DIASPORAN ARMENIAN GENERATION FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO READ IN ARMENIAN, EDITORS OF ARMENIAN NEWSPAPERS OF DIASPORA ARE ANXIOUS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 12 2007
YEREVAN, MARCH 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The majority
of periodicals of Diaspora are published in rather difficult
public, social, language conditions. Editors of the U.S. "Asbarez"
(field), Greece "Azat Or" (Free Day), Lebanon "Azdak" (Impulse),
Canada "Horizon," Iran "Alik" (Wave), U.S. "Hayrenik" (Fatherland)
newspapers who are on a working visit in Yerevan during these days,
stated about it at the March 10 press conference.
"Asbarez" editor Vache Brutian, particularly, mentioned that during
99 years that the newspaper has been published in the U.S. western
regions, the Armenian community was subjected to serious demographic
changes: the one that is comprehensive for Armenians come from
Beirut, is not understandable for those moved to U.S. from
other colonies. Continueing the theme, editor of the "Hayrenik"
periodical Khazhak Mkrtchian mentioned that different sections of
a non-homogeneous community are interested in articles touching
upon different themes, from educational materials to ones telling
about the tax field. Kh. Mkrtchian added that the serious reason of
difficulty in sale of the newspaper is that the younger generation
gradually forgets the mother tongue. In his words, their editorial
staff recently got a letter from a subscriber of the newspaper who
mentioned that his grandfather died and asks to send him the English
variant of the newspaper then. Hripsime Haroutiunian, the "Azat Or"
newspaper editor stated that they also have such a problem in Greece:
the new generation finds it difficult to read in Armenian, and because
of it articles are published in their newspaper in the Greek language
as well. Vahakn Karakashian, the editor of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation "Horizon" official newspaper being publisged in Canada,
mentioned that the newspaper is able to care not only its printing
expenses but also to secure some profit. The speakers also touched upon
the issue of dual citizenship, saying that every Diasporan Armenian
has the right to be a citizen of Armenia, as not of his own will he
lost the possibility of living in the Fatherland.