Festival ‘Independent Armenia’ held on September 21 in Buenos Aires

The Armenian Cultural Association of Buenos Aires celebrated Armenia’s Independence Day on September 21. The event kicked off with the anthems of Argentina, Armenia and Artsakh. The host of the event, Quique Tokatlian, called for “expressing Armenian identity and the struggle for sovereignty through music, dance and art.” The Nor Arevakal choir, under the direction of Rosalba Onikyan and accompanied by Andrea García’s piano, performed Armenian and Argentine songs. The Nairi Armenian Folk Dance Ensemble, led by Professor Amalia Sargsyan, performed the Papuri national dance.

Kalusd Jensezian, with actors Jorge Ducca and Gastón Santos, presented an excerpt from the play “El Ararat y yo” staged by Herminia Jensezian with direction assistance by María Laura Laspiur. The Narek Armenian folk dance ensemble also performed under the general direction of Elena Martin. The event continued with duduk and dhol performed by Hagop Barseghyan and Miguel Samouelian. At the end, Laura Corrado Misirlian, teacher of the Shiraz Armenian Folk Dance Ensemble of Montevideo, performed Khachatur Avetisyan’s “Karnanain anurchner”.

Melkon Karamanian, member of the Aram Manukian Committee of Buenos Aires, in his speech touched upon the illegally arrested officials of Artsakh held in Baku, stressing that they will fight for the release and return of the Artsakh people. “Not giving up means being indifferent to the pain of forcibly displaced Artsakh people. It means not forgetting those political leaders who remain held hostage in Baku prisons. Until they are released, our struggle must not stop. Not giving up means fulfilling the provisions of the Declaration of Independence of Armenia. Some people want to abandon it, but we don’t,” Karamanian said.

In his speech, ARFD representative Hagop Tabakian stressed the significant role of the Diaspora in the struggle for the future of Armenia and condemned the current political situation both inside and outside the country. “I urge you to join this fight. I do not guarantee victory, but I guarantee that, having joined this fight, we will live and feel like Armenians,” he said.