On October 26, the Armenian community of Berlin celebrated its 90^th anniversary with more than 150 guests, including representatives of the German society. The event was held under the patronage of RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan and a representative of the municipality of Charlottenburg.

Mr. Vardges Alyanak greeted the guests as the community’s representative and particularly emphasized the presence of Mrs. Hranush Hakobyan, viewing it as reinforcement for the old Armenian community of Berlin, which is now small in number.

In his speech, Mr. Alyanak urged the German government to be aware of its historical responsibility, not limit itself to rhetoric statements and support the advancement of the Armenian people in peace and security.

“Let’s not forget that the evil criminal, Taleat and his friends thought they could take shelter under the auspices of the German government in Berlin. Berlin needs to have a monument or a site commemorating the Armenian Genocide,” Mr. Alyanak added.

In her touching and encouraging speech, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan touched upon the Armenian government’s determination to support the Diaspora Armenians’ struggle for survival and stated that the best manifestation of that is the Ministry of Diaspora, which was established by the decree of President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan five years ago. The minister stressed that the Ministry of Diaspora is the presence of Diaspora Armenians in the homeland and represents all Armenians abroad.

Hranush Hakobyan described Germany as a place where several Armenian intellectuals like Komitas studied in the early 20^th century, as well as a place where the Armenians who had barely survived the horrors of WWII once again underwent the trials and tribulations in the Nazi camps as prisoners of war, most of whom died.

Contrary to this, Hranush Hakobyan expressed her joy for the fact that the Armenians who arrived from Turkey and the Near East starting from the 1960s were able to take shelter in Germany and that many of them are now seen as people making contributions to science, culture and economy.

The representative of the municipality also expressed such appreciation of the Armenian community.

The keynote speaker of the event was Professor of the University of Bokhumi, Director of the Diaspora and Genocide Research Institute, Professor Mihran Dabagh.

The professor described the Diaspora as a unique form of protest, criticism, as well as the lack of ability and lack of desire to rise.

The professor stressed that the most important thing for a community to be strong is not the need to have a constant place to be, but the ability to give new answers to certain questions, as well as seek and find new paths.

Mihran Dabagh emphasized that the Armenian Diaspora, which has undergone many transformations, has its constant “place” (history of addresses), which is first and foremost the community and community life that has many forms and is always present.

According to Dabagh, the second constant “place” is the Armenians’ memory of the places from where their grandparents were forced to leave and places that were lost.

The speaker stressed that the Armenians’ belonging to the Diaspora is not the clearly defined “we”, but belonging with the awareness of loss and the history, as well as the awareness that we existed and exist in spite of the Genocide that was perpetrated against the nation. We also know that we will cease to exist, without that memory.

The event included touching performances of Armenian and Western European songs by soloists of the Nurenberg Opera Hrachuhi Bazents and baritone Gor Harutyunyan. The performers were accompanied by pianist Anahit Pashatyan.

The ceremony ended with a reception during which the gathered expressed their gratitude and appreciation to Minister Hranush Hakobyan.

Let us add that Hranush Hakobyan also had a meeting with German-Armenian businessmen during the visit to Berlin.

Correspondent

Berlin