ASBAREZ Online [04-30-2004]

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/30/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) ANC Capitol Hill Observance Honors Balakian, Canadian Legislator 2) Elected Officials Express Dismay at US Apathy on Genocide 3) Chirac: Turkey Not Fit for EU Entry 4) The Passing of Archbishop Zareh Aznavourian 5) Genocide Acknowledgement--Bushwhacked Again! 1) ANC Capitol Hill Observance Honors Balakian, Canadian Legislator SENATE AND HOUSE MEMBERS CALL FOR PROPER US REAFFIRMATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WASHINGTON, DC--Over 40 Members of Congress joined with several hundred Armenian Americans from across the country this week to honor victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide, at the 10th annual ANCA Observance on Capitol Hill. Special guests at the Observance included New York Times Best Selling author Peter Balakian, who received the ANCA Freedom Award for his tireless efforts to document the US humanitarian response to the Armenian Genocide in his landmark book, "The Burning Tigris." Longtime Canadian Armenian community supporter and champion of the recently adopted Armenian Genocide resolution, the Honorable Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, spoke poignantly of worldwide efforts to recognize this crime against humanity. Senators and Representatives, as well as Congressional staff representing some 100 Congressional offices, were greeted by over 400 community members, many of whom travel annually to Washington, DC to attend the Capitol Hill Observance and discuss Armenian American concerns with their elected representatives. The program was held in the historic Cannon Caucus Room. 2) Elected Officials Express Dismay at US Apathy on Genocide INSPIRE 12,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT MONTEBELLO ANC COMMEMORATIONS MONTEBELLO--Once again, the Armenian-American community of Montebello and surrounding communities observed the anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide with an April 23 rally and vigil candlelight at the foot of the Armenian Martyrs' Monument, organized by the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of San Gabriel Valley (ANC-SGV). This year's message was a collective call to political action by the Armenian community. The rally opened with introductory remarks by Tamar Sadorian, who then invited the evening's master of ceremonies, Serge Samoniantz, to conduct the event. Special guest speaker Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-34th District) was one of many public officials who expressed dismay at the US government's failure to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Napolitano, a staunch supporter of Armenian-American concerns, presented a keen view of the community's obstacles in having the genocide recognized by the Bush Administration and the backers of the Turkish deniers. She noted that her efforts and those of her colleagues in the Congress would, nevertheless, continue until justice is served to the Armenian people. Introduced by San Gabriel Valley ANC member Jack Hadjinian, Montebello Mayor Norma Reid-Lopez presented a proclamation from the City of Montebello unanimously declaring April 24 a Day of Remembrances for the Victims of the Armenian Genocide. Special assistant to Sheriff Lee, Baca Captain Gary A. Nalbandian, representing Baca, presented plaque from the LA County Sheriff's Department. Nalbandian closed his remarks with a rousing Armenian remark: "Struggle until Victory!" Speaking on behalf of the youth, Mesrobian Armenian School Associated Students Body officer and Montebello AYF member Angie Achikian, conveyed willingness to take on the torch from the older generation and continue until final success. Emcee Serge Samoniantz recognized the public officials present, including Montebello City Council members Bob Bagwell, and Bill Molinari, as well as Police Chief Gary Couso-Vasquez, Gil Cedillo Jr., from Assemblyman Ron Calderon's (D-58th) office, and Greg Martayan, a former LA City Commissioner, who is running for a Los Angeles City Council seat in the San Fernando Valley. Also attending were ARF Western Region Central Committee chairman Hovig Saliba, ARF Dro Gomideh chairman Sako Sassounian, and Armenian Mesrobian School principal Hilda Saliba. Before introducing the final speaker, Samoniantz announced the arrival of the Homenetmen Western Region Scouts who had marched from Pasadena, a distance of about eight miles, to pay their respects to the genocide victims, with a candlelight procession. San Gabriel Valley ANC Chairman Seto Boyajian, delivered the keynote address recounting steps taken by the Armenian community to advance recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the United States. He assailed Pres. Bush's inability to come to terms with the Armenian Genocide and his unwillingness to properly characterize the 1915 events as Genocide in his annual April 24 statement, emphasizing Democratic Presidential hopeful Sen. Kohn Kerry's lengthy and meaningful message calling for the international recognition of the genocide. The program concluded with the traditional distribution of candles to the audience, the candlelit gathering around the monument plaque, and the solemn Requiem Service conducted by the clergy of the Holy Cross Cathedral. 3) Chirac: Turkey Not Fit for EU Entry PARIS (AP/Zaman)--Turkey's aspirations to be the first Muslim-majority member of the European Union took a hit Thursday when French President Jacques Chirac said Ankara most likely will not meet the bloc's conditions for another 10-15 years. Speaking at his first full-fledged news conference in six years, Chirac also said the upcoming transfer of power in Iraq must be "unambiguous" and the US-led occupation authorities must cede complete control to an Iraqi administration. The French president said Turkey needed to improve its human rights record and reform its justice system before being considered for EU membership. "Is Turkey's entry possible today? I say 'No,'" he said. But Turkey could become a member "in the perspective of 10-to-15 years," Chirac said. "My conviction is that it is in the long term." Asked whether the recognition of the Armenian genocide would be taken as a precondition for Turkey's EU membership, Chirac said it was an issue between Turkey and Armenia. Turkey, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and a part of NATO since 1952, is hoping to begin talks next year on joining the EU. Ten new members are joining the 15-nation union on Saturday. A Turkish Foreign Ministry official said on condition of anonymity that Turkey accepted Chirac's comments but still hoped the EU would open membership talks in 2005. "Negotiations are one thing, and membership is another," the official said. "Chirac was speaking about the long term. There's nothing new about what he said." Chirac's news conference came weeks after Foreign Minister Michel Barnier told parliament that France would oppose Turkey's entry. The European Commission in November noted Turkey's "significant progress" in meeting the EU's conditions, but said more needed to be done. 4) The Passing of Archbishop Zareh Aznavourian His Eminence Archbishop Zareh Aznavourian died on Friday, in Lebanon, at 57 years of age. Archbishop Zareh faithfully served the Armenian Apostolic Church as an ordained celibate priest for 38 years, most of which was spent at the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon; he spent two years in Rome pursuing a higher education, and three years as the Prelate of Cyprus. Archbishop Zareh was an eminent teacher at the Cilician See's Theological Seminary. He was a noted composer of both religious and secular music, a gifted scholar, a Biblical translator, and an author of textbooks and commentaries. He was considered one of the most noted Biblical scholars within the Armenian Church. The Extreme Unction will take place during the Divine Liturgy service at the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias, on Monday, May 3. Interment will follow in the Mausoleum of the Holy See of Cilicia. Requiem Services will take place in all Prelacy churches on Sunday, May 2. 5) Genocide Acknowledgement--Bushwacked Again! "There's an old saying in TennesseeI know it's in Texas, probably in Tennesseethat says, fool me once, shame onshame on you. Fool meyou can't get fooled again." --George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002. Another anniversary of the Armenian Genocide passed last week, and Armenians were presented another impotent statement by the Bush administration omitting the word "genocide." After reading the recent articles on all Genocide reaffirmation-related news this last week, I remembered the above quote from President Bush which pretty much sums up how I feel. Come November, when I cast my vote for the candidate opposing President Bush, I'm going to write the White House a letter referencing this "old saying in Tennessee." It's been four years since President Bush promised to properly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide in a statement as candidate for the nation's highest office and after being elected, became afflicted with severe selective memory loss (Weapons of Mass Destruction, Service in the Air National Guard, the Armenian Genocide, etc). I didn't expect much from someone who had a "C" average throughout college, but I also expected that four years would be enough time to cram for the Genocide final. It seems as though he still doesn't get it. But what's worse is that some Armenian-Americans still don't get it either. And even worse than that? There's one group out there, the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) who not only is supposed to get it, but is also supposed to go after it and pursue it. ("Supposed to" is the operative term here). My favorite article was the one issued by the AAA which stated that the AAA "…expressed surprise and disappointment in President Bush's statement…which used language to clearly define the events but once again stopped short of using the word genocide." In 2001, when President Bush didn't use the word "genocide," the AAA expressed "regret and disappointment." In 2002, the AAA praised the President for his toothless statement by saying that by using the word "murder" he invoked the same words as US Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr. I guess since I use the words "the" and "and" I'm invoking such greats as Shakespeare and Hemingway in my writing. I tried to find out what the AAA reaction was to the President's statement in 2003, but there were no press releases posted on their website for April 24 of that year (). Fortunately, the Armenian National Committee of America had a press release and the statement posted on their site (). I had forgotten what a doozy the 2003 statement was. The President referred to the genocide as the "great calamity" and get this… saluted "our wise and bold friends from Armenia and Turkey who are coming together in a spirit of reconciliation to consider these events and their significance." (Skeptik looks pensive and rubs chin--MAJOR SARCASM ALERT IN 5…4…3…2…) So, that's where our friend's at the AAA were in 2003? They were coming together to reconcile our "differences" with the murdering, lying, sneaky, fraudulent government of Turkey who is responsible for murdering my ancestors and then denying the crime. And I thought they were up to no good. Well, I guess it's fine that they didn't issue a press release in 2003 and we can all rest better knowing these guys are looking out for us. Am I going to only pick on the AAA, you ask? How about we make a deal? When you have your own column, you can do whatever you want! As far as the AAA is concerned, I can't honestly believe that in 2004, after being used and abused for four years, after they praised the President's 2002 statement and didn't issue one in 2003, that they were genuinely "surprised." They must think that either we're idiots or that we will understand and have pity on them for being idiots. I have some advice for the AAA that may console them seeing as to how shocked and surprised they must be by Bush's statement--There's an old saying in that state of Tennessee which recently acknowledged the Armenian Genocide for the first time. Yup, there's a saying there--I don't think they have the same saying in Turkey or in Texas--but it says "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, shame on me for sticking around, and fool me four times, its no surprise!" Skeptik Sinikian is not a psychiatrist nor a licensed therapist but offers clinics to help Armenian organizations cope with dikephobia (fear of justice) and ideophobia (fear of ideas). If you would like to "surprise" Skeptik, write to him at [email protected]. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.