From the Chair

Greetings! Our Association is still young, but, as our 1992-93 committee reports show, we have a number of projects and accomplishments to our credit.
         The pro bono work of our members across the country, from Los Angeles to Detroit to Washington, D.C. is a justified source of pride that has boosted the reputation of the Association.
We have taken a leading role in helping to promote the rule of law in Armenia through exchange of experts and expertise made possible by the Babayan Fund. Law books and equipment sent to Armenia during the past year have been instrumental in the drafting and codification of the Republic's new laws.
Through the efforts of the Armenia Liaison Committee, we have become a respected source of information about legal developments in Armenia. In the past year, our assistance has been sought by governmental and non-governmental institutions, including the American Bar Association, the Sakharov Foundation, and the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. We stand ready to cooperate on a non-partisan basis with all organizations in our community. Our members want to become more engaged in the work of the Association. Our members also want the Association to be more visibly involved in issues concerning Armenian rights around the world. These are encouraging signs. Our association is maturing.
There is a sense that the Association has great unrealized potential. It is my hope that with your help in the coming year we will be able to secure the resources to create an administrative structure and communication network worthy of our goals and aspirations.
In these momentous times, we have a special responsibility as lawyers to become engaged in the needs of our communities here and abroad.
To do so we must act together. I urge you to write, fax, or call me and the other members of the Board. Your comments and suggestions are essential for us to launch a coordinated and effective program to reach our goals.


Thomas J. Samuelian
Chair, Board of Governors

ACTIVITIES AND BENEFITS


Some of the Association's operations include:
· Annual National Meeting
· Armenia Liaison Committee
· Pro Bono / Legal Education Programs
· Armenian Rights Watch
· Association Newsletter
· Amicus Curiae Submissions on Issues of Community Interest
· Access to Nationwide Network of Attorneys
· Topical and Regional Practice Groups
· Coordination and cooperation with local Armenian lawyers' societies
· Exchange programs with Armenia
· Review and comment on proposed legislation in Armenia
· Teaching opportunities in Armenia

AIMS AND STRUCTURE

       The Armenian Bar Association was formed in 1989 to provide an arena for lawyers of Armenian heritage and other interested individuals to come together socially and professionally and to address the legal concerns of the Armenian community. With the creation of the independent Republic of Armenia, the Association undertook the task of helping to build and encourage the growth of democratic institutions in Armenia.
       The Association is a channel through which attorneys with different backgrounds and at different stages of their careers share their expertise and insight. Such an exchange of experience and knowledge forms the backbone of the Association's goal of professional growth and community advancement. This sharing finds expression in the liaison work of the Association in supporting the emergence of a rule of law society in the Republic of Armenia.
       The Association is a democratic organization. Its members and sponsors support it and give it direction. They approve its Constitution, elect a Board of Governors, nominate prominent jurists as honorary members, and set the policy for the fiscal year.
       The national headquarters, located in Los Angeles, California, coordinates the Association's activities, increases the membership rolls, and carries out the plans and programs of the Association.
       The Armenian Bar Association is committed to serve the profession of law, the interests of its members, and the rights of its constituents. It is also committed to the recognition of constitutional process, civil and human rights, separation of powers and a democratic legal system in the Republic of Armenia.

ANNUAL MEETING NEWS

The Association's Fourth Annual Meeting opened on Saturday, March 13 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. After welcoming remarks and introductions by 1992-93 Board Chair James Derian, the business meeting proceeded to the reports of the committees. Treasurer Armen K. Hovannisian presented the financial report and thanked contributors for their support. Vice-Chair Tom Samuelian presided over the administrative portion of the business meeting. After thanking the membership committee and administrative consultant, Mannik Khatchatrian, for the publication of the Membership Directory, Samuelian noted that the directory was solely for non-commercial use by the members of the Association. The Association also distributed a Glossary of Legal Terms (see separate article).

Committee Reports
The Armenia Liaison Committee , chaired by Tamar Hajian, reported on the activities of the Babayan Fund, legal exchanges, book drives, and the law database. Over 1200 law books have been sent to Armenia during the past year. Thanks were expressed to Christine Simone for her assistance with the book drive. With the delegation attending the Annual Meeting this year, the Association's circle of cooperation in Armenia has expanded to include the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the government, as well as professional associations and academic institutions in Armenia. Tamar recounted her recent visit to Armenia with Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Mass) and urged members to become involved in efforts to ease the desperate conditions in Armenia caused by the Azerbaijani blockade.
The Pro Bono Committee , chaired by Saro Kerkonian and Vicken Simonian (West) and Jake Bournazian (East), reported that the efforts of the Association had been recognized by the Mutual Assistance Coalition of Los Angeles. As a public service to the community, the Committee has also arranged to publish a series of Armenian language pamphlets on issues of family law, landlord/tenant law, and the American legal system. Members were recognized by the Pro Bono Committee for their service to the Association and awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for their exemplary work.
The Immigration Sub-Committee , chaired by Alice Yardum-Hunter and Steve Barsamian, reported on efforts to assist Armenian legislators with the development of an immigration law and noted that the sub-committee focuses on the needs of immigrants once they are here and does not aim and is not equipped to provide pre-immigration services.
The Student Relations Committee , chaired by Lora Davidian, reported an active year of events in the Los Angeles area and called upon members to reach out to students in their regions and law schools.
The Armenian Rights Watch Committee , chaired by Christine Engustian, reported that this aspect of the Association's work is becoming more and more pressing. As Prof. Bruce Janigian noted in his address later in the meeting, the situation in Armenia and Karabakh and the blockade involve legal issues that attorneys are best able to understand and address. Members expressed concern about factual inaccuracies in public reports about Armenia. The Committee will attempt to address these concerns in the coming year.
The Newsletter Board chair Vahe Messerlian stressed the importance of the quarterly newsletter as a forum for the Association to exchange ideas and keep members informed of activities and events of interest. He encouraged members to actively contribute to the newsletter.
The Membership Committee , chaired by Harry Cherken and Judge Jack Hoogasian, reported that the Association directory has been published and that regional events should be planned to boost membership.
Guest speaker Prof. Bruce Janigian then discussed the Azerbaijani blockade as a violation of international law. He urged members to understand the facts and law about this issue and to educate the American public about this human rights violation. He described his work with the Joint Legislative Resolution on the Blockade before the California legislature.
After these reports about the Association's many accomplishments for the past year and the important work ahead, the first session of the meeting adjourned for the luncheon honoring Governor Deukmejian and Justices Baxter and Arabian.
The afternoon session was devoted to presentations by our guests from Armenia and to legal education seminars (see related article).

Elections
The Association's business meeting resumed on Sunday morning. The main order of business was meeting resolutions and elections. The Association adopted resolutions calling for the Association to continue its efforts to promote the rule of the law in Armenia, to cooperate with other organizations in helping the new Republic, to help out the community with legal needs, and to speak out on human rights issues facing Armenians everywhere. The new board was duly elected, according to the staggered term provisions of the bylaws. The 1993-1994 Board members are David Balabanian, Lisa Barsoomian (Secretary), Victor Boyajian, Harry Cherken, Lora Davidian, James Derian, Tamar Hajian, Judge Jack Hoogasian, Armen Hovannisian (Vice-Chair), Saro Kerkonian, Peter Kupelian, Ann Lousin, Levon Sagatelyan (Treasurer), Tom Samuelian (Chair), Zaven Sinanian and Ara Tramblian.
The remainder of the meeting was devoted to a lively discussion of contemporary legal developments in Armenia. The membership had the opportunity to exchange views with the visiting members of Parliament and Armenian jurists. The Fourth Annual Meeting closed with a sense that the Bar Association had come a long way and was maturing into a professional organization that must grow to meet the needs of the Armenian diaspora and the new Republic.

Gov. Deukmejian, Justices Arabian & Baxter
Honored at Luncheon

       The Association held a luncheon on Saturday, March 13, 1993 in honor of Governor George Deukmejian, and California Supreme Court Justices Armand Arabian and Marvin Baxter. In recognition of their distinguished careers in public service, they were made honorary members of the Association and presented with works of Armenian art as a memento of the occasion.

Governor Extols Public Service

       Governor Deukmejian addressed the assembled members and guests about his life as a public servant for over 28 years. He noted the challenges of being the governor of a large state, whose economy ranks ahead of many nations of the world. He spoke with pride of the accomplishments of his governorship, including the elevation of many qualified Armenians to the California bench. He encouraged law students to strive for excellence and told them not to be discouraged by the weak economy. He finally emphasized the urgent need for more Armenians to enter politics and public service.

Role Models

Board Chair James Derian in introducing and honoring the governor and justices remarked how important it is for the coming generation of Armenians to have role models like these three distinguished public servants.

FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING IN BEVERLY HILLS


       Armenian attorneys from around the country gathered in Beverly Hills for the Association's Fourth Annual Meeting, March 12-14, 1993. At the meeting, the Association conducted its regular business, honored outstanding members of the bar, held continuing legal education seminars, and heard reports from Members of the Armenian Parliament, Arbitrazh Court, Ministry of Justice, and Academy of Sciences about legal developments in Armenia.
       The Annual Meeting began with a reception on Friday evening, at the home of Drs. Richard and Vartiter Hovannisian. On Saturday, March 12, 1993, the Association held a luncheon in honor of distinguished members of the bar and bench, former California Governor George Deukmejian and Justices Armand Arabian and Marvin Baxter of the California Supreme Court, for their public service. At the afternoon session, Members of Parliament Hamlet Hovsepian and Rafik Petrosian, and Professor Henrik Khachatrian, head of the Institute of Law and Philosophy at the Academy of Sciences Law Section, addressed Association members and guests about the constitutional drafting process. Arbitrazh (Commercial) Court member Edward Mamikonian, and Justice Ministry officials Boris Ossipian and Hovhanes Asrian spoke about commercial law, legislative programs, and election law respectively. Rounding out a full day, seminars on equal rights law and immigration law were presented by Mr. Harry Melkonian and Ms. Alice Yardum-Hunter. The meeting ended with a reception hosted by Burger Continental on Sunday evening.

The highlights of the business meeting on Saturday and Sunday mornings were the committee reports on the Association's accomplishments in pro bono work and promoting the rule of law in Armenia. A presentation by Prof. Bruce Janigian, McGeorge School of Law, underscored the legal basis for the current discussion about Armenia and Karabagh and stressed the need for attorneys to understand and educate the community at large about these principles. The Board elected its new executive committee on Sunday: Thomas Samuelian, Chair; Armen Hovannisian, Vice-Chair; Lisa Barsoomian, Secretary; Levon Sagatelyan, Treasurer.

Armenian Jurists Discuss New Constitution


In two half-day sessions, six Armenian Jurists addressed the pressing issue of creating a rule-of-law state for Armenia. Participants in the panel were Members of Parliament Hamlet Hovsepian and Rafik Petrosian (also Dean of the Law Faculty at Yerevan State University); Prof. Henrik Khachatrian, Director, Law Section, Institute of Law and Philosophy, Academy of Sciences; Mr. Edward Mamikonian, Member, Arbitrazh (Commercial) Court; Mr. Hovhanes Asrian, Counsel, International Section, Justice Ministry and Edmund Muskie Fellow at American University Law School; Mr. Boris Ossipian, Counsel, International Section, Justice Ministry, Visiting Fellow at Emory University Law School and drafter of a constitution for the Republic of Artsakh.
The constitutional-drafting and adoption process was, of course, central to this discussion. The speakers represented different approaches to this seminal issue. Association members and guests had the opportunity to pose a variety of probing questions about the constitutional process. They took part in a candid discussion with the Armenian delegation. The delegation engaged in a lively give and-take exemplary of the real differences of opinion in Armenia and of the new freedom to express those differences. Participants expressed concern about the delay in adopting a new constitution and the resulting instability in the legal structure of the country. The discussion shed light on some of the reasons for this delay.
The new constitution, it turns out, is actually several competing documents. Although there is consensus on democracy and civil rights and freedoms, fundamental issues about the basic structure of the new government have not been resolved. For example, a presidential model, like that in the United States or France, is advocated by some; a parliamentary system, like that in Great Britain, by others. Similarly, opinions differ as to who should draft the constitution, and how the constitution should be adopted by parliament, by constitutional convention, by presidential advisory groups, by non-governmental specialists, by referendum, or some combination?
The speakers noted that thus far the draft presented to the Constitutional Commission by the President has been criticized from the point of view of substance and process of drafting and adoption. Other drafts, such as that of Prof. Khachatrian, which he brought to the meeting for discussion, are also under consideration. Alternative language and provisions from this draft, for instance, have been incorporated into the draft earlier presented to the Constitutional Commission. Experts from France and the United States have also provided technical assistance on constitutional issues.
The speakers also noted that the rule of law requires legally predictable economic relations, a comprehensive legal program, and fair elections. A constitution, while important, would not be effective without these and other guarantees of democratic processes.
The speakers believe that the Association has an important role to play in the development of legal ethics in Armenia. They stressed that the advice and counsel of the Association as an organization of practitioners is a valuable resource for the fledgling republic. All agreed that the rule of law can only take root through practice.

ASSOCIATION ISSUES GLOSSARY OF LEGAL TERMS

The Association recently issued an Armenian-English/English Armenian Glossary of Legal Terms. The glossary contains 400 entries covering commercial, civil, criminal and constitutional law. The glossary was a collaborative effort by visiting scholar, Hovhanes Asrian of the Armenian Ministry of Justice, and Thomas Samuelian, a linguist and newly elected chair of the Association.
Anna Djirdjirian, reference librarian at the Court of International Trade noted, “I just finished translating a draft of the Armenian Constitution. General dictionaries do not have entries for many legal terms used in Armenia today. Often the definitions are not accurate or current. This glossary fills a gap for Armenian-speaking and English speaking legal professionals.”
The glossary is only a first attempt at filling this gap in Armenian reference materials. Any suggestions or comments are welcome. Eventually, the Association hopes to expand the glossary with the help of experts in Armenia to meet the varying needs of the entire Armenian legal and business communities.
Note : Members who attended the Annual Meeting received a copy as part of their conference materials. If you would like a copy of the Glossary, please send $5.00 for copying, postage and handling to the Association's Los Angeles address. Allow two to three weeks for delivery.

Pro Bono News
Association member, Hagop Tashjian, a respected immigration attorney whose list of celebrity clients includes rock superstars “Motorhead”, will speak about immigration rights at a program sponsored by the Glendale, CA chapter of Head Start.

“Michigan Daily” Dispute with Armenian Students

The Armenian Students Cultural Association at the University of Michigan in November 1992 emerged victorious in its seven month dispute with the university newspaper, the Michigan Daily (“Daily”).
In April 1992, the students raised funds from the Armenian community to place a full-page advertisement in the university newspaper to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Despite the club's early delivery of the ad to the Daily, last minute problems occurred. The paper's business staff contacted the club minutes before going to print and refused to run the ad unless radical changes were made. The words “genocide” and “massacred” were forbidden because the Daily doubted the validity of the Armenian Genocide. Its business manager, Ms. Beth Warber, even went so far as to say that the Genocide was “debatable” and stated that the 1.5 million martyrs “were not victims.”
The club later uncovered the fact that the paper had fallen to the pressure of the Turkish Students' Association. Members of the Turkish Students' Association had instigated the entire affair with their protests and presence in the business office while the paper informed the Armenian Club of the decision not to run the ad. The ad was run with forced changes. The Club thereupon withheld payment for the ad. These difficulties were only the beginning.
Outrage swept through the Armenian Club when the altered advertisement was printed the following day. The Daily had carelessly misspelled the word “perished” and had prominently printed the words “Paid Advertisement” in four separate areas.
The Club then contacted Peter Kupelian of the law firm Tucker & Rolf, P.C. to see what could be done to rectify the situation. Over the next seven months many meetings and conversations were held between Mr. Kupelian and the Daily. Finally, on November 30, 1992, the Daily issued an apology regarding the typographical errors and any “misunderstanding which may have resulted from the Daily's processing of the advertisement.” However, the real victory came when, in a response letter, the University of Michigan stated as follows: “Please be assured that the Daily staff now in operation has become educated regarding this historical event (the Armenian Genocide) and has become keenly sensitized to the issues you so eloquently raised in your letter, as well as other issues which arose in the context of this unfortunate incident.”

ASSOCIATION SPONSORS JURISTS' NATIONWIDE TOUR

A delegation of Armenian jurists held meetings with government officials, scholars, human rights groups, foundations, and attorneys in a month-long exchange program arranged through the support of the Armenian Bar Association's Babayan Fund. The delegation's visit was planned to coincide with the Annual Meeting of the Armenian Bar Association in Beverly Hills, California, March 12-14, and took them to Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, Boston, and New York.
The delegation included Members of Parliament Hamlet Hovsepian, and Rafik Petrosian; Henrik Khachatrian, Director Law Department, Armenian Academy of Sciences Institute of Law and Philosophy; Mr. Edward Mamikonian, Arbitrazh (Commercial Court) of Armenia; and Mr. Hovhanes Asrian, Legal Counsel at the International Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, Edmund Muskie Fellow at American University School of Law (‘92-'93). Mr. Boris Ossipian, a visiting scholar at Emory University School of Law and native of Karabakh, joined the delegation at the Association's Annual Meeting, bringing with him a constitution for the Republic of Karabakh.

Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, the delegation visited the California Court of Appeals, the Chambers of the Hon. Ronald Sohigian (L.A. County Superior Court), and the Chambers of the Hon. Dickran Tevrizian (U.S. District Court, C.D. Ca.). They also held meetings at UCLA with Dean Julian Eule, professor of constitutional law. As participants in the Annual Meeting of the Armenian Bar Association, they made presentations about the development of the rule of law in Armenia and the current debate in Armenia about the constitution-drafting process. The delegation was honored at an opening reception hosted by the Hovannisian family, and at a closing reception, hosted by Burger Continental, as guests of the Barsoomian and Hindoyan families.
At the end of the Los Angeles leg of their visit, the delegation divided into smaller groups and set out around the country. Members of Parliament Hovsepian and Petrosian stayed in California, where they held numerous meetings with Armenian community and aid organizations. They also took part in the reception to honor Yelena Bonner for her human rights work and her support of the Armenian cause. Association member Avo Davidian hosted the members of Parliament during their stay. Other members of the delegation stayed with the Sinanian and Alahydoian families.

Chicago
From Los Angeles, Messrs. Mamikonian and Asrian went to Chicago, where they were hosted by The John Marshall Law School. Their program in Chicago was arranged by Prof. Ann Lousin, who serves on the law school's faculty and is a member of the Association's Board of Governors, and by Association member Gahmk Markarian, an attorney with the firm of Chapman and Cutler. That program included a reception at the John Marshall Law School, hosted by Dean Howard T. Markey, participation in the International Human Rights Seminar given by Prof. Ralph Ruebner, and meetings with Lithuanian scholars Profs. Gintautas Bartkus and Raimundas Jurevicius. The Armenian jurists also held discussions with Prof. Dwight Semler of the Center for the Study of Constitutionalism in Eastern Europe at the University of Chicago Law School. The Center is devoted to documenting and studying the rise of constitutional democracy in the newly independent states. As a result of their visit, the Center will expand its work on Armenia. Messrs. Asrian and Mamikonian had a chance to become acquainted with legal practice through a visit to the law firm of Chapman and Cutler. They also enjoyed Chicago's museums and orchestra, attended the St. Patrick's Day Parade, and met the Armenian community at Sayat Nova restaurant, and the Casbah, as guests of Mrs. Juliette Vartanian. Messrs. Asrian and Mamikonian continued their program with a visit to Washington-area law schools and then went to Boston and New York.

Washington
Prof. Henrik Khachatrian, accompanied by Mr. Dork Alahydoian, spent a week in Washington, DC visiting governmental and professional organizations. He had meetings with the International Research Exchange Board, the United States Institute for Peace, the International Human Rights Lawyers Group, the American Bar Association's Central and East European Law Initiative, the Armenian National Committee, the Armenian Assembly, and the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. Prof. Khachatrian had a lengthy interview with the Helsinki Commission of the United States Congress concerning legal aspects of the Karabakh crisis and the blockade of Armenia. Prof. Khachatrian was joined by Messrs. Asrian and Mamikonian for a briefing at the Armenian Embassy about their visit.

Boston
In Boston, Prof. Khachatrian and Messrs. Asrian and Mamikonian had a varied program of activities, ranging from research at the Hairenik archives and the Kalustian library, to law classes at Harvard Law School, arranged by student member Onnig Dombalagian. They held two public lectures: one at Boston College, entitled “Armenia in Crisis: The Price of Freedom,” and the other at the Harvard Human Rights Program, entitled “Drafting the Armenian Constitution: Applying the International Covenants.” They also toured Boston's historic sites. The delegation was hosted in Boston by Tamar and Berge Hajian.

New York
On their way to New York, the three-member delegation visited Yale University. Upon their arrival in New York, the Sakharov Foundation held a reception for the delegation, hosted by Ed and Jill Kline and Yelena Bonner's daughter, Tatiana Yankelevich. Attending the reception were representatives of such human rights organizations as Freedom House, Helsinki Watch, the International League of Human Rights, and the Soros Foundation. Prof. Khachatrian gave an interview to the Armenian Radio Hour. The entire delegation visited the Soros Foundation.
Prof. Khachatrian and Mr. Asrian together with Association Chair Thomas Samuelian, met with new Board member Victor Boyajian at a luncheon investment seminar with attorneys at the law firm of Sills, Cummis, Zuckerman, Raclin, Tischman, Epstein & Gross in Newark. The entire delegation then held a discussion in Manhattan about the development of the Armenian constitution with Prof. Albert Blaustein, one of the world's leading scholars of comparative constitutional law, consultant to numerous newly independent countries, and editor of the fifteen-volume series, Constitutions of the World .
In New York, the delegation was hosted by Armenian Human Rights Advocates (AHRA). AHRA Chair, Ms. Kathryn Manuelian, and Armenia Liaison Committee Co-Chair Garo Yegnukian, as well as other AHRA and ABA members, including Ms. Anna Djirdjirian and Ms. Denise Darmanian, rounded out the delegation's visit with a tour of New York.

Expanding Circle of Cooperation

This month-long visit gave the delegation an opportunity to see America's legal profession and legal institutions in action. It also gave American officials at governmental, academic, and human rights organizations a chance to learn first-hand about the needs and aspirations of Armenia as it strives to establish the rule of law.
This exchange expands the Association's circle of cooperation in Armenia. This diverse group of jurists, from many different political backgrounds and institutions in Armenia, complements last year's delegation from the Supreme Court of Armenia. The Association currently maintains ties with all branches of the Armenian Government, the Academy of Sciences, and professional associations. Among the Association's joint projects are the National Law Library, a collection of some 1200 volumes of U.S., European, and international law; the Armenian Lawbase, a computer database of major Armenian statutes; and the Legal Research Network, a service that reviews proposed Armenian legislation and responds to specific research requests from Armenia.
The delegation's visit was arranged by the Armenia Liaison Committee, chaired by Tamar Hajian. The exchange was made possible by the Babayan Fund, established in 1992, through the generosity of Mr. John Yervant. Exchanges are an invaluable way to foster mutual understanding and promote awareness about Armenia and the Armenians in the United States. The Babayan Fund must be replenished in order to continue these worthwhile projects. Donations and grants for specific Armenia-related projects or for general activities to promote the Association's tax-exempt goals are actively sought and gratefully accepted. Please do your part to promote the rule of law in Armenia with your tax-free donation to the Armenian Bar Association, P.O. Box 84375, Los Angeles, CA 90073

Armenian Jurists Afforded Special Membership

Jurists from Armenia are eligible to apply for non-voting membership in the Armenian Bar Association, subject, like all other applicants, to approval by the Board of Governors, as provided in the Association's By-Laws. The discounted membership fee for 1993-94 is 1000 (one thousand) rubles payable in local currency. This fee shall be adjusted by the Board from time to time in light of economic conditions and currency fluctuations. Applications shall be submitted with the membership fee to the Armenian Bar Association's representative in Armenia. The current representative is Mr. Matthew Der Manuelian, Esq., who can be reached at Project Hope, tel. 56-56-06 (o) or 52-21-46 (h).
Copies of these membership guidelines, together with application forms, will be forwarded to guests from Armenia who participated in our past two Annual Meetings for distribution in Armenia.

DR. YELENA BONNER SPEAKS ON
HUMAN RIGHTS AND CONDITIONS IN ARMENIA
AT LOS ANGELES LUNCHEON

by Lisa Barsoomian

Approximately ten members represented the Armenian Bar Association at a luncheon featuring Dr. Yelena Bonner, human rights activist and widow of Andrei Sakharov. Also in attendance were Hamlet Hovsepian and Rafik Petrosian, Members of Parliament, Republic of Armenia, who were introduced and answered questions following the luncheon. The luncheon was sponsored by Town Hall, a well-known nonpartisan speakers forum, on March 18, 1993, at the L.A. Hilton in downtown Los Angeles.
       Dr. Bonner, speaking through a translator, cited human rights violations around the world. She pointed out the double standard that has been applied in addressing violations, focusing on Armenia and the gravely difficult living conditions there. She explained that the blockade by Azerbaijan, the sabotaged fuel lines through Georgia, and the tacit complicity of Turkey in these acts against Armenia have placed Yerevan in a desperate situation. She lamented that trucks that should be used to transport food and supplies are instead lying idle and are being used by people for shelter. She described graphically the horrifying, large scale violence against Armenian women, raped and mutilated with objects in their body cavities. The extensive coverage by the Western media of the rapes of Muslim and Croat women by Serb forces and its indifference to the sexual abuse of Armenian women by Azeri forces is an example of the double standard in human rights.
       Dr. Bonner expressed outrage over the indifference that the Western countries, the United Nations, and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe have displayed toward Azerbaijan's “ethnic cleansing” of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. Bonner spoke passionately about the need to seize the existing opportunity to preserve Armenia's democracy and to prevent destruction of the magnitude occurring in the former Yugoslavia. Dr. Bonner was emphatic about dispelling a misconception that the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh is of recent origin. Rather, the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh commenced in 1988, with the blockade of Armenia following in 1989. She cited as “proof” the relief effort organized by her late husband and Nobel laureate Dr. Sakharov, at the time of his death in 1989. He appealed at that time, four years ago, to the Supreme Soviet and to Western countries to take steps to end the blockade. She emphasized that a little humanitarian initiative could go a long way toward easing the suffering in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
An editorial in the Los Angeles Times , on March 24, 1993 entitled “As Sarajevo Goes, So Goes Armenia?” incorporated some of the themes of Dr. Bonner's lecture and drew a parallel between the indifference of Western powers to the plight of Sarajevo and the indifference of the West to Armenia. In addition, a commentary by Dr. Bonner entitled “A Dying People Needs Urgent Help” was published in the Los Angeles Times on April 5,1993. Among other things, Dr. Bonner's commentary emphasizes that the real issue is the war that the government of Azerbaijan is waging against the people of Karabakh and not Armenia's role in the conflict. Armenia, whose government was elected democratically, does not need soldiers or weapons, according to Dr. Bonner. What is needed, Bonner said, is diplomatic pressure on Azerbaijan to end its blockade and on Turkey to open a corridor for humanitarian aid to Armenia, along with United Nations peacekeeping forces to separate warring factions.