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HOLY SERVICE COMMEMORATING GENOCIDE VICTIMS April 24, on the day of commemoration of the 1915 Armenian Genocide victims a Divine Liturgy will be served at the Mother See St. Etchmiadzin, with supervision of Bishop Paren Avedikian. After the Divine Liturgy, at the genocide memorial located next to Mother Cathedral of Etchmiadzin an Office for the Dead will be served. © Copyright AZG

An exhibition by one of the greatest artists of our times, Jansim, will open in the Armenian Genocide Museum in Tsitsernakaberd An exhibition by one of the greatest artists of our times, Jansim, will open in the Armenian Genocide Museum in Tsitsernakaberd, Yerevan, for two months. The exhibition is dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The first exhibition in Paris stirred a lot of interest. The artist has expressed preparedness to donate 34 of his paintings that make up the “Genocide” series to the Armenian Genocide Museum. The great painter, who is originally Armenian, will also paint Virgin Mary on the altar of Yerevan’s St. Gregory the Illuminator Church.

STRATEGIC CONSEQUENCES OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE Almost a century passed since the Armenian Genocide of 1915. And up to day Armenia, Armenian nation and each one of us feels the consequences of that horrible tragedy. And it will still take a long time to rehabilitate from that terrible blow. What’s the impact of the genocide on the future of our country, what do thousands of victims mean to us, and what’s the influence of the genocide on our today’s reality? These questions, surprisingly, have not been discussed thoroughly. Actually we responded to these questions with emotions, instead of measuring the genocide and its consequences by political and strategic criteria. Let us briefly outline some facts and figures about the numbers of 1915 genocide victims and losses the Armenian nation suffered in its result. Loss of land Up to 1915 the territory where ethnic Armenians lived occupied the whole Armenian plateau, that is, the historical Armenia. As regards geopolitics this territory totaled 350,000 square km, each region of the territory being kind of a separate ‘castle’, which had a protective role for Armenians living in that region. Thus, when in result of Iranian, Turkish or Mongolian invasions one region was captured the people could easily pass on to another region that was as hard to capture as the previous one. Vital for surviving was the factor of ethnography in the territory- after some time when a region of Armenian plateau was captured by foreign invaders Armenian population, which escaped to neighboring regions, ‘repatriated’ back to their region. And it happened so that the number of Armenians in each region always outnumbered the foreign population. Being the majority in a region, Armenians could easily rebel and recover both their land and independence. The first terrible consequence of the Armenian Genocide, which was carried out by Ottoman Turkey, was that Armenians were estranged from the land where they lived for centuries. As regards strategic factor, the loss of the land deprived Armenians from most of their ‘castles’, leaving only 1/10-th of the previous protective space. At present Armenia does not have any place to run to or cede. Directly speaking, Armenia does not have a right to lose a war, otherwise the Armenian nation will be eliminated. Cultural losses Naturally the Armenian Genocide resulted in immense cultural losses of Armenian nation. Castles, towns, villages, churches, thousands of manuscripts were destroyed in result of the genocide. At present there are as many manuscripts in Armenian as were destroyed during genocide. Many priceless secrets and data were destroyed, stripping us of the rich heritage our ancestors left. Material losses The Ottoman Turkey captured and confiscated all the property of Western Armenians, making the survivors to suffer the hardship of heavy work in foreign lands. Moral blow All the above-mentioned blows had their indelible impact on the moral condition of Armenians, which hampered the natural development of our nation, as well as spiritual and moral values. Also the genocide implanted complex of inferiority among many Armenians, pessimism concerning future, and in some cases self-hatred and rejection of national interests in favor of personal ones. Extermination of communities, leaders and national system The perpetrated genocide aimed and succeeded in exterminating not only masses of people, but a whole nation, which formed a sound system based on century-long traditions and customs. All the Western Armenian leading intellectuals, political and public figures, as well as common people were executed during the 1915 events. Having lost their ‘heads’ (i.e. leaders) Armenian nation was thereafter helpless, and bound to scatter from country to country until finding a shelter to stay. The survivors of the genocide, which formed the Diaspora, tough preserved some elements of national identity and mentality, but also adopted new moral and spiritual values, thus partly assimilating to nations that hosted them. Human losses The genocide of Armenian nation actually falls into 4 stages: 1894-96, when around 300,000 Armenians were massacred; 30,000 were killed in 1090; 1,5 million –during the 1915-16 genocide, and about 300,000 from 1918 to 1922. The number of victims totaling more than 2 million, the incidents are justly described as an attempt by the Ottoman Turkey to exterminate the Armenian nation in root. And pitifully Armenians were afterwards deprived of the right to shout about their victims and persecutions due to the fact that the Eastern Armenia became a part of Soviet Union, which was another ‘master’ which did not allow freedom of speech, choice, action and moreover protest. Nevertheless, although all the blows were vital in sense of formation of Armenian mentality and lifestyle in 20-th century, our nation can be considered a strong one, for no other ethnic group would have the strength to survive, rehabilitate and continue striving for development after having undergone similar ‘treatment’. It has been many times said, and is worth mentioning once again that Armenian nation embodies a unique perseverance, which best displays itself at the moment of danger. By Armen Ayvazian © Copyright AZG

A memorial ceremony to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide took place today in New York’s Times Square A memorial ceremony to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide took place today in New York’s Times Square. Our correspondent in New York reports that American congressmen who attended the ceremony condemned the Washington’s and Tel Aviv’s indifference to towards this tragedy of the beginning of the 20th century. They noted that after the September 11 events, the United States should have completely changed its position towards the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and not to connect this recognition to economic relations with Turkey.

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CANADA'S PRIME MINISTER EXTENDS GREETINGS TO PARTICIPANTS OF CEREMONIES MARKING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE Canadian prime minister Jean Chretien sent a message of his greetings to participants of ceremonies marking the 87-th anniversary of the, as he said "the calamity suffered by the Armenian community." "Canadians share the sorrow of the Armenian community, which saw many of its members meet a tragic fate during the wars that marked the end of the Ottoman Empire. A large number of the survivors established roots in Canada and their contributions, as well as those of their descendants, to the building of our nation deserve every recognition. At this solemn time of remembrance, let us be reminded of the importance of working together to eliminate intolerance and fanaticism wherever it appears and to promote reconciliation and cooperation among peoples," Jean Chretien's message says. © Copyright AZG

ADL COMMEMORATES GENOCIDE VICTIMS http://www.azg.am/IMAGE/200207503.jpg Speaking to an event, organized by the Ramkavar Azatakan party of Armenia April 23 in commemoration of the victims of the 1915 genocide, perpetrated by the government of Young Turks in the last years of the Ottoman empire, the party chairman Rouben Mirzakhanian cited the figures, provided by the Genocide Museum and Institute in Yerevan that in 1914 the overall Armenian population in Turkey was 2 million 133,000. In 1922 there remained only 387,000 Armenians. Between 1914 and 19222 one million 745,000 Armenians were either annihilated or deported by the government of Turkey. The world’s history never before witnessed such an example of mass violations, when the entire state machinery was used for slaughtering a people only because of their nationality, without taking into account their sex, age or health conditions. They killed everyone. The volume of material losses and damages sustained by Armenians was immense. As a result of the genocide Armenians suffered a total of 19 billion 130 million French Franks at 1919 prices. The Ramkavar Azatakan party has been viewing the pursuance of the Armenian Cause as a strategic direction of its activity throughout its history. The party conducts an exclusive work in the Diaspora by collecting and publicizing all the documents that shed new light on this most atrocious crime of humanity to raise the international community’s awareness of it and also to seek international recognition of the Armenian genocide. The Ramkavar Azatakan party of Armenia evaluates highly the announcement of Armenian president Robert Kocharian from the high platform of the UN when he called for international recognition of the genocide. The party also believes that the official acknowledgment of the genocide by parliaments of several countries after the change of power in 1998 was due to change of policy in this issue as well. The Ramkavar Azatakan deems that economic and even political relations with Turkey should be implemented without preconditions and only under these conditions positive changes may follow. The party does not approve that the task of reconciliation of Armenians and Turks has been assumed by people with revanchist moods, who are interested only in how to return back the power they lost whatever the cost. The Diaspora in this commission is represented by people who have not been distinguished in taking interest in national issues and who have devoted their life to personal prosperity and spending time at various conferences. This kind of commission’s make up is not serious and consequently no one can expect serious results to come from it. We demanded and continue demanding that the historical truth be recognized, but we also believe that this natural and legal strive should not affect establishment of economic or political contacts between two neighbor countries. Commemorating events are taking place in all Armenian communities throughout the world. The day of April 24 is a rare day when all Armenian parties come out as a unified force, forgetting their ideological differences and debates, unified in a strive to establish the historical truth, to safeguard the nation. Realizing this pure strive we should all live and work for the future of our homeland. We can overcome the challenges and difficulties we have been facing only united. © Copyright AZG

DESPITE TURKISH APOLOGIES, ECEVIT’S WORDS HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECT ON JEWISH SUPPORT More than two weeks have passed since that fateful day when Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians. Since then, he has come under such blistering criticism from both Israel and American-Jews that Ecevit and Turkish Americans have been busy trying to control the damage caused to Turkey’s interests by profusely and repeatedly apologizing for that “indiscretion.” Judging from various Jewish reactions, Ecevit’s words will not be soon forgotten or forgiven! On April 5th, one day after Ecevit’s comments, nine major American-Jewish organizations sent a joint letter to the Turkish Prime Minister severely criticizing him and rejecting his “clarification” and apology. They said that his use of the term “genocide” to describe Israel’s military operations in the West Bank is resolutely wrong as fact and offensive as comment. The Jewish groups stated that the Israeli actions were “directly comparable to the Turkish government’s armed attacks on the Kurds in northern Iraq. In other words, Turkish actions could also be qualified as genocide. The American Jewish Committee, the American Jewish Congress, the Anti-Defamation League, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, the Hadassah, and the Orthodox Union concluded their letter by stating, “we register our profound disappointment with your comment.” The representatives of six major American-Jewish organizations, including AIPAC, met with Turkey’ ambassador Faruk Logoglu on April 9, to personally register their protest. Ironically, only a few months ago, these same nine American-Jewish groups had sent a joint letter to Pres. Bush urging him to provide more US assistance to Turkey. They had stated that “Turkey’s extensive relationship with Israel on social, economic, and military issues has wavered not one bit.” I wonder if these Jewish groups now regret having made such a pro-Turkish statement. Would they be so eager to lobby on behalf of Turkey again? The New York Times covered the Jewish reactions to Ecevit’s accusations. In an April 10th article titled, “With a word, Israeli-Turkish strain surfaces,” reporter Douglas Frantz quoted Barry Jacobs, the director of strategic studies for the American Jewish Committee, as saying: “We have put a lot of effort in on behalf of Turkey.” The AJC and other American Jewish groups were reported to have been stung and angered by Ecevit’s words. “Israel also lodged diplomatic complaints,” The Times wrote. The Turkish Zaman newspaper reported the remarks of Alon Liel, a former official of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, who said that everything will be forgotten in the future except Ecevit’s accusation of genocide. The Jewish people will never forget that. Israel will henceforth question Turkey’s trustworthiness, Liel said. Ecevit’s statement may have also caused a serious rift in the joint lobbying efforts of Jewish and Turkish Americans at the grassroots level. Here are the powerful words of a Jewish-American woman, Rachel Krespin of Fairfield, Connecticut, who wrote the following letter to Ecevit: “Today, I lived one of the biggest disappointments of my entire life, when I was informed of your recent remarks defining Israel’s war against terrorism in pure self-defense as “genocide.” I feel very betrayed and shocked. I am a Turkish-Israeli-American who spends her entire life in the fight against defamation of Turkey, writing tens of letters every week, trying to counter the many virulent attempts of Greeks, Armenians, Kurds, etc., who all claim “genocide. Ms. Krespin, describing herself as a member of the Turkish Forum (a pro-Turkish website), Daughters of Ataturk, the Assembly of Turkish American Associations, and the American Association of Jewish Friends of Turkey, wrote: “As members of these distinguished organizations in America, we do all we can, to better the image of Turkey in the world. And we do not do this alone. It is the help, support and firm stand of countless Jewish organizations that give us credibility and make our cause heard. We repeatedly quote Israel’s Foreign Minister Shimon Peres’ denial of the “Armenian Genocide” when we make our case.” Reiterating her total dedication to “vigorous anti-Armenian, anti-Greek, and anti-Kurd campaigns,” she told the Turkish Prime Minister, Israel and the Jewish people around the world have faithfully stood by Turkey through all her battles and campaigns, both military and political. And you, Mr. Evevit, have betrayed Israel. And you betrayed me.” A potentially more damaging development for Turkey was disclosed in an upcoming editorial of the newsletter of the American Association of Jewish Friends of Turkey (AAJFT). Here are some excerpts: “By using the word “genocide,” he [Ecevit] has destroyed the 80 years of slow and painstaking efforts on the part of the Sephardis to influence the majority of the Ashkenazic and Mizrahim American-Jewish organizations in favor of Turkey. Many of our members are questioning the continuation of our organization, the AAJFT, and frankly, we do not blame them.” The AAJFT editorial further stated that despite the persecutions of Jews in Turkey, such as “the sad episodes of the pogroms in Thrace, the Varlik Vergisi, the camp at Askala, the labor battalions, “we [Jews] stood up for Turkey whenever we could”. We fought the insidious accusations against Turkey coming from the Greek, Armenian and Arab lobbies.” We wrote letters to the editors whenever the good name of Turkey was being vilified in the American press; we spoke up at political meetings when local Arabs, Armenians or Greeks wanted to pass anti-Turkish resolutions; we proudly marched at Turkish parades in the streets of New York with the Stars and Stripes surrounded by the red Turkish crescent flag on one side and the white Blue Star of David on the other; we testified at state hearings when anti-Turkish curricula were being debated. Mainly we influenced our fellow Ashkenazic and Mizrahi Jews in the United States who knew little about Turkey, or knew only what they heard from the anti-Turkish press. Our Sephardic goodwill ambassadors quietly and persistently continued this long uphill crusade to defend the good name of Turkey in our organizations, our synagogues, our local assemblies and everywhere we were present.” The editorial concluded with the following drastic suggestion: “It pains us greatly to hear the word “genocide” used in any other context except that of the genocide of the Jewish people, especially coming from Prime Minister Ecevit who has always insisted that there were no other genocides in the world.” Perhaps he did not realize the depth of the hurt of the Jewish people in hearing that word coming from the leader of a nation which we had always considered to be our friend. As president of our association, I call upon our members to decide whether we should continue to have an American Association of Jewish Friends of Turkey. Given these highly negative repercussions, the Turks did everything possible to minimize the damage. Within 48 hours of his statement, Ecevit was compelled to issue two separate apologies. When Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ismail Cem was asked during an interview on the Turkish Kanal 7 Television if the Jewish lobby is “so important to us that following its reaction, Prime Minster Ecevit had to correct his remark about a genocide twice,” he replied: “the Jewish lobby has always supported Turkey against any injustices that have been made or that were going to be made.” Cem also acknowledged that the Jewish lobby has always supported Turkey in connection with the Armenian genocide issue. A prominent Turkish commentator, Mehmet Ali Birand, described Ecevit’s remarks as a “big gaffe” and said that the Prime Minister had acted like “a bull in a china shop.” Referring to the “certain connotations” of the word genocide, especially when used by a Turkish leader, Birand suggested that “those who live in glass houses should not throw stones!” In a desperate attempt to appease the angered Jews, some Turkish-American activists even resorted to degrading their own Prime Minister, of course, from the safe shores of the United States. Here is a small sample of how they have characterized Ecevit. Prof. Yuruk Iyriboz wrote back to the “betrayed” Jewish-American woman, Rachel Krespin: “Ecevit’s statement is not only devoid of the responsibility adhered to his position but also unintelligently augments other false claims in order to create myths provoking hatred among the peoples”. As senility post-retirement is admissible, it is not compatible with leadership.” Mahmut Esat Ozan of the Turkish Forum wrote to Ms. Krespin apologetically: “Let me assure you, dear friend, there have been very few times in my whole lifetime when I was as much infuriated as I am now having heard about the utterly irresponsible bungling, blunder, slip-up, faux pas, folly, misjudgment and the miscarriage of justice all committed by one opinionated Turkish Prime Minister called Bulent Ecevit.” Ergun Kirlikovali of the Turkish Forum wrote: “Turkish Forum urges Ecevit to apologize to Israel. Turkish Forum and the people of Turkey greatly value the special ties and the friendship with the Jewish people in Israel and elsewhere and is grateful for the continued support of all the Jewish-American organizations for our cause. We trust that Ecevit’s ill-informed and unfortunate remarks, would not and cannot affect the strong Turkish-Jewish friendship.” Another Turk, Keenan Pars, took a more offensive tack in his writing to the president of the American Association of Jewish Friends of Turkey: “It is unfortunate that Turkey has to suffer through the senility of Ecevit·. Israel has its own share of imbeciles and charlatans. Wasn’t there a buffoon named Yossi Beillin [israel’s former Minister of Justice] who recently advocated that Israel should buy into the Armenian genocide scam and even teach it in schools? We don’t get overly upset when scoundrels like Elie Wiesel, Noam Chomsky and other opportunists help perpetuate the hoax of the slick Armenian con artists. While these weasels may be “experts” in the Holocaust matters, they have diddly-squat qualifications to speak about the Turk-Armenian conflict. They are in it to fatten their bank accounts. Just ask Elie Wiesel how much he charges the Armenians for a “speaking engagement.” These frantic Turkish efforts to appease Israel and American Jews at all cost are a clear indication that Turkey is greatly dependent on the Jewish lobby to carry out its political agenda in Washington. The argument, therefore, that Israel’s reluctance to recognize the Armenian Genocide is due to its concern about the Turkish backlash is groundless. Given the Turkish ingratitude for the numerous services rendered by American Jews to Turkey, the honorable thing for the Jews to do at this joint is to discontinue these services and join with the Armenian American community in commemorating the Armenian Genocide on April 24. By Harut Sassounian, Publisher, The California Courier © Copyright AZG

FRANCE HOLDS EVENTS DEVOTED TO COMMEMORATION OF THE VICTIMS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE A liturgy, commemorating the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide, was held in Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris April 21 with Armenia's extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to France Edward Nalbandian, heads of the Armenian Apostolic, Catholic and Evangelical churches participating. According to Armenian foreign affairs ministry public relations department, French-Armenian youth organizations lit candles at Bastille Square in Paris April 23. A ceremony was also held at Paris City Hall April 24, devoted to the victims of the genocide. The same day wreaths were put at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier. It should be mentioned that events, devoted to the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide are supposed to be held in numerous cities of France, namely in Marseilles, Lyons, Valence and others. A monument to the victims of the genocide will be set up in the town of Seizio, and a square in Clamard will be renamed. © Copyright AZG

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARIAN’S MESSAGE ON THE OCCASION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS’ COMMEMORATION DAY Dear compatriots Today the whole Armenian nation, just like every year, commemorates the victims of 1915 Armenian Genocide. On this day in 1915 Armenian intelligentsia and clergy were arrested in Istanbul, which set the beginning of the Armenian Genocide- a crime perpetrated and carried out by the Ottoman Turkey’s authorities, a crime which was to become the most tragic page of the Armenian history. The future of a nation with a strong civilization and culture was questioned, and endangered in their own land. All the parts of the spread Armenian nation still bear on them the stamp of the tragic events of the 1915. Armenia pursues the international recognition of the genocide, and this issue is among the major ones on the agenda of its foreign policy, a fact which displays the just demand and expectations of the Armenian nation. Armenians living in homeland and Diaspora are waiting for the recognition and condemnation of this inhuman crime. It is not a manifestation of revenge, but a concern for ensuring that a similar crime will not happen ever again. Today we pay homage to the memory of our victims - with a deep confidence that historical justice will triumph. We look into future of our country and statehood with trust. Homeland and statehood are sacred things for each Armenian, and they should be built with joint effort and devotion. © Copyright AZG

Remembering the history Years of events led up to the killing of 1.5 million Armenians under Turkish rule By Karen S. Kim GLENDALE -- When Samuel Kadorian was 13, waiting at Ellis Island to receive his citizenship papers in 1920, he came across a woman whose baby was wailing inconsolably. Immigration officials called for someone to translate the woman's frantic words. Kadorian, an Armenian refugee who fled to America after the Armenian Genocide in Turkey, offered to help because he could speak six languages, he said. But the moment he heard the women's pleas, Kadorian was struck with a moral dilemma. He had just fled a country where his sisters and brothers had died of starvation in a Turkish jail, and now a Turkish woman was begging for his help, he said. "I'm 13 years old, and I have to make a decision," said Kadorian, 95. "If I translate it wrong with the guards, that baby would die. If I said the truth, the baby would live. "As a good Christian, as a good person, I told the truth, but there was a part of me that didn't want to when I thought of my brothers and sisters." Kadorian's brothers and sisters were among the 1.5 million Armenians estimated to have been killed by Turkish forces during the Armenian Genocide. The Turkish government denies allegations of a genocide, and the U.S. does not officially recognize it. But thousands of local Armenians will commemorate the 86th anniversary of the killings on Wednesday. The day recognizes the mass arrest, imprisonment and murder of about 5,000 Armenian intellectuals and other community leaders on April 24, 1915. The incident marked the beginning of years of murder, starvation, deportation and what Armenians call the attempted extermination of their population by the Turkish government. Armenia became a subject of the Ottoman Empire in the 1500s, after being bombarded and weakened by a series of invasions from different countries over several hundred years. Armenians were able to maintain some cultural and religious autonomy in an empire that was mainly Muslim. This autonomy is what some say contributed to the genocide in later years. "They were distinct and different from the Turks," USC Religion Professor Donald Miller. "Because they were Christians, there was very, very little intermarriage with the Turks, and it identified them as a non-Turkish, non-Muslim population." For five centuries, under Ottoman rule, most Armenians lived in the eastern part of the country as peasants. But the Young Turk Revolution in 1908 brought to power a new regime. The group struggled against ultranationalist factions within itself until 1913. Then the nationalists orchestrated a military coup and assumed power, installing a military dictatorship, according to "The Armenian Genocide: 1915-1923," by UCLA history professor Simon Payaslian. The coup led to the practice of extreme Turkish nationalism, called Pan-Turkism, that some scholars contend led to the Armenian Genocide. "This was really an attempt to 'Turkify' Turkey," said Miller, who cowrote "Survivors: An oral history of the Armenian Genocide" with his wife Lorna Touryan Miller. "The notion of Turkey for the Turks. That's the sense in which I say this was a genocide." The onset of World War I in August 1914 brought the armies of Great Britain, France and Russia invading all sides of Turkey, which had sided with Germany. Turkish officials point to Armenian support of the invading Allies as one of the root causes of the Armenian massacres. The Armenian population on the eastern side of Turkey had pledged its allegiance to the invading powers in hopes of independence after the war, said Aykut Berk, consul general of Turkey in Los Angeles. "The Armenians have been, since the beginning of the war, de facto belligerents ... since they have fought alongside the Allies on all fronts," Berk read from a 1919 translated letter from Boghos Nubar, head of the Armenian Delegation to the Paris Peace Conference to the French foreign minister. During the course of the war, Armenian soldiers in the Turkish army were disarmed, used for labor, starved and ultimately murdered, Payaslian wrote in his book. Next, 5,000 Armenian intellectuals were killed in April 1915. In May of the same year, the Turkish government began deporting caravans of Armenians in the Eastern provinces, forced to march south through rough terrain with no rest, food or protection from frequent attacks and massacres. "Yes, there was suffering and tragic things happened then," Berk said. "But [the Armenians] became such a threat that the Ottoman Empire had no other choice but to move these people to other provinces [away from invading Russian forces.] They were a threat to the very existence of the state. This was a mini-war within a larger war." Berk contends that the killings were political and military acts during war, not a genocide. Armenians should also recognize that 2.5 million Turks were killed during World War I as well, Berk said. But Rouben Adalian, director of the Washington D.C-based Armenian National Institute, said the killing of 1.5 million Armenians was indeed a genocide. "You have an organized, systematic process eliminating and reducing a population that's organized by the state," Adalian said. "They wanted to make sure that historic Armenia did not have the ability to revive a separate country. The way to do that was to destroy the population." Miller agreed, "Even if there were liberation attempts, does that justify slaughtering the entire population? I think, by any account, the answer to that is no."

Posting a political statement Resident hosts Armenian Genocide poster contest to educate the public. By Karen S. Kim GLENDALE -- Glendale resident A.J. Zakarian has 4,000 posters emblazoned with phrases like "Still waiting for a fair trial" and "Complete the Ottoman Empire history, recognize the Armenian Genocide of 1915" stored in canisters at his house. The posters were designed by winners of an international Armenian Genocide poster contest that Zakarian hosted this year to commemorate the tragedy's 87th anniversary Wednesday. "I definitely feel that these posters will make an impact and will make people more aware and more compassionate for what happened," Zakarian, 28, said. "A picture is worth a thousand words." One of the winning posters depicts a set of Ottoman Empire history books missing its 1915 volume, while another shows a genocide survivor with a pained expression. About 1.5 million Armenians are believed to have been killed by Ottoman forces in 1915. The Turkish government denies that the killings were a genocide, and the U.S. government does not recognize it. Zakarian, who runs www.ArmeniaGuide.com, began asking for poster design submissions a year ago on a new Web site, www.armeniangenocideposters.org. Twelve participants from the United States, Armenia, Canada and Europe submitted 31 poster designs, and visitors to the Web site voted for their favorites, Zakarian said. Zakarian then printed the four top vote-getters to give to 300 selected organizations, including local libraries, schools and museums. The organizations were asked to hang the designs in memory of the Armenian Genocide. Retail shops along the route where Armenian students will march Wednesday in Los Angeles also will be asked to hang the winning posters. The leftover posters will be mounted on wooden sticks and held by marching youths. The cost of producing the posters, about 70 cents apiece, is being paid by Zakarian's family. "If I'm not helping, that means I don't care. This is my way of helping," he said. "I'm helping a cause that needs to be recognized, because history cannot be denied."

SOUTHEAST GLENDALE -- A commemoration ceremony to honor the victims of the Armenian Genocide will be held at 7 tonight at United Community Church. The event will include a lecture, poetry recitations and ceremonial entertainment. Sponsors of the commemoration include the Armenian Council of America, Gaidz Youth Organization, Armenian Athletic Organization, Nor Serount Cultural Assn. and the Armenian Benevolent Education Union. The church is at 333 E. Colorado Blvd

SHUTTLE RIDES The city will provide shuttle service to and from the Glendale Civic Auditorium on Wednesday for its Armenian Genocide commemoration event between 5:30 and 9 p.m. The shuttle will transport participants from St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church, 500 S. Central Ave. to the auditorium, 1401 N. Verdugo Road between 5 and 9 p.m.

A "Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide" will be at 5:30 p.m. at the Glendale Civic Auditorium, 1401 N. Verdugo Road. For more information, call 548-4844.

De inch Ruben SHnorhavorum em !!!

What will you be doing on April-24 I will be at the commemoration ceremony to honor the victims of the Armenian Genocide, I’ll do my best to get some pictures of the events of Monte bello and Hollywood. MOvses

TURKEY HAS TO APOLOGIES TO ARMENIAN PEOPLE 23.04.2002 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ The government of Turkey has to apologies to the Armenian people for 1915 Armenian genocide. According to «Arminfo» agency, Speaker of the Greek parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis made this statement when speaking at the action dedicated to the 87 anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey. Representatives of the Greek government and deputy of political parties participated in the action. As «Turkish Daily News» Turkish Agency reports the participants placed wreaths at the Unknown warrior memorial. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

he's alive

United Armenian Students Plan March To Mark Genocide Anniversary The annual march in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide will take place on Wednesday, April 24, at 11:00 a.m. in "Little Armenia" Hollywood, California. Participants will begin the march at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Hobart Street. Honorable Eric Garcetti of the 13 Council District will be speaking at the program following the completion of the 1.5 mile walk. Senator Richard Alarcon's office will make their support for the United Armenian Students known by presenting a recognition certificate in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. Congressman Henry Waxman's office will also present a certificate, recognizing the Genocide of 1915 and condemning crimes against humanity. The march is an effort organized by the United Armenian Students (UAS) to promote awareness of crimes against humanity and bring recognition of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish Government. UAS believes in keeping the memory of the Armenian Genocide alive to ensure that history does not repeat itself. UAS is presently based in Los Angeles and represents Armenian-American students from more than a dozen universities in Southern California. UAS members include students from UCLA, USC, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, Loyola Marymount University, Pepperdine University, Woodbury University, Cal State LA, Cal State Northridge, Cal State Long Beach, Cal Poly Pomona, Glendale Community College, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Valley College, Pierce College, UCLA School of Law, Loyola Law School, La Verne Law School, Armenian American Medical Students and House-staff Association, and ARF SHANT Student Association. In addition to a coalition of other Armenian youth groups such as the Armenian Church Youth Organization, Armenian Society of Los Angeles, Armenian Youth Federation, Gaidz Youth Organization, and Usanogh Periodical of Armenian Students, the non-Armenian community is also invited to participate. UAS strategically organized the march in Hollywood's "Little Armenia" district, which gained its inception in October 2000, due to the region's large and solid Armenian presence. The United States and United Nations have identified and targeted the perpetrators of the September 11 crimes against humanity in collaboration with other nations in a non-systematic and non-ethnic fashion. Such must be the case of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish Government. UAS plans to promote the humanitarian spirit through public awareness of cultural diversity, human rights, information workshops, historical evaluations, and community-enrichment projects.

Schiff Asks for Names Of Genocide Victims WASHINGTON—Congressman Adam Schiff (D-27) will once again honor the memory of the 1.5. million victims of the Armenian Genocide during a speech on the floor of the US House of Representatives on April 24, and he is inviting his constituents to submit the names of family members lost during the genocide for recognition on the floor. As in the previous year, Rep. Schiff will read the names of victims of the genocide into the Congressional Record as a way to give a voice to those whose voices were tragically silenced by the Ottoman Turkish government's state-sponsored genocide. The Congressional Record is the most widely recognized published account of the debates, proceedings, and activities of the United States Congress. Printed by the Government Printing Office on a daily basis, the Congressional Record is a full record of legislative proceedings. Constituents of the 27th Congressional District of California, which includes Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, South Pasadena, La Cañada-Flintridge, San Marino, Sunland-Tujunga, La Crescenta and Altadena, may call Rep. Schiff's district office at (626) 304-2727, fax (626) 304-0572 or e-mail schiff.speech@mail.house.gov to submit the names of family members who were victims of the Armenian Genocide. Names should be submitted no later than 5 p.m. Monday.

$150,000 Raised for Pilibos Construction Fund Richard and Tina Carolan Donate $50,000 LOS ANGELES—The traditional Rose and Alex Pilibos annual dinner-banquet took place last month at Deukmejian hall at Ararat Home. This event differed from the ones of the previous year, in that the entire proceeds from the event was allocated toward the construction of a new gymnasium/library facility at the school. During the event $150,000 was raised for this effort, with long-time benefactors and community activists Richard and Tina Carolan donating $50,000. "As has been the case in the past, our dedicated and long-time supporters Richard and Tina Carolan have donated $50,000 to the school, once again reaffirming their faith in the school and the goals of Alex Pilibos," announced principal Viken Yacoubian, who also thanked all individuals that have generously contributed to the effort. In his remarks, Yacoubian also praised the dinner-dance committee, whose relentless efforts resulted in the unprecedented success of the event. During the gathering, Western Prelate Bishop Moushegh Mardirossian also offered his blessing and support for the school and its ongoing expansion and progress. The official program began with welcoming remarks by Pilibos Finance Committee member Marie Demirdjian, who greeted the participants and thanked them for their continuous support of the school. Finance Committee chairman Sako Berberian briefed the attendees about the financial aspect of the school and provided an extensive report on the gymnasium/library project. He praised the school for its consistent advancement in academia and its vision for expansion to provide a better and a healthier learning environment for future generations of Armenians. In his remarks, Yacoubian also reported on the accomplishments of the school, which have instilled within the community the faith in the school. He said the increase in enrollment throughout the years and the success of the school's graduates who have gone on to attend prestigious institutions of higher learning are proof of the school's commitment to education and advancement. Yacoubian also thanked the architects of the new gymnasium and library Robert Mangourian and Maryann Ray, whose unique design for the building has received wide acclaim and notice by the Los Angeles Times and Architecture Magazine. The principal pledged that the school will not rest on its laurels and will continue its chosen path of educational enhancement and creating a safe and functional campus for the more than 800 students of Rose and Alex Pilibos. The Hollywood community is anxiously awaiting the completion of the state-of-the-art facility, which will benefit the academic and physical fitness needs of the school.

State Assembly Passes Genocide Resolution SACRAMENTO—The State Assembly passed legislation April 18, jointly authored by Assemblymembers Dario Frommer (D-Glendale) and Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) designating April 24, 2002 as "California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923." The legislation, AJR 44, also calls upon Congress and the federal government to likewise commemorate the Armenian Genocide. Assembly Joint Resolution 44 passed 76 to 0. "This legislation remembers the victims and honors the survivors of the Forgotten Genocide," said Frommer of the proposed legislation. "Governments throughout the world must work diligently to keep this new millennium free of the hatred, bigotry, and cruelty which was at the heart of the Armenian Genocide and the other crimes against humanity that marred the 20th century," added Frommer. "This is the ninth consecutive year that the Legislature has voted to recognize a week of Remembrance," said Assemblymember Frommer. "I look forward to the day when the United States government will do the same." The Armenian people living in their historic homeland in Asia Minor were subjected to severe persecution and brutal injustice by the Turkish rulers of the Ottoman Empire before and after the twentieth century, culminating with what is known as the "Forgotten Genocide." From April 24, 1915, through 1923, more than 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children were murdered by the Young Turk regime in control of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, and many more were starved, tortured, led on death marches into the Syrian desert, and exiled from their homeland. California joins a list of many groups and governments that have admitted the abuses and crimes committed by the Young Turk regime against the Armenian people. The Republic of Turkey continues to deny the occurrence of the crimes against humanity committed by the Young Turk rulers.

ARMENIAN DOCTORS PROVIDE TREATMENT TO 1,000 IN Artsax An extensive group of doctors from Armenia provided free medical treatment to more than one thousand patients in Nagorno Artsax during a several day stay there at the innovation of Artsax leader Arkady Ghukasian last week. Armenian surgeons also performed several exclusive operations. At the end of the visit the doctors were received by Ghukasian, who said he hoped that doctors from Armenia would travel to Artsax on a regular basis as the local capacities were not enough to overcome what has been left by the war. © Copyright AZG

TURKISH PRESIDENT PLEDGES TO OPEN OTTOMAN ARCHIVES The Ankara Institute for Armenian Researches organized a congress on Armenian studies. The Institute was founded in 2001 as an affiliation of the Center for Eurasian Strategic Researches to carry out studies of Armenia-related questions. In a message sent to the scientists who attended the congress April 20-21 Turkish president Ahmet Sezer said Turkey was going to open the Ottoman archives to allow scientists to get access to the materials which deny any plan of organization and implementation of the Armenian genocide. "I am calling on all scientists to come and benefit from the archives of this period," he said, condemning all efforts to “blacken Turks and their history”. According to Anatolia news agency, messages were also sent by Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit and deputy prime minister Mesut Yilmaz, who said that examination of the archives would disapprove Armenian claims of genocide. They also condemned the European parliament and France for official recognition of the Armenian genocide, which, according to them, had been done under a strong pressure by the Armenian Diaspora. Many experts however claim that the biggest portion of the Ottoman archives indicating that the genocide had been planned and carried out by the Turkish authorities have been eliminated long before. The reliability of the “researches” that are going to be done by historians, including also of Armenian descent, hired on Turkish money is also very questionable. In 2000 November a Turkish Yeni Gundem newspaper published an article by Armenian historian Vahan Dadrian in which he spoke about the trial and execution of the main perpetrators of the genocide. The article made furious Turkish readers, intellectuals and officials. If The Ottoman empire had not planned and carried out the extermination of 1.5 million Armenians why then the Republic of Turkey, its heir, had tried and sentenced to death some of its organizers. But some escaped justice but were later tracked down and killed by Armenian avengers. Or why one of the biggest picture galleries Halton Getti removed three pictures depicting victims of Armenian genocide from its Internet page after consistent protests of the Turkish ambassador in London. Founder of modern Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, by condemning the atrocities committed his predecessors, rulers of the Ottoman empire, ordered in 1922 September killing of 100,000 Greeks and 30,000 Armenians in Smirna. A year later one million Greeks were deported from Anatolia. Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul Mesrob II speaking at a meeting held at the Dedeman Hotel in Istanbul by the Marmara Group Strategic and Social Researches Foundation April 19 gave information about the "Patriarchate Archives". He said that the Patriarchate Library would be open to everybody next year. Mesrob II said that the state had sealed the archives and manuscripts on 30 July 1916 and some of them had been sent to Jerusalem and some of them had been sent to Paris. Noting that today's Istanbul Patriarchate had started keeping archives in 1923, Mesrob II said that archives until 1944 were irregular but they were regular after 1951. By Tatoul Hakobian © Copyright AZG