California Courier Online, December 14, 2006
1 – Commentary
U.S. Study of Armenian-American
Community (Third & Final Part)
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
2 – AEF Celebrates Renovation of 150 Armenian
Schools; Honors 100 Donors at Dec. 3 Banquet
3 – Lincy donates $25,000 for
Yerevan State University
4 – Commentary
Time to Move Forward from Genocide Recognition to Lawsuits for
Lands
By Katia M. Peltekian
5 – Sidebar, OC Jr. Trex
Raise Funds for
Armenian Children
6 – Commentary
"Far from sight, but=80¦very close to the heart"
By Mayda Kuredjian -Keleshian
7 – . UAF’s 141st Airlift Delivers
$5.7 Million of Aid to Armenia
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1 – Commentary
U.S. Study of Armenian-American
Community (Third & Final Part)
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
We present this week the third and final segment of the internal study
prepared by the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan on the Armenian-American community.The
study points out the significance of the community in terms of its influence on
Armenia and U.S.-Armenia relations. The study divides the community into seven
clusters. The remaining four clusters are presented below:
4) "Small but Strong – The Armenian Protestant Community"
The study states: "While constituting only roughly 10-15 percent of the
Armenian community in the United States, the Armenian Protestant Community is
generally considered the oldest and one of the most prominent parts of the U.S.
Diaspora. =80¦ This community’s strongest centers of support are in New Jersey and
central and southern California. This group, while generally active in
initiatives related to genocide awareness, recognition and study, does not subscribe
to a specific political agenda on Armenia-related issues. The Armenian
Missionary Association of America (AMAA) claims organizational links to themajority
of the Armenian Protestant churches and operates educational and humanitarian
programs that benefit Armenian communities in the Republic of Armenia and in
the Diaspora. Most experts agree that this group, due to its relatively long
history in the U.S., has one of the strongest financial bases and the highest
percentage of high profile professionals in the United States today. The Armenian
Evangelical Union (AEU) represents a smaller portion of the Armenian
Protestant Community. Similar to the organizations affiliated with the AMAA, AEU
congregations sponsor locally based cultural and educational initiatives aswell as
humanitarian efforts in the Republic of Armenia."
5) "Armenian-American Catholic Organizations"
The study reports: "Armenian Catholics living in the United States represent
a small portion of the American-American community (claiming a membership of
roughly 35,000). Following efforts to widen and strengthen its social and
grassroots structure in the late 1990’s, however, the group emerged as a
well-organized group espousing conservative political and social values in line with the
teachings of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate (based in Lebanon)." The
report states that there are 10 Armenian Catholic parishes in the United States,
most them in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, and New Jersey.
6) "Professional and Cultural Organizations on the Rise"
The study states that "a growing number of professional and cultural
associations have changed the face of the Armenian-American community during the past
two decades. =80¦Groups like the Armenian Network, Armenian Bar Association,
Armenian American International Women’s Association and Armenian Professional and
Student Associations report increasing membership and are expanding their
activities."
7) "Humanitarian Groups and Private Foundations"
The study singles out the United Armenian Fund (UAF) for high praise, stating
that the UAF "is in a unique position among Armenian-American organizations.
=80¦Focused strictly on humanitarian projects, it enjoys virtually universal
support in the community."
The study then covers the Hayastan All-Armenia Fund, describing it as "a
public-private hybrid endeavor with significant political backing from the GOAM
[Government of Armenia] and Diaspora groups in the United States and France,
has raised funds for humanitarian and infrastructure projects in
Nagorno-Karabagh and Armenia since the early 1990’s. The group was designedby advisors to
then President Levon Ter-Petrossian as a mechanism to mobilize Diasporan
financial support. While subject to some internal political and claims of financial
mismanagement, the Hayastan All-Armenia Fund has maintained an extremely high
profile among international Diaspora organizations and Armenian-Americans from
the Los Angeles area figure prominently on the organization’s governing board.
The fund’s annual telethon fundraiser is carried internationally via cable
networks to cities with large Armenian communities."
The study further states: "Individual Armenian-Americans continue to wield
considerable influence in Armenia through private foundations and endowments
such as The Lincy Foundation and the Cafesjian Family Foundation." It then
mentions the multi-million dollar projects funded by these two entities, calling
The Lincy Foundation "one of the most significant foreign donors in the country"
and the Cafesjian Family Foundation "a major player in Armenia’s cultural and
urban planning circles."
Study’s Conclusion
The study ends with the following concluding comments: "Engaging the
U.S.-based Diaspora as a whole remains an important aspect of the GOAM’s [Government
of Armenia’s] foreign policy, economic development and public relations
strategies. The GOAM has increased its efforts to partner with the Armenian-American
community through conferences, outreach products and by establishing a
specialized office within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While most GOAM
policymakers recognize the distinction between US Government policy and Diaspora policy,
they also appreciate the influence that the latter plays on the former. All
indications point to a growing tendency on the part of GOAM to capitalize on
this dynamic, as the U.S.-Armenia bilateral relationship evolves."
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2 – AEF Celebrates Renovation of 150 Armenian
Schools; Honors 100 Donors at Dec. 3 Banquet
By Iveta Ovsepyan
(Special to the California Courier)
PASADENA, Calif. – A crowd of over 450 guests filled the Grand Ballroom of
the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Pasadena, Dec. 3 to celebrate the completion of 150
schools in Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk by the Glendale-based Armenian
Educational Foundation (AEF).
In addition to contributing thousands of dollars to Armenian educational
institutions in California since its inception in 1950, the AEF has invested over
$4 million in the renovation of schools in Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk, after
1991. Over 75% of this money has come directly from 100 donors who were
honored at the gala banquet.
Distinguished guests of the evening included several clergymen from the
Armenian churches, as well as representatives and Board members from the Glendale
City Council, Glendale Community College and the Glendale Unified School
District.
AEF President, Vahe Hacopian, described the event as a memorable one and
thanked the many donors who have sponsored the renovation of not only one but some
up to six or seven schools in Armenia. One such donor, the late Serge
Papayans, was recognized for his sponsorship of seven schools, the greatestnumber of
AEF school renovations by a single person. Papayans passed away just twelve
days before the banquet at the age of 69.
According to Hacopian, the AEF Board of Directors recently approved a new
plan of periodical visits and assessments of renovated schools. Final adoption of
the plan will ensue at the next Board meeting in January, and the program
will begin next spring.
Original donors will be asked to sponsor the re-renovation of their schools
and contribute to their constant maintenance. Hacopian shared "the emotion that
has captivated" those who have worked with the AEF renovation project and
encouraged these sponsors to go to Armenia to visit their schools, see the
children and return with a "wonderful, rewarding memory which you will cherish
forever."
The guest speaker of the evening was Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian, Taisei Chair
in Civil Engineering at UC Berkeley and Dean of the College of Engineering at
the American University of Armenia (AUA). Der Kiureghian is also one of the
three original founders of the AUA, which celebrated its 15th anniversary last
month.
Der Kiureghian thanked the AEF for its advancement of education not only in
Armenia, but also in the Diaspora.
In 1986, the AEF established the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair of
Modern Armenian History at UCLA. The AEF also provides financial assistanceto
the Davidian & Mariamian Educational Foundation, which offers after school
Armenian language and culture classes to students in public schools in Glendale and
surrounding areas.
Furthermore, the AEF has provided funding for the printing and publishing of
various textbooks for local schools, organized symposiums on topics relating
to the challenges and curricula of Armenian schools, and presents annually both
the AEF Lifetime Achievement Award and Educator of the Year Award,
recognizing and rewarding outstanding individuals in the field of education. Finally,
donated funds are also applied toward college scholarships for orphans in
Armenia.
Der Kiureghian emphasized the importance of a strong educational foundation
for the future of Armenia: "The future of Armenia is in its people." Without
quality elementary and secondary schools, he said, one cannot have quality
higher education, which would prove detrimental to the most vital sectors of
Armenia’s economy, including information technology and tourism.
According to Der Kiureghian, quality primary and higher education in Armenia
are "interconnected and vital to the future of the country." In Der
Kiureghian’s words, it is "truly gratifying" to know that the AEF rose to the challenge
and renovated not only 10 or 20 only, but 150 schools in Armenia.
Next, 25-year AEF member Herand Der Sarkissian, responsible for the
renovation of the first 50 schools in the AEF project, described the technicalities of
the renovations, from government contracts to the breakdown of costs
associated with each project.
Der Sarkissian highlighted an important challenge that the AEF has had to
deal with over the years: rising construction costs in Armenia. Since 1996,there
has been a 137% increase. In comparison, construction cost in Los Angeles for
the same time frame has only risen two percent.
Der Sarkissian displayed before and after photographs of renovated schools
before a stunned crowd. Images and reports of results received constant applause.
After dinner, a special award was presented by Organizing Committee member
Mina Shirvanian to the AEF Most Valued Member of 2006, Hacop M. Baghdassarian.
The announcement was greeted with a standing ovation from the guests.
Baghdassarian was honored for his years of dedication to the advancement of
the Armenian community and culture. To date, he has personally sponsored the
renovation of three schools in Artsakh and one school in Javakhk. Aside from his
own personal contributions, Baghdassarian has also raised funding from over
30 other sponsors, resulting in the renovation of 40 additional schools in the
region.
According to Der Sarkissian, the evening was a very special one for the AEF,
a relatively small California organization responsible for the impressive task
of renovating 150 schools in Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk..
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3 – Lincy donates $25,000 for
Yerevan State University
DETROIT – The Lincy Foundation has supported the Friends of Yerevan State
University (FYSU) for several years. During the academic year 2006-07, the
FYSU received another grant of $25,000 from The Lincy Foundation.
The FYSU’s major purpose is to raise funds and awareness for the needs of
the main university in Armenia. During the Soviet era, the University was fully
funded by the government. At the present time, the University is heavily
dependent upon student tuition and grants. The Friends organization has been
instrumental in meeting the University’s needs, especially in the field of
renovating buildings and contributing for the construction of new ones.
The University, which was founded in 1919, had a population of 9,000 during
the Soviet period. Since 2001, enrollment has dramatically increased to
12,000 students. Many scholars, scientists, and legislators have graduated from the
University.
The Executive Committee of FYSU is comprised of Vartkess Balian, President;
Edmond Y. Azadian, Secretary; Osep Sarafian, Treasurer.
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4 – Commentary
Time to Move Forward from Genocide Recognition to Lawsuits for Lands
By Katia M. Peltekian
The time has come for Armenians around the world to move forward. In the past
couple of decades, we have witnessed a surge of research by independent
scholars who have confirmed that what the Armenians were subjected to – massacres
and forced deportations into the desert – was in fact Genocide. This has of
course led to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by several governments and
parliaments around the world. Yet, we Armenians await the day when the
Turkish government would admit the crimes their ancestors committed.
Armenians are now stuck in a futile argument with the Turkish government. For
the time being, the debate is going nowhere. Armenians confirm it was
Genocide, Turks claim it was not. And it seems Hye Tad is caught in this circular
argument, at least for the time being.
But what else can we do? Isn¢t Genocide recognition what we want? At the same
time, does Hye Tad have any plans for the "day after"? What will we do when
Turkey finally utters the word we¢ve been waiting for all our lives? The next
logical step is of course demanding the Armenian territories back, and thenwe
will start a new argument that could go on for ages. "Give us back our lands."
"No, they are not your lands."
So it is time that we start focusing on the land issue and open a new front
to get what is rightfully ours. I am aware that most of us could become
skeptical and doubt that we will ever achieve that goal: after all, we’ve been unable
to get the Turks to say one word; how will we ever get them to give our lands
back?
Perhaps the following news item that appeared in the Turkish newspaper
Radikal on November 7, 2006 could help us envisage our next struggle.
According to Radikal, more than a year ago (17 August, 2005), in Turkey,
Nihat Shahin, the Assistant Director of The Land Registry Office, sent a letter to
the Turkish National Security Council, asking whether all
property-registration books should be sent to the State Archives. At the time, there was an
ongoing program to update and digitize the old registry of real property.
Radikal continues: The Brigadier General of the National Security Counsel,
Tayyar Elmas, also the chief of the Department of Mobilization and War Planning,
replied: "The contents of the above-mentioned registry books dated from the
Ottoman era are liable to ethnic and political manipulations (like the
unfounded genocide, the Ottoman Foundation, property claims, etc.). For thesake of
national interests, it is undesirable that those documents, partially or
completely, be multiplied, or delivered to centers where archival work and research
are done. Hence, it is more desirable that those books stay in the Land
Registry Offices with limited access".
Although the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan has been claiming that the
Turkish archives are open, here comes a piece of news from Turkey itself that some
of their archival material is kept out of the reach of researchers. True, the
Turkish archives have been open, but what those archives contain is
questionable. The Turks themselves have admitted that only about 10-12% of the archival
documents are open to the public.
The Radikal journalist Murat Belge warns Erdogan that before he even
challenges Armenia and the world to open their archives, he should know exactly what
Turkey’s archives contain. The journalist further writes: "Everybody knows that
in the state archives mentioned by Erdogan the possibility to discover
something new is very small. There is no smoking gun since there have been no
official written orders. Nobody does this. No one has discovered any written order
by Hitler to exterminate the Jews either. But undoubtedly, it is impossiblein
a state mechanism that a deed in this magnitude has not been registered
somewhere in the archives."
The Land Registry Office in Turkey is concealing a crucial part of our
history. These documents give the details and the boundaries of the lands, the names
of the owners, who sold and who bought them. Research through these documents
will prove once and for all who the owners at the time were and when and in
what kind of circumstances changes in ownership occurred.
To my knowledge, none of the branches of Hye Tad or any other organization
that primarily deals with the Armenian Question has caught up on this news which
surfaced more than a year ago, perhaps because they lack the human resources
who can read and understand the Turkish language. This needs to be amended as
soon as possible. We need more experts who can read and understand Ottoman
Turkish, who can detect any discrepancies in whatever archival material that is
open to the public.
Regardless, the above piece of news should open another door for us.
Armenians have had the chance to sue American and French insurance companies regarding
life insurance policies that their grandparents had acquired more than 90
years ago, and many families have received the money. But in my view, getting our
lands back is much more important than getting money.
It is time to move forward and get concrete results. We must take the Turkish
government to court and demand our lands back, one small piece at a time. The
land registration books should contain all the necessary registrations and
any sales that could have taken place. Our grandparents did not sell their lands
before they were killed or deported. In fact, many of us still keep the trust
deeds that our grandparents carried with them as they were deported. They
lived and died with the hope that one day they would return.
To get what is rightfully our property is not connected to whether Turkey
admits the Genocide or not. The heirs to those lands are alive and they arenow
the rightful owners of those lands. We need to move fast before these land
registration documents also vanish in thin air.
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5 – Sidebar, OC Jr. Trex
Raise Funds for
Armenian Children
MONTEBELLO – Glendale’s Sidebar Nightclub and Orange County’s Triple X
Fraternity Juniors teamed up once again on November 24, for a fundraiser to sponsor
three children they have agreed to sponsor last year thru the Armenian Relief
Society Sponsor-a-Child Program.
"It’s that time of the year to be thankful and try to help those who are less
fortunate in the world" says Chapter Master Erik Pulatian.
The owners of the Sidebar have always been kind about hosting events at the
nightclub for Armenian charity organizations and hence the Triple X Fraternity
has never passed the opportunity.
"In the last three years, our Fraternity has raised a substantial amount of
money thru door fees at the Sidebar" Chapter Treasurer Jack Hadjinian. The
Triple X Fraternity of Orange County Jr. Chapter also hosted several other events
throughout the year like the Annual Car Show, Kebab Palooza, and the
Valentines Day "No Love Lounge."
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6 – Commentary
"Far from sight, but=80¦very close to the heart"
By Mayda Kuredjian -Keleshian
BEIRUT – The Lebanese Armenian community recently had the honor and privilege
of welcoming Harut Sassounian, the President of the United Armenian Fund and
the Vice Chairman of The Lincy Foundation. The well-known activist of Armenian
issues and the Publisher of the California Courier was on a unique mission to
bring financial aid of $4,500,000 to 28 Armenian schools to help them at this
time of great economic crisis.
As we all know, Lebanon is facing new political and regional difficulties.
The country’s economy is in a terrible shape. The Lebanese not only don’t expect
a bright future, but are afraid to lose what they have today. Sassounian’s
unexpected visit came to bring much needed hope, not only because it came from
Armenian-Americans who had not forgotten their compatriots in Lebanon and were
ready to extend a strong helping hand, but also because they believed that the
Armenian community of Lebanon had played and will continue to play an
important role in educating and preparing leaders for the entire Diaspora.
The Lebanese Armenian Community met with Sassounian on several occasions.
They were amazed by the information he presented to them regarding developments
in the United States and worldwide about the Armenian Cause and explaining to
them the huge efforts Armenians are making for its just settlement. A highly
organized agenda was being implemented to rightfully demand what Armenians had
lost and what they demanded. One can’t help but wonder if enough is being done
in the Middle East which is so close to the historical Armenian lands, and
having access to documents and whatever else is left from those times after
Armenians settled in Lebanon and neighboring countries. There are still remnants of
camps that were settlements for thousands of Armenian refugees. Armenian
organizations, institutions, compatriotic societies, schools and churches have
archives, documents, and photographs that need an umbrella organization or a
Genocide Research and Documentation Center where scholars can collect, organize
and preserve all such materials so that they will not be lost or destroyed.
Isn’t it reasonable to expect that Armenians preserve what they have beforethey
can get back what they had? Fortunately, we have the museum of the Armenian
Catholicosate in Antelias, the Armenian Catholic Church museum in Bzoummar,St.
Joseph and Haigazian Universities in Beirut and few other centers, but these
are not easily accessible. There is a wealth of neglected information in the
drawers or attics of private homes, deeds of trust, documents or even needlework
and handicraft that preserve the traditions and folklore of different regions
of the Armenian homeland. Who should invite, sponsor and give Armenian
scholars and historians a plan to work on? The political parties? The editors of
newspapers? The heads of the churches? The cultural organizations? Who? We need a
well planned and executed "Project Rescue."
Usually, when we talk about a just settlement of our cause, we think about
the land and the lives that were lost, and the families that were deported or
massacred. When we think about it a little bit more, we realize the emotional
dimension of what was lost. Our people were uprooted and separated from their
personal belongings, leaving behind not just what they owned, but also memories
related to personal events and places. They left behind their dreams, hopes
and identity.
Sassounian’s visit was for a benevolent purpose, returning to Lebanon after
an absence of 37 years. He did not just bring with him a very generous and
valuable gift. He brought with him grace and values. His message was loud and
clear. He is a man of action who despite his emotional attachment to the Armenian
Cause is very professional and demanding in his approach. One cannot help but
bow with respect for this man of vision who felt and shared our difficulties,
even though he lives thousands of miles away from us.
This should be a wake up call for the Lebanese Armenian community, leaders,
organizations, political parties, educators, and even clergy. We have to think
what role each one of us could and should play with whatever means we have and
direct the youth to be a part of it. After all, when we get what we want from
Turkey — and I believe we will get it sooner or later — the new generation
will have to keep and maintain what we have. It is necessary to teach Armenian
history, but we are concentrating so much on the past that we are not talking
enough about what we are doing now, and where we are going tomorrow.
It is said that if you want to educate a nation, educate the women. Mothers
have an important role to play and have played during the tough times when we
were deported from our lands. They were the first educators who taught the
Armenian alphabet on the sands of the Syrian Desert. They taught us how to pray
and how to keep our traditions. Mothers were the activists who reminded their
kids about what had happened and raised them to be fighters for their freedom
and their lands. What is the role of the Armenian mother in Armenia and in the
Diaspora today? Where are they taking their kids and what environment are they
guiding them to? How much they know and care about our national demands from
Turkey and how are they keeping their Armenian family values? What percentage
is involved in a political or national organization and how are they countering
the cultural genocide?
I am sure that there are those who are doing a great job, but unfortunately,
there are many who are running away from their responsibilities by taking the
easy way out.
Isn’t it about time that women played a more active role in lobbying for our
demands and raising their voices to be heard around the world? Sometimes,
small efforts lead to great accomplishments. We need orientation workshops to
educate and motivate Armenian women to be more active politically. They aredoing
a great job in benevolent organizations and church groups. But that is not
enough. It’s time to see more women in leading positions in their communities.
I would like to take this opportunity to salute the great benefactor Kirk
Kerkorian. The Lincy Foundation’s generous contribution of $4,500,000 to our 28
schools through the United Armenian Fund was not just the greatest gift that
the Lebanese Armenian Community ever received, but it was the attention andcare
that this great Armenian gave us at this time of major financial crisis. We
are all short of words to express our gratitude for this humanitarian aid. This
is sure to put our school principals, administrators, students and parents
under extra responsibility, to reevaluate their work and renew their commitments.
Very special thanks to Harut Sassounian who triggered and successfully
completed this unique mission. He made sure to personally visit every single school
where he met and listened to all educators and students with patience. His
remarks were very inspiring and hopeful. There is a famous quote: "Far from
sight, far from heart." This is not always true. In this case, although farfrom
sight, the American Armenians have not just kept us close, but right in the
center of their heart.
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7 – . UAF’s 141st Airlift Delivers
$5.7 Million of Aid to Armenia
GLENDALE – The United Armenian Fund’s 141st airlift arrived in Yerevan on
December 9, delivering over $5.7 million of humanitarian assistance.
The UAF itself collected $4.7 million of medicines and medical supplies for
this flight, most of which were donated by AmeriCares ($4.6 million); Health
Partners International of Canada ($64,000); Catholic Medical Mission Board
($14,000) and MAP International ($10,000).
Other organizations which contributed goods for this airlift were: Armenian
General Benevolent Union ($300,000); Pfizer, Inc. ($200,000); Stephen M.
Kashian ($69,000); Armenian Gospel Mission ($69,000); Harut Chantikian ($51,000);
Nork Marash Medical Center ($46,000) and Fund for Armenian Relief ($46,000).
Also contributing to this airlift were: Armenian Missionary Association of
America ($44,000); American University of Armenia ($33,000); Birthlink of UK
($28,000); Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief ($26,000); Dr. Samuel Malayan
($19,000) and Armenian Relief Society – Ani Chapter ($13,000).
Since its inception in 1989, the UAF has sent $456 million of humanitarian
assistance to Armenia on board 141 airlifts and 1,392 sea containers.
The UAF is the collective effort of the Armenian Assembly of America,
Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Missionary Association of America,
Armenian Relief Society, Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, Prelacyof the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America and The Lincy Foundation.
For more information, contact the UAF office at 1101 North Pacific Avenue,
Suite 301, Glendale, CA 91202 or call (818) 241-8900.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
