Reddit cofounder to commemorate Armenian Genocide victims in Yerevan

12:07, 31 March 2015

YEREVAN, 31 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The cofounder of the world famous social news website Reddit of Armenian origin Alexis Ohanian will arrive in Armenia on the Centennial day of the Armenian Genocide. He will be here with his father and will wait for US recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Armenpress presents the exclusive interview of Alexis Ohanian, who has great achievements in the field of technology.

- First of all, can you tell us a bit about you and the story of your family?

-My grandfather John Ohanian should be the one doing that. We already created a Reddit AMA together that covers it. John Ohanian tells: "The families of my parents were orphaned when the Turkish government cleansed the Armenian population in central Turkey during the Armenian Genocide. My mother was one of the refugees that marched out - many died including her brother and sister - through Turkey to Aleppo, Syria. My father's parents were murdered, in his presence, when the Turks stormed his town. A soldier on horseback was about to kill him with a sword when his friend told him to stop, because he was too young, and as only child, my father was then taken to an orphanage in Turkey and left there. He first came to the US around 1920 and later he found that my mother was living in Aleppo - they had been next-door neighbors and he brought her to the United States and they married soon thereafter. They had 4 children, 3 girls and a boy. I had one older sister and two younger sisters. I was the second child. If I learned anything from my parents, it was to take care of yourself and your own needs and your family needs and that the family was the most important part of growing up."

- Once in Armenia you declared that your “best half” is Armenian. Did the Armenian roots change anything in your life?

- I'm proud of being German, too (my other half) but I just kid about this, because there are so few of us Armenians in the world and we are so proud, as we should be. Going back to Armenia had a tremendous impact on me.

- Your grandfather John Ohanian called Turkey to recognize Armeinan Genocide. It is interesting to know your opinion about it?

-I'll be in Armenia with my father on this April to hopefully see that USA recognizes the Armenian Genocide at last. We actually taped an episode of the reddit podcast all about Armenians and Genocide that we will launch on April 23.

- Will you arrive to Armenia on April 24?

-I think I'll arrive on 22 April.

- Referring to your professional activities, I would like to know what new initiative do you have? You are a cofounder of the Reddit social networking and news website, which have achieved success. Which one will be the next?

- Now I'm back at the reddit as executive chair and I'm excited for all the things that we're working on. The big goal now is to grow from one of the 10 largest websites in the USA.

- A few days ago you participated in “Innovate Armenia” forum, what further plans do you have connected with Armenia?

- I'll be speaking at TUMO on April 25 for an event, which is organized by my friend Raffi Krikorian.

- The Armenian Government announced the IT sector as a priority, and the experts say that Armenia has big potential in that field. Do you agree with that point and how do you see the future in that direction?

- Yes. That's what my Innovate Armenia speech was about and that's what I have been saying for years to anyone who would listen to me. Let's get our Armenian brothers and sisters writing code and familiar with technology.

Interview by Ani Nazaryan

Reddit cofounder to commemorate Armenian Genocide victims in Yerevan | ARMENPRESS Armenian News Agency

Reddit cofounder to commemorate Armenian Genocide victims in Yerevan

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