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Varak Ketsemanian
Varak Ketsemanian is a graduate of the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the University of Chicago’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies (2014-2016). His master’s thesis titled “Communities in Conflict: the Hunchakian Revolutionary Party 1890-1894” examines the socio-economic role of violence in shaping inter-communal and ethnic relations by doing a local history of the Armenian Revolutionary Movement in the Ottoman Empire. Ketsemanian’s work tackles problems such as the development and polarization of mainstream historiographies, inter-communal stratifications, nationalism, and the relationship of the Ottoman State with some of its Anatolian provinces. He is currently completing a PhD at Princeton University, where his doctoral dissertation will focus on the social history of the National Constitution of Ottoman Armenians in 1863, and the communal dynamics/mechanisms that it created on imperial, communal, and provincial levels. Ketsemanian’s research relates to the development of different forms of nationalism in the 19th and 20th centuries, revolutionary violence, and constitutional movements.
Latest posts by Varak Ketsemanian (see all)
- Memoirs of a Soldier: Bedros Haroian’s recollections of the Great War available in English - September 1, 2022
- Armenia a Century on: Lessons in Challenging the Status Quo - May 28, 2018
- The First Republic as Turning Point for the Armenian Nation: A Conversation with Professor Richard G. Hovannisian - May 28, 2018
Great Interview Sabro. I love the last sentence!
How little things have changed. The phrase “One Nation, One Religion” sounds very similar to the phrase “One Nation with Two States” which Heydar Aliev used to describe the relationship between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Clearly, Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks must find a common voice as “One Genocide of Three Nations.” We have much work to do.
What is the really interesting is that the history repeated itself when ISIS invaded the Nineveh-Iraq region and started massacring and displacing the Assyrian population. Armenians are in a great position, they have an army and a country to defend themselves while the Assyrians are the mercy of Iraqi Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds and other Muslim ethnic group that live there which all want to see the Assyrians out of that region. Assyria, a nation that has contributed to the world’s advancement and civilization, need a place of their own to defend it and live in peace. I want to thank my Armenian brother Varak and Sabri the director of Sefo center for shedding light on this barbaric act that was committed by Turkey and their cohorts.
“Denial is a form of continuation of the genocide.”
Right on. All scholarly research affirms that the effects of Genocide continues on down through many generations. The denial by present-day Turkey of the genocide perpetrated on its Christian population by the Ottoman Turks in 1915-1922 is a continuation of that Genocide. It is an open expression of ongoing ethnic hatred toward Christians.
Great interview! I was shocked to hear that the government of Armenian has not recognized the Assyrian Genocide. How on earth is this possible? Can anyone comment on why Armenia has not yet recognized the Assyrian Genocide?
As an Armenian I want to say loudly that Armenia must recognize the Assyrian Genocide ASAP. After all, how can we Armenians expect recognition of the Armenian Genocide when Armenia has not recognized the Assyrian Genocide?
I second what Robert says above! Though it was encouraging to discover that the Assyrian genocide is very much recognized by BDP politicians in Diyarbakir, Turkey.
Union between Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks makes them strong.
Armenian government should recognize Assyrian Genocide ASAP.
@ Boyajian, I totally agree. It was one genocide against three nations: the Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks.
Excellent job, Sabri! Continue your amazing work! I have a few Assyrian friends whose great-grandparents were survivors of the Genocide and the stories they tell are so sad and real. From 1914-1918, around 300,000 of the 600,000 Assyrians were massacred during the genocide by the Ottoman Army. It wiped out half of their population — and they speak modern dialects of Aramaic, the language of Jesus. Along with 1.5 million Armenians, 300,000 Assyrians were also exterminated.
The Assyrians don’t even have a country and they are still subject to massacres by Islamists in Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey; in Iraqi Kurdistan, they are targeted by Kurdish nationalists, too.
Why the Assyrian Genocide has not been recognized by Armenia is beyond me. Ridiculous.
I’m sorry but on this one we need to be a little harder on ourselves. Armenia has not recognized the Assyrian Genocide? A monument was built in 2012? How many years for some public acknowledgement. I’m sure there is some astute political analyst who will point out why Armenia has not recognized this event. But isn’t this the same argument we use in our criticism of Israel not recognizing the genocide. Political vs. Moral.
The point is that we must consider alliances is we have our eye on the goal. How can we consider working with the Assyrians when we haven’t even the decency to respect their pain. And it’s not just Armenia. What have we done in our vast efforts since 1965 to acknowledge the Assyrian or Pontic Greek genocides? Would our cause not have a greater presence if the events of 1915-23 was a One with Three as Boyajian points out. We must expand our thinking and keep our eye on the goal.
Theo Halo’s Book entitled “Not Even My Name” about her mother, who I believe is Assyrian-Pontic Greek details a typical death march. Unfortunately, she has had to confront Vahakn Dadrian in public, as he denies that the Pontic Greeks and Assyrians were the victims of Genocide.
Armenia should not be compared with Israel, Armenia is a weak country and a new Democracy, he should calculate every move he makes, while Israel is almost a SUPERPOWER, even the US doesn’t dare meddling with them. they can afford to recognize the Armenian Genocide, it is question of principals and values.
Excellent article indeed. The failure of the Armenian government to recognize the Assyrian genocide is a stinging reality to me as an Assyrian. But, I believe sooner or later the Armenian government will recognize the Assyrian genocide.
It was Hitler who said “Afterall, who remembers the Armenians?” when justifying the holocaust in Europe. So, indeed, holocaust denial anywhere only encourages genocide everywhere. With two years before the 100th anniversary, there is still time to organize as One Christian Nation, and there is no reason to limit our number to three victim nations. Rather, it is when the whole world unites on this issue that the battle for recognition will be one. In that sense, there is no limit to the number of allies and the Republic of Armenia’s official position on the matter is indeed disgraceful, especially since it does not reflect the opinions of millions of Armenians around the world. It is especially shameful when you consider that Armenians who were able to survive took refuge in the Syrian/Assyrian/Syriac homeland of Mesopotamia (both Syria and Iraq) and treated with dignity to preserve their language, culture and history by building their own institutions. Even orphans were cared for as their own.
My father lost his first family while escaping with an uncle, who didn’t make it. He never talked about it to his children but would never leave the US to go on vacations to Europe with my mother.
I don’t know what the present day Turkish population know or feels about the genocide but working in Iran during their revolution, I witnessed the locals change in attitude toward, we, expatriates once the Shah left.
#RESPECT#
Many thanks to Mr. Varak Ketsemanian of The Armenian Weekly for considering to take on this much starved topic about the Assyrian Genocide, which, in my opinion, deserves as much attention and respect as those who have endured similar massacres, genocides and holocausts at astronomous levels, mainly those who shared the region of Asia Minor at the turn of the last century – the Armenians and the Anatolian-Pontian Greeks.
As for the Assyrians, when it comes to the almanac of genocide, look first to Mr. Sabri Atman, who has made his presence known, worldwide, by igniting the campaign for “Seyfo,” and what would have otherwise remained an “almost” forgotten genocide.
Thank you, Sabri… many thanks to the benevolent Armenian community for their support.
Helen Talia, MBA, CPA
Chicago/Phoenix
We cannot overlook what the genocides of the Assyrians and Pontic Greeks. In fact the Christian Genocide began in WWI around Lake Urmia in 1914. Turkish forces with Kurds and Azeri militias wiped out Assyrian and Armenia villages in the region.
Dear Mr. Atman,
Happy & health New Year to you and your family! Bravo! I applaud you on your research and establishing a Genocide Center, regarding the Assyrian Genocide of 1914-1923 by the Ottoman and Young Turks Governments!
My parents and grandmother were only suvivors of the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide. Hundred’s of our family members from Sivas, (Historic Western Armenia), were slaughtered, murdered and driven into the Syrian Desert of Der Zor; to die by the unmerciful Turks & Kurds!
I hope around the world, in the near future, the Assyrians, Greeks and Armenians can finally unite, protest and expose the past horrors and barbaric actions perpertrated by the Turkish and Kurdish soldiers and people towards the Christian population of Turkey.
This is our chance to fully unite, especially, with the 100th year Genocide Anniversary and its Commeration just a year away!
99 years of denial by the various Turkish Governments is enough!
I wish you many successes in your Genocide work and research.
Please visit our website and go to U-Tube: Californian State University, Fresno Armenian concert, filmed by Fresno PBS, Channel 18 TV and brocasted several times to over 2 million people in Central California.
Best wishes for good health.
John Chookasezian, Artistic Director
Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble
http://www.chookasian.com
chook3@qnis.net
+ 1 (559) 213-1909
Thanks to all those who asked for Armenia to recognize the Assyrian Genocide. As for the comment which mentioned kurds in Iraq. Assyrian nationalists do not recognize the term kur … as it means (land of kurds) which is not true at all. North of Iraq is the heartland of Ashur (Assyria) and therefore, it is Occupied Ashur, because the kurds are occupying Assyrian Lands and these are not their lands to call (land of kurds) .
Ahhh yes, the classic “we were here first” argument. I’m not so sure about that. Sure, the Assyrian continuity thing and the long recorded history seems to suggest this may be possible. But to think that this region, at any time in history was homogeneous in its ethnic makeup is simply not believable. Kurds, an Iranian people, were not nomads were they. Iranian and Semitic peoples historically and in modern times seem to live AWFULLY close to one another wouldn’t you say. Your homeland is basically coterminous with the Kurdish homeland. Tough luck, deal with it. Btw, not capitalizing the “K” in Kurds? Really?
My maternal family members are survivors of the Assyrian Genocide, from Urmia. Excellent article. More news stories similar need to be published. Genocide, unfortunately, is universal.
The Republic of Armenia hasn’t recognized the Assyrian Genocide, yet they’ve erected a monument in remembrance of the Assyrian victims??? Doesn’t make any sense
An excellent interview with a well known scholar of the Assyrian Genocide. I am both Armenian and Assyrian by ancestry, and feel that, in order to optimize our efforts to gain recognition of these heinous acts by the Turks, we need to unify the efforts of the Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks, and other Christians whose ancestors suffered.
It’s always important to put out these articles, so people become aware that in addition to the Armenian Genocide, there also happened to be the Greek and Assyrian Genocides. It’s also important to be aware of the fact that these three genocides were committed simultaneously by the Muslim Ottoman Turks. A joint Armenian/Greek/Assyrian lawsuit against Turkey for its role in committing these three genocides, is definitely an idea to pursue. It would be stronger in force, as opposed to filing three separate lawsuits. We Armenians, combined with the Greeks and Assyrians, should work together and employ all our resources in bringing the criminal terrorist nation of Turkey to justice. We must never permit the Turkish nation to escape from the terrible crimes it committed against these three peoples. Turkey must be punished to the fullest extent, whether in court or out of court.
Yerevanian
So you do not trust your own power and claim and try to find a few partners?
John the turk,
Why is it that every time the subject of the Armenian, Greek, or Assyrian Genocides is brought up, the Turks suddenly become disturbed and threatened?
They’re afraid of the truth.
Those saying that “the Armenian government does not recognize the Assyrian Genocide” – it is simply not true. I don’t think there are any Armenians who deny the genocides of Anatolian Assyrians and Greeks. If I remember the Armenian government stated that the Assyrian Genocide happened within the context of the Armenian Genocide or that the Armenian Genocide needs to be recognized before proceeding or something to that effect. In any case the reasons are technical, and I am pretty sure that in time it will all be worked out.
On another front the reality of the Assyrian Genocide and Greek Genocide in Asia Minor can serve as a devastating blow to Turkey’s denial of committing Genocide. The typical excuses for the Armenian Genocide: “both sides suffered”, “the Armenians were plotting with the Russians”, etc. So then in the two other genocides, were the Greeks and Assyrians plotting with the Russians too? Of course they next claim Assyrians did too… then what about Greeks? It does not look good for Turkey’s ridiculous claims and desperate excuses. In hindsight, the Armenian Revolutionaries definitely did the right thing, albeit a little late, but at least their actions bought Armenians crucial time thereby saving the remaining Armenians and ultimately Armenia itself.
Good point
This resounding call for victims of Turk genocide to unite is doubly important for the U.S.A.
Instead of constantly voting for candidates who deny our genocides the minute they reach the White House we should vote for candidates of Greek, Assyrian or Armenian descent who have a STAKE in genocide recognition! VOTE FOR NOBODY ELSE! They all betray true Americanism.
Cevdet Bey the brother in law of Enver, the governor and butcher of Vanin 1915, exterminated all the Assyrians and Armenians of Hakkari aera on the border with Persia before concentrating his extermination to the villages around the city of Van. We are the same victims fhe same Genocide we do not need to recognize it among us we need others to do it, we must unite our forces also with the greeks in occasion of he 100 of the Genocide!
Good history lesson.