California Courier Online, March 30, 2006

1 – Commentary
USC Cancels Forum
For Genocide Deniers

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

2 – US Premiere of Acclaimed Painter
at the Craft and Folk Art Museum
3 – Valley Guild Presents Musicale
April 30 at AGBU Manoogian School
4 – Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School
Plans First Armenian High School in Pasadena
5 – Armenian Museum Collaborates with Fresno
Art Museum to Bring Arshile Gorky Exhibit
6 – Vanlian of Glendale Wins
$1.1 Million Slot Jackpot
7 – Burbank Workshop Aims to
Alleviate Trauma from Genocide
8 – USC Promptly Cancels Conference on
Turkish ‘Perspective’ on 1915 Genocide
9 – Jillian Bedrosian Named Miss Clovis ’06
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1 – Commentary
USC Cancels Forum
For Genocide Deniers

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
Every year just before April 24, a number of high-ranking Turkish officials
rush to the United States to lobby against a pending presidential
declaration or congressional resolution on the Armenian Genocide.
This year is no exception. Five Turkish ministers and other senior
officials are coming to Washington, D.C., this week to attend the annual
conference of the American Turkish Council. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul,
who had planned to attend, may not be there due to an ear infection. Gul
had scheduled meetings with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, U.S.
National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, and leaders of what the Turks
call “the Jewish lobby” in Washington.
More importantly for the Armenian-American community is the U.S. tour of
two infamous genocide deniers, retired Ambassadors Gunduz Aktan and Omer
Lutem. The former was a member of the infamous Turkish Armenian
Reconciliation Commission (TARC) which collapsed after he demanded a study
by an independent third party which, to his dismay, found the “events of
1915” to be genocide.
Aktan and Lutem took their “dog and pony show” on the road last week,
starting from Columbia University in New York. Their announced topic was:
“Minorities in the Ottoman Empire.” This was a misrepresentation of their
denialist agenda for the sake of gaining undeserved academic credibility.
Here is how the “Turkish Press” reported Lutem’s explanation in his talk
for the mass murder of 1.5 million Armenians: “Armenians were not deported.
They were merely relocated in different parts of the empire. Some of them
died during the transfer.”
A couple of days later, their show reached the shores of the Potomac. Aktan
and Lutem spoke at the Rayburn House Office Building on the topic of: “The
Armenian Allegation of Genocide: Law, Psychology and Politics.” The public
announcement of their talks shamelessly alleged: “most experts believe that
the Armenian case does not constitute genocide,” not naming a single such
expert. In reality, the overwhelming majority of genocide and holocaust
scholars have repeatedly gone on record confirming the facts of the
Armenian Genocide. The Turkish announcement also asked the following false
and misleading question: “Why did the UN Subcommittee on Human Rights
reject the 1985 Whitaker Report that defined the Armenian case as
genocide?” The truth is the exact opposite. The UN Sub-Commission on
Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities — which is the
correct name of the UN panel — accepted a report in 1985 in which the
Armenian Genocide was classified as genocide. This writer participated in
the deliberations of that panel in Geneva, Switzerland.
The next day, the two showmen took their performance to their adoring fans
at the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA). Aktan was quoted
by the Turkish Daily News as saying: “If the U.S. Congress approves [a
resolution] on the genocide allegations or if U.S. President George W. Bush
uses the term ‘genocide,’ this would certainly have a political impact on
Turkish-U.S. relations.” Amazingly, Aktan was reported as making the
following accurate observation: “it was impossible to convince Armenians
that the killings between 1915 and 1917 were not genocide.”
On March 24, the Defense Minister of Turkey Vecdi Gonul spoke at the
Beverly Hills Hotel, while several thousand Armenians joined by Cong. Brad
Sherman protested his appearance. When asked to acknowledge Turkey’s dark
past, Gonul told his audience: “these are Armenian claims, and there is
nothing to acknowledge.” Meanwhile, the touring two-ring circus composed of
Aktan and Lutem arrived in Los Angeles, home to the largest Armenian
community in the United States. The local Armenian population was prepared
to “welcome” them during their planned lecture at the University of
Southern California on March 26, the same way they greeted the Turkish
Defense Minister two days earlier. However, there was no confrontation
between local Armenians and the two Turkish deniers. Officials at USC
Center on Public Diplomacy, the sponsor of the event, cancelled the program
after being alerted by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA),
USC students and community leaders of the offensive
nature of the planned Turkish talks.
“Genocide denial is a form of hatred and bigotry and it is outside the
purview of accepted standards of civil discourse within the academic
community. It is deliberate misrepresentation of fact and a scientific
fraud which must not be tolerated by the University,” wrote Steve Dadaian,
the Chairman of ANCA – Western Region, in a letter to USC officials.
Dadaian questioned whether USC would sponsor a lecture during which
neo-Nazis would deny the Holocaust. . He pointed out that providing a forum
for making false statements violated USC’s Code of Ethics.
USC cancelled the event for a very simple reason. According to a USC
official, the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles had misrepresented to the
USC Center on Public Diplomacy the nature of the proposed event which was
supposed to be “on Turkish Civil Society and prospects for improving
relations with the Armenian community,” and not on “genocide allegations,”
as it was subsequently publicized. Judging this latter topic to be
“completely inappropriate,” USC pulled the plug on the event.
It is not surprising that Turkish officials are now twisting the situation
around and misrepresenting the cancellation as an infringement on freedom
of expression. Turkish diplomats should be the last ones to complain about
the lack of freedom in the United States given the fact that their country
violates the most basic rights of its citizens on a regular basis.
Now Engin Ansay, the Turkish Consul General in Los Angeles, has a serious
personal problem. Instead of being able to impress his superiors in Ankara
for having provided a platform at a prominent academic institution in the
heart of “Little Armenia” for the denial of the Armenian Genocide, he had
two senior diplomats in his office far away from home with no place to
speak. Consul General Ansay can complain as much as he wants, accusing “the
powerful Armenian lobby” for subverting his government’s denialist agenda,
but in reality he has no one to blame but himself for this fiasco. It won’t
be surprising if he were to be recalled for mishandling the visit of these
retired diplomats.
Turkish officials should learn from this experience the following valuable
lesson — genocide deniers are not welcome anywhere, particularly at a
distinguished academic institution like USC!
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2 – US Premiere of Acclaimed Painter
at the Craft and Folk Art Museum
LOS ANGELES – The Craft and Folk Art Museum will host the U.S. premiere
exhibition of Armenia’s venerated painter Hagop Hagopian. The exhibition
“Homeland: Visions of Armenia”, opens on April 30, in conjunction with
Armenian Genocide Commemoration Month and runs until July 2. The museum is
located at 5814 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles.
This exhibition features Hagopian’s early and middle works painted during
his forced estrangement from Armenia. Hagopian belongs to a generation of
Armenians who, as an aftermath of the 1915 genocide, grew up and matured
away from their homeland. The art (mostly still-lifes and landscapes) from
this early period reflects the despondency of a people without a firm
grounding, people who live amongst strangers in a unfamiliar land, refugees
who never feel completely at home in a foreign country.
A visitor of Hagopian’s retrospective exhibition in Moscow in 1990 wrote,
“this painter’s art has absorbed the pain and the wisdom of all of
Armenia.” Born in 1923 in Alexandria, Egypt, Hagopian lived in Cyprus,
Cairo and Paris before settling in his ethnic homeland of Armenia in 1962.
By the time Hagopian settled in Soviet-Armenia, he was already an
accomplished painter. His paintings are explicit in theme and subject
matter, closely related to deeply felt personal experiences, executed with
an extraordinary control and discipline of the medium.
Hagopian’s images are mainly still-lifes and landscapes. His signature
unpopulated landscapes are designed to evoke and reflect an anguished mood,
with ravages of decay, barks of gnarled trees, dried leave and brush; an
agonized landscape conveying a sense of loneliness and inner torment.
Often the artist incorporates an occasional budding or blooming tree as a
sign of awakening, rebirth, hope and struggle for survival. The detailed
nature of his style is a vehicle for his hallucinatory imagery and his
almost anecdotal explorations into abnormal psychological states.
At 83, Hagopian is still producing works with incredible technical
precision, a variety of gloomy landscapes and metaphysical images combining
the monumental and the ephemeral.
Hagopian’s artworks can be found in some of the most prominent public and
private art collections in Armenia, Russia, Europe and the United States.
His artistic contributions have brought him various official recognitions
including the honorary title of People’s Artist of Armenia and the State
Prize of Armenia.
Shahen Khachaturian, retired director of the National Gallery of Armenia
and author of several books about Armenian artists will be in Los Angeles
to introduce this historical exhibition. An opening reception for members
and VIPS will be held on April 29 from 6 pm to 9 p.m. and will feature a
live musical performance.
The co-curator of the exhibit is Ripsime Marashian
This exhibition is partially funded by the City Of Los Angeles Department
of Cultural Affairs.
For more information, call 323-937-4230 /
Museum Admission: General $5.; Students and Seniors, $3. ; Members and
Children under 12 Free; Free 1st Wednesday of month.
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3 – Valley Guild Presents Musicale
April 30 at AGBU Manoogian School
CANOGA PARK, Calif. – The Valley Guild of the Ararat Home will be
presenting its second Sunday Afternoon Musicale at 3:30 PM on April 30, at
the A.G.B.U. Manoogian-Demirdjian School, 6844 Oakdale Avenue, Canoga Park.
The program will feature the Elixir Piano Trio, Manik Manukyan, vocalist,
and the Valley Guild’s own Stella Ekmanian, pianist.
The Elixir Piano Trio is comprised of Lucy Nargizyan, pianist, and Samvel
Chilingarian, violinist, both of whom dazzled the audience at the last
Musicale, and Garik Terzian, cellist.
Lucy Nargizyan Chilingarian has been featured as a soloist, chamber
musician and accompanist throughout the United States, England, Wales,
Austria, Italy, Poland, Czech republic, Bulgaria, Canada and Russia. Born
is Moscow, she started studying piano at the age of six. She holds a
Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Moscow State Music
College and a Masters of Music Degree as well as a Doctoral Degree from the
University of Southern California. Currently, Dr. Nargizyan is on the
faculty of East Los Angeles College and Bethesda Christian University.
Sam Chilingarian enjoys a varied career as performer, teacher and
conductor. As a chamber musician he has toured extensively throughout
Europe, Japan, the United States and Central America. He is a native of
Armenia, where he began his music studies and holds a Bachelor of Music
Degree from the California State University at Northridge and a Master of
Music degree from the University of Missouri. Chilingarian is currently the
Music Director and Conductor of the Verdugo Young Musicians Youth Orchestra
and Chamber Ensembles. He serves on the faculty of the Bethesda Christian
University. He performs with the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, the
Khatchaturian String Quartet and the Elixir Piano Trio.
Terzian was born in Yerevan where he attended the Yerevan State
Conservatory until moving to the United States. He was awarded a merit
scholarship from the University of Southern California from where he holds
a Master of Music Degree in Cello performance. Mr. Terzian has performed in
the Aram Khachaturian Music Festival in Spain and the Chamber Music
Festival in Dublin, Ireland. He us currently a faculty member at the Amuse
Palos Verdes Music Center.
Born in Armenia, Manukyan holds a Master’s Degree in Music from the
Komitas State Conservatory with a vocal emphasis. She has served as
soloist in the Armenian Apostolic Church in Echmiadzin. She has given solo
performances in Russia, Georgia, Paris, and London. She has also performed
locally at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. Manukyan will be accompanied by
Gayane Asatryan. Asatryan holds a Master of Music Degree from Yerevan State
Conservatory. She is an accomplished artist in her own right.
Ekmanian has studied at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City.
Upon moving to Los Angeles, she continued her studies at University of
California, Los Angeles and CSUN where she received a B.A. in Music and
Teaching Credentials.
She was on the teaching staff at CSUN and also taught in her private
studio. She serves on the board of The Compinsky Master Class, one of the
most prestigious piano organizations in Southern California. Ekmanian is a
long time member of the Music Teachers Association of California. She
remains active in her musical profession.
Afternoon promises to be full of enchanting music performed by stars of the
Armenian professional community. A perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon
while supporting the Ararat Home.
The Valley Guild welcomes individuals to sponsor this event. A $100
donation will secure two tickets to the Musicale. To make reservations or
to become a sponsor, call Ann Nazarian at 818/349-1079. Donation Adults:
$25.00, Students: $20.
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4 – Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School
Plans First Armenian High School in Pasadena
PASADENA, Calif. – The Board of Directors and the Administration of
Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian Schol have announced plans to establish the
first Armenian High School in the Pasadena/Glendale area.
The administration plans to offer a complete High School program with
college preparatory classes for grades 9 to 12 and honor the first High
School graduates in June 2007.
Serving the Armenian community in Pasadena since 1980, the School started
its High School Division by accepting 15 freshmen, 9th grade students in
2004.
In September 2005, the school expanded by offering college preparatory
classes for 9th, 10, and 11th grade students. The school has hired
competent teachers, has applied for accreditation by WASC and has submitted
its course list to the University of California Board for their approval
and certification.
Moreover, the school established a scholarship fund for high achieving
students.
In February 2006, the school honored and monetarily rewarded seven High
School students for their academic achievements for maintaining a minimum
of 3.5 GPA during the first semester. The recipients were Alik Paloulian,
Katrina Balian, Lilit Msrlyan in the 9th grade; Solineh Harboyan, Ari Jon
Filian in the 10th grade; and Mihran Baytaryan and Varduhi Msrlyan in the
11th grade.
The school invites and welcomes students who take their education seriously
and are able to contribute to a good learning environment.
“It is our mission to provide our youth a safe educational environment
wherein each Armenian student becomes acquainted with their Armenian and
Christian heritage and receives an excellent academic preparation for
universities,” stated a school spokesperson.
To inquire about the school, visit the website at
, or call the school office at (626) 798-5020
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5 – Armenian Museum Collaborates with Fresno
Art Museum to Bring Arshile Gorky Exhibit
FRESNO – Vosdanik Manouk Adoian a.k.a. ARSHILE GORKY, an exhibition
co-sponsored by the Armenian Museum and the Fresno Art Museum is scheduled
to open at the Fresno Art Museum from April 7, to June 3. The National
Gallery of Art and the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington D.C., San Francisco
Museum of Modern Art as well as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art have
all agreed to lend pieces for the exhibit. The National Gallery of Art in
will be sending one of Gorky’s most famous paintings, The Artist and His
Mother for the exhibit. In addition, the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern) is providing eleven pieces from their extensive
collection housed at the Gulbenkian Museum in Portugal. The Jack Rutberg
Fine Arts Gallery collection in Los Angeles will also be providing many of
Gorky’s early drawings.
Gorky has been hailed by noted art scholars and fellow artists as one of
the most pivotal artists working in America in the 20th Century. Renowned
Gorky scholar, the late Melvin P. Lader, describes Gorky as a “critical
figure in the history of modern American art.” Gorky’s Armenian heritage
and the atrocities suffered by his family in ancient Armenia had a great
influence on his work.
In conjunction with the exhibition, the Armenian Museum, Fresno is
sponsoring a two-month Arshile Gorky Festival with many community
organizations planning events. Events include art, theater, lectures, and
music celebrating Gorky’s Armenian heritage. Among them California State
University, Fresno will be sponsoring three days of activities, April 17
through April 19, that will include a concert, Music in Gorky’s World,
coordinated by Dr. Maria Amikhanian; An Exhibition of Student Art Work
inspired by Arshile Gorky’s art and life, coordinated by Nick Potter; two
lectures: Arshile Gorky: Why Abstraction?, by Dr. Laura Meyer and A Case
of Mistaken Identity: Why Arshile Gorky changed his Name, by Nouritza
Matossian, author of Black Angel, The Life of Arshile Gorky; and an
acclaimed one-woman theatrical performance by Matossian, portraying Gorky’s
mother, wife, and sister.
To open the Exhibition and Festival the Fresno Art Museum and the Armenian
Museum will host a Gala preview of the exhibition and a cocktail buffet on
April 6, at 5:30pm. The Guest of Honor will be Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Diocese of the Armenia Church of America (Eastern). The public
opening of the exhibition will be a Friday evening, April 7, from 5pm to
7pm.
On Saturday morning, the two Museums will hold a symposium to discuss
Gorky’s art and life. The panel will include Dr. Kim Theriault, Assistant
Professor of Art History, Theory, and Criticism at Dominican University;
Jacquelin Pilar, Curator of the Fresno Art Museum; Jack Rutberg of Jack
Rutberg Fine Arts; and Dr. H. Peter Steeves, Associate Professor of
Philosophy at California State University, Fresno and at DePaul University.
Admission to the symposium is free, with Fresno Art Museum admission.
Admission to the Museum is $4. for the general public and $2. for seniors
and students.
For more information, contact the Armenian Museum at (559) 243-5880, or for
a complete schedule of Festival events, visit the Museum’s website at
A supplement in March 31, 2006, Friday
edition of The Fresno Bee includes the Calendar of Events along with
articles on the Festival and the Exhibition. To arrange a group tour of
the exhibition, contact the Fresno Art Museum at (559) 441-4221.
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6 – Vanlian of Glendale Wins
$1.1 Million Slot Jackpot
LAS VEGAS – Charlo Vanlian of Glendale, Calif., was ready to head to bed in
the wee hours Saturday morning after playing $20 at a Wheel of Fortune®
slot at the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino. But, since he “had been feeling
lucky” and his friend was still playing nearby, Vanlian played a little
more – and won $1,152,883.61 on a dollar machine.
When the jackpot hit, the 29-year-old security officer said he “felt faint
and total shock.” Vanlian, who is getting married
in August, said he plans to use some of the money for a down payment on a
house, and the winnings will help make things easier with his new life
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7 – Burbank Workshop Aims to
Alleviate Trauma from Genocide
BURBANK, CA – The Armenian American Society for Studies on Stress &
Genocide (AASSSG) is organizing the First workshop for all first and second
generation Armenians at the Burbank Armenian Center, 361 East Magnolia
Boulevard #C, Burbank, CA 91502, (818) 562-1918,
Open to all those whose lives have been directly or indirectly impacted by
the collective trauma of the Genocide, the workshop will place emphasis on
processing traumatic memories and experiences, and finding positive meaning
in this legacy of cultural dislocation, emotional trauma, and loss of
nationhood, property, and dignity.
The workshop will take place on May 1, from 10-4 pm. Seating is limited to
30 participants, on a first come-first-serve basis. Therefore, early
registration is necessary.
Feelings of alienation, denial, anger, and rage will be explored.
Attitudes toward the perpetrators and uncaring world will also be explored,
in order to understand how one’s personal and collective history affects
one’s daily life, and how one may process these feelings in an attempt to
integrate the trauma into one’s psyche. Tools will be given for
self-empowerment, stress reduction, and relaxation.
Workshop facilitator is Dr. Anie Kalayjian, Professor of Psychology and
psychotherapist in private practice in New York/New Jersey Metropolitan
area.
Pre-registration is required. Fee is $50, college students $35. You may
register by sending your name, address, phone/fax, E-mail:
Kalayjiana@aol.com, or call 201 941-2266,
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8- USC Promptly Cancels Conference on
Turkish ‘Perspective’ on 1915 Genocide
LOS ANGELES, CA – A planned conference at USC featuring leading deniers of
the Armenian Genocide was canceled days before it was to have taken place,
following vigorous protests by USC student groups, alumni, and
Armenian-American activists including the Armenian National Committee of
America, Western Region.
The USC Center on Public Diplomacy originally sponsored the conference,
entitled “Turkish-Armenian Relations: The Turkish Perspective,” scheduled
for March 26. Former Turkish ambassadors Gündüz Aktan and Ömer Engin Lütem
were invited to speak about the Armenian Genocide and Turkish-Armenian
relations. Aktam and Lütem are notorious deniers of the Armenian Genocide,
and the event announcement made no attempt to hide that their discussion
would not only distort history, but attempt to justify Ottoman Turkey’s
extermination of its Armenian population.
“We have succeeded to have the event canceled,” said USC AGSA President
Armen Margarian. “This was the fruit of our collaboration with numerous
Armenian Alumni, judges, attorneys and other influential and prominent
leaders of our community. Our strength in unity is the driving force
towards ultimately achieving justice and full recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.”
“The USC event, which was to have featured Turkish members of the State
Department’s discredited TARC initiative, is part of an orchestrated
national campaign to breathe new life into the failed effort,” said Zanku
Armenian, a member of the ANCA-WR Board of Directors. “The ANCA-WR, working
with USC Armenian student groups, Alumni and school supporters, was able to
demonstrate to USC officials the misguided and sinister nature of this
panel which led to its cancellation. The cancellation, along with the March
22 Los Angeles Times editorial reaffirming the Armenian Genocide, sends a
strong message to those who deny the Armenian Genocide: ‘You are not
welcome in California.’ We applaud USC administrators for taking prompt
action to rectify this situation and thus protecting USC’s fine reputation
from being used in Turkey’s propaganda war.”
Outraged student groups called on USC administrators to ask why this
conference was
organized.
In a letter to the director of the USC Center on Public Diplomacy, ANCA-WR
Chairman Steven Dadaian called on the organizers to drop the conference.
The quick action to draw attention to this issue by many groups and
individuals resulted in the ultimate cancellation once USC officials were
made aware of the real intent of the event.
“The USC AGSA has an unwavering dedication to the Armenian community and
the preservation of our beloved university’s academic integrity,” Margarian
maintained.
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9 – Jillian Bedrosian Named Miss Clovis ’06
FRESNO, Calif. – Jillian Star Bedrosian, of Clovis, Calif., recently earned
the title of Miss Clovis 2006.
Jillian is a high school senior and a member of the Holy Trinity Armenian
Apostolic Church.
She is the daughter of Joan and Larry Bedrosian.
Jillian sang “Think of Me ” from Phantom of the Opera for her talent
portion of the program. She plans to attend college in southern California
and study voice and economics.
The new Miss Clovis is a lifetime California Scholastic Federation member.
Her platform is promoting a passion for reading in young children. She
encourages people to donate storybooks to be distributed through
preschools. Jillian will make presentations and guest appearances to
community groups.
Bedrosian will compete in the Miss California pageant in Fresno, at the
Saroyan Theater July 1.
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