continue to remain entrenched on the front lines,
advocating for all issues of importance not only for the Armenian
community in Australia, but for the people living in Armenia and
all around the world in diasporan communities. The Hai Tahd team is
a brotherhood all around the world that lives shoulder-to-shoulder
with one common interest: a free, strong, and united Armenia. All the
actions and plans that we have in place continue to serve that noble
goal. We do everything on this very distant and far away island known
as Australia to help ensure that we can continue to add our voice to
this important Cause.
The wonderful strength of our diaspora is our grassroots support
and the success of Armenian professionals in all walks of life who
are ready to step up to the plate to continue to advance the common
goals of Hai Tahd.
From: Baghdasarian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/08/29/hai-tahd-down-under-kahramanian-offers-a-glimpse-into-community-life-and-expanding-advocacy-efforts/
By Lilly Torosyan // August 29, 2013
The Armenian community in Australia is fairly young, but as its numbers
grow, so does its activism. Last October, the parliament of New South
Wales became the third state in the world to officially recognize
the independence of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic. This summer,
the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANCA) accompanied
a group of Australian politicians on a weeklong visit to Armenia
and Karabagh. ANCA Executive Director Vache Kahramanian spoke with
the Armenian Weekly about this trip, as well as other facets of
Armenian-Australian life.
Kahramanian (R) with Torosyan
Lilly Torosyan: Talk about the Armenian community in Australia.
Vache Kahramanian: The Armenian community in Australia was founded in
the early 1960's. The first wave of immigrants arrived predominantly
from Egypt, fleeing the social unrest that had started to occur there.
The main wave of immigration occurred in the 1970's when many Armenians
came from Lebanon during the Civil War, and also from Syria, Iran,
and other countries throughout the Middle East. The community at
present numbers around the 50,000 mark, and is predominantly based
in the Sydney metropolitan area, with small pockets of communities
in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and other Australian cities.
Like most diasporan communities, there exists a wide range of community
organizations, including the Armenian National Committee, the Armenian
Relief Society, Hamazkayin, Homenetmen, the AGBU. And of course the
church plays an important role in the community, as well.
The ANC of Australia was formed many decades ago to carry on
the role of advancing the Armenian Cause within the context of
the Australian political environment-that is, to promote genocide
recognition; recognition of the independence of Artsakh; a strong,
free, and united Armenia; and economic aid and security to Armenia and
Artsakh. Those four pillars are the driving force behind what the ANC
does in Australia, and of course, what it does all around the world
through its offices, whether in Washington, D.C., Brussels, London,
or the Middle East.
L.T.: You recently visited Armenia with a group of Australian
politicians. How was that experience?
V.K.: We had a group of Australian state legislators from the state
of New South Wales, which is the largest, most populated state in the
country. Australia has a population of 22 million people, 7 million
of which live in New South Wales. That state became the first in 1997
to recognize the Armenian Genocide by passing a unanimous motion in
both houses of parliament. In 1998, the parliament passed a motion to
erect a khachkar [Armenian cross-stone] memorial in its peace garden
to honor the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide and to
mark April 24th each year as a day of remembrance in that state.
In 2012, that state again became the first in Australia-the third
internationally-to recognize the right to self-determination by the
Republic of Nagorno Karabagh. It came only behind Rhode Island and
Mass., which were the first two states in the world to pass similar
motions.
In New South Wales, there is multi-partisan support for all issues
of importance to the Armenian community, whether that is Artsakh
[Karabagh], genocide recognition, or a strong and secure Armenia. So
we had the opportunity to take seven members of parliament on an
official visit to the Republic of Armenia, whereby they had the
opportunity to meet with the president, His Holiness Karekin II, and
other high-ranking government officials, including the speaker of the
House and various members of parliament within the National Assembly.
In a broader context, they had the opportunity to see Armenia with
their own eyes-a country of descendants of the genocide-and to see
what the modern-day implications of genocide recognition mean, not
only to the people, but to the national security of Armenia...
The members of parliament also had the opportunity to make a historic
visit to the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh, and what that allowed them
was to experience first-hand the brutality of Azerbaijan. They saw
the destruction and also the hope that had come out of the Armenian
people to rebuild Stepanakert to the wonderful and majestic city it
is today, only 25-odd years after it was ravaged by war. They had
the experience to address a special sitting of the National Assembly,
where they conveyed a message of hope and solidarity with the people
of Nagorno-Karabagh.
They also had the opportunity to meet with everyday people on the
street, to realize the hardship and difficulties they went through,
and the massive loss of life that Armenian families experienced during
the war. But they also witnessed the hope and optimism of the people
who were living there on the ground, and the work they have done to
rebuild society in a truly democratic fashion.
They left Nagorno-Karabagh with the viewpoint that it is a land of
great optimism, and that the motion they passed in 2012 was the right
thing to do. By recognizing the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh, they
expressed their solidarity and continued support to ensure further
recognition, throughout Australia and on an international level. What
was most interesting to see with this foreign delegation visiting
Armenia, and in particular Artsakh, was that they were expecting a
war-torn ravaged country, but what they saw was the complete opposite.
They saw the resilience of the people, where almost 100 years ago,
they experienced the genocide; 20 years ago, they experienced the
brutality of the Azeri armed forces. And through all of the struggles
the Armenian nation has lived through, they were able to see the
hope and prosperity of the people to create what is today a free and
independent Armenia and a free and independent Artsakh.
L.T.: How strong are the Azerbaijani and Turkish communities in
Australia? Are they a growing community?
V.K.: The Turkish lobby that exists in Australia is very similar
to what we have seen across the world. The empty threats and,
in particular, the blackmail that they use against legislators,
threatening all sorts of actions, including severed economic ties
and so forth, is a common thing that we have seen Turkey portray over
the last three or four decades on an international level. That is no
different to what has occurred in Australia. Thankfully, there are
members of parliament who have stood steadfast in the face of this
blackmail to ensure that such issues are not politicized or used for
political advantage. At the end of the day, we're playing with human
lives and human emotions, and these issues trump all forms of party
politics, and are common to each and every person. We are grateful
that there are many members of parliament all across the nation who
have stood firm against the continued empty threats of the Republic of
Turkey and the Azerbaijani lobby, whether it be on recognition of the
genocide or Artsakh. It is a continuing battle, and we have to stay
steadfast because it is very easy to one day have this conversation
and not be talking about a free and independent Armenia, and a free
and independent Artsakh.
L.T.: What is left on the agenda for ANC-Australia?
V.K.: We never rule out anything in terms of future strategy or action
plans. We will continue to remain entrenched on the front lines,
advocating for all issues of importance not only for the Armenian
community in Australia, but for the people living in Armenia and
all around the world in diasporan communities. The Hai Tahd team is
a brotherhood all around the world that lives shoulder-to-shoulder
with one common interest: a free, strong, and united Armenia. All the
actions and plans that we have in place continue to serve that noble
goal. We do everything on this very distant and far away island known
as Australia to help ensure that we can continue to add our voice to
this important Cause.
The wonderful strength of our diaspora is our grassroots support
and the success of Armenian professionals in all walks of life who
are ready to step up to the plate to continue to advance the common
goals of Hai Tahd.
From: Baghdasarian