Tweet
PRESS RELEASE
Date: May 15, 2007
Armenian National Committee of America
Eastern Region, US
PO Box 419
New York, New York 10108
Contact: Karine Birazian
Tel: 917-428-1918
Email: [email protected]
ANCA EASTERN REGION HOSTS LEADERSHIP BRIEFING FEATURING HARUT SASSOUNIAN
Discussions Focus on L.A. Times Controversy
NEW YORK, NY -- Twenty Armenian community leaders, representing a
dozen organizations, gathered here on May 9, as noted activist and
commentator Harut Sassounian briefed them on the recent debacle
involving the Los Angeles Times and its mishandling of the Armenian
Genocide issue. The briefing was organized by the Armenian National
Committee of America-Eastern US and was hosted by Mr. Robert
Setrakian.
Mr. Sassounian addressed the controversy created by The Times
Managing Editor Douglas Frantz who blocked the publication of an
article on the Armenian Genocide by columnist Mark Arax last month.
Frantz alleged that Arax had a bias on this issue presumably due to
his ethnic background. The Armenian-American reporter is currently
in the process of filing a discrimination lawsuit against The
Times. In recent years, Frantz was stationed in Istanbul
representing first the New York Times and then the Los Angeles
Times.
Sassounian reported that he has already met with the publisher and
editor of the newspaper demanding Frantz's dismissal. Sassounian
reminded the gathering that The Times is on record affirming the
veracity of the Genocide, and that Frantz's actions contradict the
newspaper's own position on this issue. At this stage, Sassounian
stated, the community must accept nothing less than the firing of
Frantz for his complicity in Turkey's denialist campaign --
something that Sassounian demonstrated by presenting abundant
evidence. He then encouraged attendees to push their respective
organizations to show more activism in pursuing this matter.
One of the most prominent political commentators in Armenian
affairs, Harut Sassounian is the long-time publisher of the
California Courier, President of the United Armenian Fund, and
Senior Vice-President of the Los Angeles-based Lincy Foundation.
"We're delighted to make use of Harut Sassounian's presence in New
York to highlight the importance of this issue," said Karine
Birazian, ANC-ER Executive Director.
"In the coming months, the ANC will continue to hold such briefings
periodically, in order to better inform and mobilize our community
leadership on issues they need to be aware of," Birazian said.
For more information on the Los Angeles Times controversy and how
to help resolve it, please contact the ANCA at (917) 428-1918 or
through the ANCA website at www.anca.org.
####
Photo Caption:
Harut Sassounian speaking with community activists
Date: May 15, 2007
Armenian National Committee of America
Eastern Region, US
PO Box 419
New York, New York 10108
Contact: Karine Birazian
Tel: 917-428-1918
Email: [email protected]
ANCA EASTERN REGION HOSTS LEADERSHIP BRIEFING FEATURING HARUT SASSOUNIAN
Discussions Focus on L.A. Times Controversy
NEW YORK, NY -- Twenty Armenian community leaders, representing a
dozen organizations, gathered here on May 9, as noted activist and
commentator Harut Sassounian briefed them on the recent debacle
involving the Los Angeles Times and its mishandling of the Armenian
Genocide issue. The briefing was organized by the Armenian National
Committee of America-Eastern US and was hosted by Mr. Robert
Setrakian.
Mr. Sassounian addressed the controversy created by The Times
Managing Editor Douglas Frantz who blocked the publication of an
article on the Armenian Genocide by columnist Mark Arax last month.
Frantz alleged that Arax had a bias on this issue presumably due to
his ethnic background. The Armenian-American reporter is currently
in the process of filing a discrimination lawsuit against The
Times. In recent years, Frantz was stationed in Istanbul
representing first the New York Times and then the Los Angeles
Times.
Sassounian reported that he has already met with the publisher and
editor of the newspaper demanding Frantz's dismissal. Sassounian
reminded the gathering that The Times is on record affirming the
veracity of the Genocide, and that Frantz's actions contradict the
newspaper's own position on this issue. At this stage, Sassounian
stated, the community must accept nothing less than the firing of
Frantz for his complicity in Turkey's denialist campaign --
something that Sassounian demonstrated by presenting abundant
evidence. He then encouraged attendees to push their respective
organizations to show more activism in pursuing this matter.
One of the most prominent political commentators in Armenian
affairs, Harut Sassounian is the long-time publisher of the
California Courier, President of the United Armenian Fund, and
Senior Vice-President of the Los Angeles-based Lincy Foundation.
"We're delighted to make use of Harut Sassounian's presence in New
York to highlight the importance of this issue," said Karine
Birazian, ANC-ER Executive Director.
"In the coming months, the ANC will continue to hold such briefings
periodically, in order to better inform and mobilize our community
leadership on issues they need to be aware of," Birazian said.
For more information on the Los Angeles Times controversy and how
to help resolve it, please contact the ANCA at (917) 428-1918 or
through the ANCA website at www.anca.org.
####
Photo Caption:
Harut Sassounian speaking with community activists