Rep. Schiff Announces White House Will Display Armenian Orphan Rug

Ghazir Rug Will Be Displayed As Early as This Fall

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced that the White House has agreed to exhibit the “Armenian Orphan Rug” in the near future, likely this fall. The rug, woven by orphans of the Armenian Genocide in 1920, was presented to President Calvin Coolidge in 1925 as a symbol of gratitude for American aid and generosity for U.S. assistance during the genocide. The Armenian Orphan Rug, which measures 11’7″ x 18’5”, has over 4,000,000 hand-tied knots and took the Armenian girls in the Ghazir Orphanage of the Near East Relief Society 10 months to weave.

President Coolidge noted that, “The rug has a place of honor in the White House where it will be a daily symbol of goodwill on earth.” The rug – which has been in storage at the White House for decades – was supposed to be released for exhibition in a Smithsonian event for the launch of Hagop Martin Deranian’s new book “President Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug.” Unfortunately, the rug was not able to be displayed at that time.

“Since first raising this issue with the Administration, I have worked diligently with the White House to find a way for the Ghazir rug to be sensitively and appropriately displayed,” said Rep. Schiff. “Today, I’m pleased to be able to say that planning is underway for the Armenian Orphan Rug to be displayed as early as this fall. I have worked out with the White House that the display will take place in a venue that is open to the general public, and I appreciate their willingness to place this significant artifact on display for all to see.”

Schiff and Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) sent a letter, along with 31 other Members, to President Obama last year urging the Administration to allow exhibition of the rug. The full letter is below, and can be found here, and in the letter they stated: “The Armenian Orphan Rug is a piece of American history and it belongs to the American people. For over a decade, Armenian American organizations have sought the public display of the rug and have requested the White House and the State Department grant their request on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, Armenian Americans have yet to have their requests granted.We urge you to release this American treasure for exhibition.”

Since sending the letter, Schiff has worked with the White House to find a way for the rug to be sensitively and appropriately displayed. Details of the future exhibition will be released as they come available.

Rep. Schiff Announces White House Will Display Armenian Orphan Rug

Erdogan Again Denies Armenian Genocide

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denied the World War I killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire amounted to genocide, just days after his government offered condolences over the massacres for the first time.

During an interview on Bloomberg TV’s Charlie Rose show, Erdogan was asked if it would be possible for him to describe the deaths of Armenians as a genocide, to which he replied. “This is not possible because if such a genocide had been the case, would there have been Armenians living in this country?” Erdogan told US broadcaster PBS on Monday.

“We are a people who think genocide is a crime against humanity and we would never turn a blind eye to such action,” he added.

Erdogan last week offered his condolences over the 1915 massacre, calling it “our shared pain” in a statement issued on April 23rd.

Erdogan Again Denies Armenian Genocide

An Armenian “Rap” On Times Square

The 99th Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Brings Out Thousands to Times Square

By Taleen Babayan

From the proclamations of staunch support by high-ranking U.S. politicians to the touching lyrics of a talented Armenian-American rapper’s tribute to the millions of lives lost, the 99th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in Times Square paid homage to the victims of 1915 and sent a resounding message that denial will not be tolerated as the centennial memorial approaches.

An all-encompassing event organized by the Knights of Vartan for the past quarter of a century in one of the world’s most visible and attractive locations, an impressive crowd gathered at this year’s commemoration. While the missing survivors in the audience were a stark reminder that witnesses are succumbing to history, this year’s sizeable group of Armenian youth, from the disciplined Homenetmen Scouts who proudly held the Armenian flag throughout the duration of the program to the members of the Areni Choir and the Higher Brass Band to those draped in Armenian flags, an emphatic statement was made that the 1.5 million victims will not be forgotten and the fight for genocide recognition will continue through new blood.

Appearing faithfully year after year, key U.S. politicians took to the stage once again to reaffirm their commitment to the Armenian cause and did not fail the community in expressing their firm support of genocide recognition, most recently in the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which this month passed Resolution 410, demanding that Turkey acknowledge the Armenian massacres in 1915 as “genocide.”

Chairman of the committee, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) said the resolution was passed in “undisputed terms” and described the Armenian Genocide as “one of the darkest events in human history.”

“We must not make it the policy of the United States to turn our back on man’s inhumanity to man,” said Menendez. “And anyone who tries to create a nuanced approach serves only to empower those around the world who would use genocide as a weapon of war.”

Commending the Armenians for building a strong community in America, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), recalled the founder of the Armenian Genocide Times Square commemoration, Sam Azadian, who introduced the senator to the history of the Armenian Genocide when he was a newly elected assemblyman.

“I come here because I believe from the bottom of my heart it is our sacred duty to speak out against the terrors of the past,” said Schumer. “Remembering the innocent victims of the “Medz Yeghern” helps as we strive to shine the full light of day on this historic tragedy to ensure it never happens again.”

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) praised the Armenians on their relentless efforts towards Armenian Genocide recognition and noted the movement’s success worldwide and in Turkey, where scholars and human rights advocates are opening sincere dialogue about the Armenian Genocide. He spoke of continued commitment not only towards genocide recognition, but humanitarian aid to the Republic of Armenia and Nagorno-Karapagh as well.

“Continue to do all of your hard work,” said Pallone. “Even though it’s the 99th year, we will not stop until we see genocide recognition.”

Following in his father’s (former councilman Peter Vallone) footsteps, Paul Vallone (D-NY) said that like his father, he was proud to support the commemoration in Times Square every year. Vallone greeted the crowd in Armenian and asserted his commitment to working with Albany and Congress to make sure the Armenian Genocide is recognized.

“Armenia is our family,” said Vallone. “It’s our faith, our culture, our language, and as we stand here in the middle of the greatest city of the world, we see that the Armenian Genocide has not been forgotten.”

Traveling straight from Armenia where he attended Armenian Genocide commemorations there, Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) said that Turkey needs to publicly accept the atrocities without the use of convoluted statements. “A genocide is a genocide and the sooner Turkey recognizes and apologizes for it, the better off everyone will be.”

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) also expressed her efforts in Congress for U.S. recognition of the genocide and the importance of stating it by its factual name. “Genocide is genocide is genocide,” said Maloney. “Ninety-nine years is enough. We must join the world community in recognizing the genocide and the atrocious actions of Turkey.”

Remarking that it is the “responsibility” of the U.S. to recognize the Armenian Genocide, former New York City Comptroller, John Liu, said to continue the fight until an apology is achieved. “Whether it has been one hundred or two hundred years, this gathering will continue to take place because we know the truth and the rest of the world has to do so as well.”

“We have been here for a quarter of a century,” said Dr. Dennis Papazian, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Michigan and Past Grand Commander of Knights of Vartan, as he looked out onto the substantial crowd in front of him in Times Square. “And we will come back for another quarter of a century until justice is done for the Armenian people.”

Also in his remarks, Dr. Dennis Papazian provided a response to the unprecedented statement of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, issued on April 23, 2014 in 9 languages, in which the politician encouraged Turks and Armenians to talk to one another about the past and once again ignored the truth of the Armenian Genocide. Dr. Papazian, who has worked towards genocide recognition for decades, said he remains hopeful.

“I have witnessed a change in Turkish society where people can discuss the Armenian Genocide without being thrown in jail,” said Dr. Papazian. “Honest Turkish scholars are now organizing conferences to shed light on the truth.”

Dr. Papazian also commented on President Barack Obama’s April 24 message, which he considered his “strongest statement” yet, despite the fact that the president continues to insist on referring to the Armenian Genocide as “medz yeghern.”

“Our efforts haven’t been in vain,” asserted Dr. Papazian. “We are winning the battle and we shall persist until our martyrs are properly recognized.”

The program culminated in an emotional performance by R-Mean that brought all of Times Square to its feet as members of the audience as well as passersby waved peace signs in the air to the lyrics of his song, “Open Wounds.” Hailing from Los Angeles, California, the young Armenian-American rapper has been an active supporter of genocide recognition and in spreading awareness outside of the Armenian community, in particular with reputable individuals in the music and entertainment industry. He hopes to educate the masses through hip-hop music, which he considers to be the “voice of the oppressed, the voice of the struggle and the voice of the youth.”

“The goal of the song “Open Wounds” and the “Open Wounds 1915 Movement” is to raise awareness for the youth who are our future and the non-Armenians who enjoy listening to good music with a positive message,” said R-Mean. “In a sense, this is doing the exact opposite of what the Turkish government has been trying to do all these years by erasing it from the history books.”

Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of Armenian Church of America (Eastern), gave the invocation and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), delivered the benediction. Other clergy in attendance included Very Reverend Thomas Garabedian of the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of the United States and Canada and Reverend Haig Kherlopian of the Armenian Evangelical Church of New York.

Susan Rosenblatt from the Jewish Press delivered remarks as well as Lisa Kradjian, Grand Matron of the Daughters of Vartan. Delivering remarks on behalf of the co-sponsors of the commemoration were Kim Yacoubian (AGBU), Alex Karapetian (Armenian Assembly), Hagop Ajemian (Hunchakian Party), Dr. Vagheenag Tarpinian (ADL), and Anahid Urguluyan (ANCA).

The winners of this year’s Knights of Vartan essay contest were announced at the program: Alina Toporas, 1st place (Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA resident), Elizabeth Ray, 2nd place (St. Agnes Academy, Memphis, TN resident), and Christopher Artun, 3rd place (Townsend Harris High School, Little Neck, NY resident).

The Areni Choir, under the direction of Dr. Armine Vardanian, sang the national anthems of the United States and Armenia, as well as “God Bless America” while the Higher Brass Band, under the direction of Samuel Nersesian, accompanied the singers.

The Armenian Radio Hour of New Jersey, led by director Professor Vartan Abdo, streamed the event live in video format worldwide, reaching over 20,000 people, with the assistance of his dedicated volunteer staff.

The 99th Armenian Genocide commemoration in Times Square was organized by the Mid-Atlantic chapters of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan, and was co-sponsored by the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian Assembly of America, the Armenian National Committee of America, the ADL-Ramgavars, and the Armenian Council of America. Participating organizations included the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), Prelacy of the Armenian Church, Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Presbyterian Church, the Armenian Evangelical Church, the Armenian Catholic Eparchy for US and Canada and numerous Armenian youth organizations, including the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America, the Armenian Youth Federation, the Tekeyan Cultural Association, Homenetmen Scouts, Hamazkayin Cultural Association, Noyan Tapan of Brooklyn, NY, Rutgers University Armenian Club, Columbia University Armenian Club and the Armenian Students Association.

Dr. Mary Papazian, President of Southern Connecticut State University and Armen McOmber, New Jersey attorney, served as MCs.

An Armenian “Rap” On Times Square

Digitizing Knowledge: Jose Tahta's Vision and Armenia's National Library

YEREVAN — A building might amaze an observer, but a book can inspire the world. When nothing but a column remains from that building, the ideas from a book continue to teach and shape the future. If they’re preserved, that is.

From the monasteries of the Mekhitarists to the printers of Calcutta, to the writers of Shushi, Constantinople, Tiflis, and Yerevan, the corpus of Armenian literature is vast – and old. Although there are libraries in many of these places and beyond, the main repository for Armenian texts is in Armenia.

The National Library of Armenia is a mammoth institution. It contains millions of volumes that are a record of every part of Armenian history, as well as the history of other peoples.

Among this collection, there are books dating back over 500 years, to 1512. The National Library over the years has gone to great lengths to preserve the integrity of these books so that future generations may enjoy them and learn from them. As time passes, however, allowing these books to be exposed to light, air, and people complicates the already difficult preservation process.

Fortunately, with the technology available today, it’s possible to preserve books digitally so that a wider audience can enjoy them without using a physical copy. And because duplicating the digital version of a book is much easier, books can be copied and secured for preservation and storage in perpetuity, without worry that they might be lost.

Old-fashioned library catalog card system for books published between
1512-1920 at the National Library of Armenia

All the National Library of Armenia had to do was digitize the books. No big deal, right? Wrong.

The machine to digitize books, servers to store the information, as well as the additional furniture and tools needed to complete the project, do not come cheap. In all, about $130,000 would be needed for a setup that could do the job, and do it well. That was a sum the National Library didn’t have so it approached Armenia Fund for ideas.

Although best known for its infrastructure projects like roads, schools, hospitals, and agricultural improvements, Armenia Fund also works on other important initiatives of national interest. And knowing this was an issue that they could help with, Armenia Fund conveyed the idea to Jose Tahta.

Mr. Tahta, an Armenian from Argentina, was not new to pressing undertakings that had a big impact: the humanitarian benefactor whose assistance built the first school in Vaghuhas village in Artsakh’s Martakert region after the old one had been levelled during the Artsakh War.

Having entrusted large sums to Armenia Fund in the past for infrastructure projects and having seen them come to fruition, Mr. Tahta decided that it would be a good investment and agreed to donate the funds necessary to complete the library digitization.

The process, including a large format book scanner, is able to record old and new books, as well as maps and posters. The digitized material is then stored on the Library’s new, state-of-the-art secure servers and the scanned books and other material are stored in their archives. Once the process is complete, the digital material is made available for use electronically.

Marrying the will of the National Library of Armenia, the generosity of Jose Tahta, and the organization of Armenia Fund, centuries-old Armenian literature that was previously only available to researchers who could physically be in Armenia is now available to anyone in the world with an Internet connection.

Most of the time, Armenia Fund is bringing the gifts of benevolent people from throughout the world to Armenia. With the digitization of the National Library of Armenia’s book, it’s bringing the gift of knowledge from Armenia to the world.

You can enjoy the digitized books online at this address: http://nla.am/eng/

Digitizing Knowledge: Jose Tahta's Vision and Armenia's National Library

World Premier Screening of Digging Into the Future –Armenia Directed by Joseph Rosendo

GLENDALE, CA On Friday, May 16, 2014, at 7 pm, Emmy award winning director Joseph Rosendo will screen Digging Into the Future –Armenia at the Glendale Central Library Auditorium, 222 East Harvard Street in Glendale. The presentation is in English. Admission is free. Library visitors receive 3 hours FREE parking across the street at The Market Place parking structure with validation at the Loan Desk.

Digging into the Future-Armenia is an archeological expedition to Armenia. It turns viewers on to the thrill of discovery while making genuine human connections with a people’s past and the present. Armenia is the first journey of a new proposed PBS series that merges archeology’s science and humanity into an hour-long entertaining, educational and cultural adventure that spans the globe. For this adventure Rosendo joins archeologists from UCLA’s Cotsen Institute, which is dedicated to the creation, dissemination, and conservation of archaeological knowledge and heritage. Charles Stanish is the institute’s director and Gregory Areshian is the director of the institute’s Armenia program. Rosendo crisscrosses Armenia to ancient sites where some of the world’s oldest artifacts have been discovered.

Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope Emmy-award winning director Joseph Rosendo has been a travel, food and wine journalist and a travel broadcaster for more than 30 years. Since 2007, he has hosted, directed and written Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope, the award-winning travel television series. Rosendo’s first travel story appeared in The Los Angeles Times in 1980. He has been published in countless publications worldwide and was the Consulting Editor for DK Eyewitness Travel Guides as well as the author of an Insider’s Guide to Los Angeles. For twenty-four years, as the creator and host of Travelscope Radio, he created features for numerous electronic media outlets including Discovery Channel Radio and the Associated Press.

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CONTACT: Elizabeth Grigorian, Armenian Outreach Coordinator, Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Department egrigorian@ci.glendale.ca.us or (818) 548-3288.

World Premier Screening of Digging Into the Future –Armenia Directed by Joseph Rosendo

USC Shoah Foundation Receives 400 Digitized Genocide Testimonies From Armenian Film Foundation

LOS ANGELES (PR Newswire) — The Armenian Film Foundation presented a collection of 400 testimonies from survivors and witnesses of the Armenian genocide to USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for History and Visual Education on April 21, 2014. The testimonies will be integrated into the Institute’s Visual History Archive (VHA) with the support of funding from the Armenian Film Foundation, the USC Shoah Foundation as well as the USC Institute of Armenian Studies; whose ongoing supporters presented the final $405,000 gift on April 10 that will allow the videos to be fully accessible to VHA users.

The 400 testimonies represent the largest collection of filmed interviews of the first genocide of the twentieth century. The testimonies were taken in 10 countries, in 10 languages, with survivors and witnesses who were between the ages of eight and 29 at the time of the genocide, which killed an estimated 1.5 million people in Turkey from 1915–1923. USC Shoah Foundation will begin indexing each interview so they can begin to be integrated into the Visual History Archive by April 24, 2015, the centennial of the historic event.

When integrated into the Visual History Archive, the Armenian testimonies will join the archive’s existing Holocaust, Rwandan Tutsi Genocide and Nanjing Massacre collections.

Most of the collection was the work of the late Dr. J. Michael Hagopian (photo), an Armenian genocide survivor who filmed the interviews between 1972 and 2009. Dr. Hagopian wrote, directed and produced more than 70 educational and documentary films about the Armenian Genocide and founded the Armenian Film Foundation, with whom the USC Shoah Foundation first partnered in 2010 to bring the Armenian testimonies into the Visual History Archive as well as the Institute’s public access website and IWitness educational program that will bring the Armenian testimonies into classrooms around the world.

The first phase of the project undertaken by the Armenian Film Foundation involved transferring the interviews that were originally taken in 16mm film to preservation-quality digital files (motion JPEG 2000).

The current phase of the project is to digitally preserve in perpetuity these files, create broadcast-quality and internet-quality versions of each interview, subtitle non-English language testimonies and begin integrating and indexing each interview into the Visual History Archive.

Carla Garapedian of the Armenian Film Foundation said she was happy the testimonies have found a home that will ensure their preservation.

“There aren’t many people left who can talk about those days of a hundred years ago, but today we help ensure that those who shared their stories will always have an opportunity to be heard,” she said.

USC Shoah Foundation Executive Director Stephen D. Smith said that survivors who gave testimony about the Armenian Genocide add invaluable insight into the horrors of mass killing.

“This isn’t only about those who gave testimony,” he said. “It’s about all those who did not survive and who could not tell their own story. We care about this history. We, as a community, are doing everything we can to ensure this history is maintained.”

At the April 10 event, the USC Institute of Armenian Studies presented a final donation in their ongoing support of the project’s funding to Steve Kay, dean of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, which houses USC Shoah Foundation and the Institute of Armenian Studies.

“This is an invaluable gift that will offer windows into the lives of witnesses and survivors—an unparalleled tool for students, scholars and members of the community,” Kay said. “We are extremely grateful for the generosity of so many members of the Armenian community who have made this important project come to fruition.”

Charles Ghalian, the event’s co-host and chairman of the Institute of Armenian Studies Leadership Council, said he was thrilled by the community’s outpouring of support.

“On behalf of the entire Leadership Council and grand benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Gerald and Patricia Turpanjian, I am excited that the stories of so many of our parents and grandparents will be held indelibly in the Visual History Archive,” he said. “We express our thanks to the many philanthropists in the Southern California Armenian community who donated to this important cause. We look forward to honoring this achievement and others at the Institute of Armenian Studies’ 10th anniversary at our upcoming event on September 28 in Los Angeles.”

USC Shoah Foundation Receives 400 Digitized Genocide Testimonies From Armenian Film Foundation

Charm offensive, á la Turca

By Bulent Kenes
http://www.todayszaman.com/

This is how things work in this country. A thing is done not because it is the correct thing to do or because someone is entitled to it or because it just must be done. Things that may be done or steps that must be taken are done or taken in response to an emerging need or affair. Usually, a thing is done out of a necessity, but not because our principles or attachment to moral or ethical values or our respect or ability to have empathy for others entail it, or because we are true democrats. And more often than not, what needs to be done is done at the eleventh hour. Moreover and worse still, sometimes what needs to be done is not done with sincerity, but with the pretense of sincerity.

This tradition didn’t change regarding the tragic events that occurred during World War I and especially in 1915. Turkey has always sought to save face instead of coming up with a humanitarian approach based on human rights, laws, morality and civility, and with a permanent solution that would satisfy both sides to a reasonable extent. And to save face, we always acted at the eleventh hour. The message of condolences issued by the Prime Minister’s Office of the Turkish Republic on April 23, addressed to the children and grandchildren of the Armenians who lost their lives during the forced relocation and massacre of 1915, falls within this category although it claims that Turkey understands and shares in their sorrows.

Still, we need to acknowledge that this historic statement, issued in nine languages including Turkish and two Armenian dialects and undersigned by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is a very bold step in the right direction. But this does not save it from being a tactical move in the final analysis.

This is because this message does not aim to solve the problem and ensure a confrontation with the past and bring to daylight the truth, even if we may not like it. Rather, it seeks to temporarily get rid of a big, imminent problem and buy time. The fact that the statement was issued on April 23, i.e., one day before Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day on April 24, lends credence to this thesis.

On April 24, not only US President Barack Obama, but also many presidents, governments and parliaments around the world tend to make statements about the 1915 tragedy. Everyone knows that in their consciences, they are close to seeing this tragedy — which occurred in the context of World War I — as “genocide,” even if they may not officially acknowledge it as “genocide” due to their political, diplomatic or economic interests. Here I must note that those who are close to the “genocide” approach also include the countries, administrations and powers that seek to instrumentalize this sorrow to attain certain pragmatic goals or that seek to settle accounts with Turkey via the great sorrow of Armenians.

Actually, this year’s April 24 is not the worst experience we will have. It is just a small rehearsal for the real test for Turkey in 2015, which will be marked as the “Centennial of the Armenian Genocide,” which Turkey cannot escape or ignore. The prime minister’s statement may help to alleviate the preliminary shockwaves of this impending event, but it can hardly be a complete solution to this indispensable event, which will be here in 365 days.

From another perspective, the statement of condolences, undersigned by Prime Minister Erdogan, is a carefully prepared text. It is such that we would never expect Erdogan to issue such a statement. Indeed, he is so indifferent to the pain he causes or is responsible for, and he has recently been so busy sowing the seeds of hatred among diverse segments of society that we would never believe that he nurtured any empathy for those who were jeopardized in a tragedy that occurred 99 years ago. As a matter of fact, it is really hard to bring ourselves to believe that the person who was totally indifferent and insensitive to the Uludere tragedy — in which 34 civilians were mistaken for terrorists and killed in military airstrikes in Sirnak’s Uludere district due to false intelligence — or to the protesters who died during the Gezi Park protests is the same person who undersigned this statement.

However, it is quite natural for us to expect a prime minister to develop long-standing strategies based on certain moral values and principles, be it in the name of the national interest or personal political plans. But this does not apply to our case. Rather, Erdogan gives the impression of being a man of short-sighted tactical moves geared toward saving face. Therefore, we need to analyze in depth Erdogan’s real intentions with this statement. It should be noted that this message seeks to restore Turkey’s deteriorating image in the international arena rather than to share in the sorrows of Armenians. With this move, which can be described as a PR effort, we can say that Erdogan has launched a charm offensive a la Turca.

Even if it is intended as a charm offensive, this historic move is not stripped of its conjunctural and contextual spiritual value. But at the same time, it brings the lack of sincerity into broad daylight. Of course we need to question the sincerity and intentions behind an isolated positive move by one with a despotic mentality, who pays no regard to the rights and freedoms of diverse social groups in the country and is in an effort to establish an arbitrary rule with total control over democratic institutions and is ready to crush any dissident or opposing group.

Actually, it is a grave act of naiveté to assume that a repressive leader — who use all his power to push aside fundamental rights and freedoms, democracy and rule of law and turn them into a tool of oppression, thereby creating a deep-rooted sociopolitical problem with effects that will last for decades to come — will take well-meaning steps to solve a problem stemming from a tragedy that occurred 100 years ago.

Having emerged as a political figure who is no longer expected to pay respect to rights and freedoms and who will never act as a true democrat, Erdogan has made anti-democratic attitudes part of his nature and this has the potential to make his statement regarding Armenian sorrows meaningless. Given all the tests of sincerity Erdogan has failed so far, it is hard to say whether he is being sincere with this move.

If we are to expect any sincerity from Erdogan, his level of sincerity now could be equal to, not more than, the sincerity he shows with regard to the Kurdish issue, in which he takes steps only to the extent that they are beneficial to his political career. Alternatively, we can look at how he promised to draft a new, civilian constitution ahead of the general elections, but he did everything to build himself a strict and lawless rule after the elections. Perhaps we should expect this latest move to end like the so-called Alevi initiative, for which numerous workshops were held but which was eventually abandoned after he realized that it would not be politically beneficial to his party. Or we can expect the same sincerity as that of his move to make the reopening of the Halki Seminary on the island of Heybeliada near Istanbul a matter of bargaining with Greece, although he had promised many times to open it.

What I am trying to get at is that our expectations for a leader who has developed a lawless, anti-democratic personality, who seeks to socio-culturally and economically lynch certain social groups that are selectively antagonized and who causes great social problems by spouting ever more hatred should be kept at a low level. Indeed, any disillusion from expecting a person who is the source of great tragedies today to solve a historical tragedy will only lead to grave disappointment.

b.kenes@todayszaman.com

Charm offensive, á la Turca

Anahid Award Ceremony Celebrates Armenian-American Writers

NEW YORK — Five writers of Armenian descent were honored at the Anahid Literary Awards ceremony in an event hosted by the Armenian Center at Columbia University and held on Friday, April 4, 2014 at Faculty House in New York.

Welcoming remarks were made by master of ceremonies Peter Balakian, Rebar Professor of Humanities, Colgate University, who touched on the significance of the Anahid Literary Prize, which was established 25 years ago by an anonymous donor who valued the literary tradition in relation to the continuity of Armenian culture and history.

“[The donor] must have had a sense that Armenian-American culture in the 20th century was a force of revitalization after the catastrophic events of genocide, dispersion, exile, and resettlement,” said Balakian, Chair of the Anahid Award Committee and the award-winning author of many books, including his memoir Black Dog of Fate.

Professor Peter Balakian, master of ceremonies for the 2014 Anahid Literary Award Ceremony

He spoke about novels by Armenian-American writers during the mid-century, as well as a new generation of Armenian-American writers who emerged after World War II, including novelist Laura Kalpakian, who was the first writer to receive the Anahid Award.

“The Anahid Award continues to be an occasion for the Armenian community to be self-aware, to take note of the works of literature that are being written now, to ingest those works, and to make them part of a culture’s vitality and legacy,” said Balakian.

This year’s recipients, including Aris Janigian, Arthur Nersesian, Patricia Sarrafian Ward, Lydia Peelle (in absentia) and Michael Zadoorian, were introduced by Balakian and author Nancy Kricorian, both of whom are prior recipients of the Anahid Literary Award. Each of the authors, who are writers of novels or short fiction, read selections of their works, including The Bullet Collection, by Sarrafian Ward, who was born and raised in Beirut and is of American-Armenian-Danish heritage; Nersesian, a native New Yorker who is the author of nine novels, including The Swing Voter of Staten Island, Suicide Casanova, Manhattan, and the cult-classic The Fuck-Up; Janigian, who was born in Fresno, California and is the author of two novels Bloodvine and Riverbig and co-author of Something From Nothing; and Zadoorian, born in Detroit, Michigan and is the author of Second Hand and The Lost Tiki Palaces of Detroit. Balakian read excerpts from Lydia Peelle’s Mule Killers and Reasons for and Advantages of Breathing.

A reception and book-signing followed, where guests had the opportunity to meet with the prize-winners.

“The Armenian Center is very proud to host the winners of the Anahid Literary Award,” said Mark Momjian, Esq. (CC’83, L ’86), Chair of the Armenian Center at Columbia University. “Columbia University is a place that celebrates poetry and literature, and the list of Columbia alumni is quite remarkable—Garcia Lorca, Welty, Kerouac, Ginsberg, Wouk, as well as two Columbians who served as U.S. Poet Laureate (Louise Gluck and the late Anthony Hecht). The Armenian Center is honored to play a role in recognizing writers of Armenian ancestry who build on this tradition.”

Fatured Photo: Past winners authors Peter Balakian and Nancy Kricorian with the 2014 Anahid Literary Award recipients (from left: Peter Balakian, Patricia Sarrafian Ward, Arthur Nersesian, Nancy Kricorian, Michael Zadoorian and Aris Janigian; Lydia Peelle in absentia)

Photo credit: Dr. Robert V. Kinoian

Anahid Award Ceremony Celebrates Armenian-American Writers

Armenian Pavilion at London Book Fair

LONDON — The publishing world descended on London from April 8th to 10th with exhibitors from around the world discussing and negotiating contracts on a global scale and for the second consecutive year, the Armenians were represented in a unique formula under the banner of the Armenian Pavilion incorporating authors and publishers from Armenia and the Diaspora.

After a difficult start to this journey and with no funds allocated, it required imagination, coordination and the fortitude to see the bigger picture. The Armenian Pavilion would not have been repeated, were it not for the generosity of Mr. Raffi Tanielian and his sister Nyree who funded a very large proportion of the project. The Tanielian family have supported many projects in the British Armenian community and to whom a debt of gratitude is certainly owed. With contributions also from the Benlian Trust, Armenian Relief Society (London) and individual members of the community the project finally came to life.

In recognising the importance of the Pavilion at the London Book Fair, Raffi Tanielian helped propagate Armenian literature on a prestigious global platform by giving the Armenian Pavilion committee the ability to concentrate on the core work needed to create the Pavilion.

L-R Charle Malas, Varujan Vosganian & Hagop Havatian

Comparative to last year’s twelve registered exhibitors, this year the Pavilion registered thirty-three exhibitors from Armenia, France, Germany, Lebanon, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States. For the first time at any exhibition, the Pavilion was graced by the attendance of Hrant Dink Foundation and Aras Publishing House from Istanbul, who have promised to return next year. Also important to the British Armenian community was the participation of Rouben Galichian and making a debut Ara Sarafian with the Gomidas Institute, the Pavilion was enriched with their magnificent books. Click here to see the full list of exhibitors: http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/en/Exhibitors/254578/Armenian-Community-Council-of-the-United-Kingdom

Of course whilst the Armenian Pavilion Committee headed by Charle Malas convenes annually for the sole purpose of the Pavilion, it owes a debt of gratitude to the Armenian Embassy in London and the Armenian Community Council of the United Kingdom for their support, but particularly the Embassy for liaising with the Ministry in Yerevan and hosting the special visit by the Deputy Minister of Culture Nerses Ter-Vardanyan.

The Pavilion exhibited a very rich array of books in all categories with significant interest of visitors from around the world, which included many from Turkey – perhaps breaking down the barriers at a literary level is one of the many ways available at our disposal. However, a lot of the buzz that surrounded the Pavilion is also thanks to one of the exhibitors from Armenia the “1st Armenian Literary Agency”, that had arranged the majority of their meetings to take place at the Pavilion, thus significantly adding to the attraction of the stand and the books on display. Interestingly, there was serious interest from the Frankfurt Book Fair organisers who requested for this formula to be exported and used at the exhibition over there.

One of the highlights for the Pavilion during the fair was the surprise visit by former Minister of Economy and Finance of Romania Varujan Vosganian. A politician, economist, essayist and a poet, Mr. Vosganian is a published author and hopes to exhibit his books at the Pavilion in next year’s London Book Fair.

The London Book Fair is an important and prestigious event in the publishing calendar. It resonates literary wealth and global exposure. It is considered as the second most important book fair after Frankfurt, which is the world’s largest. The purpose of the Armenian Pavilion is to share with the world the Armenian culture, literature, history and the truth through books and through our authors and writers who have been scribbling away in the shadows for far too long. It is up to the Armenian Communities around the world to work collectively and give our publishers, authors and writers the platform to launch into the global markets. See you in 2015.

For further information, photos and to leave a comment visit https://www.facebook.com/ArmenianPavilion

Publishers, authors and booksellers interested in participating at the Armenian Pavilion 2015 please write to armenian.pavilion@gmail.com

Armenian Pavilion at London Book Fair

Lecture on Armenians and Assyrians in Iran’s Urmia Region at Ararat-Eskijian-Museum

MISSION HILLS, CA — On Sunday, May 4th, Dr. Nicholas Al-Jeloo will give a lecture entitled, “Armenian and Assyrian Cooperation and Co-Habitation in Iran’s Urmia Region,” beginning at 4:00 p.m. at Ararat-Eskijian Museum-Sheen Chapel 15105 Mission Hills Road, Mission Hills Ca, 91345

Dr. Al-Jeloo’s illustrated lecture represents an all-too-rare opportunity to learn about the inter-twined history of the Armenians and Assyrians of the Urmia region. A great deal of information and research has enlightened our understanding of Armenians from Isfahan, Iran; however, little information exists in English about Armenians living in other parts of Iran, including Armenians in Tabriz, a prosperous and important urban community. Much of the information about Armenians on the Urmia plain comes from Assyrian memoirs and histories.

Like the Assyrians, who were largely based in villages throughout the Middle East, the Armenians of the Urmia plain led agrarian lives for much of the 19th century. While the church institutions remained separate and the communities maintained separate languages, there was considerable intermarriage, dual language understanding, and cooperation on many fronts—commercial as well as political. The Minassian family, for example, who held the wheat wholesale market, married into an Assyrian family from Golphashan, one of the richest towns of the Urmia plain.

Dr. Nicholas Al-Jeloo is an Australian-Assyrian whose high-quality photographs have been used in art and history books about the Middle East, such as in Christoph Baumer’s The Church of the East: An Illustrated History of Assyrian Christianity (I.B. Tauris, 2006). He received his Ph.D. in Assyrian/Syriac studies from the University of Sydney this year and holds an MA from Leiden University.

For more information call (818) 838-4862 or

e-mail Ararat-eskijian-museum.netzero.net

Lecture on Armenians and Assyrians in Iran’s Urmia Region at Ararat-Eskijian-Museum

The Time Has Come To Get Beyond Recognition

Dr. Harry Sarafian, Social Democrat Hunchakian Party Central Committee Secretary, took part in commemorating the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Pasadena California. The following is his speech in its entirety:

As Armenians across the globe commemorate the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, I am sure each and every one of us has their sights set on April 24, 2015, the centennial of the first Genocide of the 20th century. Confidentially, that date also represents the 50th anniversary of the day when the Armenian nation refused to continue to be the sorrowful and grief-stricken group of people who simply mourned the victims of the genocide and instead embarked upon the quest for worldwide recognition of the Armenian Genocide and restoration of justice.

Indeed, the past five decades have been a mixture of achievements and disappointments. To date, 21 countries have formally recognized the Armenian Genocide and here in the US, 43 states have passed resolutions or issued proclamations in reference to the Genocide. Unfortunately, year after year, facing immense pressure and relenting to threats made by the Turkish government, every president since Ronald Reagan in 1981 when issuing a statement on April 24th has danced around the word genocide by using every available euphemism in the English dictionary. This year was no exception and as citizens of this great country of ours we are disappointed that our own government cannot muster the courage to do the right thing and once and for all recognize the Armenian genocide.

As we look ahead to the centennial anniversary and beyond, we realize that there is much work left to be done. While we have succeeded in making the Armenian Genocide an internationally accepted fact, successive Turkish governments have not only steadfastly denied the genocide but also have led a shameful campaign of distortion, obfuscation and outright lies cleansing their history books of any reference to the darkest passages of their recent history or turning the facts upside down by making the victim into a villain. In the past decade, any brave soul who dared to question the official version of events, most prominently our beloved Hrant Dink, was charged with the infamous article 301 of the Turkish penal code for “insulting Turkishness”.

More recently, the Turkish government seems to have adopted a new approach regarding the genocide issue. During his visit to Yerevan in December of last year, the Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu called the deportation of the Armenians in 1915 as inhumane. Had he stopped there, it would have been considered a tiny step forward. Unfortunately he went on to say that Armenians in their “collective consciousness” had mischaracterized the deportations as genocide, thus rendering his whole statement meaningless.

Yesterday, the prime minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a statement offering condolences to the grandchildren of Armenians who, in his words, lost their lives “in the context of the early twentieth century” implying that Armenians were not systematically massacred but were just casualties of WW I just like other citizens of the Ottoman Empire. This woefully inadequate and misleading statement once again shows that the Turkish government is far from being ready to honestly confront its own history and is nothing more than a reaffirmation of the Turkish policy of denial presented in a more nuanced way. Their calls for reconciliation and dialogue sound hollow when they have unilaterally sealed their border with Armenia and continue to deny the Genocide.

Neither Mr. Erdogan nor Mr. Davutoglu seem to realize that the time for half truths and distorted facts has passed. It is indeed a shame that instead of using both occasions to make meaningful and constructive statements, they chose to engage in pure demagoguery.

As we approach the centennial, we need to be mindful of the challenges that lie ahead.

In our pursuit of Genocide recognition we have spent enormous amount of time and resources and yet have done little toward establishing the legal framework upon which our demands for compensation and reparation will be based. Recognition by Turkey without reparation will be meaningless. The Turkish government is well aware of this and that is why it is doing everything in its power to keep us stuck at the recognition phase. I believe the time has come to get beyond recognition and start work on the next phase, which will require far more extensive resources and expertise.

Also, it is imperative that there be a better coordination and cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the Diaspora. The priorities and the roles have to be clearly defined so that we do not find ourselves in the same quandary as we did in 2009 when the protocols were negotiated and signed without any input from the Diaspora.

Although our task in enormous and the challenge is great we remain optimistic and resolute, because despite the passage of time, the fading memories and only a handful of Genocide survivors remaining, the struggle for the Armenian Cause has been ingrained in our nation’s DNA and is seamlessly passing from one generation to the other, thus giving us hope to believe that our future generations will carry on with the fight until justice prevails.

The Time Has Come To Get Beyond Recognition

Pasadena Community Commemorated the 99th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

PASADENA, CA – The Pasadena Community commemorated the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, bringing elected officials, community leaders, youth activists, and supporters to the steps of City Hall. The program, sponsored by the City of Pasadena and the Armenian Community Coalition, featured musical tributes and poems, as well as U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, and Dr. Harry Sarafian, Social Democrat Hunchakian Party Central Committee Secretary.

The event began with a Color Guard ceremony by the A.G.B.U. Pasadena scouts, followed by opening remarks by Levon Keshishian, who also presided as master of ceremonies for the event. “They massacred a million and a half of us, yet today we stand as over 11 million worldwide. For 99 years we have proven we are a people that can survive this. By all difficulties we are a people who adapt to all situations. We are survivors,” said Levon Keshishian. “Today is not a day of mourning; it is a day of remembrance and rededication to the cause, which is unsolved.”

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, reminded the audience that there are currently people in the world experiencing hardships and horrors similar to the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. “We have a duty to recognize the Armenian Genocide and the tragedy in Kessab (Syria) and remind the world that horror and destruction will not be ignored,” Chu said, stressing her commitment to push for a congressional resolution reaffirming the Armenian Genocide.

Alec Eginli Aginian stressed the need to educate the Turkish populace on their own history and the truth of the Armenian Genocide. Father Andon Atamian, of St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Church, gave a forceful speech emphasizing the Armenian nation’s unrelenting cont1`inued pursuit for justice, and the responsibility of civilized nations to contribute in that pursuit.

Pasadena City Councilman John Kennedy presented Armenian leaders with a certificate of recognition from Mayor Bill Bogaard, who did not attend the event, recognizing the occasion. “I don’t speak Armenian, but justice is one language,” Kennedy said, “and we are all speaking that language today.”

Community member Martin Gordon also spoke at the event, calling on the city’s teachers to better educate children about the Armenian Genocide, as well as all injustices, past and present. “This is not just an Armenian thing. It’s a human rights thing, it’s an American thing, it’s a Pasadena thing. Let us not forget the sad road of America: slavery, the Native Americans, internment camps, just to name a few,” Gordon said. “We must remember and teach our history, as knowing our history is the best way of not repeating it.”

Dr. Harry Sarafian stressed the enormous amount of time and resources Armenians have in pursuit of recognition, yet have done little toward establishing the legal framework upon which demands for compensation and reparation will be based. “Recognition by Turkey without reparation will be meaningless. The Turkish government is well aware of this and that is why it is doing everything in its power to keep us stuck at the recognition phase.” Dr. Sarafian said “The time has come to get beyond recognition and start work on the next phase, which will require far more extensive resources and expertise.”

Dignitaries in attendance included Reverend Fr. Sarkis Petoyan of St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church of Pasadena, Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater of the Pasadena Jewish Temple, Pasadena City Councilmembers Tina Williams, Noreen Sullivan, and Steve Madison, Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Jon Gundry, Altadena Town Councilmember Okorie Ezieme, Pasadena Police Chief Philip Sanchez, Captain John Benedict, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Solemn performances included the Marshal Fundamental School Orchestra, AGBU Vatche & Tamar Manoukian High School choir, and the AGBU Pasadena scouts.

Pasadena Community Commemorated the 99th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

Armenian Genocide Commemorated in Istanbul

ISTANBUL — Members of the Human Rights Association Istanbul Branch on Thursday held a memorial ceremony at the city’s Haydarpasa railway station, where more than 600 Armenian notables and intellectuals were gathered on April 24, 1915 to be sent on death marches. Guests from Armenia and various Armenian Diaspora communities took part in the commemorations in Istanbul.

Those who gathered at the station held the photographs of these intellectuals and a banner that read, “We commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide,” in Armenian, Turkish, and English, reported Objektifhaber website of Turkey.

The participants in the remembrance event placed carnations on the banner, and after the ceremony, threw these carnations into the sea.

On April 23, a candlelight vigil took place in the Sisli district of Istanbul to commemorate and honor the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Following the silent vigil, the participants walked through the neighborhood, where ethnic minorities, including Armenians, Greeks and Jews had lived, changing the names of the streets. As Armenian music played from loudspeakers, the organizers passed out booklets to passersby.

Rakel Dink, the wife of the murdered Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, and the parents of Sevag Sahin Balikçi, a young Armenian killed while performing his military duty on April 24, 2011, also attended this year’s commemoration.

Armenian Genocide Commemorated in Istanbul

US Congressmen Pay Tribute to the Memory of Armenian Genocide Victims

YEREVAN (Sona Hakobyan, Public Radio of Armenia) — The delegation of US Congressmen visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial today to pay tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims.

“The reason our delegation is here is to recognize the Armenian Genocide. We are here for that reason 99 years after the tragedy,” Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives Ed Royce told reporters.

The Congressman reminded that US President Ronald Reagan recognized the Armenian Genocide. “It is something the Americans know. It is in our textbooks, it is taught to our children in the schools. There is a reason why this lesson is so important and is taught in the United States,” he said.

“It is very difficult for the world to accurately assess the future, if a wrong evaluation is given for the past. It is therefore important to speak honestly about the Armenian Genocide of 1915. It was the first genocide of the previous century. Adolf Hitler, when planning the second genocide – the Holocaust, mentioned: and who remembers the annihilation of the Armenian people? We remember and we are here to express our solidarity and support to the Armenian people,” said Royce.

U.S. Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) said, in turn, it’s an honor for him to be here on this day. “This was a very solemn occasion to be here both to acknowledge the genocide and the slaughter of 1.5 million martyrs and to bring the world’s attention to this historical fact, and also to honor the resilience of the Armenian people, the strength of this country,” he said.

“We are here not only to honor and remember this horrific moment in Armenian history, in world history, but also to commit ourselves to working together to ensure that Armenia remains a strong and vibrant country,” Rep. Cicilline said.

Rep. Eliot Engel said “the American people acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.” He voiced hope that the Turkish government would also recognize the Armenian Genocide. “There is a very strong and vibrant Armenian American community stretching from California to New York and all the states in the middle, and the American Armenian community has been very vocal, very positive and very effective in letting all Americans know about the Armenian Genocide,” he added.

“When we look to the future, we have to learn from the past, and the past has to be acknowledged. It cannot be denied, truth and facts cannot be denied. We are here today to acknowledge the past, to express our condolences to the Armenian people and to let you know that the United States stands with the people in Armenia in condemning this horrific genocide that happened nearly a hundred years ago,” the Congressman said.

“I am honored to be here today with a strong delegation of Members of Congress of the United States,” US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern said. “I’m here today on behalf of President Obama and Secretary Kerry to honor the victims of the tragedy of 1915.

“In a few hours President Obama will make his statement on Remembrance Day. And I’m confident that once again President Obama will honor the memory of 1.5 million Armenians massacred and marched to their death on the final days of the Ottoman Empire. “I’m confident that he will again condemn these massacres as one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century,” Ambassador Heffern said.

“The President’s statement will be a strong statement that acknowledges the facts of what happened between 1915 and 1923,” he added.

The US Congressmen planted fir trees in the Memory Alley of Tsitsernakaberd.

US Congressmen Pay Tribute to the Memory of Armenian Genocide Victims

President Barack Obama's Annual “Meds Yeghern” Statement

WASHINGTON, DC — The White House has released President Barack Obama’s annual statement on the Armenian Day of Remembrance which once again avoided using the word “genocide,” failing to keep a campaign pledge he made in 2008.

The Statement by US President Barack Obama on Armenian Remembrance Day

Today we commemorate the Meds Yeghern and honor those who perished in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. We recall the horror of what happened ninety-nine years ago, when 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire, and we grieve for the lives lost and the suffering endured by those men, women, and children. We are joined in solemn commemoration by millions in the United States and across the world. In so doing, we remind ourselves of our shared commitment to ensure that such dark chapters of human history are never again repeated.

I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view has not changed. A full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all of our interests. Peoples and nations grow stronger, and build a foundation for a more just and tolerant future, by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past. We continue to learn this lesson in the United States, as we strive to reconcile some of the darkest moments in our own history. We recognize and commend the growing number of courageous Armenians and Turks who have already taken this path, and encourage more to do so, with the backing of their governments, and mine. And we recall with pride the humanitarian efforts undertaken by the American Committee for Syrian and Armenian Relief, funded by donations from Americans, which saved the lives of countless Armenians and others from vulnerable communities displaced in 1915.

As we honor through remembrance those Armenian lives that were unjustly taken in 1915, we are inspired by the extraordinary courage and great resiliency of the Armenian people in the face of such tremendous adversity and suffering. I applaud the countless contributions that Armenian-Americans have made to American society, culture, and communities. We share a common commitment to supporting the Armenian people as they work to build a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous nation.

Today, our thoughts and prayers are with Armenians everywhere, as we recall the horror of the Meds Yeghern, honor the memory of those lost, and reaffirm our enduring commitment to the people of Armenia and to the principle that such atrocities must always be remembered if we are to prevent them from occurring ever again.

President Barack Obama's Annual “Meds Yeghern” Statement

President Serzh Sarkisian's Address on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

Dear compatriots,

Today we bow to the memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide. One and a half million Armenians fell prey to such a crime which did not have a name at that time. Nor had a human language coined such an expression or a term yet. They were killed simply because they were Armenians. The crime designed minutely and in advance pursued a clear goal: to take possession of the home country, the property and the millennium-old heritage by exterminating the native people living there. By this they committed a monstrous crime seeking to once and forever annihilate Armenians as a political factor.

Today, nearly a hundred years after the Genocide, it is obvious that we as a nation were not ready to undergo those hardships neither psychologically nor in terms of an organization degree. Up until now, all the parts of Armenian people and all generations have known what the outcomes of the Genocide feel like. It is true. However, the reality is that we have built our state and today, in contrast to the past, we are ready to confront such calamities both psychologically and in terms of an organization degree especially in our homeland. Nowhere in the world is as safe for an Armenian as it is under the auspices of his own state.

Dear compatriots,

The 24th of April is just a symbolic date: it is clear that the Armenian Genocide was not initiated and put an end in one day. Moreover, it is alive as far as the successor of the Ottoman Turkey continues its policy of utter denial. We are convinced that the denial of a crime constitutes the direct continuation of that very crime. Only recognition and condemnation can prevent the repetition of such crimes in the future.

Today, we stand on the threshold of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. This can afford Turkey a good chance to repent and to set aside the historical stigma in case if they make efforts to set free their state’s future from this heavy burden.

At the same time, I publicly reaffirm: we do not consider the Turkish society as our enemy. Bowing to the memory of the innocent victims we remember all those Turks, Turkish families who lent a helping hand to their Armenian neighbors, friends being annihilated by the barbarians and helped numerous Armenian children escape from the clutches of the mob. God bless the memories of those who gave plenty of our compatriots a helping hand by risking even their and their families’ lives. Every society including Turks should be proud of their ancestors who rescued lives and threw down the gauntlet to the Genocide. We remember this.

We express our gratitude to all the countries and peoples who granted asylum to our compatriots having had a narrow escape from the Genocide. Armenian people will remember this forever. Our sisters and brothers have kept showing their gratitude for decades by becoming devoted citizens of those hospitable countries.

Today, the Armenians of Syria have got into trouble. This is our open wound and the issue of our primary concern. We do our best to re-establish peace for Syrian people and our compatriots of Syria.

Dear compatriots,

We are approaching the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with a straightening back, open-faced and having a state whose name is the Republic of Armenia. It is the homeland of entire Armenians who despite the decade-old illegal blockade and the “neither war nor peace” reality continue to make progress.

The year 2015 should convey a strong message to Turkey. The attitude toward Armenia can no longer be measured by words because it presumes clear steps: the opening of the closed borders and the establishment of normal relations. Our position on the Armenian-Turkish protocols has not changed and the idea of “reasonable terms” is becoming more urgent than ever.

President Serzh Sarkisian's Address on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

Kurdish and Alawite Intellectuals Travel to Armenia to Commemorate 99th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide

Social-Democratic Hunchakian Party (SDHP) Armenia Executive Board Chairman Narek Galstyan and several other Board members hosted a group of Kurdish and Alawite intellectual leaders, who are visiting Armenia to pay tribute to the Armenian Genocide victims on the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The Kurdish and Alawite intellectuals expressed their support for the Armenian people, and condemned Turkey’s official policy of Genocide denial, as reported by the SDHP. They also noted that the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide’s is the fight and objective of not only Armenians, but of all minorities living in Turkey.

In turn, Galstyan noted that the SDHP’s struggle is not aimed at the Turkish people, but rather against Turkey’s state policy, which continues to perpetuate the cycle of denial of the Armenian Genocide along with an anti-Armenian policy that has been in place for nearly a century.

Պատվիրակության կազմում էին Քրդական ազգային կոմիտեի Գերմանիայի ներկայացուցիչ Եքսիլ Քոչը, Եվրոպայի խաղաղության և դեմոկրատական մեջլիսի նախագահ Ռոժա Յըլդրընը, Եվրոպայի ալաուիների կոնֆեդերացիայի ներկայացուցիչ Ալի Էքբեր Բեքթաշը, Եվրոպայի գաղթականների կոնֆեդերացիայի նախագահ Շաֆակ Արապաճը, Նոր Զարթոնք հայկական կազմակերպության Եվրոպայի ներկայացուցիչ Ալեքսիս Քալքը, Ստամբուլի Նոր Զարթոնքի բանբեր Սայաթ Թէքիրը:

Kurdish and Alawite Intellectuals Travel to Armenia to Commemorate 99th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide

City of Los Angeles Commemorates Armenian Genocide

LOS ANGLES, CA – In commemoration of the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian Council of America joined about 40 members from various Armenian political, cultural and religious organizations for the annual City of Los Angeles Armenian Genocide commemoration at the City Council chambers in City Hall.

In attendance were representatives from the office of the Consul General of Armenia, as well as the Diocese and Prelacy, Armenian Assembly of America, along with ACA Board Members Jirair Tossounian and Krikor Moloyan and dozens of community leaders, activists, clergymen and philanthropists.

“As a native Angeleno, I’m honored that the LA City Council pays tribute to the victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide each and every year through these annual ceremonies,” said Tossounian. “As we approach the centennial commemoration of the Genocide, I’d like to thank the City of LA for their continued efforts in publicizing this event as more and more people who have not had the opportunity to learn about the Genocide are educated about this tragedy promoting a community of peace and humanity.”

A slide show was presented highlighting the survivors of the Genocide who settled in the United States and the relief efforts taken by the U.S., particularly in city of Los Angeles to help the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Among the Near Eastern Relief efforts discussed was a campaign by child actor Jackie Coogan, where he led an effort to enlist the children of American to help the children of Armenia. Also a part of the Near East Relief was the Golden Dinner Rule of the entertainment community in Hollywood where lavish dinners were skipped in order to raise funds for the Armenians who were being persecuted during the Genocide. “These were all philanthropic efforts to save a nation … thanks to the Near East Relief,” said Councilmember Paul Krekorian. “As we recognize and remember the Genocide, it’s important to recognize the victory of the Armenian Genocide,” he added.

Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell addressing the Los Angeles City Council

Representing the Little Armenia community of East Hollywood, Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell shared his personal experience as a descendant of a Native American tribe who were uprooted and violently displaced from their native homeland. “We have an obligation to do all we can that tragedies don’t happen again,” said O’Farrell. “I want to commend the Armenian community for keeping the memory alive.”

Genocide survivors Joseph and Knar Manjikian donated six volumes of memoirs from survivors as a part of the Genocide Library, which they published, to the Los Angeles City Library. Joseph Manjikian shared his experience as a Genocide survivor and reiterated the importance of preventing future genocides by acknowledging the past.

Councilmember Blumenfield echoed the sentiments of Councilmember O’Ferrill and talked about his experience on a recent trip to Armenia and what a big impression it left on him as Councilmember Paul Koretz spoke about the ongoing denial of the Genocide stating that there isn’t the same anger projected towards Germany because the next generations have acknowledged the Holocaust. “It’s hard for me to understand why Turkey has not taken those steps,” said Koretz. “It’s important to continue to fight to have the Genocide acknowledged by the entire world, including Turkey so this tragedy is not repeated.”

Encouraging the Armenian community to continue educating the public about the Genocide, Councilmember Jose Huizar thanked those in attendance for providing an opportunity to teach others about the tragedy as Councilmember Nury Martinez announced that she is proud to represent the growing Armenian community in her district in Sun valley.

City of Los Angeles Commemorates Armenian Genocide

Erdogan's Condolences Message Fails to Acknowledge the Armenian Genocide

ANKARA — Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered on Wednesday first-ever condolences to the descendants of the victims of the Armenians Genocide  representing the first such overt comment ever publicly stated by a Turkish leader.

In an April 23 statement released in nine languages, including Armenian, Erdogan said, “The incidents of the First World War are our shared pain.”

Erdogan said he hoped “the peoples of an ancient and unique geography, who share similar customs and manners will be able to talk to each other about the past with maturity.”

Erdogan added that “we wish that the Armenians who lost their lives in the context of the early 20th century rest in peace.”

But while acknowledging that April 24 “carries a particular significance” for the Armenians, Erdogan implicitly stood by Ankara’s denial of a premeditated government effort to wipe out the Armenian population of Ottoman Turkey. He said that many Turkish, Kurdish and Arab subjects of the crumbling empire also died during the war.

It is believed to be the first time a Turkish prime minister has offered such explicit condolences.

Full text of English translation of Erdogan’s statement:

“The 24th of April carries a particular significance for our Armenian citizens and for all Armenians around the world, and provides a valuable opportunity to share opinions freely on a historical matter.

It is indisputable that the last years of the Ottoman Empire were a difficult period, full of suffering for Turkish, Kurdish, Arab, Armenian and millions of other Ottoman citizens, regardless of their religion or ethnic origin.

Any conscientious, fair and humanistic approach to these issues requires an understanding of all the sufferings endured in this period, without discriminating as to religion or ethnicity.

Certainly, neither constructing hierarchies of pain nor comparing and contrasting suffering carries any meaning for those who experienced this pain themselves.

As a Turkish proverb goes, “fire burns the place where it falls.”

It is a duty of humanity to acknowledge that Armenians remember the suffering experienced in that period, just like every other citizen of the Ottoman Empire.

In Turkey, expressing different opinions and thoughts freely on the events of 1915 is the requirement of a pluralistic perspective as well as of a culture of democracy and modernity.

Some may perceive this climate of freedom in Turkey as an opportunity to express accusatory, offensive and even provocative assertions and allegations.

Even so, if this will enable us to better understand historical issues with their legal aspects and to transform resentment to friendship again, it is natural to approach different discourses with empathy and tolerance and expect a similar attitude from all sides.

The Republic of Turkey will continue to approach every idea with dignity in line with the universal values of law.

Nevertheless, using the events of 1915 as an excuse for hostility against Turkey and turning this issue into a matter of political conflict is inadmissible.

The incidents of the First World War are our shared pain. To evaluate this painful period of history through a perspective of just memory is a humane and scholarly responsibility.

Millions of people of all religions and ethnicities lost their lives in the First World War. Having experienced events which had inhumane consequences – such as relocation – during the First World War, should not prevent Turks and Armenians from establishing compassion and mutually humane attitudes among towards one another.

In today’s world, deriving enmity from history and creating new antagonisms are neither acceptable nor useful for building a common future.

The spirit of the age necessitates dialogue despite differences, understanding by heeding others, evaluating means for compromise, denouncing hatred, and praising respect and tolerance.

With this understanding, we, as the Turkish Republic, have called for the establishment of a joint historical commission in order to study the events of 1915 in a scholarly manner. This call remains valid. Scholarly research to be carried out by Turkish, Armenian and international historians would play a significant role in shedding light on the events of 1915 and an accurate understanding of history.

It is with this understanding that we have opened our archives to all researchers. Today, hundreds of thousands of documents in our archives are at the service of historians.

Looking to the future with confidence, Turkey has always supported scholarly and comprehensive studies for an accurate understanding of history. The people of Anatolia, who lived together for centuries regardless of their different ethnic and religious origins, have established common values in every field from art to diplomacy, from state administration to commerce. Today they continue to have the same ability to create a new future.

It is our hope and belief that the peoples of an ancient and unique geography, who share similar customs and manners will be able to talk to each other about the past with maturity and to remember together their losses in a decent manner. And it is with this hope and belief that we wish that the Armenians who lost their lives in the context of the early twentieth century rest in peace, and we convey our condolences to their grandchildren.

Regardless of their ethnic or religious origins, we pay tribute, with compassion and respect, to all Ottoman citizens who lost their lives in the same period and under similar conditions.”

Erdogan's Condolences Message Fails to Acknowledge the Armenian Genocide

Former AP Photojournalist Harry Koundakjian Dies at 83

NEW YORK — Former Associated Press photographer and photo editor Harry Koundakjian who spent years covering the Middle East before working in New York City, has died. He was 83.

Koundakjian died Monday at a Manhattan hospital, from complications of open heart surgery he had in February, his daughter, Lola Koundakjian, said.

Koundakjian was born in Syria and finished high school in Lebanon. He began work there for The Associated Press in the 1960s, first as a freelancer and then as a staffer in 1969.

He photographed news events throughout the Middle East and Europe, including war in Lebanon, the Olympics in Germany, and the 1978 wedding of King Hussein of Jordan to his fourth wife, Queen Noor.

In 1979, he and his family moved to New York City, where he was a photo editor for the AP until his retirement in 2006.

Koundakjian’s career was his life and his colleagues became close family friends, his daughter said.

“He brought his career home in a positive way,” she said.

Survivors also include his wife and a son.

Lola Koundakjian said a celebration of her father’s life and a funeral are being planned.

Former AP Photojournalist Harry Koundakjian Dies at 83

Ararat Home Annual Armenian History Timeline Quiz Bowl

MISSION HILLS, CA — The 15th Annual Armenian History Timeline Quiz Bowl was held at Ararat Home in Mission Hills on Sunday, April 6, 2014, with the participation of eighth graders from the following Armenian schools: Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, Vahan and Anoush Chamlian Armenian School, Holy Martyrs Cabayan Elementary and Ferrahian High School, C&E Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School, Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School, A.G.B.U. Manoogian-Demirdjian School, Armenian Sisters Academy, and St. Gregory A. & M. Hovsepian School.

The Quiz Bowl evolved into a lively contest and revealed the students’ depth of knowledge, the thorough preparation of their teachers, and the engaged attentiveness of the audience. During the two-hour competition, students answered a series of questions about Armenian history and culture spanning three millennia. They demonstrated familiarity with a varied range of topics, including history, geography, literature, science, the arts and religion. The questions were based on the book, Armenian History Timeline, written by Hagop and Marilyn Arshagouni and illustrated by the late Herach Hovsepian.

At the conclusion of the Quiz Bowl, awards were presented to the participating schools and students. With the generous support of the Ararat Home Board of Trustees, each student received a special certificate, a Quiz Bowl mug and a sterling silver replica of a Tigranes the Great coin. In turn, each school received a monetary award that is to be allocated to its scholarship fund. The first place award check for $1,000 was presented to Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, the second place award of $750 went to St. Gregory A. & M. Hovsepian School, and the third place award of $500 was given to Holy Martyrs Ferrahian School. The other participating schools received $250 award checks. Additionally, the Ararat-Eskijian Museum donated two books to the schools’ libraries: the companion book to the documentary film, “Orphans of the Genocide”; and, “The Armenian Genocide: Testimonies of the Eye-Witness Survivors”, a collection of 700 testimonies in English, which is written by Professor Verjine Svazlian and published thanks to the generous contributions of the museum’s patrons.

The Armenian History Timeline Quiz Bowl is organized annually by Ararat Home in partnership with the Ararat-Eskijian Museum. Visitors to Ararat Home’s Mission Hills campus may enjoy perusing the Armenian History Timeline that is etched into the sidewalk.

Ararat Home Annual Armenian History Timeline Quiz Bowl

ABDEM: We are Here to Share the Pain of the Armenian Nation

YEREVAN (Alisa Gevorgyan, Public Radio of Armenia) — Members of the European Peace and Democracy Assembly (Avrupa Baris ve Demokrasi Meclisi – ABDEM) will visit the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial on April 24 to pay tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims.

“It’s our pain and shame that we have been silent and have failed to respond to the denial of the Armenian Genocide both in Turkey and around the world. On April 24 at the Genocide Memorial we should demand from the Turkish government to recognize the Armenian Genocide and assume the whole burden of responsibility. We demand justice for all victims of the Genocide,” ABDEM members told reporters in Yerevan.

“We are here to share the pain of the Armenian nation and support it in the struggle for justice. Turkey should face its history and recognize the Armenian Genocide. Otherwise, the democratic perspective of Turkey will never become a reality,” President of the organization, member of the Kurdish liberation movement Rozhda Yuldirim said.

The European Peace and Democracy Assembly (ABDEM) was founded in Brussels in 2013. It has more than one million members in different countries of the world. Among them there are Kurds, Greeks, Circassians, Alawites, Assyrians and Armenians – representatives of the nations subjected to Turkey’s policy of racist pressure and annihilation that have become a minority in the country over time.

According to the members of the Assembly, the nations that suffered from genocide are considered “suspicious foreigners” among the Turkish society. Kurds are seen as a threat to the territorial integrity of the Republic of Turkey, and Alawites are considered a “perversion” in Sunni Islam. There are different reasons for those not complying with the notion of the “Turkish tribe” to be considered enemies in the country.

“Alawites comprise 1/3 of the 75 million population of Turkey, about 25 thousand Alawites live in the country, and about 1.5 million live in Europe. We recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide and demand that Turkey accept its crime. It should fulfill all requirements Armenians will present as compensation,” representatives of Turkey’s Alawite community Alekbaf Pektash said.

ABDEM: We are Here to Share the Pain of the Armenian Nation

Atom Egoyan’s Letter to Turkey: Rise to this Extraordinary Challenge

ISTANBUL — “Agos” Turkish-Armenian weekly in Istanbul has published an open letter by renowned Canadian-Armenian director Atom Egoyan addressed to the Turkish people. The full text of the letter is presented below:

“I’m exhausted by my anger. I have always thought that if you understood all the things I know, you’d feel the same way. You would think that it’s enough, that it’s time to move on.

Yet it’s impossible to move on.

I have made a promise – like so many other Armenians – and it would haunt me to break this vow.

I’ve kept this vow as I’ve seen populations exterminated in Cambodia, in the former Yugoslavia, in Rwanda…in too many places after we said we would learn, where we swore we would never see Genocide happen again.

I’ve also seen members of your civil society stand up bravely to speak the truth. I have seen Hrant Dink murdered for remembering a legacy that every Armenian has a duty to guard.

Without some acknowledgment of the monstrous nature of the crime that continues to be perpetrated through denial and apathy we shall not rest.

We have committed ourselves to remember, and yet the crime remains a raw wound on the very land it was committed upon.

I’m exhausted by your government’s vehement denial, exhausted by my inability to move on. Yet there is little choice but to accept this exhaustion in the face of its alternative.

Your government has imposed the denial of this crime upon your shoulders for a century. There will never be a commission to ‘reveal the truth’ and we are not interested in seeing your open archives. We have the truth from too many witnesses, seen the archives of your closest wartime collaborators and heard the wise counsel of Genocide and Holocaust scholars from around the world.

Today, I simply ask you to do your work, to question your government’s motivations, and to rise to this extraordinary challenge”.

Atom Egoyan’s Letter to Turkey: Rise to this Extraordinary Challenge

The Armenian Genocide: Not for Just Once a Year

Editorial from the Zoryan Institute on the occasion of the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

Many Armenians express their interest and concern in the genocide once a year, around April 24. They feel the need to participate in commemorative events because some feel obligated because of guilt, some do it once a year because they don’t want to visit the trauma the rest of the year, and some dread the past altogether and stay away from it throughout the year, but for the sake of keeping the memory alive they feel compelled to attend these commemorative events. There are those who don’t commemorate even once a year because they are so divorced from the history. But there is so much more to be done. The Armenian Genocide is a subject vital to Armenians that must be thought about and acted upon every day. Here are some critical reasons.

1. It is a mass crime that demands recognition and restorative justice for the international criminal justice system to have any credibility for punishment, deterrence, or prevention.

2. To bring a measure of comfort and closure to the victims and their descendants, who must endure tremendous psychological pain, not only for the loss of life, land, and property, but also for the threat to the sustainability of Armenian culture and civilization.

3. To search for truth and understanding of the Genocide, what happened, how it happened, and its ongoing impact. This is still aggressively denied by the Government of Turkey and its supporters, who treat the Armenians as unworthy of consideration as human beings and perpetuates the effects of the Genocide, as Prof. Roger W. Smith has written so eloquently.

4. The Genocide is the main obstacle to normal relations between Armenia and Turkey today. Turkey has unilaterally closed their mutual border and imposed an economic blockade on Armenia. Ostensibly this is over the Karabagh issue. But, clearly the Genocide is a major aspect of it, as Turkey continues to insist on a historical commission to review the subject. Thus, the 1915 Genocide is national security for Armenia’s existence today.

5. Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide is an assault not only on Armenians, but also on truth, on world history, and thus on humanity, itself.

The deniers are at work every day. Prof. Vahakn Dadrian has described there being an “industry of denial.” They are supported by the Turkish government in various ways with all the political and economic leverage that a powerful state has at its disposal. They organize conferences, give public lectures, publish books and articles using the forms of scholarship, with appropriate academic language and footnotes, but what they produce is not scholarship; it is anti-Armenian propaganda.Real scholarship follows the evidence—all the evidence—to arrive at conclusions. Real scholarship takes account of the arguments of other scholars and builds on them with new evidence or serious arguments. It does not hide, ignore, or dismiss information or ideas that do not fit a preconceived model. Recently, they have also been active in the courts, seeking legal validation in various ways for their denialist position.

Therefore, it is necessary for us to deal with this issue more than once a year. We must be active in working energetically every day in promoting education and awareness of the Armenian Genocide at every level and to combat its pervasive, well funded denial, racism and hostility towards Armenians.

There is at least one organization that has been doing just that successfully for the past thirty-two years, the Zoryan Institute.

Zoryan has excelled at bringing the key Armenian issues to prominent international settings and publishing groundbreaking books on critical subjects, using original research based on archival materials. It collected original archival documentation, including some 3,000 hours of oral history testimony of Armenian Genocide survivors on video, providing raw data for future researchers, as well as a link to the eyewitness experience of the survivors for future generations. It was behind such significant international public events as the Permanent Peoples Tribunal in Paris in 1984, the first judicial hearing of the Armenian Genocide. Its verdict found that genocide had been committed against the Armenian people and that the modern republic of Turkey inherited the legal responsibilities for dealing with the consequences.

Among the more than forty books and two journals fundamental to the field that Zoryan has produced, let me mention just a few example. A Shameful Act is the first account by a Turkish historian which documents that the mass killings of Armenians during WWI was a deliberate, centralized program of state-sponsored extermination. Judgment at Istanbul (in Turkish and English) provides the scholarly documentation and analysis of the Ottoman Military Tribunals prosecuting the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian Genocide: Evidence from the German Foreign Office Archives, 1915-1916 (in German, Turkish and English), pioneering work fourteen years in the making, which led the German Parliament to pass a unanimous resolution acknowledging Germany’s role in the Genocide. It also prompted one of Turkey’s leading journalists to write, “…if you read the book and look at the documents, if you are a person who is introduced to the subject through this book, then there is no way that you would not believe in the genocide and justify the Armenians.” He called it “an extremely important and expensive study.”

Zoryan has also been engaged in court cases, participating as an academic amicus curiae, along with other distinguished organizations, to help defend Massachusetts from having to include denial literature in its high school curriculum on the Armenian Genocide. It was involved as an amicus curiae in helping to defend California’s law on extending the deadline for payment of life insurance policies for victims of the Genocide. And as recently as a month ago, Zoryan was instrumental in organizing a coalition of major Armenian organizations in Europe and North America in a successful endeavor to persuade Switzerland to appeal the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling absolving Dogu Perinçek of Armenian Genocide denial.

This work needs professionals, trained academics and experts involving huge financial resources for identifying, collecting, analyzing, transliterating, translating, editing and publishing, authoritative, universally recognized original archival documents on the history of the events surrounding 1915. This material must be distributed worldwide, especially in Turkey.

No one expects the average person to devote him or herself to such specialized and labor intensive work. But, the denial and as a result, the racism and the threat of security to the Armenians must be resisted by everyone. The only way this can be done is through a professional, successful, highly acclaimed research center such as Zoryan Institute and with the generous financial support of every Armenian.

In this month of April, the world commemorates the genocide not only of the Armenian, but also the Jewish and Rwandan peoples. We naturally focus on these issues at this time, but the work on the Armenian Genocide is not for just once a year.

George Shirinian, Executive Director, Zoryan Institute

zoryan@zoryaninstitute.org

The Armenian Genocide: Not for Just Once a Year