California Courier Online, August 18, 2005
1 – Commentary
Turks Try to Intimidate This Writer
By Threatening Him with Lawsuit
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The Califorrnia Courier
2 – Ararat Home and
Triple X Plan for
53rd Annual Picnic
3- The Really Easy Rider
4 – Professor Richard Hovannisian with
Teachers and with Deniers in Houston
5 – AGBU Generation Next Program to
Host Mentor Recruitment Events
6 – Global Gold Corp. Acquires
Tukhmanuk Mine in Armenia
7 – The ‘ARS Voice’ Will Start
Airing Sundays on Horizon TV
8 – Knights and Daughters of Vartan
Contribute to Variety of Projects
9 – Emmy-Award Winning Producer Robert Papazian
Will Keynote 9th Celebrating Saroyan Event in SF
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1 – Commentary
Turks Try to Intimidate This Writer
By Threatening Him with Lawsuit
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
While Turkish leaders are desperately trying to convince the world that
their country is civilized enough to join the European Union, they are
actually proving the exact opposite with every passing day.
Despite the fact that the Turkish leaders are supposed be on their best
behavior in order to impress the Europeans, they have yet to grant equal
rights to Turkey’s many religious and ethnic minorities. They also refuse
to return to Greek and Armenian charitable foundations in Turkey their
properties confiscated by the Turkish government decades earlier.
In an attempt to fool the international community, on the one hand Turkish
officials have advocated the setting up of a joint commission with
Armenians ostensibly to study the facts of the Armenian Genocide, while on
the other hand, they have forced the cancellation of a symposium organized
by three leading universities in Turkey, thereby preventing the discussion
of this issue even among Turkish scholars.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has boldly announced that his
government is ready to admit the Armenian Genocide if sufficient proof is
presented, while Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is bragging that Turkey has
inundated journalists, scholars, universities, libraries and
parliamentarians worldwide with revisionist books on the Armenian Genocide.
As the human rights of millions of Turkish citizens are violated on a
regular basis, it comes as no surprise that the Turkish government is
prosecuting Hrant Dink, an Armenian journalist in Turkey, for allegedly
insulting Turks in an article he wrote in his newspaper, AGOS. If found
guilty, he could be sentenced to a 1-6 year jail term.
Turkish officials and their agents are so used to silencing, intimidating
and jailing anyone who disagrees with them that they dare to bully also
their opponents overseas who are beyond their reach. No dissent is
tolerated!
This writer is quite familiar with the Turkish practice of suppressing free
speech. As the author of a weekly column that is very critical of Turkish
denialist and oppressive policies, I receive a lot of abusive e-mails from
Turks from around the world. Most of these Turks forget that the despotic
methods they practice at home to bully people or force them into silence do
not work in Western countries where freedom of expression is basic right.
Last week, when a young Armenian lady, Maral Der Ohanesian, sent a couple
of e-mails to Dr. Sedat Laciner, editor of the Journal of Turkish Weekly in
Ankara, an on-line Turkish propaganda site, complaining about the
distortions in one of its articles, he shamelessly accused her of
“fabricating” arguments.
The JTW had cleverly edited an Swiss info wire story by including
revisionist statements on the Armenian Genocide and deleting criticism of
the Turkish position, thereby giving the false impression that Peter
Briner, the President of the Senate foreign affairs committee of
Switzerland, had made statements which he had not.
When Maral forwarded to me her exchange of e-mails, I sent a strongly
worded private e-mail to JTW, castigating the staff for accusing Maral of
fabrication when they themselves had distorted the original news item
beyond recognition. Within hours of my letter, the JTW published on its
front page a “press release” with the following sensational title: “JTW
Condemns The California Courier Publisher Harut Sassounian.” Not happy with
my criticism, the JTW resorted to calling me an extremist Armenian and
threatened that
“the JTW will start a legal action in California” against me. The JTW also
posted my e-mail on its web site.
I received dozens of e-mails and phone calls from around the world, from
both Armenians and non-Armenians alike, among them several attorneys and
judges, who assured me that there was nothing illegal in what I had written
to the JTW. Criticizing a publication is not against the law in civilized
countries. That, apparently, is not the case in Turkey.
A reader from Canada wrote: “The prospect of a lawsuit against you by the
JTW in California must be extremely encouraging. They silenced their own in
Turkey. They try to silence foreign parliaments and now they’re trying to
silence an American journalist. It’s wonderful the way they are keeping the
issue alive. A lawsuit would provide a superb opportunity for a US court to
pronounce itself definitely on the Armenian Genocide.” Another reader from
Armenia wrote: “Congratulations on being vilified by the Turkish press!
It’s an achievement, and I consider it a badge of courage. Keep on pissing
them off.” A fellow publisher wrote in his newspaper: “Turks have
unwittingly made [this writer] an even bigger hero.”
The real issue is not these empty Turkish threats. As we do not live in
Turkey, no one in this country is scared or intimidated by such tactics.
What’s more important is that these Turkish propagandists had apparently
started celebrating a little prematurely. The JTW, quoting Peter Briner,
had gleefully reported that the Armenian Genocide issue would “never” be
taken up by the Swiss Senate. Dogu Perincek, the leader of the Turkish
Labor Party, who had been interrogated by Swiss prosecutors last month for
denying the Armenian Genocide, also claimed credit for this false report.
He gave a press conference to announce that his outspoken statements on
this issue as well his testimony in Switzerland had influenced the Swiss
Senate to withdraw a pending resolution on the Armenian Genocide. Perincek
called his antics “a great success.”
Here is a more accurate report of what really transpired: To begin with,
Perincek’s bombastic statements not only got him in legal trouble in
Switzerland, but helped generate great publicity for the issue of the
Armenian Genocide in Switzerland and throughout Europe on the eve of a
decision by the Europeans to consider starting negotiations for Turkey’s
membership in the EU. Turkey then decided to deliver a note of protest to
Switzerland and cancelled the scheduled visit of the Swiss Economics
Minister Joseph Deiss to Turkey. These foolhardy Turkish actions made the
genocide issue even more newsworthy throughout the world.
Erwin Jutzet, the President of the Foreign Affairs Commission of Swiss
Parliament reacted sharply to the Turkish bullying tactics by stating:
“Turkey has to stop reacting so sensitively to such events. It would be
better to recognize once and for all the genocide of the Armenians.” Jutzet
said it was up to Turkey to make a positive move rather than “always taking
offense and resorting to blackmail. If Switzerland were to turn its back on
Turkey, it would be a bad sign for EU entry.”
More bad news surfaced for the cocky Turkish propagandists, when Sen. Peter
Briner denied having said that the Armenian Genocide would “never” be
debated in the Swiss Senate. He countered that these false reports were
“based on either a misquote or a misunderstanding.” He added: “I can never
be sure what will be on the Senate’s agenda, of course, but right now the
postponement of Economics Minister Joseph Deiss’ invitation to Turkey will
certainly be discussed” during the Foreign Affairs Committee’s next meeting
on August 23. At that time, any member of the Committee could raise the
issue of the Armenian Genocide. Should that happen, the self-declared
premature Turkish victory could end up being a defeat, thanks to the
boastful behavior of Mr. Perincek and his band of incompetent
propagandists.
Even worse for Turkey, the Swiss government declared that its law against
denial of genocide also applies to the Armenian Genocide. The Swiss Foreign
Ministry (DFA) issued a formal statement following a meeting between
Ambassador Jean-Jacques de Dardel, the head of the Political Affairs
Division of the Foreign Ministry, and the Ambassador of Turkey in
Switzerland, in connection with the proceedings against Perincek. The
Foreign Ministry stated:
“During the meeting, the DFA underlined the applicability of Swiss law in
this matter and recalled that article 261 bis of the Swiss Penal Code
stipulates that any person who denies, minimizes or justifies a genocide or
other crimes against humanity is liable to prosecution. It is the task of
the Swiss judicial instances to decide on the modalities of the application
of the legal provisions of our country.”
Despite the boastful and threatening statements emanating from various
Turkish propagandists, the fact remains that ever fewer countries are going
along with Ankara’s denials of the Armenian Genocide. The Turkish officials
have less than six weeks to come to their senses and realize that they have
to make a bold move on the Armenian Genocide issue if they have any hope of
salvaging their sinking prospects for the start of EU negotiations on
October 3.
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2 – Ararat Home and
Triple X Plan for
53rd Annual Picnic
MISSION HILLS, CA – The Ararat Home of Los Angeles and the Triple X
Fraternity of Los Angeles are planning for their 53rd annual picnic, Sept.
25, 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Home grounds in Mission Hills, 15105
Mission Hills Road.
Dunk tank, carnival games and other games of skills, as well games for
children, prepared by the Jr. Triple X members of Los Angeles.
Price for the dinner, which includes lamb or chicken kebabm pilaf,
yalanchi, salad and bread is $14 per person. Also available is lahmajoun,
sou beoreg, kufta, paklava, creamed and walnut kadayif, and other assorted
pastries provided by the Ararat Ladies Auxiliary and Ararat Ladies guilds
throughout Los Angeles.
Music and entertainment will be provided by the Oasis Band.
Free shuttle bus from off-site parking is provided by the Sevan Lodge,
Knights of Vartan.
Free admission and free parking.
For more information, call (818) 365-3000.
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3 – The Really Easy Rider
By Michelle Higgins
The New York Times
NEW YORK – Like pilgrims to some holy land, but tattooed and on two wheels,
thousands of motorcyclists will converge in Sturgis, South Dakota, next
week to be part of one of the country’s largest and longest-running
gatherings of bikers. Many will ride for days, enduring miles of blistering
sun, bouts of rain and the occasional mouthful of bugs before arriving in a
cloud of dust at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Chevalier Kevorkian will be there, too, just as he has been about a dozen
times before. But his bike will roll into town another way – in the back of
a tractor trailer. For roughly $675, Kevorkian, a 57-year-old screenwriter
from Palm Springs, Calif., is having his Harley shipped from his hometown
to Sturgis and back. Instead of taking three long days of riding just to
get there, he’ll arrive fresh off a flight and pick up his bike at a local
hotel.
“I just don’t have the schedule to do it this year,” said Kevorkian, who
has ridden to Sturgis from Los Angeles in the past. “At least I’ll be there
and be on my own bike.”
In a major shift from tradition, a small but growing number of enthusiasts,
who like to ride but not to rough it, are shipping
instead of riding their bikes to motorcycle events. For the months of May
through August, the Federal Warehouse Company in East Peoria, Ill., an
affiliate of Allied Van Lines, expects to ship 3,000 bikes for individuals
and groups to various places this year, up from 2,800 as recently as 2003.
Taking notice of the niche, FedEx began marketing a vehicle shipping
service in January – a venture the company bought in 2000 and rebranded
last year. FedEx is marketing the service for groups. For example, it will
ship 12 motorcycles one-way from Los Angeles to Sturgis for $617 each.
That’s $895 below the charge for shipping an individual bike.
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4 – Professor Richard Hovannisian with
Teachers and with Deniers in Houston
UCLA-Professor Richard G. Hovannisian, AEF Chair in Modern Armenian History
at UCLA, is continuing his worldwide activities on the ninetieth
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. In June he was the keynote speaker at
the biennial conference of the International Association of Genocide
Scholars in Boca Raton, Florida. He then traveled to France, to participate
in an international symposium organized by the “Centre de Juifs, Arméniens
et Chrétiens d’Orient” (Gérard Dédéyan and Carol Iancu). Hovannisian
discussed recent revelations about the planning and organization, as well
as evolving interpretations, of the Armenian Genocide.
Dr. Hovannisian’s summer activities have included presentations in Yerevan
and Houston, Texas. He gave the opening lecture on July 22 to Armenian
youth from several countries who had come together for the annual
Hamazkayin Forum in Yerevan. As a member of the organizing committee of the
forthcoming international congress on the 1600th anniversary of the
creation of the Armenian alphabet, to be held in Yerevan in September, he
also helped to finalize arrangements for that celebration.
At the invitation of the Holocaust Museum of Houston, Hovannisian was in
Houston on July 25-26 to speak at a teacher-training institute and to give
a public lecture. For the first time, the Museum’s Max Kaplan Summer
Institute for Educators received a formal presentation on the Armenian
Genocide, during which Hovannisian emphasized the significance of the
Armenian experience as a prototype of mass killings in the modern age.
Teachers from five states as well as from Chile, Uruguay, and Romania
learned of the preconditions and warning signals of genocide, the role of
ideology, the use of technology, and the similarities and differences
between the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust.
According to the Museum’s Director of Education, Christina Vasquez, the
teachers became engrossed with the subject and were captivated by
Hovannisian’s presentation. She added: “The lecture about the Armenian
genocide and its relation to the Holocaust was framed in a very skillful
way so that our participants could use the information in their classrooms.
What was particularly striking was the twelve points in the patterns of
genocide, as well as how the situation in Turkey in regard to the Armenian
genocide sadly differs from Germany’s confrontation of its past.”
On the evening of July 26, a turn-away audience filled the Holocaust
Museum’s auditorium for Prof. Hovannisian’s public lecture. In his
reflective discourse, the speaker considered the historical, ethical, and
humanitarian aspects of the genocide. He began by taking note of the
presence of members of the American Turkish Association of Houston, who had
come with denial literature and prepared questions to challenge the reality
of the Armenian Genocide. Apparently, high-ranking Turkish officials and a
supportive non-Turkish organization in the United States had lobbied for
cancellation of the lecture, but the Holocaust Museum stood firm in its
invitation. Hovannisian suggested that the ATA members and all other
doubters should become better acquainted with the facts and the consensus
of world scholarship and join the growing number of Turkish scholars who
now reject the state’s untenable narrative of events. He noted that one of
the sad consequences of denial is that it has prevented proper
acknowledgement of the thousands of good Turks and other Muslims who
intervened to rescue Armenians during the deportations and massacres.
Prof. Hovannisian’s adept handling of the situation was roundly applauded
by the audience but apparently did not satisfy all of those who had come to
detract. During the discussion period, many of the familiar denial
arguments were reiterated, but they were met with calm, factually-based
responses and a new appeal for all sides to face their history honestly as
a necessary precondition to some form of eventual conciliation. The speaker
hoped that his reflections on the legacy of the Armenian Genocide might
further the on-going quest for truth and the ability to look forward while
never losing sight of the past.
On his arrival in Houston on July 25, Hovannisian enjoyed the company of
members of the Houston Armenian community at a reception in the home of
Joseph and Alice Galoostian. Philip Kanayan and Vatche Hovsepian assisted
with local arrangements.
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5 – AGBU Generation Next Program to
Host Mentor Recruitment Events
GLENDALE, Calif. – The AGBU Generation Next Mentorship Program is currently
recruiting dedicated, qualified young adults to mentor Armenian youth of
Southern California.
Since 1997, AGBU Generation Next Mentorship program, whose mission is to
serve the Armenian youth by providing them with guidance and mentoring, has
helped hundreds of youth. Adult volunteers from Generation Next act as
positive role models and provide friendship and companionship to Armenian
youth. This mentoring relationship is intended to introduce young Armenians
to new experiences and alternatives, enabling them to become responsible,
self-sufficient, and independent adults.
To become a mentor, applicants must be at least 21 years of age, an insured
safe driver, and able to commit to a one year relationship with a student
(October to August).
This recruitment drive is crucial since the biggest obstacle to the
continued success of the unique program remains the number of mentors that
are willing to dedicate their time to the younger generation.
Mentor Recruitment sessions will be held, Aug. 16, Aug. 31, and Sept. 7,
from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Glendale Unified School District, Room 103,
223 North Jackson Street, Glendale.
To receive more information about the program or to request an application
to become a mentor, call 626-794-7942 or email [email protected].
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6 – Global Gold Corp. Acquires
Tukhmanuk Mine in Armenia
GREENWICH, CT – Global Gold Corporation acquired the Tukhmanuk gold mine,
plant, and surrounding exploration sites in Armenia and, on July 29, closed
a private placement raising $3 million. Global Gold will use the proceeds
to fund the Tukhmanuk acquisition and expansion as well as to further its
mining and exploration projects and for working capital.
The transaction involved the issuance of four million shares of common
stock at $0.75 per share. Lead investors include current shareholders
Firebird Global Master Fund, Ltd., Firebird Republics Fund, Ltd, and
Firebird Avrora Fund, Ltd () and new shareholders East
Capital (), Falcon QPLP, and Dover Industries.
The Tukhmanuk property is adjacent to Global Gold’s Hankavan property in
central Armenia, between the Aragatsotn and Kotayk provinces. In addition,
the acquisition includes a 200,000-ton per year capacity plant and the
Damlik, Mirak, Grebnevaya, Ozyornaya, Emin Yourt, Voskedzor, and Dalma
exploration sites. The property is held by the Armenian company Mego-Gold,
LLC, for which Global Gold’s subsidiary Global Gold Mining, LLC (“GGM”)
agreed to pay $3,500,000. GGM is initially paying $1,500,000 for 51% of
Mego-Gold and paying the balance of the purchase price for the remaining
49% within
two years.
Global Gold Corporation is an international gold mining, development and
exploration company with mining properties in Chile and Armenia. Global
Gold Corporation is located at 104 Field Point Road, Greenwich, CT.
More information can be found at
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7 – The ‘ARS Voice’ Will Start
Airing Sundays on Horizon TV
GLENDALE – The Armenian Relief Society of Western USA (ARS-WR), Regional
Executive announced last week that the “ARS Voice,” a one-hour program will
air on Horizon TV starting on August 14. from 8 to 9 pm.
“After several months of planning, we will have our own studio corner to
air this exciting new program,” said Angela Savoian, Chair of the ARS-WR
Regional Executive. She added, “If you already get the Horizon TV, be sure
to tune in at 8 pm on Sunday.”
The new television program will be commercial free, but the ARS is seeking
sponsors who believe in being part of serving the social, health and
educational needs of the Armenian people in the US, as well as in the
homeland.
Horizon 24-Hour Television is available on cable in the Glendale area, and
by satellite in other areas. To subscribe to the 24-hour satellite service,
call (866) 955-9327.
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8 – Knights and Daughters of Vartan
Contribute to Variety of Projects
TAYLOR, MI – The Knights and Daughters of Vartan are service organizations
dedicated to Armenian causes. During the past year they have received
donations totaling over $225,000 of which over $165,000 has been
transferred to the World Bank ASIF Account for the 90/10 program. This
program is to repair or construct schools in Armenia that are in need and
supported by the local communities. The total number of school projects to
date number 128. The Knights of Vartan has been a vessel which has helped
to contribute over $1,000,000 to the World Bank ASIF Program.
Each community is required to raise 10% of the necessary funding and the
World Bank provides the remaining 90%. The money contributed is controlled
by the World Bank to insure that actual costs of the project are maintained
and meet strict requirements.
In addition, the Knights and Daughters of Vartan provide assistance to
other charitable organizations such as Adopt-A-School in Armenia, Armenian
Research Center at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Michigan,
scholarships within the United States to Armenian offspring of Knights and
Daughters of Vartan, 50 scholarships in Armenia for students of the
University of Yerevan and the State Engineering University of Armenia,
Armenian Eye Care Project, BAFA Soup Kitchens in Armenia, Nork
Marash Medical Center-Children’s Cardiac Center of Armenia, support for two
Armenian Assembly Summer Interns and many other charities.
The Daughters of Vartan contribute to Armenian American Wellness Center,
formally known as the Mammography Center, Armenian Missionary Association
of America, Habitat for Humanity International for Armenia, Medical
Outreach for Armenians, many schools and universities, several Armenian
children’s camps and many of the organizations that the Knights
of Vartan sponsor.
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9 – Emmy-Award Winning Producer Robert Papazian
Will Keynote 9th Celebrating Saroyan Event in SF
SAN FRANCISCO – Emmy-award winning TV and motion picture producer Robert
Papazian will speak about “Saroyan and the Stage and Screen,” at the 9th
Celebrating Saroyan Event at the San Francisco Public Library, Koret
Auditorium on Sept. 17.
He is the CEO of Sunset-Gower Studios formerly Columbia Pictures in
Hollywood.
In addition, David Calonne, PhD, will introduce the play Jim Dandy. Eddy
Budworth, American Conservatory Theater producer will present a scene from
that play.
The doors to the auditorium will open at 1:30 the program begins at 2 PM.
Seating is open and limited. The program is free to the public. For
information, contact Jacqueline Kazarian 415 307 4418.
Co-sponsors include the Armenian Embassy, The Commonwealth Club of CA, The
UC Bancroft Library, The Fromm Institute, SF. chapters of Hamazkayin ,
Armenian Professional Society, Krouzian Zekarian Vasbouragan Armenian
School, UC Berkeley Armenian Alumni, SF Museum & Historical Society, SF
City Guides, Fred FinchYouth Center and City Lights Booksellers to mention
a few.
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