The United States continue expanding their presence in the Central Asia as part of the program «The Great Central Asia». As President Trump announced his new policy on Afghanistan earlier this week, the US Administration have started looking towards Tajikistan, the key region on the Central Asia which has a longer border with Afghanistan.
Boosted earlier in 2016 by the Secretary of State John Kerry, the cooperation between the United States and the Central Asia in trade, economic development, the anti-terrorism fight is likely to be particularly focused on making stronger ties with Tajikistan as the US Embassy in Dushanbe have lobbied the military and technical aid agreement between the United States and Tajikistan. The $100 billion agreement for a period of 5 years, from 2018 to 2023, has already been approved by Tajikistan authorities, according to the head of the Tajik Border Security Forces col. Avzalov.
As part of the agreement, the US Embassy in Tajikistan with support of «AT Communication US» will implement a new operation control system designed by «HARRIS» to the Tajik Border Security Forces. The system is designed according to the C4ICR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) standard which is used by NATO. The system will also let the United States track Tajik military actions online by integration with the communication channels of the Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The stronger ties the bigger funding. The United States have decreased their military and technical financing around the world from $1 billion to $800 million since the start of 2017, while Tajikistan continues to receive larger funding than any other country in the region.
However, by integrating the NATO control system to its Military Tajikistan will no longer be able to be a part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization which uses the Russian operation and control technologies while further strengthening of the US-Tajikistan relations may cause tension for Tajikistan authorities both with the Central Asian countries and Moscow. Finally, the initiative courageously taken by the Tajik Border Security Forces may have negative results considering the authoritative and self-dependent course of the President Emomali Rahmon.
Americana shopping mall executives in Glendale once again reversed themselves declaring that they not only now accept to advertise the Armenian Genocide Documentary, Architects of Denial, but offered to do it for free!
In the process, Americana’s executives behaved erratically, unprofessionally, and most surprisingly, against their own business interests by behaving insensitively toward the major block of their shoppers, the large local Armenian population.
It all started two weeks ago when Americana’s General Manager Julie Jauregui refused to sell space on its billboard by calling the Armenian Genocide documentary “too political.” When I contacted Americana for a proper explanation, I was told by Emily Davis, responsible for Americana’s Public Relations and Communications: “We have strict standards for our advertisements and we carefully review all content. This did not comply with the advertising guidelines for our portfolio properties throughout Southern California.” When asked why the documentary did not comply with Americana’s advertising guidelines, three days later I was told by Emily Davis, Americana had no further comment!
Under pressure from the local Armenian community and the Armenian National Committee of America — Glendale Chapter, Jackie Levy, Americana’s Executive Vice President, changed course and sent a conciliatory letter to ANCA, dangling the hope that there would be a resolution to the issue after meeting with the Glendale City Council and the documentary producers, and declining to meet with ANCA.
A few days later, Jackie Levy, sent a much harsher letter to the documentary producers stating once again that Americana declines the requested advertising because the shopping mall is for people “who can come together to enjoy themselves… that is why we have established policies prohibiting advertisements concerning political issues.” She then offered to meet with ANCA and expressed the wish to “reaffirm our longstanding support of the Armenian community….” which is a complete lie. Americana has repeatedly taken anti-Armenian positions, particularly on the Armenian Genocide issue when they banned the sale of genocide t-shirts three years ago.
Jackie Levy then proceeded to make the most offensive remark, mentioning “comments we have received ranging from the Armenian community and the Turkish Consulate.” Ms. Levy should be asked how many Turkish shoppers frequent Americana vs. 100,000 Armenians in Glendale. Furthermore, why is she allowing the Consulate of a foreign despotic regime to interfere in the decisions of Americana and the local community? By doing so, she is equating Armenians — the victims of genocide — with those whose ancestors had committed such heinous mass crimes!
Meanwhile the pressure started mounting on Americana by various American TV networks which broadcast the Armenian protests against the shopping mall. There were also more than 20 Armenian and non-Armenian speakers, including this writer, who addressed the Glendale City Council on August 15, expressing their outrage at Jackie Levy’s insensitive letter. At the end, all five City Council members expressed their unhappiness with Americana’s rejection of the Armenian Genocide ad and committed to follow up with the shopping mall’s executives to pressure them to change their position.
Finally, Americana executives reversed their position once again on August 17, by announcing shortly before ANCA’s press conference scheduled to declare a boycott of Americana by the local Armenian community. Jackie Levy announced that Americana now agrees to display the advertisement and “at no cost to the producers.”
Ms. Levy excuses Americana’s earlier negative decision as a “misunderstanding” of their position on human rights “and for that we apologize. We have always condemned violence and atrocities of any form anywhere in the world, including the Armenian Genocide that has impacted the lives of Armenians in our community.”
In response, ANCA announced that they consider Americana’s reversal an “initial positive step.” The ANCA further stated that the shopping mall “should be demonstrating its corporate citizenship” and “must seek a relationship with the community that demonstrates, in concrete terms, its understanding and care for the surrounding community and our city. In the coming weeks, we look forward to meeting with Mr. Rick Caruso [Americana’s owner] and his management team to discuss, in concrete terms, how we can forge a better relationship and bond between the community and the Americana and Caruso Affiliated that results in a genuine, constructive and meaningful long-term relationship.”
Given Americana executives’ contradictory statements in the last couple of weeks, the Armenian community has lost complete trust in their promises. Mr. Caruso, Americana’s owner, not only should review the shopping mall’s relationship with the local Armenian community, but also decide if several of his executives should continue working for him given their unprofessional behavior.
Central Asian leaders are known for their absolute power and life-long immunity from prosecution. The tradition that was started by the late Turkmen president Saparmurat Niyazov who held the title Turkmenbashi (The Leader of All Turkmen) until his death in 2006, later followed by his successor, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, the Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, 77 and finally the Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, 64, has been well enjoyed by its followers for over 20 years by now.
However, the leaders are getting old and the region just might be on the threshold of the new era. The recent death of the Uzbek President Islam Karimov has marked the beginning of inevitable changes and has made the issue a public debate. The Central Asia is of great interest of its strong neighbors: Turkey, Iran, Russia and, finally, China. Each of the country is eagerly waiting to gain its own geopolitical goals and ambitions there. It’s only a matter of time now. In the long-term scenario, as seen by political analysts, China will most likely strengthen its political and economic development, while Turkey will likely become more stable economically. Finally, Iran might recover its power due to its nuclear program agreement.
The key factor might be played by migrant workers. Though China is the huge labor pool that offers low-cost migrant workers it still cannot compete with Russia when it comes to the Central Asia: most of the people’s income in this region is coming from Russia as there are more jobs to Central Asian migrant workers than in any other country. Nevertheless, the competition between Turkey and Iran will most likely continue to grow. Considering the fact that some Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are highly vulnerable due to terrorism threats and geographic proximity with Afghanistan, Turkey, if it keeps its stable economic growth, has all chances to confront terrorism by taking the leading control in the region in the long run.
Meanwhile, the current Central Asian leaders keeping in mind all the dangers coming to them struggle to extend their authoritarian leadership as longer as possible by empowering their children and by filling all the important government positions with their family members. One of the brightest examples of such practice may be found in Tajikistan. Earlier last year Emomali Rahmon’s daughter, Ozoda Rahmon has been appointed as his chief of staff while her husband, Jamoliddin Nuraliev, the First Deputy Chairman of the National Bank of Tajikistan is one of the strongest candidates for the President elections in 2020 along with the President’s son, Rustam Rahmon. But due to the recent scandal that put Jamoliddin Nuraliev in the spotlight as he has been regularly seen in public together with Takhmina Bagirova in Austria (where Bagirova lives) and other countries during the holiday season, Nuraliev might soon be off the game leaving Rustam Rahmon the only real candidate for the President. But whether the current leaders’ successors be able to be as powerful as their fathers or their presidency will mark the end of the authoritarian power in the region the Central Asia’s new wave of development is inevitable. As the pro-Moscow leaders will go, the region this will most likely be the platform of disputes between Iran, Turkey and China.
The issue in question need to be decided by the Historians in a joint meeting which Turkish side is requesting openly in every international meeting but the State of Armenia is side stepping . Following valuable article is written and edited by Mr. Harut Sassounian. As of today and until today all debates and discussion on the issue was mainly limited to diasporas which their centers are in the United States Mr. Harut Sassounian and Mr. Ferruh Demirmen are key persons and very respectable in their diasporas .. Turkish Forum
Armenian-Americans knew that they had scored a major victory for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide when Texas became the 46th State to recognize it. What Armenian-Americans did not realize is that the recognition by Texas had a devastating impact on the Turkish community’s lobbying efforts in that State.
Ferruh Demirmen, Ph.D., revealed in an article in Turkishnews.com the degree of despair he and his fellow Turks suffered in Texas when the State House recognized the Armenian Genocide on May 19, 2017. It is not very often that we come across a Turkish lobbyist who acknowledges total defeat at the hands of the Armenian community.
Demirmen starts by blaming his fellow Turks for “years of Turkish apathy and passivity, combined with Armenian aggressiveness and Western prejudice” for the passage of the resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide. He also credits the activism by the Armenian National Committee of America, Western Region (ANCA-WR), for arranging “tours involving Armenian activists at town-hall meetings,” visiting “State elected officials individually,” and establishing ANCA-WR chapters in “Dallas, Austin and Houston.”
The Turkish activist also credits the success of the genocide resolution to the support of “State Representative Scott Sanford, who is also the Executive Pastor of a Baptist church in Texas.” Having done an incredible amount of research for his article, Demirmen recalls that “at a gala organized by ANCA-Dallas in April 2016, Representative Sanford was awarded ‘Advocate for Justice Award’ for his ‘strong dedication to raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide.’ ” At the gala, a letter from Republican Senator Ted Cruz was read recognizing the Armenian Genocide, according to Demirmen.
On January 26, 2017, Representative Sanford introduced Texas House Resolution HR-191 to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The Resolution was first presented to the Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee (TIAC) which called for a public hearing at the State Capitol in Austin on April 24. Demirmen regrets that the Texas legislature chose “April 24 for the public hearing, a date considered symbolic for Armenian allegations, [which] was the first sign that TIAC was pro-Armenian in its outlook.”
Demirmen is unhappy that “the hearing was closely coordinated with ANCA-WR and Rep. Sanford, and while the Armenian side had long known about the hearing, the Turkish side knew of the meeting less than a week in advance.” As a result, only six Turks attended the hearing (five from Houston and one from Dallas), while “a large crowd from the Armenian side was present. Also present [at TIAC] as an ‘observer’ was Rep. Sanford.” Demirmen expresses his regret that only four Turks, including himself, testified in committee, whereas 21 Armenians had testified. “The Armenian side ended up having five times more chances to present its case than the Turkish side. Thus the Armenian side dominated not only in terms of ‘presence’ in the hearing, but also in the testimonies given,” Demirmen admitted. “Among those who testified for the Armenian side were representatives from the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission, and Houston’s Holocaust Museum,” Demirmen reported. In addition, “hundreds of letters were emailed to state legislators. Many more phone calls were made by the Armenian community.”
Among the objections raised by Turks who testified against the Resolution, were: 1) the “impropriety of Texas legislators to intervene in matters affecting U.S. foreign policy, 2) the damage the bill could do to trade relations between Texas and Turkey, 3) the divisive aspect of the resolution, and not the least, 4) the fact that the resolution is defamatory toward Texas residents of Turkish heritage,” Demirmen complained.
None of these objections made an impact on the TIAC members who approved the Resolution unanimously on April 24. The Texas House took up the Resolution on May 19 approving it with 137 yes votes (eight members were absent and five abstained).
In utter despair, Demirmen describes the outcome as “a feat masterminded by ANCA-WR and endorsed by the Texas House of Representatives. While the resolution has no legal force, for all practical purposes, and for the public at large, it was a declaration finding Ottoman Turks guilty of a heinous crime.”
Demirmen acknowledges that “the Turkish response, at least at the grassroots level, to HR-191, was feeble. … Turks are no match to Armenians on activism on the ‘genocide’ issue…. The Turkish side has only itself to blame for its lethargy and passivity.”
The Turkish activist concludes his article by blaming the ATA-Houston (American Turkish Association) for not bothering to oppose HR-191. He calls the group, “the happy-hour-conscious association, founded in 1979, was not interested in the Armenian issue….”
Even though Demirmen blames Texas Turks for their inactivity, there is actually only one reason why the Resolution was adopted: Because it tells the truth! The State of Texas finally acknowledged the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide!
Combating Armenian “genocide” falsehoods: Education and pro-activity are key for Turkish side
Passivity and lethargy are the major reasons for the Turkish side’s failure to effectively convey its message. Success is only possible through a pro-active stance, which requires education.
By Ferruh Demirmen, Ph.D.
August 11, 2017
It is well established that Turkish efforts to combat Armenian “genocide” falsehoods have been very ineffective. This is borne out by the fact that, according to Wikipedia, as of 2017 governments and parliaments of 29 countries as well as 46 states of the United States have recognized Armenian “genocide.” The latest recognition was in the U.S. State of Texas: http://www.turkishny.com/english-news/5-english-news/247851-texas-house-resolution-hr-191-anatomy-of-a-shameful-armenian-genocide-resolution
The bitter irony in this dismal record is that historical facts, as well as judicial rulings and the underlying 1948 UN Convention, clearly favor the Turkish position and negate the genocide characterization. The recent rulings from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and France’s Constitutional Court, for example, consider the 1915 events in Ottoman Anatolia controversial, calling attention to the requirement of a court determination for genocide recognition. Yet, there exists no such determination. Hence “genocide” is far from proven.
The failure of the Turkish side to convey its message effectively is in part related to the Western bias rooted in ethnicity and religion. Almost all countries that one way or another have so far recognized Armenian “genocide” are not only Western, or of Western heritage; they are Christian. In these countries false historical assertions from the Armenian side are automatically accepted as the truth. The phenomenon is a reflection of the “Armenian Settled History Syndrome,” whereby the Armenian allegations are accepted uncritically as facts.
A prime example is Wikipedia, which is blatantly pro-Armenian, to the point of obvious misinformation, e.g., “UN recognition of Armenian genocide” (Whitaker Report).
While bias is a social malady that is difficult to overcome, there are steps that the Turkish side can take to alleviate the situation. Passivity and lethargy are the major reasons for the Turkish side’s failure to effectively convey its message. For success, Turks should shove off lethargy or passivity and be pro-active.
With a pro-active stance, the Turkish side should be able to: (a) Effectively disseminate its own narrative (and the truth) in the media (including the social media) and conferences, (b) seek accountability in a court of law, (c) lobby and educate politicians to oppose one-sided resolutions. Lobbying includes political campaign contributions as may be appropriate.
Education is the key
But this begs the question: What is needed for pro-activity for the Turkish side? It is argued here that the road to pro-activity is motivation, which itself requires information. Information, or knowledge, is the driving force for action and pro-activity.
Information does not happen in a vacuum. It is acquired through education – self-induced education, or education obtained externally, e.g., through exposure to media.
A major setback for the Turkish side on the Armenian issue is that Turks are generally ignorant or very poorly educated on the 1915 events in Ottoman Anatolia. When abroad, they are constantly subjected to high-decibel negative propaganda from the Armenian side. The Armenian propaganda naturally deceives the unsuspecting public as well, politicians included.
To educate Turkish people, including those living abroad, properly on the 1915 events, avenues that readily come to mind are:
Promote dissemination of Turkish view through printed and digital media, including TV programs, at home and abroad. A new TV forum series “Daylight on History” initiated by TADA (Turkish Anti-Defamation Alliance) is designed to reach viewers in America.
Promote academic studies and independent research at home and abroad, e.g. think tanks and doctoral studies at the University of Louisville and Utah University.
Promote conferences with a balanced agenda and balanced contributors.
Promote and finance Hollywood-type productions reflecting the Turkish narrative.
In disseminating information, eyewitness data from the survivors and their descendents should be given due consideration.
Start with school curriculum at home
This subheading could as well be named “Acknowledge your adversary.” A major shortcoming in the education of Turks on the Armenian issue is the virtual exclusion of the 1915 events in school curriculum. Under the “Peace at home, peace abroad” dictum that has been in effect since the founding of the Republic, Turkish children at school are not taught about the 1915 events.
The war and the 1915 events were over, and the Turkish governments did not want to create animosity and ethnic tension against the neighboring Armenia, and Armenians in general.
As a result, Turkish children grow hopelessly ignorant on the Armenian issue. What is more, Turks who visit or live abroad (generally Europe and North America) get almost a shock effect when they witness unending “genocide” diatribe from the Armenian lobby in ordinary life, from the media to parliaments to Hollywood productions. They may also encounter biased school curricula that tell the Armenian version of the Turco-Armenian conflict, which impacts their children.
Unprepared, Turks typically become apprehensive, and even intimidated. Apathy, indifference and passivity become modus operandi.
A good example is the feeble Turkish response to the HR-191 Armenian “genocide” resolution referenced above, that was introduced at the Texas House of Representative early this year.
Given the animus of the Armenian side, in particular the Diaspora, however, the well-intentioned “Love Thy Neighbor” message embedded in the Turkish educational system is outdated. It has outlived its usefulness. Since the 1960s, the Armenian Diaspora, in footstep with Armenia, has aggressively pursued anti-Turkish agenda, even to the point of inciting anti-Turkish hatred in young minds of ethnic Armenians.
If not for such venomous spirit, how to explain the ASALA/JCAG terror of the 1970s through 1990s that took the lives of 58 civilians, 27 of them Turkish diplomats, and 7 diplomats relatives and staff?
More than a century has passed since the 1915 events; but the drums of anti-Turkish invective from the Armenian quarters are loud and clear. Thanks to a lobbying blitz from the Armenian Diaspora, in the last two years Armenian “genocide” has been recognized in Germany (the Bundestag), Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Paraguay, Brazil, Chile, Syria (!), the Holy See, the Czech Republic, and the U.S. states of Missouri, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming and Texas.
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the Holocaust Museum in the U.S. have joined the “genocide” chorus, and a new Diaspora-funded Hollywood production, The Promise, has hit the movie theaters in America to deceive the public.
Surely, no sign of slowing down by the Diaspora! A vengeance-driven propaganda campaign to denigrate Turks is in place.
One effective response to such anti-Turkish offensive is to change the school curricula in Turkey and include the 1915 and preceding events in history teaching. The betrayal of the Armenian minority, the lack of ill-intent on the part of Ottoman authorities in the Relocation decision, the reality of casualties on both sides, and the atrocities perpetrated by Armenian militant bands against Moslem (and Jewish) civilians, should be included in teaching.
Turkey does not have an issue with its citizens of Armenian origin, and the intent is not to alienate the Armenian community. Roughly 100,000 illegal Armenian workers from Armenia make a living in Turkey without interference from the government, and there is regular air traffic as well as indirect trade between the two countries.
Instead, the intent is to make Turks aware of their history. Put more bluntly, Turks should know and acknowledge that the Armenian Diaspora, and its consort Armenia, are adversaries to be reckoned with.
Knowledge is power. And power is needed to fend off an adversary.
What further reason?
It is worth noting in this context that Armenia’s 1990 Declaration of Independence calls eastern Turkey (mainly the 6 provinces) “Western Armenia,” with haunts of the “Wilsonian Armenia” of the Sèvres Treaty, while its 1995 Constitution, in describing the national coat of arms, makes reference to Mount Ararat – located in Turkey.
Yes, nearly a century after the signing of the Sèvres Treaty, Armenia still has aspirations (delusions) about the “Wilsonian Armenia,” with implicit support, one must add, from the West.
These are not signs of a friendly neighbor.
Neither are the demands from the Armenian side for apology, compensation and territory – demands that are commonly attached to the allegations of Armenian “genocide.”
It is not surprising that the 2009 Zurich Protocols between Turkey and Armenia broke down in a few years without any progress. Normalization of relations requires goodwill on both sides. A recent attempt toward normalization by the Armenian side and championed by the Sabancı University (Istanbul Policy Center) assumes unrealistic premises and does not hold much promise.
It should also be added that:
The call made by the Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2005 to establish a joint historical commission with Armenia to debate the 1915 events has fallen on deaf ears on the Armenian side. Erdoğan said Turkey would abide by the conclusion reached. In the meantime Armenian archives held in Yerevan, Boston, Istanbul and Jerusalem (Armenian patriarchates) are closed except to a selected few.
The conciliatory gestures made in recent years by top Turkish officials toward the Armenian side, such as the call in 2014 for rapprochement between Turks and Armenians, and effectively one-sided (!) condolences extended in 2014 and 2015 to Armenians on their losses in 1915, have elicited no reciprocity. Turk-vilification goes on unabated. Tellingly, an “apology” campaign launched in 2008 by some over-zealous Turkish liberals – without mentioning the word “genocide” – has not satisfied the Diaspora.
Just as Armenia had welcomed as a hero the ASALA terrorist Varoujan Garabedian when he was released from French prison in 2011 after the 1983 deadly Orly airport attack in Paris, the Diaspora in America has provided legal defense fund and lobbied for the release from prison of Armenian terrorists like Gourgen Yanikian and Hampig Sassounian that assassinated Turkish diplomats. There is even a memorial honoring the ASALA terrorists in the military cemetery in Yerevan
Armenia has been providing logistical and training help to the PKK terrorists in Turkey -a relationship that goes back to 1984 when ASALA ceased to operate. The PKK/PYD/YPG terrorists appear to have been helping Armenians in skirmishes in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Conclusion
The somber reality for the Turkish side is that it is facing a formidable adversary determined to malign Turks with unfounded “genocide” accusations on events that go back more than a century. It is the well-heeled, well-organized Diaspora working in consort with Armenia.
Turks should wake up, acknowledge their adversary, and respond accordingly.
A wise old Turkish man once observed cynically: “Offer one arm as a sacrificial limb to Armenia or the Diaspora; it will take it and will ask for the other arm.”
A new roadmap or paradigm to combat Armenian accusations is needed. The first step in this paradigm is overhaul of the Turkish education system to include Turco-Armenian conflict in school curricula. Education should lead to motivation, hence pro-activity. Lethargy should be no more.
For those Turks who are willing to delve into the Armenian issue, a newly released book, The Big Lie,” (Ka Kitap, 2017) by researcher Şükrü Server Aya is highly recommended. Aya debunks the “genocide” myth based on multiple sources. The book is available in English, Turkish and German.
It goes without saying that the commitment of the Turkish government in the implementation of the new roadmap is essential. If there is a motto in this new roadmap, it is “Education, education, education.”
Three years ago, on the eve of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, Americana shopping mall officials in Glendale, illegally and in an arrogant manner, banned the sale of Armenian Genocide-related T-shirts by three young Armenians who had signed a contract, disclosed their merchandise in advance, and paid the rent for a cart on the property.
Afterwards, ominously, Doris Nesheiwat, Senior Director of Specialty Leasing at Americana, in an email, warned the young Armenians: “Anything genocide themed, sweat shirts, t-shirts, phone covers and anything that has a genocide theme needs to come off the cart completely please.”
After I exposed Americana’s scandalous and unwarranted behavior in a column, and complaints from the local Armenian community, Americana issued a half-hearted apology by describing the ugly incident as a “misunderstanding,” and allowed the young Armenians to sell their T-shirts.
The Armenian community which numbers close to 100,000 — half of Glendale’s population — and a big portion of Americana’s shoppers, needs to know in a definitive way what is causing Americana executives to repeatedly take positions against publicizing the Armenian Genocide. Being smart businessmen, they must realize that it is counter-productive to antagonize the majority of their customers by taking offensive positions on the Armenian Genocide.
In recent weeks, Americana executives once again took a hostile position by refusing to provide advertising space on their billboard for an Armenian Genocide documentary, “Architects of Denial,” produced by Hollywood celebrities Dean Cain and Montel Williams.
This time again, Americana officials came up with a nonsensical and offensive reason for rejecting the paid ad. Americana’s outdoor media agency, Outfront Media, told the documentary producers that Americana executives feel, without having seen the documentary, it is “too political.” This is outrageous! A documentary on the Armenian Genocide cannot be labelled as “too political.” This is a human rights issue which has nothing to do with politics!
When I learned that Julie Jauregui, Americana’s General Manager, was the one who used the term “too political” in rejecting the ad, I called her asking for an explanation. In response, I received an e-mail from Emily Davis, responsible for Americana’s Public Relations and Communications, stating: “We have strict standards for our advertisements and we carefully review all content. This did not comply with the advertising guidelines for our portfolio properties throughout Southern California.”
This carefully crafted statement is completely meaningless! Thus, I wrote back to Emily Davis, wondering how could the advertising for this documentary “not comply” with Americana’s “strict standards for advertisements,” when in fact, Americana’s executives had neither seen the documentary nor the text of the billboard ad before rejecting it. The only information Americana officials knew was that this ad was for an Armenian Genocide documentary. I asked Davis if she implied that the topic of the Armenian Genocide itself violates Americana’s “strict standards for advertisement.” After mulling over her reply for three days and consulting her senior colleagues, Davis responded that they are sticking to their previous answer!
Reaching a dead-end with Americana, I had no choice but to take the matter to the Glendale City Council last week, where four of the five Council members are Armenians. This fact alone, well-known to Americana executives, was another serious miscalculation by them, since they are legally obligated to adhere to scores of agreements they have signed with the City in return for generous subsidies and lavishly advantageous lease considerations. Any deviation from these legal obligations could force the City to take decisive action against Americana to enforce the signed agreements.
In my public remarks to the City Council, I urged the City to arrange a meeting with Americana executives and local Armenian community leaders to resolve this issue. Otherwise, the community would have no choice but to resort to protests and boycotts. Joining me in addressing the City Council was Margarita Baghdasaryan, Community Outreach Director, the Armenian National Committee of America, Glendale Chapter.
The City Council members were naturally sympathetic to our presentations and promised to intervene by arranging a meeting with Americana executives. The purpose of the meeting is not only to straighten out this latest wrong-headed decision, but get to the bottom of what is behind the repeated rejections of Armenian Genocide materials by Americana officials. We need to settle this issue once and for all! We cannot continue to deal with genocide-related objections raised by Americana periodically. We need to know what is the root cause of this repeated insensitive and insulting behavior of Americana officials. If they continue to take a hostile position on the Armenian Genocide issue, maybe hitting them in the pocket book through protests and boycotts, as well as City Council enforcement, would bring Americana executives to their senses!
