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.
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
AZERBAIJAN AND OBAMA SUFFER SETBACKS AS AMB. BRYZA’S SERVICE IS CUT SHORT
As a result of successive political blunders by the Obama administration, Matthew Bryza was forced to abandon his ambassadorial post in Azerbaijan last week. Pres. Obama ignored repeated warnings…››January 03, 2012
TURKEY BESIEGED BY ARMENIAN SUCCESSES LONG BEFORE THE GENOCIDE CENTENNIAL
Turkish leaders made a serious tactical error in 2011. They were so preoccupied with countering the upcoming tsunami of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide in 2015, that they lost…››December 13, 2011
PRES. SARGSYAN MAKES MAJOR STRATEGIC SHIFT IN ARMENIA'S DEMANDS FROM TURKEY
Pres. Serzh Sargsyan delivered a major speech in Marseille, France, last week, during which he introduced a new strategy for the resolution of Armenia's demands from Turkey. Until now, the…››December 07, 2011
US COURT TO RULE ON TURKISH BANKS MOTION TO DISMISS ARMENIAN LAWSUITS
Two separate lawsuits were filed last year in US Federal Court in Los Angeles against the Republic of Turkey and two of its major banks demanding compensation for properties confiscated…››November 30, 2011
NO ONE SHOULD BE FOOLED BY ERDOGAN'S EMPTY APOLOGY FOR KURDISH MASSACRES
Turkish society was thrown into turmoil last week when Prime Minister Erdogan issued an unexpected apology for the hitherto taboo topic of the Kurdish massacres in southeastern Turkey in the…››November 24, 2011
TURKEY SEEKS TO MONOPOLIZE INVESTMENTS IN AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBAL LANDS
In a few weeks, when high-priced Turkish lobbying firms file their mandatory reports with the Justice Department, important revelations will emerge about their behind the scenes role in pushing through…››November 15, 2011
FEDERAL APPEALS COURT ISSUES FUTILE ORDER ON INSURANCE LAWSUIT
Before the Genocide, thousands of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire bought life insurance from American and European companies, so that after their death, their heirs would receive a lump…››November 08, 2011
GENOCIDE DENIER CONDOLEEZZA RICE UNWORTHY TO TEACH AT STANFORD
In her newly published 750-page book, "A Memoir of My Years in Washington: No Higher Honor," former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice proudly describes her efforts to defeat Armenian Genocide…››November 02, 2011
AZERBAIJAN WINS SECURITY COUNCIL SEAT, WHILE ARMENIANS REMAIN IDLE
Pres. Aliyev was celebrating last week his country’s historic victory at the United Nations. With an overwhelming number of votes, Azerbaijan was elected for the first time to the prestigious…››October 25, 2011
THE UNMASKING OF NAMIK TAN, TURKEYS AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S..
I received a revealing message last week from Benjamin Yafet, a Turkish Jew who had immigrated to the United States in 1976. He is a retired professor and high tech…››October 18, 2011
96 YEARS LATER, TURKEY STILL PAYS A PRICE FOR GENOCIDE DENIAL
Almost a century after the fact, theRepublicofTurkeycontinues to be disgraced for its persistent denial of the Armenian Genocide. During his visit toArmeniaearlier this month, French President Nicolas Sarkozy condemnedTurkeyby declaring…››October 11, 2011
PRES. SARKOZY SAYS "TSEGHASBANOUTYOUN" A WORD OBAMA HAS YET TO UTTER
Flying to Armenia, French President Nicolas Sarkozy confided to his top aides last week: “I am going to toss a live grenade!” He was revealing his readiness to act firmly…››October 04, 2011
DR. CHARNY DESERVES MUCH CREDIT SHOULD ISRAEL RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Armenians have good reason to be offended by the Israeli government’s failure to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. It is unconscionable that some victims of the Holocaust can be so insensitive…››September 27, 2011