Kirk Kerkorian’s Testament Includes neither Authorities”nor Armenia, nor Give nor don’t Give Expressions…nor he was Offended of Armenia’s Authorities, all that is Forgery: Harut Sassounian
Harut Sassounian, Vice Chairman of Lincy Foundation, Publisher of California Courier, is the interviewee if “168 hours.” He gives clarifications on the testament of American-Armenian benefactor Kirk Kerkorian, relations with Armenia’s authorities, rumors around activity of Lincy Foundation, as well as touches upon Armenia-Diaspora relations, Armenia’s political and economic issues. Note, Armenian national hero, American-Armenian businessman, billionaire, benefactor Kirk Kerkorian died at 98 in June 2015. According to media publications, under secret conditions Kirk Kerkorian testament has been unfolded, upon which the benefactor assigned to sell all his property and direct the funds to beneficiary. According to the testament, all the programs functioning while Kerkorian was alive, should be funded. K.Kerkorian closed his Lincy Foundation in 2011. In early 2000s he allocated AMD 200 million for road construction, schools and cultural centers reconstruction. Before that, according to the circulating news, the benefactor allocated USD 45 million for housing of the disaster zone.
–Rumors are circulating around Kirk Kerkorian’s testament, in particular, that he bequeathed USD 200 million and put a condition, that Armenia’s authorities weren’t associated to that money. What information do you have on this, is that true?
It’s not true, there is no likewise mention in Kerkorian’s testament, people just simply say imaginary words, which is quite disappointing for me. Those people have never seen the testament, don’t mention reliable sources, but if they were exact, they’d see the testament and wouldn’t spread such lie. The testament includes not “authorities”, nor Armenia, nor give, nor don’t give expressions…it’s a compete lie. During his life Kerkorian never did the details, he just gave general direction and his employees, assistants functioned his testament. He bequeathed, that all his belongings should be allocated to beneficiary, without detailing to which companies, where, whether Armenian or foreign companies. There is a person in charge of the testimony, who has worked for over 50 years with him and knows Kerkorian’s approaches and preferences very well; Kerkorian donated funds both to Armenian and foreign programs, and I have no doubt, that after death his craving is the same, that his property was spent on Armenian and non-Armenian charitable programs. By saying Armenian programs, of course, Armenia is meant. There are lots of issues which need to be settled, his share in MGM should be sold and made into money, it’ll last for about a year, then decision will be made to which programs funds will be allocated. There is much work to do, and I’m sure, that man handles his job well.
–In any case, pursuant circulating news, K.Kerkorian was somewhat discontent with Armenia’s authorities and took back funds remained in Lincy Foundation?
This is utter lie, there isn’t a single source to prove that, just the contrary, I was responsible for K.Kerkorian’s programs in Armenia, he came to Armenia, saw the work done, just was amazed and content, he didn’t have single reason to be offended, nothing happened to his funds.
–There were rumors on embezzlement and dispersal.
There was no any embezzlement, I controlled that, nothing wrong happened. If anything has been stolen, I’m responsible for that, or I had taken the money, and let the robber steal and I’m the main guilty there. I worked day and night, to which extent a human is able, not to allow any penny be lost. Surely, it’s possible that small things might be lost here and there, but we didn’t permit, we did our best, we sued people, discharged those, who made any attempt, we struggled, we did everything that a single penny wasn’t lost. And Mr. Kerkorian didn’t close the Foundation as a complaint note, just the contrary, he decided 10 years ago, that, when he reaches certain age, he doesn’t want to be busy with everyday issues, he should close the enterprise, also the one donating money for American benevolence, not only the Armenian one. If he was offended by the Armenians, then why did he close the American company as well? If he was resented with Armenians, he wouldn’t allocate money to Armenians and go on allocating it to Americans, would he? But, not.
–The other USD 200 million, which he planned to spend in Armenia, he took back and donated to California University, Los Angeles branch?
It’s not a lie, however, it need to be explained. When 4 years ago Lincy Foundation was closed, USD 200 million was remaining on the bank account, which he donated to Los Angeles University, so that Lincy completely terminates its function, that’s why he donated the money and closed it.
–This, however, was assessed as resentment with Armenia’s authorities and a reason he didn’t donate it to Armenia.
No, he’s never been offended. If people say, he’s offended, they should know one thing. Did Kerkorian say he’s offended? Did anyone talk to him? He donated it to a hospital complex under the University, next to his house, where he was receiving treatment in recent years, and before that amount, he’d already donated USD 70 million to the University Hospital. There might be 1 dollar and he did it, juts to close the fund. It’s not crucial. People focus on USD 200 million, his property is much more, a few billions, which he bequeathed to benevolence, to Armenian and non-Armenian organizations.
–Mr. Sassounian you formerly stated that Armenia need radical changes to root justice and democracy. To your mind, recent developments—Constitutional amendments, signing of RPA-ARF political coalition, what will they change in the country?
I always wanted our country to be more prosperous than it is, more democratic, that it is, be more free, than it is. I repeatedly complain, and now I do, as our nation is worth having a better life, likewise life is unacceptable for me. Our people needn’t live in poverty and only few people live in wealth. Serene life should be spread on wider social layers. Until the day comes, I won’t be satisfied, despite the fact, who is authority and who is opposition. I cannot decide and don’t deal with those parties. My chief purpose is the condition of our society, lifestyle. If condition of our nation improves, I’d be glad, irrespective of the fact I like head of the country or no, but if he does a good job, I’ll be next to him, if nation will benefit from it. New changes—referendum, new governmental system, coalition and etc, it’s too early to learn what the outcome will be. Let’s wait, and time will show, how these resolutions are handled. If results are good, we’ll all rejoice with the nation, if not, we’ll see. But we shouldn’t say now, that everything is bad, zero, as every time when someone tries something, we say it’s bad, depriving him/her of the chance to change anything. At least we should let some time pass. We may always criticize, I don’t say just close your eyes and do what you want. No, we need to be stricter; press should criticize, but fairly, not reckoning on lie and rumors. The press should be very demanding, and do serious criticism, on condition, that it was fair and based on truth.
–Who is more responsible for people’s state? For instance, the authorities say that political opposition also bears responsibility.
Definitely, the authorities are responsible for everything. People live in bad conditions, they are unemployed, there is no freedom, as they are decision-makers, it’s not right blaming neither people nor opposition. Opposition doesn’t have power. How is it going to improve anything? People are in poor condition, what should they do? But when a person is employed and he/she doesn’t want to work, if he/she is lazy, it’s quite another issue. But when there are no workplaces, what should a person do? Our nation isn’t lazy, workplaces should be opened, and the only responsible for it are the authorities, despite who’s the leader.
–In Armenia from election to election people complain of forgery, as a result of which the power has been clutched, people seem to get tired of protests and this is mostly demonstrated by emigration.
It’s a very sad situation, that we lose lots of people, like we’ve lost years ago. I live in Diaspora, I see they come, and it’s rather disappointing, as Armenia is drained from its people. And we want not only to maintain our country, but we also want to maintain Artsakh and demand Western Armenia, but people are drained and our dreams take just the contrary direction. Everything should be done, authorities, opposition, people, intellectuals, reporters, we all have our part in it. This is our country, we shouldn’t idle, we should demand from the authorities to do something, and in our turn, we should also do something, although we’re deprived of power. We should do our best, to help one another, when he struggle against each other; surely, democratic war is good and should continue, but not a hostile one. Not a single Armenian is Turkish to be treated the one. On the one hand, there should be respect, and demand on the other, so that we didn’t blindly accept it. Result is important, for which we all should work. I follow the events and I’m concerned for everything: election process, decisions by the court, how a policeman asks a citizen for a bribe, or people are trained, and they offer bribe themselves. I see lots of disappointing things.
–Do you see hostility?
In some cases I notice it, which hurts me. We shouldn’t be enemies to one another, we should be demanding, should make the authorities do their job, but without hostility, we are a small nation, we shouldn’t be enemies to one another.
-You highlighted creation of workplaces, many people say, if Diaspora Armenians do investments in Armenia, the situation would have been quite different. What’s the reason that they don’t invest?
There are two reasons, due to which Diaspora Armenians don’t invest, firstly, the situation that exists here as well—people don’t trust to invest, and money should be safe. The investor wants to make money, he/she doesn’t do philanthropy, is he/she wants to, it’s another case, but if he/she intends to do business, it should be successful. But if he/she isn’t sure on its success, he/she won’t invest. There is the reverse of the coin as well. If a Diaspora Armenian has money, it doesn’t mean he/she might have a successful business in Armenia. Business atmosphere is quite different here, than he/she is skillful in France or America. They also have a part of guilt. I know lots of people, who repair cars, make a successful business in the USA, want to establish it here, and hearing opinion form a passer-by establish a hotel, not aware of hotel business. If by the same money the same person buys a hotel in the USA, again he/she will lose. Every person should be in his/her profession. If this is our country, it’s doesn’t mean at all, that if we invest money in business, it’ll blindly give benefit to us. I don’t justify them, yes, there is corruption and plunder in our country, but there are badly oriented businessmen from Diaspora that invest their money in a wrong sector, and unfortunately, meet people, who abuse their patriotic feelings and steal their money. Being Armenian doesn’t mean blindly trusting a person, only because they are our brothers and sisters, there are witty Armenians, who look for stealing others’ money. That’s why business agreements should be defined by law, so that if somebody steals, you’ll be entitled to pursue that person by law and return your money. However, the system hasn’t developed at all. We have brilliant laws on paper, which are not enjoyed.
–Who is responsible for that? Who should implement?
Definitely—authorities.
–Why don’t they do it?
You should pose this question to them, I may not answer for them, and we should demand from them to implement it.
By Gayane Khachatryan
