'THIS IS A VERY MEANINGFUL THING' SETTLEMENT, CHECKS PART OF GENOCIDE SUIT.

Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer

Four Armenian charities, including one in Burbank and another in Glendale, on Monday received more than $333,000 from New York Life as part of a $20 million class action settlement with descendents of the 1915 Armenian genocide.

The settlements were distributed during a ceremony in Pasadena attended by representatives from the four charities, New York Life officials and several attorneys.

``This is a very meaningful thing, recognition of the genocide,'' said Richard Mushegain, chairman of the lay council for the Burbank-based Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America. ``And it's something we pursued against the obstructions of the Turkish government and sometimes our own government.''

Officials from the Armenian Educational Foundation in Glendale, the Los Angeles office of the Armenian Relief Society and the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Los Angeles also received checks.

All the charities received exactly $333,333.33. The Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America plans to spend its share on clergy education.

``During the genocide, a lot of the Armenian clergy were killed; in fact, most of the Armenian clergy in the world were killed,'' Mushegain said. ``It's a fitting use of the money.''

The AEF has an annual budget of about $1 million, said Executive Secretary Haigoush Keghinian-Kohler. But the money represents far more than a boost to the group's their budget.

``We have mixed emotions,'' she said. ``There is history attached to it. There were lives that were wasted for no reason.''

The AEF's board will decide later this month how to spend the money. The charity runs after-school programs for Glendale students, provides college scholarships and helps renovate and repair schools in Armenia. The $20 million settlement, which New York Life agreed to last year, ends a class action lawsuit on behalf of the descendents of 2,400 policyholders, who were among the 1.5 million Armenians killed in the Ottoman Empire 90 years ago. The charities and churches receiving the money were chosen because they helped Armenians settle in America after the genocide.

``The entire community will benefit as a result of this settlement,'' said state Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi.

Descendents covered under the settlement have until March 15 to make a claim, Garamendi said.

Alex Dobuzinskis, [phone]

alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Bill Werfelman of New York Life, Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi and attorney Brian Kabateck listen to Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian from the Armenian Apostolic Church of America on Monday, during the settlement ceremony.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer