ARMENIANS GATHER IN NEW YORK CITY FOR COMMEMORATION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By Editor
Apr 28, 2010
New York region
Genocide survivor Perouz Kalousdian, 100, originally from Palou,
reflects upon her somber past at the New York Genocide observance.
Haig Deranian, grand commander, Knights of Vartan, which sponsored
the observance.
Harut Sassounian.
By Taleen Babayan
NEW YORK – Hundreds of Armenians crowded into Kavookjian Hall in
New York on Sunday, April 25, to observe the 95th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide. Intermittent rain compelled the organizers to
forgo the traditional locale of Times Square.
Attendees crowded the standing-room-only hall, spilled into the
vestibule, stood on the marble staircase and filled the upstairs
lobby. People came on hired buses from as far away as Boston and
Philadelphia and from all the Armenian churches in the New York-New
Jersey metropolitan area. A large contingent flew in from California
to support the event. Especially prominent was the presence of a vast
multitude of Armenian youth from various schools and colleges on the
East Coast.
The event was once more supported by all the major Armenian-American
organizations in the United States as well as by all Armenian churches
of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and their pastors,
many of whom were present and introduced as a group.
Emcee Dr. Mary Papazian, senior vice president of academic Affairs and
provost of Lehman College, City University of New York, introduced
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), who gave the invocation. "Ninety five years ago, the
Armenian nation went through ‘the cruel valley of death.’ We lost
our mother soil which we had defended with our blood and cultivated
with our sweat," he said. "The wounds of genocide never heal since a
nation can never fully recover, but penance by the perpetrators and
acts of reparation can diminish the pain."
The Very Rev. Vazken Karayan, pastor of the Holy Cross Armenian Church
in New Jersey, representing Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of
the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern), gave the benediction.
Speakers included significant political figures such Senators Robert
Menendez (D-NJ) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY); Representatives Frank Pallone
(D-NJ), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Anthony Wiener (D-NY).
Featured Armenian speakers were publisher Harut Sassounian and activist
and attorney Mark Geragos.
The political speakers all reiterated in the strongest possible
terms their support of the Armenian community in the United States,
their pledge to champion US affirmation of the Armenian Genocide,
and support for the Republics of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh.
Grand Commander of the Knights of Vartan Haig Deranian, and Grand
Matron of the Daughters of Vartan, Melene Ouzounian, thanked the
participating organizations, and praised the organizers for a
successful event. "We have used Times Square, the nation’s heart,
as the center for our national commemoration for 25 years thanks to
the foresight, enterprise and the dedication and sacrifice of all
those individuals, known and unknown, who make such a vast enterprise
a success. I cannot name you all, by thank you from the bottom of my
heart," said Deranian.
Shakeh Kadehjian introduced the two Armenian survivors of the
Genocide, Oronik Eminian, born in 1912, and Perouz Kalousdian, born
in 1909. Aghavni (Aggie) Ellian, executive director of the Flushing
Home for the Armenian Aged, accompanied them.
Keynote Speakers
Publisher of the California Courier, Sassounian, whose column appears
in many Armenian weekly newspapers, said that President Barack Obama
broke his promise to the Armenian people when he again used the
Armenian words Metz Yeghern (the great catastrophe) instead of the
internationally-known word, genocide. He argued that the community is
past the quest for recognition since most significant countries have
already reaffirmed the facts of the Armenian Genocide, most recently
Sweden and Canada, as well as more than 40 states in the United States,
the US Congress in 1975 and 1984, President Ronald Reagan in 1981,
the US State Department in 1952 in a brief before the International
Court of Justice, The International Association of Genocide Scholars
and nearly every genocide scholar in the world.
"Let us move onto the next step," he said, "and let us pursue justice
for our cause instead of just genocide recognition. Turkey must be
held accountable. … Armenians are entitled to just compensation of
homes, land, and houses of worship."
Geragos, the famed criminal defense lawyer, concurred, saying that
the "r" word that matters to the Armenians is not "recognition," but
"reparation."
"Yesterday was the insurance companies who paid off, next it will
be the banks and tomorrow it will be the Republic of Turkey. Give
us a down payment. Give us Mt. Ararat back and we’ll start talking,"
said Geragos, referring in part to his victory in the Armenian class
action lawsuit against New York Life Insurance for insurance proceeds
of Armenian killed in the Genocide. He also derided members of Congress
who are receiving "blood money" from the Turkish government to deny the
Armenian Genocide, in particular Jean Schmidt (R-OH) who is running
against an Armenian, David Krikorian, for Ohio’s 2nd congressional
district. Geragos is defending Krikorian in a lawsuit Schmidt filed
in the Ohio Elections Commission against Krikorian for defamation.
Menendez, a co-sponsor of the Senate Resolution 316 affirming the
Armenian Genocide, said that the American State Department must stop
its diplomats from using euphemisms that gloss over the Armenian
Genocide.
"To overlook human suffering is not who we are as a people or as a
nation," said Menendez. "And if Sweden can recognize the Armenian
Genocide, so can the United States."
A longtime supporter of Armenian issues, he emphasized that the
events of 1915-1923 were genocide, and there was no other word to
describe it. "Those who forget the past are destined to repeat it,"
said Menendez. "And I will not rest in the US Senate until our country
remembers the Armenian Genocide once and for all."
Schumer said that the truth always prevails and as a Jewish-American
he can relate to the Armenians in their efforts to have the genocide
be recognized.
"Again I say to the Turkish government, give up your losing battle
to deny the Armenian Holocaust," urged Schumer. "When you deny that
evil has occurred, it paves the road for evil to occur again." He
also stressed his interest in helping Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Pallone, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Affairs,
said he was speaking at the commemoration with a heavy heart because
for years efforts have been made for the US to recognize the Armenian
Genocide without what may appear like much success. "Yet," he said,
"The tireless efforts of the Armenian community have achieved
progress. We must note the recognition of many US states as well as
countries worldwide who accept that the genocide occurred." "In the
past" he said, "those in Congress argued against the Armenian Genocide
resolution by saying there was no genocide. This year they only argued
that the resolution was not good for Armenian-Turkish relations.
"We are close to Genocide recognition," said Pallone. "Please continue
your efforts, continue writing letters, sending e-mails and making
phone calls, because if we can come up with a majority it is possible
the resolution can pass this in this session of Congress."
Maloney vowed to not allow the Armenian Genocide to remain in the
shadows of history and demanded that the Turkish and US governments
finally acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.
"The time is now on this solemn day and our message is clear,"
said Maloney. "The world remembers the Armenian Genocide and the
governments of US and Turkey should declare that they do too."
Weiner said that as a Jewish American he knows that there will always
be people who will try to deny history. He spoke about his efforts
to tell Turkish-Americans, in particular, to join with him in saying
that the Armenian Genocide happened so as to relieve public opprobrium
and correct their history. "By acknowledging the Genocide," he said,
"Turkey will become a more democratic and more respected country."
"I did not know about the Armenian Genocide before I ran for Congress,"
asserted Weiner, "but I learned the history, and I have been a friend
and ally to the Armenians ever since."
New York City comptroller John Liu said the fight has to be continued
until Armenians receive an apology. "When 1.5 million people are
killed, you can’t pretend it didn’t happen," said Liu. He spoke about
his visits to the survivors who currently reside in the Armenian Home
in Flushing, and said that they carried the memory of what happened
which cannot be denied.
Galen Kirkland, New York State Commissioner of Human Rights,
represented Governor David Paterson and brought a proclamation from
the governor.
Curtis Sliwa Stirs Audience
Curtis Sliwa, radio personality and founder of the Guardian Angles,
said there is no freedom for Armenians in Turkey, yet the Turkish
government pretends to be progressive in its bid to join the European
Union. He said Armenians have been patiently waiting for each of
the Presidents to respect their word and promises they make during
their campaigns to accept the genocide, yet recognition has never
materialized. "I suggest to you, enough of the politicians. You never
get your due. Never accept their excuses."
"I don’t always agree with everything Curtis Sliwa says," said Dr.
Dennis Papazian in an interview, "but I love the ways he says it and
honor his intentions."
The 95th Commemoration was organized by the Mid-Atlantic chapters
of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan, and was co-sponsored by the
Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian Assembly of America,
the Armenian National Committee of America, the ADL-Ramgavars,
and the Armenian Council of America. Participating organizations
include Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, Prelacy of
the Armenian Church, Armenian Missionary Association of America,
Armenian Presbyterian Church, the Armenian Evangelical Church, the
Armenian Catholic Eparchy for US and Canada and numerous Armenian
youth organizations.
These youth groups include the Armenian Church Youth Organization
of America, the Armenian Youth Federation, the Tekeyan Cultural
Association, Homenetmen Scouts, Hamazkayin Cultural Association,
Shushi Dance Ensemble, Akh’Tamar Dance Ensemble, Noyan Tapan of
Brooklyn, NY, Rutgers U. Armenian Club, Fordham U. Armenian Club,
Columbia U. Armenian Club, New York University Armenian Club, Hunter
College Armenian Club and the Armenian Students Association.
Hirant Gulian was chairman of the organizing committee, and co-chairmen
were Dr. Dennis R. Papazian, academic advisor, and Sam Azadian, one
of the originators of the event. Armen McOmber, New Jersey attorney,
was associate MC.
The winners of the essay contest of the Knights of Vartan were
announced at the program: Ani Papazian, a junior at Pascack Hills
High School, NJ, first place; Alex Tavlian, a high school senior
from Fresno, Calif., second place; and Talin Baghdadlian, a freshman
at George Washington University, Washington, DC, third place, and
honorable mentions to Katrice Karanfilian, a high school student from
NJ. Taleen Babayan was head of the selections committee.
Nanor Haroutunyan and Ani Djirdjirian sang the national anthems of
the United Sates and Armenia.