Author: Badalian Vardan

I AM ARMENIAN: ‘AGHET – EIN VOLKERMORD’

US Official News
April 12, 2015 Sunday

The University of California has issued the following news release:

I Am Armenian: ‘Aghet – Ein Volkermord’

Tuesday, April 14, 2015 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm, UCLA Hammer Museum –
Billy Wilder Theater

Hammer Screenings

See below for additional information.

Admission

Free and open to the public.

Contact

Hammer Museum (310) 443-7000 [email protected] Website

Additional Information

Although there is an international consensus that up to 1.5 million
Armenians died in the Ottoman Turkish Empire between 1915 and
1918, the Armenian genocide is still not recognized by Turkey as a
historical fact. ‘Aghet – Ein Volkermord,’ acclaimed German director
Eric Friedler’s award-winning documentary, deals with the political
motives for this continuing silence. A Q&A with Eric Friedler follows
the screening. (2010, Dir. E. Friedler, 90 min).

I Am Armenian: A Year of Armenian Culture and History on Film In
commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
we dedicate 2015 to an exploration of multiple facets of Armenian
culture, history, and landscape through film.

BROOKDALE COMMEMORATES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE 100TH ANNIVERSARY WITH EXHIBITS, BOOK RELEASE

NJ.com, NJ
April 14 2015

By Ashley Peskoe | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com The Star-Ledger

MIDDLETOWN – Brookdale Community College commemorated the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian genocide Sunday with the opening of two
exhibits and a book release.

The Center for Holocaust, Human Rights and Genocide Education (CCHANGE)
at the school featured the interactive exhibit “A Journey to Life:
Armenia,” which included stories of local Armenian survivors and
their families, and a student art exhibit called “Illuminating Images:
A Hundred Year Remembrance.”

“Genocide is the most terrible crime a people can undergo, or another
people can commit,” said U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th Dist.), who
attended the event. “It must never be forgotten-to forget it would be
to dull our consciences and diminish our own humanity. It must never
be denied, but fully acknowledged – otherwise any meaningful attempt
at reconciliation will be thwarted.

The book, “Hundred-Year Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide:
Celebrating the Lives of Armenian Genocide Survivors in Our Community,”
which details 54 survivors of the genocide who now live in Monmouth
County was also released.

Smith said he would also be chairing a congressional hearing on April
23, the day before Armenian Remembrance day.

“When political leaders fail to lead or denounce violence, the void is
not only demoralizing to the victims but silence actually enables the
wrongdoing,” Smith said in a statement. “Silence by elected officials
in particular conveys approval–or at least acquiescence–and can
contribute to a climate of fear and a sense of vulnerability. History
has taught us that silence is not an option. We must do more.”

43 STATES HAVE RECOGNIZED THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE. “MR. PRESIDENT ARE YOU IN?”

Peace of Art, Inc.

April 15th, 2015

Boston, MA – During the month of April 2015 the billboard on Route
1 South, in Foxboro MA, states that the Armenian Genocide has been
recognized by 43 states in the United States, and asks President
Obama to join them, reminding him of his campaign promise to recognize
the Armenian Genocide. As April 24th, 2015 approaches, the Armenian
communities in the United States, as well as Armenian communities
around the world, await impatiently for President Obama to use the
word “genocide” in his commemoration speech, without distortions
or euphemisms.

Since January 2015 Peace of Art, Inc. launched its genocide awareness
billboard campaign “100 Billboards for 100 Years of Genocide.” in
Massachusetts, and expanded the project to other states. This project
is dedicated to the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, and it honors
the victims of all genocides of the last one hundred years.

Peace of Art, Inc. is a non-profit organization.

Founded in 2003, by the artist Daniel Varoujan Hejinian, it uses
art as an educational tool to bring awareness to the universal human
condition, and promote peaceful solutions to conflict. Peace of Art,
Inc., is not associated with political or religious organizations,
and it focus on the global human condition. Since 2004 Peace of Art,
Inc., has sponsored the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Billboards.

This year, the goal of Peace of Art, Inc. is to display 100 billboards
in different states and other countries to commemorate the centennial
of the Armenian Genocide. The billboards commemorating the centennial
of the Armenian Genocide, as well as previous Peace of Art, Inc.

projects have been organized and funded by Peace of Art, Inc. Peace of
Art, Inc. is registered in the state of Massachusetts and tax exempt
under section 501 C 3. More information is available on the website
we can be reached at [email protected]

Since January 2015, Peace of Art’s Armenian Genocide commemorative
billboards have been displayed in Chicago, IL; Seattle and Bothell,
WA; Peabody, and Foxboro, MA; and Cleveland, OH. More billboards are
being displayed in additional locations in Atlanta, GA; Dallas and San
Antonio, TX; Hartford and New Haven, CT; Syracuse, NY; Los Angeles,
CA; Columbus, OH; and Toronto, Canada.

Artist Daniel Varoujan Hejinian, founder and president of Peace of Art,
Inc. said “We are sending a message of peace, to condemn the past
crimes of genocide, and bring awareness to this cause, in order to
prevent other nations from being the next target of genocide. With the
billboards, our message is that genocide continues to be a threat to
humanity, we urge viewers to condemn the crime of genocide, be alert,
‘Don’t be the next victim,’ and put an end to this crime against
humanity once and for all.”

[email protected]

Massachusetts Committee to Commemorate the Armenian Genocide
Web:
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Ara Nazarian

Student Essay Contest launched to honor Centennial of the Armenian Genocide

Boston, MA – For Immediate Release – In honor of the April 2015
Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, a new essay contest is being
launched for students across New England. The contest entitled “The
Ultimate Triumph of Humanity: Survival and Reemergence in the Face of
Genocide,” calls for students to write a 1000-word essay considering
the legal, political, historical, cultural, economic, and/or personal
aspects of any act of genocide (Armenian, Cambodian, Jewish,
Rwandan). They may provide their point of view on the failure of the
perpetrators, the need for justice, the need to address unhealed
wounds of the victims, the dangers of denial and the implementation of
Raphael Lemkin’s UN framework to prevent similar future atrocities.

Students in grades 6-12 enrolled in any school in New England may
submit one essay in English reflecting the contestant’s own writing
and original thought. Submitted essays must be 1,000 words or fewer,
formatted blindly (no author info) consisting of title and essay text
only. The file name must follow this format
(FirstName_LastName.pdf). Additionally, each contestant must submit an
application form along with his/her essay submission. All submissions
must be in PDF format. Incomplete application forms or longer
submissions will not be entered into the essay contest.

Submissions must be sent to [email protected] by Friday, May
29, 2015. Three winning essays will be announced later in the
year. Prizes to be awarded are: $1,250 for first, $750 for second and
$250 for third.

As with other ethnic groups subjected to the most evil side of
humanity, Armenians have suffered greatly but have refused to be
defined as victims of genocide. In spite of their tragic history,
Armenians have thrived in and contributed to the diverse societies
they inhabit around the world. In fact, approximately twice as many
ethnic Armenians live beyond the borders of the modern Republic of
Armenia as reside within them, largely due to the vast number of
Diaspora communities that formed in the wake of the genocide.

###

The Massachusetts Committee to Commemorate the Armenian Genocide is an
umbrella organization representing all the Armenian advocacy,
athletic, cultural, educational, political, religious, and service
organizations in Massachusetts and the surrounding communities. The
committee aims to educate the public and increase awareness of the
crime and denial of genocide and the lasting effects thereto, with
specific emphasis on the Armenian Genocide of 1915. It also aims to
promote understanding of the Armenian Genocide through mass
communications and public forums; preserve the memory of the Armenian
Genocide and its over one and a half million victims; and finally to
commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in
Massachusetts. The Committee will coordinate programming nationally
with Washington DC and internationally with the Republic of Armenia.

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FERVENT INTERNATIONAL REACTION MAY FADE IF ARMENIA ISN’T CONSISTENT (VIDEO)

12:50 | April 14,2015 | Politics

Turkey responded very aggressively to the speech of Pope Francis,
who called mass killings of Armenians in 1915 “1st genocide of the
20th century”. Turkey even recalled its Ambassador to Vatican.

Armenian political analysts are surprised at the reaction of Turkey.

Pope just repeated the words said still in 2001 by his predecessor-
Pope John Paul II.

Representative of ARF Armenian Cause Office in Yerevan isn’t surprised
at Pope’s speech. He doesn’t reject that the liturgy in memory of
the Armenian Genocide victims and the speech of Pope, which filled
the media, have been for the benefit of our country.

Fervent international reaction, though, may fade if Armenia isn’t
consistent.

The specialists and politicians don’t exclude that Turkey may try to
take more decisive steps by using both the Armenian-Turkish protocols
and the NK conflict. But at the same time they assure that the state,
which killed 1.5 million Armenians in 1915, will sooner or later
recognize and compensate.

GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO CALL FOR EVACUATING ARMENIAN KIDS FROM ALEPPO

12:02 * 14.04.15

The Armenian Government has offered its readiness to assist in the
evacuation Aleppo-Armenian children from the war-torn city.

“The Government is ready to host and offer the necessary conditions
to the children and pupils moving to Armenia from Aleppo,” a source
from the Government’s press service told Tert.am.

It comes after reports emerged about the continuing Islamist rocket
raids in the city’s Armenian-populated district, Suleymanie. The
attacks raised panic among the Armenians of Syria, with many voicing
calls in the social networks for evacuating children from the war zone.

CALL ON GOVERNMENTS TO BOYCOTT EUROPEAN GAMES IN BAKU

14:58 | April 14,2015 | Politics

45 international human rights organizations, politicians, experts call
on the heads of the states and the international community to boycott
the European Games in Baku and impose sanctions on the Azerbaijani
officials, informs Contact.az.

The published text reads as follows: “Taking into consideration the
alarming human rights situation in Azerbaijan, the Western governments
must impose a visa ban for those Azerbaijani officials, who are
responsible for violations of human rights.”

According to the statement, it is necessary to stop economic
cooperation with Azerbaijani state institutions. Leaders of the
states, which are going to participate in the European Games in Baku,
are called on to boycott the Games and to organize parliamentary
hearings on the situation in Azerbaijan.

The importance to boycott the European Games is discussed in detail in
the document, in particular, the fact of numerous political prisoners
is highlighted in the document.

LES PROPOS DU PAPE SUR LES EVENEMENTS DE 1915 SONT UNE DISCRIMINATION ET UNE DIFFAMATION CONTRE LA TURQUIE, SELON CEMIL CICEK

TURQUIE

“Les propos du Pape Francois sur les evenements de 1915 sont une
discrimination et une diffamation” selon le president du Parlement
turc, Cemil Cicek, qui a accorde lundi, une interview a la chaîne de
television turque Haberturk.

“Il est inacceptable qu’une personnalite de ce rang exprime de
telles allegations, a-t-il affirme. Il s’agit d’une discrimination,
d’une diffamation.”

Pour Cemil Cicek, l’annee 2015 represente un tournant pour la Turquie
qui, selon lui, “preoccupee par la politique domestique depuis un
certain temps, ne s’est pas suffisamment interessee a ce qui se passe
a l’etranger.”

Ainsi, Cemil Cicek a fait savoir qu’il a rencontre plus d’une centaine
de chefs d’Etat, de Premiers ministres et de presidents de Parlement
pour leur expliquer clairement que les evenements de 1915 n’etaient
pas un genocide.

mardi 14 avril 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

U.S. EMBASSY ORGANIZES A “CLARA BARTON READING TOUR” ACROSS ARMENIA

12:34, 14 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

In celebration of the Armenian National Library Week, the U.S. Embassy
is organizing from April 13-17 a “Clara Barton Reading Tour” to
schools in Yerevan and in each of the five American Corners in
Armenia. Ambassador Mills kicked the week off with a Clara Barton
reading at the Yerevan American Corner.

Each participating school is being visited by a pair of Embassy
employees, one American and one Armenian, who will read the book Clara
Barton, Our Angel Too in both English and Armenian to the students,
followed by a short discussion about Clara Barton’s life and work. The
American Corners in Vanadzor, Gyumri, Charentsavan, and Kapan will
each host a Peace Corps volunteer to lead the discussions.

Clara Barton (1821-1912) is remembered as a friend to Armenia, and for
her compassion, humanitarianism, and commitment to helping people,
regardless of race or nationality. Clara Barton, a nurse during the
American Civil War, founded the American Red Cross. At the age of 74,
in response to the humanitarian crisis in the wake of the Hamidian
Massacres, she travelled to Constantinople and opened the first
American International Red Cross headquarters there. Her efforts
helped save tens of thousands of Armenians.

The United States has been a steadfast friend to Armenia, and has
stood shoulder to shoulder with Armenia in times of need. Clara Barton
is an example of that solidarity. Her life showed the power of one
person to make a difference for thousands.

FELLIPE BARBOSA READS THE TESTIMONY OF GOHAR SARIAN

April 14, 2015 09:21
EXCLUSIVE

Fellipe Barbosa

Photo: Bart Michiels

Mediamax presents 100 Seconds project devoted to Armenian Genocide
Centennial. The project is based on testimonies of Genocide survivors
published by the National Archive of Armenia.

Fellipe Barbosa is a Brazilian filmmaker. His “Salt Kiss” (2007) film
won over 10 international awards. He was featured among Filmmaker’s
Magazine “25 New Faces of Independent Film”.

For 100 seconds project he reads an extract from Armenian Genocide
survivor Gohar Sarian’s testimony.

National Archives of Armenia Collection of Documents

Testimony of Survivor Gohar Sarian on the Massacres of Trabzon
(extract)

[1916] Tiflis

On Saturday, 13 June, the authorities posted an announcement giving
us 5 days to get ready to leave for Mesopotamia.

We could not take any belongings with us or sell them. Everybody had
to hand over everything to the authorities with their hands.

Old, sick, widowed and pregnant women could stay but they had to
produce a certificate from the municipality doctor and the head of
the police to stay on that basis.

No Greek or Turkish families could be seen on the streets. They all
went to villages in order not to see this calamity. We, the women,
gathered and with the children went to the governor. They rudely
turned us out.

We applied to the German consul in the summer house, one hour out of
the town. He received us very badly. We begged him but he ruthlessly
turned us out. We applied to the Austrian consul. He welcomed us, wept
und said:”I wish I could be helpful but there is nothing I can do.”

Producer: Ara
Tadevosyan Filming: Lena Gevorgyan, Mariam Loretsyan Post Production:
Tumo LLC

The source of Gohar Sarian’s testimony: National Archives of Armenia,
Armenian Genocide by Ottoman Turkey, 1915, Testimony of survivors,
Collection of documents, Yerevan-2013.

VivaCell-MTS is the general partner of 100 seconds project.