Congratulations, Harut Sassounian

Published: Saturday March 24, 2007

The Catholicos of All Armenians awarded Harut Sassounian the Saint Sahag-Saint Mesrob Medal this week.

It is a well-deserved honor for our fellow newspaperman, the publisher of the California Courier. In his weekly column in the Courier, which is also carried by several other Armenian news outlets, he has for many years kept a close eye on developments in the Armenian diaspora, in Armenia, in Karabakh, and in the world at large; he has been meticulous in digging up facts and creative in the leadership he has provided. He has thus become one of the most widely read and respected voices in the worldwide Armenian community.

As he reminisces in an interview this week (see page B8), he was creative, persuasive, and intrepid enough to find a way to give Armenians a voice in the United Nations for years before Armenia became independent in 1991.

Since the 1988 earthquake and through this day, he has provided effective management at the Lincy Foundation on behalf of Kirk Kerkorian, and at the United Armenian Fund on behalf of practically the entire Armenian diaspora.

Here's a man who well deserves the kudos he is now receiving. Congratulations.