National, International, Armenia, and Community News and Opinion

Number 112May 2, 2009the armenianreporterArmeniaARF leaves Armenian government, citingdisagreements on Turkey policyThe Armenian Revolutionary Federation(Dashnaktsutiun) on April 27withdrew from Armenia’s governingcoalition, citing “insurmountabledisagreements on matters ofprinciple” regarding Armenia’s foreignpolicy, Vincent Lima reports. AArmeniaCommunityCommunityparty declaration referred specificallyto the timing and substanceof a joint statement of the foreignministries of Armenia and Turkeyon the eve of April 24.See story on page 16mRichard Hovannisian: “I consider a jointhistorians’ commission a dangerous trap”Historian Richard Hovannisian ofUCLA, met with Tatul Hakobyanof the Armenian Reporter on April24 in Yerevan. They discussed thejoint statement issued by Turkeyand Armenia on April 22 and theTwo sons of Musa Ler share a historyIt was hearing the distinctive Armeniandialect of Musa Ler thatmade Manug Aydin turn around in1984. It was the beginning of a longfriendship with Guydzag Boyadjian.The two men grew up in separateSts. Tarkmanchatz School was builtin 1929 under the patronage of PatriarchYeghishe Tourian to satisfythe educational needs of the Armeniancommunity of Jerusalem. Theschool has played a dominant role inthe life of the Armenian communityof Jerusalem. On April 20, the 80thThe AGBU Antranig Dance Ensembleis celebrating its 40th anniversaryin 2009 and, to mark the milestoneyear, the group will present anew program during a special nightCommunityworlds but were both descendantsof the survivors of the resistanceat Musa Ler. Richard Tedesco recountstheir story.See story on page 6mJerusalem Armenian school turns 80, celebratesOnstage at Lincoln Center, AGBU Dance Ensemblewill mark 40 years this NovemberCommunityTurkish proposal to form a bilateralhistorians’ commission. Prof. Hovannisiancalled the proposal a dangeroustrap.See story on page 17manniversary for the establishmentof the Armenian Secondary Schoolof Sts. Tarkmanchatz was celebratedin Jerusalem with the attendance ofmore than 300 alumni, communitymembers, guests, and pilgrims.See story on page 14mof celebration at Lincoln Center forthe Performing Arts on Saturday,November 28.See story on page 7mYoung Professionals prepare for Tour to ArmeniaThe Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)and the Zohrab Center in New YorkCity organized a reception and presentationabout FAR’s Young Professionals2009 Tour to Armeniaon Thursday, April 23. The eveningserved as a reunion for alumni ofthe program as well as an opportunityto inform prospective participantsabout the tour to Armenia.See story on page 12mIn Times Square, Armeniansremember the Genocideby Taleen BabayanNEW YORK – An unprecedentednumber of Armenian-Americansconverged in Times Square on April26 to commemorate the 94th anniversaryof the Armenian Genocide.Under a bright sky, the enthusiasticaudience listened attentively to anassemblage of prominent speakersurging them to carry on the fightfor Armenian Genocide recognition.The gathering was being heldfor the 24th consecutive year.“We will continue to light thetorch of truth until Turkey recognizesthe Genocide,” proclaimedthe senior Democratic senatorfrom New York, Chuck Schumer.He was one of several elected officialswho protested Turkey’s denialof responsibility for the Armenianmassacres and expressed solidaritywith the Armenian-American community.While Armenia and Turkey jointlyheld out the prospect that Turkeymay one day open the border withArmenia, which it closed 16 yearsago in an act of overt hostility, andagree to establish diplomatic relations,Armenian-Americans gatheredand confirmed their solemncommitment to the memory of theIn Southern California, Armeniansgather to commemorate the GenocideMONTEBELLO, Calif. – On April24, a rally was held at the ArmenianMartyrs Monument in Montebello.A joint celebration of the DivineLiturgy with the participation ofthe Armenian Apostolic, Catholic,and Evangelical Churches was heldin the vicinity of the monument.Thousands of faithful, communityleaders and the consul generalof the Republic of Armenia in LosAngeles were joined by elected officialsfrom various cities in theregion, the state of California, andthe U.S. Congress to commemoratethe 94th anniversary of the ArmenianGenocide. The gathering wasorganized by the Armenian GenocideUnited Commemoration Committee.Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,Primate, delivered the sermon whileArchbishop Moushegh Mardirossiancelebrated the Divine Liturgy,assisted by clergy from ArmenianApostolic, Catholic and EvangelicalChurches.After opening remarks emceeArdashes Kassakhian, whois Glendale’s city clerk, invitedspeakers to offer comments onthe occasion. Los Angeles mayorAntonio Villaraigosa, Los Angelescity controller and Councilmember Wendy Gruel, Rep.Adam Schiff, state Sen. CarolLiu, state Assembly member PaulKrekorian, and Consul GeneralGrigor Hovhannissian wereamong the guests and speakersat the commemorative event inMontebello.Archbishop Derderian began hissermon with the following wordsfrom the American prophet Rev. Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. “I just dovictims of the first genocide of the20th century.Rep. Pallone speaksThis unique event, held in the heartof Manhattan, serves as a publicforum for U.S. elected officials andleaders to call for justice for thevictims of the Genocide, which wascarried out by Ottoman Turkey.An agbu aya scout at his post next to the monument at Bicknell Park.Homenetmen Scouts also assisted in scouting duties for the commemoration.Photo: Nora Yacoubian.God’s will.... I have seen the PromisedLand. I may not get there withyou. But I want you to know tonightthat we as a people will get tothe Promised Land.”“We will continueto light thetorch of truthuntil Turkeyrecognizesthe Genocide,”Senator ChuckSchumer(D.-NY) toldparticipants inthe Times Squarecommemorationof the ArmenianGenocide. Photo:Taleen Babayan.Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D.-N.J.), co-chair of the House ArmenianCaucus, said it was importantfor everyone to be involvedin Genocide recognition and to doeverything to bring the Republicsof Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakhcloser to the United States.Continued on page 15 mThe Primate, characterizing theArmenian Genocide as a new beginningfor Armenians, said, “To-Continued on page 7