Tweet
The Armenian Writers' Union
Head: Levon Ananyan
Address: 3 Barekamutyan
375019 Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Phone: (374 1) 561 831
and
The Armenian Genocide Institute-Museum
Director: Dr. Lavrenti Barseghyan
Address: Tsitsernakaberd
375028 Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Phone: (374 1) 390 981; (374 1) 391 041; (374 1) 391 412
URL: http://www.sci.am/about/39-genocid.html
PRESS RELEASE
SMYRNA 1922: Dr. Hatcherian's journal in three languages
On April 27, 2005, the Armenian Writers' Union in conjunction with the
Genocide Institute-Museum launched three editions of Dora Sakayan's
book based on Dr. G. Hatcherian's journal, "My Smyrna Ordeal in the
year 1922." The event was part of the many initiatives to commemorate
the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Armenian capital
of Yerevan.
Dr. Garabed Hatcherian's journal is an eyewitness account of the
1922 Smyrna catastrophe, when the ancient city was destroyed by
a spectacular fire and the entire Armenian and Greek populations
were either massacred or forced to flee. The sequence of events
that led to this disaster stems from the defeat of Turkey by the
Allies in WW1, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the rise of the
Kemalists and the postwar peace settlements. Dr. Hatcherian's journal
covers the period between August 28, 1922 and April 7, 1923, with a
special focus on the two infernal weeks of September 9 through 25,
when the family of eight miraculously escaped the catastrophe. Ten
other members of the extended family, including the mothers of the
Hatcherian couple, along with their brothers and their families,
stayed behind and were all massacred. The journal chronicles on a
day-by-day basis the most significant events in and around Smyrna,
as well as the suffering of the Christian civilian population --
Armenians and Greeks alike -- who in those horrific days became the
target of Mustafa Kemal's nationalists.
Dora Sakayan is Dr. Hatcherian's granddaughter. She first learned
about the existence of Dr. Hatcherian's manuscript (completed and
signed on June 1, 1923 in Salonica) in 1992. It had been kept in the
Argentinean branch of the family for almost seventy years. She read
the West Armenian manuscript in 1993 and undertook immediately to
publish it (Montreal: Arod Books, 1995 and 1997). She subsequently
published her English translation (Montreal: Arod Books, 1997) and
later became the general editor of a multilingual series (French, in
Paris: L'Harmattan, 2000), (Spanish, in Montreal: Arod Books, 2001),
(Greek, in Montreal: Arod Books, 2001).
The three new editions are in East Armenian, Russian and --
Turkish. The first two were published just a few days prior to
their launching by the Armenian Genocide Institute-Museum in Yerevan
under the title "Smyrna 1922: The Journal of the Armenian Physician
Hatcherian." The Turkish edition appeared in March 2005 in Turkey
and was published by the BELGE Publishing House in Istanbul. It
is entitled: Bir Ermeni Doktorun Yasadiklari. Garabet Haceryan'in
Ízmir Guncesi (An Armenian Physician's Ordeal. Garabet Hatcherian's
Diary). To date, eight editions of Dr. Hatcherian's journal have been
prepared and published by Dora Sakayan. She has recently completed
the German translation, which will be published in Germany.
The hall of the Armenian Writers' Union was filled to capacity with
writers, foreign guests, faculty members, publishing executives and
journalists as well as many of Sakayan's friends. Writer Levon Ananyan,
head of the Armenian Writers' Union, delivered the opening speech.
He welcomed the publication of Dr. Hatcherian's journal in three new
versions, Turkish, East Armenian, and Russian, just in time for the
genocide commemoration, and thanked the courageous publisher Ragip
Zarakolu for the Turkish edition. Mr. Ananian emphasized the crucial
importance of Dr. Hatcherian's eyewitness account by saying: "It
demonstrates to the world that despite the outcry of the international
community following the Armenian genocide of 1915, the Turks proceeded
to commit yet another genocide seven years later, this time against the
entire Christian population of Smyrna, both the Armenians and Greeks."
Referring to recent developments in the Armenian-Turkish relations, and
particularly to the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's letter addressed
to the Armenian President Robert Kocharian, Ananyan stated: "They are
proposing to set a group of specialists that would investigate the
archives in Armenia, Turkey and other countries to establish whether
a genocide took place. A document like Dr. Hatcherian's journal that
enlists the reader into a day-by-day trip through history makes such
undertakings redundant. These are merely efforts of the Turkish
authorities to avoid recognizing the Armenian genocide and evade
responsibility. Let us pay tribute to survivors like Dr. Hatcherian
who left behind their testimonies, a source of incontestable facts,
a weapon to fight those who deny the Armenian genocide." Mr. Ananyan
also acknowledged the artistic merit of Dr. Hatcherian's writing by
saying: "Some sections of the diary read as a work of art."
Ananyan thanked Dr. Tessa Hofmann, the prominent German historian and
academic, expert on the Armenian genocide, a Human Rights activist,
and a friend of the Armenian people, for providing an extensive preface
that elucidates the historical background of the Smyrna catastrophe
and the context in which it developed. He then praised Dora Sakayan
for "having erected a monument to her grandfather's memory by making
his journal accessible to the world community and thereby an integral
part of survival literature." He also credited her for a book that
is not only a tribute of love from a granddaughter to her kin but
also a definite contribution to the history of the Armenian genocide."
Ananyan thanked also the director of the Genocide Institute-Museum, Dr.
Lavrenti Barseghyan, for publishing the East Armenian and the Russian
editions of the journal in such a short time, praising him notably
for the publication of a host of survivor testimonials over the last
few years. Regretting, however, that this storehouse of solid proof
has hardly broken out from the Armenian community, he said, "It is
imperative that this great fund of information be translated into
other languages and made available to the international community."
Ananyan then asked radio journalist and writer Larissa Gevorkyan to be
the moderator and preside over the panel of speakers. The panelists
were: Dr. Tessa Hofmann, Institute for East European Studies, Free
University Berlin Academician Simeon Kerkyasharyan, Professor of
History, Yerevan State University (YSU) Margo Ghukassyan, writer and
journalist Dr. Khoren Balian, Professor of Medieval Musicology and
vocalist (YSU) Dr. Artem Harutiunyan, Professor of Western Literature
and poet (YSU) Dr. Lussineh Sahakyan, Professor of Turkish Studies
(YSU) Dr. Verzhineh Svazlian, philologist, senior researcher,
Genocide Institute-Museum, Yerevan Dr. Dora Sakayan, Professor of
German Studies, McGill University, Montreal, Canada (p/r) Called upon
to introduce her guest, Larissa Gevorkyan cited Dora Sakayan's being
up until recently Professor of German Studies at McGill University in
Montreal, Canada, but she also proudly recalled that before migrating
to the New World in 1975 Dora Sakayan had been at the Yerevan State
University -- professor starting in 1957 and chair of the Department
of Foreign languages from 1966 on. Gevorkyan then added: "Dora Sakayan
has authored a great number of scholarly books in applied linguistics
and Armenology. However, she confessed to me that nothing has given
her as much satisfaction as working on her grandfather's journal,
translating it into various languages and editing it." Gevorkyan also
noted that in order to facilitate the fast production of the series,
she founded her own publishing company, Arod Books, in Montreal, where
so far five of the Smyrna editions have appeared. In closing, Larissa
Gevorkian expressed the wish to see one day Dr. Hatcherian's gripping
account become the scenario of a film that would draw the world's
attention on the Smyrna catastrophe, an aftershock of the genocide
that in a matter of seven years ethnically cleansed Asia Minor from
its entire Armenian population, killing thereby 1.5 million innocent
men, women and children.
Larissa Gevorkyan then introduced and gave the floor to Dr. Tessa
Hofmann, who said how happy she was to have prefaced these new editions
and how much she enjoyed presenting them to the press with Dora. "Dr.
Hatcherian's journal," she added, "is an extremely important eyewitness
report, un document humain, as the French call it, a human testimony
about the final phase in a decade of genocides. We are talking about
the transition period of the Ottoman Empire becoming the Republic of
Turkey, a transition from a multi-ethnic and multi-religious state
to a monolithic national state. We are talking about five million
Christians, Greeks, Armenians and Assyrians, who vanished through
genocide, expulsion, and assimilation. The final stage of this crime
was the burning of Smyrna." Dr. Hofmann then went on to describe the
infernal situation, when Smyrna, the once gem city of the Aegean,
went up in flames, and its citizens were burned alive or massacred
by the thousands, and when the 23 international warships anchored
in the harbor did nothing to rescue the endless line of refugees --
Armenian and Greek Christians who were caught, in Dr. Hatcherian's
words, 'between fire, sword and water.' Dr. Hofmann stated that
"the Smyrna catastrophe proves the continuity between the crimes
committed by the Ittihadists and the Kemalists, since the crime
in Smyrna was perpetrated by the Turkish nationalist regime that
followed." She also stated that, based on the UN definition of
genocide, the Smyrna massacres constitute a genocide, and that in
1998 the Greek Parliament passed a resolution declaring the 14th
of September a day of commemoration of the Asia Minor Genocide. In
the last few years, several governors of American states have named
certain days of September remembrance days of the Smyrna and Asia
Minor Genocides. Dr. Hofmann concluded, saying how grateful she is
to Dora for introducing her to this important document and for asking
her to write a preface.
Academician Kerkyasharyan began his speech by saying: "I have
read the West Armenian original version, and I have read it in one
breath. This is a startling book, a book that forces the reader to
face his humanity, for Dr. Hatcherian's idealism, his dedication
to his fellow human beings is simply remarkable. While other Smyrna
doctors escaped Smyrna's disaster by leaving at the first signs of
the imminent danger, Dr. Hatcherian decided to stay. We see him
ready to render medical service, performing operations and assisting
in childbirth. After moving his children and his wife to a sheltered
residence along the seashore, we see him with a fez on his head, and
his military medals pinned on his breast, returning over and over again
to the Armenian and Greek quarters, eager to be with the thousands
of miserable people huddling wherever they could find refuge. After
finally escaping annihilation, we see him, this time in Salonica,
helping the refugees from the Armenian General Benevolent Union's
medical headquarters. With humanists like Hatcherian, even genocides
prove powerless." He then added: "I highly appreciate Dora Sakayan's
thorough scholarly work, supplying Dr. Hatcherian's journal with 65
well-founded historical annotations and a bibliography that makes the
book a precious instrument in the hands of anybody who seeks truth and
justice." Kerkyasharyan also stressed the great importance he attaches
to the forthcoming German edition in view of the responsibilities that
Turkey's WWI ally bears for its collusion, as well as the prospect
of the recognition of the Armenian genocide by the German Parliament.
The next speaker was the writer and journalist Margo Ghukassyan. "I
was in Smyrna in 1980," she said, " and I was fascinated by the
city's natural beauty. Two years ago, I had read the original of Dr.
Hatcherian's journal in West Armenian, and instantly drew parallels
between the beautiful scenery I had once seen and the dreadful events
at the Smyrna harbor described in the journal 83 years ago. As a writer
myself, I was most impressed by Dr. Hatcherian's powerful expression
and elegant style. Without exaggerating, instead rather downplaying his
painful experience, he captivates the reader, drawing him in and making
him a participant of the events. Recently, I read the book again,
and although I knew the outcome, I was as anxious as the first time I
read the book to see his salvation from the horrible military barracks
and his safe return to his family. With this journal, Dr. Hatcherian
definitely establishes himself as a writer in his own right."
Mrs. Ghukassian was followed by Khoren Balian, who first spoke
about Dora Sakayan's overall achievements as a scholar. He then
added: "It is a catastrophe, when Armenian intellectuals leave
their homeland for good. But Dora Sakayan is a happy exception, a
blessing in disguise. She left Armenia 30 years ago, taking Armenia
with herself, and walking with Armenia around the world, introducing
Armenia to many. She also kept coming back to her homeland to renew
her experiences and replenish herself, while contributing to Armenian
linguistics with a great number of books and articles. She pioneered
Armenology at Montreal's renowned McGill University and throughout
Canada. Even though she was a professor in the German Department,
she organized Armenological conferences, founded Armenian courses,
and wrote Armenological monographs and textbooks. Lately, she has been
arriving here every year with a new monograph, or a new conference,
or both, presenting them as a gift to Armenia. She is now with us with
three more editions of Dr. Hatcherian's journal: an East Armenian one,
that will make it accessible to a broad readership in Armenia and
Artsakh, a Russian one for the thousands of readers in the former
Soviet republics, and most importantly, a Turkish edition for the
open-minded Turks who want to discover the truth about the events that
took place in their country between 1915 and 1922. This is a unique
book in the body of survivors' literature." Khoren Balian concluded his
impassioned speech, saying: "This book is a true fossil and a precious
relic of the genocide, a thorn in the flesh of the Turks who do not
have the courage to come to terms with their own history." Since in
the Armenian tradition the launching of a book is done with a song,
Khoren Balian went on to perform "Karahissar," an Armenian folksong
lamenting over the death of a hero who resisted the deportation from
Shabin Karahissar.
"There are at times documentary narratives that surpass or at least
match the artistic quality of literary works." That was the opening
statement of Artem Harutiunyan, the next speaker, who went on to
praise Dr. Hatcherian's literary talents. "In the very first entry of
his journal, the author enlists the reader's interest and triggers
his fascination by starting his narrative with the presentation of
his peaceful and happy family life, his success story as a medical
doctor and his future plans for himself and his loved ones. Alas,
sudden dramatic and earth-shaking events drastically destroy the
doctor's life. The reader follows his story with bated breath. Each
page of this journal is important because it reflects deep personal
feelings, an analytic mind, and a compassionate soul. Compared to
the original West Armenian edition, published in 1995, the present
East Armenian version (2005) has become a much more substantial
publication. Dora Sakayan has done an excellent job in gradually
adding new components: an introduction, numerous notes, an epilogue,
a chapter describing the reception of the journal, etc. And now we
see Dr. Hofmann's most valuable contribution, her preface translated
into Armenian by Dora Sakayan. In its present shape, this book reaches
the reader as an integral unit on the Armenian genocide which is a
valuable documentary, literary, and historical work all in one."
As an expert in Turkish language, Lusineh Sahakyan concentrated on
the Turkish version of the book. She highly praised the publisher,
Ragib Zarakolu for courageously accepting to publish such a book
in Turkey, and also the translator, Atilla Tuygan, for the fitting
quality of his work. "I made some random comparisons," said Sahakyan,
"to ascertain the accuracy of the Turkish translation, and I was
pleasantly surprised to see that Tuygan not only had provided the
original Armenian text with an excellent rendition, but also expanded
the conclusion of Sakayan's introduction, adding a few more rhetorical
questions and rendering her text more convincing and compelling
to the Turkish reader." Sahakyan then proceeded to translate into
Armenian those additional sentences in the Turkish text and added:
"It is known that for many decades Turkish authorities have withheld
information on the Armenian genocide from the general public, from
history books and from school curricula. No wonder Turkish people are
misinformed about the destiny of the Armenian population under Ottoman
rule and in Smyrna, and defend the official denialist views of the
Modern Turkish government. For any uninformed Turkish citizen, this
book is a genuine source of knowledge about the Armenian genocide."
Verzhineh Svazlian, a leading collector of eyewitness accounts of
the 1915-1923 Armenian genocide for fifty years, congratulated Dora
Sakayan for having presented her grandfather's book to the world
in several languages. She added: "Books on the Armenian genocide
have been written in many genres. However, until recently the voice
of survivors was seldom heard. Dr. Hatcherian's journal provides
precious insight into the Smyrna disaster from the unique perspective
of a survivor. But most importantly, it carries both a historical
and a documentary significance because the author puts down his
bitter experience himself and immediately, recording day-by-day,
hour-by-hour what he sees and feels during this atrocious ordeal. In
my view," Dr. Svazlian said, "the 20-page description of his five
days in prison is a significant contribution to the annals of history."
In closing the literary event, Dora Sakayan thanked Dr. L. Barseghyan
for publishing the East Armenian and the Russian editions and
L. Ananyan for organizing the event. She then said: "Today I rejoice,
because I repatriated my grandfather. It is as if I brought his ashes
to Armenia. He is now with his people, in his homeland, where he will
take on a new life, a spiritual one. My grandfather's journal exists
now in nine languages and I consider my mission completed. The most
valuable in the series of translations, however, for me is the Turkish
one and I say: 'More power to Mr. Ragib Zarakolu, the brave publisher
and journalist, the hero, who stands up against censorship and for
freedom of expression in Turkey.' When the book was distributed in
Turkey, Mr. Zarakolu informed me that he was summoned to appear before
the general prosecutor. Today's Turkish authorities dread Dr. Garabed
Hatcherian's journal because it refutes the Turkish apologists' thesis
according to which the steps taken in 1915 against the Armenians were
normal precautionary measures in a state of war, reciprocating the
aggressive actions of the Armenians siding on Turkey's eastern border
with the Russian enemy. Most importantly, because it shows that Kemal
Ataturk, the founder of today's Turkey, carried out the Young Turks'
program by eliminating the entire Armenian community in and around
Smyrna. At the present time, Mr. Zarakolu faces a new trial. We all
should support him in his strife to reform Turkish society." Sakayan
then talked about her uncle Hovhannes (89) and her aunt Vartuhee
(84), Dr. Hatcherian's two children, both citizens of Argentina, both
survivors of the Smyrna catastrophe, who lived to see their father's
work coming home. She then said with emotion: "For us, Armenians around
the world, the time for crying and lamenting is over. It is now time
to show firm resolve and strength." She was very much impressed by
the two-day (April 20-21, 2005) international conference ("Ultimate
Crime, Ultimate Challenge - Human Rights and Genocide") dedicated to
the commemoration of the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian genocide in
Yerevan. "It was an unprecedented conference: dignitaries, scholars,
human rights activists from 50 countries had come not only to condemn
the ultimate crime of genocide, but also to discuss the ultimate
challenges of truth, reconciliation and transitional justice. From
such a high-level forum, our voices can be heard and many goals can
be reached. I congratulate the organizers of this conference, and
especially the Zoryan Institute." Those were Dora Sakayan's closing
words. The three new editions - East Armenian, Russian and Turkish
- had been successfully launched with well-deserved praise for the
author and fervent hope for a positive impact.
--Boundary_(ID_TWpoMLNZcR0uFF/K6ONaGg)--
Head: Levon Ananyan
Address: 3 Barekamutyan
375019 Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Phone: (374 1) 561 831
and
The Armenian Genocide Institute-Museum
Director: Dr. Lavrenti Barseghyan
Address: Tsitsernakaberd
375028 Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Phone: (374 1) 390 981; (374 1) 391 041; (374 1) 391 412
URL: http://www.sci.am/about/39-genocid.html
PRESS RELEASE
SMYRNA 1922: Dr. Hatcherian's journal in three languages
On April 27, 2005, the Armenian Writers' Union in conjunction with the
Genocide Institute-Museum launched three editions of Dora Sakayan's
book based on Dr. G. Hatcherian's journal, "My Smyrna Ordeal in the
year 1922." The event was part of the many initiatives to commemorate
the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Armenian capital
of Yerevan.
Dr. Garabed Hatcherian's journal is an eyewitness account of the
1922 Smyrna catastrophe, when the ancient city was destroyed by
a spectacular fire and the entire Armenian and Greek populations
were either massacred or forced to flee. The sequence of events
that led to this disaster stems from the defeat of Turkey by the
Allies in WW1, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the rise of the
Kemalists and the postwar peace settlements. Dr. Hatcherian's journal
covers the period between August 28, 1922 and April 7, 1923, with a
special focus on the two infernal weeks of September 9 through 25,
when the family of eight miraculously escaped the catastrophe. Ten
other members of the extended family, including the mothers of the
Hatcherian couple, along with their brothers and their families,
stayed behind and were all massacred. The journal chronicles on a
day-by-day basis the most significant events in and around Smyrna,
as well as the suffering of the Christian civilian population --
Armenians and Greeks alike -- who in those horrific days became the
target of Mustafa Kemal's nationalists.
Dora Sakayan is Dr. Hatcherian's granddaughter. She first learned
about the existence of Dr. Hatcherian's manuscript (completed and
signed on June 1, 1923 in Salonica) in 1992. It had been kept in the
Argentinean branch of the family for almost seventy years. She read
the West Armenian manuscript in 1993 and undertook immediately to
publish it (Montreal: Arod Books, 1995 and 1997). She subsequently
published her English translation (Montreal: Arod Books, 1997) and
later became the general editor of a multilingual series (French, in
Paris: L'Harmattan, 2000), (Spanish, in Montreal: Arod Books, 2001),
(Greek, in Montreal: Arod Books, 2001).
The three new editions are in East Armenian, Russian and --
Turkish. The first two were published just a few days prior to
their launching by the Armenian Genocide Institute-Museum in Yerevan
under the title "Smyrna 1922: The Journal of the Armenian Physician
Hatcherian." The Turkish edition appeared in March 2005 in Turkey
and was published by the BELGE Publishing House in Istanbul. It
is entitled: Bir Ermeni Doktorun Yasadiklari. Garabet Haceryan'in
Ízmir Guncesi (An Armenian Physician's Ordeal. Garabet Hatcherian's
Diary). To date, eight editions of Dr. Hatcherian's journal have been
prepared and published by Dora Sakayan. She has recently completed
the German translation, which will be published in Germany.
The hall of the Armenian Writers' Union was filled to capacity with
writers, foreign guests, faculty members, publishing executives and
journalists as well as many of Sakayan's friends. Writer Levon Ananyan,
head of the Armenian Writers' Union, delivered the opening speech.
He welcomed the publication of Dr. Hatcherian's journal in three new
versions, Turkish, East Armenian, and Russian, just in time for the
genocide commemoration, and thanked the courageous publisher Ragip
Zarakolu for the Turkish edition. Mr. Ananian emphasized the crucial
importance of Dr. Hatcherian's eyewitness account by saying: "It
demonstrates to the world that despite the outcry of the international
community following the Armenian genocide of 1915, the Turks proceeded
to commit yet another genocide seven years later, this time against the
entire Christian population of Smyrna, both the Armenians and Greeks."
Referring to recent developments in the Armenian-Turkish relations, and
particularly to the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's letter addressed
to the Armenian President Robert Kocharian, Ananyan stated: "They are
proposing to set a group of specialists that would investigate the
archives in Armenia, Turkey and other countries to establish whether
a genocide took place. A document like Dr. Hatcherian's journal that
enlists the reader into a day-by-day trip through history makes such
undertakings redundant. These are merely efforts of the Turkish
authorities to avoid recognizing the Armenian genocide and evade
responsibility. Let us pay tribute to survivors like Dr. Hatcherian
who left behind their testimonies, a source of incontestable facts,
a weapon to fight those who deny the Armenian genocide." Mr. Ananyan
also acknowledged the artistic merit of Dr. Hatcherian's writing by
saying: "Some sections of the diary read as a work of art."
Ananyan thanked Dr. Tessa Hofmann, the prominent German historian and
academic, expert on the Armenian genocide, a Human Rights activist,
and a friend of the Armenian people, for providing an extensive preface
that elucidates the historical background of the Smyrna catastrophe
and the context in which it developed. He then praised Dora Sakayan
for "having erected a monument to her grandfather's memory by making
his journal accessible to the world community and thereby an integral
part of survival literature." He also credited her for a book that
is not only a tribute of love from a granddaughter to her kin but
also a definite contribution to the history of the Armenian genocide."
Ananyan thanked also the director of the Genocide Institute-Museum, Dr.
Lavrenti Barseghyan, for publishing the East Armenian and the Russian
editions of the journal in such a short time, praising him notably
for the publication of a host of survivor testimonials over the last
few years. Regretting, however, that this storehouse of solid proof
has hardly broken out from the Armenian community, he said, "It is
imperative that this great fund of information be translated into
other languages and made available to the international community."
Ananyan then asked radio journalist and writer Larissa Gevorkyan to be
the moderator and preside over the panel of speakers. The panelists
were: Dr. Tessa Hofmann, Institute for East European Studies, Free
University Berlin Academician Simeon Kerkyasharyan, Professor of
History, Yerevan State University (YSU) Margo Ghukassyan, writer and
journalist Dr. Khoren Balian, Professor of Medieval Musicology and
vocalist (YSU) Dr. Artem Harutiunyan, Professor of Western Literature
and poet (YSU) Dr. Lussineh Sahakyan, Professor of Turkish Studies
(YSU) Dr. Verzhineh Svazlian, philologist, senior researcher,
Genocide Institute-Museum, Yerevan Dr. Dora Sakayan, Professor of
German Studies, McGill University, Montreal, Canada (p/r) Called upon
to introduce her guest, Larissa Gevorkyan cited Dora Sakayan's being
up until recently Professor of German Studies at McGill University in
Montreal, Canada, but she also proudly recalled that before migrating
to the New World in 1975 Dora Sakayan had been at the Yerevan State
University -- professor starting in 1957 and chair of the Department
of Foreign languages from 1966 on. Gevorkyan then added: "Dora Sakayan
has authored a great number of scholarly books in applied linguistics
and Armenology. However, she confessed to me that nothing has given
her as much satisfaction as working on her grandfather's journal,
translating it into various languages and editing it." Gevorkyan also
noted that in order to facilitate the fast production of the series,
she founded her own publishing company, Arod Books, in Montreal, where
so far five of the Smyrna editions have appeared. In closing, Larissa
Gevorkian expressed the wish to see one day Dr. Hatcherian's gripping
account become the scenario of a film that would draw the world's
attention on the Smyrna catastrophe, an aftershock of the genocide
that in a matter of seven years ethnically cleansed Asia Minor from
its entire Armenian population, killing thereby 1.5 million innocent
men, women and children.
Larissa Gevorkyan then introduced and gave the floor to Dr. Tessa
Hofmann, who said how happy she was to have prefaced these new editions
and how much she enjoyed presenting them to the press with Dora. "Dr.
Hatcherian's journal," she added, "is an extremely important eyewitness
report, un document humain, as the French call it, a human testimony
about the final phase in a decade of genocides. We are talking about
the transition period of the Ottoman Empire becoming the Republic of
Turkey, a transition from a multi-ethnic and multi-religious state
to a monolithic national state. We are talking about five million
Christians, Greeks, Armenians and Assyrians, who vanished through
genocide, expulsion, and assimilation. The final stage of this crime
was the burning of Smyrna." Dr. Hofmann then went on to describe the
infernal situation, when Smyrna, the once gem city of the Aegean,
went up in flames, and its citizens were burned alive or massacred
by the thousands, and when the 23 international warships anchored
in the harbor did nothing to rescue the endless line of refugees --
Armenian and Greek Christians who were caught, in Dr. Hatcherian's
words, 'between fire, sword and water.' Dr. Hofmann stated that
"the Smyrna catastrophe proves the continuity between the crimes
committed by the Ittihadists and the Kemalists, since the crime
in Smyrna was perpetrated by the Turkish nationalist regime that
followed." She also stated that, based on the UN definition of
genocide, the Smyrna massacres constitute a genocide, and that in
1998 the Greek Parliament passed a resolution declaring the 14th
of September a day of commemoration of the Asia Minor Genocide. In
the last few years, several governors of American states have named
certain days of September remembrance days of the Smyrna and Asia
Minor Genocides. Dr. Hofmann concluded, saying how grateful she is
to Dora for introducing her to this important document and for asking
her to write a preface.
Academician Kerkyasharyan began his speech by saying: "I have
read the West Armenian original version, and I have read it in one
breath. This is a startling book, a book that forces the reader to
face his humanity, for Dr. Hatcherian's idealism, his dedication
to his fellow human beings is simply remarkable. While other Smyrna
doctors escaped Smyrna's disaster by leaving at the first signs of
the imminent danger, Dr. Hatcherian decided to stay. We see him
ready to render medical service, performing operations and assisting
in childbirth. After moving his children and his wife to a sheltered
residence along the seashore, we see him with a fez on his head, and
his military medals pinned on his breast, returning over and over again
to the Armenian and Greek quarters, eager to be with the thousands
of miserable people huddling wherever they could find refuge. After
finally escaping annihilation, we see him, this time in Salonica,
helping the refugees from the Armenian General Benevolent Union's
medical headquarters. With humanists like Hatcherian, even genocides
prove powerless." He then added: "I highly appreciate Dora Sakayan's
thorough scholarly work, supplying Dr. Hatcherian's journal with 65
well-founded historical annotations and a bibliography that makes the
book a precious instrument in the hands of anybody who seeks truth and
justice." Kerkyasharyan also stressed the great importance he attaches
to the forthcoming German edition in view of the responsibilities that
Turkey's WWI ally bears for its collusion, as well as the prospect
of the recognition of the Armenian genocide by the German Parliament.
The next speaker was the writer and journalist Margo Ghukassyan. "I
was in Smyrna in 1980," she said, " and I was fascinated by the
city's natural beauty. Two years ago, I had read the original of Dr.
Hatcherian's journal in West Armenian, and instantly drew parallels
between the beautiful scenery I had once seen and the dreadful events
at the Smyrna harbor described in the journal 83 years ago. As a writer
myself, I was most impressed by Dr. Hatcherian's powerful expression
and elegant style. Without exaggerating, instead rather downplaying his
painful experience, he captivates the reader, drawing him in and making
him a participant of the events. Recently, I read the book again,
and although I knew the outcome, I was as anxious as the first time I
read the book to see his salvation from the horrible military barracks
and his safe return to his family. With this journal, Dr. Hatcherian
definitely establishes himself as a writer in his own right."
Mrs. Ghukassian was followed by Khoren Balian, who first spoke
about Dora Sakayan's overall achievements as a scholar. He then
added: "It is a catastrophe, when Armenian intellectuals leave
their homeland for good. But Dora Sakayan is a happy exception, a
blessing in disguise. She left Armenia 30 years ago, taking Armenia
with herself, and walking with Armenia around the world, introducing
Armenia to many. She also kept coming back to her homeland to renew
her experiences and replenish herself, while contributing to Armenian
linguistics with a great number of books and articles. She pioneered
Armenology at Montreal's renowned McGill University and throughout
Canada. Even though she was a professor in the German Department,
she organized Armenological conferences, founded Armenian courses,
and wrote Armenological monographs and textbooks. Lately, she has been
arriving here every year with a new monograph, or a new conference,
or both, presenting them as a gift to Armenia. She is now with us with
three more editions of Dr. Hatcherian's journal: an East Armenian one,
that will make it accessible to a broad readership in Armenia and
Artsakh, a Russian one for the thousands of readers in the former
Soviet republics, and most importantly, a Turkish edition for the
open-minded Turks who want to discover the truth about the events that
took place in their country between 1915 and 1922. This is a unique
book in the body of survivors' literature." Khoren Balian concluded his
impassioned speech, saying: "This book is a true fossil and a precious
relic of the genocide, a thorn in the flesh of the Turks who do not
have the courage to come to terms with their own history." Since in
the Armenian tradition the launching of a book is done with a song,
Khoren Balian went on to perform "Karahissar," an Armenian folksong
lamenting over the death of a hero who resisted the deportation from
Shabin Karahissar.
"There are at times documentary narratives that surpass or at least
match the artistic quality of literary works." That was the opening
statement of Artem Harutiunyan, the next speaker, who went on to
praise Dr. Hatcherian's literary talents. "In the very first entry of
his journal, the author enlists the reader's interest and triggers
his fascination by starting his narrative with the presentation of
his peaceful and happy family life, his success story as a medical
doctor and his future plans for himself and his loved ones. Alas,
sudden dramatic and earth-shaking events drastically destroy the
doctor's life. The reader follows his story with bated breath. Each
page of this journal is important because it reflects deep personal
feelings, an analytic mind, and a compassionate soul. Compared to
the original West Armenian edition, published in 1995, the present
East Armenian version (2005) has become a much more substantial
publication. Dora Sakayan has done an excellent job in gradually
adding new components: an introduction, numerous notes, an epilogue,
a chapter describing the reception of the journal, etc. And now we
see Dr. Hofmann's most valuable contribution, her preface translated
into Armenian by Dora Sakayan. In its present shape, this book reaches
the reader as an integral unit on the Armenian genocide which is a
valuable documentary, literary, and historical work all in one."
As an expert in Turkish language, Lusineh Sahakyan concentrated on
the Turkish version of the book. She highly praised the publisher,
Ragib Zarakolu for courageously accepting to publish such a book
in Turkey, and also the translator, Atilla Tuygan, for the fitting
quality of his work. "I made some random comparisons," said Sahakyan,
"to ascertain the accuracy of the Turkish translation, and I was
pleasantly surprised to see that Tuygan not only had provided the
original Armenian text with an excellent rendition, but also expanded
the conclusion of Sakayan's introduction, adding a few more rhetorical
questions and rendering her text more convincing and compelling
to the Turkish reader." Sahakyan then proceeded to translate into
Armenian those additional sentences in the Turkish text and added:
"It is known that for many decades Turkish authorities have withheld
information on the Armenian genocide from the general public, from
history books and from school curricula. No wonder Turkish people are
misinformed about the destiny of the Armenian population under Ottoman
rule and in Smyrna, and defend the official denialist views of the
Modern Turkish government. For any uninformed Turkish citizen, this
book is a genuine source of knowledge about the Armenian genocide."
Verzhineh Svazlian, a leading collector of eyewitness accounts of
the 1915-1923 Armenian genocide for fifty years, congratulated Dora
Sakayan for having presented her grandfather's book to the world
in several languages. She added: "Books on the Armenian genocide
have been written in many genres. However, until recently the voice
of survivors was seldom heard. Dr. Hatcherian's journal provides
precious insight into the Smyrna disaster from the unique perspective
of a survivor. But most importantly, it carries both a historical
and a documentary significance because the author puts down his
bitter experience himself and immediately, recording day-by-day,
hour-by-hour what he sees and feels during this atrocious ordeal. In
my view," Dr. Svazlian said, "the 20-page description of his five
days in prison is a significant contribution to the annals of history."
In closing the literary event, Dora Sakayan thanked Dr. L. Barseghyan
for publishing the East Armenian and the Russian editions and
L. Ananyan for organizing the event. She then said: "Today I rejoice,
because I repatriated my grandfather. It is as if I brought his ashes
to Armenia. He is now with his people, in his homeland, where he will
take on a new life, a spiritual one. My grandfather's journal exists
now in nine languages and I consider my mission completed. The most
valuable in the series of translations, however, for me is the Turkish
one and I say: 'More power to Mr. Ragib Zarakolu, the brave publisher
and journalist, the hero, who stands up against censorship and for
freedom of expression in Turkey.' When the book was distributed in
Turkey, Mr. Zarakolu informed me that he was summoned to appear before
the general prosecutor. Today's Turkish authorities dread Dr. Garabed
Hatcherian's journal because it refutes the Turkish apologists' thesis
according to which the steps taken in 1915 against the Armenians were
normal precautionary measures in a state of war, reciprocating the
aggressive actions of the Armenians siding on Turkey's eastern border
with the Russian enemy. Most importantly, because it shows that Kemal
Ataturk, the founder of today's Turkey, carried out the Young Turks'
program by eliminating the entire Armenian community in and around
Smyrna. At the present time, Mr. Zarakolu faces a new trial. We all
should support him in his strife to reform Turkish society." Sakayan
then talked about her uncle Hovhannes (89) and her aunt Vartuhee
(84), Dr. Hatcherian's two children, both citizens of Argentina, both
survivors of the Smyrna catastrophe, who lived to see their father's
work coming home. She then said with emotion: "For us, Armenians around
the world, the time for crying and lamenting is over. It is now time
to show firm resolve and strength." She was very much impressed by
the two-day (April 20-21, 2005) international conference ("Ultimate
Crime, Ultimate Challenge - Human Rights and Genocide") dedicated to
the commemoration of the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian genocide in
Yerevan. "It was an unprecedented conference: dignitaries, scholars,
human rights activists from 50 countries had come not only to condemn
the ultimate crime of genocide, but also to discuss the ultimate
challenges of truth, reconciliation and transitional justice. From
such a high-level forum, our voices can be heard and many goals can
be reached. I congratulate the organizers of this conference, and
especially the Zoryan Institute." Those were Dora Sakayan's closing
words. The three new editions - East Armenian, Russian and Turkish
- had been successfully launched with well-deserved praise for the
author and fervent hope for a positive impact.
--Boundary_(ID_TWpoMLNZcR0uFF/K6ONaGg)--