HAIGAZIAN UNIVERSITY HONORS RENOWNED PHOTO JOURNALIST HARRY KOUNDAKJIAN
By Mira Yardemian, Public Relations Director
AZG Armenian Daily
15/05/2007
On Tuesday, 8 May, 2007, on the occasion of the Lebanese Press Martyrs’
Day, and under the auspices of the Minister of Information, H.E. Ghazi
Aridi, Haigazian University inaugurated the life work of world renowned
press photographer Harry Koundakjian, at an exhibition entitled
"50 Years of Photo Journalism", in the Arthur Matossian Gallery,
of the university.
The Mugar Garden hosted a crowd of dignitaries, media, family, and
friends which included, former minister and MP Bahige Tabbara, Head
of the Lebanese Press Order, Melhem Karam, President of the Press
Photographers Syndicate in Lebanon, Jamal Saidi, Ambassador of the
Kingdom of Belgium, H.E. Stephane De Loecker, The Head of the Union
of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, Rev. Megrditch
Karagoezian, the representative of the Catholicos of the House of
Cilicia, His Holiness Aram I, Father Krikor Chifjian, the Prelate
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Lebanon, Kegham Khatcherian,
the Director General of the Ministry of Environment, Berge Hadjian,
and the Vice Governor of the Central Bank, Alan Balian.
The program opened with a word of welcome by Haigazian University’s
Public Relations Director, Mira Yardemian, referring to the martyrs,
who were basically Lebanese journalist that sacrificed their life for
independence, liberal thoughts and freedom of speech and expression.
University President, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian welcomed the Minister
of Information, and addressed the audience saying, "there are people
who make history, others who write history, still others who read
history. But there are also those who open windows into that history
and shed light without discrimination on its darkest or brightest
characters and events."
Haidostian appreciated the high risk factor of journalism, and its
mission, "the journalists pay a high price for their mission. It could
cost them their life. Even though in present day Lebanon, journalism
is sometimes mistakenly seen as a subjective, propagandist, political
and partisan activity, we need to always remember that journalism
is a mission, and if so, then martyrdom is one of its most painful
consequences".
Minister Aridi praised Koundakjian for his 50-year career, and
appreciated Koundakjian’s bold decision to return to his home, Lebanon,
amidst the country’s political instability.
"This gathering of people from the media, politics, art, photography,
reflects a beautiful image of Lebanon, all surrounding Harry
Koundakjian to appreciated his talent and sacrifices of his long term
career", noted Aridi.
Then President Haidostian and Minister Aridi presented Koundakjian
with the University’s token of recognition.
In his turn, Koundakjian, very touched and emotionally affected by
the crowd, thanked the audience for being faithful and for being
there. He promised the press that soon he will be returning to his
beloved Beirut, ready to serve all the newspapers.
After the ribbon cutting ceremony, the audience followed Koundakjian
in explaining and presenting his photographs, and the circumstances
in which he shot them.
The exhibition featured some 75 photographs, reminding people of
the 20th century’s most dangerous conflicts, historical moments,
as well as the world’s famous stars and political figures.
Haigazian had the honor to include in this exhibition two world prize
winning photos: "Princess on the Rocks", is the photo of Princess
Lala Lamia, daughter of the Lebanese Prime Minister, Riad El Solh,
watching a water-skiing competition in Jounieh, Lebanon, in 1963, and
"Please Save Me" is the photograph of a Lebanese taxi driver trapped
in the wreckage of his car in 1962.
Other stars include, Brigitte Bardot deciding on a role with a
director, Omar Sharif, Louis Armstrong, and of course Lebanon’s famous
singer Feirouz rehearsing with her husband, composer Assi Rahbani.
People were very touched in seeing the photo of Lebanese President
Camille Chamoun posing with his martyr son Dany, as well as the one
of Parliamentarian and publisher, MP Ghassan Tueni, with his martyr
son Gebran taken before one month of the latter’s assassination.
The exhibition also featured photos from the Lebanese war, the Black
September in Sudan, the revolution attempts in Yemen, the 2700th
Anniversary of the Persion Empire, and world religious leaders during
special moments.
It is worth noting that many special guests visited the exhibition
during that week, enjoying a private tour with Koundakjian, including
the Catholicos of the House of Cilicia, His Holiness Aram I, MP Walid
Joumblat, MP and Annahar Editor in Chief, veteran journalist, Ghassan
Tueni, Indian Ambassador, H.E. Nengcha Lhouvum, and the general public.
Veteran photographer, Harry L. Koundarkjian began his professional
career in 1952, when he joined the Beirut French language paper,
"L’Orient" and its sister Arabic publication Jarida , as the first
press photographer in Lebanon.
He joined the Associated Press in 1967, and was appointed chief of
the A.P. Middle East photo staff in 1969. Koundakjian also worked as
a freelancer to many newspapers and magazines like, Aztag Daily,Dar
Assayad Publications, al Jamhour al Jadid, Magazine, al Ousbouh al
Arabi, and international publications like, Paris Match, France Soir,
Life, , the Illustrated London News, London Daily Mail, London’s
Daily Telegraph and London’s Economist
Called "Harry the Horse" by his colleagues, because of his tenacity
and indefatigable energy, Koundakjian has been in the thick of danger
many times during his over 50-year professional career in more than
22 countries.
Throughout his career, Koundarjian has been on a first name basis with
many of its leaders, including Jordan’s King Hussein, Egypt’s Sadat,
Syria’s Assad and Libya’s Khadafi. His photos- many, front page-
have won him honors, including the AP Managing Editor’s plaque,
and the World Press Photo Award.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress