The California Courier Online, September 27, 2018
1 - Commentary
Prominent Pro-Erdogan Istanbul Armenian
Engages in Pro-Turkish Propaganda
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- Trump Nominates Lynne M. Tracy to be U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
3 - Pashinyan’s ‘My Step’ Wins Yerevan City Elections
4 - Trudeau to Attend Francophone Summit in Yerevan
5- Donald Trump, Mike Pompeo Hail 100 Years of U.S.-Armenia Relations
6 - First AUA Alumni Scholarship Established in California
7 - AIWA Laurel Karabian Fund Supports Smithsonian, Met Museum Projects
8- Haig Hovsepian Wins 2018 Edward Hosharian Foundation
$5,000 Music Scholarship
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1 - Commentary
Prominent Pro-Erdogan Istanbul Armenian
Engages in Pro-Turkish Propaganda
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
Despite the many violations of Armenian cultural and religious rights
in Turkey, there are some Armenians in Istanbul who praise the Turkish
regime and particularly its fascist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
These few pro-Erdogan Armenians, who enjoy special privileges and
access to high-ranking Turkish officials, represent themselves as
protectors of the local Armenian community’s interests. But in
reality, they have selfish motives. They either have personal business
interests with corrupt Turkish leaders or seek to maintain their
undeserved positions in Armenian community institutions. One such
individual is Bedros Sirinoglu, Chairman of the Board of Sourp Prgich
Armenian Hospital in Istanbul.
In a recent interview with journalist Pinar Isik Ardor of Forum USA, a
Turkish American newspaper, Sirinoglu made several false statements
about the Armenian community in Turkey and distorted the facts of the
Armenian Genocide.
Sirinoglu’s words were “shocking,” according to Istanbul’s Nor Marmara
Armenian newspaper. Sirinoglu told Forum USA that Armenians have never
lived as comfortably as they have been during Erdogan’s leadership! He
also made untrue statements about the Armenian Genocide, stating that
“the events of 1915 were organized by outside powers intending to
dismantle and overthrow the Ottoman Empire.”
Furthermore, Sirinoglu told Forum USA: “Before Erdogan’s time, we
could not even paint or repair our churches. We could only do it when
the state pretended not to notice such actions.” Sirinoglu repeatedly
claimed he has done good deeds for the Armenian community in Turkey.
Several years ago, he said he had requested a meeting with Erdogan
which was immediately granted. He asked Erdogan to permit the
placement of a cross on the dome of the Holy Cross Armenian Church in
Akhtamar. He reportedly told Erdogan: “Just as you cannot have a
mosque without a minaret, similarly you cannot have a church without a
cross.” Sirinoglu claimed that “Erdogan had the cross placed overnight
on the Akhtamar church.” If Sirinoglu was so influential, why didn’t
he ask Erdogan to restore the status of the Akhtamar as a Armenian
church instead of designating it a “museum,” allowing religious
services to be performed only once a year! Sirinoglu also ignored the
fact that Armenians and others worldwide, including the Armenian
Patriarch of Istanbul, had demanded the placement of the cross on the
dome of the church. Sirinoglu was not the only one to make such a
request.
Calling them “fictional scenarios,” Sirinoglu contradicted the various
Western reports that Armenian religious rights are restricted in
Turkey. The 67-year-old Sirinoglu told the Turkish newspaper: “Since
my childhood days Armenians have not had any problems.”
When the Turkish journalist reminded Sirinoglu that some Armenians are
not pleased with his words, he responded: “If you don’t speak as they
wish, they become hostile. I stand by the state. I do not betray my
own country. I am an Armenian, but I am a Turkish compatriot. Our
faith orders us to be faithful to the state. Our Bible preaches
likewise.”
Sirinoglu’s most controversial remarks pertain to his
misinterpretation of the Armenian Genocide. He stated that “he
approaches with suspicion the [Armenian victims’] numbers used
regarding 1915.” He added that “Armenians, Jews and Greeks were
wealthy in that period, which is why there was enmity against them.
Now the Armenian population is gradually decreasing. The birth rate is
low. The death rate is high. There are also mixed marriages.”
When the Turkish journalist asked Sirinoglu if the Armenians, Greeks
and Jews share the same point of view, Sirinolglu answered
affirmatively and added: “We only disagree about the events of 1915.
Greek Patriarch Bartholomew has a reserved and principled position,
also regarding the government. The Jews also like the state, but they
are also men of principle. They do not abandon their principles. The
Jews living here do not betray Turkey, but they are tied to Israel.”
Finally, Sirinoglu responded to a question regarding the recent
decrease in the value of the Turkish Lira. Repeating the same answer
given by Erdogan, Sirinoglu blamed foreign powers for orchestrating
“this game against the Turkish economy.”
This is not the first time that Sirinoglu has made such false
statements on the Armenian Genocide. For example, after meeting with
then Prime Minister Erdogan in 2010, he told the Turkish media that
“1915 was nothing more than a feud between loving friends, instigated
by third parties.” He went on to say that his “grandfather was among
the victims, but so were many Turks.”
Back in 2010, Armenians in Istanbul launched a petition announcing
that Sirinoglu is not their leader and does not represent the Armenian
community. Angered by Sirinoglu’s statements, the petitioners
stressed: “We live in a different Turkey,” not the Turkey described by
Sirinoglu. **************************************************************************************************
2- Trump Nominates Lynne M. Tracy to be U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
President Donald J. Trump on September 21 announced his intent to
nominate Lynne M. Tracy of Ohio, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of
Armenia, according to White House.
Tracy is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of
Minister-Counselor, currently serving as Senior Advisor for Russia
Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Previously, she served as
Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Central Asia in the Bureau of South and
Central Asian Affairs at the Department of State, Deputy Chief of
Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and Principal
Officer at the U.S. Embassy Branch Office in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Additionally, Tracy served as the Principal Officer at the U.S.
Consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, where she was awarded the Secretary’s
Award for Heroism. She is the recipient of the State Department’s
Distinguished Honor Award. Tracy earned her B.A. from the University
of Georgia and J.D. from the University of Akron. She speaks Russian.
The Senate is yet to approve her candidacy.
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3 - Pashinyan’s ‘My Step’ Wins Yerevan City Elections
Prime Minister’s Nikol Pashinyan’s “My Step” Alliance on Sunday swept
to a resounding victory in the Yerevan Municipal Elections capturing
more than 81 percent of the votes to guarantee the political bloc the
most seats on the city council, according to results published by
Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission.
Coming in a distant second was businessman Gagik Tsarukian’s
Prosperous Party of Armenia, which received seven percent of the
votes; the Luys Alliance captured the third spot with five percent.
The remaining nine parties and alliances did not receive the needed
five percent of the votes to be part of the City Council. The Armenian
Revolutionary Federation was in fourth place with 1.62 percent of the
votes.
The “My Step” victory paves the way for actor-comedian turned activist
Hayk Marutyan to become Yerevan’s new mayor.
According to preliminary CEC statistics, of the 848,343 registered
voters 370,323 (43.65 percent) took part in Sunday’s special
elections.
The preliminary CEC results with 100 percent of precincts reporting
were: My Step Parties Alliance, 294,109 (81.06%); Prosperous Armenia
Party, 25,219 (6.95%); Luys Parties Alliance, 18,122 (4.99%);
A.R.F.-Dashnaktsutyun, 5,882 (1.62%); Yerkir Tsirani Party, 5,059
(1.39%); Yerevantsiner Parties Alliance, 2,985 (.82%); Heritage Party,
2,709, (.75%); Yerevan Society Parties Alliance, 2,502 (.69%);
Democratic Way Party, 799 (.22%); Reformists Party, 792 (.22%); Hayq
(Haykazuns) Party, 692 (.19%).
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4 - Trudeau to Attend Francophone Summit in Yerevan
The Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau announced last week that
he will travel to Yerevan, from October 11 to 13, to attend the XVII
Francophonie Summit and take part in a bilateral visit.
The theme of this year’s Summit is “Living together in solidarity,
shared humanistic values, and respect for diversity: a source of peace
and prosperity in La Francophonie.” During the Summit, the Trudeau
will highlight the importance of working together to address shared
challenges, grow economies that work for everyone, and promote
diversity and inclusion.
“Canada enjoys an excellent relationship with Armenia, and I look
forward to further deepening that friendship. Together, we will
discuss ways to create more economic opportunities for businesses and
people in both our countries,” said Trudeau.
Trudeau will also underline how important the International
Organization of La Francophonie is to Canada, and emphasize the vital
role that Francophone communities have played throughout Canada’s
history.
Following the Summit, Trudeau will also take part in a bilateral visit
to the country. The visit will be a chance to discuss the important
relationship between Canada and Armenia and explore ways to work
together more closely to further strengthen our commercial and
economic ties.
“The Summit in Yerevan will be a chance to deepen the strong
friendship the international Francophone community shares. La
Francophonie plays a major role to promote important values like
peace, diversity, and inclusion, and I am pleased that La Francophonie
and Armenian organizers have chosen to highlight these common values.
By building on our diversity, we can innovate, collaborate, and create
a better world for everyone,” said Trudeau.
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5- Donald Trump, Mike Pompeo Hail 100 Years of U.S.-Armenia Relations
President Donald Trump on Friday, September 21, issued a statement
addressed to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan congratulating the people
of Armenia the 27th anniversary of Independence. Below is the text of
the statement.
On behalf of the people of the USA, I congratulate you and the people
of Armenia on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of independence.
This year Armenia has various reasons for celebration. The peaceful,
popular movement brought a new era in Armenia and we are ready to work
with you to help to bring into life the will of your people to
eradicate corruption, to establish representative and accountable
administration based on independent judiciary, political and economic
competition.
We thank you for your resolve partnership on various platforms,
particularly your participation in NATO activities and for generously
accepting Syrian refugees. In the upcoming months opportunities will
emerge for the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, which can open
new opportunities for the Armenian-American partnership. As a member
of the OSCE Minsk Group, the USA is ready to work with you for finding
a lasting and peaceful settlement to the conflict.
This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the first Armenian
republic and the centennial of Armenian-American friendship. I hope
our partnership that started 100 years ago will further strengthen. On
the occasion of this unique jubilee year I extent my best wishes to
you and the Armenian people.”
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also issued a statement, marking
the “remarkable” changes that happened in the country this year.
“On behalf of the government of the United States, it is my pleasure
to congratulate the people of Armenia on the 27th anniversary of your
historic vote to reclaim and restore your national independence. This
year is especially important because it also represents the 100th
anniversary of the establishment of the first Armenian state in modern
history and the centennial celebration of U.S.-Armenian friendship,”
Pompeo said. “This year brought remarkable changes to Armenia. The
peaceful popular movement that transformed the government has ushered
in an exciting new chapter of Armenian history. I look forward to
working with the people and government of Armenia as you seek to build
strong democratic institutions, tackle corruption, and boost economic
growth. The United States also remains committed to finding a peaceful
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and urges the parties to
resume intensive negotiations as soon as possible. We look forward to
further strengthening our bonds in the coming year.”
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6- First AUA Alumni Scholarship Established in California
By Taleen Babayan
LOS ANGELES—For students of the American University of Armenia (AUA),
graduation is only the beginning of their fruitful relationship with
their alma mater.
Carrying their positive experiences as undergraduate and graduate
students at AUA, alumni in Southern California—upon finding
professional stability and success—have chosen to give back through
the “AUA California Alumni Scholarship.” The 25 participants, who
studied in various AUA programs, raised over $3,500 to support
students.
“The alumni scholarship provides an opportunity to reward AUA students
for being committed to their futures with the hope that they go on to
make great contributions to their communities,” said Anahit
Baghdasaryan (LL.M. ‘16).
While the Los Angeles and Orange County areas of California are
currently home for these alumni, Armenia remains close to their hearts
and contributing to the country remains a priority. By creating the
scholarship, they give two students at AUA a chance to receive quality
education and become part of Armenia’s development and advancement.
“AUA equipped me for success in my professional career in the United
States, which helped me start a software development company in
Armenia that currently employs 50 IT professionals,” said Ana Acton
(MBA ‘96) who currently runs and operates Altacode, based in Yerevan.
Throughout her career she has worked with many Ivy League graduates
and says with confidence that “the education we received at AUA shines
in that company.”
As a scholarship recipient, she feels “the time has come for me to do
the same for the next generation” and stresses that all of AUA’s
student body should “use their knowledge and skills to benefit Armenia
without compromising the historical, moral, and cultural values our
country stands for.”
As alumni born in the homeland, they see a significant need to support
the education and students in order to “create a rotation that makes
everyone victorious,” said Ruzanna Mkhitaryan (MPH ‘97).
Arsen Aydinian (Master of Engineering ‘99) noted that the scholarship
is a “concrete way to give back to the community.”
Like many others, he states AUA helped him excel in his career,
particularly while working abroad, where his colleagues were impressed
with his academic background and credentials.
“I proudly mention that AUA prepared me well for the future by giving
me holistic knowledge in many areas including language, business and
engineering,” said Aydinian, who fully supports giving the new
generation opportunities to pursue their education without financial
burdens. “We want the AUA alumni family to grow and contribute to
Armenia’s well-being.”
For Dr. Karen Baghdasaryan (MBA ‘98), life had become a predictable
routine until he opened the doors to AUA, which “uplifted my spirit
and opened up so many possibilities.” In addition to increased
financial security he received thanks to his degree, Dr. Baghdasaryan
found deeper meaning and fulfillment in himself and the world around
him. “I graduated AUA as a new person, better qualified for steering
through and tackling the challenges of life,” said Dr. Baghdasaryan.
“Suddenly everything assumed different shapes and I started to succeed
in everything I applied myself to.” His time at AUA allowed him to
grow “onward and upwards” as he became engulfed in his new
environment, engaging with his professors and fellow students while
embracing everything the campus had to offer – from the library, to
the classrooms, to the programming, and most importantly, the
knowledge he was exposed to. “I am eternally grateful to AUA for
giving me the opportunity to be the best I can be and providing the
platform with immense opportunities to succeed in life,” said Dr.
Baghdasaryan. AUA has been a transformative university for countless
alumni, whose mission now is to pay it forward. “AUA changed all
aspects of my life in the most wonderful way,” said Irina Sarkisyan
Vardanyan (LL.M. ‘99). “I know many deserving young people in Armenia
who cannot afford to study there, and I would love for us to provide
the chance for others to pursue their dreams and become professionals
in order to serve our country.” Participating alumni in the AUA
California Alumni Scholarship include: Ana Acton (MBA ‘96), Arsen
Aidinyan (ME IESM ‘99), Lusine Artenyan (ME IESM ‘99), Anna Badalyan
(MBA ‘95), Anahit Baghdasaryan (LL.M. ‘16), Karen Baghdasaryan (MBA
‘98), Lilit Baghumyan (ME IESM ‘03), Tigran Baiburtski (MS EE ‘94),
Samvel Darbinyan (MS CIS ‘11), Sargis Galstyan (MBA ‘03), Anush
Gevorgyan (MPH ‘03), Arman Gevorgyan (MBA ‘94), Yulia Ghazaryan (M
PSIA ‘99), Tatevik Hakobyan (ME IESM ‘08), Vahan Karapetyan (MBA ‘16),
Vladimir Kolosarian (MBA ‘94), Areg Margarian (MS EE ‘95), Shushanik
Margarian (LL.M. ‘16), Edwin Mehdikhan (ME IESM ‘05), Ruzanna
Mkhitaryan (MPH ‘97), Arayik Sargsyan (MPH ‘03), Irina Sarkisyan
(LL.M. ‘99), Simonyan (MBA ‘16), Aren Voskanyan (MBA ‘02), Lusine
Yepremyan (ME IESM ‘99).
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7 - AIWA Laurel Karabian Fund Supports Smithsonian, Met Museum Projects
The Armenian International Women’s Association (AIWA) announced the
distribution of two significant grants to perpetuate Armenian art and
culture through the Laurel Karabian Fund for the Arts.
The first was donated to the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival that took
place in July at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The Festival,
launched in 1967, is an international exhibition of living cultural
heritage presented each summer. The grant sponsored the performance of
the Zulal A Cappella Trio, who perform ancestral folk songs in unique
harmony.
The second grant to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York was
earmarked for the restoration and preservation of two historic
textiles. The Gonfalon of St. Gregory the Illuminator (circa 1448) and
the oldest Liturgical Curtain (circa 1689), both from the Mother See
of Holy Etchmiadzin will be on display during the Armenia! exhibit,
opening on September 22, 2018. The Met will return the textiles in
their restored state to Etchimadzin at the end of the exhibit.
The Laurel Karabian Fund for the Arts is a memorial fund established
to honor Laurel Karabian, the first president of the AIWA-LA.
The Advisory Council consists of Carla Garapedian, Greg Hosharian,
Madeline Karabian, Karen Kondazian, Vatche Mankerian, Karin Mushegain,
Cindy Norian, and Caroline Tufenkian.
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8- Haig Hovsepian Wins 2018 Edward Hosharian Foundation
$5,000 Music Scholarship
The Edward Hosharian Foundation announced that its 2018 Scholarship in
the amount of $5,000 has been awarded to classical violin student Haig
Hovsepian from Belmont, Mass.
Haig began his violin studies at age 4, joined the New England
Conservatory Prep when he was 15, and is now a rising sophomore at the
prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music where he is pursuing a
Bachelor’s degree in classical violin performance. He is also an avid
saxophone player and jazz enthusiast.
As soloist and in ensemble, Haig has performed at various prestigious
venues on the East Coast such as Carnegie Hall, Jordan Hall and Boston
Opera House. He has also made several appearances in video productions
by NPR’s “From the Top,” including the Koussevitzky Music Shed at
Tanglewood. At a very young age Haig also took pride in performing for
community and charitable events raising funds for local charities and
for schools destroyed by the earthquake in Armenia.
Over the last few years Haig won a series of concerto competitions,
received the Max Reger Ambassador Award and earned the title of
laureate at the “Renaissance” International Competition in Gyumri,
Armenia. Following his win at the 2017 Boston Symphony Orchestra
Concerto Competition, he made his debut with the Boston Pops in June
of this year.
Applications for the 2019 Scholarship are being accepted. The
Scholarship was established in honor of composer/conductor Edward’s
memory to preserve, promote and enhance Armenian classical and ethnic
music by awarding scholarships to assist deserving college-level music
students in pursuit of their educational goals. An applicant must be a
full-time student of Armenian descent (sophomore level or above),
majoring in music performance or composition and in need of financial
assistance. Deadline for submission is February 1, 2019.
For more information visit www.edwardhosharian.org.
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