A small country but a big nation: how genocide shaped the Armenia of today

23/04/2015 13:09

A small country but a big nation: how genocide shaped the Armenia of today


By Ian Black. The Guardian

In the beginning you hardly notice them: little lapel buttons in purple, yellow and black to mourn the dead and a lost homeland. But then there are the posters, T-shirts, umbrellas, bumper stickers, even cakes, all bearing the same forget-me-not flower designed to commemorate the tragedy of a nation.

It is the symbol of the centenary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, being marked this week in solemn ceremonies in Yerevan and wherever in the world this ancient people fled in the wake of the mass atrocities suffered in the dying days of the Ottoman empire.

This newly invented tradition, a poppy-like throwback to the killing fields of eastern Anatolia, has triggered complaints about commercialisation. But it has caught on. Across Armenia, in schools and homes, and as far away as the diaspora community of Glendale, California, children have picked up crayons and scissors to make their own paper flowers or have planted the real thing in remembrance of the horrors that beset their forebears.

Rosa and Tamara, Yerevan sisters of 10 and six, wrote a name on the back of their homemade forget-me-nots: Raphael Lemkin, the Polish -Jewish scholar who coined the word genocide in 1944 – and cited the Armenians as a seminal example.

The centenary on 24 April provides a rare opportunity to focus global attention on killings that were once notorious, then faded from view, were fought over in a vicious propaganda war, and are now widely seen as a crime on a monumental scale – and a grim precursor to the Nazi Holocaust. In their different ways, the pope and the reality TV star Kim Kardashian both highlighted the issue last week, much to the fury of Turks who continue to dispute the Armenian version of events.

Final preparations for Friday’s commemoration are under way at Armenia’s genocide memorial on the Tsitsernakaberd plateau, overlooking Yerevan. It features a bunker-like museum and a tapering grey stele pointing skywards like an accusing finger. To the south, on the Turkish side of the long-closed border, Mount Ararat beckons through spring clouds, snow-covered and majestic.

The big names on the day will include Vladimir Putin and François Hollande, leaders of the largest of the 20 countries to have formally recognized the genocide. But western governments that have not, including Britain, are sending low-profile officials to Yerevan, and far more senior representatives to Turkey to mark the centenary of the Gallipoli landings, the date deliberately and cynically chosen by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – so furious Armenians believe – in order to sabotage their own ceremony.

“I am proud to be here and I understand why I am here,” said Milena Avetisyan, 16, looking formal in black suit, white blouse and sensible pumps, standing with an honour guard of her classmates outside the memorial’s cone of basalt slabs, an eternal flame burning at its centre. “It is a call to the world to recognise the Armenian genocide. It is to show that we remember and demand.”

The slogan lies at the heart of the campaign for the Turkish state to recognise that its Ottoman predecessor annihilated up to 1.5 million Armenian citizens, starting on 24 April 1915 with the arrest of intellectuals in Constantinople and continuing with a centralised programme of deportations, murder, pillage and rape until 1922. The shadowy Teskilat e-Mahsusa (“special organisation”) drew up plans and sent coded, euphemistic telegrams to provincial officials and dispatched its victims on railway journeys to oblivion in the deserts of Iraq and Syria. Henry Morgenthau, the US ambassador, described the Turks as giving “a death warrant to a whole race”.

On 23 April, at Etchmiadzin, seat of the Armenian Apostolic church, the martyrs will be canonised collectively – renewing a tradition dating back 1,700 years. “We have to liberate our own people from hostility and hatred,” explained Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan. “And we have to liberate the Turks, to cleanse themselves from the pain of genocide.”

It was at Etchmiadzin in 1965 – the 50th anniversary of the slaughter, a key moment of Armenian national awakening, and when many witnesses were still alive – that the bleached bones of the dead were brought from Deir ez-Zor in Syria for reburial.

Numerous centenary events, such as conferences, exhibitions and concerts, underline how closely this country’s identity and future are bound up with the bloody past. Raw emotion, competing narratives and an ongoing diplomatic crisis make for a difficult combination.


In case you have found a mistake in the text, please send a message to the editor by selecting the mistake and pressing Ctrl-Enter.

Newsfeed

28/03/2024 14:02 IoT Lab opens at National Polytechnic University of Armenia 26/03/2024 16:58 “START+”: “Kinodaran” without subscription fee, 10 GB internet, 1000 minutes and favorite apps without any limits 25/03/2024 16:14 Change in Viva-MTS company name and General Terms of Provisioning Services 22/03/2024 17:24 Marzes remain in the focus of attention of Viva-MTS: New service center opened in Tchambarak 21/03/2024 14:12 In 2023, the SME Loan Portfolio of Ameriabank Reported More Than 30% Growth 19/03/2024 10:20 Mikael Vardanyan donated 117 mln drams for garbage trucks and 230 waste bins for Masis community 14/03/2024 18:12 New technologies at the core of rural infrastructure development 13/03/2024 16:32 The number of Team mobile subscribers is over 1 million 13/03/2024 13:01 “RED”: fixed and mobile services in one package for customers valuing convenience and quality 11/03/2024 14:51 Global Finance Recognizes Ameriabank's Leadership in Sustainable Finance in Armenia 06/03/2024 14:07 Byblos Bank Armenia named CaseKey title sponsor again 05/03/2024 13:36 Doing Digital Forum Returns Featuring Brett King as Keynote Speaker 01/03/2024 18:42 "The Innovator's Dilemma": Byblos Bank Armenia supports publication of Armenian edition 29/02/2024 16:45 “Personal Assistant” program changes popular mindset in regions 27/02/2024 18:12 Viva-MTS: 30-day internet-package for the many destinations within “VOYAGE” service 22/02/2024 17:53 The kindergarten of Armavir village is already being supplied with solar photovoltaic panels 19/02/2024 16:53 Viva-MTS, a company cultivating reading traditions 19/02/2024 12:48 Ameriabank set to join BOGG, a London Stock Exchange (LSE) listed financial group as a standalone entity 14/02/2024 14:53 Years of hard work and a sustainable approach to infrastructure development in regions 07/02/2024 14:49 Virtual PBX: Smart tool for corporate clients 02/02/2024 18:26 Viva-MTS named one of the ten most attractive employers 26/01/2024 18:15 Ameriabank is the Largest Taxpayer Among Armenian Banks 25/01/2024 17:03 Viva-MTS and “SOURCE” Foundation's “Personal Assistant” program is achieving the desired result in Syunik 24/01/2024 19:14 The shareholder of Viva-MTS has changed: The company will reach new achievements 23/01/2024 12:56 Byblos Bank Armenia to sponsor CaseKey team’s participation in Budapest’s CUBE 2024 22/01/2024 14:27 53% increase in Internet traffic in the Viva-MTS network. New Year's Eve and the first day compared to the same period last year 18/01/2024 18:30 “Viva University”: a long-term investment in youth empowerment 29/12/2023 15:49 Viva-MTS: investments that ensure sustainable development using innovative solutions 28/12/2023 14:46 The Christmas Miracle in Shirak Region - Ameriabank Santas Visited Children from Artsakh 22/12/2023 11:43 12 participants of “Get Started” program will explore the startup ecosystem 20/12/2023 20:38 Byblos Bank Armenia donates New Year gift funds to Soldier's Home 14/12/2023 15:51 Daily solutions for Viva-MTS clients based on artificial intelligence and deep neural networks 13/12/2023 16:24 How Ameriabank continued to deliver success amid the volatility of the global markets 13/12/2023 10:15 Mikael Vardanyan donated the maternity hospital of the Surb Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center the modern medical equipment amounting 116 million drams (Video) 11/12/2023 15:53 Viva-MTS: business for business. Virtual PBX has become an effective management tool for corporate subscribers 09/12/2023 20:46 “We rule out the return of citizens of the Republic of Artsakh to the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan”: Tհe appeal of the political and civil organizations of the Artsakh to the International community 08/12/2023 14:01 «Wi-Fi Calling». call through Wi-Fi network from Armenia or abroad in frames of the tariff plan 30/11/2023 15:25 Changes in the terms of provisioning “M2M Tracker Plus” package of services 28/11/2023 18:34 A new phase of the educational program “Viva University” has started 27/11/2023 10:56 Armen Avetisian, Viva-MTS General Director, had an open-door lecture at YSU 20/11/2023 16:40 Viva-MTS and “SOURCE” foundation will support four families in Syunik through the program “Personal Assistant” 17/11/2023 17:36 Ameriabank Named the Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Armenia for 2023 16/11/2023 19:43 Best offer: Postpaid “UNLIM” – unlimited Internet for only 4500 AMD 15/11/2023 09:19 Byblos Bank Armenia Celebrates Education at CaseKey 2023 Gala 06/11/2023 16:18 30 years on stage: The partnership between Viva-MTS and “Paros” Chamber Choir continues 01/11/2023 17:12 Thinking “green” is a lifestyle․ Viva-MTS and "My Forest Armenia" continue the environmental partnership 01/11/2023 11:47 Red Flag Alert for Genocide - Azerbaijan in Armenia 31/10/2023 16:12 Now more than 500 thousand Viva-MTS subscribers use the VoLTE service 28/10/2023 10:44 Five times more internet in MTS Russia network 24/10/2023 16:53 “Recharge+”: now for up to AMD 3000 20/10/2023 11:05 Amundi-Acba made the first direct investment in the equities of an Armenian company 18/10/2023 14:53 Viva-MTS is the General Partner of the State Award of Republic of Armenia for Global Contribution to Humanity through High-Tech 16/10/2023 14:46 “UNLIM” tariff plan also available for postpaid subscribers 13/10/2023 12:35 Solar energy in Viva-MTS mobile stations: saving resources and oxygen 04/10/2023 18:06 Technological support to farmers: Electric fences in the border village of Vahan 27/09/2023 10:25 Financial support in the amount of 123 million drams from Karen Vardanyan to the families having many children, evicted as a result of the 44-day war (Video) 18/09/2023 14:15 President Samvel Shahramanyan has appointed Artur Harutyunyan as State Minister 07/09/2023 23:24 Ex-Ambassador Mikayel Minasyan: “Will Armenia face a war or not?” 31/08/2023 18:28 Ex-Ambassador Mikayel Minasyan has provided an analysis of the Armenian issue 30/08/2023 19:30 S&P Upgrades Ameriabank to 'BB-', Outlook Stable 26/08/2023 13:52 Ex-Ambassador Mikayel Minasyan calls for unconditional consolidation to preserve national identity and save Stepanakert 26/08/2023 13:51 Ex-Ambassador Mikayel Minasyan: “The situation still has a diplomatic resolution” 25/08/2023 12:29 Freedom Broker Introduces Full Brokerage Services for Individuals, Pioneering the Market in Armenia 15/08/2023 12:36 Ameriabank Wins in 3 Nominations of Global Finance World’s Best Digital Bank Awards 2023 01/08/2023 13:55 «Viva University»: Starting inception for university students 01/08/2023 09:57 “I do not know how to interpret the persecution of talented and creative people who have served Armenia all their lives” Defender of Armen and Sergey Smbatyans 19/07/2023 16:16 Amundi-Acba made a huge investment in the RA economy 19/07/2023 10:30 Electric Fences are a new replacement for scarecrows: modern technologies made available to villages by Viva-MTS 14/07/2023 11:39 Viva-MTS presents a podcast series on a variety of themes 13/07/2023 16:45 20,000 trees were mulched in Lori with the support of Viva-MTS Partnership to increase forest cover in Armenia 11/07/2023 11:42 A modern infrastructure system has been launched in border village of Koti 04/07/2023 18:39 Ameriabank Receives 4 Sustainable Finance Awards from Global Finance 01/07/2023 10:52 Viva-MTS turns 18: The best is yet to come 30/06/2023 20:18 Shell brand is already in Armenia. The first fuel stations were put into operation 29/06/2023 15:51 Moody's changes Ameriabank's outlook to stable; affirms Ba3 rating 28/06/2023 16:00 The latest volume of the book series "The Armenians of the World” " is dedicated to Armenian philanthropists of the world 27/06/2023 16:22 Mobile “Electric fences” in Yeghegis community have become an “obstacle” for bears 22/06/2023 13:16 Viva-MTS: Harmless interaction between "Electric Fences" and bears 22/06/2023 11:35 Governor of the State of Kansas Laura Kelly visited Tsitsernakaberd memorial 22/06/2023 10:57 Flynas started operating flights on the route Riyadh-Yerevan-Riyadh 16/06/2023 11:42 MyInvest. Ameriabank has Launched an Online Investment Platform 15/06/2023 13:04 Four projects of infrastructure development in border village Koghb 13/06/2023 15:36 Practical business skills in focus of CaseKey 2023–Byblos Bank Armenia partnership 12/06/2023 12:03 International experience and new football skills: Milan Academy Junior Camp wraps up in Yerevan 09/06/2023 13:55 Viva-MTS’ digital B2B services show steady growth 06/06/2023 12:33 Viva-MTS expands and strengthens the entire mobile infrastructure along with the development of the 5G network 05/06/2023 11:31 Partnership for Environmental Protection and Community Development 03/06/2023 11:56 15 schoolchildren face Gabriel Sargissian in open-air simultaneous display (Video) 02/06/2023 15:53 Team Telecom Armenia is undertaking its initial public offering (IPO) 01/06/2023 10:43 We hope that some of these Armenian children will become professional football players. Claudio Zola 01/06/2023 10:18 On the occasion of June 1st Karen Vardanyan provided 115 million drams to the parentless children of Yerevan 31/05/2023 19:15 Team Group of Companies has acquired 30% of Georgian SkyTel 29/05/2023 13:34 Fly Arna launches new direct flights connecting Yerevan to Kuwait 25/05/2023 14:33 Regional Call Center of Viva-MTS opens in Vanadzor 23/05/2023 17:48 15 YSU students will receive Byblos Bank Armenia scholarships and tuition reimbursement 23/05/2023 11:49 “Unlim”: New prepaid tariff plan by Viva-MTS 17/05/2023 15:37 “The path to creating this brandy was an endless aspiration to excellence for us, and I feel that we succeeded” - Olivier Chapt 17/05/2023 14:17 Border village Berdavan is almost completely illuminated 03/05/2023 14:02 The second batch of electric fences has been introduced in Vayots Dzor 28/04/2023 13:28 Poqr Vedi will save around 1 million AMD a year