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Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
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April 12, 2005
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GENOCIDE SCHOLAR RECGONIZED FOR LIFE TIME OF WORK
By Florence Avakian
In recognition of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the
world’s most renowned Genocide scholar, Dr. Vahakn N. Dadrian, was
honored by the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) at a
gala banquet on Saturday, April 2, 2005. At this unique event,
officiated by the Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese,
the honoree received “A Lifetime Achievement Award” for his more than 35
years of dedicated scholarship.
Among the nearly 200 people present were distinguished leaders of the
Armenian community, and representatives of all the major Armenian
religious, social, and benevolent organizations. The varied crowd
attested to the significance of Dr. Dadrian’s profound contribution to
the entire Armenian community. And indeed, there was an aura of
reverence among the attendees for this honoree who almost single
handedly has championed the cause of Genocide research for more than
three decades.
Following the invocation by the Primate, well known author Dr. Peter
Balakian took on the role of master of ceremonies. “Tonight, we
celebrate that ideas and texts make a difference,” he said. “Vahakn
Dadrian’s work is a tribute to the triumph of knowledge over ignorance,
racism, denial, and totalitarian propaganda. I have never known a
scholar so intensely passionate, so committed to his work, so immersed
in it. He is not only the total scholar, but a scholar whose work is
inflected by an ethical dimension, by a relentless pursuit of justice.
He is a warrior for justice, a voice of rational truth in the face of
blasphemy. Not only are we Armenians grateful, but so is the wider
world. Your contribution to knowledge and discourse will live on long
after you.”
A welcoming toast was offered by political activist and writer Dr. Murat
Acemoglu. The director of the Armenian National Institute, Dr. Rouben
Adalian, recognized the distinguished guests present, including Armenian
Ambassador to the United Nations Armen Martirosyan, Professor Marjorie
Housepian, and Turkish historian Taner Akcam, who was lauded by all the
speakers for his courage and scholarship.
RECOGNITION NEEDED
In his tribute to Dr. Dadrian, Dr. Vartan Gregorian, president of
Carnegie Corporation of New York, expressed appreciation to the Genocide
scholar for his lifetime of research, and pointed out that he was able
to do so in many different European archival centers because of his
mastery of Turkish, Armenian, French, English and German. The number of
those killed during the Genocide is not the only major point, he
continued. “The point is that something horrible took place, and the
Turkish government needs to recognize this fact so that both peoples can
move on in peace,” he said.
Dr. Gregorian noted how easy it is to deny Genocide, and stressed the
importance of supporting current Armenian Genocide scholars. He urged
the creation and promotion of scholarships in Genocide study so current
and future generations can become involved in this issue.
MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENTS
In an eloquent address to the assembled dignitaries, Professor Stephen
Feinstein, a noted scholar and director of the Center for Holocaust and
Genocide Studies at the University of Minnesota, called Dadrian’s work
“so important that one can hardly think of a consistent narrative about
what happened to Armenians in this period without his achievement.”
“Professor Dadrian studies genocide not only for making the Armenian
case an ‘unforgotten’ genocide, but as a way to confirm that
civilization, as we know it, depends upon law and order, and punishment
for the most severe crimes as deterrence against future criminal acts,”
Professor Feinstein said.
The Holocaust scholar pointed out that Dadrian and other historians have
insured that the perpetrators will not be “faceless without names. The
Dadrian methodology is called ‘compelling evidence’ that revolves around
the principles of reliability, explicitness, incontestability,
verifiability,” he explained, and is reconstructed around “four major
components — premeditation, genocidal intention, the organization of
the genocide, and the implementation of the genocide.”
Professor Feinstein predicted that recognition of the Armenian Genocide
will occur, and “Turkey’s desire to be part of the European Union will
probably facilitate this process.” He then posed the question of how
Armenians will react both in the homeland and in the diaspora.
One of the most difficult questions will be how Armenians would like the
story to be told in schools worldwide. He suggested the making of “good
films, a multitude of academic programs, and endowment programs and
chairs” honoring Professor Dadrian by name.
“The greatest danger with recognition of genocide may be success,” he
said. “Will success on genocide recognition bring with it unintended
consequences? But the one thing we know for certain is that the issue
of genocide recognition will be won by dialogue, a dialogue based on
facts, facts assembled by historians and sociologists of the highest
caliber, as the person we are honoring this evening, Vahakn Dadrian.”
A short film on the life and work of Professor Dadrian was shown during
the gala. It was prepared by the Zoryan Institute, a Toronto,
Canada-based center of Genocide studies and research where the honoree
serves as director of Genocide Research.
A special Pontifical Encyclical and the St. Sahag and St. Mesrob
Medallion from the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, was presented
to Professor Dadrian by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian. The Encyclical,
read during the banquet by Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of St. Vartan
Cathedral, said in part, “Thanks to your laborious services and
productive work, you have, as a renowned scholar, achieved international
recognition, and have justly become worthy of many awards.”
HONORING THE PAST
As a standing ovation lasting several minutes greeted Professor Dadrian,
he acknowledged the tribute by reciting a poem, and some psalms in
krapar he had learned as a child in his native Bolis. He related
poignantly how he would be taken to church three times a day as a child.
Pointing out the absurdities of the Turkish allegations that it was a
civil war, he stated, “It’s a complete lie and fabrication that there
was a civil war with these defenseless Armenian men, women and children,
and that the Turks have begun to concede this issue of a civil war
scenario.”
He pointed out that a central part of his methodology was to use actual
source material. “I didn’t use French, English, or Russian archival
sources because the Turks could say that these sources weren’t fair.
Instead, I used Ottoman Turkish, German, and Austrian documents, which
were more reliable. Why would Turkey’s allies want to indict their own
ally? Their ambassadors and other witnesses weren’t making it up,” he
declared.
“Even though when the Ittihad officials fled Turkey they destroyed as
many documents of the Genocide as possible, Ottoman archives survived
because of the enormity of the crime and the monumental evidence of the
terrible events,” he explained. In this regard, he paid special tribute
to Turkish historian Taner Akcam, who was instrumental in getting his
hands on and publicizing as many documents as possible.
In order to accommodate European standards, the Turks are “changing
their ways and statements,” he related, “but I don’t think it’s
genuine.” However it’s the Armenians only hope to get someplace over
there and through these acts try to live civilly with them, he stated.
He revealed that three Bolis universities will soon hold “discussions”
on the deportations.
PROMINENT, WEALTHY ARMENIANS AT FAULT
Professor Dadrian was especially critical of prominent and wealthy
Armenian businessmen for not using their resources and influence to
establish Genocide scholarships in the way Jewish leaders have funded
Holocaust studies programs.
“The Genocide occupies a central place in modern Armenian history.
Unless we study it, we are leaving it to history to settle it. This is
exactly what the Turks want. Well, it’s been greatly research already
and it happened,” he stated strongly to another standing ovation.
In presenting the “Lifetime Achievement Award” to Professor Dadrian,
Archbishop Barsamian said with emphasis that the “significance of Dr.
Dadrian’s work is not only that he has uncovered the mechanics of the
Genocide, but also that he has shed light on the seeds of genocide: the
signs and circumstances that lay the groundwork for, and eventually lead
to, the world of human crimes. This is an act of the highest
humanitarian consequence.”
“It is a testimony to his character and courage that Dr. Dadrian has
studied this evil without flinching, so that the world will never forget
the Armenian Genocide — and perhaps more importantly, so that the world
will learn from the sad fate of our forebears, and never allow it to
happen again,” the Primate said.
The committee which organized this special evening of tribute was
chaired by Hirant Gulian, and included Adrine Abdo, Murat Acemoglu, Berc
Araz, Aram Arkun, Zeki Dikme, Ruby Gulian, Avedis Kasakyan, Norair
Meguerditchian, Sam Mikaelian, and Christopher Zakian.
— 4/12/05
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese
of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), presents Dr. Vahakn Dadrian
with “A Lifetime Achievement Award” during a gala honoring the Armenian
Genocide scholar at New York City’s Diocesan Center on Saturday, April
2, 2005.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Famed genocide scholar Dr. Vahakn Dadrian addresses
a crow of more than 200 during a banquet honoring his life-time of work.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): Archbishop Barsamian talks with, from left, Dr.
Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York; guest
of honor Dr. Vahakn Dadrian; and Professor Stephen Feinstein, director
of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of
Minnesota; during a banquet at New York City’s Diocesan Center on
Saturday, April 2, 2005.
PHOTO CAPTION (4): Dr. Vartan Gregorian, left, president of Carnegie
Corporation of New York, was a guest speaker during a banquet organized
by the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) to honor
genocide expert Dr. Vahakn Dadrian, right, for his years of devoted
work.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress