Western Diocese Nagorno-Karabakh: Today and Tomorrow

November 11th-13th: Los Angeles, California

The Artsakh Heritage Committee of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America will host an international conference on human and cultural security prospects in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in Los Angeles on November 11-13, 2022.

“Today, as Azerbaijan is once again attacking Armenians, it is vital to assess all geopolitical scenarios in order to properly analyze and best publicize this existential struggle,” remarked committee volunteer and conference chair Simon Maghakyan, who is best known for his investigative research in exposing Azerbaijan’s covert erasure of Nakhichevan’s Armenian past. “Assessing prospects for addressing human and cultural security needs in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) is a monumental task that requires ongoing collaborative thinking, which is why we will bring top experts and practitioners from across the world for this important conference,” concluded Maghakyan. 

“It was imperative to ensure that the appropriate steps be taken to ensure the prevention of cultural genocide in our nation’s life,” said Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the Diocesan Primate. “The world is cognizant of our history and culture and the erasure of our religious and cultural monuments – shameful acts that ought to be condemned by the world community,” continued His Eminence.

The conference, entitled Nagorno-Karabakh: Today and Tomorrow, will be held at the Diocesan Headquarters in Burbank, California on November 11-13, 2022. It will bring together top experts from across the world to discuss cultural preservation, geopolitics, diplomacy, and legal matters concerning Armenian existence. Public events, which be announced at a later date, will take place in conjunction with the conference to present a summary of the discussions and recommendations to the public at large. 

The Artsakh Heritage Committee was founded at the initiative of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, in the aftermath of the 2020 war on Artsakh and its ongoing repercussions. The Committee consists of prominent scholars, experts, clergymen, and other key stakeholders dedicated to the cause of safeguarding Armenian cultural heritage under Azerbaijan’s newfound control.