If you are familiar with the Los Angeles area, you might know that LA has a significant Armenian American population. LA, especially the city of Glendale, has the largest population of Armenians in the world outside of Armenia and Russia. If you watched the Conan O’Brien show produced in LA, you might also know that Conan’s assistant, Sona, is Armenian American. Walking along Hollywood Blvd in Glendale, one would notice numerous murals depicting the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan.
The Armenian Genocide began in 1915 during WWI. According to Armenia, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by then the new Ottoman Turkish government. While the genocide has been chronicled by some historians, Turkey has a different interpretation of what happened and denied it occurred, saying the deaths of Armenians was a function of the chaos of WWI, which also claimed Turkish lives. The Turks further claim that the Russian Empire provided weapons to Armenian villagers and many Turkish villagers were killed during that same war.
Traveling in the Caucasus region provides the opportunity to learn about this event from different perspectives: While I have seen the Armenian Genocide being mentioned in Armenia and Iran, the event was denied in Azerbaijan (who currently has border dispute with Armenia in Artsakh) and of course Turkey. Although I am no historian and am not qualified to judge, it certainly helps me understand one thing: There are always two sides to every story.
亞美尼亞種族滅絕 The Armenian Genocide began in 1915 during WWI. According to Armenia, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by then the new Ottoman Turkish government. While the genocide has been chronicled by some historians, Turkey has a different interpretation of what happened and denied it occurred, saying the deaths of Armenians was a function of the chaos of WWI, which also claimed Turkish lives. The Turks further claim that the Russian Empire provided weapons to Armenian villagers and many Turkish villagers were killed during that same war. @Yerevan埃里溫亞美尼亞種族滅絕 The Armenian Genocide began in 1915 during WWI. According to Armenia, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by then the new Ottoman Turkish government. While the genocide has been chronicled by some historians, Turkey has a different interpretation of what happened and denied it occurred, saying the deaths of Armenians was a function of the chaos of WWI, which also claimed Turkish lives. The Turks further claim that the Russian Empire provided weapons to Armenian villagers and many Turkish villagers were killed during that same war. @Yerevan埃里溫亞美尼亞種族滅絕 The Armenian Genocide began in 1915 during WWI. According to Armenia, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by then the new Ottoman Turkish government. While the genocide has been chronicled by some historians, Turkey has a different interpretation of what happened and denied it occurred, saying the deaths of Armenians was a function of the chaos of WWI, which also claimed Turkish lives. The Turks further claim that the Russian Empire provided weapons to Armenian villagers and many Turkish villagers were killed during that same war. @Yerevan埃里溫亞美尼亞之母像 A female personification of Armenia, Mother Armenia Monument symbolizes peace through strength. It is dedicated to Armenia’s participation in WWII (1941-1945) and the Artsakh war (1988-1994) – The Artsakh war was particularly controversial, as both Armenia and Azerbaijan claimed Artsakh after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 – This results in claims of ethnic cleansing by both sides. Artsakh is currently a disputed territory: Internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but governed by an independent state with Armenian ethnic majority. @Yerevan埃里溫諾亞方舟著陸地 亞拉臘山 Mount Ararat, which was historically part of Armenia, is the highest mountain in the region. Now located in Turkey, but clearly visible from Armenia, it is regarded by the Armenians as a symbol of their land and is present on the Armenian national emblem today. Mount Ararat is also considered the landing site of Noah’s Ark: According to Genesis 8:4, following a flood, Noah’s Ark landed on the “mountains of Ararat”. @Yerevan埃里溫亞美尼亞種族滅絕 The Armenian Genocide began in 1915 during WWI. According to Armenia, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by then the new Ottoman Turkish government. While the genocide has been chronicled by some historians, Turkey has a different interpretation of what happened and denied it occurred, saying the deaths of Armenians was a function of the chaos of WWI, which also claimed Turkish lives. The Turks further claim that the Russian Empire provided weapons to Armenian villagers and many Turkish villagers were killed during that same war. @Yerevan埃里溫第一次世界大戰前的亞美尼亞學生 Armenian school children in 1909, prior to WWI and the Armenian Genocide in 1915. @Yerevan埃里溫亞美尼亞難民 亞美尼亞自衛民兵 Armenian refugees and Armenian self-defense militia, in reaction to the Hamidian massacres 1894-1896. @Yerevan埃里溫第一次種族滅絕 The Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878 ended in Ottoman Empire’s defeat. Article 61 of the Treaty of Berlin stated that Turkey was committed to carry out reforms in provinces with Armenian population without delay and to provide security for the Armenians, taking into account that withdrawal of the Russian army from Armenia might cause collisions and complications – The “Armenian Question” arose as Europe’s involvement to the Armenian subjects.
According to Armenia, during the reign of Abdul Hamid II (34th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire), the Sultan attempted to resolve the Armenian Question for good through large-scale Armenian massacres in Western Armenia – This violated Article 61 of the Treaty of Berlin, which guaranteed the security of Armenians with a promise to reform. According to Arnmenia, the Hamidian massacres of 1894-1896, where up to 300,000 Armenians were killed, were the first attempt at genocide against Ottoman Armenians. @Yerevan埃里溫第一次種族滅絕 The Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878 ended in Ottoman Empire’s defeat. Article 61 of the Treaty of Berlin stated that Turkey was committed to carry out reforms in provinces with Armenian population without delay and to provide security for the Armenians, taking into account that withdrawal of the Russian army from Armenia might cause collisions and complications – The “Armenian Question” arose as Europe’s involvement to the Armenian subjects.
According to Armenia, during the reign of Abdul Hamid II (34th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire), the Sultan attempted to resolve the Armenian Question for good through large-scale Armenian massacres in Western Armenia – This violated Article 61 of the Treaty of Berlin, which guaranteed the security of Armenians with a promise to reform. According to Arnmenia, the Hamidian massacres of 1894-1896, where up to 300,000 Armenians were killed, were the first attempt at genocide against Ottoman Armenians. @Yerevan埃里溫國際認可 As a response to continuing denial by the Turkish state, many activists from Armenian Diaspora communities have pushed for formal recognition of the Armenian Genocide from governments around the world. 29 countries and 48 U.S. states have adopted resolutions acknowledging the Armenian Genocide as a historical event. Many countries, however, avoid any mention of the Armenian Genocide. @Yerevan埃里溫亞美尼亞種族滅絕 The Armenian Genocide began in 1915 during WWI. According to Armenia, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by then the new Ottoman Turkish government. While the genocide has been chronicled by some historians, Turkey has a different interpretation of what happened and denied it occurred, saying the deaths of Armenians was a function of the chaos of WWI, which also claimed Turkish lives. The Turks further claim that the Russian Empire provided weapons to Armenian villagers and many Turkish villagers were killed during that same war. @Yerevan埃里溫取代前斯大林像 The current Mother Armenia statue replaces the previous Joseph Stalin statue that was created in the Soviet days as a victory memorial for WWII. @Yerevan埃里溫亞美尼亞之母像 A female personification of Armenia, Mother Armenia Monument symbolizes peace through strength. It is dedicated to Armenia’s participation in WWII (1941-1945) and the Artsakh war (1988-1994) – The Artsakh war was particularly controversial, as both Armenia and Azerbaijan claimed Artsakh after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 – This results in claims of ethnic cleansing by both sides. Artsakh is currently a disputed territory: Internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but governed by an independent state with Armenian ethnic majority. @Yerevan埃里溫亞美尼亞之母像 A female personification of Armenia, Mother Armenia Monument symbolizes peace through strength. It is dedicated to Armenia’s participation in WWII (1941-1945) and the Artsakh war (1988-1994) – The Artsakh war was particularly controversial, as both Armenia and Azerbaijan claimed Artsakh after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 – This results in claims of ethnic cleansing by both sides. Artsakh is currently a disputed territory: Internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but governed by an independent state with Armenian ethnic majority. @Yerevan埃里溫諾亞方舟著陸地 亞拉臘山 Mount Ararat, which was historically part of Armenia, is the highest mountain in the region. Now located in Turkey, but clearly visible from Armenia, it is regarded by the Armenians as a symbol of their land and is present on the Armenian national emblem today. Mount Ararat is also considered the landing site of Noah’s Ark: According to Genesis 8:4, following a flood, Noah’s Ark landed on the “mountains of Ararat”. @Yerevan埃里溫諾亞方舟著陸地 亞拉臘山 Mount Ararat, which was historically part of Armenia, is the highest mountain in the region. Now located in Turkey, but clearly visible from Armenia, it is regarded by the Armenians as a symbol of their land and is present on the Armenian national emblem today. Mount Ararat is also considered the landing site of Noah’s Ark: According to Genesis 8:4, following a flood, Noah’s Ark landed on the “mountains of Ararat”. @Yerevan埃里溫石灰石樓梯 Cascade Complex, a giant limestone stairway that links the downtown area with the monument neighborhood. The bottom end of the stairway features various art works. @Yerevan埃里溫石灰石樓梯 Cascade Complex, a giant limestone stairway that links the downtown area with the monument neighborhood. The bottom end of the stairway features various art works. @Yerevan埃里溫高加索美食 Dolma, meat rolled up in grape leaves. @Yerevan埃里溫高加索美食 Lahmajoun, Armenian pizza. Always comes with lemon. @Yerevan埃里溫高加索美食 Khachapuri, eggs on cheese-filled bread. @Yerevan埃里溫高加索美食 Piti, Caucasus lamb soup. @Yerevan埃里溫兩度脫俄 The Armenian Highland is the cradle of Armenian civilization. Strategically located, it was periodically attacked by powerful countries of the time, including the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Mongols, Ottomans, Persians, and Russians. In the 19th century, as a result of Russian-Turkish and Russian-Persian wars, Eastern Armenia went under control of the Russian Empire, while Western Armenia remained under the Ottoman Empire. Over its history, Armenia declared independent from Russia twice: The first time was in 1918, following WWI / Russian Revolution when all non-Russian countries declared independent after the Russian Empire ceased to exist. The second time was in 1991, after the dissolve of the Soviet Union. This photo is the coat of arms of Soviet Armenia, depicting Mount Ararat in the center. @Yerevan埃里溫@Yerevan埃里溫亞美尼亞國旗 Armenia national flag. @Yerevan埃里溫亞美尼亞國旗 Armenia national flag. @Yerevan埃里溫
