Oratorio for Hrant Dink

http://youtu.be/06pSF1ilKIs

DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND - Issue 18 - Volume 5

ԱՌԱՋՆՈՐԴՈՒԹԻՒՆ.ՀԱՅՈՑ.ՄԵԾՆ.ԲՐԻԴԱՆԻՈՅ.ԵՒ.ԻՐԼԱՆՏԱՅԻ  Տ. Վահան.Եպս..Յովհաննէսեան,.Հայրապետական.Պատուիրակ.եւ.Առաջնորդ The Right Revd Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate and Pontifical Legate

4 May, 2014

PRIMATE CELEBRATE BADARAK AT ST LEON’S IN LOS ANGELES By the invitation of His Eminence Abp Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, HG, Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, was the guest celebrant and homilist at the Armenian Cathedral of Sts Leons in Burbank, California. At the conclusion of the Badarak, His Eminence welcomed and introduced Bishop Vahan to the congregation to deliver the sermon which focused on John 3:3,

‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless

one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Elaborating on this biblical verse, Bp

Vahan stated, ‘every human being experiences the first birth, that of the flesh. However, only we,

Christians, go through the second birth which is when we commit ourselves to living the Gospel

of Jesus Christ, giving birth to a new person within us, renewed by faith.’ Following the

celebration of Badarak a reception was organised to welcome Bp Vahan. During his visit to Los

Angeles, Srpazan met with Abp Derderian several times to discuss diocesan matters of concern.

HELP US MAINTAIN EASTERTIDE ARMENIAN ANCIENT PRACTICE One of the beautiful Armenian traditions that our people have maintained for centuries is the priest’s blessings of Armenian homes on major feast days such as Nativity, Easter, and other. This practice finds its roots in the biblical teachings where our Lord instructed the Apostles to visit the people and teach them the message of the Gospel, bringing the joy and peace of the Lord. ‘I remember in my childhood years’ says Bp Vahan, ‘families joyfully anticipated the arrival of the priest any time after the Easter Badarak, to bring the blessing of the miracle of resurrection to our family members.’ Here in the Armenian Diocese of the UK and Ireland, we want to maintain this sacred practice. In addition to the spiritual aspects of this pastoral visit, House blessings are great opportunities for the clergy to meet the flock and for the faithful to get to know more about the Armenian Church and be involved. The visit and the blessing take roughly 10 minutes. To schedule a meeting contact your local pastor of the Primate’s Office.

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE ORIENTATION AND REUNION

The Primate’s Office is happy to announce the scheduling of the second 2014 Holy Land Pilgrimage Orientation on Wednesday, 28 May at 7:00pm. During this orientation session, the finalized schedule will be distributed and discussed as well as the Pilgrimage Booklet. The pilgrims will also get to discuss the details of the transportation arrangements locally and the lodging hotels. This will be the fourth annual pilgrimage organised by the Primate’s Office of the Armenian Church and funded by the Armenian Church Trust of the United Kingdom (ACTUK). The Primate has appointed a Pilgrimage Committee to help the Primate coordinate future pilgrimages. The Pilgrimage committee will be reporting directly to the Primate and ACTUK, to prepare and facilitate future Pilgrimages. The forthcoming Orientation will also be a Reunion of those who participated in the previous pilgrimages. All are welcome to attend.

Bethlehem 2012

DEACONS’ TRAINING PROGRAMME: EXAM & ORDINATION

Mark your calendar and join us on Sunday, 11 May, 2014, at the St Yeghiche Church, when HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, will ordain several members of the Deacons’ Training Programme to the sacred rank of Subdeacon (Gisasargavak - Kisasarkauag). Meanwhile candidates from the Deacons’ Training Programme will undergo a day-long retreat with the clergy and senior deacons on Saturday 10 May. During the retreat the candidates will go through written and oral tests examining their knowledge of the liturgy and theology of the Armenian Church. The ordination service will take place during the celebration of the Badarak on Sunday, the 11th of May, which will be celebrated by His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate. The candidates of the ordination have been part of the Deacons’ Training Programme launched by the Primate in 2010,and have been serving in the various churches of our diocese since then. Make every effort to join us and be part of this historic event in the life of our Diocese.

Deacons’ Training Session at St Sarkis

BUSY WEEKEND IN DUBLIN

26-27 April was a very active weekend for the Armenian Church Parish of Dublin. The activities started on Saturday, 26 April, with greeting Fr Garegin Hambardzumyan in Dublin on his first visit to our Parish. We were also blessed to welcome our visitors from the Armenian Church Parish of Wales, including Canon Patrick Thomas, John Torosyan, Chairman, Dr Ara Kanekanian, Treasurer, and others. In the evening, our guests were invited for diner with Abp Michael Jackson & his wife, Fr Garegin, Canon Robert Warren & his wife, Canon Desmond Sinnamon & his wife, Canon Patrick Thomas and all our visitors from Cardiff at the Fire Restaurant. A joint Church Service, English and Armenian, was offered on Sunday, at Taney Church. Fr Garegin and Canon Robert led the service which ended with an inspiring talk on the Genocide by Canon Patrick. Lunch in the main hall of Taney Centre followed. Fr Garegin and Canon cut a cake specially made for this occasion. On the same day, Fr Garegin visit 3 classes of St Hripsimeh Armenian Sunday school and talk to the kids.

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Taney Parish Dublin

ARMENIAN CROSSES - THE ARMENIAN GIFT SHOP ONLINE

One pf the articles in the growing collection of the Armenian Gift Shop (armeniangiftshop.org) are

Armenian style crosses made of olive tree wood. These beautiful Armenian style wooden

crosses are hand carved in Armenia. It comes with the thread that enables the cross to be worn as

a necklace as well. . You can learn more about these and other crosses by visiting the website of

the newly launched project of the Armenian Church Trust UK (ACTUK):

www.armeniangiftshop.org. The online gift shop already includes an impressive number of

Armenian articles including Armenian Church religious artifacts, CDs, DVDs, books, and gifts.

The Armenian Gift Shop has established ties with several major Armenian Church centres around

the world to secure the latest products in the fields of Armenian culture, identity, history, the Genocide and religion. You can order any item, which interests you to purchase online, and it

ARMENIAN PAVILION IN LONDON – A SMASHING SUCCESS

‘The publishing world descended on London from April 8th to 10th with exhibitors from around the world discussing and negotiating contracts on a global scale and for the second consecutive year, the Armenians were represented in a unique formula under the banner of the Armenian Pavilion incorporating authors and publishers from Armenia and the Diaspora.. After a difficult start to this journey and with no funds allocated, it required imagination, coordination and the fortitude to see the bigger picture. The Armenian Pavilion would not have been repeated, were it not for the generosity of Mr. Raffi Tanielian and his sister Nyree who funded a very large proportion of the project. The Tanielian family have supported many projects in the British Armenian community and to whom a debt of gratitude is certainly owed. With contributions also ...

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ANNOUNCEMENTS:  VOLUNTEERS FOR ASF: Those interested to volunteer for the 2014 Armenian Street Festival are encouraged to

contact the Festival committee by e-mailing: festival@armenianchurch.co.uk/  BADARAK COURSE: HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian will resume offering his talks on the theology and spirituality of

our Divine Liturgy, Badarak, on Monday evening, 12 May, 2014 in Gulbenkian Hall, at 7:00pm.  BIBLE STUDY: Every Thursday at 7:00PM. Next session, Thursday, 8 May in Nevart Gulbenkian Hall.  PLEASE SUPPORT THE PRIMATE’S OFFICE by clicking here

The Primate’s Office, Hye Doon, 25 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TG – 0208 127 8364 – primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk

FATHER FRANK’S RANTS - GEORGE ORWELL'S 1984: STILL A MESSAGE FOR US?

Rant Number 584         6 May 2014 1984 ‘You are only a rebel from the waist downwards’ jokes Julia with her lover Winston in George Orwell’s novel, 1984. Because, for the ubiquitous Big Brother whom they hate, ‘the sexual act, successfully performed, was rebellion.’ At the Playhouse Theatre, where last night I saw a stage adaptation of Orwell’s celebrated work, the former quip drew the audience’s delighted laughter. Wish fulfilment? An erotic Robin Hood as the perfect super hero of our time? Being a sexy, revolutionary beast could be the dream of many a suburban nonentity. And, as the Marquis de Sade so wickedly put it: ‘What is revolution without general copulation?’ 1984 is a Zeitgeist book. Published in 1949, it expresses the trend of thought and phobias of the period. Big Brother, with his ‘heavy black moustache’ is unquestionably Uncle Joe Stalin, Britain’s former wartime chum, mutated into the West’s malignant new bogey. (The book’s arch-villain, the heretical Goldstein also evokes Stalin’s antagonist Trotsky – real name  Bronstein) And the totalitarian nightmare doomed lovers Winston and Julia inhabit is recognisably the Soviet Union, with its omnipotent Communist party, secret police, stifling surveillance, Gulags, terror, tortures and executions. That being so, 1984’s message, once so alarmingly resonant, seems dated. Communism, along with its posturing at world conquest, is down the drain. Not even the CIA could make out Putin, despite its former KGB career, as a novel Big Brother. Where book and play still score well is as melodrama. An extravagantly sensational thriller, with stock heroes and villains and oozing sentimentality. Orwell’s philosophical and linguistic lucubrations are very well but without the daring love affair between Winston and Julia the story would be just another anti-Communist pamphlet, a cerebral tract. Nietzsche once wondered why the love story had become so important in modern fiction. Poor, mad Fred! A question only an underman, a semi-eunuch would ask. The short, lapidary message on a scrap of paper that Julia manage to pass on to unsuspecting Winston, ‘I love you’, is the fuse that lights the dynamite inherent in the plot. Love as truly the Archimedean point to lift the world, ‘the power that moves the sun and the others stars’. And, up to a point, as love always does, it works. Nonetheless it is not very persuasive that amongst its inhumanly controlling aims the Party should seek to eradicate the sex instinct and ‘abolish the orgasm’. Like Canute, surely Big Brother would know that you cannot stem a tide! Unless, implausibly, the Machiavellian party boss O’Brien shared St Augustine’s objection to sexual arousal as the triumph of irrational flesh over human will and reason. Odd that it did not occur to Orwell to make the shadowy Big Brother into a sexually potent figure, magnetically attractive to females. After all, many real, dodgy cult leaders, from Rasputin to Bhagwan ‘Osho’ Rajneesh, have derived much of their power from that. Nor is the naked power worship concept expounded by O’ Brien to his captive Winston very credible.  ‘Power is not a means, it is an end’ he preaches. True, some fringe psychoanalysts like Alfred Adler have claimed that power is the chief motor of all human actions, but that is simplistic, reductionist. Power takes many forms. It would be trivial to assert that the capitalism is essentially about power over workers. Marx and Weber have demonstrated how much more sophisticated the basis of capitalism is. Behind the rhetorical figure of O’Brien I discern many possible influences. Maybe the heterodox Islamic sect of the Assassins. The rank and file were taught all sorts of supernatural beliefs but the men at the top supposedly believed nothing, only in their power. Or perhaps the presence  of Dostoevsky’s Great Inquisitor in Brothers Karamazov. A literary conceit, an extreme Russian Orthodox travesty of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. But at least Rome and the Jesuits are historical realities. O’Brien’s creed conversely is spun out of Orwell’s unconvincing, doctrinaire fantasy. The sensitive spectator may, like my friend Carolyn, baulk at some of the play’s torture scenes – Winston being given electric shocks, spitting out blood, teeth being pulled and ultimately being exposed to hungry rats. Thanks to the power of modern drugs, sophisticated dictatorships today may have less messy ways of subduing recalcitrant dissenters. Still, torture is topical. Nothing fictional about it. Groan…Despite international law and universal condemnation states still engage in it. You do not need a Big Brother regime to witness this melancholy reality. Analysis of the artificial, official and evil language Newspeak, made much of in 1984, is a matter for another Rant. However, reflecting on how Newspeak is meant to eliminate ‘undesirable words’, the priest notices that words like ‘father’ and ‘mother’ are now being driven out of public discourse. Instead, you hear or see the word ‘parenting’. As if mothers and fathers were either unimportant or interchangeable terms or roles. Similarly, ‘husband’ and ‘wife’ are being replaced by the anodyne ‘spouse’. And ‘he’ and ‘she’ get substituted with the incongruous ‘theirs’ or ‘them’. Methinks I detect Big Brother’s dab hand at work… A Marxist-Leninist, I imagine, would consider George Orwell as a petty bourgeois, counter-revolutionary author. Not too much off the mark. Orwell was a 100% English. He detested the idea of a radical, total transformation of his country. But he was still a fine, inspiring and jolly good writer. Reading him is a pleasure. It is impossible to avoid noticing, though, how 1984 fails to predict the key relevance of the religious factor. Naturally, Big Brother has no time for God – don’t blame him, it is something he has in common with the democratic rulers of today. Again, as an Englishman Orwell would hardly have felt religion as a vital force. Well, as Western political consciousness of his time was framed by fear of Communism, today it is framed by fear of Islam. I wonder: the ‘terrible book’ of the awful Goldstein turns out to be a bit of a damp squib. But what if that dangerous book in reality was…the Bible? Or…the Qur’an?  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © Fr Frank Gelli

LOUSSAPATZ - THE DAWN - 33-ՐԴ ՏԱՐԻ, ԹԻՒ 1031 ՇԱԲԱԹ, 3 ՄԱՅԻՍ 2014

DANIEL VAROUJAN – ԴԱՆԻԷԼ ՎԱՐՈՒԺԱՆ (1884-1915)

Ծննդեան 130-ամեակ

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ERDOGAN AGAIN DENIES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denied the World War I killings of Armenians un- der the Ottoman Empire amounted to genocide, just days after his government offered condolences over the massacres for the first time.

During an interview on Bloomberg TV’s Charlie Rose show, Erdogan was asked if it would be possible for him to describe the deaths of Armenians as a gen- ocide, to which he replied. “This is not possible be- cause if such a genocide had been the case, would there have been Armenians living in this country?” Erdogan told US broadcaster PBS on Monday.

“We are a people who think genocide is a crime against humanity and we would never turn a blind eye to such action,” he added.

Erdogan last week offered his condolences over the 1915 massacre, calling it “our shared pain” in a statement issued on April 23rd.

US CONGRESSMEN PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

YEREVAN (Sona Hakobyan, Public Radio of Armenia) — The delegation of US Congressmen visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial today to pay tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims.

“The reason our delegation is here is to recog- nize the Armenian Genocide. We are here for that reason 99 years after the tragedy,” Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Repre- sentatives Ed Royce told reporters.

The Congressman reminded that US President Ronald Reagan recognized the Armenian Genocide. “It is something the Americans know. It is in our textbooks, it is taught to our children in the schools.

There is a reason why this lesson is so important and is taught in the United States,” he said. “It is very difficult for the world to accurately assess the future, if a wrong evaluation is given for the past. It is therefore important to speak honestly about the Armenian Genocide of 1915. It was the first genocide of the previ- ous century. Adolf Hitler, when planning the second genocide – the Holocaust, mentioned: and who remembers the annihilation of the Armenian people? We remember and we are here to express our solidarity and support to the

Armenian people,” said Royce. U.S. Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) said, in turn, it’s an honor for him to be here on this day. “This was

a very solemn occasion to be here both to acknowledge the genocide and the slaughter of 1.5 million martyrs and to bring the world’s attention to this historical fact, and also to honor the resilience of the Armenian people, the strength of this country,” he said.

“We are here not only to honor and remember this horrific moment in Armenian history, in world history, but also to commit ourselves to working together to ensure that Armenia remains a strong and vibrant country,” Rep. Cicilline said.

Rep. Eliot Engel said “the American people acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.” He voiced hope that the Turkish government would also recognize the Armenian Genocide. “There is a very strong and vibrant Armenian American community stretching from California to New York and all the states in the middle, and the American

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Armenian community has been very vocal, very positive and very effective in letting all Americans know about the Armenian Genocide,” he added.

“When we look to the future, we have to learn from the past, and the past has to be acknowledged. It cannot be denied, truth and facts cannot be denied. We are here today to acknowledge the past, to express our condolences to the Armenian people and to let you know that the United States stands with the people in Armenia in condemning this horrific genocide that happened nearly a hundred years ago,” the Congressman said.

“I am honored to be here today with a strong delegation of Members of Congress of the United States,” US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern said. “I’m here today on behalf of President Obama and Secretary Kerry to honor the victims of the tragedy of 1915.

“In a few hours President Obama will make his statement on Remembrance Day. And I’m confident that once again President Obama will honor the memory of 1.5 million Armenians massacred and marched to their death on the final days of the Ottoman Empire. “I’m confident that he will again condemn these massacres as one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century,” Ambassador Heffern said.

“The President’s statement will be a strong statement that acknowledges the facts of what happened between 1915 and 1923,” he added.

The US Congressmen planted fir trees in the Memory Alley of Tsitsernakaberd.

AN ARMENIAN “RAP” ON TIMES SQUARE

(MassisPost)

The 99th Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Brings Out Thousands to Times Square

By Taleen Babayan

From the proclamations of staunch support by high-ranking U.S. politicians to the touching lyrics of a talented Armenian-American rapper’s tribute to the mil- lions of lives lost, the 99th commemoration of the Ar- menian Genocide in Times Square paid homage to the victims of 1915 and sent a resounding message that de- nial will not be tolerated as the centennial memorial ap- proaches.

An all-encompassing event organized by the Knights of Vartan for the past quarter of a century in one of the world’s most visible and attractive locations, an impressive crowd gathered at this year’s commemo- ration. While the missing survivors in the audience were a stark reminder that witnesses are succumbing to histo- ry, this year’s sizeable group of Armenian youth, from the disciplined Homenetmen Scouts who proudly held the Armenian flag throughout the duration of the program to the members of the Areni Choir and the Higher Brass Band to those draped in Armenian flags, an emphatic statement was made that the 1.5 million victims will not be forgotten and the fight for genocide recognition will continue through new blood.

Appearing faithfully year after year, key U.S. politicians took to the stage once again to reaffirm their com- mitment to the Armenian cause and did not fail the community in expressing their firm support of genocide recog- nition, most recently in the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which this month passed Resolution 410, demanding that Turkey acknowledge the Armenian massacres in 1915 as “genocide.”

Chairman of the committee, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) said the resolution was passed in “undisputed terms” and described the Armenian Genocide as “one of the darkest events in human history.”

“We must not make it the policy of the United States to turn our back on man’s inhumanity to man,” said Menendez. “And anyone who tries to create a nuanced approach serves only to empower those around the world who would use genocide as a weapon of war.”

Commending the Armenians for building a strong community in America, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), recalled the founder of the Armenian Genocide Times Square commemoration, Sam Azadian, who introduced the senator to the history of the Armenian Genocide when he was a newly elected assemblyman.

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“I come here because I believe from the bottom of my heart it is our sacred duty to speak out against the ter- rors of the past,” said Schumer. “Remembering the innocent victims of the “Medz Yeghern” helps as we strive to shine the full light of day on this historic tragedy to ensure it never happens again.”

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) praised the Armenians on their relentless efforts towards Armenian Genocide recognition and noted the movement’s success worldwide and in Turkey, where scholars and human rights advocates are opening sincere dialogue about the Armenian Genocide. He spoke of continued commitment not only towards genocide recognition, but humanitarian aid to the Republic of Armenia and Nagorno-Karapagh as well.

“Continue to do all of your hard work,” said Pallone. “Even though it’s the 99th year, we will not stop until we see genocide recognition.”

Following in his father’s (former councilman Peter Vallone) footsteps, Paul Vallone (D-NY) said that like his father, he was proud to support the commemoration in Times Square every year. Vallone greeted the crowd in Armenian and asserted his commitment to working with Albany and Congress to make sure the Armenian Geno- cide is recognized.

“Armenia is our family,” said Vallone. “It’s our faith, our culture, our language, and as we stand here in the middle of the greatest city of the world, we see that the Armenian Genocide has not been forgotten.”

Traveling straight from Armenia where he attended Armenian Genocide commemorations there, Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) said that Turkey needs to publicly accept the atrocities without the use of convoluted statements. “A genocide is a genocide and the sooner Turkey

recognizes and apologizes for it, the better off everyone will be.” Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) also expressed her efforts in Congress for U.S. recognition of the

genocide and the importance of stating it by its factual name. “Genocide is genocide is genocide,” said Maloney. “Ninety-nine years is enough. We must join the world community in recognizing the genocide and the atrocious actions of Turkey.”

Remarking that it is the “responsibility” of the U.S. to recognize the Armenian Genocide, former New York City Comptroller, John Liu, said to continue the fight until an apology is achieved. “Whether it has been one hun- dred or two hundred years, this gathering will continue to take place because we know the truth and the rest of the world has to do so as well.”

“We have been here for a quarter of a century,” said Dr. Dennis Papazian, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Michigan and Past Grand Commander of Knights of Vartan, as he looked out onto the substantial crowd in front of him in Times Square. “And we will come back for another quarter of a century until justice is done for the Armenian people.”

Also in his remarks, Dr. Dennis Papazian provided a response to the unprecedented statement of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, issued on April 23, 2014 in 9 languages, in which the politician encouraged Turks and Armenians to talk to one another about the past and once again ignored the truth of the Armenian Geno- cide. Dr. Papazian, who has worked towards genocide recognition for decades, said he remains hopeful.

“I have witnessed a change in Turkish society where people can discuss the Armenian Genocide without being thrown in jail,” said Dr. Papazian. “Honest Turkish scholars are now organizing conferences to shed light on the truth.”

Dr. Papazian also commented on President Barack Obama’s April 24 message, which he considered his “strongest statement” yet, despite the fact that the president continues to insist on referring to the Armenian Geno- cide as “medz yeghern.”

“Our efforts haven’t been in vain,” asserted Dr. Papazian. “We are winning the battle and we shall persist until our martyrs are properly recognized.”

The program culminated in an emotional performance by R-Mean that brought all of Times Square to its feet as members of the audience as well as passersby waved peace signs in the air to the lyrics of his song, “Open Wounds.” Hailing from Los Angeles, California, the young Armenian-American rapper has been an active support-

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er of genocide recognition and in spreading awareness outside of the Armenian community, in particular with repu- table individuals in the music and entertainment industry. He hopes to educate the masses through hip-hop music, which he considers to be the “voice of the oppressed, the voice of the struggle and the voice of the youth.”

“The goal of the song “Open Wounds” and the “Open Wounds 1915 Movement” is to raise awareness for the youth who are our future and the non-Armenians who enjoy listening to good music with a positive message,” said R-Mean. “In a sense, this is doing the exact opposite of what the Turkish government has been trying to do all these years by erasing it from the history books.”

Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of Armenian Church of America (Eastern), gave the invocation and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), delivered the benediction. Other clergy in attendance included Very Reverend Thomas Garabedian of the Armenian Catholic Ep- archy of the United States and Canada and Reverend Haig Kherlopian of the Armenian Evangelical Church of New Y ork.

Susan Rosenblatt from the Jewish Press delivered remarks as well as Lisa Kradjian, Grand Matron of the Daughters of Vartan. Delivering remarks on behalf of the co-sponsors of the commemoration were Kim Yacoubian (AGBU), Alex Karapetian (Armenian Assembly), Hagop Ajemian (Hunchakian Party), Dr. Vagheenag Tarpinian (ADL), and Anahid Urguluyan (ANCA).

The winners of this year’s Knights of Vartan essay contest were announced at the program: Alina Toporas, 1st place (Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA resident), Elizabeth Ray, 2nd place (St. Agnes Academy, Memphis, TN resident), and Christopher Artun, 3rd place (Townsend Harris High School, Little Neck, NY resident).

The Areni Choir, under the direction of Dr. Armine Vardanian, sang the national anthems of the United States and Armenia, as well as “God Bless America” while the Higher Brass Band, under the direction of Samuel Nersesian, accompanied the singers.

The Armenian Radio Hour of New Jersey, led by director Professor Vartan Abdo, streamed the event live in video format worldwide, reaching over 20,000 people, with the assistance of his dedicated volunteer staff.

The 99th Armenian Genocide commemoration in Times Square was organized by the Mid-Atlantic chapters of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan, and was co-sponsored by the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Ar- menian Assembly of America, the Armenian National Committee of America, the ADL-Ramgavars, and the Arme- nian Council of America. Participating organizations included the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), Prelacy of the Armenian Church, Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Presbyterian Church, the Armenian Evangelical Church, the Armenian Catholic Eparchy for US and Canada and numerous Ar- menian youth organizations, including the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America, the Armenian Youth Federation, the Tekeyan Cultural Association, Homenetmen Scouts, Hamazkayin Cultural Association, Noyan Tapan of Brooklyn, NY, Rutgers University Armenian Club, Columbia University Armenian Club and the Armeni- an Students Association.

Dr. Mary Papazian, President of Southern Connecticut State University and Armen McOmber, New Jersey at- torney, served as MCs.

(MassisPost)

LITURGY IN MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS HELD AT NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL IN PARIS

NEWS.am -- An Armenian Genocide commemoration event was held on April 27 at the famous Notre Dame Cathedral in Par- is.

Bishop Michel Aupetit, the auxiliary bishop of Paris, per- formed a prayer of remembrance preceding the Divine Liturgy.

Subsequently, an Armenian rite liturgy was offered.

Numerous people, including Armenia’s Ambassador to France Vicken Tchitechian, attended the ceremony that was held at hall of the main cathedral of France.

Prior to the mass, Tchitechian toured an Armenian Genocide exhibition at the square of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

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TURKEY SHOULD FOLLOW GERMANY’S EXAMPLE – ARMENIAN FM

YEREVAN/NEWS.am -- Turkey should follow Germany’s example through recognition, condemnation and apology, Armenian FM Edward Nal- bandian said in his comment on Turkish PM statement on Armenian Genocide to which Armenian authorities responded that it was a new form of genocide denial.

“Today a large number of Jews live in Germany, but no one would dare to put under the question the reality of the Holocaust. Turkey had better follow Germany’s example through recognition, condemnation and apology,” FM Nal- bandian stressed in his answer to a question in the parliament. “In 1915 Talaat told Germany’s Consul General that there is no Armenian question because there are no more Armenians. 99 years later Armenians together with the international community struggle for the exclu- sion of new genocides, new crimes against humanity and wait for civilized steps from Turkey.”

REP. SCHIFF ANNOUNCES WHITE HOUSE WILL DISPLAY ARMENIAN ORPHAN RUG

WASHINGTON, DC —Rep. Adam Schiff (D- CA) announced that the White House has agreed to exhibit the “Armenian Orphan Rug” in the near fu- ture, likely this fall. The rug, woven by orphans of the Armenian Genocide in 1920, was presented to President Calvin Coolidge in 1925 as a symbol of gratitude for American aid and generosity for U.S. assistance during the genocide. The Armenian Or- phan Rug, which measures 11’7′′ x 18’5”, has over 4,000,000 hand-tied knots and took the Armenian girls in the Ghazir Orphanage of the Near East Re- lief Society 10 months to weave.

President Coolidge noted that, “The rug has a place of honor in the White House where it will be a daily symbol of goodwill on earth.” The rug – which has been in storage at the White House for decades – was supposed to be released for exhibi- tion in a Smithsonian event for the launch of Hagop Martin Deranian’s new book “President Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug.” Unfortunately, the rug was not able to be displayed at that time.

“Since first raising this issue with the Administration, I have worked diligently with the White House to find a way for the Ghazir rug to be sensitively and appropriately displayed,” said Rep. Schiff. “Today, I’m pleased to be able to say that planning is underway for the Armenian Orphan Rug to be displayed as early as this fall. I have worked out with the White House that the display will take place in a venue that is open to the general public, and I appreciate their willingness to place this significant artifact on display for all to see.”

Schiff and Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) sent a letter, along with 31 other Members, to President Obama last year urging the Administration to allow exhibition of the rug. The full letter is below, and can be found here, and in the letter they stated: “The Armenian Orphan Rug is a piece of American history and it belongs to the American people. For over a decade, Armenian American organizations have sought the public display of the rug and have requested the White House and the State Department grant their request on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, Armenian Americans have yet to have their requests granted.We urge you to release this American treasure for ex- hibition.”

Since sending the letter, Schiff has worked with the White House to find a way for the rug to be sensitively and appropriately displayed. Details of the future exhibition will be released as they come available.

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(MassisPost)

RELIGIOUS LEADER OF ARMENIAN JEWS CRITICIZES ISRAEL FOR FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

YEREVAN (Lilit Muradyan, Public Radio of Armenia) — April 28 is a day of mourning in Israel. People all over the world pay tribute to the memory of the 6 million victims of the Holocaust today.

In 1959, the Knesset passed a law officially establishing Holocaust Memorial Day in law and sanctioning official cer- emonies throughout the country as well as a two-minute moment of silence, indicated by sirens.

On April 24 we were commemorating the 99th anniver- sary of the Armenian Genocide and paying tribute to the memory of the 1.5 million victims. On this day 69 years ago the crime against humanity recurred, claiming the lives of six million Jews.

“We must not keep silent, we must not forget; otherwise such crimes will repeat in the future,” the religious leader of Armenian Jews, Rabbi Gershon Meir Burstein, said today after lighting six candles for six million victims. “Years have passed after those events, and it seems time had to have made us forget the crime. Should the Ar- menian Genocide, which we commemorated a few days ago, or the Holocaust, the Jewish nation has been mourn- ing for more than 60 years now, be forgotten? No, this cannot be forgotten, and the memory of the victims never

fades,” he said. Armenia is the land where Jews have lived for 1500 years, Armenians are the nation that do not suffer from

anti-Semitism, the religious leader said. “I condemn the Israeli Government for the failure to recognize the Armenian Genocide. When Israel’s Chief

Rabbi Yona Metzger visited Armenia, he said there was a great difference between morality and politics,” Rabbi Gershon Meir Burstein said, adding that “political interests should never be put above morals.”

Head of the Jewish community of Armenia Rimma Varzhapetyan said “the number of the victims of the Ar- menian Genocide and the Holocaust is more than 1.5 and 6 million respectively.” “The generations of all victims that could be born, were not born,” she said.

“We are grateful to Germany, because they demonstrated humanism by recognizing this tragedy. They did everything for the Jews to survive, to continue to live. I want to wish the same to Armenians, I wish that the whole world, and first of all Turkey recognize the Armenian Genocide. The Jewish community is doing its best to make this happen,” she said.

ADRIEN BRODY, DUSTIN HOFFMAN AND ALAIN DELON TO STAR IN A FILM ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

YEREVAN, April 25. / ARKA /. A Russian Armenian movie pro- ducer Valery Saharyan is going to make a film about the Armenian Gen- ocide starring Adrien Brody, Dustin Hoffman and Alain Delon, LifeNews says.

Valery Saharyan is the CEO of Armenia Production. His grand- mother was a genocide survivor.

"She jumped into the burning tandoor (a cylindrical clay oven dug in the earth used in cooking and baking) being confident that she would die. But she survived and lived for 111 years, telling all the horrors she saw with her own eyes to me,’ Saharyan says.

He plans to make Delon a main character of his film titled "Patient", which takes place in a psychiatric clinic in Paris. The protagonist is the Armenian composer Komitas, who after witnessing the horrors of the genocide, was not able to recover from the shock he experienced. He died after staying

in the clinic for 20 years.

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Saharyan recalls a trip to Armenia with Alain Delon, where near a monument to the victims of genocide the actor was so overcome with emotion that he broke into tears.

Saharyan recently contacted Serj Tankian, the winner of Grammy and former head of the System of a Down, who willingly agreed to write the soundtrack for the future film. The Oscar winner Adrien Brody is supposed to play the main part in the film.

GALUST SAHAKYAN ELECTED ARMENIA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER

YEREVAN/NEWS.am – As a result of Tuesday’s secret ballot, ruling Republican Party of Armenia National Assembly (RPA NA) Faction Head Galust Sahakyan has been elected NA Speaker.

Sukias Avetisyan, Chairman of the NA Committee on Counting, presented the results of the vote noting that 106 MPs participated in the voting, and two ballots were declared invalid.

Sahakyan received 101 votes, whereas the other candidate, self- nominated Hrant Bagratyan from the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) Faction, received three votes.

The opposition ANC, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, and Heritage Fac- tions did not partake in the election, except for three opposition MPs. The non-pro-government Prosperous Armenia and the opposition

Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law) Factions, on the other hand, had stated that their MPs were free to choose on whether or not to participate in the voting, yet virtually all deputies of these two factions took part in the secret ballot. Galust Sahakyan was born in capital city Yerevan on April 8, 1948. He is married and has two children.

NEW POLITICAL SITUATION DEVELOPED IN ARMENIA – RULING PARTY

YEREVAN/NEWS.am – A new political situation has developed in Armenia, but it seems not everyone is aware, National Assembly (NA) Vice-Speaker, ruling Republican Party (RPA) Spokesperson Eduard Sharmazanov told reporters on Wednesday.

In Sharmazanov’s words, President Serzh Sargsyan’s recent an- nouncement, according to which he will not “take helm” for a third term, was a declaration on the new rules of the game which, however, is not yet fully understood.

According to the NA vice-chair, Armenian politics is transitioning to a network-horizontal model of governance which, as per Sharmazanov, will lessen one person’s role in the hierarchy of state governance and in- crease the role of the political parties.

The RPA spokesperson also said it is apparent that RPA will continue to be the leader in Armenian politics for approximately at least the next ten years.

“But what is the most remarkable aspect of the moment? It is Serzh Sargsyan’s self-exclusion, which means the [playing] field is open and competitive. But, first and foremost, this competition is inside the Republican [Par- ty],” Eduard Sharmazanov specifically noted.

ORINATS YERKIR MADE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT LEAVING COALITION

YEREVAN/NEWS.am – Orinats Yerkir parliamentary faction made official an- nouncement to inform of leaving coalition and forming opposition to the government, head of faction Heghine Bisharyan said during the session on Monday.

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ARMENIA EX-PM TO BE APPOINTED AMBASSADOR TO US? – NEWSPAPER

YEREVAN/NEWS.am – Zhamanak daily has learned that former PM Tigran Sargsyan’s appointment as Armenia’s Ambassador to the United States is confirmed and the respective diplomatic agrément is already sent to the US Government, the daily reported.

“To note, the current Armenian Ambassador to US is Tatoul Margarian, whose subsequent fate is unknown,” Zhamanak wrote.

EUROPEANS WANT TO MAINTAIN RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA – ANALYST

YEREVAN/NEWS.am – The political section of the Armenia-European Union (EU) Association Agreement can be signed, but there is nothing seri- ous in it, political scientist Manvel Sargsyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

In Sargsyan’s words, it is still unknown how the signing of this docu- ment may affect the practical politics.

The analyst stressed that the document may be signed, but have no sig- nificance at all.

“The parties are sending messages to each other, but it seems what this means in real politics is not discussed. The Europeans likewise are trying to maintain relations with Armenia every possible way,” Sargsyan said.

He added that once the time comes to sign this political document, it will become clear what each of the par- ties thinks.

According to Manvel Sargsyan, all these are “curtsies” which should not be taken seriously.

As reported earlier, German Ambassador to Armenia Reiner Morell recently announced that there still are chances for signing the political section of the Armenia-EU Association Agreement.

RUSSIA WILL NOT APPLY RESTRICTIONS ON ARMENIAN LABOR MIGRANTS IN ITS TERRITORY WHO HAVE VIOLATED ITS IMMIGRATION LAW

YEREVAN, April 25. / ARKA /. Russia will not apply restrictions on Ar- menian labor migrants in its territory for violation of its immigration law until Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union, the outgoing secretary of the Na- tional Security Council Arthur Baghdasaryan said today.

According to Baghdasaryan, during his recent visit to Moscow Armenian and Russian migration services signed a document that will govern all the issues relating to Armenian labor migrants in the Russian Federation.

Particularly, no artificial obstacles will be created for Armenian citizens entering the Russian Federation.

He added that a membership in the Customs Union provides for citizens of member countries a completely different migration regime.

According to him, around 60,000 Armenian citizens have been denied entry to the Russian Federation, and an- other 210,000 are in the "risk zone" having violated the law and will have problems when leaving Russia. Approx- imately another 500,000 may be banned from the entry into Russia in case of a third breach of its immigration leg- islation.

Under the revised Russian immigration law, citizens of some former Soviet republics, including from Arme- nia, have the right to remain in the territory of the Russian Federation without registration for only 90 days within every 180 days. This means that citizens of Armenia cannot continually live in Russia for at least six months.

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STILL UNCLEAR WHETHER GRANTING FACILITATED CITIZENSHIP WILL APPLY TO RUSSIAN SPEAKERS IN ARMENIA – AMBASSADOR

YEREVAN/NEWS.am – The Russian Federation (RF) Embassy in Armenia will receive, in the coming months, an official explanation on the new law on facilitating the granting of RF citizenship.

Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volinkin told the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“It is difficult for us now to judge the contents without comment. But when the rules come in, I believe we will be able to speak in detail. I believe this will take place within a half-year period,” Volinkin stated.

In his words, however, it is yet unclear whether the abovemen- tioned law will apply to the Russian speakers living in Armenia, but they can note in the soon after that it presumably refers to the foreign nationals who permanently live in Russia.

President Vladimir Putin signed, on April 21, a law on facilitating the granting of Russian Federation citizen- ship. The law applies to those persons who are fluent in Russian and who live within the territory of the ex-USSR, or the former Russian Empire, but within the national borders of the present-day RF.

GAS PRICE INCREASE NOT DISCUSSED – ARMENIA ENERGY MINISTRY

YEREVAN/NEW.am – A matter of increasing the Russian natural gas price for Armenia has not yet been discussed; Acting Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisyan told Armenian News- NEWS.am.

He added that so far the price increase applies solely to the Russian market.

“Armenia’s price is attached to the gas price of [Russia’s] Orenburg Oblast [province]. At this point, however, a matter of increasing the gas price for Armenia has not yet been discussed,” the acting minister stat- ed.

In March, the Russian Federation Federal Service on Rates reached a decision to increase, as of July 1 and by an average of 4.2 percent, the prices of wholesale natural gas from Rus- sia.

ARMENIAN ENVIRONMENTALISTS STAGE DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT

YEREVAN/NEWS.am – The “SOS Sevan” initiative members held a protest on Monday outside the National Assembly (NA) building.

Holding signs, the environmentalists demanded from the NA not to pass the government bill on releasing addi- tional water from Lake Sevan.

“We are holding our action for our future. [Lake] Sevan has a strategic importance for us. We have brought strong evidence that you cannot release that much water from the lake for five years and develop pisciculture in this way. Lake Sevan will become a swamp as a result of releasing the water.

“In addition, the ecology of the water will change as a consequence of the development of pisciculture. Genet- ically modified organisms will appear in Lake Sevan, which [i.e., the organisms] which will turn [Lake] Sevan into a swamp,” “Ecological Social Alliance” NGO Coordinator Silva Adamyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

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NEW GOLD PROCESSING PLANT OPENS IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN/NEWS.am – GeoProMining group of companies opened new gold processing plant at Armenia's Ararat gold-processing plant.

For the first time in the world technology of extrac- tion “Albion” by Australian company Xstrata is intro- duced at a plant.

President Serzh Sargsyan, Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, chairman of the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental commission Maxim Sokolov, Minister of Economy Karen Chshmarityan, acting Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan, Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volinkin and other officials were present at the ceremony.

“Albion” technology developed by Australian com- pany Xstrata allows to increase the percentage of recovery of gold from refractory sulfide ore at Sotk mine.

GeoProMining President Roman Khudoliy told reporters that plant layout has been tested in Australia.

The new technology will increase the recovery of gold from concentrates from the current 50 thousand troy ounces per year to 120-130 thousand in 2015. Total investment in the project amounted to $140 million.

GeoProMining group includes Sotk gold mine (the largest in Armenia), Ararat Gold Recovery Company as well as Agarak copper- molybdenum deposit.

ARMENIA’S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY REVOKES “LUXURY TAX”

YEREVAN/NEWS.am – The National Assembly (NA) of Armenia on Wednesday passed the bill on making amendments to the Law on Excise Tax.

Sixty-seven MPs voted for the bill, whereas one deputy abstained from voting.

Prior to the voting, however, the non-pro-government Prosperous Armenia as well as the opposition Armenian National Congress, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, Heritage, and Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law) NA Factions stated that they will not participate in the vote.

Pursuant to the aforementioned amendments, the luxury tax—that is, the excise tax that is levied for vehi- cles—is planned to be revoked.

RUSSIAN ARMENIAN WINS “ENVIRONMENTAL OSCAR”

NEWS.am -- Russian-Armenian environmentalist Suren Ga- zaryan has become a 2014 Goldman Environmental Prize Winner.

The “Environmental Oscar” was awarded to Gazaryan for his campaign to preserve the Black Sea coast, RFE/RL reported.

“An internationally recognized bat expert and zoologist, Suren Gazaryan led multiple campaigns exposing government corruption and illegal use of federally protected forestland along Russia’s Black Sea coast,” wrote the Goldman Environmental Prize official website.

The Goldman Environmental Prize is awarded every year to six activists; one from each continent.

Suren Gazaryan has received political asylum in Estonia.

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YOUNG WOMAN APPOINTED ARMENIA RESCUE SQUAD COMMANDER

YEREVAN/NEWS.am – By the order of Armen Ye- ritsyan, Minister of Emergency Situations (MES) of Ar- menia, and for the first time in the history of the country’s emergency situations system, a young woman on Wednesday has been appointed commander of a fire and rescue squad.

She is MES Lieutenant Evelina Khachatryan, Deputy Commander of the Special Complexity Frogman’s Team of the Special Water Rescue Squad of the City of Sevan.

Minister Yeritsyan personally congratulated Kha- chatryan on her appointment, and said he believes in her.

Evelina Khachatryan is familiar to her staff, since they often respond together to the emergency calls. She expressed confidence that they will work together in a respectful and unified atmosphere.

ARTSAKH PRESERVES ‘TRIUMPHANT SPIRIT’

STEPANAKERT/NEWS.am -- Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Republic President Bako Sahakyan visited the Martakert region, presi- dent’s press service informed Armenian News- NEWS.am.

In Martakert President Sahakyan visited the village of Talish and partook in a solemn ceremony dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the settlement’s liberation. He considered the liberation of Talish among the tangible victo- ries of Artsakh, stressing the importance of pre- serving “the triumphant spirit, patriotic up- bringing of the younger generation and keeping alive the memory of the martyrs.”

Bako Sahakyan awarded the For Service in Battle medal to a group of freedom fighters for personal bravery shown in battles defending the Motherland, with two of them awarded

posthumously and the Vachagan Barepasht medal to philanthropist Boris Saghatelyan for continuous support shown to the village.

The president thereinafter visited one of the sectors of the Vardenis-Martakert highway and inspected the pro- cess of the implemented construction activities.

On the same day President Sahakyan partook in a meeting of the regional administration summing up the ac- tivities of 2013. Head of the regional administration Vladik Khachatryan and heads of corresponding departments delivered reports.

According to the Artsakh President, the uniqueness of Martakert region lies in the fact that it has great poten- tial for developing various economic sectors simultaneously, for its effective utilization it is necessary carry out a coordinated work and promote initiatives on the spot.Bako Sahakyan also gave instructions for proper implementa- tion of works.

He also visited the Kashen mining deposit and got acquainted with the works carried out there.

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ARMENOPHOBIA OF AZERI OFFICIALS IS ‘GROSS, OBVIOUS AND APPARENT’ – ARMENIAN FM

YEREVAN/NEWS.am – The Armenophobia (anti-Armenianism), intolerance, and hate speech have become usual phenomenon in Azerbaijan, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian said during a discussion in national parlia- ment, Armenian News-NEWS.am informs.

He reminded that during the last week Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights made two state- ments, according to which the situation with the fundamental freedoms, particularly freedom of speech and in gen- eral human rights is deteriorating in Azerbaijan.

“We are well aware that expressions of Armenophobia, intolerance, and hate speech have become usual phe- nomenon in Azerbaijan,” Minister Nalbandian added. “I think that not only Council of Europe chairmanship of such a country, but also its membership are not to the honor of the Organization.”

Edward Nalbandian stressed that Armenia constantly raises at the Council of Europe the issue of the expres- sions of Armenophobia in Azerbaijan.

“Those expressions are so gross, that are obvious and apparent. For instance, what does the yesterday’s state- ment by the Azerbaijani head of police mean, that the inhuman treatment of Leyla Yunus is justified by her sup- posed Armenian origin?” noted Armenian FM.

RED CROSS REPRESENTATIVES VISIT ARMENIAN CAPTIVES IN AZERBAIJAN

NEWS.am -- Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Tuesday met with Armenian prisoner of war Hakob Injighulyan, and five members of the Armenian Gevorgyan family who are held in Azerbaijan.

The captives were informed about their families, and the latter, about the captives, media contact person for the ICRC Delegation to Azerbaijan Ilaha Huseynova told APA news agency of Azerbaijan.

Injighulyan’s relatives told Armenian News-NEWS.am that they were informed about the meeting, but they have not yet received Hakob’s letter.

Armenian soldier Hakob Injighulyan (born in 1991) had found himself in the territo- ry under the control of Azerbaijan. According to preliminary information, Injighulyan had turned up there on August 8 at around 3am, while carrying out his military service, by crossing the Nagorno- Karabakh Republic (NKR)-Azerbaijan border, and as a result of losing his orientation in the area. He was taken to Azerbaijani capital city Baku the next day. The ICRC was able to meet with the Armenian prisoners of war on Au-

gust 20. To note, Injighulyan was made to wear Azerbaijani military uniform and give several interviews. In addition, an Armenian family, which had crossed the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, is held in Azerbaijan at present. On January 10, 2010, Yeghishe Gevorgyan escaped justice, together with his family. Gevorgyan, 56, was

previously sentenced eight times for committing theft, robbery, and several other crimes. ARMENIANS SHOULD THANK ERDOGAN FOR...

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s statement on the ‘events of 1915’ released in nine languages last week was a major propaganda coup for Turkey, generating worldwide publicity. The announcement was so cleverly crafted that it fooled many in the international community -- and regrettably, some Armenians -- into believing that he came close to recognizing the Armenian Genocide or at least took ‘an historic’ step in the right direction.

In reality, Erdogan’s statement was nothing more than rephrased denial or old wine in a new bottle. Carefully avoiding the term ‘Armenian Genocide,” he conveniently borrowed Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s deceptive terminology of ‘shared pain’ and ‘just memory,’ words that sound conciliatory, but actually equate the murderers

NOT RECOGNIZING THE GENOCIDE

By Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier

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with the victims. The Turkish Prime Minister’s reference to millions of Turks and others who also died during World War I is an insult to the memory of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide. Millions of Germans also perished in World War II, but no one in their right mind and good conscience would equate their deaths with the extermination of six million Jews!

Erdogan’s call for a “joint historical commission to study the events of 1915” is another worn out and shrewd delay tactic. If Turkish officials are sincere in wanting to learn the facts of the Armenian Genocide, all they have to do is review the extensive documentation available in their own archives as well as studies conducted by countless historians and genocide scholars around the world. Why did the Turkish government wait for almost 100 years to show an interest in researching this topic? Why are some of the most sensitive Ottoman archives still kept under lock and key, not to mention those that were shredded long ago?

I have written many times for several years that:

1) Despite Turkish denials, the Armenian Genocide is a recognized fact by the international community and there is no need to wait for Pres. Obama, Prime Minister Erdogan or anyone else to acknowledge it.

2) Genocide recognition cannot right the wrongs committed by uprooting and decimating the Armenian peo- ple. A more appropriate objective would be to seek justice through legal channels, demanding restitution, both fi- nancial and territorial.

3) The Turkish offer for ‘reconciliation’ is nothing but a sinister ploy to bury the past with a meaningless ac- knowledgment and apology. True reconciliation is achieved by undoing the enormous damage inflicted on the Ar- menian nation.

It is imperative that Armenians remain vigilant and not be deceived by fake Turkish offers of reconciliation. Between now and April 24, 2015, the Turkish government will probably announce many more publicity stunts to win over the sympathy of the international community and minimize the damage to Turkey’s already tarnished rep- utation by accusations of genocide.

One such Turkish plan is Davutoglu’s cynical statement that the Armenian Diaspora is also Turkey’s Diaspo- ra! There have been media reports that the Turkish government is preparing to grant citizenship to the descendants of former Ottoman subjects, including Armenians. Surprisingly, some naïve Armenians are fooled into thinking that this is a positive step! Just imagine settling in one of the towns of Turkish-occupied Western Armenia or Cilicia as a citizen of Turkey, and having your sons drafted into the Turkish military to ‘defend the Turkish nation’ and take part in the invasion of Kessab or Aleppo or even Armenia! How about being jailed, under article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, because you made the mistake of speaking about the Armenian Genocide to one of your Turkish neighbors!

Erdogan’s real intent in issuing his April 23, 2014 statement is to undermine the worldwide Armenian efforts to seek justice as they prepare for the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

The fact that the State Department and some European officials reacted positively to Erdogan’s statement is an indication that this was a coordinated attempt to provide cover for the Obama administration and European coun- tries not to deal with the Armenian demands on the genocide issue, using the excuse that Turkey’s leaders are in the process of reconciling with Armenians.

Armenians should resist the pressures by third parties to abandon the pursuit of their historic claims. The views of the US government or the EU on Armenian demands from Turkey should be irrelevant. Armenians should be the masters of their own fate and not allow other nations to dictate what is acceptable or unacceptable to them in the pursuit of their national interest.

WILLFUL BLINDNESS: ABRAHAM FOXMAN AND THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE By: Pierce Nahigyan

Few would expect a survivor of the Holocaust to be the face of genocide denial. Imagine the surprise of Suf- folk Law School’s student body when its administration’s chosen commencement speaker turned out to be just that. Abraham Foxman, the long-time director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an organization dedicated to

eradicating anti-Semitism and bigotry and protecting civil rights, seems a figure beyond reproach. Yet Foxman has invited controversy to Suffolk University for his unwillingness to recognize the 1915 Armenian Genocide - an

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event which saw an estimated 1.5 million Ar- menians massacred by the Turks - and his campaign to defeat Congressional acknowl- edgement of said genocide.

Criticism of Foxman has centered on this disconnect, that a man who lived through the attempted extermination of an entire race now denies that truth of another. Many at Suffolk are unwilling to participate in that hypocrisy.

Suffolk’s Students Speak Out

Shortly after Foxman was announced as their 2014 speaker, Suffolk Law students re- jected the decision. Amy Willis, President of the university’s National Lawyers Guild chap- ter, told the Boston Globe that “Suffolk claims to embody diversity and be a place for all peo-

ple, but this clearly is a speaker who does not embody those values.”

This stance was reflected in a petition to remove Foxman as the keynote speaker, as well as to deny him the honorary Juris doctorate he is slated to receive. The petition states that Foxman’s presence “not only insults students and their families, but also insults the very foundation of Suffolk Law as a safe place of diversity and acceptance.” As arguments for his removal, the petition enumerates Foxman’s refusal to explicitly label the Armenian Genocide as a genocide as well as his support for racial profiling of Muslim-Americans in the interest of “national security.”

What Is Genocide?

Raphael Lemkin coined the term “genocide” in 1944 to describe the magnitude of premeditated racial exter- mination, citing what happened to the Armenians as the prime example. After the war, the United Nations approved the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, establishing genocide as an interna- tional crime.

In the Convention, genocide is defined as “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a nation- al, ethnical, racial or religious group,” which includes “killing members of the group” and “deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.”

The mention of “intent” is significant in this definition. Foxman’s 2007 statement (described below) would go out of its way to avoid labeling the Turkish pogrom as intentional, admitting only that its “consequences” were “tantamount” to genocide. To the casual observer, it is perhaps a negligible distinction. From a legal standpoint, it is strategically evasive.

What Is the Armenian Genocide?

This definition applies to the systematic slaughter of Armenians by the Turkish government that began in 1915. To understand how this genocide came to be, a brief summary of the two nations’ history is required.

Existing in various forms for approximately 3,000 years of recorded history, Armenia was the first nation to declare Christianity its national religion. It remained Christian under the several empires that conquered it, includ- ing the Muslim caliphate of the Ottoman Turks. From the 15th century onward, Armenians and their fellow “infi- dels” were allowed to continue their religious practices, though subjected to higher taxes, fewer rights and ethnic discrimination. For the Armenians, this culminated in the Hamidian Massacres of 1894-1897. This state-sponsored pogrom was instituted by Sultan Abdul Hamid II in retaliation for Armenians’ attempts to win civil rights.

By the start of World War I, political tensions between Armenians and a new Turkish government were even more strained. Armenia itself had been divided by warring empires, with Russia claiming the east and Turkey claiming the west. Duty-bound, both sides fought for their respective empires.

Turkish official teasing starving Armenian children by showing bread, 1915, Collection of St. Lazar Mkhitarian Congregation

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This dichotomy of loyalty enabled the Turks to concoct a pretext that veiled their ultimate goal of an ethnically and religiously uniform empire. A purge would enable them to “liquidate” the “Christian element” and seize the wealth and property of suspected insurgents. On April 24, 1915, the Turkish government authorized the arrest and execution of several hundred Armenian intellectuals. From that point, the executions would continue for eight years, shrouded under the fog of the Great War.

Turkish soldiers and mercenaries acting under the general outfit of “Special Operations” murdered hundreds of thousands of Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks, marching them through the Anatolian and Syrian deserts without food, water or clothing. “Infidels” not sentenced to hard labor camps were drowned in rivers, thrown off cliffs, cru- cified and burned alive. Property was seized, women were raped and dispatched to Turkish harems, and many chil- dren were kidnapped and forcibly converted to Islam.

The number of survivors is a matter of debate, but of a population of 2 million indigenous Armenians, it is es- timated that upwards of 1.5 million were slaughtered in Turkey between 1915 and 1923. Even today, almost a cen- tury later, the Euphrates River is filled with the bones of dead Armenians, as author Peter Balakian, writing for the New York Times magazine, can attest.

Stark, horrific images exist to document the savagery of the Armenian massacre. Yet still Turkey denies its own legacy.

Turkey and Foxman’s Denials

Article 301 of the Turkish penal code makes it illegal to insult Turkey, the Turkish nation or the Turkish gov- ernment. To acknowledge an “Armenian Genocide” is the most egregious insult possible.

Because Turkey was the first nation in the Middle East to establish diplomatic relations with Israel and re- mains an instrumental ally of the West, the United States is unwilling to rock that political boat. Even when a reso- lution was proposed by the 110th Congress to recognize the Armenian Genocide, then President George W. Bush publicly opposed the measure. He was not the first, and current President Barack Obama’s silence on the issue sug- gests he will not be the last.

www.youtube.com/embed/zflmBNjHfAM

And this has been Abraham Foxman’s dilemma. His public opposition to Armenian recognition has been out of loyalty to Israel. “Our focus is Israel,” he has said. “If helping Turkey helps Israel, then that’s what we’re in the business of doing.” It seems absurd to the point of tragedy that a man who lived under Nazi oppression can answer the question of Armenian genocide with, “It was wartime. Things get messy.”

But in 2007, Foxman tried to pacify his critics. Speaking for himself and the ADL, he stated that, “We have never negated but have always described the painful events of 1915-1918 perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians as massacres and atrocities,” ending with decision that “the consequences of those actions were indeed tantamount to genocide.”

But “tantamount to genocide” without intent is not genocide. This calculated elision of “intent,” its palpable absence, is an insult to the Armenian community. The ADL’s defenders decry this as splitting hairs, but they over- look the importance of legacy and how powerfully a single word can affect it. It was important enough to prompt a dozen Massachusetts cities to pull out of the ADL’s “No Place for Hate” anti-bias program. It was important enough that when Andrew H. Tarsy, a regional director for the ADL, acknowledged the genocide as true genocide, he was promptly fired from the organization.

Unfortunately for Suffolk Law School, and all those who expect the ADL to uphold its own morality, Abra- ham Foxman represents a willful blindness - to look the other way on a hundred-year-old crime - for the sake of political expediency.

It is the opinion of Suffolk University President James McCarthy that Foxman, despite students’ protests, “is well deserving of recognition.” Moreover, it is the University’s hope that Foxman’s “life of public service will in- spire our graduates as they embark on their professional careers.”

This does beg the question of what recognition the Syrian desert’s uncounted dead deserve, or what their lives may have inspired, but the answers are unlikely to be found in Foxman’s commencement speech.

Pierce Nahigyan is a freelance journalist living in Long Beach, California. His work has appeared in several publica- tions, including NationofChange, the Los Angeles Post-Examiner and SHK Magazine. A graduate of Northwestern University, he holds a B.A. in Sociology and History.

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COVER PAGE

Daniel Varoujan (Armenian: Դանիէլ Վարուժան, April 20, 1884 – August 26, 1915) is one of the major Armenian poets of the early 20th century. At the age of 31, when he was blossoming to become a poet of interna- tional stature, he was deported and murdered by the Young Turk government, as part of the officially planned and executed Armenian Genocide.

Varoujan was born Daniel Tchiboukkearian (Դանիէլ Չպուքիարեան) in the Prknig village of Sivas, Tur- key. After attending the local school, he was sent in 1896, the year of the Hamidian massacres, to Istanbul, where he attended the Mkhitarian School. He then continued his education at Mourad-Rafaelian school of Venice, and in 1905 entered the Ghent University in Belgium, where he followed courses in literature, sociology and economics. In 1909 he returned to his village where he taught for three years. After his marriage with Araksi Varoujan in 1912, he became the principal of St. Gregory the Illuminator School in Istanbul.

In 1914, he established the "Mehian" literary group and magazine with Gostan Zarian, Hagop Oshagan, Aharon Parseghian and Kegham Parseghian. The purpose of this movement was to start an Armenian Renaissance, to wake the nation up from centuries of slavery and darkness, to reconnect it to its great Pre-Christian past ("Mehian" means "Temple"), and to encourage it to stand up on its own feet and not tolerate any tyranny, whether from its own corrupt leadership or the Turkish government.

He was arrested on at the onset of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 1915 and killed on August 26, 1915.

One of his great works The Song of the Bread (Հացին Երգը) a fifty page collection of poems, was confiscat- ed during the genocide. It was later published posthumously in 1921. The poems celebrate the simple majesty of village agricultural life, celebrating the Armenian peasant of Anatolia.

More than anyone else of their time, Siamanto and Varoujan verbalized the hopes of the Armenians around the start of the 20th century. Using legends, old epics, and pagan history at the springboard and allegory for their aspi- rations, they waited for deliverance from oppression and the rebirth in Armenian arts.

Varoujan has produced four great volumes of poetry: Shivers (Սարսուռներ, 1906), The Heart of the Race (Ցեղին Սիրտը, 1909), Pagan Songs (Հեթանոս Երգեր, 1912), The Song of the Bread (Հացին Երգը, 1921). The last book was an unfinished manuscript which was saved by bribing Turkish officials.

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