Karabakh Armed Forces march during a parade marking the 20th anniversary of the Liberation of Shoushi

BAKU (RFE/RL)—Azerbaijan on Thursday condemned as a “provocation” a high-profile military parade that was held in Nagorno-Karabakh and attended by President Serzh Sarkisian.

“Such a destructive position demonstrates that the Armenian side is not prepared to hold negotiations in a constructive manner,” the APA news agency quoted an Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman, Elman Abdullayev, as telling journalists.

The parade, which involved scores of troops, tanks and other military hardware, was dedicated to the 20th anniversary of a key battle that greatly contributed to the Armenian victory in the 1991-1994 war for Karabakh.

Azerbaijan has similarly condemned Sarkisian’s presence at military exercises held by Karabakh’s armed forces. Watching such drills in late 2010, Sarkisian warned that the Armenian side will deal a “devastating and final” blow to Baku if it attempts to resolve their conflict by force.

In a separate development, a senior aide to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused the West on Thursday of unjustly portraying the weekend parliamentary elections in Armenia as democratic.

“Voting in Armenia’s elections was largely a show organized by themselves,” Novruz Mammadov said, according to the Trend news agency. “Unfortunately, the West, having immediately demonstrated some [pro-Armenian] partiality, wants to present these elections as transparent and democratic.”

Nalbandian during Thursday's NAM session

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt— Armenia’s Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian accused Azerbaijan of continuing to promote racism, ethnic hatred and discrimination.

Speaking at a ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, also said that Baku’s statements run counter to international norms and impede the Karabakh peace process.

The Movement, known as NAM, is a grouping of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries. Azerbaijan joined NAM in 2011.

Nalbandian specifically targeted Azerbaijan’s continued military rhetoric, saying that Baku’s statements run counter to the spirit of OSCE Minsk Group-mediated negotiations.

“The Azeri approach not only threatens the peace process and the fragile situation in the conflict zone, but also contradicts the main principles of NAM,” said Nalbandian referring to a declaration that emerged from the group’s 1955 conference in Bandung, Indonesia, in which respect for human rights was highlighted.

“Although a member of NAB only for one year, Azerbaijan has already violated the principles by promoting discrimination and ethnic hatred. This is the only explanation that can be given to recent statements of the Azeri leadership who said Armenians worldwide were Azerbaijan’s number one enemy,” added Nalbandian.

On the sidelines of the NAM meeting, Nalbandian also met with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi. During the meeting, Nalbandian invited Salehi to visit Yerevan and continued the coordination efforts of bi-lateral relations and agreements.

Nalbandian also said that Tehran is against hostilities between its neighbors, while Salehi highlighted the historical ties between Iran and Armenia, stressing that neighboring states should work together in a friendly atmosphere to avoid any conflict.

ANCA-WR activists in the State Captiol (photo by Nora Yacoubian)

200 ANCA-WR Activists Gather At The California State Capitol

SACRAMENTO—Nearly 200 activists, from every corner of California, joined the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region on Thursday, April 19 for the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in the California State Legislature. A busload of activists making the trip from Southern California was escorted through Los Angeles by an official send-off by the “Hye Riders” Motorcycle Club.

Consul General Grigor Hovanissian, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian (photo by Nora Yacoubian)

Participants observed the State Senate and Assembly commemorations which recognized various community groups including the ANCA-WR and were spiritually inspired by an invocation from Archbishop Mousegh Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The day’s events were highlighted by passage of two Armenian Genocide Resolutions.  Notably, Assembly Member Katcho Achadjian, the only Assembly Member of Armenian descent, introduced and ushered passage of House Resolution 27 which strongly recognizes the Armenian Genocide, designates April 18 – 24, 2012 as a “Week of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923,” and calls on the Congress and President of the United States to formally and consistently recognize the Armenian Genocide’s historical truth.

“The State Legislature’s commemorative events and passage of not one, but two Armenian Genocide resolutions, once again highlight California’s role at the forefront of genocide awareness and recognition of the Armenian Genocide in particular,” said Armen Garabedian, ANCA-WR California State Affairs Committee Chair.

State Rep. Mike Feuer with ANCA-WR Activists (photo by Nora Yacoubian)

Alongside the commemorative events, the ANCA-WR held its annual Advocacy Day in the State Capitol through which participating activists were able to educate state legislators about issues of concern to the Armenian-American community.  “I had an incredible opportunity to sit in on a meeting with my Assembly Member, Felipe Fuentes, which really gave me insight of how politics work outside of the classroom. My participation in the Genocide Commemoration on the Assembly and Senate Floors allowed me to apply what I had been studying for the past three years to the real world. [...],”stated Ellen Oganesyan, ASA president at the University of California, Santa
Barbara.

State Rep. Katcho Achadjian, GUSD Board Member Greg Krikorian; credit, Nora Yacoubian.JPG State Rep. Katcho Achadjian, GUSD Board Member Greg Krikorian (photo by Nora Yacoubian)

She continued, “As an Armenian-American and direct descendant of an Armenian Genocide survivor, Advocacy Day enhanced every aspect of my involvement as an activist against human rights violations.”

Throughout the day and during a reception hosted by several legislators, the ANCA-WR displayed images of Armenian Church properties which have been intentionally destroyed or left in tragic disrepair by the Turkish government in what is historic Armenia.

House Resolution 27 also calls for the restoration of rights due to the “rightful church and lay owners” of similarly situated properties.

“Recognition of the Armenian Genocide is so much more complicated than a simple recognition of a historical fact… The current state of Armenian churches and other properties wrongfully confiscated during the Genocide is just one tangible aspect of this multi-faceted reality,” noted ANCA-WR California State Affairs Committee member, Arpie Jivalagian.

Senator Kevin De Leon, Archbishop Mardirossian, Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian, Board Member Raffi Kassabian, Board Member Pattyl Aposhian-Kasbarian, Activist Baydsar Thomassian (photo by Nora Yacoubian)

The day was concluded with a screening of “My Mother’s Voice” by Dr. Kay Mouradian.  Dr. Mouradian is a novelist and educator who has written about her personal experiences confronting the reality of genocide in her own family. My Mother’s Voice is a documentary based on Dr. Mouradian’s book, “A Gift in the Sunlight.”  Dr. Mouradian, a participant in Advocacy Day, also fielded questions from the audience.

“Ultimately, Advocacy Day is an opportunity for community members to actively and actually participate in the political process in furtherance of issues relevant to Armenian-Americans including those beyond Genocide recognition.  This year’s strong turnout is encouraging and underscores the significance of our community’s invaluable asset – its activists,” added Garabedian.

Special Message: On May 20, the 2012 ANCA Telethon will bring thousands of people together from coast to coast in support of the educational, charitable, and civic involvement programs of the ANCA Endowment Fund. Be a part of the excitement! Learn more.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

Garen Yegparian

BY GAREN YEGPARIAN

Last weekend, someone paid me quite a compliment! As I was hiking down the mountainside, I said hello to a hiker going uphill, who then responded, but also asked if I was Armenian, if I wrote for Asbarez… I had been recognized because of my picture online. This was one of my readers! It’s always thrilling to learn that people are actually reading this stuff (other than my family members, of course).

Naturally, a brief discussion ensued and I expressed my gratitude for the compliment. I learned this person was particularly interested in the struggle for recognition of the Genocide, and the importance of that in achieving our larger national agenda.

In short order, I issued an invitation to participate in Burbank ANCA’s activities and gave our chair’s phone number. Here’s where things got interesting. I might have misread the situation, but I noticed resistance to entering the number in a cell phone.

Hence the title of this piece. It hit me that we have so many people who are genuinely interested in our cause, or some aspect of it, yet do not engage. Why is that?

Sure, some people have time constraints, and others live in very Armenian-wise isolated areas, making participation difficult. But these aren’t the folks that concern me. It’s the great majority of others who can, but don’t, do something to press our cause.

ANCA 2012 Telethon

We need everyone’s help. I’m not advocating everyone becoming an activist who dedicates five hours a day to our work. But just about everyone can and ought to dedicate five minutes a day. Think about that! The one million Armenians living in the U.S. giving that much of their day nets us 1,826,250,000 minutes of volunteer time annually. That’s 30,437,500 person-hours or 1,268,229.17 person-days per year. More strikingly, that’s equivalent to one person working nonstop for 3,472.2 years! Imagine how many letters, faxes, e-mails, visits to government officials- elected and appointed, meetings with media people, cooperative efforts with like-minded groups, etc. that time would get us.

Taking a different approach, if we valued that time at a relatively modest $25 an hour, that’s $760,937,500. I doubt we garner that much money countrywide in any given year even if we were to account for every church, soccer team, and political fundraiser that gets organized. Now imagine how many staffers that would get us. In turn, how much work those staffers could do, including raising more funds.

We all know this isn’t going to happen. But, what if those, who can’t or won’t be dedicating their time were to give some money instead? Many of us already do, but some don’t, for similarly mysterious reasons as there non-participation.

The good news is, there’s a great opportunity to remedy that gap on May 20. The ANCA Endowment Fund telethon will hit the airwaves in the (alphabetically) Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Fresno, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Providence, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. areas. It will also be streamed live online— www.ancatelethon.org. It starts at 2 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m. Pacific time (5-11 Eastern time).

Watch it, get psyched, and give (if you want to match the five-minute calculation above, and can afford it, then contribute $760.42). This will enable various programs not just in Washington D.C., but throughout the country. Learn more.

ARS members demonstrate the making of lavash bread

GLENDALE—Armenian culture and traditions came to life over the course of two days for thousands, who visited the Glendale Civic Auditorium for the Armenian Relief Society of Western USA’s 11th Annual Cultural and Food Festival from May 5 to 6.

Children enjoy face painting

A line-up of displays on the first floor of the auditorium offered welcoming attractions to festival-goers, including lavash bread and string cheese making demonstrations; traditional Armenian costumes from regions including Kharpert and New Julfa; a look back into history with exhibits by Armenian compatriotic unions; artwork; and an intriguing display of stamp collections covering literature, sports, history, and anniversaries.

A special section, also on the first floor, designated for children proved fun and entertaining for youth, who ran from one game booth to the next to claim prizes and also enjoyed a special face-painting station.

As more and more crowds gathered, not even the fact that there was only standing room available on the second floor of the auditorium during certain times of the day seemed to faze spectators. Rather, visitors closely followed and joined in on the lively performances by renowned Armenian singers and back-to-back performances by dance groups, such as Lilia Dance Studio and Van Dance Group, which showcased the talents of young children and teenagers.

Re-enactment of traditional Armenian wedding

On both days of the festival, Arshalous Darpinyan and Hourig Fournouzian MC-ed the program. The re-enactment of a traditional Armenian wedding by Saro’s Dance Group proved to be a continued festival favorite, whereby a procession of a near 30-member group dressed in costume recreated its merriment. The wide variety of foods was also a pull and most appetizing for guests, who enjoyed kebab plates, sandwiches, pastries, and more.

An exciting finale performance by singer Joseph Krikorian, drawing festival attendees and ARS members to the dance floor, capped off another successful community event.

Group photo of ARS members

“Year after year, we see a growing turnout from both the Armenian and non-Armenian community at the ARS festival, which offers a unique exposure to our culture and, at the same time, acquaints people with the ARS,” said Emma Garabetian, Co-Chairperson of the ARS Regional Festival Committee.

ARKA Founders (from left to right) Sevan Aliksanian, Burag Celikian, and Shant Der Ashodian display their T-shirt designs at their showroom located in the Fashion District in Downtown L.A (phoro by Karen M. Guzelian)

BY KAREN M. GUZELIAN
Special to Asbarez

A few years after its establishment, ARKA Clothing launched its collection in Nordstrom’s online store. Last month a variety of ARKA production began retailing at the Nordstrom stores.

Since 2009, ARKA has been distributing its collection of t-shirts and accessories to several retailers across the U.S. and more than 11 countries worldwide, with Nordstrom being its most valuable contract to date.

“It still hasn’t kicked in yet because it’s still very fresh,” said ARKA co-founder Sevan Aliksanian, regarding the company’s biggest partnership. “I say in about a couple of months, it’ll start sinking in.”

Co-founders of ARKA, Shant Der Ashodian, Burag Celikian, and Aliksanian have been working on expanding the company by networking and working with major retailers.

According to Der Ashodian, the Jan. ENK NYC and Feb. ENK Vegas fashion trade shows brought ARKA success and nearly 75 additional accounts. Through the ENK trade shows, the company was also able to land some of the most prestigious accounts nationwide: Nordstrom, Fred Segal (Santa Monica), Akira (Chicago), MGM Resorts (Las Vegas), Boogie’s (Aspen), Bloomingdale’s (Dubai), Simon’s (Canada), and Karmaloop.com.

Each co-founder made lifestyle changes to focus on their new enterprise. Aliksanian has a background in computer engineering, while both Celikian and Der Ashodian were working in real state prior to ARKA. They each had a stable career, but then gave that all up to pursue their passion and focus on the expansion of ARKA.

The Fashion District in Downtown L.A. is home to the showroom of the up-and-coming ARKA Clothing company (Photo by Karen M. Guzelian)

“We pretty much dropped everything for this,” said Der Ashodian. “Everything was going for us, but this is our passion.”

According to Celikian, the concept of starting ARKA was motivated from Aliksanian’s dislike of the Ed Hardy craze. “[Sevan] was like, ‘We need to make a T-shirt line,’” he explained. “We started this as a need for society. He thinks we’re doing a public service.”

ARKA’s T-shirt designs are based on the founders’ view of the city of L.A. “If you look at us, you’ll just think we’re really random,” said Celikian. “If you look at what [L.A. is] right now, we’re like a melting pot… Our line kind of reflects that.”

The company’s target demographic is the 22 to 30-year old men who still want to wear graphic T-shirts. On a few occasions, they have attracted buyers who do not fit in the target demographic, yet enjoy ARKA’s designs. “[We] have the 16 to 18-year old loving our stuff, too. We have 50-year-old moms buying our stuff for themselves,” said Der Ashodian.

ARKA got its breakthrough deal from its first participation in the ENK Las Vegas trade show in Feb. 2011, which landed it a deal to send its products to Bloomingdales in Dubai.

“It’s cool seeing the reaction of people now that we’re being distributed… It’s nice to see the appreciation,” said Celikian.

Family has also played a big role in the founders’ lives, as they’ve received a great deal of support from all family members. “They saw the potential and ‘believed’ in us more than anyone else. One of the key success factors for ARKA has become the support we have received from our parents,” explained Der Ashodian.

Determination, family support, and the bond between three best friends helped ARKA succeed the way it has. The founders put all their effort in the company and were willing to do the “dirty work” to market ARKA’s one-of-a-kind T-shirts, and not allowing money to get in the way of their friendship.

“[People] usually tell you not to get in the business with your friends, but in our case, it works,” said Aliksanian. “If money gets between us, the business is done. I’ll keep the friendship.”

In July, ARKA will be part of the Nataline Sarkisyan Foundation Fashion Show held on the roof-top of the Mercedes-Benz dealership in Calabasas. To view ARKA Clothing’s latest designs, visit ARKAClothing.com.

Armen Bacon

BY ARMEN BACON

Nikos Kazantzakis, author of Zorba the Greek, once wrote, “All my life one of my greatest desires has been to travel – to see and touch unknown countries, to swim in unknown seas, to circle the globe, observing new lands, seas, people, and ideas with insatiable appetite, to see everything for the first time and for the last time, casting a slow, prolonged glance, then to close my eyes and feel the riches deposit themselves inside me calmly or stormily according to their pleasure, until time passes them at last through its fine sieve, straining the quintessence out of all the joys and sorrows.”

And so begins this story. Forty Easters ago, I woke up on foreign soil with a blurred vision that scared the daylights out of me. I was twenty years old at the time, a young woman studying abroad, searching for self amid the seductive Athenian ruins of Greece. I had flown from Paris to Athens on a whim that April – it was the closest place imaginable to experience the sights, sounds and aromas of home. Distanced from California and family, I yearned for a taste of my former life – shish kebab, paklava, all the delicious foods and ethnic rhythms encompassing my Armenian culture and symbolic of home.

I fell instantly in love with the Plaka in Athens, an enchanting village within the city that falls in the shadow of the mighty Acropolis. I had read about the ‘parade of torches’ snaking its way down Lykavitos after midnight mass services and decided to partake in the tradition.

Earlier that day, carefree and romping along the overcast seashore, I had unknowingly made eye contact with treacherous sun rays, and in doing so, scorched my corneas. Looking back now, I recall the strange haziness clouding my vision during the serpentine Easter processional. Attributing it to jet lag or the after-effects of a spontaneous toast of ouzo, I followed the trail of sun-drenched sandals, while musical notes played from accordions and ancient hand-carved instruments. Squinting with wonder I watched street vendors selling worry beads and etching tourist’s names onto grains of rice. A sight to behold – albeit a bit fuzzy. As we wove ourselves through the streets, a few in the crowd abandoned us, slipping their way into tavernas, strategically placed on street corners – preferring, I guess, shot glasses filled with liquid celebration.

The next morning, I awakened to an excruciating pain, razor sharp knives piercing my lids, a feeling that someone had poured a mixture of gravel and hot lava into my eye sockets. Realizing I needed medical attention, stumbling down three flights of stairs, I convinced the hotel’s concierge to escort me to a hospital, where I remained bandaged and blinded for three days and nights – uncertain of my prognosis.

By the finish of the holiday, my vision had thankfully returned. The diagnosis: burned corneas. Treatment – time and patience. I sipped coffee laced with milk and honey, made blurry journal entries in the dark, and eventually returned safely to my dorm room in France.

This month, during a series of marathon shopping excursions that found me filling my cart with legs of lamb, ingredients for mezza, phyllo dough; filling Easter baskets with chocolates and finally setting a colorful table for my family – this long, lost memory resurfaced. I remembered the kindness of strangers, the comforting similarity between my Armenian culture and the Greek one into which I was temporarily stranded, but more than anything else, I remembered wanting to find home to be surrounded by family and hungering for the chaos and beauty of our traditional ethnic holidays. Those few days in Greece had changed me forever. The importance of family, the privilege of seeing with one’s own eyes, the fragile nature of our lives – all became sacred gifts during a most memorable chapter of my life.

This morning, I am admittedly overwhelmed with clean up duties from the aftermath of our mammoth family gathering. Remnant green tinsel grass graces my floors competing with scuff marks; aqua and lavender foil from chocolate egg wrappings peek out from under sofa cushions and the legs of my coffee table, while wilted tulips thirst for a water refill. The sight of it all brings a huge smile to my face.

Despite the wanderlust and gypsy spirit inhabiting my shell in those early hours of my young adulthood, I learned a swift lesson about coming home. When we are miles away from our life, we often see it through a different lens. Although I temporarily lost my eyesight on an Easter Eve in Greece, now forty years later, my vision has returned, and it is nothing short of crystal clear.

Soldiers celebrate after the liberation of Shoushi

The anticipation that had been building on May 8 turned into jubilant pandemonium on May 9. SHOUSHI WAS TRIUMPHANTLY LIBERATED.

The people of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) in and around Stepanakert had endured grueling daily barrage of fire from Azeri forces, which had taken their positions in Shoushi and were relentlessly bombing the civilian population. The operation, whose military precision had delivered an exacting blow to Azeri forces, irreversibly stifled their attacks and paved the way for the eventual liberation of Lachin (Kashatagh) and the establishment of the vital land corridor to Armenia—a lifeline. It also was the spark that ensured victory in the Karabakh Liberation Struggle.

It would be an understatement to say that the events of and leading up to May 9, 1992 had a far greater importance for the soldiers of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Liberation Army and the general population of Karabakh. The liberation of Shoushi not only had crucial strategic significance, it also brought back the ancient Armenian capital that for so long had served as a center for cultural reawakening and intellectual renaissance.

The significance of Shoushi’s liberation still resonates as loudly as it did 20 years ago, as it is not merely a symbol but a constant reminder of the people’s expression of self-determination and courage, will and resilience.

Today, the Azeri Army, which 20 year ago retreated in disgrace and embarrassment, is regularly provoking military skirmishes around the border and threatening the fragile peace that has been safeguarded. The Azeri leadership is not only threatening war to reclaim Karabakh but has amplified its racist posturing toward Armenians, calling all Armenians enemies of the state. The international mediators refuse to properly assess the situation and, through convoluted statements, are attempting to remain neutral. And, Karabakh is still not at the negotiating table as a party to the conflict.

What is clear to the people of Karabakh, and the entire Armenian nation, is that the liberation of Shoushi embedded an irreversible course for our national liberation movement that is immune to threats and compromises. The people who conceived and carried out the remarkably unthinkable operation to liberate Shoushi will protect it to death.

The Azeris believe that by spending millions of filthy petro-dollars into a propaganda machine that perpetuates their lies, will temper and fray the resilience and determination of the Armenian people, when, in reality, Shoushi was just the beginning of the realization of the Armenian Liberation Struggle toward JUSTICE.

Karabakh Armed Forces stage military parade

STEPANAKERT—It is only fitting that the 20th anniversary of the liberation of Shoushi—a glorious victory for the Armenian nation—would be marked by a glorious military parade in the streets of the capital of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic—Artsakh.

More than 2,000 troops of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Armed Forces marched through the streets of Stepanakert Wednesday. They were followed by tanks, anti-aircraft systems and other heavy artillery, including surface-to-surface ballistic missiles known as Scud-B, which have a firing range of up to 300 kilometers.

Leaders observe the parade

Thousands attended the Stepanakert parade, which kicked off the official celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the Shoushi Liberation.

On May 9, 1992 soldiers of the Nagorno-Karabakh self-defense forces, in a harrowing operation, recaptured the ancient Armenian capital of Shoushi and liberated it from Azeri forces, which had been using its perch to relentlessly shell Stepanakert and its population. The Shoushi operation was adeptly followed by the liberation of Lachin and the opening of a land corridor to Armenia. More importantly, however, the liberation of Shoushi became the driving force for victory in Artsakh and a crowning moment of the Armenian Liberation Struggle.

Heavy artillery on display during the military parade

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakian was joined by his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, former Armenian and Karabakh presidents Robert Kocharian and Arkady Ghoukasian, as well as other high-level dignitaries in watching the parade from atop a balcony in the city center.

In his congratulatory remarks on this momentous occasion, Sahakian called the liberation of Shoushi “a celebration that has been sanctified with the blood of our sisters and brothers, thus becoming one of the most cherished nationwide holidays.”

Scenes from the parade

“May 9 is a holiday of victory, the victory of nationwide unity and consolidation, freedom-loving spirit and unbendable will,” declared Sahakian.

“May 9 is the victory of all Armenians in the national liberation struggle, when all parts of the Armenian nation became a single entity uniting around the glorious idea of defending Artsakh. Everything was being done for the sake of our sacred mission, for the realization of our age-old aspirations, for the bright future and perseverance of the Armenian nation,” added Sahakian.

Parade also showcased surface-to-surface ballistic missiles known as Scud-B, which have a firing range of up to 300 kilometers

“With this sense the defense army—the most important guarantor of our nation’s freedom and security, its pride and one of the greatest achievements—was formed. The army was born in the crucible of the war. It accomplished and, today, continues with honor its sacred mission of to defend the homeland. It is also due to the Armenian army that peace and stability in the whole region are secured. This undeniable reality cannot be ignored,” expressed Sahakian.

“We will continue doing everything to keep the army strong and victorious, with a high level of fighting capacity and strong spirit, ready to realize any task assigned to it,” said Sahakian.

“The Free, independent and developing Artsakh is of great and important significance for all Armenians. Due to the support of Mother Armenia, our sisters and brothers from the Diaspora and Artsakh managed to not only recover from the wounds of war but also embarked on a path of stable development. A nation that protected its native soil with flying colors must live a worthy life. We will spare no efforts to achieve this goal,” declared Sahakian.

“Today our sons who were born in the liberated homeland and keep its boundaries secure are proudly standing in the parade. They continue the mission of their heroic fathers with dignity thus preserving the memory of all our martyrs,” said Sahakian.

“Together with those who achieved our cherished victory, today’s servicemen of the Artsakh army steadily defend the security of their native land and peaceful life of their own people. This has been so for 20 years, and it will continued to be so forever,” added Sahakian.

In his congratulatory remarks, President Sarkisian, who commanded a battalion during the liberation of Shoushi said: The liberation of Shoushi once again opened new doors for our people’s peaceful, creative work and the flourishing of the nation. This victory too was achieved through the greatest sacrifice of our people.”

Celebrations continued throughout the day, with cultural programs in Shoushi and other gatherings attended by thousands of residents of Artsakh and Armenia.

The Swedish parliament hall

STOCKHOLM—The Parliament of Sweden on Wednesday May 9 rejected an Azer-sponsored motion on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which went against the principles set forth by the international mediators.

The motion, introduced last year by Green Party member of parliament Mehmet Kaplan called for, among other provisions, Sweden’s active involvement in the Karabakh conflict resolution process; demanded “immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all Armenian military forces from occupied Azeri territory” and that international organizations should work “for guarantying the safety, security and self-rule of the Armenian minority in Nagorno-Karabakh within the territorial boundaries of Azerbaijan.”

The members of parliament, known as the Riksdag, found that the motion deviated significantly from the existing negotiated proposals, including the so-called Madrid Principles. Since the motion was signed by one member of parliament, was not allowed separate consideration and was voted rejected within a bundle of other legislation.

Instead, the parliament adopted another motion, which contained wording put for by the legislature’s Foreign Committee, which said: “The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict needs a peaceful resolution and there is a mechanism to handle the issue. This is the responsibility of the Minsk Group. The Committee supports the efforts which are ongoing within the framework of OSCE.”

It must be noted that the measure that was adopted included language about the ongoing EU Eastern Partnership Program with the states in South Caucasus, especially in the spheres of “democracy, freedom of press and respect for human rights.”

The adopted measure said, “The Committee notes that the negotiations with the three countries in the association treaty with EU have continued and that Georgia and Armenia have made major progress while the negotiations with Azerbaijan have been more complicated.”

The aforementioned language was also drafted by the parliamentary Foreign Committee.

Karabakh Self-Defense Forces after the liberation of Shoushi in 1992 (Asbarez Archive)

BY ARAM SUREN HAMPARIAN

My fellow Armenians,

Turkey and Azerbaijan are using their wealth and power to lie about our history, crush our homeland, and destroy our future.

The attack that they have launched is against all of us.

Not just those in the Diaspora or in Armenia or Artsakh.

They are targeting each and every Armenian.

Me and you.  Our sisters and brothers.  The young and old.

From all parties and every political point of view.

From all corners of the earth – from Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk to America, Europe, Russia, and the Middle East.

No exceptions.

Just like 1915.  Just like 1988.

Theirs is a modern, multi-million dollar campaign to finish the work of the Genocide.

Their weapons have changed, but not their aims.  They seek – as did their forefathers:

To crush Armenia.

To capture Artsakh.

To empty our homeland.

And to destroy our Diaspora.

They have vast resources, and they are not holding any in reserve.

We don’t have their government revenues or oil dollars, but we do have something more powerful:

Our honor.

Our pride.

Our faith.

And our will.

We are each an ambassador for our nation.

We are – every man, woman, and child – a soldier for our cause.

Together, as a Diaspora, we represent the second Army of the Armenian nation – an unmatched international legion – protecting our homeland, preserving our heritage, and advancing our rights.

An Army of identity, of ideas, of inspiration.

As citizen soldiers, we are not called upon the make the sacrifices of those brave sentinels who stand guard today along the frontiers of Armenian freedom

But the enemies we face are just as dangerous. The stakes of our struggle just as high.

This is our generation’s Avarayr.  Our Sardarabad.  Our Shushi.

Khrimyan Hyrig, in honoring St. Vartan, wrote: “You perished, and Armenia arose.”

So too is it for each of us.

All of us Vartans, struggling on our own Vaspurakan, striving, searching, and sacrificing for a better tomorrow.  Not for only ourselves, but for all our brothers and sisters.  Not simply for today, but for all our tomorrows.

That is the price of Armenia’s survival.

For, as Mer Hayrenik teaches us, “death is the same everywhere; A man dies but once; but blessed is he who gives his life for the freedom of his nation.”

So much has changed, but that simple truth has not.

Our nation calls to us today, as she has so often through the centuries.

The words of Charents echo in our hearts:

“Ov Hye Zhoghovourd, ko miak prkootyune ko havakakan uzhi mej eh.”

“Oh! Armenian People, Your Salvation Lies Only in Your Collective power.”

The songs of our youth still stirs our souls:

“Zartir Lao, mrnem kzi.”

Awake, my son, I would die for you.

A mother awakening her son for battle, just as our mother, Mayr Hairenik, tearfully summons us, her children, to her defense.

Let us rally to the call of our nation.

Let us rise together to the challenge of our age.

Let us unite, and show our true power.

Working with and for and through the Hai Tahd movement, as the proud sons and daughters of one Armenian Nation – one Armenian Cause – we will, as we must, defend the Armenian people in this hour of danger.

It is the devotion we owe to our past.

The determination we owe to our future.

And the debt we owe to ourselves.

Support ANCA Telethon 2012.

The view of the gorge, which Karabakh soldiers climed to liberate Shoushi (photo by Ara Khachatourian)

BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN

From Asbarez Archives, May 6, 2011

Standing on a vast field surrounded—enveloped—by the majestic and lush mountains of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic—Artsakh—I look down a steep and rugged gorge and can’t help but wonder how they did it. It must have required strength, resilience, but more importantly, an unmistakable will to push forward in the name of survival, not just of a people but of a nation.

It was humbling, to say the least, since the awe-inspiring place with its breathtaking surroundings was the very field from which the Karabakh Liberation Army soldiers climbed on May 9, 1992 and fought one of the most strategically important battles of the Karabakh war. In the end came the turning point—the liberation of Shoushi.

As the director of the Shoushi History Museum, Ashot Haroutunian, recounted in vivid detail, the Azeri soldiers were caught off guard, because never in their wildest dreams would they have imagined that soldiers would actually traverse and climb the rugged gorge from Karintak to reach the highest point in Artsakh on foot.

But the Karabakh Liberation Army soldiers did and they neutralized one of the deadliest of Azeri strongholds, from where missiles and rockets rained on the population of Stepanakert and other areas in Karabakh. They not only neutralized the Azeri firepower, but they also drove away the panicking Azeri soldiers and reclaimed the once magnificent capital city and a bustling epicenter of Armenian civilization.

Walking around Shoushi one is compelled to feel the heroism that allows us today to stroll through its streets, to wonder in amazement at its magnificent beauty and to be humbled by its significance.

Yet today, almost two decades since its liberation, there is a lot of work to be done in Shoushi. As buildings have risen and old one refurbished, as roads have been paved and businesses established, Shoushi needs critical elements to strengthen its infrastructure and to return it to its former glory of a cultural hub in the region.

What is not lost, however, on anyone in Karabakh—young and old, visitor or local—is that any attempt to alter the current situation of Karabakh, short of reunification with Armenia, will be met with the same resilience and spirit that guided our soldiers and our people since the Karabakh liberation movement began in 1988.

One constant that seems to be discounted today is that threats to resume the war by Azerbaijan and the cat-and-mouse-game that has become the OSCE Minsk Group-led negotiation merry go round have nothing over a people who overcame incredible odds to emerge victorious.

The field atop the gorge serves as a gathering place every May 9 for people to remember our heroes, celebrate our victories and to reaffirm their commitment.

The poignant serenity of Shoushi, and all of Artsakh for that matter, is an incomprehensible paradox. How can a place where terror reigned and, in order to stifle that horror, so much blood was shed be so tranquil—so peaceful? How can a people who lived through hell be so optimistic and resilient?

This is the legacy of a liberation movement… A struggle to determine one’s own destiny, to protect one’s own homeland and to ensure that a nation will persevere.

The ARF battallion after the capture of Shoushi

From Asbarez Archives, May 11, 1992

For the last several months the peaceful population of Stepanakert and all other population centers of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic have been the targets of fierce bombardment by weapons of mass destruction, “Grad” missile systems.

In the first days of May of this year, the situation deteriorated all the more when units of Azerbaijan’s armed forces undertook a large-scale assault against the capital, Stepanakert, from Shoushi and the villages of Ghaybalu, Janhasan, and Keosalar. Given those conditions, on the night of May 7 the Presidium of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s Parliament demanded the immediate conveying of a session of the republic’s Defense Council and undertook resolute means to confront the attacks and to silence the firing positions of the Azerbaijani armed formations continuously raining destruction upon Stepanakert.

The demand was based on vital necessity. The population of Stepanakert, for more than a year, has been deprived of electricity, water, medicine, and foodstuffs, as a result of which it had reached the edge of physical destruction.

During all of the night of May 8, pushing back the assault of the Azerbaijani armed formations, the self-defense forces of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic went of the Azerbaijani Republic against the sovereign Nagorno-Karabakh Republic continues.

On May 10, Azerbaijan’s Army once again initiated a large-scale attack on the regions of Askeran, Hadrut, Martakert, Martuni, and Shahumian, as a consequence of which there are large numbers of casualties on both sides.

The presidium of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Parliament announces that the full responsibility for the consequences of the Azerbajiani Republic’s aggression falls upon the leadership of the republic.
May 11, 1992 Stepanakert

The ARF election poster

YEREVAN—The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Supreme Council of Armenia issued a statement on Tuesday expressing its position following Sunday’s parliamentary election. Below is the English translation of the statement:

The parliamentary elections, that were a new political and moral test for our state, have come to an end.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation presented the public with a clear platform, the implementation of which would have secured a better quality life for us all, inside our country. We ran an active public campaign, our position reached all voters and we felt we were appreciated. We thank all those who voted for ARF.

Unfortunately, these elections didn’t reflect the actual will of the people on one hand and the correlation between the political powers, on the other. It was clear that the general vote rigging was premeditated and took place outside the districts’ centers, on May 6 and the days before that. The ruling coalition members registered high numbers; first and foremost due to the complete use of the state and administrative levers and of the unprecedented large financial means that were turned into vote rigging tools. The proof is unquestionable that corruption had its detrimental impact on the election results.

This situation proves that the Armenian society’s overwhelming majority, which faces social difficulties, is legally unprotected and alienated from the state and did not conduct a free and conscious election process. The people’s de-politicization, poverty and adversities, coupled with election bribery and pressures guaranteed the return of the authorities.

This also means that the political forces, including the ARF, have not yet succeeded in implanting in the society the free citizen’s notion and the conscientiousness of exercising the right to elect in a dignified manner.

The ARF, as an independent political power with clear principles, perceives this electoral setback as the beginning of a new phase of activity to continue the struggle until complete regime change has been achieved.

We are confident that sooner or later Liberty, Justice and Dashnaktsutyun will prevail in our state.

Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s Supreme Council

Journalist Idrak Abbasov was filming protesters when he says he was attacked by guards working for a state-owned company (photo by BBC)

BY DANIEL SANDFORD

BAKU (BBC)—Baku’s Hospital Number 1 is an impressive building. It is immaculately clean and well equipped, a symbol of the modern state that oil-rich Azerbaijan wants to be. But upstairs in a hospital bed was another symbol of modern Azerbaijan – a badly injured journalist.

Idrak Abbasov was lying, struggling to breathe, with a bandage around his head, a large cotton pad over one eye, and a brace around his chest.

He had severe concussion, two broken ribs, and he was unsure if he would recover his eyesight.

He had been filming some people who were protesting against their homes being destroyed by the state oil company Socar.

“I was beaten so heavily that even journalists from state companies called me, amazed at what happened,” said Abbasov.

Guards from the company had beaten him up, he said. They punched him, set about him with sticks and then kicked him on the ground.

“I didn’t expect them to beat me that much,” he said. “They didn’t just beat me, they wanted to kill me. If my brothers hadn’t called the police, they probably would have killed me.

“We hoped that there wouldn’t be such attacks before Eurovision.

“It has always been dangerous to be a journalist in Azerbaijan. Now the situation is deteriorating every day.

“I was beaten so heavily that even journalists from state companies called me, amazed at what happened. I can’t imagine what they will do to us after Eurovision. There are not so many of us.”

The oil company is aware of the allegations made against its security guards and is conducting an internal investigation.

Spotlight on Eurovision
The Azerbaijani capital Baku is hosting this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

The government is hoping to put on a fantastic show, but to its dismay human rights activists are using the country’s brief moment in the headlines to highlight problems that they say are getting worse.

The president of Azerbaijan is Ilham Aliyev. He took over from his father Heydar Aliyev in 2003, who had been president since 1993.

In theory Azerbaijan is a democracy, but life is made so difficult for opposition politicians and journalists that in the 2010 parliamentary elections not a single opposition deputy was elected.

Eynullah Fatullayev was once one of the most respected newspaper editors in Azerbaijan.

Then in 2006 his father was kidnapped. To secure his release he had to close down his papers.

The next year he was arrested and imprisoned – first for slander, and then for encouraging terrorism.

He was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years, but was released last year after international pressure.

He had upset the government with his reporting on Nagorno-Karabakh (an Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan currently occupied by Armenia) and Iran.

But he thinks it was his investigation of the death of another journalist which first caused him problems.

“I worked with Elmar Huseynov,” he said. “He was editor-in-chief of Monitor magazine in 2005, but unfortunately some pro-governmental forces organised and killed him.

“I found these persons and published all of these materials in Azerbaijan newspapers.”

Musicians targeted
Despite the Eurovision Song Contest this month, the ongoing clampdown on free speech includes musicians too.

Jamal Ali is a 24-year-old singer. His music is outside the Azerbaijani mainstream, and often strays into politics.

He was asked to play at a recent protest rally. His first song impolitely suggested that president Ilham Aliyev should “Go away”.

The police decided he should be removed from the stage. At which point he insulted the president, and his mother, in the most foul-mouthed way he could.

He was arrested and taken to the police station where he says he was beaten.

“I had a bag on my head, and I was handcuffed from the back,” he said.

“And I was sitting on the chair with my legs on another chair. And they were beating on my heels with a stick, a baton. For three hours for the first time and two hours for the second time.

“They arrested me just because I have another opinion, I don’t think like them, and I write songs about different stuff.

“I was freed from the jail after 10 days because of Eurovision. If there was no Eurovision I would have been in jail for two years or even five years.”

Homes destroyed
One of the most controversial issues in Baku at the moment is the destruction of people’s homes to make way for new developments, among them a new highway along the seafront, new hotels and shopping centers and a giant flagpole – the biggest in the world until nearby Turkmenistan built one even bigger.

Human rights groups have documented the demolitions and filmed people being dragged screaming from their homes, complaining that the compensation on offer is inadequate.

But Ali Hasanov, a senior official in the presidential administration says the human rights lobby is being too harsh on the government, which he says has widespread support.

Ali Hasanov says the government in Azerbaijan has the support of most of the country
“Even among those whose homes have been demolished, and among journalists, 99% are satisfied and only 1% are unhappy,” he said. “In which country in the world are all the people satisfied?

“Naturally, not everything is OK in Azerbaijan. But which country does not some of the problems you see here? Which country does not have a blogger behind the bars?”

There is no doubt that Baku has been transformed with some of the country’s vast oil and gas wealth.

The city center is pedestrianized. The citizens of Baku promenade on a summer evening, surrounded by beautifully-restored buildings. Fewer former Soviet cities look as good.

The government wants to use the Eurovision Song Contest to highlight the best of Baku.

But in the run-down back streets, in the ruins of people’s homes where some are still living under the threat of the next bulldozer, there is huge resentment.

Many people feel that the country’s wealth is being controlled by a tiny elite, and with democracy now almost completely gone they have no say in the future of Azerbaijan.

Scenes from the elections (photo by Aaron Spagnolo, The Armenian Weekly)

BY CHRISTIAN GARBIS
From The Armenian Weekly

YEREVAN—In what will either be viewed as a memorable political triumph or the start of an endless campaign of protests, the Republican Party of Armenia claimed victory in the Armenian National Assembly elections on May 6.

Although international news reports had predicted a win for the Republicans, most leaders of the other political parties vying for seats in the National Assembly had been anticipating a less than highly favorable turnout for the ruling party.

According to data posted by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) the Republican Party of Armenia won by a landslide with 44 percent of the vote, amounting to over 663,000 ballots in their favor. The Prosperous Armenia Party came in at a distant second place with 30 percent, just short of 454,700 votes.

The Armenian National Congress, an opposition bloc composed of numerous smaller, obscure political parties led by former president Levon Ter-Petrossyan, barely passed the 7 percent minimum it needed to win its first-ever presence in parliament.

Both ARF-Dashnaktsutyun and the Heritage/Free Democrats party alliance managed to slide across the threshold needed for representation in the National Assembly, with each earning approximately 5.7 percent of the vote. The pro-government Country of Law (Orinats Yerkir) also secured enough votes to retain its place.

The majority of the winning candidates in the 41 single-mandate districts were Republicans. The others were from the Prosperous Armenia Party and Country of Law. In the hotly contested race of the 7th electoral district, Nikol Pashinian, the firebrand editor of the newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak representing the Congress lost to the incumbent Republican oligarch Samvel Alexanyan, infamously known as “Lfik Samo.” Alexanyan incidentally controls the monopoly on imports of key foodstuffs into the country. Another independent parliamentary hopeful and editor of the news daily 168 Zham, the glamorous Satik Seyranyan, lost to her Republican challenger Artak Sargsyan, the owner of a supermarket chain, in the 4th electoral district. In the 9th district, Levon Zourabyan, a prominent leader of the Congress and confidant of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, likewise lost to a Republican challenger.

Voter turnout was higher than expected, at around 62 percent according to the CEC. Exactly 238 people living outside Armenia voted electronically, the vast majority of them for the Republican Party.

The pre-election campaigning period was described as “competitive, vibrant and largely peaceful” in the OSCE/ODIHR preliminary findings issued Monday afternoon and similar wording was used in its interim report published before the elections. Nevertheless, there were reports of intimidation and beatings in the weeks leading up to the elections. In early April an Armenian National Congress candidate from the town of Armavir was forced to drop out of the race after being attacked and his family threatened by individuals believed to have been linked with his Republican rival.

Almost all of the violations cited in the OSCE/ODIHR report dated April 27 were denied by the authorities. One particularly thorny issue was the donation of tens of tractors to farmers in various regions by the pro-government Prosperous Armenia Party, which denied being involved in measures to gain votes. Also in Etchmiadzin and Yerevan’s Arabkir district school teachers and their own students were obliged to attend Republican party campaign rallies, an accusation party officials strongly denied.

In the weeks before the elections some political groups, the Congress in particular, claimed that as many as 700,000 individuals on the voter lists were ineligible to vote, for reasons ranging from being absent from the country to being deceased. The CEC was sharply criticized by the opposition for being careless when preparing the lists.

The elections were marred by controversy not long after the polls opened at 8 a.m.

There were several reports across the country of stamps made in passports identifying an individual as having voted used with disappearing ink, as was initially reported by Hetq Online.  Before placing a vote in the ballot box, a voter was required to have his or her passport stamped and the ballot sealed. By mid morning updates and photos appeared on Facebook only minutes after voters realized that their stamps had vanished.

Hetq also reported that during the first eight hours of election day 151 calls were made to the Human Rights Defender with most complaints about the stamps, long lines at stations or voters arriving in buses. By 9:00 p.m., that number increased to 204.

Several incidents of suspicious behavior in the city district of Achapniag were reported earlier by the Weekly.

Despite the reported problematic polling stations, the atmosphere at many of Yerevan’s precincts, from Shengavit to Malatia to Arabkir, was relatively calm and orderly. Yet at some stations there were complaints made by people having to wait too long to enter and vote. The average number of registered voters per district was around 1,800.

Police presence varied from as many as four officers assigned to a single polling station to none. There was no discernable pattern of logic to the number of officers made available at any given place.

At some polling stations suspicious activity was blatantly obvious. In Erebuni’s precincts 13/32 and 13/33 on Nor Aresh Street in a primary school, one minibus was parked around the corner, while three other Gazelle minibuses assigned to route 62 waited out front (one of them drove up curbside as this reporter was leaving the area.) Two of the buses had a Republican Party flag hanging from the front side window. Inside the precinct the scene was disorganized, with voters standing around with no visible concrete line and mild commotion. There were several suspicious loiterers out front along the sidewalk standing close by expensive black SUVs. Just outside the door entering the school one woman held two cellphones in her hands, texting with one of them. This raised suspicion as one alleged method of vote buying requires that a voter take a photo of the ballot with a provided cellphone.  No police were visible.

By contrast, at the station for precincts 13/22 and 13/23 on Erebuni Street only a mile away, all was calm and quiet out front. Three officers were posted at each precinct where the line entering the polls began. At 13/22 there was an argument apparently about a voter being out of turn.

At late afternoon in the Aresh neighborhood of Erebuni at precincts 13/09 and 13/10 on Movses Khorenatsi Street four officers were seen and an orderly line had been formed outside the door. There were scores of people loitering outside the building, some exhibiting dubious behavior. One man sitting in the far corner near the flight of steps leading up to the station from the street was studying what appeared to be a list several pages long while chatting with a group of others standing around him, as if to offer protection. Ironically, a police station is found directly across the street from building, with a Republican party campaign office conveniently located only a few doors down. This was the case in most districts, with a campaign office of the ruling party either just down the road or around the block.

In presenting their findings on Monday afternoon the heads of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) elections observation missions were critical of activities in polling stations that hampered the smooth flow of the voting process. They indicated that instances of proxies or observers from political parties becoming involved in issues that were out of their scope to resolve.

“Some of the political parties who were observers in the polling stations seemed to be less than constructive… apparently taking some responsibilities that really belonged to the commission officials in the polling stations,” said Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, the head of the PACE delegation.

“Armenia deserves recognition for its electoral reforms and its open and peaceful campaign environment,” said François-Xavier de Donnea, special coordinator for the OSCE short-term observer mission in a press conference on Monday. “But in this race several stakeholders too often failed to comply with the law, and election commissions too often failed to enforce it. As a result, the international commitments to which Armenia has freely subscribed were not always respected.”

De Donnea also called on the CEC to post the election results in each polling district to raise the public’s confidence level in the electoral process.

“The election campaign was open and fundamental freedoms were respected,” said Radmila Šekerinska, head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission in her report. “In the course of the official campaign the media offered broad and balanced coverage. Unfortunately, this was overshadowed by concerns over the accuracy of the voter lists and violations of the electoral code that created an unequal playing field.”

The political parties challenging the Republicans were inconspicuously quiet on Monday as the final polling results came in. Statements are not expected to be made until sometime Tuesday, May 8.

The Armenian National Congress is scheduled to hold a protest on May 8. By the time of this report’s filing it was still unclear whether ARF and the Prosperous Armenia Party would participate.

National Assembly member Vahan Hovhannisyan of the ARF had indicated in the days just prior to the elections that the party would protest the results in tandem with other political forces if the vote was not deemed free and fair.

Harut Sassounian

BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN

The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) has been on a rampage in recent years, filing lawsuits against scholars, public officials, and civic groups who support the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Last week, a federal appeals court put an end to TCA’s legal tirade against the University of Minnesota by unanimously upholding a federal court’s decision dismissing TCA’s baseless allegations.

The Turkish advocacy group had filed a lawsuit against Prof. Bruno Chaouat, Director of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of Minnesota, for labeling TCA’s website and others as “unreliable.” The university’s webpage had posted the following stern admonition to students: “We do not recommend these sites. Warnings should be given to students writing papers that they should not use these sites because of denial, support by an unknown organization, or contents that are a strange mix of fact and opinion.”

Initially, TCA had complained that the inclusion of TCA’s website on the university’s list of “Unreliable Websites” violated the Turkish group’s freedom of speech. The university rejected TCA’s allegation, although, the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies revised its website on Nov. 18, 2010, removing the “Unreliable Websites” and recommending new resources for genocide research. The university asserted that the revision was not prompted by TCA’s complaint and denied any wrongdoing. On Nov. 24, 2010, Prof. Chaouat posted a statement on the Center’s website explaining that the list of “Unreliable Websites” was removed because he did not want to “promote, even negatively, sources of illegitimate information.”

TCA then filed a lawsuit against the university, its president, and Prof. Chaouat, claiming that including its website on the same list as websites denying the Jewish Holocaust, stigmatized the Turkish organization. The court dismissed the lawsuit.

A three-judge panel of the 8th circuit federal appeals court upheld the lower court’s decision on May 3, 2012, ruling that the university did not violate TCA’s First Amendment rights, since it neither blocked nor restricted access to the Turkish website.

The judges also rejected the Turkish group’s second claim that it was defamed when the university stated that TCA’s website is “unreliable,” engages in “denial,” presents “a strange mix of fact and opinion,” and is an “illegitimate source of information.” In a sinister attempt to win the lawsuit, TCA claimed that its website did not deny certain underlying historical facts, affirming that “certainly hundreds of thousands of Armenians died.” However, since the Turkish website had alleged that it is “highly unlikely that a genocide charge could be sustained against the Ottoman government or its successor,” the judges ruled in favor of the university asserting that TCA had in fact engaged in “denial.”

TCA’s malicious lawsuit disturbed many US scholars who were worried that this case would set a dangerous precedent and have a chilling effect on academic freedom. The gravity of these concerns had prompted the Middle East Studies Association to demand TCA to withdraw its lawsuit.

Although TCA failed in its bullying tactics against the University of Minnesota, there is no guarantee that this Turkish group will stop suing other academic or civic organizations for refusing to cave in to Turkey’s denialist campaign. It should be noted that TCA spent $630,000 on legal fees out of its 2010 budget of $3.6 million. Significantly, no mention was made in its annual report of the sources of TCA’s funding, except a passing remark that it is “supported entirely by private donations.” The Boston Business Journal reported that Turkish-American Yalcin Ayasli, founder of Hittite Microwave Corp., contributed $30 million to TCA in 2007.

TCA engaged in the following wide ranging activities and political objectives with its $3.6 million budget in 2010:

– Delivered 75 position papers to members of Congress and US opinion leaders;
– Monitored the American media;
– Took a Native American business delegation to Turkey;
– Lobbied the Congress against the Armenian Genocide resolution;
– Advertised in Roll Call and Washington Quarterly;
– Organized Summer internships in Washington for Turkish students;
– Provided scholarships to African-American, Armenian-American, Hispanic American, Native American, and Turkish-American students to study in Turkish universities;
– Awarded grants for academic conferences;
– Offered research fellowships to professors Michael Gunter, Justin McCarthy, Hakan Yavuz, and others;
– Contributed $100,000 grants to each of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations and Federation of Turkish American Associations, and a smaller amount to the Azerbaijan Society of America;
– Spent $630,000 on lawsuits against various entities that support the Armenian Genocide issue;
– Funded congressional trips to Turkey, and
– Filed a report with the US government accusing the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) of being a “hate group.”

Given TCA’s tax-exempt charitable status, the Internal Revenue Service should investigate the legality of this Turkish group’s involvement in such extensive political and lobbying activities.

ANCA-B representatives with Burbank Mayor

BURBANK—The Armenian National, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Burbank “Varak” Chapter, Homenetmen “Sipan” Chapter and the Burbank High School (BHS) Armenian commemorated the 97th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at Burbank City Hall on April 24.

The commemoration began at 6:00 pm with a remembrance program led by Arvin Setaghaian, BHS Armenian Club member. Araz Majnoonian and Naira Markaradi, also BHS Armenian Club members, read a Genocide survivor’s testimony which was followed by a Genocide awareness video prepared by the BHS Armenian Club and AYF Burbank ‘Varak’ Chapter. ANCA— Burbank’s Annette Kargodorian shared the story of how her father’s family survived by escaping the massacres in Marash, a city now located in Turkey.

Congressman Adam Schiff was also present during the program. When commending the efforts of the young Armenian youth for their commitment to their culture, Schiff stated, “We see the success of the Armenian community and we see the failure of the Ottoman Empire. Their effort to wipe out a people was a terrible, tragic but miserable failure. The Armenian community, phoenix like has risen, from the brink of destruction to be a source of great pride.”

Burbank Mayor Jess Talamantes presented the City Council’s proclamation in recognition of the Armenian Genocide. As a small token of appreciation, ANCA—Burbank presented the City Council with photographs of Armenian churches and landmarks from Western Armenia.

More than 350 community members joined the candle light vigil on the front steps of Burbank City Hall, which was hosted by Talar Kossakian, AYF Burbank “Varak” Chapter member. The candle light vigil began with a posting of the colors by the Homenetmen Burbank “Sipan” Chapter and the singing of the American and Armenian national anthems by Nayirie Balian, Burbank AYF “Varak” member.

Various performances and speeches were made by members of the AYF Burbank “Varak” Chapter and the BHS Armenian Club.   Ani Ovasapyan, a senior at BHS, called on the youth to unite in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.

Rouben Krikourian who spoke on behalf of the AYF Burbank “Varak” Chapter, attested that “When we see the community come together to commemorate the Genocide,  we discover our strengths as a whole and  through unity and perseverance we know that we will never give up until we attain justice.”

Longtime ANCA activist Stepan Boyadjian served as the keynote speaker for the evening, highlighting the need to remember the atrocities of 1915 and the need to commemorate the victims. The ARF Burbank “Gaidzag: Badanegan Chapter ended the program with a group performance of Armenian songs.

Silva Kechichian, ANCA—B chair commented “If we do not recognize these past atrocities as genocide, we as a world are failing to stop this vicious cycle.  A crime unpunished is a crime encouraged.”

The Armenian National Committee of America— Burbank advances the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of its Armenian-American community and promotes increased Armenian-American civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels.

One of the polling stations (photo by Nanore Barsoumian)

BY NANORE BARSOUMIAN
From The Armenian Weekly

YEREVAN—Disappearing stamps, unidentified men, escorts, and multi-votes: Facts and rumors painted a chaotic image of the elections as they happened in eight polling stations visited by the Armenian Weekly.

Stamps disappearing from voters’ passports became one of the first news items on voting irregularities on the morning of May 6, when Armenians went to the polls for the Parliamentary elections. The stamps were intended to leave no trace behind within 24 hours. However, some disappeared in less than an hour.

One man pointed at the far right corner of a clean page in his passport, “It was right there,” he told the Armenian Weekly. He voted at 8:05 at polling station 6/02, minutes after the polls opened. By 8:40, the ink had entirely disappeared, he said. All but a tiny speck remained (see photo).

The eight polling stations the Weekly visited included one in the Kentron (central Yerevan); and seven in Achapniag district, a poorer area in Yerevan (there are 41 districts in the country, and around 2,000 polling places). Most followed the rule of allowing no more than 15 voters into the voting area. Entrances at all but one station were quite crowded, where patience seemed to run low. Party representatives, and sometimes observers and journalists stood or sat in the voting area, provided they had the proper identification card, while between one and four dozen people loitered around the buildings.

He voted at 8:05 at polling station 6/02, minutes after the polls opened. By 8:40, the ink had entirely disappeared, he said. (photo by Nanore Barsoumian)

Little black cameras were propped up high above voters, or stationed at the corners of desks. Six parties had agreed to install the cameras in as many polling stations as they could. Although they might have caught visible voter fraud practices, spotting some of the more serious allegations may prove to be an almost impossible task.

Some of the allegations at the polling stations the Weekly visited included suspicion that some voters used red pens on the ballot, as part of a vote buying scheme—in hopes that ballots marked with red would be counted to make certain that all the “purchased” votes are there. There were also rumors that vanloads of voters were being driven around to various polling stations to cast multiple votes using different identification cards. The Armenian Weekly was unable to verify these claims.

One observer the Weekly spoke with confirmed rumors that men escorted small groups of people. “Some men were coming back after voting, which is illegal. They would return, and escort others in. We told the chairman of the local election commission, and they got thrown out,” Ani Karapetyan from Kentron TV channel told the Armenian Weekly.

Karapetyan noticed another problem as well. Two or three men without identification badges were sticking around in the voting station. When she asked them where their badges were, they said they were representatives of the Republican Party, and claimed their ID cards were in their pockets. Karapetyan told them that they were required to have them in a visible place. They left soon after, without showing her their badges.

The Weekly experienced a similar incident, when a man asking not to be photographed failed to produce the required badge. The man who claimed he was a representative of the Republican Party, and who was frequently interacting with voters, left almost immediately after the Weekly inquired about his identity and the absence of his identification card.

What seemed strange was the presence of observers, and even journalists, who seemed unaware of what organization they represented, or had to check their badges to identify themselves. One such man remained in the lobby of the school that served as a polling station for the entire hour the Weekly was present there. He asked the addresses of voters and directed them either towards the right, or left—to either of the two polling stations.

In another particularly chaotic polling station an argument broke out between a Republican Party and Prosperous party representatives. The latter claimed the Republican was standing too close to the cardboard cubicle where voters cast their ballots.

The Weekly was also alerted about a picture of President Serzh Sarkisian—who heads the Republican Party list— at the aforementioned voting station. Keeping his picture in the voting area would be tantamount to campaigning, which is prohibited within polling stations.

In the neighboring polling station—separated by a line of low benches unable to stop the flow of people between the two stations—the chairman suffered from an epileptic seizure. The station was closed to voters for around 40 minutes.

iDitord.org, a website that allows observers to submit their reports, shows that there have been 1,036 instances of voting irregularities. These included 283 reports of bribery and pressuring; 178 cases of campaigning; and 134 instances of disruptions of the voting process. Some of the reports claim that when people approached to register their vote, it was revealed that their names had been crossed off already—in other words, others had voted in their name. One observer said “Pjni” mineral waters bearing the name of the Republican Party were distributed in one district. Another observer said that a “carousel” was organized at polling station 11/02, where a pre-marked ballot is given to a voter who has to return with an unmarked one in order to get paid.

So far, the preliminary results show that the Republicans received the most votes, 44.35 percent; they were followed by the Prosperous Armenia Party, with 30.26 percent; the Armenian National Congress, 7.1 percent; Heritage party, 5.79 percent; the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, 5.73 percent; the Country of Law party, a member of the current governing coalition barely cleared the 5 percent threshold, the Armenian Communist Party, 1.06 percent; and the Armenian Democratic Party, 0.36 percent.

The Central Electoral Commission has said official results will be publicized in a few days, while all parties reserved their announcements for Tuesday.

In all, 90 of the 131 seats in parliament will be allotted according to the percentage of the vote given to a political party. The remaining 41 seats were determined in individual candidate elections.

Former US Ambassador to Baku Matthew Bryza

WASHINGTON—Former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza last week criticized President Obama’s policy on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict saying the administration has spent more time on Turkey-Armenia normalization to the detriment of the Karabakh conflict.

“Washington lost its way in the last couple of years,” said Bryza, expressing his criticism while speaking last week at the Jamestown Foundation.

Bryza said that the Obama administration had spent all its energy on the normalization of ties between Turkey and Armenia and did not show any effort for progress in the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He asserted that normalization between Turkey and Armenia would not possible without progress in the Karabakh conflict.

“This [Turkey-Armenia] normalization would be great if it’s achievable. But it’s not achievable and plus it negatively influences Nagorno-Karabakh peace process,” he said adding adding, “No matter how much we wanted Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, instead we’ve got nothing”.

“Had we put all of our eggs into a solution to Nagorno-Karabakh, we could have achieved both. Instead, we got nothing,” Bryza stated.

Bryza took it upon himself to ensure that Azerbaijan would not initiate any military confrontation. However, if “the ice [over the negotiation process] does not break,” the possibilities for such a confrontation would increase.

Bryza also pointed to the lack of trust between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In his “that trust isn’t going to come until the US leads it.”

Since leaving office in January, Bryza has lived in Istanbul and is the director of the Tallinn, Estonia-based International Center for Defense Studies. He has also taken to the interview circuit, telling primarily the Turkish media that Turkey-Armenia normalizations should have been preconditioned on Karabakh peace and blaming the Armenian lobby in the US—especially the Armenian National Committee of America—for undermining his nomination and prospects of returning to Baku as the top US diplomat.

France's president-elect Francois Hollande

PARIS (Combined Sources)—French Socialist candidate Francois Hollande beat incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy during Sunday’s elections.

With 95 per cent of the vote counted, official results showed Hollande with 51.6 per cent of the vote compared with Sarkozy’s 48.4 per cent, the Interior Ministry said. The turnout was a strong 81 per cent.

Hollande’s win signals a popular shift in Europe as the Continent has struggled with the Global Economic Crisis.

On the Armenian front, both Hollande and Sarkozy pledged that they would introduce new legislation that would criminalize the denial of the Armenian Genocide after the country’s high court deemed a bill approved by both houses of the parliament to be unconstitutional.

The Armenian community was embroiled in a campaign for the bill for most of the beginning of 2012, with each candidate expressing support for this measure.

Both Hollande and Sarkozy joined thousands of French-Armenians last month to mark the Armenian Genocide anniversary and both urged Turkey to recognize the slaughter of some 1.5 million Armenians as genocide. They also said that a new bill making it a crime to deny that the massacres constituted genocide would be brought before the French parliament already in June.

During his address during the Genocide commemoration, Hollande said he would make sure that the new law is drafted with “utmost legal security” in order to ensure its approval by the country’s highest court. “We can no longer commit an imprecision that would again leave us with the impossibility of having the text validated,” he said.

Hollande is scheduled to take office on May 15.

Balakian during the Spendlove Award ceremony

MERCED, Calif.—Peter Balakian became the 7threcipient of the Spendlove Prize for Social Justice, Tolerance, and Diplomacy on Thurs., April 12. The ceremony was held in the Kolligian Library on the University of California Merced campus. The prize, endowed by Sherrie Spendlove in honor of her parents Alice and Clifford Spendlove, has been awarded to distinguished figures including President Jimmy Carter; Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., the director of the Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard University; and Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, founders of Childhelp.

In her introduction, Spendlove said, “You may know that President Jimmy Carter was our 5th prize recipient two years ago. No less important to the Spendlove Prize is our 7th prize recipient, Peter Balakian, ‘the American conscience of the Armenian Genocide.’ As the template for 20th century genocide, including the Holocaust, Poland, Rwanda, Cambodia, and Darfur, to mention only some, it is especially important that the Armenian Genocide be restored to our national and international history and social conscience. Peter Balakian’s work is helping to bring this important and tragic story to the forefront to affect a healing process necessary for survivors and perpetrators alike, and the descendants of both. Knowledge and understanding of how genocide happens can help prevent future genocide.”

Spendlove also paid tribute to the contributions of Armenians, noting, “Turkey’s loss has been our gain both in our region and in our nation, as so many Armenian American children of survivors have become distinguished in their chosen fields and have thus moved the consciousness of our civilization forward. The descendants of the Armenian Genocide have not just survived, but thrived. Armenians have flourished and blossomed wherever they have been planted. As you do today, your forbears before you distinguished themselves and added to the communities and nations within which they found themselves. In spite of this fact, present-day Turkey bears a heavy karmic debt that can only be discharged with amends made with an open heart and mind. The recognition of the Armenian Genocide is essential for the healing of survivors and perpetrators alike, their descendents and observers then as well as now. What happens to one of us, happens to us all. Genocide in any part of the world in any epoch is an affront to humanity everywhere in every time.”

In his acceptance speech, Balakian noted, “While I’m happy and honored to be accepting this prize today, I accept the prize with many others in mind who are working for social justice around the world and often giving their lives for ethical commitments and causes, and with all those who have made such essential contributions to the scholarly study of the Armenian Genocide. I also feel that as you honor me, more importantly, you honor the issue of the Armenian Genocide as an ongoing history that embodies various and profound dimensions of tragedy, human survival, resilience, and affirmation; a history that carries with it an open wound that still haunts its legacy because of the Turkish government’s continued, multimillion-dollar campaign of denial.”

Balakian went on to discuss the need for bystanders to act. “I hope all of us here and on your campus and in all our communities make a lifelong pledge to step up, step in, act—when you see a circumstance of cruelty, injustice, or abuses of power happening. We can all be active bystanders whether it’s standing up to governments that deny responsibility for human rights crimes, or to individuals who are abusing or bullying innocent people in our own daily lives. It makes a difference if we all get involved as citizens in social justice issues in one’s community, state, nation, or wider world. Action guided by knowledge and conscience is a powerful thing.”

Balakian gave two lectures at UC Merced and then completed the prize ceremonies on April 13 at Fresno State University, where he gave two more lectures and was hosted by Prof. Barlow der Mugrdechian, Prof. Sergio La Porta, Isberian Chair in Armenian Studies, and Fresno community leader Larry Balakian.

Peter Balakian is the Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Professor of the Humanities in the department of English at Colgate University and the author of many books, including Black Dog of Fate, winner of the PEN/Albrand Prize, The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America’s Response, winner of the Raphael Lemkin Prize, and six books of poems most recently Ziggurat.

ATP-ACE “Regardening of Eden” partnership will launch on June 6

NEW YORK—Armenia Tree Project and the Acopian Center for the Environment are joining together to initiate a new project in Margahovit Village, which is located in the Lori region of northern Armenia, and will hold a fundraising event on June 6, in New York City. Titled “Regardening of Eden,” the project is an unprecedented partnership between two of Armenia’s pre-eminent environmental organizations.

Focusing on the importance of trees, the protection of wildlife habitat, and proper waste management, the partnership will engage local youth and community residents in the creation of a new park, environmental education, trash collection, and recycling programs.

Since Margahovit Village does not have a park or a green zone where residents can gather and relax, ATP will establish a green territory for the community as part of this partnership. “We will organize tree plantings with local residents, schoolchildren, and other young community members,” explains ATP Director Jeff Masarjian. “In the future, we expect the community to bring benches and establish a playground, thus developing this territory into a real recreational resource.”

In addition to hands-on tree plantings, ATP and ACE will also assist with the establishment of an eco-club at the public school in Margahovit and education programs for the adult population focusing on planting and tree care, recycling, and waste composting. An important element will be a series of trainings presented by ACE on “Appreciating Birds and Protecting their Local Habitats” for schoolchildren at ATP’s Michael and Virginia Ohanian Center for Environmental Studies. Lessons will address bird identification, wintering and breeding birds of Lori, ways to preserve bird habitats, and the impact of waste on nature and the environment.

“I am excited about the Regardening of Eden Project both because of the symbolism of this historic civilization and the fact that the biodiversity of Armenia is unique in our modern world. Many of the diaspora are not aware of the natural treasures that remain in Armenia and that their rate of destruction has increased since independence. Stopping and, thereafter, reversing this loss is essential to the successful future of Armenia. The Regardening of Eden Project is a step in that direction,” explains Acopian Center benefactor Jeff Acopian.

“These types of educational training sessions will help to form a sound understanding of the environment in children. It is especially significant as these training sessions are delivered to the younger generation who will one day become Armenia’s future decision makers,” explains Acopian’s nephew and ACE volunteer, Alex Karapetian. “The goal is to implement a strong understanding of nature and its value and the role human beings play in nature’s cycles. As a result it will be possible to create a new generation of children who have environmentally friendly behavior, lifestyle, and values.”

The final aspect of the “Regardening of Eden” partnership is the implementation of recycling and waste removal programs. ATP and ACE staff and local residents will organize clean-up activities in Margahovit Village as part of the “Let’s do it! Armenia” campaign scheduled for September 15, 2012. “Let’s do it! Armenia” is a pan-Armenian volunteer effort tied to the World Cleanup 2012 initiative. The goal is to unite everyone around the idea of cleaning up trash throughout Armenia, including historical and cultural sites.

To implement the project in 2012 and to sustain it for years to come, ATP and ACE are organizing a public benefit event for the partnership on Wednesday, June 6 at the exclusive Hotel Chantelle in New York City.

Tickets are $75 in advance and $100 at the door, and complimentary tapas and cocktails will be served. All of the ticket proceeds will be allocated to the project and are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by law. Benefit tickets may be purchased by calling Jason Sohigian at ATP Watertown at (617) 926-8733 ext. 14, or by visiting www.RegardeningOfEden.org.

Scene from last year's food festival

MONTEBELLO—This year marks the 5th Annual Armenian Food Fair & Fest (AFFF) at Holy Cross Cathedral. The fun takes place on the Cathedral grounds, located at 900 West Lincoln Avenue in Montebello from noon to 10 p.m.

The festival is a “foodies” delight featuring an amazing and eclectic selection of delicious Armenian foods and desserts. Many traditional AFFF favorites will be featured, such as: delicious Shish Kabob dinners; Aunty Manig’s famous Piroshki’s; last year’s smash hits of Hye Nachos and Hye Tacos; and much more! Feast on our new and exciting menu items, created especially for your enjoyment.

Is your Sarma the best in town? Enter this year’s Hye Chef Competition and we’ll be the judge. Call us now and register for a chance to win First Prize… the deadline to enter is Friday, May 4.

Some of this year’s featured highlights include: an Arts & Crafts arena where all ages can work with Mesrobian School Art Director, Malvina Mkrian, to create lovely works of art from recycled materials; a cooking demonstration by cookbook author Barbara Ghazarian “Queen of Quince”; and a place to test your pitching, basketball, soccer and football skills in our all new Sports Zone. Young people and adults alike can enjoy some friendly competition in the backgammon, ping pong and Wii tournaments.

As always, the Festival will include: professional dance performances by the Alex Dance Group; Mayes Medadian’s acclaimed drum circle; and live music by very talented and popular musical artists…the Hosharian Brothers Band, Sako and the Element Band.

Organizers expressed their gratitude to the official Grand Sponsor, Joe and Nevair Samuelian & Family of Nationwide Environmental Services; Food Court Grand Sponsor, Zabel Iknadossian & Family of European Lion-International Machinery; Beer and Wine Garden Grand Sponsor, the Poochigian Family; Kids Zone Grand Sponsor, Harry and Kimberly Bagramian, along with countless additional supporters.

Admission to the Armenian Food Fair & Fest is $2 for Adults and Free for Kids (12 and under). Ample free parking will be available. For more information, registration for competitions and tournaments, schedule of performances, activities, and sponsorship information, please visit the Festival website at: www.ArmenianFoodFair.com or call (323) 314-1375.

Don’t forget to bring Mom…after all it is Mother’s Day Weekend!!

AIWA Board members flank photographer Peter Carapetian

VENICE, Calif.—The Los Angeles Affiliate of AIWA’s Board of directors attended a luncheon at Tripod Gallery on May 1 to view the photography exhibit, “Armenia Observed.”

The exhibit features the work of Peter Carapetian, an internationally acclaimed, award winning photographer, who was born to Armenian parents in Teheran and raised in London.

Joan Agajanian Quinn did an extraordinary job not only, scheduling the event, but also conducting an interview with the artist. Peter’s background in worldwide publications and what he tries to capture through his images was explained during the presentation. He told many fascinating anecdotes about the people he met in Armenia, spoke about individual pictures and fielded questions from the audience. Sue and Steve Demer, principals in the Tripod Gallery, hosted the lunch which was catered by the Rose Cafe. The Demers gave a preview of the upcoming Carapetian exhibit, which deals with Venice Italy as the subject. AIWA members and friends have been invited back to participate in the upcoming exhibition, which opens May 12.

Lily Balian announced the AIWA symposium 2012, which be held at the Anthenaeum Club in Pasadena on May 19th beginning at 9:30 a.m. An array of high profile journalists, Eliz Gazarian-Semerjian, Lianna Zakharian and Maria Armoudian will sit on a panel titled The Evolving Media moderated by Keri Tombazian. The luncheon speaker will be Silva Sevlian.

“We welcome your attendance” stated newly elected AIWA president Silva Katchiguian, “it will be an afternoon to remember.”

An explosion rocked the Republican Party election rally (photo PanArmenian.net)

YEREVAN—Armenia’s Emergency Ministry said hundreds of people have been injured after clusters of balloons exploded in Republic Square during a Republican Party of Armenia election rally ahead of Sunday’s vote.

The ministry also said 144 of them had to be hospitalized with burns after Friday’s explosion, which it said was caused by a smoker who lit a cigarette near the balloons.

According to information provided by the ministry, 30 people were taken to Yerevan’s Radiotherapy Center; 20 to Heratsi hospital, 20 to Ambulance Service hospital; 20 to Nairi medical center; 20 to Armenia medical center; 9 to Clinical Hospital No 1; seven to Muratsan medical center; and two children were taken to Surb Astvatsatsin maternity hospital.

The balloons were supposed to be flown at the Republican Party’s rally that drew tens of thousands of Armenians. Despite the accident, Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian addressed the rally with a speech.

Sarkisian later toured the hospitals where the injured were transported and visited the victims of the accident.

Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Minnesota

An Academic Right to an Opinion

BY SCOTT JASCHIK
From Inside Higher Ed

A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that the University of Minnesota could not be sued because the website of one of its research centers had labeled another website “unreliable.”

The statements made by the University of Minnesota website were protected legally — either by being true or by being opinion — said the ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The website that prompted the suit is run by the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Minnesota. Scholars there, consistent with the consensus view of historians of genocide, include the slaughter of Armenians during World War I as a case of genocide. The suit challenged the right of the center to label as “unreliable” a website of the Turkish Coalition of America that cast doubt on whether the Armenians experienced a genocide.

Not surprisingly, the case has been closely followed by historians of that period in history. But the case has also been tracked by scholars concerned about academic freedom generally, some of whom worried that a dangerous precedent could have been set by a suit against an academic center for expressing its views on areas of scholarship. The Middle East Studies Association, for example, has called on the Turkish Coalition of American to withdraw the suit.

“We fear that legal action of this kind may have a chilling effect on the ability of scholars and academic institutions to carry out their work freely and to have their work assessed on its merits, in conformity with standards and procedures long established in the world of scholarship,” said a statement from the group.

An irony of the case is that the label of “unreliable” was removed from the Minnesota website — at about the time the Turkish coalition was criticizing it but before the suit was filed in 2010. Minnesota officials said that they didn’t want to send anyone to the websites that cast doubt on the Armenian genocide, so they removed the list of “unreliable” websites from a webpage with teaching and research links. However, the university has defended the right of the research center to have had the list up in the first place, and most of the appeals court decision is written as if Minnesota still had such a link.

Last year, a federal district court ruled that academic freedom protected the Minnesota website, but the Turkish coalition appealed, setting up Thursday’s ruling.

The appeals court rejected arguments in the appeal by the Turkish coalition that the university violated its First Amendment rights and defamed it by identifying the coalition’s website as unreliable. A central argument by the coalition was that students at the university would be denied access to the coalition’s ideas, and thus that the free exchange of ideas was hindered when a center at a public university labeled the website unreliable.

On the First Amendment issue, the Turkish coalition cited court rulings in which, for example, secondary schools were found to be violating First Amendment rights of students by removing certain books from the library. The appeals court noted that those cases were based on blocking access to information — something that the court said the University of Minnesota never did.

“There is no allegation that the defendants impaired students’ access to the TCA website on a university-provided Internet system,” the appeals court’s decision says. “There is no hint in the complaint that university students were not free to, for example, read the TCA website, e-mail material from the TCA website to their friends, regale passers-by on the sidewalk with quotes from the TCA website, and so forth. In short, TCA’s website was not ‘removed’ from the university in any sense.”

The Turkish coalition’s appeal argued that the Minnesota website defamed the coalition by saying it engages in “denial” of the Armenian genocide, by calling it “unreliable,” by saying that it features a “strange mix of fact and opinion,” and that it is “an illegitimate source of information.”

The coalition argued that by labeling its website a “denial” website, the Minnesota center was maligning it because the term “denial,” in the context of the study of genocide, “implies denial of well-documented underlying facts associated with a genocidal event.” The appeals court ruling, however, says that the issue here is whether the coalition denies the Armenian genocide. “Because the TCA website does, in fact, state that it is ‘highly unlikely that a genocide charge could be sustained against the Ottoman government or its successor’ based on the historical evidence, the center’s statement under this interpretation is true and, thus, still not actionable,” the appeals court decision says.

“The remaining three statements can be interpreted reasonably only as subjective opinions, rather than facts,” the opinion adds, rejecting the defamation charges there as well.

A lawyer for the Turkish coalition did not respond to a request for comment.

ARS members who were honored during the banquet

GLENDALE—The entrance of sixty ARS honorees clad in tricolor ribbons entering the Glendale Hilton Hotel’s Grand Ballroom on Friday, April 27th for the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Western USA’s Gala 2012 sparked an overwhelming sentiment of  joy for over 500 guests, whose standing ovation proved a most inspiring start to an eventful evening.

Each of the honorees was selected by their respective chapter of the ARS Western USA region to be recognized, on the occasion of the gala, for their excellence in service in categories including long-time member, financially supportive member, and exemplary member.

The momentous entrance followed with the start of the evening’s official program, commencing with welcoming remarks by Masters of Ceremony Grigor Ogaryan and Talar Aintablian, who introduced the evening’s guests. His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, ARS Central Executive Chairperson Vicky Marashlian and Board Member Rosie Bedrossian, ACF Representative Anahit Aprahamian, Asbarez Editor Apo Boghigian, Los Angeles City Councilmember Eric Garcetti, Greg Krikorian of the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education, and representatives of sister organizations had joined ARS members and supporters for the celebratory evening. Thereafter, tenor Raffi Kerbabian sang the national and ARS anthems, accompanied by pianist Hovsep Torossian.

Following the invocation by Archbishop Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy, guests watched a video message received for the occasion by Congressman Adam Schiff, after which they mingled and enjoyed dinner as entertainment was provided by an Armenian Folklore Music Group, directed by Ruben Haroutunyan.

Chairperson of the ARS Regional Executive Board Dr. Nyree Derderian delivered remarks and paid special mention to the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide that took place a few days prior on April 24th. She stated, “Three days ago, the Armenian nation commemorated the 97th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a time of mourning, a time that no Armenian will ever forget. At that time, this nearly five-year old organization founded in the Diaspora, known today as the ARS, was by the side of Armenians during these horrific days assisting the displaced Armenians, who had survived the atrocities and found themselves in foreign lands mourning the loss of their loved ones…” Derderian touched on the local and international programs of the ARS of Western USA and congratulated the region’s 28th anniversary. Recognizing the ARS honorees, she further stated, “We celebrate our members, who through their dedicated years of service have always risen to the call of action. To be honored by your peers is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a person…”

Derderian introduced the keynote speaker, Judge Houry Sanderson, an active member of the ARS Fresno “Sophia” Chapter, whose topic covered “The Volunteer and the Code of Conduct of the Volunteer,” discussing the meaning of a true volunteer, its importance, and providing interesting information on volunteering rates among demographic groups. “We have rebuilt ourselves on the shoulders of an orphaned generation, which had the power to persevere, preserve and sustain itself to build the next several generations. We are the beneficiaries of their hard work and it is our responsibility, individually and collectively, and our duty to carry that work forward into the next millennium.”

As a means of introducing the ARS honorees to guests, a video presentation displayed personal photos of each of the 60 distinguished individuals. Later, a ceremony symbolizing the perpetuation of the ARS in an everlasting light ensued with 45 candle lighters, ranging from ARS chapters to supporters, illuminating their candles.

The ARS Regional Executive Board recognized Sona Zinzalian, ARS Social Services Executive Director, for her 30 years of service and presented her with a plaque in gratitude.

Also, Sevag Saghdejian and Nayeri Saghdejian-Kassajikian of Specialty Car Craft, which organized its First Annual Memorial Run on the occasion of April 24th where all proceeds benefited the ARS Armenia-Artsakh Orphans’ Fund, presented a $25,000 check to the ARS.

Throughout the evening, a recitation of a Baruyr Sevag poem by Grigor Ogaryan, the enjoyable selection of songs by tenor Raffi Kerbabian, as well as a duet by soprano Rima Garabedian and tenor Suren Mkrtchian, kept guests entertained and buzzing about their performances. A silent auction was also held in the lobby area with exclusive items by Le Papillon.

Guests left in high spirits and renewed faith in the programs and activities of the ARS Western USA region. The success of the event is due in large part to the efforts of the organizing committee, headed by Jasik Jarahian, General Manager of the ARS Regional Headquarters.

Protesters gather at the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles on April 24 (photo by Arin Khachikyan)

BY GAIANEH AVANESSIAN

On the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide the Armenian Youth Federation rallied the community in protest, demanding the United States and Turkish governments officially recognize the Genocide. Demonstrators were rallying for justice for the 1.5 million Armenians slaughtered at the hands of Ottoman Turks, in the form of reparations and official recognition owed to the Armenian people.

The demonstration attracted thousands of people; young and old, Armenian and non-Armenian to the Turkish Consulate on Wilshire and Fairfax in Los Angeles. As the protest grew in size, the Los Angeles Police Department was forced to shut down parts of Wilshire blvd. to allow the mass of people to move into the street.

Current Glendale Unified School District Board Member and State Assembly candidate Greg Krikorian delivered a speech motivating the youth to continue the fight for Armenian Genocide justice, while AYF member Nora Injeyan passionately spoke about the universal impact of an unrecognized genocide in her keynote remarks.

A sentiment of betrayal and disappointment was felt by everyone in the crowd as on April 23rd, on the eve of the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, President Obama delivered remarks at the U.S. Holocaust museum highlighting the America’s commitment to the prevention of genocide without ever mentioning the Armenian Genocide. President Obama, don’t you know an unrecognized genocide negates any genocide prevention measures the White House takes? And so the cycle continues…

“Recognition is not just an Armenian issue. We do not demand recognition to affirm the truth, we demand recognition because in ignoring the lessons of the Armenian Genocide, the cycle only continued with the Holocaust, Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda, and Darfur,” said Injeyan. “It is the new generation, the educated youth, who will lead this struggle regardless of background or political affiliation, because when the Armenian people stand united, no amount of immoral lobbying or money thrown at the Turkish denial machine can stop us.”

AYF Chairperson David Arakelyan delivered his speech in Armenian, exclaiming that the rights of the Armenian people to their occupied homeland and proper recognition of the Genocide are not negotiable. “Our generation will be the generation that will expand Armenia’s borders by adding Javakhk and Nakhichevan, Kars and Van, Mush and Ardahan, Ani and Karin to the independent Artsakh. And our generation will be the generation that will create a free, independent, and united Armenia,” added Arakelyan.

Arakelyan also spoke directly to Armenian President Serge Sarkissian demanding he remove Armenia’s signature from the Protocols, showing the Armenian people are not willing to make any concessions regarding the recognition of the Genocide.

Twelve year old Sevana Manoukian had a message for the Turkish government. In her letter addressed directly to the Republic of Turkey she says, “You still have not said sorry for what you have done to the Armenian people. The only way Armenians and Turks can ever be friends is if the Turks say sorry for the Genocide and give us our lands back.”

After reading her letter out loud to the crowd, Manoukian attempted to hand deliver it to the consulate, only to be shut out.

“If the Turkish government truly has nothing to hide, why avoid a 12 year old girl and deny her entry?” said one demonstrator at the scene.

As the Turkish government continues attempting to erase a part of its history, the stain of denial is still visible. The cycle will continue until all genocides are recognized, proving once and for all that no regime will ever get away with such heinous crimes against humanity.

Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian American youth organization in the United States, working to advance the social, political, educational and cultural awareness of Armenian-American youth.

Garen Yegparian

BY GAREN YEGPARIAN

It’s good to see May 1st making a comeback in the United States as a day of labor and related rights.  It’s sad that the post WWII efforts by the political right in the country have succeeded in largely erasing the origins and importance of that date from popular memory.

In 1886, there was a strike in Chicago’s Haymarket Square, peaceful, until police were sent in to break it up.  Somewhere along the line, a bomb was thrown and police died.  They opened fire and demonstrators died.  It’s not clear who threw the bomb, some say anarchists, others, a police agent.  It became known as the Haymarket Massacre, or Haymarket Riot, depending on one’s political bent, I suppose.  Haymarket “Affair” seems to be a neutral solution that Wikipedia is using.

Thus did May 1 become a day for labor throughout the world.  But political pressures in the U.S. led to the creation of an alternative date, the one now celebrated in September.  This of course suits the interests of the moneyed classes because it dims the connection between the sacrifices made to get decent working conditions and analogous problems we confront today.

Luckily, with the immigration related demonstrations of the last few years being held on May 1 and now, with the Occupy movement and others joining them on the streets this year, attention is being refocused on that date.  With the focus comes greater knowledge of labor history.  Ultimately, this leads to elevated awareness and activation.  Coupled with the increasing burden felt by the working classes, this may portend a nascent labor rights movement.

No doubt some readers are rolling their eyes at all this.  But, a century ago, the Armenian communities of the mill towns where our “bantoukd” men worked, through the efforts of the Hnchagians and Tashnagtzagans, were intimately, necessarily, involved in the labor movement of the time.  Today, it is again time to plunge in.  And, worker no longer means just an illiterate grunt in a shoe factory or steel mill.  Even doctors have started forming unions.  It’s the only way to withstand the class warfare of the richest class of society.

Whether referred to as nobles in the time of feudalism, robber barons/trusts/bosses a century ago, or the corporate elite/1% of today, the economically most powerful relentlessly pursue the accumulation of ever greater wealth, at everyone else’s expense.  Unfortunately, to not stand up to this onslaught also hurts Hye Tahd because it disempowers us and decreases our capacity to pursue our goals.

Luckily, some of us have already connected with the Occupy movement and others with labor.  It was heartening to see the SEIU present at April 24 commemorative activities.  Jump in.  Our efforts will pay of both for us as individuals, workers, and citizens and as members of a nation with a huge, unfinished agenda of liberation.

ANCA-WR

GLENDALE—The Armenian National Committee of American-Western Region is now accepting applications for the Summer Executive Internship Program. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 25.  The internship will be from June 18 to August 24.

The intensive Executive Internship Program is for individuals who have high expectations of themselves and of their community. Applicants are expected to be driven, have a strong work ethic, be ready to learn, and have a positive attitude.

As a part of the program, interns will work directly with the Executive Director, ANCA-WR staff, and with the various committees that the ANCA-WR comprises.

They will also visit with leaders in government, business, media, and advocacy. These visits will be supplemented by weekly lectures on a variety of topics that will acquaint Executive Interns with the American political system, governance, grassroots activism and advocacy, relationship building, communication, and professionalism.

“The Executive Internship Program provides participants with insight into Armenian American issues while preparing them to take on the challenges they will have in their professional careers,” said William Bairamian, Executive Director of the ANCA-WR.

Read about some of the experiences and reflections of former and current interns.

Apply online.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

Soseh Esmaeli

BY SOSEH ESMAEILI

From the horrors of the Armenian Genocide to the tragedies that occurred during the Holocaust and are currently taking place in Darfur, genocide continues to play role in human history. These acts of injustice not only cause death and destruction but also create generations of survivors who were traumatized and who passed down their legacies.

PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) is one example of what can occur after being exposed to a traumatic event such as the genocide. The symptoms for this disorder include nightmares, constant fear and worry, hyper-alertness to his/her surroundings, and even flashbacks of the trauma. After a traumatic event individuals can also experience depression and anxiety. They can even develop specific ways to deal with the painful memories like avoidance of the subject, increased attempt to maintain order and success within their lives, catastrophic views of the outside world, detachment of emotions, and increased closeness with family members or cultural groups.

The survivors of trauma such as the Armenian Genocide may have passed down memories of loss, struggle, horror, and strength through songs, story telling, and with commemorative ceremonies. The retelling and transferring of stories about the genocide from generation to generation is a way to help process and heal from the cruelty and injustice they had experienced. This can promote identity formation, close-knit familial groups, and a sense of unity within the culture. Behaviors and even symptoms of trauma can be passed down from generation to generation as parts of familial or cultural ways of living or seeing the world.

Denial of trauma can feel like a dismissal of the survivors’ experience, can perpetuate a feeling of helplessness, and even impact the process of mourning. Remembering, processing, and understanding traumatic events such as a genocide can play an important role in a collective processing of cultural groups who have experienced such events.

Until next time,

Soseh Esmaeili, PsyD, #PSB63123. James S. Graves, PhD, PsyD, # PSY18196, Clinical Supervisor, www.drjimgraves.com

The Dadivank Monastery in Shahumian

STEPANAKERT—The Foreign Ministry of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) issued an announcement Wednesday recalling the brutal 1991 pogroms by Azeri OMON forces against the Armenian population of Shahumian and other northern regions of Artsakh.

Below is the text of the announcement:

From late April to early May 1991, special police detachments (OMON) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, with the support of the USSR Interior Ministry troops, launched a large-scale punitive operation known as Ring, the essence of which was to exile the Armenian population of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, the Shahumian region, and some regions of Northern Artsakh (Khanlar, Dashkesan, Kedabek, and Shamkhor regions of the former Azerbaijani SSR).

As a result of this operation, dozens of Armenian settlements were completely devastated, destroyed or populated by Azerbaijanis. Tens of thousands of people were deported, hundreds were killed. It was the Ring operation, characterized by unprecedented cruelty and mass human rights violations, that dramatically increased the level of tension in the region and transferred the Karabakh conflict to a military plane.

The report of the Committee for Security and Cooperation in Europe (the predecessor organization to the OSCE) Mission of February 28, 1992 noted that “particularly serious escalation took place in April-May 1991 when the Soviet Army, with the support of the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry’s units, deported Armenians from many villages of the region. The deportation was carried out with extreme cruelty.”

The events, which took place during the operation of Ring, were reflected in the documents of some international organizations, became a subject of hearings at the Human Rights Committee of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation and got the corresponding assessment in the resolutions of the European Parliament and the U.S. Senate.

The Human Rights Center of Memorial Moscow Association documented gross violations of the basic human rights: “They grossly violated the right of every person to life, liberty, and security; they used torture, carried out arbitrary arrests and detentions and committed numerous property offenses. The practice of people’s deportation acquired a mass character. Particularly cynical these violations were made by the fact that the mass violence against the civilians was committed by the law enforcement agencies. The responsibility for this rests with the top leadership of the Azerbaijani Republic, Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministry and Committee for State Security (KGB), as well as with the leadership of the USSR Interior Ministry, Ministry of Defense and the Command of the USSR MIA Interior Troops. These crimes cast a shadow also on the top leadership of the USSR.”

On May 1, 1991, the U.S. Senate unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the crimes committed by the authorities of the USSR and Azerbaijan against the Armenian population. The resolution, in particular, condemned “the attacks on innocent men, women and children in Nagorno-Karabakh, in the adjacent Armenian settlements and in Armenia; the large-scale use of military force and firing of the unarmed population on the eastern and southern borders of Armenia”, as well as contained calls “to put an end to the blockades and other forms of force and the terror against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.”

On May 25, a draft statement on the situation in some regions of Armenia and Azerbaijan was submitted to the session of the Fourth Congress of People’s Deputies of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) for consideration and was approved by the overwhelming majority of votes. The statement, in particular, noted that “in accordance with the internationally accepted norms and conventions on human rights, the deportation of civilians must be immediately stopped, the hostages must be freed, and the suspects on cases of armed clashes must be transferred to the prosecution of the USSR Prosecutor’s Office.”

However, the crimes committed during the operation of Ring haven’t got the proper political and legal assessment by the international community and their organizers and executors are still unpunished. This became a precedent for new military crimes and inhumane actions by Azerbaijan against the peaceful Armenian population.

The deported residents are still unable to return to their homes and they haven’t received any reimbursement so far.

Unfortunately, we also have to state that the Armenian villages deported during the operation of Ring are not mentioned in any of the documents proposed by the international mediators for the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement.

Azerbaijani police officers detain an opposition activist during a protest rally in Baku (AP photo)

BY WALTER MAYR
From Spiegel

On the eve of the Eurovision Song Contest, scrutiny of host Azerbaijan is increasing, particularly the country’s human rights record. A confidential German Foreign Ministry report, which SPIEGEL has seen, criticizes “state repression” in the country.

The confidential document from Berlin is about Azerbaijan, a Caucasus republic in which prisoners are mistreated, parliamentary debate is “nearly impossible” and the activities of the opposition are “noticeably restricted” through measures that even include “state repression.”

This is the exact wording used in the German Foreign Ministry’s latest situation report about Azerbaijan. The confidential report describes a country whose state organs have apparently “abused arrested individuals in police custody” in the past. It is the country where the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest — a pan-European pop music competition that is Europe’s largest television event — will nonetheless be held on May 26.

Rarely has the regime of Azerbaijan’s autocratic ruler Ilham Aliyev, the son of the longtime president and former KGB general Heydar Aliyev, enjoyed such international attention as now, as musicians from 42 countries prepare to head there for the competition. And rarely have opinions about the country on the Caspian Sea been as sharply divided.

In 2010, no less a figure than former Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Efraim Sneh declared Azerbaijan to be an “icon of progress and modernity” in the Caucasus. Since then, Israel, the second-largest importer of oil from the republic, has been granted access to air bases inside Azerbaijan, according to a recent report in the US journal Foreign Policy, which quoted senior US officials. Does Israel want to use the airfields as a base for a possible attack on Iran — for F-15 and F-16 fighter jets, as well as helicopters that would have to fly rescue missions into Iran in the event of war?

On Par with the Mafia

When Europeans turn their attention to Azerbaijan, their biggest complaint is alleged violations of human rights. American strategists take a more pragmatic approach. A February 2012 arms deal between Azerbaijan and Israel, worth $1.6 billion (€1.2 billion), apparently worries them more than the report of “seven prisoners who clearly have a political background” mentioned in the German Foreign Ministry’s situation report.

A 2009 telegram from the US Embassy in Baku to the State Department in Washington compared the Azerbaijani president to fictional mafia bosses from the “Godfather” films. Is it nevertheless possible to negotiate with someone like Aliyev, if only for the sake of a song contest?

The moral reprimands have their limits. Azerbaijan is Germany’s seventh-largest supplier of crude oil. The West obtains its lifeblood of Azerbaijani resources through pipelines in the Turkish cities of Ceyhan (oil) and Erzurum (natural gas). Aliyev is not the leader of some isolated, post-Soviet oil-rich republic. His country is a member of the Council of Europe and submits to the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights.

Because Aliyev is well connected throughout the continent, his opponents only have one stage to express their disapproval: the pop music festival in Baku. Volker Herres, the program director of Germany’s ARD television network, who has been accused of political naïveté, says that the ARD studio in Moscow, which is responsible for covering the festival, has the situation under control. The network, he says, will cover the abuses in Azerbaijan in the run-up to May 26, the day of the final.

Read: Azerbaijan Accuses Germany of Smear Campaign

Translated from the German by Christopher Sultan

ANCA 2012 Telethon

The Fathers of Armenia’s Future

BY NESHAN PEROOMIAN

Each Armenian of every generation – stretching back more than 4,000 years – has been both blessed and burdened with the same sacred and timeless tasks:

– The re-creation of our identity for a new time,

– The re-invention of our cause to meet new challenges, and

– The re-launching of our nation into a new and uncertain future.

In summoning the strength to meet the tests of their time, young Armenians – forever the torchbearers of the Armenian Cause – have always drawn from the well-spring of our nation’s proud legacy of service and sacrifice

They have been informed by the wisdom earned through centuries of trials, tragedies, and triumphs.

And have been inspired by their imaginations and by a world of endless possibilities.

If you’re like me, and the days – but not the dreams – of your youth are behind you, I invite you to join with me in reflecting on the role we can and must play in investing in the next generation of Armenians. Our work is surely not done, but we owe it to ourselves to think not only of our time, but also about the shadows that our actions will cast long into the future.

The youth of today may be only as old as our children and grandchildren, but they are the fathers and mothers of Armenia’s future.

Today, they need our help. And we are obliged to offer them our support.

We owe them our counsel, our compassion, and our courage.

Our experience, and also our example.

Our time, and our treasure.

But, most of all, we owe them our love and support.

For it is the boys and girls of today, who will be the men and women who, tomorrow, carry forth the hopes in all our hearts. Hopes for an Armenia that remains free and strong, uniting her lost lands and all her sons and daughters.

Let’s come together – as the ardent but aging heirs of our ancient nation – to lend our youth a hand, and – mark my words – tomorrow we will all watch in pride as they carry our nation forward upon their backs.

Let’s invest in our future, by educating young Armenians about their heritage.

By engaging them as activists, training them as interns, and empowering them as leaders.

By fostering enduring friendships, and networking them through social media.

By helping them to start careers in government, politics, and journalism.

By informing and inspiring tens of thousands of young Armenians across America about the Armenian Cause, so that they, in turn, can educate and engage tens of millions of non-Armenians from around the globe.

In each of these areas, and in so many others, the ANCA is sowing the seeds of the future.

As someone who’s been deeply involved with the ANCA for decades I can tell you that investing in youth is hard-wired into its organizational DNA.

Just as no one fights harder today for Armenian rights, no one does more to empower Armenian youth.

The ANCA, very simply, represents the best way for my generation, born to the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and having lived to see a new dawn of Armenian liberty, to invest in the sons and daughters of our proud nation and inspire them to service and sacrifice as they write the next chapter in our nation’s long history.

Please join with me in helping our next generation by supporting ANCA Telethon 2012.

ANCA's Ken Hachikian flanked by representatives Eshoo (left) and Spiere during last week Capitol Hill comemmoration

Diverse Remarks by Legislators include Calls for Passage of Armenian Genocide Resolution and Disappointment with President Obama’s Failure to Honor his Pledge to Properly Recognize Armenian Genocide

WASHINGTON—Senators and Representatives took to the floors of their respective chambers during the week of April 24th to mark the 97th anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian Genocide and to share with their colleagues the moral imperative to enact legislation condemning this crime against humanity, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

These remarks were in addition to the annual Capitol Hill commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, held on April 25th, which drew over twenty Members of Congress.

In the Senate, remarks were offered by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Carl Levin (D-MI), and Jack Reed (D-RI). Representatives David Cicilline (D-RI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Robert Dold (R-IL), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Jesse Jackson Jr (D-IL), Sander Levin (D-MI), Ed Markey (D-MA), James McGovern (D-MA), Laura Richardson (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Frank Wolf (R-VA) offered statements in the House.

Among the more compelling Senate remarks are provided below:

Sen. Jack Reed

Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI): Ninety-seven years ago, on April 24, 1915, the Young Turk leaders of the Ottoman Empire summoned and executed over 200 Armenian community leaders and intellectuals, beginning an 8-year campaign of oppression and massacre. By 1923, nearly 1 1/2 million Armenians were killed, and over a half million survivors were exiled. These atrocities affected the lives of every Armenian living in Asia Minor and, indeed, throughout the world. The survivors of the Armenian genocide, however, persevered due to their unbreakable spirit, their steadfast resolve, and their deep commitment to their faith and their families. They went on to enrich their countries of emigration, including the United States, with their centuries-old customs, their culture, and their innate decency.

Watch Sen. Reed’s remarks.

Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI): Mr. President, this is a week to bear witness. Today, April 24, we mark Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day–the day on which we remind one another of the organized campaign of deportation, expropriation, starvation–and atrocity perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against its Armenian population, beginning with the detention and eventual execution of hundreds of Armenian community members on April 24, 1915, just as, a few days ago, we marked Holocaust Remembrance Day, bearing witness to the attempt by Nazi Germany to destroy Europe’s Jewish population. Why do we mark these days? Because in recognizing and condemning the horror of these acts, we affirm our own humanity, we ensure that the victims of these atrocities will not be forgotten, and we warn those who believe they can perpetrate similar crimes with impunity that they will not escape the world’s notice. We remind ourselves that we must never again allow such mass assaults against human decency without acting to stop them. And we mark these atrocities because only by acknowledging the violence and inhumanity can we begin the process of reconciling populations who even today are haunted by the damage done decades ago.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA): Mr. President, I rise today to solemnly recognize the 97th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. In 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations passed the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide based in part on the horrific crimes perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenian people between 1915 1923. Yet, in the 63 years that have passed since the Convention was adopted, successive U.S. administrations have refused to call the deliberate massacre of the Armenians by what it was–a genocide. For many years, I have urged these administrations to right this terrible wrong, and I do so again today, calling on President Obama to acknowledge unequivocally–as he did as a Senator–that the Armenian genocide is a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence. […] There is no room for discretion when dealing with unspeakable crimes against humanity; genocide must be called genocide, murder must be called murder. And every day that goes by without the U.S. acknowledgment of what happened to the Armenian people in the early 20th century undermines the United States’ role as a beacon for human rights around the world.

Among the more compelling House remarks are provided below:

Rep. Davic Cicilline

Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI): Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children who were massacred under the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 20th century. Each year, Armenians throughout the world mark April 24 as Genocide Remembrance Day by honoring those who perished from 1915 to 1923, and I join my friends and colleagues in remembering the victims today. It’s important to raise awareness about the Armenian genocide not only because it is an undeniable chapter in world history, but also because learning more about this horrific tragedy underscores the importance of eliminating intolerance and bigotry wherever it occurs.

Watch Rep. Cicilline’s remarks.

Rep. Jim Costa

Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA): Growing up in Fresno, California, the place William Saroyan, a great American author of Armenian descent, called home, I heard the stories of this tragic time between 1915 and 1923. The sons and daughters of survivors, time and time again, told the stories of their families. The facts are clear. What happened 97 years ago can only be called by one name: genocide–the first genocide of the 20th century. Yet after nearly a century, the House of Representatives and current and past American Presidents have refused to recognize the Armenian genocide as such. We cannot wait for a convenient moment, for it’s not a convenient truth. Man’s inhumanity to mankind never is. Now is the time to pass House Resolution 304 that I am a cosponsor of and formally recognize the Armenian genocide.

Watch Rep. Costa’s remarks on Youtube here: http://youtu.be/6HSGXMNraiM

Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL) – Mr. Speaker, I stand to commemorate the Armenian Genocide on the 97th anniversary of its occurrence. It is unfortunate, however, that once again I do so without an official recognition on behalf of the American government. As I have said in years past, the undeniable genocidal actions by the Ottoman Empire against its Armenian citizens deserve official recognition from the American government. 1.5 million Armenians were killed, the first genocide of the 20th century. As a member of the House Armenian Issues Caucus, I have cosponsored legislation to affirm the U.S. position on Armenian Genocide and will continue to urge my colleagues in Congress and the Obama administration to support this position. As we mourn the lives of those lost, it is important to recognize the resilience and incredible strides the Armenian people have made in recovering from that unspeakable past. I stand in solidarity with the Armenian people and renew my commitment to pursuing a future of reconciliation and peace.

Rep. Robert Dold

Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL): Madam Speaker, about 97 years ago, the government of the Ottoman Empire killed over 1.5 million people during the Armenian genocide. The Turkish state has never accepted responsibility for the acts of its predecessor government and maintains that the genocide never took place. For the past 90 years, the Armenian people have sought justice, yet the Turkish Government has continued to actively obstruct any attempt to recognize what has happened to the Armenian people. The United States can help bring closure to this longstanding moral issue by recognizing the Armenian genocide.

Watch Rep. Dold’s remarks.

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA): Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and commemorate a solemn occasion of deep personal significance. Today marks 97 years since the infamous episode in which the Ottoman Empire began rounding up and murdering Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople. By 1923, some 1.5 million Armenian women, children and men were dead from a systematic campaign we now know as the Armenian Genocide, or Great Crime. Their lives ended in the most brutal ways imaginable, subjected to death marches, burnings, rape and forced starvation. Some 500,000 Armenians who did survive–my own grandparents among them–were forced into exile. Like others whose families experienced this tragedy first-hand, I did not first learn of the Armenian Genocide in history books. I learned about it from my own Grandmother as she recounted the murders of priests and her flight from the only home she knew. We must be clear: There is no doubt to the fact that the Armenian Genocide took place. There is no credible historian who can dispute it, and there is no evidence that detracts from its horror and magnitude. What’s missing is a moral clarity as penetrating as the facts themselves, and a willingness in this House and in our government to acknowledge the Genocide.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr (D-IL): Mr. Speaker, the atrocities committed during this period must never be forgotten. We cannot allow events such as these to be swept under the rug or we face the sad outcome of denying ourselves the ability to learn from the mistakes of our past. We must shape a brighter future for the global community. It is an absolute injustice to the Armenian people, as well as the global community, to refer to this atrocity as anything other than what it was: genocide . And the unfortunate truth is that the Armenian people are not the only ethnic group to be subjected to such an experience.

Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI): Ninety-seven years ago, the government of the Ottoman Empire started a ruthless and systematic campaign of genocide against the Armenian people. Beginning with the targeted execution of 300 Armenian leaders, this intentional attempt at extermination ultimately claimed the lives of over 1.5 million people and forcibly exiled another 500,000. And despite these chilling numbers and a clear historical record of fact, there remains a failure to acknowledge this vast human tragedy for what it truly is: genocide. That is why it is essential that we continue to speak out and solemnly commemorate the Armenian Genocide. Accordingly, I am proud to support a resolution this session of Congress that affirms the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide and honors its victims and survivors. By acknowledging this dark chapter of human history, we help protect against the possible creation of a violent culture of impunity. We cannot allow past acts of evil to be erased from our collective consciousness if we are to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA): I am very proud to represent the 7th district of Massachusetts because my district includes the community with the third highest percentage of Armenian-Americans in the Nation. […] Between 1915 and 1923, the Ottoman Empire carried out the deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians from their homes, resulting in the deaths of 1.5 million innocent children, women and men. This must never happen again. In order to prevent future genocides, we must recognize those of the past. For many years the House has had before it a resolution which clearly affirms the United States record on the Armenian Genocide. I have been a strong supporter and vocal cosponsor of this resolution in every Congress, and I remain so today. Almost one-hundred years have passed since the Armenian Genocide, yet the suffering will continue for Armenians and non-Armenians alike as long as the world allows denial to prevail.

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA): Every year I have been in Congress, I have marked this solemn anniversary remembering the victims of this genocide and the expulsion of tens of thousands of Armenians from their homes and homeland, and honoring the survivors of one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th Century. These survivors and their descendants have helped awaken and teach the world to the horrors of genocide and the necessity of standing up to the forces of denial. This year, however, Mr. Speaker, I come before this House angry and frustrated by the refusal of my own government to recognize and identify the events from 1915 to 1923 as the Armenian Genocide. It doesn’t seem to make a difference if the White House is occupied by a Republican or a Democrat, no one has the political courage to call the Armenian Genocide by name. I am always told that now is not the right time to take such an action. When will be the right time, Mr. Speaker? When the last survivor, the last eye-witness to the genocide has passed away?

Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA) – Mr. Speaker, the historical record is clear and the Armenian Genocide is a tragic fact. It must be acknowledged and remembered so that it will never be repeated. As a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, I know that the refusal of modern-day Turkey to acknowledge one of the worst examples of man’s inhumanity in the 20th Century haunts survivors of the Armenian Genocide, as well as their families. As a Member of Congress from California, which is home to more Armenian-Americans than any other state, I believe this is not only an affront to the memory of the victims and to their descendants, but it does a disservice to the United States as it seeks to stand up for the victims of violence today. The issue of recognizing the Armenian genocide and helping the Armenian people is neither a partisan nor geopolitical issue. Rather, it is a question of giving the Armenian people the justice they deserve. In doing so, we affirm the dignity of humankind everywhere.

Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD): When faced with the deeply compelling research and scholarship surrounding the Armenian genocide, it is wholly untenable to assert that the genocide did not occur. Instead, many in Congress offer the protest that recognition would harm our relationship with Turkey and undermine our broader geostrategic interests. Others suggest weakly that it is just not the right time to push the issue of recognition. The result is the same–the continued failure on the part of the United States to do the right thing. This failure puts salt on the wounds of the Armenian people. But it does more than that. It corrodes the moral standing of our Nation as a whole.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD): Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. It was 97 years ago today that over 1.5 million men, women, and children, almost 75 percent of the pre-war Armenian population, were brutally exterminated by the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman authorities arrested and later murdered over 250 Armenian political, intellectual, and religious leaders in Istanbul, beginning a horrific and systematic campaign to wipe a 3,000 year-old community from the face of the earth. […] And yet, despite clear evidence that genocide occurred, many officials today refuse to even to use the word genocide when referring to this incident. By equivocating, they not only dishonor the victims of this atrocity and their descendents, they increase the chance that other crimes against humanity are met with similar equivocation.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA): Mr. Speaker, today, we gather to remember the genocide against the Armenian people. Although the generation that experienced these atrocities has passed, their suffering has been prolonged by the continued efforts to silence their cries and deny that a genocide occurred. When words can help bring comfort to those who suffer, silence isolates and inflicts pain. When time marches forward and history becomes more distant, silence erodes the memory of those who were lost. When affirmation and recognition could prevent such a tragedy from being repeated, silence allows the perpetrators of genocide to assume their actions will meet neither obstacle nor objection. Thus, the ongoing efforts of the Turkish leadership to silence discussion of the Armenian genocide inflict yet another cruelty. […] Today, we will not be silent.

Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA): This year’s observance of the anniversary of the Armenian genocide is especially meaningful. In December 2011, the House of Representatives adopted H. Res 306, which I was pleased to cosponsor. The resolution calls on the Secretary of State to urge Turkey to end religious discrimination and return all Christian places of worship and religious artifacts to their rightful owners. Thousands of these sacred sites and artifacts were confiscated by the Ottoman Empire during and after the Armenian Genocide.

The complete text of all the Senate and House remarks is provided below.

Statement submitted for the Congressional Record – Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Mr. President, I rise today to solemnly recognize the 97th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.

In 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations passed the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide based in part on the horrific crimes perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenian people between 1915 1923. Yet, in the 63 years that have passed since the Convention was adopted, successive U.S. administrations have refused to call the deliberate massacre of the Armenians by what it was–a genocide.

For many years, I have urged these administrations to right this terrible wrong, and I do so again today, calling on President Obama to acknowledge unequivocally–as he did as a Senator–that the Armenian genocide is a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence.

The Armenian genocide–along with the Holocaust–is one the most studied cases of genocide in history. A number of sovereign nations, ranging from Argentina to France, as well as 43 U.S. States have recognized what happened as genocide. Yet, successive U.S. administrations continue only to refer to the Armenian genocide as annihilation, massacre or murder.

Every day that goes by without full acknowledgment by the United States of these undeniable facts prolongs the pain felt by descendants of the victims and the entire Armenian community.

There is no room for discretion when dealing with unspeakable crimes against humanity; genocide must be called genocide, murder must be called murder. And every day that goes by without the U.S. acknowledgment of what happened to the Armenian people in the early 20th century undermines the United States’ role as a beacon for human rights around the world.

The United States’ credibility is particularly important as we seek to compel international condemnation of and active response to those who are perpetrating extreme violence today–whether it be in individual cases of human rights abuses or in cases of government-driven attacks against citizens protesting for greater freedom and opportunity.

The United States cannot and does not turn a blind eye to atrocities around the globe. In fact, the United States is often the first to speak out in the face of violence and unspeakable suffering. But sadly, our Nation is on the wrong side of history when it comes to the Armenian genocide. It is long past time to do the right thing.

So this April 24, as we pause to remember the victims and to honor the countless contributions Armenian Americans have made to our great country, I hope that the U.S. will finally and firmly stand on the right side of history and officially condemn the crimes of 1915 1923 by their appropriate name–genocide.

Statement submitted for the Congressional Record – Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI)
Mr. President, this is a week to bear witness. Today, April 24, we mark Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day–the day on which we remind one another of the organized campaign of deportation, expropriation, starvation–and atrocity perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against its Armenian population, beginning with the detention and eventual execution of hundreds of Armenian community members on April 24, 1915, just as, a few days ago, we marked Holocaust Remembrance Day, bearing witness to the attempt by Nazi Germany to destroy Europe’s Jewish population.

Why do we mark these days? Because in recognizing and condemning the horror of these acts, we affirm our own humanity, we ensure that the victims of these atrocities will not be forgotten, and we warn those who believe they can perpetrate similar crimes with impunity that they will not escape the world’s notice. We remind ourselves that we must never again allow such mass assaults against human decency without acting to stop them. And we mark these atrocities because only by acknowledging the violence and inhumanity can we begin the process of reconciling populations who even today are haunted by the damage done decades ago.

The Ottoman campaign against the Armenians resulted in the deaths of over 1.5 million people. Large numbers of Armenians fled their homeland to seek safety elsewhere, including in Michigan and other communities in the United States. Some have sought to deny that these events constituted genocide, but the historical record is clear and undeniable. I ask any who deny the historical reality of the Armenian genocide to read “Giants of the Earth,” the moving memoir of native Detroiter Mitch Kehetian and his search for the fate of beloved family members during the tragedy.

It is important for us to remember that these atrocities were not committed by the Republic of Turkey. I hope that the governments of Turkey and Armenia, encouraged by the good will of the community of nations, can heal the divisions that remain from long-ago events that nonetheless remain painful. We should also remember that Turkey played a valuable role in supporting the international community’s efforts to free Libya from dictatorship and value the role Turkey is playing today in helping to resolve the tragedy unfolding in neighboring Syria.

It is doubly tragic that the Armenian genocide is now seen as the beginning of a decades-long series of mass atrocities. The inability or unwillingness of the international community to come to the aid of the Armenians emboldened others–including Adolph Hitler, who told his commanders on the eve of the invasion of Poland, “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?” And so, he launched the Holocaust, ending the lives of six million Jews simply because they were Jewish.

All people would like to believe that they live in a more enlightened age, one in which we have overcome the inhumanity of the past. And yet our own time is not immune from mass atrocity. Recent events in Libya and Syria, to name just two, remind us that violence, oppression, and disregard for human rights remain with us.

Just as mass atrocity is still with us, so are human courage and the determination to stand against atrocity. When the international community came together to support the people of Libya against the oppressive Libyan regime, we helped accomplish something important and powerful for Libyans, but beyond that, we sent a message to other dictators that they might not escape a response from the international community.

I say “might not” because we still have a long way to go as a world community in confronting murderous dictators. The current regime in Syria is engaged in a campaign of attack and intimidation against its own people. The examples of history make clear the international community’s obligation to speak out and to take action. It is unfortunate that nations in a position to do so, such as China and Russia, have blocked the United Nations from taking stronger steps. The United States and its allies must now seek to implement additional steps to protect innocent civilians and hold the Assad regime in Syria accountable, including the possibility of establishing safe havens along the border with Turkey.

While we mark these historic crimes, it is also important to recognize signs of progress. It is significant that the United States is now taking what promises to be not just a stronger approach to mass atrocities, but a more effective one. A presidential directive signed by President Obama last August states clearly: “Preventing mass atrocities and genocide is a core national security interest and a core moral responsibility of the United States of America.” And yesterday, the President announced that he will implement the recommendations resulting from a comprehensive review of U.S. policy with regard to mass atrocity.

The creation of an Atrocity Prevention Board will ensure that prevention of these human tragedies is a focus of U.S. policy, a national security interest we will pursue, bringing all appropriate elements of American policy and power to bear. Importantly, U.S. policy recognizes that military action is not our only means to prevent mass atrocity, and that every aspect of our international involvement–intelligence, diplomacy, economic and development policy, as well as, when called for, military power–can be called upon.

We cannot prevent the madness that, even in our era, too often leads to unspeakable crimes. But we can remember. We can speak out. And we can act, with the range of instruments at our disposal, to prevent those in the forefront of such madness from acting on their inhuman schemes. May Americans never forget the genocide visited upon the Armenians we remember today. And may our collective memories always remind us of our responsibility to prevent atrocity in our own time.

Statement delivered on the Senate floor by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
Madam President, I am honored to be here today to welcome His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. Archbishop Choloyan serves as the Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America. He has led the Eastern Prelacy since 1998, and he plays a significant role as the spiritual shepherd for several thousand Armenian Americans from Maine to Florida and west to Texas.

In Rhode Island, we are extremely blessed to have the Archbishop as such a strong spiritual and community leader. We continue to benefit from his wisdom, his compassion, and his generous spirit. It is an honor to have him here today as we not only listen to his moving and thoughtful words, but also as we commemorate the 97th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.

Ninety-seven years ago, on April 24, 1915, the Young Turk leaders of the Ottoman Empire summoned and executed over 200 Armenian community leaders and intellectuals, beginning an 8-year campaign of oppression and massacre. By 1923, nearly 1 1/2 million Armenians were killed, and over a half million survivors were exiled. These atrocities affected the lives of every Armenian living in Asia Minor and, indeed, throughout the world.

The survivors of the Armenian genocide, however, persevered due to their unbreakable spirit, their steadfast resolve, and their deep commitment to their faith and their families. They went on to enrich their countries of emigration, including the United States, with their centuries-old customs, their culture, and their innate decency.

In fact, not only were the Ottomans unable to destroy the Armenian Empire, they strengthened it. And the participation of Armenians worldwide has made this world a much better place. Indeed, my home State is a much better place. That is why today we not only commemorate this grave tragedy but celebrate the traditions, the contributions, and the extraordinary hard work and decency of the Armenian Americans and Armenians throughout the world.

This year I once again join my colleagues in encouraging the United States to officially recognize the Armenian genocide. Denial of this history is not consistent with our country’s sensitivity to human rights and our dedication to the highest and noblest principles that should govern the world. We must continue to educate our young people against this type of hatred and oppression so we can seek to prevent such crimes against humanity in the future. It was indeed an honor to be here to listen to the wise words of the Archbishop, to hear his prayer, his reflection, and to go forth knowing that he is a powerful force in our country for tolerance and decency. I thank him for being here today.

With that, I yield the floor.

Statement delivered on the House floor by Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI)
I rise today to remember the 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children who were massacred under the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 20th century.

Each year, Armenians throughout the world mark April 24 as Genocide Remembrance Day by honoring those who perished from 1915 to 1923, and I join my friends and colleagues in remembering the victims today.

It’s important to raise awareness about the Armenian genocide not only because it is an undeniable chapter in world history, but also because learning more about this horrific tragedy underscores the importance of eliminating intolerance and bigotry wherever it occurs.

Armenian Americans living in my home State of Rhode Island have made significant contributions through their leadership in business, law, academia, government, and the arts.

As a cosponsor of House Resolution 304, I strongly believe that the time has come for the United States Government to recognize this atrocity for what it was–genocide. I join my colleagues today in recognizing the victims of the Armenian genocide.

Statement delivered on the House floor by Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA)
97 years ago, the Ottoman Empire orchestrated a murderous campaign that resulted in the death of 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children and forced hundreds of thousands into exile.

Growing up in Fresno, California, the place William Saroyan, a great American author of Armenian descent, called home, I heard the stories of this tragic time between 1915 and 1923. The sons and daughters of survivors, time and time again, told the stories of their families.

The facts are clear. What happened 97 years ago can only be called by one name: genocide–the first genocide of the 20th century. Yet after nearly a century, the House of Representatives and current and past American Presidents have refused to recognize the Armenian genocide as such.

We cannot wait for a convenient moment, for it’s not a convenient truth. Man’s inhumanity to mankind never is. Now is the time to pass House Resolution 304 that I am a cosponsor of and formally recognize the Armenian genocide.

Statement submitted for the Congressional Record by Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL) -
Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I stand to commemorate the Armenian Genocide on the 97th anniversary of its occurrence. It is unfortunate, however, that once again I do so without an official recognition on behalf of the American government.

As I have said in years past, the undeniable genocidal actions by the Ottoman Empire against its Armenian citizens deserve official recognition from the American government. 1.5 million Armenians were killed, the first genocide of the 20th century. As a member of the House Armenian Issues Caucus, I have cosponsored legislation to affirm the U.S. position on Armenian Genocide and will continue to urge my colleagues in Congress and the Obama administration to support this position.

As we mourn the lives of those lost, it is important to recognize the resilience and incredible strides the Armenian people have made in recovering from that unspeakable past. I stand in solidarity with the Armenian people and renew my commitment to pursuing a future of reconciliation and peace.

As a nation we must lead by honoring the memory of those that perished so the Armenian people and the international community can move forward toward a brighter tomorrow. The U.S. has officially recognized other such tragic events and 21 other countries have recognized the Armenian Genocide. I call on my colleagues in Congress and the Obama administration to join me in recognizing the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and urge enactment of H. Res. 304.

Statement delivered on the House floor by Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL)
About 97 years ago, the government of the Ottoman Empire killed over 1.5 million people during the Armenian genocide. The Turkish state has never accepted responsibility for the acts of its predecessor government and maintains that the genocide never took place.

For the past 90 years, the Armenian people have sought justice, yet the Turkish Government has continued to actively obstruct any attempt to recognize what has happened to the Armenian people.

The United States can help bring closure to this longstanding moral issue by recognizing the Armenian genocide. That’s why I’m proud to be a sponsor of House Resolution 304, which would formally recognize this atrocity. To date, 88 Members of this body have joined me in support of the resolution.

I urge all of my other colleagues to support what is a very important resolution.

If we do nothing, the victims of this horrible genocide may be forgotten. We cannot allow that to happen.

Statement submitted for the Congressional Record by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and commemorate a solemn occasion of deep personal significance. Today marks 97 years since the infamous episode in which the Ottoman Empire began rounding up and murdering Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople. By 1923, some 1.5 million Armenian women, children and men were dead from a systematic campaign we now know as the Armenian Genocide, or Great Crime. Their lives ended in the most brutal ways imaginable, subjected to death marches, burnings, rape and forced starvation. Some 500,000 Armenians who did survive–my own grandparents among them–were forced into exile.

Like others whose families experienced this tragedy first-hand, I did not first learn of the Armenian Genocide in history books. I learned about it from my own Grandmother as she recounted the murders of priests and her flight from the only home she knew.
We must be clear: There is no doubt to the fact that the Armenian Genocide took place. There is no credible historian who can dispute it, and there is no evidence that detracts from its horror and magnitude. What’s missing is a moral clarity as penetrating as the facts themselves, and a willingness in this House and in our government to acknowledge the Genocide.

The consequences of surrendering the moral high ground on Genocide denial are manifest and tragic. Since 1915, we have witnessed the same tragedy again and again. In 1939, Adolf Hitler is said to have asked, in justifying his awful crimes, “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?” In the Holodomor in Ukraine, the killing fields of Cambodia, the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia, the red clay hills of Rwanda, and now, today in Darfur–genocidal crimes continue. We must acknowledge the Armenian genocide for our collective future, for those who suffer around the world today, and to honor the memories of those who died.

Each time this question arises, there are those who demand we once again sweep history under the rug for political convenience, calling what began 97 years ago anything but Genocide. My response is simple. The systematic extermination of an ethnic group is Genocide, and we insult ourselves and degrade our values when we claim otherwise.

I hope we use this solemn occasion to redouble our support for a more honest appraisal of the facts. So much of who I am is informed by my Armenian heritage, including the moral grounding to demand the truth. As we pray today for those who died, let us also work toward an open and just acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide, the truth, and a strengthened commitment to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again.

Statement submitted for the Congressional Record by Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in somber recognition of the lives lost through heinous acts of violence against Armenian civilians following World War I. April 24th marked the symbolic recognition of a period in history when over 1 million Armenian people were killed.

Mr. Speaker, the atrocities committed during this period must never be forgotten. We cannot allow events such as these to be swept under the rug or we face the sad outcome of denying ourselves the ability to learn from the mistakes of our past. We must shape a brighter future for the global community. It is an absolute injustice to the Armenian people, as well as the global community, to refer to this atrocity as anything other than what it was: genocide . And the unfortunate truth is that the Armenian people are not the only ethnic group to be subjected to such an experience.

Mr. Speaker, this week we saw Charles Taylor brought to justice for his unspeakable crimes against humanity. After nine years in the International Criminal Court Charles Taylor was found guilty on 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity today, including terror, murder, and rape and conscription of child soldiers. Taylor gave soldiers of the Revolutionary United Front arms in exchange for blood diamonds, giving them means to slaughter approximately 50,000 people in Sierra Leone. Yet, again, this is not an isolated incident in history.

Mr. Speaker: In Nazi Germany and Nazi occupied Europe approximately 6 million Jewish citizens were killed during World War II. In 1975 and through 1979 over 1.5 million were slaughtered by the Khmer Rouge in Vietnam. In the Rwandan Spring/Summer of 1994 over 800,000 Rwandans were killed in a span of about 100 days.

And today, as we speak, civilians are being massacred in the Darfur region of Sudan, with estimates saying over 300,000 have been killed to date.

I believe we have allowed too many heinous crimes against humanity to occur and this must stop. It’s past time that we take a stand against all types of discrimination and expose the wrongs of the past so that we may grow from them. In remembering the victims, the families torn apart, the orphans left behind, and the generations lost, we learn from the past, and ensure a future free of such violence.

I commend President Obama for establishing the Atrocities Prevention Board (APB). Comprised of experts from Universities and government agencies, the APB will assess our current capabilities, while developing new strategies to prevent genocide and mass atrocities. This is the first step of many to ensure a safe future for every human being, regardless of origin, race, culture, language, appearance or any other trait that makes each of us a unique member of the global community.

Statement submitted for the Congressional Record by Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI)
I rise today to join my colleagues in commemorating the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Ninety-seven years ago, the government of the Ottoman Empire started a ruthless and systematic campaign of genocide against the Armenian people. Beginning with the targeted execution of 300 Armenian leaders, this intentional attempt at extermination ultimately claimed the lives of over 1.5 million people and forcibly exiled another 500,000.

And despite these chilling numbers and a clear historical record of fact, there remains a failure to acknowledge this vast human tragedy for what it truly is: genocide. That is why it is essential that we continue to speak out and solemnly commemorate the Armenian Genocide. Accordingly, I am proud to support a resolution this session of Congress that affirms the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide and honors its victims and survivors.

By acknowledging this dark chapter of human history, we help protect against the possible creation of a violent culture of impunity. We cannot allow past acts of evil to be erased from our collective consciousness if we are to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

In closing, I encourage all my colleagues to take time today to remember and honor the victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

Statement submitted for the Congressional Record by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA)
Mr. Speaker, parev, pari yegak (Hello, welcome.)

Thank you to the Armenian National Committee of America, the Armenian Assembly, the Armenian Caucus, the Embassy of Armenia, and the Office of Nagorno Karabakh for organizing this very important event.

I would also like to give a special thanks to all of the Armenian Genocide survivors and their families who are here tonight.

I am very proud to represent the 7th district of Massachusetts because my district includes the community with the third highest percentage of Armenian-Americans in the Nation.

We have gathered today to remember and commemorate the Armenian Genocide, one of the darkest chapters of World War I, and the first of many genocides we saw in the 20th century.

Ninety-seven years ago, the Armenian Genocide was initiated when hundreds of Armenian political, religious, and intellectual leaders were arrested in Constantinople and then deported and murdered. Unfortunately, these terrible atrocities that occurred in the capital of the Ottoman Empire only represented the beginning of the suffering inflicted on the Armenian people.

Between 1915 and 1923, the Ottoman Empire carried out the deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians from their homes, resulting in the deaths of 1.5 million innocent children, women and men.

This must never happen again.

In order to prevent future genocides, we must recognize those of the past. For many years the House has had before it a resolution which clearly affirms the United States record on the Armenian Genocide.

I have been a strong supporter and vocal cosponsor of this resolution in every Congress, and I remain so today.

Almost one-hundred years have passed since the Armenian Genocide, yet the suffering will continue for Armenians and non-Armenians alike as long as the world allows denial to prevail.

Already, 43 states and 22 nations have officially recognized the Armenian Genocide, and it is long overdue for the United States to do the same.

Unfortunately, the Republic of Armenia’s challenges continue even after its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

In the face of ongoing blockades from Turkey and Azerbaijan, the United States must provide assistance to Armenia while working to reestablish the Turkish government’s commitment to normalized relations in order to ensure peace and stability in the Caucasus region. I strongly support these efforts.

The Armenian people are true survivors. Despite the reappearing themes of invasions and land loss that the Armenians have dealt with for over 3,000 years, coupled with the loss of between one-half and three-quarters of their population in the early 20th century, the people of Armenia have prevailed.

In fact, I have a wonderful Armenian intern in my office, Victoria Hines. Victoria’s grandmother was born on a train in Moscow during her family’s journey to America after her mother hid her father from the Ottoman Turks, allowing for their escape.

Despite watching their friends and even their own first-born perish in the genocide, the Tutunjian family, along with the rest of the Armenian people, view the stories of their families as reminders of the importance of preserving the fight for recognition.

The journey of the Armenian people continues today, with our shared responsibility to ensure that the Armenian people are able to build their own independent and prosperous future.

I look forward to continuing to work with the Armenian-American community to address the issues facing this longtime friend and important ally of the United States. Together we can build something positive, something hopeful, something good for the future–an Armenia that is respected and honored by its allies and neighbors.

And this cannot come without universal acknowledgement of the horror that was the Armenian Genocide.

Statement submitted for the Congressional Record by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)
Mr. Speaker, today marks the 97th Anniversary of the terrible period of atrocities committed against the Armenian people by the leaders of the Ottoman Empire and immediate subsequent Turkish government that is known as the Armenian Genocide.

Every year I have been in Congress, I have marked this solemn anniversary remembering the victims of this genocide and the expulsion of tens of thousands of Armenians from their homes and homeland, and honoring the survivors of one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th Century. These survivors and their descendants have helped awaken and teach the world to the horrors of genocide and the necessity of standing up to the forces of denial.

This year, however, Mr. Speaker, I come before this House angry and frustrated by the refusal of my own government to recognize and identify the events from 1915 to 1923 as the Armenian Genocide. It doesn’t seem to make a difference if the White House is occupied by a Republican or a Democrat, no one has the political courage to call the Armenian Genocide by name. I am always told that now is not the right time to take such an action.

When will be the right time, Mr. Speaker? When the last survivor, the last eye-witness to the genocide has passed away? Every year, when I join the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in Worcester, Massachusetts, there are fewer and fewer survivors.

I understand the need for careful political consideration of these matters, but we have waited too long as it is.

It is past time to recognize the Armenian Genocide, by name, Mr. Speaker. I call on the President to do so, now, this year, for the sake of the last survivors of this atrocity and in honor of all of those who perished.

Statement submitted for the Congressional Record by Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the victims and survivors of one of the darkest chapters in human history, the Armenian Genocide. Today, April 24, marks the 97th commemoration of the first genocide of the 20th Century where Ottoman Turkish authorities ordered the systematic annihilation of more than 1.5 million Armenians. The Armenian Genocide was carried out from 1915 to 1923 through massacres, deportations, and death marches where hundreds of thousands were herded into the Syrian Desert to die of thirst and starvation. Sadly, to this day this chapter of history has yet to be admitted by the Government of Turkey.

Many international observers, including then Ambassador and later U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, witnessed the nightmare firsthand and reported detailed accounts of the atrocities to their governments. Respected organizations and eminent scholars and historians agree and recognize the Armenian Genocide, including the Elie Wiesél Foundation for Humanity and the renowned International Association of Genocide Scholars. Their judgments are supported by 53 Nobel laureates who signed an open letter to the Government of Turkey on April 9, 2007. I ask unanimous consent to include in the RECORD a listing of those Nobel laureates.

Mr. Speaker, the historical record is clear and the Armenian Genocide is a tragic fact. It must be acknowledged and remembered so that it will never be repeated.

As a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, I know that the refusal of modern-day Turkey to acknowledge one of the worst examples of man’s inhumanity in the 20th Century haunts survivors of the Armenian Genocide, as well as their families. As a Member of Congress from California, which is home to more Armenian-Americans than any other state, I believe this is not only an affront to the memory of the victims and to their descendants, but it does a disservice to the United States as it seeks to stand up for the victims of violence today.

The issue of recognizing the Armenian genocide and helping the Armenian people is neither a partisan nor geopolitical issue. Rather, it is a question of giving the Armenian people the justice they deserve. In doing so, we affirm the dignity of humankind everywhere.

It has been said that “all it takes for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing.” This is one of the reasons I am proud to have joined with so many of my colleagues in cosponsoring the resolution affirming the occurrence of the Armenian genocide throughout my career in Congress. I will continue to do for as long as it takes.

In recognizing the Armenian Genocide we do not seek to persecute any person or state; we seek to build a path that will lead to reconciliation between Armenians and Turks. And in doing so, we will remain true to our nation’s highest aspirations for justice and peace. It was President Lincoln who called upon the “better angels of our nature” when he said in his Second Inaugural Address that all Americans should “do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

Mr. Speaker, the Armenian Genocide has been officially recognized by 42 states. These States have gone on public record rejecting any claim or assertion that denies the occurrence of one of history’s worst crimes against humanity. I believe it is time for us to join these nations in that endeavor by passing H. Res. 304, the “Affirmation of the United States Record on the Armenian Genocide Resolution.”

Mr. Speaker, I ask for a moment of silence in memory of the millions of silenced voices and interrupted lives of those Armenians who perished between 1915 and 1923 in the genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire.

List Of 53 Nobel Laureates Urging The Turkish Government To Acknowledge Armenian Genocide
Peter Agre, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (2003); Sidney Altman, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1989); Philip W. Anderson, Nobel Prize, Physics (1977); Kenneth J. Arrow, Nobel Prize, Economics (1972); Richard Axel, Nobel Prize, Medicine (2004); Baruj Benacerraf, Nobel Prize, Medicine (1980); Gunter Blobel, Nobel Prize, Medicine (1999); Georges Charpak, Nobel Prize, Physics (1992); Steven Chu, Nobel Prize, Physics (1997); J.M. Coetzee, Nobel Prize, Literature (2003); Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, Nobel Prize, Physics (1997); Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Nobel Prize, Peace (1976); Robert F. Curl, Jr., Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1996); Paul J. Crutzen, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1995).

Frederik W. de Klerk, Nobel Prize, Peace (1993); Johann Deisenhofer, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1998); John B. Fenn, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (2002); Val Fitch, Nobel Prize, Physics (1980); Jerome I. Friedman, Nobel Prize, Physics (1990); Donald A. Glaser, Nobel Prize, Physics (1960); Sheldon Glashow, Nobel Prize, Physics (1979); Roy J. Glauber, Nobel Prize, Physics (2005); Clive W.J. Granger, Nobel Prize, Economics (2003); Paul Greengard, Nobel Prize, Medicine (2000); David J. Gross, Nobel Prize, Physics (2004); Roger Guillemin, Nobel Prize, Medicine (1977); Dudley R. Herschbach, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1986).

Avram Hershko, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (2004); Roald Hoffman, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1981); Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize, Economics (2002); Eric R. Kandel, Nobel Prize, Medicine (2000); Aaron Klug, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1982); Edwin G. Krebs, Nobel Prize, Medicine (1992); Sir Harold W. Kroto, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1996); Finn E. Kydland, Nobel Prize, Economics (2004); Leon M. Lederman, Nobel Prize, Physics (1988); Anthony J. Leggett, Nobel Prize, Physics (2003); Rudolph A. Marcus, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1992); Daniel L. McFadden, Nobel Prize, Economics (2000); Craig C. Mello, Nobel Prize, Medicine (2006).

Robert C. Merton, Nobel Prize, Economics (1997); Marshall W. Nirenberg, Nobel Prize, Medicine (1968); Sir Paul Nurse, Nobel Prize, Medicine (2001); Douglas D. Osheroff, Nobel Prize, Physics (1996); Martin L. Perl, Nobel Prize, Physics (1995); John C. Polanyi, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1986); Stanley Prusiner, Nobel Prize, Medicine (1997); José Ramos-Horta, Nobel Prize, Peace (1996); Richard J. Roberts, Nobel Prize, Medicine (1993); Wole Soyinka, Nobel Prize, Literature (1986); Elie Wiesel, Nobel Prize, Peace (1986); Betty Williams, Nobel Prize, Peace (1976); Kurt Wu 4thrich, Nobel Prize, Chemistry (2002).

Statement delivered on the House floor by Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD)
Mr. Speaker, the genocide of more than 1 1/2 million Armenians by Ottoman-era Turkish authorities is an undeniable fact of history. In 1915, the Armenian nation which had resided in Anatolia for thousands of years was subjected to an organized barbarity that included death marches, drowning, and executions.

Those who managed to survive these horrors scattered to the four corners of the Earth. Today, survivors of the Armenian genocide and their children and grandchildren bear witness to this massacre. Each year, Armenian Americans, supported by others who readily accept the teachings of history, renew their plea that the United States Government formally recognize the Armenian genocide, and every year that responsibility of recognition remains unfulfilled.

When faced with the deeply compelling research and scholarship surrounding the Armenian genocide, it is wholly untenable to assert that the genocide did not occur. Instead, many in Congress offer the protest that recognition would harm our relationship with Turkey and undermine our broader geostrategic interests. Others suggest weakly that it is just not the right time to push the issue of recognition. The result is the same–the continued failure on the part of the United States to do the right thing. This failure puts salt on the wounds of the Armenian people. But it does more than that. It corrodes the moral standing of our Nation as a whole.

I join those who once again, at this time of annual remembrance, implore my fellow Members of Congress and President Obama to formally recognize the Armenian genocide.

Statement submitted for the Congressional Record by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

It was 97 years ago today that over 1.5 million men, women, and children, almost 75 percent of the pre-war Armenian population, were brutally exterminated by the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman authorities arrested and later murdered over 250 Armenian political, intellectual, and religious leaders in Istanbul, beginning a horrific and systematic campaign to wipe a 3,000 year-old community from the face of the earth.

Armenian members of the Turkish armed forces were separated from their units and placed into labor battalions, where they were either worked to death or murdered. In Armenian villages throughout Turkey, adult males were singled out for execution, while the remaining women, children, and elderly inhabitants were then forced to march without food or water to the Syrian Desert. En route they were set upon by the Ottoman Security Service’s “Special Organization,” which consisted of released convicts and was created specifically for the purpose of carrying out ethnic cleansing. In the end, of the 2.1 million Armenians residing in Turkey at the start of World War I, only 100,000 would survive to see the end of hostilities.

And yet, despite clear evidence that genocide occurred, many officials today refuse to even to use the word genocide when referring to this incident. By equivocating, they not only dishonor the victims of this atrocity and their descendents, they increase the chance that other crimes against humanity are met with similar equivocation.

Indeed, before sending the “Death’s Head” SS units into Poland with orders to “kill without pity or mercy all men, women and children,” Adolph Hitler is reported to have commented to his generals, “who still talks nowadays of the extermination of the Armenians?”

When we fail to fully acknowledge that genocide was perpetrated against the Armenian people in 1915, it becomes a little easier to do the same today when we see similar atrocities unfold in Bosnia, or Rwanda or Iraq or Sudan.

Last week the world commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day as people everywhere gathered to renew our collective pledge to “Never Forget.” Today we gather for a similar purpose as we remember the first genocide of the 20th century. We recall the suffering of the Armenian people 97 years ago and endeavor to ease the pain of their descendants not only out of sympathy for what they have experienced, but to remind ourselves that we must never allow it to happen again.

Statement submitted for the Congressional Record by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Mr. Speaker, today, we gather to remember the genocide against the Armenian people. Although the generation that experienced these atrocities has passed, their suffering has been prolonged by the continued efforts to silence their cries and deny that a genocide occurred.

When words can help bring comfort to those who suffer, silence isolates and inflicts pain. When time marches forward and history becomes more distant, silence erodes the memory of those who were lost. When affirmation and recognition could prevent such a tragedy from being repeated, silence allows the perpetrators of genocide to assume their actions will meet neither obstacle nor objection. Thus, the ongoing efforts of the Turkish leadership to silence discussion of the Armenian genocide inflict yet another cruelty.

We owe it to the victims of the Armenian genocide, the survivors and their descendants to resist such censorship. That is why I am an original cosponsor of H. Res. 304, a resolution to reaffirm the United States historical record on the Armenian genocide and our own government’s bold role protesting the atrocities as they unfolded.

Genocide is not a unique feature of the 20th century, a momentary aberration of human morality. Genocides have continued to occur in the 21st century, and today, we are reminded of our moral obligation to speak out and take action to stop such atrocities and the immense repercussions of our choices.

Today, we will not be silent.

Statement submitted for the Congressional Record by Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) -
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day occurred earlier this week.

For many years I have cosponsored a resolution, introduced in multiple sessions of Congress, affirming the United States Record on the Armenian genocide .

From 1915 to 1923, over 1,500,000 people were murdered by the Turkish Ottoman Empire because of their Christian faith and Armenian ethnicity. To this day, Turkey continues to deny that the mass murder, rape, forced marches and deportations that occurred actually constituted genocide .

Raphael Lemkin, the Jewish legal scholar who coined the word genocide and tirelessly advocated for international law defining it and preventing it, was driven largely by what happened to the Armenians. He, and others after him, recognized that there is power in accurately describing these events so that future horrors, like the Nazi-perpetuated Holocaust and genocides in Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda and Darfur are prevented. Sadly, genocide and crimes against humanity are hardly relegated to the past–even today we see racially and ethnically motivated violence in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains perpetrated by an internationally indicted war criminal–and the world does little.

This year’s observance of the anniversary of the Armenian genocide is especially meaningful. In December 2011, the House of Representatives adopted H. Res 306, which I was pleased to cosponsor. The resolution calls on the Secretary of State to urge Turkey to end religious discrimination and return all Christian places of worship and religious artifacts to their rightful owners. Thousands of these sacred sites and artifacts were confiscated by the Ottoman Empire during and after the Armenian Genocide.

It is important that we take this time to remember the Armenian genocide, even though it occurred nearly a century ago. Only through such acts of remembrance can we hope to prevent future acts of genocide.

Nearly everyone has told me the same thing: The laws don’t work or there are no laws, and the judicial system is corrupted. They are desperate, hopeless, and dwell in a self-imposed realm of defeatism, each playing the role of the eternal victim.

BY CHRISTIAN GARBIS

With the Armenian National Assembly elections slated for May 6, I am obliged to reflect upon the political situation of the last four years and contemplate where Armenia is headed. These elections will be the most important in this republic’s brief history as a test for the functioning of democracy, yet most people don’t realize it.

Nearly everyone has told me the same thing: The laws don’t work or there are no laws, and the judicial system is corrupted. They are desperate, hopeless, and dwell in a self-imposed realm of defeatism, each playing the role of the eternal victim.

Whenever I meet someone for the first time in Armenia, a minute doesn’t pass before politics comes up. For the last seven or eight years, I have heard countless people express their disgust in the Armenian government and authorities, that the country is not a country, there is no justice, the oligarchs do whatever they want and take advantage, and so forth. Indeed, not once have I met anyone who has told me that they approve of the regime in power—either backed (in Robert Kocharian’s case) or fully controlled by the Republican Party (along with its coalition partner parties).

They expect governmental reform without having to work for it, as if the authorities will one day magically realize that they should no longer lie to and cheat their citizens. They want justice and good governance, but no one can agree on how it will be achieved or who will lead that reform movement. Meanwhile, the Armenian Diaspora remains silent, continuing to turn a blind eye to the lack of democracy and governmental irresponsibility.

Given the negative mindset in the motherland, one should come to the logical conclusion that the Republican Party will win less votes than it has in the past—despite election fraud that is bound to occur—making way for a new National Assembly controlled by a union of parties, albeit fragile, that have been in opposition. This ideal union would likely be comprised of the Armenian National Congress, ARF-Dashnaktsutyun, the Heritage Party, and Free Democrats alliance, and the Prosperous Armenia Party, which has been keen to distance itself from the authorities in recent weeks, although it refuses to officially break away from the pro-government coalition. This fresh National Assembly will also signal a new era in government, one where the demands of the people will conceivably be met and, as Raffi Hovannisian put it in his interview with me, emigration is reversed so that a wave of immigration displaces it. Nevertheless, the Republican Party’s notorious pre-election terror campaign of intimidation and harassment that has already been unleashed is bound to coerce many voters to cast ballots in their favor. The authorities are also counting on disenchanted citizens to sell them their votes for 20 bucks apiece.

The issues plaguing Armenia are too numerous to list. But the most relevant points to tackle, in random order, are the following: a reformed, competent, and properly trained police force; an independent judicial system; a substantial increase in funding for social services, including doubling the minimum wage and pensions (which all contending opposition parties are pushing); the renovation of schools and hospitals nationwide, starting with the most remote areas first; the reconstruction of roads and infrastructure, again with the most remote villages a priority; encouragement for civil society to flourish; the break up of the trade monopolies, especially on staple foodstuffs, to promote competition in the marketplace; incentives for small- and medium-sized business ventures to start up; a four-fold increase in efforts to encourage foreign investment in the thriving Armenian IT sector; additional investments in the tourism industry; and the immediate cancellation of long-term environmentally devastating mining projects that would only benefit foreign investors (the local economy would not be positively affected by any means). The list can go on and on, but tacking the aforementioned issues is a good start to getting things on track in Armenia and reversing the trends of narcissism and greed that have been strangling this country for far too long.

Some argue that it will take decades and several generations to pass before the aforementioned issues even begin to be properly addressed. Unfortunately, we don’t have that long to wait. It’s been nearly 21 years since Armenia declared independence, and most citizens are no better off than they were then. Unofficial population estimates in Armenia are between 2-2.5 million. Entire villages have picked up and moved to remote parts of Russia where they have been provided housing and employment as part of a rural colonization scheme. The talented, technology-savvy youth are leaving for the U.S., Canada, and elsewhere (I personally know five software engineers who have emigrated during the last three years). And Artsakh is continuously being emptied of its populace: Only around 2,700 people are left in Shushi alone.

The new wealth and economic growth that is noticeable to foreigners and Armenians from the Diaspora is concentrated in central Yerevan—it is a mirage, a smokescreen obscuring what things are really like here. The sooner the diaspora comprehends this and puts pressure on the Armenian government to get its act together, the more secure and, yes, entrepreneurial Armenian citizens will become. But that reshaping cannot happen on its own. It needs stimulus. It requires motivation and dedicated hard work. It is dependent upon foresight and ingenuity. And it has to start right now.

Christian Garbis is a freelance writer based in Yerevan, where he has been living for four years. He has been a regular contributor to the Armenian Weekly since 1994. He has served as an assistant editor for the paper as well as in several other capacities. Christian has also written articles for Hetq Online. Accounts of his personal experiences and social critiques of life in Armenia can be read on his blog Notes From Hairenik

Southern California Armenian Democrats

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles County Democratic Party voted and passed a resolution on the Armenian Genocide authored by the Southern California Armenian Democrats – an LACDP Chartered club. The resolution received widespread support from various organizations and clubs on its way to final consideration by the LA County Democratic Party executive committee and a copy of it will be sent to the White House, Representatives Adam Schiff, Brad Sherman, Howard Barman, Henry Waxman, and the California Democratic Party.

The vote came on the eve of the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide – the World War 1 massacre and deportation of over 1.5 million Armenians from their ancestral homelands in present day Eastern Turkey. Despite numerous official reports, eye witness testimony and scholarly research, the Turkish government renounces culpability regarding the genocide and engages in an active worldwide campaign of denial.

The Resolution passed by the LACDP primarily calls for members of the Democratic Party State Central Committee to be educated and made aware of the Armenian Genocide and its subsequent denial by Turkish authorities. The resolution was authored by the Southern California Armenian Democrats – the first ever LA County chartered Armenian Democratic organization. Earlier in the year, members of SCAD had traveled to San Diego to participate in and attend the California State Democratic Party’s annual convention. At the convention, they organized and carried out a peaceful protest at an event organized by the California Democratic Party’s Progressive Caucus who had invited commentator and host of the Young Turks program, Cenk Uygur. Mr. Uygur is founder and host of the ill-named program and has made denialist statements about the Genocide on his program website.

Many democrats in attendance were not aware of Mr. Uygur’s comments. The Chair of the Caucus reaffirmed the Caucus’s support of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide but allowed Mr. Uygur to take the stage despite protests.

“We have to educate members of the Democratic Party about the Armenian Genocide and not assume that everyone knows about this issue as well as we do,” said SCAD Chair Armond Aghakhanian. “We will work on this issue and see it through. We owe it to all Armenians regardless of party affiliation. It’s an issue of basic human rights and the Democratic Party will reaffirm its moral stance.”

The Resolution will next be considered at the Party’s quarterly Executive Board meeting in July.

Southern California Armenian Democrats (SCAD) is the largest regional Armenian-American Democratic Club in Southern California, working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout California. For more information please visit www.socalarmenians.com or on face book or call 866-609-4999.

Below is the text of resolution passed by LACDP

AWARENESS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Whereas, between 1915 and 1923, the government of Turkey and the Young Turk Party launched a premeditated campaign of extermination against the indigenous Armenian population of Asia Minor by massacres, death marches, rapes, and looting, causing the death of one and a half million persons and scattering survivors around the world in a global Diaspora; and

Whereas, the California Democratic Party is on record joining Armenian-Americans, the international community and all people who care about justice, in their remembrance of the Armenian Genocide and their desire to ensure that the crime of genocide must never be legitimized or forgotten, wherever and whenever it occurs; and

Whereas, the California Democratic Party has called upon the United States Congress and the President of the United States to recognize that the horrific crimes against humanity committed by the Ottoman government from 1915 to 1923 must accurately and unequivocally be characterized as genocide.

Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, on this ninety-seventh anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, commend the Armenian community for bringing awareness to the genocide and crimes against humanity and to ask the California Democratic Party to publicly endorse efforts to educate DSCC members about the Armenian Genocide and reject efforts to deny this crime; and,

Be It Further Resolved, that the Los Angeles County Democratic Party send a copy of this resolution to President Barack Obama, to Congressmembers Adam Schiff, Brad Sherman, Howard Barman, Henry Waxman, and the California Democratic Party.

During the presentation at National Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

YEREVAN—Within the framework of National Library Week on April 16-20, and Celebration of The World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, Papazian Library organized two presentations on “Developing a library copyright policy guide” recently published by Electronic Information for Libraries (EIFL). The presentations were conducted by Hasmik Galstyan, AUA Librarian and IFL-IP coordinator, who translated the guide into Armenian.

The aim of these presentations were to raise awareness of copyright issues for invited Armenian library community, ELCA (Electronic Library Consortium of Armenia) community, to share Papazian Library experience in handling copyright issues, as well as to inform about WIPO SCCR works, about EIFL/IFLA/LCA Statement of Principles on Copyright Exceptions and Limitations for Libraries and Archives, and about close collaboration with national copyright officials. AIPA officials were also invited to this event.

The second presentation at National Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship(NCIE) was particularly designed for the NCIE staff as well as for invited representatives of NCIE branch organizations from Armenia regions such as Vanadzor, Hrazdan, Kapan, Gyumri. Library Directors and librarians from EURASIA International University, Scientific and Production Center “Armbiotechnology, Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction also attended the events.

The American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, nonsectarian, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia. Founded in 1991, AUA is affiliated with the University of California and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Through teaching, research, and public service, AUA serves Armenia and the region by supplying high-quality education in seven different major fields, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting democratic values.

Novruz Mammadov

BAKU—A senior Azeri official told Bloomberg Businessweek that Azerbaijan would rethink what he called its “pro-Western” stance and align itself with “a new bloc” if the West does not amp up its support, especially vis-à-vis the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Azerbaijan wants Europe and the US to pressure Armenia into relinquishing the liberated territories of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

In what was clearly a move to blackmail the West, Novruz Mammadov, head of the presidential office’s foreign-relations department told Bloomberg Businessweek that Azerbaijan had been invited to join another political alliance, without elaborating.

“We aren’t paying attention to those proposals for now. But if it continues like this, we may consider it in five to 10 years. We’re expecting help from the West on the Karabakh issue,” Mammedov told Bloomberg in an interview in Baku.

Mammadov also rebuked Israel for allegedly breaking an agreement to keep a recent $1.6 billion arms deal with Azerbaijan a secret. Israeli defense officials announced the deal earlier this spring, with Azeri officials confirming the reports. The Azeri officials also noted that the weapons would not be used against Iran, as speculated by Western sources, but rather to bolster its abilities against Armenians.

Last month Foreign Policy magazine and other Western media outlets reported that Azerbaijan had turned into an Israeli spy zone and that Baku was allowing Israel to use its airports for possible airstrikes against Iran. Azerbaijan has vehemently rejected that assertion.

“We’re the only secular Muslim nation in the world that’s tied its destiny with the West,” Mammadov told Bloomberg. He estimated that about 35 percent of all NATO supplies to Afghanistan transit Azerbaijan. “But we haven’t seen a positive attitude in return.”

“Iran’s telling us: Why are you selling your oil to the West? You should sever your relations with the U.S. and Israel because they’re our enemies,” Mammadov told Bloomberg.

ARF candidate Vahan Hovannesian during Tuesday's rally

YEREVAN (Yerkir)—With five days left to the parliamentary elections in Armenia, Armenian Revolutionary Federation candidates used the May 1 international Labor day holiday to drive home the message that that, as citizens, Armenians have the right to create their own future and decide their own fate.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Hrazdan, the chairman of the ARF’s parliamentary bloc Vahan Hovannesian said that May 1 will become a holiday again, because the citizens will take matters into their own hands at the polling booths on Sunday.

He argued that as a result of the current regime in Armenia, the labor force has diminished and “bunch of people” have taken all advantages away from that force.

Hovannesian added that “each individual is not a resident, but a citizen. And citizens are the own everything.”

“We demand three simple things: Freedom, Justice and Dashnaktsutiune,” said Hovannesian, explaining “freedom and justice have been stolen from us. There is not justice in city hall, in the regional bodies, in government or in the judicial system.

He added that the government does not have the ability to properly govern and is shamefully seeking to reclaim its positions.

Hovanessian urged the participants of the rally to make their choices freely.

“Don’t forget, you are a free people. You have never been slaves nor will you ever be. We will not allow that. We are seeing that people are slowly rising up,” said Hovannesian, who urged all to take part in the elections on May 6 and vote.

Another ARF candidate Lilit Galstyan told the Hrazdan rally that on May 6 “together we will vote YES for a new Armenia.”

She said that if the current regime continues to stay in power, the depletion of Armenia’s population will continue.

“We do not want to live in an Armenia where are rights have been trampled upon, they have turned us into slaves. We are convinced that we have the right to live a life of freedom, justice and dignity,” said Galstyan.

Echoing his colleagues, ARF Supreme Council of Armenia representative Armen Rustamian also used the May 1 holiday to reinvigorate the voter base, and emphasize the imperative for regime change in Armenia.

Rustmaian argued that under the current regime, poverty and unemployment have skyrocketed and it is the voters’ right and responsibility to alter that to ensure future May 1 celebrations.

President Sarkisian and Mayor Markaryan at Mashdots Park on May 1

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)—President Sarkisian, during a campaign stop to the city’s Mashdots Park, which has been the setting of tense clashes between environmentalists and police during recent months, ordered the Yerevan Mayor to remove controversially-build booths, which are at the center of the more than three-month long protests.

Sarkisian, who was accompanied by the Yerevan Mayor Taron Markaryan, said that it “would be the appropriate decision” for the Markaryan to “find a way to dismantle all this,” pointing to the dozen or so booths that have been constructed in the park.

“You’ve done everything right,” he told Markarian with television cameras pointing at the officials. “You were right in the sense that you made a temporary decision. In two or three years all this would have to be removed from here. But, my dear Taron, as you can see, this doesn’t look so nice.”

Sarkisian’s visit to the park and his order ended a more than three month standoff between Yerevan city authorities, the police and a group of daily demonstrators who were protesting the continued obstruction of green space in the city. In an effort to remove peddlers from Yerevan’s main Abovyan Street, Markaryan ordered the booths to be moved to Mashdots Park temporarily—for three years.

The clashes with the police and the mostly peaceful protesters have been tense, with the worst one taking place Sunday, when seven protesters were detained and two suffered injuries that required hospitalization.

Last month the protesters were joined by prominent public figures who tried to physically tear down the booths. These led to clashes with police and outcry from the public and protesters.

With only five days left before Armenia’s parliamentary elections, one cannot but wonder about the timing of Sarkisian’s decision to beautify Yerevan.

Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) speaking with Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan in the moments prior to offering the Senate opening prayer, pictured here with Holy Cross parish priest, Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian and ANCA Eastern Region Board Member Steve Mesrobian.

The Eastern US Prelate offers Senate opening prayer; completes day of meetings with Senate and House Members

WASHINGTON—Eastern US Prelate Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan called on Members of Congress to urge Turkey to return confiscated Christian churches and end U.S. complicity in Turkey’s genocide denial, during a full day Capitol Hill meetings, last week, which began with the offering of the opening prayer at the U.S. Senate and ended with an invocation at the annual Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide Observance, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

The Archbishop’s opening prayer at the Senate was held on April 25, at the request of Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed (D) and at the invitation of the Senate Chaplain. “We thank you in the name of the Armenian people for your divine mercy in providing them a safe refuge in this blessed country, the United States of America, where they were delivered from the depths of despair of genocide and welcomed with new life,” said His Eminence.  “Reveal your infinite spirit to the members of this Senate that they may be inspired toward a greatness of purpose and ennobled in their quest for good governance.”

Watch Archbishop Choloyan’s Senate prayer.

Archbishop Choloyan thanked Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA), who, along with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), has spearheaded the “Return of Churches” resolution in the Senate.

Sen. Reed welcomed Archbishop Choloyan in a moving Senate floor statement, which commemorated the Armenian Genocide and called for U.S. affirmation of that crime.  “This year I once again join my colleagues in encouraging the United States to officially recognize the Armenian genocide,” explained Senator Reed.  “Denial of this history is not consistent with our country’s sensitivity to human rights and our dedication to the highest and noblest principles that should govern the world. We must continue to educate our young people against this type of hatred and oppression so we can seek to prevent such crimes against humanity in the future. It was indeed an honor to be here to listen to the wise words of the Archbishop, to hear his prayer, his reflection, and to go forth knowing that he is a powerful force in our country for tolerance and decency,” concluded Sen. Reed.

Later in the day, Sen. Reed tweeted about his meeting with the Archbishop, stating, “Proud to host His Eminence Archbishop Choloyan today for prayer observing anniversary of Armenian Genocide.”

Watch Sen. Reed’s floor statement.

Welcoming remarks were also offered by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), who recounted a visit to a church during his first trip to Armenia, in the early 1990’s after “that very brutal winter when the Turks had cut off the oil to Armenia.”  He noted, “I have fond memories of my visit to Armenia. I understand the resiliency of the people of Armenia, and I remember visiting that church.”

Watch Senate Majority Leader Reid’s floor statement.

Archbishop Choloyan discussing the “Return of Churches” resolution and U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide with Senate Foreign Relations Committee senior member Ben Cardin (D-MD)

Throughout the day, Archbishop Choloyan met with a bipartisan group of legislators, including: Senators Scott Brown (R-MA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Al Franken (D-MN), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), as well as, Representatives David Cicilline (D-RI), Michael Grimm (R-NY), Albio Sires (D-NJ), and Bob Turner (R-NY).  Archbishop Choloyan was joined in his Congressional visits by Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian, Pastor of the Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church in Bethesda, MD; ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, ANCA Eastern Region Board Member Stephen Mesrobian, ANC Rhode Island Chairman Steve Elmasian, as well as ANCA Legislative Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian, and ANCA Capital Gateway Fellow Kyle Movsessian.

In the evening, Archbishop Choloyan joined more than 300 Armenian Americans from across the U.S. at the annual Congressional Observance of the Armenian Genocide, organized by the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, in conjunction with Armenian American groups as well as the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia and Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the U.S.  In his invocation, His Eminence Oshagan Choloyan noted that, “Today, once again we gather in this historic room in our nation’s capital to honor the memory of our one-and-one-half million martyrs whose faith and love in you never faltered, even unto death. The first genocide of the 20th century was a prelude to more genocide. The tragedy of genocide continued because the Ottoman Turkish perpetrators of the Armenian genocide were neither confronted nor punished.”

Take a pictorial tour of Archbishop Choloyan’s efforts in support of U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide and legislation calling on Turkey to return confiscated Christian Churches through pictures by visiting the ANCA Facebook page.

ANCA 2012 Telethon is on May 20

BY ARAM SUREN HAMPARIAN

When Ankara or its allies say there can be no present-day consequences for the Armenian Genocide, they are, very simply, trying to trick you.

There are consequences.

Have been for nearly a century.

Massive, brutal, cruel consequences: demographic, geographic, economic, agricultural, commercial, cultural, spiritual, moral and material.  Consequences that have all fallen upon the shoulders of one side – the victims.

Challenges to our very identity and viability.

Wounds so deep, that if not healed, may yet prove fatal.

When Ankara and its agents says there can be no consequences, they are really just using an innocent-sounding phrase to defend the Turkish state and society’s claim to continue reaping the many rich fruits of its crime, while condemning the Armenian nation to continue bearing the full human and national burdens of its near destruction and ongoing exile.

Don’t be fooled.  Turkey’s denials – however artfully framed – are an obstruction of both truth and justice.

Fight the lies.

Work for justice.

Advance the Armenian Cause.

Support ANCA Telethon 2012.

Donate at http://ancatelethon.org/donate

Harut Sassounian

BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN

For some unknown reason, the President of the most powerful nation on earth feels compelled to put himself through a strange and unnecessary ritual every April 24. Weeks in advance of that date, Pres. Barack Obama orders his White House staff to scour the dictionary to come up with series of words other than genocide to describe the Armenian Genocide.

For the fourth year in a row, the President’s resourceful aides have not disappointed him. For this year’s “Armenian Remembrance Day,” they have come up with a dozen words that describe the Armenian Genocide without using that specific term. When they ran out of substitute English words for genocide, the President’s hardworking wordsmiths turned to an Armenian term, “Meds Yeghern,” without providing its English translation (Great Calamity), so no one other than Armenians would understand what Pres. Obama is speaking about!

Here are some of the words that the President’s men offered this year: “Atrocities,” “brutally massacred,” “marched to their deaths,” “unspeakable suffering,” “perished,” “dark chapters of history,” “what occurred in 1915,” “facts of the past,” “lives that were taken,” “senselessly suffered and died,” and finally, “the darkness of the Meds Yeghern.” Anything but genocide!

Engaging in verbal gymnastics on genocide is unacceptable and unbecoming of the office of the President of the United States. Could such deplorable efforts be explained as a feeble attempt by Obama to minimize his broken promises? As Presidential candidate, he repeatedly and solemnly pledged that he would recognize the Armenian Genocide. But when he became President, he hid behind insulting statements issued in his name year after year!

In his last four annual statements, Pres. Obama avoided carrying out his campaign promises by claiming: “I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915. My view of that history has not changed.” But, he never bothered to tell the American public what exactly were his views in the past, what his views are today, and what happened in 1915! He cleverly downplays the significance of the Armenian Genocide by calling it “my own view of what happened in 1915.” Yet, on January 19, 2008, then presidential candidate Obama, seeking the Armenian community’s campaign contributions and votes, had no qualms to call these events by their proper name. Back then, he confidently stated that “the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view,” and promised that “as President,” he would “recognize the Armenian Genocide.”

Sadly, Pres. Obama is not the only member of his administration who has not kept his campaign pledge on this issue. Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, two of the highest officials of the country, had made similar promises to recognize the Armenian Genocide when they were Senators and presidential candidates. While Vice President Biden has remained eerily silent, Mrs. Clinton has gone from being a proponent of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide to its leading opponent. After becoming Secretary of State, she actively lobbied to defeat a proposed congressional resolution on the Armenian Genocide!

After four years of this senseless charade by the White House, the Armenian American community has two good reasons for asking Pres. Obama not to make any more statements on the Armenian Genocide.

First, by breaking his word for four years in a row and playing verbal games with genocide, Obama has lost the moral standing to speak on this highly emotional and painful topic! How can the President of the United States lecture anyone around the world about human rights, democracy, and justice, when he himself has so crudely violated the trust of his own people and lost all credibility? He should stop torturing himself, his staff, and Armenians worldwide by not issuing insulting “Remembrance Day” statements. It makes no sense for Pres. Obama to issue an annual statement that Armenians don’t want, don’t like, and are offended by it!

Second, another U.S. President, Ronald Reagan, has already acknowledged the Armenian Genocide in a Presidential Proclamation in 1981. The Armenian Genocide was also recognized by the House of Representative in 1975 and 1984, by the Justice Department in an official filing with the World Court in 1951, and by 42 U.S. states. Therefore, the Armenian community has no need to beg Pres. Obama or any other political candidate to recognize that which is already and repeatedly recognized.

Genocide is too sacred to be a subject of crass political trading. Those who acknowledge the undeniable fact of the Armenian Genocide do so, not as a favor to the victims, but to restore their own credibility and moral integrity!

Vice President Biden attended a funraiser hosted by Turks and Azeris Friday

Vice President Joe Biden attended a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee and the Obama campaign Friday in Washington where 200 Turkish and Azeri donors turned out for the $2,500 a ticket event, reported The Hill.

According to The Hill, Biden extolled “Azerbaijan as country with tremendous potential. We want Azerbaijan to succeed in its goal of developing a modern democracy and becoming a regional leader,” he said before wrapping up his comments.

Read the entire article from The Hill.

Foreign Minister Nalbandian meets with Iran's presiden Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

TEHRAN—Armenia’s Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian told his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi that Iran’s balanced position vis-à-vis the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is important and bolsters Iran-Armenia relations.

Nalbandian, who is Iran, met with Salehi to discuss a wide array of issues, including the latest developments on Iran’s nuclear programs. After being briefed by Salehi on the matter, Nalbandian highlighted the progress that was made in that realm, expressing hope it would be reinforced during a scheduled meeting on the matter to be held in Baghdad.

The two leaders also discussed the activities of the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission, as well cooperation between the two countries in the fields of transport, education, energy, customs, environmental protection, healthcare, agriculture and culture.

Nalbandian also met with Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The two hailed the continued cooperation between the two countries, discussed the process of implementation of joint economic programs, discussed the projects of construction of the 2nd Armenia-Iran power line, hydroelectric power plants on the Arax River, oil pipeline and Iran-Armenia railway.

While in Iran, Nalbandian also met with the Chairman of Iran’s Parliament, Ali Larijani and Secretary of the Supreme Security Council of Iran, chief negotiator on nuclear programs Said Jalili.

The OSCE monitors inspected the Armenia-Azerbaijan border on Monday

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—Field representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe visited on Monday a western section of Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan where three Armenian solders were killed last week.

The four OSCE representatives monitored the ceasefire regime there from either side of the heavy militarized frontier. No shooting incidents occurred during the procedure.

Two of the monitors operating on the Armenian side then headed to a nearby road section in the northern Tavush region where a car carrying the three soldiers came under fire in the early hours of Thursday. The car riddled with bullets was examined and photographed by them in the regional town of Berd later in the day.

Armenian military commanders on the ground said the contracted servicemen — Aram Yesayan, Arshak Nersisian and Davit Abgarian — died in an ambush attack carried out by Azerbaijani troops.

President Serzh Sarkisian and the Defense Ministry in Yerevan have also effectively blamed Azerbaijan for the deaths. In a weekend statement, the ministry reaffirmed Sarkisian’s pledge that “the enemy will not remain unpunished.”

“Without succumbing to the enemy’s provocations, Armenian Armed Forces will carry out actions commensurate with the situation along the entire Line of Contact,” it said without elaborating.

Andranik Mkrtumian, a senior official from the army’s General Staff, told the OSCE monitors that a total of five Armenian soldiers have been killed and seven others wounded along the entire Tavush section of the border so far this year.

The monitors also visited on Monday the border village of Dovegh that reportedly came under automatic gunfire from nearby Azerbaijani army positions last Wednesday. The village’s kindergarten was evacuated as a result.

Scenes from the ANCA West Valley Genocide commemoration

ENCINO—More than 500 community leaders, members and ANCA supporters gathered on April 22 at the Holy Martyrs Armenian Ferrahian High School for a Genocide Commemorative event hosted by the Armenian National Committee of America – San Fernando Valley West Chapter in partnership Hamazkayin Baruir Sevag Chapter, Armenian Relief Society Anahid Chapter, Homenetmen Masis Chapter and the Armenian Youth Federation Sardarabad Chapter.

Azadouhi Ghazarian who served as the emcee for the evening’s program welcomed guests and invited to the stage Khatchig Mouradian, editor of the Armenian Weekly, to deliver his keynote presentation on the Armenian Genocide and modern Turkey. Mourad stated “”In my teenage years, I attended genocide commemorations during which the front rows would all be occupied by survivors. Very few of them are alive today. Traveling across the country, I now see the younger generation occupying the very same chairs. It is imperative for our generation–descendants of genocide survivors and descendants of brave diplomats and missionaries–to uphold on the legacy of the victims and pursue truth and justice”.

After Mourad’s unique presentation, Chairman of the ANCA-SFW Nareg Kitsinian Esq., introduced the dignitaries present and stated “we would like to thank this impressive group of legislators and friends of the Armenian cause that took the time to stand in solidarity with our community and commemorate the Armenian Genocide.”

Kitsinian then invited the dignitaries to the podium to deliver their commemorative remarks who each pledged to continue supporting just affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.  Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield and Councilman Paul Koretz also presented certificates of recognition from the California State Assembly and Los Angeles City Council to the ANCA-SFW for its commitment and dedication towards recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

The evening’s program concluded with dance performances by the Hamazkaine “Nayiri” dance group, songs by the Hamazkaine “Sayat Nova” choir, and an ANCA report presented by Executive Director of the ANCA-WR William Bairamian, highlighting current issues facing the Armenian community.

Dignitaries present included United States Congressmen Howard Berman (D-28th), Congressman John Sarbanes (D-3rd), California Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield (D-40th), Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz (D-5th), and candidate for the 46th California Assembly district Adrin Nazarian.

The Armenian National Committee of America, San Fernando Valley West advances the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the area’s Armenian American community and promotes increased civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels.

For more information visit Facebook.com/ANCASFW and twitter.com/ANCASFW. If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please contact Sevag Demirjian at info@ancasfw.org.

The new Blend by Roubina opens May 1

Traditional Mediterranean cuisine is now more delicious, fresh, and accessible than ever

GLENDALE—According to a variety of food trend spotters, Middle Eastern cuisine and especially traditional Mediterranean ingredients are gaining popularity in America due to ease of preparation, perceived health benefits, and variety of flavors and textures.

Blend by Roubina

Roubina Begoumian, known throughout Glendale and the greater Los Angeles area as the master chef behind Robert’s Catering Service, has been creating traditional Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine for decades. Responding to the public’s growing interest in exotic flavors, Barry Begoumian, a member of the family, has recently joined the 35 year old family-operated business and is excited to announce the opening of their new retail food outlet Blend by Roubina on May 1, 2012. Located at 1200 North Pacific Avenue, Glendale, this family run operation encourages the local community to get involved and “experience gourmet” in their everyday lives.

Blend by Roubina’s menu of delicious and conveniently prepared meals and daily fresh salads are combinations of rich, exotic tastes that help shoppers create healthy, superior quality dishes. Guests looking for a home-cooked, gourmet meal will find it easier than ever to find a trustworthy, welcoming, and family-oriented atmosphere in the retail food outlet.

Opening May, busy moms, working couples, and others looking for a convenient gourmet food experience will be able to choose from a wide variety of authentic, never-frozen Mediterranean dishes. Made with unique ingredients, these wholesome meals have an unbeatable flavor profile. Blend by Roubina, named for its integration of Mediterranean classics with American culture, will offer a wide variety of items including ready-made stews, soups, salads, and hot and cold appetizers.

“We are happy to extend our 35 years of providing quality gourmet food, Mediterranean specialties, and service into a retail environment for the ease and convenience of our past, present, and future customers,” says Barry. “Blend by Roubina has been a dream for many years, and we are excited that it is becoming a reality.”

Conveniently located at 1200 North Pacific Avenue, with plenty of parking, Blend’s trained staff can help shoppers choose daily menu ideas and invite them to experiment with fresh international flavors. At Blend, customers can meet new friends, share recipes, and flourish in their own kitchen while trying new sauces, spices, and other ingredients.

With a rich history in gourmet catering, the Begoumians hope that Blend by Roubina will help bring families together to experience and enjoy their traditional gourmet meals. In the hustle and bustle of today’s busy world, Blend by Roubina will serve as an instant vacation to the exotic flavors of the Mediterranean.

Karabakh soldiers

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—Three Armenian soldiers and one Azerbaijani army officer have been shot dead in separate incidents reported by the military authorities in Yerevan and Baku on Friday.

The Armenian Defense Ministry said the soldiers were fatally wounded when a car carrying them came under fire near a western section of Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan in the early hours of Friday. It said the car belonging to one of them was found riddled with bullets on a road connecting two border villages in the northeastern Tavush region.

Andranik Aydinian, the mayor of one of those villages, Aygepar, said he heard gunfire coming from Azerbaijani army positions in the area shortly after midnight. “The Azerbaijani positions are close to the road,” he said by phone.

Aydinian cut short the phone interview, alleging renewed Azerbaijani gunfire and saying that he needs to tell villagers to take cover.

In a statement, the Defense Ministry did not say whether it thinks the three servicemen were shot and killed by Azerbaijani troops. It said only that military investigators have launched an inquiry.

But President Serzh Sarkisian did implicitly blame Azerbaijan for the deaths and pledge retaliation later in the day. “Our territory continues to be shot at from Azerbaijani positions these days,” Sarkisian said during an election campaign trip to another northern province, Lori.

“You are aware of the latest incidents,” he told local residents. “First a kindergarten [in Tavush] came under fire, then an ambulance, and last night we lost three contracted soldiers in Tavush.”

“I don’t think anyone in our country doubts the inevitability of our appropriate reaction,” he said. “I don’t think anyone doubts the power of our defense forces.”

Sarkisian seemed to accuse Azerbaijan of trying to capitalize on the parliamentary election campaign going on in Armenia. “Let nobody think that they can take advantage of processes taking place in our country and that it’s election time here and we are distracted by it.”

Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry, meanwhile, reported that an Azerbaijani army lieutenant was killed by Armenian forces deployed east of Nagorno-Karabakh on Thursday. Azerbaijani news agencies cited the ministry as saying that the 24-year-old Vagif Abdullayev died as a result of an Armenian ceasefire violation.

There was no immediate reaction to the report from the military authorities in Yerevan and Stepanakert.

Karabakh’s army on Thursday accused the Azerbaijani armed forces of intensifying truce violations in recent days. It said two Karabakh Armenian soldiers were wounded on Tuesday.

The U.S., Russian and French diplomats co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group expressed serious concern over the latest shootings. “Such senseless acts violate the commitment of the parties to refrain from the use of force and to seek a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and contradict the spirit of the January 23, 2012, joint statement of Presidents [Ilham] Aliyev, Sarkisian, and [Dmitry] Medvedev,” they said in a joint statement.

“The Co-Chairs strongly condemn any loss of life, and reiterate that there is no alternative to a peacefully negotiated settlement of the conflict. The Co-Chairs urge all sides to respect the 1994 ceasefire and to abstain from retaliatory measures that would lead to further escalation,” added the mediators.

The UCLA Dream Fund

LA CRESCENTA—Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, the Prelacy Executive Council, and Board of Regents announced that the Dream Fund at UCLA has made a very generous allocation of $900,000 to Prelacy Schools.

The contributions were made to the following schools:

• Rose & Alex Pilibos Armenian School
• Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School & Holy Martyrs Marie Cabayan Elementary
• Armenian Mesrobian School
• Vahan & Anoush Chamlian Armenian School
• Ari Guiragos Minassian Armenian School
• Krouzian-Zekarian-Vasbouragan Armenian School
• St. Mary’s Richard Tufenkian Armenian Pre-School
• Levon & Hasmig Tavlian Armenian Pre-School

On this joyous occasion, the Prelate, Executive Council, and the Board of Regents of Prelacy Schools express their profound gratitude to the Dream Fund for their generosity.  “Our heartfelt thanks to the Dream Fund for this much needed assistance.  In this global economic crisis, more than ever our schools are in need of financial aid to continue their mission of providing the highest quality of education to generations of Armenian students. This allocation will certainly contribute greatly to the realization of that mission, and for that we are ever-thankful”, stated the Prelate.

The Dream Fund at UCLA is a donor-advised fund, established in 2011 through the generosity of The Lincy Foundation. The Dream Fund focuses on education, health, youth, and the community.

Children place flowers at Montebello Montument on April 24 (photo by Berj Djamdjaian)

Thousands of community members visited the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument in Montebello on April 24 to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

At 1:30 p.m. the official commemoration program organized by the United Armenian Council of Los Angeles, a grouping of all political parties, all denominations of Armenian churches, cultural and political organizations, as well as other associations.

This year, the UACLA had invited Dr. Israel Charny, the foremost Genocide scholar in the world, to discuss the impact of Turkey’s continued denial of the Genocide, as well as Israel’s refusal to officially recognize the crime.

Welcoming remarks were delivered by Tom Alexanian, following which scouts from the Homenetmen and AGBU led the flag ceremony.

After the singing of the Armenian and US national anthems by Raffi Kerbabian, the program’s master of ceremonies, Harut Sassounian announced that President Obama, once again, failed to honor his pledge to recognize the Genocide.

Armenia’s Consul General to Los Angeles, Grigor Hovannisyan spoke of Turkey’s attempts to create schism within the Armenian community. He expressed that he was confident that those efforts will fail.

Speaking on behalf of the Armenian Bar Association, Garo Ghazarian spoke of the legal components of the Armenian Cause, while LA City Councilman Paul Krekorian stressed the need to emphasize that the attempt to annihilate the Armenian race has failed.

On behalf of the UACLA, Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region chairwoman delivered remarks in English (see below), while UACLA member Kevork Hallebian delivered remarks in Armenian.

Rep. Adam Schiff, Assemblyman Mike Gatto, LA City Council member Paul Krekorian and Dennis P. Zine, LA City Attorney Carmen A. Trutanich, LA City Controller Wendy Greuel, Glendale School Board Member Greg Krikorian, Candidate for CA Assembly Adrin Nazarian, Montebello City Councilmembers  Jack Hadjinian and William Molinari were among the political officials who attended the commemoration event.

Before the conclusion of the official portion of the event, Arous Ghazarian read the names of the UACLA organizations, whose representatives, one-by-one placed wreaths at the monument.

This ceremony was followed by a requiem Mass led by religious leaders. Western Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Rev. Joe Matossian of the Armenian Evangelical Church, Father Krikor Shahinian of the Armenian Catholic church and Arch. Vache Hovsepian led the clergy representing all churches in the community in the requiem service.

Droves of community members visited the Montebello monument on April 24, with hundreds of Armenians continuing to arrive after the close of the event.

Nora Hovsepian

Our Time Has Come
Speech by ANCA-WR Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian at Genocide Commemoration in Montebello

Our time has come.

Ninety-Seven years after my grandmother Vergine, then an innocent 9-year-old little girl who instinctively clung to the branch of a weeping willow tree overhanging the raging river where her mother and siblings  had drowned themselves to escape being raped by Turkish gendarmes who had just axed her father to death before their eyes;

Ninety-Seven years after little Vergine and so many others, so many lone survivors of each of our families, rose from the ashes of destruction to create a new Diaspora far away from their homeland;

Ninety-Seven years after nearly all of our precious survivors, having raised their children and grandchildren as torchbearers of their legacy, left this world without ever witnessing justice;

Our time has come for ACTION.

It is true that through four generations in the Diaspora, we have succeeded in keeping the issue alive. We have evolved from survival to activism, from despair to defiance, from grief to outrage. We have achieved an independent Armenia which, in partnership with the organized Diaspora produced from the Genocide, can now act as the legitimate and legal representative of the Armenian Nation in seeking justice for our People. But we have not yet succeeded in formulating a framework for a just conclusion. And we are not the only ones struggling with a dilemma.

Ironically, just as we deal with the challenge of keeping our issue alive in the face of inevitable time and assimilation, so too must Turkey deal with its own dilemma of how to reconcile with its past in the face of mounting international pressure.

Turkey deals with this dilemma by desecrating any remaining proof of a historical Armenian presence and by distracting the world with an artificial debate about whether the Genocide is a historical truth, but we must go beyond that by focusing attention on the real debate:

The question after all is NOT whether a Genocide actually occurred. Everyone knows it did.

And the question is NOT whether the Genocide should be recognized by foreign governments. They have their own political calculations which unfortunately drive their cowardice.

Rather, the question is this:

HOW CAN TURKEY ATONE FOR ITS CRIMES?

Certainly, there is no atonement when the Turkish Government criminalizes the mention of Genocide or when it blockades Armenia and uses its surrogate, Azerbaijan, to try to destroy the people of Artsakh.

There is no atonement when Turkish operatives are now bold enough to try a new tactic of infiltrating our communities, attempting to convince unsuspecting Armenians, that reconciliation can come through individual efforts to sit down and talk about our differences, to talk about how the Turks were traumatized by the fall of the Ottoman Empire, to talk about how Armenians were just casualties of war, and how we should forget the past, move on, and all just get along.

There is no atonement when the Turkish Government manipulates well-meaning international mediators and a terribly vulnerable Armenian Government into believing that this issue can be resolved by protocols which start with the question of whether the Genocide occurred rather than the question of how Turkey will begin the process of accountability.

And there is certainly no atonement when Turkish and Azeri agents and lobbyists lay siege to the truth by spending millions of dollars each year to engage in massive disinformation campaigns decrying their false innocence and blatantly bullying foreign governments, including our own United States Government, into surrendering their moral authority.

And does anyone ask why?

Why does modern Turkey, which seeks to separate itself from its Ottoman predecessor, go to such great lengths to silence us even now, 97 years after the crime?

The answer lies in a glance at any world map. The same pan-Turkic plan that drove the Young Turks to try to exterminate the Christian Armenian nation which stood in its way still exists today. The same pan-Turkic plan is behind the current blockades of Armenia and Artsakh, still trying to choke our nation out of existence with impunity.

And the answer also lies in the inevitable consequences. After all, Turkey’s acknowledgement of its crime is only the beginning of the discussion, not the end. With recognition come reparations and restitution.

Even President Obama, who continues to fail to recognize the Armenian Genocide, said in his speech yesterday at the Holocaust Museum: “Remembrance without resolve is a hollow gesture. Awareness without action changes nothing. In this sense, ‘never again’ is a challenge to us all.” What a fitting sentiment for our own issue of Genocide recognition and reparations.

So this is why we, as a Nation, must continue our move to the next level. We don’t need anyone to affirm to us that the Genocide occurred. Any presidential or congressional proclamation stating the fact is really just symbolic at best, and at worst, is meaningless lip service. What we do need is accountability for the crime, as required by any criminal justice system here and internationally.

The United Armenian Council with its member organizations, including the Armenian National Committee of America, is at the forefront of waging this war. We have developed multiple fronts in this battle, from introducing and passing Return of Churches resolutions  through our political friends and supporters, to working with legal scholars to seek redress through the Court system for Genocide-era claims, to initiating Hye Votes, a massive voter registration drive to ensure that our community’s collective voice is heard, to supporting Armenian-American candidates who seek elected office, and to advocating for Hye Tad in every possible arena.

But we cannot do it alone. We are the conduit for you, for our Grassroots, for our People.

Every single one of us owes a heavy debt to little Vergine and all the other heroic survivors of the Genocide to prove that their efforts to keep our national identity alive after unspeakable attempts at destruction were not in vain.

If you continue to believe in the probability of our success, especially after witnessing the improbable rise of an independent Armenia in our lifetime, then think of how we can each account to ourselves as to what we can do to advance our Cause.

So continue to attend community events such as this one where we mourn our martyrs, pray for their souls, and pay our respects with monuments and gatherings and speeches. But also recognize that our obligations to them do not stop there. Our obligations do not stop because we now have an independent Republic or because 97 long years have passed since the crime against our Nation.

No, our obligations began the day the Genocide to exterminate us failed, and they will continue until justice is achieved.

So pay your debt to our Nation with your time, your commitment, your money, your dedication, your sacrifice, anything you can. Spread the word to anyone who will listen. Guide the youth to carry the banner of our struggle. Lobby your elected representatives to lift Turkey’s gag rule over our government. Register to vote, then actually go out and vote. Support our supporters. Fight for justice, fight for recognition and reparations, and above all, do whatever you can, whenever you can, to fight for our Noble Cause.

Gov. Brown

SACRAMENTO—Gov. Jerry Brown issued a proclamation on the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Below is the text of the proclamation:

Between 1915 and 1923, Armenians were subjected to torture, starvation, mass murder and exile from their historic homeland. 1.5 million lost their lives. The Armenian Genocide, also known as the “First Genocide of the Twentieth Century,” represented a deliberate attempt by the Ottoman Empire to eliminate all traces of a thriving noble civilization.

Armenian communities all over the world commemorate this tragedy on April 24. On this day, we honor the victims and survivors of the genocide, and reaffirm our commitment to preventing future atrocities from being committed against any people.

NOW THEREFORE I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, April 24, 2012 as “Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.”

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 19th day of April 2012.

Lieutenan Governor Gavin Newsom

SACRAMENTO—Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation on the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Below is the text of that document:

WHEREAS, April 24, 1915, marked the beginning of the Armenian Genocide which resulted in the death of over two million Armenians as well as Greeks and Assyrians between 1915 and 1923; and

WHEREAS, nearly half million Armenians who survived the horrors of extermination were expelled from their homes and forced to settle in various countries throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide is one of the first modern genocides which resulted in the near annihilation of a people and the dispossession of the survivors from their cultural homeland and heritage; and

WHEREAS, the Republic of Turkey, the successor state to the Ottoman Empire under which the Genocide was committed, unjustifiably and adamantly denies the occurrence of this crime against humanity while actively continuing to remove traces of Armenian existence. This includes the neglect and intentional destruction of the thousands of remaining churches throughout the Armenian Highlands which make up today’s eastern Turkey; and

WHEREAS, the International Association of Genocide Scholars has repeatedly affirmed that the massacres of Armenians initiated in 1915 constitutes genocide; and

WHEREAS, throughout the 20th Century the Armenian Genocide was followed by several other genocides and this pattern continues to this day as seen in the Darfur region of Sudan. If we fail to remember the lessons of the past and remain silent in deference to a campaign of denial we embolden current and future perpetrators of genocide; and

WHEREAS, many survivors of the Genocide settled in states around the country, including California. California has become home to the largest population of Armenians in the United States and those citizens have enriched our state through leadership in the fields of academia, medicine, business, agriculture, government, and the arts and are proud and patriotic practitioners of American citizenship; and

NOW, THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Lieutenant Governor of the State of California, do hereby join Californians and the Armenian American Community in commemorating the 97th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Richard Morningstar

WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama announced the nomination of career-diplomat Richard Morningstar as for the US Ambassadorship in Azerbaijan, reported Bloomberg.

Morningstar is the Secretary of State’s Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy. Prior to his appointment in April 2009, he was a Senior Director for Stonebridge International LLC. During this time, he taught courses at Stanford Law School (2004-2009) and at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (2003-2009). From 1999 to 2001, he served as U.S. Ambassador to the European Union. From 1998 to 1999, he was Special Advisor to the President and the Secretary of State for Caspian Basin Energy Diplomacy. From 1995 to 1998, he served as Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State on Assistance to the New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union. From 1993 to 1995, he was Senior Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. Prior to serving in the federal government, Ambassador Morningstar worked for Costar Corporation where he was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (1990-1993) and President and Chief Executive Officer (1981-1990). From 1989 to 1993, he also served as a Commissioner of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. He began his career in 1970 as an attorney with Nixon and Peabody, formerly known as Peabody and Brown, in Boston. Ambassador Morningstar received his B.A. from Harvard and J.D. from Stanford Law School.

The ambassadorship to Azerbaijan has been vacant since the departure of Matthew Bryza, whose recess appointment term expired without the Senate approving his candidacy in January.

Armenian priests in Jerusalem's Old City (photo by Matthew Karanian)

JERUSALEM (Haaretz)—Armenian residents of Jerusalem’s Old City are protesting a municipal decision to designate a parking lot in the area solely for Jews, although part of it stands on land belonging to the Armenian Patriarchate.

Parking is a major problem in the Old City, and some residents of the Jewish Quarter claim it is one reason secular families have been moving out. One of the parking lots serving this quarter is adjacent to the Armenian Quarter and is partially built on land owned by the Patriarchate, though the land has been leased by the Jewish Quarter Development Company since the 1970s.

For decades, the parking lot was open to all, though Jewish Quarter residents paid far less for a parking sticker than their Armenian neighbors. But around two years ago, Armenians were forbidden to park there.

“One day I came home from work and the lot was closed,” said Mussa Marizian, an Armenian Quarter resident whose windows overlook the parking lot. “The quarter’s management decided we shouldn’t park there; they just got rid of us. Jews who live in the Muslim Quarter are allowed to park there, but I, who live right on top of the parking lot, am not allowed.”

The development company subsequently asked the municipality for a waiver to enable the lot to be permanently used for parking, even though it is zoned as open public land under Jerusalem’s master plan of 1978.

On Thursday, the city’s planning and building committee approved the waiver, over the protests of both Armenian residents and the Patriarchate’s representative, attorney Mazen Qupty, who argued that most of the land was owned by the church.

“It was hard to hear the very inconsiderate arguments made by the people of the Jewish Quarter about the needs of their Armenian neighbors,” said Yosef “Pepe” Alalu, the Meretz deputy mayor, who voted against the waiver. “How can it be that the parking lot used to be open to all but now Armenians cannot enter?”

The Jerusalem Development Company said that less that 10 percent of the parking lot’s land was leased from the Patriarchate, and that the lease was for 99 years.

“The Armenians have a roomy parking lot 150 meters from that spot,” the company said. “The request for exceptional use was a procedural issue to renew the parking lot’s operating license and the objections were legally rejected.”

Chris Holden

GLENDALE—The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region announced late last week its endorsement of Chris Holden for the 41st State Assembly District.  The decision came after a thorough candidate selection process, which included several meetings with candidates, an examination of each candidate’s track record with regards to issues of concern to the Armenian-American community as well as their position on key issues facing the State of California.

“I have always valued my relationship with the Armenian-American community in Pasadena. I want to thank the Armenian National Committee of America for its endorsement, and I look forward to working with you in the important months and years ahead,” stated, current Pasadena City Councilmember and State Assembly candidate Chris Holden said.

Born July 19, 1960 in Pasadena, California, Christopher Holden is a former Mayor of Pasadena, California, serving from 1997 to 1999. Having been a council member since 1989, Holden is also the second longest-serving member in the history of the Pasadena City Council.

A graduate of Pasadena High School and San Diego University, Holden’s accomplishments include the creation of a living wage ordinance, charter reform through which the City Council created the position of elected Mayor and compensation for Councilmembers, Utility Deregulation, redevelopment of the City’s civic center, and chair of the Charter Reform Task Force for schools.

As the champion of Pasadena’s slumlord ordinance and drug-free zones, Holden has regional interests as well, serving as an officer on the Burbank Airport Authority. He lives in Pasadena with his wife, Melanie, his four children: Nicholas, Alexander, Austin, Mariah, and his stepson, Noah.

“We welcome the ANCA-WR’s endorsement of Chris Holden as he is a viable candidate for Assembly 41st District with extensive public service experience and proven leadership qualities in the City of Pasadena. His accomplishments as a City Council member and a former Mayor give us the confidence that he is capable of representing the interests of the local communities throughout the 41st District and the interests of the Armenian community in the State of California. We encourage our community to support and vote for Chris Holden in the upcoming June 5th primary elections,” stated ANCA-Pasadena Chairwoman Shoghig Yepremian.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

GenEd

April is the month that we, as Armenians, hold dear to our hearts as a time of reflection and remembrance. We recommit ourselves to keeping the memory of our forefathers alive and reminding the world of the first genocide of the 20th century and its persistent legacy of loss and dispossession.

Educating America’s youth about the Armenian Genocide is an essential way to prevent genocide denial and ensure this important history is remembered for generations to come.

The Genocide Education Project seeks to teach the lessons of the Armenian Genocide to the next generation of American citizens and leaders – providing educators across the country with the resources and training they need to incorporate the Armenian Genocide into their curriculum.

By supporting The Genocide Education Project (GenEd), you can commemorate the Armenian Genocide in a practical and lasting way. Our goal is to see that every student graduates from high school with an understanding of the Armenian Genocide and the pattern of genocides that followed.  With every high school history teacher that uses our resources, we can reach at least 100 students each year. Your contribution will allow us to provide our services to more educators, and in turn, more students.

Over the last ten years, GenEd has built a reputation for quality educational services related to the Armenian Genocide. Our work has been featured by various organizations recommending reliable curriculum on the history of genocide, including PBS, Amnesty International, Facing History and Ourselves, Point of View Documentaries, and multiple universities.

Most recently, GenEd has produced a 12-minute educational film and resource guide commissioned by the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities. “A Journey from Despair to Hope: The Story of the Armenian Americans of Rhode Island” tells the story of Armenian Genocide survivor Margaret Garabedian Der Manuelian. It is told through the voice of Der Manuelian’s great-granddaughter and allows students to engage with the subject on a more direct and personal level.  Workshops to train teachers on the Armenian Genocide and the use of the video are planned for May. You can view the film on our facebook page, facebook.com/genedpro, and you can view all of our educational resources at our online resource library, TeachGenocide.com.

Your financial support will allow us to continue to develop and distribute these instructional materials to more educators and students. Please help GenEd reach these goals and honor the memory of the victims for many years into the future. You can make a tax deductible donation at GenocideEducation.org/contribute or by sending a check to The Genocide Education Project, 51 Commonwealth Ave., San Francisco, CA  94118.

Genocide commemoration event participants at Taksim Square in Istanbul

ISTANBUL—Hundreds gathered in Taksim Square Tuesday to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, reported Today’s Zaman.

A sit-down gathering organized by the Say No to Racism and Nationalism initiative in Taksim Square was attended by a group of public figures, including wife of murdered journalist Hrant Dink, Rakel Dink; Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Istanbul deputies Sırrı Sureyya Onder and Sebahat Tuncel; former Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP) head Ufuk Uras; journalists Oral Çalışlar, Hüseyin Hatemi and Hilal Kaplan as well as other intellectuals.

Protesters laid carnations in front of a banner that read, “This pain belongs to all of us.” Zişan Tokaç, who made a statement on behalf of the protesting group, said Armenians were sent into exile to places where they could not survive, recounting atrocities committed at that time.

Uras told reporters that Turkey will face its history and “shared pain” in building a 21st century democracy. He added that people from all walks of life were present at the sit-in protest.

Dink said Armenians had gone through things that she cannot even say aloud and that they are still facing similar problems. Meanwhile, two nationalist groups protested the gathering; however, police didn’t allow them to approach the group.

İsmet Uçma

ANKARA (Armenian Weekly)—A founding member of Turkey’s ruling AK Party called the Armenian genocide a “geno-deportation” and “personally” apologized in an interview with the Turkish daily newspaper Radikal.

İsmet Uçma, a member of Turkey’s Grand National Assembly, added: “Their pain is our pain.”

The parliament member noted that although the Committee of Union and Progress was responsible for what happened, he personally apologized for the suffering of the Armenians during what he called the “geno-deportations.”

Uçma said that although violence was indeed employed against the Armenian deportees, what happened to the Armenians was not genocide, but a “geno-deportation,” the violent deportation of an entire ethnic group, because if the perpetrators wanted to commit genocide, “annihilation methods employed by the Spanish and Portuguese in South America, or those employed by the Americans against Native-Americans, or the Germans against the Jews would have been used.”

The very annihilation methods that Uçma was referring to were indeed employed against the Armenians.

Asked about reparations, Uçma said that he finds land demands absurd, although he noted that no one should live is someone else’s house. In this context, he said, the government’s initiative to return some confiscated property to non-Muslims was a positive step.

The Turkish government has promised to return less than 10 percent of properties confiscated since the 30′s from non-Muslim minorities. No properties confiscated during the Armenian genocide have been returned.

Kurdish Parliamentarian to Push for Commemoration Day

In a more meaningful gesture, and according to reports, Kurdish Parliamentarian Sırrı Süreyya Önder is working on bringing a motion declaring April 24 a “Day of Mourning and Sharing the Pain of the Armenian victims of 1915.”

Önder is a member of the pro-Kurdish BDP in Istanbul. He is a filmmaker and columnist who was elected into parliament in 2011.

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) with New Jersey natives including ANCA Legislative Director Raffi Karakashian, Sarine Arzoumanian and Kyle Movsessian

Record turn-out reflects renewed drive for truthful and just resolution of Turkey’s Crime against the Armenian Nation

WASHINGTON—More than twenty Senators and Representatives addressed a highly-motivated, standing-room-only crowd of Armenian Americans this evening during an inspiring Congressional remembrance ceremony marking the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

The energetic program, held in the historic Kennedy Caucus Room on the Senate side of Capitol Hill, featured sharp criticism of the Obama Administration’s refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide, and impassioned calls for Congressional action to properly condemn and commemorate this crime. The reach of the program was multiplied by social media, with Senators and citizens alike, posting photos, tweeting impressions, and emailing updates throughout the event.

ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian with Armenian American members of Congress Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Jackie Speier (D-CA

“The strong community turn-out and the energy of the principled stands staked out this evening by legislators really speak to the strength of our renewed drive to overcome the remaining obstacles being thrown up by Ankara and its allies to a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. “We look forward to building on this enthusiasm, here in Washington and in communities across our country, to finally end the outsourcing to Ankara of U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide.”

As in years past, the observance was hosted by the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues – co-chaired by Representatives Ed Royce (R-CA) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) – in conjunction with Armenian American organizations, and with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia and the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

The Master of Ceremonies was the Honorable Ardashes Kassakhian, Clerk of the City of Glendale, California, who drew on his broad understanding of Armenian history, his long experience working for the Armenian Cause, and his expert, first-hand understanding of the dynamics of Capitol Hill to inform and inspire legislators and all in attendance.

Congressional Armenian Caucus Ed Royce (R-CA) with ANCA Western Region Executive Director William Bairamian (right) and Orange County natives Alex Der Alexanian and Eleeza Agopian.

Among the U.S. legislators participating in the remembrance were Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Representatives Joe Baca (D-CA), Howard Berman (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), David Cicilline (D-RI), Robert Dold (R-IL), Elliot Engel (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Janice Hahn (D-CA), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Laura Richardson (D-CA), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Ed Royce (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), and Bob Turner (R-NY).

In addition to remarks by legislators, powerful speeches were offered by Armenia’s Ambassador to the U.S., Tatoul Markarian, and Republic of Nagorno Karabakh Representative Robert Avetisyan. Both spoke forcefully about the importance of the annual Capitol Hill commemoration and ongoing international efforts to secure justice for the Armenian Genocide. Ambassador Markarian announced that Armenian Government’s highest civilian honor, the Mkhitar Gosh Award, was to be bestowed on Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), Rep. Anna Eshoo and Rep. Brad Sherman for their years of service in promoting justice for the Armenian Genocide and a stronger U.S.-Armenia relationship.

Also invited to speak was special guest Tom Andrews, a former Congressman from Maine who now serves as President of United to End Genocide, the leading group behind the growth of a national, grassroots anti-genocide movement. In a stirring speech, he thanked Armenian Americans for working against all genocides and crimes against humanity. Former Senator Paul Sarbanes was invited to the podium and received a standing ovation for his praise of Armenian Americans as a true American lobby for American values. Also receiving a standing ovation was former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, whose term in office was cut short because he spoke honestly about the Armenian Genocide.

The observance’s opening prayer was offered by Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Eastern U.S., who, earlier in the day, gave the opening prayer for the U.S. Senate. Archbishop Choloyan, during a busy day on Capitol Hill, met personally with over a dozen U.S. legislators. The closing prayer was offered by Very Rev. Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian, representing His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.

Obama Administration officials who handle Armenian-related foreign policy related issues were individually invited to attend the observance. Those who responded each explained that they were “unable to attend,” reflecting, by all accounts, a policy-level decision to appease Turkish government sensitivities by prohibiting foreign policy officials from participating in Armenian Genocide remembrance events in the United States.

Complete coverage of Congressional statements and guest speakers will be provided in upcoming days.

French presidential hopefulls Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy

PARIS (RFE/RL)—French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his Socialist challenger Francois Hollande have reaffirmed their pledges to draft a new bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian genocide if they win France’s presidential elections next month.

The two men, who advanced to a run-off ballot after the first round of voting on Sunday, joined thousands of French people of Armenian descent in marking the genocide anniversary in a downtown Paris square on Tuesday evening. Making separate appearances, they addressed the crowd in front of a statue of Komitas, a prominent Armenian composer and survivor of the 1915 massacres in Ottoman Turkey.

Both Hollande and Sarkozy urged Turkey to recognize the slaughter of some 1.5 million Armenians as genocide. They also said that a new bill making it a crime to deny that the massacres constituted genocide would be brought before the French parliament already in June.

In a move that infuriated Turkey, the two houses of the parliament already passed such legislation in December and January. France’s Constitutional Council struck it down as unconstitutional in February, however.

Hollande, who narrowly defeated Sarkozy in the first round, said he would make sure that the new law is drafted with “utmost legal security” in order to ensure its approval by the country’s highest court. “We can no longer commit an imprecision that would again leave us with the impossibility of having the text validated,” he said.

Sarkozy, who was instrumental in the last’s bill passage, made an emphatic case for criminalizing any public denial of crimes against humanity. “There are statements that are not opinions,” he said. “Democracy is not about authorizing anyone to say anything without respecting the victim. This is not what democracy is all about.”

“Disputing a truth like genocide is unacceptable in the territory of the French Republic,” he said in a speech videotaped and posted by his press office on website of the presidential Elysee Palace.

Sarkozy also renewed his calls for Turkey to “revisit its past” and stop denying what many historians consider the first genocide of the 20th century. “The entire world has recognized that it was Genocide,” he said.

Significantly, the French leader spoke out against the idea of Turkish and Armenian historians jointly studying the events of 1915 and determining whether they indeed amounted to genocide. “Would anyone have an idea to tell our Jewish compatriots that there needs to be a commission of historians to clarify whether the infamous act of the Holocaust existed in Europe?” he argued. “That would be offensive, unacceptable and intolerable.”

The creation of such a body is envisaged by one of the two Turkish-Armenian normalization protocols signed in 2009 and effectively frozen afterward. President Serzh Sarkisian has been strongly criticized at home and in the worldwide Armenian Diaspora for agreeing to that provision.

Analysts believe that Sarkozy engineered the genocide bill’s passage and is now promising a fresh effort to criminalize genocide denial in the hope of winning the French-Armenian vote.

The incumbent president insisted, however, that he was simply “stunned” by what he saw at the Armenian genocide memorial in Yerevan during a state visit to Armenia last October. “I want to tell all those who haven’t made such a trip, who haven’t seen what I saw, and who haven’t heard what I heard that they cannot understand the memory of this unspeakable pain of all Armenians,” he said.

“Visiting Yerevan, I understood what millions of Armenians feel when thinking about that genocide because I could imagine each of them putting themselves in the place of their grandparents and ancestors and wondered how I myself would have reacted,” added Sarkozy.

San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine (right) presenting leaders of the Bay Area Armenian American community with a proclamation on the Armenian Genocide.

Mayor Ed Lee addresses Armenian Americans at Mt. Davidson Cross Requiem; issues proclamation; Joining San Francisco, San Mateo becomes latest county to declare April 24 as Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee and the Boards of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco and the County of San Mateo marked the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee – San Francisco Bay Area (Bay Area ANC).

At its meeting on April 24, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a proclamation in remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. This was the first time the body took up such a resolution, which called out the Ottoman Turkish government for planning and executing “unspeakable atrocities committed against the Armenian people from 1915 through 1923, which included torture, starvation and murder of 1,500,000 Armenians…” The proclamation further noted, “the Republic of Turkey unjustifiably and adamantly denies the occurrence of these crimes against humanity while actively continuing to remove traces of Armenian existence, including the destruction of cultural heritage.”

“By adopting this proclamation San Mateo County will join many cities, counties and the States in formally recognizing the historic fact of the Armenian Genocide,” said Supervisor Dave Pine, who introduced the proclamation. “Unfortunately, the denial of this historic event remains as even the United States government has yet to formally recognize these events. By adding our voice we both honor our local Armenian-American community as well as support the broadly understood and affirmed historic recognition of the Armenian Genocide. This effort is critical to ensure the veracity of history and to support efforts to prevent another genocide in the world,” added Supervisor Dave Pine.

San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee addressing the Armenian American community at Mt. Davidson Cross.

Bay Area Armenian American community leaders attended the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors meeting to show the community’s appreciation for the Board’s action.

“We are here to express our sincere thanks to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors for standing on the side of truth, standing on the side of justice, standing in solidarity with the Armenian people here and around the world as we mark the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, during which 1.5 million human lives were cut short at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish Government,” said Bay Area ANC Director Matt Senekeremian as he addressed the meeting of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. “Only by acknowledging the painful lessons of history and applying just resolutions for crimes, can we hope to prevent future atrocities. Only by doing so can we hope to make the words ‘Never Again’ a reality with regard to genocide,” Senekeremian added.

In San Francisco, Mayor Edwin Lee attended the Armenian American community’s annual requiem honoring the victims of the Armenian Genocide at Mt. Davidson Cross on April 22. Mayor Lee addressed those gathered to pay their respects and issued a proclamation declaring April 24, 2012 Armenian Genocide Day of Remembrance in San Francisco.

On April 17, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution declaring April 24, 2012 as Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day in San Francisco. Over the years, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has consistently adopted Armenian Genocide resolutions and called upon the President of the United States and the U.S. Congress to properly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, whose district is home to the Calvary Armenian Congregational Church, the KZV Armenian School, and the Mt. Davidson Cross, introduced the resolution.

Armen Dilanyan

GLENDALE—Noted journalist, writer and commentator Armen Dilanian, who also had a daily political talk show on Horizon Armenian Television, passed away on Tuesday. He was 57.

Dilanyan was one of the founding members of the Yerevan Bureau of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. He worked there from 1992 to 1994, reporting on the groundbreaking developments during Armenia’s independence.

From 1994 to 1995, Dilanyan worked at the RFE/RL offices in Munich, transferring to its Prague offices, where he worked until 2006.

Working Los Angeles for the past several years, Dilanian was an important figure, filing reports and anchoring programs on a variety of television and radio channels, among them Horizon Armenian Television.

Asbarez and Horizon Television express their deepest condolences to the family and relatives of Armen Dilanyan.

Author Peter Balakian

EDITOR’S NOTE: As part of Asbarez’s ongoing partnership with Yerevan Magazine, we present an interview with author Peter Balakian that was published in the January/February issue of the magazine. The interview also appeared in Asbarez’s Genocide Special Issue, published on April 24.

Peter Balakian is undeniably one of the prominent authors whose literary work, which includes six books of poems, numerous essays, non-fiction books and a memoir, have influenced and transformed literary, cultural, political, social, and psychological understanding of the issues surrounding memory and historical trauma. Among one of such recent references is an entry in a book entitled Fifty Key Thinkers in Genocide Studies. The author of the entry, Holocaust scholar Paul Bartrop, noted that Balakian’s work helped open up the field or began discourse that has to do with memory, history, and trauma. For the critics and experts, his works strongly demonstrate the importance of literary imagination and its ability to embody the darker aspects of history.

INTERVIEW LIANNA ZAKHARIAN
PHOTO TANYA KECHICHIAN

Little can be added to the information about the author who has a best-selling memoir (Black Dog of Fate), translated an important Armenian Genocide survivor memoir by his great-uncle Grigoris Balakian (Armenian Golgotha), wrote about the history of his people (The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America’s Response), and as one of the prominent poets in America, reflected on his entire life’s experiences and emotions. In addition, knowing his professionally meticulous linguistic approach, it was somewhat anticipated, and he confirmed, that he would be very cautious when it comes to interviews, because as he stated, “I believe that in oral conversation we are not as precise and accurate as we need to be.”

The Balakians live in Hamilton, a rural college town in the center of New York State in a landscape that is defined by rolling pastures and small dairy farms. The nearest city is Syracuse, which is in about fifty miles northwest. Hamilton is a typical New England country town with its large town green zone and a big white clapboard inn at one end. Its architecture is a display of American history from late Federal brick, Greek classical revival, high Victorian and Queen Ann houses, and a variety of modern houses. It has a traditional feel but with a bustling college campus that gives the town some sophistication.

Colgate University is one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. It’s an elite liberal arts college with a superb student body and a great faculty. “It’s been a good place to be for me as a writer and a teacher for the past thirty years,” explains Balakian. Peter’s wife, Helen Kebabian, is the director of the Office of Government, Foundation, and Corporate Relations at the University. They live in a three-story house made of local stone. Built in 1828, it’s a historic house that was once part of the Underground Railroad. The fugitive slave quarters are still intact on the third floor of the house in the walled off area behind Balakian’s own study. “To have that human rights history in my own space is always a powerful thing. History is never past,” he says as he positions himself at his desk, with his vast library as a backdrop. “There are almost ten thousand books here. It’s too much. I have to get rid of some,” he says with a sigh.

LIANNA ZAKHARIAN: Teaching is a big part of your life. What do you teach and how do you manage to write while you are teaching?

PETER BALAKIAN: I teach a variety of courses at Colgate. I am the Director of Creative Writing Program, which is a thriving and dynamic program within our English Department. I teach creative writing workshops in poetry and courses in American literature, mostly 19th and 20th century poetry. And I teach one course a year called Modern Genocide for our core curriculum program; and this course is an honors course for advanced students. It deals with the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust as the two templates for modern genocide, but students can and do work on later genocides of the 20th century. For me, the key has always been to keep writing through it all. Even on the days I’m teaching, getting to my desk for an hour or two keeps whatever book I’m working on moving. It’s always a juggling act, writing and teaching. Teaching, of course, involves meeting with students regularly and also being part of the university and the department, which is a whole universe of institutional obligations. The key is to still be moving with and in your work when the semester ends so you can shift into a higher gear. People think we professors have the summer and holiday vacations off. That’s unimaginable.

L.Z.: A writer and a poet needs a variety of experiences. Do you have time to travel?

P.B.: My life has gotten more complicated in the past fifteen years, especially after Black Dog of Fate and The Burning Tigris came out and were translated into various languages. I’ve been asked to lecture around the world and give papers and readings at conferences. This has all been good and rewarding, but it adds another dimension to how many things one can juggle. I’m trying to find a balance between international travel, conferences, readings, lecture tours, teaching and writing, and being with family and friends. One good thing is that grading papers and exams on long international flights is very effective; there are no distractions, no interruptions. In recent years, being in Greece, Australia, Lebanon, Syria, Argentina, across Europe, in Armenia and across the U.S. and Canada has been energizing and has taught me a lot about the global complexity of Armenian culture and a good deal about other cultures. And, it’s good for my writing.

L.Z.: You have just come back from France, how did it go?

P.B.: I was part of a week-long festival that the French National Center for the Book put on for Armenian writers. It was superbly done. There were 20 of us from around the world. A number of writers from the Republic of Armenia, some from France, and other parts of Europe, Argentina, and Viken Berberian and I were the two from the U.S.A. We did a couple of readings or panel discussions in Marseilles, Valence, Avignon, Lyon, and Paris.

L.Z.: Why did the French government do this?

P.B.: They have a deep feeling about Armenian history and culture and a sense of the long historical ties between the two cultures. And, they wanted to celebrate Armenia’s 20th anniversary this way. It was a joy to see a government embrace the Armenian voice, to reach out to the literature of Armenian culture. There was no fear of the Armenian intellectual voice as there is in the U.S., where the issue of the Armenian Genocide is a source of anxiety to our government because of Turkey. The French, like most of the world, are far beyond that – what else can one call it – immaturity. It would be nice if our government could learn something from the French in this respect. It was a special trip, and for me, it was particularly important, having translated with Aris Sevag my great uncle’s genocide memoir, Armenian Golgotha, to go to one of the six churches he built in Marseilles when he was the Bishop of Southern France in the 1930s, and open the festival with talk about him and his work.

L.Z.: You write about tremendously tragic events. In addition, the writer’s job in general requires long hours of sitting. How do you balance your daily life, or as one of your articles is entitled “How a Poet Writes History without Going Mad?”

P.B.: You have to keep the spirit happy while you are writing about complicated dark issues. I have my own rituals and working out is always part of my day. As a kid and a teenager, football, basketball, and baseball dominated my life. Keeping the body moving every day is a good counter-force to the sedentary life of a writer. You work out some of the inner stuff that writers struggle with and you clear your head. I watch a lot of Yankee games and hang out with my family and friends at every break I can take. Helen and I and our Colgate friends think nothing of driving an hour to north Syracuse to a great Chinese restaurant on a sub zero night for some popping Szechuan food and camaraderie with our writer friends in Syracuse. I also collect antique rugs and post World War II art. And music is also essential whether it’s Telemann and Bach, Miles Davis or Bob Dylan. Beauty helps keep the spirit happy.

L.Z.: It was a difficult shift for a poet to start writing about the darker era of our nation. How did it change you personally writing Black Dog of Fate?

P.B.: It took me about seven years to write the memoir because, as a poet, my language and my literary style and orientation were not defined by narrative storytelling. So, I had to sort of teach myself how to write in a new genre, and you can’t do that overnight. I was working in my own cave, trying to figure out modes of storytelling about a family, its history, and my own coming of age and personal journey into a dark history that was never spoken about openly in my family. I spent a lot of time thinking about form and narrative and its relationship to lyric language, which is the place I work from as a poet.

L.Z.: How did you respond to being in the public more often?

P.B.: It was interesting to be on television and radio and in front of larger audiences. It wasn’t just about me and my book and that kind of thing, it was gratifying to be able to discuss the larger history of the Armenian Genocide. It was also challenging and not always fun to have to deal with Turkish nationalists who would come out to my events to deny history.

L.Z.: Did you get a lot of resistance from that group?

P.B.: In the late 1990s, when I was on the road with Black Dog of Fate, the Turkish nationalists would come out and protest and sometimes be disruptive by passing out leaflets of Turkish state propaganda. Nothing ever violent, just disruptive. What was most disturbing, in a psychological and ethical sense, was not to hear any voices from the Turkish world that were thoughtful, reflective, and empathic. And then that changed, happily, by the early 2000s: there emerged a group of Turkish scholars, like Tanner Akçam, Fatma Muge Gocek, Ragip Zarakolu, Elif Shafak, and others, who were also bravely struggling for the same kinds of truth and acknowledgments from their country concerning the Armenian past and other taboos inside Turkey. It became clear to many of us that Turkey had layers of progressive people and forces and that the nationalists did not really own Turkey. There has been much growth toward genuine intellectual critique in Turkey, but still it’s a giant struggle and just last November, the Turkish government imprisoned dozens of intellectuals and journalists including my Turkish publisher, the brave and trail-blazing Ragip Zarakolu. This is a tragedy, and I hope the world can help Turkey see that.

L.Z.: Do you think there is a general change of attitudes in Turkey?

P.B.: I think that progressive Turkish scholars, intellectuals and human rights activists were always there, but they didn’t have much civic space inside their own country or enough access to forums in the U.S.A. and Europe. They were overshadowed by the militant ultra-nationalists. But, in the past 15 years, these progressives were able to be heard outside of Turkey and they came of age and became more public. And historical works on the Armenian genocide by Taner Akçam, for example, were translated into English and made a big impact. This made it possible for somebody like Hrant Dink to emerge inside Turkey and start the work he started. Even though he was cut down by the Turkish deep-state, his work is alive and the doors he opened are still open, and people are walking through them.

L.Z.: Why did the Black Dog of Fate gain such popularity among larger audiences?

P.B.: I never expected that the book would be well-received, I mean, one just really writes a book because one’s haunted and goaded by a story that one wants to tell, needs to tell. The primary urge is to make language and tell a story and to realize your materials in the richest aesthetic terms possible. After that it’s a roulette game, you never know what will reach the world and be received. When Black Dog of Fate got such an immediate affirmative response, I was delighted and surprised. A prose book gets you into the public more than poetry does, which is too bad because poetry should be in the center of all things.

L.Z.: How can you define contemporary American literary scene? Is there a community of writers in the U.S.?

P.B.: The U.S. is an enormous multicultural society with many vital literary scenes. It’s almost too much to fully take in, so writers find their own literary subcultures and communities. Some of them are defined by the region, like the writers of the American South, that has a strong sense of regional identity, or certain kind of writers who consider themselves New England writers, or writers of the Great Plains or the Pacific Northwest. And these subcultures and communities can be defined by various dimensions that include aesthetic values, cultural identities, notions of genre, etc. Personally, I have my community of writers and artists in my backyard, around the country, and the world. I am in New York City frequently. My community of writers and film and visual artists and actors make my life much richer and better in this otherwise quite solitary work. I feel blessed by such friendships.”

L.Z.: What are your plans for the future and what are you currently working on?

P.B.: My recent book of poems, Ziggurat, was published in the fall of 2010 by University of Chicago Press and got an affirmative response. I did an National Public Radio (NPR) interview for it on September 11, 2010 because some of the book deals with the aftermath of 9/11. I’m currently working on a new book of poems, and a book of my essays that I have been collecting over the past 20 years or so. Some of the essays are on Charents and Gorky and American figures, like the poets Theodore Roethke and Hart Crane; others are on issues in poetry and poetics, film and painting and music.

L.Z.: Some of your poems have aspects of Japanese poetry with their observations of nature with subtle minimalist gems of description in them. What inspires you in your poetic work?

P.B.: Well, many things of course. Nature and the organic world is one of them. The impact of history is another, and painting, film, and the visual arts also inflect my work. But these dimensions often get entangled and layered in a given poem. In the poem “Flat Sky of Summer,” for example, a young boy is immersed in a book of art plates, and that immersion opens up into an explosion of imagination and in the end, after the boy has encountered European masters, he finds the Armenian palette and fragments of history. The poem goes for wild color and imaginative flight. I brought Toros Roslin into that. It ends with Toros Roslin and Gorky. It’s about, among other things, the power of color, and transformation of artifacts into perception. In Ziggurat, I have a series of poems that take off on Andy Warhol silk screens. .

L.Z.: Your poetry includes many sensual textures, just as your memoir does. You included a very sensual description of your family’s Sunday dinners in the chapter entitled “Tahn on Crabtree Lane” in your memoir Black Dog of Fate. Does your generation preserve these family rituals?

P.B.: Cuisine and cooking are very important to me. Recently, Saveur Magazine asked a group of American writers to write about the memorable meals of their lives. I wrote my piece about an Armenian feast with my family in the 1970s, in which a Bolsetsi family and a Tigranakertsi family brought their cuisines together. I made the point that such a feast would not have been possible without the Genocide and the ensuing Diaspora because these cultures would never meet in old Anatolia. And so the explosion of the sensuous Eastern Mediterranean seafood palate of mediya and fish plaki coming together with more Arabic dry, spicy cooking of Southeast Anatolia, including muhamara which is fundamentally Arabic, and slow baked lamb and vegetable stew. And, yes, we still gather around the dinner table as a family of generations. We still enjoy our family feasts.

L.Z.: It was a revelation to learn about your aunts in Black Dog of Fate, women who were so educated and well-known in the literary world.

P.B.: They are both dead now, my Aunt Nona died in 1991 and my Aunt Anna died in 1997. As you know, Nona was an editor at the New York Times Book Review for over forty years and Anna a leading scholar of French literature and a professor at NYU (New York University) for decades. I learned a lot from them and I wrote about some of those encounters and journeys in Black Dog of Fate. Their examples were very powerful because they were people for whom the world of literature was a way of life as well as a profession.

L.Z.: Do your children follow in your steps professionally?

P.B.: My daughter Sophia is 27 and she is doing her Ph.D. in cultural anthropology at the University of Illinois, training to be an Africanist. Right now she is in Kenya where she is studying Swahili and beginning to think about her field work. My son James is almost 23, and at the moment he is in Washington D.C., working for the NGO (non-governmental organization) National Democratic Institute, which works on democratic elections worldwide. He is just out of college and this is his first job out of college. I’m proud of their passionate interests in progressive politics and the world of ideas and their commitments to social justice and economic fairness. At the moment, we live in a society that is very unfair to many of its good and hard-working citizens and they want to be part of helping change happen.

The intensity of tragic events that he describes, his poetic sensuality and subtle sensitivity conveyed a certain sense of vulnerability that made me wonder whether, paraphrasing Shakespeare, “Excessively honoring the dead,” he was doing “disservice to the living.” However, his healthy lifestyle, his rich intellectual, creative and social life, and his optimism proved otherwise. These are, apart from his talent, the reasons why Balakian’s works continue to fascinate and inspire readers worldwide.

Collection of Balakian's works

Peter Balakian
Poet and nonfiction writer Peter Balakian was born on June 13, 1951 in Teaneck, New Jersey. He earned a B.A. from Bucknell University, an M.A. from New York University, and a Ph.D. from Brown University. He has taught at Colgate University since 1980 where he is currently Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Professor of the Humanities, and Director of Creative Writing. He was the first Director of Colgate’s Center for Ethics and World Societies. He is the author of six books of poems, most recently Ziggurat (2010), as well as June-tree: New and Selected Poems 1974-2000 (2001). The others are Father Fisheye (1979), Sad Days of Light (1983), Reply from Wilderness Island (1988), Dyer’s Thistle (1996), and several fine limited editions. His work has appeared in numerous magazines, such as The Nation, The New Republic, Antaeus, Agni, Partisan Review, Poetry, The Kenyon Review, Slate, The Virginia Quarterly Review, and in anthologies such as New Directions in Prose and Poetry, The Morrow Anthology of Younger American Poets, Poetry’s 75th Anniversary Issue (1987), The Wadsworth Anthology of Poetry, and the four-CD set Poetry On Record 1886-2006 (Shout Factory). Four fine limited editions (with illustration) of Balakian’s poems have been published by The Press of Appletree Alley (Lewisburg, PA). He is the author of the memoir Black Dog of Fate, winner of the PEN/Albrand Prize for memoir and a New York Times Notable Book, and The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America’s Response, winner of the 2005 Raphael Lemkin Prize and a New York Times Notable Book and New York Times national best-seller. He is also the author of Theodore Roethke’s Far Fields (LSU, 1989). His essays have appeared in Art In America, American Poetry Review, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The American Quarterly, American Book Review, and Poetry. He is co-founder and co-editor with the poet Bruce Smith of the poetry magazine Graham House Review, which was published from 1976-1996, and is the co-translator of the book of poems Bloody News from My Friend by Siamanto. Balakian’s awards include a Guggenheim Fellowship; National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship; Emily Clark Balch Prize for poetry, Virginia Quarterly Review 2007; Movses Khorenatsi Medal from the RA, 2007; Raphael Lemkin Prize, 2005, (best book in English on the subject of genocide and human rights); PEN/Martha Albrand Prize for Memoir, 1998; the New Jersey Council for the Humanities Book Award, 1998; Daniel Varoujan Prize, New England Poetry Club, 1986; Anahid Literary Prize, Columbia University Armenian Center, 1990. His works have been translated to Armenian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Dutch, French, Greek, German, Hebrew, Russian, and Turkish.

Blessing of the new church grounds

Trust Fund Committee of St. John Garabed Armenian Church Hopes Project May be Approved by Year End

SAN DIEGO—The Trust Fund Committee of St. John Garabed Armenian Church has resubmitted the Conditional Use Permit (C.U.P.) application to establish a new church campus on its picturesque property near Del Mar, California. This second submission is a “limited submittal” in response to specific concerns raised in the first review to traffic flow and environmental impact. After initial feedback from the City staff and affected agencies, a complete resubmittal will be made for a final, comprehensive review by the City of San Diego. The Trust Fund Committee is hopeful that the project may be approved by the end of this year.

Harry Krikorian, Chairman of the Trust Fund Committee, stated, “The San Diego Armenian community is eager to establish our spiritual, social, educational and cultural home on our new property near Del Mar. It has been our dream for several years, and now we are growing closer to realizing that dream. Throughout this process, we have been blessed by many fortuitous events that have helped to bring even greater potential to our project.”

Krikorian said that the new campus would be built in stages over a period of several years with the sanctuary and state-of-the-art social hall being the first priorities. In addition, the proposed church campus will include a cultural center and library, youth center, classrooms for Sunday & Armenian School, gymnasium, Armenian heritage park, picnic and meditation space, and abundant parking.

On November 10, 2012, the Trust Fund Committee will host the 2nd Annual “Bridge to the Future” Gala Dinner & Dance at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines with guest of honor, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, and entertainment provided by music superstar Robert Chilingerian. For event information, contact Ani Lanuza (619) 889-1459 or email sjgsdtrust@gmail.com.

In 2008, the Trust Fund Committee of St. John Garabed Armenian Church of San Diego purchased close to 14 acres of premium property near Del Mar, California. The new property is located at 13860 El Camino Real in the City of San Diego. The current fundraising goal is to raise $1 million for expenses associated with final approval of the C.U.P. as well as final land acquisition.

For more than 30 years, St. John Garabed Armenian Church has been at the heart of Armenian community life in San Diego. Under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Datev A.K. Tatoulian, St. John Garabed is a vibrant parish with many active church organizations and groups, including the Parish Council, Ladies’ Society, Sunday & Armenian School, Church Choir, and A.C.Y.O.

To make an online donation, please go to www.stjohngarabedtrust.org/donate_online. To remember the Church in your will or estate planning, please contact Gary Takessian at (858) 569-6527. All contributions are tax-deductible. For information about the Trust Fund Committee, new church campus, fundraising events, and giving opportunities, please visit www.stjohngarabedtrust.org.

President Obama delivers remarks at US Holocaust Museum

WASHINGTON—President Obama, once again, used euphemistic language and verbal gymnastics to characterize the murder of 1.5 million Armenians in his annual April 24th remembrance day statement, breaking his pledge as Senator and Presidential candidate to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide as President.

“President Obama today completed his surrender to Turkey, shamefully outsourcing U.S. human rights policy to a foreign state, and tightening Ankara’s gag on American recognition of the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. “The President’s capitulation to Turkey – on this, the last April 24th of his term – represents the very opposite of the principled and honest change he promised to Armenian Americans and to all the citizens of our nation. President Obama’s pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide stands today as a stark lie, a painful promise etched on the hearts of all who had hoped and worked for change, but who, today, have been betrayed by a politician who failed to live up to his own words.”

The complete text of President Obama’s statement is below.

Obama’s Pledge to Recognize the Armenian Genocide:
As Senator and presidential candidate, President Obama consistently and repeatedly urged former President Bush to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide, and pledged, as President, to recognize that crime.  In a January, 2008, statement, then Senator Obama clearly stated, “as President, I will recognize the Armenian Genocide.”

Read then Senator Obama’s complete statement.

Review then Senator Obama’s complete record on Armenian Genocide affirmation related issues.

International Affirmation of the Armenian Genocide:
More than 20 countries and 42 U.S. states and have properly recognized the Armenian Genocide, the listing of which follows.

Countries: Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, The Vatican and Venezuela.  Other International Affirmation includes the European Parliament and the UN Subcommission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.

U.S. States: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan acknowledged the crime as genocide in 1981.

The U.S. House adopted Armenian Genocide legislation in 1975 and 1984 and included reference to the crime in House adopted amendments in 1996 and 2005. More recently, the House Foreign Affairs Committee has passed Armenian Genocide legislation in 2007 and 2010.

The Republic of Turkey continues its international campaign of Armenian Genocide denial, issuing economic and political threats against countries who properly characterize the crime. Those threats have largely been hollow, with economic trade data showing a marked increase in trade with Turkey after the Genocide has been recognized.  More information on the trade data 

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2012

Statement by the President on Armenian Remembrance Day
Today, we commemorate the Meds Yeghern, one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. In doing so, we honor the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who were brutally massacred or marched to their deaths in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire. As we reflect on the unspeakable suffering that took place 97 years ago, we join millions who do the same across the globe and here in America, where it is solemnly commemorated by our states, institutions, communities, and families. Through our words and our deeds, it is our obligation to keep the flame of memory of those who perished burning bright and to ensure that such dark chapters of history are never repeated.

I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915. My view of that history has not changed. A full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all of our interests. Moving forward with the future cannot be done without reckoning with the facts of the past. The United States has done so many times in our own history, and I believe we are stronger for it. Some individuals have already taken this courageous step forward. We applaud those Armenians and Turks who have taken this path, and we hope that many more will choose it, with the support of their governments, as well as mine.

Although the lives that were taken can never be returned, the legacy of the Armenian people is one of triumph. Your faith, courage, and strength have enabled you to survive and prosper, establishing vibrant communities around the world. Undaunted, you have preserved your patrimony, passing it from generation to generation. Armenian-Americans have made manifold contributions to the vibrancy of the United States, as well as critical investments in a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous future for Armenia. The United States is proud of your heritage, and your contributions honor the memory of those who senselessly suffered and died nearly a century ago.

On this solemn day of remembrance, we stand alongside all Armenians in recalling the darkness of the Meds Yeghern and in committing to bringing a brighter future to the people of Armenia.

Protesters at the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles

The three years preceding the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide must be a time for the Armenian nation to redouble its efforts toward the realization of the Armenian Cause and the movement for the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide must be equally coupled with the pursuit of justice and demands for reparations and restitution for the Genocide.

The Turkish government has accelerated its continued denial of the Genocide, and will stop at nothing and spare no expense to advance a policy that trumpets its skewed version of history. At the same time, other governments, especially the United States, are becoming more and more entrenched in the Turkish campaign and are becoming pawns in Ankara’s ploys and as a result broadening their complicity in the crime.

The agenda for the Armenian nation is simple yet complicated at the same time. Simple, because it is the reiteration of the decades-long call for justice; complicated, because the imperative to launch a multi-pronged approach to the just resolution of our national aspirations will require will and determination from the entire Armenian nation.

The government of Armenia, which kicked off the centennial efforts by hosting a large-scale conference in Yerevan last year, should become a more active in the field and utilize its position as a world player to pursue the international recognition of the Genocide. After all, this matter is etched into Armenia’s Constitution and whoever ascends to the leadership of the country, must make this a priority. In the past we’ve seen the Turkish government apparatus completely involved in efforts to undermine Genocide recognition, be that in the US Congress for the French legislature, while the Armenian government has sat on the margins. The centennial must serve as a call to action for the government to work in concert with advocacy groups and movements in the Diaspora and advance the cause of justice.

By the same token, the push by the Diaspora for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide should take on renewed impetus and be based on the logic that reparations and restitution for the Genocide go hand-in-hand with its recognition. Individual efforts to mount law suits for survivor claims should be coordinated so that they are not class-action suits that merely scratch the surface of what is actually owed to the descendents of the Genocide. The pressure must be placed on the Turkish government to take responsibility not only of its history but the consequences of the Genocide.

The Armenian youth have an important and historic role to play in the realization of our national agenda. It is the youth who will be marshalling the cause. The activism demonstrated by the youth in the past several year is encouraging and, in some cases, contagious. It is imperative to reinvigorate the methodology and modality of the pursuit of Hai-Tahd and the new generation must be front and center in leading that effort. There are plenty of examples in the world today of how the youth have taken the mantle for justice and mobilized masses toward victory.

The challenges we face as a nation are manifold. Aside the fight for recognition and reparations for the Genocide, there is the equally important element of working to advance and strengthen Armenia, fighting for the self-determination of people of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) and the well-being of the Armenian population in Javakhk. All those are links to the same chain. All those are intertwined with the ultimate fate of the Armenian nation.

To paraphrase the famous Armenian author, our nation’s salvation lies in its collective strength. The imperative to demonstrate that strength is NOW.

Hundreds of thousands march to Dzidzernagapert (photo by Nanore Barsoumian)

BY NANORE BARSOUMIAN
From The Armenian Weekly

YEREVAN—Carrying carnations, daffodils, and lilies, hundreds of thousands made the journey to the Armenian Genocide Memorial at Dzidzernagapert on April 24. President Serge Sarkisian, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, and government officials paid their respects in the morning. Around noontime, people slowly inched forward—until they reached the monument at the summit—a walk that lasted roughly two hours. Police periodically blocked off the path to prevent congestion at the top. Many shaded themselves with umbrellas and hats from the scorching afternoon sun.

The flood of people poured in from Kievyan Street. Sellers lined the street displaying an array of flowers. Vayots Dzor native Gisane Hakobyan, 21, said it was her first time partaking in the procession. A university student, Hakobyan said it is important “to respect our victims.” Her classmate, 18-year-old Ashot Harutunyan agreed. “It is our duty. We are paying our dues,” he said.

Opting out was not an option for 33-year-old Hambardzum Harutunyan. “We have to come,” said the lawyer who revealed that his maternal grandfather was a Genocide survivor from Sasoun. Harutunyan’s grandfather and his sister were the only ones who escaped.

“This is a tragedy that will never be forgotten. It is the greatest pain in the hearts of all Armenians,” said 52-year-old Tsolag Harutunyan. Originally from Mush, Harutunyan’s family too had suffered during the Genocide—when two of his great grandparents perished.

Setrak Mandoyan, 59, said he has been partaking in the April 24 commemoration events for as far back as he can remember. “I used to go with my father, now I bring my grandson,” he said. “They used to hold the commemoration event at the Opera House, until they constructed this monument,” he added. Mandoyan’s paternal grandfather, also named Setrak, lost all six of his brothers during the Genocide. His grandparents, who hailed from Ardahan and Artvin, escaped to Batum and made their way to Yerevan.
Sixteen-year-old Tamara (“Tamig”) Tatevossian walked alongside her grandfather, brother, and 6-year-old sister. It was a walk all too familiar for Tatevossian who came every year since she was a little girl, her family too had been affected by the Genocide. Originally from Hamshen, her grandfather’s family fled from the Genocide and settled in Abkhazia until 1970, when they moved to Yerevan.

Some took a few moments to visit the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute adjacent to the monument, where an exhibit, “Book as a Witness of the Genocide,” was launched a day earlier. The exhibit—made to coincide with Yerevan being dubbed by UNESCO as the 2012 World Book Capital and in honor of the 500th anniversary of Armenian printing—displays first editions of around 300 books, some dating as far back as the 1850s. “We are expecting perhaps a couple of hundred thousand visitors today,” said Asdghig, a museum guide. According to her, April 24 and 25 are the busiest days of the year at the museum.

The pile of flowers from the night before encircling the eternal flame had turned into an almost four-foot tall wall. Dozens of wreaths rested against the outer walls of the monument representing the Armenian provinces lost during the Genocide.

A Turkish citizen holds the photograph of Armenian poet Daniel Varoujan, who was a victim of the Armenian Genocide. (Photo by Khatchig Mouradian)

ISTANBUL–The Committee Against Racism and Discrimination of the Istanbul Branch of the Human Rights Association sent letters today to the Catholicos of all Armenians Karekin II and the Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I, expressing solidarity with their demands for truth and justice. Below is the full text of both letters.

Your Holiness,

Today is the 24th of April, 2012, the 97th anniversary of the arrests of the Armenian intellectuals of Istanbul, which represents the beginning of the Armenian Genocide.

As a result of the process of genocide which began with the arrests in Istanbul on April 24, 1915, the Cilicia Catholicosate, which has not only been one of the spiritual centers of the historic Western Armenia for hundreds of years but which also represents its cultural and social identity, was forcibly displaced to Lebanon from the lands where it belonged. As defenders of human rights in Turkey, we are writing this letter to you to express our belief that it is in these lands that your Catholicosate belongs.

We are writing this letter to you in order to say that we bow in shame and in respect before the memory of the Ottoman Armenians who were massacred and dispossessed of all their riches, of all their richness of every kind, and effectively, even of the vestiges of their past. We are addressing our letter to you to declare that we remain the defenders of the usurped rights of the children and the grandchildren of the victims who survived massacre and were dispersed to all corners of the earth.

On Aug. 31, 2011, you sent a letter to the prime minister of the Republic of Turkey regarding the legislative changes concerning the restitution of some of the properties of non-Muslim foundations. You wrote, “The Armenian people will remain the rightful owners of the innumerable churches, hospitals, nursing homes, orphanages, cemeteries, and various religious and public properties confiscated by the Turkish state in the days of genocide in 1915.” You then added, “The Armenian people will remain the rightful owners of the houses, businesses, and properties of their ancestors who were victims of the genocide which was planned and perpetrated by the Ottoman-Turkish government.”

In your letter, you declared that the Armenian people will never abdicate their demands on Turkey for justice regarding the Armenian Genocide, and for the restoration of human rights. You wrote, “Dear Prime Minister, your declarations regarding justice and human rights will only be documented when you recognize the Armenian Genocide.”

We are writing this letter to address you and thus all the Armenians in the world, to state that your demands voice the requirements of the most basic human rights, and that they are also our demands.

On April 24, 2011, the same day that we were commemorating in Istanbul the 96th anniversary of the arrest of the Armenian intellectuals, Sevag Şahin Balıkçı was shot dead while on mandatory military duty in the Turkish Army in the city of Batman. Officials gave misleading information and manipulated witnesses in order to declare the death an accident. Further inspection and investigations have since pointed to premeditated murder.  The murder of Sevag Şahin Balıkçı is evidence that there has been no life security for Armenians since 1915, that the process of genocide is ongoing, and that the denialism of 97 years perpetuates genocide.

In the 97th year of the process of genocide, which began with the arrests in Istanbul on April 24, 1915, and which included the annihilation of the Armenians as well as the Assyrians and Greeks of Anatolia, we are writing this letter to directly address you and the children of the victims of the Armenian Genocide around the world, whom you represent. We hereby declare our belief that it is only after the recognition of the genocide and the restitution of and/or compensation for the confiscated property of Armenians that justice can be established.

Your humble servants,

Human Rights Association, Istanbul Branch
Committee Against  Racism and Discrimination
TURKEY

***

His All Holiness Karekin II
Catholicos of All Armenians
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

Your Holiness,

Today is the 24th of April, 2012, the 97th anniversary of the arrests of the Armenian intellectuals of Istanbul, which represents the beginning of the Armenian Genocide.

We are writing this letter to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, which represents all the Armenians in the world, in order to say that we bow in shame and in respect before the memory of the Ottoman Armenians who were massacred and dispossessed of all their riches, of all their richness of every kind, and effectively, even of the vestiges of their past. We are addressing our letter to you to declare that we remain the defenders of the usurped rights of the children and the grandchildren of the victims who survived massacre and were dispersed to all corners of the earth.

The denial of the genocide by Turkey has lasted for 97 years, not only as a state policy but also as a socially pervasive view. We are writing this letter to you so as to declare that the denial of a crime against humanity, such as genocide, is a transgression of human rights, which itself leads to other transgressions and feeds enmity and hate.

You visited Istanbul in 2006 on the invitation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople. Your visit met with attacks against your person and your See by proponents of hate in Turkey, due especially to a reply you gave in the press conference. You said, “For our people, the genocide is not a matter of investigation; it is a factual event that took place, and must be recognized as such.” Your words were themselves subjected to an investigation under article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, whose legitimacy we contest in the most absolute terms.

We are writing you this letter to state that we share the views you voiced in the press conference in their entirety. As defenders of human rights, we deem the campaign against you by proponents of enmity and hate, as well as the investigation initiated by the Turkish judiciary, to be an attack against human rights.

On April 24, 2011, the same day that we were commemorating in Istanbul the 96th anniversary of the arrest of the Armenian intellectuals, Sevag Şahin Balıkçı was shot dead while on mandatory military duty in the city of Batman. Officials gave misleading information and manipulated witnesses in order to declare the death an accident. Further inspection and investigations have since pointed to premeditated murder.  The murder of Sevag Şahin Balıkçı is evidence that there has been no life security for Armenians since 1915, that the process of genocide is ongoing, and that the denialism of 97 years perpetuates genocide.

In the 97th year of the process of genocide, which began with the arrests in Istanbul on April 24, 1915, and which included the annihilation of the Armenians as well as the Assyrians and Greeks of Anatolia, we are writing this letter to directly address you and the children of the victims of the Armenian Genocide around the world, whom you represent. We hereby declare our belief that it is only after the recognition of the genocide and the restitution of and/or compensation for the confiscated property of Armenians that justice can be established.

Truly yours,

Human Rights Association, Istanbul Branch
Committee Against Racism and Discrimination
Turkey

How could the warmongering President of Azerbaijan be permitted to chair the UN Security Council, the august body that is supposed to promote peace and security in the world? Unfortunately, such an outrage is possible simply because it is Azerbaijan’s turn to take over the rotating chairmanship of the Security Council in the month of May.

Given Ilham Aliyev’s persistent anti-Armenian rhetoric, no one should be surprised when he transforms the UN podium into a battlefield. Fortunately, his military has neither the training nor the motivation to use its highly sophisticated weapons, including those purchased recently from Israel for $1.6 billion. Given Azerbaijan’s inability to unleash an actual war against Artsakh (Karabakh), and fearing that such a confrontation may end with the loss of more territory and devastate his country’s petroleum industry and oil pipelines, Aliyev is trying to distract his destitute people’s attention by issuing threats and launching a war of words against Armenians!

The problem is that Azeris at home won’t be the only ones listening to Aliyev’s hostile statements. The countries bordering Azerbaijan — Iran, Turkey and Russia, will be taking special note of his saber-rattling at the UN. These neighboring states are alarmed by Azerbaijan acting as a surrogate for Israel in their backyard. Should Israel attack Iran by using Azerbaijan’s air bases, Iran may retaliate by annexing Azerbaijan, since there are many more Azeris in Northern Iran than in all of Azerbaijan.

Aliyev’s UN diatribe will probably include some of the same hostile words that he has used recently in Baku. He called Armenians “fascists” and described them as Azerbaijan’s chief adversary. He then blamed “the Armenian lobby” for being his “number one enemy.” Using language borrowed from anti-Semites, and substituting “Armenians” for “Jews,” Aliyev made the following racist accusation: “The scope of their influence is quite broad. They [Armenians] are represented in the leading print media outlets of various countries. Sometimes they go under different names and hide their ethnic origin.” Aliyev’s on-going hateful speeches provide the best evidence as to why Artsakh Armenians can never again live under his despotic regime.

The Azeri President also objected to Armenians calling Azerbaijan “backward and undemocratic,” which accurately describe his country’s dismal human rights record. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the European Parliament, the State Department, and the Western media have repeatedly criticized Azerbaijan for violating the rights of countless journalists, bloggers, dissidents, opposition members, and common citizens!

Eduard Sharmazanov, Deputy Speaker of Armenia’s Parliament, gave an fitting response to Aliyev last week, when he bragged that “the day will come when the Azerbaijani flag will fly in Khankendi [Stepanakert] and Shusha [Shushi].” Sharmazanov quipped that the Azeri flag can fly in Azerbaijan’s embassy in Artsakh, only after Baku recognizes the independence of the Republic of Artsakh and establishes diplomatic relations with it.

To counter Aliyev’s war of words, Armenian-Americans, along with human rights activists and Azeri dissidents, will certainly raise their voices in protest in front of the UN headquarters in early May, as Azerbaijan’s President begins spewing his usual anti-Armenian venom.

Unfortunately, Aliyev has no plans to come to the West Coast where the large Armenian community would have surely welcomed him with massive protests against his Armenophobic speeches and activities. However, the California Armenian community could take advantage of Aliyev’s US visit by urging the State legislature to adopt Assembly Concurrent Resolution 96 that commemorates the massacres of Armenians in the Azeri cities of Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku.

Violating US laws and established diplomatic protocol, the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles sent a lengthy letter to all members of the California State Assembly urging them not to support this resolution. The letter, signed by Ramil Gurbanov, Acting Consul General of Azerbaijan, is obviously drafted by one of its lobbying firms. This piece of propaganda contains many ridiculous statements, but that is not the concern of the “hired guns,” which will do anything to keep their Azeri paymasters happy, as long as they are compensated handsomely for their dirty work.

West Coast Armenian-Americans should contact their State legislators, in particular, the co-authors of Resolution 96 — Assemblymen Felipe Fuentes, Katcho Achadjian, and Mike Gatto, and urge them to bring this bill to a vote while Pres. Aliyev is still on US soil. Meanwhile, East Coast Armenian-Americans should turn out in large numbers in front of the UN headquarters in early May to protest Pres. Aliyev’s racist remarks as “Chairman” of the UN Security Council!

Furthermore, the Armenian community should complain to Federal and State authorities about the Azerbaijani Consulate’s illegal interference in internal US affairs and demand expulsion of Ramil Gurbanov from the United States as “persona non grata.”

A young Armenian holds a sign: "1915 is never forgotten"

The Armenian Youth Federation Western US issued an open letter to President Obama Urging him to recognize the Genocide. Below is the text of the letter.

April 24, 2012
President Barak Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President,

In 2008 when you ran for president of the United States, thousands of American Armenians registered to vote to elect a president who would properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. Believing in your words that “as president, I will recognize the Armenian Genocide” the Armenian community supported your campaign, became civically active and voted for “hope” and “change.” We voted for hope that this nation would have a leader who stands up for human rights and for change from former Presidents who were complicit in genocide denial.

Yet your promise for hope and change to the American Armenian community to finally rectify past injustices remains unfulfilled. For the past three years, American Armenians have been glued to the television screen on April 24th, expecting to hear the word ‘Genocide’ in your statement directed to our community.  Since your election, the American Armenians have been disappointed with your characterization of the Armenian Genocide as the “Medz Yeghern” and the like, which fall short of proper recognition. Not only have you failed to acknowledge the Genocide of 1.5 million Armenians; your statements also failed to bring the justice that was promised to us during your Presidential campaign.

Your record in regards to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Turkish government from 1915 to 1923 goes against the principled position adopted by your Administration on various human rights issues, including condemnation of Genocides.  Since your election, you have pursued a policy of sanctions and tough diplomatic rhetoric towards the government of the Sudan, which has conducted a genocidal policy against its own people in the region of Darfur.  There was no hesitation on your end to correctly classify the events in Darfur as Genocide.  We, the American Armenians, ask today:  why is it so difficult for you to use the same word in regards to the experience of the Armenian people?    

As the first term of your presidency comes to a close and you seek re-election, the Armenian community feels deceived and betrayed.  We invested a lot of time, energy, and resources in your election and after almost four years in office, it is apparent that your promises were merely campaign rhetoric. But in the final hours of your first term, you have the ability to fulfill your campaign promise.

In 2008 you catalyzed a new voting block of young Americans, appealing to notions of universal justice, fairness, and decency. The American Armenians share those values and expect that our President will do what is right when it comes to an issue, which is important to every American Armenian.  This April 24th, do not turn your back on our community.  We ask, once again, for you to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide and help bring justice to those who perished from the hands of the genocidal Turkish state.

A street in Akhaltskha

AKHALTSKHA, Javakhk (Akhaltskha.net)—All teachers and principals from towns surrounding and including Akhaltskha were summoned to a meeting Monday where they were warned against attending commemorations of the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24.

After conferring with their principal, several teachers from the Hovaness Toumanian School had appealed to their city hall asking permission to take part in scheduled commemoration events on April 24. Apparently, this prompted city officials to issue an across the board warning to all educators of Armenian descent, barring them from participating in Genocide commemoration events.

Local officials said that this was the first instance where government officials have barred Akhaltskha residents to take part in Genocide commemoration activities and church services.

President Obama delivers remarks at the US Holocause Museum on Monday (Reuters photo)

WASHINGTON—Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram Hamparian issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s remarks at the U.S. Holocaust Museum, on Monday, outlining U.S. commitment to the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities.

“President Obama undermined his own commitment to ‘Never Again’ in his speech at the U.S. Holocaust Museum this morning, when, on the day before the annual commemoration marking the Armenian Genocide – the atrocities that Hitler himself referenced prior to launching the Holocaust – he cited several past genocides but remained entirely silent on the Armenian Genocide, the crime that, as a candidate for the White House, he so prominently and repeatedly promised to recognize,” stated Hamparian.

“President Obama has the chance, on April 24th, to give real meaning to his words about genocide prevention by rejecting Ankara’s gag-rule and honoring his pledge to properly condemn and commemorate the Armenian Genocide,” concluded Hamparian.

As Senator and presidential candidate, President Obama consistently and repeatedly urged former President Bush to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide, and pledged, as President, to recognize that crime. In a January, 2008, statement, then Senator Obama clearly stated, “as President, I will recognize the Armenian Genocide.”

Read then Senator Obama’s complete statement.

Review then Senator Obama’s complete record on Armenian Genocide affirmation related issues.

President Obama’s April 23rd ‘Never Again’ speech at the U.S. Holocaust Museum took place one day before Armenians and people of good conscience worldwide commemorate the murder of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish Government during the years 1915-1923. Forty-two U.S. states and over 20 countries have properly recognized the Armenian Genocide. Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan acknowledged the crime as genocide in 1981. The U.S. House adopted Armenian Genocide legislation in 1975 and 1984 and included reference to the crime in House adopted amendments in 1996 and 2005. More recently, the House Foreign Affairs Committee has passed Armenian Genocide legislation in 2007 and 2010. The Republic of Turkey continues its international campaign of Armenian Genocide denial, issuing economic and political threats against countries who properly characterize the crime. Those threats have largely been hollow, with economic trade data showing a marked increase in trade with Turkey after the Genocide has been recognized.

Protesters sending a clear message to President Obama

Broad Cross-Section of Community Gathers for Rain-Soaked Demonstration

WASHINGTON—Armenian-Americans from across the Greater Washington area rallied in front of the White House just days before President Obama’s annual April 24 remarks, urging him to honor his pledge to properly characterize the murder of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish Government as “genocide.”

The protest was organized by the Armenian Youth Federation “Ani” Chapter, in coordination with a coalition of Armenian American groups comprising the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of Greater Washington.

“President Obama’s record on genocide – whether it has been his failure to recognize the Armenian Genocide or to put an end to Sudanese President Omer al Bashir’s attacks on the Nuba people and South Kordofan — falls far short of the ‘unstinting resolve’ he pledged as Senator and Presidential candidate to stand up to genocide,” said AYF Ani Chapter President Tevin Polatian.  “President Obama has instead resorted to empty rhetoric and worse, in the case of the Armenian Genocide, pressured Armenia to support the Turkey-Armenia Protocols – the latest in the arsenal of Turkey’s tactics to avoid dealing with this dark page in its past.”  Polatian continued to note, however, that “It’s not too late.  President Obama, on April 24th, has the opportunity to set the record straight — honor the bravery and principles of U.S. diplomats like Henry Morgenthau and John Evans – and describe the murder of 1.5 million Armenians for what it was – Genocide.”

Among the White House protesters was Visalia, California Mayor Amy Shuklian, who marched in memory of her grandmother, Aroosiag, who was a survivor of the Armenian Genocide.  Shuklian was clear and succinct in her message to President Obama that day:  “Recognize the Genocide for what it was, Mr. President – a Genocide.”

At the end of the protest, Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of Greater Washington member Jake Bournazian offered a passionate message to President Obama, urging him to honor the founding principles of the United States and become a great president by recognizing the Armenian Genocide.  Bournazian detailed the cultural genocide being committed by the Turkish Government today, citing the ongoing destruction of centuries old Armenian Churches, and the need for Turkey to not only recognize the Armenian Genocide but make reparations to the Armenian people. Portions of his remarks are posted on the ANCA Youtube page and the Voice of America Armenia Division (VOA Armenia) page at the following links:

Coverage of the rally is already posted on Yerkir Media with news forthcoming on the H1 and VOA channels.

At the end of the two-hour demonstration, protesters were drenched from the torrential rain, but undeterred in their calls upon President Obama to end Turkey’s gag rule on U.S. affirmation of this crime with a clear and unambiguous statement on April 24th. President Obama, along with Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, each, as Senators, consistently and repeatedly recognized the Armenian Genocide, and called on former President George W. Bush to properly recognize this crime.  President Obama, in a statement to the Armenian American community in January, 2008, stated “America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President.” Over the past 4 years, the President has not honored his pledge, with his Administration having gone so far as opposing a House resolution affirming the Armenian Genocide in 2010, and later opposing House passage of H.Res. 306, which calls on Turkey to return Christian Churches to their rightful owners, the vast majority of which were confiscated during the Armenian Genocide.

Read President Obama’s statements in support of Armenian Genocide affirmation as Senator and Presidential candidate.

The April 22nd White House demonstration was part of a series of Washington, DC area Armenian Genocide commemorative activities, including a demonstration in front of the Turkish Embassy on Tuesday, April 24th, and the annual Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide Observance on April 25th.

Rafael Medoff

Ahead of President Obama’s speech at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington on Monday, The Jerusalem Post published an op-ed piece by Rafael Medoff entitled “The speech Obama should give at the Holocaust Museum.”

“One major mistake was our government’s hesitancy to acknowledge, loudly and clearly, that the Jews were being singled out for mass annihilation. During my years in the United States Senate, I said the US should publicly recognize that Turkey perpetrated genocide against the Armenians. Presidents, of course, face a unique array of pressures and considerations, and during my first years in office, I chose to use the Armenian term ‘Meds Yeghem,’ rather than ‘genocide,’ out of sensitivity to Turkey’s objections. But failing to acknowledge genocide paves the way for future genocides. I cannot be a party to that. From now on, I will not hesitate to state clearly that what the Armenians suffered was genocide,” writes Medoff.

Read the entire Jerusalem Post article.

Councilmembers Krekorian and Garcetti with the honorees

ANCA Activists Among Honorees

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles City Council conducted their annual Armenian Genocide Commemoration today, April 20, in the Rotunda of City Hall, hosted by Councilmember Paul Krekorian. Krekorian was joined by former City Council President Eric Garcetti, City Councilmember Dennis Zine, and City Controller Wendy Greuel, who each offered remarks remembering the Armenian Genocide.

Councilmember Krikorian honored activists for their years of leadership in the Armenian American community.  Honorees were applauded for their efforts in educating and raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide.  Recipients included ANCA Glendale Executive Director Elen Asatryan, ANCA San Fernando Valley West Chairman Nareg Kitsinian, Editor of Asbarez English Ara Khachatourian, film director Ara Soudjian, Pilibos student Natalie Kalbakian, Ferrahian Armenian School principal John Kossakian, and longtime ANCA activist Garen Yegparian, for raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide. Also honored were Ara Oshagan and Levon Parian of the Armenian Genocide Project, as well as the USC Shoah Foundation Institute and the Armenian Film Foundation.

Following the commemoration ceremony in the Rotunda, the Genocide was commemorated during a session of the L.A. City Council, where the honorees were again recognized for their efforts. Councilmembers Jan Perry, Bill Rosendahl, Paul Koretz, and City Council President Herb Wesson made remarks, as well.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

Particpants of the National Representative Assembly

LA CRESCENTA—On Friday, April 20 Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian was unanimously re-elected to a fifth four-year term as Prelate during the second session of the 40th National Representatives Assembly.

During the day’s two sessions, delegates discussed and analyzed the annual activities of the Prelate and Religious and Executive Councils, which they found “highly commendable”.

Following the election of the Prelate, a prayer service was held at the “St. Dertad and St. Ashkhen Chapel.” The Prelate first and foremost thanked God, then expressed his gratitude to H.H. Catholicos Aram I for his assurance, and finally thanked the delegates for their vote of confidence.  In conclusion, the Prelate prayed for the collaborative endeavors of the coming years to be carried out with unity and harmony and in accordance with the will of God.

The Assembly concluded on Saturday, April 21 with the election of the Religious and Executive Councils as follows:

Religious Council
Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian
Archpriest Fr. Khoren Habeshian
Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian
Rev. Fr. Vazken Atmajian
Rev. Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian
Rev. Fr. Ardak Demirjian
Rev. Fr. Ashod Kambourian

Executive Council
Rima Boghossian (re-elected)
George Chorbajian (re-elected)
Toros Kejejian (re-elected)
Vahan Bezdikian (re-elected)
Sako Shirikian (re-elected)
Bill Sahatdjian (re-elected)
Ani Mgrdichian-Garikian
Mher Der Ohanessian
Dr. Navasart Kazazian
Dr. Misak Barsamian
Dr. Dikran Babikian

Details of the Assembly to follow.

Catherine Yesayan

BY CATHERINE YESAYAN

What do you do when it’s pouring outside? The first Sunday of spring, March 25, was an unusual rainy day.  Since I was not inspired to do anything I stayed home and watched TV.

Surfing channels to find something interesting, I came across a fundraising program on one of the Glendale local Armenian channels.  It was a telethon organized by Unified Young Armenians (UYA) to raise money for a march in Hollywood commemorating the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

It was heartwarming to see a group of young Armenians putting together a successful telethon.  I was drawn into the program. The next day I called their office to meet the group and learn more about their activities.

Aroutin Hartounian, the president of the group, was 14 when his family immigrated from Iran to the U.S. in 1999.  Now at age 27, he is an aspiring and ambitious young man studying at Southwestern Law School. Hartounian said that the telethon brought $42,000 in pledges, which will cover a fraction of the expenses of organizing the walk. The rest of the funds was raised during a Christmas dinner-dance and other donations throughout the year.

United Young Armenian (UYA) was formed in 2000 with a vision to promote world peace and understanding and to seek justice for human rights. The UYA envisions a world free of genocides, with no inhuman treatment of man towards man.

The group organized its first walk on April 24, 2001, in Hollywood. The purpose of the walk, then and now, is to demonstrate and make the world hear the cruelty of the Ottoman Turks towards Armenians and to demand recognition and an overdue reparation for the Armenian Genocide. Since then every year thousands of people have come to participate in the walk.

The walk begins at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Hobart and Hollywood Boulevards. The route goes east on Hollywood Boulevard and then south on Normandie Avenue to Sunset Blvd. and then back to the starting intersection. The distance covers 1.5 miles, chosen as a symbolic figure for the annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians by the Turks.

The UYA selected that particular route first because it falls in the heart of a neighborhood called Little Armenia, and second because it is close to major radio and TV stations.

Traffic will be closed along the route during the April 24 march. Prominent members of the community have been invited to participate and to speak at noon during the closing ceremony of the walk.

Free bus transportation departing at 8 a.m. will be provided from 11 different locations as follows:
St Mary’s Armenian Church – Glendale
Anush Banquet Hall – Colorado/Glendale
Anush Banquet Hall – Glenoaks/Glendale
Maple Park – Glendale
Whole Foods Market – Glendale
St. Gevork Church – Kenneth/Glendale
Western Diocese of the Armenian Church – Burbank
Arbat Golden Palace – Burbank
Shirak Deli – La Crescenta
Blackjack Market – North Hollywood
St. Gregory Church – Pasadena
The UYA will also organize an Armenian Genocide Candlelight Vigil and musical performance on Monday, April 23, at 7 p.m. The event will be held at the northwest corner of Verdugo and Mountain streets, across from Glendale College (this is a large parking lot just south of the Glendale Civic Auditorium).

* * * * *

Another youth group, one with deep roots and a long tradition in the Armenian community, is the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), which was founded under the auspices of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation in 1933 in Boston, Massachusetts.

For the last three decades, AYF has organized an annual April 24th protest in front of the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles. The demonstration will be held on Tuesday April 24, from 4 to 6 p.m.at 6300 Wilshire Blvd, LA. The organization is providing free buses, departing at 2 p.m. from the following locations:

Pasadena Armenian Center
St. Mary’s Church – Glendale
Orange County Armenian Center
Pilibos Armenian School – Hollywood.

Besides the protest in front of the Turkish consulate, AYF has organized other commemorative events to mark the 97th anniversary of the Genocide.

The Glendale “Roupen” Chapter, in the evening of Sunday April 15 hosted a rally “One Voice, One Cause,” at St. Mary’s church in Glendale signifying the rebirth of the Armenian nation. The few hundred crowd enjoyed food and music played by the Element Band, the Palm of Granite and others.

A Vigil will be organized by Burbank “Varak” Chapter and the ANC of Burbank on Tuesday April 24. A Proclamation from City Council will be read at 6 p.m. and the actual vigil will start at 7 p.m..

On Sunday, April 29, a bike ride will be organized by the Valley’s “Sardarabad” Chapter. The event is called “Cycle Against Denial”

It is so gratifying to see our youth devoting their talents and time to advance the Armenian cause. Kudos to our youth for providing all these commemorative events.

Catherine Yesayan is a contributor to Asbarez. You may reach her at cyesayan@gmail.com or read her stories on her blog

Rep. John Sarbanes

Sarbanes: US refusal to recognize genocide “puts salt on the wounds of the Armenian people . . . Corrodes the moral standing of our nation”

WASHINGTON—Maryland Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD) offered moving remarks on the floor of the U.S. House this week in support of full and formal U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

In his April 18 speech, Representative Sarbanes stressed that the U.S. government’s failure to stand up to Turkey’s denial of this crime “puts salt on the wounds of the Armenian people. But it does more than that. It corrodes the moral standing of our Nation as a whole.”

He also explained to his House colleagues that: “When faced with the deeply compelling research and scholarship surrounding the Armenian Genocide, it is wholly untenable to assert that the genocide did not occur. Instead, many in Congress offer the protest that recognition would harm our relationship with Turkey and undermine our broader geostrategic interests. Others suggest weakly that it is just not the right time to push the issue of recognition.”

Watch the Maryland Congressman’s remarks.

“Armenian Americans from Maryland and across America join in thanking Congressman Sarbanes for his principled call for U.S. condemnation and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.  “We share his view that U.S. complicity in the denial of this crime not only represents an offense against Armenians, but also a surrender of our human rights policy to foreign pressure that undermines America’s moral standing.”

The complete text of the Congressman’s remarks are provided below.

Congressional Record:
U.S. House of Representatives

April 18, 2012

The SPEAKER pro tempore:  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes) for 5 minutes.

Mr. SARBANES:  Mr. Speaker, the genocide of more than 1 1/2 million Armenians by Ottoman-era Turkish authorities is an undeniable fact of history. In 1915, the Armenian nation which had resided in Anatolia for thousands of years was subjected to an organized barbarity that included death marches, drowning, and executions.

Those who managed to survive these horrors scattered to the four corners of the Earth. Today, survivors of the Armenian Genocide and their children and grandchildren bear witness to this massacre. Each year, Armenian Americans, supported by others who readily accept the teachings of history, renew their plea that the United States Government formally recognize the Armenian genocide, and every year that responsibility of recognition remains unfulfilled.

When faced with the deeply compelling research and scholarship surrounding the Armenian Genocide, it is wholly untenable to assert that the genocide did not occur. Instead, many in Congress offer the protest that recognition would harm our relationship with Turkey and undermine our broader geostrategic interests. Others suggest weakly that it is just not the right time to push the issue of recognition. The result is the same–the continued failure on the part of the United States to do the right thing. This failure puts salt on the wounds of the Armenian people. But it does more than that. It corrodes the moral standing of our Nation as a whole.

I join those who once again, at this time of annual remembrance, implore my fellow Members of Congress and President Obama to formally recognize the Armenian genocide.

Mr. Jerry Turpanjian and USC President Dr. C.L. Max Nikias

Turpanjians Endow $3 million Chair in Contemporary Armenian Studies

BY TAMAR MASHIGIAN

LOS ANGELES—The USC Institute of Armenian Studies’ Leadership Council proudly announced at its Seventh Anniversary Gala Banquet on Sunday, April 15, a $3 million endowment for a Chair in Contemporary Armenian Studies at USC by the Turpanjian Family.

With USC Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Elizabeth Garrett in attendance and an audience of just under 1,000, the Institute’s Leadership also announced the establishment of a $2 million Armenian Genocide Studies Endowed Fund at USC. The total of the two funds, including previous endowment funds, means that Armenian studies programs at USC are supported by a $7 million endowed structure.

Jerry and Pat Turpanjian, with their daughter Lori Muncherian, stood center stage in the Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom Sunday night, joined by fellow members of the Honorary and Leadership Councils: John Marshall Evans, Paul Ignatius, Mihran Agbabian, John Berberian, R. Hrair Dekmejian, Charles Ghailian, Vahe Karapetian, Varrant Melkonian, Gerald Papazian, Harut Sassounian, Sinan Sinanian, Dickran Tevrizian and Savey Tufenkian.

The April 15 event was organized to honor the USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education for championing the Armenian Genocide Digitization Project.

The second half of Sunday evening’s program focused on the USC Shoah Foundation Institute, represented in force at the International Ballroom, and the Armenian Genocide Digitization Project, and featured a videotaped message from Steven Spielberg.

“I’m really pleased that the USC Shoah Foundation Institute is being recognized tonight by the USC Institute of Armenian Studies Leadership Council,” Spielberg said in a videotaped message. “We are working together to preserve and to disseminate this collection of 400 interviews of survivors and witnesses gathered by Dr. J. Michael Hagopian and the Armenian Film Foundation for over 39 years.   So I applaud them for their pioneering efforts and … for their tireless dedication.”

Spielberg established the Shoah Foundation in 1994 to record the stories of Holocaust survivors, and in 2006 the foundation became a part of the USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences. The Shoah Foundation Institute’s Visual History Archive contains 52,000 Holocaust testimonies, and the digitized copies of documentary filmmaker J. Michael Hagopian’s interviews with Armenian Genocide survivors will be disseminated on the worldwide web by Shoah.

Hagopian, who founded the Armenian Film Foundation, also was posthumously honored with a video presentation of his life. His daughter, Joanne Hagopian Eknoian, who accepted a medal in his honor, urged the audience to donate to the Armenian Film Foundation to help fund the digitization of Hagopian’s archive of 400 filmed eyewitness testimonies. The backdrop of the evening’s cinematic presentation was a mosaic of faces of Armenian Genocide survivors, testimony to Hagopian’s work to preserve their voices.

In addition to honoring the USC Shoah Foundation Institute and Hagopian, the Armenian Institute’s Leadership Council paid special tribute to Armin T. Wegner, a German medic who took the iconic photographs of the 1915 massacre of the Armenians and later wrote an open letter to Hitler to stop the Jewish Holocaust. Wegner’s son, Mischa, who traveled from Europe to be present at the April 15 event, gave a moving, poetic story about his father, whose crusade earned him the title of Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem in 1967. Part of Wegner’s ashes were taken to Armenia in 1996.

The goal of the USC Armenian Institute’s Leadership Council is to bring together digital copies of all of the collections of interviews with Armenian Genocide survivors and eyewitnesses, essentially creating what may become the largest archive of Genocide eyewitness interviews in the world – proof of the Armenian Genocide.

USC Shoah Foundation Institute Director Dr. Stephen Smith’s eloquent remarks about Wegner and Hagopian concluded with the statement:  “What happened was a genocide – factually, historically.  And anyone who wants to engage in a conversation about that is not engaging in controversy, they’re engaging in denial.  And we don’t accept denial.”

The evening began with the USC Trojan Marching Band parting the crowds as they marched into the room. The evening ended with a message of unity from filmmaker Carla Garapedian, Armenian Film Foundation Digitization Project Director: “Remember this day.   It is the day we honor our survivors and witnesses – not by mourning, but by taking a step forward and exercising our power as a community. On this day, we shine a light on the darkness, we share these testimonies with the world, as part of an archive which will include the voices of survivors from other genocides, in one of the largest archives of its kind in the world.  Remember this day. April 15, 2012. We are here. We survived. And on this day, we go global.”

Ardashes Kassakhian

Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan to offer the Morning Prayer in the Senate on the morning of the observance

WASHINGTON—Glendale City Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian, a veteran of public service on Capitol Hill, will serve as Master of Ceremonies of this year’s Capitol Hill Observance of the Armenian Genocide, set to take place in the historic Senate Kennedy Caucus Room on April 25.

The program is being hosted by the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, in conjunction with Armenian American organizations, and with support of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia and the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

As Master of Ceremonies, Kassakhian will welcome Armenian Americans and anti-genocide advocates from across the United States, and introduce Senators and Representatives participating in the program to mark this solemn occasion and reaffirm the commitment of the American people to a truthful and just resolution of this crime.

Earlier that day, His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, has been invited by the Chaplain of the Senate, at the recommendation of Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), to offer the morning prayer on the Senate Floor. The Archbishop’s invocation will be broadcast nationally on C-SPAN2 and streamed online on www.cspan.org as well as www.senate.gov.  In 2010, Archbishop Choloyan offered the morning prayer in the U.S. House of Representatives at the request of Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and the invitation of the House Chaplain.

Two pieces of legislation have recently been introduced in the U.S. Senate related to the Armenian Genocide.  The first, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, S.Res.399, offered by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), calls upon the U.S. government to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide and to use the lessons of this atrocity to prevent future crimes against humanity.  The second, the Return of Churches Resolution, S.Res.392, introduced by Senators Scott Brown (R-MA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Mark Kirk calls upon Turkey to return stolen Christian church properties to their rightful owners.

The Senate Kennedy Caucus Room is located in the Russell Senate Office Building Room 325, located on Constitution Avenue, between Delaware Ave NE and 1st Street NE.  The closest metro station is Union Station (Red Line).  Limited pay hourly parking is available at the Union Station parking structure.  Contact the ANCA at anca@anca.org with any questions.

Who: Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
What:    Armenian Genocide Commemoration
Where: Senate Kennedy Caucus Room – Russell 325
When: Wednesday, April 25, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:30 pm

Learn more about this program or confirm your participation

City Clerk Margarita Campos

May 4 Event to be headlined by Representative Adam Schiff

BURBANK—The ANCA Burbank will continue its tradition of honoring local leaders in government, business, grassroots activism and youth issues during its May 4th annual banquet, to be held at the Arbat Banquet Hall.

Burbank City Clerk Margarita Campos, local business owner Sarkis Nikogosian, ANCA Western Region Board Member Zareh Sinanian, Esq. and AYF leader Talar Kossakian will be given top honors for 2012, in recognition of their years of selfless service to the Burbank community in each of their categories.

“We are proud to come together on May 4th to spotlight Campos, Nikogosian, Sinanian and Kossakian for their dedication to a better Burbank through their tireless efforts in the civic, political and business arenas,” said ANCA Burbank Chairwoman Silva Kechichian.  “Like the icons after which the respective ANCA Burbank awards have been named, each serve as an inspiration to the Armenian American community, and Burbank residents at large.”

Burbank’s own Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) will be joining the honorees as keynote speaker at the banquet, along with the ANCA’s Elizabeth Chouldjian, who will offer insights on the ANCA’s youth empowerment programs in Washington, DC.  The evening will be capped off with the musical renditions of Koko Hayitian, who will be entertaining guests with his Armenian and international repertoire. Proceeds from the banquet will support the civic participation and youth development efforts of the ANCA Endowment Fund.  Tickets can be purchased by visiting itsmyseat.com or by contacting silva@anca.org.

The 2012 ANCA Burbank honorees and their awards are detailed below:

ANCA  Burbank “William Saroyan” Legislator of the Year Award – Margarita Campos
Margarita Campos has worked for the City of Burbank since 1974. After four years as a legal secretary in the City Attorney’s Office, she moved to the City Council Office where she served as Secretary to the Mayor for 17 years, then as Community Assistance Coordinator for 4 years. In 2001, Margarita was appointed to fill an unexpired term and was later elected twice by the citizens of Burbank to serve as City Clerk.  Throughout her tenure, Campos has had an ‘open door’ policy with the local Armenian community and all Burbank residents.  She has worked tirelessly to facilitate broader voter registration and participation, particularly among those who recently became U.S. citizens.

Sarkis Nikogosian

ANCA  Burbank “Levon Shant” Businessman of the Year Award — Sarkis Nikogosian
Sarkis Nikogosian has been supporting Armenian community efforts in Southern California and projects in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh since he moved to the United States in 1980.  The owner and proprietor of the beautiful Arbat Banquet Hall, he is an active participant in Burbank’s busy business life. Over the past 10 years, he has made facilities available for countless community events, including this year’s ANCA Burbank annual banquet.  His wife, Narine, is a businesswoman and author in her own right, with her book “Return to Beauty: Recipes and Old World Wisdom for Great Skin” touted by top celebrities and fashion magazines alike.

Zareh Sinanyan

ANCA Burbank “Vahan Cardashian” Community Leader of the Year Award – Zareh J. Sinanyan
Zareh J. Sinanyan has been a part of the ANC family since 2000.  He has served on the Burbank and Glendale ANCA boards for over a decade.  In that period, Zareh has taken an active role in virtually every political race that has impacted areas heavily populated by Armenian-Americans.  He served on the City of Glendale’s Parks, Recreation & Community Services Commission for 2 years, and has chaired and now serves on the Community Development Block Grants Advisory Committee for 3 years.  Even while running a full time law practice, Zareh volunteers his time for numerous community legal clinics, hosted and is a regular commentator on various television shows, and lectures to various youth groups.  Zareh is the father of four children.

Talar Kossakian

ANCA Burbank “Karekin Njdeh” Youth Activist of the Year Award – Talar Kossakian
Talar Kossakian, a longtime member and current Secretary of the Burbank AYF “Varak” Chapter, is a second year health administration major at California State University, Northridge.  She has worked closely with the AYF and ANC in reaching out to local Armenian youth groups, including the Burbank High School Armenian Club, which is presenting an Armenian Genocide awareness video during the April 24th Burbank City Council commemoration of the crime.  The film will subsequently be broadcast on the City of Burbank Government Access Channel.  Kossakian joined over 10 ANC Burbank activists last year in a journey to the nation’s capital for the ANCA’s Armenian Cause 2.0 grassroots conference.

For more information about the banquet and to secure reservations, please contact Silva Kechichian at silva@anca.org or visit the ANCA Burbank Facebook page – facebook.com/ancaburbank .  Tickets are available online at: http://www.itsmyseat.com//events/824386.html

Hasmig and Levon Tavlian

PASADENA—When William Saroyan famously wrote, in August of 1935 in New York City, of two Armenians being able to create a new Armenia anywhere in the world, he must have had in mind Levon and Hasmig Tavlian. This remarkable couple, born of genocide survivors from Yozgat and Sis in historic Armenia, created a new Armenia in the City of Pasadena by supporting the creation of a pre-school that today, proudly bears their name. The school, launched in 1992, was the brainchild of Hasmig Tavlian and begun after her passing by her proud sons Vazken, Vatche and Vahe.

Today, the Levon and Hasmig Tavlian Armenian Pre-School is among the most pre-eminent educational centers in southern California, serving as the only Armenian kindergarten in Pasadena accredited by The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). For knowledgeable parents, the NAEYC Accreditation has become the mark of quality, helping parents find the best possible early childhood experience.

The story of Levon and Hasmig Tavlian is a wonderful one. Having grown up in Beirut, they married in 1951. Levon was a jeweler, who began his career working for others, but quickly opened his own store in the bustling streets of Beirut. His wife and life partner Hasmig, was a dedicated member of the Armenian community in Lebanon. In addition to being a loving mother to her three sons, Hasmig was engaged in the life of the Armenian Church through the Ladies Guild.

When Levon and Hasmig moved to America in 1978, they settled in the City of Pasadena, with their sons who had come to the country years earlier. Their sons Vatche and Vahe completed their education in Civil Engineering and would later pursue successful careers in real estate development. Levon and his son Vazken continued their work as jewelers and Hasmig continued her efforts with the Ladies Guild for the Armenian Apostolic Church of Pasadena. Yet, despite her deep involvement in the church, it was always Hasmig’s fervent dream to start a pre-school in Pasadena. For her husband Levon, his wife’s dream was also his own.

“My mother believed that at a young age you can instill the Armenian spirit within a child through a strong Armenian school,” recounted her son Vahe Tavlian. “My mother was well read and was especially focused on safeguarding the Armenian language, which she believed, is an essential part of creating an enduring Armenian identity with a new generation of Armenian American children. When she passed away in 1991, my father and two brothers knew the best way to honor her life was to honor her dream, to create an Armenian pre-school in the City of Pasadena,” Tavlian added.

By donating the seed money to start the school in 1992, the Tavlian family was able to launch the school with a grand total of four students. Soon thereafter, Vahe Tavlian would begin an eight year term as chairman of the church Board for the Armenian Apostolic Church of Pasadena and later the Tavlian School Board, which gave him a front row seat to all the challenges his family and the community would face in keeping his mother’s dream alive.

In recounting the early years of the Levon and Hasmig Tavlian Armenian Pre-School, Vahe Tavlian remembered two distinct facts. First, his entire family was committed to supporting the school, through charity events and old-fashioned hard work. Second, he does remember dark moments, when it seemed like the school’s future was in jeopardy. During those dark moments, Tavlian recounted, it was the faith of his mother that inspired him and his family to rally the community to ensure the success of the pre-school. That faith, it turns out, was well placed, because Tavlian’s success as an educational institution has exceeded all expectations.

As he recounted his memories of the school and his sense of pride for the educational institution that bears his parents name, Vahe Tavlian wistfully added this. “The success I have had in my life has no comparison to the brilliant success of the Tavlian School and the joy I feel when I hear the children at the school sing the school anthem at their year-end performance, or hantes. That feeling makes me spiritually proud, proud of my parents, and proud of their children who never stopped believing in their dream to establish an Armenian pre-school in Pasadena. Every success in my life has no comparison to hearing the sweet Armenian melodies that the children sing in the safe and welcoming environment that their school provides. I only wish my mother and father were present to hear them with me,” he added with a smile. He concluded with a wish, “that every Armenian would emulate the idea of pursuing a dream that benefits our community and our collective future.”

On May 4 a broad and diverse number of dedicated Armenian Americans will gather at a celebratory banquet to mark the 20th anniversary of the Tavlian Armenian Pre-School. The banquet will be held at Armenian Society of Los Angeles Additional information on the banquet may be secured by contacting the school office by phone at 626-398-8199. Consistent with their longtime support for the school, the Tavlian brothers are sponsoring the May 4th banquet.

Background on the Tavlian Armenian Pre-School, which has served our community with distinction for over two decades, may be found at the school’s user-friendly website: www.tavlianpreschool.org.

Genocide commemoration at the California Senate chamber

SACRAMENTO—Some 200 activists traveled to Sacramento from all around California for the annual ANCA-WR Advocacy Day to commemorate the Armenian Genocide and advocate for issues of concern to Armenian-American community.

Resolutions in both houses of the California State Legislature commemorating the Armenian Genocide were introduced and unanimously passed.

Activists will hold meetings throughout the day with their elected officials to develop and strengthen relations of the Armenian community in California.

“The sizable participation by our community, traveling hundreds of miles from around California to be in Sacramento, underscores the active involvement of Armenians in the processes which directly affect their lives,” said Executive Director William Bairamian.

More details forthcoming.

Vladimir Kazimirov

YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net)—The former Russian co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group Vladimir Kazimirov during a conference on Karabakh on Wednesday blamed official Baku for the current stalemate in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

Speaking at a conference marking the 20th anniversary of the Russian-Armenian diplomatic relations, Kazimirov presented a report on Karabakh resolution process detailing the action of each side to conflict during the active phases negotiations.

In his report, Kazimirov cited Azerbaijan’s refusal to fulfill the provisions previously reached agreements as the main issue stalling the negotiations.

At the June 24, 2011 meeting in Kazan, the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia failed to sign an agreement on basic principles of Karabakh conflict settlement. As Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian later explained, despite the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ efforts, Azerbaijan was not ready to accept the final version of the basic principles and presented 10 new amendments at the last minute.

Kazimirov also said that Russia would not tolerate the resumption of war in Karabakh.

The retired Russian diplomat said that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs (including Russia) must make every effort to prevent a new war in Karabakh. “The mediators must continue with their line of conflict prevention,” the diplomat said.

Genocide commemoration at Taksim Square last year

ISTANBUL—Two local human rights organizations are planning a series of demonstrations and events on April 24 to mark the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and to denounce racism, reported the Hurriyet Daily News.

“We sum up the rationale behind these activities in a single sentence: The recognition of the Armenian genocide represents the fulfillment of an ethical, legal, political and social responsibility,” Ayşe Gunaysu, a member of the Human Rights Association (İHD), recently told the Hurriyet Daily News.

The main demonstration will take place in Istanbul’s Taksim Square, ironically the site of anti-Armenian protests in February.

The IHD and the “Say ‘No’ to Racism Initiative,” which are jointly organizing the commemoration, are set to announce further details about the location and time of demonstrations in other cities across Turkey several days before the commemoration on April 24.

“Lies cannot under any circumstances prevail until eternity, if we are willing to see the truth,” said Gunaysu, who is a member of both the IHD’s administrative board and its Commission against Racism and Discrimination.

The two NGOs organized simultaneous demonstrations in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, as well as in other provinces across Turkey last April 24.

“The acknowledgement of this [past] pain will lead to real democratization in Turkey. Racism and hatred will lose ground, and we will further approach humane [standards of] living,” she said.

Gunaysu also drew attention to the death of Sevag Sahin Balıkcı, a Turkish citizen of Armenian descent who was allegedly killed by a stray bullet on April 24, 2011, while performing his military service.

Azeri journalist Eynulla Fatullayev

PARIS (Combined Sources)—An Azerbaijani journalist who exposed Azeri human rights violations and was imprisoned for his actions has been selected to as the winner of the 2012 UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize, the United Nations announced Wednesday.

Eynulla Fatullayev, 35, is former editor-in-chief of the Russian Language weekly Realny Azerbaijan, as well as the Azeri-language daily Gundalik Azarbaycan. He is well known for his criticisms of the Azerbaijani government’s violations of human rights and press freedom. He endured years of assault and death threats, finally suspending the publication of both newspapers when his father was kidnapped.

He was imprisoned in 2007 for four years for criticizing government policies and was released by presidential pardon last year. During his incarceration, Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists lobbied for his release. In 2011, Amnesty International classified him as a “priority case.”

“Throughout his career, he has unfailingly and steadfastly spoken out for freedom of the press and freedom of expression,” UNESCO said in a statement announcing the award.

The award is named for Guillermo Cano, a newspaper publisher murdered for decrying the powerful drug bosses in his native Colombia in 1987. The prize was created in 1997 to honor reporters and publishers who put their lives on the line to promote freedom of expression around the world.

In his presentation government ministers on Monday, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said that the Armenian lobby was to blamed for the international community’s criticism of Baku’s abysmal policy on human rights and continuous abuses.

Forum18 Web site

OSLO—“Freedom of religion or belief and related human rights such as the freedom of expression and of assembly remain highly restricted,” says a report published by Forum 18, a Web and email initiative, which provides original reporting and analysis on violations of the freedom of thought, conscience and belief of all people, whatever their religious affiliation, in an objective, truthful and timely manner.

Among issues documented in Forum 18’s religious freedom survey are: state attempts to counter discussion of violations with claims of inter-religious harmony and religious tolerance; officials behaving as if the rule of law places no limitations on their actions; unfair trials lacking due legal process; steadily increasing “legal” restrictions on and punishments for exercising freedom of religion or belief, often prepared in secret, forming a labyrinth of restrictive state controls; “legal” denials of international human rights standards Azerbaijan has agreed to implement; a highly restrictive censorship regime; enforced closures of places people meet for worship; a ban on praying outside mosques; jailing of prisoners of conscience exercising the right to conscientious objection to military service; arbitrary deportations of foreign citizens exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief; and severe denials of human rights in Nakhichevan.

“Azerbaijan is likely to remain a place where fundamental human rights are violated with impunity, and the state tries to make exercising human rights conditional upon state permission,” says the report.

Forum 18, named after Article 18 of the Universal Declaration Human Rights is a Norwegian-Danish non-profit charitable initiative

In his presentation government ministers on Monday, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said that the Armenian lobby was to blamed for the international community’s criticism of Baku’s abysmal policy on human rights and continuous abuses.

Read the entire Forum 18 report.

IAEA head Yukiya Amano during meetings in Yerevan

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, United Nations nuclear watchdog, inspected the nuclear plant at Medzamor and discussed with Armenian leaders their plans to delay its decommissioning during a visit to Armenia on Wednesday.

Official news sources in Yerevan said Yukiya Amano, the director general of the IAEA, was also briefed on the Armenian government’s ambitious project to replace the aging Soviet-era facility by a new plant meeting modern safety standards.

“You are planning to extend the nuclear plant’s life span and then halt and decommission it,” a government statement quoted Amano as telling Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan. “At all those stages, our agency is obliged to assist Armenia in carrying out that work smoothly.”

“Armenia is committed to further deepening our productive cooperation with the IAEA,” Sargsyan said. “The government is paying a lot of attention to ensuring safe exploitation of the atomic block.”

Amano discussed the matter at a separate meeting with Energy Minister Armen Movsisian. A statement by Movsisian’s ministry said they looked into ongoing efforts to enhance the plant’s “level of safety and physical protection” as well as “technical assistance” for the decommissioning process.

Amano and other IAEA officials accompanying him familiarized themselves with the safety measures when they visited Medzamor after the meeting with Movsisian. According to the ministry statement, they inspected various units of the plant generating about 40 percent of Armenia’s electricity.

Medzamor’s sole functioning reactor was supposed to be shut down by 2017, in time for the planned construction of a new and more powerful facility at the same site more than 30 kilometers west of Yerevan. But with the ambitious project clearly falling behind schedule, the Armenian government has indicated that the current plant will operate longer than planned despite lingering domestic and international concerns about its safety.

Amano discussed the project estimated to cost $5 billion with Sarkisian, Movsisian as well as Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. He was reported to call for “joint efforts to ensure a high degree of transparency” in its implementation.

“The prime minister assured him that Armenia is interested in that and ready to continue to act in an open and transparent manner,” the government’s press office said. It said Sargsyan also told Amano that the government has already drawn up a “timetable for measures to extend the existing nuclear plant’s operations and ensure its safety.”

The long-standing concerns over Medzamor’s safety were rekindled last year by grave accidents at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The authorities in Yerevan responded by initiating a two-week inspection of Medzamor by IAEA experts.

The Vienna-based watchdog’s ad hoc Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) concluded in June that the plant poses an “acceptable” level of risk to the environment and can, in principle, operate beyond its design life span.

ANCA Telethon is on May 20

BY KENNETH V. HACHIKIAN

Political Power.

You deserve it.

Armenia needs it.

Artsahkh depends on it.

Our homeland’s enemies fear it.

And the Armenian Cause depends on it.

Armenian American political power is surely vital for our future, but, as we all know, it sure doesn’t come free.

Especially in Washington, D.C.

Some buy it.  Others rent it.  A few steal it.

We earn it.

Family by family, community by community, chapter by chapter.

For more than a century, we’ve invested in our greatest national treasure: Our people.

Education.

Inspiration.

Mobilization.

Through experience and example, we’ve trained generations of Armenian Americans to give voice to the spirit in their hearts.  To translate their feelings into action, and their actions into results.  To instill a rock-solid ethic of teamwork toward our shared aims.

Bank-accounts and buildings are important, but it’s people – boys and girls, who become the men and women who serve and lead our community and cause – who make the real difference.

Our people – working through, with, and for the ANCA – have built a powerful culture – envied around the world – of civic grassroots activism.  Add world-class, highly-sophisticated advocacy operations and non-stop hard-work, and you’ve got a powerful combination.

We have, during years of hard-earned progress on our long national journey, been blessed by the deep well-spring of devotion of our community.  The proud ethic of service. The selfless love of justice. The willingness to serve. These are all a great tribute to our families, our churches, and youth groups.  And they are the source of our greatest strengths.

We have, as well, been fortunate to have a community supporting us that has a sophisticated understanding of the challenges we face and a real-world appreciation of the practical steps we need to take within the American political process to address and overcome these obstacles to our shared aims.  The success of our Capital Gateway Program in placing young Armenians in career-track jobs in Washington is a testament, first and foremost, to the talented, highly-educated Armenian men and women being raised in families across America.

And, most importantly, we wield power today because our community has pride in itself and the faith that, together, we can make a real difference for our cause.

– Fighting for justice for the Genocide, a stronger Armenia, a free and secure Artsakh, and a safe and sustainable Javakhk.

– Assisting a new wave of young Armenian Americans to start careers in government, foreign policy, and the media.

– Dramatically increasing Armenian American grassroots civic participation, as informed voters and effective community activists.

– Generating expanded U.S. and international media coverage of Armenian issues, from CNN to the front pages of the New York Times.

We’re using technology, new media, and social networking to push back against the forces of assimilation and dispersion, and to foster new and powerful ways for our increasingly diverse but also deeply devoted community to communicate and cooperate on the things that really matter.

We’re already doing all this, and more, but we need your financial help to take our results to next level.  That’s why I’m asking you today for your generous gift for the ANCA Telethon.  Here’s the secure link:
www.ancatelethon.org/donate

Each dollar you give represents a personal vote of confidence in the Armenian Cause.

Every dollar you donate, an enduring investment in our future.

With your generous support, we can continue:

– Fighting denial, advocating recognition, and promoting broader American public awareness of the Armenian Genocide through schools, coalitions, and the media.

– Pressing for progress in developing mutually beneficial U.S.-Armenia economic ties.

– Educating the general public and our elected leaders about the independent Nagorno-Karabagh Republic and the Javakhk region of Georgia.

In each of these areas, we are facing new and increasingly powerful opposition. On every front, Turkey and Azerbaijan are pushing back hard, as are their allies here in Washington.

Our will is being tested, as is our strength.

We have the smart solutions in place to meet these tests, but need your funds to put them into practice and take our cause to the next level.

Please invest today in Armenian American political power by making a secure on-line donation right now in support of ANCA Telethon 2012:
www.ancatelethon.org/donate

Kenneth V. Hachikian is the Chairman of the ANCA.

The group gathered at the LA County Board of Supervisors

LOS ANGELES—Through an invitation of LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, on Tuesday, April 17, Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian participated in the weekly meeting of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, during which a special presentation took place proclaiming April 24, 2012 as the “Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.”

The Prelate was accompanied by Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian, Archpriest Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian, and Rev. Fr. Ghevont Kirazian. Community members were also in attendance.

The Prelate thanked Supervisor Antonovich and Board members for one again inviting the Armenian community to collectively commemorate the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and honor the memory of our martyrs with this proclamation.  “We are strengthened and reassured in our cause knowing that we have the staunch support of dear friends such as you, and for that we are ever grateful.  We hope the day will come when justice will be served by the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the United States”, concluded the Prelate.

Remarks were also delivered by Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian and Consul General of Armenia Grigor Hovhannissian.

Elise Kalfayan

BY ELISE KALFAYAN

Little League baseball in Glendale was a semester-long refresher course each year on the American way of life. Demanding coaches, a hectic schedule, and a win-lose setup were just a few of the subjects players and parents had to master. April brought an Armenian dimension into the mix for me. There were only a few Armenian-Americans in the league, but those I came to know were devoted to both their American community and their Armenian heritage.

Glendale had five separate Little Leagues in 1999. We signed our son up with Glendale’s Jewish War Veterans Little League, which local folklore held was the first chartered Little League in the state of California (more on that later).

A 2005 merger with Jewel City Little League gave us the benefit of that league’s mid-season barbeque at Brand Park. Held in April and featuring events and games throughout the day, it was overseen by Greg Krikorian, Jewel City League President. Krikorian was also on the board of the Glendale Unified School District. In addition to two sets of board meetings, coordinating the league barbeque, scheduling games with Glendale park staff, coaching a team himself, and helping manage a family business, I discovered that, while wearing his school board cap, he was simultaneously helping the Armenian Clubs of GUSD high schools plan a joint genocide commemoration program and promoting it with them.

Greg Krikorian. with the Dodgers and the Glendale Fire Belles, Jewel City Little League's two Challenger Teams made up of disabled youths

(Now running for the 43rd California State Assembly District seat, Krikorian is also still serving on the Glendale School Board, active in Little League, managing his business, and assisting with Glendale Unified students’ April commemoration program. I received his community eblast about this year’s program, “Our Traditions Keep Us Alive,” which will be held Thursday, April 19, 7 p.m., at Glendale High School.)

At the 2006 April mid-season barbeque, I was one of the volunteers Krikorian recruited. While talking with another Armenian–American couple involved in the league, Setrak and Carol Attarian, I learned that their whole family was participating in the April 24 march and protests in Los Angeles. Carol Attarian, like me, was born in Southern California, and both Attarian sons were born here as well, but Armenian causes were still close to their hearts and they were taking the day as a family to demand justice for our ancestors. Just last summer, their younger son went to Armenia with the Land and Culture Organization to help uncover and restore ancient church sites.

To our young players, baseball seasons seemed as if they would continue forever, but the years flew by for us as parents. My extended conversation with Larry Zarian was the last highlight of my American-Armenian baseball experiences in April.  In 2007, before I retired from those fields, I tried to confirm the legend that the Jewish War Veterans of Glendale chartered the very first Little League in the state of California. I asked around and got some referrals to past league board members who had connections to even earlier board members, and somehow I was directed to Zarian, who had been the first Armenian-American mayor of Glendale and served a record-setting four terms.

We had never met, and Zarian didn’t know me at all when I called him up at home to ask about this, but he spent close to an hour on the phone with me, recalling his own years as a parent in Little League, the great experience it was for him and for his sons, the fields and coaches, and the many people he got to know at the games. He gave me several leads on the Jewish War Veterans League question, and while these came to nothing (if anyone reading this now can get a confirmation – let me know!), I was so impressed at his openness and willingness to help a random caller from out of left field!

Baseball is called the great American past time, but those Little League years were a great American discipline for players and parents –training us to work together, build teams, and think strategically. Each April, I think of those I met through baseball who brought that same discipline and dedication to the Armenian cause.

Elise Kalfayan is a Glendale resident, a native Southern Californian, and a combined first/second generation Armenian-American. She has produced or edited print and online pieces on topics ranging from urban development to Armenian Church history. She is the publisher of a Glendale community news blog, and works as a contract writer, editor, and publishing consultant for clients including businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and memoirists.

GUSD Genocide commemoration

GLENDALE—The Glendale Unified School District Armenian Clubs from Crescenta Valley, Clark Magnet, Glendale and Hoover high schools have united once again to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. It will take place on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at the Glendale High School Auditorium, 1440 E. Broadway Glendale. Doors open at 6:30pm and admission is free.

“We are pleased to be able to host this Annual Genocide Commemoration Assembly and invite everyone to attend, “stated Ani Nazaryan, President of Clark Magnet High School’s Armenian Club. “The assembly has been getting tremendous amounts of support from the community so far and we are expecting a great turn out Thursday night.”

The evening will consist of videos, poetry recitations, songs, dances and speeches which have been contributions from each of the schools. Students from the Glendale Unified School District middle and elementary schools, along with Davidian and Mariamian Educational Foundation, will also participate.

Guests are encouraged to attend and purchase a $10 Genocide t-shirt, designed by Mrs. Nyrie Gharibian, an art teacher at Clark Magnet High School, which will go towards funding each Armenian Club.

If you’d like more information, feel free to email Ani Nazaryan at aninazaryan@hotmail.com.

Azeri President Ilham Aliyev

“The day will come when the Azerbaijani flag will fly in Khankandi (Stepanakert) and Shusha (Shoushi),” vows Aliyev.

BAKU—Azeri President Ilham Aliyev blamed the Armenian lobby, the scope of whose influence he said “is quite broad” on the continuing international criticism of Azerbaijan’s abysmal human rights record.

Aliyev, who last month called “Armenians of the world” the number one enemy of Azerbaijan, told a meeting of his cabinet ministers Monday that “The Armenian lobby is the driving force of negative information about us,” reported RFE/RL citing reports in the Azeri news media.

“An information war is waged against us … The Armenian lobby is especially active in that information war. Attempts to badmouth Azerbaijan, to deny Azerbaijan’s realities, to present Azerbaijan to the outside world as a backward and undemocratic country primarily result from dirty deeds of the Armenian lobby,” Aliyev said in remarks cited by the official Azertag news agency.

“The scope of their influence is quite broad. They [Armenians] are represented in the leading print media outlets of various countries. Sometimes they go under different names and hide their ethnic origin,” added Aliyev.

International criticism of Azerbaijan’s human rights record has been growing, with international watchdog groups Amnesty International and Human Rights watch echoing the same concerns with the European Parliament and the State Department. Aliyev’s government increasingly has been criticized for intolerance toward opposition forces, and jailing and suppressing dissidents. Especially harsh is Azerbaijan’s crackdown on journalists and bloggers.

“For us, the number one enemy is the Armenian lobby,” Aliyev said, slightly revising his statements from last month. “We must be prepared to fight against it.”

Armenians are Fascists
Aliyev reiterated comments he earlier this month during a session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, during which he called Armenian fascists, blaming them for what he and his government continue to say were massacres carried out in Khojaly at the height of the Karabakh war, reported news.az.

Of course, there was no mention of the brutal Azeri aggression against Armenians beginning in 1988 in Sumgait and continuing thereafter in Kirovabad, Baku, Shahumyan and Getashen.

The 20th anniversary of one of the most savage attacks on Armenians by Azeri forces in Maragha village was marked last week, with the Vice-Speaker of the British House of Lords, Baroness Cox, calling the event an “example of Azeri crimes against humanity.”

“Every minute, every day brings us closer to victory. Every day Armenia is declining while Azerbaijan is growing in strength. Every day we are moving closer to the day of victory. The day will come when the Azerbaijani flag will fly in Khankandi (Stepanakert) and Shusha (Shoushi),” vowed Aliyev when describing his policies vis-à-vis the Karabakh conflict.

“At all international events, I have spoken about the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, exposing the aggressive policy of Armenia. I continue to expose the aggressive policy of Armenia at all levels,” said Aliyev.

“Our military capacity is also increasing. Constant attention is paid to this area and this will continue. We are creating a powerful military industry and at the same time we are buying and will continue to buy a large amount of military equipment, weapons and ammunition,” added Aliyev.

“I’m not talking about weapons of defense. We are buying tanks, artillery, combat aircraft, different weapons, all the modern equipment needed for combat. I can say that we also have a diversified policy and do not depend only on one manufacturer. The number of countries willing to cooperate with us in this area is growing, and we have the capacity. Unlike some other countries, we do not get anything for free, we pay with money, and this will continue,” explained the Azeri president.

“Azerbaijan already has a strong army. All the armed forces are ready to meet any objective today, to ensure all the interests the country, to restore Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories,” said Aliyev.

A team of young Armenians spread a sprawling tri-color

BY AREK SANTIKIAN

It’s a simple idea.

The straightforward concept that we can work cooperatively toward shared aims.

But it’s also sometimes a stumbling block.

There are, sadly, still pockets left in our community that cynically refuse to believe that accomplishing anything is possible, especially if it involves Armenians working together.

Despite all we’ve achieved and our long track record of real results

In the face of the respect and reputation we’ve earned.

There are still those who – against all the facts – stubbornly refuse to believe that the Armenian American community has emerged as a powerful voice in the American political arena.

ANCA Telethon is on May 20

Government officials, Senators and Representatives, editors, reporters, columnists, and even – perhaps especially – our enemies in Ankara and Baku and their allies, respect, sometimes fear, the deep well-spring of Armenian American pride in our identity, the growing network of Diasporan Armenian political power, and our determined drive for progress in advancing the Armenian Cause.

We’re near the top of every serious listing of powerful ethnic groups. But, sometimes we’re the last to believe in our own power.

Maybe this cynicism is understandable. We’ve had a hard history, and, for far too much of it, those who have sought to organize us or speak in our name did so for personal interests or in the name of foreign powers.

Given the trials and torments of our past, skepticism can be a healthy instinct, but not when it fails to give way to facts. And the facts are clear.

Criticism. Questions. Doubts. These are all great. There’s certainly plenty of grounds for criticism in all aspects of our community life, and we all benefit from careful scrutiny. But let us also recognize that those who recklessly spread cynicism obstruct the very teamwork that’s so desperately needed to meet the challenges of our generation.

Rigorous self-examination is vital to constructively addressing our complex challenges, but only when this criticism is in the service of our shared aims, not when it become, in itself, a substitute for collective action.

This is especially true when a small minority of the most cynical among us cannot keep their lack of faith to themselves and somehow feel compelled to spread – often with zeal approaching the evangelical – their gospel of powerlessness to everyone within their reach.

We’re fated, it seems, to always have these dark-spirited folks in our midst. Perhaps that’s inevitable.

What is in our control is how the rest of us respond to those who preach hopelessness.

We can, with world-weary resignation, breath a cynical sigh, and allow the fatalists among us set a gloomy tone of our community life.

Or we can rise above the role of helpless subject, and gladly accept the mantle of responsible citizen.

The choice is clear. For our own dignity. In light of the challenges we face. Given the enemies we’re confronting. We cannot, as a matter of survival, continue to assign to the preachers of powerlessness a wisdom they clearly don’t deserve.

The assertive path is a harder one. Certainly a riskier one. It’s what President Theodore Roosevelt meant when he wrote these telling words:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

If you’ve come this far, or more accurately – because you’ve come this far – you surely see the wisdom of Roosevelt’s words.

It’s easy and even fun sometimes to be a cynical finger-pointer.

It’s also really lazy.

And when its gets contagious, it can actually be dangerous.

We cannot afford to signal to our community, and particularly our youth, that’s it’s OK to just sit on the sidelines and complain.

Rather, we should encourage fellow Armenians who are still on the sidelines to join us in the arena. And there’s no better way for them to start than by donating to ANCA Telethon 2012: Click here to learn more or to donate: ancatelethon.org.

Harut Sassounian

BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN

When Turkey’s Foreign Minister met secretly with a group of Armenians in Washington last month, he wooed them with his sly smile and sugar-coated words. This was the fake facade of traditional Turkish diplomacy.

Last week, Turkey’s UN Ambassador in New York revealed the nasty and aggressive face of his government. Upon learning that a symposium on the Armenian Genocide was going to be held at the UN on April 12, Turkey’s Permanent Representative filed a protest with the Secretary General’s office, trying to disrupt the event.

Organized by the Association for Trauma Outreach & Prevention (ATOP), the event was titled: “Toward Preventing Genocide, Nations Acknowledging their Dark History: Psychosocial, Economic and Cultural Perspectives.” Following screening of Dr. J. Michael Hagopian’s documentary, “The River Ran Red,” the attendees heard addresses from filmmaker Carla Garapedian, Dr. Dennis Papazian, Prof. Ervin Staub, and Garen Nazarian, Armenia’s UN Ambassador.

Encouraged by Turkey’s 2007 success in obstructing a reference to the Armenian Genocide in a UN exhibit on Rwanda, the Turkish Ambassador tried to force the UN to cancel last week’s Armenian Genocide symposium. Fortunately, Armenia’s UN Mission, official sponsor of the event, stood its ground and the symposium took place as planned, albeit with some minor disturbances.

At the start of the event, two Turkish diplomats entered the meeting room without an invitation, and repeatedly attempted to disrupt the proceedings. They kept on shouting, accusing the speakers of defaming Turkey, and refused to comply with the organizer’s request to submit all comments and questions in writing. As the commotion continued, UN security officers were called in, and the two undiplomatic Turkish diplomats left the hall, inanely shouting: “we are the security, we own the security, and we pay for the security!”

In his introductory remarks, Ambassador Nazarian observed that “97 years ago, a state-devised plan unleashed a crime whose magnitude and consequences were unparalleled not only in the history of the Armenian nation but also in the history of the world. The plan of extermination of the Armenians was implemented by the Ottoman Empire’s state machine through all its structures and carried out with exact instructions.”

Prof. Papazian’s remarks were titled: “Sovereignty, Nationalism, Racism vs. Humanism and Intellectual Freedom: The Causes and Cures of Genocide.” He expressed his discontent “that the Armenian Genocide is not recognized by the present day Turkish government as a crime committed by its predecessor government under the dictatorship of the Committee for Union and Progress”; “that the people of Turkey are denied free access to accurate sources because of Article 301 of the Turkish Criminal Code which makes it a crime to insult Turkishness”; and “that such [Ottoman] collections as the confiscated properties archives and the military archives are not open to inspection by objective scholars.”

Prof. Staub spoke about “Overcoming Evil: Preventing Genocide and Creating Peaceful Societies.” He stated that “acknowledgement by perpetrators, bystanders, and the world in general of a group’s suffering has great value for both healing and reconciliation.” However, “perpetrators rarely, and only with great difficulty, acknowledge their acts and show regret,” because of “their profound devaluation of the victims, their ideology, and their unacknowledged shame.”

Carla Garapedian explored the “Economic Consequences of Acknowledging the Genocide.” She related that J. Michael Hagopian had recorded the testimonies of genocide survivors so that their voices would be heard someday at an international tribunal deciding what restitution Turkey would have to pay to heirs of the victims.

Not counting the value of the properties, lands and other assets confiscated from Armenian victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Turkish government, Garapedian assessed as $15 billion the restitution value of the 1.5 million Armenians who had perished. Her estimate is based on Germany’s $60 billion restitution payment for the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust since 1952. Garapedian concluded by suggesting that no state should profit from violating the law and unjustly enrich itself, asserting that a criminal state should not be allowed to keep the fruits of its crime.

This week, Dr. Ani Kalayjian, President of ATOP, sent a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon complaining about the “disruptive, unprofessional, and arrogant behavior” of the two Turkish diplomats. She wondered how the UN could bring peace to the world, when it cannot establish order at an event held at its own headquarters!

Gov. Deukmejian with Greg Krikorian

GLENDALE—Greg Krikorian’s campaign to become the next Assemblyman for the newly redrawn 43rd State Assembly District, received yet another endorsement from a California political icon. Former California Governor George Deukmejian has endorsed Krikorian’s candidacy.

“I am truly humbled to receive Governor Deukmejian’s endorsement. Over the course of my career in public service, Governor Deukmejian has been an inspiration to me,” stated Krikorian. “He embodies all the qualities those of us who aspire to be in public office should have – integrity, dignity and a dedication to those he represents, not to special interests.”

Seldom in the public eye for the last few years, Governor Deukmejian has stepped forward and voiced his support for Krikorian. “California can no longer afford ‘politics as usual’, with a revolving door legislature which replaces one bureaucrat with another,” commented Deukmejian. “We need fresh leaders to move our state beyond the status quo and break the partisan barriers. During his last eleven years on the Glendale School Board and publishing Business Life Magazine for the past 22 years with his father John Krikorian, Greg has demonstrated himself to be such a leader who is dedicated to our country. He has all my support.”

“In many ways, the challenges we face today are not unlike the challenges the Governor faced when he took office. At that time, California had a $1.5 billion budget deficit with an unemployment rate of 11.2%. His policies dug California out from under and generated a billion dollar surplus in just a few short years. I look forward to tackling the challenges we have today and work to reverse the unsustainable course California has been placed on. Like Governor Deukmejian, I oppose tax increases as a way out of our budget crisis and will work to implement sensible policies to put us back on the path of prosperity and sustainability,” added Krikorian

“We have to make every effort to renew our quest to create job opportunities for our residents! I’m committed to advocate for jobs and small business, we need to get back to the basics to attract and retain business. Unfortunately, the norm of today is to see far too many businesses closing their doors on a daily basis after being strangled by over regulation. Our state’s economic crisis directly and negatively affects our public safety, education, healthcare, and senior services to name a few,” stated Krikorian

“Public education funding continues to decline forcing many schools to increase class size, lay off teachers and cut crucial programs. Having three of my five children in college, I see first hand their and other student’s challenges, either ending up on a waiting list or even being denied the opportunity to get an education. Its come to a point were our government has grown too big and is denying our youth the opportunity for the American Dream,“ said Krikorian.

The newly redrawn 43rd Assembly district serves Burbank, Glendale, La Crescenta, Montrose, La Canada, Atwater Village, Los Feliz, East Hollywood, Little Armenia and Griffith Park. The primary is this June 6th and the General Election is November 5th 2012.

For more information please visit Greg’s campaign website at www.Krikorian2012.com and follow us on Facebook.

Adrin Nazarian meets with students on the campaign trail

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY—A recent poll conducted by Goodwin Simon Strategic Research shows Adrin Nazarian is poised to win the June Primary election. Adrin starts with a small lead over each of his Democratic rivals in the race for the 46th Assembly District.

After being read positive paragraphs of each of the four main Democratic candidates, drawn entirely from the candidates’ own websites, voters swing strongly in Adrin’s direction. Adrin’s initial lead expands to a two-to-one margin, with a 13 point lead over Brian Johnson and Laurette Healey and a 17 point lead over Andrew Lachman.

In a district with 53% Democratic registration compared to 18% Republican, this early lead among Democratic candidates puts Adrin in a solid position as the primary election for the newly drawn 46th Assembly District nears.

Nazarian also has the endorsements of Councilman Paul Krekorian, the County Federation of Labor, L.A.’s Firefighters, Police Officers (PORAC), the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA), and many of the neighborhood council leaders in the district.

The newly drawn 46th Assembly District includes the Los Angeles neighborhoods of North Hollywood, Toluca Lake, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, Valley Glen, Van Nuys, Panorama City, North Hills, Lake Balboa and the Hollywood Hills. The primary is June 5.