Lebanon Office

Until 1990, the Central Committee of Hamazkayin was formed by appointments. Until the 1980s, the Committee did not have its own offices or management. Karnig Panian would be present at meetings and keep minutes. There was no need for more, since at that time there was no direct or daily contact between the Central Committee and the regions. The weekly or at times biweekly meetings took place at the Nshan Palanjian Djemaran of Hamazkayin. In the 1980s, Sarkis Zeitlian was the representative of the ARF Bureau at the Central Committee of Hamazkayin.

After Sarkis Zeitlian was kidnapped and because of the increasingly dangerous situation in Beirut, the meeting place was moved to East Beirut, where offices were rented in the Mkhitarian Building, near the municipality of Bourj Hamoud. The management of the Central Committee gradually changed. Karnig Panian could no longer serve because of old age and lack of transport between the East and West sides of the city. Thus, a management office was established and Peno Tontian took responsibility for it. At that time, Hrach Dasnabedian replaced S. Zeitlian in the Central Committee meetings.

In fact, Peno Tontian carried two tasks. Not only was he office guard and manager, but he also became the supervisor of the complex and the vast construction activities that were launched in the 1980s in East Beirut; first when Shaghzoian Center was altered into a school to house Djemaran, and then when the construction of the school buildings in Dzaghgatsor took place.

The year 1990 was a cornerstone in the history of both Hamazkayin and its management. In that year the first pan-diasporan general assembly of Hamazkayin was convened in Athens, with the participation of the delegates from all of Hamazakyin’s remote regions. The first elected Central Committee took office.

Given the fact that Dr. Yeghig Konialian, from the United States, was elected as the chairperson of the Central Committee, the latter was obliged to keep two offices, one in the United States, under the management of Naz Der Sarkissian, and the second in Bourj Hamoud and managed by Hagop Havatian.

Although the chairperson of the Central Committee was living in the United States, nonetheless a board of six members functioned with great autonomy and was maintained in Lebanon. The chairperson of this board was Garbis Harboian. The offices of the Central Committee had been moved to the Shaghzoian Center.

For a short period (from 1990-1994) the Central Committee functioned with two offices.

In 1998, Office Clerk Hagop Havatian was promoted to the position of Executive Director of “Vahe Setian” Printing House. Subsequently, Arin Kalousdian was invited to work as Office Clerk. In September 2013, Arin Kalousdian was appointed as Office Manager. In June 2013, Donig Donabedian was appointed as Office Clerk.

In 2001, the offices of the Central Committee were moved from the Shaghzoian Center to Nshan Palanjian Djemaran. Later, in 2005, the office was moved to M. and H. Arslanian Djemaran, where it is currently located.

 

Armenia Office

“Hamazkayin” Armenian Educational and Cultural Society opened its office in Armenia in 1991.

The members of Hamazkayin’s Armenian Chapter were the well-known intellectuals Razmig Davoyan, Sos Sargsyan, Ruben Hovsepian, Sargis Muradian, Vahagn Stamboltsian, Romen Julhakian, Felix Meloyan, Yervant Yerkanian and others.

Like all worldwide members of Hamazkayin family, the Armenian structure has implemented the mission of the Society – the creation of an Armenian having national identity and nature, meanwhile, assuming the role of a unique cultural bridge between Armenia and the Diaspora.

The activities have included a wide variety of educational and cultural industries, such as book publishing, music, Armenian studies, arts, cultural exchanges, etc.

The Hamazkayin Theater, established in 1994, has recorded great creative success. It is a state institution today and enjoys Hamazkayin Society’s patronage. It continues to be in the center of the artists’ and theater lovers’ attention.

The regularly organized scientific conferences, club meetings, assemblies, gatherings, lectures, book discussions, exhibitions, presentations and concerts have greatly contributed to the reputation of “Hamazkayin” Armenia Office.

The Office, starting from 2002, has been consistently implementing the entire organizational work of holding the Hamazkayin’s Student Forum in Armenia.

The “Hamazkayin” Armenia Office, assuming an organizational role in the frame of the Pan-Armenian Festivals “One Nation, One Culture” and later, “My Armenia”, presented Hamazkayin’s choreographic groups and choirs from different countries to the culture lovers of Armenia.

It has sent a number of lecturers, artists, intellectuals and scientists on a mission to the Chapters of Hamazkayin, and they continue working there.

Hamazkayin’s Armenia Office has implemented numerous of projects in the Educational sector  such as the traditional “Hakob Karapents” annual scholarship, the Graduates’ Project in YSU, in cooperation with  Hamazkayin’s Central Executive Board, and the distribution of  School  Literature, educational CD-DVD-media and maps to the educational centers of Hamazkayin  in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, etc.

All of these programs have not only enriched the educational and cultural life of Armenia, presented the Diaspora culture in Armenia, developed the  cultural and educational relations between Armenia and  the Diaspora, but also have re-affirmed that the heart of the national preservation is the Armenian culture and education.

Until 2007, the Hamazkayin functioned in Armenia as an NGO, but in 2007, it was re-registered as Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Foundation. The Board of Fund Trustees consists of five members – Zakar Leshishian5 Spartak Gharabaghtzian, Garabed Baytarian, Ardashes Shahbazian, Dikran Babikian.

The Fund president is Spartak Gharabaghtzian.