A two-part documentary, entitled “Between hunger and fire: Power at the expense of lives,” presents compelling evidence about criminal activities of Baku’s political elite, which victimized women, the elderly and children.

The research group, which initiated the film-investigation, reports that the documentary for now will be screened in Russian and English, while it will be translated into seven more languages.

Using a vast trove of materials, the film will be of interest not only for wider audience, but also for research and the academic community. The archive, assembled during the investigation of tragic death of civilians in Armenian-populated Stepanakert and Azerbaijani-controlled Aghdam region, entails grounds for a wider-scale film. The latter will counter and shed light on a range of misinformation by Azerbaijan, which was tasked to deport the civilian population of Nagorno Karabakh Republic from their ancestral homeland.

Meanwhile in the United States, a group calling itself the Azerbaijan America Alliance has launched a massive propaganda campaign of misinformation on the Azeri version of the Khojaly issue. Full-page advertisements headlined “Khojaly: A Human Tragedy Against Azerbaijan” appeared in the national editions of the New York Times on Friday and the Washington Post on Saturday. Advertisements have also been placed in Washington Metro stations, buses, bus shelters and other transportation venues in Washington and New York.

A memorial for Sumgait victims

STEPANAKERT—“On February 26-29, 1988, with the actual support of the Azerbaijani authorities and the collusion of the Soviet leadership, a massacre of Armenians was carried out in the city of Sumgait, the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic, which shocked the international community with its savagery and brutality,” the Foreign Ministry of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic said in a statement issued Friday ahead of the 24th anniversary of the crime.

“The Sumgait massacre of Armenians was committed in response to the Karabakh people’s legitimate expression of will for reunification with Armenia and became the embodiment of the Azerbaijani authorities’ policy of hatred towards Armenians conducted during the entire Soviet period. The mass pogroms of Armenians in ‘international’ Sumgait were intended to block a possible solution to the issue, to frighten the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh with the prospects of new bloody actions and to make them abandon their national-liberation movement. Dozens of people were killed with sadistic cruelty; a considerable part of them was burned alive after having been beaten, tortured, and violated. Hundreds of people were disabled for life and thousands became refugees.

The massacre of Armenians in Sumgait was thoroughly organized, including from the ideological and psychological points of view. At the anti-Armenian rallies, which started on February 26 in the central square, the municipal leaders openly called upon the participants for violence against the Armenians.

On February 27, the ‘rallies’ escalated into acts of violence. The first ‘rally’ in front of the building of the Sumgait City Party Committee was attended by about 50 people; the next day, the number of participants grew to several thousands. In her speech, Second Secretary of the City Party Committee Melek Bairamova demanded that Armenians leave Azerbaijan; Azerbaijani poet Khydyr Alovlu concluded his speech by saying: “Death to Armenians!”

In addition to the city leadership, representatives of the law enforcement agencies were on the tribune, and it wasn’t accidental that unprecedented facts of inaction and heartlessness of the Interior employees were fixed during the pogroms.

An open atmosphere of mass psychosis and hysteria was formed at the ‘rallies.’ Those on the tribunes called upon the participants to be true to the credit of the Muslims and to unite in a war against the “infidels.” The thugs were inflamed by, actually, fascist appeals, heated by alcohol, which was distributed freely out of trucks, and drugged; convinced of their own impunity, they continued with renewed impetus the pogroms of Armenians’ apartments, their mass beating and killing, which lasted until late at night. The crowd was headed by none other than First Secretary of the Sumgait City Committee of the Communist Party Jahangir Muslimzade, with the national flag of Azerbaijan in his hands. The gangs were headed also by some prominent people in Sumgait – the director of secondary school #25, an actress of the Arablinsky Theater, and others.

On February 28, the number of thugs armed with iron bars, axes, hammers, and other improvised means considerably increased. The crowd clearly knew its tasks. The pogrom-makers, who were divided into groups, broke into Armenians’ apartments and killed the people in their own homes; but more often they took them out in the street or in the yard for making a public mock of them. After painful humiliation, the victims were covered with petrol and burned alive.

Only on February 29 military forces were brought into the city of Sumgait, but they did not immediately establish control over the city. The killings and pogroms of Armenians went on. Only in the evening the military units started taking decisive action.

The central authorities were not interested in establishing the exact number of victims in the Sumgait bacchanalia. Officially, 36 Armenian and 6 Azerbaijani deceased persons were stated. Meanwhile, British researcher Tom de Waal wrote in his book Black Garden. Between Peace and War: ‘…If you pay attention to the serial numbers of medical death certificates, you’ll find out that at least 115 bodies were recorded those days in the morgues… Such a number of natural deaths is excluded, at least because no more than 72 deaths were registered in the previous two months’ (February 1988: Azerbaijan, chapter 2).

The fact that the Genocide of the Armenian population of Sumgait was planned in advance and was not a spontaneous action of a group of hooligans, as the Soviet authorities and judicial agencies tried to present it, is testified by some irrefutable facts: production of cold arms for the pogroms at the industrial enterprises of the city; making lists of the Armenians living in the city with the aim of their killing; the authorities’ inaction; speeches of specially trained provokers at the rallies for manipulating the crowd; the local militia’s assistance to the thugs; disconnecting the phones in the Armenians’ apartments; cutting off the electricity supply in the blocks where the pogroms were going on; accurate coordination of the gangs’ actions; providing the thugs with reinforcement rods, pipe scraps, rocks and bottles with gasoline and alcohol; blocking the entrances to the city by armed groups; lack of any assistance to the victims by medical workers of the city; removal of the crimes’ traces (hasty repair of the smashed shops, apartments, and other facilities), and hiding the organizers and many executors of the Genocide from the justice.

All this was not an act of hooliganism; it was an action against a particular nation, against the Armenians. It was not against the Russians or some other nations, it was against the Armenians; they were looking for only Armenians.

On February 29, 1988, a session of the Politburo of the USSR Communist Party Central Committee took place in the Kremlin, at which it was stated for the first time officially, though classified as ‘top secret’, that the mass pogroms and massacre had been carried out in Sumgait on an ethnic basis, that is exclusively against Armenians. However, the USSR official structures were quick to taboo the topic of ‘Sumgait’, artificially dividing the mass slaughter of Armenians into separate crimes. The crimes, which, according to the International Convention on Genocide, must be assessed as crimes against humanity, were classified as crimes committed out of “hooliganism motives.” In other words, the committed Genocide was veiled, and its organizers were defended at the official level.

Unfortunately, the February 27-29 pogroms in Sumgait, organized at the highest state level, are not given an adequate political and legal assessment, and the Moscow trial did not become the Nuremberg trial, because the roots of the mass crimes were not identified.

The policy of silence related to the Genocide in Sumgait, concealment of the reasons, which gave rise to it, and leaving its real organizers unpunished made possible the ethnic cleansing carried out by the Azerbaijani SSR authorities throughout the Republic, which culminated in the January 1990 bloody pogroms in the Republic’s capital city of Baku and led to further large-scale military aggression against the people of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

Meanwhile, the truth about Sumgait, like the materials of the Nuremberg trial, is needed to prevent a new ‘brown plague,’” concluded the announcement.

Catholicos Aram I presides over conference on Genocide reparations

BEIRUT—A two-day international conference titled “The Armenian Genocide: from Recognition to Reparation” kicked off on Thursday in the presence experts from all over the world, ambassadors, current and former government ministers and members of the Lebanese Parliament, heads of Armenian religious communities and representatives of Armenian political parties and other institutions.

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia welcomed the guests and the participants and explained the background leading to the conference. Discussing the issue of reparations, Aram I said, “Turkey must return the church and community properties confiscated by the Ottoman Turkish authorities to their legal owner, the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia. As the Catholicosate of Cilicia, we claim the ownership of our properties confiscated by the Turkish authorities.”

The Catholicosate of Cilicia held jurisdiction over more than 200 Armenian churches in the Ottoman Empire before World War I. Other Armenian churches, close to 2,000 according to church figures compiled by the Armenian Weekly, were under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate in Istanbul, the Catholicosate in Aghtamar, the Catholicosate in Etchmiadzin, and the Patriarchate in Jerusalem.

Prof. Nora Bayrakdarian introduced the agenda and the two speakers: H.E. Judge Fausto Pocar, Former President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and H.E. Judge Joe Verhoeven, ad hoc Judge, International Court of Justice.

Judge Fausto Pocar said that although it is important to list the acts of the Genocide Convention, it is equally important to consider intent and incitement. After mentioning examples from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and that of the Former Yugoslavia, he said that in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, the Tribunals clarified the crime of genocide by both applying the acts listed in the 1948 Genocide Convention and showing evidence of intent and incitement. Judge Pocar stated that the same process could take place in the case of the Armenian Genocide.

Conference participants

Judge Verhoeven began by saying that recognition of the Armenian Genocide is an established fact and that the Turkish State is denying part of its own history. He also said that the fact that the Genocide Convention had not been written at the time of the Armenian Genocide is irrelevant and that there is no statute of limitations on the act of the illegal killing of people. The State of Turkey and its territories still exist and it is therefore accountable. Speaking of Church properties, he said that these were semi-public properties: part of the historical heritage of the Armenian people and a necessary component of their identity. Turkey cannot deny the identity of a people. Turkey should respect it and make reparation to the Church, which is responsible owner of this heritage.

The opening session concluded with the anthem of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and the prayer of His Holiness Aram I at the Martyr’s Chapel.

Below are the introductory remarks offered by Aram I.

The Armenian Genocide: From Recognition To Reparation
I warmly welcome you to this spiritual center of the Armenian Church which is indeed a place of living encounter and interaction between peoples and perspectives. I extend my deep thanks and great appreciation to all of you and particularly to the experts of international law and Armenian Genocide for accepting our invitation to join us in addressing critical issues and questions pertaining to the Armenian Genocide.

The decision of US House of Representatives to urge Turkey to return confiscated churches and church properties to their rightful owners, and the approval of a bill by the French Parliament and the Senate making it a crime to deny the Armenian Genocide, along with the Turkish government’s aggressive reaction, have, once again, brought the Armenian Genocide to the fore of international headlines. The Armenian Genocide is no longer an exclusive concern of Armenian-Turkish relations; it has become integral part of the global agenda.

The conference will focus on how we can move from recognition of the Armenian Genocide to reparation. What procedures and mechanisms are provided by international law to effect this transition? What are the prospects and challenges before us?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948, had an immense impact on the self-understanding of human beings and the self-affirmation of nations and societies. Seeking to protect human dignity, promote justice, build greater peace and generate reconciliation, it also challenged the dictatorial governances and discriminatory patterns and norms existing in many cultures and societies.

The core values and basic principles contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, namely the fundamental right of human beings for life, freedom and dignity,[1] are also taught by Christianity. The Bible is the source of human rights.[2] According to Christianity, human rights are God-given, not man-made. As such, they should be recognized, respected, protected and promoted by all human beings, nations and states under any circumstances. To violate human rights is to reject God’s gift of life, freedom and justice; hence, it is a sin against God.

Human rights are not optional; they are integral to the Gospel message. Human rights advocacy is an essential dimension of the prophetic vocation of the church. To deny this commitment, is to negate the very being and the missionary calling of the church. Human rights in general and the Armenian Genocide in particular, are part of the missionary calling of the Armenian Church and they occupy, therefore, an important place on the agenda of its witness.

Although the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been bolstered with broader networks and mechanism of implementation through treaties, resolutions and conventions, human rights violations have continued, and the UN and the international community have failed “to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance.”[3]

Therefore, the implementation process and enforcement system of human rights need to be strengthened, and early warning systems need to be activated. Furthermore, the efforts of non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and other actors in civil society should be supported by all those who wish to transform societies and build a better world.

The resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, including the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Violation of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and, generally speaking, the international criminal law provide an important legal context and juridical framework for matters concerning genocide and war.

In fact, acts committed by Turkey in 1915 are defined in the Convention as Genocide. The Turkish government intended “to destroy, whole or in part, a national, ethnical, social or religious group, as such”;[4] they “killed members of the group”; they “caused serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group”; they “deliberately inflicted on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part” ……..”;[5]

These acts constitute genocide as defined in the Convention and are punishable, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under international law.”[6] The Convention states that all those persons who have committed genocide “shall be punished”[7], whether they are “constitutionally responsible rulers, public officials or private individuals.”[8] And those persons who are charged with genocide shall be tried either in the territory where the act was committed or by an international penal tribunal[9]

The term “genocide” only became part of the vocabulary of international law in 1944[10]; however, the carefully planned and systematically executed attempt of the Ottoman-Turkish government in 1915, which aimed at the total extermination of the Armenian Nation, fits the definition in the Genocide Convention. This act, strongly substantiated by the historical evidence and eye-witness accounts of Armenian and non-Armenian, including Turkish sources, was unequivocally a genocide. The Turkish authorities may deny that it was a crime against humanity; some nations or governments may still keep silent about it for geopolitical reasons. But denial is a dead end. Negationism will eventually fall short before the truth. The retroactive application of the Convention is a critical issue which will be certainly treated by the Conference. Since only a state that has accepted the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice may submit a case to it, I hope that the Republic of Armenia will soon study this matter and take the necessary action. Are there some other possibilities for legal action, such as taking the Armenian Genocide to a national tribunal or creating a special tribunal or taking it to the European Human Rights Court? These questions need to be addressed from a juridical perspective.

In stressing the crucial importance of the promotion, protection and restoration of justice, the Commission on Human Rights affirmes the right of crime victims “to access to justice,” and spelles out various aspects and procedures of “remedy and reparation” for the “victims of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. [11]

Regarding the process of reparation, the following issues require scrutiny:

a. The Commission provides a broad definition of victim, stating that “a victim” may also be a dependent or a member of the immediate family or household of the direct victim.”[12]

b. The victim’s effective access to justice includes “all available judicial, administrative, or other public processes under existing domestic laws as well as under international law.”[13] Within the context of the restoration of justice “adequate provisions should also be made to allow groups of victims to present collective claims for reparation and to receive reparation collectively.”[14] And, “reparation should be proportional to the gravity of the violations and the harm suffered.”[15]

c. The state or government under whose authority the genocide occurred is obliged to provide reparation. However, if the state or government responsible for the genocide is no longer in existence, “the State or Government’s successor in title should provide reparation to the victims.”[16]

d. The Commission on Human Rights refers to three forms of reparation: restitution[17], compensation[18] and rehabilitation[19]. These concepts or forms of reparation may have different connotations and implications in different socio-political contexts and in relation to specific cases. How do they apply to the Armenian Genocide?

For decades we have focused on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey and the international community. In fact, the recent Court cases against American, Turkish and French insurance and private companies; the decision of US Congress to urge Turkey to return churches and church-related properties to their owners, and the Turkish government’s decision on 27 August 2011decided to return to the minorities the properties confiscated since 1936, came to re-emphasize the crucial importance of reparation. Indeed, recognition of truth implies reparation; these acts are intimately interconnected. This is at the heart of international law.

On the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, should we accept a symbolic formal apology and recognition by Turkey of the genocide? Should we claim financial compensation for the victims of Genocide and for the properties? Or, should we claim the return of church, community and personal properties? Further, should we demand that reparation include the damages that the Armenian people were subjected to during the “white genocide,” namely the constant threat to the Armenian identity in a diaspora situation that was caused by the “red genocide”? Should we, finally, consider land reparation within the provisions of international law?. The formal recognition of the Armenian Genocide is a conditio sine qua non for any attempt or process aimed at restoration of justice. And, as a first concrete step in the direction of reparation, Turkey must return the church and community properties confiscated by the Ottoman Turkish authorities to its legal owner, the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia. As the Catholicosate of Cilicia, which was established in the 10th Century in Cilicia, south-western part of present Turkey, and which was in 1915 forcefully uprooted from its historical seat, we claim the ownership of our properties confiscated by the Turkish authorities.

It is with this objective in mind that we have set the agenda of this conference.

[1] Cf. Human Rights, Articles 1, 3.
[2] Cf. Isa. 61:1, Mt. 25: 35-40, Gal. 3: 28.
[3] Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Preamble.
[4] Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Article 2.
[5] Convention, Article 2.
[6] Convention, Article 1.
[7] Ibid., Article 4.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid., Article 6.
[10] Raphael Lemkin coined the term “genocide” in 1944 and that paved the way for UN to adopt the Conventio on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
[11] Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Violation of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (Annex to Commission on Human Rights), II, c, d, e.
[12] “A person is a victim where, as a result of acts or omissions that constitute a violation of international human rights or humanitarian law norms, that person, individually or collectively, suffered harm, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss, or impairment of that person’s fundamental legal rights.” Ibid., V.
[13] Remedy and Reparation, VIII, 12.
[14] Ibid., VIII, 13.
[15] Ibid., IX, 15.
[16] Ibid., IX.
[17] “Restitution should, whenever possible, restore the victim to the original situation before the violations of international human rights or humanitarian law occurred. Restitution includes: restoration of liberty, legal rights, social status, family life and citizenship; return to one’s place of residence; and restoration of employment and return of property.”
[18] “Compensation should be provided for any economically assessable damage resulting from violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, such as: a) Physical or mental harm, including pain, suffering and emotional distress; b) Lost opportunities, including education; c)Material damages and loss of earnings, including loss of earning potential; d)Harm to reputation or dignity; and e) Costs required for legal or expert assistance, medicines and medical services, and psychological and social services”
[19] “Rehabilitation should include medical and psychological care as well as legal and social services.”

Washington community members protest the unpunished Sumgait Pogroms

Azerbaijani Counter-Protesters Celebrate Ongoing Aggression Against Armenia

WASHINGTON—Greater Washington area Armenian Americans braved the cold and rain earlier today to mourn the victims of Azerbaijani aggression and stand in solidarity with the people of the independent Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, in their effort to secure a fair and lasting peace.

The silent protest, organized by the Greater Washington, DC Armenian Youth Federation “Ani” Chapter and the St. Mary’s Armenian Church Youth Organization (ACYO), coincided with the 24th anniversary of the Azerbaijani pogroms against the Armenian population of Sumgait, which set the stage for attacks in Baku in 1990, outright Azerbaijani aggression, and a cycle of anti-Armenian violence that continues to this day. The demonstrators also called special attention to Azerbaijan’s destruction of the 1,300 year old Armenian cemetery in Djulfa, Nakhichevan, demolishing thousands of intricately carved cross-stones (Khatchkars).

“We gathered at the Azerbaijani Embassy to remember those who perished in Sumgait and Baku, but to also condemn the Aliyev regime’s ongoing threats and attacks against Artsakh and Armenia,” said AYF Ani Chapter Chairwoman Tevin Polatian. “Just this week, another Armenian soldier was killed by a Azerbaijani sniper – an all too common occurrence resulting from an international community that turns a blind eye to Aliyev’s military build-up and attacks. We will continue to stand strong with the Republic of Karabakh, as they continue to defend their right to self-determination – a fundamental value the that U.S. was founded upon.”

Following the vigil, Soorp Khatch Armenian Church pastor, Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian and St. Mary’s Armenian Church Pastor, Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan led activists in a prayer in honor of the Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku victims. Participants lit candles and brought pictures of those who perished in the massacres – making a memorial in front of the Azerbaijani Embassy.

In what has now become an expected practice at annual Armenian Genocide and Sumgait/Baku pogroms commemorative protests, flag-wearing Azerbaijani and Turkish protesters jovially celebrated the atrocities, dishonoring the memory of those who perished. This year’s counter protesters included a group of teenagers from a neighborhood home, who apparently participated as part of an after-school “drinking game.”

To view photos, visit the AYF Ani Chapter Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/AYFDC

Garen Yegparian

BY GAREN YEGPARIAN

By node I mean one of our human structures, be it state based in the two existing Armenian Republics or organizationally based in the Diaspora.

These structures attend to our various needs: athletic, community, economic, educational, philanthropic, political, scientific, social, technical, youth, and any others you can think of.

But there are gaps. I became aware of one such need from a friend’s idea of a new structure he’d been pondering producing.

This new node would address the needs of engineers/entrepreneurs/inventors with the brain power to produce new products, but lacking in the money power.

Assembling the creative side for mutual support is one aspect of such a new structure. Another is creating a forum where potential financial backers can learn about the new ideas, inventions, and products, get inspired (or see bags of money), then invest in their production and distribution.

The financial backers might be in the form on “angel investors” who put up their own money to get an invention to market, or from venture capital firms who use other people’s money. Either way, it helps strengthen individuals in our community financially, and creates cohesion among those with similar interests and competences.

Some might argue that these structures are already out there, why spread ourselves even thinner by allocating precious resources/energy to create something that already exists elsewhere (in the broader, non-Armenian community)? This seems valid at first blush. But I also learned that even in the realm of inventions and money, biases come into play. Someone from a minority group will get not always get the same consideration as another, otherwise equally gifted mind in the settings under discussion.

During the conversation with my friend, I wondered if this might be the “incubator” concept I’d encountered in discussions of Silicon Valley or other places of intense technological development. It turns out that’s a different approach, involving much more physical infrastructure.

If participating in the creation of such a new node appeals to you— as an investor, inventor, or organizer, please contact me through this publication, and I’ll connect you with my friend.

Hovannes Tumanian's house in Tbilisi

YEREVAN (ArmRadio)—The $145,000 deal on the sale of Hovannes Tumanian’s house was concluded in Tbilisi Thursday. The keys were handed to Levon Ananyan, Chairman of the Union of Writers of Armenia. The sum was provided by the Mayor of Gyumri, Vardan Ghukasyan, and his brothers.

According to Levon Ananyan, the house will still be managed by the Fund of the Union of Writers. He said this was the best solution for now.

Later the Armenian Government, the Georgian Armenian Diocese and the Armenian community of Georgia will decide the destiny of the Tumanian residence.

The Union of Armenians in Tbilisi sounded the alarm in December and issued an announcement about the fate of the Tumanian home.

“The historical building was transferred to a businessman back in the 90s. The businessman put the apartment on sale, and the ‘GeoTuran’ Turkish-Georgian joint venture is going to purchase the apartment to turn it into a hostel for Turkish workers. Company’s management has even asked poet’s great-grandchild Alina Tumanyan, who lives in the second part of the building, to sell her territory also, but she refused to,” the statement said.

At a press conference late last year, Safrazbekyan complained about the fact that Armenia did not purchase the home when it had the chance.

Employees of GeoTuran visited Alyona Tumanyan, the poet’s great-granddaughter who owns a part of the house and proposed that she sell them to the company as well. She refused.

Andrea Martin

BY ARAM KOUYOUMDJIAN

With a shout-out to her fellow Armenians – “my people” – Andrea Martin charmed her way through her cabaret-style show last week at the Samueli Theater of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa.

“Final Days! Everything Must Go!” was a piece of modern-day vaudeville, featuring character sketches, songs, bits of improvisation, and a sprinkling of audience participation – all infused with Martin’s infectious energy and sense of fun.

Martin is a star of film (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”), television (“SCTV”), and Broadway (“My Favorite Year”), and has collected a pair of Emmy Awards and a Tony during the course of her vastly successful career. I had caught one of her memorable Broadway performances a few years back in “Exit the King,” an absurdist Eugene Ionesco play in which she starred opposite Oscar winners Geoffrey Rush and Susan Sarandon.

Photo and video projections of Martin’s stage and screen experiences were woven into “Final Days!” and complemented its live portions. They showed Martin amidst the ranks of comedy giants Eugene Levy and Gilda Radner, and in the company of Mel Brooks, in whose musical version of “Young Frankenstein” she appeared.

Whether recounting career highlights or reviving Edith Prickley, one of her enduring characters, Martin was all exuberance. Yet, she achieved moments of poignancy as well, particularly when discussing family. She described her younger self as a “chubby shy Armenian girl” born in Portland, Maine, to a family whose immigrant roots stretched to the early decades of the 20th century. Martin did not delve into that family history – perhaps because its themes were too heavy for light cabaret fare. She made loving mention of her two grown sons, but touched on the struggle to balance career demands and family obligations only in passing.

The show could have used a little more structure and a stronger narrative thread to enhance its emotional lift. But its focus was comedy, and on that front, it delivered winning vignettes at a steady clip. One minute, Martin would be portraying a sexologist; the next, belting out a tune or teaching Greek dancing to rhythm-challenged audience members.

Indeed, the vivaciousness of Martin’s stage presence revealed the irony of her show’s title. Final days? Hardly. Martin’s talent is ample enough to see us through the next several decades.

Aram Kouyoumdjian is the winner of Elly Awards for both playwriting (“The Farewells”) and directing (“Three Hotels”). His latest work is “Happy Armenians.”

Karnig Sarkisian performs at OC February Revolt celebration

ORANGE COUNTY—On Saturday, February 18 almost 300 members of the community gathered at Gugasian Hall to celebrate the importance of the February Revolt.

ARF Armen Karo Social Committee organized the celebration (“Khrakhjank”) which included an amazing performance by Karnig Sarkissian that kept the majority of the attendees excited and engaged until the early morning hours.

Zepur Ohanessian, Committee Chairperson, welcomed the guests and stressed the importance of the February Uprising. She then introduced Shant Meguerditchian to say a few words on behalf of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF). Shant explained that it was the founder of the AYF, General Karekin Njteh, who led the forces during the uprising in Zankezour and secured the safe passage of many Armenian nationals. He went on to thank the ARF Armen Karo Gomideh for organizing the celebration, and more importantly for supporting and standing by the youth. He explained that the AYF & ARF are one family and ever since the AYF camp weekend in November the bond between the two has grown much stronger.

Garo Madenlian, Chairman of the ARF Armen Karo Gomideh, then spoke about the political importance of the Revolt and how Zankezour was saved from being taken over byTurkey, an unacceptable Pan-Turanist agenda that the government of Turkey attempts to reintroduce every decade. He went on to explain that the Uprising was an ideal, that was realized by the hard work and support of the community, led by its youth. Garo promised that the ARF would stand by today’s youth, the AYF, as they continue to defend that ideal, and fight for the Armenian Cause.

Setrak Garabedian, TrikTrak.ca then played Armenian music for those in attendance as the crowd geared up for Karnig Sarkissian and the singing of national songs. Karnig took the stage and electrified the audience, re-energizing those present to become active participants within their respective organizations, specifically the ARF. The entire evening was broadcast live online on TrikTrak.ca and included various individuals calling in from Canada, Lebanon, and other countries, requesting Karnig to sing certain songs, and pledging their solidarity and donations!

The students after class

World Champion Ricardo Abreu is taking time out of his busy schedule to teach the art of Brazilian Jiu- Jitsu (BJJ) to the Armenian Youth of the Orange County Community every Tuesday and Saturday. He has affectionately named his teachings “Hye-Jitsu.” According to Abreu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and ground fighting.

The art was derived from the Japanese martial art of Kodokan judo in the early 20th century. It teaches that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using leverage and proper technique – most notably by applying joint-locks and chokeholds to defeat the other person. BJJ training can be used for sport grappling tournaments and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition or self defense. Abreu states “Most importantly it teaches the kids to have self confidence and discipline.”

The Armen Karo Gomideh’s Youth Committee organized and launched the Hye-Jitsu lessons in November of 2011. Since then, Abreu has been teaching this ancient Japanese Art Form at the Orange County Armenian Community Center to several youth many of whom attend the Ari Giragos Minassian School and the ARF Badanees. They meet twice a week and begin each class with traditional “warm up” excercises and stretches. After warming up, the kids are taught different techinques and submissions. The last portion of the class is dedicated to sparring, where the students get an opportunity to use the techiniques they have learned against each other in a controlled environment.

His students admire and respect him not only for his dedication to the art, but rather for his patience, kindness, and willingness to go above and beyond in each and every class.

When he is not at the Armenian Community Center in Orange County, Abreu is training Famous MMA Fighter Tito Ortiz and many others. He recently made his Mixed Martial Arts debut in December of 2011 where he submmitted his opponent Marcos Wilson da Silva in 61 seconds. Abreu’s nickname “Demente” in Portuguese stands for “Madman”. The reason his training partners gave him the nickname was because people would often stretch his arm to the limit, but he would more then often prevail and win. For this his coach and colleagues started calling him Madman (Demente).

His dedication to the Art of Jiu-Jitsu and to the youth of the Orange County Armenian community is teaching kids invaluable lessons not only in martial arts but “life”.

Grappler Ricardo “Demente” Abreu who has trained with the likes of Tito Ortiz (pictured far right) and Anderson Silva, made his MMA debut in December of 2011. Abreu submitted his opponent Marcos Wilson da Silva in 61 seconds in a light heavyweight bout in Brazil.

For more information and to register email the OC ARF Youth Committee at hyejitsu@yahoo.com

Ricardo “Demente” Abreu is a two time silver medalist at the World Championships in 2009 and 2010. He was also the European Champion in 2010 and in 2009 the South American Chanpion and Sao Paulo State Champion.

The 9th Circuit Court

SAN FRANCISCO—Armenian Americans sharply criticized Thursday’s 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in the Movsesian v. Versicherung case, which would effectively bar Americans of Armenian descent from seeking the return of stolen Armenian Genocide era insurance assets through U.S. courts, under California law.

“This ruling opens the door for foreign governments to try to roll back the clock on human rights, potentially putting at peril American grassroots efforts – along the lines of the anti-Apartheid, Darfur Genocide, and Free Tibet movements – that so often start at the state and local level, sometimes even against opposition at the federal level, before winning broad acceptance by the American people and the U.S. government,” stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.  “Turkey has no right to hold all three branches of the U.S. government hostage to its irrational and hateful denial of the Armenian Genocide, a crime that has already been broadly recognized by American civil society and government, once by a U.S. President, at least twice by the House of Representatives, 42 times by separate U.S. states, and hundreds of times by municipal governments in nearly every state of our union.  There is nothing in this judgment – or in any court ruling – that will stand in the way of our pursuit of a principled U.S. policy in support of a truthful, just, and comprehensive resolution of the Armenian Genocide.”

 ”Today’s court ruling highlights the ongoing human costs of the White House’s complicity in Turkey’s denials of the Armenian Genocide, and underscores the urgency of President Obama honoring his pledge to properly recognize this crime against humanity,” concluded Hamparian.

In an 18-page ruling by the 9th Circuit Court, the Court found that a California law, which extended the statute of limitations for Armenian Genocide victims and their heirs to bring claims against corporations for unpaid benefits, “intrudes on the federal government’s exclusive power to conduct and regulate foreign affairs.”  The decision cites Turkey’s threats against countries which seek to properly commemorate this crime and President Obama’s reticence to refer to the crime as ‘genocide’ in his annual commemorative statements as among the reasons for their conclusion that the law “has a direct impact upon foreign relations and may well adversely affect the power of the central government to deal with those problems.”

The 9th Circuit Court decision specifically states that the court does not “offer any opinion about California’s ability to express support for Armenians by, for example, declaring a commemorative day.” Over 42 U.S. states have adopted resolutions or issued proclamations properly commemorating the Armenian Genocide.

Prior to the en banc consideration of the matter on December 14, 2011, California Attorney General Kamala Harris was joined by Hawai’i Attorney General David Louie, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin in defending California’s and other states’ rights to enact legislation referring to the Armenian Genocide. In a joint amicus brief, the Attorneys General argued that “[a]llowing the federal government to dictate to the states the words they may and may not use . . . raises a serious issue of federalism.” They also noted that in contrast to other cases preempting state laws, “here no treaty, congressional resolution or executive agreement establishes a federal foreign policy that conflicts with, or displaces” the California statute at hand.

California state and federal legislators, in a separate amicus brief, noted that “there is no precedent for holding a state statute preempted merely because of the terminology that it uses.” To do so would render the foreign affairs doctrine “beyond recognition.” They also assert that unlike other California statutes concerning Holocaust-era or World War II slave labor claims, which have been struck down, “there is no federal action to negotiate an international compensation regime for claims related to the Armenian Genocide.” The amicus brief was filed on behalf of U.S. Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and Ed Royce (R-CA); Speaker of the California State Assembly John Perez (D-46); Majority Leader of the California State Assembly Charles Calderon (D-58); California State Senators Kevin de León (D-22) and S. Joseph Simitian (D-11), and; California State Assembly Members Katcho Achadjian (R-33), Mike Gatto (D-43), and Anthony Portantino (D-44). Former Supreme Court clerk Igor Timofeyev of the international law firm Paul Hastings represented the California legislators pro bono.

Earlier in the case, the Armenian Bar Association, Armenian National Committee of America, Zoryan Institute for Contemporary Armenian Research and Documentation, Inc., the International Association of Genocide Scholars, Genocide Education Project, Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action, and Center for the Study of Law and Genocide filed amicus briefs and were represented “pro bono” by David Balabanian and David Salmons, both partners at the international firm Bingham McCutchen.

Amicus briefs in support of plaintiffs have also been submitted by Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), EarthRights International, and the Center for Constitutional Rights.

Claims for unpaid life insurance policies dating back to the Armenian Genocide were first brought by plaintiff’s attorney Vartkes Yeghiayan. Attorneys representing plaintiffs include Brian Kabateck, Mark Geragos, and Lee Crawford Boyd.

The 9th Circuit case Movsesian v. Versicherung AG involves life insurance claims dating from the Armenian Genocide era. In 2000, California passed a law, which extended the statute of limitations for life insurance claims that were never paid out, in some cases because insurance companies insisted heirs produce death certificates of relatives, who were murdered during the Armenian Genocide, before honoring the policies. The California statute, which was introduced by former State Senator and current Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal Charles ‘Chuck’ Poochigian and former State Senator and current Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), allowed California residents to file until December 31, 2010. The law has since been amended through legislation introduced by State Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-43), extending the statute of limitations to file claims until December 31, 2016. Defendant German insurance companies, which are being represented by the Los Angeles office of Mayer Brown, have been joined by the Republic of Turkey in their attempts to strike down California’s law, claiming there is an “express federal policy” to prohibit states from any reference to the Armenian Genocide.

Another Armenian soldier was killed by Azeris

YEREVAN—Another Armenian soldier was killed by Azeri snipers Thursday, this time near the Chinari Village in the Tavoush region of Armenia, reported Armenia’s Ministry of Defense.

The soldier, Albert Adibekyan, 20, died of a bullet wound to his head.

Armenia’s Defense Ministry spokesperson, David Karapetyan, said that this latest violence by the Azeri Armed Forces “will receive the adequate response.”

Karapetyan said that “the command of the Azerbaijani armed forces will be forced to bear responsibility for its actions.”

The Azerbaijani Armed Forces have been staging war games and military exercises on the Nagorno-Karabakh-Azerbaijan border since earlier this week.

Hrank Dink

ISTANBUL (Doğan News Agency)—An Istanbul court on Thursday issued its final ruling in the Hrant Dink murder case, saying there was no evidence indicating the existence of an organization behind the crime, despite lingering doubts.

“If a [terrorist] organization does exist [behind the crime], then it has not been ascertained when and for which purpose it was established. It has not been ascertained on which principles and crimes the organization’s founders established their mutual wills. If there is a structure that presents continuity, then no information could be obtained as to what kinds of actions they have undertaken since Jan. 19, 2007,” read the court’s ruling made public Thursday.

The 216 page ruling also said no organization leaders or members could be identified, and that no evidence could be found to demonstrate the organization was in possession of the necessary means to commit the crimes in question either.

“There is only the fact that a murder leading to so many political consequences was committed by the suspects without an organization [standing behind them], and that this constitutes a situation that runs counter to the natural flow of life,” said the ruling.

The court ruling also said tha while this situation creates doubt, the criminal law holds that doubt should be interpreted in the suspect’s favor.

“It was thus necessary to acquit the suspects due to lack of evidence, as the suspects’ crimes of establishing, leading, abetting and being members of an [illegal] organization could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt with clear and precise facts and evidence that leaves no room for hesitation,” said the ruling.

It seems illogical that the murder was planned and premeditated by juveniles without an organization behind them, but those who planned the murder left no evidence that would establish either a de jure or a de facto connection between the triggermen and themselves, the ruling continued.

“The conclusion could be logically drawn that the evidence could have been more accessible if there was no terrorist organization [behind the triggermen] of a magnitude bigger than previously thought.”

Dink was the chief editor for weekly Agos, a newspaper published in Turkish and Armenian. He was shot dead in front of his office on Jan. 19, 2007 in Istanbul. The shooter, Ogun Samast, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the murder last year.

Another suspect, Yasin Hayal, was sentenced on Jan. 19 to aggravated life imprisonment, while former police informant and suspect Erhan Tuncel was released, leading to the public outcry.

Parliamentary elections will be helt May 6

YEREVAN—President Serzh Sarkisian on Thursday issued a decree setting May 6 as the date for Armenia’s parliamentary elections, according to the presidential Web site. Campaigning for the elections will officially begin at the end of March.

This decision comes days before a scheduled vote on February 28 on drastic reforms to Armenia’s election code.

The Committee on Legal Affairs of the Armenian Parliament last week agreed to discuss a proposal introduced by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the Heritage party that calls for drastic reforms to Armenia electoral code whereby parliamentary elections would be held on a 100-percent proportional representation.

Under the current electoral code, 90 of the 131 members of parliament are elected on the proportional system, while the remaining 41 members are elected on the single-mandate. The opposition, in its joint announcement in December, said that the single mandate systems opens the door for broad election violations and asserted that a 100-percent proportional system would minimize voter harassment and vote rigging.

The measure was rejected by the majority in the Parliament earlier this month, yet Prosperous Armenia, a member of the ruling coalition, expressed its approval through an official filing in parliament.

Results of the hearings are to culminate in a vote on February 28, announced Republican Party of Armenia member Davit Harutyunyan last week, who chairs the committee which organized the hearings. However, he asserted that his party would oppose the measure.

“Here we have a ‘full consensus minus one’ state in the political arena, which is created by the ruling Republican Party,” stated ARF Supreme Council of Armenia representative and chairman of the Parliament’s committee on foreign relations, Armen Rustamian from the National Assembly dais last week.

The rally is scheduled for Monday

LOS ANGELES—Pogroms, beatings, and ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Azerbaijan escalated to inconceivable measures 24 years ago, on February 27, 1988, in Sumgait. UYA has organized a protest to mark the anniversary of the Sumgait massacres and call for an end to Azerbaijan’s state sponsored campaign of hatred targeting populations of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

On Monday, February 27 at 10 a.m., UYA has planned a protest at the Azerbaijan Consulate, located at: 11766 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025.

The Sumgait tragedy and its bloody repetitions in Azerbaijan, lasting through the years of 1988 to 1991, led to the disappearance of 450,000 inhabitants living in an established Armenian community in Azerbaijan. It stimulated the military aggression against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh from 1992 until 1994, as the latter pushed for peaceful demands for self-determination.

Dozens of Armenians were killed, majority of whom were set on fire alive, after being beaten and tortured. Hundreds of innocent people recieved injuries of varying severity. Women, among them minors, were raped.

In his address to the Supreme Council of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Region, a leader of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, Hidayat Orujev, stated days before the massacre of Armenians in Sumgait: “If you do not stop campaigning for the unification of Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia, and if you do not sober up, 100,000 Azeris from neighboring districts will break into your houses, torch your apartments, rape your women, and kill your children.” This same Orujev is currently the Chairman of the State Committee for Work and Religious Organization for the Republic of Azerbaijan

Armenian singers will boycott Eurovision contest

YEREVAN—A group of well-known Armenian singers have released a statement addressed to the European Broadcasting Union and the Armenian Public TV Company saying they will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest-2012, which will take place in Baku.

The statement comes after Armenia’s Defense Ministry reported late on Thursday that an Armenian soldier was shot dead by an Azerbaijani sniper in the North-Eastern province of Tavush.

“And this happens at a time when the mediators in the negotiation process of the Karabakh conflict have several times called on the conflicting parties to withdraw snipers from the Line of Contact,” read the statement signed by several Armenian singers.

Further it mentioned that Armenia has always declared it is ready to withdraw its snipers, while “Azerbaijan, as we can see, not only does not accept the proposal but also takes advantage of every occasion to shed the blood of Armenians”.

“Under these circumstances we, the undersigned, are stating in public that we have the most serious reservation over Armenia’s participation in the Eurovision to be held in Baku,” the statement added.

Ceasefire violations across the Line of Contact claim several lives annually. Last year 20 Armenian and Azerbaijani conscripts were killed because of those violations.

The Armenian singers further said that for several years now Armenia has taken part in the Eurovision song contest, including the junior one, but now they are stating that they will not participate in the contest.

“We are declaring that we refuse to take part in the contest to be held in Baku.

“We refuse to perform in a country that is notorious for its mass killings and massacres of Armenians, a country where anti-Armenian sentiment is part of state policy, a country where ethnic Armenians are denied entry, even if they are citizens of other countries,” the statement added.

Further, they called on Armenian Public TV Company reconsider sending an Armenian participant to the contest, adding that they are ready to take part in it, should the European Broadcasting Union decide to hold the contest in another country.

The F-35 Fighter Jet is produced by Lockheed Martin

ISTANBUL (Hurriyet Daily News)—Turkey is planning to purchase 100 multi-purpose F-35 fighter jets worth $16 billion, Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz said, reported the daily Milliyet.

The first two of the military aircraft will be delivered by 2015, he said. The decision to order two F-35s was made last month.

The multi-purpose F-35 fighter jets are being produced by the U.S.-based arms producer Lockheed Martin. In 1999 Turkey became a member of an international F-35 consortium that includes Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Norway and Denmark.

The statement indicates that Turkey is insisting on proceeding with its plan to purchase 100 F-35s even as many other partner countries, including the United States, have backtracked on their purchase plans due to delays and incremental costs.

The Pentagon postponed the purchase of 139 F-35 fighter jets for five years, while Britain said the decision regarding the number of F-35s that the country would buy would be delayed until 2015. Italy last week said its F-35 orders would be scaled down by 30 percent.

The U.S. government plans to manufacture 2,443 F-35 fighter jets, according to a statement made to Turkey in 2012, Yilmaz said. “Purchase orders in the upcoming years regarding the [F-35 military aircraft] will be subsequently assessed depending upon the negotiations.”

Turkey has spent $315 million so far on three phases of the development of the F-35 fighter jets that the country is producing as part of the partnership, Yılmaz said.

"Save Teghut" t-shirts were sold at the event

PASADENA—The “Parsons” center was filled with environmentalists and concerned citizens as Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America (AESA), AGBU-YP, and Armenia Tree Project (ATP) hosted a panel lecture entitled “Armenia’s Environmental Challenges in the 21st Century” event on February 8.

“Our main goal is to raise awareness about Armenia’s current environmental situation and to make Armenia an environmentally progressive nation within the Caucasus” stated Jeff Masarjian, ATP’s Executive Director and Areg Gharabegian, Environmental Committee Chair of AESA, in their opening remarks.

ATP Forestry Director Zach Parisa, presented his research on Armenia’s forests as a resource to the country. He explained how forests play an active role in Armenia as part of a functioning community. If the forests are unstable then the communities become unstable. The key is sustainability and the only way to ensure sustainability is by not harvesting and bringing danger to an ecosystem so that those that come after us can’t reap the same benefits from it.  

Armenia has had progressive policies created but is yet to implement them. In 2005, a legislation was passed that would allow communities to manage their surrounding forest areas. However, all forests are still state-owned and state-run.

Destruction of Armenia’s forests will quicken its progress towards a desert-like terrain. This increases soil erosion threats and decreases its ability to provide life to a very biologically diverse ecosystem.

Robert Kurkjian, an environmental scientist from New Jersey who has taught at the American University of Armenia, noted that one of Armenia’s rich resources is its abundant water supply. However, this does not mean that water is a free for all and should be used without management, supervision and planning, which has been the case for a while, especially in Yerevan.

Varouj Abkian, who is the technical services assistant director of the city of Los Angeles Sanitation Department of Public Works, and who is personally aware of Armenia’s water resources also relayed his concerns about this matter.

Jeff Masarjian presented research done by environmental scientist, Dr. Anahid Shirinian-Orlando. It expressed her concerns about the negative consequences the Teghut mining project will create. He presented pictures and statistics on Akhtala, a town found in the province of Lori, where an enrichment plant resides. This plant produces toxic dump, which contaminates not only the Akhtala and Debed rivers but also its surrounding land.

The event’s participants and audience all showed interest and willingness to work towards the “Save Teghut” project, especially one youth-oriented organization.

Members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s “Shant” Student Association (ARF Shant) displayed and sold «Թեղուտ» logo t-shirts. All proceeds from the t-shirt sales will go towards Armenia’s “Save Teghut” project.

This is ARF Shant’s first step in this campaign. Next month, in Los Angeles an informational seminar will take place where threats to Armenia’s current environment will be discussed, especially, the issue of Teghut.

For more information, please visit the website: http://Teghut.am; www.ARFShant.org and follow @ARFShant on Twitter.

Medinian students on the first day of the 2011-2012 academic year

SHERMAN OAKS—This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Charlotte & Elise Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School.  To commemorate its Pearl Anniversary, the School Board will host a special banquet on Sunday, March 4 at the George Deukmejian Grand Ballroom at Ararat Home of Los Angeles.

The elegant evening of fine dining, entertainment, and a retrospective of the school’s history and achievements will feature the engaging Peter Kougasian, Esq. as keynote speaker.  

Peter Kougasian holds the position of Special Assistant District Attorney in the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York.  He is “a gifted speaker who captivates his listeners with charm and humor,” describes Dr. Vahe Nalbandian, Chairman of the Merdinian School Board of Directors.

Part of the evening will be devoted to recognizing a number of Merdinian alumni who will be invited to participate in a special ceremony honoring the school’s 30 years of academic excellence.  The School Board hopes that the banquet will serve as a reunion for its alumni and be a potential launching pad for the creation of an alumni association.  All alumni are encouraged to attend, reminisce, and reconnect with old friends, teachers, and their school.

Established in 1982, WASC-accredited C & E Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School is dedicated to providing an academically rich and spiritually invigorating education for its entire preschool through 8th grade student body. The school prepares its graduates to be responsible American citizens and future leaders who are firm in their Christian beliefs and proud of their Armenian heritage.

Merdinian School is a non-profit organization and welcomes all tax-deductible donations for the proper use and support of the school.

For tickets to the banquet or additional information about Merdinian School, please contact the School Office at (818) 907-8149 or visit their website at www.merdinianschool.com.

Prime Minister Sargsyan with EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele in December

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—The European Union has given the final green light for the launch of official negotiations with Armenia on a far-reaching free trade agreement that should significantly deepen the country’s integration with the 27-nation bloc.

The EU’s executive European Commission announced late on Monday that EU member-states have authorized it to negotiate a Deep and Comprehensive free Trade Area (DCFTA) with Armenia. “The parties will now engage in preparations for the first negotiating round to take place soon in 2012,” the commission said in a statement.

“The opening of free trade negotiations mark a turning point in our trade relations with Armenia. We are entering a new phase that will bring our economic ties to a new level of depth and ambition,” EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht was quoted as saying.

“This is a further sign of the strengthening of our political and economic ties,” EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said for his part.

The creation of the DCFTA will be part of an “association agreement” which is already being negotiated by Brussels and Yerevan within the framework of the EU’s Eastern Partnership program. The program offers six former Soviet republics, including all three South Caucasus states, closer ties with the bloc in return for political and economic reforms.

That the DCFTA talks will be launched soon was announced by the Armenian Foreign Ministry late last month. The ministry said they will get underway in late March as part of the next round of broader Armenia-EU association negotiations to be held in Yerevan.

The DCFTA envisages not only mutual lifting of all trade barriers but also harmonization of Armenian economic laws and regulations with those existing in the EU. The European Commission emphasized this fact in its statement.

“Armenia needs to continue its work towards reaching a stable, transparent and predictable economic environment,” the statement said. “This is essential to attract foreign direct investment inflows, leading to job creation and long-term growth. The most important gains for Armenia lie therefore behind the border, in regulatory reforms, and as such will impact on its long-term development perspective.”

The European Commission had made the start of the free trade talks conditional on the elimination of a controversial mechanism for import valuation applied by Armenia’s customs service. It has also pressed Yerevan to stop discriminating against importers of alcoholic beverages.

Visiting Brussels in December, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan told De Gucht and Fuele that his government has complied with these preconditions and expects them to speed up the start of the DCFTA talks.

The EU statement spoke of “substantial reforms” carried out by the authorities in Yerevan but made no specific mention of the Armenian customs administration. It pointed instead to “the fields of technical regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary measures and the protection of intellectual property.”

The EU has been Armenia’s largest trading partner for the past decade. Official Armenian statistics show trade with the EU rising by 16 percent to about $1.8 billion and accounting for almost one-third of the country’s overall foreign trade last year.

“The free trade area is expected to diversify and strengthen Armenia’s export capacity and effectively open the way to access the EU market of 500 million consumers,” the European Commission said.

Armenia already enjoys a preferential trading regime with EU states through the EU’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP+) for some developing nations. The arrangement has entitled Armenian companies to selling virtually all products in the European market with significant discounts on import duty or no duty at all. According to the Armenian Ministry of Economy, GSP+ covered 96 percent of Armenian exports to the EU in 2010.

Turks protest jailing of journalists

The Committee to Protect Journalists has posted its annual report on press reppression around world, entitled “Attacks on the Press 2011.”

CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney, chronicles press repressions in Turkey saying “The press is laboring under a creaking judicial system and a panoply of antiquated and vague legislation that officials and politicians of every stripe find irresistible as a weapon against muckraking reporters and critical commentators.”

In “Discarding Reform, Turkey Uses the Law to Repress,” Mahoney also chides the US for not vocally voicing concerns over press freedoms in Turkey.

“The United States seems wary of calling out Turkey on its human rights and press freedom record. Washington is comfortable with the narrative that Turkey, a NATO member and crucial U.S. ally in the region, is a progressive, secular democracy and a model of free speech compared with its neighbors Iran, Iraq, and Syria,” says Mahoney who says Ankara’s diplomatic maneuvering has put it “on the right side” of the Arab Spring.
Read Mahoney’s entire report.

The page with Google mistranlation

BOSTON (The Armenian Weekly)—Concerned internet users this week initiated an online campaign after one activist, Lebanese-Armenian Serouj Baghdassarian, noticed that Google’s online translation service (translate.google.com) was mistakenly translating “Ես սիրում եմ հայերին” (“I love Armenians”) to “I love Turkey.”

 “Google Translate is an automated system. It makes guesses based on patterns gleaned from large bodies of human-translated text. It doesn’t do word-by-word dictionary-style translation,” Jason Freidenfelds, from Google’s global communications and public affairs department, told the Armenian Weekly.

“So sometimes [the service] makes mistakes which seem obvious to a human translator, but aren’t to our machine-learning system,” he added.

The translation was corrected by late afternoon on Feb. 19, following a widespread report of the problem that first appeared in the Armenian Weekly.

Liana Issagholian with Supervisor Antonovich

Liana with her winning bookmark

GLENDALE—The Chamliam school announced last week that Liana Issagholian, a second grade Chamlian Armenian School student, has been selected as one of the winners of the 32nd Annual Children’s Bookmark Contest sponsored by the County of Los Angeles Public Library. Liana was one of six Chamlian students who competed at the district level after winning at the local level.

In a congratulatory letter, Supervisor Michael Antonovich from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors commended Liana for her creative and original bookmark design which beautifully portrayed her love of books, reading and the library.

On Tuesday, February 14, the Board of Supervisors honored Liana, as well as other Bookmark Contest winners, at an informal reception. The reception was followed by a special award ceremony at the Board of Supervisor’s meeting where the winners were presented with scrolls and gifts. Puppies in colorful outfits were also brought to the chambers by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) for the winners to enjoy. Liana’s bookmark will be printed by Pentel of America and distributed to county libraries, where it will go on display during National Library Week in April.

Harut Sassounian

SAN FRANCISCO—The Armenian National Committee – San Francisco Bay Area (ANC-SF) is pleased to announce that TV commentator, columnist, and publisher of the California Courier Harut Sassounian will be the keynote speaker at the 2012 Hye Tad Evening.

Sassounian is the publisher of the The California Courier newspaper. His weekly political commentaries, translated into half a dozen languages, are reprinted in publications around the world and posted on countless websites, including the Huffington Post. As President of the United Armenian Fund, a coalition of the six largest Armenian-American organizations, he managed the procurement and delivery of over $600 million of humanitarian aid to Armenia during the past 22 years.

As Senior Vice President of Kirk Kerkorian’s Lincy Foundation, Sassounian administered $240 million for infrastructure projects in Armenia. From 1978 to 1988, he served as a human rights delegate at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland and played a leading role in the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the U.N. Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in 1985.

Sassounian has authored several volumes in English and Arabic regarding genocide and international affairs. He is decorated by the President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the heads of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic Churches, and is the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

“It is an honor to welcome Harut Sassounian as our keynote speaker this year,” stated Armen Carapetian, Chairman of ANC-SF. “We look forward to hearing Harut’s insights on the recent developments in France and other aspects of the fight for Armenian Genocide recognition and justice.”

A landmark event for the San Francisco Armenian-American community, the annual Hye Tad Evening brings together hundreds of individuals who support the ANC’s efforts to advance the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a broad range of issues. Past keynote speakers have included former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, former Foreign Minister of Armenia Raffi Hovanissian, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Hrant Dink, and Regip Zarakolu.

This year’s Hye Tad Evening will take place on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 6:30 pm at Saroyan Hall, 825 Brotherhood Way in San Francisco. Tickets are $125 for adults and $75 for students. Interested parties may purchase tickets by emailing mail@ancsf.org or calling (415) 387-3433.

Pasadena ANC members with local officials

PASADENA—The Armenian National Committee of Pasadena hosted its Annual  Reception last month with elected officials, community leaders, a packed program along with delicious fare and entertainment. The event which took place at the Pasadena Armenian Center allowed for community leaders and members to meet the newly elected ANCP Board of Directors, learn about its organizational structure, and the plan of action for the coming year.

ANCP Co-Chair Shoghig Yepremian opened the program by welcoming the guests and introducing the public officials in attendance. She also took the opportunity to introduce the 2011-2012 ANCP Board of Directors, while providing an overview of the organization’s plan of action for 2012. This was followed by warm remarks from Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard and PUSD President, Renatta Copper, who discussed the state of the schools and education in the City of Pasadena.

ANCP Board Treasurer David Gevorkyan proceeded to inform the guests about the structure of the organization along with the extensive and unwavering civic and community activities the Pasadena ANC has participated in and plans to accomplish in the coming year. The program concluded with a performance by violinist Liana Hovsepian who is currently a fifth grade student at Webster Elementary School.

“The Armenian National Committee of Pasadena would like to thank the City of Pasadena, its officials, and in particular Mayor Bogaard, Councilmembers Chris Holden, Jacque Robinson and Terry Tornek, as well as Assistant City Manager Steve Mermell and representative of the Pasadena Unified School District for being gracious enough to be our guests and take part in the holiday celebrations of the Armenian community,” stated Ms. Yepremian. “The Board of Directors would also like to extend its gratitude to Shahe Bezdjian and to all those who contributed to the success of the event,” added Mr. Gevorkyan.

Guests in attendance included Congressman Adam Schiff, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Mayor Bill Bogaard, Councilmember Jacque Robinson, Councilmember Chris Holden, Councilmember Terry Tornek, Assistant City Manager Steve Mermell, City Treasurer Vicken Erganian, PUSD President Renatta Cooper, Superintendent Jon R. Gundry, Pasadena City College Board President Bill Thompson as well as other city officials, representatives of community organizations and activists.

The ANC Pasadena advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the city’s Armenian American community and promotes increased civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels.

Paros will host an event on March 11

Fundraiser at Zov’s Bistro Tustin to highlight the problem of abuse against women

SEAL BEACH, Calif.–Paros “Lighthouse” Charitable Foundation USA invites the entire Armenian community of Southern California to “Sunday Afternoon in Springtime” on March 11 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Zov’s Bistro Tustin.  Guests will enjoy luscious foods and great wines, and help support Paros “Lighthouse” Foundation’s unprecedented work assisting victims of domestic violence with safe shelter and professional supportive services in Armenia.  Renowned attorney Mark Geragos, Esq. will be the honorary guest speaker.  Tickets are $50 per person.  One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the Foundation, thanks to Zov’s Bistro, which is generously underwriting the cost of the event.

Paros “Lighthouse” Foundation is the torchbearer in the fight against domestic violence in Armenia. Last year, it opened a 13,000 sq. ft. shelter/women’s center in the village of Ptghounk. Fifteen, fully appointed rooms safely house and feed neglected mothers with their babies as well as pregnant women. For women in immediate danger, it has established an emergency hotline number, “20-80”, which can be called from anywhere in Armenia, is free of charge for the caller, and connects directly to the Foundation’s office. 

Other important foundation programs include vocational training, psychological counseling and therapy, sewing and cooking classes, women’s health services with an on-site OBGYN physician, dental health services with an on-site dentist, feeding the poor and elderly, supporting a local kindergarten, weekly Bible study, and donations of essential goods to the needy in Armenia and Artsakh.

Zuhrab and Seta Ghazarian have been providing assistance to the poorest of the poor in Armenia since 2000. The idea of Paros (meaning “lighthouse” in Armenian) was established by friends and supporters of the Ghazarian family, and grew out of their concern for Armenian women and children as well as the integrity of the Armenian family. Paros “Lighthouse” Armenian Charitable Foundation USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, public benefit corporation registered in the State of California and Republic of Armenia.

For reservations and information about the March 11th luncheon, please call (562) 598-8025 or email parosfoundation@yahoo.com.  Zov’s Bistro Tustin is located at 17440 E. 17th Street, Tustin, CA.  For more information about Paros “Lighthouse” Charitable Foundation USA and to donate, please visit www.parosfoundation.org.

A demonstration participant commemorating Dink

ANKARA—The Turkish State Supervisory Council appointed by President Abdullah Gul recommended on Monday that top police officers be prosecuted in the Hrant Dink murder case because they failed to protect Dink before and after his death.

“Hrant Dink’s murder must be evaluated as a whole, starting from when Dink was singled out as a target and threatened,” the 650-page State Supervisory Council (DDK) report said.

“Successive acts of negligence by public officials have not been probed as a whole. Different units conducted different probes into [these acts] in terms of authority and location … This method has resulted in not assessing the events as a whole, while also resulting in not prosecuting all claims together,” the report added.

Last month an Istanbul court sentenced Yasin Hayan to life in prison on charges of “instigating” the murder of Dink, who was gunned down in front of the editorial offices of Agos newspaper in Istanbul. The same acquitted 17 others and ruled that there was no state collusion in the murder. Ogun Samast, to 22 years and 10 months in jail last July.

Last month’s verdict sparked outrage from Dink’s family, legal team and human rights activists, who decried the verdict. The issue was further exacerbated when an Istanbul court announced that it had forgotten to prosecute another suspect in the case.

Gul’s decision to task the DDK to investigate the matter was sparked by the public outrage.

The report singled out Istanbul’s former Gov. Muammer Guler, as well as the Istanbul Police Department’s Intelligence Director, Ahmet Ilhan Guler, who were alerted about the assassination attempt by the Trabizon chief of police but did not act on the tip.

The report also highlighted that some police officers who arrested Samast immediately after the murder allowed him to be photographed with a Turkish flag as if he were proud of what he had done and described this as the “emergence of a marginal understanding.”

The DDK report also outlined that senior public officials were directly involved in not protecting Dink before the murder, despite the fact that they received critical information regarding the threats against Dink’s life.

The report said the failure to prevent Dink’s murder showed the need for reforms to the security system.

“The first issue to be expressed regarding the failure to protect Hrant Dink’s right to life is that some structural problems exist within the security sector … regarding the collection and evaluation of intelligence and providing public and personal security,” the DDK said in the report.

“It is essential first to look at the need for reform on the matter and a number of problems in institutional structures and practices,” it said.

“On the one hand, a result to a case that does not satisfy the public conscience has emerged and, on the other hand, the credibility of all the public institutions has been brought into question,” the DDK said in the report.

CSTO Secretary-General Niklolay Bordyuzha

YEREVAN (ArmRadio)—As a full member of the CSTO, Armenia will be protected in the event of ‘critical situations,’ the organization’s secretary general told a video conference from Moscow on Tuesday.

General Niklolay Bordyuzha, who heads the Collective Security Treaty Organization, of which Armenia, along with other CIS countries is a member, stressed that in any critical situation CSTO will assist Armenia as its complete member.

“Armenia has the same rights and responsibilities as the other members have. In this case Armenia has right to get assistance for its territorial integrity,” Bordyuzha said adding that the type and volume of assistance will depend on the current critical situation.

Bordyuzha also said that the CSTO did not mediate the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, saying that the OSCE Minsk Group is the international entity tasked with the peace process.

CSTO secretary-general said that the organization has not only military but political and peacekeeping potential.

Bordyuzha announced that he will be visiting Yerevan next month to discuss the completion of agreements made between the presidents of Russia and Armenia.

Along with Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan are also members of the CSTO, which is a security alliance borne after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova opted out of joining the CSTO and formed their own alliance known as GUAM.

Bordyuzha, who was speaking at the Novosti media center in Moscow enumerated the various coordinating activities between member states and called that effort a success.
 
The Secretary-General said that existing mechanisms in the CSTO charter allow the member states to work together during critical situations and in the prevention of illegal drug trade and immigration.

He also explained that the CSTO has cooperated with 22 countries, especially in efforts to curb illegal drug trade.

The Web site of the Canadian Museum

OTTAWA—The genesis of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) and the involvement of the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) and its sister and affiliated organization, the Armenian National Federation of Canada (ANF), goes back to the Jean Chrétien’s premiership and his promise (1998) to create a Holocaust Museum in Ottawa. Unfortunately, that promise fell apart because a number of bigoted individuals and organizations in the Canadian civil society.

At that time handful members of the Liberal caucus, in cooperation with a number of individuals, created an ad-hoc organization called Canadians for Genocide Museum (CGM). The declared intention of CGM was to advocate for the creation of an inclusive genocide museum, instead of the Holocaust Museum. In reality, the main intention was to scuttle the building of the Holocaust Museum. Accordingly, the two people who spearheaded the establishment of the CGM, with the assistance of a handful MPs turned the Holocaust Museum establishment issue to a controversial public issue and forced the prime minister to back-track on his promise.

In 2000 the aforementioned players came up with another gimmick to kill and bury the Holocaust Museum project. A member of the Liberal caucus presented a private members motion to create an exhibit at the Canadian Museum of Civilization to recognize the crimes against humanity. The issue was referred to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (SCCH) for study. The committee organized public hearing to seek input public and stakeholders input on the issue. After two days of hearings, the SCCH decided that the government of Canada should not be involved in any such venture. The ANF was one of the organizations which were called upon to make a deputation at the SCCH hearings regarding Motion Bill C-224.

The ANF-ANCC joined the CGM, believing that the project (Holocaust Museum/Genocide Museum) is a noble and worthy concept, ANF/ANCC tried to bring all interested parties together to agree on a compromise solution. Because the Jewish community was not member of the CGM, ANF president tried to bridge the gap and act as intermediary between the CGM and the Jewish community. Unfortunately the two main players at the CGM were not acting in good faith; the process broke down and ANF withdrew from the CGM.

After the above episode, and realizing that the creation of a government-sponsored Holocaust/ Genocide/ Human Rights museum will be impossible, philanthropist Izzy Asper decided to create a privately-sponsored human rights museum. The ANF and ANCC wholeheartedly supported the project. Unfortunately, the CGM once again reverted to its old habit and tried to kill the project.

When the CMHR became a government-sponsored project, the CGM and some individuals intensified its effort to trivialize and dilute the Holocaust’s impact and importance. Furthermore, they started spreading innuendos and half-truths about the CMHR. They also launched a campaign of post cards, letters and petitions, addressed to the Governor General, the Prime Minister, and members of parliament. The ANF/ANCC, in cooperation with other stakeholders, launched a campaign in support of the CMHR project. They wrote letters of support to the Governor General, the Prime Minister, and members of parliament. They lobbied politicians and Canadian notables in support of the CMHR. At the end, when the CGM efforts failed and the Government of Canada decided to take over the project and make it a government-run museum, a group of stakeholders placed an ad in major newspapers thanking the Government of Canada for its moral fortitude and vision in taking over the project. One of the signatory of the ad was the ANF/ANCC.

In addition to the above, the ANF/ANCC was in regular contact and coordination with the Asper Foundation, the CMHR, the Zoryan Institute, the Mosaic Institute, and other interested parties. ANF/ANCC attended fundraising events, coordinated and participated in consultations, and finally, brought its valuable national and international expertise as a human rights organization to the successful conclusion and materialization of the dreams of so many.

How Will the Canadian Museum for Human Rights Represent Genocide?
The International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute) (“IIGHRS-Zoryan”) was invited to a public gathering in Winnipeg by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (“CMHR”) in April 2003, after an initial meeting with Gail Asper in Toronto. As a Canadian institution, we lent our name publicly in support of the CMHR at an early stage.

Our early enthusiasm diminished over time, owing to the politics surrounding the museum. Owing to such politics, we still have no idea how the Armenian Genocide and other cases will be represented in the CMHR. The IIGHRS-Zoryan made a detailed presentation to CMHR officials in December 2009, as part of its public consultation, on how to represent genocide in general, and the Armenian Genocide in particular. When we found that the public consultations were not being taken into consideration by museum officials, and there was an outcry from various communities about what they felt was unfair treatment, we subsequently issued two public statements on this issue in February and August 2011, and wrote directly to Stuart Murray, the museum’s President and Chief Executive Officer. None of the points have been dealt with by the CMHR, nor has our letter been responded to.

The arguments can be read in detail on the IIGHRS-Zoryan website, and Genocide Studies.

The essence of the arguments is as follows: The lack of responsiveness of the CMHR and the absence of information about how cases of the gross violation of human rights will be represented raise questions as to which cases will be included, how much space will be allotted to each case, what their content will be, if they will have a permanent or only temporary exhibit, and how these decisions are made. Moreover, there is a close relationship between the gross violation of human rights and genocide that is being neglected in the museum’s planning. Unless we study such cases comparatively, the lessons that can be learned are of limited value, particularly with a view to the prevention of such cases.

In trying to fend off criticism from various community groups over its handling of these issues, the CMHR posted a statement on its website, originally appearing as a letter in the Globe & Mail on March 23, 2011, that the museum is not about genocide and never was. The August 2011 IIGHRS-Zoryan editorial rebutted this with explicit statements to the contrary from the museum’s own publicity. The editorial also argued the benefits of studying the known cases of genocide on a comparative basis. Finally, the editorial pointed out that as a federal institution, the CMHR was legally required to adhere to the official Canadian policy of multiculturalism, which is to integrate all citizens into Canadian society and treat them fairly and equally.

We recently learned from Armenian community representatives that the museum will include the five genocides officially recognized by Canada’s Parliament, including the Armenian Genocide, but we still do not know how they will be represented or how the CMHR will deal with the fundamental questions raised in our two public statements. It seems that the CHMR is playing community politics by contacting different groups at different times, while ignoring the challenging questions raised by an institute whose mission is the study of these very issues. We raise these issues today to make the Armenian community aware of what has transpired over the past eight years. The IIGHRS-Zoryan calls upon the Armenian community of Canada to speak with one voice and to demand answers to these questions, for which we have been awaiting an answer for a long time.

George Shirinian, Executive Director
Zoryan Institute

Harut Sassounian

BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN

Even though all Turkish government officials routinely deny the Armenian Genocide, one particular minister has turned denial into a full-time job. Ironically, as Minister for European Union Affairs, Egemen Bagis has harmed Turkey’s prospects for EU membership more than any of its critics!

Although Bagis has been making zany statements ever since his ministerial appointment two years ago his recent blunder in Zurich made headlines around the world. The Turkish Minister arrogantly dared Swiss authorities to arrest him after boasting that “the events of 1915 were not genocide!” Switzerland has a law that penalizes genocide denial, similar to the law now pending in France. A Swiss prosecutor is investigating Bagis’s words and his diplomatic status to see if charges could be filed against him for genocide denial.

Of course, it does not take much courage to hide behind the cover of diplomatic immunity and make Don Quixotic statements, challenging the laws of other countries. If Minister Bagis were truly a macho man, he would waive his immunity, go to Switzerland, and publicly deny the Armenian Genocide. However, it appears that the feisty Minister has chickened out! After boasting that he would gladly return to Switzerland to deny the Armenian Genocide again, he facetiously declared that he would not go to Switzerland, since he has no money in Swiss banks! The real reason for the Minister’s abrupt change of heart is his fear of getting arrested should the Swiss prosecutor rule that his diplomatic immunity does not protect him from the crime of genocide denial.

How much longer can Prime Minister Erdogan tolerate Mr. Bagis’s clownish antics that make Turkey look like a rogue state in the eyes of the world? Admiring his fluency in English, the Prime Minister had offered this 41-year-old former New York college student a top ministerial post, not realizing what a liability his loose tongue would prove to be!

Just as President George W. Bush’s nonsensical statements became known as “Bushisms,” the world now has a rich collection of “Bagisisms!” Here is a sampling of his preposterous remarks:

– “What happened in 1915 can’t be classified as genocide as far as I’m concerned, but I was not around in 1915!”

– “I’m a politician. My job is to determine the future, not the past!”

– “In recent years, every one has seen that more Europeans are moving to Turkey than vice versa.”

– During a recent conference in Qatar, Minister Bagis became the laughing stock of the audience, when he proudly announced that “Europe” is a Turkish word! The Greek Ambassador to Qatar angrily responded: “Europa was one of the lovers of Zeus in Greek mythology, everyone knows that!”

– Minister Bagis does not seem to realize that he is contradicting himself by asking other countries to open their archives to see if there was an Armenian genocide, while concluding that there was no genocide! The least he could do is have the decency to keep his mouth shut until the Ottoman archives are fully open. Meanwhile, the archives of other countries have been open for decades.

– Rattling off the witty Americanisms he picked up in the streets of New York, such as “a day late and a dollar short,” Bagis told Euronews: “This is execution without trial. Calling the 1915 events a genocide based solely on information we have right now comes from a lobby that nurtures malicious hatred.”

– “Germany was a strong ally of the Armenians in 1915, so the Germans should open their archives and give documents to historians for examination,” Bagis told EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, according to Hurriyet newspaper. Bagis made two factual errors in one sentence: Germany was the ally of the Ottoman Empire, not Armenians; and the German archives have been open for years!

– “There’s no force that could bring about the arrest of any Turkish Minister,” Bagis bragged to journalists. Why is he then afraid to waive his diplomatic immunity and then deny the Armenian Genocide in Switzerland?

– Bagis keeps on repeating the falsehood that the Armenian government “did not have the courage to respond to Prime Minister Erdogan’s letter requesting the formation of a commission of historians to study the Armenian Genocide.” In fact, the then president Kocharian did answer, suggesting that all outstanding issues between the two countries be resolved in the larger context of government to government relations. It was the Turkish Prime Minister that did not respond to Armenia’s President.

While Minister Bagis has diplomatic immunity, the rest of Turkey’s population does not enjoy such a privilege. It may be a good idea to accord immunity to all 72 million Turks in order to shield them from prosecution, when they utter the words “Armenian Genocide” in Turkey!

UN Commission on the Status of Women

ARS, Inc. organizes two parallel events on February 29 and March 2

WATERTOWN, Mass.—The Armenian Relief Society, Inc. will participate in the United Nations’ 56th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York from Monday, February 27 to Friday, March 9.

The CSW is “the principal global policy-making body dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women.” The global community including member states, civil society and the private sector meet annually at the United Nations to discuss critical problems affecting women across the world. This year’s priority theme is “the empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty and hunger eradication, development and current challenges.”

As the premier international platform for women’s issues and rights, ARS’s participation at CSW 56 pervades throughout several levels of activities and events. This year, ARS initiated its involvement by partnering with Women’s World Banking on a written statement regarding the priority theme that was submitted and approved by UN Women. The statement is part of the official record of the Commission and appears on the CSW 56 website.

Additionally, the ARS has sponsored and organized two parallel events and co-sponsored a third during the first week of the Commission. On Wednesday, February 29 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., again with Women’s World Banking, ARS has sponsored and organized a workshop on “Financing Powerful Women: Integrating Microfinancing and Women’s Health.” The workshop will take place at the Church Center Hardin Room, 11th Floor, 777 First Avenue at 44th Street. Discussion participants include Myrna Cunningham-Kain, this year’s recipient of the NGO Commission on the Status of Women NY’s Woman of Distinction Award; Inez Murray, Executive VP Program and Network Engagement of Women’s World Banking, and Judith Bruce, Senior Associate Policy analyst of Population Council. The workshop will be moderated by Stephanie Killian.

Immediately following at 4:30 p.m., the ARS has co-sponsored a workshop with The Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund, Soroptimist International, The American Association of University Women, Soka Gakkai International, Women Graduates-USA and The International Federation of University Women entitled, “Rural Women and Girls: Issues in Reproductive Health.” This workshop also takes place at the Church Center, however in the Boss Room, 8th Floor. Both events on Wednesday are open to the public.

On Friday, March 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., the ARS has organized a high-level panel event with the Armenia’s Permanent Mission to the UN and Ambassador Garen Nazarian. Ambassador Nazarian, along with Mary Ellen Iskenderian, CEO of Women’s World Banking, and Meryl Frank, President and CEO of Makeda Global, International Leadership Development Consultant and former Ambassador/US Representative for UN CSW will discuss “From Empowerment to Sustainability: Financing, Health and Participation for Rural Women.” Stephanie Killian will represent the ARS and present the organization’s decades-long efforts in advancing rural women in Armenia and the Diaspora. The panel will take place on UN grounds in the North Lawn Building Conference Room B and will be moderated by Soon-Young Yoon, Chair of NGO CSW, also a co-sponsor. Because of this secure location, the event remains closed to the general public.

“NGO participation is critical to the success of the CSW. Along with the sponsored side events, ARS members will be attending meetings and plenary sessions dedicated to the priority theme of the Commission. Ultimately, ARS participation at CSW 56 will contribute to evaluating progress on gender equality, and identifying challenges, setting global standards and formulating concrete policies to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide through the UN’s Economic and Social Council”, said Vicky Marashlian, Chairperson of the Armenian Relief Society, Inc., who will be heading the ARS, Inc. delegation to CSW 56.

The ARS message in Times Square

Taking advantage of a special opportunity and to coincide the CSW 56, the ARS Central Executive Board placed a special promotion on one of the huge screens on New York’s Times Square.

The 30 seconds promo started running on February 18 and will continue to run until April 18 once every hour. The giant screen showing the promo is located on Manhattan’s 42nd street between the 7th and 8th avenues.

The congressional delegation with President Sarkisian

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)—A Congressional delegation headed by Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.) visited Armenia Sunday en route to Afghanistan. The delegation met with President Serzh Sarkisian and Parliament Speaker Samvel Nikoyan.

The members of the House of Representatives are part of a bi-partisan commission established in 2005 to support the development of legislatures in emerging democracies. This was the second such visit to Armenia by the group known as the House Democracy Partnership,

President Sarkisian hosted the delegation at a dinner reception, which was attended by the US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern.

At the dinner in honor of the Congressmen, Sarkisian said that he attaches great importance meetings with friends of Armenia in Congress whose support has had an impact on the establishment and development of democracy in Armenia as well as on the preservation of stability in our region.

“Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my gratitude to you all for making financial, humanitarian and technical assistance to Armenia possible from day one of our independence,” said Sarkisian. “This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the United States, and I am glad that we are celebrating this occasion.”

“Your commitment to human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Armenia can be an example for many, many others,” said Dreier who emphasized the importance of the upcoming parliamentary elections to US-Armenia relations and urged the government and all the political parties to “do everything in their power to ensure free, fair, and credible elections.”

Aside from Dreier, the delegation included Rep. James Moran (D-VA), Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-TX), Reverend Patrick Conroy, Chaplain of the House of Representatives, and staff.

Investigators at Tughlaq Road police station make arrangements to tow the vehicle that exploded near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi on February 14 (AFP Photo)

BAKU (Agence France-Presse)—Police in Azerbaijan have arrested an unspecified number of people allegedly linked to Iran and to the Lebanese group Hezbollah suspected of planning attacks in the country, state television said Tuesday.

State broadcaster AzTV, quoting the National Security Ministry, said police had detained people linked to Iranian intelligence services and Hezbollah who intended to stage attacks on foreign citizens in the country.

The report said the suspects had gathered intelligence on targets and bought explosives, guns and ammunition, but gave no further details.

The reported arrests come after a car bomb last week critically injured an Israeli diplomat in New Delhi while Georgian officials defused a second device in Tbilisi. A suspected Iranian bomber had his legs blown off as he hurled a grenade at Thai police. Israel blamed Iran for the attacks which came at a time of heightened tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Police in mainly Azerbaijan last month also arrested two men with alleged links to Iranian intelligence on suspicion of plotting to kill prominent Israelis in Azerbaijan.

The allegations infuriated Tehran, which sent a diplomatic note of protest accusing Baku of collaborating with Israel’s spy services and helping assassins who have killed Iranian nuclear scientists.

Baku responded with a letter to Tehran calling the claim “absurd, unsubstantiated and false,” according to Azeri media reports on Tuesday.

The Franz Werfel commemorative stamp

JERUSALEM—Between 1933 and 1945 tens of thousands of people went beyond the line of duty and violated laws and regulations strictly for the purpose of extending a hand to those in desperate need. Their names and actions deserve the permanent reminder.

To honor these exceptional people the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation conducts a program that aims at issuing commemorative stamps to promote exemplary behaviors during the Holocaust.

Moreover, the Wallenberg Foundation pays tribute to people who have excelled for their spirit of solidarity, for their righteousness and their performance in their respective occupations.

Therefore, the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation is proud to present a new commemorative stamp dedicated to the memory and literary legacy of Franz Werfel.

Franz Werfel (1890-1945), Austrian poet, modernist playwright, and novelist, was born in Prague, the son of a Jewish merchant. During World War I, Werfel served for several years on the Russian front as a soldier in the Austrian army. A friend of authors Max Brod and Franz Kafka, Werfel later moved to Vienna and Berlin. He was forced to leave the Prussian Academy of the Arts in 1933. His 1933 novel, Die vierzig Tage des Musa Dagh (The Forty Days of Musa Dagh), detailed the mass murder and expulsion of Armenians from eastern Anatolia in 1915 and received much attention in the United States. It stood as a warning against future acts of mass murder and won lasting respect from Armenian communities throughout the world.

Werfel’s books were burned by the Nazis as those of a Jewish author who advocated pacifism, love for all mankind, and hostility to extreme nationalism and Nazism. Werfel had to flee Austria after the German annexation. He then escaped from France by hiding in the Catholic sanctuary of Lourdes, crossing the Pyrenees on foot to safety in Spain, and leaving from there for the United States. With gratitude for his sanctuary at Lourdes in mind, he wrote the best-selling novel, The Song of Bernadette. Though he remained a Jew all of his life, Werfel was attracted to many aspects of Catholicism.

Armenian soldier Viken Hairabedian's funeral

BY NANORE BARSOUMIAN
From The Armenian Weekly

ALEPPO, Syria—Two suicide car bombs targeting Syrian regional military and security headquarters shook Aleppo on Feb. 10, claiming 28 victims, among them army conscript Viken Hairabedian. The explosion was one of the worst instances of violence to hit the country since the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al Assad began in March 2011. Hairabedian’s death shocked the Syrian-Armenian community, which has thus far maintained an official line of neutrality, although unofficially many support the Assad government. As the most recent attack demonstrated, violence is moving closer to major cities like Aleppo and Damascus where thousands of Armenians call home.

The Armenian Weekly reached out to Syrian-Armenians to shed light on the challenges facing Syrian Christians, in general, and Armenians, specifically.

***

Syrian-Armenians want to be optimistic about the community’s future. “We always hear the sound of explosions and tank shells, but we are safe—at least for now,” said one activist, who spoke with the Weekly on condition of anonymity.

The Armenian community—and, in general, the Syrian Christian community that makes up roughly 8-10 percent of the population—is weary of the uncertain future. “They are facing a new phase. Armenians, like all minorities in the country, are vulnerable and fear a collapse of the security structures in Syria,” Nora Arissian, a historian and lecturer at Damascus University, told the Weekly.

Fr. Karekin Bedourian, who traveled to Syria in November 2011, observed how lives had been put on hold and a general atmosphere of fear dominated every activity. “We could not travel from city to city without concern for our safety. The rebels were everywhere. They were even persecuting those who were not joining them and participating in the protests,” he said.

“In the past, we used to travel at night throughout the country without any fear, even in cities considered fanatically Islamic. Now, people are afraid to come out in their own cities,” he added.

Originally from Kessab, Syria, Fr. Bedourian recently moved to North Andover, Mass., where he is the pastor of St. Gregory Armenian Church.

The insecurity Bedourian describes hit closer to home for Armenians about a week before Hairabedian’s death, when another young Armenian man, Kevork Chubukchian, was abducted in Aleppo. His kidnappers have demanded a large sum of money for his release.

Mourners at Hairabedian's funeral

Chubukchian “was targeted perhaps not for his identity, but most likely for his wealth,” said a Syrian Armenian from Aleppo (hereafter referred to as T.N.). The blame cannot rest squarely on the shoulders of the opposition, he explained, as the Syrian government is ultimately responsible for the security in the country. “The government is not only failing to do its job, but it is also killing civilians,” he said, and accused authorities of freeing criminals under the guise of “general amnesty for political prisoners,” while, in reality, most political prisoners remain behind bars.

“The regime thinks that when the level of fear rises, the demand for security will overshadow the demand for freedom,” T.N. said.

Fr. Bedourian, however, lays the blame squarely on the shoulders of the opposition. The rebels do not comprehend the true meaning of freedom and patriotism, he said, and instead choose to act as pawns in the hands of foreign governments, and take arms against their own.

A neutral course
Despite high tensions and increasing violence, the Syrian-Armenian community strives to navigate a neutral course. It has refrained from taking an official and public position, although members continuously voice their willingness to stand by the government—regardless of who holds power—for the sake of peace and stability, said T.N.

Historian Ara Sanjian believes there is nothing the Syrian Armenians can do in this internal conflict. “They only need to save their heads, and hope that the lightning won’t strike them too hard,” he told the Weekly.

“The community does not have faith in the alternative, and thus it is attached to this regime—especially because they have the example of Iraq right in front of their eyes. Saddam was a ruthless dictator, but he kept certain elements—especially religious extremist—in his country in check. Now, they’ve been let loose, and the violence is widespread,” said Sanjian, adding that as a result, half of Iraq’s Christian population has fled and will most likely never return. The Americans did not anticipate some of the consequences when they decided to invade the country in 2003, he said. “Now there is an attempt to establish some sort of American-style freedom… but in the process a centuries-old Christian culture in the country is being erased.”

What happened to Iraq’s Christians is in Assad’s favor, Sanjian explained, because Syrians see what happened post-Saddam. “They prefer to put up with the current regime and enjoy social freedoms, rather than turn into another Iraq. Those freedoms may disappear tomorrow if the Muslim Brotherhood or other hard-line Sunni Muslim groups come to power.”

In fact, according to T.N., some Syrian Armenians have vocalized their support for Assad by taking to the streets in pro-government rallies, while a few are working for the Syrian intelligence service, reporting on the activities of fellow Armenians.

Members of the Syrian-Armenian community would face a heavy-handed response if they were to veer off course, and voice support for the opposition: Dissenters would be labeled “traitors” and fall victim to a “witch hunt,” he said.

T.N. believes the path of neutrality is the wisest choice. “Any wrong step could cost innocent lives now or in the future. We must have the Lebanese-Armenian community as an example during that country’s 15 years of civil war. If you can stay neutral, that is the best option. If you can’t, try to put your eggs in more than one basket.”

Yet, some Armenians in the community have joined the opposition. A Syrian Armenian activist from Raqqa, 27-year-old Jimmy Shahinian, was imprisoned by authorities after he was accused of being part of the opposition. Shahinian was freed on Dec. 19.

The question of how much support the opposition enjoys is a contentious one among the Syrian-Armenians interviewed for this piece, as many believe the majority of Syrians are too fearful to voice their position.

While T.N. asserts the rebels enjoy the sympathy and support of broad segments of the public, another activist, who wished to remain anonymous, said the real numbers of opposition supporters are unknown, since many avoid speaking out. “Perhaps 20 percent of Syrians are openly opposed to the system,” she said. “An equal proportion are supporters of the regime, and the rest of us are afraid to express our views.”

“You should know that the website of the Armenian Weekly will be closed in Syria if you write anything against the system or the Mukhabarat [the Syrian intelligence service] in your article,” she added.

Revolution or reform
Arissian, who is a member of the Arab Writers’ Union, thinks the uprisings stemmed from corruption and economic hardships affecting a segment of Syrian society. Assad responded to the initial discontent by signing new laws and assembling a committee tasked with rewriting the Syrian Constitution. “These reforms would transfer Syria into a multi-party political system,” she said.

Unlike Arissian, Sanjian is skeptical about any real reform taking root in Syria. Although he believes that Assad may be more generous in guaranteeing social freedoms for the country’s inhabitants than a successor regime—likely to be dominated by hard-line Sunni Islamists—he is unhappy with the way the issue of reform has been tackled by the government so far.

The Syrian government and its security agencies have long infiltrated every aspect of Syrian society. Since the uprisings began, the government has been on the offensive, accusing rebels of being foreign agents. “I still don’t have much faith in the proposed reforms because there have not been many practical steps, or even a widely publicized national debate on the matter,” Sanjian said.

For T.N., what is happening is no less than a full-blown revolution, and it is a breakthrough for a public used to the watchful eye of the secret intelligence services. “It broke the wall of fear and silence, and people started to talk about taboos,” he said.

Foreign intervention
Regardless of their position, most Syrian-Armenians seem apprehensive of foreign intervention, believing that Syrians’ interests do not factor prominently in the calculations of foreign governments.

Specifically, Turkey’s role in supporting the opposition is a cause for concern for many Syrian-Armenians. “Turkey is creating problems,” said Fr. Bedourian, adding that he distrusts the Turkish position and believes there is an element of “evil” in Turkey’s policies towards Syria. During his visit to the country in November, Fr. Bedourian frequently heard news and anecdotes about Syrian citizens who trained in Turkey for months before returning to Syria and joining the opposition. Some of those were apprehended by Syrian authorities, he said.

Syrian opposition members have formed a semi-official government in exile, the Syrian National Council (SNC), headquartered in Istanbul. The SNC is supported by the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria, as well as other dissident groups and individuals.

“There was some talk that when [Russian Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov visited Syria a few days ago, the Syrians sent back with him to Turkey over 40 Turkish operatives they had arrested in recent weeks. If this is true, what is also significant is that the Syrian government did not make much fuss about it,” said Sanjian. Lavrov’s visit to Syria on Feb. 7 came days after Russia and China vetoed a UN resolution supporting an Arab plan to urge Assad to step down.

According to Sanjian, Turkey, having gained confidence from its significant economic growth in recent years, is trying to find a shoe that fits. “Turkey is acting like a fresh college graduate without a job, sending resumes everywhere. We don’t know who will ultimately accept her for a full-time job, which will determine Turkey’s future course in international affairs. Her resume has not gotten so far a response from the Europeans, and that is why she is also knocking at other doors,” he said.

Arissian, too, is skeptical of foreign intervention, which she considers driven by narrow interests. Turkey is merely using the unrest in Syria to advance its influence in the region, she said.

Fr. Bedourian thinks “outside intervention led Syria to this unfortunate situation. Here, in the U.S., the concept [of freedom] is different and they want to see the same type of freedom in Syria, which I think is currently impossible [to achieve].”

Rescue workers at the scene of the Aleppo security compound bombing. (Photo by EPA)

“I agree that Syria needs a lot of changes and reforms…but not this way,” he added. “Every country needs reforms, changes, and improvements—even first-world countries—but no one has the right to sow the seeds of hatred and destruction in the country where they live and work. The world must leave Syria and its people alone to solve their own problems.”

According to Sanjian, the U.S. is pursuing its own, as well as Israel’s, interests in the region. “There’s the issue of Israel finally relaxing; for that to happen, Iran must weaken, Hezbollah must weaken. These things are more important to the U.S., and if they can evoke the cause of democracy in the process, that’s a bonus for them in public diplomacy. The West, they say, wants democracy. Well, if that is its major objective, why don’t they want the same in Bahrain?”

“The majority of the population in Bahrain is Shiite, hence believed to be close to Iran. The Bahraini king, who is Sunni, crushed the rebellion with direct Saudi assistance. In Syria, the situation is the reverse: The minority Alawi community dominates the country’s politics and has been close to Iran. Most of the regime’s opponents come from the majority Sunni community in the country,” Sanjian explained.

Muslim Brotherhood: a threat?
Many observers fear that if the Assad government falls, its replacement will be much more authoritarian. “Many voices warn that the Arab Spring will lead to an Islamic winter,” said Arissian.

According to Sanjian, the Muslim Brotherhood is the only organized opposition in Syria. “If this regime falls, and Syria remains intact, it is the most likely force that will gain control, similar to what happened in Egypt,” he said. “The rest of the opposition leaders who are sitting in France and Istanbul say a lot of things that are palatable for Western media, but on the ground, I don’t think they hold any real power, or that they can score substantial gains during any hypothetical post-Assad elections. We saw an example of that in Egypt.”

The electability of the Muslim Brotherhood lies in the fact that the majority of the population has little education and would be moved by religious rhetoric, argued Sanjian, who takes the possibility of a Sunni Islamic belt forming in the Middle East seriously. “In Tunisia the Sunni Islamists are already in power. Libya will likely fall to them as well. The Muslim Brotherhood is now the largest party in Egypt. Hamas in Palestine is a local version of the Muslim Brotherhood; Syria—and, if it falls, then the Jordanian Parliament, too—will probably be taken over by the local Brotherhood branch. And finally, there’s Turkey, where the ruling party is another version of the Muslim Brotherhood,” he said.

But there is no guarantee that these forces will cooperate after gaining power in their respective countries, he said, and it is probable that they may form rivalries. “For instance, there will possibly be a struggle to decide which foreign capital will control any post-Assad Syrian government. Will it be under Ankara’s thumb? Riyadh’s? Or Cairo’s?”

More than posing a threat to Christians, there is a greater chance of the Muslim Brotherhood repressing Syria’s Alawis, whom they consider heretics. If the central power structure collapses, there is even a chance of the Alawis, Druzes, and Kurds seeking control over certain regions, according to Sanjian.

T.N., however, argues that it is unlikely that fundamental Islamists will come to power, or suppress minorities. Armenians, he said, believe that the only alternative to the Assad regime is fundamental Islam, and that is false. “Even if Islamists win, the possibility of targeting minorities and Armenians is highly exaggerated by the current regime, to portray themselves as the only possible option for minorities. The only fear might be the transitional period from collapse to rebuilding. If the transition is accompanied with chaos, anything might happen. If the transition goes smoother and easier, it won’t be that dangerous.”

Fr. Bedourian maintains the threat against Christian minorities is real—and already palpable. “Looking at the situation in Egypt and especially [as it relates] to the Christians in Egypt, there is a serious fear in Syria for the Christians and minority groups,” he said.

Between 60,000-70,000 Armenians call Syria home, constituting less than 0.5 percent of the country’s total population. More than half of them live in Aleppo, with the other half scattered in such cities as Latakia, Homs, Kamishli, Hasake, Yakoubiye, Raqqa, Kessab, and, of course, the capital Damascus.

The community is not a politically active one—not from the lack of want, but because they are not given the opportunity, said Sanjian. Their position was worse before the current president’s father, Hafez al Assad, came to power. For instance, in the early 1950’s, Armenian schools, along with other foreign institutions, were closed for the purpose of “Arabization” and to rid the country of alleged foreign influence. Lengthy negotiations eventually secured their reopening.

In 1967, after the Arabs lost the war to Israel, Armenian schools were once again threatened with permanent closure. Again, an arrangement was made: Armenian was to be taught only as a language of religious ritual, as a tool to understand the liturgy and teachings of the Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, and Evangelical churches, explained Sanjian. Armenian classes, however, would encompass other topics as well, from history to literature. It is a system, said Sanjian, where authorities know of what is being taught, but they continue to turn a blind eye because they know that the maintenance of Armenian ethnic identity poses no threat to Syria.

Over the past 10-20 years, the number of students in Armenian schools has remained high, now even surpassing the number in Lebanese-Armenian schools, and Armenian-language textbooks have been produced in Aleppo at an impressive rate.

Arissian pointed out that during the presidency of Hafez Assad, and later Bashar Assad, Armenians held to the right to teach their language in their schools, and to hold Mass in their churches. “Armenians in Syria are full citizens who enjoy equal rights,” she said. “They never faced any problems on the grounds of religious discrimination in Syria.”

Arissian also noted that Syria and Armenia enjoy close relations, although she acknowledged that cozy relations between Turkey and Syria over the last decade affected the media’s handling of topics relating to Armenians.

Armenians are keeping their options open, including the idea of moving to Armenia. “It is not a secret that a considerable number of Syrian-Armenians have applied for Armenian citizenship. But this doesn’t mean that they are ready or willing to immediately go to Armenia. Despite the escalation of the situation, Armenians in Syria are standing with the state, with their country Syria,” said Arissian.

Garen Yegparian

BY GAREN YEGPARIAN

Last weekend was quite outdoorsy for me, but with strong political flair.

Friday started out with a hike to scout a route from Burbank to Griffith Park (in Los Angeles) for a future outing with one of Burbank’s city council members. Then, it was off to REI to check out their clearance sale for hiking and related gear and to buy the infamous Adventure Pass, which is now required in the four LA area national forests (Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and San Bernardino). Isn’t it great? We get to pay to park, even just on the side of the road, on our own property. I understand various versions of this exist throughout the U.S. now. After sneaking in the week’s grocery shopping, it was off to Montebello and the Rio Hondo to scout another hike for a city council member in that city. After that it was off to a new (for me) map store in Pasadena, since Geographia in Burbank closed down almost a year ago. I had to get maps for the Woodson Peak area in San Diego County.

I was going to San Diego for the California Democratic Party’s (CDP) convention, where the California Armenian American Democrats (CAAD) was expected to receive its final approval as a chartered organization within the party, the first one in half a century! Of course traveling 125 or so miles without getting in a hike would not do, so I planned the Woodson hike with a friend who lived nearby. Unfortunately, pneumonia got his daughter, and he had to care for her and ditched the hike. I recommend doing this hill.

Saturday was very cool and pleasant (though the views, reportedly quite impressive, were largely compromised by the clouds) and the hike up Woodson fairly challenging at a good pace. It has “potato chip rock” (also called the “diving board) near the peak—a strangely shaped rock with a long protruding ledge that people stand on to have “hero” pictures taken of themselves in all kinds of comical poses. The actual summit is a huge boulder that must be climbed, but the first step is not easily accomplished. People had a two-by-four propped against it as an aid. Unfortunately, my weight would probably have snapped it. Luckily, another hiker arrived at the same time. We chatted, realized we were both in San Diego for the convention, then he recognized me! We’d hiked Mt. Baldy a dozen years ago. A boost from him enabled me to summit.

Then it was back to the car and my friend’s house. Lunch was dispatched (from a Greek place called Pegasus—really liked the name) and as I was about to leave, his wife arrived. The “perils of politeness” kicked in, I ate some more, and proceeded to be late to the CAAD meeting. Luckily, I made it in time for two important items.

First, elections were being held. This was very important since much negotiating (bickering?) led up to a unified slate of candidates. Unfortunately, the group of people who jumped first and worked on creating CAAD (after many people had discussed and advocated it over the last few years) seemed very hesitant to be broadly inclusive. This was a manifestation, partly, of some of the divisions we have in our community, so it came as no surprise. We can, and did, work things out. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only factor at play in the proto-organizational squabbles. Unfortunately, some elected officials and others within the party seem to want to have CAAD replace the Armenian community’s existing advocacy/political organizations. Only cads would take such an approach to CAAD. These inclinations, largely unspoken, contributed to the difficulties I referred to above. Hopefully, everyone involved in CAAD will act in a way that is beneficial to both the Armenian community and the Democratic Party, not just one at the expense of the other. Similarly, I hope CAAD’s creation will lead to the inception of an equivalent organization within the Republican Party, and even the minor parties, too.

The bombshell at the CAAD meeting, for me anyway, was no part of the above. Rather, when it was announced the Cenk Uygur was going to be the featured speaker at the CDP Progressive Caucus’ meeting, a yelped in shock and incredulity. In case you don’t know, Uygur (whose first name means war) is host of the now-online talk show “The Young Turks”, and an Armenian genocide denier. I’d written, almost six years ago, about a similar incident when he and his co-hosts were to moderate a panel of Democratic Party candidates leading up to that year’s primaries. Our community’s pressure back then led him to pull out. And, here we were again, faced with a very similar situation.

The ANCA got wind of this about a week before the convention and got to work, publicly and privately, to prevent Mr. War from being given this platform. CAAD also got to work within the party, resulting in a last minute Saturday powwow (6:00pm, with the program scheduled to start at 8:00pm). Unfortunately, denier Cenk Uygur ended up speaking that night. That led to the Armenian activists carrying out the backup plan of distributing leaflets exposing Uygur’s denialism to those attending the program.

However, some good may have come of this mess. The Progressive Caucus’ chair, in her introductory remarks, reaffirmed the group’s agreement with the CDP’s affirmative position on Armenian Genocide recognition. She also said the caucus would cooperate with CAAD to put on an educational program about the Genocide sometime early this summer (part of this she said to me in conversation after the program was over). Her sense is that Uygur is a “changed man”, though that was not in evidence when he spoke.

The program consisted of reports by members of the progressives’ executive committee members, followed by Democratic candidate for Congress in California’s second district, Norman Solomon. Solomon vigorously affirmed the necessity of Armenian Genocide recognition, but corrected one point, that it wasn’t the first genocide of the 20th century, rather, that “honor” went to the massacre of Congolese by Belgians in the years straddling the turn of the 19th/20th centuries. He invited Uygur to clear up the matter. When the latter finally spoke, he referred to the matter of the Armenian Genocide, and even the offensive name of his show, as something that needed to be addressed. When I asked a question, requesting he simply recognize the Genocide, he again demurred and evaded, arguing that night was not the forum for it, and the topic was different. He clearly implied he would address the matter. Consequently, throughout the program, the Armenian contingent stood, in silent protest, with backs turned to the podium.

Afterward, Uygur was quickly whisked out by “security” folks. These people were absent from the other events held at the San Diego Bayfront Hilton Hotel (though there was evidently heightened security at the Convention Center, supposedly because the “Occupy” movement had said it would take action at the CDP convention). The implication, of course, is that Armenians were a threat to this denier. It reminds me of when previous U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Yovanovitch spoke at the Ferrahian School and had security types present, whereas they were absent at other events in her Armenian community tour. Talk about adding insult to injury.

After all this, it was a late night/early morning drive back to Burbank, to catch some sleep and mountain bike up the Mt. Wilson Toll Road. This was fairly challenging, though luckily the weather was cool, and much of the ride was spent ensconced in clouds. The effort and environment were sorely needed balm for the nerves generated by the lack of cooperation on display the night before.

Despite all this, I think we may actually have an opportunity here. First, there’s a woman named Ana Kasparian who is a cost and producer on The Young Turks. She’s been there for as long as I’ve been aware of the show. This is either a problem or long delayed opportunity. For what Armenian would openly work with a Genocide denier for years and tolerate such an offensive program name? Yet, she is there and may be of some use if she’s not an Uncle Tom. Second, we have Cenk Uygur’s own public remarks from that Saturday February 11 panel. He spoke to the need for addressing the Armenian community’s concerns both about his position on the Genocide and the name of his show. Third, we have some momentum from the very public nature of the interactions, discussions, and meetings that occurred over Uygur’s speaking that night. This enables all concerned to follow up, and quickly, taking advantage of the pressure.

The ANCA should get on this immediately, marshalling all interested forces to clear the air of Cenk Uygur’s denialism, one way or the other, coupled with the changing of the program’s name. You can start writing to the program, just go to the website, www.theyoungturks.com, and write your dissatisfaction.

Cypriot President Demetris Christofias (left) with Benjamin Netenyahu

NICOSIA / ANKARA (Hurriyet Daily News)—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited CyprusThursday to discuss energy cooperation, right after Cypriots launched a second licensing round for offshore exploratory drilling that received Turkey’s condemnation.

Netanyahu’s visit is the first by an Israeli prime minister to the eastern Mediterranean island. The blossoming of relations between Israel and Cyprus is prompted by a mutual interest in gas and oil exploration and comes as their respective ties with Turkey deteriorate.

Netanyahu’s office said the one-day visit “was designed to strengthen the improving ties between the two nations.” The two sides will discuss cooperation in energy matters, agriculture, health and maritime research and sign a disaster relief and a search and rescue agreement, the office said.

“It’s a natural relationship for us,” Netanyahu said at the start of his meeting with Cypriot President Demetris Christofias. Greek Cypriot government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou told the Associated Press beforehand the visit “illustrates the great dynamic driving forward the improvement in relations between the two countries.”

After receiving Netanyahu, Christofias and the Israeli prime minister held a tête-à-tête meeting.

The two leaders were due to sign an agreement on assistance in the event of natural disasters and regarding search-and-rescue cooperation by air and naval forces. Cypriot newspapers said Netanyahu would have requests from Christofias such as Cypriot permission to use the “Andreas Papandreou” airbase in Paphos, the transfer of natural gas to Cyprus through a pipeline, contribution to an energy terminal that would be built in Cyprus, protection of those pipelines and facilities and acceptance of responsibility for the search and rescue in the region.

A scene from "Honest Liars"

BY ARAM KOUYOUMDJIAN

It was really funny. I wouldn’t fib about that.

Vahik Pirhamzei’s latest outing, “Honest Liars” (Azniv Sdakhosner), which closed on February 12, was a rollicking romp, thanks to a script heavy on laughs and a cast heavy on talent.

The premise of the play, written by Pirhamzei and Hakob Rubinyan, was a trifle. It revolved around a ruse concocted by a young woman named Anna – babysitter to married couple Armen and Angele – to pass off her employers as her parents to her fiancé and future in-laws. Anna resorts to the ruse after a falling out with her own parents and despite the fact that Armen and Angele are barsgahai (from Iran), while Anna herself is hayasdantsi (from Armenia). Drinking and hilarity ensue once the fiancé and his parents show up with secrets of their own.

“Honest Liars” doesn’t aim for believability – just belly laughs. And it delivers – through clever writing and skilled acting. Pirhamzei’s flair for comedy was on full display as he impressively directed – and headed – a strong cast comprised of Anahid Avanesian, Hakob Baboudjian, Rafael Danielian, Eleanora Khachatryan, and Lusine Sargsyan.

Pirhamzei’s humor was as fresh and genuine as ever. Sprinkled with an adult sensibility, it skewered stereotypes and frequently tackled contemporary social mores – almost to a fault. Packed with entirely too much material, “Honest Liars” stretched into a three-hour evening after its late start and long intermission. A plotline about a forgotten anniversary was elaborately set up, then mostly ignored, and the play indulged a number of tangents before regaining its course.

Am I really complaining about having too much of a good thing? Perhaps. But a bit of streamlining would enhance the play, as would a venue more suitable than the beyond-awful Beyond the Stars “theater,” where the cramped chairs were arranged upon the belief that audience members lack upper limbs. The discomfort of the seating, however, paled in comparison with the pain of sitting through commercials – yes, commercials – before the show’s start and during intermission.

None of that seemed to matter to the capacity audience that was laughing its collective head off the night I attended a performance. There’s no question that Pirhamzei has a devoted following – and deservedly so.

Aram Kouyoumdjian is the winner of Elly Awards for both playwriting (“The Farewells”) and directing (“Three Hotels”). His latest work is “Happy Armenians.”

Front row, L to R: Vahan Hovannesian, Armen Rustamyan and Lilit Galstyan of the ARF bloc

YEREVAN (ARFD.info)—The Committee on Legal Affairs of the Armenian Parliament on Wednesday agreed to discuss a proposal introduced by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the Heritage party that calls for drastic reforms to Armenia electoral code whereby parliamentary elections would be held on a 100-percent proportional representation.

Under the current electoral code, 90 of the 131 members of parliament are elected on the proportional system, while the remaining 41 members are elected on the single-mandate. The opposition, in its joint announcement in December, said that the single mandate systems opens the door for broad election violations and asserted that a 100-percent proportional system would minimize voter harassment and vote rigging.

The measure was rejected by the majority in the Parliament last week, yet Prosperous Armenia, a member of the ruling coalition, expressed its approval through an official filing in parliament. However, Deputy Speaker Samvel Balasanyan, a member of the Prosperous Armenia bloc called making such changes “untimely.”

Armenian Revolutionary Federation bloc chairman Vahan Hovannesian argued during committee hearings that voter do not know the deputies elected through single mandate elections, contending that those candidates do not live in the corresponding districts. He also added that while in parliament, those deputies do not even approach the podium or take an active role in legislative activities.

Results of the hearings will culminate in a vote on February 28, announced Republican Party of Armenia member Davit Harutyunyan, who chairs the committee which organized the hearings. However, he asserted that his party would oppose the measure.

“Here we have a ‘full consensus minus one’ state in the political arena, which is created by the ruling Republican Party,” stated ARF Supreme Council of Armenia representative and chairman of the Parliament’s committee on foreign relations, Armen Rustamian from the National Assembly daise.

“We do not know how they [lawmakers] will vote in the end,” Rustamian told the press. Evidently, Rustamian was referring to how the support expressed by Prosperous Armenia would play out in the ultimate vote.

Non-partisan lawmaker Lyova Khachatryan, who was elected by the majoritarian system, spoke against the single-mandate format saying that “the single-mandate format has become a turned into a vice, and all the negative phenomena that take place during elections are directly connected with the majoritarian system.”

During a heated discussion the opposition lawmakers presented reasons why they believe it is necessary to pass to 100-percent proportional system of voting. Hovannesian submitted the entire list of parliament members who were elected through the single-mandate system and outlined the ways in which they have become disconnected from the voter base, especially their constituents.

Senior members of other opposition groups not represented in the current parliament, notably the Armenian National Congress also took part in the discussion.

Former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian

YEREVAN—Armenia’s former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian officially joined the ranks of the Prosperous Armenia party, which is headed by businessman Gagik Dzarukian and is a member of the ruling coalition.

According to local press accounts, Oskanian submitted his application to join the Prosperous Armenia Party last Saturday and the party leadership have reviewed and accepted his membership.

“We have examined the case carefully and we made the decision that Oskanian will become a party member,” a source within the party said on Thursday.

Oskanian issued the following announcement Sunday after applying to the party for membership:

“Yesterday I submitted my application for membership to the Prosperous Armenia Party. I make this decision convinced that the Prosperous Armenia Party, together with other political parties, is able to, through political competition, secure free and fair elections, and thus, a new National Assembly with a new configuration of political forces,” said Oskanian in a statement.

“As Chairman of the Board of the Civilitas Foundation, I had, on various occasions, expressed my views on events and developments in Armenia. Today, I believe it is time to become more actively involved in our political processes,” added Oskanian.

“Given the possibility of my membership in the Prosperous Armenia Party, in the coming days, the Civilitas Foundation Board will make a decision about my future status,” explained the former foreign minister.

Chairwoman of the Prosperous Armenia parliamentary bloc Naira Zohrabyan told Yerkir.am on Tuesday that Dzarukian “has always said that Prosperous Armenia Party’s doors are open to any individual who is ready and willing to work toward a prosperous Armenia.”

While Zohrabyan said Oskanian’s participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections had not yet been discussed by party officials, the former foreign minister is expected to top the party’s roster of candidates.

LA Marathon 2012

GLENDALE—For the first time, the Armenian Relief Society of Western USA (ARS) will be participating as an official charity of the Honda LA Marathon this year, joining 70 other charities in a campaign entitled “I Run 4 Something” to take place on Sunday, March 18.

The marathon covers a 26.2 mile distance starting at the Los Angeles Dodger Stadium and ending in Santa Monica. The ARS team, “Heartline Against Domestic Violence,” will take part in the charity 2-person marathon, where each participant will cover half the distance of 13.1 miles, similar to a relay.

With its participation as an official charity of the marathon, the ARS team hopes to increase awareness of domestic violence and to support the organization’s efforts to aid victims of such abuse. “Participating as an official charity of the marathon allows us to utilize this major platform to help raise funds for those in our communities who have sought our help, as a result of the abuses they have suffered,” says Carmen Libaridian, Vice-Chairperson of the ARS Regional Executive Board.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that domestic violence can be defined as “attempting to cause or causing bodily injury to a family or household member or placing a family or household member by threat of force in fear of imminent physical harm.” A clinical or behavioral definition of domestic violence is “a pattern of assaultive and/or coercive behaviors, including physical, sexual, and psychological attacks, as well as economic coercion, that adults or adolescents use against their intimate partners.” In many communities, including immigrant populations, domestic violence often has a slightly broader context of abuse, such as in-laws abusing a daughter-in-law.

In recent years, the ARS has sought to serve victims of domestic violence more effectively through social services and counseling centers and other community resources, but funding gaps have hindered efforts for comprehensive assistance. By reaching out to the community and collaborating with other charities, the ARS hopes to prevent abusive behavior by launching awareness campaigns as well as help restore the lives of victims of domestic violence.

Those interested in making a donation in support of the team can visit the ARS-WUSA’s Crowdrise page at www.crowdrise.com/ARS-WUSA or contact the ARS Regional Headquarters at (818) 500-1343 or LAMarathon@arswestusa.org.

The ARS of Western USA, established in 1984 and with regional headquarters in Glendale, California, is a humanitarian organization with 27 chapters and over 1,500 members in 5 western states. The ARS of Western USA operates a Social Service Division with 5 social service centers and a Child, Youth, and Family Guidance Center in Southern California, in addition to funding numerous youth programs, scholarships, and relief efforts around the word. For further information, please visit www.arswestusa.org.

Hrant Dink

ISTANBUL (Hurriyet Daily News)—Attorneys for murdered Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink have asked that the Istanbul Deputy Chief Prosecutor’s Office file criminal cases against 24 public officials for their alleged role in the 2007 killing.

“If [police informant] Erhan Tuncel was found not guilty and could be acquitted, and if he did not take part in the crime, then there are other guilty [parties] out there,” Cem Halavurt, one of the Dink family’s lawyers, told the Hurriyet Daily News.

The officials in question include Muammer Guler, former Istanbul governor and a deputy for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Celalettin Cerrah, who was Istanbul police chief at the time but has since been promoted to the post of Osmaniye governor in southern Turkey, as well as Ramazan Akyürek, who was serving as the head of police intelligence at the time.

“The aforementioned civil servant suspects … have committed the crime of ‘intentional murder through negligent conduct’ by not fulfilling their obligation to prevent Hrant Dink’s assassination by the armed organization that committed the murder, and by not taking him under their protection,” read the Dink family’s lawyers’ petition.

Both Cerrah and Guler refused to comment to the Daily News on the matter.

“We are aware of the presence of the managers and members of the organization that committed the Dink murder among the Trabzon Provincial Gendarmerie Command, the Istanbul and Trabzon Provincial police departments [and] the Police Department Intelligence Branch Presidency staff. We know that all these relations will come to light if an effective investigation is conducted,” the petition said.

Authorities did not give permission for an investigation to be launched against the public servants in question, the lawyers said in the petition. An appeal was consequently brought before the European Court of Human Rights following the exhaustion of domestic judicial alternatives.

A scene from a seminar dedicated to 20th anniversary of Iran-Armenia diplomatic relations

TEHRAN (Combined Sources)—Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said Wednesday that “Iran attaches considerable importance to the development of relations with neighboring, friendly Armenia” after meeting with Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan.

While in Tehran, Kocharyan also met with Iran’s deputy foreign minister for Asia, Oceania and the CIS countries, Seyed Abbas Araghchi.

The sides expressed satisfaction about the progress of bilateral ties and emphasized the importance of reciprocal visits by the presidents and foreign ministers of both countries to Tehran and Yerevan last year.

The side also discussed implementation of joint economic programs, announced an Armenian Foreign Ministry press statement.

Kocharyan was on hand to attend a seminar marking the 20th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Tehran and Yerevan. The seminar was held at Tehran State University.

In his opening remarks Kocharyan greatly praised the bi-lateral relations. Other speakers underscored that the comprehensive cooperation and implementation of joint programs has reached a high level.

A book entitled “Armenia-Iran Relations Turn 20” by Armenian envoy Garnik Badalyan and Khachik Khachen was presented at the event.

Vladimir Yakunin, chairman of Russia's state-run rail network

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—Russia remains interested in an ambitious project to build a railway connecting Armenia to neighboring Iran despite “problems” created by Tehran’s deepening standoff with the West, according to the head of the state-run Russian rail network, RZD.

“We think that this project has realistic chances of implementation but that could be done only within the inter-state framework and doesn’t depend only on us,” Vladimir Yakunin said at the end of a visit to Armenia late on Wednesday.

Yakunin arrived in Yerevan to introduce Viktor Rebets, the new executive director of Armenia’s national railway company managed by RZD. He also met with President Serzh Sarkisian.

The Armenian and Iranian governments officially approved the railway project in 2009. But they have yet to identify concrete sources of funding for the 470-kilometer rail link that would mainly pass through Armenian territory. Unofficial estimates of its total cost have varied from $1 billion to $4 billion.

The Armenian side hopes that Russian firms will participate in the railway construction and partly finance it. The Russian government and RZD have not ruled out such possibility.

The Armenian and Russian transport ministries set up joint working groups looking into the project after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s August 2010 visit to Yerevan. Medvedev and Sarkisian also discussed the issue when they met in Moscow in October 2011.

“We hope that with joint efforts by both Russia and Armenia as well as some third countries we will, after all, manage to achieve a more modern and perhaps even radically new system of communications for Armenia,” Medvedev said during the talks in an apparent reference to the would-be rail link.

Yakunin insisted that the project is feasible even though between 30 and 50 years would be needed to recoup the massive construction expenditures. “And if that project is launched South Caucasus Railway will definitely participate in its implementation,” he said, referring to RZD’s Armenian subsidiary.

The Russian official noted that the tightening international sanctions against Iran are creating “quite a bit of problems” hampering economic cooperation between the Islamic Republic and other regional states, including Armenia. “We believe that cooperation is much more effective than any sanction imposed on Iran,” he said, echoing Moscow’s official stance on the standoff over Tehran’s controversial nuclear program.

The Armenian government regards China as another potential source of funding for the railway construction. Transport Minister Manuk Vartanian revealed in 2010 that Yerevan is seeking as much as $1 billion in Chinese loans for that purpose.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi discussed the issue with Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian during a February 2011 visit to Yerevan. Sarkisian’s press office referred to “the Chinese side’s interest” in the project but did not elaborate.

The construction of the Shushi vocational school

Facility is expected to revive Artsakh’s trade traditions

YEREVAN—The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s French affiliate has launched the construction of a vocational school in the city of Shushi. The future institution will be named after French-Armenian benefactor Yeznik Mozian, whose bequest has provided the necessary funds for the project.

With a total area of 4,050 square meters, the future school will accommodate up to 225 students. It will offer a three-year certificate program in various specialties as well as a broad spectrum of general academic subjects.

The two-story campus will feature all required amenities including fully appointed classrooms, workshops, labs, and a library. The facility will also be equipped with central heating and air-conditioning, and comprise storage space for educational materials. Currently construction crews are laying the building’s foundations. 
“On the model and standards of similar French professional institutions our architects and consultants have designed this school to practice the most effective educational methods. School professors and instructors will be selected and trained accordingly”, says the Mozian family representative Robert Aydabirian, who is the overall project coordinator.

Graduates of the Yeznik Mozian School -who will be certified variously as locksmiths, metalworkers, welder, casing worker, mason, painters, roofers, stuccoer, tilers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and other specialists – are expected to enter the local job market, helping fill the shortage of trade professionals.  

“The school will welcome students from all over Karabakh as well as Armenia, being equipped with dormitory facilities and aimed at becoming the most advanced school of this kind in the region”, points out the chairman of the Hayastan Fund French affiliate Bedros Terzian.

“Today Artsakh is in dire need of highly skilled professionals in the construction sector,” says Kajik Khachatryan, head of the Shushi District Administration. “The Yeznik Mozian School will mean a wonderful opportunity for young people who wish to specialize in a particular trade and become accomplished specialists.” 

“The establishment of the Yeznik Mozian School is an unprecedented initiative in the history of our organization,” said Ara Vardanyan, executive director of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund. “We are confident that, thanks to the contribution of our French-Armenian benefactor, the socio-economic development of Shushi will be further boosted by an educational institution poised to produce generations of highly qualified professionals.”

The Yeznik Mozian School is being constructed in Shushi’s eastern neighborhood, which continues to be developed as the city’s educational quarter. It is already home to several music and liberal-arts schools as well as the Agriculture Department of Artsakh State University.

US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)—A project called Enterprise Development and Market Competitiveness, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was launched Wednesday.

The five-year initiative seeks to “stimulate sustainable growth in employment and incomes in Armenia by promoting growth in high potential value chains, which have strong export potential,” reported ArmRadio.

USAID jointly with Pragma Corporation and Armenia’s Economy Ministry will implement the EDMC project aimed at creating favorable conditions for development of small and medium businesses in Armenia, enhancement of market competitiveness, promotion of innovations as well as boosting of labor force potential.

US Ambassador John Heffern, who was present at the inauguration of the initiative said, “Armenia and the U.S. have vast potential for deepening trade ties.”

“Hopefully this project will foster further development of bilateral relations,” the ambassador said, noting Armenia as an important partner of the U.S.

“Ambassador Heffern has a real opportunity to breath life into his admirable remarks by leading the charge for bilateral accords – such as a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, a Double Tax Treaty, and eventually a Free Trade Agreement – that will deliver real, concrete results in terms of U.S.-Armenia trade and investment growth. The numbers don’t lie, and – sadly – they tell a story of failed leadership in terms of growing the U.S.-Armenia economic relationship,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America.

GARO YALIC

Our sister publication, The Armenian Weekly published this interview with Garo Yalic, a politician from Marseille, France, and one of the writers of the French law criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial, which passed in the French Senate on Jan. 23. The interview was conducted before the passage of the Senate bill. It is translated from its original Turkish.

BY ARIS NALCI

Several weeks have passed since the law criminalizing genocide denial passed in the French National Assembly, and later the French Senate. Since then, it has become a very special topic on Turkey’s foreign policy agenda.

The dominant topic in Turkish newsrooms has been the reaction of the Armenian community in Turkey, which has formed a hostile bloc against France. The bill has made the massacres of Uludere, and the arrests of hundreds of journalists and their prosecutions seem almost insignificant.

Yet, Armenians in Turkey have, through their writings and comments, attempted to avoid becoming the whipping boys of Turkey’s foreign policy at all costs.
The following interview with Garo Yalic aims to better understand the Armenian Diaspora. I met Yalic a few years ago. He knows Turkey well, and travels to Istanbul and Van as much as he can. He is Armenian, and a very sociable person. He was forced to migrate to France, and is now a fellow of French MP Valérie Boyer, with whom he drafted the law criminalizing denial.

His words, below, are full of instructions and initiate a common path for Armenians and Turks.

ARIS NALCI: Can you tell us about your work and your involvement in the French political system?

GARO YALIC: I’m a member of the UMP [Union for a Popular Movement]. I’ve been in politics since I was 17. I started at the RPR [Rally for the Republic] and then moved to the UMP. At present time, I am the Urban District Adviser for the 13th/14th Urban District of Marseille with Boyer.

A.N.: You participated in the preparation of this law. Can you give us more details about that process?

G.Y.: First, I’d like to say that there is a total lack of information or misinformation on the Turkish side. They don’t understand at all what we wanted to do here. And on the French side, some deputies and politicians close to Turkey say nothing and anything. Some historians, on the other hand, think that this law is against freedom of speech. In reality, it is only aimed at ensuring public order.
We’ve all been sensitive about the law when it was rejected by the Senate a few months ago because of its possible unconstitutionality and potential annulment by the Supreme Court.

Valérie Boyer and some people close to her—including myself—continued the work started by a lawyer in Marseille, Mr. Krikorian, regarding the transposition of a European Council-framework decision. We worked on the basis of the Council-framework decision 2008/913/JAI on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law, which was adopted by the Council of the European Union on Nov. 28, 2008.

What does that directive say? Article 1 of the Council-framework decision says the following are punishable by means of criminal law: intentional conduct in or publicly condoning, denying, or grossly trivializing crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes as defined in Articles 6, 7, and 8 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court, directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to race, color, religion, descent, or national or ethnic origin when the conduct is carried out in a manner likely to incite violence or hatred against such a group or a member of such a group.

Furthermore, Article 3 declares that each member-state shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the conduct referred to in Article 1 is punishable by criminal penalties of at least between 1 and 3 years of imprisonment.

In France, several national texts already define and punish genocides, war crimes, and crimes against humanity: On Jan. 29, Law Number 2001-70 implemented the official recognition by France of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. On May 21, Law Number 2001-434 established the recognition of slavery and slave trade as a crime against humanity. The law we are talking about today is only the punitive part that is necessary for the law to have real legal value.

To conclude, we are only complying with European directives on the basis of the aforementioned Council-framework decision. That law [criminalizing genocide denial] has been carefully thought through and it will be adopted because it constitutes a protection of the social peace.

We wanted to remind all countries that come to recognize the genocide that they also have to do that compliance work, no matter which genocide we are talking about. Some people think the law will not pass, but that would be an aberration, as it is complying with a European directive. And we thought very much about it: It is in our national interest and in the interest of social peace in the fight against discrimination and hatred based on race.

A.N.: The passing of this law seems precious to the Armenian Diaspora. As a diasporan yourself, what does the law represent to you?

G.Y.: I was born in Turkey, but I am French with Armenian origin, so I first think about my actual country: France. Of course, this law is significant for French people with Armenian origin. Nowadays, you cannot tell the difference between a French-Armenian and a French-French, especially if s/he does not have a family name ending with “ian.” As the Turkish prime minister has reminded us, there are also about a million French people of Turkish origin that will show their weight in the electoral balance. But that declaration will not change parliament’s position, as the law unites all the political movements of the majority and of the opposition.
During the debates in the National Assembly, a deputy argued for the necessity of the law by relating what had happened in his district, in Sarcelles: A French-Turkish association was preparing a public demonstration to defend the murderer of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, but it was forbidden in order to prevent public disorder. That kind of demonstration cannot take place in France, and the law reaches its full potential by preventing that kind of propaganda on our territory.

A.N.: In Turkey, we have received very different information about the content of the law. It already passed once in the French Senate, but it didn’t cause such a big emotional uproar before. Why has it become such a big issue this time?

G.Y.: The over-blown reactions of the Turkish leaders show two things to me. First, Mr. Erdogan wants to attract his population’s attention against France, as he did in the case of Israel. Second, I think this law is essential for Turkey if it wants to be included in the European Union tomorrow, since it will have to adopt these kind of laws. The aim of the law is to prohibit incitement to hatred.

A.N.: During the French National Assembly vote [on Dec. 23], you were in Paris, as were many Turkish officials who were there to prevent the passing of the law. You know many of them. When you left the Assembly, you said you experienced a very uncomfortable moment. What did you mean?

G.Y.: I don’t want to go into details, but you know my point of view. I want that law for several reasons, but first for the sovereign interest of France and of Turkey. Also, politically, I think it’s time for Turkey to accept France’s position about the genocide. I’d like the relations between the Armenian Diaspora and Turkey to become more peaceful. The recent declaration by the prime minister of Turkey regarding the events that took place in Dersim gives me hope that Turkey will act the same way regarding the 1915 genocide.

A.N.: According to some, this law taken center stage because Sarkozy is trying to get Armenian votes in France. What do you think? How many French citizens from Armenian origin are there in France? Do the Armenians have such a strong influence on French politics?

G.Y.: I was telling you to watch the TV debate with Mr. Eric Raoult, the deputy in Raincy, where there are more Turks than Armenians. Mr. Raincy has voted for the law and some of our deputies really defend the republic’s values, while the president has just reminded us that there is a penal and legal hole in our laws regarding the law of 2001: “France publicly recognizes the Armenian genocide.” There is a legal and penal hole that we have to fill in.
Ok, there are more Turks than Armenians in France, officially. But we are not able to know who is from Armenian descent in France, as they started to arrive in the 1890’s and early 1900’s, and with all the mixed-marriages, we are not able to know their exact numbers… Take [Helene] Segara, [Patrick] Fiori, [Charles] Villeneuve, [Pascal] Legitimus, etc., as examples. They are of Armenian origin, but from such a long time ago…

A.N.: Why do Turks living in France not have as big an influence as Armenians in France?

G.Y.: I don’t think it’s a Turkish problem, even if they are involved in the political life. Today I’m like you. The UMP has voted the law, and tomorrow at the Senate, it will be the PS [Socialist Party]. So, I’m asking you: Are you going to tell the Turks to not vote for Sarkozy or not vote for [Francois] Hollande? Or, are you going to tell them to vote for the FN [National Front] because they adore Turkey, like Mrs. [Marine] LePen does? … As [Charles] Aznavour said, “We are 100 percent French. Show us if there are Turks who died for that country. But we also carry Armenia in our hearts…”

A.N.: Lastly, how do you feel about Turkish reactions to the passing of the law?

G.Y.: Let me finish by saying one thing: I love Turkey. I have plenty of Turkish friends that I adore. But I think that Turks deserve a better leader than Mr. Erdogan, who thinks that he is at a football match by [his language as he] talks about our president and trying to legitimate the genocide. It’s not politics anymore! I just want to tell him: ‘Mr. Erdogan, you are putting your intellectuals (like Mr. Zarakoglu) in jail, your journalists, more than 5,000 Kurds, you have that 301 Article [of the Turkish penal code], and let’s not talk about the Hrant Dink case, etc.”
There is a big dynamic in Turkey, but Turkey has to pay attention and not jeopardize its population’s life. There are more than 100,000 people working for French organizations. Each year, French tourism in Turkey brings in more than one million euros. Each year, there are more than one million euros in aid from France to Turkey… Turkey forgets to talk about that…

So, I think that if we don’t send electric shocks about that question, Turkey will never have the courage to take a look back and view its history honestly. Together, we have to build up the future. Almost a hundred years of denial—it’s enough. Neither Turks nor Armenians deserve this.

Delegations from US and Armenia meet in Yerevan

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—The United States and Armenia have finalized plans to hold in April first-ever joint military exercises that will be primarily aimed at improving the interoperability of their forces deployed in Afghanistan, the Defense Ministry in Yerevan announced on Wednesday.

The announcement followed talks held between Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian and Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, the visiting deputy director for strategic planning at the U.S. military’s European Command headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Montgomery was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador John Heffern.

In a statement, the Armenian Defense Ministry said the two sides discussed “issues related to organizing joint Armenian-American exercises.” The ministry spokesman, Davit Karapetian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) separately that they reached a “tentative agreement” to hold the exercises in Romania in April.

Karapetian said the exercises will last for one week and involve several dozen soldiers from the Armenian army’s special Peacekeeping Brigade that provides military personnel for the U.S.-led multinational mission in Afghanistan. He said they will engage in an “exchange of experience” with U.S. troops that will be “useful” for further U.S.-Armenian military interaction.

Plans for the landmark drills were first made public following First Deputy Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan’s July 2011 visit to Washington. Tonoyan held what official Yerevan described as “defense consultations” with U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Alexander Vershbow and other senior Pentagon officials.

The Washington talks came shortly after Armenia almost tripled its participation in NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for Afghanistan, a move praised by U.S. officials. It currently has about 130 troops on the ground.

According to the Defense Ministry statement, Montgomery also held a separate meeting in Yerevan with a top Armenian army general to discuss “Armenian peacekeepers’ participation in international missions.” The U.S. admiral also visited the Yerevan headquarters of the Peacekeeping Brigade.

U.S. and Armenian soldiers have until now trained together only in multinational exercises organized by NATO. Armenia has hosted two such exercises in recent years.

Those drills as well as the Armenian participation in U.S.-led military operations abroad have underscored Armenia’s deepening security ties with the West. The Armenian leadership has at the same time bolstered the military alliance with Russia that remains a key element of the country’s national security strategy. Celeste Wallander, a U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense, insisted last year that that the Russian-Armenian ties are not an obstacle to Washington’s growing defense cooperation with Yerevan.

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—The United States and Armenia have finalized plans to hold in April first-ever joint military exercises that will be primarily aimed at improving the interoperability of their forces deployed in Afghanistan, the Defense Ministry in Yerevan announced on Wednesday.

The announcement followed talks held between Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian and Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, the visiting deputy director for strategic planning at the U.S. military’s European Command headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Montgomery was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador John Heffern.

In a statement, the Armenian Defense Ministry said the two sides discussed “issues related to organizing joint Armenian-American exercises.” The ministry spokesman, Davit Karapetian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) separately that they reached a “tentative agreement” to hold the exercises in Romania in April.

Karapetian said the exercises will last for one week and involve several dozen soldiers from the Armenian army’s special Peacekeeping Brigade that provides military personnel for the U.S.-led multinational mission in Afghanistan. He said they will engage in an “exchange of experience” with U.S. troops that will be “useful” for further U.S.-Armenian military interaction.

Plans for the landmark drills were first made public following First Deputy Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan’s July 2011 visit to Washington. Tonoyan held what official Yerevan described as “defense consultations” with U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Alexander Vershbow and other senior Pentagon officials.

The Washington talks came shortly after Armenia almost tripled its participation in NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for Afghanistan, a move praised by U.S. officials. It currently has about 130 troops on the ground.

According to the Defense Ministry statement, Montgomery also held a separate meeting in Yerevan with a top Armenian army general to discuss “Armenian peacekeepers’ participation in international missions.” The U.S. admiral also visited the Yerevan headquarters of the Peacekeeping Brigade.

U.S. and Armenian soldiers have until now trained together only in multinational exercises organized by NATO. Armenia has hosted two such exercises in recent years.

Those drills as well as the Armenian participation in U.S.-led military operations abroad have underscored Armenia’s deepening security ties with the West. The Armenian leadership has at the same time bolstered the military alliance with Russia that remains a key element of the country’s national security strategy. Celeste Wallander, a U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense, insisted last year that that the Russian-Armenian ties are not an obstacle to Washington’s growing defense cooperation with Yerevan.

OTTAWA—The Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) supports Jim Karygiannis’ call for an investigation into actions by Canadian Ambassador to Turkey Mark Bailey’s efforts to promote the Turkish government’s denial of the Armenian Genocide.

In March 2011, Ambassador Bailey met with Senator Nancy Ruth and, according to a trip report filed by Senator Ruth, asked her to work with other Senators to “drop the speeches on Armenian Genocide Day” as they were “an impediment to [Canada’s] relations with Turkey”.

The Armenian Genocide has been recognized by the Senate, the House of Commons and the Government of Canada as a historical fact and an unpunished crime. The Senate stated that the Government of Canada should “…condemn any attempt to deny or distort any historical truth as being anything less than a genocide, a crime against humanity.”

The ANCC calls upon the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure that all Canadian diplomats are aware of Canada’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide and to educate diplomats on their clear responsibility to promote Canadian interests abroad and combat genocide denial.

Dr. Girair Basmadjian, ANCC President stated “While we respect Ambassador Bailey’s dedicated and able service to Canada, he has a duty as our representative abroad to promote our government’s policies and to combat denial of the Armenian Genocide. He should not be lobbying to have Canada adopt Turkey’s denialist stance. Instead Ambassador Bailey should be lobbying Turkey to accept the historical truth of the Armenian Genocide.”

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of issues.

The protesters turned their backs to Cenk Uygur

SAN DIEGO—Genocide denier and co-founder of the progressive Internet talk radio show, The Young Turks, Cenk Uyger was greeted by a group of protesters during his recent appearance at the California State Democratic Party convention. The event was the Progressive Caucus’ scheduled meeting and panel discussion held at the convention in San Diego under the auspices of the California Democratic Party.

Prior to the demonstration, the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region and the Southern California Armenian Democrats had lodged complaints with the California Democratic Party for providing a platform to known Genocide denier. Caro Avanessian of the California Armenian American Democrats also wrote a formal letter expressing the concerns of the statewide charter organizations with the speaker.

Torie Osborne, a candidate for CA State Assembly 50th district (Santa Monica), removed herself from the panel of speakers due to the efforts of Southern California Armenian Democrats (SCAD) and the ANCA-WR. Her voluntary removal increased the pressure on the Progressive Caucus to cancel Uygur’s appearance.

Issues were raised by Armenian and Greek delegates to the party with the name of Uygur’s program which referenced the Young Turks – the popular name of the Committee of Union and Progress which was the political party led by the orchestrators of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 – 1923. Concerns were also expressed about an article that Mr. Uygur wrote while a student at the University of Pennsylvania in which he made the following statement:

“The claims of an Armenian Genocide are not based on historical facts. If the history of the period is examined it becomes evident that in fact no such genocide took place.”

The chair of the Progressive Caucus reaffirmed her organization’s support of the Congressional resolutions on the Armenian Genocide but refused to cancel the speaking engagement of Cenk Uygur, which led to the collective demonstration at the Progressive Caucus meeting. Members of Southern CA Armenian Democrats (SCAD), ANCA, CA Armenian American Democrats Organization (CAAD), Armenian Council of America (ACA) and San Gabriel Valley Armenian Democrats (SGVAD) passed out literature on Uygur’s record of denial.

Uygur opened his prepared remarks with comments indicating he had no harmful intent when selecting the name of his program – the Young Turks. He further stated that he does not hate Armenians. His co-host on the program is an Armenian, Ana Kasparian.

His refusal to directly address his previous comments led to the peaceful demonstration by the Armenian-American groups with some walking out on the speaker while a large contingent turned their backs to the speaker for the duration of his comments.

Many officials expressed their support for the demonstration, including Assemblymembers Chuck Calderon (D-Montebello) and Congresswoman Janice Hahn (D-San Pedro).

The Tumanian house is Tbilisi

YEREVAN—The sale of legendary of Armenian writer Hovannes Toumanian’s house is imminent. A purchase agreement for the acquisition of the writer’s Tbilisi house will be signed on February 22. The property was purchased by Gyumri’s mayor, Vartan Ghukasyan and his brother for a reported $145000, the Chairman of Armenia’s Writers’ Union of Armenia Levon Ananyan told a Panorama.am reporter from Tbilisi.

Last month the Mayor of Gyumir announced that he and his brothers were interested in purchasing the property, which is owned by a local Georgian who was reportedly prepared to sell the 120-square meter portion of the house to a Turkish-Georgian joint venture. Plans were to turn the house into a hostel for Turkish workers.

The Ghukasyan brothers had also said they would turn the house to the Armenian community of Tbilisi, which plans to turn the house into a museum dedicated to the author.

Recently the mayor of Gyumri was embroiled in controversy over opening an lavish hotel in the center of town. Many protested the move questioning whether it was prudent for the mayor to lavishly spend on a luxury hotel when not all those displaced by the 1988 earthquake have been provided housing.

A delegation that included Ananyan, a cousin of the Ghukasyans, parliament member Artyom Ghukasyan and two representatives from the Gyumri mayor’s office left for Tbilisi Tuesday.

Ananyan said that the delegation, which was joined by Armenia’s Ambassador to Georgia Hovhannes Manukyan met with the current owner of the property on Wednesday.

“I think there will be no obstacles and the purchase agreement will be signed on February 22,” explained Ananyan.

The Union of Armenians in Tbilisi sounded the alarm in December and issued an announcement about the fate of the Tumanian home.

“The historical building was transferred to a businessman back in the 90s. The businessman put the apartment on sale, and the ‘GeoTuran’ Turkish-Georgian joint venture is going to purchase the apartment to turn it into a hostel for Turkish workers. Company’s management has even asked poet’s great-grandchild Alina Tumanyan, who lives in the second part of the building, to sell her territory also, but she refused to,” the statement said.

At a press conference late last year, Safrazbekyan complained about the fact that Armenia did not purchase the home when it had the chance.

Employees of GeoTuran visited Alyona Tumanyan, the poet’s great-granddaughter who owns a part of the house and proposed that she sell them to the company as well. She refused.

Anne Bedian and Sako Berberian

LOS ANGELES—“I am really energized about Gyank, especially because this is our first production since Baron Garbis, which was almost four years ago. I missed the theater and the collective process.” says playwright Vahe Berberian. The company has been rehearsing for weeks now and Berberian’s new play will premiere on March 16, at the historic El Portal Theatre, in North Hollywood for a brief three-week run.

When asked about the plot of the play Berberian responds, “I had been working on Gyank for a while. The structure was a challenge. Once it became clear in my mind, finishing it was relatively easy.” Then he smiles, and after a moment of silence, adds that he would rather not give out any details about the plot. “All I can tell you, is that the play is about a family that lives in Los Angeles and is going through a serious trauma. The main characters are a married couple with two daughters, who are desperately trying to make their marriage work. I don’t think I should explain more, since, as I said, the structure is complicated and has a few interesting twists.”
The producers Betty and Christina are excited about the project and explain, that Gyank has been a change for Vahe, not only because four out of the six characters are females, almost the entire crew is comprised of females. “I always knew that Vahe would write a piece with female characters, and I am glad that he finally created a story with intelligent, independent Armenian female characters.” says Betty, adding that even though the play might ruffle some feathers, its purpose is to entertain and engage both the mind and the spirit.

Some of the cast members have worked together previously on plays and in workshops, others are new to the group. As always the cast and the crew are a tight knit family that thrives on collaboration. The six characters in the play are performed by Anne Bedian, Sako Berberian, Maro Ajemian, Houri Mahserejian, Paleni Topdjian and Roupen Karakouzian.

Because El Portal Theatre seats 360 people, Gyank will be performed only 11 times within three consecutive weeks. Unlike Baron Garbis, which had a four and a half month run, this will be quick and short. Therefore it is important that people reserve their tickets as soon as possible.

Gyank will be performed from March 16 through April 1, 2012. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 7pm. Address: El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 916011.

For tickets please visit: www.ItsMySeat.com/Gyank or call (818) 618-2348.
To become a Friend of Gyank and to get a complimentary gala ticket on March 17, contact the company’s marketing director Melissa Mazman by calling (818) 518-8009.

Ashot Grigoryan with Frantisek Miklosko in Yerevan Tuesday

STEPANAKERT (ArmRadio)—Nagorno-Karabakh is one of the most democratic states in the world and must continue to its progress, said Frantisek Miklosko, First Chairman of the Slovakian National Council upon visiting Stepanakert.

Miklosko is heading a delegation of Solvakian businessmen who visited Syunik, Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on Monday to discuss the implementation joint programs and scope out investment opportunities.

“Nagorno Karabakh has been unrecognized for 20 years, while one visit is enough to get convinced that the people of Arsakh cannot but live independently. Artsakh must continue to behave as an independent state just as it does today until the world accepts its independence,” said Miklosko, who was an election observer during Karabakh’s most recent parliamentary elections.

Nagorno Karabakh one of the most democratic states in the world, Slovak MP says
Frantisek Miklosko, who observed the parliamentary elections in Nagorno Karabakh, is confident that Karabakh is one of the most democratic states in the world and must keep its posture of living as an independent country.

A group of Slovakian businessmen is visiting Syunik and Artsakh today to discuss implementation of joint programs. First Chairman of the Slovakian National Council Frantisek Miklosko is in Yerevan today. He will receive an award from Armenian National Assembly Speaker Samvel Nikoyan.

Miklosko also added that the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is committed to marinating the Christian culture, while Europe has distanced itself from Christian roots. “Nagorno Karabakh is challenging Europe in this regard,” he said adding that the European Union must begin accession talks with Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

In discussing the Armenian Genocide, Miklosko said that “Western Europe has not yet come to understand that the Armenian Genocide served as a basis for the genocides of Nazis and Communists.”

The Slovakian National Council has already adopted a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide.

On the investment front, the delegation stated that Slovakian businesses have invested in a recently opened hydroelectric power plant with the capacity of 6 Mega Watts in Karabakh. A more powerful (15 Kilo Watt) plant will be constructed in the near future that will provide electricity to Syunik and Artsakh.

Agreements on cooperation in the field of education have also been signed. These accords will enable students from the universities in Goris, Armenia and Stepanakert to study at the University of Skalitsa.

The agreement reached between the educational institutions of Slovakia and Nagorno-Karabakh is seen as a first step for Slovakia’s recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

On Tuesday, Miklosko was scheduled to meet with leaders of Armenia’s National Assembly as receive an award from Speaker Samvel Nikoyan.

Mikelosko and his delegation were accompanied by Ashot Grigoryan, President of the Forum of Armenian Associations in Europe.

Hrant Dink

ISTANBUL—The Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court on Monday acquitted Coskun Igci, one of 19 defendants in the murder case of Hrant Dink, the founder and former editor-in-chief of the Armenian-Turkish Agos weekly who was gunned down in 2007 in front of his office in Istanbul, after forgetting to include him in the final verdict in January.

Igci, who allegedly called on Yasin Hayal to buy a gun with which to shoot Dink, was accidentally left out of the final verdict and the judge issued a ruling separately for him on Monday.

On Sept. 19, 2011, the prosecution recommended his acquittal on the grounds that there was no substantial evidence to suggest he took part in the crime.

Igci’s lawyer said at the court on Monday that his client has no ties to the murder except for being the uncle of Hayal, one of the main suspects.

Igci said at the court that he had informed gendarmerie intelligence officers in Trabzon that a plan to assassinate Dink was in place four months prior to the murder.

“I am not guilty. The people I reported about were tried in Trabzon and they were punished because they neglected their duties. Those people are Col. Ali Oz, Capt. Metin Yıldız, non-commissioned officer Orhan Simsek and Sgt. Veysel Sahin,” he said.

When a judge at the court asked Igci if he had been in contact with those four people, Igci replied that he had contacted Simsek and Sahin, Turkish media report.

One of the thousands who participated in vigil commemorating Hrant Dink

BY RAFFI BEDROSYAN
From The Armenian Weekly

When Hrant Dink was assassinated in front of the Agos newspaper offices in Istanbul, Turkey, five years ago on Jan. 19, 2007, the significance of this heinous act was not immediately understood. Neither the Turkish people nor the Turkish state, “deep” or otherwise, realized that this was not another murder of a journalist, so tragically common in Turkey. No one in Turkey could predict that this murder would become a turning point for Turkey on such far-reaching issues as democratization, freedom of speech, the “deep state,” and Turkish-Armenian relations from the present all the way back to 1915. Although the assassin was caught almost immediately by police, perhaps even leading one to wonder about their prior knowledge, the question of “Who ordered the assassination?” could not be answered five years ago—and cannot be answered now, after five long years of a trial completed just two days before the fifth anniversary of the shooting. It seems, however, that the end of the trial is not the end of this case. The spontaneous support shown by several hundred thousand ordinary people who took to the streets during Hrant’s funeral, is now being repeated after five years, with outrage at the trial verdict and demands for truth.

Why was this trial deemed unfair by the people, by civil society? First, we need to provide context for the general situation in Turkey. For five years, government leaders said the Dink murder was one of many acts by Ergenekon, the “deep state” organization, which organized attacks on minorities, and both Muslim and Christian religious institutions, to create an atmosphere—of anarchy and terror—ripe for a coup d’etat by the military. The murder of Catholic priest Santoro in Trabzon, the murder of three Christian missionaries in Malatya, uncovered plans of mosque and museum bombings, hidden cache of arms, and thousands of communications toward the planning of a coup d’etat have all been presented as incriminating evidence to arrest and imprison several hundred retired and active military leaders, bureaucrats, professors, lawyers, journalists, and businessmen deemed Ergenekon members. After the assassination, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan himself said to the Dink family, “They are after me as well.”

The police arrested 3 and charged 16 other suspects in connection with the murder. The trial proceeded at a crawling pace, with the Dink family lawyers stonewalled at every session, and a determined group of supporters called “Hrant’s Friends” attending every session demanding justice. Discouraged by the pace of the trial, the Dink family took the case to the European Human Rights Court (EHRC), which promptly assessed and passed its judgment in December 2010: The state had neglected to provide protection for Hrant Dink despite known threats and state officials must share responsibility in the assassination for ignoring the known threats. The EHRC also targeted the Istanbul and Trabzon Security Departments for being negligent, as they failed to prevent the assassination despite being aware of an imminent plan for the murder. Following the EHRC verdict, the lawyers for the Dink family demanded that 30 bureaucrats from the Istanbul and Trabzon government offices, as well as the National Intelligence Organization, also be questioned and charged. The court turned down the request.

The lawyers for the family also produced massive amounts of indisputable evidence that demonstrated the presence of a plan for the murder; of several persons communicating before, during, and after the murder; and, more critically, several government officials being informed of the plan, and either ignoring, praising, or consenting to it, and then deliberately covering up their involvement. Destroyed evidence included several tapped telephone conversations between police officials and informers, and sworn evidence of several police officers against their superiors who knew about the planned murder. Evidence refused by the court included footage of the actual murderer and accomplices captured by a store security camera; cellular phone conversations immediately before, during, and after the murder between the murderer and at least four others; and communications between the Dink murder suspects and military leaders already imprisoned for belonging to the Ergenekon “deep state” terrorist organization. Another example of scandalous treatment of evidence included the deliberate tampering, forging, and concealing of past communications by police officials, which turned notification of the impending murder into information about the murder after the fact. And while the evidence showed that Trabzon police had tapped the phone lines of some suspects and had even physically trailed them, when asked for the records by the court, the police said they had done no such thing. When it was revealed that the Trabzon Police indeed had the records, the court was told they were deleted. The evidence presented by the family lawyers also showed that Istanbul police had obtained the video footage of the crime scene on the day of the murder and had destroyed part of it. The Telecommunications Directorate, the regulator of cellular telephone operators, resisted providing the court with records of the suspects’ phone conversations, either among themselves or with police officials, until two weeks before the verdict. Ironically, all of these facts were widely covered by the media, including the transcript of several wiretapped conversations between the suspects and police officials. One of these conversations is disgustingly clear; immediately after the murder, a Trabzon informer asks, “Is he [the shooter] one of our boys?” and the Trabzon police officer responds, “Yes, but he wasn’t supposed to run away after the shooting.”

Why did the verdict cause an uproar?
As stated previously, in addition to the person who pulled the trigger—who was sentenced earlier—a total of 19 people were charged in Hrant’s murder for belonging to a terrorist organization planning the murder, for providing logistics and training, and for arranging the murder weapon. Eighteen of the suspects were acquitted from the charge of belonging to a terrorist organization planning the murder. Only one person was charged with planning the murder and helping the assassin.

None of the 30 state bureaucrats or police officials were even brought to trial for questioning. All of these “untouchables” kept their jobs and some were even rewarded with promotions. The then-governor of Istanbul ran for parliament and got elected as a member of Erdogan’s party. The then-Istanbul Police chief got appointed governor of the Osmaniye province. The then-Trabzon Police chief got promoted to head of the General Security Directorate. In short, the government managed to achieve something unbelievable, going from being a target of the “deep state” to becoming an accomplice of the “deep state” in the murder of Hrant Dink.

In another twist of irony, the government went a step further and jailed a journalist for publishing a book exposing the role of bureaucrats in the Dink murder, on charges of abetting the Ergenekon terrorist organization. The presiding judge said that although he acquitted the suspects from belonging to a terrorist organization, it does not mean that they did not belong to a terrorist organization, and that there was no evidence. The government officials said that they did everything the judiciary demanded of them. Prime Minister Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul tried to convince the protesting masses that there is always the appeal process and not to worry.

During the initial trials, Hrant’s son said “the court was making fun of us.” Upon hearing the verdict, Hrant’s lawyer said “they saved the best joke for last.” As Hrant’s friends, it is very difficult not to be discouraged. However, one has to realize why the state had to align with the “deep state” when its judiciary system came to this verdict in the assassination case of Hrant Dink, the first Armenian in Turkey who had dared the Turkish state to face its past and stop denying the truth about 1915: Any admission of guilt by the Turkish state in this murder would go all the way back to admission of guilt in 1915—a very long chain of dominoes that has already started to move, judging by the reaction of a growing number of people in Turkey demanding the truth.

Raffi Bedrosyan is a civil engineer as well as a concert pianist, living in Toronto, Canada. For the past several years, proceeds from his concerts and two CDs have been donated toward the construction of school, highway, water and gas distribution projects in Armenia and Karabagh, in which he also participated as a voluntary engineer. He is involved with the Surp Giragos Dikranagerd Church Reconstruction project in organizing fundraising activities in Canada, as well as promoting the significance of this historic project worldwide to Armenian communities outside Turkey, on behalf of the Church Foundation Board and the Istanbul Patriarchate.

Vartan Oskanian

YEREVAN—Armenia’s former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian announced on Tuesday that he has applied to join the ranks of the Prosperous Armenia Party, a member of the ruling coalition.

“Yesterday I submitted my application for membership to the Prosperous Armenia Party. I make this decision convinced that the Prosperous Armenia Party, together with other political parties, is able to, through political competition, secure free and fair elections, and thus, a new National Assembly with a new configuration of political forces,” said Oskanian in a statement.

“As Chairman of the Board of the Civilitas Foundation, I had, on various occasions, expressed my views on events and developments in Armenia. Today, I believe it is time to become more actively involved in our political processes,” added Oskanian.

“Given the possibility of my membership in the Prosperous Armenia Party, in the coming days, the Civilitas Foundation Board will make a decision about my future status,” explained the former foreign minister.

Chairwoman of the Prosperous Armenia parliamentary bloc Naira Zohrabyan told Yerki.am on Tuesday said the Oskanian’s application will be evaluated based on the party’s rules, adding that the process will begin once party chairman Gagig Dzarugian returns from an overseas trip.

“Gagig Dzarukian has always said that Prosperous Armenia Party’s doors are open to any individual who is ready and willing to work toward a prosperous Armenia,” added Zohrabyan, who said that Oskanian’s experience and knowledge would be beneficial to the party.

She said Oskanian’s participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections has not yet been discussed by party officials.

NATO missile defense radar in Turkey

JERUSALEM (JPost)—Turkey went out of its way to ensure Israel had no access to data from the NATO-backed missile defense system to be built on its territory, the Turkish Today’s Zaman reported Monday.

According the report, “Turkey went to great lengths in protracted negotiations with the US to secure guarantees that the data to be collected by the system will not be shared with ally-turned-foe Israel and that Israel’s nemesis Iran will never be mentioned as a threat.”

In an interview with Today’s Zaman published Monday, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that Iranians need not worry about the missile defense system if they are not planning an attack.

“You can only consider our missile defense system a threat if you have an intention or an idea that you want to attack a NATO territory,” Rasmussen said.

Addressing the tense relationship between Turkey and Israel, Rasmussen said, “I hope that Turkey and Israel can find peaceful ways to settle this dispute, because Israel is actually a member of one of our partnerships, called the Mediterranean Dialogue. Israel is a valued partner and we need a positive relationship between a staunch ally and a valued partner.”

Rasmussen also said Iran’s threat to block the Strait of Hormuz was “in contradiction with Iran’s international obligations,” and that Russian cooperation on missile defense was lower than hoped.

Harut Sassounian

BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN

It appears that my prediction about Matt Bryza leaving the State Department and working as a lobbyist is coming true. After his brief stint as Ambassador to Azerbaijan came to a premature end, Bryza disclosed to the Turkish Hurriyet newspaper last week that he will be “advising people, government, and private sector on major investment projects.”

It remains to be seen whether Bryza’s planned activities fall within the legal definition of “lobbying” and “advocacy” on behalf of third parties, such as Turkish and Azeri entities, given the restrictions imposed by U.S. law on former government officials. Depending on the specific type of activity, there is either a one or two-year ban. However, in the case of “very senior officials” such as Bryza, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, there is a lifetime ban. He would certainly be prohibited from having contact with former State Department colleagues on behalf of other parties, regarding official matters with which he was involved as a government employee.

In his interview with Hurriyet, Bryza validates in his own words the accusation that he was biased and unprofessional, while acting as the American Co-Chair of OSCE’s Minsk Group of mediators on the Karabagh (Artsakh) conflict. At the time, he was repeatedly criticized for being anti-Armenian, pro-Azerbaijani and pro-Turkish. Senators Barbara Boxer and Robert Menendez, who placed a hold on his nomination as Ambassador to Azerbaijan, and the Armenian National Committee of America, which objected to Pres. Obama’s ill-advised decision to send Bryza to Baku without Senate confirmation, are now fully vindicated.

In the past, Bryza’s apologists used the convenient excuse that as a government official, he had no choice but to support the President’s position on the Armenian Genocide and related issues. Yet, now that he is a free man, why does he continue to parrot those same Turkish-inspired, anti-Armenian slogans? Could it be that Bryza, in and out of government, has been trying to ingratiate himself to his future paymasters? Otherwise, why would he give Hurriyet the standard Turkish line that politicians and parliaments should not get involved in acknowledging the Armenian Genocide? To score points with Turkish and Azeri officials, Bryza angrily lashes out at the ANCA: “The organization that blocked me will keep bringing up this issue forever. But it’s not up to governments but to people to make their own determination on how to characterize it…. Turkey has the ability to influence that debate in a significant way…. The radicals that blocked me hate that. They don’t want to have an open debate; an open dialogue is their enemy.”

While applauding the more open attitude among some Turks toward a discussion of the Armenian Genocide, Bryza finds as “legitimate” the Turkish official view that “this should not be recognized politically as genocide. It’s not the business of any politician in any country to characterize these events as genocide or not as genocide. It has to be up to societies — not to others — to have a decision taken based on a political calendar. To me, that’s dishonest.”

Bryza then takes his pro-Turkish bias a little too far by revealing his denialist views: “Truth is on everyone’s side, especially on Turkey’s side. The debate about this [Armenian Genocide] issue is really one-sided right now. Anybody who voices a different view is attacked as a genocide-denier, which immediately means you are against human rights. If you believe there was a genocide committed, you can equally argue looking from a narrow definition of the word that genocide was committed to many others, against Turks or Muslims in eastern Anatolia. Let’s have a dialogue of the multiple atrocities [against] many groups. Let’s talk about it all. Let’s be fair and not forget the suffering of others.”

Finally, Bryza seems to have fulfilled his life-long dream of living in Istanbul. During his 2005 visit to Ankara, after a U.S. Embassy official introduced him to local journalists as “an old friend of Turkey,” Bryza unabashedly declared: “I am thrilled to be back in Turkey. Turkey in many ways feels for me like a second home…. I can’t spend enough time in your beautiful country. I hope to be back soon and often.” In a column I wrote at the time, I expressed the hope that “Bryza would soon realize his wish and retire in Turkey permanently.” Now, his wish has come true! Hurriyet reported last week that after leaving Baku last month he had settled in Istanbul. “You can’t imagine how happy I am to be in Istanbul…. Look at me, I am married to a Turkish woman,” Bryza exclaimed!

Excavating at Shengavit

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—The Cambridge Yerevan Sister City Association (CYSCA) at a recent meeting of its Board of Directors voted unanimously to adopt a program to help preserve and renovate the Shengavit Historical and Archaeological Culture Preserve in Yerevan.

The Shengavit Preserve includes an archaeological site dating to the 4th millennium BC which was continually occupied from between 1,000 to 2,000 years. Archaeologists differ on the duration of occupancy. There is a small museum next to the archaeological excavation containing some of the artifacts recovered from the site. Other Shengavit artifacts are on display at other museums within Armenia. The Shengavit settlement was part of the so called Kura-Arax culture which had trade relations with cultures far beyond Armenia’s borders. This culture is believed to have played an important role in the formation of the Armenian people.

The American Archaeology team

The director of the Shengavit Preserve is Vladimir Tshagharyan, an architect and archaeologist with extensive experience managing archaeological sites in Armenia. He was also a participant in a U. S. State Department funded “Community Connections” training project sponsored by CYSCA for Cultural and Historical Preservation specialists from Armenia in the greater Boston area in May/June 2003.

Shengavit was initially excavated in 1936 by Joseph Orbeli (1887-1961) and Eugeni Bayburtyan (1898-1938). Orbeli was the director of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Bayburtyan, an Armenian archaeologist, was arrested by the Soviet secret police in 1938 for being too nationalistic. Most recently, in 2011, a team of Armenians and archaeologists from the U.S. led by Dr. Mitchell Rothman, Professor of Anthropology and Archaeology at Widener University in Pennsylvania, examined the site.

“The site of Shengavit in the hills above the Ararat Plain is one set of remains of an ancient culture called variously Kura Araxes, Early Transcaucasian, Karaz, Pulur, Shengavitian, etc. Its full time period is still much under debate, but probably it starts somewhere around 3500 BC and ends 2500-2200 BC. The homeland of this culture is in the Southern Caucasus, the current countries of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, along with a section of current northeastern Turkey from Erzurum through Kars provinces. To fully understand the importance of this culture, its place in its contemporary world is essential to comprehend. Its beginning is co-terminus with the establishment of the first states in southern Mesopotamia and the founding of the first international trading system, which covered an area from the Persian Gulf to the North Caucasus from modern western Iran to the Mediterranean Sea…, said Dr. Rothman”

The Shengavit site has three employees, including its director, all of whom receive token salaries. There is, however, no budget for the preservation, maintenance and enhancement of the site. Immediate needs include visitor amenities such as bathrooms, running water, and a pavilion to provide shade from the glare of the hot summer sun. Next are required fencing and security for the site and repair, and ultimately replacement, of the museum building which dates to 1920. The site also needs landscaping appropriate for an archaeological site and most importantly preservation of the site’s archaeological structures and artifacts.

The Cambridge Yerevan Sister City Association was formed in 1986 and is a member of Sister Cities International. Since its inception CYSCA has participated in numerous exchanges and training programs with Armenia in many diverse fields, such as environment, business, medicine, education, tourism, public health, social work, aviation, culture, etc. In 1994 CYSCA was awarded a certificate for the most outstanding youth exchange nationally by the Sister Cities International. Over the past two decades, CYSCA has sponsored 10 youth exchanges and conducted 19 professional development training programs for specialists from Armenia.

CYSCA was incorporated in 1987 as a non-profit organization and given 501(c)(3) status by the IRS. Donations to this organization are deductible for Federal Income Tax Purposes. Donations for CYSCA’s Shengavit project can be sent to: CYSCA, PO Box 382591, Cambridge, MA, 02238-2591. Please include a note indicating that the donation is for the “Shengavit” project.

For more information about CYSCA please visit www.cysca.org or contact: Cheryl Shushan, President, cherylhasmail@gmail.com ; or Jack Medzorian at 781-729-6457, Jmedzorian@AOL.COM . For more information about Shengavit please contact Joseph Dagdigian at 978-772-9417.

Preident Barack Obama

Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Maintains Parity in Military Aid Appropriations between Armenia and Azerbaijan

WASHINGTON—President Obama has called for a sharp 19% reduction in economic aid to Armenia in the last budget request of his term, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

The President has proposed $27,219,000 in Economic Support Fund (ESF) aid for Armenia in his Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) budget, which is nearly $12,781,000, or 32%, less than the $40,000,000 approved by Congress for FY12. The President’s ESF figures for FY13, however, do not include $2,824,000 in International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement assistance and 2,500,000 in Global Health Programs (USAID), both categories that were formerly included under the ESF heading. Adding these two line items to the $27,219,000 ESF proposal, brings the economic aid total to Armenia to $32,543,000, which is a sharp 19% cut, measured from FY12 to FY13.

“We are saddened, but not surprised to see that President Obama has once again sought to cut economic aid to Armenia. His Administration has proposed reductions in assistance to Armenia – including this year’s sharp 19% cut – despite the devastating economic impact of dual Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, and Yerevan’s broad support for U.S.-led missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo, and her cooperation on a broad-range of Washington-inspired regional initiatives – including the reckless Turkey-Armenia Protocols,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Sadly, President Obama has chosen to neither keep his commitment to maintain assistance to Armenia, nor taken any meaningful steps to honor his pledge to foster Armenia’s growth and development through expanded trade.”

Regarding military assistance, the Administration’s proposed budget does maintain parity in Foreign Military Finance (FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET) to Armenia and Azerbaijan, requesting $2.7 million in FMF and $600,000 for IMET for each country.

The Administration’s budget does not include any figures for aid to Nagorno Karabakh, although, over the past several years USAID has allocated $2,000,000 annually for this purpose. This level of Nagorno Karabakh funding is considerably less than the intent expressed by Congress over the course of many years, reflecting a pattern of under-spending that has left many developmental and confidence-building needs unmet.

The Obama Administration, in addition to consistently seeking reduced aid appropriations for Armenia, has not invited Armenia to submit a second Millennium Challenge Corporation proposal for poverty-reduction programs, nor has it taken any meaningful steps to promote bilateral economic relations, such as negotiations toward a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, a Double Tax Treaty, or a Free Trade Agreement. During his campaign for the Presidency, Senator Barack Obama promised several times in writing to maintain aid and expand trade with Armenia.

The aid figures being proposed by the President for the Caucasus region are as follows.

Economic Support Fund:
Armenia: $27,219,000
Azerbaijan: $11,029,000
Georgia: $42,660,000

Foreign Military Financing:
Armenia: $2,700,000
Azerbaijan $2,700,000
Georgia $14,400,000

International Military Education and Training:
Armenia: $600,000
Azerbaijan $600,000
Georgia $1,800,000

International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement:
Armenia: $2,824,000
Azerbaijan: $1,226,000
Georgia: $4,000,000

Global Health Programs – USAID
Armenia $2,500,000
Azerbaijan: —
Georgia $4,000,000

Obama Administration Underscores Ties with Turkey’s

The President’s budget, which features language underscoring the importance that President Obama places on relations with Ankara, proposes $3.6 million in International Military Education and Training for Turkey. The text concerning Turkey reads as follows:

“Turkey continues to play an increasingly important role globally as an emerging power. Turkey is critical to success in the most important U.S. foreign policy priorities, including promoting stability and prosperity in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq; countering the threat of Iran; encouraging peaceful transition amongst the “Arab Spring” states; achieving a lasting peace in the Middle East; securing European energy diversity and independence; countering global terrorist threats; and advancing economic and trade objectives. The U.S. is working closely with Turkey to advance regional stability in the Eastern Mediterranean by promoting a settlement in Cyprus and encouraging improved relations with Israel; and in the Caucasus by attempting to normalize its relations with Armenia. The U.S. continues to support Turkey’s accession to the EU as an important anchor for Turkish reform and recently concluded an agreement for Turkey to host a U.S. missile defense radar. The U.S. encourages Turkey to make needed reforms, including advancing religious and press freedoms. Although Turkey’s democracy is maturing, challenges remain. Representative democratic institutions have become stronger but continue to face legal and political challenges, including in civilian-military relations. Resolution of the Cyprus conflict would benefit the communities themselves and remove a long source of friction between NATO Allies Greece and Turkey.”

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan

ANKARA (Combined Sources)—Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday called for France to quit its co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group, which is tasked to mediate the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“France has clearly shown that it is a side [in the Karabakh conflict] after adopting a law penalizing denial of Armenian allegations on Ottoman era incidents of 1915, which is why it has to step down from the Minsk Group,” Erdogan said in an interview with the Azeri national TV network, ANS.

Erdogan said French President Nicolas Sarkozy has never been fair and sincere in his relations with Armenians, adding that his judgment as a Minsk member could not be trusted.

Meanwhile in Yerevan on Monday, the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai met with Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian.

The two discussed issued related to NATO’s Partnership for Peace and Individual Partnership Action Plan programs.

In discussing Nagorno-Karabakh, Appathurai stressed that negotiations on the resolution of the conflict must continue within the OSCE Minks Group framework.

ARF bloc president Vahan Hovannesian

YEREVAN (ARF Press Service)—Rampant and blatant voting discrepancies in Armenia’s parliament prompted Armenian Revolutionary Federation bloc president Vahan Hovannesian to call the ruling party’s promise of democratic elections a “lie.”

During legislative voting on Wednesday and Thursday, especially on the crucial vote to approve legislation on Armenia’s Law on Emergency Rule, parliament members from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia voted for other deputies who were absent from the session.

An angry Hovannesian said lawmakers voting for others was not a first, saying that irregularities were rampant in the country’s legislature.

“This means that the ruling political power is really not a power, but a power forced by strength — it is able neither to convince nor to place its words as truth. It is even unable to organize its own faction’s voting,” said Hovanessian.

“Having the absolute majority, the Republican Party of Armenia is unable to pass a law. This isn’t a new phenomenon, but perhaps could overcome its own feebleness. Pressing a button for someone else describes not only the button-pushers, but also their faction — this speaks of the entire political system,” stressed Hovanessian.

“If you have disregard for and can bypass the law in order to achieve your goals, then why should I believe that you, despite all your promises, will hold democratic elections in Armenia?” asked Hovannesian.

The Heritage party also strongly condemned deputies from the ruling for voting in the place of their absent to colleagues to push about a dozen government bills through parliament this week.
In a statement, Heritage described the practice as an “outright falsification” that testifies to an “unprecedented level of political corruption” in Armenia.

Larisa Alaverdian, a Heritage bloc member, accused the parliament leadership of deliberately turning a blind eye to the irregularities and called President Serzh Sarkisian, who is the leader of the Republican Party to react to this situation.

Government Rejects ARF and Heritage Proposition
Also last week, the government rejected a proposal put forth by the ARF and the Heritage party calling for parliamentary elections to be held entirely on a proportional electoral system abolishing the single-seat mandate.

First Deputy Justice Minister Gourgen Mouradyan commented on the opposition’s proposal saying changing the voting system would require lengthy discussion. He also added that the single-seat mandate allows the voter an alternative to voting for political parties.

Hovannesian summed up the rejection by saying that if the government reject the opposition proposal because in the event of the reform, the government would lose all power.

The Mossad

TEHRAN, BAKU (Combined Sources)—Iran on Sunday called on Azerbaijan to halt anti-Iran espionage operations by Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, on Azeri soil.

Iran’s foreign ministry summoned Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Iran, Javanshir Akhundov and demanded that Baku end facilitating Mossad’s alleged spy activities in Azerbaijan.

“Some of the terrorists linked to the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists have travelled to Azerbaijan… [where they are] facilitated to travel to Tel Aviv,” the Iran’s foreign ministry said to explain its complaint against Baku.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry also protested what it called “inappropriate behavior” by Azeri officials toward representatives of Iranian institutions working in Azerbaijan, the “systematic anti-Iran propaganda in the Azeri media” and called for an end to “such unfriendly behavior towards Iran.”

On Monday, Azerbaijan rejected as “slander” Iranian claims that Baku has been collaborating with Israel’s spy services and helping assassins who have killed Iranian nuclear scientists.

The Azerbaijani foreign ministry condemned a protest note given to its ambassador in Tehran which complained about the alleged collaboration. The note demanded that Baku prevent Mossad from carrying out anti-Iranian “activities” on its soil.

“This Iranian note is slander,” foreign ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev told AFP.

He described the Iranian complaint as a reaction to a formal protest last month from Baku to Tehran after two men with alleged links to Iranian intelligence were arrested on suspicion of plotting to kill prominent Israelis in neighboring Azerbaijan.

LA City Councilman Paul Krekorian

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles City Council reorganized itself into new committees last month, with Councilmember Paul Krekorian taking the helm as chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee. In response, he released the following statement:

“During a time that our City faces unprecedented budget challenges, I accept the responsibility of chairing the Budget & Finance Committee with full awareness that there will be no simple fixes or easy solutions. But with every great challenge there is great opportunity, and we must seize this chance to create a municipal government that effectively and efficiently provides the services our residents need and deserve. How we respond to this time of crisis will define Los Angeles for years to come, and the work we do now can and must create a firm foundation upon which to build a strong future for our city.

“For eight years, Councilmember Bernard Parks has led this committee with dedication, skill and vision. His fiscal discipline has helped keep the City afloat in incredibly stormy seas. All Angelenos are in debt to Bernard Parks for his service as Budget Chair.

“I am very proud of the record of achievement that we established during my chairmanship of the Education and Neighborhoods Committee, and I am confident that the path forward for neighborhood councils is now bright. While I will no longer chair that committee, I will continue my commitment to a stronger neighborhood empowerment movement in this city.”

April 24, the symbol of the greatest tragedy that befell the Armenian nation, does not simply remind us of the commemoration and loss of the 1.5 million innocent martyrs, but is also an invitation to continue the struggle for our demands with a united spirit and united effort until Turkey recognizes and admits its responsibility for the heinous crime it has committed, repents, and restores the rights and possessions of the Armenian people.

The Committee is certain that talented artists and students, realizing the challenges of the solemn topic, will commit themselves with deep inspiration to create the logo that best represents the spirit of April 24 and its true meaning and purpose.

The deadline for the contest is March 15. All entries must be submitted to the United Armenian Council, P.O.Box 39879, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Students at one of the refurnished schools

GLENDALE—The Armenia School Foundation (ASF USA), a non-profit organization dedicated to refurnishing remote and smaller schools in Armenia and Karabagh, is proud to announce the completion of seven additional school projects in 2011.

Despite the impact of economic crisis which has affected nonprofit organizations, ASF was still able to complete seven school projects in 2011. Thanks to the continued support of friends and community members, a total of 262 new student desk/chairs sets, 65 teacher desk/chair sets and 65 blackboards were delivered to seven schools.

• Davitashen village school in Aragatsotn region (Donated by Robert Matigan, in memory of Christin Haroutunian Matigan)
• Garnahovit village schools in Aragatsotn region (Donations by Moneh Der Grigorian, Narbeh Hovnanian, and Roubina Manouchehri Hovnanian, in memory of Harmik and Seda Hovnanian)
• Schools #8 and #12 in Sunik region (Donations in memory of Mary Der Hacopian)
• Schools in Sooser, Ghazaravan and Apna villages in Aragatsotn region (Funded by general donations to ASF)

“2011 was a successful year for ASF” stated Armen Abrahamian, Chairman of the Board. “Through our combined efforts and successful fundraising events, such as our annual raffle, a fundraiser reception held at Chocolatebox Café in Malibu, a number of “In lieu of” donations and generous donations by our supporters, ASF was able to raise close to $40,000 to furnish these seven schools”.

“We would like to express our gratitude to our donors for their continued support, encouragement, and their strong belief in improving the educational environment of our future generations. We look forward to another successful year. ” stated Abrahamian.

The Armenia School Foundation will host an art exhibit on Sunday, February 19 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Armenian Society of Los Angeles, 117 S. Louise St. Glendale.

Participating artists include Vahe’ Berberian, Vachak, Seda Baghdassarian, Samvel Saghatelian, Vasken Brudian, Rostom, Sossi Madzounian, Ara Madzounian, Sara Anjargolian, Ara Oshagan, Levon Parian

The Armenia School Foundation (ASF USA) is a nonprofit and non-sectarian, 501c3 organization, founded in May 2003. To date, ASF has provided close to 9000 new student and teacher desk/chair sets to schools in remote regions of Armenia and Karabakh.

For more information about the Armenia School Foundation-the ASF USA- please visit the organization’s Web site. Send your “tax deductible” donations to Armenia School Foundation, 3628 San Fernando Road, #1, Glendale, CA 91204

AGBU Hye Geen conference

The topic for the 7th annual conference explores the meaning of the many images incorporated into our lives, from the images woven into rugs, to the details incorporated in the structures that surround us, to the items we use every day.

The goal of the conference is to educate the broader community, both students and non-students alike, on design as a concept and the use of symbols to convey thoughts and ideas.

This year’s four speakers have decades of experience between them. They bring their knowledge and expertise to translate and explain the meanings of the images and details that may have lost their significance to our present day society. They will examine the symbols and themes that have emerged and have been expressed in the designs produced by Armenians throughout history to the present.

Opening remarks will be done by Narineh Mirzaeian, a Los Angeles based designer and an associate at Gehry Partners, LLC, an architectural firm with a global reach. She will discuss the elements of design and its various permutations in the objects we see and use on a daily basis, from utensils to textiles.

Aram Alajajian is an award winning architect and principal of Alajajian-Marcoosi Architects, Inc.. His topic, Symbolism in Armenian Architecture: Past and Present, will present the symbols used in architecture throughout history from historical churches and public buildings to present structures.

Peter Frank is an associate editor at Fabrik magazine, an art critic for the Huffington Post, curator at the Riverside Museum. The subject, Caucasian Standard Time: Armenian-Americans and California Art in the Postwar Era, will look at the work of the artists and their importance.

Hratch Kozibeyokian is a master weaver, carpet designer and a textile restorer and conservator with many years of experience. A long standing tradition throughout the world, he will present Iconography in Armenian Woven Art and explore their use and meaning.

The conference will take place on Saturday morning, March 10, 2012, at Woodbury University, Burbank, California in the Ahmanson Main Space.  The AGBU Hye Geen emphasizes that the conference is open to both men and women since these topics are of interest to everyone in the community as a whole.

Continuing in its conviction of collaborating with other groups for the overall good of the community, the Young Circle is partnering with the Woodbury Armenian Student Association (ASA) for the production of the conference.

The 7th annual conference will be held, for the first time, at Woodbury University in Burbank, California. Woodbury University is a leading institution specializing in the field of architecture. As such, Armenian students at the campus will be presenting their architectural designs for a prize sponsored by the Woodbury Armenian Student Association.

AGBU Hye Geen is an organization that focuses on empowering Armenian women today as agents for change while preserving and honoring their achievements. The AGBU Hye Geen Young Circle helps the organization stay relevant by exploring different issues facing the current generation of Armenians now living in the United States. The AGBU Hye Geen organizes an annual conference to explore the potential of the Diasporan community in the various aspects of its development.  Most recent topics have included “Music as a Mirror” and “The Power of Broadcast Media on Ethnic Communities.”

Registration is at 10am. Conference is from 10:30 am to 2pm.  Lunch will be provided during a 30 minute break.

Matthew Bryza

Former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Matthew Bryza, who left Baku last month after the Senate did not confirm his nomination, has left the Foreign Service and has moved to Turkey. No surprise there.

In an interview with Hurriyet Daily News, Bryza effectively confirms all the arguments that were made against him to become the US Ambassador to Baku. In the interview he denies the Armenian Genocide, says the Armenia-Turkey protocols process should have been tied to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, throws the Obama Administration under the bus and begrudgingly refers to “the organization that blocked me.”

“Matt Bryza’s angry interview confirms what we have said from the start, which is that he is the wrong person to represent either U.S. interests of American values in Azerbaijan,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “His strident attacks on American civil society voices who have criticized his public record sadly reveal that he’s as intolerant in dealing with the diversity of American democracy here at home, as he is uncomfortable in challenging the lack of democracy back in Azerbaijan.”

Here’s how Hurrieyt describes the Bryza situation: “As a result of the campaign of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), two democratic senators put a hold on his nomination, preventing a Senate vote. Obama sent Bryza to Baku as a recess appointment but did not push for him when he re-nominated him as the two senators continued their blockage.”

“I will continue what I’ve been doing so far in private life that involves partly academia as well as advising people, government and private sector on major investment projects,” Bryza tells Hurriyet. “You can’t imagine how happy I am to be in Istanbul. It is the perfect time to enjoy family life.”

Read the entire interview.

Azeri Foriegn Minister Elmar Mammadyarov

BAKU (Trend)—Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on Friday said that if France continued to support Armenia, its membership in the OSCE Minsk Group “will not make sense.”

Speaking to the Turkish ABHaber newspaper, Mammadyarov said, “France can support Armenia, but the continuation of its participation in the OSCE at the same time would not make sense,” Mammadyarov said.

The minister reiterated official Baku’s claim that 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory remains occupied by Armenia adding that if France adopted the law criminalizing the Armenian Genocide, then it would also have to take a position on the issue of the so-called “occupied territories.

“Armenians committed genocide in Khojaly and occupied Azerbaijani territories. France ought to consider the crimes of Armenia,” Mammadyarov said.

Mammadyarov also said that the adoption of the law criminalizing denial of the Armenian genocide by the Senate of France was unacceptable.

Garen Yegparian

BY GAREN YEGPARIAN

Did you read about the goings-on in the small Arizona town of San Luis, abutting the Mexican border?  A new technology of disenfranchisement seems to have been discovered.  And, it seems the Latinos have pulled a page from the Armenian book of undercutting one another.

Alejandrina Cabrera, is now an erstwhile city council candidate because the Arizona Supreme Court affirmed a Superior Court judge’s ruling that her name be struck from the ballot because her English skills are insufficient.  Imagine that!  An Arizona government entity taking action that disenfranchises Latinos, who could imagine such a thing happening?

Cabrera has been politically active in her town, including involvement in two recall campaigns of council members (the town has had 24 attempted recalls since 2001, seven of them successful).  Clearly, this is a very rough political environment.

In this no-holds barred atmosphere, Mayor Juan Carlos Escamilla who opposes her, filed a lawsuit challenging her eligibility, and the city council later used cirty funds to pursue the case (that alone elicits a “hmmmm”).  Judge John Nelson had a professor test her English.  The egghead, William Eggington of Brigham Young University, found her skills to be at a “survival” level, so the judge disqualified her.

A few background facts are necessary for a full picture.  San Luis is over 98% Latino.  Most interactions are in Spanish.  Previous council members have had similarly weak command of English, one is even quoted in the LATimes (“Arizona English-fluency case upheld, February 8, p.A6; this was the second item the paper carried about this story) saying his English was at a level similar to Cabrera’s when he was first elected.

Looking at this from the outside, it’s easy to snicker at the bitterness of the political clashes in San Luis that have opened the door to those with far more sinister motives to dislodge candidate for electoral offices that matter a lot more than a small town’s city council.

But, realize, this is how the Armenian community is perceived when incompetent or otherwise unelectable Armenians put forth their candidacy in places like Glendale, undermining others’ chances at election to city council, school board, state or federal legislative office, etc.  And, it doesn’t matter whether the damaging behavior is self-actuated or instigated/egged-on by cynical non-Armenian political operatives working to get their preferred candidate(s) elected.  The result is the same— harm to the Armenian or Latino, as the case may be, community’s interests.

This example of judicial interference is also frightful.  If it involved some other matter, particularly some right wing wedge issue, the reactionary end of the American political spectrum would have been up in arms about “judicial activism”.  Yet there seems to be silence about this travesty.  A citizen is being robbed of the right to stand for election, and there is no furor.  How loathsome is that?  And possibly just because she’s a Latina and many want to suppress that growing sector of political clout.

This case provides the anti-immigrant forces in the American body politic with a very effective weapon.  Don’t be surprised if the “language proficiency” weapon is turned against Armenians someday.  All this is very similar to having an unaffordable poll tax to keep the poor and other “undesirable” elements from voting.  Requiring literacy tests to vote are another analogy.

Speak up now and prevent this vile virus from spreading to other parts of the country.  Prevent a petty local squabble from providing a basis to threaten many groups access to the ballot, this time not to vote, but to appear on it.

Kate Nahapetian

BY KATE NAHAPETIAN
From endgenocide.org

Recognizing and remembering past genocides is an important step toward ending this cycle of violence. The denial of genocide is widely recognized as the last stage — a “double killing.” This double killing continues today with regard to the Armenian Genocide. What is unique about the denial of the Armenian Genocide is that it is promulgated by a multimillion dollar state-sponsored campaign by Turkey. Countries like the United States have acquiesced to Turkey’s threats and have failed to recognize the genocide, while countries like France have stood up and are taking action to prohibit denial.

On January 23, 2012, the French Senate followed the lower house of the French Parliament in passing legislation criminalizing the denial of all instances of genocide officially recognized by France, adding the Armenian Genocide to an earlier version of the law prohibiting denial of the Holocaust.

Turkey reacted with predictable fury, threatening irreparable harm to bilateral relations, and trotting out its tired dog-and-pony show of withdrawn ambassadors, irate declarations, and hypocritical sermons.  Turkey, which has prosecuted, jailed, and – according to the European Court of Human Rights – effectively allowed the assassination of a writer, Hrant Dink, for speaking honestly about the Armenian Genocide, is today preaching to France about free speech and democratic values.

Unlike France, the United States continues to participate in this last stage of genocide by aiding and abetting Turkey in this “double killing,” at tremendous cost to our nation’s credibility on human rights.

When asked why the United States does not recognize the Armenian Genocide, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton claimed  as recently as January 26, 2012 “that this has always been viewed, and I think properly so, as a matter of historical debate and conclusions rather than political.”

Previously, almost four years ago to the day, then-Senator Clinton stated that the Armenian Genocide was “a clear case of genocide”  and that:

“[o]ur common morality and our nation’s credibility as a voice for human rights challenge us to ensure that the Armenian Genocide be recognized and remembered by the Congress and the President of the United States.”

She had consistently cosponsored the Armenian Genocide resolution as a Senator and had even demanded that President Bush recognize it on multiple occasions.  The only thing that changed prior to her very public retreat from the truth is that she was subjected, as our nation’s top diplomat, to Ankara’s high-pressure arm-twisting. Instead of standing up to Ankara’s bullying, she – and the rest of the Obama-Biden Administration – let Turkey impose a gag-rule on American condemnation of a crime against all humanity.

As one French parliamentarian stated, it was precisely because of Turkey’s state-sponsored campaign of denial and its rage against France’s efforts to safeguard the truth that dictated the need for passage of a bill on the Armenian Genocide.  Denial of genocide is a celebration of genocide and a warning that it can easily happen again.  Armenia and the entire region is under threat because of Turkey’s denial.  It is no accident that Turkey also provided political shelter to the genocidal government of Sudan, with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan himself vocally denying Khartoum’s genocide in Darfur.

Help end the cycle of genocide, by standing up against Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide. Learn more and take action here.

The author is the Government Affairs Director at the Armenian National Committee of America.

The dance ensemble in performance

GLENDALE—On Sunday, February 12, the AYF and People for People Foundation are teaming up to host a free, one-time-only celebration featuring Armenia’s award-winning Karin Folk Song & Dance Ensemble. The free public event will be held from 6:30-10 PM in the St. Mary’s Armenian Church lot (500 S. Central Ave., Glendale.

Under the guidance of the leader of the ensemble, Gagik Ginosyan, and members of the group, attendees will have the chance to join together and directly take part in the traditional Armenian dances of their forefathers.

“When the People for People Foundation approached us about this event, we found it to be an excellent opportunity to expose true Armenian talent and unite the community around our cultural traditions,” says Khachig Joukhajian, a member of the AYF involved in the event’s organizing. “To have Karin perform in Glendale like they do to huge crowds in Yerevan is really very exciting. I think we’re very fortunate.”

The Karin Folk Ensemble has spent the last ten years collecting the “lost” traditional dances of Armenia, passed down through generations by common people in villages and towns throughout country. They have been teaching and performing these dances in Armenia, Artsakh, Javakhk, and throughout the world, winning countless awards and accolades in the process. Most recently, the group won first place at the 14th Annual World Folk Dance Festival in Palma De Mallorca, Spain.

“They’re not just an ordinary song and dance group,” explains Mona Mkrtchyan, founder of People for People Foundation and the main spearhead behind Karin’s first-ever visit to the United States. “They are preserving Armenian folk dance in its purity and awakening the Armenian spirit in each and every one of us. It is their love and value for our nation, homeland and countrymen that makes their performances truly powerful and unique.”

In addition to celebrating unity through dance, attendees will be able to enjoy booths, food, and live music throughout the night. Members of the ensemble will also be discussing the meaning of each dance for the audience, many of them with Western Armenian roots. They will be providing insight into the Armenian heritage embedded in the traditional choreography.

Sunday’s event is being held on the occasion of the traditional Armenian holiday of Trndez (or Tyarndarach), which is celebrated every year on the eve of February 14th . St. Mary’s Armenian Church will host an official observation of the holiday for the entire community the following evening, Monday, February 13.

Participants of all ages are encouraged to attend this community celebration and reconnect with the deep-seated roots of Armenian culture.

ANCA-WR

GLENDALE—The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region issued an open letter to the California Democratic Party on Thursday protesting the Progressive Caucus for inviting Armenian Genocide denier Cenk Uygur to speak at the party’s convention in San Diego this weekend.

Uygur, who is the host of the offensively-named program “The Young Turks,” has gone publicly denied the Armenian Genocide on several occasions in various publications and on his Web site, The Young Turks.

“The claims of an Armenian Genocide are not based on historical facts. If the history of the period is examined it becomes evident that in fact no such genocide took place,” said Uygur, according to a post on his Web site.

The ANCA-WR is urging that Uygur’s invitation be reconsidered.

Below is the text of the letter to the party.

February 9, 2012

Dear Members of the California Democratic Party,

It has come to the attention of the Armenian National Committee of America, Western Region (ANCA-WR), that the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party (CDP) has invited genocide denier and lead host of the offensively-named The Young Turks news program, Cenk Uygur, to speak at the CDP Convention in San Diego, California, on February 11, 2012.

The Young Turks, upon whose name Mr. Uygur’s program is based, officially known as the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), came to power in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire using the guise of reform and progressive ideology. As World War I began, the leaders of the Young Turks, known as the Triumvirate, or Three Pashas, – Mehmet Talaat, Ahmed Djemal, and Ismail Enver – initiated the planned extermination of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire.

These Young Turks were responsible for the murder of over 1.5 million Armenians. The suffering of the Armenian Nation at the hands of this group has left an indelible association of the moniker with the incomprehensible horrors of the Armenian Genocide.

Mr. Uygur’s decision to use this highly offensive and hurtful moniker for his news program has been a source of continued pain for the Armenian community in the United States and abroad.

Furthermore, Mr. Uygur has publicly denied the genocide committed against the Armenian people. One example is in the Daily Pennsylvanian where he wrote, “The claims of an Armenian Genocide are not based on historical facts. If the history of the period is examined it becomes evident that in fact no such genocide took place.”

For a caucus of the California Democratic Party – a party in which our community has placed its trust to speak the truth about the historical injustices suffered by the Armenian people – is appalling, insensitive, and irresponsible.

We ask that the California Democratic Party urge the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party to reconsider its decision to invite an admitted denier of the Armenian Genocide whose program’s name, The Young Turks, perpetuates the misguided disregard for the memory of the martyrs of the Armenian people.

Thank you.
Sincerely,
Andrew Kzirian
Chairman
Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region

Hillary Clinton

Ken Hachikian

WASHINGTON—Armenian National Committee of America Chairman Ken Hachikian posed ten questions to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide, in his February 9 letter to the Department of State expressing the Armenian American community’s outrage over her recent dismissal of this crime as “a matter of historical debate.”

The Secretary’s factually inaccurate description was made during a January 26 publicly broadcast town hall meeting for State Department employees. At this event, in response to questions regarding the Administration’s refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide, she stated: “this has always been viewed, and I think properly so, as a matter of historical debate.” Her remarks, which sparked outrage among Armenians worldwide, was described, in a recent Congressional letter circulated by Congressmen Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Robert Dold (R-IL) as “a position much closer to that of the Turkish government than that of any other senior U.S. diplomat in recent memory.”

These two legislators, the lead authors of H.Res.304, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, are currently collecting signatures on a letter formally calling upon the Secretary to disavow her remarks. Interested constituents can contact their U.S. Representative to cosign that letter by sending a free ANCA Webmail.

The ANCA’s six-page letter features ten direct questions to the Secretary from ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian about this and prior Administrations’ century long failed policy of attempting to appease Ankara by compromising America’s stand on a fundamental issue of human rights. Hachikian explained that: “Honest and open responses to these questions, in addition to bringing a badly needed measure of transparency to American policy on the Armenian Genocide, would also serve as a meaningful foundation for a reasoned discourse among government and civil society stakeholders about ending the era of the United States’ complicity in Turkey’s denials.” He added that: “More broadly, full and formal recognition of this crime – representing, as it would, a very public rejection of Ankara’s efforts to impose a gag-rule on America – would represent a meaningful step toward stopping the worldwide cycle of genocide that continues to plague humanity.”

The complete text of the ANCA letter, including all ten questions for Secretary Clinton, is provided below.

February 9, 2012

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Clinton:

I am writing, on behalf of Armenian Americans and human rights and genocide prevention advocates from across the United States to register our most serious protest against your inaccurate and deeply offensive recent statement mischaracterizing the Armenian Genocide as a “historical debate.” I refer specifically to your appearance at the State Department’s Town Hall meeting on the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, on January 26, 2012, during which, in response to a question about the State Department’s refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide, you stated, “this has always been viewed, and I think properly so, as a matter of historical debate.”

We are outraged that you have called into question the veracity of the Armenian Genocide, all the more so given your record in the U.S. Senate of having formally encouraged President George W. Bush on numerous occasions to recognize the Armenian Genocide, a crime that you have described, in writing, as “a clear case of genocide.” Your recent claim is both factually inaccurate and morally offensive. It is, quite simply, disingenuous of you to attempt to hide this Administration’s surrender to Turkey’s denials behind a hollow appeal to historians. As President Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, and you stated multiple times before the start of this Administration, and as the International Association of Genocide Scholars has unanimously affirmed, the Armenian Genocide is a matter of settled history. Your shameful suggestion, that further study is needed to determine whether the Armenian Genocide was in fact a genocide, only emboldens Ankara’s efforts to derail the civil society movement toward a truthful and just resolution of this crime.

The Obama-Biden Administration – which came into office led by a President, a Vice President and a Secretary of State, all with both long records and public promises in support of American recognition of the Armenian Genocide – saw the President, within months, prominently breaking his solemn covenant with American voters, a clear and willful breach of trust, followed shortly thereafter by the Administration’s pressure to block even Congressional commemoration of this crime.

Today, after having helped Turkey enforce its Armenian Genocide gag-rule on America, largely through our State Department’s ill-advised support for the Ankara-inspired Protocols, this Administration, as regrettably illustrated by your recent comments, has gone beyond simple complicity in Ankara’s campaign to erase the memory of this atrocity. Your statement is intellectually dishonest and, all too clearly, echoes the Turkish government’s outright denials, a shameful position that represents a grave offense to the moral values of the American people.

Having addressed a broad range of concerns on this matter in considerable detail in our previous correspondence to you, I will, today, simply submit a formal request that you immediately lead a fundamental review of this and prior Administrations’ century long failed policy of attempting to appease Ankara by compromising America’s stand on a fundamental issue of human rights. I would respectfully offer the following questions as a starting point for such a review:

1. President Obama has repeatedly stated that, “I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915.” These views include an extensive public record of statements, videos, and written documents. Does the Department of State consider any of these past statements by the current President to be “a matter of historical debate”? If so, which statements, and why?

— “The occurrence of the Armenian Genocide in 1915 is not an ‘allegation,’ a ‘personal opinion,’ or a ‘point of view.’ Supported by an overwhelming amount of historical evidence, it is a widely documented fact.” (Senator Barack Obama’s letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on July 28, 2006 to express dismay over the recall of Ambassador to Armenia John Evans for recognizing the Armenian Genocide.)

— “[T]he Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence. . . . America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. ” (Barack Obama on the Importance of U.S.-Armenia Relations, January 19, 2008.)

— “For those who aren’t aware, there was a genocide that did take place against the Armenian people. It is one of these situations where we have seen a constant denial on part of the Turkish Government and others that this occurred.” (Video of Senator Obama during a public constituent meeting on April 12, 2007.)

— “Nearly 2 million Armenians were deported during the Armenian Genocide, which was carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, and approximately 1.5 million of those deported were killed.” (Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs, Senator Obama, Question for the Record to Ambassador-designate Yovanovitch, June 19, 2008.)

— “The occurrence of the Armenian genocide is a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming collection of historical evidence.” (Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs, Senator Obama, statement commemorating the Armenian Genocide, April 28, 2008.)

— “[T]he United States must recognize the events of 1915 to 1923, carried out by the Ottoman Empire, as genocide. . . The Bush Administration’s refusal to do so is inexcusable.” (Senator Obama, constituent email response, dated June 16, 2008.)

2. In 2008 you stated that “[T]he horrible events perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians constitute a clear case of genocide,” and that, “[o]ur common morality and our nation’s credibility as a voice for human rights challenge us to ensure that the Armenian Genocide be recognized and remembered by the Congress and the President of the United States.” What has changed in your understanding of the history, facts, and evidence of the Armenian Genocide since this statement that has led you to downgrade this “clear case of genocide” to “a matter of historical debate?”

3. Both you and President Obama, during your service in the U.S. Senate, formally called upon President George W. Bush to recognize the Armenian Genocide in a letters dated April 20, 2006 and April 18, 2005, both of which stated the Armenian Genocide was a “systematic and deliberate campaign of genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. . . The victims of the Genocide deserve our remembrance and their rightful place in history… It is in the best interests of our nation and the entire global community to remember the past and learn from these crimes against humanity to ensure that they are never repeated.” Do you today regret or in any way seek to disavow or distance yourself or the Department of State from the principled position that you expressed in these letters?

4. In light of the priority that the President has attached to moving Turkey towards an honest reckoning with its past and your own statement that the U.S. “will stand with those who seek to advance the cause of democracy and human rights wherever they may live,” why have U.S. diplomats in Turkey not prominently participated in programs led by Turkish citizens in remembrance of the Armenian Genocide, or openly condemned the continued official prosecution and public demonization of writers and others who speak honestly about the Armenian Genocide?

5. You have said that, “The struggle for human rights begins with telling the truth over and over again.” Would the Department of State – as it did in the case of Ambassador John Evans – discipline, penalize, or otherwise take any action against U.S. diplomats or other employees for speaking truthfully about the Armenian Genocide?

6. Vice President Biden – who cosponsored every resolution to commemorate the Armenian Genocide introduced in the Senate dating back to 1984 – entered the White House with a long record of working for full and formal U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Does the Department of State disagree with, disavow, or in any way seek to distance itself from the following past statements by the current Vice President?

— In 2006, while serving as the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Biden wrote, in a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, that, “The State Department’s own historical records provide ample evidence that the Ottoman Empire’s slaughter of 1.5 million ethnic Armenians constituted genocide. Henry Morgenthau, who served as the United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1913 to 1916, describes a brutal ‘campaign of race extermination’ perpetrated by Ottoman forces… To punish an American official for correctly describing any historical event raises serious questions about the United States’ commitment to the values of transparency and honesty.” (Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator Joseph Biden’s letter, dated June 23, 2006, to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to express concern over reports that Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, was recalled for accurately describing the Armenian Genocide as a genocide.)

— In 2007, Senator Biden publicly stated that he supported the Armenian Genocide Resolution because as a legislative champion working for its adoption, “I have found in my experience that you cannot have a solid relationship with a country based on fiction. It occurred. It occurred… If you want to be a member of the international community in good standing, it’s got to be based upon historical fact.” (Senator Biden interview with the Los Angeles Times, May 14, 2007.)

7. Does the Department of State have any reason to disbelieve or dispute any of the following official reports, findings, and conclusions by State Department officials during the Armenian Genocide? If so, which statements and why?

— In June 5, 1915, U.S. Consul in Aleppo, Jesse Jackson, wrote to Ambassador Morgenthau: “There is a living stream of Armenians pouring into Aleppo from the surrounding towns and villages, the principal ones being Marash, Zeitoun, Hassanbeyli, Osmania, Baghtche, Adana, Dortyol, Hadjin, etc. . . The [Ottoman] Government has been appealed to by various prominent people and even by those in authority to put an end to these conditions, under the representations that it can only lead to the greatest blame and reproach, but all to no avail. It is without doubt a carefully planned scheme to thoroughly extinguish the Armenian race.” NA/RG59/867.4016/177.

— On July 24, 1915, in a report to Ambassador Morgenthau, U.S. Consul in Harput, Leslie Davis, reported: “Any doubt that may have been expressed in previous reports as to the Government’s intention in sending away the Armenians have been removed . . . It has been no secret that the plan was to destroy the Armenian race as a race . . . Everything was apparently planned months ago.” NA/RG59/867.4016/269.

— In a telegram to Secretary of State Robert Lansing, U.S. Charge d’Affaires, Hoffman Philip, wrote on October 1, 1916: “The Department is in receipt of ample details demonstrating the horrors of the anti-Armenian campaign. For many months past I have felt that the most efficacious method of dealing with the situation from an international standpoint would be to flatly threaten to withdraw our Diplomatic Representative from a country where such barbarous methods are not only tolerated but actually carried out by order of the existing government.” NA/RG59/867.4016/297.

— The Honorable Abram I. Elkus, who served as the United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1916 through 1917, telegrammed the Secretary of State on October 17, 1916, stating: “In order to avoid opprobrium of the civilized world, which the continuation of massacres [of the Armenians] would arouse, Turkish officials have now adopted and are executing the unchecked policy of extermination through starvation, exhaustion, and brutality of treatment hardly surpassed even in Turkish history.” NA/RG59/867.4016/299.

8. Would the Department of State describe the Holocaust or the genocides in Cambodia or Rwanda as a “historical debate,” or call for the creation of a historical “commission” to ascertain whether these crimes in fact took place?

9. Is the U.S. government’s decision-making process regarding the recognition of the Armenian Genocide influenced in any way by the Turkish government’s public threats to retaliate against such an acknowledgment?

10. If Turkey were to finally recognize the Armenian Genocide, would the U.S. government then follow Ankara’s lead and also formally acknowledge this crime?

Honest and open responses to these questions, in addition to bringing a badly needed measure of transparency to American policy on the Armenian Genocide, would also serve as a meaningful foundation for a reasoned discourse among government and civil society stakeholders about ending the era of the United States’ complicity in Turkey’s denials. More broadly, full and formal recognition of this crime – representing, as it would, a very public rejection of Ankara’s efforts to impose a gag-rule on America – would represent a meaningful step toward stopping the worldwide cycle of genocide that continues to plague humanity.

Thank you for your consideration of our concerns. We look forward to hearing from you on these important matters. We are also interested in learning of any actions you have taken in response to the recent adoption by the U.S. House of H.Res.306, which, as you know, specifically calls the Secretary of State, in all official contacts with Turkish officials, to emphasize, among other religious freedom considerations, that Turkey should return all Christian churches and religious properties to their rightful owners.

As we have several times over the past three years – we again request the opportunity to discuss the full range of our concerns with you personally during a meeting with the broad-based leadership of the Armenian American community.

Sincerely,
[signed]
Kenneth V. Hachikian
Chairman

Sarkozy addresses the CRIF dinner on Wednesday

PARIS—French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday renewed calls on Turkey to face its history by recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

Speaking at an annual dinner of the Representative Council of the Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF), Sarkozy said that France, which collaborated with the Nazis during World War II, faced that period in history. Confronting history can be a source of pride for Turkey as well, referring to that country’s continued denial of the Armenian Genocide, reported ntvmsnbc.com.

In December the lower house of France’s parliament passed a measure criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide. In January, the French Senate filed suit. However, thereafter, some lawmakers appealed the bill, which is awaiting a ruling by France’s Constitutional Council.

Last week Sarkozy vowed to redraft a law that criminalizes the denial of the Armenian Genocide, if the country’s highest judicial body finds an earlier version unconstitutional. While making the statement, Sarkozy reportedly criticized those in cabinet who had opposed the bill, saying they “did not see past the ends of their noses.”

He also said a rejection of the bill by the Constitutional Council could open the door to questioning a law that penalizes denial of the Holocaust.

Sarkozy’s calls on Turkey to come to terms with its history were first heard in October, when during a visit to Dzidzernagapert he declared that “the Armenian Genocide is a historical reality… Turkey, which is a great country, would honor itself to revisit its history like other great countries in the world have done.”

While in Armenia, he vowed that if Turkey did not address its past, other measures would be taken to rectify the wrong Turkey has carried out for almost a century.

France officially recognized the Armenian Genocide in 2001.