Author: Rose Khoyetsian

Massis Post – Prof. Taner Akcam of Clark University will give a lecture entitled “The Memoir of Naim Bey and Talat Pasha Telegrams: Are They ‘Armenian Forgeries’?” on Thursday, October 4, 2016, at 7:30 p.m., at First Armenian Church, 380 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA. The program is sponsored by the friends of the Kaloosdian-Mugar Chair in Armenian Genocide Studies at Clark University and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). A reception will take place following the program at the NAASR Center across the street from the church.

In 1920-21, author and editor Aram Andonian published a book known in English as The Memoirs of Naim Bey and in Armenian as Medz Vojirì (The Great Crime). It contained the writings of an Ottoman official and telegrams from Talat Pasha containing orders for the killing of Armenians.

In 1983, Turkish authors Sinasi Orel and Sureyya Yuca published a book to establish that the memoir was fake and the telegrams were forgeries.
The argument had three main pillars:
1) there was no such person as Naim Bey;
2) there is no actual memoir, since a non-existing person cannot write a memoir; and
3) the so-called Talat Pasha telegrams, like the alleged memoir, were invented by Andonian.

Although noted researcher Fr. Krikor Guerguerian (Kriger) in 1965 published a detailed examination of Andonian’s published and unpublished materials and Vahakn N. Dadrian in 1986 published a lengthy response to Orel and Yuca, in general the scholarly world ceased using the memoir and telegrams as trustworthy sources. Until now, the claims against Andonian have remained unanswered and became the cornerstone of denialism.

Taner Akcam risked venturing into this highly disputed territory and pursued the matter to its necessary conclusion, seeking out the archival sources and documents needed for a proper scholarly assessment. The first results of his research will be presented in this lecture and in a book to be published in Turkish later this fall. The question must be asked: Is it time to remove one of the last bricks in the denialist wall and watch the façade crumble?

Taner Akcam is the author of From Empire To Republic: Turkish Nationalism and the Armenian Genocide and A Shameful Act: the Armenian Genocide and Turkish Responsibility, and The Young Turks’ Crime Against Humanity: The Armenian Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing in the Ottoman Empire as well as other works in the English and Turkish Languages. Since 2008 he has been the Robert Aram and Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen and Marian Mugar Professor of Armenian Genocide Studies at Clark University in Worcester, MA.

Massis Post – In a directive issued to all Eastern Diocesan churches Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian has asked all parishes to assist in fundraising drives aimed at assisting Armenian community members affected by the devastating flooding in Louisiana earlier this month.

Vasken Kaltakjian, the parish council chair of St. Garabed Armenian Church in Baton Rouge, has reported that three Armenian families were forced to flee their homes, and one community memeber lost his business in the wake of the severe flooding that caused widespread damage and loss in the State capital.

According to Mr Kaltakjian, one family experienced minor damage to their property and has already returned to their home. They are expecting to begin renovations soon.

One family’s house was completely submerged in water. Everything in the house remains unsalvageable, including such basic items as clothing and other personal belongings.

A third family was forced to evacuate their home and will not be able to return for at least six weeks. The first floor of their house was completely flooded, and they lost all furniture, appliances, and other items on the first floor to water damage.

The fourth family experienced damage at their place of business, where two parking lots were flooded and 82 cars were destroyed. In addition, the family owned two rental houses and a fishing camp, all of which were submerged in water.

Two of these families did not have flood insurance as their properties were not located in a flood zone, Mr. Kaltakjian said. Those forced to evacuate their homes are now staying with friends and relatives in the area.

The parish council of St. Garabed Church has been in touch with these Armenian familys to provide emergency assistance. Their goal is to provide short-term relief while the families await aid from insurance companies and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

– As part of the purge that was started after the coup attempt, Ari Hergel, who has been working as a guitar teacher in ISMEK (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Art and Vocational Training Courses), has been fired.

The purge related to the coup attempt has reached to ISMEK. As part of this step, Ari Hergel, who has been working as a guitar teacher is fired. Hergel stated that he is informed about this issue with a phone message that he received on July 22.

Hergel said that he doesn’t know why he was fired, but according to the message, it was assumed that he has some kind of a relation with Fethullah Gülen.

Hergel talked about his situation: “In the message they had sent me, it was written that I have some kind of a relation with Fethullah Gülen. However, I couldn’t have found out what is the ground of this assumption; there is no information or document indicating such a relation.”

Guitar teacher Hergel said that many other people have been fired due to same reason: “When I went to get the original copy of the notice, I came across many co-workers who have received the same notice. People were trying to explain themselves and writing petitions.”

Hergel stated that he will take legal action for stopping this unjust process: “My situation is not that important given the overall injustice that people have been subjected to. I am able to afford my living in the absence of my income from ISMEK. However, there are senior educators, the ones whose only income was from ISMEK, the ones who have only months left for retirement; the situation is more crucial for them. For me, the important thing is to clear the aspersions that is casted upon us and to stop this unjust process if I can.”

The Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire 26 times at the line of contact with the Karabakh forces last night.

The rival fired more than 450 shots from weapons of different calibers in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army keep the situation under control and confidently continue with their military duty.

Turkey will not pay compensation to Russia over the downing of a fighter jet last year and has only expressed regret over the incident, prime minister Binali Yildirim has said, after president Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered a conciliatory hand to Moscow over the incident that shattered ties between the two countries, reports.

Yildirim’s statement on Tuesday appeared to contradict a statement he made to public TV network TRT on Monday evening, in which he said Turkey would pay compensation “if necessary.”

Yildirim also indicated that Erdogan would speak with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, this week over how to rebuild ties between the two countries, which back opposite sides in the Syrian war.

Yildirim also said legal proceedings were under way against an individual allegedly responsible for the killing of the Russian pilot.

Pope Francis will meet with descendants of Armenians who fled persecution by the Ottoman Empire a century ago during his visit later this week to Armenia, according to the.

The meeting will take place at the Tsitsernakaberd monumentin Yeevan which commemorates the approximately 1.5 million Armenians victims.

The encounter will be “a very moving” event and one of the most important activities during the pope’s trip next weekend to Armenia, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said.

Francis will lay a wreath at the monument and will greet a group of children who will show him pictures and items related to the “Medz Yeghern” (The Great Evil).

The pope will then enter the monument within a circle enclosed by 12 huge, slanted stone walls and will stand before the eternal flame that honors the victims.

Francis will attend the planting of a tree that will memorialize his visit to Tsitsernakaberd.

Later, Pope Francis will meet a dozen descendants of the 400 Armenian orphans who were rescued in 1915 and lodged at the papal Castel Gandolfo residence near Rome.

Francis’s visit to Tsitsernakaberd is expected to be the highlight of his trip to Armenia, the 14th journey outside Italy during his papacy.

In April 2015, Pope Francis celebrated a Mass at the Vatican to commemorate the centennial of the massacres, calling them “the first genocide of the 20th century.”

Global displacement figures remain at highest levels since the end of the Second World War, giving an alarming picture on the state of our world and indicate as to failures in conflict resolution and prevention efforts and advancing human rights protection. Over 60 million people are presently forcibly displaced. The conflict in Syria, only one of many present global trouble spots, has impacted and still impacts on Armenia. It has passed its 5^th year and despite renewed and enhanced efforts of the international community peace is not in sight. To the contrary recent fighting in Aleppo resulted in renewed suffering and many victims including among civilians. Flight from the Syrian conflict zones continue albeit refugees are facing more and more challenges in accessing safety and a harsher protection environment.  NGO partners report that about 550 destitute Syrian Armenians have registered with them seeking support in traveling to Armenia. UNHCR and its partners are ready and willing to offer initial humanitarian assistance, including by way of provision of temporary rental subsidies, upon arrival.

The escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in early April 2016 has also caused renewed destruction, human suffering and displacement, including into Armenia. The overwhelming majority of the displaced population consists of women, children and elderly most of whom originate from the most affected villages close to the line of contact such as Talish and Mataghis villages of Martakert region and many of them have specific needs, such as pregnant and lactating women or persons suffering from sickness or disability. Most of the displaced families are presently hosted by relatives or family friends often themselves belonging to the poorer segments of the society. UNHCR was impressed by the high level of hospitality and support extended to the displaced by the host communities and likes to expresses its sincere gratitude to all those who assisted and still continue to help.

UNHCR in close cooperation with the State Migration Service and the Social Protection Units,  who worked on identification and registration and also involving local authorities, local NGO-s and volunteers, quickly developed a small assistance programme, through which a modest cash assistance was offered to over 400 families (1429 persons) with a view to address their most urgent needs. It is observed that an increasing number of the displaced have returned or are considering return, but UNHCR would like to emphasise that the voluntary nature of return must be respected and returned. UNHCR closely liaises with our ICRC colleagues as to assistance to be offered after return to Nagrono-Karabakh.

UNHCR is pleased to note that since WRD 2015 some significant progress has been made in improving the Armenian refugee legislation. Important amendments to the Law on Refugees and Asylum entered into force in January 2016. It is now crucial to move swiftly in adopting the necessary by-laws. UNHCR is pleased to share with you that the State Migration Service has engaged in drafting an Integration Strategy. It is crucial that the draft strategy will be discussed and finalised with the involvement of all relevant government, international organisations and civil society stakeholders with a view to ensure broad ownership for the strategy, harmonise approaches, utilise synergies and to gain donor support. UNHCR has supported the initiative from its outset and is ready to support the consultation and finalisation process. UNHCR notes with concern that understandable attention to the difficult security environment of the country has led to case of prolonged detention of asylum-seekers of non-Christian background. UNHCR calls upon the authorities to address legitimate security concerns in a manner compatible with international refugee law and regional and international human rights law.

On the occasion of World Refugee Day the UNHCR Representative in Armenia, Mr. Christoph Bierwirth emphasised: “Refugees need understanding for their plight, solidarity and support everywhere in the world, so in Armenia.”  He noted in particular the integration challenges faced by refugees of non-Armenian background, in particular of those of African descent.

This year’s motto of world refugee day brings it well to the point: “We stand together with Refugees”. He added that: “ways to assist, to express solidarity ‘to stand together with refugees’ are manifold. They include: The family who hosts some displaced relatives from Nagorno-Karabakh, the neighbor who offers a helping hand when a refugee family from Syria or elsewhere moves in next door, the who offers an apartment for free or at a reduced, social rent, the student who leads his Syrian Armenian colleague through the ‘’labyrinth’’ of Armenian academic institutions, NGO activists, school teachers and directors who accelerate access to schooling,  all those who offer small or bigger donations to the many NGOs who care. Mr. Bierwirth thanked those engaged, called for ongoing humanitarian engagement “by everyone on his own way and with his own available means”, noting that creativity should not be limited.

The importance of media in creating an environment of understanding, conducive for integration cannot be underestimated. While laws and procedures and assistance mechanism are important it is the receptivity of the host society which makes a refugee feel welcome, which allows him or her to find a new home.

On June 16, the working visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Karen Mirzoyan to the Kingdom of Denmark started.

In the framework of the visit, the Foreign Minister had meetings with representatives of various political circles, at which the current situation in the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement was touched upon, in particular, in the context of the military venture unleashed by Azerbaijan in early April.

The sides exchanged views on a range of issues related to the regional security. The Foreign Minister also briefed the participants about the state building process in Artsakh, as well as the steps taken by the people and authorities of Artsakh towards the establishment of a free and democratic society.

On the same day, Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan participated in the reception organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to the Kingdom of Denmark on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

RA Ambassador to Denmark Hrachya Aghajanyan delivered a welcoming speech, attaching great importance to the first ever event dedicated to Artsakh in friendly Denmark. The Ambassador noted that Artsakh’s independence was based on the unshakeable aspiration of Armenians to achieve freedom, manage their own lives without oppression and preserve their centuries-old culture and identity.

In his speech, Minister Karen Mirzoyan briefed on the way passed by the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, noting that Artsakh’s achievements would be impossible without the continuous support by Armenia and the Diaspora. He stressed that not only our compatriots, but also many people around the world, including in Denmark, were standing by Artsakh, sharing with its people the same values and ideas based on the imperatives of democratic freedoms and the realization of peoples’ right to self-determination. Karen Mirzoyan expressed confidence that the achievements of the people of Artsakh on their path to independent state building didn’t go unnoticed, and sooner or later, Artsakh would become a full member of the civilized world.

He urged to work for the vision of peaceful and stable South Caucasus region, which would ensure the security and peaceful coexistence of all the peoples of the region.

Vox Viva male choir, which gave a concert in the NKR in 2015, participated in the reception. The choir performed works by Armenian and Danish composers. After the performance, the choir’s artistic director Mette Rimer shared his impressions of the trip to Artsakh, expressed gratitude for the cordial reception, and noted that he looked forward to the opportunity of hosting Artsakh’s choir in Denmark.

The reception was attended by diplomats, political and public figures, representatives of the expert community, journalists, and members of the Armenian community of Denmark.

– The California Armenian Home broke ground Thursday on a $42 million expansion that will more than double the capacity of the southeast Fresno senior living community.

The expansion will add a three-story structure with 110 independent and assisted living apartments inside, 12 two-bedroom and two-bathroom duplex cottages and a 36-bed memory care building for those with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Apartments come in studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom.

Board president Lucy Kazanjian Grayson said the most important part of the expansion is that the home will have accommodations for “every phase of senior living.”

If someone lived in the independent or assisted living portion of the home and was later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, that person could then be transferred to another part of the home, Grayson said. “You won’t have to get up and move somewhere else.”

If a couple was staying at the home and one spouse became ill, both would be able to remain at the same facility, Grayson said.

A portion of the $42 million is coming from a $4 million donation from the S Barre Paul and Sue Garabedian Paul Trust, which was delivered to the California Armenian Home by Sue Paul’s brother in February. Paul was a former resident of Fresno who moved to Northern California later in life and had relatives and friends that had lived at the home.

Asbarez – The Governor of Michigan Rick Snyder (R) on Tuesday signed a bill mandating the teaching of the Armenian Genocide in the state’s public schools into law.

The Michigan House of Representatives in February  passed House Bill (HB-4493), mandating genocide education, including the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide, in Michigan public schools. The bill passed with a nearly unanimous vote. Late last month, the Michigan Senate also passed a complimentary measure paving the way for the governor’s signature.

“Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, the board of a school district or board of directors of a public school academy shall ensure that the school district’s or public school academy’s social studies curriculum for grades 8 to 12 includes age- and grade-appropriate instruction about genocide, including, but not limited to, the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide. The legislature recommends a combined total of 6 hours of this instruction during grades 8 to 12,” reads the final version of the bill, which was signed into law on Tuesday.

Armenian churches, political, cultural and social organizations in Michigan came together to form the Armenian Genocide Education Committee and advanced the effort through the state’s legislature, Rep. Klint Kesto marshaling the effort in the Michigan House of Representatives.

“We see history repeating itself today in the Middle East with ISIS targeting and committing acts of genocide against Chaldean and Assyrian Christian communities and other religious minorities such as the Yazidis. It is imperative that our students study the history of genocide as it occurred to the Armenian people by the Ottoman Turks, as well as to the Jewish people at the hands of the Nazis. Never again should mean never again,” said Rep. Kesto in February following the passage of the House version of the bill.