Alex Yemenijian, a businessman and former head of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film production company and MGM Resorts casino and hotel group, recently gave a speech at a major event in Yerevan. He is often referred to as the right-hand man of American-Armenian billionaire and National Hero of Armenia Kirk Kerkorian, whose personality was the focus of Yemenijian’s ‘bright motivational’ speech. We recently argued that Armenians of his calibre should think hard before engaging in such events, as they legitimise the rule of the incumbent Turkish collaborationists. Through controlled media and in meetings with foreign leaders they narrate that such world-famous Armenians as Noubar Afeyan and Alex Yemenidjian appear at conventions organised by them, greet them, smile at them, and shake hands with them. Appearing as ‘handshakeable’ legitimate leaders of Armenia and the entire Armenian world is as necessary as oxygen to them. They must not be granted such opportunities. We need to pursue a total boycott strategy. Prominent and distinguished representatives of Spyurk (Armenian communities abroad) owe it to their compatriots and to the world to show that they do not recognise, accept, or co-operate with Turkish collaborationists. They should appreciate this responsibility and be conscious of ordinary people watching their actions closely and paying heed to their statements. In the public’s eyes, they are the leaders to be followed.
In his speech, Alex Yemenidjian refers to Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman’s book that exposes human nature. One of the expressions of this nature is the irresistible temptation of wishful thinking. Paradoxically, the orator’s very speech is nothing but an exercise in wishful thinking. He goes on to talk about Armenia’s great and splendid future, an educated generation destined to succeed, etc. Mr Yemenidjian, Artsakh – the millennia-old frontier of the world’s Armeniancy – has recently been surrendered to the enemy, who has managed to expel the entire Armenian population of 120,000 from there, to occupy considerable territories of Armenia itself, and to compel the world to accept it. Armenia is being ruled by a Turkish stooge, who holds the book presented to him by the new Ottoman Sultan Recep Erdoğan close to his heart and grins unapologetically. His wife, aka the First Lady of Armenia, is happily posing with the sultan’s wife, the one who offered Ilham Aliyev to trade Armenian soldiers and officers in exchange for maps of the minefields. Present-day Armenia is all about proliferation of online casinos, cafés and nightclubs, rather than cutting-edge science and education. All these pretentious events count for nothing as long as Yerevan State University is ranked 1501st in the world. These few facts speak volumes, and are most definitely not an omen of a glorious future.
From 1999 to 2005, Yemenidjian was the Chairman of the Board and CEO of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, a world-renowned film studio. We wonder how many movies have been produced under his leadership about Armenia, the Armenian Genocide, the Nemesis operation, or the heroic defence of Van, from where his ancestors fled in 1915 to escape those who to this day deny the crime, and with whom Pashinyan is building an ‘excellent future’ today. The Jews have produced such masterpieces as Schindler’s List (7 Oscars), the script for which was written by Steven Zaillian, whose ancestors were also survivors of the 1915-1923 Genocide, Munich (5 Oscar nominations), etc. The Irish produced such films as The Devil’s Own, Michael Collins, In the Name of the Father. One of the rare films about the Armenian Genocide, The Promise, was only released in 2016 with the funds that Kirk Kerkorian had bequeathed for Armenian causes. The movie garnered controversial reviews and ratings. There were no major awards, nor any global impact.
Now about Kirk Kerkorian himself. He is undeniably one of the iconic figures of his time. A grand philanthropist, a great humanitarian, and a profoundly modest man. His contribution was instrumental in the process of international lobbying for Armenia’s interests at the early stage of independence in 1991-2000. A man of honour and integrity who, unlike many of his compatriots that made a great fortune, did not discard his origins, did not replace his surname with McKirk or Jones. We recently reviewed the phenomenon of the national bourgeoisie and its role in the processes of formation and development of several successful states. We paid particular attention to the roots and implications of the failure of establishment of Armenian bourgeoisie. To avoid repetition of the same arguments, let us stress the main point: people of such stature are duty-bound not just to do charity, but to create strategic legacy, which is only possible with full-fledged participation in nation- and state-building. There are quite specific examples in our articles that can be referred to.
Kirk Kerkorian was among those who was regarded by the Armenian government as a big purse from Spyurk and a man with great connections to be exploited to tackle their personal challenges. They unscrupulously abused his political inexperience, trust, and, to a certain extent, his naivety. They awarded him the title of National Hero of Armenia and Honorary Citizen, but not out of their respect nor to express their gratitude to him. Quite the contrary, they only wished for one thing – to maintain him in a ‘purse’ status and to keep him at a distance from major processes concerning Armenia and the Armenian communities. And he was not even disturbed by the fact that Robert Kocharyan, who handed him that passport, banned Armenian citizens abroad from voting in presidential elections. So, even Kirk himself would be unable to do that. At a certain point, Kirk grasped the essence of Armenian authorities, but came up with nothing better than to roll back his foundation in Armenia and to donate the remainder to the University of California (UCLA).
Picture the following. Kerkorian’s long-time rival in Las Vegas, American-Jewish billionaire and philanthropist Sheldon Adelson, one fine day discovers that the Israeli leadership has been misusing and deceiving him for ten years and thereupon decides to transfer the funds to the needs of New York University. Can you imagine it? If so, you will be disappointed, as such a scenario is utopian for several reasons. First of all, Adelson kept a close eye on how, where, by whom, and to which causes his funds were allocated, as he was aware that the state is not an art gallery or a university to which you extend gratuitous financial aid. The state is the only guardian of your people’s security, the only place in the whole world where you are the master of your own destiny. Adelson and other influential Jewish bourgeois did not spend a single day of their lives providing charity to Israel, but instead contributed to its strengthening and improvement. Secondly, Israel’s leadership could have never afforded to treat people like Adelson as a purse to collect tribute from. Not a single leader of the country would dare to drop the state’s reputation so low, for there is a clear understanding that its power is fuelled by the global Jewish human resource.
But even if such a situation had occurred somewhere in a parallel universe, Adelson, who had worked his way up from the bottom, would have never let it go. At the very least, he would have come to realise that leaders of this type would eventually bring his people and country to an inevitable demise. Kirk also worked his way up from the bottom and secured his reputation by putting his life on the line. He fought in the ring, crossed the Atlantic during World War II, and grew his business empire during one of the toughest periods of American capitalism. He (along with Alex Yemenijian) conquered the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas, that was built by such monsters as Lucky Luciano, Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Frank Costello, and Moe Green. That stands for something and is a striking example of Kirk’s iron character. People of that distinction cannot be ignored. But the fact remains that he lost the most important battle of his life – the battle for Armenia – by picking the easy way out: not having to fight for it and leaving it to be devoured by those who would have been dealt with by Lansky and Costello in a matter of 24 hours. Adelson’s legacy is Israel that compels the world to watch in silence as it defends the interests of the Jewish people. Today, the legacy of Sheldon Adelson, who passed away in 2021 (and was buried in Jerusalem in accordance with his will – although he was born, lived and died in America), is safeguarded by his wife Miriam. She continues implementing strategic programmes in Israel and is a major campaign contributor to Donald Trump, under whose presidency the White House transferred its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognised Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights.
Meanwhile, the legacy of Kerkorian and all the other philanthropists from Spyurk is a country left at the mercy of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and their collaborationists. It’s unlikely that Kirk wished to be the National Hero of this kind of Armenia. But the facts speak for themselves.
