The Association of Armenian Scouts (, ''Haï Ari'', alternately ) was the

Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...

n Scouting in Exile movement recognized by the

World Organization of the Scout Movement The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM ) is the largest international Scouting organization. WOSM has 173 members. These members are recognized national Scout organizations, which collectively have around 43 million participants. WOS ...

. In 1929 the Association of Armenian Scouts, centered in Paris, was given recognition as a member of the International Conference. ''Haï Ari'' was a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1929 to 1997. The organization was recognized in exile, with headquarters and approximately 1,100 members in France.

History

Scouting in Armenia The Scout and Guide movement in Armenia is served by * Hayastani Azgayin Skautakan Sharjum Kazmakerputiun, member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement * National Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts of Armenia, member of the World A ...

was founded in 1912, then later developed abroad among the

refugees A refugee, conventionally speaking, is a displaced person who has crossed national borders and who cannot or is unwilling to return home due to well-founded fear of persecution.

who had survived the genocide of 1915-1916 and among those that had fled the communist takeover of Armenia in 1920, at which point Scouting ceased to exist in Armenia. Dr.

Kourkène Medzadourian Kourkène (Georges) Medzadourian ( hy, Գուրգէն Մեծատուրեան) (July 10, 1908 - December 27, 1996) was the founder of the Haï Ari association of Armenian Scouts-in-Exile, based in France. Scouting in Armenia was founded in 1912, ...

, Chief Scout of Armenia, moved to France, where troops of Armenian Scouts were established in large cities. In 1929, World Scouting recognized the Association of Armenian Scouts, ''Haï Ari'', based in France. While the Association did not have its own territorial base, it was the exception to the rule, remaining a member of the World Organization and the

European Scout Region The European Scout Region is one of six geographical subdivisions of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with a satellite office in Brussels, Belgium. Structure Members The European Scout Region co ...

. In April 1939,

J. S. Wilson Colonel John Skinner "Belge" Wilson (1888–1969) was a Scottish scouting luminary and friend and contemporary of General Baden-Powell, recruited by him to head the International Bureau, later to become the World Bureau of the World Organiz ...

paid a visit in Paris for the tenth anniversary of the recognition of the Association of Armenian Scouts. At its meeting in 1945, the International Committee considered the standing of the two non-territorial National Scout Organizations, the Association des Scouts Armeniens and the Association Nationale des Scouts Russes. It was proved that the Armenian organization was very much alive, and that it had members in various countries, some of whom could not be recognized as Scouts without the existence of the Armenian organization. The same did not appear to be the case with the Russian Scouts, whose membership had dwindled and seemed to be confined to displaced persons (DP) camps. The Committee felt that the continued registration of the Association Nationale des Scouts Russes was not justified. The policy adopted in 1947 and reaffirmed in 1949 remained as it was until 1957, when the Committee decided to reconsider the whole question of policy in view of changed conditions. In 1994,

National Scout Movement of Armenia The National Scout Movement of Armenia (Hayastani Azgayin Scautakan Sharjum Kazmakerputiun, HASK); ( hy, Հայաստանի Ազգային Սկաուտական Շարժում, ՀՄԸՄ-ՀԱՍԿ), is the primary national Scouting organization of ...

(, HASK) was born. The French-based Association of Armenian Scouts withdrew from membership in order to allow Scouting in Armenia to join the World Organization. Membership in the World Organization passed to HASK on April 18, 1997. The former refugee organization disbanded on January 9, 1998.Journal officiel 5 (1998), No. 2941

Ideals

The

Scout Motto The Scout Motto of the Scout movement is, in English, "Be Prepared", with most international branches of the group using a close translation of that phrase. These mottoes have been used by millions of Scouts around the world since 1907. Most of t ...

was ''Misht Badrast'' () meaning 'always ready' in

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...

. The Scout emblem incorporated the national colors as well as

Mount Ararat Mount Ararat or , ''Ararat''; or is a snow-capped and dormant compound volcano in the extreme east of Turkey. It consists of two major volcanic cones: Greater Ararat and Little Ararat. Greater Ararat is the highest peak in Turkey and th ...

, also an element of the coat of arms of Armenia.

History

Ideals

Further reading

References

See also