1 – Newly-Elected Patriarch of Turkey
Lashes Back at his Armenian Critics
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- New Armenian Patriarch Sahak II Enthroned in Istanbul
3 – Catholicos Aram I Declares 2020 Year of Armenians with Special Needs
4- Danagoulian, MIT colleagues voted 2019 Arms Control Persons
of the Year
5- ARS Issues Emergency Appeal for Lebanese-Armenian Community
6- L.A.’s Little Armenia Cuisine Kicks Off January 20 on PBS
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1 – Newly-Elected Patriarch of Turkey
Lashes Back at his Armenian Critics
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
After giving a series of interviews to the Turkish press since his
election on December 11, 2019, the new Armenian Patriarch of Turkey,
Sahak II Mashalyan, responded to his Armenian critics on January 15,
2020, by issuing an official “Clarification” to Turkish-Armenian
newspapers.
It is important to point out that the Patriarch’s critics were not
simply those who live outside Turkey, unjustly accused of being
unaware of the repressive treatment of Istanbul Armenians by the
Turkish government. In addition to criticisms from Armenians in
Armenia and the Diaspora, the Patriarch was attacked by Armenians
living in Turkey as well as the Turkish-Armenian newspaper Agos.
The Patriarch’s interview to the Turkish newspaper Aksham generated
the most controversy as he not only distanced Istanbul Armenians from
Diaspora Armenians, but also belittled the massive tragedy of the
Armenian Genocide. His Beatitude complained that a few of the
sentences in his interview with Aksham, drawing the most negative
interpretations and exceeding the limits of understanding, reached a
campaign of tarnishing his name.
The Patriarch made the excuse that in his 40-minute interview, he “had
provided lengthy explanations and details which naturally were not
included in the article. The words appearing in the newspaper were
filtered from those explanations which were given as answers for a
particular question. That style was the choice of the editor. Without
considering the questions, when only answers are provided, a change in
the meaning takes place, which is placed successively, one after
another. In this case, they become unclear expressions and failed
statements, which make the transmitted idea meaningless.”
The Patriarch then stated that he had given the following answer to
the question about Turkish Armenians: “Armenians of Turkey, unlike
Armenians in the Diaspora and Armenia, form a third segment. From the
point of view of administration and economy, the Armenian Diaspora has
no ties with us; we are self-sufficient.”
When his Beatitude was asked about the irreconcilable attitude of
Diaspora Armenians toward Turkey and the reasons for its negative
position, he claimed that the given answer does not belong to him, but
is a simple sociological correction—familiar to all—expressed as such:
‘One hundred years ago, the people who left these lands with a great
tragedy have transmitted the trauma they lived to future generations
and realized that for the Armenian identity and its preservation it is
beneficial and necessary to form a consciousness of the Genocide. They
continued to live for more than a hundred years in a status quo away
from Turkey and Turks. But, we—Armenians who have remained in
Turkey—continued to share our lives with Turks in these lands and
gained the experience of living together. In that sense, we are
distinct Armenians in the Armenian world.”
The Patriarch continued: “In such super sensitive subjects, the
priority of the people has been that they listen to what they want,
and not what the Patriarchs of Turkish Armenians say and under what
conditions. The fate of the Armenian Patriarchs of Turkey is like the
captain of a ship that is being crushed between two non-melting
icebergs. In that circumstance, it is not always possible to secure
harmony and errors appear to occur according to one of the sides.
Sahak Patriarch too, like his predecessors, has tried to give answers
regarding Armenian issues that are satisfactory to all sides. It is
never acceptable to any of the sides to take a rejectionist and
disregarding position. Each person must first understand correctly,
what in reality has been expressed in the uttered words and then
criticize.”
Some in the Diaspora may agree with the Patriarch’s words, emphasizing
the dire conditions that he and the Turkish community are in. Any
Armenian who is familiar with those repressive conditions can be
somewhat sympathetic to the Patriarch’s situation.
Our intent was never to urge the Patriarch to antagonize the
authorities in Turkey. After all, he is responsible for the safety of
his community. All we ask from the Patriarch is to be cautious in his
words, not to alienate his followers in Turkey and not insult the
memory of 1.5 million Armenian martyrs by engaging in outright
denialism. Whenever possible, the Patriarch should avoid giving
interviews to the Turkish press. He should appoint a press spokesman
who is capable of avoiding difficult and sensitive questions,
particularly on political issues. If the spokesman makes a mistake, it
is less consequential than if the Patriarch himself makes a mistake.
Spokesmen can be fired, but the Patriarch’s position is life-long.
Finally, it is unacceptable for the Patriarch to blame the Turkish
newspaper for allegedly misinterpreting his words. First of all, we do
not know what exactly the Patriarch told the Turkish newspaper and if
it was really misinterpreted. For example, in his above
“Clarification,” the Patriarch claims that he had used the word
“Genocide” in his interview with the Turkish newspaper. This is not
credible!
Secondly, the Patriarch is someone who is born and raised in Istanbul.
He knows the Turkish media well. He should have known that the Turkish
press often distorts the words of those they interview. Therefore,
giving an interview to the Turkish press and then complaining that his
words were distorted is not sincere. The Patriarch should have known
that in advance. Complaining about Turkish media distortions after the
interview is published is foolish!
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2- New Armenian Patriarch Sahak II Enthroned in Istanbul
ISTANBUL—Sahak Maşalyan (Mashalian), the 85th Patriarch of Turkey’s
Armenians, was enthroned as Sahak II in a ceremony held at the Surp
Asdvadzadzin Patriarchate Church in Istanbul on Jan 11.
Born in 1962 in Istanbul with the Turkish name Şahin Maşalı, he was
ordained a priest in 1992, receiving the name Sahak.
On Dec. 11, Sahak II won the election held among Armenian Gregorian
churches across the country after receiving 102 votes out of 119
against his rival Aram Ateşyan, who had served as acting patriarch
during the absence of Mesrob II, the previous patriarch who suffered
from Alzheimer’s disease from 2008 until his demise on March 8, 2019.
The congregation included Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew, the
spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians, representatives of other
Christian denominations in Turkey and foreign diplomatic missions in
Istanbul.
Turkish Deputy Interior Minister Muhterem İnce and Chief Rabbi of
Turkey Rav Isak Haleva also took part in the ceremony.
Turkey’s President received Sahak II on January 14, Anadolu Agency
reports. The meeting was closed to the press.
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3 – Catholicos Aram I Declares 2020 Year of Armenians with Special Needs
The Monastery of Antelias of the Great House of Cilicia has declared
2020 as the Year of Armenians with Special Needs.
The pontifical statement explains that persons with special needs are
those “who are congenitally handicapped with physical, intellectual or
emotional inabilities, those with total or partial incapacity, who are
either born that way or have become so as a result of ulterior
incidents.” The statement goes on to note that the importance of
shifting societal views towards those who are “differently abled” and
that it “modern society emphasizes the principle of equality. In other
words, persons with special needs must have equal rights and
obligations in all spheres of life and at all levels of society.”
From a Christian standpoint, the statement explains that the Bible is
“full of similar expressions and definitions, events and figures,
which in different manners and with varying emphasis prove not only
the presence of persons with physical or mental inabilities in
society, but also about the careful treatment they received from the
prophets in the Old Testament as well as from the Son of God and the
Apostles in the New Testament.” The statement goes on to note that
“The Bible does not consider the physical incapacity a divine
punishment, but a trait of earthly life. God, as Heavenly Father,
treats persons exposed to that situation with special love.”
In considering the Armenian community, the pontifical statement notes
“that we should not approach people who need special care and
attention with a discriminatory spirit or ignoring them, but as
persons with equal rights and obligations. They have to feel that
their difficult conditions cannot become a cause for them to be
ignored or removed from our collective life, and we have to be aware
of that.”
The statement emphasizes that “We have to carry out consistent work
and create indispensable means to include them as a permanent and
active presence in our community life. We have to inspire their trust
with our approach, showing them that they do not have to be
marginalized from our life. On the contrary, they belong in the
mainstream and are an integral part of our community life. It is
imperative to include them in our organizations, structures and
committees, showing them respect and confidence in them and giving
them responsibilities. They are in charge of the highest offices in
several countries. What counts are the emotional and intellectual
virtues and abilities and the will to serve the nation. We must create
the specialized and material means for children and teenagers with
congenital and curable impairments for their definitive healing.”
The statement says it is “the sacred duty of every Armenian and the
entire Armenian nation to assist by all possible means… the members of
our nation who suffer from such condition.”
The Patriarchal Proclamation closed with a prayer: “Dispel the pain
and heal the sickness of thy people, Lord our God, and grant to all
perfect health by the sign of thine all-conquering cross through which
thou removed the weakness of mankind and condemned the enemy of our
life and salvation. Thou art our life and salvation, beneficent and
all merciful God, who alone can forgive us our sins and remove
diseases and sickness from us, to whom are known our needs and
necessities. Bestower of gifts, grant thy bounteous mercy to thy
creatures according to their individual needs, through whom thy Holy
Trinity is always glorified and praised, now and always and forever
and ever. Amen.”
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4- Danagoulian, MIT colleagues voted 2019 Arms Control Persons
of the Year
Professor Areg Danagoulian and colleagues at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) were selected as the 2019 Arms Control
Persons of the Year through an online poll that drew participants from
over 100 countries. The annual contest is organized by the
independent, nongovernmental Arms Control Association.
Prof. Danagoulian and his team were nominated for their work
developing an innovative new nuclear disarmament verification process
using neutron beams. This process addresses the fact that parties to
arms control treaties more often destroy delivery systems than
warheads (e.g., the U.S. dismantling B-52 bombers for compliance with
START).
This leaves large stockpiles of surplus nuclear weapons, increasing
risks of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism. Instead, the
neutron beam test authenticates the warheads’ isotopic composition
without revealing it, enabling a verified dismantlement of nuclear
warheads.
Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association
remarked, “This innovation paves the way for more effective arms
control agreements, inspections, and enforcement. Professor
Danagoulian’s MIT team has brought the best science to arms control
and provided a creative solution that can reduce nuclear threats and
enhance security.”
This year, 10 individuals and groups were nominated by the Arms
Control Association staff and board of directors. All of the nominees
demonstrated extraordinary leadership in advancing effective arms
control solutions for the threats posed by mass casualty weapons
during the course of 2019.
This contest is a reminder of the diverse and creative ways that
dedicated individuals and organizations from around the globe can
contribute to meeting the difficult arms control challenges of today
and the coming decades.
Danagoulian is an Assistant Professor of Nuclear Science and
Engineering at MIT. He received his S.B. degree in physics from MIT.
He did his PhD research in Experimental Nuclear Physics at the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His PhD thesis focused on
experiments which used real Compton scattering on the proton at 2-6
GeV, allowing to probe the proton’s internal structure and how it
couples to external excitations.
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5- ARS Issues Emergency Appeal for Lebanese-Armenian Community
The economic crisis and the political instability in Lebanon have
taken an evident toll on the Lebanese-Armenian community.
The Armenian Relief Society’s Central Executive Board has closely
monitored the circumstances and, in November of 2019, already sent
$5,000 in order to help the Armenian Relief Cross of Lebanon to ensure
the provided services remain uninterrupted.
However, the situation has gotten progressively worse, and the number
of Armenians asking for support from the Armenian Relief Cross of
Lebanon has exponentially increased. Therefore, the Central Executive
Board during its first Plenary Meeting (January 3 to 7) sent an
addition $10,000 and decided to initiate a campaign to collect
donations as part of an Emergency Appeal for Lebanon.
Through this project, entities and donors can sponsor the following
programs, projects:
The Hot Meal Program is distributed to 150 community members in need.
Although this program has been operating for many years (offered twice
a week), under these financial circumstances, the entity had to reduce
it to only one day per week. The Central Executive Board has deemed
this service a priority and it has reinstated the Hot Meal Program to
twice a week. With funding, the entity will continue to serve meals
twice a week. Donation: $500/per day for 150 people ($1,000 for both
days per week).
The Care Support project ($150) offers imminent aid such as
medication, one-month worth of groceries, and other basic needs will
be provided to individuals (who already rely on the entity for their
medication and nutrition) in order to help with the well-being of all
community members. The Hope Package ($150) provides families in need
with a box of groceries with a supply of food that can last them a
month.
As usual, any donation, regardless of how large it may be, can greatly
contribute to the cause. General donations will be distributed by the
Central Executive Board and the Armenian Relief Cross of Lebanon,
wherever it is most needed.
Donations can be made to your local ARS entity or on
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6- L.A.’s Little Armenia Cuisine Kicks Off January 20 on PBS
By Michele Stueven
No Passport Required with Marcus Samuelsson, which explores the food
and communities of America’s immigrant neighborhoods, kicks off season
2 on PBS January 20 with the premiere episode featuring L.A.’s
Armenian community and cuisine.
The Ethiopian-born chef raised in Sweden journeys from East Hollywood
to Glendale, visiting Phoenicia Restaurant, Mideast Tacos, Papillon
International Bakery, Sahag’s Basturma among others meeting Armenians
from Russia, Lebanon, Syria, Ethiopia and Egypt. From lule kabob to
ghapama (pumpkin stuffed with apricots, rice and Aleppo peppers,)
Samuelsson explores the rich Armenian history passed down from
generations in L.A.’s foothills in the series co-produced with Eater.
“I discovered how extremely diverse the community is, whether it’s
Persian Armenian or Turkish Armenian,” the New York-based Samuelsson
tells L.A. Weekly. “It has so many geographically different entry
points – which also means bringing a lot of different traditions
together and says a lot about the strength of the community and their
commitment to holding on to these traditions. I had some of the most
delicious food and best conversations and saw how deeply proud these
people are to be both Angelenos and Armenian.”
The premiere highlights the combination of younger chefs born in Los
Angeles, blending new ingredients and techniques with traditional
Armenian rituals passed down to them by their grandparents.
“You have the young caterer who is walking a walk between traditional
Armenian food and ingredients you might find in French restaurants,
balancing between rituals and spices and traditions,” says Samuelsson.
“Some are using foie gras in their sausage, for example. Then you see
things like how pumpkin is used, yogurt and different dairy products
combined with spice blends that have been used for hundreds of years.
There’s a fine line between holding on to your rituals which started
as cab driver food and create new versions of that for the Smorgasburg
crowd.
An immigrant himself, Samuelsson’s inspiration for the series came
from Jonathan Gold opening our eyes and our minds to immigrant
communities. Los Angeles offers what his adopted hometown of New York
doesn’t — it is vast and big and it’s not one thing.
“Restaurants are not the only way to express being a food town, and
L.A. is an incredible food city,” he says. “It can be food trucks or
markets. And especially in the Armenian community, which keeps it in
the home as a meeting point for people young and old to get together
to hold on to traditions. Restaurants might not be where all the food
is. Some of the best meals are kept at home. You find that a lot in
immigrant communities, rituals being kept. And that’s what we really
dive into in this episode — great food, tradition and conversation.”
Other upcoming episodes will journey to Houston for West African food,
the Italian American community in Philadelphia and the Chinese
community of Las Vegas. Samuelsson will also venture to the greater
Boston area to learn more about the Portuguese, Brazilian, and Cape
Verdean diasporas.
“Americans in general are always curious about their neighbors in
their cities and communities and eager to learn,” says the James Beard
Award-winning Top Chef Master. “The best way to learn about culture is
through food and I’m proud that this show highlights that.”
This article appeared in LA Weekly on January 8, 2020.
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