THE ZORYAN INSTITUTE Newsletter - Azad-Hye

A Message from Executive Director George ShirinianThe Zoryan Institute recently completed its 25th anniversary.It recognized the significant contributions andsuccesses of the Institute and the valuable blend ofexpertise and dedication of its employees, volunteersand Boards, past and present. A retrospective look atthe Institute is timely, as well as instructive for its future.Some US$13 million has been spent to date to maintainthousands of archival materials, publish two acclaimedacademic journals, establish a universityaccreditedcomparative genocide studies program, organizehigh level conferences, seminars, andeducational public lectures, conduct originalresearch, and produce pioneering publicationson numerous subjects.From its inception, Zoryan was swept along byrequest after request, demand after demandfor the kind of high level research, reportingand action on issues of national importance,for which there was no other organizationavailable in the Diaspora. The Institute’s program, whenstarted, had no endowment fund. This, coupled withZoryan’s policy of avoiding financial dependence on anysingle source—essential to maintaining the independenceand the integrity of its projects—put enormouspressure on the Board and staff. To give but one example,just publishing a book costs the Institute approximately$90,000, employing specialized scholars, conductingresearch and analysis, translation, editing, aswell as publication. It is a miracle that the Institute hasnot only survived the past twenty-five years, but producedsuch an enormous body of work.The Institute’s founders assumed at the start that theArmenian community was robust and mature enough tosustain an independent institute, and to a certain extentthis has been borne out. However, Zoryan has nowgrown to a stage that it has had to create two spin-offAppreciationThe ZoryanInstitute is anational resourceand needsnational support.divisions, the International Institute for Genocide andHuman Rights Studies and the International Institute forDiaspora Studies. Together, their partnerships withother institutions, such as the University of Minnesota,the University for Peace, and the International Associationof Genocide Scholars have helped integrate Armenianissues into international forums, but have addedeven more demands for human and financial resources.To sustain this service and continue this growth, as wellas complete projects in hand, it is crucial for the instituteto not only secure its annual budget of$600,000, but also to establish an endowmentfund of $10 million, to guarantee its uninterruptedoperation in the future. This is essentialin order to develop a new generationof scholars, provide the foundation for themto undertake the new critical challenges of the21 st century, and formulate long-term projectsfor our future. The work described only brieflyabove, which crosses the boundaries of history, politicalscience, sociology and international law, can not be undertakenby volunteers. It requires qualified expertswith the highest level of professional integrity.We are calling, therefore, on Armenians worldwide fortangible and concrete support for this work, as the ZoryanInstitute is a national resource and needs nationalsupport. We urge our leaders in business and the professionsto help. We ask our religious, political and socialinstitutions to include in their annual budgets fundingto support this work. Zoryan’s legacy must bepassed on to the next generation, which can not bedone without this support.I urge you to join the esteemed ranks of our supporterswith a contribution towards this vital work today andhelp carry this message to others to become a Zoryan“Friend.”Recognition of Support for the Zoryan InstituteWe are honored to acknowledge the organizations and individuals list below, who have provided their services andthose on the next page who have contributed financial support during the past year.Dr. Misak Abdulian, Dr. Rouben Adalian, Mr. Robert Adourian, Mr. Levon Afeyan, Mr. Pierre Akkelian, Mr. Arman Akopyan, DeaconHagop Arslanian, Mr. Diran Avedian, Mr. Garbis Bagdasarian, Prof. Anny Bakalian, Mrs. Arda Bazarian, Mr. & Mrs. Ara &Calabrina Boyajian, Mr. Onnig Cavoukian, Prof. Israel Charney, Mr. Souren Chekijian, Prof. Stephen Feinstein, H.E. Bishop BragratGalstanyan, Mr. Hirant Gulian, Father Hayrik Hovhannisyan, Catholicos Karekin II, Mr. Hrach Kaspar, Mr. Antoine Kirijian,Mr. Van Krikorian, President Robert Kocharyan, Mr. & Mrs. Vreij & Christine Kolandjian, Mr. Rupen Kouyoudjmian, Mr. MarcMamigonian, Mr. Vahe Mardirossian, Mr. Edgar Martirosyan, Ms. Tenny Nigoghossian, Prof. Solomon Nigosian, R.H. VartanOskanian, Mr. Khachig Papanyan, Mr. Berge Papazian, Prof. Simon Payaslian, Ms. Karin Saghdejian, Mrs. Lena Sarkissian, Mr.Jack Stepanian, Mr. Zohrab Tatikian, Mr. Ara Ter-Harootunian, Mr. Vartkes Yeghiayan, Mr. Harout Yeretsian, Ms. MagdalenaYesil, and Father Zareh Zargarian.Page Eight