THE STATELESS DIPLOMAT

Diana Agabeg Apcar, a 19^th century Armenian writer living in Japan, became the de facto ambassador of a lost nation. She worked on behalf of Armenia and Genocide survivors for years. She committed her energy and resources to the Armenian cause, by writing books and articles, appealing to peace societies, academics, missionaries, and politicians, warning of the impending peril. When no one heeded Diana’s calls and 1.5 million people were killed, survivors fled in all directions. Those who went north into Russia, found the country in the midst of the bloody Bolshevik revolution; and so they chose an unexpected direction - East, through endless Siberia, all the way to the Pacific Ocean and the port city of Vladivostok. But without the proper travel documents they were stuck and could journey no further. Diana’s new role became diplomat and humanitarian, the de facto ambassador of the lost state of Armenia. She negotiated with the Japanese government to provide asylum to the refugees. Using her own resources, she rented houses to shelter them, enrolled the children in school, helped with visas and documents, secured ship passage, and located refugees’ relatives in the United States, to enable the last leg of their journey. An author, businesswoman, activist, humanitarian and diplomat, Diana Apcar single-handedly rescued hundreds Genocide survivors. Both she and the refugees shared a vision—no matter how unrealistic—with hard work, perseverance, and a little human compassion, they would succeed.