California Courier Online, April 28, 2005
1 – Commentary
Pres. Bush’s April 24 Statement…
>From Bad to Worse
By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
2 – 2006 San Francisco
Film Festival
Calls for Entries
3 – SOAD on SNL
4 – Armenian Church in Singapore
To Celebrate 170th Anniversary
5 – Application Deadlines Near for
Travel Fellowships to Armenia
6 – After 80 Years, Looted Church Artifacts
To be Returned to Armenian Church
7 – Armenian Professionals Install
2005 Executive Board Officers
8 – Plans Underway for Pontifical
Visit by Catholicos Karekin II
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1 – Commentary
Pres. Bush’s April 24 Statement…
>From Bad to Worse
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
I did not support George Bush’s re-election last year knowing full well
that the neo-cons (neo-conservatives) occupying some of the top echelons of
the Bush administration would never allow him to utter the words “Armenian
Genocide.”
Nevertheless, seeing the growing anti-American hysteria in Turkey in recent
months, some Armenians naively believed that Pres. Bush would teach the
Turks a lesson by using the term “Armenian Genocide” in this year’s April
24 statement.
Last Sunday, Pres. Bush issued another one of his infamous “Armenian
Remembrance Day” statements (his fifth in as many years in office), even
though every year we ask him not to say anything at all, if he cannot say
Genocide.
A close reading of the President’s statement reveals that things have
gotten much worse than we had realized. The issue is no longer whether he
uses the term genocide or not. It turns out that the neo-cons in the Bush
administration are actually exploiting the commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide in order to pursue their sinister political aims.
This administration has reached such a low point that neo-cons in control
of the White House are basically willing to ignore every principle this
country was founded on to ingratiate themselves to the Turks for the sake
of pursuing their own narrow agenda in the Middle East, despite the fact
that the Prime Minister of Turkey does not hesitate to accuse the U.S.
troops of committing genocide in Iraq!
Once again, the President’s handlers have put in his statement just about
every euphemism in the English language to avoid saying genocide, such as
forced exile, mass killings, terrible event, Great Calamity, horrible loss
of life, human tragedy, and suffering.
Besides resorting to verbal gymnastics, the President, in his April 24
statement, makes unrelated and inappropriate references to the war in Iraq
and calls on “the Government of Armenia to advance democratic freedoms….”
He then goes on to talk about his commitment to a “peaceful settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict” and “a deeper partnership with Armenia that
includes security cooperation….” The President forgets that the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide has nothing to do with Iraq, Karabagh or U.S.
security arrangements.
The most sinister part of the President’s message is his indirect reference
to the Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC) and his more
direct reference to a study the latter commissioned on the Armenian
Genocide. The President said: “I applaud individuals in Armenia and Turkey
who have sought to examine the historical events of the early 20th century
with honesty and sensitivity. The recent analysis by the International
Center for Transitional Justice did not provide the final word….”
The neo-cons and others in the Bush administration are still pushing the
dead carcass of TARC. Despite their elaborate efforts to deceive Armenians
into accepting a fake reconciliation, the overwhelming majority of
Armenians did not fall for their trick. Before there can be reconciliation,
there has to be truth and justice – both of which are absent from the
agenda of the neo-cons and their cohorts! The President, in his desperate
efforts to avoid using the term Genocide, is caught in the ironic situation
of describing the
ICTJ study as not “the final word,” even though his own government paid for
TARC which in turn paid the ICTJ to commission a study on the Armenian
Genocide. The ICTJ found that the Turks did commit genocide against the
Armenians. By applauding those involved in TARC and ICTJ, the President
cannot but accept the conclusion of this study. David Philips and others
involved in TARC and ICTJ should be concerned that the President of the
United States is impugning their credibility!
To make matters worse, Pres. Bush, in his April 24 statement, is endorsing
the new Turkish ploy of setting up yet another group to study what took
place in 1915, by expressing the “hope that Prime Minister Erdogan’s recent
proposal for a joint Turkish-Armenian commission can help advance these
processes.”
The Foreign Minister of Armenia as well as all Armenians immediately
rejected this latest attempt by the Turks to shop for a new venue that
would provide a cover for their lies. The historical record is clear. There
have been Turkish tribunals and countless reports and studies by the United
Nations, the European Parliament, the independent Permanent Peoples’
Tribunal in Paris, and many statements by hundreds of genocide and
holocaust scholars. The Armenian Genocide is a proven fact of history. What
is needed is the moral courage to face the truth, not more studies, ad
nauseam.
Back in 1981, Pres. Reagan issued a Presidential proclamation which used
the term “Armenian Genocide.” Therefore, Pres. Bush would not be saying
anything new, should he use those words again. In fact, Pres. Bush does not
need to make a statement recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Let’s not fall
for the Turkish/neo-con trick and get eternally stuck on the issue of
trying to prove the facts of the Genocide over and over again. Let’s just
go directly to the next stage: our demands for reparation and return of
territories!
Finally, as far as the Turkish leaders are concerned, if they have any
sense of shame at all, they would have no reason to celebrate, just because
Pres. Bush avoided using the word genocide in his April 24 statement. No
self-respecting nation would be happy, when the President of the United
States issues a formal declaration accusing it of “the forced exile and
mass killings of as many as 1.5 million Armenians.”
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2 – 2006 San Francisco
Film Festival
Calls for Entries
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Continuing on their outstanding success in San
Francisco and New York in 2004, the Armenian Film Festival committee
presents the “San Francisco Armenian Film Festival 2006.” The event is
scheduled for February 2006 at the Delancey Street Theater.
The film festival presents Armenian culture from around the world, in all
its living diversity. The festival is committed to screening high quality
films and videos produced by or about Armenians in every cultural,
linguistic, and geopolitical setting.
All forms of work — narrative and experimental, documentary and fiction,
features and shorts by and/or about Armenians, are welcome. In addition to
U.S. filmmakers, foreign filmmakers are invited to submit their work.
The deadline for submissions to arrive is June 15, 2005.
There is no entry fee for submission of films to the festival.
The Festival does not pay screening fees for selected films and videos.
Send VHS tape or DVD (NTSC preferred where possible), promotional package,
and contact information to: The SF Armenian Film Festival, c/o Film Arts
Foundation, 145 9th St, #101, San Francisco, CA 94103. E-mail address is:
[email protected]
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3 – SOAD on SNL
LOS ANGELES – System of A Down Band have been confirmed as the musical
guest on “Saturday Night Live” on Saturday, May 7. This will be the band’s
first-ever appearance on the show, where they will perform two songs –
“B.Y.O.B.” and “Chop Suey.” Johnny Knoxville (“Jackass”) will be hosting
the program, which airs on NBC.
System of A Down staged its annual Souls benefit, in memory of Armenian
genocide victims, on April 24 at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.
A full North American tour is tentatively slated for
August and September.
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4 – Armenian Church in Singapore
To Celebrate 170th Anniversary
SYDNEY, Australia – The Armenian Church in Singapore will celebrate its
170th anniversary in ceremonies, Nov. 10-13, announced Archbishop Aghan
Baliozian, Primate of Australia and New Zealand and Pontifical Legate of
India and the Far East.
These dates will mark the celebration of the very first church in
Singapore, built by the Armenian Community in 1835 and dedicated to St
Gregory the Illuminator.
The 170th anniversary celebration of this historic church will be
officiated by the Pontifical Visit of Catholicos Karekin II, accompanied by
Archbishop Baliozian.
The celebration will include a program of religious and cultural events
that are currently in the planning.
“In this special year of commemoration for Armenians, on the dual occasions
of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the 1600th anniversary
of the founding of the Armenian Alphabet, we invite all Armenians and
friends of Armenians to attend this momentous function to share a renewal
of faith and culture in a Diasporan Community so far from our ancestral of
home,” Primate Baliozian said.
The Armenian Apostolic Church of St Gregory the Illuminator is the oldest
church in Singapore.
Further information of this event can be requested from the Armenian
Consulate in Bangkok, Thailand at e-mail: [email protected] , Tel.
662-661-8477, Fax. 662-661-8479.
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5 – Application Deadlines Near for
Travel Fellowships to Armenia
WYNNEWOOD, PA – Following its inaugural success in 2004, Birthright Armenia
is currently ramping up for another summer filled with educational
activities in Armenia for diasporan youth worldwide.
Birthright Armenia is planning a very rich and exciting summer calendar of
support services for the eligible volunteers it will be sponsoring. This
sponsorship is available to any young diasporan, 18-32 years old, who is
traveling to Armenia with one of 24 different youth-oriented programs, and
is willing to meet a minimum threshold of an eight-week stay.
Birthright’s sponsorship includes weekly forums and excursions, Armenian
language instruction and united “havak” sessions at no cost to
participants, plus reimbursement of each volunteer’s roundtrip airfare to
Armenia, all in exchange for an eight-week commitment of community service
in the Homeland.
>From day one, Birthright Armenia’s goal was not only to support existing
organizations offering youth programs in Armenia, but also to encourage the
creation of new programs, in order to increase the numbers of youth
experiencing the Homeland for work and study opportunities. Already from
the original seven programs that were part of the inaugural year of
Birthright Armenia, the number of programs has grown to 24.
“We generated a lot of publicity this past winter for all the
youth-oriented programs currently available in Armenia, and raised young
people’s consciousness in terms of better understanding the importance and
timeliness of their active involvement in the Homeland,” says Linda
Yepoyan, executive director of Birthright Armenia. “We’ve already received
applications from diasporan youth in Australia, Canada, England, France and
the U.S., who want to be a part of the movement to Armenia this summer,”
she added.
A list of all organizations offering youth oriented programs in Armenia is
available at Each organization
has its own eligibility criteria, application procedures and deadlines, and
associated costs, all of which are listed in summary form on the Birthright
Armenia site. Once accepted into one of the programs on the list,
volunteers can then apply to Birthright Armenia to become eligible for a
travel fellowship, which constitutes a reimbursement of their roundtrip
airfare once they have successfully completed their program.
For anyone interested in applying for a travel fellowship from Birthright
Armenia, applications must be received by the May 15, 2005 deadline.
Applications are currently being accepted by email, fax or by mail.
All students who are applying to the California State University Fresno
(CSUF) study abroad program at Yerevan State University are also eligible
for travel fellowships from Birthright Armenia. For this maiden program,
scheduled to launch in September, there is a deadline for applications of
June 1, 2005.
For those interested in learning more about Birthright Armenia, visit
or email: [email protected].
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6 – After 80 Years, Looted Church Artifacts
To be Returned to Armenian Church
By Genevieve Karakashian
GLENDALE – During a recent visit to South Africa I was given an original
handwritten letter and two large religious candlestick holders by a family
named Combrinks, who received them recently from the family of a British
Army officer, Major M. Dudding, who was stationed in Syria in 1919.
The Combrinks have been friends of my family for 40 years, and knowing we
are Armenians, knew we would like to see the candlestick holders returned
to the Armenian Church. The family held onto the religious artifacts for 80
years and sought to hand it over to the Armenians. I will do this.
The information written on this document is amazing. It is an account of
the massacre of Armenians and the destruction of the Armenian Church in
Aleppo during 1919.
I wish to have this published and placed on record. This is a letter
written by a British Officer who was in service during that time and his
family who are now living in South Africa have held on to it for over 80
years.
Below is the account of the letter handwritten by Major M. Dudding in 1960,
explaining the provenance of the artifacts:
1960 – Brass Candlesticks
In 1919 The Turks indulged in one of their lucrative industries – an
Armenian Massacre in Aleppo – capital of Syria …Approx 300 miles North
of Jerusalem.
The remainder of the civilized World looked upon it as a crime – not so the
Turks – just- your money or your life! The country was under marshal law &
I happened to be the representative of the Provost Marshal (stationed in
Cairo), When the massacre subsided & 350 Turks had been arrested some of
the remaining Turks started looting & at the time during a routine ride
around the Town I noticed Turks emerging from an Armenian Church bearing
these & other candlesticks from Alter tables& instructed my police orderly
to confiscate them. The Church had been used by the British troops for
divine services..
The usual ignorant critic will say that I should have returned them to the
Church but unfortunately the personnel of the Church had all been
massacred.
Four similar candlesticks have been given to 2 churches on the Reef & these
remaining two are given to someone interested or sympathetic to the East
after 41 years in my possession.
I had the satisfaction of hanging thirty-six Turks after trial & conviction
though I had had no experience as a hangman.
To the best of my knowledge – which is negligible – this was the last
Armenian massacre on record.
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7- Armenian Professionals Install
2005 Executive Board Officers
GLENDALE – Installation of new officers for the Armenian Professional
Society 2005 Executive Board took place at the Women’s City Club in
Pasadena recently.
The new officers are: President, Peggy Pailian, an architect with a degree
from USC, project manager and designer with Roschen Van Cleve Architects;
First Vice-President Robert Matigan, Engineer and Senior Technical
Specialist at Integrated Systems: Second V-P, Haig Armaghanian, CEO of Haig
Barrent, Inc., a mid-sized Los Angeles and London-based Management
Consulting firm; Treasurer, Mihran Keunehlian, Tax Auditor; Scholarship
chair, Stepan W. Baghdassarian, J.D., MBA, Founding partner of
Baghdassarian & Behne, international law firm based in Southern California
and Brazil, and Managing Director of BizHelp, Inc., a company representing
foreign food and beverage companies in the US.
Founded in 1958, the APS continues to promote its mission of advancing
fellowship and education among the Armenian community. APS annual provides
scholarships to graduate students and various Armenian colleges and
universities, and also provides funds to other worthwhile Armenian cause,
via the Helping Hands Fund.
Membership to APS is open to all Armenians who have achieved at least a
four-year degree from an accredited college or university.
The APS meets monthly at various venues in Los Angeles County for many
types of events ranging from mixers, lectures, to outdoor activities.
APS’s next event is a photo exhibit by Ara Oshagan, “Negotiating an
Identity: Photographs from Los Angeles & Karabagh,” scheduled for May 1,
3:30 p.m. at the Downey Museum of Art.
For reservations, e-mail [email protected]. For additional information on the
event and on the PAS, visit the website
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8 – Plans Underway for Pontifical
Visit by Catholicos Karekin II
LOS ANGELES – Plans are underway by the Western Diocese of the Armenian
Church of North America in preparation for the Pontifical Visit of
Catholicos Karekin II who will be visiting the Armenian faithful throughout
California from June 1 to 20.
One of the highlights during the visit will be a Gala Banquet to be held on
June 4, at the Century Plaza Hotel. The Los Angeles Ballroom, accommodating
approximately 1500 guests, has been reserved for this significant occasion.
The banquet is Black Tie Optional, with the reception beginning at 6:30
p.m., doors to the Ballroom opening at 7:15 p.m. and the Pontifical
Processional Entrance at 7:45 p.m.
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, expressed his
joy and pride in the Committee which has been organized to plan and prepare
the many public events and activities scheduled during the Pontifical
visit. Archbishop Derderian proclaimed that the Armenian community will be
spiritually rejuvenated and called upon them to come forward and greet the
Catholicos on his second official Pontifical visit, “The Renaissance of
Faith.”
Archbishop Derderian stated that “The visit of the Pontiff is a challenge
for the faithful members of the community to be more organized, to be
uplifted, thus creating a new awareness on the verge of the rebirth of
their Christian spirituality.”
The Banquet Committee, chaired by Flora Dunaians and Lily Ring Balian, are
committed to providing His Holiness with the opportunity to personally
greet as many members of the community as possible.
Reservations are being accepted for sponsorships of tables in categories of
$25,000, $10,000, $5,000, and $1,500. Choice seating is still available and
reservations for special tables can be made by contacting Cindy Norian at
310-277-4490.
Under the Chairmanship of Richard Mushegian, Chair of the Diocesan Council,
committees have been formed to administer and coordinate each specific
event, including gatherings with the youth, official meetings with
ecumenical and government representatives, celebrating the Pontifical
Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, visits with
Armenian Day School students, the Blessing of Foundation Stones for the new
Cathedral, hospital visitations, and ground breaking ceremonies at Western
Diocese churches.
For further information regarding the events and activities scheduled for
the Pontifical Visit, call the Western Diocese Offices at 818-558-7474.
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From: Baghdasarian