The <strong>Armenian</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong> | May 30, 2009
Number 116 May 30, 2009 the armenian reporter President Serge Sargsian said on May 28 that he would declare an amnesty for dozens of people imprisoned in connection with unrest that followed the February 2008 presidential elections – but only if Armenia’s leading political groups Armenia President Serge Sargsian says amnesty for March 1 detainees depends on public sentiment A concert commemorating the <strong>Armenian</strong> Genocide and raising money for the Fund for <strong>Armenian</strong> Relief, took place at the College of the Holy Cross on April 19. The concert <strong>Armenian</strong>-Americans and Greek- Americans heard from Rep. Xavier Becerra (D.-Calif.) on May 27 during an educational issues briefing. The briefing offered attendees an Commentary Turkish intellectuals and state denial In a speech delivered on May 9 in Althen-le-Paluds, France, Laurent Leylekian argues that the Turkish political field is not neatly divided between ultranationalists who deny the <strong>Armenian</strong> Genocide and a progressive, pro-European civil society that advocates cosmopolitanism and favors recognition of Arts & Culture Community National show that there is strong public support for such a move. The Speaker of parliament had earlier said that the president would announce an amnesty on May 28. See story on page 20m the Genocide. In fact, he argues, there are those who oppose the Turkish state system and those who simply want to improve its image by giving its most questionable practices a more cosmetic appearance. See story on page 22m Student raises $10,000 for FAR through music featured father-daughter duo Fr. Untzag and Ani Nalbandian, and the John Berberian Ensemble. See story on page 18m Representative Xavier Becerra briefs community Community Al Pacino to play Jack Kevorkian on HBO Al Pacino will star in an HBO opportunity to interact closely with a high-ranking member of U.S. House of Representatives. See story on page 2m AGBU Europe asks European Parliament candidates about seveb key <strong>Armenian</strong> issues National made-for-cable movie about r i g h t - t o - d i e champion Dr. Jack Kevorkian, Variety reported on May 26. The movie will be directed by Barry Levinson. See story on page 14m The <strong>Armenian</strong> General Benevolent Union’s European board (AGBU Europe) has launched a pre-electoral campaign asking candidates in the European elections for their positions on seven key issues that impact Armenia, Karabakh, and <strong>Armenian</strong>s in Europe. See story on page 6m Geoffrey Goshgarian wins PEN Club award for translation of Hagop Oshagan’s The Remnants Geoffrey Goshgarian’s English version of an extract from Hagop Oshagan’s The Remnants was one of eight translations honored with a PEN Club translation fund award at a ceremony in New York on May 19. See story on page 5 m At Sardarapat, <strong>Armenian</strong>s proudly celebrate indepedence Nowhere in Armenia is there as much energy as at this monument by Tatul Hakobyan Proposal discussed in 3 countries on USArmenia TV by Vincent Lima YEREVAN – On a television program on May 24 that connected Yerevan, Moscow, and Burbank, Calif., Armenia’s Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan introduced the concept of an <strong>Armenian</strong> “national council” to bring together Armenia and diaspora communities worldwide. She was joined in the Yerevan studios of Armenia TV by Ara Abramyan, president of the powerful Union of <strong>Armenian</strong>s in Russia and of the fledgling World <strong>Armenian</strong> Congress. Ms. Hakobyan said that Mr. Abramyan had agreed to slow down the development of the World <strong>Armenian</strong> Congress and would work with the ministry to establish the national council, which would be chaired by the president of Armenia. Participating in the forum from USArmenia TV’s studios in Burbank, businessperson and philanthropist Vahe Karapetian sounded a cautionary note, counseling against rash moves and calling for the differences and similarities of Schoolchidren visit the memorial complex at the site of the May 1918 Battle of Sardarapat, May 22, 2009. Photo: Tatul Hakobyan for the <strong>Armenian</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong>. ARAKS VILLAGE, Armavir Province, Armenia – “My name is Karen.” “My name is Rafael.” “My name is Narek.” “My name is Lazar.” “My name is Armen.” “My name is Alex.” “My name is Hrant.” The fifth-graders of City of Artik School No. 3 introduced themselves during their May 22 field trip to the Sardarapat Memorial Complex. They were accompanied by their teachers and parents. Asked what had happened here at Sardarapat, they spoke at the same time, completing each other’s sentences: “The <strong>Armenian</strong>s beat the Turks because the Turks were trying to kill people and occupy Armenia.” In May 1918, the hometown of these children, Artik, and the whole of the Shirak plateau were occupied by Kazim Karabekir’s army. It was only toward the end of the year, when the armed forces of Ottoman Turkey, defeated in the First World War, were forced to leave Transcaucasia, that Armenia – war-torn and famine-ravaged – expanded its borders to 60,000 sq km from 10,000. The end of the <strong>Armenian</strong>s It seemed in May 1918 that the end of the <strong>Armenian</strong> people had come. Four Turkish divisions had diaspora communities and institutions in various countries to be studied carefully and considered. The president of Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences, Radik Martirosyan, participated in the forum from Yerevan. (See sidebare of page 5.) Henry Aghayan, a distinguished scientist and a member of the leadership of the Union of <strong>Armenian</strong>s in Russia, participated from Moscow. Aramayis Paronian, a physician and benefactor, participated from Burbank. begun an attack on Gharakilisa (today’s Vanadzor), Bash-Aparan, and Sardarapat. A setback in Gharakilisa did not determine the fate of the <strong>Armenian</strong> people because the <strong>Armenian</strong> forces – responding to an appeal from the Mother See and with the help of the people – Continued on page 19 m Diaspora Ministry seeks to establish “national council” to link <strong>Armenian</strong>s Vahe Karapetian and Dr. Aramayis Paronian at the USArmenia TV studios in Burbank, Calif., discuss Armenia-diaspora relations with Hranush Hakobyan and Radik Martirosyan at the Armenia TV studios in Yerevan, May 24, 2009. Alina Khachatryan, host of the Hairenik-Spiurk (Homeland- Diaspora) program on Armenia TV, moderated the panel. She was joined by the host of the Goodnight <strong>Armenian</strong>s program in Moscow and Arayik Ghazarian in Burbank. The participants said CS Media – with which Armenia TV, US- Armenia TV, and this newspaper are affiliated – was playing a significant Continued on page m