Armenian Genocide panel protested

Published February 23, 2006
Glendale News Press
By Tania Chatila, News-Press and Leader

GLENDALE -- A Public Broadcasting Service plan to air a panel discussion in April that includes Armenian Genocide deniers has sparked protests from many -- locally and nationally -- who feel the show would be unnecessary and inappropriate. The 30-minute program, titled "Armenian Genocide: Exploring the Issues," is scheduled to follow an independently produced documentary about the genocide on April 17, and will include two scholars who recognize the genocide and two who argue against its historical validity, said Lea Sloan, vice president of communications for PBS.
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The Armenian National Committee of America launched efforts last week to discourage PBS from distributing the panel discussion and its member stations from airing it, said Zanku Armenian, a board member of the Western Region of the Armenian National Committee of America, which is based in Glendale.
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Armenian National Committee officials wrote a letter urging executives at PBS to pull the panel discussion piece, and had about 3,000 people to send similar letters to the broadcaster, Armenian said.

The website www.petitiononline.com had more than 11,000 names Wednesday on a petition asking PBS to drop the panel.

And Rep. Adam Schiff, who represents Glendale and Burbank, is eliciting the support of other members of Congress to come out in opposition.

He was one of four congressman to send out a message Wednesday asking counterparts to sign a letter, which they plan to send to PBS voicing concerns over the piece.
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PBS acknowledges the genocide, and its only intent in airing the panel discussion is to illuminate the controversial issue, Sloan said.

"We believe that difficult and controversial issues need closer examination, and intelligent discussion will help inform people more thoroughly about the nature of those difficult issues," she said.

PBS has no plans to drop the panel discussion, Sloan said.

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