Category: 2019

The Armenian Bar Association welcomed 70 members of the state and federal judiciaries at its Annual Judges’ Night Dinner in Glendale, California. Despite it being a Tuesday evening, hundreds gathered at the magnificent Phoenicia Restaurant on October 1 to honor California Court of Appeal Justice Helen I. Bendix and California Superior Court Judge Ruth Ann Kwan for their distinguished service and their exemplary roles as paragons of integrity and emulation.

“It was a thrill and a blessing to have such a flourishing wealth of federal, appellate and trial court judges join us as we recognized two exemplary jurists for their unwavering commitment to the advancement of the rule of law and the administration of justice,” stated Armenian Bar Executive Committee Member, Saro Kerkonian.

The Annual Judges’ Night Dinner honors jurists who have distinguished themselves beyond the laudable lines of high intellect, efficiency, and consistency. It singles out for distinction those who have opened broadly the public’s access to justice, advanced the precepts of the rule of law, incorporated compassion into the fabric of their characters, and guided others in profession and in life.

Phoenicia’s outside patio swelled with pre-dinner chat and cheer during the bustling social hour, a felicitous prelude to the allure of the heaping, luscious Armenian fare at the tables. The main event began with masterful flutist, Salpy Kerkonian, performing the national anthems of the United States and the Republic of Armenia.

“I am extremely proud of our achievement tonight and must emphasize that it is our humble privilege to welcome 70 judges, which is more than double or triple the number of judges that appear at virtually any other bar association’s judges night event!” said Chairman Gerard Kassabian. “Our Annual Judges’ Night is also very special because it gives us the opportunity to create meaningful and often life-enhancing connections when we introduce sitting judges to aspiring law students. This rich tradition grows in popularity year after year!”

The master of ceremonies, legal-eagle Armen Akaragian, delighted the audience with quick-witted jokes and profound improvisations throughout the evening. Stepping off-stage, Akaragian reflected, “It truly was special to be part of such a memorable night where we all reveled in the glow of so many distinguished jurists and outstanding professionals.”

Honorable Zaven Sinanian of the California Superior Court opened with a heartfelt introduction of the first honoree, Justice Helen Bendix. He enumerated Justice Bendix’s accomplishments during her tenure within the Los Angeles Superior Court’s Mandatory Settlement program, including noting that Justice Bendix shepherded the program into the success that it is today. Judge Sinanian’s fond memories of working with Justice Bendix provided a gracious touch to the already-familial affair. Accompanying Justice Bendix at the event were her husband, U.S. District Court Judge John Kronstadt, and their children.

Justice Bendix graciously received her well-deserved honor, thanking the Armenian Bar for selecting her for the commendation. Of Jewish descent, Justice Bendix spoke movingly about the deep connections between the Armenian and Jewish peoples, including their shared trait of enduring the challenges of their harsh histories, leading each community to be more resilient than ever.

Judge Kevin Brazile, who is the Presiding Judge of the entire Los Angeles Superior Court system, introduced the next honoree, Judge Ruth Ann Kwan. He took a somewhat different and refreshing approach by sharing beautiful and captivatingly-positive comments made by other judges about Judge Kwan. On a personal note, Judge Brazile indicated that Judge Kwan had encouraged him to take affirmative steps to support greater diversity on the bench.

Judge Kwan accepted her award to a rousing ovation and praised the Armenian Bar, describing her interesting path to the judiciary. To many people’s surprise, her journey to the bench included more Armenians than many may have expected. Judge Kwan recalled that when she began considering a role in the judiciary, her husband’s business associate, Ashot, introduced her to none other than Judge Dickran Tevrizian over lunch at the Tevrizian home. With first impressions being the lasting one, Judge Tevrizian wrote her a letter of recommendation immediately after the lunch. Judge Kwan also recalled that when she was challenged while on the bench, the Armenian community of Montebello helped her secure the election and retain her seat.

As is the tradition for honorees at the Annual Judges’ Nights, Judge Kwan and Justice Bendix were presented with beautiful works of classical, illuminated art prepared by renowned artist Seroon Yeretsian, each with peaceful, majestic representations of heavenly peacocks and with original inscriptions of praise and honor.

In an evocative musical interlude, Salpy Kerkonian channeled the stirring, expressive works of Komitas and Aram Khachaturian. She embellished her musical inflections with poignant background information about Komitas, paying homage to the great muse for bringing traditional Armenian melodies to the modern era.

Also part of the evening program, not planned but most appropriate, saw Chairman Kassabian making public the Armenian Bar’s appreciation for the altogether comprehensive commitment of the chief engineer of the event, the Association’s Vice-Chairperson, Lucy Varpetian.

The Annual Judge’s Night was an event to remember. “This was my first time at the Judge’s Night and I came away impressed by the vast array of judges who came, obviously enjoyed, and stayed till the end. Kuddos to the Armenian Bar Association for getting together so many amazing and talented legal professionals for an unforgettable night,” said Arthur Saakian, a Glendale litigator.

http://asbarez.com/186988/armenian-bars-judges-night-attracts-hundreds-of-enthusiasts-scores-of-judges/?fbclid=IwAR2G6wcwrPSzY1-swEgIA1Vr-ZjwCunWitB-RmBKI0SsLIovC7ZKCT884hU

BY RAFFI BEDROSYAN

Ever since the last Armenian Patriarch, Mesrob Mutafyan, fell ill with dementia in 2008, the seat of the Istanbul Patriarchate has been vacant. Archbishop Aram Atesyan, who was appointed as Acting Patriarch, devised several arrangements with the help of the Turkish government to delay the election of a new Patriarch. He has remained in power for the last 11 years. With Patriarch Mutafyan’s passing away in March, there are now no legal, or illegal, loopholes left to avoid the Patriarchal election.The Turkish government finally relented to have the Patriarchal election take place in December, but also presented a further obstacle against a fair and democratic election process. It imposed a condition that “the only eligible candidates would have to be clergy in the employ of the Istanbul Armenian Patriarchate,” thereby eliminating at least ten other potential candidates who could have been eligible – based on the historically legitimate condition of eligibility applied in previous Patriarchal elections. It should be noted that two of the previously elected Istanbul Patriarchs were clergymen born in Turkey, but served the Armenian Church outside of Turkey and not in the Istanbul Patriarchate.

The Electoral Commission of Istanbul Armenians, selected from Istanbul Armenian community leaders, charitable foundation directors and some clergy, assembled to decide whether to object to the Turkish government about the imposed eligibility condition. However, after a very short debate and a few resignations of objectors, the commission conveniently decided to comply with the government condition and proceed with the election. Therefore, instead of having a healthy debate and new approaches on how to run the Patriarchate with worthy candidates from inside and outside Istanbul, the December election will now be between two Istanbul Armenian clergymen, Archbishop Atesyan, the Acting Patriarch until recently, and Archbisop Mashalyan, newly elected as the caretaker clergyman to oversee the election.

Based on their past performances, both men appear to be completely subservient to the Turkish government, convinced that the best and only way to conduct the Patriarchate affairs is to act exactly as the state demands, without ever rocking the boat. This may perhaps be acceptable as a tactic of survival, but what is even less acceptable is how these candidates act as subservient to the Istanbul Armenian charitable foundation leaders. The Patriarchate has the right to exert moral authority over the charitable foundations. Instead, the charitable foundation leaders, who are supposed to run the affairs of the Armenian churches, schools, and hospitals on behalf of the Armenian community, conduct themselves as the head of individual empires, not accountable to anyone. Some charitable foundations are quite wealthy as they have substantial revenues and income from significant real estate holdings, while others are only reliant on individual donations or fundraising dinners. The “haves” are supposed to help the “have-nots,” but this can only be done by having a strong and influential Patriarch, arbitrating among the charitable foundations and distributing the wealth for the common good of the entire community. But, at present, the directors of the wealthy foundations keep the revenues to themselves and spend it as they see it fit. Although they are supposed to be elected, the Turkish government has not allowed elections for Armenian charitable foundations for many years, and these individuals rule their empires, with no accountability. The director of Holy Trinity Church (Surp Yerrortutyun), which oversees numerous other churches and schools in Pera, wasted the potential of the historic Tokatliyan Hotel – which his foundations owns – for years, renting it cheaply to his friends and associates. The director of the Holy Saviour Hospital (Surp Prgitch) sees himself as the spokesperson of the entire Armenian community and makes irresponsible statements to the Turkish media, as he did recently, saying that students at highly prestigious Armenian Getronagan School are being raised as “militants.”

One critical issue that the Patriarchate needs to address, but has not done until now, is the reality of the hidden Armenians, living in different regions of Turkey outside of Istanbul. The Islamized hidden Armenians have started to return to their Armenian roots in recent years. Against all odds, risks and consequences, they seek an Armenian identity. At present, the Armenian Patriarchate, or rather the Acting Patriarch, does not recognize them as Armenians until they get baptized and become Christian. But the conditions for baptism are so onerous that few hidden Armenians choose to go through with the process. Moreover, the hidden Armenians are also prevented from being baptized elsewhere in Armenia or Europe, as we experienced during Project Rebirth trips to Armenia with several groups of hidden Armenians. It is my humble opinion that any hidden Armenian who wishes to return to Armenian roots, language, and culture, has the right to do so, and should not be prevented from doing so. Religion should be considered as a personal choice that comes later.

Another critical issue that the Patriarchate needs to address, but is ignored at present, is the status of the hundreds of abandoned Armenian churches in Turkey, outside Istanbul. There were more than 4,000 churches and schools left behind in Turkey after the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Although most of them have been destroyed, there are still hundreds remaining intact, either used by the Turkish state, organizations or individuals for other purposes. It is Patriarchate’s right, indeed its duty, to take steps toward the return of these properties to the rightful owner, the Patriarchate. There are also six active Armenian churches still open in the rest of Turkey outside Istanbul, in Kayseri, Iskenderun, Hatay, Vakiflikoy, and the largest of them all, in Diyarbakir – the Surp Giragos Church. The Patriarchate should appoint part-time or full-time clergy to these churches, even though there may not be a visible Christian Armenian community at present. These churches, and potentially new others, would act as magnets for the hidden Armenians to have the courage to come out, congregate, and support one another.

The two Patriarchal candidates have not uttered a word about any of these critical issues. In fact, they have praised themselves about what they have done in the past, but have not shared any of their future plans and programs, if elected. I think every Istanbul Armenian voter should think about these issues and demand an answer as to how the candidates will deal with them. The Istanbul Patriarchate is not simply a church administrative center appointing clergymen or running a few churches for a community of 60,000 Armenians. There is immense responsibility and duty, not only limited to Istanbul but covering the entire country, to deal with remaining historic assets and emerging realities of hidden Armenians. I would therefore, urge the Istanbul Armenian voters to ask the following questions to the Patriarchal candidates:

1. What are your plans to take charge of the Istanbul Armenian charitable foundations, and fairly arbitrate among them for the benefit of the entire Armenian community?
2. What are your plans to accommodate and welcome the hidden Armenians who wish to join the Armenian community and return to their Armenian roots, including those who wish to convert to Christianity, and those who do not wish to convert to Christianity?
3. What are your plans to start discussions with the Turkish government, organizations, or individuals toward the return of Armenian churches and schools previously owned by the Patriarchate?
4. What are your plans to appoint clergymen outside Istanbul, in areas where there are emerging hidden Armenian communities such as Diyarbakir?

If the voters are not aware or interested in these issues, the candidates will not be interested in these issues, either. Instead of serving the voters and the Armenian community at large, they will serve their “masters” – the wealthy directors of the charitable foundations. Not much will change and the Istanbul Armenian community will continue to be treated as “flock,” not only in the religious sense but also in the literal sense as “sheep.”

The British Embassy in Yerevan announced that the United Kingdom had reversed its appointment of Alan Gognashian as its ambassador to Armenia, citing “operational reasons.”

Gogbashian was appointed in August and was scheduled to assume the ambassadorship in September. He would have become the first ambassador of Armenian origin representing another country in Yerevan.

“Mr. Alan Gogbashian will no longer be taking up the role of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Yerevan for operational reasons,” said a statement posted on the U.K. Armenian Embassy Facebook page on Monday. “Mr. Gogbashian will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr. David Moran has been appointed as Chargé d’Affaires with the rank of Ambassador in the interim, until a new Ambassador is appointed.”

No further explanation was provided by the U.K. Embassy.

Moran is head of Global Economic Issues Department in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. He joined the FCO in 1985 and has previously served as Ambassador to Switzerland, Kazakhstan (2009 to 2012), Uzbekistan (2005 to 2007), and as Ambassador (non-resident) Liechtenstein and the Kyrgyz Republic. David also served in Nairobi, Moscow, Paris and Tbilisi, and in a range of policy and other roles in London. From 2008 to 2009 he was Deputy Director for Early Warning and Transnational Issues in the Cabinet Office.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with Artsakh President Bako Sahakian on Tuesday in what was called a briefing by Pashinyan’s office.

Pashinyan said that while he and Sahakian communicate on a regular basis, meetings such as the one held on Tuesday were important “in terms of sharing with you the results and impressions from a number of meetings and discussions that have taken place recently.”

Sahakian said that he would brief Pashinyan about recent developments, adding that such meetings were an opportunity to “recap the activities emanating from previous meetings and outlining our next objectives.”

Pashinyan and Sahakian discussed issues related to the development and strengthening of Armenia-Artsakh relations, according to Pashinyan’s press service.

In a joint effort between the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western United States and Artsakh central committees and in the presence of Montebello-based benefactors Vartan and Sona Fundukian the ARF Torlakian and Fundukian Youth Center was inaugurated on Monday in the Kovsakan village in Kashatagh, Artsakh, reported the Stepanakert-based Aparaj newspaper, Asbarez’s sister publication in Artsakh.

After the official opening ceremony, a reception was held on Tuesday at the ARF Artsakh “Nigol Touman” center where ARF Western U.S. Central Committee member Garo Madenlian accompanied the Fundukians were welcomed by ARF Artsakh Central Committee chairman Davit Ishkhanyan and member Vahagn Dadayan.

During the discussion, Ishkhanyan stated that strengthening of Artsakh’s southern area is a great strategic imperative.

The ARF Western U.S. has other projects in addition to the opening of the youth center. The Orange County ARF Armen Garo chapter, through its “Yerkir” committee, has installed 30 solar water heaters in the Martuni region; the ARF Montebello Dro chapter donated a firetruck; while the ARF Glendale Aharonian chapter facilitated the installation of 30 greenhouses. The ARF Western U.S. has also undertaken projects in Artsakh that have economic development components.

In his remarks, Madenlian explained that the ARF Western U.S. Central Committee has the “Homeland Initiative’ project, explaining that the Kovsakan village youth center was one of the many efforts of the initiative. “I hope this philanthropy will become an example,” said Madenlian.

Kovsakan is strategically important for the Armenian population in the region, both in Artsakh and Armenia, simply by its geographic location. In the early 1990s, during Artsakh’s battle for liberation, it was subjected to intense fighting, was a launching point from which Azerbaijan regularly attacked the Republic of Armenia, and sustained heavy damages.

The center was named the “Torlakian-Fundukian Youth Center” in memory of Operation Nemesis avengers, Misak Torlakian and Yervant Findikian who, on July 18, 1921, assassinated Behbud Khan Javanshir, Minister of the Interior in Azerbaijan responsible for murdering 30,000 innocent Armenians in Baku in 1918.

“We wanted a youth center in liberated Artsakh to be named after Misak and Yervant honoring the legacy of the Nemesis avengers who assassinated the ‘Butcher of Baku.’ The Armenian spirit has endured in a region that continues to be a bulwark against Azeri aggression,” Fundukian said in April when the renovation of the center was first reported.

“There is something in Artsakh that always gives me pleasure every time I visit. That is the constant construction—change—the building of new structures and institutions, which is a source of comfort for any Armenian who lives away from the homeland,” said Vartan Fundukian, who said that sponsoring the youth center will not be his last project in Artsakh.

“We have to think about and conceive projects that can create jobs in Armenia and Artsakh. This way we can have an input in improving the lives of the people of Artsakh,” added Fundukian.