Author: Karagyozian Lena

Azg Armenian Daily
Aug 26 2004

ARMENIANS OF ARTSAKH AND THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA ARE THE ONLY
GUARANTEE FOR NAGORNO KARABAKH

CONSTRUCTION WORKS CARRIED OUT ON SCHEDULE IN TAVUSH

“GERMANY AND SECRET GENOCIDE” IN THE JEWISH FESTIVAL

BOOKS OF VAHAGN TATRIAN BEING TRANSLATED

“DAVID OF SASOUN” AND “BOOK OF MOURNFUL SONGS” IN UKRAINIAN

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ARMENIANS OF ARTSAKH AND THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA ARE THE ONLY
GUARANTEE FOR NAGORNO KARABAKH

Armenia’s Hopes for Russian Investments are Vain So Far

The regular meeting of the presidents of Armenian and Russia took
place in Sochi on August 20. At the press conference followed right
after the talks Vladimir Putin stated: “Russia is ready to be a
guarantee and mediator in Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement if
only Yerevan and Baku are willing”.

Mr. Putin never had promised during his tenure that “Russia is ready
to be a guarantee and mediator”. Since 2000 Mr. Putin has been
explaining Moscow’s position by saying that there should not be
winners or losers in the conflict resolution and that Russia will
support any project acceptable for Yerevan and Baku.

So what does it mean to be “guarantee in Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement”? Mr. Putin gave no further details on the matter and
that’s why it’s difficult to “decipher” the words of the Russian
president. But no matter what the promises are, neither Russia nor
other world powers can be a guarantee. Armenians of Artsakh and
Armenia are the only guarantee for Nagorno Karabakh. The Armenian
history and the Karabakh war come to testify to our words.

On the days of the World War I, when the Armenian nation was being
slain in its historic homeland, the English declared that the British
ships cannot climb the Armenian mountains. The British Prime Minister
Lloyd George noted: “If the Armenians are unable to defend their
territory then there is no use of such a nation”. This cynical
statement is partly true, as we preferred protecting our borders to
sending delegations to Europe and Russia. In 1991-94 the Armenian
nation proved that it’s able to defend its land and be the only
guarantee for the territorial wholeness and security.

The same Russia that left its ally Armenia alone with the Turkish
yataghan on the Eastern front only few years later became a guarantee
of the Karabakh conflict settlement as a Soviet Union. But the Soviet
government didn’t ask the will of Yerevan and Baku on the summer day
of 1921 as Mr. Putin did.

Decades later, in 1989, the Soviet government took the steer of
Nagorno Karabakh in his hands. Arkady Volski and his group left
Stepanakert in 1990. The Soviet Union, in its death agony, gave the
control over Nagorno Karabakh to anti-Armenian Polyanichko. The
events of these years also testify to the fact that Russia again
failed to be a guarantee for the Karabakh people and the Karabakh
issue.

It’s out of doubt that Russia is Armenia’s military ally. Moscow’s
role in the Karabakh conflict settlement is central. The role of the
US president is also vital. But Moscow and Washington can only be
guarantee for a short period of time.

Perhaps Armenia has other expectations from Russia too. The Russian
president noted during the meeting with Robert Kocharian that the
good circulation between the two countries is declining. During the
press conference the presidents tried to justify the reasons of this
declension. But Vladimir Putin preferred to keep silent about the
issue of the Russian investments, i.e. their absence, in Armenia.

At the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Ministers of Armenia and Russia
some months ago Vartan Oskanian noted that the good circulation
between Armenia and Russia may increase if the latter is willing to
invest in the companies handed over to Russia by the “Asset for Debt”
program.

Armenia has settled 93.76 million dollars of debt by the
abovementioned program hoping for a flow of investments. There were
no investments in the five Armenian companies till now. The future of
the two other big plants, “Armenal” and “Nairit” is uncertain. Today
“Armenal” doesn’t function with the excuse of repair. In 2000 when
the “Russki Aalumini” handed over “Kanaz” Ltd it is said to be
engaged in money laundering.

The Armenian-Russian alliance may “vapour” with time if Moscow
continues neglecting the economical factor especially if there are no
investments.

By Tatoul Hakobian

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CONSTRUCTION WORKS CARRIED OUT ON SCHEDULE IN TAVUSH

RA Construction Minister States

In 2004 629 million AMD were allocated from RA State Budget for
capital construction in Tavush. 15 schools, a dwelling house in
Dilidjan, Tavush History Museum in Berd are being reconstructed at
present. After being fully renovated the library, having large
literature fund, will have all the required conditions for
comfortable reading. It is envisaged to allocate money from the state
budget for Dilidjan’s library in 2005 as well. The problem of the
town’s Kaghni Khach district’s two dwelling buildings that are to be
ruined will be settled by giving the dwellers apartments in the
Moldovakan district.

Aram Haroutiunian, RA Construction Minister, said this during the
working visit to Tavush. Minister emphasized the importance of
establishing united control system for the improvement of the
dwelling conditions both in Dilidjan and in Idjevan. This will help
the ministry renovate the privatized buildings. The construction of
the half-built administrative building in Idjevan will begin next
week. It will be given to Idjevan’s Mayor’s Office and Tavush
Regional Administration. Minister stated that the construction works
in all the places are being done on schedule.

Visiting the landslide areas, minister stated that in Gosh, Achadjur,
Hovq communities and in Dilidjan the landslide areas will be studied
within the framework of “Program of Urgent Measures Taken against
Landslide” based on RA Government’s decision. The program will be
implemented thanks to the financial assistance rendered by Japan
Government. A united conference of the ministry’s officials and the
representatives of the local administration was included in the
program of the working visit to the region. The officials discussed
the construction problems existing in the region and elaborated some
programs.

By Nana Petrosian

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“GERMANY AND SECRET GENOCIDE” IN THE JEWISH FESTIVAL

“Germany and Secret Genocide” film by Mikael Hakobian was shown in
the Jewish “Saidbar” section of Road Island International Film
Festival on August 12, Armenian Mirror Spectator informed. This is
the third film of the triad entitled “The Witnesses” dedicated to the
Armenian Genocide. The triad is produced by “Armenian Film
Institution” established in South California. The film was
represented at the festival by Doctor Sharon Rivo, Executive Director
of the Jewish Film Festival at Brandeis University. He was deeply
impressed by the film when he watched it during its premiere
organized by Bellemonde Armenian Research Center and decided to show
the film to a larger audience. Glen Far, Co-Producer of the film,
expressed satisfaction and said that this “confirms the idea that the
genocide is the problem of the world, the humanity.” It’s worth
mentioning that Road Island Film Festival is the biggest cultural
event of New England that help the New York and Boston spectators and
cinema critics be present and express their views.

“Germany and Secret Genocide” took the first place and was awarded a
special price at “One world Of Human Rights” Prague Film Festival, as
well as American Feature and Video Film Festival.

By Hakob Tsulikian

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BOOKS OF VAHAGN TATRIAN BEING TRANSLATED

The books of Prof. Vahagn Tatrian, an eminent historian, author of
many researches into the Armenian Genocide, continue to interest
academical circles.

The Zorian Institute informs that one of Milan publishing houses,
“Edicioni Gerini” published Prof. Tatrian’s most famous book “The
history of the Armenian Genocide. The ethnic confrontation from the
Balkans to Anatolia and The Caucasus”. It was translated by Dr.
Alessandra Flores Darkais.

The book was translated in 2003 from the English translation provided
by the “Bergan Books” publishing house. The English version already
has six publications. “Prof. Tatrian’s book is the most convincing
from juridical point of view and the closest to the historic truth
from among all other books on this subject”, wrote Sheriff Basiuni,
president of the International Institute of Human Rights and the
International Association of Criminal Laws.

The book also had its second French publication and the Arabic
version was published in Damascus. Zorian Institute informs that the
collection of Prof. Tatrian’s articles on the Armenian Genocide is
translated into Turkish by Belji Yayinlari and is on sale in the
bookstores of “Dost”, “Kabile”, “Imje” in Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara.
Dr. Taner Akcam’s review of the book that was published in Radical
made the Turkish intelligentsia interested.

Dr. Akcam highly valued the work of Prof. Tatrian and considered the
book a “precious contribution”, stressing that it enables the Turkish
reader to learn about a theme that is a “taboo”. He also noted that
for a country yearning for the EU it’s impossible to deny the fact of
the Armenian Genocide.

By Hakob Tsulikian

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“DAVID OF SASOUN” AND “BOOK OF MOURNFUL SONGS” IN UKRAINIAN

The Armenian epos “David of Sasoun” and Grigor Narekatsi’s “Book of
Mournful Songs” were translated into Ukrainian last year. The embassy
of Ukraine to Armenia and “Armenia-Ukraine” company initiated the
presentation of the book on August 24. “The translators did a great
work thus expressing their love towards the Armenian nation. The
language is so simple and comprehensible that the Ukrainians will
have no difficulty with understanding the philosophy of the works. I
know what Narekatsi means for the Armenians and that’s why I think
that his poem’s translation into Ukrainian is a great event in
Armenian-Ukrainian cultural relations”, said ambassador Vladimir
Tyaglo.

It’s a pity that the translators Victor Kachevski and Miron
Nesterchuk were not present at the presentation. Levon Mirinjanian,
Davit Muradian, Suren Muradian and others highly valued their work.
Suren Muradian said that Victor Kachevski began the translation in
Tsakhkadzor and amazed everyone by rejoicing at the deeds of the epos
heroes. He suggested the Writers’ Union of Armenia to invite Mr.
Kachevski to Tsakhkadzor for a holiday.

By Ruzan Poghosian

“ONE NATION, ONE CULTURE” FESTIVAL CONTRIBUTES TO ESTABLISHMENT OF
SAME NAME FOUNDATION

YEREVAN, August 24 (Noyan Tapan). “Armenia has little information
about the cultural groups existing in the Diaspora, and it is the best
occasion to recognize art critics and performers living in the
Diaspora.” Tamara Poghosian, Executive Director of the same name “One
Nation, One Culture” Foundation, said about it during the August 24
press conference dedicated to the “One Nation, One Culture” first
Pan-Armenian cultural festival that recently finished in Yerevan. At
the same time, she said that there was an opinion that the holding of
the festival may be considered as luxury for the country which is in a
heavy social situation. But according to her, it wouldn’t be justified
to wait while the state had the strong economy and to hold the
cultural festival at that time. According to Tamara Poghosian, every
state should present the cultural armoury of the country to the
generations, because every nation is first of all strong with its
national culture. T. Poghosian said that the holding of the festival
also contributed to the development of the same name “One Nation, One
Culture” Foundation, which was established several months ago. At the
same time, the Executive Director of the Foundation stressed that the
“Hayastan” (“Armenia”) Pan-Armenian Foundation mainly cared for the
financial expenditures of the festival. The organizers of the press
conference were also informed that from now on the festival is likely
to be held every three or four years.

ArmenPress
Aug 24 2004

OBSERVERS SAYS ELECTIONS IN NKR ON A HIGH LEVEL, FAIR AND TRANSPARENT

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS: Elections ended in Nagorno
Karabakh (NKR) with the second round of municipality elections in a
number of communities of the republic on Aug 22. Observers say they
passed on a high level, were fair and transparent, with almost no
violations reported at electoral committees. This testifies effective
work at local electoral committees and high activity of the
constituency.
The results of the first stage of elections on Aug 8 indicated
that in 22 communities, including Stepanakert, no candidate has won
more than half of votes. According to NKR law on Elections of Local
Self Government Bodies, Central Electoral Committee decided to hold
the second stage of elections on Aug 22. Particularly bitter fight
was staged among 5 candidates for the mayor of Stepanakert in the
first stage. After announcing the results of the first stage, it was
clear that two candidates, Pavel Najarian and Eduard Aghabekian
passed into the second round.
Interestingly enough, higher voter activity was observed in the
second stage of elections in the capital. According to Central
Electoral Committee, votes were divided in the following way in
Stepanakert elections: among 17,039 voters 9427 or 55.3 percent voted
for Eduard Aghabekian and 6619 votes went for Pavel Najarian.
According to the acting law, Eduard Aghabekian has become the mayor
of Stepanakert with three years term.

La Croix
24 août 2004

Les saints du jour. Saint Barthélemy (Ier siècle). Saint Ouen.

Saint Barthélemy (Ier siècle). Originaire de Cana (Galilée), il est
un des 12 apôtres.

Plusieurs pays lui attribuent leur évangélisation, tels l’Arménie,
l’Ethiopie, la Perse et l’Inde.

On fête également saint Ouen (v. 600-684), évêque de Rouen durant 44
ans.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

WCC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO MEET FOR FIRST TIME IN KOREA

WCC – Geneva – The vitality of the churches and the ecumenical movement in
Korea and the region will be at the centre of attention during a 24-27
August 2004 World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee meeting in
Seoul. The meeting will be preceded by a special programme for WCC executive
committee members from 21-23 August 2004.

Peace and reconciliation in the divided peninsula has received particular
attention from the churches and the WCC for decades; it will be the focus of
a statement by the executive committee on Korea. . The committee will
address other situations of international concern, including events in
Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Somalia.

Preparations for the WCC’s 9th assembly, to be held in Brazil in February
2006, will also receive priority attention. In addition, the committee will
review applications for membership from several churches, and a series of
proposed amendments to membership rules.

Also on the agenda are a review of the WCC’s Pacific office, a progress
report on relations with partner organizations, a detailed programme report
for the first half of 2004, and an update on the council’s finances.

For the first time, the executive committee will be using a consensus method
of decision-making as a new methodology of work to be applied at major WCC
meetings. This approach to decision-making was proposed by the Special
Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC, and is seen as a more
inclusive and conciliar way of working.

A special programme (21-23 August) for the members of the executive
committee will include a visit to the demilitarized zone that divides North
and South Korea.

The programme also includes worship in local church communities, as well as
a reception hosted by the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) and
the Korean ministry of culture. An audience with the president of the
Republic of Korea, H.E. Roh Moo-hyun, is also foreseen.

On 23 August, the NCCK will organize a seminar on the future of ecumenism
which will be addressed by WCC leadership.

The executive committee meeting is being hosted by the NCCK and the four WCC
member churches in the country: the Anglican Church of Korea, the Korean
Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, and the
Presbyterian Church of Korea.

The 25-member executive committee is the highest governing body between
meetings of the WCC central committee, and it usually meets twice-yearly.
Its moderator is Catholicos Aram I, head of the Armenian Apostolic Church
(Cilicia).

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

CHILDREN ALSO SUFFER FROM FAMILY VIOLENCE

VANADZOR, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). The research on 400 cases of family
violence has been conducted in nine marzes of Armenia since October
2002. The research results were presented during the August 13 seminar
in Vanadzor organized by the Helsinki Association of Armenia (HAA) and
the “Tsovinar” public organization. HAA Chairman Mikael Danielian
noted that family violence is not limited to cases when husbands
batter their wives. According to him, one motive for family violence
is the fact of being a sexual minority member either by husband or by
wife. At the same time, M. Danielian noted that the Association
undertakes protective measures with respect to victims only if they
seek the organization’s help. It was also mentioned that the research
done in the Lori marz revealed that not only women but also children
suffered from family violence. Anna Hakobian, Chairwoman of the
“Tsovinar” organization, reported that their interference in the cases
of family violence does not pursue the goal to dissolve marriages, and
they intervene in these conflicts only when the case gets to court and
the victims need free legal defense.

“SYUNIK-ZANGEZUR” FUND FINANCES NUMBER OF PROGRAMS

KAPAN, August 12 (Noyan Tapan). The “Syunik-Zangezur” benevolent fund,
which was established this April, finances a number of programs
implemented in the region, which were impossible to implement many
years because of the absence of the financial means. Surik Kachatrian,
Head of the administration of Syunik, is the Chairman of the
Council. Work on the repairs of a sport school and flat roofs of
tenement houses in Kapan is carried out now, for which the fund
allocated 20 mln drams (about 39,000 dollars) and 40 mln drams,
respectively. The fund allocated 18 mln drams for the overhaul of the
building of the dramatic theater of Goris, as well as 27 mln drams for
the completion of the work on the construction of the
Shorjur-Spandarian mudflow pipeline of Goris. The fund also financed
the work on the repairs of the kindergartens in Sisian and the station
on filtration of potable water in the town of Agarak. In the future
the fund will allocate sums for the construction of the sewerage
system of the town of Meghri.

Eurasianet Organization
Aug 10 2004

IRAN-AZERBAIJAN RELATIONS: ON A BETTER FOOTING AFTER KHATAMI’S BAKU
VISIT
Shahin Abbasov: 8/10/04

A recent visit by Iranian President Mohammad Khatami to Azerbaijan
seems to have put bilateral relations on a better footing. However,
the Iranian leader’s trip did not succeed in resolving the
fundamental issue separating the two nations: the territorial
division of the Caspian Sea.

Khatami held talks in Baku with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham
Aliyev, and other top officials during his August 5-7 visit. It was
the Iranian chief executive’s first trip to neighboring Azerbaijan
since his election in 1997 – evidence of the chill that has marked
bilateral ties since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Besides the Caspian question, the issue of ethnic Azeris in Iran has
been a significant source of tension. Geopolitics has also come into
play: Azerbaijan has been wary about Iran’s strong economic and
political ties with Armenia, while Tehran has been suspicious of
Baku’s close relationship with the United States.

Upon his arrival in Baku, Khatami spoke of “great opportunities and
tremendous potential for the development of bilateral relations.”
Aliyev expressed similar sentiments, and accepted an invitation to
make a state visit to Iran at a time to be determined. The most
significant development to arise from Khatami’s visit was an Iranian
commitment to allow Azerbaijan to open consular offices in Tabriz, a
hub for ethnic Azeris living in northern Iran.

There are an estimated 30-35 million Azeris in Iran, most of them in
northern areas of the country. The pending opening of an Azerbaijani
consulate in Tabriz has generated hope in Baku that the Iranian
government is adopting a more tolerant stance towards ethnic Azeris
in Iran.

In addition, Khatami reiterated Iran’s commitment to Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity, effectively signaling that Tehran supported
Baku’s negotiating position in the stalled Nagorno-Karabakh peace
talks. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive].
In a follow-up development, Iran’s Export Development Bank extended a
$75 million loan to improve the power grid in the Azerbaijani exclave
of Nakhichevan, which straddles the Iranian frontier, the Bilik
Dunyasi news agency reported.

Azerbaijan, in turn, has expressed support for Iran’s participation
in a transit system connecting Europe and Asia, known as TRACECA.
Baku additionally endorsed the creation of a tripartite railway and
road network, involving Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia. Such projects
could potentially be of enormous economic benefit for Iran by opening
new export routes.

As widely anticipated, Khatami’s visit was unable to produce a
breakthrough on the Caspian Sea question. Iran and Azerbaijan have
long been unable to agree on a formula to divide the sea. The
bickering at some points has even threatened to turn violent. [For
background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The lack of a deal has
hampered the development of the region’s ample natural resources.
[For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

During his Baku visit, Khatami tried to stir hope that a near-term
breakthrough was possible. Yet no participants in the stalemated
Caspian Sea talks have given any indication of making a significant
concession. Iran believes the five Caspian littoral states should
receive equal 20 percent shares of the sea. Azerbaijan, along with
Kazakhstan and Russia, favor a formula that would leave Iran with
roughly a 13 percent share. Turkmenistan’s stance in the process has
proven hard to pin down.

Despite the lack of progress on the Caspian issue, state-controlled
media in Azerbaijan generally trumpeted Khatami’s visit as a success.
“There is great potential to develop Azerbaijani-Iranian relations in
all fields,” said a headline in the August 7 edition of the official
Khalq Gazeti.

Some observers say that bolstering bilateral ties marks a pragmatic
step for both sides. Azerbaijan of late has expressed frustration
with Western institutions, in particular the OSCE Minsk Group, over
the lack of progress on a Karabakh settlement. [For background see
the Eurasia Insight archive]. Closer Azerbaijani-Iranian ties, or at
least the appearance of such, could be a way to get Minsk Group
members, especially the United States, to push harder for a Karabakh
settlement, some Azerbaijani officials believe. The Bush
administration has been keen to promote Iran’s diplomatic isolation.
[For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. “Rapprochement with
Iran would allow Azerbaijan to create great potential for political
maneuvering vis a vis the West,” said a commentary published by the
Zaman newspaper.

Other Azerbaijani experts, meanwhile, feel that Iran desperately
needs friendlier relations with Baku. “Khatami realizes very well
that from a geopolitical point of view, Iran is currently in a
situation with no prospects,” said a commentary published by the
Zerkalo daily. [See related story] “Iran is sliding into a dangerous
area of geopolitical isolation.”

Editor’s Note: Shahin Abbasov is a freelance contributor to
EurasiaNet. He also serves as the deputy editor-in-chief of the Echo
newspaper in Baku.

ACCEPTANCE OF GREEN MASS OF TOBACCO BEGINS IN TAVISH

YEREVAN, August 6 (Noyan Tapan). It’s already 5 days that the
“International Masis Tabak” company has begun acceptance of green mass
of tobacco of the “Virginia” sort in Tavush. 1 kg of the mass is
accepted at the price of 55 drams (about $0.1) in the acceptance point
situated 8 km far from Ijevan and the payment for the stored
raw-materials is made within 10 days. The accepted raw-materials are
dried with hot air in 4 rooms with a capacity of 5-6 tons within a
week. This year it’s planned to accept about 200 tons of green mass of
tobacco. To recap, at present 300 hectares of tobacco are processed
in the Tavush region, and tobacco of the “Virginia” sort makes 14
hectares out of them.

‘Long, Emotional Battle’ Over for Local Descendant of Genocide
La Cañada Valley Sun
August 5, 2004
By Jane Napier Neely

La Cañada resident Martin Marootian, principal plaintiff in a class
action suit against New York Life Insurance Company, says he’s tired
but pleased the case has been settled, forcing the insurance giant to
pay death benefits owed descendants of those killed by the Turkish
Ottoman Empire during the Armenian Genocide.

The judgment was handed down on July 30 by federal court judge
Christina Snyder. Marootian will receive $250,000. About $11 million
will be set aside for potential claims by heirs of 2,400 policy
holders. Some $3 million will be spread out among nine Armenian
charitable organizations, including the Armenian Educational
Foundation in Glendale. The remaining payout will be used for
attorneys’ fees and administrative costs.

“This has been a long and emotional battle for my family with New York
Life Insurance Company, Marootian said Wednesday. “My mother, who
actually had in hand the original policy bought by her brother in
1910, first inquired about payment of death benefits in 1923, but her
request was ignored by New York Life Insurance Company personnel.”

Since 1999, Marootian has carried the standard for all Armenian people
who had not received death benefits from New York Life. Twelve other
plaintiffs joined him later in the class action suit.

“I’m glad that this is finally over. My prime object was to seek a
fair settlement for Armenian policy holders with New York Life and
secondly I wanted this to bring exposure to the Armenian Genocide,
which occurred between 1915 to 1923, which has so long been ignored by
the American government as wellas the Turkish government,” Marootian
said.

Marootian said that his mother continued to request death benefits
from New York Life throughout the remainder of her life and the
company continually refused to make payment. Her daughter then took up
the fight and she, too,was refused payment.

“I’m glad that Marty lived to see this settlement made. Over all
these years, since his mother began to seek death payments from New
York Life, he felt like it was his responsibility to bring the issue
to a head,” said Marootian’s wife, Seda. “I was really hoping the case
would go to trial by a jury, but I’m sure that it would have taken
many years before decision was made.”

According to Marootian, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Glendale) recently pushed
a bill through the House that acknowledged the Armenian Genocide for
the first time. He said the Bush administration is fighting it because
they are afraid of offending the Turkish government, which continues
to deny the genocide. Between the years of 1915 to 1923, 1.5 million
Armenians were systematically killed by the government of the Ottoman
Empire.

“I wish our government would have the courage to stand up and
acknowledge the genocide,” Marootian said. “My uncle was taken out
into the woods and shot and the women and children in the family were
sent into the desert to die because they were not given provisions or
shelter.”

Marootian was the only one of the 12 people in the class action suit
to be in possession of an original New York Life policy. The policy,
about the size of a small bath towel, was issued to his uncle in
1910. He said his uncle had a premonition that things might not be
going well for the Armenian people in Turkey and, in order to
safeguard the policy, sent it with his sister when she left the
country for New York in 1914 – one year before the killings began.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) stated, “We applaud
the efforts of Martin and the plaintiffs for leading the campaign to
hold New York Life accountable – even if only in small measure – for
failing to meet its obligations toward policy holders who perished in
the Armenian genocide. This case marks a significant milestone for the
Armenian nation in that the lawsuit was the first of its kind to seek
the return of genocide-era assets long thought lost, denied, and
forgotten.”

Additionally, the ANCA statement said, “To place this settlement in
its proper context, it is important to note that, while the heirs and
grandchildren of genocide-era policy holders will now receive some
portion of those funds, we should remember that those monies were not
available when these orphansof genocide needed them the most. Instead
they were collecting interest in New York Life’s coffers and remained
there for some 89 years until this actionwas taken. It is truly
unfortunate that a company that Armenian policy holders trusted was
only compelled to do the right thing after special laws were enacted
in California and a group of tenacious Armenians were able to wrestle
those funds free.”

A team of four law firms worked this case for the plaintiffs,
including Shelley Kaufman, from the law firm of Geragos & Geragos. The
law firm was founded by Paul Geragos, a longtime La Cañada Flintridge
resident whose heritageis Armenian. Also working on the case from the
Geragos firm was Mark Geragos and Mark Kassabian.

Marootian said that Kaufman was with him for five straight days while
the local man was grilled by attorneys representing New York Life in a
deposition held in their Los Angeles office. “I think I told them my
entire life story.” He said that each day he would come home from the
offices where the deposition was being taken, exhausted.

“What bothers me the most about the case,” said his wife, “is that the
United States government has never recognized that this genocide ever
happened even though the countries of France and Russia have done
so. When Marty and I began this process we never dreamed that the
efforts we have expended would be such a strain.”

Her husband added, “After the many years my mother and her sister’s
pleas went unheard and were dismissed by New York Life personnel, it
wasn’t until I stepped in with legal backing that the company would
even talk with us.”

Vartkes Yeghiayan, a Glendal-based attorney who first worked with
Marootian said, “This case proves anew that the past is not dead and
not even past. I know that this settlement will not bring back the
life of even one Armenian child, but this settlement is important
because it symbolizes our resolve to achieve justice for our ancestors
who were massacred in the Armenian genocide. We are hopeful that the
case will encourage more entities and states, which have wrongfully
withheld genocide-era assets to act appropriately.”

Harut Sassounian, publisher of the weekly California Courier, said,
“There is no question every Armenian is outraged at New York Life’s
behavior overthe past 90 years. For $20 million they are buying
silence and goodwill.”

Martin and Seda Marootian are at last feeling some peace from the
stress they have been through. “I just want to call it a day, this is
a good settlement,” Martin said.

Marootian’s says his most fervent wish is that this single case will
bring awareness to all people, especially the United State government,
to the fact that indeed there was a genocide.