CFF board member replies to Hirair Hovnanian’s open letter

PanARMENIAN.Net - Late May, Hirair Hovnanian, chairman of the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly), addressed an open letter to Gerard L. Cafesjian, chairman of the Cafesjian Family Foundation (CFF) following the recent court ruling envisaging return of properties planned for Armenian Genocide Museum to CFF.

Ross Vartian, board member of the CFF, wrote in response:

”In the interest of moving forward with the project, the Cafesjian Family Foundation (CFF) will not respond point by point to your serial misstatements of fact. Anyone interested in an independent and objective judicial assessment of the truth of the past decade should review the 190-page initial verdict of January 26 and the 57-page final verdict of May 9 by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.

With regard to your disparaging Phase I of the Yerevan Cafesjian Center for the Arts (CCA), you are presumably unaware that the Center has become a focal point of artistic and cultural life, a visitation destination for foreign dignitaries and a preferred location for official meetings and receptions. Hopefully you will be more supportive of CCA's Phase II plans to significantly expand space for collections of other patrons and more broadly for even greater opportunities for artistic and cultural expression, appreciation and education. The "Cascade" project will never be complete as it will always be evolving and growing, and the Cafesjian Family Foundation will continue support for CCA as one of its core missions.

Your refusal to acknowledge Gerry's crucial role in securing the site of the future museum and memorial to the Armenian Genocide is inexplicable. You know that Gerry provided 100% of the financing and 50% of the funds to acquire the bank building, followed by 100% of the funds to acquire the adjacent properties. The record clearly shows that Gerry has never wavered in his support for the exclusive use of these properties for genocide museum and memorial purposes.

Before, during and subsequent to the trial, CFF has repeatedly committed to joining in a pan-Armenian effort to fulfill the dream of the first ever museum and memorial in the Diaspora about the fact and ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide. CFF remains convinced that our community will respond generously as soon as it is given an opportunity to do so.

Hirair, you can make an immediate and significant contribution to making this project a reality. Accept that a federal judge has soundly rejected the legal case you authorized and end your appeal. Whether or not you terminate your fruitless appeal, CFF will fulfill its obligation to the community by inviting all to participate. It is, after all, our community that will render the final verdict.”