St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
June 11, 2005 Saturday
Scholar to discuss Armenian genocide
PALM HARBOR
Scholar and author Vahakn Dadrian will speak on the Armenian genocide
of the early 20th century and the Holocaust at 2 p.m. today in the
social hall of Temple Ahavat Shalom, 1575 Curlew Road. Dadrian is
director of genocide research at Zoryan Institute for Contemporary
Armenian Research and Documentation. Based in Cambridge, Mass., the
institute is devoted to research of the history, politics, society,
and culture of Armenia and Armenians around the world. The Armenian
genocide refers to the slaughter of 1.5-million Armenians from 1915
to 1923 by the Central Committee of the Young Turk Party of the
Ottoman Empire. The event is being sponsored by St. Hagop Armenian
Church of Pinellas Park. Dadrian “happened to be passing by here, so
we lassoed him” for the lecture, said Dr. Hagop “Jack” Mashikian, a
retired psychiatrist and vice chairman of the church’s parish
council. A wine and cheese reception will follow the lecture, which
is free and open to the public.