Pledge to Continue Struggle for Armenian Genocide Recognition
YEREVAN (A.W.)— On April 9, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, as well as two other family members, met with Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan. “They pledged to continue the struggle for international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide,” read a statement released by Abrahamyan’s office. “The Kardashians apologized for not speaking Armenian but said they are learning their native language,” the statement continued.
Kim Kardashian, along with husband Kanye West, daughter North West, sister Khloe, and other members of the Kardashian family, arrived in Yerevan on April 8. Kardashian and her entourage were greeted by numerous reporters and photographers at Zvartnots Airport, where they were offered customary salt and bread by girls in traditional Armenian dress.
“Armenia we are here! We are so grateful to be here and start this journey of a lifetime! Thank you to everyone who greeted us! I can’t wait to explore our country and have some yummy food! #MyDadAndGrandParentsWouldBeSoProud,” Kim, 34, wrote on Instagram upon her arrival.
Earlier on April 9, the Kardashian sisters took a tour of Yerevan’s Cascade complex and visited the Mother Armenia monument at Victory Park.
“[We are] visiting the Mother Armenia statue today in Yerevan. The Mother Armenia statue symbolizes peace through strength. It can remind viewers of some of the prominent female figures in Armenian history, who took up arms to help their husbands [during] clashes with Turkish troops and Kurdish irregulars. I am a woman hear me roar! Blessed to be here,” Khloe, 30, wrote on Instagram.
According to inside sources, Kim Kardashian and her film crew will visit Yerevan’s Dzidzernagapert Genocide Memorial and Museum and Armenia’s National Archives. During their eight-day trip to the country, they will also reportedly travel to the city of Gyumri, to visit distant relatives.
The Kardashians’ visit to the country is organized by the joint efforts of the Armenia Development Fund and SIMA Tours, a U.S.-based travel company, with the support of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia.
In an interview with Panorama.am, the director of the Armenia Development Fund (ADF), Arman Khachaturyan, said that their visit should be regarded as a family pilgrimage to their homeland.
Hi,
I was very happy and proud to hear that the Kardashians are visiting Armenia. Every person
that is of Armenian origin, should visit Armenia at least once in a lifetime. I visited Armenia
last October, and I loved it. I recommend to
everyone to visit Armenia, even if they are not
of Armenian origin. It is a beautiful country with
extremely nice people and great history.
Thank you Kardashians for visiting our country.
I have certainly been aware of the Kardashian sisters….how can they be missed given all the tabloid and other PR events. But, I’m really pleased to see them in a different light…..my light and the light of all of us who know and respect their ancestry. I have a completely new understanding of the young women……and while they are, of course, so glamorous and talented, their hearts and souls are in keeping with my own, Armenian being. Wonderful news.
*** It is the strong Armenian spirit that called them to come and see the homeland., it is all good.
**** Long Live free & prosperous/strong Armenia, the ancient land of great culture and beautiful people ****
Ցավում եմ որ այդքան կարեւորություն է տրվում այդ հիմարների այցին, որոնք հայրենիք հասկացությունն անգամ չունեն եւ կառավարական մակարդակով ընդունելության են արժանանում, երբ արժանի եւ հայրենիքին նվիրված մարդիկ անտեսվում են իրենց հայրենիքում:
Միշտ հիշեք սազի ձայնը հեռվից է քաղցր հնչում:
Հայրենիքի հասկացությունը միայն հատուկենտ մարդկանց մենաշնորհը չէ: Այն, որ մեր ամերիկահայուհի հայրենակիցները եկել են Հայաստան, նշանակում է, որ նրանք ունեն հայրենիքի հասկացություն: Նրանք աշխարհահռչակ անձիք են, ամենահզոր երկրի քաղաքացիներ, և կարող էին ընդհանրապես չգալ Հայաստան: Ինչպես մենք՝ մնացած ամերիկահայերս, նրանք ունեն երկու հայրենիք. այժմյանը (Միացյալ Նահանգները) և նախնյացը (Հայաստան): Նրանք ասել են, որ հպարտ են իրենց նախնյաց հայրենիքով, և դա բավարար է հայրենասեր հայուհի լինելու համար: Ինչքան գիտեմ, Հայաստանում ապրող շատերը նույնիսկ այդքանն էլ չեն զգում: Եվ այս «հիմարները» ահռելի կերպով նպաստում են Հայաստանի և ցեղասպանության մասին իմացության տարածմանը: Կեցցեն նրանք:
Որոշ հարցերու մեջ համամիտ կըլլամ քեզի հետ, Այդա: Certainly, anyone can visit Armenia and pay respect to our martyrs, but to allow these insignificancies take the spotlight and to have the country’s prime-minister meet with them, only demonstrate how the mankind sank in the scale. The funeral of the members of the slain Gyumri family wasn’t graced with the presence of the country’s prime-minister, but here he gives these human what-nots a high-level reception.
as popular as the Kardashian are I WANT , would the American media please put this on the national news “WE ARE IMPORTANT TOO’
BRAVA Kardashians, I am proud of you!
Here’s an NBC news link at http://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/celebrity/kim-kardashian-kanye-west-armenia-anniversary-mass-killings-n338491
Christians throughout the world must support Armenia and the Armenian people.
Why did Armenia allow this filth into the country?
Where did Jesus call anyone “filth?”
It’s very touching that the Kardashians are visiting Armenia and feel a kinship to the country. I appreciate their bringing publicity to Armenia and to recognition of the Armenian genocide. I am first generation Armenian-American, lost family in the genocide, and some survived–living in the United States, Bulgaria, France and Ethiopia.
I hope they will talk about their trip on their reality TV program. Since they have such a large following, many people who would not otherwise be familiar with the Armenian Genocide will learn about it.
I am touched that the Kardashian’s have displayed their Armenian heritage in such a positive way. That they are helping to focus attention on the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide must be commended. Ahferim!
I have never been prouder to be an Armenian-American. The photo in front of the Mother Armenia statute is iconic. So many ways to interpret it. Go, Kardashians!
thank you so much for our lovely Armenian beauties visiting their homeland . i am a survivor of the Armenian genocide and proud of each of you. keep up the great work for all. Your father would have been sso proud of you.
We’re just a few. Only 10 million, but we are counted… If only more of us acted and less of us doubted!!!
I’m glad to see some positive comments about the Kardashian’s visit to Armenia.
It is most important that The Kardashian Family Tell the World not only about this trip to Armenia but about who The Armenians are. Very Well Known Public Figures speaking out are the only way the world will hear and listen to what happened and hopefully get involved to right the wrongs of 100 Years Ago.
This is very good to hear. Bravo to the Kardashians for keeping in touch with their Armenian roots and this pivotal time! I hope it is in the press everywhere.
Good to see they are doing important with their careers!!! My (now stay with me here! :P) Yia Yia’s older brother’s wife’s mother was pregnant with her when she was struggling to leave Greece during the Hellenic Genocide.. Never forget what happened in Armenia!!
Sorry I don’t have “another positive comment”, and they say “if you don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say anything at all”, but since I am an Armenian who is concerned about my culture and where it is headed, I’ll say this as nicely as I can.
Merely a century ago during the Armenian Genocide, in order to save their honor, Armenian girls held each other and threw themselves over cliffs and rivers so that the Genocidal Turks would not get their hands on them. Others who did not get that opportunity were raped then thrown in Turkish brothels to live out a hellish nightmare against every cell in their being.
Today certain Armenians are star-struck with certain supposed ‘Armenians’ that have made it their career choice and who wear as a ‘badge of honor’ that which countless Armenian girls gave their lives for to avoid in order to save their honor and name. In this observation, I don’t know which group is more disturbing, the subject “family”, or those that support them, but if I had to chose, I’d pick the latter since choosing ignorance is worse than being born into it.
What is the logic behind all this? That they “will bring awareness”? All the people that are in any position to give us justice for a wrong that has been done to us are fully aware of the reality of the Armenian Genocide and already know whatever they need to know, and have been knowing all the facts for the past century. Sorry to burst your bubbles, but those that this family is capable of bringing awareness to are those that have absolutely no influence in the world.
In fact, has anyone considered the possibility that this will actually have the opposite effect of what is intended? The facts are, if you read any commentaries on any of the known sites, nine out of ten are negative about this family. So we know that the general populace cannot stand them. Is that supposed to ‘help’ Genocide recognition? And whenever news anchors, or other influential people want to bring in examples of airheads to cite in their news stories, the go to family name to use is ready, to be made fun of and cited, unfortunately an Armenian name.
Seriously, is this the best we got to show the world, especially when the centennial is near? I am shaking my head in disbelief, I was hoping that for all those fedayees that sacrificed for the culture and homeland during WWI and the War in Artsakh, there would be something better than this and that we would have learned a thing or two about our honor, integrity and being proud of our past.
While I don’t care for that family and their un-Armenianness, what I am really disappointed about is their Armenian supporters, and Armenian news sites who are giving them more attention than they deserve. Sad, just sad.
You are exactly right. Western media associates the family with Armenia as an insult, and there are too many who ignorantly wear these insults as an honor.
[“Today certain Armenians are star-struck with certain supposed ‘Armenians’ that have made it their career choice and who wear as a ‘badge of honor’ that which countless Armenian girls gave their lives for to avoid in order to save their honor and name.”]
Those countless Armenian girls avoided rape. Are you saying the Kardashians chose rape as their career? Putting aside your insulting assumption towards women who pursue their careers (you know, “all they do is sleep around”), the fact that you cannot distinguish between consensual sex and rape shows how out of touch with reality you are. I would gladly have these beautiful ladies among my compatriots than anyone who thinks that way.
And yes, they do spread awareness. They have countless of fans (that is how they make money), and these fans are part of the public opinion. And in our age, it’s all about public opinion.
They did not go to Armenia to do us a favor. They went because it was in their hearts, and to honor their father’s family.
They are Real Armenians
For all my super-moralizing compatriots, here is why Kardashians’ visit is important:
http://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Why-Kim-Kardashian-Armenia-Trip-Important-37251095
That’s just one example of the spreading of awareness about Armenia and the Genocide.
What of those who have devoted their lives to the Armenian Cause and Nation—the scholars, historians, and researchers; the doctors, nurses, and scientists; the anthropologists, archeologists, and astronomers; the artists–painters, musicians, and vocalists; the archivists, writers, and editors; the teachers, nuns, deacons, clerics, and theologians; the churchgoers, community supporters, and volunteers—the list goes on? What of them? Why no fanfare and accolades for them—the foot solders of the Armenian Nation?
Hear! Hear!
Hagop D and Daron, too bad you feel the way you do. The sisters have and Kim in particular have done a great job in putting Armenian genocide issue in the news and that we should all be greatfull for, furthermore, they have nothing to be shamefull for it, it is a business, and you Hagop equating there “shamefull” act to armenian women being raped and slaughtered is propostrous.
My post wasn’t used to highlight that “women are looking to get raped”. The point was to highlight the honorable women of our past who had high morals with today’s opposite who are being passed off in the media as “examples of Armenian women”, who are self-absorbed and worship money above anything else. There is a word for that profession. You can’t figure it out? Sorry, try harder or ask someone with better insight.
And as I said, I don’t care about what the K’s are and what they’re doing. I care about what is happening in Armenian society regarding that subject. What I know is, with these K’s being portrayed in a ‘positive light’ and with undeserving amount of attention, young Armenians are going to get their minds poisoned with fraudulent role models. In this internet age, later they will find out the details, and the underlying message would be thus “it is OK to be like them, it makes you rich and famous”.
People are trying to argue, “there are worse things among Armenians” So what? Those worse things are not being manipulated to present Armenian culture in a fraudulent manner. The facts? The K’s represent the opposite of Armenian family values. Nothing further to elaborate on that subject.
Admittedly, in my family, they are divided on this issue, some see this as an opportunity to bring attention to Genocide awareness, some would rather they not be involved at all, even if the awareness would suffer. While I would appreciate awareness as much as anyone, I think I’m in the second camp, because to me this is a dangerous path for our culture.
And also, it appears that they are not there just to be there and help. They are there for their own cause, making another episode for their show. As much we would like to help Genocide awareness, they are using Armenia and Armenian culture the same to enrich themselves. So why aren’t they there purely for the help of the Armenian nation and culture if they are genuine about it? And if anyone genuinely wants to help Armenia, it certainly does not need to be publicized to get attention and make another “news article”.
please be positive, this visit has a silver lining,the world will be more aware of the Armenian genocide i wish that they where more properly clothed at the genocide memorial, people should have advised them this a sacred place,they don’t know any better. they should have been told.i hope they do not visit churches dressed like this.
Both sides of this argument have merit; the Kardashians are to be praised for visiting their ancestral homeland and showing appreciation of their Armenian background and culture. Moreover, their efforts to publicize the Armenian Genocide are very important and DO deserve to be praised by anyone with an ounce of decency.
The Fact that scholars, writers etc. do NOT receive the recognition they deserve is a shame, but that has nothing to do with the Kardashians. It must be admitted that popular culture is a FAR better vehicle for gaining awareness of the Genocide than some dusty volumes in a library somewhere or a lecture in a Graduate Center. All have their place, but the fact that the Kardashians are willing to educate their HUGE following about the Genocide can only augur well for Armenian Genocide awareness.
As the Centennial draws near MAYBE the Kardashians can do a number of Public Service spots about the Genocide and their connection to it and how its denial is a FINAL phase of Genocide and that awareness of these horrific events can serve to focus attention on the massacres of Christians that are even now taking place in Syria, Libya and Iraq and thus MAYBE Even save some lives. THAT would be a fitting legacy for this family.
There should be a demand as the Centennial approaches for a statement by Obama who BROKE his pledge to the Armenian American community and its supporters, LEADING TO A STATEMENT OF RECOGNITION BY OBAMA. The Kardashians can be of help in this effort.
A final thought; perhaps their continuing espousal of a cause that resounds in human dignity, that cries out for recognition, can impel them to live public lives that are more exemplary, more worthy of praise, more DIGNIFIED.
Surely, they can maintain their popularity while doing so.
For those so willing to criticize the Kardashians; bear this maxim in Mind…. “It is better to light one candle than to sit and curse the darkness”
THANKS Kim and Khloe, et al. Keep at it!!!
Nice.
Frankly I am not simply because they have a few days to come
HOW TIREING IS THIS?WHO HAS NOT DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WHAT ONE OR MORE OF THESE GIRLS HAS NOT DONE?THEY HAVE BROUGHT MORE ATTENTION TO OUR CAUSE THEN A LOT OF ARMENIANS WHO HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT COMPLAIN AND DO NOTHING TO PRESERVE AND FURTHER OUR STRUGGLE FOR AWARENSS. BRAVO GIRLS,YOUR ENTITLED TO DO WHAT YOU WISH.LET THE WORLD SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL WE ARE,AND LET THE POLITICION TAKE CARE OF THE REST.
The issue here is not that we are not grateful for what Kim and the sisters have done to put the Armenian genocide in the news, but that their visit is being elevated to a level at which it shouldn’t have been in a self-respecting country. Local entertainment industry folks or perhaps the genocide museum administration or even the ministry of diaspora affairs officials could have met with them, but for the country’s prime-minister to hold a meeting with them, to me, only devalues Armenia.
I recently heard a touching story of a Diyarbakir woman who, together with other Islamized Armenians, visited Armenia to discover their roots and Christian religion. The woman felt strong inner desire to be baptized in an Armenian church, but revealed to the group and their Armenian hosts that her Kurdish husband gave her the strictest warning that if she did so while in Armenia, she could never come back and never see their son. The group stayed in Armenia for about a month and for their visit’s duration they could see the inner emotions of the woman. On the day of departure, on the way to the airport, while passing by a church, the woman requested a stop and told the guide that she couldn’t leave Armenia without being baptized. They got off the bus, went to the church and had her baptized.
To me, she is an unheralded hero who certainly deserved being taken to the spotlight by the media and graced with a meeting with the country’s top officials. If received media attention, her selfless act could have done more for the cause than the K’s visit.
So what if Cher was doing this? As an actress and singer (ie. famous for relatively more respectable reasons), I think she would not be anywhere near as divisive as the Kardashians.
People are talking about her bringing awareness to the Armenia and her history, but to which segment of the population? And what does it say about that population if it takes someone like the Kardashians to even be made aware of the Armenian Genocide.
This is happening whether we like it or not. I just hope it ends up being net positive.
What are they famous for? Great singers or actresses? Maybe philanthropists. No. People need to seriously to stop and think how these girls got famous. This really isn’t befitting our small struggling nation. We shouldn’t be fawning over people like this. There are right ways to recognition and there are dubious ways.
To all the nay sayers, get over yourselves. I’m not a huge fan of the Kardashians, but they didn’t have to go to Armenia – they could’ve picked ANY luxurious place to visit. What they have done is shone the spotlight on an issue that most Armenians can do nothing about. And there is more trash living in Yerevan (especially the govt) than in any diasporan community.
You who criticize this K. family should appreciate their donations to The Armenian cause and remember what Jesus said…”THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE”.
As much as I appreciate the fact that the American “Reality TV” Kardashian family might make new people aware of the Armenian Genocide, I also hope that in the future some, let’s say, more educated, Armenian-Americans will step up to the plate to represent its history, rather than a bunch of egotistical shopping addicts… Just sayin’!