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California Courier Online, April 8, 2004

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  • California Courier Online, April 8, 2004

    California Courier Online, April 8, 2004

    1 - Commentary
    No Meetings with Turkish Diplomats
    In April or Any Other Month

    By Harut Sassounian
    California Courier Publisher
    ************************************************** ************************
    2 - Mashdots College Hosts
    Exhibit of Paintings
    3 - Apo Torosyan's Documentary
    To be Shown on Horizon TV
    4 - Canadian Publisher Releases Two
    New Books From Prof. Shirinian
    5 - AEF Accepting Applications
    For Tufenkian Scholarships
    6 - Major Aram Sarafian Will
    Speak at April 16 Meeting
    ************************************************** **********************
    1 - Commentary

    No Meetings with Turkish Diplomats
    In April or Any Other Month

    By Harut Sassounian
    Publisher, The California Courier

    The Turkish Vice Consul in Los Angeles asked me if I would be interested in
    meeting this week with a visiting high-ranking diplomat, Amb. Ecvet Tezcan,
    who is the Director of the Dept. of Intelligence and Research at the
    Foreign Ministry of Turkey.
    I turned down the invitation just as I had done last June when I was first
    asked to meet with this same diplomat. In my opinion, the Turkish
    government's real intent is not dialogue, but creating a false impression
    with European and American officials that Turkey is trying to resolve its
    differences with Armenians. The Turks hope this deceptive effort would help
    remove one of the many obstacles on their path to joining the European
    Union.
    Last year, when several major Armenian-American organizations met with Amb.
    Tezcan in New York and Los Angeles, I expressed a similar concern. As
    expected, that fake experiment in dialogue ended in failure. Just one month
    after meeting with Amb. Tezcan, the Armenian Assembly of America sent him a
    terse letter complaining that recent statements made and actions taken by
    the government of Turkey "stand in sharp contradiction to the tone and
    substance of our earlier meeting. They raise serious doubts about the goals
    of your country's policies. We would therefore welcome the Turkish Foreign
    Ministry's clarification on these apparently conflicting attitudes in order
    to justify future exchanges on the issues that divide us."
    Last week, Amb. Tezcan flew to the United States hoping to meet again with
    various Armenian organizations in New York and Los Angeles. This time,
    though, the Armenian Assembly refused to meet with him, indicating that it
    would be inappropriate to hold such a meeting during the month of April,
    when Armenians are commemorating the Genocide. The Armenian Assembly
    proposed to meet with him after April, but only after the two sides
    "critically assess what has transpired" since their meeting last year.
    "Dialogue without results is not in anyone's interest... we need to lay out
    our objectives prior to meeting," the Assembly told Amb. Tezcan.
    In order not to appear divided on this most significant issue, I hope that
    other Armenian organizations, particularly those that met with Amb. Tezcan
    last year, turn down the invitation this time around, refusing to meet with
    him not just in April, but during all the other months of the year, until
    the Turkish government decides to carry out an honest dialogue with
    Armenians!

    L.A. Weekly Publishes Second Apology

    After a meeting with several representatives of Armenian organizations and
    receiving e-mails from scores of readers complaining that the first apology
    they had published was not satisfactory, the L.A. Weekly printed this week
    a letter from a reader as well as a second apology.
    In its February 20-26 issue, the Associate Calendar Editor of the Weekly
    had inserted the words "No Armenians allowed" in the announcement for a
    multi-ethnic, inter-faith concert in Los Angeles. The first apology,
    published in the Feb. 27-March 4 issue, had stated that "the brief
    commentary was intended solely as a joke, we recognize it may have offended
    some readers. For that, we are truly sorry."
    In its April 2-8 issue, the Weekly published a letter from Dr. Arbi Ohanian
    of Los Angeles who qualified the Associate Calendar Editor's remarks as
    "racist" and demanded her dismissal. He also asked for the publication of a
    "thorough and appropriate apology to the Armenian community."
    After this letter, in a second apology, the publishers stated that the
    employee in question, "who had a long history of good service at the paper,
    did not set out to offend Armenians or any other group of people. She is
    horrified that anyone would take the phrase 'No Armenians allowed'
    seriously." "But," the apology went on to say, "given the still-fresh
    memories of the Armenian Genocide and acts of discrimination, we understand
    the pain our words have caused and would like to apologize again to all who
    were hurt by what was written. We recognize the importance of the
    culturally vibrant and successful Armenian community, and look forward to
    more positive relations in the future."
    It is now up to the vast army of Armenian-American lawyers and judges, and
    more particularly, the Armenian Bar Association, to pronounce a
    professional judgment as to whether this second apology is sufficient to
    end this controversy or would they recommend legal action against the L.A.
    Weekly due to the possible violation of the civil rights of the Armenian
    community?

    Protests Against British Ambassador Continue

    Last week, Armenian individuals and organizations from around the world
    continued sending protest letters to the British Ambassador in Armenia,
    Thorda Abbott-Watt, and to the British government for refusing to
    acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.
    The Armenian Assembly of America and the Armenian National Institute sent a
    joint letter to Amb. Abbott-Watt, strongly castigating her and the British
    government.
    In the first such protest of its kind, more than 200 Armenians gathered in
    front of the British Consulate in Paris on April 3rd, demonstrating against
    the British Ambassador's and her government's denial of the Armenian
    Genocide. Armenian communities in various countries should consider holding
    similar protests on April 24 in front of their local British Embassy or
    Consulate.
    In the meantime, please continue sending your e-mails to the British
    Ambassador in Armenia: [email protected]; to Michael Jay, the
    Under-Secretary and Head of the UK Diplomatic Service:
    [email protected]; and to Prime Minister Tony Blair through the
    following web site: http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/page821.asp (click
    on select a subject, select "international affairs," and then click on the
    "go" button), asking the British government to withdraw its Ambassador as
    she can no longer effectively carry out her diplomatic duties in Armenia.
    Please send copies of your e-mails and any responses to the Armenian
    Foreign Ministry ([email protected]) and to
    [email protected].
    To review articles and statements on this issue, please check the following
    new web site: http://uk-denial.armenianhouse.org.
    ************************************************** ************************
    2 - Mashdots College Hosts
    Exhibit of Paintings

    GLENDALE - The Mashdots College is sponsoring an exhibition of paintings
    by renowned Diaspora artists, Simon Shahrigian, and Yervant Demirdjian,
    April 16-18, at the Glendale Public Library.
    Also on exhibit will be a collection of historical Armenian embroidery from
    Van, Vasbouragan, Aintab, Kharpert, Ourfa, Dikranagerd, Joulfa, Yerevan, as
    well as costumes, silverware, needle lace, crochet works and accessories
    from the collection of Berg and Shake Hovaghimian.
    The exhibit will also contain tri-dimensional and unique Armenian art works
    by artist Hasmig Kldjian.
    The opening reception will be held April 16, from 6 to 8 p.m.
    Exhibit hours are Friday and Saturday, 12 noon to 8 p.m., and Sunday, from
    1 to 5 p.m.
    Admission is free.
    For more information, call the College at (818) 548-9345.
    ************************************************** ************************
    3 - Apo Torosyan's Documentary
    To be Shown on Horizon TV
    LOS ANGELES - Massachusetts artist Apo Torosyan's memorable video,
    "Discovering my Father's Village" in Turkey, will be shown on Horizon
    Television this month. Air time information can be obtained by calling
    Asbarez, (818) 500-0609.
    A second-generation genocide survivor, Torosyan is nationally known for his
    "Bread Series" works of art which have been exhibited throughout the United
    States and abroad.
    The 30-minute video was filmed on a recent trip to Turkey in September
    2003. Apo interviewed villagers and the last survivor in his family of the
    genocide, and combined this footage with historic background, music and
    scenes of abandoned Armenian homes to create a "poetic documentary."
    In the film, three witnesses, directly or indirectly talk about the
    Armenian genocide of 1915-1923 and discrimination against Armenians in
    Turkey.
    One character in the movie is the artist's 90-year-old aunt, Nazik. She
    recalls the bloody events in which her relatives and other youngsters
    around age 18 were killed by the government-organized bandits. In another
    segment of the interview, she talks about the fact that gold and jewelry
    the victims hid in their homes when they were forced to flee. The gold and
    jewelry were found by the Turkish villagers when they moved into the
    deserted homes.
    The second witness is an elderly villager named Hamza. He talks about
    recent economic hard times in the village. He speaks with gratitude of how
    his parents and grandparents cashed in the gold and jewelry they found to
    survive over the past 20-30 years.
    The third character in the film is a local historian. At one point, he
    talks about the bandits that existed in the area. At another point, he
    shows today's Turkish prejudgment and perspective about the history of
    Armenians. He discusses history with no basis in fact, but with organized
    misinformation.
    "Discovering My Father's Village" and "The Bread Series" on VHS and DVD
    formats will be on sale at the "Sardarabad Bookstore in Glendale, (818)
    500-0790.
    ************************************************** ************************
    4 - Canadian Publisher Releases Two
    New Books From Prof. Shirinian
    KINGSTON, Ont. Canada - Blue Heron Press announced last week the
    publication of two books by Canadian Armenian writer Lorne Shirinian. The
    first is an exciting new collection of plays, "This Dark Thing: Two One-Act
    Plays," and the second is "The Landscape of Memory: Perspectives on the
    Armenian Diaspora."
    The two plays, This Dark Thing and Red Threads on White Cloth are an
    exploration of the explosive forces that can lead to genocide and the need
    for survivors to tell of their experience.
    "I wanted to universalize the experience of the Armenian Genocide,"
    Shirinian said about the first book. "I did this by placing the action of
    the first play in a contemporary setting with non-Armenian characters. The
    second play takes its thematic reference from Ovid's Metamorphosis, in
    which an attempt to silence a victim ultimately fails."
    The second play, Red Threads on White Cloth, is preceded by an introduction
    by the author, who explains the thematic and symbolic antecedents of his
    play. In the play, survivors of the Armenian Genocide talk about their
    fate, their survival and their unsuccessful attempt to have their voices
    and stories listened to and understood. The play dramatically highlights
    the necessity to listen to the voices of victims of crimes against
    humanity.
    Shirinian is Professor and Head of the Department of English at the Royal
    Military College of Canada.
    Addressing the second book, "The Landscape of Memory: Perspective on the
    Armenian Diaspora," Shirinian notes, "We are at a turning point in the
    Armenian diaspora in North America. Identity, community and belonging are
    all problematized and will continue to be. Furthermore, the traditional
    elements of identity such as language, religion and our relationship to the
    Genocide are already waning. In this collection of essays, I wanted to
    explore these issues and what is at stake if the Armenian diaspora is to
    have a future."
    In a wide-ranging series of insightful essays, Lorne Shirinian analyzes
    various aspects of the Armenian diaspora as the titles indicate: The
    Resettlement of Refugees after the Armenian Genocide with Special Reference
    to Canada, Memory, Narrative, and the Construction of Identity in the
    Armenian Diaspora, The Landscape of Memory, Armenian Orphan Survivors: The
    Georgetown Boys, The Armenian Genocide and the Issue of Forgiveness, Being
    a Writer in the Armenian Diaspora.
    For more information about the books, contact Blue Heron Press, 160
    Greenlees Drive, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7K 6P4; Tel: (613) 549-4334;
    Fax: (613) 549-5318; Email: [email protected] or visit the website:
    www.blueheronpress.ca
    ************************************************** ************************
    5 - AEF Accepting Applications
    For Tufenkian Scholarships
    GLENDALE - The Armenian Educational Foundation (AEF) is accepting
    applications for Richard R. Tufenkian Scholarship for the 2004-2005
    academic year.
    The Richard R. Tufenkian Scholarship was established by Ralph and Savey
    Tufenkian in memory of their son. Five $2,000 scholarships will be awarded
    to Armenian undergraduate students at an accredited United States
    colleges/universities. To qualify for this scholarship, students must be an
    Armenian descent and have a minimum 3.0 GPA, show financial need, and be
    actively involved in the Armenian community.
    Students who meet the above criteria are invited to submit written requests
    for applications to the AEF Scholarship Committee, 600 West Broadway, Suite
    130, Glendale, CA 91204. Written requests for applications can also be
    made by FAX (818) 242-4913 or E-Mail [email protected]. All completed
    scholarship application packages must be postmarked no later than July 30,
    2004. Applications are also available on www.aefweb.org.
    AEF was established in 1950 to achieve the following objectives: To render
    financial assistance to Armenian educational institutions, irrespective of
    their religious affiliation or denomination; To assist Armenian students in
    acquiring higher education: To establish and to aid in the establishment of
    Armenian educational institutions and cultural centers; To establish and to
    aid in the establishment of Armenian courses of study and research
    programs.
    ************************************************** ************************
    6 - Major Aram Sarafian Will
    Speak at April 16 Meeting
    LOS ANGELES - US Army Major Aram Sarafian will be one of the featured
    speaker at an April 16 public meeting, at 7:30 p.m., at the Garabedian Hall
    in Hollywood, jointly organized by the ARF Karekin Nejdeh and Papken Suni
    gomidehs.
    Sarafian, of Falls Church, Virginia, serves as a Military Intelligence
    Officer in the US Army reserves, with past service in Bosnia, Afghanistan
    and Iraq. He is a longtime active member and supporter of Hai Tad, with
    political activities which include interactions with congressmen and
    senators. A graduate of the Duke University School of Law, he currently a
    practicing attorney with the New York law firm, Kenyon & Kenyon. In
    addition to a Masters in Economics from Duke University's Graduate School,
    he also holds a Master of Sciences in Computer Information Systems from
    Boston University's Brussels International Campus, in Belgium He is also
    one of the founders of the Armenian National Committee of North Carolina,
    and has served as its past chairman. He has also served on the board of
    Directors of the Armenian National Committee, Eastern US Region.
    In his message, Sarafian will explain what role young Armenian Americans
    can play in serving this country and also be faithful in their obligations
    to help Armenia and Armenians in general. As a third generation Armenian
    born in America, Sarafian is a true role model who shows the depth of his
    convictions to uphold the laws and requirements of this country and his
    love and commitment to his Motherland.
    ************************************************** ************************
    The California Courier On-Line is a service provided by the California
    Courier. Subscriptions or changes of address should not be transmitted
    through this service. Information in that regard should be telephoned
    to (818) 409-0949; faxed to: (818) 409-9207, or e-mailed to:
    [email protected]. Letters to the editor concerning issues
    addressed in the Courier may be e-mailed, provided it is signed by
    the author. Phone and/or E-mail address is also required to verify
    authorship.
    ************************************************** ******
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