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The Armenian Weekly; Volume 73, No. 41; Oct. 13, 2007
News:
1. ARF-ER CC Meets with Catholicos Karekin II
2. ‘Dream For Darfur’ Torch Light Ceremony: Olympian Ideals Should Never Be
Tarnished in Blood
By Andy Turpin
3. Oskanian Speaks at Tufts, Receives Dean’s Medal
By Andy Turpin
***
ARF-ER CC Meets with Catholicos Karekin II
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (A.W.)-On Oct. 8, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II
met with a delegation of the ARF Eastern U.S. Region Central Committee,
including CC members Haig Oshagan, Ned Apigian and Ivan Ardhaljian, as well
as Hairenik Weekly editor Khajag Mgrditchian and Armenian Weekly editor
Khatchig Mouradian.
The delegation welcomed the Catholicos to the region and wished him success
on his visit. All present agreed on the importance of cooperation in order
to strengthen Armenian communities and to pursue national goals. The
Catholicos expressed his appreciation for the respectful attitude the ARF
has shown toward the Etchmiadzin Catholicosate, which he said returns the
respect.
One of the topics of discussion was the recent efforts in the U.S. to ensure
the passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution by Congress. The Catholicos
informed the CC delegation that he had visited the Holocaust Memorial in
Boston and had paid respect to the victims of that crime. The Catholicos
said that as a nation that has been a victim of genocide, Armenians must
empathize with the victims of similar crimes. He said that it is admirable
when others recognize our past suffering.
Regarding recent statements by some denying the Armenian genocide or
refusing to support its recognition, the Catholicos said that "the genocide
is a historical fact and it is unacceptable to deny or to oppose its
recognition."
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2. ‘Dream For Darfur’ Torch Light Ceremony: Olympian Ideals Should Never Be
Tarnished in Blood
By Andy Turpin
BOSTON, Mass. (A.W.)-On Oct. 7, the Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur
held its "Massachusetts Dream for Darfur Olympic Torch Relay and Rally"
torch-lighting ceremony at Boston’s City Hall Plaza.
Boston was part of a multi-city world tour to pressure the government of
China-host of the 2008 Olympic Games-to stop sending arms to Sudan and
indirectly supporting the genocide in Darfur. The theme of the Olympics has
already been announced as "One World, One Dream," and the Massachusetts
Coalition to Save Darfur has been urging China to "bring this dream to
Darfur."
Towns across Massachusetts had organized "torch relays" that morning and
carried their own torch to Boston. Over 30 other U.S. cities are slated to
do the same. The torch relay began in Darfur on Aug. 9, and went through
Rwanda and later Armenia on Sept. 25. The torch will go next to Berlin, then
to Sarajevo in Bosnia, and then to Beijing.
Coalition co-chair Eric Cohen introduced the event in Boston. "During the
ceremony, we will unite the flames from those [relay] events to create one
flame of hope and peace," he said. "It is our hope that agents of good will
combine to end the genocide. We have a responsibility to make this dream
come true."
He stated the mantra of the coalition, "Keep the pressure on!"
"China waters down resolutions and blocks effective action in the UN," he
explained, urging activists to continue pressing China to use its influence
in Sudan. "These pressure is beginning to work," he said, "but only
beginning. A demanding public strengthens the hands of U.S. negotiators."
Cohen ended by quoting Unitarian church pioneer Theodore Parker: "’The arc
of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.’ We must bend
the moral arc towards justice for Darfur," he said.
U.S. Congressman John F. Tierney (D-Mass.) spoke next, and said of the
Armenian, Jewish, Cambodian, Rwandan, Sudanese and Bosnian genocide
survivors present as speakers, "We are honored to be here in their presence
today."
Tierney cited the Congress’s "Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act," and
assured that crowd that "Congress is taking action." But, Tierney
admonished, "The U.S. could do more. China could do more. Russia and the EU
could all do more."
He continued, "If anyone has leverage in the Sudan it is China, and we must
ask them to speak out. It’s about living up to the Olympic ideals as their
temporary host."
Tierney urged the crowd to engage others. "I have written to the corporate
sponsors of the 2008 Olympics and you should do the same," he said. "They
need to recognize that there’s a corporate citizenship and put humanity
before their almighty dollar."
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian spoke as representative of the Boston-Armenian
community alongside Genocide survivor Peter Bilezikian of Newtonville.
Aykazian said to the youth in the audience, "I just flew thousands of miles
>From Armenia and I am so happy to see so many young faces here today. You
are the future of the world. You could bring justice to the world. I trust
you. I trust you. I trust you."
He challenged, "Let us come together, fight together, struggle together
against those who deny the Armenian genocide and the Holocaust. God bless
you and God bless Darfur."
Jill Savitt, director of the "Dream for Darfur Campaign" recounted the
history of the movement, which started in New York last year. "People and
groups started coming to us. The Italians, Canada contacted us.
Massachusetts said, ‘We want to end the Genocide!’"
She told of her most recent travels to visit Darfur refugees. "I was in
Africa in August and the camps were wretched," she said. "There are less
people in the camps because there are fewer left." She stressed renewed and
increased activism by the crowd, saying, "You’re a part of something that is
big and important."
"China is addicted to oil," she said. "It’s given billions of dollars to its
dealer [Sudan] and it’s profiting, too. You can’t sponsor a genocide in
Africa and an Olympics at home. . We cannot let [the Games] be tarnished."
Following the ceremonial torch lighting by survivors of all the genocides of
the 20th century, the "Voices of Mercy" singers from the Berklee College of
Music provided a rendition of "We Are All Connected."
The "Community Flame" torch lighting ceremony then commenced as
representative flame bearers from throughout Massachusetts approached with
their flames. They hailed from Cape Cod, Attleboro, Westborough,
Northborough, Southborough, Northampton, Shrewsbury, Phillips Andover
preparatory academy, Peabody, Brockton, Waltham, Winchester, Newton,
Medford-Somerville, Brandeis, Northeastern and Tufts University and
Cambridge.
Rev. Gloria White-Hammond, co-founder of the My Sister’s Keeper NGO, and
premier activist for Americans for Darfur and Postcards for Darfur,
delivered concluding remarks. She rallied, "Because of your commitment,
government leaders can no longer plead ignorance. The flames of our desire
to stop mass atrocities will never be quenched! We will save Darfur! We will
just do it!"
For more information or to stay abreast of online petitions and upcoming
actions go to
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3. Oskanian Speaks at Tufts, Receives Dean’s Medal
By Andy Turpin
MEDFORD, Mass. (A.W.)-On Oct. 5, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian,
an alumni of the Tufts University Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy,
spoke at the Fletcher School about "The Diplomacy of Small States."
"I have the pleasure of introducing one of the Fletcher School’s most
distinguished former students," said Tufts Dean Stephen Bosworth. "A man who
committed himself to International Affairs when his country didn’t have
international affairs."
Bosworth awarded Oskanian the Dean’s Medal of Achievement. Past recipients
of the medal have included Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and
current U.S. presidential contender Bill Richardson of New Mexico.
"This is a very emotional moment for me," Oskanian stated in gratitude. He
thanked the university for its notable contributions to Armenian studies.
"Seventy Armenians," he said, "have benefited [from the school] and become
diplomats. That is no small number for a small-population country like
Armenia."
"Fletcher to me was the doorway to America," Oskanian recalled. "Most of our
student analysis turned out to be wrong. We were too idealistic. We were
wrong because the spirit of consensus from the Cold War did not remain. .
Now the world is more fragmented, more dangerous. For small countries, it’s
hard to survive."
Relations with Neighbors
Oskanian explained Armenia’s political stance as a nation adrift among
volatile neighboring states. "We reject choosing between East and West," he
said. "That was the Cold War. We don’t have to choose anymore."
In reference to Armenia’s relations with Iran, Oskanian said that trade
relations between the countries were normal, "but because of Iran’s problems
with the world community, we stick to our policy of ‘complimentarity.’"
Regarding Armenia’s close but tenuous relationship with Russia, especially
during a time of strained U.S.-Russia relations, Oskanian stated firmly that
"Being considerate to other countries’ interests does not mean Armenia is
being subjugated. Armenia has its own foreign policy."
Karabakh
"These are difficult and complicated problems," Oskanian said about the
Karabakh-Armenians’ unrequited desire for self-determination. "Azerbaijan
must recognize and come to terms with this reality."
"Look what’s happening in Kosovo," he added, citing the former conflict as a
test case for ethnic-regional self-determination in action. "As I’ve said in
the UN, no one should tell us there’s a quota for liberty and freedom."
He spoke about the frozen state of Armenian-Azeri relations, maintaining
that Armenians would like to see progress-in the form of Track 2 diplomacy
with Azerbaijan-in the peace process. "We have to prepare our people for the
peace that is to come," he stressed. "There’s a trust deficit between our
two peoples. There are different stories circulating in the two countries.
That trust needs to be recovered."
Turkey
"We in Armenia have no preconditions for normal relations with Turkey," he
said. "We need to have open borders."
Addressing Turkey’s continued and relentless denial of the Armenian
genocide, Oskanian stated, "We need to pursue a resolution, but [Armenia]
has never made it a precondition to normalizing relations with Turkey."
He stressed, "I hope this message will go through: Armenia is ready for
non-confrontational relations with Turkey."
Speaking about the politics surrounding genocide today, Oskanian said,
"Today Darfur is synonymous with indifference and expediency. Genocide
should be prevented, not commemorated."
U.S.-Armenia Relations
"Considerateness," Oskanian said, "applies to all countries, including the
United States. Had we not been considerate, none of the past programs would
have been possible." He cited the opening of several gas pipelines with
USAID support as example. "And without transparency with the U.S.," he
added, "none of the programs would be possible."
Regarding the strained relations between the U.S. and Iran, Oskanian said
that Armenia "would be the first to benefit from improved U.S.-Iran
relations."
Q&A
Asked about the Armenian economy, he said that it was "open and diverse,"
and growing stronger with more financial centers. "A lot of people who had
left Armenia are also coming back," he said. "Let’s face it, Armenia is
doing very well now. The macroeconomic indicators are very strong."
In spite of queries about the continual state of widespread poverty in
Armenia, Oskanian maintained that "With this kind of high GDP growth, those
kinds of issues should disappear."
Speaking about the possibility of improving Armenian-Turkish relations, he
said, "The improvement of relations relies on both countries. At the end of
the day it needs political will on the part of Turkish leaders because let’s
face it, our two countries are not at war with each other. We’re not at
war."
Asked about the upcoming vote on the Genocide Resolution in Congress,
Oskanian cited the letter he sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in response
to the one sent by the eight former Secretaries of State. "The letter from
the Secretaries of State said that the passing of the resolution would
interfere with the reconciliation process between Turkey and Armenia," he
explained. "There is no ongoing serious process between Turkey and Armenia."
Oskanian spoke optimistically about the future. "Armenia is a different
place today than it was 10 years ago. I see it, I know the programs in
place. Not only have we survived but we’ve improved. Our economy has
adapted."
He joked, "Turkey threatening to keep the border closed doesn’t phase us.
They’ve been closed for 10 years. . Turkey has been wrong all along. They
put their ethnic interests with Azerbaijan ahead of their strategic economic
relationship in the region."
Oskanian said that Turkey’s membership in the EU would be enormously
beneficial to Armenia. He then spoke to concerns regarding the vast poverty
gap between urban and rural populations in Armenia, saying, "In the capital
[of Yerevan], economic development is growing faster than in rural areas. It’s
not trickling down as it should. That’s why I’m spearheading efforts to
enhance government programs for the entire country."
Asked finally what he felt were the Armenian republic’s greatest
achievements since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Oskanian replied,
"Maintaining peace and security in our region. We shouldn’t take this for
granted in our region. We’re ahead. Our ‘complimentarity’ has really worked.
Peace and security and economic development are our biggest achievements."
A luncheon for all members of the Tufts community, attended by Oskanian,
followed his talk.