California Courier Online, October 19, 2006
1 – Commentary
Armenians Worldwide Proudly
Proclaim: “Vive La France!”
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
2 – Armenian Folktales to be Told
At AARP National Convention
3 – A.A.H.P.O. Honors Dr. Aram Chobanian,
Rita Balian for Contributions to Armenia’s Health
4 – Second Medical Congress of
Armenia Planned for 2007
5- UAF Sent $6.2 Million of Aid To Armenia By Sea So
Far This Year
6 – Zaro’s Art Show to Benefit ARS
Nairy Preschool in Montebello
7 – AGBU and USC Institute of Armenian
Studies Present Centennial Symposium
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1 – Commentary
Armenians Worldwide Proudly
Proclaim: “Vive La France!”
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
The bill adopted by the French Parliament last week with a vote of
106 in favor and 19 against, making it a crime to deny the Armenian
Genocide, has more to do with a political tug of war between the
denialist Turkish government and French Armenian activists, than with
freedom of expression.
The score in France is now: Armenians 4, Turkey 0. The three goals
were scored when President Chirac in 2001 signed into law a bill
recognizing the Armenian Genocide, after it was approved by the
Parliament and the Senate.
Back then, Turkey tried to block that law by threatening France with
economic and political reprisals. The Turks withdrew their
Ambassador, only to send him back meekly in a few of weeks. They also
said they were going to boycott French products, but Turkish imports
from France actually jumped from $2.3 billion in 2001 to $5.9 billion
in 2005. The French politicians were right not to take the Turkish
threats seriously. The Turkish bark was worse than its bite!
Last week, the same scenario played itself out. The Turks made the
same threats and the French Parliament ignored them once again.
This David and Goliath battle pitted a powerful country that marshals
unlimited resources to propagate lies, against Armenian activists who
are armed with nothing more than the truth.
It is simply amazing that the Turks, of all people, are accusing the
French of repressing freedom of speech when they themselves have been
prosecuting for years anyone who dares to even utter the words
“Armenian Genocide!”
Various Turkish leaders and journalists tried to deceive world public
opinion last week by stating that France has lost all credibility
after the passage of this bill. None of these statesmen and
journalists, including the pro-Turkish European Union officials who
so readily condemned the French Parliaments action, had the decency
of acknowledging the following basic facts:
1) France and a score of other European countries have for years
banned the denial of the Jewish Holocaust.
2) The European Court on Human Rights has repeatedly ruled that such
a prohibition is not a repression of the freedom of speech.
Those who criticize the French bill on the Armenian Genocide do not
seem to have the minimal courage to criticize the similar law banning
the denial of the Holocaust adopted in 1990. They have no explanation
as to why the victims of the Armenian Genocide do not deserve equal
protection under French law as the Jewish victims of the Holocaust?
Furthermore, many Turkish leaders and EU officials have shamelessly
proclaimed that the French ban of the denial of the Armenian Genocide
would prevent reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia and delay the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey. In other words, they
are opposed to this bill out of their deep concern for Armenia’s
interests! They are simply trying to trick the Armenians into giving
up their historic rights for dubious economic and political relations
with Turkey! As prominent British journalist Robert Fisk pointed out
in his October 14 column in The Independent, such statements are akin
to telling the Jews, “no more talk of the Jewish Holocaust lest we
hinder reconciliation between Germany and the Jews of Europe.”
It is the height of hypocrisy for the leaders of Turkey, a country
that has violated the most basic rights of its citizens for years, to
be screaming about lack of freedom in France! As the Bible quotes
Jesus saying: “You see the sliver in your friend’s eye, but you don’t
see the timber in your own eye!”
Once again the Turkish government has a serious credibility problem.
If it does not carry out its announced threats against France, it
will be the laughing stock of the entire world. Unfortunately for the
Turkish government, all of its contemplated measures have serious
drawbacks:
— Withdrawing its Ambassador from France. Problem: When the
ambassador is eventually returned to Paris, Turkey would look
foolish, as his withdrawal would look like an empty gesture that did
not accomplish anything.
— Boycotting French products. Problem: Boycotting the products of
French companies operating in Turkey would result in tens of
thousands of Turkish workers losing their jobs.
— Canceling all French tenders for Turkish military contracts.
Problem: To win such bids, the French companies must have offered a
better product at a lower price than that of their competitors. If
their offer were to be rejected for political reasons, Turkey would
then be forced to accept the bid from a non-French company, paying a
higher price for an inferior product. Furthermore, rather than
isolating France by such boycotts, Turkey would be isolating itself
from a powerful country that has a major influence over Turkeys
application for EU membership. The more irrational the reaction is to
this bill, the more Turkey risks antagonizing the French public which
would eventually decide in a referendum whether Turkey is qualified
to join the ranks of civilized European nations!
— Threatening to pass a resolution accusing France of committing
genocide in Algeria. Problem: This would backfire on Turkey by
validating all of the resolutions on the Armenian Genocide adopted by
two-dozen countries and undermine the Turkish claim that parliaments
should not legislate history. Another problem is that Turkey would
look foolish by doing so, as the Algerian Parliament itself has not
passed a resolution accusing France of genocide.
— Pulling out of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon in
order to avoid bringing Turkish troops under French control. A
Turkish dilemma: How to score diplomatic points for participating in
the UN effort to “bring peace to Lebanon,” without putting Turkish
soldiers under French command?
The only thing the Turks are doing successfully is continuing to
repress their own Armenian citizens, who, as hostages, are forced to
make statements against the French law and even deny that their own
family members had been the victims of genocide.
The Turks are simply 5 years too late in fighting the battle that
they lost when the French government first adopted the law
recognizing the Armenian Genocide. This new bill basically assigns a
punishment (one year in jail and up to $56,000 in fines) for those
breaking that law. Disobeying every law must have a consequence. Why
shouldn’t this one?
The Armenian-Turkish political match is not yet over. In the coming
months, Armenians will hopefully score a couple of more goals when
the French Senate would consider this bill and then send it to the
President for his signature.
In the meantime, sit back and watch Turkey humiliate itself with each
passing day. You can counter the Turkish boycott by buying a lot of
French bread, drinking a lot of French wine, and engaging in a lot of
French kissing!
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2 – Armenian Folktales to be Told
At AARP National Convention
LOS ANGELES – Sponsored by the Grandparenting Pavilion at the AARP
life@50+ Convention, storyteller Alidz Agbabian will present Armenian
Folktales at the Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Ave,
Anaheim.
The performances, scheduled for Oct. 26, at 4 PM and Oct. 28, at 12
PM are part of a series of presentations by storytellers from
different ethnic minorities of California. Agbabian will integrate
personal family stories on intergenerational relationships between
grandparents and grandchildren with traditional Armenian folk tales
and folk songs appropriate for all ages.
A professional storyteller, Alidz Agbabian, specializes in Armenian
and Middle Eastern oral traditions. She develops theme presentations
for museums in conjunction with exhibits, performs at festivals,
libraries and schools. As an author of Armenian children’s books she
has established Dziludzar Publications, which for the past ten years
has introduced high quality story books from the Armenian tradition
to Armenian as well as non Armenian communities nationwide.
“During my recent trip to Cilicia and historic Armenia,” says
Agbabian; “I had a chance to see Hassanbeyli, the village where my
grandmother and great great parents were born, as well as my paternal
grandfather’s home in the old Armenian quarters in the city of Ainab
(now Gazi Antep). This was a pilgrimage, which after my return
inspired me to read more about the history of my ancestors. I am
very happy, that for the AARP National Convention, I will have the
opportunity to incorporate into my storytelling some of the
experiences I had, witnessing the existence of a past which now lives
in me.”
For more information about the AARP life@50+ Convention you may go to
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3 – A.A.H.P.O. Honors Dr. Aram Chobanian,
Rita Balian for Contributions to Armenia’s Health
NEW YORK CITY – The Armenian American Health Professionals
Organization (A.A.H.P.O.) of the Greater N.Y., NJ, and CT area will
be holding its 12th Anniversary Benefit Banquet on Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.
at the Union League Club, 38 East 37th Street, New York City.
An organization representing all health professions including
nursing, pharmacy, dentistry and medicine, A.A.H.P.O. has as its
mission to improve health care awareness, increase disease prevention
and early detection, and provide medical support and education to our
local communities as well as our brethren in Armenia. This year AAHPO
arranged for the donation from
Pfizer, Inc. to the Armenian Eye Care Project of $1 million-worth of
state of the art ophthalmic equipment. This donation will furnish
five operating room, teaching labs and is the central feature of the
newly created, Center of Teaching Excellence in Eye Care in Yerevan.
With the occasion of this banquet Dr. Aram Chobanian and Rita Balian
are being recognized for their many years of unprecedented
contributions and sacrificial service for the advancement of health
care here and in Armenia.
Dr. Aram Chobanian, M.D., is the President Emeritus of Boston
University and has previously served as Dean of the
School of Medicine, and Provost of the Boston University Medical
Campus, where he founded the Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute in
1973, a world renowned center for research on cardiovascular
diseases.
Rita S. Balian has worked tirelessly on behalf of women and children
in the United States and Armenia.
A graduate of the American University of Beirut, who grew up in a
family in which the idea of `service’ was deeply inculcated, Mrs.
Balian is the founder and president of the Armenian American Cultural
Association through which she established the Armenian American
Wellness Center in Yerevan in 1997. This center’s mission is to
improve the lives of women through early detection of breast and
cervical cancer, the two most deadly cancers among Armenian women. In
its tenth year, the Wellness center has screened over 80,000 patients
and saved the lives of more than 3,000 women through early detection.
Additionally, the Center has now two Satellite clinics outside
Yerevan.
For reservations, call Dr. Louiza Kubikian (516) 248-2955, Magda
Najarian (908) 234-0005, or Dr. Knarig Khatchadurian (201) 444-0390.
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4 – Second Medical Congress of
Armenia Planned for 2007
YEREVAN — The Second Medical International Congress of Armenia is
planned to be held on June 28-30, 2007, at the Marriott Hotel in
Yerevan, with the expected participation of doctors and nurses from
all throughout the world.
Satellite Symposia will be held during the Congress days with the aim
of building international partnership programs and provide up-to-date
information to regional doctors (marzes) who will be invited to
participate without requiring registration. Symposia will take place
in Urology, Neuroscience, Anesthesiology, Ophthalmology, Osteoporosis
and Nursing.
Besides the purpose of developing medical science in Armenia the
international partnership program provides an opportunity to present
and discuss general collaboration projects on neurology and mental
health, mother and child health, public health/tobacco control,
medical education, FMF, HIV/AIDS, nursing, dentistry, oncology,
primary health care, health policy, internal medicine, surgery,
disability/rehabilitation, basic science, and pharmacology.
There will be a focus on medical education and the session will be
led by the newly elected Rector (Dean) of the Medical School,
Professor Gohar Kalyan and the Chairman of the Scientific Committee,
Dean of the National Institute of Health, Dr. Derenik Doumanyan.
The third day of the conference is dedicated to Diaspora-Armenia
projects and a strategy of future collaboration.
A social program will be offered to participants and attendants. The
official languages of the Congress will be Armenian and English.
The deadline for the abstract submission is March 31, 2007. Abstracts
could be submitted to: [email protected]. The online abstract
submission form can be found at
Additional information is provided on:
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5 – UAF Sent $6.2 Million of Aid To Armenia By Sea So Far
This Year Glendale – In addition to airlifts, the United Armenian
Fund sends humanitarian aid to Armenia by sea shipments. During the
first nine months of 2006, the UAF sent $6.2 million of relief
supplies to Armenia on board 93 containers. The UAF would like to
thank the following donors who generously contributed various relief
supplies for Armenia,” said Harut Sassounian, the President of the
UAF. World Vision U.S. Inc. ($1.2 million); Armenian Gospel Mission
($459,000); Hope for the City ($439,000); Medical Outreach for
Armenians ($365,000); Centre Hospitalier Lucien Hussel of France
($312,000); Armenian Missionary Association of America ($293,000);
World Vision Canada ($251,000); Vahe Enterprises ($244,000); Mihran
Mahmouzian & Jack Mazmanian ($235,000); Jilland Corporation (Mr. &
Mrs. Roubik & Gilda Assatourian ($221,000); Help the Children
International Children’s Charity Foundation ($206,000); Juliette
Serabian of France ($184,000); Fund for Armenian Relief ($180,000);
Armenian Canadian Medical Association of Ontario ($170,000); Friends
of Armenia ($162,000); Consiglio Regionale del Fruili Venezia Giulia
of Italy ($112,000). Also contributing were: The Armenian EyeCare
Project ($73,000); Dr. Vartkes Najarian ($72,000); Foundation Semra
of Switzerland ($71,000); George Asadorian ($67,000); Developmental
Services for Armenia ($67,000); Chene of France ($56,000);
Association de Soutien aux Patriotes Armeniens of France ($54,000);
Glendale-Ghapan Sister City Association ($51,000); Michael Candan
($51,000); Catholic Medical Mission Board ($50,000); Armenian
Ministries of U.K. ($47,000); Berge & Terry Minasian ($46,000);
Komitas Action Suisse-Armenia of Switzerland ($40,000); AmeriCares
($37,000); Sacred Heart Medical Center ($36,000); Fresno Armenian
Radio Hour ($36,000); Konnect9 World Wide of U.K ($36,000) and
American University of Armenia Corp. ($35,000). Other donors were:
Centro Studi e Documantazione della Cultura Armena of Italy
($33,000); Christlicher Hilfsbund im Orient of Germany ($32,000);
Alvan Tsarik Foundation of Holland ($30,000); Dr. George Katcherian
($30,000); Torkom Postajian ($26,000); Karapet Cuyumdzyan ($22,000);
Shoebox Sharing ($18,000); Aykaram Oganesyan ($18,000); Armenian
Relief Society of Germany ($15,000) and Nork Marash Medical Center
($14,000). Since its inception in 1989, the UAF has sent $447 million
of humanitarian assistance to Armenia on board 140 airlifts and 1,359
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, Prelacy of 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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6 – Zaro’s Art Show to Benefit ARS
Nairy Preschool in Montebello
By Sona Fundukian
MONTEBELLO, Calif. – Friday, November 3 will bring together Zaro
Piliguian’s love for children and her palette of inspiring and
beautiful compositions. Organized by the ARS Nairy Chapter of
Montebello, the event will be held at 7:30 p.m., at the Holy Cross
Armenian Church’s Tumanjan Hall, 900 W. Lincoln Ave., Montebello.
Piliguian was born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt. Her cultural
environment was harmonious fusion of Armenian, European and Egyptian
influences. She started her art classes at the Armenian Boghossian
School, where artists A. Zorian and M. Gregoire were her teachers.
Later, she took private classes with H. Hampar and studied at the
Alexandria School of Fine Arts. She continued her art studies in the
US, became involved in community organizations, and taught Art at the
Mesrobian School. Zaro has had many group and solo exhibitions
throughout the United States and Canada.
The artist’s reflective nature is apparent in all of her
compositions. Recurrent themes include: Innocence, Motherhood, Music,
Dance, spirituality, Children at Play.
Among the many worthy projects that the ARS Nairy sponsors, the
Preschool is the one that best complements Zaro’s artistic
sensibility. In fact, the art selected it to be the beneficiary of
the event,
Today, the ARS Nairy Preschool, which opened its doors in 1998,
boasts the distinction of being a part of the Los Angeles Universal
Preschool (LAUP), a provider for high quality preschool in the
region.
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7 – AGBU and USC Institute of Armenian
Studies Present Centennial Symposium
LOS ANGELES – The AGBU Southern California District Committee in
cooperation with the USC Institute of Armenian Studies is sponsoring
a Centennial Symposium, featuring Paul Ignatius, former Assistant
Secretary of Defense, and a host of prominent scholars. The Symposium
will be held at the USC Town and Gown on Oct 28, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.
This unprecedented event, titled “AGBU in Its Second Century – A
Centennial Symposium,”will examine and address the challenges facing
Armenian communities worldwide and to recommend new approaches that
may be adopted by the AGBU to ensure the perpetuation of Armenian
culture and heritage. Topics that will be addressed at the Symposium
include: Organizational Structure of the AGBU; Educational
Institutions and Cultural Activities; Sports, Youth and Young
Professionals’ Programs; Membership and Constituency Development;
Challenges and Opportunities.
Papers will be presented by distinguished scholars and analysts
including Dr. R. Hrair Dekmejian (USC), Dr. Matthew Jendian (CSU
Fresno), Ramela Abbamontian (PhD Candidate, UCLA), Dr. Ani Moughamian
(LA Unified School District), Dr. Silva Karayan (Cal. Lutheran
University), Dr. Ani Yazedjian (Texas State University), Dr. Harutyun
Alexanyan (Armenian State Pedagogical University), Rev. Fr. Ktrij
Devejian (Holy Etchmiadzin) and Dr. Mihran Agbabian (President
Emeritus, AUA).
The Symposium also will feature Dr. Peter Starr, Dean of USC College
of Letters, Arts and Sciences and Paul Ignatius, former Secretary of
the Navy, Under Secretary of the Army and Assistant Secretary of
Defense.
Ten students and graduates from southern California universities will
serve as discussants.
The USC Institute of Armenian Studies is very proud to host this
unique event on the campus of USC as part of its continuing programs,
which include establishing scholarships and fellowships, and
sponsoring symposia, research programs, publication and lecture
series.
Housed in the USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences, the Institute
provides a home to approximately 1,000 Armenian-American students who
attend USC each year, and serves as a multi-disciplinary forum
dedicated to the analysis and discussion of issues relevant to the
Armenian community.
Complimentary breakfast and lunch will be served. Because of limited
seating RSVP at AGBU Alex Manoogian Center (626) 794-7942 or
[email protected].
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www.aarp.org/events.
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