Month: December 2008

MASSACHUSETTS IS NO PLACE FOR SWASTIKAS OR ADL HYPOCRISY
By David Boyajian

The Belmont Citizen Herald
10 December 2008

Who has done more harm: the scoundrel who recently committed the
senseless, criminal act of spray-painting a swastika on a Newton
synagogue; or the national Anti-Defamation League, which has long
diminished and denied the Armenian genocide and lobbied alongside
Turkey to stop the U.S. from recognizing that genocide? I suggest
the latter.

Last year Belmont and Newton severed ties with the No Place for
Hate (NPFH) program of the ADL due to the latter’s actions against
Armenians.

Many Massachusetts cities, including Belmont, have occasionally
experienced swastika spray-painting defacements. But the ADL is taking
blatant advantage of the Newton incident.

Summoning up the ghost of NPFH, the ADL has declared that Newton is
"not a place for hate" and used other rhetoric to try to recoup its
lost standing.

Though the Newton incident was atrocious, the ADL lacks the
credibility to lecture anyone about hate. The ADL maintains that
denial, diminishment, or any questioning of the Holocaust constitutes
anti-Semitism and "hate." By its own standards, therefore, the ADL
is guilty of hate regarding the Armenian genocide. It’s also clearly
guilty of major hypocrisy.

Arlington, Bedford, Lexington, Medford, Needham, Newburyport,
Northamp ton, Peabody, Somerville, Watertown, Westwood have, like
Belmont and Newton, castigated the national ADL and dropped NPFH. So
did the Massachusetts Municipal Association, which represents every
city and town. Human rights advocates, many of them Jewish, have also
condemned the ADL’s stance against Armenians.

And Watertown has now demanded that Blue Cross Blue Shield stop
sponsoring NPFH. Top ADL officers inside the company had persuaded
it several years ago to fund the program.

And, no, the national ADL and director Abraham Foxman have not
unambiguously acknowledged the Armenian genocide. Quite the opposite.

Pressed by human rights advocates and Armenians, the national ADL
issued a statement on August 21, 2007 that, while it mentioned
the word genocide, implied that the Armenian murders were simply a
"consequence" of war and, therefore, not intentional. The ADL knows
that "consequential" deaths are not genocide. The official definition
of genocide in Article 2 of the U.N. Genocide Treaty specifically
requires "intent" by the perpetrator. Imagine the ferocious ADL
reaction if an Armenian group implied that the Holocaust was simply a
"consequence" of WWII.

The ADL’s slickly worded genocide denial was a blatant demonstration
of bad faith. And it didn’t fool the MMA and the dozen cities that
subsequently cut ties to NPFH. The ADL stateme nt has never – never –
been retracted.

Foxman has recently started another word game, saying that he has
"referred" to the Armenian genocide. The ADL condemns word games
with the Holocaust but then plays the same games with the Armenian
holocaust.

The powerful ADL has long lobbied against Armenian genocide resolutions
in Congress. Imagine how the ADL would have screamed bloody murder if
an Armenian organization had lobbied against any of the innumerable
pieces of Holocaust legislation.

The ADL’s seemingly inexplicable opposition to Armenians is part of
a widely acknowledged deal between Turkey and Israel.

"The Jewish lobby has quite actively supported Turkey," notes Yola
Habif Johnston of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs,
"to prevent the so-called Armenian genocide resolution from passing."

The American Jewish Committee is one of the groups she cited. Grilled
earlier this year about the Armenian issue, AJC’s Strategic Studies
Director, Barry Jacobs, blurted out, "We are not historians, which is a
polite [expletive] way of saying we’re not going to take responsibility
[or] make a decision on 1915." Added Jacobs, "The position of all the
Jewish organizations, including the ADL, was not to have a position
on the facts … we do not think that the Congress is the place to
settle this … that’s the real world and that’s the position of the
U.S. and Israel."

Jacobs once appeared in a nasty, Turkish-sponsored genocide denial
film and has pledged to "champion to the best of our ability Turkish
interests in the U.S. Congress."

However, the American Jewish World Service, American Jewish League for
Israel, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, and a dozen other principled
Jewish groups support the Armenian resolution. So do the NAACP,
Sons of Italy, Nat’l Council of La Raza, NOW, American Values, Arab
American Institute, Cambodian Assoc. of America, Int’l Campaign for
Tibet, Christian Solidarity Int’l, National Council of Churches,
and some 70 more organizations.

But not the ADL. Foxman is loath to back out of his deal with Turkey.

It’s clear that the main ADL agenda is political wheeling and dealing
and not, as claimed, universal human rights. The public and ADL’s
principled grassroots members have been misled.

The national ADL’s stance against Armenians lends credence to
those who accuse it and groups like AJC of exploiting the Holocaust
for political purposes and of being insincere about others’ human
rights. That is a far greater disservice to Jews and humanity than
any spray-painted swastika.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MITAT CELIKPALA: TURKEY-ARMENIA RECONCILIATION PROCESS FORCED

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.12.2008 14:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The current Turkish-Armenian rapprochement is
a forced process. Actually, neither Armenia nor Turkey is willing
reconciliation, a Turkish professor said.

"The process is mostly conditioned by the incumbent leadership’s
aspiration for the European Union, which sets opening of the border
with Armenia as a precondition," said Mitat Celikpala, associate
professor of international relations at Turkey’s TOBB University.

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama’s pledge to recognize the Armenian
Genocide is also among the reasons, according to him.

"Furthermore, Russia is extremely interested opening of the border,
what will help alleviate Armenia’s isolation and its dependence on
Georgia. These factors compel Turkey to reconciliation," Celikpala
said.

"However, Ankara will not open the border with Armenia unless the
European Union gives green light to its accession bid. I think the
situation will clear up in spring 2009," he said, 1news.az reports.

FIGURE SKATING SCHOOL AFTER YEVGENY PLYUSHCHENKO TO OPEN IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.12.2008 15:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A figure skating school named after Olympic champion
Yevgeny Plyushchenko will open in the Yerevan Sports and Concert
Complex on December 27.

"We are negotiating with Mr. Plyushchenko, whose participation in the
project will be very helpful," Hovik Muradyan, a stockholder of Bamo
company, the owner of the SCC, told a news conference in Yerevan today.

"The fee will be affordable. Furthermore, lessons will be free of
charge for 25 per cent of pupils," he added.

Yevgeny Plyushchenko himself arrived in Yerevan to attend the opening
ceremony and give a master class. On December 27 and 28, he will
present his famous show.

"I want to make a contribution to development of figure skating in
Armenia. We are also negotiating to invite coaches and specialists
from Russia," he said, adding that the best Armenian pupils will take
part in his ice shows.

NKR PRESIDENT MEETS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE

armradio.am
16.12.2008 10:55

On 15 December NKR President Bako Sahakyan met personal representative
of the OSCE chairman-in-office Andrzej Kasprzyk, Central Information
Department of the Office of the NKR President reported.

Issues related to the current situation in the region, Nagorno Karabagh
conflict settlement process and the planned monitoring of the line
of contact between Nagorno Karabagh and Azerbaijan armed forces were
discussed at the meeting.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PACE MONITORING COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS RESOLUTIONS 1609 AND 1620 ON ARMENIA

armradio.am
16.12.2008 12:36

On December 17 the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe will discuss the report and draft resolution
on the process of accomplishment of Resolutions 1609 and 1620 on the
functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia.

The resolutions will be presented for the discussion and confirmation
of the Parliamentary Assembly during its winter session in Strasbourg
from January 26 to 30.

During tomorrow’s sitting in Paris the question will be discussed
in light of the conclusions made as a result of the visit of the
Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, to Armenia in
November.

The issue will be presented at the Commission by co-rapporteurs on
Armenia Georges Colombier and John Prescott.

EX-TURKISH ENVOYS SLAM CAMPAIGN APOLOGIZING TO ARMENIA

armradio.am
16.12.2008 13:56

A group of retired ambassadors slammed the recent internet campaign
launched to issue a public apology to Armenians regarding the 1915
incidents, Hurriyet Daily reported.

Around 200 Turkish academics, writers and journalists are planning
to issue an apology to the Armenians.

Retired diplomats and ambassadors issued on Monday a response to the
attempt, saying the campaign is "unfair, wrong and unfavorable for
the national interests."

"Such an incorrect and one-sided attempt would mean disrespecting our
history and betraying our people who lost their lives in the violent
attacks of the terror organizations in the final days of the Ottoman
Empire, as well as after, during the formation of the Republic," the
statement issued by around 60 retired ambassadors and diplomats said.

The diplomats also said in order to improve the relations between
neighboring countries both sides should recognize each other’s borders
and mutually share the pain each side suffered.

The statement was signed by CHP deputies Sukru Elekdag and Onur Oymen.

ARMENIA IN AN ADVANTAGEOUS CONDITION
Karen Ghazaryan

"Radiolur"
16.12.2008 14:28

"We need to solve the questions connected with democracy and human
rights for ourselves, not for Europe," political scientists Levon
Shirinyan and Alexander Manasyan told a press conference today. They
expressed views on the changes in the world and the issues we are
concerned with, including their possible impact on the Karabakh issue.

The political scientists agreed that Armenia can come out winner of
a number of uncertain geopolitical changes, for which it is first
of all necessary to solve the issue of conformity inside the country
irrespective of Europe’s requirements.

THE KARABAKH ISSUE: PERCEPTIONS IN ARMENIAN SOCIETY AND THE RESULTS OF 2008 NEGOTIATIONS

armradio.am
16.12.2008 11:18

A roundtable discussion on Nagorno Karabakh will take place in Yerevan
on December 18. The roundtable will discuss the way the political
developments around Nagorno Karabakh influence regional security and
are perceived in Armenia.

Speakers will be Masis Mailyan, independent expert from Nagorno
Karabakh, and Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of the Caucasus
Institute. Masis Mailyan will sum up the results of negotiations on the
Karabakh issue, and Alexander Iskandaryan will analyze the perceptions
of the conflict prevailing in Armenian society and political elites.

Brief presentations will be followed by a discussion with the
participation of journalists, experts, public activists, diplomats,
NGO and IO actors.

The roundtable is organized by IWPR Armenia Branch in the framework of
the Karabakh Talks Project which makes part of IWPR’s South Caucasus
Project on Building Bridges/Building Capacity in the South Caucasus
supported by funding from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office
project, and by the Caucasus Institute with the support of the Swiss
Development and Cooperation Agency in the framework of a joint project
with the South Caucasus Bureau of the Heinrich Boll Foundation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

December 13, 2008

Armenian Rights Council of America, Western Region
1901 N. Allen Ave.
Altadena, CA 91001
Contact: Mr. Ara Aharonian
Tel: 626-296-2921
Fax: 626-296-2922
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

Argentine-Armenian Legislator Sergio Nahabetian Pays Homage at the
Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument in Montebello, California

ALTADENA, CA ` On Saturday afternoon November 22, 2008, the Armenian
Rights Council of America (ARCA), Western Region organized a solemn
ceremony at the Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument at Bicknell Park in
Montebello, on the occasion of Argentine-Armenian legislator Sergio
Nahabetian’s official visit to California.

Accompanied by his gracious wife Susanna, the lone member Argentina’s
Chamber of Deputies (or Camara) of Armenian descent and representative
of the Province of Buenos Aires, the Honorable Sergio Nahabetian,
visited the Golden State in late November upon the official invitation
of outgoing State Senator Jack Scott, who represents the 21st Senate
District of California. During their week-long sojourn, the
Nahabetians held meetings with state and local public officials, and
visited a number of Armenian day schools throughout Southern California.
In addition, they were kindly hosted by various California-based
Armenian institutions, ranging from the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church of North America to the Armenia Fund U.S. Western
Region. During this year’s annual Thanksgiving Day Armenia Fund
international telethon, Mr. Nahabetian was afforded the privilege of
appearing live on television to appeal to viewers to donate generously
to the Armenia Fund, which incidentally raised a record-breaking $35
million for humanitarian and infrastructure development initiatives in
the Republic of Armenia (RA) and in Artsakh.

The solemn vigil at the Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument in
Montebello, California commenced with a wreath-laying ceremony
involving the Honorable Sergio Nahabetian, newly-appointed RA Minister
for Diaspora Affairs, the Honorable Hranush Hakobyan, and the State
Assembly member representing the 44th Assembly District of California,
the Honorable Anthony Portantino. After the American, Argentinian and
Armenian national anthems were presented, Mistress of Ceremonies Rita
Aharonian and Master of Ceremonies Carl Bardakian welcomed all in
attendance, in Armenian and in English respectively. During her
remarks, Mistress of Ceremonies Rita Aharonian acknowledged the
presence of the following elected officials and dignitaries in
attendance: Representing the Primate of the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church, His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian, was the Vicar
General of the Western Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Yardemian; Pastor
of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church of Pasadena,
Very Rev. Fr. Baret Yeretzian; Pastor of St. Gregory Armenian Catholic
Church of Glendale, Rev. Fr. Antoine Saroyan; Pastor of St. Nareg
Armenian Congregational Church of Whittier, Rev. Sarkis Karaminassian;
Member of Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies, the Honorable and
Mrs. Sergio and Susanna Nahabetian; RA Minister for Diaspora Affairs,
the Honorable Hranush Hakobyan; RA Consul General in Los Angeles, the
Honorable Armen Liloyan; representing the 21st Senate District of the
State of California, the Honorable Jack Scott; representing the 44th
Assembly District of the State of California, the Honorable Anthony
Portantino; the Mayor of Montebello, the Honorable William
M. Molinari; the City Clerk of Glendale, the Honorable Ardashes
Kassakhian; RA Consul in Los Angeles, Mr. Mesrob Shaloyan; RA Ministry
for Diaspora Affairs Press Secretary, Mr. Tigran Harutiunyan; ADL
Central Committee Assistant Secretary Ara Aharonian; ADL Western
Region Chairman Hagop Nazerian; AGBU Southern California District
Committee Chairman Vahe Imasdounian, as well as lay leaders
representing Armenian political, benevolent, cultural and educational
institutions throughout Southern California.

During his opening remarks, Master of Ceremonies Carl Bardakian
provided an appropriate and important correlation between Saturday’s
solemn ceremony and a similar vigil which occurred 40 years ago when
His Holiness Vasken I of Blessed Memory, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, based in Holy Etchmiadzin, visited the
Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument in Montebello on May 18, 1968 and
delivered the following remarkable statement:

`My dear people, we consider it to be our sacred duty to express our
gratitude in your name and in the name of the entire Armenian
community of America and the Armenian Church to the Honorable Mayor of
Montebello and to the representatives of the American government who
cooperated with you and supported you in your noble project, making
the erection of this monument possible on the hospitable soil of
America. We will gladly carry with us to Holy Etchmiadzin the key of
the city of Montebello which the Honorable Mayor gave us as a gift,
and place it among the treasures of our Cathedral, so that it will
enjoy the blessings of Holy Etchmiadzin. And we shall always be
praying for peace in this great America as well as for the peace,
prosperity and happiness of the city of Montebello.’

Mr. Bardakian then invited one of the founding members and President
of the Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument Council, Mr. Michael
Minasian, who welcomed the honorary guests to the Armenian Martyrs
Memorial in Montebello and provided a brief history of the
conceptualization, construction and present-day status of the only
monument dedicated to the Armenian Genocide yet built on public land
in the United States.

Mr. Bardakian then invited RA Minister for Diaspora Affairs, the
Honorable Hranush Hakobyan, to the podium. Fresh from a visit to
Armenian communities throughout South America, including Argentina,
Minister Hakobyan first thanked the ARCA Western Region board for
inviting her to attend the solemn ceremony. Further, she emphasized
the necessity of continuing efforts throughout the Armenian Diaspora
to educate public officials and the mainstream media about the history
and veracity of the Armenian Genocide. Moreover, Minister Hakobyan
acknowledged the successful work of elected officials in attendance,
including Argentine legislator Sergio Nahabetian, California State
Senator Jack Scott and California State Assemblyman Anthony
Portantino, among others, in their distinct yet like-minded quests to
introduce, advocate and ratify legislation reaffirming the Armenian
Genocide.

Next to speak were California State Senator Jack Scott and California
State Assembly Member Anthony Portantino. Both expressed their
gratitude to the ARCA Western Region board for the invitation to
attend and address the audience at the solemn ceremony in Bicknell
Park. Both officials affirmed their long-time friendship with the
Armenian community, reminded the audience about their unforgettable
visits to Armenia, and pledged to continue to raise awareness of the
Armenian Genocide both in Sacramento and in their respective
districts. Finally, Senator Scott and Assemblyman Portantino paid
tribute to the significant work of Argentine legislator Sergio
Nahabetian by presenting him with a joint California State Senate and
State Assembly Resolution on the occasion of Mr. Nahabetian’s historic
visit to California.

Ms. Aharonian followed by providing a brief biography of the honored
guest and keynote speaker, Mr. Sergio Nahabetian, and invited the
latter to the podium. On behalf of the Camara of the Province of
Buenos Aires, Mr. Nahabetian expressed his appreciation to California
State Senator Jack Scott for spearheading the effort, on behalf of the
California State Legislature, to officially invite him and
Mrs. Nahabetian to visit the Golden State. As the current Chairman of
the National Assembly of Argentina’s opposition RECREAR (or Rebirth)
Party, and as Chairman of the Provincial Executive Board of the
RECREAR party, Mr. Nahabetian provided an overview of the political
and economic situation in Argentina, in general, and in the province
and city of Buenos Aires, in particular. Further, he presented a
summary about the Armenian community in Argentina, which is highly
respected and much loved by the majority of fellow Argentinians. With
80% of the Armenian population living in the city of Buenos Aires, the
community gains spiritual sustenance via three religious
denominations, namely the Armenian Apostolic Church (subordinate to
Etchmiadzin), the Armenian Catholic Church, and the Armenian
Protestant Church. Moreover, the Armenian community is fortunate of
having seven day schools, several Armenian-language weekly newspapers,
and a number of cultural, theatrical and artistic
institutions. Mr. Nahabetian praised the Argentine-Armenian
community’s united effort in pursuit of Argentina’s official
recognition of the Armenian Genocide on the federal (on January 15,
2007 it became the law in Argentina), provincial (on June 15, 2006 in
the Province of Buenos Aires Legislature, and on September 6, 2006 in
the Province of Cordoba Legislature), and municipal (City of Buenos
Aires) levels. Striving for the noble goal of achieving justice,
Mr. Nahabetian pledged to continue efforts to educate the masses and
fellow legislators in Latin America, via new publications and the
media, about the Armenian Genocide. Mr. Nahabetian also appealed to
the audience to focus on the economic development and national
security of the Republic of Armenia by working closely with the newly
established Ministry for Diaspora Affairs. Finally, on behalf of the
Camara of the Province of Buenos Aires, Mr. Nahabetian presented gifts
to California State Senator Jack Scott, California State Assemblyman
Anthony Portantino, and to the Mayor of Montebello, William Molinari,
for their service and dedication in strengthening Argentine-American
relations.

Mr. Bardakian thanked Mr. Nahabetian for his inspiring call to action,
and stressed how blessed Armenians ought to be for having such an
exemplary yet modest steward of the Armenian nation as Mr. Sergio
Nahabetian. Mr. Bardakian next invited Ms. Tamar Poladian, Esq. to
address the audience on behalf of the Armenian Rights Council of
America, Western Region. By way of background, Ms. Poladian provided
an outline of local, state-wide and national initiatives for the
Armenian Cause pursued by the ARCA Western Region over the past five
years, and pledged to continue to work robustly for the reaffirmation
of the Armenian Genocide by the Obama Administration and the 111th
United States Congress.

The hour-long public ceremony was followed by a solemn requiem service
before the Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument, lead by the Vicar
General of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church, Very
Rev. Fr. Dajad Yardemian.

December 12, 2008

Armenian Rights Council of America, Western Region
1901 N. Allen Ave.
Altadena, CA 91001
Contact: Mr. Ara Aharonian
Tel: 626-296-2921
Fax: 626-296-2922
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

Argentine-Armenian Legislator Sergio Nahabetian’s Press Conference in
California

ALTADENA, CA ` On Friday evening November 21, 2008, the Armenian
Rights Council of America (ARCA), Western Region invited the media to
attend a press conference at the Tekeyan Cultural Association’s
Beshgeturian Center in Altadena featuring Argentine-Armenian
legislator, the Honorable Sergio Nahabetian, accompanied by his
gracious wife Susanna.

Born and raised in Argentina, the Honorable Sergio Nahabetian was
elected to the Argentinian Chamber of Deputies (or Camara) on October
23, 2005. As a member and current President of the Executive Council
of the Recrear (or Rebirth) political party, Mr. Nahabetian represents
the Province of Buenos Aires in the Camara. In April 2006, Sergio
Nahabetian introduced binding legislation in the Camara reaffirming
the Armenian Genocide as an irrefutable fact. Despite threats from the
Turkish Embassy in Buenos Aires, in June 2006 Mr. Nahabetian and
fellow Argentine-Armenians successfully lobbied legislators in the
Camara to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The momentum of recognition
triggered in the Camara eventually permeated into the Senate of the
Province of Buenos Aires, the Municipality of Buenos Aires, and the
Legislature of the Province of Cordoba. Ultimately, on January 15,
2007 the Argentine Congress passed a law annually declaring April 24th
as `The day of action for tolerance and respect among people in
commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.’ An energetic leader of the
Armenian community in Argentina, Mr. Nahabetian is an active member of
the Armenian Democratic Liberal (ADL) Party in South America, the
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) where he serves as Chairman
of the AGBU Youth League in Buenos Aires, President of the Tekeyan
Cultural Association (TCA) of Argentina, as well as publisher and
editor of the Sardarabad Armenian-script weekly newspaper.

On behalf of the Executive Board of the ARCA Western Region,
Mr. Mihran Toumajan welcomed everyone in attendance, provided a brief
biography of the honored guest, and expressed ARCA’s appreciation to
outgoing California State Senator Jack Scott (representing the 21st
Senate District of California) for inviting Mr. Nahabetian to the
Golden State for an official visit. He then invited ADL Western Region
Chairman Hagop Nazerian to the podium who briefed the media about
Mr. Nahabetian’s upcoming engagements during his week-long visit to
California from November 21-28. Mr. Nazerian, in turn, invited
long-time ADL and TCA member and former Argentine resident,
Mr. Khachig Janoyan, to the podium who peppered his words of welcome
with interesting anecdotes about Sergio Nahabatian’s lovely parents,
and the Nahabetian family’s dedication in pursuit of the empowerment
of Armenians and the perpetuation of Armenian language and culture in
Latin America. Mr. Janoyan finally invited the media to address their
questions to the honored guest.

In response to a question about the present-day economic situation in
Argentina, Mr. Nahabetian preferred to answer the question as a
concerned citizen of Argentina, and not as a member of the opposition
Recrear political party. Citing the current economic state of
recession in the United States, Mr. Nahabetian expressed concern that
troubles in the United States could negatively influence the
Argentinian economy in the coming year.

Responding to a question about the status of the Armenian community in
Argentina, Sergio Nahabetian affirmed that the Armenian Apostolic
Church in Argentina is undivided and subordinate to the Holy See of
Etchmiadzin. Further, all Armenian community organizations have
cordial relations with the Armenian Diocese of
Argentina. Unfortunately, most organizations are currently
experiencing financial difficulties, due to a dearth of benefactors
and volunteers compared to decades past. Nevertheless, Mr. Nahabetian
stressed the importance of more robust community involvement in local
and provincial politics irrespective of ideological or political
leanings.

Regarding a question about the process undertaken in Argentina to pass
a law in recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Mr. Nahabetian humbly
shunned his serious work and involvement by giving credit to the
patient yet diligent activism of Argentine-Armenians who educated
various political parties throughout Argentina about the historical
veracity of the Armenian Genocide.

In response to a question about the Republic of Armenia’s
newly-established Ministry for Diaspora Affairs, Mr. Nahabetian
welcomed the creation of the Ministry and congratulated the Honorable
Hranush Hakobyan on her recent appointment as Armenia’s first
Disaporan Affairs Minister. Mr. Nahabetian encouraged all Diasporan
structures to be prepared to work hand-in-hand with the new Ministry
if and when called upon.

Other questions ranging from the status of Armenian educational and
religious institutions in Argentina, to the future of the Armenian
media in the Diaspora were answered thoroughly and thoughtfully by
Mr. and Mrs. Sergio and Susanna Nahabetian.

ADL Central Committee Assistant Secretary Ara Aharonian thanked Mr. &
Mrs. Nahabetian for their insightful remarks, which they mainly
articulated flawlessly in Armenian. Mr. Aharonian reminded all in
attendance about upcoming events on the occasion of the Nahabetians’
visit to Southern California, including a solemn observance at the
Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument in Montebello on Saturday, November
22, as well as the Nahabetians’ participation in the Divine Liturgy,
to be celebrated by His Eminence Abp. Barkev Mardirossian, Primate of
the Diocese of Artsakh, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian
Apostolic Church of Pasadena on Sunday, November 23. The Pastor of
St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church of Pasadena, Very Rev. Fr. Baret
Yeretzian, delivered the benediction.