OCTOBER 27, 2018 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXIX, NO. 15, Issue 4559 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF Trump Lawyer Giuliani Armenian Visits Parliament Fails (RFE/RL) — US President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani met with Armenia’s Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan and vis- To Pass Key ited the memorial in Yerevan on Monday, October 22, during what he described Election Bill as a private trip to the country. Giuliani, who served as mayor of New York City YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Prime Minister from 1994 to 2001, was invited by Ara accused Armenia’s outgo- Abrahamyan, a pro-Kremlin leader of the Armenian ing parliament of “sabotage” on Monday, community in Russia, to take part in an interna- October 22, after it failed to approve pro- tional forum organized by the Eurasian Economic posed amendments to the Electoral Code Union (EAEU). drafted by his government for snap general Giuliani was accompanied by Abrahamyan when elections expected in December. he visited the Tsitsernakabert Armenian Genocide Upon the decision of Speaker of Memorial. Parliament , a special session When asked about the Armenian Genocide, he will be convened on October 29, the parlia- said, “I certainly recognize it. I think it’s a histori- ment’s press service said. cal fact.” The electoral code amendments bill will be Giuliani was also careful not to comment on US- once again debated after a group of lawmak- Armenian relations, saying that “it’s up to the two ers began a petition to convene a special sit- governments” to develop them. “Again, I’m here as ting and re-introduce the bill. The required Ara Guler, Poetic Photographer of a private citizen just to learn some facts in my first amount of signatures was gathered. time in Armenia.” The amendments, formally approved by the Istanbul, Dies at 90 Giuliani, 74, is known for his hawkish views on government on October 16, are aimed at facil- America’s relations with Iran. ISTANBUL (New York Times) — Ara Guler, a Turkish-Armenian photographer who [The outgoing parliament] was best known for capturing poignant and nostalgic images of a bygone Istanbul but who also portrayed famous figures and Armenia’s Economy hope[s] that in this way everyday life in far-flung lands, died on More Diversified after they will manage to turn By Susanne Fowler Wednesday, October 17, in the city he so lov- the fresh parliamentary ingly chronicled. He was 90. Joining Eurasian Union elections into an instru- His death was announced by Magnum ment for political revenge... Photos, his agency, in a statement on its website. YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Armenia’s member- Guler’s pictures reflected the shadows and sparkle of Istanbul, a city he once ship to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) has –Nikol Pashinyan described in an interview as a sort of “Madwoman of Chaillot” who had grown old enabled it to minimize the negative consequences but never neglectful of how she looked: Touch her, he said, “and a jewel will appear.” caused by external factors on the country’s econo- itating the proper conduct of the elections. my, Veronika Nikishina, Minister for Trade for the They would, among other things, change the His Istanbul, before it was erased by fast-paced modernization, was a place of boats glid- ing down the Bosporus, minarets poking up in the distance behind a horse-drawn cart, an Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) said on existing legal mechanism for distributing October 23 at the Eurasian Week International seats in the National Assembly which many elderly head-scarved woman smoking a cigarette, children flinging their arms out in joy. Guler described his photographs, often taken with a Leica, as “a little bit romantic.” Forum here. believe favored ’s Republican “Armenia’s membership to the EAEU coincided Party (HHK) in the last parliamentary elec- “I don’t take pictures in normal light,” he said, “only just before or after sunset, or early in the morning.” with the period when the international economic tions held in April 2017. situation was not favorable, and this, of course, Under Armenia’s constitution, any Guler viewed himself as a citizen of the world. His assignments had him circling it as he documented the well-known faces of the 20th century, including Pablo Picasso, affected the economies of all our countries. amendment to the Electoral Code must be Armenia’s joining the EAEU enabled to mitigate backed by at least 63 members of the 105- Salvador Dalí, Alfred Hitchcock and Winston Churchill, as well as more obscure sub- jects like the headhunters of Borneo. Other settings for his work included China, the negative consequences on the country’s econ- member parliament. Only 56 lawmakers omy which was facing all countries of our Union. voted for the government bill. New Guinea, Kazakhstan and Kenya. see GULER, page 8 Despite not so large economic growth, it became Pashinyan was quick to accuse the par- more diversified based on the export growth to the liament majority of “sabotaging” the work Union’s member states,” she said. of his cabinet. “They hope that in this way She added that the physical volume index of they will manage to turn the fresh parlia- “There will be no return to the past,” Pashinyan Armenia’s GDP increased by 7.5 percent in 2017 mentary elections into an instrument for added, urging supporters to get ready for “com- Hrag Papazian compared to 2016. “Armenia has recorded the high- political revenge,” he said. “But I want to pleting regime change” in Armenia. est economic activity rate among the EAEU mem- make clear that even if the elections are The bill was essentially blocked by the Explores Armenian ber states during January-June 2018. Based on the held under the existing Electoral Code that HHK, which still has the largest parliamen- results of six months of this year, Armenia’s eco- will not change anything because the victo- tary faction. Identity in Turkey nomic activity rate comprised 8.3 percent, which is ry of the people is inevitable and cannot be The former ruling party officially voiced its the highest figure among the member states of our stolen by anyone.” opposition to the proposed changes in a state- Union.” ment released earlier in the day. By Aram Arkun She said Armenian agricultural goods are in high It said that they were submitted demand in the Russian market. ADL Position Regarding to the parliament at a very short Mirror-Spectator Staff Forthcoming Snap notice and that the lawmakers therefore did not have enough WATERTOWN — Hrag Papazian, a Elections in Armenia time to look into them. Lebanese-Armenian graduate student in The HHK also accused the his late 20s, is studying the of INSIDE The Diasporan and Armenian structures of the government of ignoring a num- Turkey. He came to the United States Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (ADL) have ber of alternative proposals that recently to been observing every development were jointly made by the four give a series of Armenia’s political scene. political forces represented in of lectures at Simultaneously, the organization, US Plane the current National Assembly. the Institute through its worldwide member- The HHK’s stance was of Armenian ship and the broad network of its denounced by other parlia- Studies at the news outlets, has been promoting Tragedy mentary forces. Naira University of the fundamental wishes of the citi- Zohrabyan, a top representa- S o u t h e r n zenry of Armenia regarding the irrevocable process Page 5 tive of Gagik Tsarukyan’s California. On of democratization. Prosperous Armenia Party his way back Based on the above premises, all structures of (BHK), called it an act of across the the ADL have been committed to the idea of snap “political sabotage.” Atlantic, he stopped by in to give elections to bring to power a true legislative body The HHK’s deputy chairman, a lecture on the Nor Zartonk movement INDEX representing genuinely all segments of society in Armen Ashotyan, remained of Istanbul (see https://mirrorspecta- Arts and Living ...... 12 Armenia. The vision is spearheaded by Prime Armenia ...... 2,3 unrepentant, however, saying tor.com/2018/10/11/hrag-papazian-to- Minister Nikol Pashinyan and shared by all of us. Community News...... 5 that the electoral system must speak-at-inaugural-zoravik-event/) and To that effect, the ADL is ready to lend its support Editorial ...... 18 not be changed less than two gave an interview on his work. to the prime minister’s endeavors and cooperate International ...... 4 months before the anticipated see PAPAZIAN, page 6 see ELECTIONS, page 2 elections. “It is simply absurd see PARLIAMENT, page 2 2 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia

Yelk Nominates Pashinyan as Candidate For Prime Minister YEREVAN (Arka) — The Yelk parliamentary fac- tion nominated on October 23 Armenia’s acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as a candidate for the post of prime minister, the head of the faction Lena Nazaryan said in the parliament. “We have nominated the candidacy of the acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. As we have already noted, the nomination, of course, is formal aimed at ensuring the procedures provided for by the Constitution,” she said. Pashinyan resigned October 16 to clear way for the dissolution of the parliament and holding early par- liamentary elections on December 10. On the same Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and acting Mayor Diana Gasparian (L) attend a festival in Echmiadzin on October 7. day, President Armen Sarkissian accepted the resig- nation of the government. Under the Armenian Constitution, early elections are held if lawmakers fail twice within 14 days to appoint a prime minister. Pashinyan’s Party Wins, New Mayor Sits Down With Former Mayors Loses Local Elections YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The new mayor of Yerevan, Hayk Marutyan, hosted former mayors of Yerevan Suren Abrahamyan and Vahagn YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Prime about 50 kilometers west of Yerevan is “Citizens made a decision and the gov- Khachatryan on October 20, the Yerevan City Hall Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil the administrative center of the ernment didn’t even attempt to place the reported. Contract party won mayoral elections Armavir province encompassing citizens’ choice into the bounds of its Welcoming his former counterparts, Marutyan in two major Armenian towns but was Echmiadzin. wishes. Dear people, this is what we did thanked them for accepting his invitation to meet defeated in another at the weekend. The snap election in another provin- the revolution for,” he said. and stated that it will help in solving the issues fac- Voters in nearly 50 communities cial capital, Hrazdan, was won by a 25- The former ruling HHK had for years ing the capital. across Armenia went to the polls on year-old son of Sasun Mikaelian, a swept most local elections in Armenia, The former officials thanked Marutyan for the Sunday, October 21, to elect their chief prominent Hrazdan-based politician heavily relying on its administrative warm reception and invitation and congratulated him executives or local councils. As was the and a leading member of Civil and financial resources. Sarkisian’s on his election. The former mayors stated that they case in the September 23 municipal Contract. The party leadership point- party has essentially refrained from are ready to provide advice to the new mayor and elections in Yerevan, the polls were edly declined to back Sevak Mikaelian contesting such polls since losing share their experiences. marked by a lack of serious fraud for still unclear reasons, however. power. reported by election candidates, Pashinyan’s party suffered a setback According to Pashinyan, Civil observers and media. in Kapan, the capital of the southeast- Contract nominated or endorsed candi- Two Newborns Left In the largest of those communities ern Syunik province bordering Iran. Its dates in 15 communities and only two — the towns of Armavir, Echmiadzin, candidate, Narek Babayan, was defeat- of them lost in Sunday’s elections. Outside Facility Hrazdan and Kapan — the elections ed by a non-partisan challenger. GYUMRI (Armenpress) — Two newborn baby boys were held because their former mayors Pashinyan personally campaigned were found alive in a plastic bag outside a children’s resigned shortly after Pashinyan swept for Babayan, holding a rally in Kapan care facility in Gyumri on the evening of October 17 to power in May in what is known as a on Friday. ADL Position Regarding by a security guard. democratic “velvet revolution.” They The Armenian prime minister put a The guard contacted police immediately. were affiliated or linked with former brave face on the setback on Monday. Forthcoming Snap First responders arrived shortly and attended to President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican While saying that he is “very sorry” for Elections in Armenia the infants. Doctors said they believe the boys are Party (HHK). Babayan’s defeat, he portrayed the In Echmiadzin, official vote results election outcome as a triumph of between 2 and 10 days old. Officials from the Shirak ELECTIONS, from page 1 gave victory to ’s Diana democracy. Governor’s Office also arrived at the scene. The chil- fully with him to achieve that noble Gasparyan, the acting mayor appointed “It’s an unprecedented phenomenon dren were fed and were placed under supervision. goal. It is time for Armenia to be by Pashinyan’s government in June. [for Armenia] when the country’s “We can’t say for sure at this moment if they are endowed with a truly representative Gasparyan, 30, was challenged by 11 prime minister backs a candidate and siblings or not. They are in normal condition, there national assembly (parliament). other contenders. She is the first female that candidate doesn’t win an election. are no traces of violence,” Lilit Grigoryan from the We fully welcome the initiative of the head of an Armenian urban community This is the greatest victory for democ- Shirak Governor’s Office said. prime minister to begin a process that elected since the early 1990s. racy in the history of the Third No further information was available. will lead to new elections. In this Another Civil Contract candidate, [Armenian] Republic,” Pashinyan process, the prime minister tenders his Davit Khudatyan, prevailed in the may- declared in a trademark video address resignation and during a waiting peri- Kocharyan Vague about oral race in Armavir. The town located to the nation aired on Facebook. od of 7 + 7 days, as prescribed by the Future Plans current constitution, the sitting parlia- ment is dissolved, since no other candi- YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Former President date is anticipated for the position. Robert Kocharyan spoke about his future in politics Upon completion of this process, snap in an interview with Bloomberg, the ex-president’s Armenian Parliament Fails parliamentary elections will be held in office said this week. mid-December to create the desired leg- Kocharyan has said that he is willing to support the To Pass Key Election Bill islative body. active formation of balance in the political system. Despite the time limitations, the Asked how he is planning to do it, the second pres- ADL hopes that the forthcoming elec- ident of Armenia said: “Be a part of it, first of all by PARLIAMENT, from page 1 Gianni Buquicchio, the president of to build democracy in the country with the Council of Europe’s Venice tions will be held in the paramount expressing opinion, second of all by active partner- spirit of cooperation, based on democ- ship with other political forces, using the entire tool- undemocratic methods,” Ashotyan told Commission, said on Friday that the reporters. draft amendments “pursue legitimate ratic and constitutional principles. The box which is usually used to participate in political unity between Armenia, Artsakh and processes. It may be both personal participation, it In the 2017 elections, Armenians aims and seem mostly positive.” In a voted for not only parties and blocs as statement, he also noted “the specific the diaspora will help the Armenian may be cooperation, it can simply be active stance in people confront the dangers extant in Armenia’s political arena, stance regarding issues of a whole but also their individual candi- situation in Armenia, which requires dates running in a dozen nationwide the holding of early elections.” the region and move forward with public concern and the general situation. Meaning determination to create a powerful there is a rather broad circle here.” constituencies. The individual races Buquicchio said at the same time that greatly helped the HHK to score a land- the commission still has “reservations” homeland enjoying peace and econom- Kocharyan added that the most important thing for ic prosperity. him is that he can’t be distant from ongoing events. slide victory at the time. Wealthy HHK about the proposed change of the elec- candidates relied heavily on their finan- toral system. He stressed, though, that In pursuit of the above vision, the He said that having office has never been an end in ADL is ready to cooperate with true itself for him. “I passed through the highest offices cial resources and government connec- “these reservations are less relevant if tions to earn both themselves and their there is consensus among political political forces and will participate in that any politician can dream of. And in this case it the elections, bearing its share of isn’t something new, it isn’t a so-called unseen thing party many votes. forces about the change.” The bill put forward by Pashinyan’s The government is allowed to rein- responsibility, with the help of its mem- for me, for me to have a powerful desire to aspire bership and friends. for,” he said. government also envisages safeguards troduce the bill to the parliament and against vote rigging and other major force another urgent debate on it in the October 17, 2018 changes such as a lower vote threshold coming days. Pashinyan did not say Armenian Democratic Liberal Party for winning seats in the parliament. whether the government will do so. Supreme Council Central Committee S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 ARMENIA Pashinyan Visits Lebanon, Meets With Leadership

BEIRUT (Combined Sources) — During his working visit to Lebanon on October 20 and 21, Armenian Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Pashinyan thanked Hariri for the warm reception and hospi- tality. “This is my first visit to brotherly Lebanon, a country full of history of ancient civilizations. I am convinced that this visit will best contribute to the debate on the agenda of bilateral cooperation in different spheres. Of course, your father, Rafik Hariri, who was a great friend of Armenia, had a great contri- bution to the deepening and strengthening of ties between our countries.” Hariri noted that Lebanon appreciates the close cooperation with Armenia and is interested in its strengthening it further. He attached importance to the Lebanese-Armenian communi- ty’s role in the development of the country, as well as the deep- ening of Armenian-Lebanese ties. Lighting a candle in Zmmar Monastery The interlocutors exchanged views on the domestic situation in the two countries. Pashinyan welcomed and highlighted the interest of sizing it would further strengthen and deepen the traditionally Pashinyan touched upon the pan-national processes in Lebanese companies in making investments in Armenia and friendly relations between the two countries. Armenia in April-May of this year, presented the political accessing third markets through Armenia. During the meeting the interlocutors discussed the bilateral changes, the current processes and the expected developments. At the end of the meeting, Pashinyan signed the Golden trade and economic relations between Lebanon and Armenia as Pashinyan and Hariri noted with satisfaction that there is a Book of Honorable Guests. well as opportunities to expand the scope of cooperation. high level of political dialogue between the two countries and Pashinyan also met with President Michel Aoun. Pashinyan also visited Armenian educational and spiritual- “Since Armenia’s independence in 1991, the relations cultural centers in Beirut. between our countries have been consistently enriched with a He first visited Haigazian University, where he met with mem- new quality, which is characteristic of two friendly countries bers of the Council of the Armenian Evangelical Churches of and brotherly nations. We should make best out of that to the Middle East and the professors of Haigazian University, and strengthen our partnership and implementation of common representatives of the Armenian schools in Beirut. goals,” Pashinyan stated. Pashinyan was presented a monument dedicated to the 100th Pashinyan pointed out that the Armenian people have special anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. He, in turn, praised the gratitude toward friendly Lebanon, namely the fact that the work carried out by Haigazian University in the field of country hosts the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia of Armenology. the Armenian Apostolic Church since 1994 in Antelias. Pashinyan also made a note in the Book of Honorable Guests Moreover, Pashinyan added that Armenians feel a sense of at Haigazian University. gratitude toward Lebanon and Lebanese people for accommo- The next stop was the patriarchal union of the Armenian dating the refugees escaping the Armenian Genocide. “Lebanon Catholic Church, where he met Bishop Gevorg Asatourian, is the only country in the region that has officially recognized Bishop of Beirut, Archbishop Gabriel Muradyan of Zmmar the Armenian Genocide which is important not only for pre- Monastery and Anthony Vardapet Noratuncyan. serving the historical memory but also preventing the crime of Pashinyan and his wife, Anna Hakobyan, took part in the genocide,” Pashinyan stressed. chapel’s welcome prayer by the spiritual representatives of the President Aoun, in turn, welcomed Pashinyan’s visit, empha- Armenian Catholic Patriarchate and the members of the Zmmar Monastery, lit candles in the Church of the Monastic Complex, visit- Signing the guest book at Haigazian University ed the museum and the Matenadaran. Muradyan, on behalf of the Patriarchal Congregation of Zmmar, encouraged adding the economic component to that bar presented Pashinyan with a picture of Pashinyan presented the steps undertaken by the govern- the Virgin. ment of Armenia to improve the business environment in Pashinyan thanked the church for Armenia, to ensure the protection of investments and proposed the warm reception, noting: “It is a to organize a visit to Lebanese business circles to get acquaint- very exciting occasion for me because I ed with the conditions on the spot. am at the Catholic Church for the first The sides discussed issues related to expanding cooperation time and in such an environment. This in agriculture, transport, tourism, as well as in other spheres of is a memorable visit to me that will mutual interest. The interlocutors expressed satisfaction with keep me going. One of the most impor- the process of cooperation in the field of tourism, the positive tant issues in Armenia and the momentum of which was the direct air communication between Diaspora is that we do not have divid- the two countries. ing lines. We are one nation, we come from the same place and aspire to the same place, we have common dreams at the center of which are the Republic Acting Prime Minister of Armenia, the Nikol Pashinyan meets and the Armenian people.” with Prime Minister Saad The acting prime minister attached Hariri. importance to the activities of one of the most important cultural and cul- tural centers of Armenia, namely Zmmar’s activity in the preservation of historical and cultural heritage and national identity, strengthening the Armenia- Diaspora ties.

Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signs the Golden Book of Honorable Guests while Prime Minister Saad Hariri looks on. With nuns at the Zmmar Monastery 4 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL International News Ruben Vardanyan: The Russian-Armenian Businessman Focusing on Giving Wealth Away President Sarkissian to Attend Swiss By Rick Pushinsky International Investment MOSCOW (Financial Times) — Ruben Forum Vardanyan recalls earning a first month- YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Armenian President ly salary of just $100 shortly after the Armen Sarkissian left for Switzerland on October Soviet Union collapsed. Today, his focus 22, for a three-day working trip, the president’s is more on how to give away the vastly office said in a press release. larger sums he has amassed and to Sarkissian participated in the World Investment share his advice with Russians still ill- Forum 2018 – organized by the United Nations prepared for wealth succession. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) – The Russian-Armenian businessman which this year is held under the Investments For — who puts his wealth at “way less” Sustainable Development motto in Geneva. The pro- than a Forbes estimate of $950 million gram took place October 23-26. — says in recent years he has made $300 The Armenian president is to deliver remarks at million in donations and social impact the Global Leaders Assembly on the sidelines of the investments. In parallel, he advises forum, according to his office. wealthy families that have emerged Ruben Vardanyan Sarkissian will also participate in the grand open- from the post-Communist world as they ing of the 20th annual Crans Montana Forum. The move towards retirement. Armenian president will be the keynote speaker at As a student at Moscow University in cent of the founders had not yet written a year, which helps people to survive, the local and global security matters discussions of 1990, Vardanyan began preparing for wills. but creates the wrong message. the event, Sarkissian’s office said. the transition from central planning to “We believe philanthropy will move Becoming dependent on their external Crans Montana Forum brings together leaders the market economy. Within months, he very fast in the next five years, but peo- funding is like dependency on oil: if it’s from more than 100 countries who discuss social, became one of the first employees of ple have no culture to think about it,” free of charge, you don’t value it.” His economic and security issues in an informal atmos- Troika Dialog, which aimed to be he says. “This will be critical for Russia. priorities came from Armenia 2020, a phere. Russia’s pioneering investment bank in Who can they learn from? Your compa- project he asked McKinsey to draw up fast-moving and unpredictable “Wild ny needs to be run, management can 15 years ago. The consultancy high- East” times. steal from you, the legal system is inef- lighted the pivotal importance of educa- Canadian to Increase “It was really a unique time,” says ficient and sometimes corrupt. You can tion, healthcare, urban development, Vardanyan. “There were no regulations, lose everything. “My main advice is cultural heritage and national identity Investment in Armenia no clients, nobody knew what the secu- whatever you have decided, it will take to growth. “We’ll do another report in YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Canadian Armenian rities market was. My exam was a dis- time to explain to your family — five 15-20 years to see if it’s working,” he Gevorg Torosyan, who participated in the recent La cussion with the deputy minister of years or more,” he says. “If you don’t says. “But there are already some suc- Francophonie Economic Forum in Armenia, is going finance.” start now, it will be dangerous. It’s a cess stories.” He points, for example, to to establish the branch of Canadian ISB engineering In 1992, when Goldman Sachs long-term process that requires lots of the funding of a cable car to Armenia’s company in Armenia through the support of the poached senior staff, he became effort and commitment. Do it as soon as remote Tatev monastery, which has Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF), deputy min- Troika’s executive director at the age of you can.” helped sharply boost tourism and invest- ister of economic development and investments only 23. The bank was active in the He and his wife agreed they would ment in the area. Mane Adamyan announced on Facebook on October “voucher” privatizations of state enter- give away more than 80 percent of their He regards Armenia as a test bed for 20. prises and began wooing foreign wealth, simply leaving their children some 25 other small, “invisible” coun- “The company produces security devices which are investors as clients. He became an early some property and a relatively modest tries with similar characteristics, such attached to different production devices and block participant in the country’s fledgling allowance. as Moldova, Macedonia and Nicaragua. the devices during human work with sensors in order trading and deposit clearing systems. “It Although he holds a Russian pass- “No one cares about them, so it is not to harm the employees. At this stage the ISB was the very, very beginning of every- port, his roots are in Armenia on the difficult to invest. The costs of chari- Armenian branch will be engaged in improvement of thing.” country’s southern flank and half of his table giving are high. I thought, how software, and at the next stage the devices will be By 1996, he had acquired significant activity is focused there. The genocide can we convert this problem into a produced in Armenia. One of the key parts of these wealth through a stake in Troika short- in the crumbling a cen- solution to create something common devices has been produced in Armenia’s Goris for a ly before it was bought by the Bank of tury ago remains a heavy historical bur- for other countries like it?” But just as long time, and our compatriots have exported this Moscow. Then came the 1998 financial den in Armenia, memorialized in a mov- he stresses the need for long-term part to Canada for many years. We have agreed with crisis and widespread default. ing museum in the capital city Yerevan. planning as wealth passes to a new Mr. Torosyan to organize the whole cycle of produc- “It was quite horrible. Eighty percent His grandfather was reluctant to talk generation of post-Soviet families, he tion of the devices in Armenia soon,” Adamyan of our business was from western about his own experiences, but also sees the need for patience. wrote. clients and they all disappeared.” His Vardanyan learned that he had been “That’s one of the biggest challenges. new owner tried to force him out in saved by a Turk and four American mis- The expectation of a return is usually 2001, but he fought back and oversaw a sionaries, moved westwards and placed a maximum of 10 years in Armenia. Armenian Government leveraged buy-out. in an orphanage school. That inspired Our vision is 25 years.” He witnessed another market crisis in him to create the annual $1.1 million Seeks Closer Economic 2008, sold a stake to Standard Bank Aurora prize in 2016 to recognize Ties with Japan before the whole company was acquired humanitarian courage, commitment and by Sberbank of Russia in 2012. By then, impact. (Vardanyan contributes the Ukraine Lodges YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The Armenian govern- he was already reflecting on how to give majority of support for the prize fund.) ment this week approved a bill on ratifying an agree- away and invest money with a social This year’s winner was Kyaw Hla Complaint ment between Armenia and Japan on liberalizing, purpose. Aung, a lawyer and activist on behalf of encouraging and protecting investments. He was a founder of Skolkovo, the the Rohingya refugees in Myanmar. Last Against Armenia Acting minister of economic development and Russian business school based just out- year’s laureate was Dr. Tom Catena, investments Tigran Khachatryan said at the cabinet side Moscow that launched in 2006, who worked in Sudan’s Nuba moun- For Steel Tariff meeting that relations between Armenia and Japan where he encouraged discussions about tains and in 2016 Marguerite have continuously progressed and developed during how to give away as well as earn money. Barankitse, who worked with orphans YEREVAN (Armenpress) — the recent years. 2017 marked the 25th anniversary “I wanted to build a new infrastructure in Burundi. “We all remember the peo- Ukraine has lodged complaints of establishing diplomatic ties. The opening of the for private ownership,” he says. “I real- ple who were killed, but let’s look at at the World Trade Organization Armenian Embassy in Tokyo in 2010 and the open- ized it was critical for Russia, 100 years those who have been saved,” says to challenge anti-dumping duties ing of the Japanese Embassy in Yerevan in 2015 con- after the revolution, as we were facing Vardanyan. “We should say thank you imposed by Armenia and tributed to the more dynamic development of ties. the first generation that needed to and give something back. That’s not Kyrgyzstan on certain types of He said the ratification of the agreement will great- transfer wealth to the next generation. about human rights, but human values.” Ukrainian steel pipes, Reuters ly boost and elevate the development of bilateral eco- They had no experience, culture or legal He has also donated significant reported, citing documents pub- nomic relations to a qualitatively new level. “The infrastructure.” amounts to education, notably through lished by the WTO on Monday, presence of a corresponding legal-contractual field He created his own consultancy the creation of a school in the Dilijan October 22. will contribute to an increase of interest for the group, Philin, to offer managerial sup- district in northern Armenia. Yet much Ukraine said the two coun- Armenian economy and investment flow,” port for philanthropic structures for the of his activity has been what he charac- tries, should have phased out Khachatryan said. rich and Phoenix Advisors to help them terizes as “commercial social impact” duties that were “higher than “Various level visits have become frequent. with wealth conservation and succes- investments through “anchor projects” necessary, erroneous and based Consultations between the foreign ministries of the sion issues. His target market is families inspired by a series of principles. These on deficient rulings, procedures two countries take place regularly. Inter-parliamen- with $50 million-$1 billion in assets and include an approach that is “private- and provisions.” Ukraine has tary ties are on a high level. Productive cooperation says he has about 50 clients. public” rather than “public-private” (or already lodged a similar WTO within the framework of international organizations “It’s the most difficult category: they state-led) and a focus on projects that complaint against a third mem- also exists,” he said, highlighting JICA – the Japan are not big enough to have family are ambitious and scalable. He has ber of the customs union, International Cooperation Agency – which carries offices and not small enough for the pri- encouraged investments from the coun- Kazakhstan. Countries accused out official assistance from Japan to Armenia. vate banks.” He says few Russians are try’s unusually large diaspora of 7 mil- of breaking the WTO rules have prepared for succession: a survey by lion, who make up more than twice the 60 days to settle the matter or Skolkovo suggested that 78 percent of number of Armenian inhabitants. Ukraine could ask the WTO to their children did not want to take over “They have been good but bad for adjudicate. their parents’ businesses; and 92 per- Armenia,” he says. “They give $2 billion S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 Community News

ACOYA Juniors Dr. Armen Orujyan Aspire to New Wants to Put Heights at Armenia in the FAST Lane Sports Weekend

WATERVLIET, N.Y. — Over Columbus Day By Monique Svazlian weekend, more than 200 teenagers gathered at Special to the Mirror-Spectator the St. Peter Armenian Church here for the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA) Juniors annual Fall Sports SAN FRANCISCO — With the recent change Weekend. The parish hosted 217 participants in government in Armenia, there is a renewed from 19 parishes across the Eastern Diocese of sense of hope for the future of the country. It the Armenian Church of America, for a week- feels like the timing couldn’t be better to com- end of worship, sports and fellowship. plement the recent influx of future-forward ini- The Rev. Stepanos Doudoukjian, pastor of St. tiatives and projects that have nudged Armenia Peter Church, and his wife, Paulette toward progress such as the Tumo Center, Doudoukjian, worked alongside many dedicat- UWC Dilijan College, Aurora Prize and an ed community members to ensure the success increasing presence of technology and venture of the weekend. Events were held at the church capital focusing on social, cultural and econom- and the gym of Christian Brothers Academy; ic development in Armenia. participants were housed with local families. One prominent name behind some of these Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of St. Nersess projects has been entrepreneur Ruben Seminary, and Fr. Gomidas Zohrabian, pastor of Vardanyan, whose vision for the future of the St. George Church of Hartford, Conn., were Armenia is no secret. His most recent venture is on hand for parts of the event. Kathryn the Foundation for Armenian Science and Ashbahian, of the Diocese’s Department of Technology (FAST), focused on science and Youth and Young Adult Ministries, participated technology innovation in Armenia. I recently and photographed throughout the weekend, had the chance to speak with FAST’s CEO, Dr. which ran Friday evening through Monday Armen Orujyan, about what he sees as the morning, October 5-8. John Simpson Jr., son of copilot Lt. John Simpson Sr. holding color-enhanced gun- opportunities and possibilities in Armenia. “Reach New HYE-ghts” was the theme the camera photo of C-130 60528 during attack by Soviet MiG-17 pilot on Orujyan was born and lived in Armenia until host parish ACYOA Juniors chose as for week- September 2, 1958 —photographed in Bellevue, Nebraska, September 1, 2018 age 16. He left in 1989 for the United States end — and new heights were certainly achieved. and completed all his schooling up till his PhD see ACYOA, page 7 in the US. He has been an entrepreneur and innovator his entire career, having built organi- 60th Anniversary of zations and initiatives such as the Athgo Corporation, one of the world’s leading entre- preneurship platforms in consultative status Shooting Down of USAF with the UN Economic and Social Council, UN Department of Public Information, and the C-130 60528 over Armenia World Intellectual Property Organization. Earlier in his career, he joined the UN’s Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) as a Memorialized Founding Member. He further served as a Commissioner on the UN’s venerated BELLEVUE, Nebraska – The 60th anniversary of the shoot-down of US Air Broadband Commission for Digital Force C-130 60528 with its 17-man crew near Sasnashen, Armenia, is being com- Development through 2015. memorated this year. On September 2, 1958 the aircraft was shot down by the A lesser known fact - he was also one of the USSR. A memorial was created in founders of the Armenian Genocide March 1993 for the Sasnashen site and a that takes place in Hollywood every year on By Larry Tart second was unveiled at the April 24. Special to the Armenian Mirror-Spectator National Security Agency, Fort In 2017, he met Ruben Vardanyan in Los Meade, MD, on September 2, Angeles, after which he invited him to go to 1997. The incident and the dedi- Armenia to explore the country. “It was incred- cation of the C-130 60528 memorial was addressed in the Armenian Mirror- ible to see the progress since I had been there Spectator issue dated August 18, 2018. last in 2007. That’s when Ruben introduced me Other Memorials Dedicated to C-130 60528’s Lost Crew to his vision for making Armenia a science and In 1993, a United States POW/MIA recovery team excavated the crash site, technology hub. He was looking for someone to recovering miniscule bone fragments and related aircrew artifacts. In August 1993, take over that initiative, so I agreed to go for six Sasnashen village elders and sculptor Martin Kakosian dedicated a khachkar months to get to know Armenia better, to know memorial to the aircrew that perished in the edge of their village. the team and it was like falling in love – both The khachkar tumbled over and broke in half, and with assistance from the Big see ORUJYAN, page 6 Safari Association (a non-profit USAF-affiliated organization), Kakosian created a new C-130 60528 memorial that he and the villagers dedicated at the crash site in 1998. The Big Safari Association also funded a replica of the C-130 60528 Sasnashen Memorial as an outdoor display at the National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, dedicating the replica memorial in 2002. In reverence to the lost crew, Michael Patterson, a retired Big Safari program man- ager, laid a 60th Anniversary Memorial Wreath at the replica on September 2, 2018 — Patterson had managed the acquisition and placement of the C-130 60528 Memorial aircraft in National Vigilance Park in September 1997, the creation of the memorial at Sasnashen, Armenia, in 1998 and the replica memorial at the Air Force Museum in 2002. 50th Anniversary Memorial Service for C-130 60528’s Crew Gathering in front of the C-130 60528 Memorial aircraft, National Vigilance Park, Fort Meade, MD, on September 2, 2008, the National Security Agency (NSA) and the 70th Intelligence Wing hosted a 50th Anniversary Memorial Service honoring the 17 crew members who perished in the shoot-down of C- 130 60528 on September 2, 1958. Heading the NSA official party, Chris Inglis, Deputy Director, NSA, provided an inspiring eulogy, speaking from the heart — the Inglis family had lost his younger brother Pat 25 years earlier (May 1983), when his Navy A-6A fighter-bomber crashed in the edge of a Soviet naval task force in the Mediterranean Sea. see MEMORIAL, page 10

Dr. Armen Orujyan 6 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Hrag Papazian Explores Armenian Identity in Turkey

PAPAZIAN, from page 1 church and religious classes in schools escape being identified by others as Lebanese Armenians based on personal expe- Papazian graduated from Hamazkayin’s because the history of Armenia and the Armenian and discriminated against as such. rience. He said that though the Armenian Melankton and Haig Arslanian College (for- Armenians itself is banned as a subject to be This identity is also connected to the Church was still important for the latter, merly called Hay Jemaran) in Antelias, taught in schools. Anatolian, Turkish and Kurdish environment their Armenianness was not an ethnoreli- Lebanon, in 2010 and then attended As for the Armenian migrants, Papazian where people live in clans or asirets. Growing gious identity because there were ways other American University in Beirut, from which he finds their main ideological pillars of up the Muslim Armenians begin to realize than through the church to be Armenian. received a bachelor’s degree in communica- Armenian identity to be different. It starts that they do not belong to any tribe or clan The transreligious dimensions of tion arts. Deciding to switch his focus to with Armenia as a homeland. Consequently, and eventually realize why — because of their Armenianness were not banned, so that polit- anthropology, he went into a master’s pro- they expect Armenians to show concern, Armenian origins. ical parties and secular schools could exist. gram at the University of Oxford in 2013. He interest and love toward Armenia. If they see Papazian found that with such different You could be an Armenian without having wrote on the Christian Armenians citizens of these lacking, they would immediately start understandings and definitions of being contact with the church in Lebanon, unlike Turkey living in Istanbul for his thesis, but to question their Armenianness. Papazian Armenian, when these three groups coexist in Turkey. upon starting the doctoral program at the related an incident recalled by one migrant in one city, there are identity conflicts, and a A short-lived exception to the situation in same university in 2015, decided to broaden who worked for a local Istanbul Armenian. lot of social and symbolic boundaries emerge. Istanbul arose in the 1990s with a minority his topic to include two other types of There was a debate about politics and his Christian Armenians often even reject the within the Armenian Christian minority that Armenians, migrants from the Republic of boss told him “you are a guest here — go back expression Muslim Armenian, finding it to be started to challenge the religious under- Armenia to Istanbul who came beginning in to your country if you do not like this one.” an example of cognitive dissonance — how standing of Armenianness. They claimed eth- the 1990s due to the collapse of the Soviet The migrant replied, “how come that country can one be both a Muslim and an Armenian nic rights and the recognition of Armenian Union, and Muslim Armenians, who began to is my homeland and not yours? Are you also — because of their religious understanding of history and the contributions of the come to media attention in the early 2000s. not an Armenian? If this is your homeland Armenianness. Armenians to the Ottoman Empire and the Papazian moved to Turkey where he did and not Armenia, then what is the difference The migrants do not deny the Republic of Turkey, and raised their voice ethnographic field work for 18 months, and between you and the Turks? How can I count Armenianness of the local Armenians yet do against the injustices faced by Armenians. then went to Armenia to begin to write his dis- you as an Armenian?” really question it. They see, Papazian said, a The political climate in Turkey had changed. sertation, which he says he has half completed A second important pillar according to lack of enthusiasm toward Armenia, occa- Various Kurdish organizations had claimed and plans to finish by the summer of 2019. Papazian is morality. The migrants speak sional pro-Turkish statements by the local their rights as an ethnic minority, though In it, Papazian said, he primarily deals with about moral norms or traditions of community representatives, and cultural and part of the religious majority. When the understandings of Armenian identity and Armenianness, particular behaviors that are linguistic Turkification. Many of the migrants Justice and Development Party (AKP) came Armenianness, including the production, Armenian and others that are not like as domestic workers see how local Armenian to power and made some initial steps toward reproduction and interpretation of the latter. Armenians. Kinship and gender are also family relationships and gender roles are democratization, partly as part of the process He compares how the three groups of involved. If one acts in accordance with these played. They find it very different than back to access the European Union, this had its Armenians mentioned above who are living traditional moral norms, then one is an ideal home in Armenia. Some women told influence on Armenians too. The movement now in Istanbul each perceive and define Armenian, but if not, they start questioning Papazian that the local Armenian men were around Agos and Hrant Dink, and the Aras Armenian identity. Papazian said, “It turns that person’s Armenianness. not real men, as they were not strict enough publishing house emerged, demanding rights out that it is quite different. For the local The third group, the Muslim Armenians, with their women. In fact, they said, “the for Armenians as a national minority. Christian Armenians, Armenian identity is said Papazian, lack institutions that the wives control the husbands,” which they felt The youngest generation of Armenians cre- mostly an ethnoreligious identity. It is very migrant and local Christian Armenians have was against Armenian traditions, as was the ated the Nor Zartonk or New Awakening much tied with being a member of the which somehow dictate, define and repro- placing of elderly parents in old age homes. movement. They saw Hrant Dink as a role Armenian Church.” Papazian explained that duce Armenianness. For the local Armenians, While analyzing the intra-Armenian bound- model and when he was shot they decided to the reasons for this includes the Turkish that is the church and community system, aries in Istanbul between the three different go public in the Armenian community. They state’s categorization of Armenians as a reli- while for the migrants, the Armenian state. groups, Papazian argues that it is necessary were active as democratic leftist activists in gious minority and its oppression or censor- “The only thing the Muslim Armenians to always take into account the boundaries Turkish political circles and began to at the ship of trans-religious understandings of have,” Papazian said, “is a lost past, a lost between these groups and the Turkish state same time involve themselves in Armenian Armenianness. The state tried as much as memory. For them, it is very much lineage- and the Turkish majority population. For activism. They thought, according to possible to encourage the religious aspect based. You are an Armenian if you have example, the boundary between Christian Papazian, that Armenians could not solve and to make Armenians assimilate in other Armenian origins. If you learn that your and Muslim Armenians can be explained their problems by looking inward. Instead realms so that they no longer are an ethnic father or grandfather is Armenian, then you through the understanding of Armenianness they must take part in the general political or national minority with national ethnic are Armenian, period. There is no religious as well as the symbolic and political relation- changes in Turkey. Armenians could have claims. The Treaty of Lausanne, which laid condition, there is no morality or state…It is ship of these two groups with the Turks. their rights respected only if there was a the foundation of the Republic of Turkey, about learning about one’s Armenian origins When the boundary between Christian democratic, non-nationalistic and more also guarantees religious rights. A concomi- and trying to recuperate what was lost in Armenians and Turks is primarily a religious diverse Turkey. tant reason for the ethnoreligious identity is terms of culture and knowledge and content. one, if the Christian Armenians accept Papazian said that they understood that the religious discrimination which took place They mostly learn this from the elders or Muslim Armenians as Armenians, they would they had to be active in movements like the throughout the history of the Turkish repub- from discrimination.” automatically jeopardize their own bound- Gezi Park protests, environmental move- lic. It made them conscious of their religious Some of them did not even have a clue aries with the Turks. ments, feminism, LGBT movements, and the difference. Papazian also pointed to what he about their Armenian origins until they were When asked if he would make any compar- defense of workers’ rights in order to repre- calls the experiential pairing of Christian and discriminated against as infidels or isons of the Armenians in Turkey with those sent the Armenian minority in this progres- Armenian. People in that community always Armenians. This made them realize that of various diasporan communities, Papazian sive democratic faction of Turkish society. By experience one in tandem with the other. changing religion and knowing nothing replied that he has not done it academically, this, Papazian said, they also challenged the They learn about Armenianness through the about Armenianness cannot help them but could reply informally about the institutions of the Armenian minority. They advocated a secular representation of minori- ties such as Armenians in the place of the Armenian Patriarchate, pointing out that there were Armenian atheists and now Muslim Armenians raising their voices. Texas Armenians Meet with the Texas However, starting in 2015-16, when the AKP put aside democratization and returned to an authoritarian approach, the crackdown Commission on Holocaust and Genocide on the progressive pro-minorities movements in Turkey had its impact on the extension of COLLEGE STATION, Tex. – On October 18, the Texas positive step towards greater recognition by the Texas Education these movements in the Armenian communi- Commission on Holocaust and Genocide (TCHG) held its quarterly Agency which is responsible for all public schools in Texas. ty. Some of the Nor Zartonk members left the meeting at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Participants on October 18 included Karen Aroian, Mihran country like their Kurdish and Turkish coun- College Station, Texas. The purpose of the meeting was to begin Aroian, Raffi Caloustian, Cynthia Chisolm, John Nichols, Levoun terparts. the process of making an exception to the TCHG policy that cur- Ohan, Tatevik Sekhposyan and Anna Yeritsyan. We also want to For more on Papazian’s analysis of the Nor rently educates and informs Texans about genocides that are offi- thank the following individuals for helping to prepare us for the Zartonk movement, see the video of his cially recognized by the Federal Government. It was noted in the recent talk in Cambridge, Mass. for the prepared statement delivered by Mihran Aroian that on May 19, Zoravik Armenian Activist Collective 2017 the Texas House of Representatives unanimously passed (https://www.facebook.com/zoravik/videos/3 House Resolution 191, titled “Recognizing the Armenian 14684859307974/?fref=mentions&__xts__[0] Genocide,” thus making Texas the 46th state in the U.S. to officially =68.ARCqY_al2P_BX_X2HXADaiMPB1GGdPC classify and commemorate the 1915-1923 annihilation of Ottoman -Wo9N5KIeKzMIRwe74hJovu9pM- Turkey’s indigenous Armenian Christian community as genocide. ujQAqIfc3ym_sl- Prior to the meeting, a letter was sent to the Commissioners MEhZ4OXSxOEvIJyXRuFDmcMSVDEJ4ZI1T2 signed by the leadership of the four Armenian communities in F1Pc-IfXRdVPHHMmKAm6S- Texas (Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio). Mihran Aroian sil8XscUh37jomUL6vagm3EPDeUzImkspLHfE presented prepared remarks on behalf of the Armenians present at _BXZU1Wu2O4KzzNzb9ipebfOAWHsp80CDs_ the commission hearing with the purpose of getting the XY&__tn__=K-R). He also has published the Commission to hold a discussion and vote on including the The Texas Armenian delegation article “Between Gezi Park and Kamp Armen: Armenian genocide in the educational materials that the TCHG The Intersectional Activism of Leftist Armenian provides to all Texans. The Commission agreed to discuss and vote Youths in Istanbul” (Turkish Studies, vol. 18:1, on the Armenian genocide at the next quarterly meeting on hearing: Bryan Ardouny (Armenian Assembly), , 2017) and “Armenians and Other Armenians in January 17, 2019. Natalie Gabrelian (Armenian General Benevolent Union), Roxanne Turkey” (https://repairfuture.net/index.php/ By gaining the support of the TCHG, this will include the Makasdjian (Genocide Education Project) and Marc Mamigonian en/identity-standpoint-of-armenian- Armenian Genocide in TCHG publications and seminars and be a (National Association for Armenian Studies and Research). diaspora/armenians-and-other-armenians-in- turkey, 2017), which covers much of the same topics he discussed in the present interview. S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS ACOYA Juniors Aspire to New Heights at Sports Weekend

ACYOA, from page 5 1st: Nick Budka—St. Peter, Watervliet, NY At points throughout the weekend, 16 2nd: Shahe Jebejian—St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ ACYOA Juniors from Watervliet shared brief Beginners’ Tavloo spiritual reflections with their peers, chaper- 1st: Tanya Akian—St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ ones, and parents. 2nd: Victor Hermes—St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ Saturday, participants played sports and indi- Advanced Tavloo vidual games (see the standings below), had din- 1st: Armand Zeibari—Wynnewood, PA ner with their host families, and returned to St. 2nd: Marianna Lilla—St. James, Watertown, MA Peter Church for evening activities. They Girls’ Ping Pong enjoyed an outdoor dance party complete with 1st: Mia Setrakian—St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ a food truck and bonfire. 2nd: Elsa Kevorkian—St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ To Grow and Improve Boys’ Ping Pong On Sunday morning, Doudoukjian celebrated 1st: Shahe Jebejian—St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ the Divine Liturgy and gave an uplifting ser- 2nd: Michael Nargizian—St. Leon, Fair Lawn, mon, cleverly utilizing sports equipment as NJ props to make his homiletic point. Just as an Co-Ed Volleyball athlete reviews old performances in order to 1st: Philly ‘A’ Team grow and improve, he said, so must Christians 2nd: St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ review their actions and habits in order to grow Girls’ Basketball and strengthen their faith. 1st: St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ That evening, participants gathered at 2nd: Philly ‘A’ Team Treviso by Mallozzi’s for an Italian banquet, Boys’ Basketball awards ceremony, and dance. The weekend con- 1st: St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ cluded Monday morning with a farewell choreg 2nd: St. Mary, Washington, DC breakfast. Overall Sports Champion Chapter St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ Dr. Richard Hovannisian 2018 ACYOA JUNIORS SPORT WEEKEND Female Sportsmanship STANDINGS Mary Cimen—St. James, Watertown, MA To Speak on ‘The Republic Beginners Chess Male Sportsmanship Of Armenia: A Daring 1st: Alex Hananian—St. James, Watertown, MA Hagop Derian—St. Peter, Watervliet, NY 2nd: Colby Madden—St. James, Watertown, MA Exemplary Christian Spirit Endeavor, 1918-2018’ Advanced Chess Edward Khachatryan—Holy Trinity, Cambridge, MA FRENSO — Dr. Richard Hovannisian will present a talk on “The Republic of Armenia: A Daring Endeavor, 1918-2018” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 1, in Armen Orujyan Wants to Put Armenia in the FAST Lane the Armenian Cultural Center, 2348 Ventura St, in Fresno. ORUJYAN, from page 5 FAST is a nonprofit organization that rein- and technological innovation, under Orujyan’s This special presentation is co-spon- with the country and the people working on forces intellectual, financial, and network capac- leadership, FAST has launched a Fellowship for sored by the Armenian Studies Program, these incredible initiatives like UWC Dilijan and ities of the science and technology ecosystem in the top 10 percent of all PhDs in Armenia in the Homenetmen Fresno Sassoon IDeA, it was really exciting. I’ve been involved Armenia and beyond. Focused on producing an STEM, deployed numerous scientific grants, Chapter, and the Hamazkayin Taniel ever since.” ecosystem that drives scientific advancement and established the first Science and Varoujan Chapter on the occasion of the Technology Angels Network in Armenia. 100th Anniversary of Homenetmen. FAST is focusing on developing four main In this centennial year of the Republic areas, specifically data sciences (AI, machine of Armenia, Hovannisian will reflect on learning, big data and analytics), bio-technology, the enormous challenges of establishing advanced materials and micro-electronics. They the first independent Armenian state in plan on doing this through concentrating more than 500 years. In an illustrated resources behind select breakthrough innova- power-point presentation, he will assess tions, inventions, and multi-stakeholder projects, how the difficult road to independence and coordinating activities of scientists, inven- evolved into an opportunity for a self-sus- tors, and entrepreneurs to amplify their work tainable united sovereign republic that and impact both in Armenia and the world. “The would gather in the historic homelands goal is to successfully advance these four verti- and all elements of the Armenian people cals, to make Armenia a very competitive coun- the world over. try, grow the GDP in line with Western stan- Dr. Richard G. Hovannisian is Professor dards, stop the brain drain and think about the Emeritus of Armenian and Near Eastern brain gain in the country and attract Armenians History at University of California at Los from the Diaspora as well as non-Armenians Angeles (UCLA), President’s Fellow at from other countries,” says Orujyan. Chapman University, and Adjunct The bigger objective is to turn Armenia into Professor of History at the University of a Top 10 Innovation country. Currently, Southern California (USC) to work with Armenia is number 69 on the list. “It’s going to the Shoah Foundation on testimonies of take a big cultural and socio-economic shift, as survivors of the Armenian Genocide. well as lots of out-of-the-box thinking to get He received a PhD in history from there. Culturally, however, Armenia is ready to UCLA and was a member of the UCLA fac- embrace science —we love studying physics, ulty since 1962, where he organized both biology, chemistry, mathematics. The instruc- the undergraduate and graduate pro- tion level is fairly low in the country, so educa- grams in Armenian history and served as tion and knowledge needs to be improved, but the Associate Director of UCLA’s Center it’s an issue that exists and we can correct that. for Near Eastern Studies for two decades. But we do have the talent, the drive and the Professor Hovannisian is a founder and passion that can help us grow exponentially.” six-time president of the Society for I asked him why he thought this was such an Armenian Studies (SAS), and a member of important initiative for the country, given all a number of editorial boards, scholarly the other challenges it faces currently. organizations, and civic organizations. “Armenia is very small, we don’t have many nat- Hovannisian has given more than 2,500 ural resources. Our best resource are our peo- university and community lectures in 48 ple, we have human capital. Science doesn’t countries and has participated in numer- require big numbers, it requires intellectual cap- ous teacher workshops and international ital and we can do that with the people that are forums and media events. He has pub- in Armenia.” lished more than 30 volumes on Armenia Currently, the organization is looking to raise History and culture and seven other hundreds of millions of dollars to turn Armenia books on Near Eastern history, society, into a science and tech hub, through philan- and culture. In addition, he has edited and thropic investment, impact investment, and contributed to fourteen volumes in the return on investment. “We need intellectual UCLA conference series, “Historic capital as well as coaches and mentors for our Armenian Cities and Provinces.” young fellows in various areas of science. We The lecture is free and open to the public. also need to develop our network capacity to For more information about the lecture get in touch with top notch institutions around contact the Armenian Studies Program, Donation the world we can collaborate with. We welcome visit the website at everyone’s support — we can’t and don’t want www.fresnostate.edu/armenianstudies or The Armenian Missionary Association of America’s Koren and Alice Odian Kasprian to do this by ourselves!” visit the Facebook page at Endowment Fund donated $817.28 to the . Armenian Mirror-Spectator To learn more about FAST, visit @ArmenianStudiesFresnoState. https://fast.foundation/ 8 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR OBITUARIES Ara Guler, Poetic Photographer of Istanbul, Dies at 90

GULER, from page 1 institutions including the Istanbul Modern art try chemicals used to develop film. As a young was part of the stable of photojournalists Only three subjects got away, he said in a museum, the Museum of Modern Art in New man, Guler wanted to become a screenwriter employed by Magnum, the agency founded in 2005 interview: Charlie Chaplin, who refused to York and the National Library in Paris. He was and thought he could use his father’s movie 1947 by Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, be photographed because he was in a wheel- a recipient of France’s Légion d’Honneur. contacts. Instead, his father found him a job at George Rodger and David Seymour. chair by then; Jean-Paul Sartre, who lived near The Ara Guler Museum, dedicated to his a . Guler’s first marriage ended in divorce. His where Guler worked in Paris but nevertheless work, opened with fanfare in Istanbul on There, Guler said, he learned that it took him second wife, Suna Guler, died in 2010. No eluded him; and Albert Einstein, “who died too August 16, his 90th birthday. longer to write an article than to shoot a pic- immediate family members survive. soon.” Despite his stature in the cultural world, Mr. Guler’s work has been widely exhibited, at Guler declined the mantle of artist. “If it’s art, it’s art,” he told the New York Times in 1997. “If it’s not, it’s not. Other peo- ple will decide that 100 years from now. Photography looks like art, but art has to have some kind of depth.” He continued: “I hate the idea of becoming an artist. My job is to travel and record what I see.” More important than art, he said, is history, “and that is what press photographers record.” “We are the eyes of the world,” he added. “We see on behalf of other people. We collect the visual history of today’s earth.” Guler had a long collaboration and friend- ship with the Nobel Prize-winning Turkish author Orhan Pamuk. His photographs were included in the Pamuk book Istanbul: Memories and the City in 2003, and Pamuk ture. He preferred photography’s faster results. In later years, Guler could be seen in a rum- wrote the foreword to the 2009 book Ara He also learned, he said, that “you can give pled overcoat sitting at a table in Ara Café, a Guler’s Istanbul: 40 Years of Photographs. more of the message with a photograph than restaurant named after him in the Beyoglu dis- Guler was born on August 16, 1928, the only with writing.” trict of Istanbul, near his studio. Prints of his Ara Guler in front of his portrait of Pablo Picasso child of Armenians living in Istanbul. His father He later moved on to international publica- photographs lined the cafe walls and were was a pharmacist and sold to the movie indus- tions, including Time, Life and Paris Match, and reproduced as place mats.

Arsen Sayan Cultural Worker Prof. David Ghazaryan, and It turned out that the conductor – Anna other professors. Manukyan – was a Sayan Stipend recipient Noted Conductor, Educator, Benefactor Students told of their recent successes and some years ago. upcoming plans, some of them performed and He leaves his wife Catherine Sayan; sister-in- WASHINGTON — Conductor Arsen Sayan of the Middle Ages.” He retired in 1995 from amazed Maestro. Elen Eghiazaryan and law Negda; children Arsen Raphael and Paula passed away on October 5. He was 89. the U. S. Information Agency, Washington, D. Mariana Martirosyan (vocal), Asdghik Anhtsuts and their families (Venezuela); sisters-in-law Born in Aleppo, Syria, Sayan attended the C., after serving for 25 years as musical-cultural (canon), and Artur Harutyunyan (piano) noti- Sirvart, Araxi (Henri) and their daughters local Mkhitarist Fathers School and in 1949 director and chief producer of the VoA’s fied him that they participated in a series of Solange, Valerie and Capucine (France); sister- graduated from Armenian Service. In 2000, the competitions with some notable success. in-law Koharig (deceased) (Gilbert); and their the Seminary of Knar-Ani joint chorales marked Twenty of the conservatory’s best students children; Didier, Karine (Patrick) (Germany); the Cilician the 50th anniversary of Sayan’s have been receiving the Arsen Sayan Stipend Extended family Khantzian (US), Catholicosate of dedicated service to the for the past two decades. Khatchadourian, Manoukian, Terzian, Sahakian Antelias, Lebanon. Armenian musical culture and While walking by a classroom in the conser- (France), Najarian, Boyadjian, Jamgotchian fam- Returning to heritage. vatory, Sayan heard the sound of music and ilies in Armenia. Aleppo he taught In 2014, Sayan visited wanted to find out what it was. When he found The funeral took place on Saturday, October Armenian lan- Armenia with the Fund for out that the sounds were coming from the con- 20, at Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic guage, history and Armenian Relief to officially servatory’s symphony orchestra rehearsal, he Church, Bethesda, Md. Interment followed at music in various open the Argavand Music asked to visit the orchestra musicians for a bit. Fairfax Memorial Park, Fairfax, Va. Armenian national School that was renovated by school, was con- FAR thanks to his donation. In a certmaster of the gesture of deep appreciation and Aleppo Diocese respect, the Argavand, Ararat ENNIS M. EVENEY & ONS Mother Church, community has renamed the and organized the school after him. D D S S h o g h a k a n Sayan used the time before Cemetery Monuments Chorus. the official ceremony very pro- Moving to the ductively. During his week in Specializing in United States in Yerevan he visited his dear Armenian Designs and Lettering 1957, Sayan Yerevan Komitas State founded the Knar Armenian Choral Group in Conservatory where he studied many years ago 701 Moody St. Waltham, MA 02543 1960, followed by the Ani Armenian Choral and where he also taught. He met with the (781) 891-9876 www.NEMonuments.com Group in 1970. In the interim, (1963-66), Conservatory’s Arsen Sayan Stipend recipients Maestro Sayan also studied in the Komitas and was valued by Conservatory rector Prof. Conservatory of Music in Yerevan, majoring in Shahen Shahinyan, People’s Artist, composer, choral direction with first-class honors and a and professor Robert Amirkhanyan, president dissertation titled “Armenian Religious Music of the Musical Society of Armenia and Honored Telephone (617) 924-7400 Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home, Inc. Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 MARION BEDROSIAN 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN

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With all the attention coming from Turkish By Haykaram Nahapetyan authorities, one thing, however, was hard to not notice: Ara Güler’s Armenian roots were not Special to the Armenian Mirror-Spectator highlighted by the officials at all and got just a few sometimes controversial mentions in the ISTANBUL — Istanbul-based Turkish- Turkish mainstream press of recent days. Some Armenian Ara Güler was not only the most indirect references to Güler’s Armenian heritage famous photographer ever to emerge from have been made by press during the coverage of Turkey, but he actually founded professional liturgy at the Armenian church and his funeral photography in modern Turkey. The Turks at the Armenian cemetery. Hurriyet mentioned called him the “Eye of Istanbul” for his famous that Dle Yaman and Groong were played at the images of the city, although he would refer to funeral without noting that those were himself and news photographers more broadly. Armenian folk songs. The same newspaper fea- “We are the eyes of the world. We see on behalf tured that some soil was brought from Shabin of other people. We collect the visual history of Karahisar, from Güler’s father Dajad’s tomb, to today’s earth,” was how the New York Times be scattered over his grave in Istanbul - yet again

Ara Guler taking a picture of President Erdogan quoted him. (See Page 1 for the obituary.) providing no details about the Armenian profile When on October 17 the Eye of Istanbul of this community or the artist’s parent. entered his eternal rest in one of the hospitals of The author was able to locate only one article Istanbul, Turkish media in its entirety reported in Sabah’s English edition that clearly stated this as flash news. The sad announcement that Güler was an Armenian. More liberal media remained as a frontpage article in many newspa- outlets questioned why Güler’s Armenian pers for many hours. Up until now Güler’s death descent remained unmentioned throughout his and the subsequent funeral ceremonies continue life. to remain top news in Turkey. Some excerpts “Was Ara Güler an Armenian? Who was his from those reports come to confirm that it is not father? These questions are being asked after merely the Armenian perspective that Güler was the death of the master-artist,” a piece in “number one” in Turkey – this is actually what InternetHaber mentioned. The publication Turkish media says. found out that the original name of Ara Güler “Ara Güler… was the biggest photo reporter was Aram Gülerian. ever in Turkey” – Hurriyet. Some pro-governmental mainstream publica- “The most prominent name of Turkish pho- tions called him a “Turk.” Paradoxically those tography in international arena” – Milliyet. statements often appeared in the same piece “He shaped Turkey’s public memory with his that would refer to the Christian liturgy for Ara photographs” – Sabah. Güler conducted at the Beyoglu Armenian And there are many more examples… church of Istanbul. Suffice it to say that Ara Güler was the only Recently another great Armenian, Charles photographer from Turkey who was elected to Aznavour passed away. The French government and became a member of the American Society and public from President Emmanuel Macron to of Magazine Photographers (ASMP; today called endless media publications would continuously the American Society for Media Photographers). highlight Aznavour’s ethnic origins. President Turkish authorities, from President Recep Macron even tweeted in the . Tayyip Erdogan and Parliament Speaker Binali However, Turkish officials turned out to be reluc- Yildirim, to ministers and MPs publicly tant to do anything similar for Ara Güler, a man expressed condolences. Because of the funeral who did so much work to make Istanbul recog- services the tramway communication in one of nizable and prominent in the world of interna- Istanbul’s main avenues was stopped. tional photography. Applications Now Being Accepted for the 2019 AGBU Summer Internship

NEW YORK — Every year, the Armenian Students are placed in exciting industries General Benevolent Union (AGBU) empowers such as the arts, tech/IT, medicine, finance, young people from the diaspora and Armenia fashion, media and film, engineering, interna- through its professional development pro- tional relations and many others. grams, including the flagship AGBU Summer “This internship has been educational and Internship Program. Interested applicants are has exposed me to various types of opera- welcome to apply to the 2019 Program by tions,” said George Tarabelsi, a student at the December 1, 2018. University of , who interned in The AGBU Summer Internship Program pre- Yerevan. “As an aspiring physician, shadowing pares young people for the future and helps doctors in different departments has allowed them get closer to their roots and peers me to gain a better understanding of what through enriching cultural, educational and specifically I would like to pursue in medicine.” social activities. Throughout the years, careful- Interns have full exposure to life and culture in ly selected placements that match interns’ the host city through an array of activities, rang- background and career goals have ensured the ing from workshops, classes, sightseeing and vis- success and sustainability of the program. In its to iconic landmarks, to meetings with high- addition, the network of host organizations ranking officials, clergy and community leaders. and companies continues to grow, including For more information about the AGBU new industries. For the upcoming year, Boston Internship Program and applications, has been added as one of the major cities. visit https://agbu.org/program/internships/ 10 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS 60th Anniversary of Shooting Down of USAF C-130 60528 over Armenia Memorialized MEMORIAL, from page 5 At a reunion banquet on Sunday, September His Eminence had assigned Rev. Fr. Vazken The memorial service ended with the Prop The Prop Wash Gang held its 2008 reunion 2, 2018 — exactly 60 years after Soviet pilots Movsesian “to join you for the special 60th Wash Gang surprising Fr. Vazken with a most concurrently in Baltimore, honoring 60528’s shot down US Air Force C-130 60528 at Anniversary Memorial Service.” As keynote unusual memento (a piece of C-130 60528 lost crew at a reunion banquet on Sunday, debris mounted in a shadowbox), an auto- August 31. Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. James R. graphed copy of The Price of Vigilance, Larry Clapper (then Under Secretary of Defense for Tart’s extensively researched history of the C- Intelligence) was keynote speaker. John 130 60528 shoot-down incident, and a plaque Simpson Jr, and his son John Simpson III were “We Saw An Eagle Fly,” composed by the special guests at the banquet on August 31 and PWG’s poet laureate Lonnie Henderson as a at the Memorial Service in NVP on September tribute to our 17 lost Air Force brothers. 2, 2008. The September 2 event was recorded and available now on YouTube 60th Anniversary Memorial Services, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4uqCicF August and September 2018 SW4). On August 30 and September 2, 2018, the In an email exchange on October 1, Fr. Prop Wash Gang (PWG) took the lead role in Vazken provided a personal assessment of the two 60th Anniversary Memorial Services — 60th anniversary memorial service. “Indeed it both in commemoration of 17 Air Force broth- was a pleasure and honor to be at the com- ers who perished in Sasnashen, Armenia, on memoration last month in Nebraska. The group September 2, 1958. Gathering in Bellevue, made me feel right at home in the PWG family.” Neb., five miles from Offutt Air Force Base, for Attendees (PWG Families), 60th Anniversary Memorial Service, Bellevue, Nebraska, September 2, Meeting John E. Simpson Jr. and Sam Clark their annual reunion, PWG members devoted 2018 brought an element of connectivity to the their long Labor Day weekend to honoring events of 1958 in very real human terms. their 17 lost Air Force comrades. On Thursday, Additionally, at the beginning of his speech, Fr. August 30, the 55th Wing 97th Intelligence Sasnashen, Armenia, killing the 17-man crew — speaker, Fr. Vazken gave a brief history of Vazken made a point of placing the 17 names Squadron (IS) and the PWG hosted a memorial the Prop Wash Gang conducted a special 60th Armenia and its people and the early history of of the lost crew on the dais “in front of me, just service on the wing’s parade ground on Offutt. Anniversary Memorial Service honoring the the Armenian church — the first nation to so at no time would I be tempted to speak of an The Prop Wash Gang’s Lonnie Henderson was crew. Recognizing the gravity and reverence an accept Christianity in AD 301. He continued ‘incident’ and forget that the personal sacrifices Armenian priest would evoke with a requiem with a brief overview of the Armenian Genocide of these men translated into personal tragedies service for the 17 of 1915 and used analogies to memorialize the for the families.” He also commented that “the deceased comrades, 17 American flyers who perished in Sasnashen missing-man table, which Chief Lonnie in July 2018 I con- 60 years earlier. Henderson had set, was very touching and mov- tacted Archbishop As the grandson of a survivor of genocide, Fr. ing — “I don’t think it could have gotten any Hovnan Derderian, Vazken has devoted much of his life to helping more personal.” Primate, Western victims of genocide. When told to “get over the Having watched in awe when presented the Diocese, Armenian Genocide, it happened a hundred years ago,” shadowbox containing the piece of 60528 Church of North Fr. Vazken’s response is, “You can’t get over it, debris, Fr. Vazken saw a greater purpose than a America, Burbank, the moment you forget, you have given in.” personal keepsake. “I’m transferring the shad- California. He said, “Sixty years ago on that fateful day, owbox with the piece of the plane to the Explaining our 17 United States Air Force airmen perished in Western Diocese of the Armenian Church planned memorial that crash, it was in Armenia, shot down by the Museum so that it can stand as a marker/wit- service, I provided Soviet Union.” He pointed out that we must ness to the shoot-down for future generations. His Eminence an remember their losses, but it is not enough to We’re working with the archbishop to schedule overview of the C- just remember, you can’t end it with just a a special presentation one evening for the local 130 60528 shoot- memorial — the reason for that is that in 1938, Armenian community.” down incident and Adolf Hitler stated that he was going to invade Transferring the 60528 debris shadowbox to John Simpson Jr., Larry Tart and John Simpson III, 50th Anniversary requested his assis- Poland. When one of his generals said, “You the Armenian Church museum is unto itself an Memorial Service, NVP, Fort Meade, MD, September 2, 2008 tance in making a can’t do that, we won’t get away with it,” Hitler inspiring summation for the 60th Anniversary priest available in responded, “Who after all today, speaks of the Memorial Service in Bellevue on September 2, Bellevue, Nebraska, annihilation of the Armenians?” Just 20 years but there is more. keynote speaker at the ceremony. After the for the memorial service. Seventy minutes after memorial service, the PWG veterans were sending my email, I received Abp. Hovnan’s guests of the 97th IS at a BBQ lunch and an response (sent from his iPhone) — “I am cer- afternoon gathering with the squadron’s active tainly interested in this matter.” duty airborne reconnaissance flyers. Two days later, an assistant informed me that

“Missing Man Table” adapted to honor 60528’s lost crew — 17 red roses (one for each lost Air Force brother), inverted glass, salt shaker, slice of lemon, pinch of salt and piece of 60528 debris

later, not 60 years, not 100 years. During the memorial service in Nebraska, Fr. Fr. Vasken ended his moving speech by Vazken reflected that although he had been to singing an Armenian hymn and delivering an Armenia many times, he has never been to ancient prayer of the Armenian Church — a Sasnashen. “I will not go back to Armenia again requiem service for the departed — naming without visiting Sasnashen after this,” he each of the 17 US airmen who were being declared. He had planned a trip to Armenia on memorialized. October 21 (after press time) and volunteered Fr. Vasken was enamored with the love and to deliver a small gift from the Prop Wash Gang. comradeship he witnessed amongst Prop Wash In appreciation of the villagers’ reverence to C- Gang members, commending the audience 130 60528’s lost crew — annual remembrance specifically on the energy he detected in the ceremonies by villagers and their progeny hon- banquet room. In particular, he regarded with oring an alien aircrew since 1993 — the PWG great respect John Simpson Jr., who was three recently solicited voluntary donations from its years old when his father, Lt. John E. Simpson members to help with the education of Sr. perished aboard C-130 60528, and Sam Sasnashen’s youth. Fr. Vazken was to deliver Clark, who lost several friends/flying comrades collected proceeds to Sasnashen village leaders aboard 60528. Simpson, who had attended to be used in the village’s school system. memorial services honoring the lost crew in Remembrance and connecting the dots — 1997, 1998, and 2008, was the only family Sasnashen where the airplane fell and where member present at the 60th Anniversary the villagers honor the deceased crew is now Memorial Service in 2018. Retired Lt. Col. Sam connected to Bellevue, Nebraska, it is connect- Clark, an enlisted (A2C) Russian linguist (air- ed to Burbank, California, it is connected with borne voice intercept operator) who flew recon- the PWG audience in Nebraska going back to naissance missions from Rhein-Main Air Base, their homes, to Fr. Vazken’s visit to Sasnashen Germany, 1957-1962, was the only attending and the crash site, and to the Prop Wash Gang veteran who had served with 528’s lost crew 60 contributing to the education of Sasnashen vil- years earlier. lage youth — the big picture. S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 COMMUNITY NEWS 12 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Arts & Living Celebrating Arpa IFF 2018 to Armenian Showcase Inspiring Lineup of Films Cultural Month From Around the

By Kevork Keushkerian World

HOLLYWOOD — The 21st Annual Arpa ALTADENA, Calif. — Catholicos Karekin I International Film Festival (Arpa IFF), being of the Great House of Cilicia had declared held at Hollywood’s historic Egyptian Theatre October to be dedicated to culture. This year from November 2 to 4, has announced the line- the feast of the Holy Translators was on up of 46 films from 17 countries being screened Saturday, October 13. The cultural month this year. Arpa IFF will once again highlight a refers to the translation of the Holy Bible by diverse range of films that explore themes such the disciples of St. Mesrob Mashtots, the as genocide, war, feminism, family dynamics, founder of the Armenian alphabet. environmentalism, music, art, adoption, inter- Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Pasadena- sectional identities, and LGBTQ issues. Glendale Chapter Committee organized an Honorees this year include: Edward James evening of artistic renditions to commemo- Olmos - Lifetime Achievement Award; Academy rate the Armenian Cultural Month. It took Award-nominated actor/producer (“Stand and place on Sunday, October 14, at TCA’s Deliver,” “American Me,” “Selena,” “Miami Beshgeturian center. Vice,” “The Burning Season,” Battlestar In commemoration of the Armenian Galactica,” “Mayans MC”). Cultural Month, Tekeyan Cultural The Awards Association’s Los Angeles Chapter had orga- Ceremony will nized a lecture about novelist Zabel Yesayan take place on on Wednesday, October 10, at the Glendale November 4. Central Library. The lecturer was Dr. Minas Receiving the Kojayan. Icon Award will be In the same spirit, the newly-founded television legend Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Los Angeles Ed Asner, who has Metro Chapter is organizing a comedy night won 7 Emmy on Saturday, October 27, at 7:30 p.m. at Awards (“The Pasadena’s Rococo Restaurant. It will feature Mary Tyler Moore comedian Harout Soghomonian, with the Show,” “Lou participation of Maro Ajemian and Narine Ed Asner Grant” and Avakian. It is a sold-out event. “Roots”). Now, back to the TCA Pasadena-Glendale Natalie Qasabian will receive the Rising Star Chapter’s event. In his opening remarks, Element Band violinist Shant Mahserejian Award. She is a Producer (“Searching,” “All Kevork Keushkerian briefly dwelled upon the About Nina,” “Rainbow Time,” “Take Me,” significance of the Cultural month and then “Duck Butter” and “Join the Club”). invited the various artists to participate in Sveva Alviti will receive the Career the program. The program consisted of vocal Achievement Award. The Italian actress has renditions, poetic recitation, and dance per- Element(ary) Music starred in “Dalida,” “Dangerous Lies Vol. 1” and formance. “The Bouncer.” Raffi Kerbabian was phenomenal in his ren- Opening night on Friday, November 2 will dition of 3 Armenian popular folk songs and kick off with a special reception and screening an English song from our famous Charles From the Soul of “Monday Nights at Seven,” a love story about Aznavour (Yesterday when I was young), a single father who is struggling unsuccessfully which was in tribute to the late singer-song SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Among the cavernous cliffs of the Santa Monica to let go of his past. The film stars Edward writer. Following this, Keushkerian asked the mountains, the sweet hues of Armenian melodies rise into the air, floating high James Olmos, Marty Sader, past Arpa IFF award audience to stand and observe a moment of up above the Ford Amphitheatre, where more than 1,000 audience members are recipient Mary Apick and mixed martial arts leg- silence, in his memory. transfixed by the musicians on stage, end Anderson Silva. A special ceremony honor- Asdghig Dadourian eloquently recited two who come from all walks of life, to cre- ing Edward James Olmos with a Lifetime poems from poet Vahan Tekeyan and poet By Taleen Babayan ate folkloric music with a novel twist. Achievement Award will follow the screening of Henrig Toumanyan. Pateel and Cynthia As their music comes alive here in Los the film. Olmos, currently starring in the televi- Albarian performed three dances during the Special to the Mirror-Spectator Angeles for a diverse audience, attesting sion series Mayans M.C., has played iconic roles program, the last of which was in memory of to the unifying essence of Element both in film and television, receiving Academy the Sardarabad victory. Band, a mixture of cultural nostalgia and emotional tradition envelopes the crowd. Award and Golden Globe nominations for Finally, Khatchig Nahabedian of the chap- The group’s performance centers around its latest album, “É,” but the evening is “Stand and Deliver” (1988). ter committee rendered three songs, the first also filled with their signature fusion tunes they have become known for over the Saturday evening’s centerpiece program and of which was from Sayat Nova. This one was last 14 years on the world stage. reception will showcase two films — “Yeva,” also in tribute to the late Charles Aznovour, “It’s more fulfilling to record Armenia’s foreign language film Oscar submis- as he had performed this with his daughter, Armenian music and present it to a sion last year, as well as “Diverted Eden,” writ- Seta. wider audience,” said Ara ten and directed by Prince Baghdasarian. At the close of the artistic renditions, Very Dabandjian, founder of Element “Yeva,” an Armenian-Iranian co-production, is Rev. Kegham Zakarian of the St. James Band, in an interview. “The fact set against the backdrop of the long-running Brotherhood in Jerusalem, recited the Lord’s that I’m able to serve Armenian conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Prayer and dismissed the audience with his music in places and to people who the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh). Benediction. This was followed by a light otherwise wouldn’t have access to Director Anahid Abad tells the story of a young reception, when the audience had a chance to it is something I’m very proud of.” woman named Yeva who escapes her influential congratulate the artists and the committee The moving songs, performed live in-laws with her daughter, after her husband’s members for an evening of highly acclaimed in an eclectic and energetic atmo- tragic death and takes refuge in one of the vil- performances. sphere throughout the two-hour lages of Karabakh. Yeva, accused of murdering concert last month, ranged from her husband, is a complete stranger in this vil- folklore to lullabies to love songs, lage and is obliged to live her daily life in dis- forging parallels to the band’s three guise. previous albums but strongly stand- Ara Dabandjian playing the oud during “Diverted Eden,” winner of the Audience Award ing out with a message: “É,” which Element Band’s recent performance at the at this year’s Sedona International Film Festival, means existence in Armenian, cele- Ford Amphitheatre is the story of a war hero who takes matters into brates the being of the band, which his own hands after his young daughter is kid- officially formed in 2004 and quick- napped, as detectives unravel the mystery sur- ly made a name for itself opening for the legendary Demis Roussos at the Kodak rounding the unusual crime. Bagdasarian’s debut Theater in its inaugural year. feature “Abstraction” (2013) starring Ken Since then Element Band has continued to increase its visibility, experimenting Davitian and Korrina Rico won the Audience with different forms as it searched for its core identity, which Dabandjian Award at Arpa IFF that same year. The performers at the Tekeyan Cultural see ELEMENT, page 14 Among the films to be shown on Saturday will be: Association’s Pasadena-Glendale Chapter • “The Song of the Sway Lake” (USA), an see ARPA, page 13 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 ARTS & LIVING Arpa IFF 2018 to Showcase Inspiring Lineup of Films from Around the World

ARPA, from page 12 “irrational” attitudes towards the world. • “My New Year” (short) (Armenia) - Based and aging are perceived in our modern society intriguing family drama about a young record • “Genesis” (short) (Iran) - a fantasy short on childhood memories of the devastating 1988 dominated by social media, as he limns her por- collector and his friend who go to his family’s film with a critical point of view about the situ- Spitak earthquake in Armenia. A father and his trait during a timeless sitting session. With this lake house to claim a valuable jazz recording, ation in Syria. two young children are left homeless, grieving film the director sets in motion his theory on upon his father’s suicide. While he is there, • “What War?” (short) poetics of cinematic art, by cre- encounters with his estranged grandmother (USA) – a non-Armenian ating the sense memories of an and a neighbor dredge up years of family suf- photojournalist’s exclu- artist in a non-linear, challeng- fering. sive footage from the ing story-telling scheme. • “River of Gold” (documentary) (USA) – a Velvet Revolution that • “Taniel” (short) (UK) - Film disturbing account of the apocalyptic destruc- unfolded in Armenia in Noir images, prophetic verse, tion of Peru’s Amazon rainforest in the pursuit the spring of this year. and narration by Sean Bean of illegally mined gold. The acclaimed docu- A Look into Some of tell the story of Taniel mentary is narrated by Academy Award winners Sunday’s Film Varoujan, one of the most Sissy Spacek and Herbie Hancock. Screenings: majestic poets of the 20th cen- • “Six Musicians and the City” (documen- • “The Pursuit” (short) tury. At the age of 31, he was tary)(Russia) – Filmmaker Tatiana Daniliyants (USA) - a first generation lost under the vast shadow of showcases 6 amazing musicians based in Armenian-American sin- the murder of a race, in what Yerevan, each with their own unique story and gle mother still struggling became known as the musical genre. Between East and West, with her cultural identity. Armenian Genocide. between strong traditions and today’s innova- She tries to conform with • “Side by Side” Out of a tions, between the nostalgic melodies of duduk her family’s and culture’s Korean Orphanage and Into and the beat of modern jazz, is the city of expectations but feels the World” (doc) - an interna- Yerevan. Among the six participants of this film that she is stuck in the tional journey through the per- are Arto Tuncboyaciyan and Jivan Gasparyan. middle of the Armenian sonal memories and experi- • “The Girl in the Show” (documentary) and American cultures. ences of abandonment, relin- (USA) — a poignant retrospective of comedi- When she discovers her quishment, orphanages, aging ennes, exploring the ways in which women’s daughter has similar out, and inter-country adoption comedy and women’s liberation have evolved ambitions to be in the from South Korea. together. The Girl in the Show brilliantly arts as she once had, she • “I Promised Her Life” explores how comedy and feminism have grown is forced to self-reflect. (short) (Canada) - On the day of hand in hand to give women a stronger voice in Lucy must decide her daughter’s funeral, a griev- the ongoing fight for equality. whether or not she will ing Armenian-American moth- • “Nowhere” (feature) (Canada) – Serbian stand up for her daugh- er defies a centuries-old ritual filmmaker Predrag Velinovic tells the story of ter, and vicariously for and tests the limits of tradition three inseparable friends who graduate togeth- herself, or will succumb as she walks the thin line er and develop a relationship balancing on a to the ever-present famil- between death and afterlife. thin line between friendship and love. ial pressures. • “Little Fiel” (short doc) • “Modern American Artists” (documentary) • “In Vino” (feature) (USA) - Artist Fiel dos Santos (USA) - Rockstar/Guitarist Peter DiStefano of (USA) - it’s a special night grew up during the 16-year- the band Porno for Pyros explores his local city for the Buoitton Family. long civil war in his home of Los Angeles in search of local artists to col- Charles and Linda, country of Mozambique. The laborate with. Peter’s journey takes you on a extremely wealthy couple, only one of his family to never day in the life of a modern American artist as invite their closest friends have shot a gun, today he he interacts with painter Michael Gorman and and family members to makes art out of guns to com- child prodigy Alice Asmar with whom he cre- dinner. Before dinner is memorate the lives lost. ates original works. served Charles raises the • “Homeless” (short) • “Betty: They Say I’m Different” (documen- glass for a toast to his fam- (Armenia) - a 9-year old Syrian- tary) (USA) – creatively blending documentary, ily and falls face forward Armenian girl discovers her animation and nonfiction techniques, this movie on his plate dead. Linda confesses that she had the loss of their mother and wife. After painful father’s plans of leaving their beloved home- traces the life of Funk Queen Betty Davis who poisoned him and she had poisoned everyone in quest to find her body and give her a proper land. arrived on the 70’s scene to break boundaries for the room to get the money. The guests have one burial, by New Year’s Eve, the family is settled The 21st Annual Arpa International Film women with her daring personality, iconic fash- choice: Kill one person among them and take the in a trailer near the wreckage of their home. Festival will close with a special Awards ion and outrageous funk music. The wife of jazz blame for both murders to get the antidote or... The father for the sake of his children struggles Ceremony on Sunday, November 4 at the legend Miles Davis, Betty was a feminist pioneer, DIE in one hour. What follows is a hysterical to find the strength and heart to live on. Egyptian Theatre, with Ed Asner, Natalie inspiring and intimidating in a manner like no exchange between the overstressed members of • “American Mirror-Intimations of Qasabian and Sveva Alviti being honored. woman before. After years of trying, the elusive the group who, in an attempt to establish who Immortality” (documentary) (USA) - Oscar-win- For tickets (Individual Screenings, All-Access Betty who vanished overnight, finally allowed should die and who should be the killer, reveal ning screen icon Susan Sarandon and Passes, Day Passes) and a full schedule of this the filmmakers to creatively tell her story based all the skeletons in the closet they have been hid- Armenian painter Tigran Tsitoghdzyan discuss year’s film screenings, visit www.arpafilmfesti- on their conversations. ing from each-other for years. how the apparently in conflict values of beauty val.com • “Dorbeen” (short) (India)- based on the life • “Under the Walnut Tree” (short) (USA) - a of two street children in India and their pursuit young boy has been displaced during the mas- of happiness in the little things in life that most sacre of his people and his family. After wan- adults are unaware of or choose to ignore. dering alone for days, he is ready to give up but CineCulture and the Armenian Studies Program • “Echo” (short) (Serbia) - a young boy fights to continue to safety. His struggle for sur- spends a day with his father, whom he only vival ends when he finds his mother singing to Present the Fresno State Screening of “Roots” occasionally sees, in nature, with the game of a lifeless body. Loosely based on the true story calling Echo. After a great emotional charge of Shahan Natalie, who survived the Hamidian FRESNO — The CineCulture Film Series and the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno that the play and the presence of his father cre- Massacres (also known as the Armenian State are sponsoring the screening of the film “Roots” at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, November ate in him, he returns to his mother’s house, Massacres) which were the precursor to the 2, in the Leon and Pete Peters Educational Auditorium (5010 N. Woodrow Ave., at the where there is no place for such outbursts of Armenian Genocide. west end of the SaveMart Center, on the Fresno State campus. After the screening producer Lilit Martirosyan (Yerevan, Armenia) will dis- cuss the film and answer questions. “Roots, by Armenian director Vahé Yan, tells the story of a Boston-based journal- ist-blogger named Aram who decides to visit Armenia on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 2015 and cover the commemorative events on his blog. In Armenia purely by accident, he meets Anet, who lives in France and who, under the nickname Vané, is one of his regular blog readers. The beautiful love story that emerges makes these protagonists’ ties with their native homeland even more pro- found. A modern-day romance. In Armenian and English with English sub- titles. Admission is free, but seating is limited. The screening is open to the public and free parking is available at any of the adja- Arpa IFF 2018 Team Photo (photo credit Don Q. Hannah Photography) with following caption: cent Fresno State parking lots (near the corner of Shaw and Woodrow Avenues). (Upper Row L to R: Sarineh Garapetian, Shaunt Gharibian, Haig Boyadjian, Berge Kallibjian, Sossi For more information about the presentation visit www.fresnostate.edu/armenianstud- Varbedian, Maral Kazazian, Cammie Jones Lower Row L to R: Vanja Srdic, Nelli Harutyunyan, ies, or the Facebook page at @ArmenianStudiesFresnoState. Sylvia Minassian, Jacklin Boyadjian, Lorena Dilanian, Don Hannah) 14 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

Element Band on stage during their recent concert at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles Element(ary) Music From the Soul

ELEMENT, from page 12 California’s freeways, from Tarzana to ly determining his own future. end — quite literally — with the eruption of the concludes is “strictly” Armenian. The group, Victorville, where he owned a fiberglass factory. His house reflected this burst of creativity Lebanese Civil War in 1975. The bloody conflict under the capable leadership of its director, It was on those 100-mile rides that he would where Dabandjian was soon playing the saz as created a chasm in this culturally rich, vibrant ensures that its live performances are as fulfill- compose in his head arrangements of the songs his mother sang and his father plucked the community that rejuvenated a sizeable ing as its recorded albums, particularly when he grew up with, bringing to life the soon-to-be mandolin. He would spent countless hours lis- Armenian community after the attempted exter- the audience is just as invested as the musicians recorded sultry, tango-influenced Ov Du tening to old records of Ophelia mination of its population. It was where they on stage. Geghetzik with the crying violin to the refresh- Hambardzumyan and Rubik Matevosian that had recreated their lives, their families, their “We derive energy from the audience,” said ing and energetic drum-heavy rendition of arrived from Soviet Armenia, his ears glued to work — and it was where they began to play Dabandjian. “Performing in front of a full house Anush . the large bronzed brass phonograph in his liv- music again — to once again have a reason to ing room. celebrate their life and their existence. “I have scratched every vinyl in my house As the violence escalated, Dabandjian’s con- since the 1960s,” said Dabandjian. “My parents servatory lessons were cut short by a war that used to yell, laugh and be happy all at the same would ultimately change the course of his and time.” He has kept those scratched vinyls, his his family’s life. Immigrating to the United first markers into the musical world. States as a teenager, Dabandjian and his family He echoed centuries of music through his settled in Philadelphia. He brought along a mahogany stringed instruments and as he mandolin and an accordion, carrying with him honed his talents, his mother encouraged him a few lessons from a neighbor, but left behind to learn the violin as it would enable him to play the saz and his one-stringed oud, missing his multiple instruments with ease. At the age of 10 hometown and desiring to return. he enrolled at the Conservatoire Libanais in “Back in Beirut, life was stable for my parents Beirut where he was just beginning to receive and they had an idea of where to direct me,” said formal training when it all came to a crashing continued on next page

Ara Dabandjian playing the accordion during Element Band’s recent performance at the Ford Amphitheatre is a whole different experience on stage and you This piece that Element Band was about to can feel the vibe that everyone is immensely perform was no different; like many Armenian enjoying themselves.” songs it was akin to collecting dust on a book- Playing a multitude of instruments on the shelf until Dabandjian decided to chronicle it, in album and on the stage, including the accor- the process unearthing his mother’s acapella dion, piano, mandolin, saz, percussion and oud, vocals on the opening verse of Vorqan Dabandjian has been the innovator of this con- Tzangatza (How Much I Longed). Tinged with temporary and imaginative genre of music. The her own longing, the song would be the first diverse band members, who range from and last time her voice was recorded. Armenian to Filipino to Persian, play a variety “My mother’s voice was beautiful,” said of instruments, creating a unique and distinct Dabandjian. “Growing up in the environment sound while performing Armenian songs, with- she did, however, she was never able to take her out sacrificing that unmistakable identity. natural abilities to the heights she wanted to.” “I don’t think as an artist you can ever get to That environment was one of relentless sur- where you want to be,” said Dabandjian who vival, as direct descendants of Armenian worked on arranging, recording and producing Genocide survivors whose priority was merely to “É” for close to a year. “But I feel this is my best live. The roots of Vorqan Tzangatza and the sold- work up to this point.” out concert under the stars of Hollywood last His accordion strapped steadily on his shoul- September can be traced back thousands of ders, Dabandjian softly introduces the group’s miles away to the Armenian enclave of Bourdj next song, one that has not been sung live since Hammoud in Beirut. This Mediterranean port the band’s inception over a decade ago, the per- city that served as a haven for hundreds of thou- sonal meaning too strong. Like many of sands of Armenians, was experiencing an explo- Element Band’s selections, these compositions sion of arts, culture and music in pre-war Beirut and lyrics are rooted in history, in culture, in of the 1960s, the so-called Golden Age, where an family and ultimately, in humanity, the melodies abundance of ideals and diverse influences fused a lifetime in the making as the notes stirred and together. It was here where Dabandjian grew up swished in Dabandjian’s subconscious as he among a rich palette of records and instruments, Element Band vocalist Natalie Avunjian drove on those long smooth stretches of picking up a mandolin at the age of 3, inherent- S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 ARTS & LIVING

make mistakes, it is all part of the experience,” Element(ary) Music said Dabandjian. His musical journey came full circle when he From the Soul returned to the city that had such a profound effect on him all those years ago. from previous page “It was very impactful and emotional for me Dabandjian. “However, once we immigrated to to perform in Beirut,” said Dabandjian who the US, we faced many challenges on many dif- played for a sold-out audience in Bourdj ferent fronts, as do most immigrants.” Hammoud’s Hagop Der Melkonian Theater in Though he was now far from his birth city, 2015. While there he returned to his old haunts the lavish array of music he was raised on and his schools, reflecting emotionally on his stayed with him as did all of the international experiences there as the youngest of five chil- influences that had filled his ear. From the dren, noting that he was very attached to every musical instrumentation of Beirut’s Harper to single person in his family, who have been his the rock and roll of Led Zeppelin to the lifeline. Mediterranean sounds of Greek vocalist Demis From there he moved onto his first trip to Roussos, Dabandjian continued to study and Armenia where he was again greeted with great play music on his own, soaking in the myriad of enthusiasm and fanfare — so much so that the musicians he had been exposed to in his home- family of Ardashes Kachadrian, the original town while seeing them perform live as well as composer of Anoush Hairenik, gifted him the in his imagination through those vinyl records. musician’s original notes and signed the com- “Artists see things and I hear things,” said position. While there he also taught at the Dabandjian. “At that young age to consume TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, those classics and different languages shaped reflecting on it as a gratifying experience as he me and I became the product of all of that.” composed, arranged and recorded music with From Fado music queen Amalia Rodrigues to the young students. He seeks to pave the way Caesaria Evora’s Cape Verdean morna blues, he Element Band vocalist Soseh Keshishian Aramouni for these future musicians, the way that was is “infatuated by it all.” An opera and classical done for him as a youngster in Beirut. music fan, Dabandjian would play Mozart in the “Element Band is the tip of the iceberg and background of his bike shop he opened in his disappear.” He cites the song Tou Anmegh Es While performing live, he aims to give the by passing it onto the next generation, they can early 20s in San Diego. He dabbled in various as an example, which is titled Meghavor best show possible. At Element Band’s recent take it to an even higher place,” said professional paths but kept music a vital part of Achkeroun on the “É” album, a smooth jazz concert, Dabandjian, as the artistic director, Dabandjian. his life as he listened to new sounds while rendition by vocalist Natalie Avunjian. brought in a melange of special guest musicians Until then, he continues to channel his art retaining the revolutionary music of those “I haven’t heard anyone sing or record that to the Ford Amphitheatre stage, such as a trum- through his music, stringing into existence the locals in his childhood neighborhood — Hartar, song in at least 30 to 40 years,” said petist and bouzouki player, always keeping out unfulfilled dreams of his mother, of those Ara Kekedjian, The Five Fingers — the inflec- Dabandjian, who remembers Levon Katerjian’s an eye and an ear for a pleasurable sound. The singers in Bourdj Hammoud, and of all those tions of which can be heard in Element Band’s recording in Eastern Armenian. “Through band of professionals, including vocalists Soseh whose voices could only take them so far. arrangements. Element Band, yes, they are listening to it in a Aramouni and Natalie Avunjian, violinist Shant Through fingers strumming on the gut strings “All of these musical sounds brew in me to different form, but at least it is not getting lost.” Mahserejian, guitarist Aragas Abramian, contra- of the oud or pressing down on the ivory keys this day,” said Dabandjian. “I always paid atten- As far as the types of songs he selects, he bassist Armen Manavazyan, cellists Artyum of the accordion, he creates melodies that evap- tion to what each musician did instrumentally aims to be authentic, while still remaining Manukyan and Mahsa Ghasemi, pianist Vahan orate into the starry speckled night, echoing to a specific piece of music and what one did dif- “adaptable to the ear that wants to have fun Bzuni and percussionists Vinny Mezian and the souls and the unsung songs of all those ferently from the other.” and be nostalgic.” He knew from the beginning, Ando Harutyunyan, stay fresh by bringing a before him, bouncing off the Santa Monica By the time he turned 40, Dabandjian was a however, that song selection would be of mixture of spontaneity and raw talent to the mountains and transcending into the cobalt sky self-described “horrible businessman,” and a “utmost importance” harking back to his child- centerstage. from the hills of Hollywood to the highlands of push from his oldest nephew gave him the hood when he would eagerly listen to a new “We are authentic on stage and even if we Armenia — and everywhere in between. courage to finally tune into what was stirring record from Led Zeppelin or the Styx, only to inside of him since the day he began making find that he would love one song, but not the music on his parents’ egg-slicer. rest of the album. He soon set off on recreating his favorite “I always knew I wanted to make albums where I picked the cream of the crop and people could listen to the whole album over and over so I am always mindful of that,” said Dabandjian, who also encourages his vocalists to choose songs they are emotionally attached to, as that passion will come through in their performances. In a society where mediocrity is hailed, Dabandjian’s music portrays the genuine meaning of art. While it is much easier to consume baseless pop numbers, Dabandjian is actualizing a documentation of sorts of folkloric Armenian music. He is quick to clari- fy that is he no ethnomusicologist, but relents somewhat, remarking that A scene from “Distant Constellation” perhaps he is in his “own way and microcosm.” “If your work is honest and true to your beliefs, people will see that,” said ‘Distant Constellation’ Documentary Dabandjian. “Many people have said that if it wasn’t for Element Band, Opens in November in Boston, NY their children would not listen to Armenian music and you can’t give BOSTON – From Bostonian filmmaker Shevaun Mizrahi, this Turkey-set documentary me a bigger compliment than that.” features survivors of the Armenian genocide. Mizrahi’s award-winning documentary, His music embodies him to his core “Distant Constellation,” introduces us to the colorful residents of an Istanbul retirement as he humbly composes not for vanity, home – a community made up of pranksters, historians, artists and Casanovas – who Ara Dabandjian with close friends Vahe Berberian & Serj ego or a quick buck, but because he reveal their stories for the camera, discussing distant sexual conquests, artistic pursuits Tankian following the sold-out Element Band performance put an end to by dimmed sight, and inescapable memories of war and the Armenian geno- at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles sees the significance of bringing qual- ity songs to the forefront and breath- cide. An Independent Spirit Award nominee, Mizrahi’s dreamy, Tarkovskian film opens ing life into classics. Dabadjian pre- November 2 with the director present in New York and runs till November 8 at The Armenian songs, composing without barriers sents Element Band to contrasting generations Metrograph (http://metrograph.com/film/film/1828/distant-constellation), November and remaining open to experimentation, allow- — from the Armenian teenager in Glendale to 9 in Chicago (Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art in Evanston, Illinois) and November ing himself to come alive as a musician. the American airplane mechanic in Santa 26 in Boston again with the director present at the Brattle Theatre (http://www.brattle- “The best part about it is that I’m free,” said Paula. film.org/2018/11/26/distant-constellation/) followed by a national release via Dabandjian. “I haven’t put up any barbed wires “We are not cheating you out of music,” said Grasshopper Film: http://grasshopperfilm.com/film/distant-constellation/). with music because people and the industry Dabandjian. “We are giving you something “Distant Constellation” world premiered in Locarno where it received the Jury’s Special can be limiting.” real.” Mention Award. The film won the FIPRESCI Award at Viennale and Best Picture Prize Although he was without professional musi- Upholding the tenets of substantive at Jeonju International Film Festival. “Distant Constellation” was nominated for an cal training, he had the vital elements of a musi- Armenian music outside of Element Band, Independent Spirit Award and Film Comment placed the film in its list of Best cian — the ear, the creativity, and a musical lega- Dabandjian fully embraces his life as a musician Undistributed Films of 2017. cy passed down from his parents, who encour- and composer as he works on a variety of artis- “Distant Constellation” is Mizrahi’s first feature film. It is 82 minutes long, and in aged his music even in the US when they were tic projects, such as the “Papak” album he Turkish, English, Armenian and French. Shevaun shot the film as a one-woman crew in all trying to find their direction. recorded with German-Armenian musician Aren Istanbul over a six-year period. She received earlier training as a photographer and then “I was always a musician at heart, at home Emirze. The duo composed music to Western went on to study cinematography at NYU and was the assistant to Ed Lachman (“Carol,” and at parties,” said Dabandjian. “I always knew Armenian poetry, subsequently embarking on “Wonderstruck”) for several years. The film reflects on the nature of time, memory and I should return to my true love of music and their 2017 PAPAK Tour, which kicked off in the cycles of life in a sensually playful cinematic way. Most recently Shevaun was award- that is what has happened.” Beirut, Lebanon with performances in France, ed a Guggenheim Fellowship for her work on the film. His primary concern is the vulnerability of Switzerland, Germany, Canada and the United losing this cultural music, stressing that “it will States. 16 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING Celebrating the Legacy of Diana Der Hovanessian Recipe Guest Recipe ARLINGTON, Mass. — On Sunday, November 4 at 3 p.m., the Armenian Cultural Foundation and the New England Poetry Club, in collaboration with Amaras Art Alliance, Armenian General Benevolent Union Corner – New England, Armenian International Women’s Association, Armenian Museum of America, The Friends of the Longfellow House, Hamazkaine Armenian Cultural and by Christine Vartanian Datian Educational Society, National Association for Armenian Studies and Research and Tekeyan Cultural Association of the United States and Canada, will pay tribute to the life and literary legacy of Diana Der Hovanessian. Armenian Lamb Shank Dinner for Four Born in Worcester, Der Hovanessian was This month, Douglas Kalajian, author of Stories My Father Never Finished Telling Me, born to John Der Hovanessian and Mariam shares his favorite lamb shank recipe with Armenian Mirror-Spectator readers.* Israelian. Her parents’ families, on both sides, were wiped out during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. INGREDIENTS Diana’s first exposure to poetry came 4 meaty lamb shanks, trim off fat through the words of the martyred Armenian 1 large onion, coarsely chopped poets Daniel Varoujan and . Her 4 carrots, cut into chunks father recited their poems in Armenian, while 3 celery stalks, coarsely chopped her mother acquainted her with American and 3-4 garlic cloves, peeled and coarsely chopped English poetry by literary giants such as Henry 3-4 tablespoons olive oil Wadsworth Longfellow. All of the Der 3 bay leaves 3 to 4 cups homemade lamb broth (water or low-sodium beef broth may be used) Salt and pepper

PREPARATION Day 1: Parboil shanks in a large pot of lightly salted water for about 2 hours. The water should almost cover the shanks. By doing this, the cooking time is cut down on serving day, and you’ll end up with a large bowl of lamb broth for future recipes – soup, lamb and string bean stew, or whatever you are inspired to prepare. Note: Cool the broth and place it in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight. The next day, skim off any fat that rises to the top and discard. Use some of the broth to prepare the shanks; the remaining broth can be stored in containers and placed in the freezer for future recipes.

Day 2 – Serving Day: Sauté the onions, carrots, celery and garlic in olive oil in a pot large enough to hold the shanks, vegetables and broth. Add the shanks, bay leaves, broth and seasonings to taste. Place a cover on the pot in a tilted position; bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer. Simmer shanks for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Check periodically to ensure there is still enough liquid to prevent burning. Adjust seasonings, if necessary. Remove bay leaves. Once done, the tender, falling-off-the-bone lamb, can be served in individual bowls over a bed of buttered noodles with plenty of vegetables and cooking liquid from the pot. Armenian rice or bulgur pilaf would be an ideal accompaniment in place of the noodles.

Crusty bread or garlic bread (for dipping into the juices) and a tossed green salad make for a very satisfying and traditional lamb shank dinner.

What to do with leftover meat from the shanks: Note: Larger leftover meat pieces may be shredded and added to a string bean stew, while smaller bits of leftovers may be turned into a breakfast hash with an egg on top. Add 1/2 to 1 cup red wine depending on the number of lamb shanks. Also, add a 15 oz. can of diced or crushed tomatoes with liquid and dried Diana Der Hovanesian herbs, such as oregano and thyme, depending on the amount of meat. Serves 4. Hovanessian children, according to Diana, were not only encouraged but “expected to write *Douglas Kalajian is a retired editor/journalist and sous chef at https://www.thearmeniankitchen.com/. His poems for gifts for special days.” career in took off in the fading days of manual typewriters and touched down in the digital age. As Moving to Cambridge, Mass., where she lived an editor, reporter and feature writer for the Palm Beach Post and the Miami Herald, he enjoyed a front-row for the rest of her life, Diana began writing and view of South Florida's explosive growth and equally explosive crime and corruption over three decades. His publishing poems. Over the years more than 25 first book, Snow Blind, grew out of a front-page story about a brilliant young public defender whose ideals and books of her poetry and translations were pub- health fell victim to the region's cocaine insanity in the 1980s. After retiring from newspapers, Kalajian co- lished, including How to Choose Your Past, authored They Had No Voice: My Fight for Alabama's Forgotten Children. His latest book, Stories My Father Songs of Bread, Songs of Salt, and Dancing at Never Finished Telling Me, is a memoir about growing up in the shadow of the Armenian Genocide. His wife, the Monastery. She taught American literature, Robyn Kalajian, is a retired culinary teacher and chief cook at https://www.thearmeniankitchen.com/. poetry, and translation, and also conducted Together as a husband-wife team, they publish The Armenian Kitchen. poetry workshops. “After more than 30 years as an editor, reporter and feature writer at various newspapers,” Douglas stated, She served on the editorial board of several “I'm using many of those same skills along with a few new ones to tell stories and connect with readers and viewers in different ways. For example, literary and academic journals, such Ararat I write books. I'm particularly excited about independent publishing and have released Stories My Father Never Finished Telling Me as the first title Literary Quarterly and the Armenian Review. under my own imprint.” As a member, and later president, of the New “I write occasional reviews and profiles for Independent Film Quarterly,” he adds. “And in my spare time, I'm co-producer of http://www.thear- England Poetry Club, Diana served with dis- meniankitchen.com/. I test recipes and write about the secrets and delights of Armenian cooking. I appear in and produce the site's how-to videos, tinction. She transformed the club from being which are also posted on my popular YouTube channel.” “insular and provincial, with meetings held at Go to: http://www.thearmeniankitchen.com/ for more Armenian recipes and culinary insight from the Kalajians. This highly respected and pop- the Brahmin enclaves of Beacon Hill and the ular website shares knowledge about Armenian food, cooking tips, and preparation, whether it’s Aunt Arpie’s deviled eggs or Gavoor’s amazing Harvard Faculty Club” into a more open and cheese puff/bourag called “penerli.” vibrant society by inviting poets of diverse back- To order Stories My Father Never Finished Telling Me: Living with the Armenian Legacy of Loss and Silence, go to: grounds and nationalities. During her tenure, https://www.amazon.com/Douglas-Kalajian/e/B00F218Q6M she initiated in 2006 the Daniel Varoujan For recipes and stories about Robyn and Douglas Kalajian, go to: Award. Later, in her honor, the Club established the Der Hovanessian Awards for translation works from any language. As president of the New England Poetry Club. she also initiated 200 Armenian poets, appear in 10 volumes of Secret of Survival” and “Growing Up The keynote speakers on November 4 include and presided over the popular summer poetry anthologies as well as in volumes dedicated to Armenian” were produced on many college award-winning poet and educator, Dr. Vivian reading festivals at the Longfellow House in individual poets. In her 2005 anthology, The campuses. Both pieces are built around themes Shipley, and Dr. Askold Melnyczuk Professor of Cambridge. Other Voice, Diana dedicated an entire volume of Armenian American history and identity. English and MFA Graduate Program Director, Diana’s interest in translating Armenian poet- to her translation of poems by Armenian Her contributions were recognized by some College of Liberal Arts, University of ry blossomed decades later, making a major lit- women writers. 34 institutions and publication, and won her Massachusetts Boston. Other speakers will erary legacy unmatched in English-language In addition to the Armenian, she also trans- their highest awards, among them the include Dr. Robert Mirak, ACF president, Mary Armenian diasporan literature. The first lated works by Russian, Romanian, and Arab PEN/Columbia Translation Award (1979), Buchinger, president of the New England attempts were a set of Armenian sharakans poets such as Anna Akhtamova, Maria Banus, Paterson Poetry Prize (1998), Prairie Schooner, Poetry Club, Maro Dalley, Diana’s daughter, (hymns) for a Boston Pops concert conducted Nizar Qabbani and Abd al-Razzaq. George Herbert Award of the World Order of and Dr. Barbara J. Merguerian, co-founder, by Rouben Gregorian. The second consisted of Her poems, exceeding a thousand, have Narrative Poets, Writers Union of Armenia, The Armenian International Women’s Association. a set of six pieces for a lecture on Daniel appeared in more than 100 literary journals PEN-New England GOLDEN PEN Award, the The program, followed by a reception, will also Varoujan her father was giving. and magazines as well as anthologies. Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award (2009), and the include recitations of her works in English and Today Diana’s translated works by more than She wrote a number of plays. “Two — The Armenian Writers Union Award. Armenian. S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 17 ARTS & LIVING CC AA LL EE NN DD AA RR

MASSACHUSETTSCALIFORNIA Tie a Ribbon on the Wishing Tree. Hot Chocolate & Desserts, hosted by The Bostonian Hotel. RSVP appreci- NOVEMBER 17 — Join the Armenian EyeCare Project ated [email protected] for its Annual Gala at the beautiful Balboa Bay Resort SEPTEMBER 18, 2019 – SAVE THE DATE! in Newport Beach, CA. The fun-filled evening will begin InterContinental Hotel, Boston. Extraordinary Benefit at 6:30pm with a cocktail hour and silent auction fol- for Armenian Heritage Park’s Endowed Fund for Care. lowed by a delicious Mediterranean-inspired meal, live music and dance entertainment, and an exciting live auc- NEW JERSEY tion. Tickets are $500 per person and for those 35 and under, $250 per person. To RSVP or for more informa- OCTOBER 27-28 — Art Exhibition sponsored by the tion, please call 949-933-4069, email leslie@eyecarepro- Tekeyan Cultural Association of Greater New York ject.com or visit eyecareproject.com/gala with artist Simon Samsonian (1921-2003). Opening reception, Saturday, 7 to 10.30 p.m. and Sunday, 3 to 5 MASSACHUSETTSFLORIDA p.m. Tekeyan Center, 560 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs. Free admission. For more information email JANUARY 20-27, 2019 — Armenian Heritage Cruise [email protected] XXII 2019. Western Caribbean Cruise aboard the Royal DECEMBER 8 — Tekeyan Cultural Association of Caribbean’s Allure of the Sea. Traveling to Nassau, Greater New York Mher Megerdchian Theatrical Cozumel, Roaten, Costa Maya. Cabin Rates, starting from Group will present a Christmas gala with Sarina Cross. $949/person based on double occupancy, including port Save the date. Details to come. charges and ACAA registration fee. Government rates of $137.45 are additional. Armenian entrainment, NEW YORK Armenian cultural presentations, Armenian Festival Day, Tavlou and Belote Tournaments and much more. Call SEPTEMBER 22 - January 13, 2019 – ARMENIA! at the Travel Group International at 1-561-447-08750 or 1-866- Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Armenia! is 447-0750 ext. 108, contact person Janie. the “first major exhibition to explore the importance of Armenians and their remarkable achievements in a glob- MASSACHUSETTS al context…” https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibi- tions/listings/2018/armenia OCTOBER 28 – 57th Anniversary Celebration of Holy On Sunday, November 4, sev- Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston Honoring RHODE ISLAND “Parishioners of the Year” Nancy D. Kasarjian and eral groups, including the Carol Krikorian upon their Retirement, following Church Tekeyan Cultural Center, will NOVEMBER 3-4 — Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Services, Charles and Nevart Talanian Cultural Hall, 145 collaborate to celebrate the Church, 88th Annual Food Fair and Bazaar. 70 Jefferson St., Providence. Saturday, 11:30 a.m.- 10 p.m.- Brattle Street, Cambridge MA. Sunday. Donation for life and work of Diana Der catered reception: $30 per person. RSVP requested by Sunday, Noon – 6 p.m. Daily Raffle & Silent Auction, Kids October 19 by calling the Holy Trinity Church Office, 617- Hovanessian. Sunday, 3 p.m., Games, Kids Movies, Arts & Crafts, Balloon man. Shish 354.0632, emailing [email protected] or at the Armenian Cultural Kebab, Losh Kebab, Kufta, Kheyma, Yalanchi, Armenian www.htaac.org/calendar/event/588/ Foundation, 441 Mystic St., Pastries, Lahmajoon & many other delicious food avail- NOVEMBER 2-3 — The 62nd Annual St. Stephen’s able. All are welcome. Handicap accessible. Cash, Check, Armenian Apostolic Church Bazaar. Church volunteers Arlington. Admission is free. Visa and Mastercard Accepted. For further information, will serve homemade chicken, beef and losh kebab, call church office 401-272-7712. kufteh and kheyma dinners all day along with pastries NOVEMBER 10 & 11 — Armenian Fest 2018, Sts. and specialty gourmet items prepared by members of the Vartanatz Armenian Church of Providence presents Ladies Guild. Booths and vendors. Silent Auction. its ARMENIAN FOOD FESTIVAL AT RHODES ON THE Armenian Cultural and Educational Center. Watertown, Public Safety, Author, Enforcing and Defending Chapter PAWTUXET, 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston. - Featuring chick- 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 209A Restraining Orders in Massachusetts; Marc A. en, losh and shish kebabs and kufta dinners. Armenian NOVEMBER 3 — Thanks-for-Giving Luncheon at the Levin, Esq, Vice President of Criminal Justice, Texas Public delicacies, dancing to live music, arts and crafts, flea mar- Belmont Country Club in Belmont, hosted by the Policy Foundation and Right on Crime; Founder, ket, gift baskets, children’s corner, country store, jewelry, Armenian Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA). An Foundation’s Criminal Justice Program Moderator: Sheriff hourly raffles. Armenian Dance Group will perform on afternoon of socializing with old and new friends, exciting Peter J. Koutoujian. 30th Sheriff of Middlesex Saturday and Sunday at 5 p.m. Armenian food and pas- raffle prizes from various artisans in Armenia, Super Market County. President, Massachusetts Sheriffs’ try are available all day. Saturday from noon — 9 p.m. and prizes and other fun events. AWWA sponsors the Association. Founding Member, Law Enforcement Sunday, noon — 7 p.m. Free admission and parking. Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and the Leaders to Reduce Crime & Incarceration. Reception fol- Valet parking available. Please call the Church Office at Hanganak Clinic Elderly Project in Stepanakert, Nagorno- lows at the Bostonian Hotel. An endowed public program 401-831-6399 or www.armenianfestri.com/food for fur- Karabagh. Saturday,12-4 p.m. Limited number of tickets. of Armenian Heritage Park on the Greenway. Advance ther information. Complimentary Valet Parking available. Please call Karen, Registration is appreciated. [email protected] Martha or Lalig at 617-319-2651 for tickets or information. NOVEMBER 16 and 17 — Saints Vartanantz Armenian WISCONSIN NOVEMBER 4 — Celebrating the Life and Work of Church, Annual Food Festival and Fair, 180 Old Diana Der Hovanessian, Organized by the Armenian Westford Rd., Chelmsford, Phone 978-256-7234. NOVEMBER 3 — Saturday, Armenian Genealogy Cultural Foundation and co-sponsored by Amaras Art Armenian Food and Pastries and Vendors, Friday and Conference, hosted by St. John Armenian Church of Alliance, Armenian General Benevolent Union - New Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tours of the church sanctu- Metro Milwaukee. Join us for a day of workshops, pre- England affiliate, Armenian International Women’s ary and complex - Friday, 11 a.m. and Saturday, 4 p.m. sentations, community and discovering your Armenian Association, Armenian Museum of America, The Friends Tavloo Tournament - Saturday, 2 p.m. roots. This conference grew out of the Armenian of the Longfellow House, Hamazkaine Armenian NOVEMBER 30 and DECEMBER 1 — Trinity Christmas Genealogy group on Facebook. For more information, Educational and Cultural Society - Boston, National Bazaar, Friday, 12 noon-9 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 visit https://armeniangenealogyconference.com Association for Armenian Studies and Research, New p.m.; Holy Trinity Armenian Church, 145 Brattle Street, England Poetry Club, and Tekeyan Cultural Association of Cambridge MA. Save the date; details to follow. For fur- CANADA the United States and Canada. Sunday, 3 p.m. Armenian ther information, contact the Church office, Cultural Foundation (441 Mystic Street, Arlington). 617.354.0632 or email [email protected]. NOVEMBER 14 — Book presentation by Adrienne G. Admission free and open to the public. DECEMBER 2 — Acapella Christmas Concert by Boston Alexanian on her father’s memoir. Forced into NOVEMBER 5 — St. James Men’s Club Dinner Meeting, Jazz Voices to Benefit the Armenia Tree Project. 5 Genocide: Memoirs of an Armenian Soldier in the social hour and mezza at 6:15 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. p.m. at the Jenks Center, 109 Skillings Road, Winchester. Ottoman Turkish Army. Wednesday, November 14, 2018 St. James Armenian Church Charles Mosesian Cultural Free parking. Event will feature an acapella performance, 7:30 p.m. AGBU Montreal Center – Demirdjian Hall 805 and Youth Center - Keljik Hall, 465 Mt. Auburn Street, refreshments, raffle, and silent auction. Tickets are $30 Manoogian Street Saint Laurent , QCH4N1Z5. Reception Watertown. Speaker will be writer, editor, political car- each and a family four-pack of tickets is available for and book signing to follow. (All proceeds from the sale of toonist, and book publicist Lucine Kasbarian. Following $100. Tickets available via Eventbrite at www.armenia- the books will be donated to the AGBU). RSVP questions and answers, she will sign copies of her new tree.org/acappella – [email protected] (514) 748-2428. book, Perspectives from Exile, which will be available for DECEMBER 9 — Christmas Holiday Concert – Erevan purchase. Mezza and a Losh Kebab & Kheyma Dinner Choral Society and Orchestra, 7 p.m., Church $16/person. Call St. James Church at 617-923-8860 or Sanctuary, Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater call Hapet Berberian at 781-367-6598. Boston, 145 Brattle St., Cambridge. Save the date; details Calendar items are free. Entries should not be longer NOVEMBER 14 — Najarian Lecture on Human Rights at to follow. For further information, call the Church office, than 5 lines. Listings should include contact infor- 617.354.0632 or email [email protected]. Historic Faneuil Hall, Boston. Wednesday. Doors open at mation. Items will be edited to fit the space, if need 6.45. Program at 7.30 p.m. “INCARCERATION DECEMBER 16 – Candlelit Labyrinth Peace Walk, Untangling the web of injustice.” Speakers: Secretary Armenian Heritage Park on The Greenway, Boston, be. A photo may be sent with the listing no later Andrea J. Cabral, former Massachusetts Secretary of Sunday, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Walk the Candlelit Labyrinth. than Mondays at noon. 18 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

COMMENTARY Mirror US Ambassador’s Parting Salvo Asks for Territorial Concessions in Karabakh Spectator them to the enemy. By Edmond Y. Azadian Currently, President Trump’s National Security Advisor John Bolton is on a mission to Moscow. Mr. Bolton is not known as a suave diplomat and nothing good should be expected out of his After completing his three-and-a-half year tenure in Yerevan, trip to Armenia. That trip coincides with the president’s blunt EstablishedEstablished 1932 1932 US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills has chosen to leave pronouncement that the US will further build up its nuclear while making incendiary remarks rather than parting quietly arsenal and not be intimidated by Russia and China, called out An ADLAn Publication ADL Publication with fond memories. by name. Certainly, that will be the thrust of Mr. Bolton’s mes- During his term in Armenia, a remarkable transformation sage. took place in the country. While Armenia became more visible While Mr. Trump knows that President Vladimir Putin of on the international scene, domestic changes heralded a new Russia and President Xi Jinping of China are not the type of EDITOR era particularly with the advent of the Velvet Revolution. statesmen who will blink, as Mr. Bolton travels further south, Alin K. Gregorian Any country, regardless of size, has a role to play on the where he is scheduled to visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, strategic balance of powers, especially in the Caucasus region, he may wreak havoc in that region. His sole mission in the ASSISTANT EDITOR Aram Arkun which has become a powder keg. Caucasus will be to contain Iran at any price. In his parting salvo, Mr. Mills gave a long interview to EVN Some commentators believe that Mr. Trump’s call to arms is ART DIRECTOR Report (https://www.evnreport.com/politics/u-s-ambassador- more motivated by domestic factors than international issues. In Marc Mgrditchian mills-i-leave-inspired-and-hopeful), where he covered much of the view of the forthcoming mid-term elections, Mr. Trump’s advi- developments in the region during his tenure in Yerevan. To say sors have urged him to take a more aggressive posture to over- the least, his remarks and views created a bitter aftertaste in come the erosion of the Republican seats in the House and Armenia with regard to the solution of the Karabakh conflict. Senate races. The Armenian media, in Armenia and in the diaspora, has Naturally, that kind of posture tends to grease the wheels of SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: reacted vehemently to his statement, even hurling personal the military-industrial complex, which sets higher store in the Edmond Y. Azadian insults at the ambassador. It would be foolhardy and naïve to president’s moral compass, as was revealed in his treatment of CONTRIBUTORS: hold Mr. Mills personally responsible for those remarks. We do the Saudi Kingdom, after the murder of a dissident journalist. Florence Avakian, Dr. Haroutiun not need to shoot the messenger instead of the message. We Mr. Mills and his successor are the extension of the same pol- Arzoumanian, Philippe Raffi Kalfayan, have seen in the case of one of his predecessors, namely John icy in the Caucasus. He has surmised that the return of lands Philip Ketchian, Kevork Keushkerian, Evans, a single word, “genocide,” cost a diplomat his position was one of the core tenets of the Madrid Principles. Harut Sassounian, Hagop Vartivarian, and destroy his career. Ultimately history will vindicate Evans, By mentioning that one aspect of the Madrid Principles, Mr. Naomi Zeytoonian but it has not helped his case in the present. Mills is taking apart an entire deal which also has other com- These policy statements are carefully crafted at a higher level, ponents. If the deal is about land for peace, where is the other CORRESPONDENTS: at the State Department, and trusted to individual diplomats to component which ensures the safety of the population of Armenia - Hagop Avedikian enunciate. Basically, that was the mission of Mr. Mills, to deliver Karabakh after it gives up its strategic positions? Boston - Nancy Kalajian Los Angeles - Taleen Babayan the message to the Armenian people, no matter how unpalat- The ambassador states that he was surprised to find out there Berlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach able it was. His successor, Lynne Tracy, cannot deviate from the was no appetite for territorial concessions on the Armenian side. script either. How was it that he was not similarly surprised when Azeri Contributing Photographers: During that notorious interview, Mr. Mills stated, “I was sur- President Ilham Aliyev repeatedly threatened that he would Jirair Hovsepian occupy not only Karabakh but also Armenia proper? The resolution of the Karabakh con- The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published flict has been entrusted to the weekly, except two weeks in July and the first Organization for Security and week of the year, by: Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Association, Inc. Group, chaired by the US, Russia and 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 France. Thus far, the code of conduct Telephone: 617-924-4420 has been to have coordinated, united FAX: 617-924-2887 pronouncements by the three co-chairs. But by Mr. Mill’s unilateral statements, it www.mirrorspectator.com seems the US has been breaking away E-Mail: [email protected] from the established protocol. For advertising: [email protected] Last but not least, Mr. Mills’ position favors Azerbaijan for the latter’s $5 billion arms purchases from Israel and its willing- ness to allow Israel to spy on Iran and if necessary to use its territory as a launch- SUBSCRIPTION RATES : ing pad to stage an attack against Iran. As far as Iran is concerned, and perhaps also Russia, Mr. Mills has an incongruous U.S.A. $80 a year message for Armenia. He pontificates in the following manner: “Ultimately, what Canada $125 a year we want for Armenia is that it follow its prised when I first got here and found out that most Armenians own foreign policy based on a very basic principle; Armenia is a Other Countries $190 a year I met were adamantly opposed to the return of the occupied ter- sovereign nation, it should make its own decisions based on its ritories as part of a negotiation settlement. … It has long been own interests and the interests of the Armenian people.” my government’s understanding of why the occupied territories In the same breath, he delves into the Iran issue, and after giv- © 2014 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator were originally seized; they would be land for a peace option,” ing the same diatribe (“Iran is an exporter of terrorism,” “Iran’s Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA he said. “So I was very surprised that there was no support for mischief in Syria,” “Hezbollah,” etc.) he asks Armenia to stand and additional mailing offices. that anymore.” up and bash Iran. He said, “But if your voice is going to be heard Originally the idea of territorial concession was adopted by in the international community, you also have to accept some ISSN 0004-234X Armenia’s first president, Levon Ter-Petrosian, incidentally the responsibilities.” mentor of the current acting prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan. Mr. Mills’ advice amounts to double suicide: give up Azeri ter- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The But that view cost him the presidency and support for that posi- ritories without peace guarantees so that Mr. Aliyev marches Armenian Mirror-Spectator, 755 Mount Auburn tion has been eroding with the public ever since. Armenia was into Armenia. You have to antagonize Iran because we want you St., Watertown, MA 02472 eventually able to force a cease-fire on Azerbaijan in May 1994, to do it as part of “your voice in the international community,” Other than the editorial, views and opinions after taking strategic heights in the battlefront, and which even if Iran is your only pipeline to the outside world, as proven expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily entailed seizing control of some territories (seven regions in all) during the 2008 Russia-Georgia war. reflect the policies of the publisher. outside the historic boundaries of Karabakh. Certainly Armenia and Karabakh have to use their official In one village nestled under the city of Shushi, called channels to make their voices heard. But it is incumbent upon Karintak, there was not a single family left which had not lost a the diaspora Armenians, particularly in the US, to react. In order member. The Azeri army was raining rockets over the civilian to be able to react effectively, the community has to be politi- population indiscriminately. That is why people in Karabakh cized. The mid-term elections are ahead. No party and no can- Copying for other than personal use or refuse to cede a single inch of territory. internal reference is prohibited without didate has made an issue of the State Department’s toxic policy express permission of the copyright Ter-Petrosian still believes that inflexibility is a sure path to vis-à-vis Armenia or Karabakh. owner. Address requests for reprints or war but the majority of the population thinks otherwise, partic- Only Armenians can raise their voices in an organized or coor- back issues to: ularly after the Azeri blitzkrieg of April 2016. The post-indepen- dinated fashion. Other groups have been vitally involved in pro- dence generation is more security conscious and believes that tecting and defending the interests of their ancestral lands. Baikar Association, Inc. Armenia’s safeguard begins in the Karabakh mountains. If the diaspora is to mean something to Armenia, it has to 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472- The strategic drive is to populate those areas rather than cede become the extension of its foreign policy in faraway lands. 1509 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 19 COMMENTARY

mony in the US indictment.” Interestingly, “Korkmaz appears to be the main conduit Jacob Kingston first met Erdogan in New York in linking the Kingstons and Termendzhyan to pro-Erdogan September 2017 when the Turkish president came to the US businessman Ekim Alptekin, whose Dutch shell company to attend the UN General Assembly. This meeting took place Inovo BV hired former national security advisor Mike Flynn’s “after FBI raided the Kingston group’s properties on Flynn Intel Group to run a smear campaign and defame My Turn February 10, 2016, and the revelations of the fuel tax scam Muslim scholar Fethullah Gülen, a US-based cleric who had already made the headlines in Utah,” according to emerged as the main critic of the Erdogan regime. Flynn By Harut Sassounian Bozkurt. tapped former CIA director James Woolsey to do the work “In early November 2017, Jacob flew to Turkey to hold a against Gülen in a meeting held with Korkmaz in California series of high-level meetings in both Ankara and Istanbul. He in August 2016. Woolsey and his wife had a meeting with Another Major Erdogan Scandal; tapped Sezgin Baran Korkmaz, the chairman of SBK Holding both Korkmaz and Alptekin in New York City on September This Time on US Soil LLC, as the main conduit in Turkey, while he kept a separate 20, 2016, to discuss the proposal. On September 19, 2016, investment and asset management firm, Mega Varlık Yönetim Flynn met with Mevlüt Çavusoglu, the foreign minister of Not a week passes without the disclosure of another major A.., which was set up with equity of $450 million in Turkey,” Turkey, and Berat Albayrak, Erdogan’s son-in-law who is also scandal in Azerbaijan or Turkey. The latest such scandal was Bozkurt wrote. a minister in his cabinet, to discuss another proposal to kid- exposed by the Stockholm Center for Freedom in an article “Termendzhyan also has a company named SBK Holdings nap Gülen and whisk him away from US soil to Turkey. Two written by exiled Turkish writer Abdullah Bozkurt, titled: USA, which is a sister company to Korkmaz’s SBK Holding months later, on November 8, 2016, Flynn published a poor- “Utah case exposes more dirt on Turkey’s Erdogan.” LLC in Turkey. Korkmaz was quoted as telling the Turkish ly written, derogatory op-ed on The Hill news website about The article reveals that Turkish President Recep Tayyip press that his partnership with WRE has resulted in an invest- Gülen, which many suspected was penned by Turkish opera- Erdogan’s corrupt tentacles reach into the United States, ment valued at $1 billion and thanked Erdogan for personal- tives, not Flynn. Flynn later admitted to making false state- which makes the subject of this scandal of particular interest ly facilitating the business deals. According to the press ments including lying about the fact that Turkish government to Special Counsel Robert Mueller in connection with his release issued on September 9, 2016, by the Turkish govern- officials were supervising and directing the work. He also mis- Russia probe and “international organized crime network,” ment’s Investment Support and Promotion Agency (ISPAT), represented his lobbying on behalf of the Erdogan govern- according to Bozkurt. WRE, the Noil Energy Group and SBK Holding LLC have ment and lied about the op-ed he published on The Hill web- “A federal grand jury in Utah returned a sealed indictment made significant investments in Turkey and planned to do site,” Bozkurt wrote. on August 1, 2018, naming Erdogan as the leader of a foreign more. The partnership with SBK Holding began in 2013 with Alptekin fled to Turkey after he was interviewed by the country who met with highly controversial businesspeople in Noil Energy making the first batch of investments in real Mueller team in May 2017 and dodged the subpoena that was California and Utah in what was claimed to be a major money estate. Construction and real estate businesses comprise the subsequently issued after investigators concluded that he had laundering and tax fraud case,” Bozkurt reported. prime source for ill-gotten proceeds for Erdogan’s massive lied to them. Korkmaz was also ordered to testify before a The indictment, unsealed on August 24, 2018, charged that multi-billion-dollar wealth. The total investment reached $500 grand jury in Washington on September 22, 2017, over pos- “Jacob Ortell Kingston, the chief executive officer, and Isaiah million with another half million dollars assigned to a sible violations of federal criminal laws including the Foreign Kingston, the chief financial officer of Washakie Renewable Mergers and Acquisitions fund for operations in Turkey. The Agents Registration Act (FARA). He also did not comply with Energy (WRE), by filing false claims for tax credits, obtained trio has made investments in all types of sectors including this subpoena. “It was believed that money in the amount of over $511 million in renewable fuel tax credits that were pharmaceuticals, automotive, chemicals, technology, glass, some $450,000 that Alptekin’s Dutch shell company paid to designed to increase the amount of renewable fuel used and and food,” according to Bozkurt. Flynn, in fact, came from Korkmaz. The Utah indictment produced in the US. Lev Aslan Dermen (Levon “With Erdogan’s political backing and cover, SBK Holding reveals Termendzhyan fled to Turkey in August 2017 on the Termendzhyan), owner of California-based fuel company has expanded its operations into various areas including day state search warrants were executed on his home and NOIL Energy Group with links to a transnational criminal finance, energy, real estate, defense, mining, industry, office,” Bozkurt revealed. enterprise, is also identified as a partner in this grand tourism, technology, and logistics. The company is mainly “If there was an independent judiciary in Turkey, this scheme. From 2010 through 2016, they fabricated docu- active in the finance industry through investment banking, would have been addressed first and foremost by the Turkish ments and rotated products within the US as well as overseas asset management, and raw materials financing. It also has criminal justice system, and Erdogan would have been forced to make it appear that they were engaging in real trade to substantial interests in the energy sector that span both the to leave office in disgrace, at the very least. Most likely he and qualify for the tax credits,” Bozkurt wrote. US and Russian markets. Erdogan was not bothered at all by his thugs would have been sentenced to prison for breaking The indictment stated that Jacob Kingston was arrested on the fact that Termendzhyan was already implicated in a major about a dozen Turkish laws. That is no longer possible since August 23, 2018, while on his way to Salt Lake City interna- probe that was being conducted by the Department of the corrupt Turkish president has crippled the judiciary, tional airport headed to Turkey after he was tipped off. Homeland Security for money laundering, tax evasion, and destroyed the independent media and suspended the rule of Bozkurt reported: “The Kingstons had already bought a lux- stolen oil. Edgar Sargsyan, the ex-president and former legal law in the aftermath of a major graft investigation in ury mansion in a seaside town in Turkey according to a wire counsel for SBK Holdings USA, stated in his declaration filed December 2013 that uncovered his corrupt practices involv- transfer from a WRE account to Termendzhyan’s account at in court on July 14, 2017, that Termendzhyan, a Russian ing highly controversial Iranian and Saudi businesspeople. Turkey’s Garanti Bank on March 5, 2014. More wire transfers [Armenian], is the head of a criminal organization. It is worth Now we see US judicial action on Erdogan’s crimes that to Turkey were listed in the indictment. Jacob Kingston, who remembering that he was arrested in 1993 for a gas tax scam extended all the way to American soil. This time he won’t frequently traveled to Turkey to meet with top Turkish offi- in the US, where the Russian mafia was known to have been have the political clout to cash in to derail or hush up the cials including Erdogan, was often greeted like a VIP at the actively involved in similar scams in the ’80s and ’90s. He was legal cases that implicate him. He unsuccessfully tried before Turkish airport, was provided a police escort and did not even also charged with tax fraud and armed assault in the past and in the Hakan Atilla case in New York, and he will likely suffer use his passport to enter Turkey according to witness testi- was convicted of battery in 2013,” Bozkurt reported. the same fate in the Utah case as well,” Bozkurt concluded. The Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul: Seventy Years (1948-2018)

stituted action taken against the canons of the Armenian Further Complications By Father Zaven Arzoumanian, PhD Church.” Those suspended were Hmayak Dz. Vartabed To make matters worse, the opposition party, now furious for Bathtiarian, Zarmyre Dz. Vartabed Guezurian, Archpriest being suspended and considered “lay persons, defrocked and Abraham Ebeyan, Archpriest Tovma Shigaher, and Priest with no authority to function as clergy,” decided to call in early The Patriarchate in 1948 Serovbe Bourmayan. The decision of the Mother See Holy 1950 an Assembly of delegates for Patriarchal election, regard- Patriarch Mesrob Naroyan of Constantinople took office dur- Echmiadzin was in force until “further action.” The confronta- less of the strict warnings of the Catholicos from Holy ing the first decades of Kemalist Turkish Republic from 1927 to tion developed into invasion and illegal election of a new Etchmiadzin. Subsequently the same year final reprimand 1944, under great hardship. He displayed wisdom and dedicated Patriarch, trying to impeach the Archbishop and replace him arrived in November when His Holiness sent a telegram direct- leadership. Upon his death Archbishop Kevork Aslanian was with another leader, the above named Bathtiarian who would ly to Jelal Bayar, President of the Republic of Turkey, strictly elected locum tenens and four years later in 1948 internal cri- call delegates for the election. The next step they took was to rejecting all actions that could jeopardize the stability of the sis erupted by a group of clergy of the Patriarchate demanding invade the Patriarchate and occupy the building which was inter- Armenian Patriarchate in Turkey, deeming those actions “unac- the already delayed election of the new Patriarch. They blamed fered and prohibited by the authorities. ceptable encroachments” (Cf. Hask monthly 1950, p. 356). Archbishop Aslanian for the delay and demanded to take an The telegram insisted that the government of Turkey should Authorities Interfere action, while the Archbishop was adamant waiting to hear from “annul all unauthorized actions not in agreement with the the Catholicos of All Armenians who was not elected yet. The Turkish authorities interfered in the local electoral procedure, National Constitution of the Armenian Patriarchate”. The same Mother See was vacant. and without approval from the Hierarchy of the Mother See they Constitution, said the telegram, served as the basis for the elec- The election of Catholicos Kevork VI Chorekjian of All permitted the opposition to hold Patriarchal election on July 17, tion of the previous Patriarch Mesrob I Naroyan in 1927, and his Armenians took place in 1945 in Holy Echmiadzin, where 1949 against the approval both of the locum tenens Archbishop successor can only be elected in accordance with the same Archbishop Kevork Aslanian went to represent the Patriarchate Aslanian and the National Constitution. The Catholicos of All Constitution. and participate in the consecration of the Catholicos. Upon his Armenians Kevork VI forcefully rejected the illegal action and President Jelal Bayar wasted no time and called an assembly return the clergy in Istanbul were suspicious whether Aslanian sent an urgent message to Ankara to stop any action taken by to elect a successor to Patriarch Naroyan according to the guide- had reached a decision with the newly elected Catholicos. They the opposing side, until he had fully examined the issue on the lines from the Mother See. The Assembly of the duly elected del- thought he was procrastinating the election of the Patriarch highest canonical level of the Armenian Church. egates met on December 2, 1950, presided over by the locum while still waiting to hear from the Mother See and act accord- Karekin I Hovsepian Catholicos of Cilicia tenens Archbishop Kevork Aslanian, and elected Archbishop ingly. Among the 53 active clergy in Istanbul Armenian To receive a closer report, the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin Khachadourian, the Pontifical Legate of the Catholicos Patriarchate, 38 were heading the opposing group who consid- assigned Karekin I Catholicos of the House of Cilicia to call a del- of All Armenians in Argentina as the Armenian Patriarch of ered themselves a majority, and decided to invite delegates for an egation from Istanbul to find ways for resolving the conflict. Constantinople. The long and complicated crisis ended as the election without the consent of the locum tenens Archbishop Upon his invitation a delegation of five arrived in Antelias, newly elected Patriarch Karekin I established peace and pros- Aslanian. They even sent a delegation of three to Ankara to Lebanon, the Seat of the Catholicosate, including Toros Azadian perity in the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey until his passing secure permission for the hasty election. who represented Archbishop Kevork Aslanian, two suspended in 1961. priests, and independently attorney Stepan Baronian, and Dr. Opposing Clergy Suspended Hrant Hairabedian. Catholicos Karekin I met with the delegation The Present Situation Archbishop Kevork Aslanian had no choice but to suspend five in the presence of Archbishop Khat Achabahian, Vicar of the Three decades later, following the most deserving and blissful of the opposition clergy, asking the Catholicos of All Armenians Catholicosate, and Dajad Israbian, Chairman of the Central patriarchate of Archbishop Shnork Kaloustian (1961-1990), a cri- to confirm the punishment. The Supreme Spiritual Council did Council of the See of Cilicia. After gathering all the disputed sis emerged in the Patriarchate, while the present Patriarch confirm, stating the fact that “those in question had gone on issues, the Catholicos referred them to His Holiness Kevork VI Mesrob II Moutafian was running the affairs of the Patriarchate their own to ask help from the Turkish authorities which con- for final decree. see ISTANBUL, page 20 20 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

Russian Orthodox Church Cuts Ties with Constantinople Former Oppositionists arch of Constantinople has been a feature of east- Win Lawsuits against Andrew Roth in Moscow and Harriet Sherwood ern Orthodoxy. Kirill has objected to Bartholomew’s close relationship with the Roman Catholic church and Pope Francis. Armenian State Ukraine’s government had lobbied strongly for MOSCOW (The Guardian) — The Russian bitter enemies since the annexation of Crimea STRASBOURG (RFE/RL) — The autocephaly as part of a larger break from Orthodox Church has announced it will break off and the war in Donbass. European Court of Human Rights Russian influence in the country’s affairs. relations with the Patriarchate of Constantinople Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, the (ECHR) on October 18, ordered “Autocephaly is part of our pro-European and in a religious schism driven by political friction Moscow patriarchate’s head of external church Armenian authorities to pay a total of pro-Ukrainian state strategy,” the Ukrainian pres- between Russia and Ukraine. relations, announced the Russian church’s deci- 7,500 euros ($8,600) in compensation to ident, Petro Poroshenko, said in a statement last The Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church sion on Monday and said Russia hoped the two former opposition activists who week. He also called Moscow’s loss of control elected on Monday, October 15, to cut ties with Patriarchate of Constantinople would change its were arrested during 2008 post-election over the Ukrainian Orthodox Church “the fall of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, mind. protests in Yerevan. the ‘third Rome’ as the most ancient conceptual which is viewed as the leading authority for the “Until that happens, until all these unlawful Grigor Voskerchian and Masis claim of Moscow for the global domination”. world’s 300 million Orthodox worshippers. decisions made by Constantinople are in force, Ayvazian ran regional campaign offices Russia’s Orthodox Church already had a tense The split is a show of force by Russia after a we won’t be able to communicate with the of Levon Ter-Petrosian in the February relationship with the religious authorities in Ukrainian church was granted independence. church which today finds itself in the midst of a 2008 presidential election. They also Istanbul. Last week Bartholomew I of Constantinople, schism,” he said, according to reports of his participated in nonstop demonstrations In the summer of 2016 the first global gather- the “first among equals” of eastern Orthodox remarks. staged by Ter-Petrosian against alleged ing of the 14 self-governing Orthodox churches clerics, granted autocephaly (independence) to The global Orthodox churches collectively rep- vote rigging. since the year 787 almost collapsed before it the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which previ- resent 300 million people. But there are fewer Both men were arrested when securi- opened because of disagreements over the agen- ously answered to Moscow. than 3,000 of the Orthodox faithful in Istanbul. ty forces dispersed protesters camped da. Several churches – including the Russians – Archbishop’s Defiance Threatens Putin’s The Russian Orthodox Church represents a out in Yerevan’s Liberty Square on threatened to boycott the “holy and great coun- Vision of Russian Greatness majority of Orthodox Christians and commands March 1, 2008. Eight protesters and two cil,” which had been 55 years in the planning. If Monday’s decision is a lasting one, the loss huge wealth and power. Its leader, Patriarch police servicemen were killed as a result. The Patriarch of Constantinople has sought to of the powerful and wealthy Russian church will Kirill, is closely allied to Vladimir Putin, the Voskerchian, who coordinated Ter- repair relations with the Roman Catholic church, be a serious blow to the global church. It also Russian president, who he has described as “a Petrosian’s election campaign in the which broke from eastern Orthodoxy almost a marks an important new facet for the rift miracle of God”. town of Abovian, was subsequently sen- millennium ago, in 1054. between Russia and Ukraine, who have become Rivalry between the Russian church and patri- tenced to two years in prison for orga- nizing “mass disturbances.” The ECHR ruled that Armenian courts did not have sufficient grounds The Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul: Seventy Years (1948-2018) to allow investigators to keep Voskerchian under pre-trial arrest. The ISTANBUL, from page 19 hastily decided to appoint Archbishop Aram Patriarchate when Archbishop Karekin Bekjian, 62-year-old is to receive 3,000 euros in capably and conscientiously until he fell ill after Ateshyan Vicar of the Patriarchate, born and born and raised in Turkey and currently the damages. ten years in office. He succeeded Patriarch raised in Turkey and a graduate from the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Germany, Ayvazian received a suspended two- Karekin II Kazanjian whose tenure was rela- Seminary of the Jerusalem Armenian was elected locum tenens of the Patriarchate, year jail sentence at the time for assault- tively short (1990-1997). Patriarch Mesrob Patriarchate. His position was duly approved by replacing the Vicar Archbishop Ateshyan. ing law-enforcement officers on March 1, Moutafian suffered a terminal illness losing his the Turkish authorities as of this day. However, this last action was never approved 2008. The ECHR said that Ayvazian memory and the ability to stay in office. At age Election of Locum Tenens Failed by the Turkish authorities. They did not recog- must be compensated financially 52 he entered the Armenian Hospital ever Internal conflict developed as in the recent nize any new leader other than Archbishop because he was kept in pre-trial deten- since, and as of today at age 60, he remains bed- past and an opposition group headed by Bishop Ateshyan whose appointment they had tion longer than was allowed by an ridden with no hope to return to the Sahag Mashalian, chairman of the Religious approved some eight years earlier. Co-existence Armenian court. Patriarchate. Council, demanded election of a Patriarch coad- of both, the elected locum tenens Archbishop Both former activists hailed the Internal crisis followed since two parties jutor to run the affairs in place of Patriarch Bekjian and the appointment of Vicar General Strasbourg court’s rulings. involved in the controversial election of a new Moutafian. The Religious Council, presided by Archbishop Ateshyan, was rejected and, subse- Dozens of Ter-Petrosian loyalists, Patriarch, while as of today Patriarch Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, Vicar of the quently Archbishop Karekin Bekjian left among them Armenia’s current Prime Moutafian is living. Receiving petitions unilat- Patriarchate, had one way of resolving the sta- Istanbul and returned to his Diocese. Minister Nikol Pashinyan, were jailed on erally, Turkish authorities interfered and did tus quo by declaring both Archbishop Mesrob Meanwhile, upon his resignation as the controversial charges. Pashinyan not allow an election, arguing the impossibility Moutafian retired Patriarch of the Armenians Primate, hoping to fulfill his obligations at the ordered a renewed criminal investiga- the existence of two Patriarchs. Thee Religious in Turkey, and the vacancy of the Patriarchate. Patriarchate and accomplish the election of a tion into the bloodshed shortly after he Council of the Patriarchate, on the other hand, In March, 2017, as a follow-up, another positive new Patriarch, a new Primate was elected for swept to power in May. obviously by tacit approval of the authorities, action was taken by the executives of the the Armenian Diocese of Germany.