Sassounian Column
Harut Sassounian is an Armenian-American writer, public activist and publisher of The California Courier which is known for Sassounian's weekly opinion column.
June 10, 2012
ALL THREE BRANCHES OF US GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
While readers are generally aware that the Executive and Legislative branches of the US government have recognized the Armenian Genocide, it is not as widely known that the US Judiciary…››May 22, 2012
HOW SHOULD THE DIASPORA REACT TO NEW TURKISH OVERTURES?
I have been informed by reliable sources that Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is continuing his efforts to initiate a personal ‘dialog’ with the Diaspora on Armenian-Turkish issues. Earlier this…››May 16, 2012
ARMENIANS IN EGYPT: DWINDLING YET RESILIENT IN A COUNTRY IN TURMOIL
I just returned from a fascinating trip to Egypt. The Primate of the Armenian Church had invited me on behalf of the Diocesan Council to deliver the keynote address at…››May 08, 2012
LAWSUIT-HAPPY TURKISH GROUP LOSES APPEAL ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) has been on a rampage in recent years, filing lawsuits against scholars, public officials, and civic groups who support the recognition of the Armenian…››May 02, 2012
WHY DOES PRES. OBAMA TORTURE HIMSELF AND ARMENIANS EVERY APRIL 24?
For some unknown reason, the President of the most powerful nation on earth feels compelled to put himself through a strange and unnecessary ritual every April 24. Weeks in advance…››April 17, 2012
TWO FACES OF TURKEY: VENEER OF GENTILITY MASKING RUTHLESSNESS
When Turkey’s Foreign Minister met secretly with a group of Armenians in Washington last month, he wooed them with his sly smile and sugar-coated words. This was the fake facade…››April 10, 2012
TURKEY’S FOREIGN MINISTER IN SEARCH OF ‘SOFT’ ARMENIANS
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey’s ‘man on the run,’ has added to his extremely busy schedule the new task of travelling around the globe trying to recruit ‘sensible’ Armenians.Davutoglu has…››April 03, 2012
TURKS AND AZERIS ALARMED THAT TUVALU MAY RECOGNIZE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH
March 16, 2012 was like any other day at the United Nations, when the representatives of Armenia and Tuvalu signed a joint declaration establishing diplomatic relations. Tuvalu is a tiny…››March 27, 2012
STATE DEPT.’S DISGRACEFUL CENSORSHIP OF A REPORT BLACKLISTING TURKEY
Each passing day brings new revelations of the Obama administration’s shameful schemes to cover up Turkish misconduct.The latest scandal involves the State Department’s covert attempt to alter the contents of…››March 21, 2012
ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE’S BOLD MOVE TO SUE THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT
We must commend Acting Patriarch Aram Ateshian and the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul for making the bold move of suing the Turkish government for the return of historically significant Armenian…››March 15, 2012
CLINTON SHOULD RESIGN FOR MAKING OFFENSIVE REMARKS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
How many times can Secretary of State Hillary Clinton break her pledge and make insulting remarks on the Armenian Genocide before she is called a liar and forced to resign?…››March 06, 2012
CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL’S SCANDALOUS REJECTION OF FRENCH GENOCIDE BILL
Armenians in France and throughout the world reacted with utter indignation against the Constitutional Council’s scandalous decision rejecting the Genocide denial bill. The National Assembly and Senate recently adopted a…››March 01, 2012
HOW TO COUNTER APPEALS COURT’S RULING AGAINST INSURANCE CLAIMS
The federal Court of Appeals issued a shocking decision last week. In a unanimous ruling, it struck down a California law that had allowed heirs of Armenian Genocide victims to…››February 21, 2012
EGEMEN BAGISH: TURKEY’S MINISTER OF GENOCIDE DENIAL
Even though all Turkish government officials routinely deny the Armenian Genocide, one particular minister has turned denial into a full-time job. Ironically, as Minister for European Union Affairs, Egemen Bagish…››February 14, 2012
BRYZA CONFESSES HIS LOVE FOR TURKEY, CONFIRMING HIS ANTI-ARMENIAN BIAS
It appears that my prediction about Matt Bryza leaving the State Department and working as a lobbyist is coming true. After his brief stint as Ambassador to Azerbaijan came to…››February 07, 2012
ARMENIANS NEED TO PURSUE THEIR CAUSE WITH MORE CONFIDENCE AND COMMITMENT
This week’s column deals with the self-defeating attitude of some Armenians whose negative outlook manifested itself once again with the latest news about the French bill criminalizing denial of the…››January 31, 2012
FRANCE SHOULDN’T ALLOW TURKEY TO MEDDLE IN ITS DOMESTIC AFFAIRS
For nearly a century, Turkey’s leaders have tried to hide the monstrous crime of the Armenian Genocide by covering up what really took place in the killing fields of the…››January 24, 2012
20 STEPS TURKEY COULD TAKE TO WORSEN RELATIONS WITH FRANCE AFTER GENOCIDE VOTE
Turkey’s leaders have been threatening France for months with various reprisals should the French government pass a law making it illegal to deny the Armenian Genocide.Ignoring Turkish threats and blackmail,…››January 19, 2012
AS FRANCE TIGHTENS THE NOOSE, TURKEY REACTS WITH OUTRAGEOUS WORDS AND DEEDS
Turkish leaders routinely proclaim that they are not afraid of facing their country’s past. Yet, the minute someone reminds them of the darkest chapters of their history, they panic and…››January 10, 2012