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The Armenian Mirror-Spectator
755 Mount Auburn St.
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel: (617) 924-4420
Fax: (617) 924-2887
Web: http://www.mirrorspectator.com
E-mail: [email protected]
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1. Times Square Commemoration of 96th Genocide Anniversary Draws Thousands
2. Banquet in New Jersey Honoring Mirror-Spectator Set for June 4
3. Polarization Gives Way to Political Realism In Armenia
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1. Times Square Commemoration of 96th Genocide Anniversary Draws Thousands
NEWYORK - The gathering of several thousand Armenians in a public square
in
one of the most visible sites in the United States seems a fitting way to
remember the past, and remind others who want to forget it.
This year because Easter was celebrated on April 24, the Times Square
commemoration of the 96th anniversary took place on the following Sunday,
May 1. Organizers estimated at least 2,000 people were present, and hundreds
of thousands more walked by, or watched it on television. Turkish state
television, along with several Armenian television and radio stations,
recorded the event.
New Jersey lawyer Armen McOmber and Dr. Mary Papazian, provost and senior
vice president for academic affairs at Lehmen College of the City University
of New York, served as masters of ceremony. Vagharshak Ohanyan led the
Arekag Children's Choir of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural
Society of the Eastern United States in several songs as well as the
performance of the American and Armenian national anthems. Pianist and
composer Karén Hakobyan led the choir in a special premier performance of
his piece, Independent Armenia. Five important American politicians gave
rousing speeches, along with representatives of four co-sponsoring
organizations - Natalie Gabrielian, associate director of education at the
Armenian General Benevolent Union; Bryan Ardrouny, executive director of the
Armenian Assembly; Doug Geogerian, Armenian National Committee Eastern
Region director from 2004 to 2006, and representatives of the Armenian
Democratic Liberal Party and the Armenian Rights Council of America.
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Primate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church of America, and Fr. Vazken Karayan, pastor of Holy Cross
Armenian Church of Union City, NJ and representing the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern), offered invocations and closing
benedictions. Their institutions were among the participating organizations,
along with the Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian
Presbyterian Church, the Armenian Evangelical Church of America, the
Armenian Catholic Eparchy for the US and Canada, Tekeyan Cultural
Association, Hamazkayin and numerous Armenian youth organizations. Buses
brought Armenians from New York and New Jersey churches, as well as from the
Knights of Vartan Boston Ararat Lodge and the Ardashad Lodge of
Philadelphia. There were some attendees from as far away as California.
Knights of Vartan Grand Commander Dennis Papazian and Daughters of Vartan
Grand Matron Melene Ouzounian introduced members of their grand councils and
other important officials who were present. Papazian, also founding director
of the Armenian Research Center at the University of Michigan-Dearborn,
revealed the theme of the commemoration, that Turkey is guilty of genocide,
and denying genocide is a crime. He declared, `When a crime can be committed
with impunity, criminals will act with impunity,' and noted that the
Assyrian and Greek genocides were also being commemorated along with the
Jewish Holocaust. Papazian challenged the Turkish government to allow their
people to study their own history without fear of punishment. Ouzounian
stressed the importance of educating the young about the great price paid by
their ancestors for liberty and their faith. Later she introduced the
winners of the Knights of Vartan Armenian Genocide Essay contest, who, in
declining order of rank of awards, were Jeremy Majerovitz, Gerard Nelson,
and Samuel Levine, three students from the elite public Stuyvesant High
School in Manhattan, and honorable mention recipient Katrice Karanfilian,
from Bergen County Academies in Oradell, NJ.
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, an influential Democrat who has for decades
backed efforts at recognition of the Armenian Genocide, which he calls `one
of the worst genocides in world history,' stirred the crowd with his words.
He declared, `We are here today to tell future Hitlers that we do remember,
that they cannot succeed, that they cannot brush history under the rug. We
are lighting a candle for truth, not just for those who suffered in Armenia,
not just for the Armenian people, but for the world, because in every
generation, in every generation, there are those like the Turkish leaders
during 1915 and 1916, there are those like the Hitlers, there are those like
the Idi Amins, who seek to destroy people simply who they are. History tells
us they always arise, but history tells us one other thing, that is, that
truth may be temporarily dimmed, but the light of truth, the candle of
truth, always burns through, and that's why we are here today. I say to you
my friends, from the day I got into Congress, I was a staunch supporter of
the Armenian quest, to remember the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian
Holocaust, and I will continue to do that with every atom in my body, until
the Turkish government admits the truth, makes reparations for what they
have done, and until the Armenian community is vindicated. My friends, I
stand with you in solidarity.'
Schumer was followed by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), another fervent and
influential supporter of US recognition of the Armenian Genocide, who said,
`Now, as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations [committee], I have said
that American diplomacy must avoid the euphemisms. To overlook human
suffering is not who we are as a people. It is not what we stand for as a
nation. We are better than that and our foreign policy should always reflect
that goodness. And that is why it is imperative that the president of the
United States, of my own party, recognize that this was a genocide and call
it as such.' Menendez continued to great applause, `I promise you that
for
so long as I continue to be a United States senator, sitting on the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, that any nominee who comes before the committee
having anything to do with Armenia, will have to answer the question, do you
recognize the Armenian Genocide. And I will continue to push - as I have
held up nominees in the past - I will continue to push the people who we
have in place around the world to represent the United States, to recognize
the horrific events of 1915 as a genocide, and I will continue to push to
make sure that the United States reflects a deep sense of moral outrage with
respect to the Armenian Genocide.'
Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), founder of the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues, and one of the most active initiators and sponsors of
legislation favorable to Armenia and Armenians in Congress, stated that he
was frequently asked why one should focus on the Genocide when contemporary
Armenia and Karabagh have so many problems. Pallone's answer was that both
were crucial and interconnected issues: `People don't seem to understand - I
know that you do - that this is an ongoing effort, an ongoing effort to
basically destroy the Armenian people.' The denialist rhetoric from Turks
and Azerbaijanis has become more aggressive recently, Pallone said, `We will
be here every day and will continue to agitate until the commemoration in
Congress takes place. We do it for Armenia, we do it for Karabagh and we do
it for those who suffer human rights violations anywhere on earth - I worry
every day. The United States needs to be supportive of Armenia and Karabagh
militarily, economically. We need to continue to provide humanitarian and
military assistance to both countries.' He urged the Armenians and their
sympathizers to be optimistic, concluding, `We will succeed, because we have
right on our side.'
Rounding out the group of supportive national politicians who have year
after year participated in the Times Square commemoration, New York Rep.
Anthony Weiner strode out and said, `I say to all Turkish Americans, to all
residents of Turkey today: This is not intended to be an exercise in finger
pointing, but this is an exercise in making sure that the pages of history
are not defiled by blank spaces, black marks, Xs where there should be
circles. The only way we can become a more perfect union in the United
States, and a more perfect people of the globe, is by speaking truth even of
the atrocities.' Weiner pointed out that there are people even today who
deny the Holocaust ever took place, as well as the Armenian Genocide.
Consequently, he said, `So as long as those people are allowed to crawl
along the surface of the earth, to crawl out from their rocks every so
often, none of us can be safe to make sure that those atrocities don't
happen again. ..What we seek is the truth from the people who did the
atrocities - My name is Anthony Weiner and I will never forget the Armenian
Genocide.'
New York City Comptroller John Liu, one of the city politicians who back the
Armenian cause, stated, `Here we are at the crossroads of the world, Times
Square, we celebrate our diversity, but the diversity that we have here is
strong only in recognition of where we came from, our roots, our heritage,
our culture and our history; and the history that has happened with the
Armenian people is a history that is undeniable.' He added, `Keep up the
fight - we won't let you down.'
A proclamation from Mayor Michael Bloomberg was read, proclaiming May 1,
2011 as Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day in the City of New York (see the
accompanying sidebar to this article for its text). Rep. Scott Garrett
(D-NJ) also sent a statement which in part read: `While it is painful to
commemorate these terrible acts each year, we must remember and must learn
from the past. The Armenian Genocide serves as a powerful example of what
can occur when governments persecute citizens based on ethnicity or
religious affiliation.'
Keynote speaker Dr. Richard Hovannisian, holder of the Armenian Educational
Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History and professor of Armenian and
Near Eastern history at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for
several decades, has edited many volumes on the Armenian Genocide. He said
that the trauma of genocide was passed on to the following generations,
compounded by continuing Turkish denial. Armenians and others ask for
reaffirmation of what originally was recognized and then deliberately
forgotten.
However, Armenians must now not only focus on the lost dead, as so many were
killed in the 20th century, but stress the loss that Raffi Hovannisian,
Richard's son, has focused on - hayrenazrgutiwn, or national dispossession.
Richard Hovannisian felt `the loss of a civilization, the loss of a
homeland, the loss of a way of life of 3,000 years is the major continuing
traumatic aspect of 1915.' The Armenian Genocide in many ways is a prototype
for later genocides. For this genocide to be remembered, Hovannisian said,
it must be integrated into the history of mankind; otherwise it will be lost
and truly forgotten. Gathering in Times Square is also part of the struggle
for memory against forgetting. Dr. Joan Rivitz, associate director of the
New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education and chair of the New Jersey
Commission on Civil Rights, a daughter of Holocaust survivors, said,
`Armenians and Jews of the diaspora, survivors, second generation, third and
fourth generations, and those yet to come, we must continue in solidarity to
remember the true, undeniable facts of the dark parts of our parallel
histories. "The world community simply stood by and watched".If Turkey had
been held accountable for the Armenian Genocide, Hitler might not have been
able to plan and execute the Holocaust. '
Three survivors of the Armenian Genocide, 101-year-old Perouz Kaloustian,
99-year-old Arshalouis Dadir, and 98-year-old Charlotte Kechejian, were
wheeled out to receive the respect and applause of the audience, escorted by
Aghavni `Aggie' Ellian, executive director of the New York Armenian Home in
Flushing, NY.
Olivia Katrandjian made a powerful appeal for registration with the Armenian
Bone Marrow Donor Registry for the sake of her mother Irene, stricken with
Non-Hodgkin's Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma, as well as for other ill Armenians
(see www.abmdr.am).
Hirant Gulian was chairman of the organization committee for one of the
largest events organized by the East Coast Armenian community, Papazian
co-chairman in charge of academic affairs, with Tigran Sahakyan as
vice-chairman. Taleen Babayan coordinated public relations and the essay
contest. Members of the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization
of New York and New Jersey under the chairmanship of Dr. Larry Najarian were
present in Times Square to provide any necessary first aid.
Those who missed it can see the recording at http://www.armenianradionj.com/.
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2. Banquet in New Jersey Honoring Mirror-Spectator Set for June 4
By Aram Arkun
Mirror-Spectator Staff
TEANECK, N.J. - The Tekeyan Cultural Association and the Friends of
the Mirror-
Spectator are hosting a banquet in anticipation of the 80th anniversary of
the Armenian Mirror-Spectator on June 4.
The idea for the first solely English-language Armenian paper in the United
States was proposed in 1931, and realized in 1932. The Tekeyan Cultural
Association has undertaken the effort to support the newspaper with a gala
fundraising event because of its very close ties with the Mirror-Spectator.
Vartan Ilanjian, one of the advisors in the Greater New York chapter of
Tekeyan, noted that the efforts of three pillars of ongoing support of the
newspaper in the area in its early period - Dr. Moses Housepian, Jack
Antreassian and Armine Dikijian - would be commemorated at the event, and
more information will be presented about them.
Ilanjian declared: `The role of the Mirror-Spectator has been great in
the
United States, though its reach has been global. It has played a vital role
in maintaining and perpetuating cultural values and ideology. Though some
ask why we need newspapers while there is the Internet, as an information
technology professional I would tell you this: Over the years there have
been numerous changes in media. The value of technology can be tremendous if
and only if you can retrieve information from it. The only media that so far
has withstood the test of time has been printed media. So we need to keep
the printed newspapers.'
The banquet will commence at 7 p.m. with a cocktail reception, and dinner
will be at 8 o'clock. Dr. Raffy Hovanessian will serve as the master of
ceremonies. There will be classical music performed by cellist Elizabeth
Kalfayan during cocktails, while singer Datevik Hovanesian will provide jazz
entertainment for guests later in the program.
Hovanessian, born in Jerusalem, graduated rom the American University of
Beirut. After medical school, he did post-graduate study at Johns Hopkins
University. He is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology.
He served one year as a major in the US army and then began private practice
in Merrillville, Ind. He was chairman of medicine and president of the
medical staff at both St. Mary Mercy Hospital and Methodist Hospital for
many years. After retirement in 2005, he eventually moved to Englewood, NJ.
Hovanessian continues to be extremely active in Armenian circles. He has
been vice chairman of the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern) since 2004, and serves on the boards of the
American University of Armenia, the Armenian General Benevolent Union
(AGBU), St. Nercess Seminary, and the Armenian American Health Professional
Organization. From 1976 to 1996 he served as the delegate of Sts. Joachim
and Anne Armenian Church of Palos Heights, Illinois to the Diocesan
Assembly, and was a member of the board of the Armenian Assembly of America
in 1980.
His medals and titles include the St. Gregory the Illuminator Medal from
Catholicos Karekin I of Holy Echmiadzin in 1998; Prince of Cilicia from the
Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias in 1982; the Ellis Island Medal of
Honor in 2000; and a gold medal from the Mkhitar Heratsi Yerevan State
Medical University, as well as benefactor of the AGBU, the Contemporary
Museum of Art (Chicago), and the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP) of Indiana.
Elizabeth Kalfayan is director of the New Horizons Symphony Orchestra. She
performs as soloist and principal cellist with numerous symphony orchestras
and chamber music ensembles throughout the United States and
internationally, and holds a master's degree in Performance from the
Manhattan School of Music. Kalfayan is especially known for her performance
lectures that present the works and genius of great composers for the
violoncello, such as Schumann, Rachmaninov, Beethoven and Shostakovich.
Kalfayan has directed orchestra and chamber programs for the New Jersey
public schools. She is founder and director of the Merritt Chamber Music
Workshops and has coached chamber music at the Puffin Foundation and the New
Jersey Youth Symphony. Her work is featured on a number of CDs.
Datevik, born to a family of musicians in Armenia, is the daughter of folk
singer Ophelia Hambartsumian and kamancha player Norair Hovanesian. She made
her first recording at the age of 11, and embarked on a life of musical
performance and education. She toured Europe, the United States, Asia and
Africa, giving solo performances in prominent jazz festivals, and even
performed in movies. By 1979 she earned the title of `First Lady of Jazz' in
the Soviet Union, which she maintained for nine consecutive years. It was
during that time that her solo albums - `Day Dream,' `Concerto For Voice and
Orchestra,' and `Doors' - were recorded. Leaving everything behind, Datevik
relocated to the United States.
Her first CD in the United States, `Ballads from the Black Sea,' (1997) was
the result of a collaboration with pianist Larry Willis and his quartet in
the studio of Mapleshade Record Productions. It prompted the president of
the latter company, Pierre Sprey, to comment: `A rich new jazz voice of
superb musicianship, earthy and passionate and swinging, proves that soul
and jazz know no boundaries.' Working with American-Armenian pianist and
composer Armen Donelian also had a great impact on Datevik.
Some of Datevik's greatest accomplishments in he career took place in the
last 16 years when she introduced a new genre of music called ethnic jazz.
She combined the Armenian folk music of Komitas, Sayat Nova and other
sources with traditional jazz music. Consequently she has become a cultural
ambassador of Armenia, introducing its heritage throughout the world. Thanks
to her work, renowned Russian, American and Australian have adopted this
music in their own compositions and concerts. `Listen to My Heart,' and
`Stage to Stage' are her latest CDs.
Legendary jazz producer George Avakian has called Datevik `the finest new
voice I have heard in a quarter of a century,' while internationally known
composer, arranger and pianist Michel Legrand urges, `Listen to the heart of
Armenia, listen to Datevik.'
Shoghig Chalian and Betty Salbashian are the chairs of the committee for the
banquet, which will take place at the Teaneck Marriott at Glenpoint (100
Frank W. Burr Boulevard). Donations at $125 per person are welcomed. For
tickets, call Shoghig at 201-803-0240, Sirvart at 201-739-7775, or Shemavon
at 718-344-7489. Information about the event's prominent keynote speaker
and
other aspects of the program will be presented in forthcoming articles.
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3. Polarization Gives Way to Political Realism In Armenia
By Edmond Y. Azadian
Since March 1, 2008, Armenia's political atmosphere has been extremely
polarized because of the unfair election and the confrontation between the
police and the opposition forces, which claimed 10 casualties.
The main opposition coalition, the Armenian National Congress (HAK), headed
by former President Levon Ter- Petrosian, organized regular political
rallies, with the participation of large masses. Many unemployed citizens,
joined by former government officials, religiously attended these rallies;
the starving populace was fed on Ter-Petrosian's rhetoric.
No president, nor any public official thus far, has been able to upstage
Ter-Petrosian's oratorical skills. The former president was able to
captivate his audience through his articulate and carefully-crafted
speeches, in which his demands were sky high. His common refrain was to
`dismantle' the `kleptocracy' and force early parliamentary elections.
Another former president, Robert Kocharian, had provided enough ammunition
to the opposition to rally around. Emulating his master in Moscow, former
President Vladimir Putin, who had elected his hand-picked successor to
replace him at the end of the constitutionally-mandated term of absence,
President Kocharian had decided to install a vulnerable lame duck
administration to make his comeback possible.
Between Serge Sargisian's election and his inauguration, Kocharian staged an
armed confrontation with the opposition, which had camped in the Liberty
Square, next to the opera, where most of the killings took place. Kocharian
knew he should wait out the confrontation, to wear down the opposition and
come to a peaceful outcome. But he opted for the violent solution, whose
victims became a powerful weapon in the hands of the opposition.
When President Sargisian was inaugurated, he did not distance himself from
the actions of his predecessor and continued the repressive measures,
jailing many opposition figures, which turned out to be cause celebres in
Ter-Petrosian speeches.
For a while, the opposition was able to paralyze the country's political
system and invited the sanctions of international agencies. For example, the
European Union issued critical reports on Armenia and threatened to ban
Armenia's delegation from participating in the PACE's sessions.
The most recent casualty was the US Millennium Challenge subsidies for
Armenia's agricultural development.
In all fairness, however, Ter-Petrosian calibrated down his rhetoric every
time the administration was in sensitive negotiations with Turkey or
Azerbaijan, in order not to be accused of stabbing the government in the
back. Sometimes, he even put a moratorium on his rallies.
Sargisian kept his cool and tried to consolidate his position domestically
and internationally. He refused to give in to the opposition's demands to
resign or hold early parliamentary elections.
In view of next year's elections, the opposing parties realized it was time
to find a modus vivendi. Ter- Petrosian toned down his rhetoric;
`kleptocracy' and `dismantling' were dropped from his lexicon. His 18
demands were reduced to a manageable three. His maximalist demand that the
only topic for negotiation between the authorities and the opposition had to
focus on the modalities of the president's removal from office disappeared
from his agenda.
The demands which were left on the table were the following: a) a pledge by
the authorities to investigate the March 1 killings; b) allowing Liberty
Square to open for political rallies and, c) releasing the remaining
political prisoners from jail.
Ter-Petrosian pledged to begin negotiations with the government, after the
latter meets the above conditions.
President Sargisian seized the opportunity to make his major conciliatory
move by pre-empting any extreme outcome which could develop on the April 28
rally, which Ter-Petrosian had decided to make either the beginning of
negotiation or a `watershed.'
On April 27, on the eve of the opposition rally, the president released the
following statement: `A very important tradition is shaping up in the
parliament; the deliberations are held at their correct limits, although
sometimes rough angles pop up. If the ruling coalition and the parliamentary
opposition make joint efforts we can achieve some civilized benchmarks. I
would also like to underline some positive developments in the opposition
ranks outside the parliament. Rallies are being held, speeches are made,
which do not intend to divide the people, nor do they intend to `crush' or
`destroy,' rather they move the public to a political level. No one has been
able to achieve anything through evil intent. Only strong people can dispel
the evil. We have a strong government and an opposition, which keeps the
government's toes to the fire. We can achieve great success through
cooperation. We would like to be the first ones to take steps to defuse the
situation. I have already given instructions to the minister of justice to
come up with a proposal.'
This last statement is interpreted as a pledge by the president to release
the remaining political prisoners from jail by May 28. Thus, the president
proved that he controlled the political agenda in the country.
The next day, Ter-Petrosian was equally magnanimous in his speech. `If the
door is not yet fully open it is at least half open,' he declared. `Two of
our demands are already met (March 1 and Liberty Square.) The third one will
be met with some delay.' And then he continued in a more conciliatory tone:
`We can resolve our problems through the methods dictated by the situation.
There are only two approaches: one is negotiation through the spirit of
national unity and the other is through physical confrontation, which may
bring disastrous results. We have decided to take the first option and we
believe that the majority of the people will support that decision.'
Ter-Petrosian's moderation caused some cracks in his opposition block. Some
elements who were looking for a more radical confrontation were
disenchanted, as were some others who were expecting issues of social order
to be resolved. The present topics of discussion do not bring food on the
table, yet.
Therefore, the stage is set for next year's election and it is rumored that
the negotiations are already being conducted behind the scenes. Also,
political horse trading has already begun for the parliamentary seats
between the competing powers. Rumors about apportioning the parliamentary
seats coincide with the findings of political pollster Aharon Adibekyan.
Thus, it is believed that the lion's share of parliamentary seats will go to
the present ruling coalition. The combined seats of the Republican Party,
Prosperous Armenia and the Country of Laws (Orinatz Yerkir) will constitute
70 percent. Although the Republican and Prosperous Armenia parties have
signed an official pact, recently some dissenting voices were heard that the
latter may participate in the election on its own. But these statements are
dismissed as pre-election posturing to grab the maximum numbers of
ministerial portfolios after the election.
The remaining 30 percent of the seats will be allocated to the opposition.
Roughly 10 seats will be given to HAK. The ARF will have five to seven
seats. Aram Karapetian (Karapetich), a vociferous media man, will get in
with one seat. Although there seems to be a tendency to leave out Raffi
Hovannisian's Heritage Party, its powerful sponsors may squeeze the party in
the parliament at the expense of ARF and HAK.
Certainly these are mere speculations of some observers. Unforeseen
political developments may completely alter the situation, rendering these
speculations baseless.
Armenians are preparing for parliamentary elections a year ahead of time,
and of course the outcome of these elections may determine the fate of the
presidential election in 2013.
In view of this horse trading, one of the journalists in Armenia has made
the following sarcastic statement: `Although we cannot hold fair elections,
at least we anticipate peaceful elections.'
From: A. Papazian
755 Mount Auburn St.
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel: (617) 924-4420
Fax: (617) 924-2887
Web: http://www.mirrorspectator.com
E-mail: [email protected]
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1. Times Square Commemoration of 96th Genocide Anniversary Draws Thousands
2. Banquet in New Jersey Honoring Mirror-Spectator Set for June 4
3. Polarization Gives Way to Political Realism In Armenia
************************************************** **********************
1. Times Square Commemoration of 96th Genocide Anniversary Draws Thousands
NEWYORK - The gathering of several thousand Armenians in a public square
in
one of the most visible sites in the United States seems a fitting way to
remember the past, and remind others who want to forget it.
This year because Easter was celebrated on April 24, the Times Square
commemoration of the 96th anniversary took place on the following Sunday,
May 1. Organizers estimated at least 2,000 people were present, and hundreds
of thousands more walked by, or watched it on television. Turkish state
television, along with several Armenian television and radio stations,
recorded the event.
New Jersey lawyer Armen McOmber and Dr. Mary Papazian, provost and senior
vice president for academic affairs at Lehmen College of the City University
of New York, served as masters of ceremony. Vagharshak Ohanyan led the
Arekag Children's Choir of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural
Society of the Eastern United States in several songs as well as the
performance of the American and Armenian national anthems. Pianist and
composer Karén Hakobyan led the choir in a special premier performance of
his piece, Independent Armenia. Five important American politicians gave
rousing speeches, along with representatives of four co-sponsoring
organizations - Natalie Gabrielian, associate director of education at the
Armenian General Benevolent Union; Bryan Ardrouny, executive director of the
Armenian Assembly; Doug Geogerian, Armenian National Committee Eastern
Region director from 2004 to 2006, and representatives of the Armenian
Democratic Liberal Party and the Armenian Rights Council of America.
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Primate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church of America, and Fr. Vazken Karayan, pastor of Holy Cross
Armenian Church of Union City, NJ and representing the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern), offered invocations and closing
benedictions. Their institutions were among the participating organizations,
along with the Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian
Presbyterian Church, the Armenian Evangelical Church of America, the
Armenian Catholic Eparchy for the US and Canada, Tekeyan Cultural
Association, Hamazkayin and numerous Armenian youth organizations. Buses
brought Armenians from New York and New Jersey churches, as well as from the
Knights of Vartan Boston Ararat Lodge and the Ardashad Lodge of
Philadelphia. There were some attendees from as far away as California.
Knights of Vartan Grand Commander Dennis Papazian and Daughters of Vartan
Grand Matron Melene Ouzounian introduced members of their grand councils and
other important officials who were present. Papazian, also founding director
of the Armenian Research Center at the University of Michigan-Dearborn,
revealed the theme of the commemoration, that Turkey is guilty of genocide,
and denying genocide is a crime. He declared, `When a crime can be committed
with impunity, criminals will act with impunity,' and noted that the
Assyrian and Greek genocides were also being commemorated along with the
Jewish Holocaust. Papazian challenged the Turkish government to allow their
people to study their own history without fear of punishment. Ouzounian
stressed the importance of educating the young about the great price paid by
their ancestors for liberty and their faith. Later she introduced the
winners of the Knights of Vartan Armenian Genocide Essay contest, who, in
declining order of rank of awards, were Jeremy Majerovitz, Gerard Nelson,
and Samuel Levine, three students from the elite public Stuyvesant High
School in Manhattan, and honorable mention recipient Katrice Karanfilian,
from Bergen County Academies in Oradell, NJ.
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, an influential Democrat who has for decades
backed efforts at recognition of the Armenian Genocide, which he calls `one
of the worst genocides in world history,' stirred the crowd with his words.
He declared, `We are here today to tell future Hitlers that we do remember,
that they cannot succeed, that they cannot brush history under the rug. We
are lighting a candle for truth, not just for those who suffered in Armenia,
not just for the Armenian people, but for the world, because in every
generation, in every generation, there are those like the Turkish leaders
during 1915 and 1916, there are those like the Hitlers, there are those like
the Idi Amins, who seek to destroy people simply who they are. History tells
us they always arise, but history tells us one other thing, that is, that
truth may be temporarily dimmed, but the light of truth, the candle of
truth, always burns through, and that's why we are here today. I say to you
my friends, from the day I got into Congress, I was a staunch supporter of
the Armenian quest, to remember the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian
Holocaust, and I will continue to do that with every atom in my body, until
the Turkish government admits the truth, makes reparations for what they
have done, and until the Armenian community is vindicated. My friends, I
stand with you in solidarity.'
Schumer was followed by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), another fervent and
influential supporter of US recognition of the Armenian Genocide, who said,
`Now, as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations [committee], I have said
that American diplomacy must avoid the euphemisms. To overlook human
suffering is not who we are as a people. It is not what we stand for as a
nation. We are better than that and our foreign policy should always reflect
that goodness. And that is why it is imperative that the president of the
United States, of my own party, recognize that this was a genocide and call
it as such.' Menendez continued to great applause, `I promise you that
for
so long as I continue to be a United States senator, sitting on the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, that any nominee who comes before the committee
having anything to do with Armenia, will have to answer the question, do you
recognize the Armenian Genocide. And I will continue to push - as I have
held up nominees in the past - I will continue to push the people who we
have in place around the world to represent the United States, to recognize
the horrific events of 1915 as a genocide, and I will continue to push to
make sure that the United States reflects a deep sense of moral outrage with
respect to the Armenian Genocide.'
Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), founder of the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues, and one of the most active initiators and sponsors of
legislation favorable to Armenia and Armenians in Congress, stated that he
was frequently asked why one should focus on the Genocide when contemporary
Armenia and Karabagh have so many problems. Pallone's answer was that both
were crucial and interconnected issues: `People don't seem to understand - I
know that you do - that this is an ongoing effort, an ongoing effort to
basically destroy the Armenian people.' The denialist rhetoric from Turks
and Azerbaijanis has become more aggressive recently, Pallone said, `We will
be here every day and will continue to agitate until the commemoration in
Congress takes place. We do it for Armenia, we do it for Karabagh and we do
it for those who suffer human rights violations anywhere on earth - I worry
every day. The United States needs to be supportive of Armenia and Karabagh
militarily, economically. We need to continue to provide humanitarian and
military assistance to both countries.' He urged the Armenians and their
sympathizers to be optimistic, concluding, `We will succeed, because we have
right on our side.'
Rounding out the group of supportive national politicians who have year
after year participated in the Times Square commemoration, New York Rep.
Anthony Weiner strode out and said, `I say to all Turkish Americans, to all
residents of Turkey today: This is not intended to be an exercise in finger
pointing, but this is an exercise in making sure that the pages of history
are not defiled by blank spaces, black marks, Xs where there should be
circles. The only way we can become a more perfect union in the United
States, and a more perfect people of the globe, is by speaking truth even of
the atrocities.' Weiner pointed out that there are people even today who
deny the Holocaust ever took place, as well as the Armenian Genocide.
Consequently, he said, `So as long as those people are allowed to crawl
along the surface of the earth, to crawl out from their rocks every so
often, none of us can be safe to make sure that those atrocities don't
happen again. ..What we seek is the truth from the people who did the
atrocities - My name is Anthony Weiner and I will never forget the Armenian
Genocide.'
New York City Comptroller John Liu, one of the city politicians who back the
Armenian cause, stated, `Here we are at the crossroads of the world, Times
Square, we celebrate our diversity, but the diversity that we have here is
strong only in recognition of where we came from, our roots, our heritage,
our culture and our history; and the history that has happened with the
Armenian people is a history that is undeniable.' He added, `Keep up the
fight - we won't let you down.'
A proclamation from Mayor Michael Bloomberg was read, proclaiming May 1,
2011 as Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day in the City of New York (see the
accompanying sidebar to this article for its text). Rep. Scott Garrett
(D-NJ) also sent a statement which in part read: `While it is painful to
commemorate these terrible acts each year, we must remember and must learn
from the past. The Armenian Genocide serves as a powerful example of what
can occur when governments persecute citizens based on ethnicity or
religious affiliation.'
Keynote speaker Dr. Richard Hovannisian, holder of the Armenian Educational
Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History and professor of Armenian and
Near Eastern history at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for
several decades, has edited many volumes on the Armenian Genocide. He said
that the trauma of genocide was passed on to the following generations,
compounded by continuing Turkish denial. Armenians and others ask for
reaffirmation of what originally was recognized and then deliberately
forgotten.
However, Armenians must now not only focus on the lost dead, as so many were
killed in the 20th century, but stress the loss that Raffi Hovannisian,
Richard's son, has focused on - hayrenazrgutiwn, or national dispossession.
Richard Hovannisian felt `the loss of a civilization, the loss of a
homeland, the loss of a way of life of 3,000 years is the major continuing
traumatic aspect of 1915.' The Armenian Genocide in many ways is a prototype
for later genocides. For this genocide to be remembered, Hovannisian said,
it must be integrated into the history of mankind; otherwise it will be lost
and truly forgotten. Gathering in Times Square is also part of the struggle
for memory against forgetting. Dr. Joan Rivitz, associate director of the
New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education and chair of the New Jersey
Commission on Civil Rights, a daughter of Holocaust survivors, said,
`Armenians and Jews of the diaspora, survivors, second generation, third and
fourth generations, and those yet to come, we must continue in solidarity to
remember the true, undeniable facts of the dark parts of our parallel
histories. "The world community simply stood by and watched".If Turkey had
been held accountable for the Armenian Genocide, Hitler might not have been
able to plan and execute the Holocaust. '
Three survivors of the Armenian Genocide, 101-year-old Perouz Kaloustian,
99-year-old Arshalouis Dadir, and 98-year-old Charlotte Kechejian, were
wheeled out to receive the respect and applause of the audience, escorted by
Aghavni `Aggie' Ellian, executive director of the New York Armenian Home in
Flushing, NY.
Olivia Katrandjian made a powerful appeal for registration with the Armenian
Bone Marrow Donor Registry for the sake of her mother Irene, stricken with
Non-Hodgkin's Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma, as well as for other ill Armenians
(see www.abmdr.am).
Hirant Gulian was chairman of the organization committee for one of the
largest events organized by the East Coast Armenian community, Papazian
co-chairman in charge of academic affairs, with Tigran Sahakyan as
vice-chairman. Taleen Babayan coordinated public relations and the essay
contest. Members of the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization
of New York and New Jersey under the chairmanship of Dr. Larry Najarian were
present in Times Square to provide any necessary first aid.
Those who missed it can see the recording at http://www.armenianradionj.com/.
************************************************** **********************
2. Banquet in New Jersey Honoring Mirror-Spectator Set for June 4
By Aram Arkun
Mirror-Spectator Staff
TEANECK, N.J. - The Tekeyan Cultural Association and the Friends of
the Mirror-
Spectator are hosting a banquet in anticipation of the 80th anniversary of
the Armenian Mirror-Spectator on June 4.
The idea for the first solely English-language Armenian paper in the United
States was proposed in 1931, and realized in 1932. The Tekeyan Cultural
Association has undertaken the effort to support the newspaper with a gala
fundraising event because of its very close ties with the Mirror-Spectator.
Vartan Ilanjian, one of the advisors in the Greater New York chapter of
Tekeyan, noted that the efforts of three pillars of ongoing support of the
newspaper in the area in its early period - Dr. Moses Housepian, Jack
Antreassian and Armine Dikijian - would be commemorated at the event, and
more information will be presented about them.
Ilanjian declared: `The role of the Mirror-Spectator has been great in
the
United States, though its reach has been global. It has played a vital role
in maintaining and perpetuating cultural values and ideology. Though some
ask why we need newspapers while there is the Internet, as an information
technology professional I would tell you this: Over the years there have
been numerous changes in media. The value of technology can be tremendous if
and only if you can retrieve information from it. The only media that so far
has withstood the test of time has been printed media. So we need to keep
the printed newspapers.'
The banquet will commence at 7 p.m. with a cocktail reception, and dinner
will be at 8 o'clock. Dr. Raffy Hovanessian will serve as the master of
ceremonies. There will be classical music performed by cellist Elizabeth
Kalfayan during cocktails, while singer Datevik Hovanesian will provide jazz
entertainment for guests later in the program.
Hovanessian, born in Jerusalem, graduated rom the American University of
Beirut. After medical school, he did post-graduate study at Johns Hopkins
University. He is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology.
He served one year as a major in the US army and then began private practice
in Merrillville, Ind. He was chairman of medicine and president of the
medical staff at both St. Mary Mercy Hospital and Methodist Hospital for
many years. After retirement in 2005, he eventually moved to Englewood, NJ.
Hovanessian continues to be extremely active in Armenian circles. He has
been vice chairman of the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern) since 2004, and serves on the boards of the
American University of Armenia, the Armenian General Benevolent Union
(AGBU), St. Nercess Seminary, and the Armenian American Health Professional
Organization. From 1976 to 1996 he served as the delegate of Sts. Joachim
and Anne Armenian Church of Palos Heights, Illinois to the Diocesan
Assembly, and was a member of the board of the Armenian Assembly of America
in 1980.
His medals and titles include the St. Gregory the Illuminator Medal from
Catholicos Karekin I of Holy Echmiadzin in 1998; Prince of Cilicia from the
Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias in 1982; the Ellis Island Medal of
Honor in 2000; and a gold medal from the Mkhitar Heratsi Yerevan State
Medical University, as well as benefactor of the AGBU, the Contemporary
Museum of Art (Chicago), and the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP) of Indiana.
Elizabeth Kalfayan is director of the New Horizons Symphony Orchestra. She
performs as soloist and principal cellist with numerous symphony orchestras
and chamber music ensembles throughout the United States and
internationally, and holds a master's degree in Performance from the
Manhattan School of Music. Kalfayan is especially known for her performance
lectures that present the works and genius of great composers for the
violoncello, such as Schumann, Rachmaninov, Beethoven and Shostakovich.
Kalfayan has directed orchestra and chamber programs for the New Jersey
public schools. She is founder and director of the Merritt Chamber Music
Workshops and has coached chamber music at the Puffin Foundation and the New
Jersey Youth Symphony. Her work is featured on a number of CDs.
Datevik, born to a family of musicians in Armenia, is the daughter of folk
singer Ophelia Hambartsumian and kamancha player Norair Hovanesian. She made
her first recording at the age of 11, and embarked on a life of musical
performance and education. She toured Europe, the United States, Asia and
Africa, giving solo performances in prominent jazz festivals, and even
performed in movies. By 1979 she earned the title of `First Lady of Jazz' in
the Soviet Union, which she maintained for nine consecutive years. It was
during that time that her solo albums - `Day Dream,' `Concerto For Voice and
Orchestra,' and `Doors' - were recorded. Leaving everything behind, Datevik
relocated to the United States.
Her first CD in the United States, `Ballads from the Black Sea,' (1997) was
the result of a collaboration with pianist Larry Willis and his quartet in
the studio of Mapleshade Record Productions. It prompted the president of
the latter company, Pierre Sprey, to comment: `A rich new jazz voice of
superb musicianship, earthy and passionate and swinging, proves that soul
and jazz know no boundaries.' Working with American-Armenian pianist and
composer Armen Donelian also had a great impact on Datevik.
Some of Datevik's greatest accomplishments in he career took place in the
last 16 years when she introduced a new genre of music called ethnic jazz.
She combined the Armenian folk music of Komitas, Sayat Nova and other
sources with traditional jazz music. Consequently she has become a cultural
ambassador of Armenia, introducing its heritage throughout the world. Thanks
to her work, renowned Russian, American and Australian have adopted this
music in their own compositions and concerts. `Listen to My Heart,' and
`Stage to Stage' are her latest CDs.
Legendary jazz producer George Avakian has called Datevik `the finest new
voice I have heard in a quarter of a century,' while internationally known
composer, arranger and pianist Michel Legrand urges, `Listen to the heart of
Armenia, listen to Datevik.'
Shoghig Chalian and Betty Salbashian are the chairs of the committee for the
banquet, which will take place at the Teaneck Marriott at Glenpoint (100
Frank W. Burr Boulevard). Donations at $125 per person are welcomed. For
tickets, call Shoghig at 201-803-0240, Sirvart at 201-739-7775, or Shemavon
at 718-344-7489. Information about the event's prominent keynote speaker
and
other aspects of the program will be presented in forthcoming articles.
************************************************** *****************
3. Polarization Gives Way to Political Realism In Armenia
By Edmond Y. Azadian
Since March 1, 2008, Armenia's political atmosphere has been extremely
polarized because of the unfair election and the confrontation between the
police and the opposition forces, which claimed 10 casualties.
The main opposition coalition, the Armenian National Congress (HAK), headed
by former President Levon Ter- Petrosian, organized regular political
rallies, with the participation of large masses. Many unemployed citizens,
joined by former government officials, religiously attended these rallies;
the starving populace was fed on Ter-Petrosian's rhetoric.
No president, nor any public official thus far, has been able to upstage
Ter-Petrosian's oratorical skills. The former president was able to
captivate his audience through his articulate and carefully-crafted
speeches, in which his demands were sky high. His common refrain was to
`dismantle' the `kleptocracy' and force early parliamentary elections.
Another former president, Robert Kocharian, had provided enough ammunition
to the opposition to rally around. Emulating his master in Moscow, former
President Vladimir Putin, who had elected his hand-picked successor to
replace him at the end of the constitutionally-mandated term of absence,
President Kocharian had decided to install a vulnerable lame duck
administration to make his comeback possible.
Between Serge Sargisian's election and his inauguration, Kocharian staged an
armed confrontation with the opposition, which had camped in the Liberty
Square, next to the opera, where most of the killings took place. Kocharian
knew he should wait out the confrontation, to wear down the opposition and
come to a peaceful outcome. But he opted for the violent solution, whose
victims became a powerful weapon in the hands of the opposition.
When President Sargisian was inaugurated, he did not distance himself from
the actions of his predecessor and continued the repressive measures,
jailing many opposition figures, which turned out to be cause celebres in
Ter-Petrosian speeches.
For a while, the opposition was able to paralyze the country's political
system and invited the sanctions of international agencies. For example, the
European Union issued critical reports on Armenia and threatened to ban
Armenia's delegation from participating in the PACE's sessions.
The most recent casualty was the US Millennium Challenge subsidies for
Armenia's agricultural development.
In all fairness, however, Ter-Petrosian calibrated down his rhetoric every
time the administration was in sensitive negotiations with Turkey or
Azerbaijan, in order not to be accused of stabbing the government in the
back. Sometimes, he even put a moratorium on his rallies.
Sargisian kept his cool and tried to consolidate his position domestically
and internationally. He refused to give in to the opposition's demands to
resign or hold early parliamentary elections.
In view of next year's elections, the opposing parties realized it was time
to find a modus vivendi. Ter- Petrosian toned down his rhetoric;
`kleptocracy' and `dismantling' were dropped from his lexicon. His 18
demands were reduced to a manageable three. His maximalist demand that the
only topic for negotiation between the authorities and the opposition had to
focus on the modalities of the president's removal from office disappeared
from his agenda.
The demands which were left on the table were the following: a) a pledge by
the authorities to investigate the March 1 killings; b) allowing Liberty
Square to open for political rallies and, c) releasing the remaining
political prisoners from jail.
Ter-Petrosian pledged to begin negotiations with the government, after the
latter meets the above conditions.
President Sargisian seized the opportunity to make his major conciliatory
move by pre-empting any extreme outcome which could develop on the April 28
rally, which Ter-Petrosian had decided to make either the beginning of
negotiation or a `watershed.'
On April 27, on the eve of the opposition rally, the president released the
following statement: `A very important tradition is shaping up in the
parliament; the deliberations are held at their correct limits, although
sometimes rough angles pop up. If the ruling coalition and the parliamentary
opposition make joint efforts we can achieve some civilized benchmarks. I
would also like to underline some positive developments in the opposition
ranks outside the parliament. Rallies are being held, speeches are made,
which do not intend to divide the people, nor do they intend to `crush' or
`destroy,' rather they move the public to a political level. No one has been
able to achieve anything through evil intent. Only strong people can dispel
the evil. We have a strong government and an opposition, which keeps the
government's toes to the fire. We can achieve great success through
cooperation. We would like to be the first ones to take steps to defuse the
situation. I have already given instructions to the minister of justice to
come up with a proposal.'
This last statement is interpreted as a pledge by the president to release
the remaining political prisoners from jail by May 28. Thus, the president
proved that he controlled the political agenda in the country.
The next day, Ter-Petrosian was equally magnanimous in his speech. `If the
door is not yet fully open it is at least half open,' he declared. `Two of
our demands are already met (March 1 and Liberty Square.) The third one will
be met with some delay.' And then he continued in a more conciliatory tone:
`We can resolve our problems through the methods dictated by the situation.
There are only two approaches: one is negotiation through the spirit of
national unity and the other is through physical confrontation, which may
bring disastrous results. We have decided to take the first option and we
believe that the majority of the people will support that decision.'
Ter-Petrosian's moderation caused some cracks in his opposition block. Some
elements who were looking for a more radical confrontation were
disenchanted, as were some others who were expecting issues of social order
to be resolved. The present topics of discussion do not bring food on the
table, yet.
Therefore, the stage is set for next year's election and it is rumored that
the negotiations are already being conducted behind the scenes. Also,
political horse trading has already begun for the parliamentary seats
between the competing powers. Rumors about apportioning the parliamentary
seats coincide with the findings of political pollster Aharon Adibekyan.
Thus, it is believed that the lion's share of parliamentary seats will go to
the present ruling coalition. The combined seats of the Republican Party,
Prosperous Armenia and the Country of Laws (Orinatz Yerkir) will constitute
70 percent. Although the Republican and Prosperous Armenia parties have
signed an official pact, recently some dissenting voices were heard that the
latter may participate in the election on its own. But these statements are
dismissed as pre-election posturing to grab the maximum numbers of
ministerial portfolios after the election.
The remaining 30 percent of the seats will be allocated to the opposition.
Roughly 10 seats will be given to HAK. The ARF will have five to seven
seats. Aram Karapetian (Karapetich), a vociferous media man, will get in
with one seat. Although there seems to be a tendency to leave out Raffi
Hovannisian's Heritage Party, its powerful sponsors may squeeze the party in
the parliament at the expense of ARF and HAK.
Certainly these are mere speculations of some observers. Unforeseen
political developments may completely alter the situation, rendering these
speculations baseless.
Armenians are preparing for parliamentary elections a year ahead of time,
and of course the outcome of these elections may determine the fate of the
presidential election in 2013.
In view of this horse trading, one of the journalists in Armenia has made
the following sarcastic statement: `Although we cannot hold fair elections,
at least we anticipate peaceful elections.'
From: A. Papazian