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The Armenian Reporter | September 6, 2008NationalCalifornians welcome Rep. Joe KnollenbergArmenianorganizationssupport MichiganRepublican’s bid for10th termby Silva SevlianBURBANK, Calif. – On August 28Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R.-Mich.),co-chair of the Congressional ArmenianCaucus, met with Armeniansupporters in southern Californiato speak about his track recordand re-election campaign. Theevent took place at USArmeniaTelevision’s headquarters, whichalso houses the Armenian Reporter’sWest Coast Bureau.A Republican from suburbanDetroit, Mr. Knollenberg was welcomedby representatives of theU.S.-Armenia Public Affairs Committee(USAPAC), the ArmenianNational Committee-Western Region(ANC-WR), the National Organizationof Republican Armenians,the California Courier, and others;the speakers underscored the importanceof supporting Mr. Knollenberg’sre-election bid, citing hisrecord as a strong advocate of Armenianissues in the U.S. Congress.The event illustrated the powerthat Armenian-Americans havein the political arena, said AppoJabarian, publisher of USA ArmenianLife. “This sends a message toour friends and foes that we areserious in our solidarity and ourcauses,” Mr. Jabarian noted.GOP’s Armenian issueschampionIn almost 18 years in Congress, Mr.Knollenberg has emerged as a leadingadvocate of Armenian-Americanissues, particularly in the GOP.He has championed annual effortsto keep U.S. assistance to Armeniaat appropriate levels, provideassistance to Nagorno-Karabakh,and limit military aid to Azerbaijanas long as it continues its anti-Armeniaposturing.Though a fellow Republican hasoccupied the White House over thelast eight years, Mr. Knollenberg hasfrequently disagreed with the Bushadministration’s Armenia policies.Last March, for example, he questionedthe administration’s justificationfor aid reduction to Armenia.“It troubles me that MCA fundingcontinues to be used to explain thevast reduction in aid to Armenia,”Mr. Knollenberg said at the time, referringto the Millennium ChallengeAccount. “MCA funding for Armenia,which supports rural roads and irrigationinfrastructure development,should not be used as a justificationto cut [other] funding.”In July, Mr. Knollenberg movedto zero out U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan.His motion was narrowlyLeft: Rep. JoeKnollenberg.Above: RossVartian calls Mr.Knollenberg “anational leader.”Photos: HilmaShahinian.voted down by the House ForeignOperations Subcommittee.“We are not quitting,” Mr. Knollenbergsaid about that effort.“When [Azerbaijan] is boastingabout military might . . . thosethreats are real and that is why weshould take away their funding.”He also reiterated his support forefforts to affirm the U.S. record onthe Armenian Genocide. Mr. Knollenberg,who was one of four originalco-sponsors of House Resolution106, the Armenian Genocideresolution, and fought to overcomejoint opposition by Turkey and theBush administration, said he believesthe only way to pass the Armenian-Genocideresolution is tomobilize the grassroots and lobbyelected officials.“The diaspora cannot give up, becauseif it gives up, then CongressSaroyan and Kouymjian: the untold storySaroyan’s centennialthrough the wordsof one man whoknew him wellby Shahane MartirosyanPARIS – There are some storiesthat ought to be told, and I knewthis was one of them the secondI walked into Dickran Kouymjian’sliving room in Paris, France.In a cozy room leading to aclosed balcony where I sat downfor our interview on a gloomyday, I noticed many portraitsof William Saroyan. My assignmentwas to write a story aboutKouymjian and his appearance atthe Fifth Annual Golden ApricotInternational Film Festival, heldin July in Yerevan, where he wasinvited to introduce Saroyan’sfilms.It all made sense. I saw Saroyaneverywhere in Kouymjian’s livingroom. By the time we concludedour interview, I knew that in orderto do justice to my film-festivalstory, I would have to go back intime and explore the start and developmentof Kouymjian’s friendshipwith Saroyan.Inspired by a literaryiconNow a retired professor, Kouymjianwas introduced to Saroyan at avery young age. Back in 1945, whenKouymjian attended high school inChicago, Saroyan was a teacher at theschool. “I liked Saroyan,” Kouymjiansaid, adding that his relatives, whopersonally knew the author, hadsent him copies of his books, someof which were autographed.Thus Saroyan had enteredKouymjian’s life many years beforehe pursued his studies on variouscontinents and became one of theworld’s most renowned Armenian-Studies professors. In 1972, Kouymjianwas the chairman of the Departmentof Armenian Studies atHaigazian University in Beirut. Thatyear, Saroyan delivered Haigazian’scommencement address. The eventmarked the beginning of the twomen’s friendship. By then Kouymjianwas an accomplished professorand had taught at various universities;Saroyan enjoyed great fame,with an Academy Award (for TheHuman Comedy) under his belt.After his tenure at Haigazian,Kouymjian was appointed directorof the Armenian Studies Programat Fresno State, where he wasasked to give a much-needed pushto the crumbling program.Dr. Dickran Kouymjian.At Fresno State, Kouymjiansoon noticed something. “No onewas doing Saroyan when I went toFresno State,” he recalled. “I askedthe English Department whetherthey would mind if the ArmenianDepartment offered Saroyan. Theysaid no, so I made a course andstarted teaching Saroyan.”Subsequently Kouymjian informedSaroyan about the classesand the author was more then happyto contribute to their success.“I told Saroyan about them andhe started giving me unpublishedmanuscripts,” Kouymjian nonchalantlymentioned. “I did four semesters,trying [the manuscripts] on thestudents – particularly plays whichwere published afterwards,” he said.will give up,” Mr. Knollenberg said.Armenians stressnational support forRep. KnollenbergBurbank was Mr. Knollenberg’s laststop on his campaign trail beforehe returned to the Detroit area. Hesaid he thought it was importantto meet with Southern California’slarge Armenian constituency.Gregory Boyrazian, an advisorwith the National Organization ofRepublican Armenians, said it isvital that a member of Congressof Knollenberg’s caliber remain inCongress.“Congressman Knollenberg hasan unshakable record and becauseof this we ask the Armenian-Americancommunity at large to rallysupport for him,” he said.Ross Vartian, executive directorof USAPAC, said that the member ofCongress was responsible for helpingsecure millions of dollars of U.S.aid to Armenia.A senior member of the HouseAppropriations Committee, Mr.Knollenberg pushed for U.S. financialassistance in response to the“Was the response to those classesgood or bad?” I asked.“I always get good responses fromour students in everything I do,”Kouymjian answered with a slightgrin. He also stated that during onesemester, two professors attendedhis class to hear the lecture. One ofthem painted a portrait of Saroyan.It happened to be one of the paintingsI saw as I was walking throughKouymjian’s living room.Saroyan the filmmakerAt Fresno State, Kouymjian beganlooking into another area that Saroyanwas greatly familiar with: theworld of films. He decided to teacha course titled “The Armenian Experiencethrough Film.”“And I got a hold of all the rearfilms because I had close friendsin New York from when I was livingthere,” Kouymjian explained. “Ihad a restaurant with a friend, PeterBitlisian. He was from Iraq. Heused to clean up 35-mm films. Hehad a little studio by Carnegie Hall.He had this machine. He would putscratched films on the machine andframe by frame he’d touch them up.If he happened to like a film, he’dsecretly make a copy for himself.He acquired a lot of films. He particularlyliked anything with an Armenianactor, an Armenian angle,an Armenian subject.”1988 Spitak earthquake, as wellas in support of Armenia’s transitionfollowing independence andKarabakh’s struggle for self-determination.Mr. Vartian said that having Mr.Knollenberg come to Southern Californiaallows him to count new Armenian-Americansupporters amonghis friends. “The congressman needsa national following beyond Michigan,”Mr. Vartian stressed. “He’s ournational leader and he deserves a nationalconstituency.”“[Mr. Knollenberg] makes surethat Armenian interests are alwayswatched closely,” said AndrewKzirian, executive director ofANC‐WR.The event doubled as a fundraiserin support of Knollenberg’s reelectioncampaign.“The Armenian-American communityhas learned how to ask forthings from Washington and nowit is time for us to learn how to say‘thank you,’” Mr. Vartian said. “Weneed to give much more generouslyand much more consistently.” fconnect:usa-pac.orgWith the help of Bitlisian,Kouymjian went on to organize filmfestivals and bring rare Armenianrelatedfilms to life for audiences inthe Diaspora and the homeland.“When I organized the first Armenianfilm festival in Columbiain 1980, I got Peter to lend us acopy (the only one in existence asfar as I know) of The Good Job – a35 mm, a short film that Saroyanproduced himself, directed himself,and wrote the story back atMGM studio in 1942,” Kouymjianconfessed.Later on, when Bitlisian lay dying,he called Kouymjian and toldhim he was leaving him his vastcollection of films he had acquiredthroughout the years. Among themovies that Bitlisian sent Kouymjianwas the 64-mm copy of TheGood Job.“I don’t know what happened tothe 35-mm copy,” Kouymjian said.At this year’s Golden ApricotFilm Festival, Kouymjian sharedthe movie, one of the very rarefilms made by Saroyan, with Armenianand international audiences.In addition to presenting Saroyan’sfilms, Kouymjian conducted a masterclass on the subject.When Saroyan passed away in1981, Kouymjian took his ashes toArmenia and had them buried atthe Pantheon in Yerevan. f