“Ramgavar Mamoul” questions are answered by Norayr Mkrtchyan, member of the ADL Central Board:
– Mr. Mkrtchyan, the New York community has a considerable Armenian population. What information can you give us about your community?
I represent the Armenian community of New York. When we say the Armenian community of New York, we mean New York City with its five boroughs, the southern part of Connecticut and New Jersey. In this geographical area, by unofficial data, but we know and accept that more than 150,000 Armenians reside. We have more than 15 churches, we have the traditional Armenian political parties, we have our two Prelacies — the Etchmiadzin and the Cilician sees — we have the international central office of the Armenian General Benevolent Union and numerous other organisations.
– Your community organises a series of events every year during the month of April. Given the current circumstances, will these events take place this year?
For the period from March 16 to April 26, more than 25 events and activities had been planned and scheduled, whether artistic, literary, cultural, theatrical or political. But as of today, unfortunately, all those events have been both postponed and suspended, and as of today, we do not know if or when those events will take place or not.
I have been living in this area for 40 years. For our community, the most important event of the month of April has always been the commemoration of the Great Genocide, which takes place on the Sunday closest to April 24, which this year would have been April 26. It was already planned and the organisation had begun, but as of today, I doubt that it will take place. I consider that a great loss for us, because I know closely the work and the importance of that event.
– Recently, like the whole world, New York is also in distress from the “Corona” virus infection. How is the Armenian community responding to this issue?
As far as our community and the damages of this “Corona” virus are concerned, unfortunately we do not have exact figures, because, like all of you, we are also confined to our homes and have lost the possibility of having our normal relations, and we also have a problem from the standpoint of receiving the daily information of our community from different areas. We are closed in our homes and we are doing our best to keep in touch with our other friends. We are making use of the means provided by the internet and several times a week we organise group conversations and meetings. We all spend our time reading, sitting in front of the television, unfortunately a little more than necessary. However, we are doing our best to put our health above everything else, we want to keep ourselves away from danger, in the hope that in the near future, humanity throughout the world will overcome this plague and all the damages it has caused. I am confident that this new lifestyle dictated by the pandemic will teach us certain things, and our future activities and organisational work will be more effective.
