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California Courier Online, May 6, 2004

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  • California Courier Online, May 6, 2004

    California Courier Online, May 6, 2004

    1 - Commentary

    By Harut Sassounian
    California Courier Publisher
    ************************************************** ************************
    2 - George and Beatrice Casparian
    Celebrate 60th Wedding Anniversary
    3 - Larry Zarian Honored
    For Service by GAR
    4 - San Diego ANC & UC San Diego
    Students Host Genocide Conference
    5 - Poochigian Presents Bill to Exempt
    NY Life Settlement from State Taxes
    6 - Karabagh Landmines Expert
    To Lecture May 15 in Glendale
    7 - UAF's 128th Airlift Delivers
    $3.3 Million of Aid to Armenia
    ************************************************** **********************
    1 - Commentary
    American Jewish Leader Pledges
    Support for Genocide Recognition
    By Harut Sassounian
    Publisher, The California Courier
    The Armenian-American community has had a long-running dispute with several
    Jewish-American organizations for their on-going support of Turkey's denial
    of the Armenian Genocide.
    Some Jewish-American groups have even gone so far as to actively lobby
    against the passage of a congressional resolution on the Armenian Genocide.
    They have also sided with Turkey and Azerbaijan against Armenia on several
    other issues.
    It is understandable that Armenia and Israel would have different strategic
    interests vis-à-vis Turkey and Azerbaijan, and consequently,
    Jewish-American and Armenian-American groups may find themselves, from time
    to time, on the opposite sides of some issues. Nevertheless, Armenians
    worldwide have been highly offended by the insensitivity shown by the
    Israeli government and some Jewish-American groups with regard to the
    denial of the Armenian Genocide. One would have thought that Jews, of all
    people, having been victims of genocide themselves, would be on the
    forefront of the battle against genocide denial.
    In fact, because of this shared genocidal experience, hundreds of Jewish
    scholars, writers, historians, genocide and Holocaust experts, members of
    US Congress, American-Jewish organizations, and even some Israeli
    government officials have affirmed the facts of the Armenian Genocide and
    strongly condemned all attempts to deny it. More than a dozen
    Jewish-American groups, in recent months, have joined the coalition in
    support of a congressional resolution that cites the 15th anniversary of
    the implementation of the Genocide Convention by the US government. The
    resolution mentions the Holocaust as well as the Armenian, Cambodian and
    Rwandan genocides. The few American-Jewish groups that still oppose the
    reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide by the US Congress do not represent
    the mainstream of the Jewish-American community.
    This handful of Jewish groups would eventually realize that notwithstanding
    their support for Israel's strategic interests, they could not in good
    conscience continue being accomplices in the denial of another genocide.
    Doing so would lessen their own humanity and tarnish the enormous
    sacrifices made by the victims of the Holocaust!
    We are therefore pleased that a high-ranking official of the American
    Jewish Committee (AJC), for the first time, has made statements in support
    of the affirmation of the Armenian Genocide during an Armenian Assembly of
    America reception in Washington, D.C., on April 17. Dottie Bennett, the AJC
    National Council Chair who was recently appointed as a member of the
    governing body of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.,
    spoke of the close moral ties between the Armenian and Jewish communities
    based on their mutual respect for human rights, ethics and justice,
    according to a press release issued by the Armenian Assembly.
    More significantly, Bennett was quoted as saying: "We have a lot in common
    and I am sure we will continue working together on many issues, including
    the Armenian Genocide which must be recognized for what it was - Genocide....
    At the AJC, we will work to make the Armenian Genocide recognition happen -
    this long overdue recognition. We have new opportunities to push the
    Genocide recognition agenda forward."
    These are strong and welcome words from the AJC National Council Chair. One
    of the first opportunities to exhibit such mutual support would be for the
    AJC to join the coalition of over 100 civil and human rights organizations
    in support of the pending congressional resolution on the Genocide
    Convention.
    UK Finally Responds to Armenian Complaints
    After ignoring the hundreds of protest letters and e-mails it received from
    around the world regarding the denial of the Armenian Genocide by the
    British Ambassador to Armenia, the British government finally deigned to
    respond to one such letter.
    The Union of Armenians of Switzerland (UAS) sent a letter to Jack Straw,
    the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, on March 30, 2004, expressing
    their "shock" at the statements made by British Ambassador. The UAS
    castigated the British government's "reluctance for political reasons to
    recognize the Armenian genocide... out of economic miscalculation and
    political expediency."
    The UAS also stated that the British Ambassador "succeeded in stirring up
    feelings deeply rooted in the psyche of Armenians all over the world. Now
    one wonders how she can serve as an ambassador in a country whose people
    feel hurt by her. The least that should be done is for her to apologize.
    Or, a significant diplomatic step could be taken to somehow appease the
    huge wave of sentiments - a mixture of dismay, sorrow and anger - amongst
    Armenians in Armenia and elsewhere in the world. A standstill would not
    help settle the situation."
    Sean Rooney, the desk officer responsible for Armenia and Azerbaijan at the
    Foreign & Commonwealth Office, in a letter dated April 21, told the UAS
    that he was responding to "some widely reported recent comments our
    Ambassador to Armenia, Thorda Abbott-Watt, made to an Armenian journalist
    about the events of 1915-16.... These comments have generated numerous
    responses from Armenian individuals and organizations, both to her and to
    the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Your views, and those of others who
    have been in touch with us on this matter, have been noted."
    Mr. Rooney, as expected, defended the denialist position of Her Majesty's
    Government and Amb. Abbott-Watt. He wrote: "Our Ambassador was responding
    to a question about HMG's position on the terrible tragedy that befell the
    Armenian people during the First World War. Quite rightly, and as we would
    expect, she answered with a statement of that position which is well-known
    and long established. We are aware that this issue is particularly
    sensitive in Armenia, and it is a matter of regret to our Ambassador if her
    answer caused offense. However, she could not have done other than answer
    honestly the question that was put to her and in doing so she was correctly
    representing her Government's views, and has our support."
    As I had previously stated and judging by the condescending tone and
    content of Mr. Rooney's letter, Amb. Abbott-Watt is not the real culprit in
    this controversy. She is merely repeating the denialist position of the
    British government. Her misfortune is that she has to face the Armenians on
    a daily basis after causing such serious offense, while her bosses can
    issue such shameless statements from the relative safety of the British
    Isles.
    By referring to the Armenian Genocide as "events of 1915-16" and "terrible
    tragedy," Mr. Rooney is repeating the denialist statements of Turkish
    officials. We urge the readers to write their complaints to: Mr. Sean
    Rooney, Eastern Dept., Foreign & Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street,
    London SW1A 2AH, UK; Phone: 011-44-20-7008-3828; Fax: 011-44-20-7008-2164;
    E-mail: [email protected].

    ************************************************** ************************
    2 - George and Beatrice Casparian
    Celebrate 60th Wedding Anniversary
    WOODLAND HILLS - The 60th wedding anniversary of George and Beatrice
    Casparian was recently held at the Giovanni Ristorante in Woodland Hills.
    The Casparians are both native Californians and still reside in the Los
    Angeles area. Both were active members of the St. James Parish, serving in
    many capacities from officers to chairing fashion shows, working on
    publicity for the church, and in other numerous community activities.
    Casparian was an original contributor to the California Courier, writing
    articles and a columnist of "Faces and Places" for the paper.
    The couple worked many years in the family linotype business, Central
    Typesetting Co., and George Casparian also worked nights as a Typographer
    Designer for the Montebello School District. Beatrice Casparian retired
    from Bank of America (VP/Mgrs. Secretary) in 1987, and husband George
    retired in 1990.
    Since moving to West Hills in 1985, the couple has been active as
    volunteers at the Ararat Home of Los Angeles. Beatrice is currently serving
    as the Recording Secretary of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Ararat Home.
    The Casparians have two sons, George and Deirdre Casparian, and John and
    Janis Casparian. George and Beatrice Casparian are not only proud
    grandparents, but great grand parents as well.
    At the celebration, a 60th anniversary touching poem was written by
    daughter-in-law, Deirdre Casparian, summing up the 60 years the couple has
    had together.
    ************************************************** ************************
    3 - Larry Zarian Honored
    For Service by GAR
    GLENDALE- Larry Zarian, prominent community leader and former Mayor and
    City Councilman of Glendale, was recently honored by the Glendale
    Association for the Retarded (GAR) with the Campbell Service Award. The
    award is given annually to a person for outstanding dedication, service and
    support.
    Zarian has served the Association since 1985, first as a member of the
    Board of Directors and currently as a Foundation member.
    Approximately one-third of the clients are of Armenian descent. The John
    Gogian Family Foundation and the Lincy Foundation have supported a special
    program for immigrant Armenians. Disabilities include mental retardation,
    cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
    The organization plans to celebrate its 50th anniversary with special
    events throughout the year. Programs offered include GAR Services, a work
    training center for 62 adults with developmental disabilities. In addition,
    it operates three group homes: Alma House, Hamilton House, and David Gogian
    House. A new program, Pastimes, serves older adults.
    ************************************************** ************************
    4 - San Diego ANC & UC San Diego
    Students Host Genocide Conference
    SAN DIEGO CA - The Armenian National Committee of San Diego will be hosting
    an academic conference on Genocide and Denial on May 8, at the University
    of California, San Diego campus. The event is the first of its kind to be
    held at UC San Diego and is cosponsored by the UC San Diego Armenian
    Students Association.
    The conference, entitled "Western Response to Genocide", will cover various
    topics including the Armenian Genocide, the Jewish Holocaust, the Rwandan
    Genocide and others. The intended emphasis of the conference will be how
    the Western Culture has dealt with genocide. The conference will address a
    number of genocide-related issues, including definition, history, politics,
    literature, acknowledgment, prevention, associated trauma (both individual
    and collective) and reconciliation and reparations. The conference will
    address the many genocides of the 20th century and draw similarities and
    identify differences between these crimes against humanity.
    A number of panelists will participate in the conference, including:
    Laurence Baron, Ph.D., Director of the Lipinsky Institute for Judaice
    Studies; Rubina Peroomian, Ph.D., lecturer at the University of California,
    Los Angeles; Levon Marashlian, Ph.D., Professor of History and Political
    Science at Glendale Community College, Dan Alba, Regional Director of the
    Los Angeles Offices of Facing History and Ourselves, and Ardashes
    Kassakhian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of
    America - Western Region.
    The conference will take place at the University of California, San Diego,
    Peterson Building and will begin at 10 A.M. Parking for the conference is
    free and Armenian style barbecue will be served during the break for $7.
    Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters
    throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world,
    the Armenian National Committee San Diego actively advances the concerns of
    the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
    ************************************************** ************************
    5 - Poochigian Presents Bill to Exempt
    NY Life Settlement from State Taxes
    SACRAMENTO - Senator Chuck Poochigian (R-Fresno) has introduced Senate Bill
    1689 to exempt Armenian Genocide life insurance settlements from state
    taxation and other calculations related to income. The bill passed out of
    the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee last week on a 5-0 vote.
    If ultimately approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor
    Schwarzenegger, recipients of settlement payments would not have their
    state income tax, financial aid or unemployment benefits negatively
    impacted by their receipt of such settlements. The bill's language mirrors
    exemptions similarly afforded recipients of reparations and other legal
    settlements related to the Holocaust.
    "Survivors and heirs of victims of the Armenian Genocide have waited many
    decades to resolve their claims. Correcting a past wrong should not have
    the unintended consequence of financially harming the victims and their
    heirs now," said Senator Poochigian.
    Prior to 1915, the New York Life Insurance Company wrote over 2,000
    insurance policies to Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. Many of these
    policies were written for individuals who became victims of the Armenian
    Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. Heirs of the policies later
    sued for the value of the policies. In 2004, New York Life settled with
    claimants resulting in a settlement of $20 million. A significant portion
    of thesettlement will go to settle claims with heirs of the policies.
    Senate Bill 1689 is modeled after Senate Bill 1397 (Brulte) and Assembly
    Bill 989 (Chan) which exempted Swiss bank claim settlements and restitution
    payment made to victims of the Holocaust.
    In 2000, Sen. Poochigian authored Senate Bill 1915 which enabled victims
    and heirs of victims of the Armenian Genocide to access the California
    court system to compel insurance companies to pay insurance claims owed to
    victims of the Genocide. That bill received the unanimous approval of the
    Legislature and
    provided the opportunity to pursue contractual claims pertaining to the
    recent settlement.
    SB 1689 is expected to be heard next in the Senate Appropriations
    Committee. No hearing date has been set.

    ************************************************** ************************
    6 - Karabagh Landmines
    Expert to Lecture
    May 15 in Glendale
    GLENDALE - The Glendale Public Library will be the site for a May 15, 10:30
    a.m., lecture from an expert explosive disposal expert who has been working
    in Nagorno Karabagh to clear minefields and unexploded ordnance in the
    region.
    Kurt Chesko, Program Officer for the HALO Trust, will speak about his
    recent visit to Nagorno Karabagh and address the impact that landmines and
    unexploded ordnance (UXO) have on the local population. He will share
    photographs and give a mine clearance demonstration. All are welcome to
    attend.
    The HALO Trust is the world's largest humanitarian landmine clearance
    organization and operates a 200-person program in Karabagh, one of the most
    heavily mine-affected regions of the world.
    Since 2000, HALO's dedicated Karabaghi staff have destroyed 2,300
    antipersonnel landmines, 1,000 antitank mine and over 26,000 items of UXO
    since 2000.
    Chekso has worked for the HALO Trust since 2001 and has cleared mines in
    Afghanistan and Karabagh.
    The Library is located at 222 East Harvard St. Glendale.
    ************************************************** ************************
    7 - UAF's 128th Airlift Delivers
    $3.3 Million of Aid to Armenia
    GLENDALE, CA - The United Armenian Fund's 128th airlift arrived in Yerevan
    on May 1, delivering $3.3 million of humanitarian assistance.
    The UAF itself collected $2.9 million of medicines and medical supplies for
    this flight, most of which were donated by the Catholic Medical Mission
    Board ($2.5 million); Health Partners ($150,000); MAP International
    ($108,000); and AmeriCares ($103,000).
    Other organizations which contributed goods for this airlift were: Dr.
    Stephen Kashian of Illinois ($57,000); Armenian Canadian Medical
    Association ($52,000); Dr. Viken Garabedian of California ($52,000); Chene
    France ($39,000); and Shoebox Sharing ($31,000).
    Also contributing to this airlift were: Armenian General Benevolent Union
    ($17,000); Harut Chantikian of New Jersey ($15,000); Armenian Eyecare
    Project ($14,000); Prof. Ernst Leumann of Switzerland ($13,000); and U.S.
    Department of Agriculture ($12,000).
    Since its inception in 1989, the UAF has sent $383 million of humanitarian
    assistance to Armenia on board 128 airlifts and 1,043 sea containers.
    The UAF is the collective effort of the Armenian Assembly of America, the
    Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian Missionary Association of
    America, the Armenian Relief Society, the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
    America, the 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.
    ************************************************** ************************
    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.
    ************************************************** ************************

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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