California Courier Online, December 30, 2004
1 – Commentary
Loveless in Jerusalem, Young
Armenian Forced to Leave Israel
By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
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2 – AMAA Elects Board
Members and Officers
3 – Mesrobian School Ninth Graders
Give the Gift of Sight for Christmas
4 – The Netherlands Recognizes
The Armenian Genocide
5 – Knights of Vartan Fund
Offers Grants for 2005
6 – Sen. Boxer Names Adrienne
Bousian Deputy State Director
7 – CSUF Offers Honors Program
In Armenian Studies in 2005
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1 – Commentary
Loveless in Jerusalem, Young
Armenian Forced to Leave Israel
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
NBC News broadcast on December 22nd a report on the exodus of Christians
from the Holy Land. More than half the Christian population or 60,000 have
left Israel in the past 50 years. Bethlehem has the largest
Christian population –around 27,000.
Surrounded by physical barriers, including concrete roadblocks, Israeli
military checkpoints, dirt mounds and a soon to be completed security wall,
the ‘little town of Bethlehem’ of Christmas songs is “an isolated,
stagnant and depressing place,” NBC reported. “Israeli soldiers on foot
patrol, in jeeps and in watchtowers monitor and restrict almost all
pedestrian and vehicle traffic in and out of town.”
Bethlehem’s Christian Mayor, Hannah Nasser, is so dejected with all the
restrictions placed on his town that he told NBC: “If Joseph and Mary tried
to come today, Israeli soldiers would check their papers, rummage through
their baggage and rudely turn them away.”
NBC cited the predicament of Karnig Balekdjian as an example of the
discriminatory treatment of Christians by Israeli officials.
Balekdjian, a 30-year-old native of Jerusalem who worked at the Armenian
Patriarchate, could not celebrate Christmas this year with his family. He
was forced to leave Israel because government officials would not allow his
26-year-old bride, Ivette Iskandarian, to come to Jerusalem to be with her
husband. NBC reported that Ivette couldn’t even visit Karnig let alone live
with him, because she is from Iran. Israel bars individuals born in
“hostile countries,” but Jews from these same countries can freely visit
Israel and immigrate without any problem, according to NBC.
Balekdjian had applied to the Israeli Interior Ministry, but to no avail.
“I went to the Interior Ministry twice a week for a year, most times I
couldn’t even get through the door,” he told NBC News. “My wife is not a
Muslim, not a terrorist, not a threat to Israel. Yet as Christians we’re
not allowed to live here.” The Armenian Patriarchate was even willing to
sponsor his wife with a job offer, but Israeli officials said no.
The most distressing part of this story is that there is no Armenian agency
anywhere in the world that an Armenian with a grievance can turn to. Here
is a young man whose most basic rights were violated, and yet
no one is interested in defending him. Armenian officials and
organizations, by showing no interest in the plight of fellow Armenians,
are clearly indicating to all foreign authorities that they can do as they
please with their Armenian subjects: there would be no complaints and no
repercussions.
Everyone else may be enjoying Christmas and the New Year holidays, but
Karnig Balekdjian is in no mood to celebrate!
On a Lighter Note…
In keeping with the holiday spirit, let’s now stick our nose in some real
serious issues.
I would like to raise the following critical questions: Should doctors
temper with an Armenian’s God-given nose and try to improve on Mother
Nature? Furthermore, after an Armenian’s nose is trimmed by a plastic
surgeon, could that person still be an Armenian?
Dr. Garo Kassabian, an acclaimed plastic surgeon from Beverly Hills, was
recently in Armenia to take part in Yerevan’s version of “Extreme
Makeover.” He served on a panel of judges for a contest that was initially
called, “The biggest Nose” or “The Most Crooked Nose.”
Realizing that these titles may offend some people, the judges came up with
a more discrete name: “The Most Armenian Nose!” Within a week after the
contest was announced, 200 men and women had applied, with 30 more nosing
their way in with each passing day.
One of the primary criteria in the selection process was “choosing a nose
that had little or no compatibility with the face it graced,” said Dr.
Kassabian courteously. The three finalists won free cosmetic surgery
donated by Dr. Kassabian and his team. The winning male contestant’s
schnozzle had been broken in five places. Most Armenians can’t afford such
cosmetic surgery. The cost of a nose job in Yerevan is about $400 – the
annual salary of an average worker in Armenia.
The top finalist was an aspiring performer who claimed the new look gave
him confidence to seek out a dream job as a TV spokesman. He edged out his
competition by a nose!
Dr. Kassabian has convincingly demonstrated that he is able to improve on
Mother Nature. The three finalists still consider themselves Armenians,
albeit with much shorter noses!
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2 – AMAA Elects Board
Members and Officers
PARAMUS, NJ – The Board of Directors of the Armenian Missionary Association
of America (AMAA) at their Dec. 11 meeting, elected Dr. Hrair S. Aharonian
of Northridge, Calif., as the AMAA President for the coming year. Dr.
Aharonian, who most recently served as the Association’s Vice President, is
a long time member and an ardent supporter of the AMAA. He, for many years,
has served the Association in various capacities, such as Board member,
Co-Chair of Armenia Committee and member of several important committees.
Other elected officers of the AMAA were Peter Kougasian, Esq. of Pelham
Manor, NY and John Cherkezian of Englewood, NJ, Vice Presidents; Aram
Robert Minnetian of Park Ridge, NJ, Treasurer; David Hekemian of New York,
NY, Assistant Treasurer; Eileen Chopourian Stephey of Havertown, PA, Harry
Dulgarian of Belmont, MA, and Gary Phillips, Esq. of Los Angeles,
Co-Recording Secretaries.
Each year the AMAA carries out an election to replace one-third of its 27
elected Board members, whose three-year terms have expired. On Oct. 16, the
election results for the AMAA Board of Directors’ Class of 2007 was
announced during AMAA’s 85th Annual Meeting held at the Association’s
Headquarters in Paramus, NJ. The Nominating Committee prepared a slate of
16 candidates to be voted upon by AMAA’s constituency. Eight members were
elected from that slate and a ninth member was appointed by the Board. The
following nine members, also referred to as the “Class of 2007,” have begun
to serve their three-year terms: Dr. Hrair Aharonian of Northridge, CA, Dr.
Rafi Balabanian of San Jose, CA, Bryan Bedrosian of Fresno, CA, Dr.
Nazareth Darakjian of La Canada, CA, Elaine Kasparian of Lexington, MA,
Harold Nahigian of La Canada, CA, Eileen Chopourian Stephey of Havertown,
PA, Carlos Taraktzian of Cranston, RI and Dr. Joe Zeronian of Pasadena, CA.
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3 – Mesrobian School Ninth Graders
Give the Gift of Sight for Christmas
NEWPORT BEACH, CA.-“The spirit of Christmas is in giving, not receiving,”
says Mariam Samoniantz, a teacher at Mesrobian Armenian School in Pico
Rivera, Calif.
She infused the Christmas spirit in her ninth-grade students by encouraging
them to participate in the Armenian EyeCare Project’s (AECP)
Adopt-A-Village Program. “It really is a wonderful feeling to give
unselfishly.”
Samoniantz learned about the Adopt-A-Village Program from her parents,
Choren and Flora Manukian, of Irvine, who are patients of AECP President
Roger Ohanesian. The Manukians told their daughter about the AECP’s
program to help provide eye care to the thousands of Armenian people in the
regions who cannot afford care.
>From March through November each year, the AECP’s state of the art Mobile
Eye Hospital follows a scheduled route throughout the country, providing
eye care at no cost to vulnerable patients. The AECP doctors, nurses and
staff screen adults and children for eye disease and provide a complete eye
examination with treatment, including surgery, when required. The most
frequently performed surgery on the MEH is for cataracts.
During the winter months, when weather prevents the MEH from traveling
throughout the Marzes, it visits local nursing homes and orphanages. Since
June of 2003, the start of the AECP’s seven-year initiative “Bringing Sight
to Armenian Eyes,” the Mobile Eye Hospital has visited seven regions of
Armenia, screened close to 40,000 people and performed approximately 2,500
surgeries and laser procedures.
The Adopt-A-Village program invites donors to sponsor the screening and
treatment of residents of a specific region or village in Armenia. The
cost of adopting a village ranges from several hundred to several thousand
dollars, depending on the population. Donors can choose a village that has
special meaning to them, or-like Mariam Samoniantz and her class-they can
select a village in an area that will soon be visited by the MEH so that
they can help people with an immediate need.
“When I heard about AECP’s Adopt-A-Village Program, that’s all I needed. I
thought that this is something that my ninth grade homeroom can do,” says
Samoniantz. “The AECP is truly a wonderful organization. The doctors donate
their time to help people. The idea that so many people could be helped by
such a small amount was appealing.”
Samoniantz asked the seven boys and seven girls in her homeroom class: “How
would you like to give the gift of eyesight to a village? It would be truly
wonderful and unselfish of you.”
The 14-year-olds embraced the project, which began in October and ended in
mid-December. They decided to adopt Margahovit because the AECP’s Mobile
Eye Hospital will visit the village early in 2005.
Samoniantz, who has taught at Mesrobian Armenian School for 30 years,
thought the project would be especially meaningful if the class started a
Margahovit piggybank. Each day the students emptied their pocket change
into the bank. Soon, the students went right to the piggybank first,
emptied their pockets and purses, and then greeted their teacher. In 2½
months, the students raised $535 to adopt Margahovit.
“They were ecstatic. They were very pleased with themselves,” says
Samoniantz. “The class realizes that they’re giving the gift of sight to
their brothers and sisters in Armenia. It was done unselfishly and
willingly. I’m really proud of these kids.”
Samoniantz, who “definitely” plans to adopt another village with her
students next year, says that her ninth grade class hopes that their
efforts will motivate other schools and organizations to participate in the
Adopt-A-Village program.
Other AECP donors who have adopted a village include: Arch and Nelly
Azizian, San Leandro, Calif., Diane Der Bogozian, Virginia; Haig and
Gaylynne Der-Houssikian, Gainesville, Florida; Mr. and Mrs. Jirair
Hovnanian, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey; Dickie Hovsepian, San Francisco, Calif.,
Eileen Barsamian Jennings, St. Petersburg, Florida; Dr. and Mrs. Onnik
Keshishian, Los Angeles, Calif., Bizer Simonian, Worcester, Massachusetts;
and Mr. Roger Strauch and Dr. Julie Kulhajian, Piedmont, Calif.
To discuss a special adoption program and for a complete list of villages
available for adoption, contact the EyeCare Project on their toll free
number, 866-448-2327.
To learn more about the AECP, visit , or call
949-675-5767. To make a donation, call the AECP toll-free number,
1-866-GIV-AECP, donate online at or mail a check to
518 South Bayfront, Newport Beach, CA 92662.
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4 – The Netherlands Recognizes
The Armenian Genocide
THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The Dutch Parliament unanimously adopted a motion
on Dec. 21 recognizing the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian Federation
announced last week.
The Armenian community of The Netherlands has persistently requested the
Dutch Parliament and the government to recognize the 1915 Armenian Genocide
for several years. Specifically last year, in the run-up to and during the
Dutch presidency of EU, the 24 April Committee of the Armenian Federation
has doggedly campaigned to bring the Armenian question under the attention
of the Members of Parliament and the Dutch public.
The motion was introduced during the debate on the outcome of the European
Summit in connection with the start of accession negotiations with Turkey.
In that debate nearly all fractions asked the government about the absence
of the Armenian Genocide issue in the Presidency conclusions.
This in spite of commitment by among others France and the European
Parliament and also by Dutch Foreign Minister Bot himself, who ensured the
Dutch Parliament that the Armenian question has always been brought up at
the meetings with the Turkish colleagues.
In the motion introduced by Chairman of the Christian Union party Mr.
Rouvoet and adopted by the Parliament, the government is asked “to bring up
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide continuously and expressly in the
dialogue with Turkey”.
The motion was supported by all the other political parties in the
Parliament.
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5 – Knights of Vartan Fund
Offers Grants for 2005
DETROIT, MI – The Knights of Vartan Fund for Armenian Studies is offering
fellowship and support for scholarly research and publications in the field
of Armenian Studies for the 2005 year.
Deadline for completed applications is March 4, 2005.
The Fund also offers support for lectures, seminars, and conferences
initiated by individual scholars engaged in Armenian Studies as well as
institutions of higher learning that offer graduate programs in the field
of Armenian Studies.
The Fund is administered by a Board of Trustees, which acts on the
recommendations of the Award Advisory Committee, consisting of: Dr. Kevork
B. Bardakjian, chair; Dr. Gregory H. Adamian, Dr. Ina Baghdiantz-McNabe;
Dr. Barbara Merguerian; and Dr. James Russell. Grants usually range between
$2,000 and $5,000 and may be made for one or two years. A final report is
expected for each funded project within three months of its completion.
The Fund has offered numerous grants to many individuals and institutions
over the past several years and will be able to provide limited grants for
the year 2005.
For more information and/or an application packet, contact Dr. Kevork B.
Bardakjian, 2068 Frieze, Dept. of NES, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
MI 481-09-1285; tel.: 734/763-7655′ e-mail [email protected].
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6 – Sen. Boxer Names Adrienne
Bousian Deputy State Director
SAN FRANCISCO – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) last week announced that
she has selected Adrienne Bousian as her Deputy State Director. Bousian
recently rejoined Boxer’s Senate staff after taking a seven-month leave of
absence to serve as Northern California Political Director of the Senator’s
re-election campaign.
As Deputy State Director, Bousian will run Senator Boxer’s San Francisco
office and supervise her Northern California operations.
Bousian has worked for Boxer since April 2001, first as a Field
Representative and then as Northern California Director. Before joining
the Senator’s staff, she coordinated the California Access Project for
CARAL (now NARAL Pro-Choice California).
A 16-year resident of California, Bousian graduated from the University of
California, San Diego and earned a Master’s degree in Sociology from the
University of California, Santa Cruz.
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7 – CSUF Offers Honors Program
In Armenian Studies in 2005
By Hakop Tataryan
Editor, Hye Sharzhoom
FRESNO – Ambitious Fresno State students who are taking Armenian Studies
courses have something to look forward to in the Fall of 2005. An Honors
Program has been approved for students taking upper division classes in the
Armenian Studies Program. The Honors Program will also offer numerous
benefits to its participants.
All students who apply to the Armenian Studies Honors Program, must have
Junior standing (60 units) with at least a 3.5 GPA in Armenian Studies
courses, a cumulative GPA of 3.4, and must have completed at least four
Armenian Studies classes.
Along with the Armenian Studies classes, students must participate in the
Smittcamp Family Honors Colloquium (a weekly two-hour meeting for all
honors students) as long as they are in the Armenian Studies Honors
Program. The colloquium will cover an array of topics regarded as higher
learning – including: public policy, current affairs, and contemporary
society.
To encourage community involvement and offer a greater experience, the
Program requires its students to complete twenty hours of community service
each semester. Opportunities are available for Armenian Studies-oriented
service in the various programs available on campus: Hye Sharzhoom, “Hye
Oozh Radio,” and “All Things Armenian.”
In the last semester of the program students in the Honors Program will be
researching a topic of choice under the supervision of a faculty member.
The topic can be in various areas of study such as language, history,
architecture, or art. At the end of the semester, students would be ready
to present their research findings and be prepared to submit their thesis
to be published.
The rigor of the program is obvious, but the rewards are many. Those
students brave enough, as well as competent enough, to be admitted to the
Program will have full registration fees paid for up to two years. They
will receive honors medallions upon graduation, and Honors recognition on
their diploma. Perhaps the most important attribute of any Honors Program
is the preparation it provides for Masters and PhD programs. Inevitably, by
completing the Program, students will have ascertained exceptional
research, writing, and analytical skills, making them better candidates for
postgraduate aspirations.
“With an Honors Program in Armenian Studies, Fresno State students who seek
a minor in Armenian Studies and complete the honors program will be among a
very small elite group at Fresno State who benefit from the highest
academic standards the University is able to offer its undergraduates. The
Armenian Studies Honors Program will provide students with a degree that
will immediately reflect excellence in scholarship and learning, a valuable
asset for any career,” said Dr. Dickran Kouymjian, Director of the Armenian
Studies Program at Fresno State.
This is such a great opportunity for students to develop new skills and get
prepared for postgraduate studies. As fees keeps increasing and with books
costing an arm and a leg, the monetary incentive the program offers could
not have come at a better time. Information on the Program will be
available during the Spring 2005 semester by calling 559-278-2669.
Only four students will be admitted each year.
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