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It is always interesting to see how the Armenian community is viewed by outsiders. That perspective becomes more fascinating when the assessment is made by a U.S. diplomat in an internal report.<\/p>\n
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The large number of classified U.S. government documents released by WikiLeaks include cables sent by the American Embassy in Armenia to the State Department. One of those dispatches, dated Nov. 17, 2009, is a \u2018Confidential\u2019 report by Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch covering her 2009 tour of Los Angeles, Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n
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Here are highlights of the ambassador\u2019s report, titled: \u201cExperience Engaging Diaspora Communities — Armenia.\u201d<\/p>\n
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1) The Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church \u201cis under the authority of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin,\u201d while the Prelacy \u201crecognizes the jurisdictional authority of the Armenian Catholicos (head of the Armenian Church) based in Antelias, Lebanon. This is only for administrative purposes though, as, doctrinally, the Prelacy recognizes the theological supremacy of the Catholicos in Etchmiadzin in Armenia. The Prelacy is associated with the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)\/Dashnaks, founded in 1890, and constitutes one of the three largest sectors of the Armenian-American community and are considered conservative in nature.\u201d The report explains that \u201cthe ARF\/Dashnaks have two goals: recognition that the massacres of Armenians in Turkey in 1915 constitute genocide, and the recovery of the traditional Armenian lands in eastern Turkey.\u201d In all certainty, the Turkish government would not be pleased that a US diplomat has described parts of Turkey as \u201ctraditional Armenian lands.\u201d Furthermore, the report states that the ARF \u201csupports a ladies auxiliary association\u2026known as the Armenian Relief Society (ARS), in addition to youth and cultural associations and a large media operation in the United States including newspapers, radio, and television.\u201d<\/p>\n
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2) The report describes U.S. Armenian Catholics as \u201cthe smallest religious denomination\u2026. The Armenian Catholic Church supports a small number of schools and orphanages but has almost no activities in Armenia.\u201d<\/p>\n
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3) \u201cThe Armenian Protestant community is considered the oldest Armenian community in the United States and is very active through their Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA).\u201d<\/p>\n
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4) \u201cThe Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), established in 1906, is the second major sector and is the largest charitable organization in the Armenian community\u2026. They are affiliated with the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (ADL), also known as Ramkavars, which is active (but marginal) in Armenia, the American Diaspora community, and in the Middle East, such as Lebanon.\u201d<\/p>\n
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5) \u201cThe Hnchag, or Armenian Social Democrat Party, is the third of the politically based Armenian community cluster of organizations and the smallest Armenian-community based political party. It functions as a political club in California and publishes a weekly paper.\u201d<\/p>\n
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6) The report also lists \u201cindependent organizations that are non-partisan in character,\u201d such as the Armenian Assembly of America [AAA], Lincy Foundation, Cafesjian Foundation, and Tufenkian Foundation. Interestingly, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is placed in this category even though the report acknowledges that ANCA is \u201cgenerally recognized as the lobbying organization of the Dashnaks.\u201d<\/p>\n
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7) In the humanitarian group, the report includes the Fund for Armenian Relief, Hayastan All Armenian Fund, Children of Armenia Fund, Jinishian Foundation, Armenian EyeCare Project, and Armenia Tree Project, but fails to mention the United Armenian Fund which has delivered close to $700 million of humanitarian aid to Armenia since the earthquake of 1988.<\/p>\n
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8) Amb. Yovanovitch describes the Ministry of Diaspora and the National Competitiveness Foundation as examples of the Armenian government\u2019s outreach efforts to the Diaspora.<\/p>\n
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9) The report criticizes the Armenian Diaspora for not supporting \u201cthe promotion of democracy, electoral reform, and civil society development in Armenia.\u201d However, it states that Armenian-Americans provide financial support to two think tanks: the Armenian Center for National and International Studies, and Civilitas Foundation.<\/p>\n
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The most interesting aspect of Amb. Yovanovitch\u2019s report is the section on the Armenian-Turkish Protocols. She asserts that Armenian-American groups \u201cpay close attention to Armenia\u2019s foreign policy decisions and are quick to mobilize their supporters against the Armenian government if the Diaspora groups believe the government is not acting in Armenia\u2019s best interests. Many groups oppose the government\u2019s regional reconciliation efforts on the grounds that such reconciliation does not include resolution of the simmering conflict in Nagorno-Karabagh or recognition that the Ottoman Empire engaged in genocide in 1915. Other groups though, such as the Armenian Assembly of America and AGBU, have publicly supported the government\u2019s policies of regional cooperation and an end to Armenia\u2019s isolation in the Caucasus. In September [2009], AAA, AGBU, the Eastern and Western Diocese Churches, and the Ramkavars issued a public statement supporting President Sargsyan\u2019s foreign policy to normalize relations with Turkey.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Although the Ambassador\u2019s report is informative, it does not accurately and comprehensively cover the full spectrum of the Armenian-American community.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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