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CFF BOARD MEMBER REPLIES TO HIRAIR HOVNANIAN'S OPEN LETTER
PanARMENIAN.Net
June 10, 2011 - 13:55 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Late May, Hirair Hovnanian, chairman of the Armenian
Assembly of America (Assembly), addressed an open letter to Gerard L.
Cafesjian, chairman of the Cafesjian Family Foundation (CFF) following
the recent court ruling envisaging return of properties planned for
Armenian Genocide Museum to CFF.
Ross Vartian, board member of the CFF, wrote in response:
"In the interest of moving forward with the project, the Cafesjian
Family Foundation (CFF) will not respond point by point to your
serial misstatements of fact. Anyone interested in an independent and
objective judicial assessment of the truth of the past decade should
review the 190-page initial verdict of January 26 and the 57-page
final verdict of May 9 by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.
With regard to your disparaging Phase I of the Yerevan Cafesjian
Center for the Arts (CCA), you are presumably unaware that the
Center has become a focal point of artistic and cultural life,
a visitation destination for foreign dignitaries and a preferred
location for official meetings and receptions. Hopefully you will be
more supportive of CCA's Phase II plans to significantly expand space
for collections of other patrons and more broadly for even greater
opportunities for artistic and cultural expression, appreciation and
education. The "Cascade" project will never be complete as it will
always be evolving and growing, and the Cafesjian Family Foundation
will continue support for CCA as one of its core missions.
Your refusal to acknowledge Gerry's crucial role in securing the
site of the future museum and memorial to the Armenian Genocide is
inexplicable. You know that Gerry provided 100% of the financing
and 50% of the funds to acquire the bank building, followed by 100%
of the funds to acquire the adjacent properties. The record clearly
shows that Gerry has never wavered in his support for the exclusive
use of these properties for genocide museum and memorial purposes.
Before, during and subsequent to the trial, CFF has repeatedly
committed to joining in a pan-Armenian effort to fulfill the dream of
the first ever museum and memorial in the Diaspora about the fact and
ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide. CFF remains convinced
that our community will respond generously as soon as it is given an
opportunity to do so.
Hirair, you can make an immediate and significant contribution to
making this project a reality. Accept that a federal judge has soundly
rejected the legal case you authorized and end your appeal. Whether
or not you terminate your fruitless appeal, CFF will fulfill its
obligation to the community by inviting all to participate. It is,
after all, our community that will render the final verdict."
PanARMENIAN.Net
June 10, 2011 - 13:55 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Late May, Hirair Hovnanian, chairman of the Armenian
Assembly of America (Assembly), addressed an open letter to Gerard L.
Cafesjian, chairman of the Cafesjian Family Foundation (CFF) following
the recent court ruling envisaging return of properties planned for
Armenian Genocide Museum to CFF.
Ross Vartian, board member of the CFF, wrote in response:
"In the interest of moving forward with the project, the Cafesjian
Family Foundation (CFF) will not respond point by point to your
serial misstatements of fact. Anyone interested in an independent and
objective judicial assessment of the truth of the past decade should
review the 190-page initial verdict of January 26 and the 57-page
final verdict of May 9 by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.
With regard to your disparaging Phase I of the Yerevan Cafesjian
Center for the Arts (CCA), you are presumably unaware that the
Center has become a focal point of artistic and cultural life,
a visitation destination for foreign dignitaries and a preferred
location for official meetings and receptions. Hopefully you will be
more supportive of CCA's Phase II plans to significantly expand space
for collections of other patrons and more broadly for even greater
opportunities for artistic and cultural expression, appreciation and
education. The "Cascade" project will never be complete as it will
always be evolving and growing, and the Cafesjian Family Foundation
will continue support for CCA as one of its core missions.
Your refusal to acknowledge Gerry's crucial role in securing the
site of the future museum and memorial to the Armenian Genocide is
inexplicable. You know that Gerry provided 100% of the financing
and 50% of the funds to acquire the bank building, followed by 100%
of the funds to acquire the adjacent properties. The record clearly
shows that Gerry has never wavered in his support for the exclusive
use of these properties for genocide museum and memorial purposes.
Before, during and subsequent to the trial, CFF has repeatedly
committed to joining in a pan-Armenian effort to fulfill the dream of
the first ever museum and memorial in the Diaspora about the fact and
ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide. CFF remains convinced
that our community will respond generously as soon as it is given an
opportunity to do so.
Hirair, you can make an immediate and significant contribution to
making this project a reality. Accept that a federal judge has soundly
rejected the legal case you authorized and end your appeal. Whether
or not you terminate your fruitless appeal, CFF will fulfill its
obligation to the community by inviting all to participate. It is,
after all, our community that will render the final verdict."