To Maim and Kill with Impunity

Preferential Treatment for Armenia’s Oligarchs and their Entourage
In November 2011, Syunik Governor Suren Khachatryan (aka “Liska”) physically attacked businesswoman Silva Hambarzumyan in the lobby of the Marriot Hotel in Yerevan. He was reportedly angered over her accusations that he stole over 100 million drams ($258,000) worth of equipment from her gold mine. The media quickly [...]

ANCA Condemns Clinton’s Complicity in Genocide Denial

Hillary Clinton

Secretary of State Dismisses Genocide as ‘Historical Debate’ in Public Comments to State Department Staff

WASHINGTON, DC–The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) sharply criticized remarks by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who on Jan. 26 dismissed the murder of 1.5 million Armenians as a “historical debate,” and argued that U.S. affirmation of this crime [...]

Turkey Moves to Deport Armenian Workers after French Vote

ISTANBUL, Turkey (A.W.)—Turkey is set to amend a law next month that aims to rid the country of illegal workers. Many view this move as retaliation against Armenians in light of the new bill criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial in France.

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan (Photo by Nanore Barsoumian)

Varying estimates in Turkey put the number of Armenian [...]

Akcam: Genocide Recognition is about Justice, Not Freedom of Thought

The following interview with Prof. Taner Akcam, the Robert Aram, Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen and Marion Mugar Chair in Armenian Genocide Studies at Clark University, appeared in Le Monde on Jan. 7. The interview was conducted by Guillaume Perrier. Below is the interview in English.

Taner Akcam

Q. What is your opinion, not about the genocide denial law [...]

Rendahl: No!

My great-grandmother was a suffragette. She was born in 1886 and is said to be the longest serving woman legislator in the country, having been elected to 19 terms in the New Hampshire state legislature. Does anyone remember what it means to be a suffragette? Have we forgotten how many decades and droves of people [...]

Library of Congress Exhibition on Armenian Treasures to Open April 19

NEW YORK—It was an extraordinary evening of revelation on Dec. 1 as Dr. Levon Avdoyan unveiled the large trove of Armenian treasures in the Library of Congress, where he serves as “specialist” of the Armenian and Georgian areas. Entitled “To Know Wisdom and Instruction,” his talk covered 500 years of Armenian printing and a history [...]

Akcam to Talk on Armenian Genocide Trials at NAASR

BELMONT, Mass.—On Thurs., Feb. 16, Dr. Taner Akcam, the Robert Aram and Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen and Marian Mugar Professor of Modern Armenian History and Armenian Genocide Studies at Clark University, will give a lecture entitled “Judgment at Istanbul: The Armenian Genocide Trials,” at 8 p.m., at the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research [...]

Sassounian: 20 Steps Turkey Could Take to Worsen Relations with France

Turkey’s leaders threatened France for months with various reprisals should the French government pass a law making it illegal to deny the Armenian Genocide.

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan

Ignoring Turkish threats and blackmail, the French Parliament adopted a bill on Dec. 22, 2011, criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide. The Senate followed suit on Jan. 23, 2012, [...]

Protesters Unite Against Mining in Kajaran

KAJARAN, Nagorno-Karabagh—Recently, in Syujik, in the southern region of Armenia bordering Iran, the villagers of Kajaran, headed by their mayor, protested against the illegal government decision known as #627. Taken without consulting the villagers—as the law requires—and without informing the public, #627 effectively circumvented the law. It involves the allocation of 600 hectares of village [...]

Def(e)ining Choice: Bruce Fein, the Turkish Lobby, and the Ron Paul Campaign

Bruce Fein is a familiar name in the Armenian American press, having time and again represented Turkish-American interests inside U.S. courtrooms in cases such as Schmidt vs. Krikorian; the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) vs. the University of Minnesota; and Guenter Lewy vs. the Southern Poverty Law Center. He is a resident scholar at the [...]

Community Organizations Discuss Future Plans at ARF Conference

QUEENS, N.Y. (A.W.)—The ARF Eastern Region organized a one-day conference on Jan. 14 that focused on ways to cultivate, organize, and develop community initiatives and events, and to capitalize on human resources. The event took place at the community center in Queens, N.Y. The Regional Executives of the ARS, Homenetmen, Hamazkayin, and AYF were present. [...]

Human Rights Watch: Court Protects Journalist’s Killers

Murder Trial Verdict Covers Up State Collusion in Hrant Dink Assassination
ISTANBUL (Human Rights Watch)—A Turkish court’s verdict on January 17, 2012, that there was no state involvement or organized plot behind the 2007 shooting of the Turkish Armenian journalist Hrant Dink is a travesty of justice, Human Rights Watch said on Jan. 18.

The Istanbul court’s [...]

Nayiri Dance Ensemble Performs for TSA

NEW YORK (A.W.)–The Nayiri Dance Ensemble of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of New Jersey kicked off another year of entertainment, dance, and fun while teaching young Armenian children the value of our culture through dance in 2012. In the fall of 2011, the group had numerous invitations and several performances showcasing the [...]

Plaque Installed in Memory of Dink, Crowds Take to the Streets

ISTANBUL (A.W.)–In the morning of Jan. 19, five years after the murder of Hrant Dink, the editor of the Turkish and Armenian weekly Agos, a new plaque was seen on one of the cobblestones of the Agos building in Istanbul. It read, “Hrant Dink was murdered here, January 19, 2007, at 15:05.”

“Hrant Dink was murdered [...]

ACAA Raffle Drawing Held in NJ

MONTVALE, N.J. (A.W.)—On Jan. 8, the Armenian Cultural Association of America (ACAA) raised more than $30,000 from a raffle drawing held at a reception at the Montvale home of ACAA Board member Hrair Baronian.

Prelate Choloyan blesses the table.

Speaking on behalf of the ACAA, Angele Manougian and Talin Daghlian thanked the guests for having contributed to [...]

Armenian Groups Call for Rally at French Senate

PARIS, France—The Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France (CCAF) this week issued a statement calling on citizens to assemble in front of the French Senate on Jan. 23, in support of the bill criminalizing genocide denial. The French Senate is scheduled to convene and vote on the bill that day, starting at 2 p.m.

French [...]

AIWA Hosts Program on Domestic Violence

WINCHESTER, Mass.—On Dec. 18, the Armenian International Women’s Assocation (AIWA) New England affiliate hosted a reception at the Winchester home of Eva Medzorian. Speaking on the subject of domestic violence was Heghine Mkrtchyan, the founder and president of AJAKITS, a benevolent organization that helps victims of domestic violence. Headquartered in Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city, [...]

Overflow Crowd Celebrates Christmas at Annual ARS Gathering

Montgomery Country Congressman Chris VanHollen Represented at Holiday Luncheon
BETHESDA, Md.—On Jan. 6, over 200 Armenian Americans from throughout the Greater Washington, D.C. area celebrated Christmas and welcomed the New Year at the annual Armenian Relief Society (ARS) “Satenig” Chapter luncheon held at the Soorp Khatch Armenian Church, “Arabian” Hall.

A scene from the luncheon

The festivities took [...]

ASA Announces Journalism Internship in Watertown

WARWICK, R.I.—At its December meeting, the Armenian Students’ Association of America, Inc. (ASA Inc.) announced its sponsorship of two internships in journalism.

At its December meeting, the Armenian Students' Association of America, Inc. (ASA Inc.) announced its sponsorship of two internships in journalism.

Participants in the six-week internship program will receive a weekly stipend of $150. Interns [...]

Armenia Ranks 39 in Economic Freedom Index

YEREVAN (A.W.)—Armenia ranked 39 out of 184 countries in the Index of Economic Freedom, an annual guide published by the Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation. The index is meant to measure the potential economic success of countries.

Armenia ranked 39 out of 184 in the Index of Economic Freedom, an annual guide published by [...]

Master Spy Gevork Vartanian Dies at 87

YEREVAN (A.W.)—Gevork Vartanian, the man largely responsible for foiling Adolf Hitler’s plot to assassinate three Allied leaders—Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt—at the 1943 Tehran Conference, died at the age of 87 in a Moscow hospital on Jan. 10. He will be buried in Armenia.

Gevork Vartanian

Vartanian was [...]

Bairamian: A Hidden Road, Not So Hidden Anymore

By Patrick Bairamian
It was two years since Nanor Balabanian and two UC-Santa Barbara classmates had visited the village of Aghbradzor, Armenia.

“The main goals were to promote cultural and human awareness regarding Armenia,” said Nanor.

During her first visit to Aghbradzor, Nanor witnessed the villagers’ distress as they were cut off from supplies during the winter snows, [...]

Algerian PM to Turkey: Stop Making Political Capital

ALGIERS, Algeria (AFP)—Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia on Jan. 7 urged Turkey to stop trying to make political capital out of France’s killing of thousands of Algerians during the colonial period.

Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia

He made the call as Turkey continued to assail Paris ahead of a French Senate vote on a bill that would [...]

Motor City Continues Its Rev into ‘Hye’ Gear

DETROIT, Mich. (A.W.)—The Detroit Armenian community has always been a major force in the diaspora and December’s flurry of non-stop activities proved that there is no such thing as hibernation for the committed residents of the city who put the world on wheels.

Suzanne Khardalian (L) and Dr. Ara Sanjian during the discussion following the screening [...]

Exhibition in Diyarbakir Recalls Multicultural Past

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey—A major exhibition displaying Diyarbakir’s former multi-cultural character will open Jan. 14 at the “Sumerpark Amed” Art Gallery in Diyarbakir.

A local walks past posters announcing the exhibition in Diyarbakir.

Created by Osman Koker of Birzamanlar Yayincilik, the exhibition is titled “Cultural Diversity in Old Diyarbakir” and reunites the lost peoples of Diyarbakir with the new [...]

Kurdish, Greek, and Armenian Americans Call for Inquiry into Turkish Airstrike

Community Groups ask Congressional Leaders to Press for Administration Investigation of Use of U.S. Arms in Attack that Killed 35 Kurdish Boys and Young Men
WASHINGTON—Kurdish American, Hellenic American, and Armenian American leaders joined together on Jan. 10 to call upon key Congressional leaders to demand that the Obama Administration investigate whether Turkey violated U.S. arms [...]

Fitness Guru Aykanian Equips Top Stars

New England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski meets with David Aykanian at one of his six Precision Fitness Equipment centers.

BOSTON, Mass.—Take it from Boston Red Sox stalwart Dustin Pedoria: If you want to stay on top of your fitness game, seek out David Aykanian.
“He helps me stay in shape,” says the all-star infielder. “When you want [...]

Al Jazeera to Air ‘Grandma’s Tattoos’

WASHINGTON (A.W.)—“Grandma’s Tattoos,” a Swedish production directed by Suzanne Khardalian, will air on Al Jazeera English eight times over the week of Jan. 11-18, occupying a prime time slot in all the key time zones.

Khardalian (R) in Der Zor

“This is an extraordinary achievement for the film,” Khardalian told the Armenian Weekly. “The film will have [...]

Cory Garabedian: The Long Road to Recovery

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—AYFer Cory Garabedian woke up from an induced coma inside a Providence hospital with a sense of reassurance.

Cory with mom Leslie Ani

Returning the favor were members of his family, friends, and associates, many of whom gave the 23-year-old up for dead. Cory defied the odds and pulled through a horrific accident on Christmas Eve [...]

Roller Coaster Year

It has been quite a ride this year for Armenians of the world. We started out badly, what with the previous year ending with Kobe Bryant’s ill-conceived, money-grubbing shilling for Turkish Airlines, the U.S. House of Representatives’ (USHOR) failure to even vote on H.Res.252, and President Obama’s recess appointment of Mr. Conflict-of-Interest himself, Matt Bryza, [...]

Editorial: The Turkish Counteroffensive

The battle lines are drawn. The next three years leading up to the 100thanniversary of the Armenian Genocide will witness a continued, steady, but firm advance of truth and justice in academic, legal, and political arenas on both sides of the Atlantic. The “Return of Churches” resolution in Congress; the lawsuits in the U.S. and [...]

A Story about the Magi in Armenia

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity and Revelation of Jesus Christ on Jan. 6, I thought you might be interested in an important part of history that involves the Magi who followed the Star to Bethlehem, and then traveled to Armenia.

As Matthew 2:12 confirms, the Magi decided to return to their [...]

A Prayer for Cory Garabedian

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Cory Garabedian is the type of son any parent would be proud to call their own.

Cory Garabedian

A fine student-athlete, he’s been an even better Armenian American whose heritage never wavered—not for a moment.
As a member of two champion relay teams at the AYF Olympic Games, Cory represented his Providence chapter the way a fervent [...]

Rendahl: Who Moved My Reindeer?

I asked my eight-year-old niece Sydney for a topic to treat in this column space. She sat cross-legged on the kitchen island and thoughtfully considered my request. With little hesitation, she suggested weaving a “fantasy narrative” (her words, not mine) about evil reindeer that kidnap Santa’s legitimate reindeer in order to destroy Christmas. The real [...]

When ‘Merry Christmas’ Meets ‘Sheng Dan Jie Kuaile’

There comes a time in life when you recognize that you don’t have the verve and energy to dedicate to holiday preparations like you used to. But that does not mean you refrain from entertaining. You just have to come up with a new plan of action. It is more important to get together and [...]

Synopsis of ‘Judgment at Istanbul: The Armenian Genocide Trials’

‘Judgment at Istanbul: The Armenian Genocide Trials’
By Vahakn N. Dadrian and Taner Akcam
New York and Oxford: Berghahn Books
2011, 363 pp
ISBN 978-0-85745-251-1 (hardback)
ISBN 978-0-85745-286-3 (e-book)
This book is a study of the World War I Armenian Genocide as documented through the Ottoman Special Military Tribunal’s criminal prosecution of the perpetrators involved. The aim of these post-World War [...]

‘Journey Through Time’ Premieres to Sold-Out Audience in Boston

SNDC’s Next Stop? Glendale on Jan. 15
By David Alexander
WALTHAM, Mass.—The Sayat Nova Dance Company (SNDC) of Boston’s 25thanniversary production, “Journey Through Time,” premiered on Nov. 19, 2011 at Waltham High School to a sold-out audience of over 1,100.

SNDC in Boston (Photo by Viken Karaguesian)

The show burst into life with fire and drama portraying the pagan [...]

Turkish Rights Group Expresses Solidarity with French Bill Author Valerie Boyer

ISTANBUL, Turkey (A.W.)—On Dec. 29, the Committee Against Racism and Discrimination (Istanbul Branch, Human Rights Association) sent the following letter to French MP Valerie Boyer, the author of the bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide in France, in which it condemned the threats she’s received since the bill passed on Dec. 22. That [...]

European Court Rules on Evictions in Armenia

The European Court decided in favor of the plaintiffs, awarding them monetary compensation.

YEREVAN (A.W.)—Residents of Buzand St. in Yerevan took their complaints to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) when they were evicted—and under-compensated—by the state to pave the way for a new construction project: Northern Avenue. In recent rulings on Hovhannisyan and Siroyan [...]

Boston Magazine Taps Saryan as ‘Top Doc’

BURLINGTON, Mass.—John Saryan never wanted to be a doctor. He wasn’t that young kid who was surrounded by medical playthings with a physician’s dream in mind.
Instead, he leaned toward a career in math and science. He wanted to be an engineer who could shape the world in its evolution.
Today, he stands with a celebrated class [...]

The Flower Girl of Amaras

SOS, NKR—Ever since the fifth century, when Mesrob Mashdots put his script to the Armenian alphabet and St. Gregory the Illuminator founded a church here one century earlier, Amaras Monastery has served as a mecca for tourists and locals alike.

A young Armenian girl helps herself to flowers outside Amaras Monastery in Karabagh. (Tom Vartabedian photo)

The [...]

Gunaysu: A ‘Bolsetsi’ in Los Angeles

I was in Los Angeles from Nov. 23-27, a place I never imagined I would go! Long journeys to unknown lands have always frightened me. But this time I was invited by the ANC-Western Region to participate in their three-day conference at the Sheraton Universal.

Gunaysu: “There must be reparations. At least, the ones who work [...]

Vernissage: A Mosaic of Armenian Cultural Treasures

YEREVAN—As the sun rises over Yerevan, visages of an outdoor flea market come to life like a Brigadoon. It is Saturday, and people are getting restless. Business can’t wait.

Books are always an attraction among bibliophiles at the Vernissage. (Photo by Tom Vartabedian)

A vagabond strolls the dirt aisles looking to peddle his wooden bookmarks. He tells [...]

Diana Der Hovanessian: ‘I Write Almost Every Day’

By Artsvi Bakhchinyan
Diana Der-Hovanessian, New England born poet, was twice a Fulbright professor of American Poetry and is the author of more than 25 books of poetry and translations. She has awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Society of America, PEN/Columbia Translation Center, National Writers Union, Armenian Writers Union, Paterson Poetry Center, [...]

Hitchens’ Legacy in Our Midst

The prominent journalist was a harsh critic of Turkey’s genocide denial
Author, journalist, and critic Christopher Hitchens died of pneumonia on Dec. 15, at the age of 62, after a long struggle with esophageal cancer. A phenomenal debater, he angered many. He was an outspoken atheist, an unforgivingly cool and passionate critic of religion. Following the [...]

Hovannisian to Speak on Kars, Ani in Belmont

BELMONT, Mass.—On Fri., Jan. 20, the First Armenian Church of Belmont and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) will sponsor “An Illustrated Journey to Kars and Ani” by UCLA Professor Richard G. Hovannisian.

Hovannisian (4th from left) with the NAASR group at the Ani Cathedral in 2011

Hovannisian traveled through Historic Armenia in spring [...]

Turkish Rights Group: Unite Against Genocide Denial, Not Against France

ISTANBUL, Turkey (A.W.)—On Dec. 22, the Committee Against Racism and Discrimination of Turkey’s Human Rights Association issued a press release and initiated a signature campaign calling on Turks to unite against genocide denial, not against the French Parliament. Below is the full text of the release. The Turkish version is available on the group’s website.

Turkish [...]

A Time-Honored Santa for All Ages

My senses are swirling and my joints are aching. My vision has been blurred by a constant dribble of sweat that flows from my brow. My knees appear like they’re ready to come detached from a fragile torso.

Santa listens to a request in a role that’s been replayed for 40 years.

It’s not easy playing Santa [...]

Congress Urges Turkey to Return Churches: First Successful Attempt at Restitution

Turkey suffered a major setback this month when the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a landmark resolution calling on the Turkish government to return more than 2,000 confiscated Christian churches and other properties “to their rightful owners.”

Turkey suffered a major setback this month when the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a landmark resolution [...]

Another Wave of Arrests Targets Journalists in Turkey

ISTANBUL, Turkey (A.W.)—On Dec. 20, Turkish police arrested dozens of journalists it accused of being in the “press and propaganda wing” of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), targeting news organizations in Istanbul, Ankara, Sirnak, Mersin, Diyarbakir, Izmir, Urfa, and Van.

Turkish police arrested dozens of journalists it accused of being in the “press and propaganda wing” [...]

Aghjayan, Mouradian Discuss Diyarbakir in Providence

Rep. Cicilline Delivers Remarks
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (A.W.)—A panel discussion on the opening of the Sourp Khatch Church and the political and cultural landscape of Diyarbakir (Dikranagerd) was held in Providence on Dec. 9.

The panelists and Rep. Cicilline (third from left) with ARF activists.

Activist George Aghjayan and Armenian Weekly Editor Khatchig Mouradian talked about their two back-to-back [...]

Titizian: My Christmas Wish List

This past week has been particularly trying. Here is how it all unfolded…

And now as we're approaching the holiday season, shops in Yerevan have already put up Christmas decations, Yerevan city officials are getting their crews to put the final touches on their Christmas decorations, stores are advertising Christmas specials, and it would seem that [...]

One Priest’s Mission: 16,000 Miles in 48 Hours for Christening

KESSAB, Syria—On the same day in this very same city, the oldest Armenian resident was buried hours before a child was christened.

The Bedourian family. Der Karekin, Yeretsgin Sevan, and newly christened child Megheti.

One woman’s death was offset by the breath of a new life.
The woman was Kalila Yaralian-Manjikian, 104, a matriarch they called Nene in [...]

‘Devilish Marks’ and Rape in the Time of Genocide

“The story of those who didn’t die—the story of young women who survived and stayed behind—has never been told. Men write down history. So it is with Genocide. There is no room for the women. They were impure, tainted, and despised. Yet they were the ones who suffered most. They were the ones who paid [...]