California Courier Online, November 9, 2006
1 – Commentary
Sen. Biden Calls State Dept.’s Stand
On Genocide: ‘Historical Fiction’
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
2 – Ararat Home Board Decides
To Sell Rockhaven Facility
3 – AMAA James G. Jameson Essay Contest
Open to High School and College Students
4 – Andre Set to Perform Live During
Armenia Fund’s Telethon 2006
5- APU’s Nov. 10 Cultural Arts Celebration
Features Guest Armenian Musicians, Artists
6 – United Armenian Fund Donates $4.5 Million To All 28 Armenian
Schools in Lebanon
7 – Armenians Fight Glendale
Over Grill Chill Ordinance
8 – CSUF Armenian Studies Program
Announces Spring 2007 Classes
****************************************** ************************
1 – Commentary
Sen. Biden Calls State Dept.’s Stand
On Genocide: ‘Historical Fiction’
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
Two months ago, when the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 13 to 5 to
report to the full Senate the nomination of Richard Hoagland, the Ambassador
Designate for Armenia, many Armenian Americans were dismayed that among the 13
was Sen. Joe Biden (D-Delaware), a staunch supporter of Armenian issues, who
had played earlier a key role in challenging the State Department’s recall of
Amb. John Evans for acknowledging the Armenian Genocide.
After reversing his position and supporting Hoagland, Sen. Biden, valuing
his long-standing close relationship with the Armenian American community, took
the initiative of explaining his vote in a letter to Ken Hachikian, the
Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America.
Pledging to work with the ANCA "toward full recognition of the Armenian
Genocide," Sen. Biden outlined the reasoning behind his vote on the Hoagland
nomination.
He said that he had cast that vote after engaging in a series of exchanges
with the State Department. Even though he said he was "not fully satisfied with
some of the responses" he received, he felt that his inquiries "have prompted
the State Department to take a number of actions that addressed" some of his
questions about "the Hoagland nomination and U.S. foreign policy toward
Armenia generally."
Sen. Biden stated in his letter that at his urging, the State Department has:
"Revised the language of Ambassador Hoagland’s responses to questions for
the record that could have been construed to cast doubt on the Armenian Genocide.
"Committed that the next U.S. Ambassador to Armenia will meet extensively
with representatives of the Armenian American community before and during their
tenure in Yerevan.
"Agreed to brief Members of Congress on State Department efforts to promote
Turkish recognition of the real history of the Armenian Genocide.
"Agreed to an exchange of visits between the U.S. Ambassadors to Yerevan and
Ankara with the goal of ending Turkey’s economic blockade of Armenia.
"Provided some additional information – though not as much as I would have
hoped – on the materials used to educate State Department employees about the
Armenian Genocide.
"Provided some additional information – though, again, not as much as I
would have hoped – on Turkish government contacts with the State Department
regarding Ambassador Evans comments about the Armenian Genocide."
Sen. Biden said in his letter that in addition to the above 6 considerations
or concessions from the State Department, he voted for the nomination of the
Ambassador Designate to Armenia because he was "concerned about the possible
consequences of leaving" the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan "without an Ambassador for
an extended period of time." He said that he was particularly troubled that
Armenia may lose the $235 million in U.S. assistance from the Millennium
Challenge Account if it did "not demonstrate a firm commitment to democracy in
elections next spring."
Despite the above assurances, Sen. Biden made it clear to the State
Department and the Turkish government that the real issue on hand goes beyond the
dismissal of Amb. Evans and his proposed replacement by Amb. Hoagland. He said that
he has not changed his belief that "the Administration’s policies toward
Armenia are grounded in historical fiction." He also said that he is "firmly
committed to changing the Administration’s policy on the Armenian Genocide."
The Armenian American community should keep hounding both the State
Department and the government of Turkey, which are partners in the denial of the crime
of genocide — until they unequivocally acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. Of
course, in the case of the Turkish denialist regime, which has usurped
Armenian territories and other assets, the struggle does not end with mere
acknowledgment – as Armenians consider the Genocide already recognized — but with the
return of the occupied lands.
The U.S. Senate should maintain its hold on the nomination of Amb. Hoagland
until the State Department explains fully and honestly the reason why it
dismissed Amb. Evans. The Bush Administration should also reveal the secret
communications between Turkish officials and/or its lobbyists to confirm their role in
influencing the State Department’s decisions in the eventual removal of Amb.
Evans.
Only time will tell whether Sen. Biden was hoodwinked by the State
Department’s ambiguous promises into supporting Amb. Hoagland’s nomination.
************************************************* *************************
2 – Ararat Home Board Decides
To Sell Rockhaven Facility
MISSION HILLS, Calif. – The Ararat Home of Los Angeles announced recently
that circumstances have made it necessary to offer for sale its Rockhaven
Sanatorium in Montrose, after nearly five years of consulting with architects and the
Glendale City for the construction of a replacement facility.
The Ararat Home, established in 1949, operates a Skilled Nursing Facility and
Board and Care Home for the aged on its Mission Hills campus for more than
300 residents and patients. In addition, it conducts a skilled nursing facility
for 42 patients in Eagle Rock. The latter facility is outdated and needs
extensive remodeling. The Board of Trustees of the Ararat Home purchased the
Rockhaven complex with the objective of bringing the patients from the Eagle Rock
Nursing Home to a newly constructed facility at Rockhaven which would also
accommodate the existing Alzheimer residents.
"The desire for a single level state-of-the-art 99-bed skilled nursing and
Alzheimer’s facility, nestled among the stately oaks and meandering paths, was a
dream that could not become a reality," said John Yaldezian, Chairman of the
Ararat Home Board of Trustees. "While the site is beautiful, the buildings are
outdated and have become unsafe and uninhabitable. What was first thought to
be a matter of patching, repairing and remodeling for the near term, became
an issue of teardown."
The Board sought to research every opportunity on this project, before the
decision was made to sell the property. The Board concluded that further
development on this site was not economically feasible.
It was at this point that the residents, most of who are under
conservatorship, were ransferred with great care for their welfare to equivalent facilities
in the area. All transfers were accomplished to the satisfaction of all those
concerned.
The funds from this eventual sale will be used to purchase an appropriate
site for development of another facility to complement the existing Mission Hills
and Eagle Rock campuses.
************************************************** ***********************
3 – AMAA James G. Jameson Essay Contest
Open to High School and College Students
PARAMUS, NJ – The Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) will once
again sponsor the James G. Jameson Essay Contest. Topics should touch upon
some aspect of Armenian heritage such as religion, literature, language,
history, culture, geography, economy or history.
Awards will be made in two categories: High School contestants and
College/University contestants. The deadline for entries is December 15, 2006.
All Armenian or part-Armenian students are eligible. Only unpublished
entries will be accepted. The winner in each category will be awarded $250.00,
provided from the income of a special fund established by Mr. & Mrs. James G.
Jameson of Brookline, MA.
The essays should be written in English and have a length of 1,000 to 2,000
words. A contestant is allowed no more than one entry per year, and no more
than one member of a family may receive an award in a five-year period. If no
submitted essay is considered sufficiently meritorious, no award will be
granted that year.
Entries and/or inquiries should be directed to: James G. Jameson Essay
Contest, Armenian Missionary Association of America, Inc., 31 West Century Road,
Paramus, NJ 07652.
************************************************** ************************
4 – Andre Set to Perform Live During
Armenia Fund’s Telethon 2006
LOS ANGELES – Armenia Fund announced last week that one of the most popular
Armenian singers, Andre, will be performing at its 9th Annual International
Telethon to be aired worldwide on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In May of this year Andre won 8th place in Greece for representing Armenia at
Eurovision song contest competing against contenders from 23 other nations.
Armenia was competing at the Eurovision song content for the first time in 2006.
As part of the Rebirth of Artsakh project, proceeds from the live 12-hour
program will benefit the regional development of Hadrut, Nagorno Karabagh. The
funds will go towards building new drinking water pipelines as well as
reconstructing healthcare facilities and schools that fell victim to the devastating
war. In an effort to eradicate poverty in this war ravaged border region,
Armenia Fund will also implement a comprehensive agricultural development project
to impact 1,000 farmers in 8 Hadrut villages. A similar regional development
program is currently underway in the northern Martakert region using the
funds raised during last year’s Telethon 2005.
A graduate of Armenian State Music Theater, Andre was born in Stepanakert,
Nagorno Karabagh. His music career started early, when, as a member of a music
band "Children of Artsakh" he performed for the NKR Defense Army soldiers.
After winning the "Road to Renaissance" music competition he formed his own
pop-jazz band "Karabagh" touring regions
of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. A winner of many international music
contests as a solo artist, Andre has performed in the United States, Russia, China,
Europe, Lebanon, Iran, United Arab Emirates and countries of the former Soviet
Union.
A winner in the Best Singer category of Armenian National Music Awards, Andre
has been topping the charts for several years in a row.
********’************************************ *****************************
5 – APU’s Nov. 10 Cultural Arts Celebration
Features Guest Armenian Musicians, Artists
AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific University’s School of Music and Lake Avenue
Church of Pasadena present a "Symphonic Collaboration," a special concert event
on Nov. 10 featuring Maestro Eduard Topchian, highly-acclaimed conductor of
the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra,
For one evening only, the Azusa Pacific University Symphony Orchestra and the
Lake Avenue Chamber Symphony combine to create a 100-member symphony
orchestra under the direction of Topchian. The event includes a performance by an
Armenian dance troupe from the Yeraz School of Armenian Dance in Orange County and
a gallery exhibiting works by local Armenian artists. The program includes
movements from Aram Kachaturian’s "Spartacus Suite," Beethoven’s "Triple
Concerto for Violin, Cello, Piano and Orchestra," and Symphony No. 5 by Dmitri
Shostakovich.
Guest artists include Karne Kocharyan, cello, from the Armenian Philharmonic
Orchestra; Duane Funderbunk, Piano, from APU, and Lake Avenue Church, and Alex
Russell, violin, from APU and Lake Avenue Church.
The event takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Lake Avenue Church, 393 N. Lake Ave.,
Pasadena.
For more information, contact APU’s Felix Event Center Box Office at (626)
815-5494 or Lake Avenue Church at (626) 844-4723.
**************************************** **********************************
6 – United Armenian Fund Donates $4.5 Million To All 28 Armenian
Schools in Lebanon GLENDALE – The United Armenian Fund, through a generous
grant from The Lincy Foundation, is donating a total of $4.5 million to all 28
Armenian schools throughout Lebanon. This contribution is prompted by the
economic crisis of the past few years, which was aggravated by the devastating
attack on Lebanon last summer. Thousands of needy Armenian families could no longer
afford the tuition for the Armenian schools their children attended.
Consequently, most of these schools were in no position to pay the salaries of their
teachers and staff. The UAF funds contributed to these schools are designated
for three specific purposes: (1) $3.2 million to pay full or partial tuition
for 5,092 needy Armenian students, which constitutes close to 75% of the 7,029
students enrolled in all 28 schools during the 2006-07 academic year; (2)
$757,000 to cover the salaries owed by most of the schools to 536 teachers and
staff for the past academic year; (3) A total of $513,000 for the general
operating expenses of these schools. Harut Sassounian, the President of the United
Armenian Fund, is currently in Lebanon to visit all 28 Armenian schools, meet
with their principals and educational councils, and deliver the earmarked sums to
each school. "The UAF’s contribution will be allocated to all Armenian
schools in Lebanon, without exception," Sassounian said. The schools receiving
financial assistance are: Nine Prelacy schools: Sophia Hagopian College; Haratch
C. Gulbenkian School; Apkarian School; Aksor Kassarjian School; Yeghishe
Manoukian College; Roupinian – Sahag Mesrobian School; Souren Khanamirian College;
Noubarian – Khrimian School; and Forty Martyrs School. Seven Evangelical
schools: Central High School; Gertmenian School; Anjar Secondary School; Torosian
School; Armenian Evangelical College; Shamlian Tatigian School; and Trad School.
Six Catholic schools: Harboyan School; Mekhitarian School; Sisters School of
Anjar; Mesrobian College; St. Agnes School; and Hripsimiantz College. Three
AGBU schools: Garmirian School; Tarouhy – Hovagimian School; and Nazarian
School. Armenian Educational & Cultural Society (Hamazkayin) school: M & H Arslanian
College (Jemaran). Tekeyan Cultural Association school: Vahan Tekeyan School.
Armenian Educational Benevolent Union school: Sahaguian – L. Meguerditchian
College. "This unprecedented gift of $4.5 million should alleviate a large part
of the heavy financial burden of the schools shouldered by the struggling
Armenian community of Lebanon. Armenians worldwide should lend a helping hand to
this most vital community which has many other needs. Few things are as
important for the future of the Armenian people as the education of the next
generation. By supporting Armenian schools, we are investing not just in the
survival, but the revival of Armenian culture," Sassounian said. Since its inception
in 1989, the UAF has sent $447 million of humanitarian assistance to Armenia on
board 140 airlifts and 1,359 sea containers. The UAF is the collective effort
of the Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian General Benevolent Union,
Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Relief Society, Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America, Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America and The Lincy Foundation. For more information, contact the UAF office at
1101 North Pacific Avenue, Suite 301, Glendale, CA 91202 or call (818)
241-8900.
************************************************** ************************
7 – Armenians Fight Glendale
Over Grill Chill Ordinance
GLENDALE (AP) – Armenians here are skewering the city’s ban on outdoor
restaurant grilling as an offense to the kebab culture, but efforts to overturn it
have stalled in the City Council.
This city is 40 percent Armenian and Armenian-American. The 85,000 Armenian
residents comprise the largest such population in the United States.
Last year, voters elected three Armenians to the five-member City Council,
partly on an agenda to remove the outdoor grilling ban. But they have been
unable to win the four votes needed for passage.
That annoys Armenians who say indoor gas grills simply can’t do justice to
their traditional cuisine.
Vrej Sarkissian says it takes more than salt, pepper, onions and olive oil to
make a decent kabob. He cooks the skewered meat on charcoal outside his
restaurant.
"People can always tell the difference," said Sarkissian, owner of Anoush
Banquets & Catering. "They want the original flavor of home."
"It’s what our culture is about," said his brother, Sacco Sarkissian. "It’s
great, because they’re able to hold onto their
heritage. They haven’t been forced to Americanize."
The ban may have a chilling effect on the city’s dining, City Councilman Ara
Najarian argued.
"Most Armenians are highly sophisticated, and they demand the best," he said.
"It’s developed into a gourmet war between these folks. I once saw a place
serve a flaming rack of lamb."
"I think we all know that burgers on the grill taste better than on the
frying pan," Najarian said.
Mayor Dave Weaver, who opposes lifting the ban, accused his colleagues of
playing "the race card."
"We’re portrayed as anti-Armenian, and that’s so far off the mark," he said.
"We got a lot of complaints saying, ‘Why are you allowing them to grill
outdoors?"’
"I’m philosophically opposed to commercial grilling outside," he said. "If we
open the door, then anybody from Bob’s Big Boy to a barbecue place can do it."
"Would you like to smell other peoples’ food all day long?"
resident Nancy Campbell asked. "We were all OK stopping smoking in a lot of
public places."
Vrej Sarkissian said he is considering moving his steel grill indoors to
comply with the law, although he estimates it will cost him about $80,000.
"We’re going to do whatever we can to keep the flavor going," he said.
******************************************** *******************************
8 – CSUF Armenian Studies Program
Announces Spring 2007 Classes
FRESNO – The Armenian Studies Program at California State University, Fresno
is announcing a full slate of courses for the Spring 2007 semester. The
Armenian Studies Program offers a wide variety of courses related to Armenian
language, culture, history, art, and literature each semester. Instruction for the
Spring 2007 semester begins on Wednesday, January 17, 2007.
Dr. Dickran Kouymjian, Haig and Isabel Berberian Professor of Armenian
Studies, and Director of the Armenian Studies Program, will be teaching three
courses. Armenian Studies 123 is a three-unit upper-division course exploring
Armenian architecture. The course will be offered completely on-line, allowing
students from anywhere in the country to enroll in the course.
Dr. Kouymjian will also be teaching two sections of the popular Armenian
Studies 20 course, the Arts of Armenia. This course is a survey of Armenian
miniature painting, architecture, and the minor arts.
Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian will be teaching four courses: Armenian
Studies 10, Introduction to Armenian Studies, which explores the rich cultural
heritage of the Armenians (10:00-10:50AM, MWF); Armenian 1B, the second semester
of elementary Armenian language (11:00A-11:50A MTWF); an upper division
general education course, Armenian 148, Masterpieces of Armenian Culture
(9:00A-9:50A MWF), a survey of Armenian literature in translation; and Armenian Studies
108B, Armenian History II (9:30-10:45A TTh), which will look at the modern
history of the Armenian people.
Finally, renowned dance instructor Tom Bozigian will offer a one-unit course
on Armenian Dance. The class will meet Friday and Saturday, February 2 & 3,
2007. The class begins at 5:00PM Friday. This class is open to all in the
community, with a fee of $75.
Contact the Armenian Studies Program at 559-278-2669 with any questions
**************************************** ********************************
***************** ************************************************** *******
The California Courier On-Line is a service provided by the California
Courier. Subscriptions or changes of address should not be transmitted through this
service. Information in that regard should be telephoned to (818) 409-0949;
faxed to: (818) 409-9207, or e-mailed to: Califcourier@cs.com. Letters to the
editor concerning issues addressed in the Courier may be e-mailed, provided it
is signed by the author. Phone and/or E-mail address is also required to verify
authorship.
************************************* *************************************