California Courier Online, March 10, 2005
1 – Commentary
Jewish Defense League Demands
Recognition of Armenian Genocide
By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
2 – Glendale Community College Students
Travel to Armenia This Summer
3 – ‘William Saroyan and His World’
Panel Discussion at Fresno State
4 – West SF Valley ANC Supports
Martayan for L.A. City Council
5 – Deadline Nears for Armenian
Insurance Settlement Fund Claims
6 – CSUN Armenian Studies Program to
Celebrate 20th Anniversary Milestone
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1 – Commentary
Jewish Defense League Demands
Recognition of Armenian Genocide
By Harut Sassounian,
Publisher, The California Courier
Last month, in a column criticizing the willingness of the American Jewish
Committee to serve the interests of Turkey, I emphasized that there were
countless other Jewish organizations and individuals who sided with the
Armenians.
In response to that column, I received a strong letter from the Jewish
Defense League (JDL) confirming my opinion that it is important for
Armenians to distinguish between Jewish groups serving Turkey’s interests
and those backing the Armenians.
The JDL is a well-known activist organization that champions various Jewish
causes and supports the interests of the State of Israel. The JDL also
defends the truth about the Armenian Genocide.
Here is the full text of the JDL letter, dated Feb. 22, 2005:
“I read with great interest your editorial ‘American Jewish Group to Lobby
for Turkey’s EU Membership.’ I believe you should have mentioned the Jewish
organizations that demand not only Turkey’s but also the world’s
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Additionally, I respectfully ask that
you include the Jewish Defense League on that list.
“My late husband, Irv Rubin, who was the international chairman of the
Jewish Defense League, always observed April 24 in solidarity with the
Armenian people. During our marriage of 22 years that ended with his 2002
untimely death, I heard Irv say countless times, ‘If the world had taken
notice of what the Turks did to the Armenian people, the Holocaust would
not have happened.’
“If I can be so forward as to give advice, I would say to the American
Armenian community: People will not remember the Armenian Genocide unless
Armenians make them remember it. Just as the Jewish community raised great
amounts of money in order to erect buildings and monuments so the world
would never forget, the Armenian community has a responsibility to
commemorate their tragedy in the same way. As the philosopher George
Santayana so beautifully stated, ‘Those who cannot remember the past are
condemned to repeat it.’ ”
The above letter was signed by Shelley Rubin, the Administrative Director
of the Jewish Defense League ().
In a subsequent e-mail exchange, Mrs. Rubin asked that JDL’s name be added
to the long list of organizations co-sponsoring the congressional
resolution on the Armenian Genocide.
Mrs. Rubin was outraged, however, when she found out that John Evans, the
US Ambassador to Armenia, was forced by his Turkophile superiors to issue a
clarification, thus withdrawing his use of the term Armenian Genocide. She
suggested that tens of thousands of Armenian-Americans and others converge
on Washington, D.C., on April 24 to hold a mass demonstration, demanding
that the Bush administration stop playing childish word games with the
Armenian Genocide and call this monstrous Turkish crime by its proper name
– genocide!
Reacting to this offensive clarification, Cong. Frank Pallone, Jr., the
co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, defended Amb.
Evans in his speech on the floor of the House of Representatives. Cong.
Pallone reminded the Bush administration that President Reagan himself used
the term Armenian Genocide in 1981. While the genocide was still in
progress, another ambassador, the U.S. envoy to Turkey, Henry Morgenthau,
described the barbaric Turkish actions as “a campaign of race
extermination.”
Nine major Armenian-American organizations sent a joint letter to Pres.
Bush last week, calling on him to use the term Armenian Genocide as Pres.
Reagan and Amb. Evans had done. A similar letter, signed by a large number
of House members, is being sent to Pres. Bush.
Meanwhile, deepening the crisis between the Bush Administration and
Armenians worldwide, Amb. Evans was forced by his superiors “to correct”
his original statement for a second time. He amended his earlier
clarification: “although I told my audiences that the United States policy
on the Armenian Genocide has not changed…” to read “although I told my
audiences that the United States policy on the Armenian tragedy has not
changed….” The Turkish press quickly claimed a second victory by reporting
that the State Department had made the correction, complying with the
request of Faruk Logoglu, Turkey’s Ambassador to Washington.
It is appalling to see how callous Bush administration officials are in
undermining the credibility of one of their best diplomats, just to cater
to Turkish dictates.
Fortunately, the former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Harry Gilmore, rose to
the defense of his colleague, by telling Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
this week that he concurs with Amb. Evans. “The Armenian events were
genocide…. From my thorough study of the events of that period, I am
persuaded that they do indeed constitute a genocide,” Gilmore said.
Another positive development was a report in the Turkish press this week,
that Turkey’s then president Turgut Ozal, during his official visit to
Washington in 1991, entertained the thought of recognizing the Armenian
Genocide. Nuzhet Kandemir, the former Turkish Ambassador to the United
States, told the Hurriyet newspaper that President Ozal asked him: “This
Armenian Genocide issue is becoming a big headache for us. If, as Turkey,
we recognized this genocide, and ended this thing, wouldn’t that be
better?”
It is noteworthy that Pres. Ozal used the words “Armenian Genocide,”
without any qualifiers. Even though Amb. Kandemir reported that he was able
to convince Pres. Ozal not to make any rash decisions on this issue, it is
clear that Turkish officials are realizing the inevitability of their
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The sooner they do it, the better for
Turkey’s prospects for joining the European Union and its acceptance into
the ranks of civilized nations!
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2 – Glendale Community College Students
Travel to Armenia This Summer
By Darleene Barrientos
News-Press and Leader
GLENDALE — Glendale Community College students are preparing for a summer
trip to Armenia, the first study abroad program offered at the school.
College trustees are expected to approve the travel arrangements for the
Armenia trip and another study abroad trip to Italy during its meeting
Monday.
“The kind of trip we’re doing is a formal academic program combined with a
lot of excursions and on-site lectures,” trip coordinator Levon Marashlian
said. “A lot of the lectures are not in lecture halls but at museums,
monuments and churches all over the country.”
While several universities throughout the nation have traveled to Armenia
for different programs, Marashlian said this will be the first time it has
been done as part of a formal study abroad program. It will be the first
time a trip to Armenia will be offered to students at a two-year
institution, he said
The college has taken trips to Czech Republic, Spain, Italy and France and
selected Armenia and Italy because they are rich culturally, religiously
and architecturally, Trustee Ara Najarian said.
“[The trip to] Armenia may have a special attraction for students of
Armenian heritage,” Najarian said. “It may be their opportunity to go in an
environment that’s both fun and educational. Many first-generation
[Armenian] students have never had the opportunity to go. “We felt it was
time, and there was enough interest for students to go to Armenia,”
Najarian continued. “We wanted to pick a location where we will
have a good response and good enrollment. Without the proper enrollment, we
would have to drop or cancel or postpone.”
About 21 students are scheduled to go on the trip to Armenia, which will be
from June 21 to July 21. Marashlian hopes the maximum of 30 students will
sign up for the trip.
Student Ani Daniyelian, 20, of Glendale, is excited to visit the country
she left when she was 4, and she plans to visit at least a few relatives
while she is there.
“I want to see what it looks like,” Daniyelian said. “When you’re hearing
about it, you just want to see it for yourself. I want to see Karabakh – I
want to see where so many people lost their lives to liberate the Armenian
territory.”
She would have liked to visit Armenia with her parents, but she feels she
might learn more without them.
“It’s better with students,” she said. “If you go with your parents, its
going to be more of family get-together. As part of a student group, you
are with people your age and you experience it with students who haven’t
seen the country. It’s a better way of learning about it.”
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3 – ‘William Saroyan and His World’
Panel Discussion at Fresno State
FRESNO – The Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State, in cooperation with
the William Saroyan Society of Fresno, is co-sponsoring a panel discussion,
“William Saroyan and His World” at 7 PM on March 11 in the Industrial
Technology Building, Room 101 (corner of Barstow and Campus Drive) on the
Fresno State campus.
The panel discussion is part of the Armenian Studies Program Spring 2005
Lecture Series and is being held in conjunction with a one-unit course on
William Saroyan being offered the same weekend by Dr. Dickran Kouymjian,
Director of the Armenian Studies Program.
Dr. Dickran Kouymjian will moderate the panel discussion and serve as a
discussant.
John Kallenberg, retired Fresno County Librarian and President of the
William Saroyan Society will give the introduction to the panel.
Fresno author and historian Berge Bulbulian will speak on “Fresno in the
Time of Saroyan.” Bulbulian is the author of The Fresno Armenians.
Barlow Der Mugrdechian of the Armenian Studies Program will speak on
“Saroyan the Writer.”
Long-time Saroyan friend and writer Ed Hagopian will speak on
“Reminiscences and Recollections.”
Fresno County California Collection Librarian and book collector William
Secrest, Jr. will present a paper on “Collecting Saroyan.”
The panel discussion is free and open to the public.
Relaxed parking will be available in Lots Q, K, and L after 7:00 PM the
night of the lecture. For more information on the presentation please
contact the Armenian Studies Program at 278-2669.
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4 – West SF Valley ANC Supports
Martayan for L.A. City Council
ENCINO, CA – The West San Fernando Valley Armenian National Committee
officially announced its support for candidate Greg Martayan for the
position of Los Angeles City Council, 5th District. West San Fernando
Valley Chairman Ara Papazian made the announcement stating, “Not only is
Greg Martayan bright, energetic and a hard working individual who can best
represent the interests of our community and the 5th District, but he is
one of our own.”
Papazian stressed, “It is important to encourage and support this
generation of American-Armenians to become actively involved and
participate in the political process, as it is the leading avenue in which
the voice of the Armenian community could be heard.” He concluded by urging
all voters in the 5th District to vote for Martayan.
Greg Martayan is a native Angelino and for many years has been active in
Armenian organizations in the San Fernando Valley. In his public life, Greg
Martayan has served on numerous boards, commissions, and councils since the
age of fourteen.
He was the youngest Commissioner appointed in the City of Los Angeles under
Mayor James Hahn, has been an Ambassador for the National Crime Prevention
Council, as well as served on the Los Angeles Workforce Investment Board
Engagement Taskforce. Martayan was appointed for three terms of two years
to the National Youth Advisory Council, and continues to be an active
senior advisor. He has also engaged in meetings with members in the state
and local legislatures of California.
Garnering support from numerous members of President Bush’s Cabinet civil
rights leaders like Congressman John Lewis of Atlanta, Georgia, Martayan
was named a “Leader of Tomorrow” by the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Elie
Wiesel at a conference held at Boston University. He has been a six time
recipient of the President’s Service Award, as well as received
certificates of acknowledgment from Mayor Hahn, Los Angeles City Council
President Alex Padilla, LA Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, and
Former Speaker of the California Assembly Robert M. Hertzberg.
The Los Angeles City fifth council district includes the neighborhoods of
Encino, Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, Palms, Westwood, Century City,
Beverlywood, the Fairfax District, Cheviot Hills and Carthay Circle, as
well as the hillside communities between the 405 Freeway and Laurel Canyon.
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5 – Deadline Nears for Armenian
Insurance Settlement Fund Claims
BURBANK, CA – Paul Krekorian, a member of the Armenian Insurance Settlement
Fund Board, announced that March 16 is the absolute deadline to submit a
claim for payment under the class action settlement in Marootian v. New
York Life Insurance Co.
Last year, New York Life agreed to settle the class action suit by paying a
total of $20 million, including up to $11 million for the heirs of the
policyholders and at least $3 million for specified Armenian charities.
“The beneficiaries of these policies have waited 90 years for justice,”
said Settlement Fund Board member Krekorian, an attorney who also serves
as Vice President of the Burbank Board of Education. “It would be a great
tragedy if their efforts were frustrated now because they missed a simple
deadline and waived their legitimate legal rights,” Krekorian said.
The heirs of policyholders may be considered for a share of benefits under
this settlement only if they submit a Notice of Claim form by March 16.
The form may be obtained by calling the toll free information line at
1-866-422-0124 or visiting the settlement fund website at
Claims may come from anywhere in the world, and it is not necessary that
complete documentation be
included with the Notice of Claim form. After the Settlement Fund Board
receives the Notice of Claim form, the claimant will be informed about
other steps that are required in the process.
The settlement fund website includes a partial list of New York Life
policyholders from the relevant era, and those who believe they may be
heirs can search for their ancestors on this list. However, it is not
necessary that their ancestor appear on the list in order to submit a
claim. A claim might still be approved if the heir has some other
evidence that their ancestor was a policyholder and payment was not made,
even if the ancestor does not appear on the list.
The Settlement Fund Board is an independent panel of three Armenian
community leaders appointed by California State Insurance Commissioner
John Garamendi. The Board is not affiliated in any way with the lawyers
who handled the class action suit, and the Board members were not involved
in negotiating the terms of the settlement. The Board is an entirely
independent panel that will evaluate all of the claims of individual heirs
and award the funds to those who meet the qualifications of the agreement.
The three members of the Board are Paul Krekorian; attorney and law
professor Berj Boyajian; and physician and health care activist Viken
Manjikian.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, $3 million has already been
distributed in equal shares to the AGBU, the Armenian Relief Society, the
Armenian Education Foundation, the Armenian Missionary Association, the
Armenian Catholic Church, both the Eastern and Western Dioceses of the
Armenian Church of North America, and both the Eastern and Western
Prelacies of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
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6 – CSUN Armenian Studies Program to
Celebrate 20th Anniversary Milestone
NORTHRIDGE, CA- The Armenian Studies Program at the California State
University, Northridge (CSUN) will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a
banquet on April 8 at the Brandview Collection in Glendale.
The Armenian Studies Program at the California State University,
Northridge (CSUN) started making modest strides in 1983. Today the Program
functions within the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and
Literatures in the College of Humanities, offering thirteen undergraduate
courses in Armenian language, literature, culture, contemporary issues, and
related subjects. Interested students may opt for Armenian as a minor or
as a field of concentration. Work is currently in progress to create a
certificate in Armenian Studies.
“This will be a wonderful occation to celebrate this milestone together and
to renew our commitment to the future growth of our program,” said Prof.
Hermine Mahseredjian, Director of the Program.
The Armenian Studies Program has a tremendous potential for further growth.
This optimistic projection is based on the fact that more than 3,000
Armenian students are enrolled at CSUN. This is approximately ten percent
of the University’s total student population. These students enroll in
Armenian classes and are very active in the Armenian Students Association
(ASA). Upon graduation, many of them remain connected through the Armenian
Alumni Association (AAA). The Armenian Studies Program serves as the
center of these activities.
The Program also encourages participation in the “Cultural Immersion”
program in Armenia. Undertaken twice to date, these excursions have left
indelible impressions on the participants. The “Memorandum of
Understanding” signed with Yerevan State University provides the momentum
for future faculty and student exchange programs, and the invitation of
distinguished guest lecturers.
The tremendous potential of Armenian Studies At CSUN cannot, however, be
realized without the support of community partners.
Tickets for the April 8 banquet at $75 per person.
For additional information about the Armenian Studies Program at CSUN and
the 20th Anniversary Banquet, contact Prof. Mahseredjian at (818) 677-7228,
e-mail: [email protected] or Prof. Vahram Shemmassian at (818)
677-3456, e-mail: [email protected], or the Department of Modern
and Classical Languages and Literatures at (818) 677-3467.
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