Pope Francis Calls Armenian Genocide “First Genocide of the 20th Century”

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Reps. Robert Dold (R-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), along with 40 other Members of the House of Representatives introduced the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution. This bi-partisan resolution calls upon the President to work toward equitable, constructive, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based upon the Re-public of Turkey’s full acknowledgement of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide. The resolution will also establish a fair, just, and comprehensive international record of this crime against humanity.This year, 2015, marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide – a systematic and de-liberate annihilation campaign launched by the government of the Ottoman Empire against its Armenian population which left 1.5 million Armenians

dead and millions more displaced. While the Armenian Genocide has been recognized by more than twenty na-

House Members Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Recognizethe Armenian Genocide

Armenian President Serzh Sarg-syan has recalled from parliament protocols on the normalization of ties and the establishment of dip-lomatic relations with neighbor-ing Turkey.In a statement issued on February 16, Sargsyan said he had asked parliament speaker Galust Saha-kian to return the protocol to him since “the Turkish government has no political will, distorts the spirit and letter of the protocols, and continues its policy of setting preconditions.”The Armenian Council of Amer-ica welcomes President Serzh Sargsyan finally withdrawing the Protocols from National As-sembly, it is especially important

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Pope Francis has used the word “genocide” to describe mass killing of Armenians under Ot-toman rule in WW1 100 years ago, at a Vatican church service.Pope Francis remembered the victims of “that immense and senseless slaughter” at the start of the Mass at St. Peter’s basili-ca, which was attended by Presi-

dent Serzh Sargsyan, the supreme heads of the Armenian Apostolic Churches and hundreds of Armenian Catholics.“It is necessary, and indeed a duty, to honor their memory, for whenever memory fades, it means that evil allows wounds to fester. Concealing or denying evil is like allowing a wound to keep bleeding without bandaging it,” he declared.The pontiff spoke of “three massive and unprecedented tragedies” of the past century. “The first, which is widely considered the first genocide of the twentieth century, struck your own Armenian people, the first Christian nation, as well as Catholic and Orthodox Syrians, Assyrians, Chaldeans and Greeks,” he said.“Bishops and priests, religious, women and men, the elderly and even defenseless children and the infirm were murdered. The remaining two were perpetrated by Nazism and Stalinism.”

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tions including Canada, Italy, Sweden, France, Argentina and Russia, as well as the European Parliament, it has not been formally recognized by the U.S. Congress in decades and has not been recognized by President Barack Obama.“Denial of the Armenian Genocide under-mines foundations for durable peace and security, making future atrocities more likely,” said Rep. Robert Dold. “As the greatest force for human dignity in the world, the United States has an obligation to send an unequivocal message that we will never forget those that were lost, nor shall we tolerate any country that hides behind bully tactics to shroud violations of human rights.”“One hundred years ago, one and a half million Armenian men, women and chil-dren were deliberately murdered in the first genocide of the 20th Century – these facts are indisputable,” said Rep. Adam Schiff. “And on this important anniver-sary and while there are still survivors among us, we in Congress and the Presi-dent have an opportunity and an obliga-tion to send a strong message that we will never forget those who were lost, and we will call this crime against humanity what it was, genocide. We feel a powerful sense of urgency and the profound call of moral duty to recognize the Armenian Genocide unequivocally and without delay.”“One hundred years after the Genocide, the sense of loss and pain is still strong as many in our community have a direct connection to someone who was unable to escape,” said Rep. David Valadao. “While those impacted by the Genocide are al-ways in our hearts, let us take an extra moment to remember the two million Ar-menians whose lives were lost.”“As we recognize the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we remember the one and a half million Armenians who were slaughtered by Ottoman Turks,” said Rep. Frank Pallone. “Now is the time for the United States government to do the moral thing and recognize these atroci-ties for what they are—genocide. While we mark 100 years since this horrible act of violence we also recommit ourselves to the work of speaking out against oppres-sion and senseless violence. Today, I join my colleagues in remembering the vic-tims and paying homage to the Armenian people who, for thousands of years, have shown their perseverance and strength in

the face of great challenges,” said Con-gressman Frank Pallone.The full text of the resolution, introduced during a press conference on Capitol Hill, reads:Calling on the President to work toward equitable, constructive, stable, and du-rable Armenian-Turkish relations based upon the Republic of Turkey’s full ac-knowledgment of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide, and a fair, just, and comprehensive inter-national resolution of this crime against humanity.Whereas the Obama Administration has, since early 2009, sought to improve Arme-nian-Turkish relations through diplomatic efforts to lift the Republic of Turkey’s blockade of Armenia and facilitate an end to Ankara’s refusal to establish diplomatic relations with Yerevan;Whereas at the start of this process, Presi-dent Barack Obama had, on April 6, 2009, voiced the United States Government’s expectation that Armenia-Turkey dialogue would `bear fruit very quickly’, but that since then, the Obama Administration has commended Armenia’s participation in this dialogue while holding Turkey largely responsible for the lack of results from this process, with the Secretary of State not-ing, on June 4, 2012, that, on this matter, `the ball remains in Turkey’s court.';Whereas on April 24, 2013, President Barack Obama stated, A full, frank, and just acknowledgment of the facts is in all of our interests. Nations grow stronger by acknowledging and reckoning with pain-ful elements of the past, thereby building a foundation for a more just and tolerant future.';Whereas the Republic of Turkey, rather than acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past, has escalated its international campaign of Armenian Genocide denial, maintained its blockade of Armenia, and increased its pressure on the small but growing Turkish civil so-ciety movement acknowledging the Ar-menian Genocide and seeking justice for this systematic campaign of destruction of millions of Armenians, Greeks, Assyr-ians, Pontians, Syriacs, and other Chris-tians upon their biblical-era homelands;Whereas the United States is on record as having officially recognized the Armenian Genocide, in the United States Govern-ment’s May 28, 1951, written statement to

the International Court of Justice regard-ing the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, through President Ronald Reagan’s April 22, 1981, Proclamation No. 4838, and by Congressional legislation, including House Joint Resolution 148 adopted on April 8, 1975, and House Joint Resolution 247 adopted on September 10, 1984;Whereas even prior to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the United States has a record of having sought to justly and constructively address the consequences of the Ottoman Empire’s intentional de-struction of the Armenian people, includ-ing through Senate Concurrent Resolution 12 adopted on February 9, 1916, Senate Resolution 359 adopted on May 11, 1920, and President Woodrow Wilson’s Deci-sion of the President of the United States of America Respecting the Frontier be-tween Turkey and Armenia, Access for Armenia to the Sea, and the Demilitariza-tion of Turkish Territory Adjacent to the Armenian Frontier, dated November 22, 1920;Whereas President Barack Obama entered office having stated his `firmly held con-viction that the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence’, affirmed his record of `calling for Turkey’s acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide’, and pledged that `as President I will recognize the Ar-menian Genocide'; andWhereas the United States national in-terests in the establishment of equitable, constructive, stable, and durable relations between Armenians and Turks cannot be meaningfully advanced by circumvent-ing or otherwise seeking to avoid materi-ally addressing the central political, legal, security, and moral issue between these two nations, Turkey’s denial of truth and justice for the Armenian Genocide: Now, therefore, be itResolved, That the House of Representa-tives calls on the President to work toward equitable, constructive, stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based upon the Republic of Turkey’s full acknowl-edgment of the facts and ongoing conse-quences of the Armenian Genocide, and a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity.

House Members Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Recognize the Armenian Genocide

Pope Francis Calls Armenian Genocide “First Genocide of the 20th Century”

European Parliament Urges Turkey To Recognize Armenian Genocide

Los Angeles Prayer Service Commemorates Armenian Genocide

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Humanity, he went on, did not learn lessons from those tragedies as evidenced by the mass killings in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bu-rundi and Bosnia later in the 20th century. “Sadly, today too we hear the muffled and forgotten cry of so many of our defenseless brothers and sisters who, on account of their faith in Christ or their ethnic origin, are publicly and ruthlessly put to death … or forced to leave their homeland,” he said in a clear reference to the beleaguered Christian communities in Iraq and Syria.Pope Francis’s characterization of the 1915 mass killings and de-portations of Armenians was in tune with his views on the sub-ject repeatedly voiced in the past. He publicly called them “the first genocide of the 20th century” in 2013 just a few months after becoming supreme head of the Roman Catholic Church.The two-hour Mass was concelebrated by Armenian Catholic Pa-triarch Nerses Bedros XIX and featured medieval Armenian re-ligious hymns performed by two choirs from Gyumri. Underlin-ing its ecumenical spirit, Catholicos Karegin II, Catholicos Aram I and over a dozen bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church sat in a place of honor in the basilica along with President Sargsyan.In another unprecedented development, Catholicos Karegin II and Catholicos Aram I embraced Pope Francis at the altar and delivered sermons at the end of the ceremony broadcast live to

Armenia.“Our ancient people were uprooted from their cradle and historic homeland and scattered around the world,” Catholicos Karegin II said in reference to the Armenian genocide. “Our centuries-old Christian heritage was torn down, destroyed and seized.”“However, nothing — neither suffering, nor persecution or even death — forced our people to renounce their sacred faith,” he added.Both Armenian Church leaders expressed their “deep gratitude” to the Roman Catholic Church for its attempts to stop the geno-cide and support its survivors. They specifically paid tribute to Pope Benedict XV who protested to Ottoman Sultan Mehmed V against the massacres.“We will never forget the continuous concern, assistance and solidarity of the Church of Rome towards Armenians — that is to say towards justice,” said Catholicos Aram I.Pope Francis also honored Armenia and its worldwide Diaspora by bestowing the title of “Doctor of the Universal Church” on St. Gregory of Narek, a 10-11th century Armenian cleric renowned for his religious writings. Only 35 Christian figures have received the Catholic title to date. A large picture of Gregory was put on display during Sunday’s Mass.

The European Parliament on April 15 overwhelmingly passed a Resolution on the Armenian Genocide centennial.The resolution, supported by all main political groups, says the European Parliament “joins the commemoration of the cente-nary of the Armenian Genocide in a spirit of European solidar-ity and justice.”It also says Ankara should open its archives and “come to terms with its past, to recognize the Armenian genocide,” and pave the way for a genuine reconciliation between Turkish and Armenian peoples. It also urges Turkey to “normalize relations with Armenia”.The Resolution also commended the statement by Pope Francis on 12 April honoring the centenary of the genocideTurkey was quick to dismiss the resolution even before the vote, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying on April 15 that “whatever decision the European Parliament takes on Armenian genocide claims, it would go in one ear and out the other.”Erdogan said it was “out of the question for there to be a stain, a shadow called ‘genocide’ on Turkey.”

A historic ecumenical gathering was held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 to honor the memory of the 1.5 million Armenian martyrs who perished dur-ing the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The service was hosted by the Most Reverend José H. Gomez, the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.The evening’s keynote speaker LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, reaf-firmed the importance of recognizing the Armenian Genocide. “Today, in solidarity with the people of Armenia and the Arme-nian Diaspora, we speak of a Genocide” said Mayor Garcetti. “We heard what Pope Francis said and the courage that he had. But it shouldn’t take courage to speak the truth,” he continued.“In Los Angeles we can speak the truth that a genocide oc-curred…that 1.5 million souls were erased from this earth…that we have a responsibility to make sure that everybody on this earth recognizes it. As Mayor of the Great City of Los Angeles, I will always stand with the Armenian people and I will always stand for truth. It is a genocide and in Los Angeles, we accept that and we move forward with the responsibility to make sure that every lie is answered with the truth.”

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The Oppressed Nations and National Strength

The Oppressed Nations and National StrengthWe are not going to let history of the oppressed nations repeat itself. The liberation of oppressed peoples is constantly proclaimed during the more chivalrous phases of the war. The United Nations who will hold the future destinies of the small, conquered and enslaved nations on the peace table must refrain from further politi-cal sleights.The democracies will and should have the right to demand an accounting of the statesmen into whose hands the labor and agonies of millions of men placed free disposition over the fortunes of conquered nations. The economic aspira-tions of the international financiers must cease to exist in order that the fire of independent nationalism will not burn out in inter-national intrigues and again be forgotten forever as it happened in Versailles after the first World War.It is very important to have foresight and not hindsight when the question comes to deal with small nations and remember one of the past political blunders as the poor Armenians were treated after one million Armenian men, women and children were bru-tally massacred, and tens of thousands of women and girls were carried off into the most abominable slavery. Two hundred thou-sand Armenians of military age, who might have helped to de-fend the frontier of a real Armenian state, were unhappily slain and the history tells us how the main cause of Armenia’s woes were the torturous and immoral diplomacy of Europe.The pioneers of democracy and Christianity failed to understand the cynical treatment which Armenia did have at the hands of the foreign offices of the European Powers. The chief obstacle which Armenia had to encounter in winning for itself “a place in the sun” had lain in the fact that its legitimate boundaries had conflicted with the boundaries of the zones with which the Allied Powers had checker-boarded Asia Minor.The Allies hesitated to talk too much about Armenian indepen-dence while Romanoff Russia was in the war and when imperial Russia vanished from the horizon, there was no good reason why the Allies should not then have recognized the independence of those Armenians who hitherto had lived under Russia and for-

getting Turkey who still was the “sick man of Europe.”Yes, the reason was very obvious. Downing Street and Quai O’Orsai were flirting with De-niken at the time, and Denikin, who desired a “great, inseparable Russia,” would have none of an independent Armenia. And why?Because the British wanted Armenia’s Black Sea and Caspian gate which might link her up with the rest of the world; the French wanted her promised outlet to the Mediterranean on the south. More than that, the Arxes valley and the mineral wealth of the Karabakh mountains the British foreign office preferred to vest in

the hands of the nomad Moslems, who in all probability, would shortly come under British influence and custodianship.The historical truth remains that the Powers of Europe were only interested in Armenia and the poor Armenians to the extent of how much and in what ways and means they would have benefit-ted if they had made an approach to this land and the lands of other small nations who suffered and sacrificed, who bled and died in order that the BIG powers and wealthy lords live and be happy.History never recorded such a betrayal as that of Armenia, whose body was crucified by the Turks and whose faith was destroyed by the BIG POWERS after the first World War.The great need of the world today and after this war is leadership and there can be no higher tribute to international unselfishness and kindness than the fact that every nation in the world is will-ing to accept the proposals and just dealings of such a leadership. Let us not cause the downfall of democracy by a provincial, dis-trustful and disunited play and overthrow the civilization in the hands of greedy, selfish money mongers and demagogues.Anthony Eden, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in his July (1942) speech said a number of things that also should serve as inspiration during and after trying periods ahead for the United Nations. Note the following: “Let there be no doubt in the minds of our enemies. Whether the struggle be long or short,’ we, together with our allies, are in this war to the victorious end. No temporary setback or disappointment or even lost battles can

Mr. Derad, born in historic Armenia in September 7, 1900, immigrated to the United States where he furthered his education and attended the Emerson college of Oratory in Boston and the Boston University Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctorate.Mr. Derad became an active leader and public speaker, also editor of Armenian newspa-pers. He authored many books and contributed numerous articles. In the political field, he managed many local elections, having spoken from the same platform with many promi-nent candidates for office, such as Thomas E. Dewey former New York State Governor and Jasper McLevy, former famed Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut, among others. Mr. Derad held responsible positions in the Armenian Church structure and was an ardent member of the Social Democrat Hunchak Party. He was also devoted student of economics and politi-cal science and a close follower of world affairs. Mr. Derad passed away in 1971.Tomorrow’s Horizon, a book written in the midst of World War II, was Mr. Derad’s analy-ses of the depths of the national and international, economic, political and social problems which caused the war, and was an aim to demonstrate the logical beginning for a world-wide union of nations (a United Nations). A beginning where the belief that real democracy, personal liberty, individual rights and political independence can survive and make the ma-chinery of a government function as the servant of the people, instead of being the master.With 2015 marking the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide as well as the 70th an-

niversary of the United Nations, Mr. Derad’s analysis of world affairs, primarily questions in dealing with small nations and remem-bering and learning from historical political blunders made by “BIG” powers, resonates in today’s world. The Armenian Advocate, therefore presents a chapter entitled The Oppressed Nations and National Strength.

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alter our resolution to continue the fight against the dictator powers until they are all finally disarmed and rendered power-less to do further injury to mankind…“We must either build an orderly, law-abiding international society in which each nation lives and works freely without fear or favor or we shall be destroyed in a welter of barbaric strife…”Now we have come to the point where the free thinkers in every nation must ex-press himself in terms of internationalism, because the spirit of nationalism now in effect forces each nation to watch every other with suspicion, jealousy or menace. And what has been the result?“Honor and vital interests of our nation,” exclaims the blood-thirsty politician or the industrialist of each and opposing nation, “are in danger. We must fight … carryon the war … war is human.” Then the poor dupes begin to butcher one another at the word of command from higher up. The schools that hold the future generation of mankind, become not only the training ground, but actually a recruiting ground for the army with the spirit of severe na-tionalism.The motto of the school of “my country, right or wrong,” is no longer a practical menu that can be served on the desks of our school children. “My country, right or wrong,” is but the highest degree of egotism, in common with the name HIT-LERISM. Had this been the motto of Gen-eral Washington and his compatriots the United States would still be a part of the British Empire.History proves and the events testify, that in the name of NATIONALISM and with-out the spirit of internationalism we al-ways have had wars, butchering of broth-ers by brothers. A torrent of blood has flown from the deep, damned war-wound in the breast of the working class. When war is declared, the command is given im-mediately “Kill! Slay! Slaughter! Plunder! Destroy! Rape! and crucify in the name of NATIONALISM.”Robert G. Ingersoll once wrote about the agonies of war, created by the fire of stu-pid nationalism, combined with the greed of international industrialists or war-mon-gers:“Nations sustain the relations of savage to each other …no man has imagination enough to paint the agonies, the horrors, the cruelties, of war. Think of sending shot and shell crashing through the bodies of men. Think of the widows and orphans! Think of the maimed, the mutilated, the

mangled …”Narrow and shortsighted nationalism made the Turks massacre the Armenians during the World War I, but in 1942, this time the turn was shifted to the helpless Greeks. In “Life” magazine, August 3, 1942, issue, there appeared some heart-breaking photographs of dying Greeks, showing how the famine and death rode into Greece at the heels of the Nazi con-quest. These pictures were collected and privately printed in April with the legend SECRET-NOT FOR PUBLICATION, by exiled Greek Minister of Information, A. Michalopoulos.The Germans came to Greece as conquer-ors. They picked it clean as a bone and then announced that the Third German Reich has no responsibility for the feeding of such conquered nations as Greece.The last state of Greece was described as follows by Associated Press Correspon-dent, Richard G. Massock:“Stinking, ragged columns of men, wom-en and children, who no longer wash now that there is no soap, pick over the garbage of the Germans and Italians. The poor lie in squalid homes, too weak to move, their swollen bodies covered with sores. In processions, the Athenians go to the city dumps. When one finds a sardine or other food can, he cleans the inside with his tongue as a cat would do. The hospitals are over-crowded, sometimes with three or four starving patients in a bed. The courtyards of the morgues are filled with naked bodies. Three hundred bodies at a time are buried in large pits, without lime.“When people die, relatives place the corpses in the gutters without reporting the deaths so that they won’t have to sur-render the bread cards of the deceased. The tragedy of Greece is not so much the dead picked up in the streets each morning, as the famine and condemnation to death re-flected in the faces of those dragging their starved bodies through the streets.”As to what a terrible war is doing to an innocent, unarmed and guiltless civilian people at their own homes, on their own city or country streets, here the report about Greece carries on its tale in more details in the same issue of “Life” maga-zine as how the Greeks had expected to go hungry, but the Germans killed their cattle and took their milk for the occupying Ger-man armed forces. They took their boats so that they could not even fish. When an occasional wheat boat arrived from Swe-den, Switzerland, Canada, Turkey, they claimed that it was German wheat and

confiscated more Greek food supplies.The International Red Cross continued the report, fed about 700,000 people in Ath-ens a daily bowlful of olive oil, rice and dried vegetables. The price of bread was $4 a pound, butter $18, oil $12, coffee $50, eggs 75c apiece and shoes $100 a pair.Here is another heart-breaking report, when we are told how people steal and kill for food, husbands abandon wives and children. Citizens lie across the pave-ments, spitting blood into the gutter. A certain sort of thud means that somebody else has fallen to the pavement. The survi-vors do not look around.There are many more bad, inhuman, un-civilized conditions caused by the war un-der and at the point of the brutal warriors. Thus a war is a plague that afflicts many nations and humanity. It destroys families, kills everyone who raises his or her head in the name of patriotism. In war, even God is forgotten because the churches are bombed and the priests are brutally killed in the churchyards.In Secretary of State Cordell Hull’s ad-dress on July 23, 1942, on the war situa-tion he said: “Governments can and must help to focus the energies by encouraging, coordinating and aiding the efforts of in-dividuals and groups.”Of course this “helping” philosophy will be put into action only and when the gov-ernments, besides being willing to help, also get the cooperation of so-called lead-ing industrial individuals in their own respective .lands. These individuals par-ticularly who are in economic power and have the means of dictating and in many cases, commanding the legislative bodies to do certain things not for the benefit of all the citizens, but for the benefit of the leading lords only. The governments in this case should command these industrial lords to lay down their selfish and money making weapons and extend their hands to the rank and file of the people united as one man without any expectation, ready to help the government direct the national 7efforts to the creation of a lasting peace and preserving the same.Secretary Hull continues: “In our own country we have learned from bitter expe-rience that to be truly free, men must have as well, economic freedom and economic security, the assurance for all alike of an opportunity to work as free men in the company of free men; to obtain through work the material and spiritual means of life; to advance through the exercise of ability, initiative and enterprise; to make

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The Oppressed Nations and National Strength

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, issued a proclama-tion commemorating the Armenian Geno-cide, declaring April 19-26 as the “Days of Remembrance of The Armenian Genocide.” Spearheaded by the ACA Nevada Chap-ter, the proclamation condemns the sys-tematic murder and deportations of 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Em-pire, highlighting the plight of the Arme-nian people and the refuge they sought in the U.S. during that time.The proclamation honors the Armenian-American community in Nevada, citing that the “thriving community is a proud reminder of survival and de-termination even in the face of extreme injustice.”Calling upon Congress and the President of the U.S. to recognize the atrocities, the proclamation also reiterates Turkey’s responsi-bility “to acknowledge the facts of the Armenian Genocide.”

Nevada Governor Issues Armenian Genocide Proclamation

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provision against the hazards and human existence.”History shows us that no nation can en-joy its national peace while its citizens are in the grip of constant fear of economic depression, unemployment, bitter class struggle, strikes and what not.A free nation will be able to contribute its worthy share to the freedom of the world and to the people of this world when the citizens of this nation are free first, free economically, politically and socially. Free from shallow nationalism and bap-tized with the spirit of internationalism.Secretary Hull carries on his speech and says: “One of the greatest obstacles which in the past have impeded human progress and afforded breeding grounds for dicta-tors has been extreme nationalism.“All will agree that nationalism and its spirit are essential to the healthy and normal political and economic life of a

people, but when policies of nationalism, political, economic, social and moral, are carried to such extremes as to exclude and prevent necessary policies of international cooperation, they become dangerous and deadly.“Nationalism, running riot between the last war and this war, defeated all attempts to carry our indispensable measures of in-ternational economic and political action, encouraged and facilitated the rise of dic-tators and drove the world straight toward the present war.“During this period, narrow and short-sighted nationalism found its most viru-lent expression in the economic field.“It prevented goods and services from flowing in volume at all adequate from na-tion to nation and thus severely hampered the work of production, distribution and consumption and greatly retarded efforts for social betterment.

“No nation can make satisfactory progress when it is deprived, by its own action or by the action of others, of the immeasur-able benefits of international exchange of goods and services.”The biggest and most cruel thing in the world is WAR and the way it is conducted. The fundamental reason for war is the constant struggle against want, and all its concomitants. Hence modern wars are es-sentially wars for foreign markets for the benefit of the ruling class or for the selfish greed of the stronger nation, which often leads to the destruction of a former power-ful industrial nation, or nations, and as a result of that all nations during peace time if there has ever been a peace time, will live in the shadow of threatened coercion of war, in the shadow of fear that some-day the other nation will get stronger and strike a deadly blow.

The Armenian Council of America met with fresh-man Congressman Cresent Hardy to discuss Arme-nian-American causes and issues and provide him with an update regarding the rapidly growing Armenian-American community in Southern Nevada.“As an elected representa-tive of a growing Armenian American constituency, I am excited about working with the ACA to advance issues that the community holds close to their heart’s,” said Congressman Hardy. “I am committed to the prosperity of the 4th Congressional District and pledge my support for the Ar-menian American community. As a testament to that commit-ment, I have decided to join the Armenian Caucus.”“It was truly an honor to discuss with Congressman Hardy, is-sues that are important to the Armenian American community,” said ACA Chairman, Sevak Khatchadorian. “His willingness to support our causes, and desire to help the community are com-mendable, and we are looking forward to working with the Con-gressman on many projects.”Congressman Hardy was elected to serve as representative of Nevada’s 4th Congressional District which encompasses most of northern Clark County, part of Lyon County, and all of Esmer-alda, Lincoln, Mineral, Nye and White Pine counties.

ACA Meets With Congressman Hardy

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The Los Angeles City Councilmembers voted unanimously on March 18, to ap-prove a motion proposed by Council-member Mitch O’Farrell to name the “Little Armenia” intersection of Hol-lywood Blvd and Western Ave “Ar-menian Genocide Memorial Square”. Councilmember O’Farrell spoke of the thousands of Armenian-Americans who live in the “Little Armenia” District of Hollywood. He discussed the Armenian Genocide commemoration march that takes place every year, specifying that this year marks the centennial of the Ar-menian Genocide – the first Genocide of the twentieth century. “I propose that tthe intersection of this square will be a perma-nent reminder of the plight of the Armenian people, honoring the grandparents and great grandparents of the descendants of the Genocide,” he added. Echoing the sentiments of Councilmember O’Farrell, Councilmembers Krekorian and Fuentes talked about the importance of reminding the public of historic tragedies so that they never happen again.Valery Mkrtumian, Deputy Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles expressed his deep gratitude to the American people who rescued more than 100,000 Armenian or-

phans. “Today we are really proud of the valuable contribution of the Arme-nian people to the political landscape of the United States.” He thanked the City Council for proposing an important measure in an area that is the heart of the Armenian-American Diaspora.Asking the Los Angeles City Coun-cilmembers to support the Armenian Genocide Memorial Square, ACA Chairman Sevak Khatchadorian ex-pressed his sentiments regarding the motion; “While the Republic of Turkey inexplicably and adamantly has denied

the occurrence of Genocide, and continues to do so a full century since, public recognition and awareness such as the proposed Ar-menian Genocide Memorial Square have helped Turkish citizens come to terms with the historical fact that is the Armenian Geno-cide and confront their own government’s policy of denial.”“The Armenian Council of America, and Armenians throughout the world thank Councilmembers O’Farrell, Krekorian and the remaining Los Angeles City Council for continuously commemo-rating the Armenian Genocide,” continued Khatchadorian, “We support the Armenian Genocide Memorial Square and ask the City Council to do the same.”

LA City Council Approves “Armenian Genocide Memorial Square”

LA City Councilmembers Paul Krekorian and Mitch O’Farrellwith ACA member Sarkis Zelveyan and ACA

Chairman Sevak Khatchadorian

City of Carson Unanimousily Votes Against Ataturk Monument Voting unanimously, the Carson City Council opposed a monument on March 4, 2015 commemorat-ing Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in the city’s International Sculpture Garden, which aims to honor world leaders.In a show of opposition to the pro-posed monument, the Armenian Ameri-can community including the ACA, ANCA and the Armenian Caucus of the SEIU Local 721 filled the Council Chamber to express, in solidarity, their vehement opposition to the project.“The proposed monument glori-fies Ataturk, a man deemed by historians as a dictator and promoter of ethnic cleansing of Armenians, Greeks, As-syrians, and other minorities; a movement that provid-ed the basis for the persecution of minorities in Turkey.”Barry Heads II, representing the office of Assemblymember Mike Gipson, read a letter written by Assemblymember Gipson and co-authored by Assemblymembers Achajian, Gatto, Wilk and Nazar-ian. “The proposed moment…. is incredibly insensitive and insult-ing to the memories of those who died, and their surviving families,” the letter read. “To erect a statue of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk ignores the sensitive political context behind this controversial individual, and goes against the stance taken by our representative bodies at the state and federal level. Out of respect for those who perished and the loved ones they left behind, we voice our opposition.”Speaking on behalf of the Turkish community was Consul Gen-eral of Turkey, Raife Gulru Gezer, listed the names of political and religious leaders who have praised Ataturk. She continued

by citing names of Armenians who honored Ataturk and insisted that the monument would be commemorat-ing a remarkable leader and founder of the modern Republic of Turkey. Aris Aganos, founder of the Ameri-can Hellenic Council, shared with the Council his memories of the haunting stories told by family members about the burning of Smyrna by the Turks.Other elected officials who voiced their concerns in opposition to the monu-ment included City of Montebello Mayor Jack Hadjinian, a direct descen-

dant of the atrocities committed by Ataturk, who told the City Council that they would be honoring a man who murdered his family if they voted in favor of the monument. Glendale May-or Zareh Sinanyan also revealed historical information about Ataturk as Glendale City Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian shared an emotional story about his Greek and Armenian ancestors who both suffered inhumanity under Ataturk’s reign of power.Only 6 speakers from each side were allowed to speak due to time constraints and an overwhelming number of speakers – there were 298 speakers in opposition to the monument and only 101 in support of the monument.The Mayor proposed a motion to move the item to the next Council Meeting, however Councilmembers Ro-bles and Holmes insisted on voting for the motion. “The monument would bring bad notoriety to the City of Carson,” said Councilmember Holmes and contin-ued by stating that the city should not accept the gift.

California State Assemblymember Gipson with ACA Members

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Armenian Council of America - 815 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 140 - Glendale, CA 91205Tel: (818) 545-9049 - www.ArmenianCouncil.org - info@ArmenianCouncil.org

that this is happening on the threshold of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.We believe the initial signing of the Pro-tocols in Zurich was a step in the wrong direction. Over the past six years, we have on many occasions, called on with-drawing the Turkish Armenia Protocols from the National Assembly. Ankara has showed that it is not ready and does not want to melt the ice in Armenian-Turkish relations in any way that is conducive to mutual respect and empathy towards the Armenian people. Ankara continues to deny the Genocide, helps and arms Azerbaijan, and continues to unilaterally close its border with Armenia, showing itself as an aggressor. In fact, Turkey has also suspended the Protocol process. ACA looks forward to Armenia with-drawing its signature from the protocols all together.

ACA Hosts Annual Open House

To celebrate the holiday season and wrap up a year of legislative success and histori-cal victories, the Armenian Council of America hosted a holiday party and open house on Sunday, December 14 at the ACA office in Glendale.Among the many guests, dignitaries and community leaders who enjoyed the fes-tivities was Congressman Adam Schiff who expressed his gratitude to the Armenian American community for all their years of support for him and his legislative work in Washington. He reiterated his love for the Armenian community and discussed the importance of civic involvement.

The Armenian Advocate