California Courier Online, February 15, 2007
1 – Commentary
U.S. Officials More Worried about
Turkish Feelings than Genocide
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
2 – AIWA Hosts Shmavon Shmavonian
Feb. 24 Art Exhibit at Bicycle Casino
3 – Ani (Chavdarian) Garabedian Honored
As 2006 UCLA Alumnus of the Year
4 – Hamshin: Islamicized Armenians are
Topic of Feb. 22 Lecture at Merdinian
5 – Hrant Dink Program to be Held at UCLA
6 – Several Armenian-Americans
Listed in Oscar-Nominated Films
7 – Harut Sassounian Honored by AEBU
Sahag-Levon Mgrditchian College Alumni
8- Army Specialist Carla Babayan
Steward Killed in Iraq Accident
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1 – Commentary
U.S. Officials More Worried about
Turkish Feelings than Genocide
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
Armenian Americans are more insulted by the offensive attitude of the Bush
administration toward the Armenian Genocide than they are by Turkey’s refusal
to acknowledge it. They wonder why the leaders of this great country are more
worried about appeasing an unreliable foreign power than the pain and
suffering of their own citizens of Armenian origin who are the descendants of the
survivors of that genocide; why U.S. officials, ignoring the proven facts of the
Armenian Genocide, are calling for yet another study similar to the one
demanded by the Iranian President on the Holocaust; and why do they allow Turkey to
bully the U.S. by meaningless threats?
To gain a better insight into the mindset of the Bush administration, we
would like to present excerpts from two press conferences recently held by
high-ranking U.S. officials who are known for their pro-Turkish views on the
Armenian Genocide:
First, the comments made by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew
Bryza in response to questions from Turkish reporters on Feb. 1, 2007, prior to
the arrival of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to Washington:
"Our position on [the congressional resolution on the Armenian Genocide] is
that our policy remains of course unchanged. We don’t believe that political
statements or diplomatic statements are the appropriate way to resolve this
issue of how to refer to these horrible events of 1915. I’m sure we all agree
that what happened was a horrible tragedy. It’s terrible. It’s an issue that has
so many sides, so many complicated angles, so many differing points of view
that politicians can’t do it justice by simply making a determination. Whatwe
would like to see happen is that learned people, everyday common people,
professors, philosophers, historians have a chance to sit down and have a candid
discussion over time for an extended period that gets at the core of what
happened and allows the societies of Turkey and Armenia to reconcile themselves with
their pasts and with each other. You can’t do that through a political
decision.
"=80¦The Turkish government and the Armenian government have talked about
historical commissions. They’ve talked about diplomatic discussions as wellto
normalize relations. Then there’s the question now, since the tragic murderof
Hrant Dink, about an even more intensive discussion of Article 301. It’s hard
for the Turkish government simply to abolish Article 301 given political
realities. We understand that. But I think from our perspective it would bea
wonderful step if there no longer was this issue out there of Article 301 that
provides a pretext or a reason for people outside of Turkey to criticize Turkey.
"We are here as Turkey’s friend. I hope Turkey considers us one of its
closest friends in the world. In that spirit we want to do everything we can for
what we view as Turkey’s proud traditions of tolerance and of co-existence,of
all sorts of ethnic and religious communities. We want the world, especially
Europe, to understand what a strong record Turkey has. Article 301 still makes
that difficult. It has a magnetic impact on thinking in Europe and gets
everybody to focus just on that issue rather than on all of the complex history of
Turkey."
Next are the comments made by Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried to
Turkish reporters on Feb. 8, at the conclusion of Gul’s visit to Washington:
"=80¦We discussed the [Armenian Genocide] resolution which has been introduced
about Armenian-Turkish issues, about the Armenian, what its supporters call
the Armenian Genocide. This bill does not have the support of the
administration. The administration opposes this bill. We have made that clear. We are
continuing to make it clear. Later today, I am going up to meet with key figures in
the Congress about this bill and I expect our efforts will continue. =80¦I, and
I suspect more senior people in the U.S. administration than I, will be
discussing this. Our argument is essentially this. Such a resolution will damage
U.S.-Turkish relations and for no good purpose. Such a resolution would notin
fact advance Turkish-Armenian dialogue and it would not advance the processof
Turkey’s examination of its own past.
"I’ve always been of the view that democratic countries need to take a hard
look at the dark spots in their own history=80¦. Our view is that Turkey is
going through a process of looking at its own history with Armenians. The killings
in 1915 were horrific. They need to be looked at honestly and without taboos,
but not because Americans say Turkey should look at this. It should be looked
at because Turks, in the process of building a democracy and deepening a
democracy, are looking at these issues for their own reasons. I think this process
is going on in Turkey. It is painful. It is emotional=80¦. So my argument to the
Congress will be that this natural, painful process in Turkey needs to be
allowed to unfold with encouragement and support, but not pressure from the
outside. That will be my argument. Now I don’t expect that everyone will accept it,
but I will make the case as best I can. And it won’t be just me. There will
be more senior people than I making the case and pointing out that Turkish-U.S.
relations should not be damaged for no good purpose. But this is obviously a
very emotional issue and I believe it is in Turkey’s interest for its own
reasons to take steps to examine its past and to reach out to Armenians worldwide
and to Armenia despite the fact that Turks don’t like all of the things that
Armenian communities say.
"=80¦Speaker Pelosi and Foreign Minister Gul did not meet. We think that such
a meeting would have been a good idea. The Speaker, let me put it this way,
does not always listen to all the advice from the administration. She does
represent a different political party. She is, after all, now I suppose theleader
of the opposition in Congress. We do not support this resolution. We will make
efforts to see that this resolution does not pass. That is an unequivocal
statement of the administration’s position. I hope that Turkey, without regard to
this resolution, makes every effort to reach out to Armenia and Armenians and
makes every effort to examine its own history. Not because of outside
pressure, but because this is appropriate for Turkey’s own development as ademocracy.
"The debate in Turkey about its history, the position of writers such as
Orhan Pamuk, the position of intellectuals, the participation of Turkish
scholars in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission some six years ago [Correction:
"Truth" was not a part of TARC’s name] is all the result not of any outside
pressure. Orhan Pamuk doesn’t care at all what the Americans think. It’s the
result of internal Turkish processes. I applaud these, and I hope that Turkey for
its own reasons will do everything it can to reach out to Armenia and
Armenians. Great nations are not afraid to confront the dark spots of theirpast. The
United States had to do so and we were not our best selves, we were not true
to our best traditions until we had done so. I believe the same is true of all
countries. I believe the same is true, therefore, of Turkey. I hope Turkey
does this not to please the United States but because of itself and this is
something the United States can best influence by being a friend, not by passing
resolutions. That is my view and I hope I can help convince the Congress ofit."
The most reprehensible comment was the one made by Dan Fried when he said:
The Armenian Genocide "resolution will damage U.S.-Turkish relations for no
good purpose!" Both he and Bryza seem more concerned about catering to Turkish
sensitivities than the fact that an entire nation was almost wiped out. They
seem to forget that this congressional resolution has more to do with trying to
reaffirm America’s past acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide than bringing
pressure to bear upon Turkey. It is high time for these U.S. officials to stop
playing shameless political games and start calling the genocide by its true
name.
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2 – AIWA Hosts Shmavon Shmavonian
Feb. 24 Art Exhibit at Bicycle Casino
LOS ANGELES – The members of the Armenian International Women’s Association,
Los Angeles Affiliate, will present an art exhibit by internationally
renowned Armenian artist Shmavon Shmavonian on February 24. This special
event,
"An Evening of Art," will be held at the Bicycle Casino, 7301 Eastern Avenue,
Bell Gardens, Calif., beginning with a cocktail reception at 5 p.m., buffet
dinner at 7 p.m., hosted by Mr. and Mrs,. Haig Kelegian.
This is the first time AIWA has introduced the works of a noted Armenian
artist to the community.
Shmavonian was born in Ardashat, Armenia in 1953, picking up his first paint
brush at the age of seven. He attended the Terlemezian School of Arts in
Yerevan from 1971 to 1975 and sold his first painting in 1979 to the Armenian
Cultural Ministry for the National Museum in Yerevan. In 1982 his work toured
in a group exhibition in Moscow’s museums as part of the Soviet Artist’s
Exchange.
Shmavonian came to the US in 1999 for an art exhibit at the AGBU in
Pasadena. The following year, Shmavonian presented Arnold Schaffer, president of
Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center, with an original painting that is
presently displayed in the hospital’s critical unit. He donated the 8′ x 4′
painting entitled "Hope" in gratitude for the hospital’s continued efforts to
educate and train key Armenian hospital administrators and physicians. Shaffer
expressed his thanks and appreciation to Shmavonian for his undying dedication
to the Armenian community.
This exhibit will be a rare opportunity for the community to view and
purchase his work. The subjects of many of his paintings celebrate women in their
varied roles in life.
Shmavonian has offered to donate a portion of the proceeds from his pieces to
many of AIWA’s projects here and in Armenia.
For information regarding this event, call Cindy Norian, (310) 277-4490 or
Diane Cabraloff (562) 943-1081.
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3 – Ani (Chavdarian) Garabedian Honored
As 2006 UCLA Alumnus of the Year
LOS ANGELES – During the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied
Science (HSSEAS) Alumni Association’s annual banquet, held recently Ani
(Chavdarian) Garabedian was honored with the Distinguished Young Alumnus ofthe
year award.
Before presenting Ani with her award, Dr. Asad Madni, President of HSSEAS
Alumni Association began his remarks by saying how pleased he was to present the
2006 Young Alumnus Award to a remarkable young woman who has exceptional
technical skills as well as an extraordinary drive to give back to UCLA. He said
Ani received her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from UCLA in 1999.
Even as an undergraduate student she was very active, having served as Vice
President of the Society of Women Engineers, President of the Armenian
Students Association, Orientation Counselor, and was recipient of the Christina Huang
Memorial Prize from the School of Engineering. Soon After receiving her BS
degree, Ani joined TRW Corporation (which was soon to be acquired by Northrop
Grumman).
She was granted a full Fellowship to pursue her Master of Science degree
which she successfully completed at the University of Southern California. Being a
true Bruin, Ani’s love, dedication and loyalty to UCLA overpowered her pride
of educational accomplishment and she is known to be rather modest in
acknowledging her graduate degree because it happens to be from our cross-town rival
institution.
Ani is currently employed at Northrop Grumman Space Technology, where she has
made significant technical contributions in challenging assignments;
including the emulation to verify demodulator systems, development of advanced
Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC’s) for communication systemsand the
design, testing, and validation of extremely complex digital communications
hardware. Recently, she received an honor quite uncommon for a young engineer by
being selected to serve on the company’s Technology Development team, which
is responsible for the development and implementation of the company’s
technology roadmap and advanced strategic planning.
In spite of her demanding professional responsibilities, Ani has never turned
down an opportunity to serve and give back to her Alma Mater. She is
currently serving as Chair of the UCLA Society of Women Engineers Alumnae Advisory
Committee, is a member of the Electrical Engineering Department’s Alumni Advisory
Board, and is a member of the Board of Governors of the UCLA Engineering
Alumni Association and its current secretary.
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4 – Hamshin: Islamicized Armenians are
Topic of Feb. 22 Lecture at Merdinian
SHERMAN OAKS, Calif. – The ARPA Institute will present a lecture on "The
Hamshin: Speaking Armenian, Practicing Islam," on Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m., at the
Merdinian School Auditorium, 13330 Riverside Dr., Sherman Oaks.
The lecture will be conducted by Hovann Simonian, a Ph.D Candidate in
Political Science at USC. He holds an MA in International Relations from the
Department of Political Science at USC, and another MA in Central Asian Studies from
the Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies at the School of Oriental and
African Studies, the University of London.
Simonian is the co-author of *Troubled Waters: The Geopolitics of the Caspian
Region* (London: I.B. Tauris, 2001/2003) and the editor of the *The Hemshin:
History, Society and Identity in the Highlands of Northeast Turkey* (London:
Routledge, 2007).
The Hemshin are one of the most enigmatic peoples of Turkey and the Caucasus.
As former Christians who converted to Islam centuries ago yet did not
assimilate into the culture of the surrounding Muslim populations, as Turkswho speak
Armenian yet are often not aware of it, as Muslims who continue to celebrate
feasts that are part of the calendar of the Armenian Church, and as
descendants of Armenians who, for the most part, have chosen to deny their Armenian
origins in favor of recently invented myths of Turkic ancestry, the Hemshinand
the seemingly irreconcilable differences within their group identity have
generated curiosity and often controversy.
After a short introduction to the historical circumstances surrounding the
conversion of Hamshin Armenians to Islam and the subsequent retention of
crypto-Christian practices within the converted community, the lecture willfocus on
the salient features of modern-day Hemshin identity, organized around the
somewhat contradictory poles of allegiance to Islam and use of
the Armenian language.
For more Information, call Dr. Hagop Panossian at (818) 586-9660.
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5 – Hrant Dink Program to be Held at UCLA
UCLA-"Hrant Dink: His Legacy and His Challenge" is the theme of an afternoon
program to be held at UCLA in tribute to Hrant Dink. The event will include
speakers from Turkey and the United States, a video presentation, musical
interludes, and a general discussion, followed by the sharing of the traditional
memorial "helva."
The afternoon program will be held on Feb. 25, at 3:30 p.m. in 147 Dodd Hall
on the UCLA campus.
The sponsoring organizations are the UCLA Armenian Studies Program, Near
Eastern Center, and Jewish Studies Center, together with the Organization of
Istanbul Armenians (OIA) and Initiative of Turkish Students to Commemorate "Our
Hrant." Professor Richard Hovannisian of UCLA will moderate the event. Keynote
speakers are Professor Ayse Gul Altinay of Sabanci University in Istanbul, a
dear friend of Hrant Dink, and Dr. Ruben Cetinyan, a Ph.D. in political science
from UCLA. Brief comments will be made by Mr. Simon Acilac, President of the
OIA; Ms. Zeynep Turkyilmaz of the Initiative of Turkish Students; and Dr. David
Myers, Director of the Jewish Studies Center.
Musical selections will be rendered by Mr. Albert Gyunasdyan, violin, and Mr.
Mamekon Arutunyan, duduk. A video montage of "Our Hrant" will be shown during
the program.
The program is open to the public at no charge on a first-come basis. Parking
may be found along Hilgard Avenue or in Structure No. 2 ($8.00), entrance
from Hilgard Avenue at Westholme Avenue. Dodd hall is located one block directly
north of the parking structure.
For further information: Prof. Richard Hovannisian:
[email protected], telephone 310-825-3375, office hours, MWF, 9 a.m. – 12:00 noon, or Zeynep
Turkyilmaz: [email protected].
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6 – Several Armenian-Americans
Listed in Oscar-Nominated Films
LOS ANGELES – Several Armenian-Americans are named in motion pictures
nominated in the industry’s 79th Oscar awards this year, and other Hollywood
productions.
While some of the names are familiar to most movie-goers, some are less well
known. Here is a list of Armenian-Americans engaged in the business, both
behind the camera, as well as in front of it.
Blood Diamond: Jeff Atmajian (Orchestrator);
The Pursuit of Happyness: *Denise Chamian (casting director); Marcy
Guiragossian (stand-in for Jaden Smith);
Dreamgirl: Caroline Keichian (production assistant); Jason Zorigian
(assistant production coordinator);
The Departed: Armen Garo (Providence Gangster #1); Vatche Arabian (production
assistant);
Little Children: Tugman Tookmanlian (Skateboarde; Mike Topoozian (first
assistant director);
Pan’s Labyrinth: Ryan Bozajian (digital effects artist);
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest: *Denise Chamian (casting
director); Jason Mahakian (master model maker); Jeff Khachadoorian (specialeffects
crew); Gary Abrahamian (animation lead: CIS Hollywood); Khatsho John Orfali
(digital effects artist); Knar Kitabjian (post-production assistant); Raffi
Paloulian (.script researcher);
Borat: Ken Davitian (Azamat Bagatov); Tanya Oskanian (assistant of director
Larry Charles); Belit Paulissian (researcher);
Flags of Our Fathers: **Roger Kupelian (lead matte painter);
Poseidon: Gary Abrahamian (animation lead: CIS Hollywood); Chris Housepian
(production and post-production assistant).
*Denise Chamian was a celebrity presenter at the 7th Arpa International
Film Festival in 2004.
**Roger Kupelian. As Senior Matte Painter for all three films in the "Lord
of the Rings", he garnered Oscar and BAFTA awards for visual effects in 2003
and 2004. Special jury prize was awarded to Roger Kupelian for his
documentary "Dark Forest in the Mountains" at the 5th Arpa InternationalFilm
Festival in 2002. He also directed a music video titled "The Light of God",which
was screened at the 8th Arpa International Film Festival in 2005.
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7 – Harut Sassounian Honored by AEBU
Sahag-Levon Mgrditchian College Alumni
PASADENA – The Sahag-Levon Mgrditchian College Alumni honored Harut
Sassounian, the President of United Armenian Fund, at a banquet held at theRococo Room
in Pasadena on January 21.
Among the dignitaries attending the event were the Primate of the Western
Diocese, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Abp. Vatche Hovsepian, Fr. Arshag
Khatchadourian, the Consul General of Armenia, Armen Liloyan, and Kapriel Moloyan, the
Chairman of the Board of the Western Region of the Social Democrat Hunchakian
Party.
The Master of Ceremonies, Hampig Sarafian, expressed his sincere appreciation
to Sassounian for his many services for Armenians worldwide. The MC
emphasized the honoree’s trip to Lebanon where he delivered, on behalf of the United
Armenian Fund, $4.5 million of financial assistance to all 28 Armenian schools,
one of which was the Sahag-Levon Mgrditchian College.
Abp. Hovnanian expressed his appreciation for the valuable assistance
provided to the Armenian schools in Lebanon. He said that Sassounian deserves special
recognition for his decades of service to the community as a political
analyst and community activist, as well as for his significant responsibilities at
the United Armenian Fund and The Lincy Foundation.
After recitations by Jenia Avedissian, musical selections by Elize Tashjian,
and songs performed by Hagop Gagosian and Fr. Arshag Khatchadourian, Dr.
Arshag Kazanjian, the chief editor of Massis Weekly, delivered his keynote remarks.
He highly assessed Sassounian’s dedication to the cause of his people without
making any distinctions as to their political or religious affiliation.
Sassounian then took the podium and thanked the Alumni organization for their
kind words. As a former student of one of the schools in Lebanon, he said he
understood well what it means to be a student in Lebanon and be deprived of
financial assistance. He then showed excerpts of a video of his visit to the
schools in Lebanon. As a token of appreciation, the Alumni presented Mr.
Sassounian with a plaque of commendation.
The program was concluded by Abp. Hovsepian relating his recollections as a
young child who lived in the neighborhood of the Sahag-Levon Mgrditchian
School, and years later, his fundraising efforts in the United States on behalf of
the school.
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8 – Army Specialist Carla Babayan
Steward Killed in Iraq Accident
By Eugene Tong
LA Daily News
LOS ANGELES – In the eyes of her father, Carla Babayan Stewart was always his
beautiful daughter with an infectious smile.
But at Saturday’s memorial service for the 37-year-old Army specialist killed
in a convoy accident in Iraq last month, she had become much more.
"I thought I was the tough one, the patriot of the family," said Edmond
Babayan, Stewart’s father and a retired Marine. "This young lady, she said if her
unit wasn’t called, she was going to go on her own anyway.
"I’m humbled by you, Carla. You turned out to be the brave, the tough, the
best patriot of all of us. All I can say is until we meet
again, I have to do my final salute to you as a humble Marine to my
beautiful, tough hero."
Babayan saluted his daughter’s flag-draped casket, then fell to his knees in
prayer as about 300 family and friends gathered at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park
Hollywood Hills cemetery to remember Stewart’s life.
Born in La Canada Flintridge, she enlisted in the Army Reserves about two
years ago and was assigned to the 250th Transportation Company based in El Monte.
After completing basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., Stewart was deployed
to Iraq. She was killed Jan. 28 when her vehicle overturned in Tallil.
Stewart’s mother, Emmy Aprahamian, said her daughter showed immeasurable
kindness toward others.
"Carla knew that our individual duty and responsibility in life is to polish
our souls and become better human beings," she said. "By doing so, we heal
ourselves and heal humanity at large.
"She was the light. She is my light."
That theme ran throughout the service – from the benediction delivered by
Archbishop Mousheg Mardirossian of the Armenian Apostolic Church to the
reflective dignity of the military funeral.
Uniformed soldiers punctuated the service with taps and a rifle salute, while
Stewart’s parents and brother released 37 white doves – one for each year of
her life.
"The best we can do is to remember Carla as she lived, bringing life, love
and joy to those who knew her and pride to a nation," said Esther Agopian, who
delivered the eulogy.
"We marvel at your will and we will always celebrate your strength, your
courage and your conviction," she said of Stewart’s memory.
The older of two siblings, Stewart grew up in La Ca ada Flintridge and
Glendale. She was an accomplished ballet dancer and enjoyed the outdoors. She
married Brendan Stewart in 1995.
Her brother, Richard "Rick" Babayan, was her "forever best friend," Agopian
said. "With Carla and Rick as the dynamic duo, there never was a dull moment in
the Babayan household."
Yet Carla Stewart always yearned for a meaningful life in service to others.
"Many times she would say to Rick, `It shouldn’t be either-or, should it?
Peace and justice should belong to all people, everywhere, all the time; isn’t
that right?"’ Agopian said.
Her fellow service members nicknamed her "Stuart Little" after a helpful
mouse in children’s books.
"(She was) always first to help with the biggest of tasks and always greeted
you with the biggest smile," said Agopian, reading an e-mail from Sgt.
Fredrick E. Moore, who served with Stewart.
In the message, Moore related a poem read during her Feb. 6 funeral service
in Iraq.
"We thought we felt your touch today in the breeze that rustled by, and then
we heard the angels say her spirit will never die."
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
