Haidostian, a theologian and pastor, was introduced by Rev. Dr. Vahan Tootikian, Emeritus, of the Armenian Congregational Church. It was a rare opportunity to learn about Haigazian, its educational offerings and its many successes. We were surprised and proud to learn that in 1960 a group of Haigazian students, under the guidance of math and physics instructor Manoug Manougian, produced the first rocket shot in the Arab world. It was a single stage solid propellant rocket launched, and it reached an altitude of one kilometer. It later became known as the Lebanese Rocket Society launching a two-stage rocket. This was Armenian scientific ingenuity that few know about. A film about this has recently been made and released to the public.

The highly rated university, founded in 1955, is the highest Armenian educational institute in the diaspora. Haidostian says, “We call it an Armenian university open to the larger world. We are also popular with Muslims. There are some who live in the Middle East by chance and some by choice.”

Haigazian is supported by the Armenian Evangelical community. The university uses English as the main language of instruction. It offers bachelor of arts, business, and science, and master’s programs, too.

“We are the cradle of so many major religions. Conflicts, too, started in the Middle East and never ended. Lebanon continues to be a vibrant place for science, business, and culture. I don’t know what kind of fertility is there but once they are born here they stay. Maybe that’s why it remains an attractive place.”

He continued, “We were having a conference and a U.S. advisory board was warned not to fly to Beirut. I wrote all the potential comers, said hello, and I bombarded them with activities that we had planned for their pleasure. That was my way of saying, ‘We’re okay.’ Twelve people came from the U.S. Only one person bowed out.”

The Armenian community in Beirut has education covered, from nursery school to university, as well as two old age homes, a radio station, and three newspapers.

“What does community life mean? That is why Lebanon is vibrant. In the infrastructure of Armenian life we still find opportunity here,” the president said. The university has a staff of 55, and graduates that number 3,300. “Haigazian is the only university owned by Armenians outside of Armenia. Fifty-eight percent of students are non-Armenian. Why do they come to our school? They come for their educational benefit. We like our reputation to be like it is—caring. Almost half the enrollment is Armenian. For those who are not Armenian, the atmosphere is attractive.”

“There is something neutral in every Armenian in Beirut regardless of political or religious belief. On April 24, it was a sea of Armenians walking together for a memorial observance. For the 100th anniversary of the genocide it will be the same. Haigazian University is seen as a neutral place for all people regardless of race, nationality, or creed.”

Their ties with Armenia have been further strengthened. Financially $1.2 million is available to support university students.

Armenian President Serge Sarikisan visited and asked if he could address the student body. The offer was considered a privilege by all.

Haidostian comes from a family of educators. His father, Rev. Lufti Haidostian, was principal of Bethel Armenian Evangelical School, where Badveli Tootikian’s wife Rosette Tootikian was a student. His uncle, Rev. Dr. Hovannes Aharonian, was president of Near East School of Theology. The college was founded in 1955 in honor of Prof. Armenag Haigazian, who received his Ph.D. from Yale and went back to become president of St. Paul College in the Ottoman Empire. Although he had a chance to escape to the U.S., he chose to stay and continue his ministry. Like the other intellectuals of the time, he was rounded up and marched to the Syrian desert. He died in prison in Kharpert in 1921, thus ending his service to his compatriots.

The Armenian Evangelists had 8 colleges in the Ottoman Empire before the genocide, and 250 high schools. All were destroyed.

In 1955, the Mehagian family of Phoenix, Az., and others donated capital through the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) to get Haigazian University started. It has since produced businessmen, educators, and scientists; the prime minister of Lebanon is also a graduate.

Haigazian’s doors are open to all Armenians and to people of all beliefs. Yeretzgeen Tamara Kevorkian of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church is also one of its graduates.

Concerning Syria, Haidostian said, “People in Syria don’t know what they want. Confusion exists as to what is happening. Most of us know the ‘Spring’ was not what we wanted. It’s a switch of power. Some will prosper, some will suffer more. The loss of life is heavy.”

“A number of Armenians have left the country. Some Armenians who went to Armenia returned to Syria because of economic difficulties. Conditions were not good. The transition by Armenians to Beirut is smoother, modified lifestyle, more comfortable.”

“Relief has not been easy,” he added. “One reason is Armenians have a high sense of dignity, they do not want to live in a tent. This is the Armenian pride. You are not sure which Armenians need what.”

The informative evening ended with coffee, refreshments, and socializing. If you get the opportunity to hear Dr. Paul Haidostian, take advantage. He is an erudite, knowledgeable gentleman who knows how to communicate.

We are already a few months into a new political cycle, but it’s never too late to start building ties at every level of government. With the 113^th U.S. Congress well underway and the loss of several “friends to Armenian Americans” to election or retirement, the ANCA and its activists can’t afford to sit idly by and not foster new relationships.

Our local ANC chapters in the Eastern Region do a great job of cultivating the political relationships we’ve long had, and they have the power to reach out to potential friends too. But a local ANC can only do so much if it doesn’t have the connections someone new or experienced can bring to the table.

So I write this not just to our current ANCA activists, but also to our future friends: The ANCA Eastern Region—and more importantly, the Armenian-American community—need your help today. We have a broad base of support in our 31 eastern states, but the grassroots effort is never too full.

Spring means revival. It’s so easy to exhaust ourselves in our daily routines. Monotony only gets us so far in anything. As cliché as it is, winter gets the best of us and we tend to fall back on routine. A new season and perspective can affect the way we go about our work and, in turn, the results we reap.

I view spring as a time of rebirth, in all aspects of the word. April 24 has passed and although we know the fight for genocide recognition is not a once-per-year event, spring is a chance for us to reevaluate our efforts and goals. There is much work to be done, and the cultivation of blossoming friendships with Members of Congress, local politicians, and human rights groups are just the tip of the iceberg.

Do you have a friend who works for an ethnic organization? Did you go to school with someone who now networks with politicians? These things are priceless to the ANCA and to you because what we accomplish directly impacts you. Why not help your fellow Armenians? You may think that random connection has no value for the cause, but you should rethink that. Everyone can pitch in somehow—and it goes without saying that they don’t have to be Armenian.

I encourage you to use spring to your advantage, and not just to clean out your closets and start running outside. Use it to reassess: Think about the people in your life and how each fits into yours. Then think about how they can use their talents to help the greater good. It’s something we often overlook: How can I help and how can I motivate others to as well?

It’s not necessary to have that personal connection to start working with an elected official, but it certainly helps. Often, all it takes is a call or email to your representative to get the ball rolling. From there it’s all about follow-up and making sure s/he is educated on our issues. And that’s where the ANCA comes in.

We’re here to provide the support you need to promote Hai Tahd in your communities, large and small, and at the federal level. If you need talking points, we have them. Packets on Karabagh? Got it. Connections to other ANCA activists? Done. Coaching on how to effectively reach out to your elected officials? We can work with you on this.

The number of projects and goals that fall under our jurisdiction are truly endless, which is why we want you to join us. The more folks we have fighting for a variety of issues, the broader and stronger our organization, and the Armenian cause, become.

It’s spring. How do you want to spend it? My hope is with us, fighting for our just cause.

The ANCA Eastern Region will once again honor an individual with its prestigious Freedom Award for making outstanding contributions toward the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and for pursuing other issues of importance to the Armenian-American community. Past honorees have included former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, Senator Robert Menendez, Senators Robert and Elizabeth Dole, and most recently, Baroness Caroline Cox.

The Vahan Cardashian Award will be presented to an Armenian-American activist who has exemplified the ideals and dedication of the founder of the Hai Tahd movement. The recipients of both awards will be announced in the coming months.

According to the event co-chairs, James Kzirian and Lorig Baronian, the purpose of this event, now in its seventh year, is to celebrate the activities of the ANCA Eastern Region and honor individuals who have served as champions for issues of importance to the Armenian-American community. We could not be more proud to highlight the extraordinary achievements of the ANCA and promote grassroots activism in our hometown.

The banquet will be black tie optional and will feature an elegant cocktail reception and silent auction at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and an awards ceremony at 8 p.m., at the Hilton Doubletree hotel, located at 237 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia. Mention “ANCA Banquet” to get the reduced rate of $149 per night.

Visit www.anca.org/erbanquet to purchase tickets and get the latest details about the schedule of event, which includes a Friday night kickoff event.

The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots political organization, working to actively advance the concerns of the community on a broad range of issues. The ANCA Eastern Region represents Armenian Americans in more than 30 states. The ANCA-ER Endowment Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization that supports the Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region in outreach to Armenian American communities. For more information, visit www.anca.org.

“We welcome today’s introduction of the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Act,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA.  “This innovative bipartisan initiative, building upon the U.S. record of having recognized the Armenian Genocide, calls for a new U.S. approach to Armenian-Turkish ties that reflects our America values and recognizes that our national interests require an end to Turkey’s denials and a truthful, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime.”

The Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Act, introduced by Representatives Michael Grimm (R-NY), Adam Schiff (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), reflects and reinforces previous U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide as a crime of genocide, citing the U.S. Government’s May 28, 1951 written statement to the International Court of Justice regarding the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, President Ronald Reagan’s April 22, 1981 Proclamation and Congressional adoption of Armenian Genocide legislation in 1975 and 1984.

“Almost a century ago, over a million Armenian men, women, and innocent children were mercilessly put to death by forces of the Ottoman Empire in a horrifying attempt to wipe them from the face of the earth,” said Rep. Grimm. “The U.S. has tirelessly defended justice and human rights throughout the world, and we have a solemn duty to recognize, once and for all, the injustices of the Armenian Genocide. On behalf of the Armenian community in New York City, I am proud to join with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in introducing Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Act.”

“The facts of history are well-settled – 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children were deliberately murdered in the first genocide of the 20th Century,” Rep. Schiff said. “With each passing day, we lose a few more of the dwindling number of survivors. We should all feel a powerful sense of urgency, and the profound call of moral duty to recognize the Armenian Genocide unequivocally and without delay.”

Congressman Valadao stated, “Many of those able to flee during the genocide immigrated to the United States and settled in California. Today, their families continue to grow, thrive, and instill their cultural heritage in their adopted communities. However, the sense of loss as a result of these horrific acts runs deep as many Armenian-Americans in my district personally know a friend or family member who was unable to escape the genocide. We must ensure that the United States government properly acknowledges what so many already know to be true.”

“The time for the U.S. to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide is long overdue,” said Congressman Frank Pallone, Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.  “Armenia stands as a resilient ally of the United States and a nation dedicated to democracy and regional stability, and the Resolution introduced today shows that we will not stand idly by when the truth of this genocide is distorted by the Turkish government.”

A scene from the event.

Prior to the talk, Worcester’s mayor, Joseph Petty, presented Tshagharyan with the key to the city and praised his efforts to preserve Armenia’s historical heritage and cultural legacy. In return, Tshagharyan presented the mayor with a book on Yerevan, together with a desktop Armenian flag and a flag with Yerevan’s insignia. He invited the mayor to visit Yerevan as his guest.

The oldest layer of the Shengavit archaeological site is a Neolithic (late Stone Age) settlement with the remains of buildings and artifacts that date to 3,500-4,000 B.C. Since that time, the site has been continuously inhabited; it became part of the Urartu Empire, and then part of the early Armenian kingdoms. Excavations have revealed the ancient homes of the inhabitants, and their tools, animal bones, gravesites, and flour, all of which have amazingly remained preserved. Tshagharyan described the history of the site and its importance for the study of regional civilization, as Shengavit maintained cultural and trade relations over a wide area.

Tshagharyan has been the director of the site for nearly three years and has extensive experience in managing Armenia’s ancient historical monuments. Shengavit was originally excavated in the 1930’s, but has been largely ignored by the government. During the last few years, excavations have resumed, but funding for maintaining the site, including its small but interesting museum, is lacking. About two years ago, the Cambridge Yerevan Sister City Association (CYSCA) initiated a plan to financially help with site preservation and renovation. Since that time, much progress has been made but much more needs to be done to make the site visitor friendly.

Following the formal part of the talk, a long and lively question-and-answer session ensued, after which both the Knights and Daughters of Vartan presented details of the many programs they help fund. Both the Avak Sbarabed of the Knights, Nighogos Artinizian, and the Avak Dirouhie of the Daughters of Vartan, Agnes Sahagian, gave reports on recent activities and accomplishments. The Knights of Vartan concluded with a generous donation to Shengavit through the Cambridge Yerevan Sister City Association.

Nor was it the many football accolades his son received as a star-studded lineman, and the scholarship offers that have come his way.

All well and good for any family of a gifted athlete.

The proudest moment had nothing to do with sports and the newspaper articles that proclaimed his success. None of it could have replaced that moment in church when father-and-son stood in a pew and recited “The Lord’s Prayer” together.

“All those years in Sunday School seem to have paid off,” the father rejoiced. “We stood together and prayed. It brought a tear to my eye.”

At a time when church schools are being decimated by sports activities and other “outside” commitments, here’s a family that appears to have struck a happy medium.

“Equal time,” I told my children. “There’s enough pressure on these kids for Sunday games without adding more fuel to the fire. I realize they have commitments. But let’s not forget our spiritual obligations.”

I remember my own boys when they were going through the youth hockey ranks. It got to be a weekly debate inside our family. What would it be this Sunday? Church or sports?

If they had their way, they would have never seen the inside of a sanctuary. And neither would I since I was the self-imposed chauffeur. Hitting the road for a 6 a.m. faceoff an hour away was not my way of greeting a Sunday morning.

In some ways, it worked better than a 9 or 10 a.m. start, which allowed no time to hustle out the rink and bolt to church. Both my boys were acolytes and required to assist a priest on the altar. Either be there for the start or be embarrassed by being late.

One league had the audacity to inadvertently schedule a game on Easter Sunday, which caused all sorts of family rebellion at the dinner table. It meant my whole family cutting the holiday short and driving to an arena on the holiest of days.

One Sunday, the archbishop was paying our community a visit and one of my hockey-playing sons was scheduled for altar duty. It was an honor for any child to uphold inside a Christian ethnic family.

But there were serious problems, as I recall. It was also the day of a hockey play-off and the boy’s services were needed on defense. As team captain, he had a responsibility to his team.

To be honest, the dilemma bothered me more than it did him. Peer pressure for kids is one thing. Adult anxiety is something else. What would my priest say, let alone my fellow congregants?

“What? You took your son to a hockey game during a liturgical manifestation? Where are your priorities, man?”

Well, that’s exactly how I left it, in my son’s hands. “The choice is yours, not mine,” I mandated. “You’re the one that has to live with it.”

I felt a bit awkward talking to a 12-year-old this way but life is full of decisions, whether we’re a child or an adult. We live by them and sometimes become demoralized by them.

The day of destiny arrived and my son was in the kitchen waiting with no gym bag by his feet. He donned a necktie and had his missal with him.

“We better hurry so we’ll be on time—for church,” he said.

“What about the game?”

“Oh, there will be others,” he added. “How many kids get to serve Mass for an archbishop? I already told my coach and he understood. He respected my decision.”

The child said nothing about letting his teammates down that day or competing for a championship. As it turned out, the kid who replaced him in the lineup had an outstanding game and personally telephoned him that night to thank him, for staying away.

As a Sunday School teacher for 30 years, I have lived through one crisis after another. My biggest nemesis has not been apathy but scheduling conflicts with sports and other elements.

As I recall, a high school student was forced to choose between band practice on Sunday mornings or religious education at church. The director was an intolerant numskull who was more a drill sergeant than someone teaching music to teenagers. Either report to practice or you’re off the team.

Through a public outcry and enough parents objecting to his obnoxious ways, he was forced to change the time to accommodate his members. And everybody lived happily ever after.

Nearly two-dozen Armenian students from five universities participated with their own team

Vatche Demirjian, a Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) student and president/founder of the Armenian Student Organization at MCPHS, devised the idea of a relay team comprised of Armenian students from colleges in the Greater Boston area. In an interview with the Weekly, Demirjian said that participating in a good cause with other Armenians seemed like a great opportunity. “Last semester, we had several events and social gatherings with each other, and we wanted that to continue. We have had a significant increase in Armenian club participation over the past year; whereas last year there were maybe 2 or 3 official Armenian clubs in the Greater Boston area, now there are about 10,” including Tufts University, Northeastern University, and Suffolk University.

Lori Yogurtian, a freshman studying management at Suffolk and the co-president/founder of the university’s Armenian club, raised over $500—the most in the entire team. “Someone very close to me was recently diagnosed with cancer, so I was really motivated. And when I asked for donations, everyone was really supportive,” Yogurtian told the Weekly. “I’m also really involved in the Armenian club on my campus, so I thought it was a great opportunity to raise money for an amazing cause, while also getting to be with my friends and meeting more people in the Greater Boston Armenian community. I would definitely do it again,” she added.

The event began with an opening ceremony, where stories of the survivors and progress in research inspired hope, while reminding everyone that battling cancer is a year-round priority. Lights were dimmed and electric candles were distributed en masse. Cancer survivors made the silent laps around the track. They were followed by their caregivers and by anyone who had known a person who had battled the disease. Eventually, everyone joined in for a few quiet laps around the track. The night ended with the closing ceremony that remembered those who have passed from the disease, and reaffirmed the commitment to fight against cancer over the next year.

In 1929, the Armenian author Hamasdegh made a pilgrimage to the Syrian desert of Der Zor, which he called “that immense graveyard of our martyrs.” Describing what he saw, he wrote, “It was in the immensity of that desert that I saw bleached bones and shattered skeletons, ribs ripped from spinal columns, knee caps, and skulls, all half buried in the sand. The Euphrates River had performed that interment under a cool, bone-colored moon. The flooding had formed layers, and in between the strata countless limbs and skulls, large and small skulls, stuck out.”

The cover of the Weekly’s April 2013 magazine

The bones—bleached, scattered—are still there, just below the surface of the sand. After almost a century, their story, too, remains scattered in memoirs, oral histories, and archives. As we approach the centenary of the Armenian Genocide, the need to tell these stories, reflect on our relationship with them, and pursue justice for the victims and survivors acquires an even greater urgency. Commentators explore these issues in the section “Towards the Centennial.”

For the sixth consecutive year, the Armenian Weekly’s April Magazine tackles issues of heritage, memory, denial, and justice head on. In the section titled “Heritage,” our readers will see the places and faces that still carry the scars of the genocide a century later. And in “Discourse,” they will be able to look at denial in light of recent developments.

Today, April 24 also stands for the revival of a nation from the sands of the desert. Together, the articles and art presented in this magazine bear witness to that.

Norsigian

Having grown up in the United States to Lebanese-Armenian and Syrian-Armenian immigrant parents, Postaljian did not learn proper English until she entered public school at the age of eight. Speaking frankly, she admitted that her family was not thrilled to hear of her decision to go to Armenia. “My mom went once as a teenager during the Soviet era and did not have a good experience,” she said. Despite this, Postaljian found herself so mesmerized by the beauty of the country and its people that she extended her stay from two months to seven. One of the projects she helped oversee involved the women of the Alaverdi village who knitted stuffed animals for profit. Postaljian stressed the importance of the slogan, “Find the Armenian that you are,” and explained how Birthright Armenia enabled her to do just that.

Stephen Kurkjian, the son of a genocide survivor, spoke about his own identity struggle growing up in Boston. “Boston at the time was a melting pot of cultures, and I grew up very American,” explained the journalist, who is also on the board of the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). Kurkjian’s father, like many survivors of the genocide, did not talk about his past, until one day, at age 90, he began to reminisce about his village in present-day Turkey. This prompted Kurkjian to research his ancestry, and he began to ask questions that he considered “embarrassing” for not knowing. He published an article called “Roots of Sorrow” about his father’s journey back to his childhood village. “That was the best, but hardest piece I’ve ever written,” Kurkjian explained. Today, he concedes that he has found a healthy balance with his identity as an Armenian American. “I wish I called the piece ‘Seeds of Hope’ instead, because I see the positives from remembering this history now.” Concluding his talk, Kurkjian stated, “I’m glad we’ve got the leaders of the next generation of Armenians here.”

Closing up the evening was Judy Norsigian, who talked at length about women’s health in Armenia, and her organization, Our Bodies Ourselves, which advocates for women’s health by “challenging the institutions and systems that prevent women from having full control over their bodies.” Some of the statistics Norsigian mentioned were staggering. “Armenian male infertility is the highest in Europe,” stated Norsigian, who went on to explain some of the causes of this infertility, including promiscuity. Some critics in Armenia have accused the organization of “committing genocide” for providing women access to contraception, Norsigian stated.

At the AIWA conference in Yerevan in 2000, Norsigian worked to raise awareness of several initiatives, such as the Women’s Entrepreneurial Program (WEP), which helps women start their own businesses, and the Ajakits NGO in Gyumri, which provides healthcare and psychological services for battered women and children. Norsigian concluded that unfortunately, over the last 10 or 15 years, domestic violence has been on the rise. She contributed this to the tough economic situation in Armenia, which has added stress on husbands who, in turn, take it out on their wives. Yet, Norsigian provided a solution for change: “The leadership at the top is really what counts. They need to set an example for the rest of the nation to follow.”

The U.S. solicitor general, the lawyer representing the United States government before the Supreme Court, filed a response last week. He urged the Supreme Court not to hear the appeal, and let stand the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that the California law “impermissibly” intruded into the federal government’s foreign relations powers.

Given President Obama’s disappointing record of kowtowing to Turkey, particularly on Armenian Genocide issues, it is not surprising that the administration’s brief went far beyond the question of whether the Supreme Court should hear the appeal.

The U.S. solicitor general erroneously claimed that:

– contrary to the assertion of Armenian litigants, “California was not acting within an area of its traditional competence,” i.e., insurance regulation;

– the California law “intrudes upon substantial foreign affairs powers” of the federal government and leads to judgments “based on politically contentious events that occurred in the Ottoman Empire nearly a century ago”;

– beyond simply intruding, this law would “disturb foreign relations” with Turkey (Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush had opposed congressional resolutions on the Armenian Genocide, alleging that such measures would “undermine efforts to encourage improved relations between Armenia and Turkey”);

– Section 354.4 “would impermissibly intrude upon the federal foreign affairs power” in an area where the United States “acted in the post-World War I era to resolve certain claims by American citizens” through the Ankara Agreement (Oct. 25, 1934), American Treaty of Lausanne (August 6, 1923), and Treaty of Berlin and Claims Agreement (Aug. 10, 1922).

Several rebuttals are in order to the solicitor general’s misguided and politically motivated arguments:

– The California law does not intrude on the federal government’s foreign affairs powers as it simply attempts to regulate the obligations of insurance companies, an area of state competence and jurisdiction. This law provides an opportunity to right a historic wrong by forcing insurance companies to make long overdue payments to heirs of their deceased clients.

– German insurance companies are the defendants in this case, not Turkey, even though the latter filed a brief opposing the lawsuit. Remarkably, the solicitor general’s brief mirrors some of the arguments advanced by Turkey.

– The solicitor general selectively cites the opposition of the Clinton and Bush Administrations to congressional resolutions on the Armenian Genocide, ignoring the long-standing U.S. record on genocide recognition, including resolutions adopted by the House of Representatives in 1975 and 1984, President Reagan’s Presidential Proclamation of 1981, and the U.S. government’s 1951 written statement to the International Court of Justice (World Court) acknowledging the Armenian Genocide.

– All three treaties/agreements cited by the solicitor general are unrelated to the subject matter of this lawsuit. The Ankara Agreement and the American Treaty of Lausanne involve the Republic of Turkey, not German insurance companies. Also, the American Treaty of Lausanne lacks any legal standing as a non-ratified treaty. The solicitor general undermines his own position by acknowledging that the California law “does not expressly conflict with the Ankara Agreement, the American Treaty of Lausanne, or the Treaty of Berlin and Claims Agreement,” which “addressed only the claims of those who were U.S. citizens at the time of World War I, not those who became U.S citizens after the war had concluded.”

The solicitor general’s “legal opinion,” besides being flawed on all counts, is more of a political statement that deprives American citizens of their right to insurance claims.

One would hope that the Supreme Court will ignore the solicitor general’s brief and agree to hear the case, even though the chances are slim, as the court accepts only a small percentage of cases submitted to it.

The solicitor general’s overreaching arguments, if unchallenged, would have a chilling effect on all future genocide restitution efforts, particularly on the eve of the Armenian Genocide centennial!

Armenian-American community leaders should take all possible measures to counter the solicitor general’s politically motivated arguments by cutting all ties with the Obama Administration, organizing protests at presidential appearances, seeking congressional intervention to establish a federal commission for genocide restitution similar to that of the Holocaust, and amending Section 354.4 of the California law to circumvent the presented objections, no matter how flimsy.

Moreover, the Armenian government should immediately withdraw its signature from the Armenia-Turkey protocols, which are repeatedly cited by the White House and U.S. courts as a pretext for opposing Armenian Genocide-related efforts, under the guise of not wanting to undermine Armenia-Turkey relations—which are non-existent!

It is now crystal clear that Obama’s deceptive use of the term “Meds Yeghern” in his annual commemorative statements does not amount to an acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide, contrary to the gleeful pronouncements of some gullible souls.

Finally, the Armenian-American community should reconsider its strategy of seeking genocide acknowledgment through congressional resolutions that are not only unnecessary, but counter-productive, as these unsuccessful attempts undermine previously adopted resolutions and cast doubt on the long-established U.S. record of Armenian Genocide recognition.