MARCH 26, 2016 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVI, NO. 36, Issue 4430 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the Since 1932 INBRIEF Condemns Members of Congress Terrorism in any Form Request Assistance for Armenian President Sargisian (Armenpress) — President Serge Armenia, Karabagh Sargisian sent a condolence letter to Prime To Visit Boston March 28-31 Minister Charles Michel of Belgium on March 22, WASHINGTON — This week, 33 after with the explosions in the Brussels airport Members of Congress sent a letter to the WATERTOWN – President of the Republic of and subway, which claimed the lives of dozens of Appropriations Subcommittee on State, By Aram Arkun Armenia Serge Sargisian is making an official visit innocents. Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Mirror-Spectator Staff to Boston with several cabinet ministers and other “At this difficult time, I express my condolences Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) and Armenian officials from March 28 to 31. Aside from and support to you, the friendly people of Belgium Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY) in participating in events at Harvard University, the and the victims’ families and wish courage and support of continued US assistance in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Tufts University, he will be vis- patience. Armenia strongly condemns terrorism in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 budget for the iting several Armenian institutions. Two ceremonial events, at the Massachusetts any form and is committed to bringing its contri- Republics of Armenia and Nagorno State House and at the Armenian Heritage Park, are completely open to the pub- bution to the international fight against this evil. “ Karabagh, the Samtskhe-Javakheti region lic and free. Similarly, President of the National Assembly of of Georgia, and at-risk minorities in the The visit is being coor- the Republic of Armenia Galust Sahakyan sent a Middle East, reports the Armenian dinated by the Mass- condolence letter to President of the Belgian Senate Assembly of America. achusetts Armenian Christine Defraigne and Presidents of the Belgian “Continued US support in the region is Genocide Centennial Chamber of Representatives Siegfried Bracke. critically important,” the letter read. Committee. The three “I am deeply shocked by the horrible terror acts Members of Congress requested at least co-chairmen remain that occurred in Brussels. We harshly condemn $5 million for humanitarian and develop- Anthony Barsamian these terrible acts that claimed lives of numerous ment programs in Nagorno Karabagh, James M. Kalustian and people. I think the civilized society must struggle appropriating no less than $40 million in Ara Nazarian. against this evil with consolidated efforts prohibit- overall economic aid (including Economic Kalustian declared, “It ing the spread of intolerance and extremism. I Support Fund, International Narcotics is a great honor for our express our condolence and solidarity to the rela- Control and Law Enforcement, and Global community to have the tives of the victims on behalf of me and the Health Programs) for Armenia, suspending president come and visit. National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, all military aid to Azerbaijan, allocating at This is the oldest wishing them patience and fortitude, and speedy least 10 percent of aid given to Georgia Armenian community in recovery to the injured.” towards funding sustainable job-creation America, and one of the programs in Samtskhe-Javakheti, enhanc- best organized and inte- ing Section 907 of the FREEDOM grated.” He explained Archdiocese of Boston Support Act, and reinstating Karabagh in that the president was To Hold its First-Ever the Organization for Security and Co-oper- originally scheduled to ation in (OSCE) Minsk Group come to the opening of peace process as a full negotiating partner. the Armenian Heritage “The Assembly applauds the initiative park some four years Commemoration supported by over 30 Members of ago, but was unable to BOSTON — Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley said last Congress and their efforts to ensure the do so due to week that the Archdiocese of Boston will hold its well-being of Armenia and Artsakh. I look see VISIT, page 16 first commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, forward to working with Congressional the latest Catholic Church effort to acknowledge see ASSISTANCE, page 16 the events that killed 1.5 million a century ago. O’Malley is set to preside over a 4 p.m. prayer ser- vice April 23 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End. In a statement, O’Malley referred to an acknowl- An Inheritance of edgment last year by Pope Francis that the -era deaths at the hands of Ottoman Turks were the first genocide of the 20th century, a state- Pain and Secrets ment that angered the Turkish government. O’Malley also expressed solidarity with LOS ANGELES — Since Christians who are suffering around the world. 2015, the year marking By Alin K. Gregorian “Pope Francis made clear that the church the centennial of the Mirror-Spectator Staff acknowledges the suffering of so many who lost Armenian Genocide, the their lives in witness to their faith and that, tragi- floodgates have opened to cally, such witness continues through the persecu- mark this bitter anniversary not only with documentaries, tion of Christians taking place throughout the but through art. The Armenian world today,” O’Malley said. Genocide has served as a “Building on our bond as Christians, the backdrop for many Archdiocese of Boston joins with our Armenian movies, books or brothers and sisters to make this remembrance in paintings this common prayer to our Lord,” O’Malley added. past year and Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian Dies even now. NEW YORK — Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian, the former One novel Primate of the United Kingdom, and a long-serving pastor that has re- among the churches of the Eastern Diocese. He lived to find ceived rave INSIDE himself the eldest clergyman of episcopal rank in the reviews and Armenian Church, and was a true spiritual father to his peo- seen huge ple. He passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours sales has been of Friday, March 18, at the age of 90. O r h a n ’ s Detroit Archbishop Gizirian answered the call of our Lord as a Inheritance by young man, inspired by the examples of holiness he saw Aline Ohanesian. among such great figures as Catholicos Karekin Hovsepiants, See NOVEL, Syrian Patriarch Shnork Kaloustian, and Archbishop Tiran page 11 Nersoyan. In turn, the archbishop became an example of holi- Page 4 ness to subsequent generations, through his faithful, humble, loving service to God. His preaching conveyed authority; yet his personal exam- ple was one of humility and quiet grace. He was a leader of INDEX great inner strength and conviction; yet his greatest strength Arts and Living ...... 9 was the tender compas sion he showed to all — a quality that Armenia ...... 2 made him beloved wherever he served. Community News...... 4 As a teacher, a pastor to many parishes in the Eastern Diocese, Editorial ...... 13 and as Diocesan Primate of the United Kingdom, Archbishop International ...... 3 Yeghishe Gizirian touched the lives of countless people. see YEGHISHE, page 15 2 S ATURDAY, M ARCH 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Land and Culture Organization Launches Meghri Restoration Project

Moody’s Downgrades PASADENA, Calif. — On March 11-13, preservation mission, the organization is in such a way as to resemble Persian Armenia’s Government the international body of the Land and researching and documenting Armenian architecture. The walls were painted by Culture Organization (LCO)/ national monuments and properties con- artists from the family of Naghash Bond Rating Organisation Terre et Culture (OTC) fiscated by the Turkish state and may be Hovnatanian, a renowned artist from the held their general assembly meeting in found online at www.collectif2015.org. period whose works are also within the YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Moody’s Lyon, France to discuss current and The Board determined to launch a Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin. Investors Service on Friday, March 18 downgraded upcoming Armenian historical restora- new campaign in the city of Meghri, LCO will launch the first phase of the Armenia’s long-term issuer and senior unsecured tion projects. The most recently com- Armenia. LCO will be renovating the project during the summer campaign of debt ratings to B1 from Ba3. Concurrently, Moody’s 2016. Volunteers will be clearing Sourp has changed the outlook to stable from negative, the Hovannes Mkritch’s grounds and partic- agency said. The key drivers for the downgrade to B1 ipate in archaeological excavations with are Armenia’s increasing external vulnerabilities Armenian archaeologists. The workday stemming from declining remittances from Russia packed with physical labor is just one that have not yet bottomed out; an uncertain outlook part of the LCO/OTC experience. for foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows that col- Volunteers live in a very modest home lapsed in 2015; and an elevated susceptibility to and spend non-working hours bonding renewed pressures on the local currency and the with local residents, while enjoying local country’s foreign exchange reserves; activities and their surroundings. In Armenia’s worsening fiscal and government debt addition, during off-hours volunteers go metrics and the expectation that Armenia’s general- on excursions of Armenian historical government-debt-to-GDP ratio will rise above 50 per- sites. cent in 2017 under the baseline assumption of a Meghri, one of the most fascinating growing economy. and remote cities in Armenia, is situated In the same action, Moody’s has also lowered in the southern most tip overlooking the Armenia’s long-term foreign-currency deposit ceil- Iranian border on the Araks River. This ings to B2 from B1 and the long-term local-currency tranquil quaint city with a population of bond and deposit ceilings to Ba2 from Ba1. At the 4,500 is in a fertile valley where they same time, the long-term and short-term foreign-cur- Outside the Soup Hovannes Mkrtich Church grow Armenia’s national symbol the rency bond ceiling and the short-term foreign-cur- pomegranate, as well as figs, walnut, and rency deposit ceilings remain unchanged at Ba2/NP persimmons. Today, as Armenia’s south- and NP, respectively. pleted LCO/OTC project was the sev- 17th-century Sourp Hovannes Mkritch ern gateway, it maintains its strategic Upward pressures could be exerted on Armenia’s enth-century Tchitckhanavank (St. John the Baptist) basilica church and economic significance as a town issuer and government bond ratings following a monastery in the northern Lori region there. This historical site is in severe dis- located at the crossroads of the South reduction in Armenia’s high degree of external vul- of Armenia. After a culmination of five- repair and has a unique Armenian style. ; Armenia, Nagorno Karabagh, nerability and/or the prospects that Armenia’s gov- years of work by LCO/OTC volunteers, The ornamental motifs of the interior and Russia. ernment-debt-to-GDP ratio will show a firm down- local artisans, archeologists, and archi- frescoes are influenced by Persian deco- LCO is accepting volunteers for the ward trajectory over the medium term, Moody’s says. tects, the site was consecrated in August rative designs, which were probably Summer 2016 Campaign. To learn more A reduction in Armenia’s external vulnerability could 2015 and renamed Sourp Khatch (Holy done intentionally to prevent vandalism. about LCO or join in our summer vol- be triggered, for instance, by a faster-than-expected Cross). As part of its Armenian historical Even the depicted structures were built unteer program, visit www.lcousa.org. economic stabilization of Russia, Armenia’s largest single export market destination, and the related pos- itive spillovers to the Armenian economy, it says. Also, a decrease in geopolitical risks could lead to upward pressures on Armenia’s sovereign bond rat- Mer Doon ing. Marks 10th Host Iranians During Nowruz Anniversary YEREVAN (Armenpress) — During the days of the ECHMIADZIN, Armenia — On Iranian New Year, called Nowruz, the flow of November 11, 2006, Mer Doon opened Iranians to Armenia drastically increases. In an inter- its doors to seven young girls with view with “Armenpress” Head of the Department of tremendous hope and potential who Tourism Development Policy of the Ministry of had outgrown the orphanage system. Economy of the Republic of Armenia Mekhak Now celebrating its 10th year of service Apresyan had difficulty to indicate numbers, but to disadvantaged girls, Mer Doon is mentioned that since 2013 rise in tourist inflow from more vibrant and relevant than ever. It Iran has been registered. Naturally, the inflow accel- remains the only NGO in Armenia that erates with these March days. provides a home for homeless girls, “Visits from Iran to Armenia are active during the ages 18-24, who have nowhere else to Some of the young women at Mer Doon along with staff entire year, not only during these days, but these go. days are much more active as it is their holiday,” To kick off the 10th anniversary cele- Apresyan said, adding that in 2015 the visits rose by bration, Mer Doon has launched a new (in part) support a building project slat- Southern California. In Armenia, many 24 percent or 140,000 against 2014. website at www.Mer-Doon.com. ed for completion this summer. The exciting plans are underway, including Since 2006, Mer Doon has cared for plans are to renovate the basement of a 10th anniversary video, a celebration more than 45 young girls by providing Mer Doon’s residence in order to pro- in the Echmiadzin municipality, an arts Number of Tourists to higher education, vital skills to transi- vide classrooms, an arts & crafts atelier, & crafts exhibition in Yerevan, and Artsakh Grows tion into adulthood, and a loving and and much needed storage. With these meetings with different media outlets. compassionate family environment, new facilities, Mer Doon will have addi- The history of Mer Doon started with STEPANAKERT (Armenpress) — In recent years the making them full members of society as tional space in it’s main quarters to Julie and Clement Ashekian, who began number of foreign tourists to Artsakh has grown 30- well as honest and independent citizens meet the overwhelming demand to their pioneering work in Armenia after 40-percent annually, Deputy Economy Minister of of Armenia. For many of these young assist more vulnerable teens. the 1988 earthquake, which left thou- Artsakh Sergey Shahverdyan said at a press confer- women, Mer Doon has been the first Throughout the year, the US- and sands of Armenian children without ence this week. family they have ever known. Armenia-based Boards of Directors will parents. They actively led the Children “We recorded such a growth until 2014, but in Commenting on this milestone, be organizing many commemorative of Armenia Sponsorship Program and 2014 the growth declined a little. We recorded 13- Chairman Stephen Ashekian stated, activities and events. At the same time, helped 18,000 children. Recognizing percent rise in foreign tourists in 2015. Tourists visit “Longevity is often quite correctly asso- Mer Doon is forming an Advisory that conditions were grave in the Artsakh from mainly from the US, Europe, Russia ciated with integrity. A track record of Board of distinguished Armenians who orphanages as well, the late Julie and Muslim countries,” Shahverdyan said. proven service demonstrates that you embrace the group’s mission, and Ashekian and Tigranuhi Karapetyan The Ministry of Economy makes use of different have gained the community’s trust, and believe that good, kind people should founded Mer Doon in 2006. They saw platforms to foster tourism, including exhibitions, have tested, achievable results. We are always support a good cause. that once leaving the orphanages at age information technologies, social networks, as well as celebrating this milestone to under- Special programs began in January 18, young girls were at risk of the many a film about Artsakh’s tourism capacities. score our consistent leadership in the with a new speaker’s program. Since evils on the streets with no family to He stated that the culture of ethnic minorities hav- social service sector in Armenia.” the start of the year, numerous guests guide or shelter them. From the begin- ing once lived in Artsakh is the cultural heritage of “We warmly welcome Armenians have come to Mer Doon with important ning, the mission of the organization Artsakh. around the world to join us in celebrat- messages about human trafficking, psy- has been to educate and nurture, and “Its best demonstration is the preservation of ing Mer Doon’s success and ask that chology, law, empowerment, art & to keep these very vulnerable girls, who Mosques in Shushi and Aghdam. Tourists visiting they reinvest in our mission to strength- design, and family and women’s rights. have outgrown the orphanage system, Artsakh note that, unlike in Azerbaijan, cultural val- en our outreach efforts,” Ashekian con- In May, the US-based Board of away from trafficking and violence. ues are preserved in Artsakh,” Shahverdyan said. cluded. Directors will host a golf tournament Mer Doon is located in Echmiadzin. In honor of its 10th anniversary, Mer fundraiser in New England. In the fall, Visitors are always welcome. Tax- Doon has set an anniversary fundrais- a conference about global human and deductible donations can be made by ing goal of $250,000. These funds will sex trafficking is being planned in going to www.Mer-Doon.com. S A T U R D A Y , M A R C H 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 INTERNATIONAL Armenian President Visits Greece, International News

ATHENS (Combined Sources) — underlining in particular the potential The two leaders attended the opening Armenian President Serge Sargisian in education and military cooperation. of a khachkar (cross-stone) in paid a visit starting March 16 to Cyprus He also referred to the economic symbolizing Armenian-Cypriot friend- Boosts Efforts to and Greece, cementing closer ties. potential, through membership in the ship. Further Deny Armenian One of his stops in Nicosia, Cyprus Eurasia Economic Union and the open- Earlier, President Sargisian visited was at the University of Cyprus. He ing of Iran’s market. Greece, where he also met with Prime Genocide spoke there about Armenia’s unique Sargisian also referred to the turbu- Minister Alexis Tsipras. model of communicating with the (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Turkish world. (see related Editorial, page 13.) Historical Society (TTK) compiles data, articles and “Having strategic and ally relations “other works” to further deny the Armenian with Russia, Armenia is developing Genocide, Daily Sabah reports. mutually beneficial partnership with TTK started compiling all articles on the issue dozens of western, Asia-Pacific and written in Turkey and throughout the world to pub- Latin-American states,” Sargisian said, lish books on the genocide. The organization plans to as quoted by his press office. sent the books to libraries across the country as well He added that the fact that Turkey as international historians. does not recognize the Republic of Speaking to Habertürk daily, TTK President Refik Cyprus is inconceivable, while reiterat- Turan said articles included “indisputable scientific ing Yerevan’s steady support for a facts.” Cyprus solution. In April 2014, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “We are seeking a peaceful resolution who was prime minister at the time, offered condo- both for the Cyprus issue, as well as for lences for “the Armenian deaths” that occurred in the conflict in Nagorno-Karabagh, he 1915 — a first for a Turkish leader. noted, during an event at the University of Cyprus, where he spoke on the “polit- Catholicosate Files ical agenda of Armenia ahead of the 25th anniversary of Independence,” he Another Sis Lawsuit in said. He added that a Cyprus settlement is Turkish Court President Serge Sargisian, left, with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras feasible, if other forces stop raising PanARMENIAN.Net — The Great House of obstacles in the process. which had in April 2015 filed a lawsuit He emphasized that following the in Turkey’s Constitutional Court over regaining own- same logic, Armenia combines its mem- lence in the Middle East and said that it The Greek leader, in particular, ership of its historic headquarters in Sis, has sub- bership to the Russian-led Collective was sad to see the descendants of assessed as promising the development mitted another application demanding the examina- Security Treaty Organization with effi- Armenian refugees in and other of the trilateral Iran-Greece-Armenia tion of the lawsuit. cient NATO programs and, being a countries to be obliged to become cooperation, “considering warm and Submitted some two weeks ago by the member of the Eurasian Economic refugees themselves. friendly relations between the Republic Catholicosate’s lawyer Cem Sofuoglu, the application Union (EEU), the country continues to The event was also addressed by of Armenia and the Islamic Republic of urges the Turkish court to review the matter at the consistently expand the agenda of its Vartkes Mahdessian, the representative Iran,” the Armenian president’s press earliest possible convenience, as the lawsuit that was long-term cooperation with the of the Armenians in the House of office reported. submitted 10 months ago, hasn’t been examined yet, European Union. Representatives, as well as by the During their meeting the two leaders Ermenihaber.am reports citing Haberturk.com. On relations with Nicosia, Sargisian Rector of the University of Cyprus, discussed issues of interstate relations According to Sofuoglu, the lawsuit only seeks to noted that Armenians do not forget that Constantinos Christofides. both in bilateral and multilateral for- recover the property, “with no intention to discuss Cyprus was the first country to bring up He spoke at the University following mats. In the framework of the interna- the events of the past.” the recognition of the Armenian geno- official meetings with Cypriot leader- tional and regional organizations, the “We are not going to bargain with Turkey over the cide in the UN General Assembly, and ship, including President Nicos presidents touched on the development issue,” the Catholicos of the , was the first European country to Anastasiades. of mutual cooperation on a number of said, in turn. “We just want to return the acknowledge it. During the meetings issues pertain- important issues, inter-parliamentary property that belonged to us for over 800 years. If Bilateral ties are becoming deeper in ing to bilateral relations, regional and ties, process of acknowledging and con- Turkey wants to move closer to the Armenian people, various sectors, the President went on, international affairs were addressed. demning the Armenian Genocide, as this is the most appropriate moment.” well as the talks over the settlement of The historic headquarters includes the the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. Catholicosate, the monastery and cathedral of St. Sargisian and Pavlopoulos also dis- Sophia, a major Armenian Christian holy site located cussed the issues of the international in Sis (currently Kozan), in south-central Turkey. US Confirms Crimes Committed agenda, presented their positions, This site was confiscated by the Turkish touched on the Armenian-EU relations Government following the Genocide of 1915 in By ISIS Are Genocide and the role of friendly Greece in their which an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were development. They conferred on the cri- killed or deported by the . sis in the Middle East, specifically the Filing the lawsuit at the Turkish court, the WASHINGTON — This week, “Today, Secretary Kerry responded to consequences of the migrant crisis, Catholicos has thus set a precedent for the descen- Secretary of State John Kerry stated the unspeakable crimes carried out by which has become a serious challenge dants of the martyrs to reclaim their family belong- that ISIS (Daesh) is “responsible for ISIS. ‘Naming these crimes is impor- for the Greek government. ings. genocide,” against groups in Syria and tant. But what is essential is to stop Iraq, including Yezidis, Christians and them,’ Kerry stated. His statement (Reports from Public Radio of Shia Muslims. The recognition was recalls Morgenthau’s warning and the Armenia, PanArmenian.net and March in Tehran to Head prompted by H. Con. Res. 75, which need to act. As President Obama has Famagusta Gazette were used in includes Armenians as one of the said, ‘America deserves a leader who compiling this story.) To Turkish Embassy Christian groups persecuted by ISIS. speaks truthfully about the Armenian TEHRAN, Iran (Armenpress) — The Armenian com- “We know that in areas under its con- Genocide and responds forcefully to all munity plans to organize a protest rally in Tehran, on trol, Daesh has made a systematic effort genocides.’ We therefore call upon the April 24, Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day, to destroy the cultural heritage of Obama administration to also unequivo- Armenian Church and head of Public Relations of Tehran Armenian ancient communities — destroying cally affirm the Armenian Genocide,” School to Be Diocese Gaspar Amirkhanyan said. Armenian, Syrian Orthodox and Roman Ardouny continued. “The march will begin from the National Prelacy. Catholic churches...” Kerry stated. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) stat- Renovated in Here is the monument dedicated to the Armenian In his statement, Kerry also invoked ed: “This morning, Secretary Kerry Genocide victims. We will lay flowers there, pay trib- one of the criteria of genocide as declared ISIS is committing genocide HOMS, Syria (PanARMENIAN.Net) — ute, then a mass will take place at the church, fol- defined by the 1948 UN Convention. against Christians and religious minori- St. Mesrob Church and Sahakyan lowed by a march to the Turkish Embassy in Iran, “One element of genocide is the intent ties...now that our government is recog- National College in Syria’s Homs will be where we will present our message,” Amirkhanyan to destroy an ethnic or religious group, nizing this crisis, it needs to do more to renovated this summer, Primate of the said. in whole or in part. We know that stop it. I hope the president will seize Diocese of , Bishop Armash According to him, various events are planned this Daesh has given some of its victims a this opportunity to present a very clear Nalbandian said at a meeting with year in an attempt to attract Iranian intellectuals and choice between abandoning their faith strategy to defeat this enemy.” Armenian families in Homs, Arevelk politicians of various levels. or being killed, and that for many is a Earlier this week, the Assembly wel- reports. “The Armenian Genocide recognition has always choice between one kind of death and comed passage in the U.S. House of Pacing around the church that had been a priority for the Armenian-Iranian community. another,” Kerry said. Representatives of H. Con. Res. 75, a been damaged in shelling, Nalbandian During the year, regular work is done in that direc- “Confronted with harrowing reports resolution condemning ISIS atrocities and the community members discussed tion. Works are published in Iranian, which refer to of similar crimes and atrocities, US and stated in part: “Whereas the so- issues concerning the full restoration of the Armenian Genocide on a regular basis. Active Ambassador Henry Morgenthau in called Islamic State of Iraq and the the church and the school. work is being done regarding information, but I 1915 alerted the State Department and Levant (ISIL) and associated extremists Since November 2011, St. Mesrob think it is still insufficient. Deputy Speaker of the the world to the horrors taking place in are committing egregious atrocities Church and the Sahakyan College have Iranian Parliament condemned the Armenian the Ottoman Empire, stating that a against ethnic and religious minorities been taken over by terrorists. The mili- Genocide during the 100th anniversary events, ‘campaign of race extermination’ was in Iraq and Syria, including Christians tants have been using the Armenian which is a great achievement for the community,” underway against the Armenian people, (including Assyrian Chaldean Syriac, institutions as gathering places; the Amirkhanyan said. and urged action to stop the slaughter,” Armenian, and Melkite communities, basement hall was turned into a hospi- observed Armenian Assembly of among others), Yezidis, Turkmen, tal, the teachers’ lounge into a mosque, America Executive Director Bryan Shabak, Sabaean Mandeans, and and the church into a dormitory, the Ardouny. Kaka’i, among others.” newspaper says. 4 S ATURDAY, M ARCH 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Community News

AMAA Participates Detroit Community In Unprecedented Hosts Forum on Cooperation for Crisis in Middle Martuni Village, East and Impact Armenia On Armenians

PARAMUS, N.J. — On the occasion of the cen- DETROIT — On the wintry evening of March tennial of the Armenian Genocide, the 5, 2016, about seventy-five people gathered for Armenian Missionary Association of Armenia an educational forum at the AGBU Alex and took the initiative to coordinate the formation Marie Manoogian School, in Southfield, of a consortium of six NGOs (AMA-Armenia, Michigan. The format allowed for three pan- Development Principles, “Shen” Charity NGO, elists to make presentations, followed by mod- World Vision Armenia, COAF Kids, Fund for erators selecting written questions from the Armenia Relief) to join efforts in support of audience for the panelists. Martuni Village, in Armenia. Paul Kulhanjian opened the program and The village, located in the northeastern part acknowledged other members of the commit- of the Gegharkunik Region, on the southern tee that helped facilitate the event — David shores of Lake Sevan, was founded in 1921 and Terzibashian, Pam Coultis, and Hagop its first inhabitants were Genocide survivors, Alexanian. Kulhanjian introduced Ani mostly from Van, Alashkert, Kars and Sasun Bogikian Kasparian, Coordinator for the who had emigrated. The village is 132 kilome- Armenian Research Center, University of ters from Yerevan. Michigan-Dearborn, as the MC for the program. On March 4, these organizations and two new Kasparian introduced the first panelist, Dr. partners, Teach for Armenia and the Armenia Ara Sanjian, Associate Professor of History and Round Table of the World Council of Churches Director of the Armenian Research Center of (WCC), visited Martuni to evaluate and review the University of Michigan-Dearborn. the work of the past year which included: Sanjian received his PhD from the University Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) financed of and is the author of Turkey and Her the renovation of the health post of the Martuni Arab Neighbors, 1953-1958, and many scholar- community. ly articles. World Vision presented their newly formed His slide presentation (which included color- On November 21, the AGBU Central Office in New York held the organization’s coded maps) focused on the “Impact on Engineering Club and its newly acquired very first Spinathon. Robotics lab of the school. Armenians in the Arab East.” He provided “Shen” NGO showed the new village website background information about the “Arab (www.martunigyugh.am) which presents the Spring” which began in Tunisia when history of the village, current conditions and a $3.2 million Raised in Support of Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year old street vendor project which was also financed by Shen; the set himself on fire on December 17, 2010. This installation of water pipes providing drinking act became a catalyst for the Tunisian water for most of the villagers. AGBU Humanitarian Emergency Revolution. Protests moved from Tunisia to AMA-Armenia helped the villagers acquire 2 Egypt and to other Arab countries, including brand new tractors and 10 gasoline powered Relief Fund for Syrian Armenians Libya, Yemen, Bahrain and Syria. harvesters. These will help villagers harvest hay In Bahrain, Syria and Yemen initial demands to feed their cattle during the winter months NEW YORK — The past six months have brought an unprecedented wave of sup- for reform eventually turned into communal and also cultivate their lands. port for Syrian Armenians on the part of the global AGBU community. Since 2012, strife among the countries’ Sunni and Shi’ite FAR presented scholarships to Martuni AGBU has raised $3.2 million in support of the AGBU Humanitarian Emergency elites and their outside backers. Religious dif- Village high school students. Relief Fund for Syrian Armenians living both in Syria and restarting their lives ferences are not the primary cause of the con- abroad. flict. The important thing in the region now is Donations have helped distribute food and aid; provide medical services and the rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The equipment; offer educational and children’s programs; and deliver displacement former is trying to extend its influences support. Thanks to the generosity of AGBU members and friends, emergency aid through the Shi’ite in Bahrain, Yemen, and has been provided to more than 3,000 families in Syria, including food packages , and it is an ally of Syria (ruled by the of cereal, cooking oil, dry meat, eggs, milk and baby formula; close to 400 patients Alwawite al-Asad family) since the Islamic have been treated and more than 50 major medical procedures performed for Revolution of 1979. The Saudis are using the wounded Armenians; tuition reimbursement scholarships have been given to close Sunni/Arab card when trying to keep Iranian to 400 Syrian Armenian students studying in Armenia and full scholarships influence out of all these countries, by sup- offered to Syrian Armenian students studying at AGBU schools in Lebanon and porting the Sunni regimes in Bahrain and Montreal. Yemen, and by getting rid of the Asad regime At the heart of the AGBU relief efforts is the #ICareICan campaign, which has in Syria. encouraged the idea that even the smallest initiative can make a big difference. According to Sanjian, possible near-future sce- Students in Martuni see RELIEF, page 5 narios in Iraq and Syria include the following: Existing inter-state borders will remain on paper, but the actual countries will become Development Principles granted 13 pregnant fragmented into federations or confederations cows to low-income families within the commu- along religious and/or ethnic lines nity. Existing states will formally become frag- AMA-Armenia partnered with Teach for mented along religious and/or ethnic lines Armenia to send a well-trained teacher to teach Sunni will impose their rule across IT courses and help students develop leadership the Middle Eastern region over reluctant reli- skills. gious and/or ethnic minorities The Partners also visited the computer lab More than one-half of the which was provided by the WCC Armenian are now outside the country, while some Round Table. Armenians have relocated inside Syria, particu- Representatives of each organization also met larly to the coastal region. Lebanon and with community members and discussed vari- Armenia provide the most immediate destina- ous projects. The community members were tions for Armenians leaving Syria, although very appreciative for all the help provided to long-term migration is sought eventually to them and expressed their suggestions and , Australia, and Northern Europe. The thoughts. All the villagers were excited and Armenian community in Lebanon is not in encouraged about the work that is being ren- panic, since the country is relatively calm, even dered by this consortium. if politically paralyzed. The mission of this partnership is to help Kasparian then introduced the second pan- In the fall of 2015, the AGBU Alex Manoogian School’s program to welcome increase the standard of living in Martuni and elist - Edmond Azadian, who is director of pub- Syrian Armenian refugees received unprecedented coverage in Canadian and lications for Baikar and the Armenian Mirror- eventually help other villages. This cooperation international media. of different Armenian organizations is an exam- Spectator (also senior editorial columnist). He ple of how synergy multiplies the efforts of each has authored several books and edited more individual organization. than 21 books. see DETROIT, page 7 S A T U R D A Y , M A R C H 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 5 COMMUNITY NEWS $3.2 million Raised in for Emergency Relief Fund for Syrian Armenians

RELIEF, from page 4 school is one of the few in Quebec to have a the tragic stories I know about personally. I’m in Toronto. Canada has been in the spotlight “These types of grassroots campaigns are not hands-on program to integrate Syrian Armenian certain that there are thousands more. It is with the resettlement of over 20,000 refugees only essential to raising funds, but also to help- refugee children and devise an educational absolutely necessary for those of us who are from Syria, among them many Armenians. The ing raise awareness of AGBU’s relief efforts in model to help them succeed academically more fortunate to reach out and help. I had the Armenian community in Canada, most in support of the tens of thousands of Armenians through training in French and English along- support of my friends and my family who Toronto and Montreal, has quickly mobilized impacted by the devastation in Syria. We’re so side their native Armenian. cheered me on, and it felt great to be able to help resources to sponsor hundreds of Armenian fam- grateful to see that the #ICareICan campaign The media attention from France24, Radio- and give back in some way.” Since November, ilies. Sponsorship of refugees entails commit- has galvanized people of all ages and sparked Canada, Journal de Montréal, Radio de Québec, similar events have been planned by AGBU mem- ments from temporary housing to providing countless acts of kindness and generosity,” said Journal de Québec, Huffington Post, and Journal bers around the world. basic assistance with paperwork, job search and Karen Papazian, director of development and Métro led many non-Armenians to donate their Many AGBU members have used their exper- a range of settlement issues. outreach at the AGBU Central Office. time and money to help the program’s mission, tise to raise money for relief efforts. Nancy YP Toronto was quick in identifying the The #ICareICan campaign, begun on AGBU’s which was lauded, mostly notably, by Quebec’s Nalbandian, a jewelry designer who donated the resources it could make available to Syrian social media platforms, has galvanized AGBU Minister of Education in the provincial National money she earned selling her jewelry at a Armenians already in Canada. Utilizing its pro- members and chapters worldwide to do their Assembly. “Our classes are filled with Syrian chil- Christmas bazaar, drew on her own past as moti- fessional networks and in cooperation with a part in contributing to the fund in their own dren who are suffering from post-traumatic vation: “My father, Leon Garabed Nalbandian, number of Toronto-based organizations, YP ways. All participants in the campaign are asked stress. But that hasn’t prevented many among was a refugee orphan and a Syrian Muslim fam- Toronto helped organize the first in a series of to take a picture holding a sign that reads them from later becoming the first in their class. ily took him in at a point in his long and difficult job fairs, which attracted a number of potential #ICareICan and post it on their personal The best remedy for their pain is education,” said Facebook, and/or Instagram pages with Principal Sébastien Stasse. a message explaining what they have done for The AGBU community has also shown its cre- the cause. Pledges have ranged from donating ativity in organizing events for Syrian relief. On money normally spent on coffee to organizing a November 21, the AGBU Central Office in New community fundraising event. York held a spinathon. Thirty-three spinners The spirit of giving embodied in the joined the event and appealed to their friends #ICareICan campaign led AGBU chapters to and family to sponsor them to participate in a hold fundraising events that bring the communi- spin class at a downtown gym. Together they ty together in support of the cause. One example raised more than $75,000. The New York spin- is AGBU Sofia’s November 28th charity ball at ners were joined by counterparts in Los Angeles the Sheraton Sofia Balkan Hotel. The event, all and Montreal. The New York spinathon inspired the proceeds of which went to the AGBU YP London to organize two events in February, Humanitarian Emergency Relief Fund for Syrian donating all the proceeds to the Syrian relief. Armenians, was attended by many notable New York spinner Maral Jebejian, who individ- guests, including Vice Foreign Minister of ually raised $15,550, knows firsthand the des- Bulgaria Hristo Angelichin; Ambassador of the perate need for support to the Armenians of Republic of Armenia to Bulgaria Arsen Shoyan; Syria: “When the opportunity presented itself to Ambassador of Syria to Bulgaria Nadra Sayaf; help Syrian Armenians, my reaction was imme- and many AGBU Sofia supporters. The evening diate and visceral. I already knew the seriousness raised money by auctioning the paintings of of the situation in Syria, not only through read- Nora Janoyan Balikian in San Diego held a holiday brunch with #ICareICan as its theme. Bulgarian Armenian artists, including those of ing the news, but through a personal connection the late Edmond Demirdjian, Onnik Karanfilian, to the country. My uncle lost his home, was Luisa Medzikian and Arshak Nersisyan, and sell- wounded by shrapnel fire and only escaped journey. I felt finally able to do something for agencies and employers. These initiatives were ing the jewelry of Jacklin Hugasyan. death by chance. My cousin was faced with the others through my jewelry business,” said designed not only to connect prospective job- AGBU schools have also taken the #ICareICan impossible decision to leave her family and her Nalbandian. Luba Libarikian of the handmade seekers with employers but also to create an inti- message to heart. In fall 2015, the AGBU Alex dying mother behind in an attempt to save her- baby accessories company Born on Bowery, the mate, informal space where refugees, through Manoogian School’s program to welcome Syrian self and her future. My husband’s cousin, whose Homeland Development Initiative of Berd Bears, small onsite workshops, can receive practical Armenian refugees received unprecedented cov- son is in the army, also faces the uncertainty of Aghasi Aghabalyan of the design boutique advice on resumes, cover letters and the effective erage in Canadian and international media. The what will become of his son. And these are just Gugoco, and Joseph Basralian, author of Mr use of professional networking sites. Ancillary Baboomian’s Van, also donated their proceeds to services, such as banking advice and opening the AGBU Emergency Humanitarian Relief Fund new accounts, are also provided. for Syrian Armenians through the AGBU Many other worthy fundraisers have been and Commemorate the 101st Anniversary Bookstore. continue to be organized around the world and Other members have held luncheons or cele- every amount collected has a direct and positive of the Armenian Genocide brations and encouraged the guests to donate to impact. $100 pays for a family’s electricity bill for the cause. In December, Nora Janoyan Balikian four months; $350 buys winter coats for ten chil- in San Diego held a holiday brunch with dren; $900 feeds fifteen families of four for two at the Massachusetts State House #ICareICan as its theme. In lieu of gifts, Balikian weeks; $2,700 supplies clean drinking water to asked her friends to donate to the fund and col- ten families for six months; $6,000 provides milk lected $11,000. “Considering how blessed we all to 20 children for a year; $8,000 covers tuition are, and thinking about making a difference in costs for one student at the AGBU school in the lives of Syrian children, I decided to join the Montreal; and $12,000 funds scholarships for ten #ICareICan campaign and ask my friends to help students continuing their university education in me raise funds for this worthy and important Armenia. “The single most important way people cause,” said Balikian. can help out,” says Nerses Nersoyan, chairman of On February 10, artist and hair stylist Vartan the AGBU Syria District, “is by making a finan- Geudelekian held a fundraising event, Art at cial donation, as it is difficult to bring any other Vartali, at his salon in New York. The cocktail items or resources into or any other city reception, attended by members of the Armenian because of the ongoing war. All of the donations community as well as many members the wider will be used in the best way possible to help New York community, served as the site for the those most in need.” opening night of Vartali’s abstract art exhibit. AGBU encourages all members and friends to The sale of his paintings, of which all the pro- do their part to ease the suffering of Syrian starts at 10:30 am ceeds were donated, raised $20,000 for the Armenians by organizing fundraising events, AGBU Humanitarian Emergency Relief Fund for such as brunches, walk-a-thons, online campaign 12 noon reception in the Great Hall Syrian Armenians. or spinathons. Email [email protected] and The relief efforts have also helped Syrian AGBU will help with the logistics. Armenians restart their lives abroad. On January For more information about the AGBU With a proclamation from the Governor of Massachusetts 27, the AGBU Young Professionals of Toronto Emergency Humanitarian Relief Fund for Syrian (YP Toronto) organized a job fair for over 200 Armenians and to donate, visit Prominent keynote speaker Syrian Armenian refugees at the AGBU Centre http://www.agbu.org/syriarelief/. Massachusetts officials Joint Senate/House Resolution recipients Merrimack Valley Plans Observance April 23 And musical program LOWELL, Mass. — The Armenian Genocide A proclamation will be issued by the mayor with Commemorative Committee of Merrimack Valley remarks from government and state officials. A flag- April 22, 2016 will join with the Armenian National Committee of raising ceremony will be conducted by the youth. Merrimack Valley in jointly sponsoring its 101st A light luncheon and cultural program will follow Details forthcoming. observance. at the historic Masonic center, across from City Hall. The combined event will take place Saturday, Children from the various church schools will com- April 23, beginning at 10 a.m. with a procession bine their talents. Organized by the State House Armenian Genocide along downtown Lowell to City Hall where events “Please join us and let your voices be heard for will take place. genocide recognition and justice and to celebrate Commemoration Committee, Boston Participants are asked to gather at 9:30 a.m. at our priceless Armenian heritage that will be so the corner of Merrimack and John Streets as a beautifully expressed in the youthful voices of our color guard from the Lowell Armenian-Americans children,” said Sossy Jeknavorian, AGCCMV chair- leads the march. man. 6 S ATURDAY, M ARCH 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS AIWA-SF Sponsors Adolescent Girls Development Programs

relationships with others.” By Gaiane Khachatrian In general, studies show that adolescents who take part in comprehensive sexual education programs delay sexual initiation, SAN FRANCISCO — The Armenian are more likely to engage in safe behavior, International Women’s Association San are less likely to enter violent relationships, Francisco Chapter (AIWA–SF) supports and hold healthier views on gender roles the self-development of teenage girls in and expectations. Armenia through its sustainable programs The girls participating in the sessions focused on comprehensive health educa- made positive remarks about the program. tion, as well as leadership skills develop- One participant noted, “For me, the most ment. interesting classes were the ones on gen- The eighth-grade girls at School #155 der-based violence, gender inequality, and excitedly took part in a series of workshops STIs and family planning.” Another led by public health specialist Ani Jilozian. remarked, “I gained a new understanding Topics ranged from biological processes, of healthy and unhealthy relationships.” In including anatomy and physiology, men- reflecting on how the workshops played a struation, puberty and safeguarding role in their personal development, one against STIs and unwanted pregnancies, to participant expressed, “I received answers the more psychological aspects of sexuali- to personal questions, and I feel confident ty, such as building healthy relationships, that I will be able to establish a healthy informed consent, communication with relationship with my future partner.” partners, and issues related to gender Given the interactive format of the work- inequality and violence in relationships. shops, the girls felt that they could express In reflecting on the program, Ani noted, themselves and be heard, which helped “Teaching sexual education is a rewarding them both in forging closer friendships Girls at a discussion in Armenia experience, especially when you have the with their classmates as well as improving pleasure to interact with girls who have a on their self-esteem. deep love of learning and an interest in the Parallel to the Comprehensive Health sions during the program,” said Ms. during the sessions, and they will become subject matter. Over the last few months, Education Program, the Leadership Petrosian, the vice principal of the school. active citizens of our society in the future.” I’ve had the distinct pleasure of getting to Program for Teens, run by Elvira “The school administration is very pleased To donate to this initiative and others know the girls at School #155, watching Meliksetyan at the Women’s Resource that AIWA–SF has created this unique please send contributions to: AIWA-SF them interact with one another, and guid- Center in Armenia, had a great resonance opportunity for our girls. We trust that the 15559 Union Ave. #227 Los Gatos, CA ing them to learn about their bodies and in School # 155. “I observed several ses- girls will take in everything that is offered 95032.

In His Spare Time, Immigrant Noubar Afeyan Has Started 38 Companies in America “We spend a lot of time at Flagship Ventures GiragosianF UNERAL H OME By Stuart Anderson identifying problems and coming up with solutions James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC that produce intellectual property that can be used Mark J. Giragosian to create innovations and ultimately new approach- Funeral Counselors BOSTON (Forbes) — Noubar Afeyan was born to es and new companies,” he said. Noubar has over 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 Armenian parents in Lebanon. At the age of 13, he 100 patents to his name. www.giragosianfuneralhome.com immigrated with his family to Canada and attended Moderna Therapeutics, which Noubar cofounded college there. Noubar was accepted to a Ph.D. pro- and helps lead as chairman, may be Flagship gram at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Ventures’ most successful startup. Founded in (MIT), at the time the only school with an advanced 2009, the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based compa- program in biochemical engineering. ny is already valued at $3 billion and employs over After earning his PhD at the age of 24, Noubar 300 people. ENNIS M. EVENEY & ONS started his first company. “I was naïve to think I Breakthroughs in using messenger RNA or could start a company with so little experience,” he mRNA have fueled growth and raised expectations D D S told me in an interview. But it worked out. For 10 for Moderna Therapeutics. CNBC named the com- Cemetery Monuments years, Noubar Afeyan headed PerSeptive pany “number one” on its 2015 Disruptor 50 list. Specializing in Biosystems, which became the number two com- “Instead of making protein medicines in factories pany in the bio-instrumentation field before it was very far away, what we are trying to do is to inject Armenian Designs and Lettering acquired by Perkin Elmer/ Corporation in you with messenger RNA so that your own body 701 Moody St. Waltham, MA 02543 1998. While CEO of PerSeptive Biosystems he will make the protein” said Stéphane Bancel, founded or cofounded five more companies. Moderna’s French-born president and CEO, in a (781) 891-9876 www.NEMonuments.com Recent research from the National Foundation 2015 CNBC interview. for American Policy (NFAP) reported on the strong In January 2016, Moderna announced it had entrepreneurial drive of many immigrants, examin- become a clinical stage company when it launched ing the impact of immigrants on the current uni- its first human trial, a Phase I study to treat patients Telephone (617) 924-7400 verse of “billion dollar” startups. The impact is sig- with infectious diseases with investigational mRNA nificant. “Immigrants have started more than half therapeutics in Europe. The ultimate goal is to treat (44 of 87) of America’s startup companies valued at patients with “infectious diseases, rare diseases, can- Aram Bedrosian $1 billion or more and are key members of man- cer and cardiovascular diseases.” agement or product development teams in over 70 Noubar Afeyan explains the promise of messen- Funeral Home, Inc. percent (62 of 87) of these companies,” according ger RNA by comparing it to the more controversial to the NFAP study. These billion dollar startups concept of changing an individual’s DNA. He notes Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 with at least one immigrant founder have created changes to DNA can be essentially permanent, like MARION BEDROSIAN an average of more than 700 jobs per company. hardware. By contrast, messenger RNA is more like 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET In 1999, Noubar evaluated the way his startups software: it can be used to perform a task and then PAUL BEDROSIAN were formed — and startups in general — and can be programmed to disappear. WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN thought perhaps the often disjointed, “trial and Moderna Therapeutics is a company with the error” approach typical of startups could be potential to benefit the health of millions of people. reduced to something more systematic and orga- The irony is it may never have come into being if nized. That’s when he founded Flagship Ventures, Noubar Afeyan had not been accepted to MIT. which develops new companies through its in- Afeyan says what he liked about the atmosphere at house division VentureLabs. It also invests in star- MIT as an international student is that the school tups. was merit-based. “Nobody felt they had an advan- VentureLabs, which Noubar oversees as senior tage over you just because they were born in the managing partner and CEO of Flagship Ventures, United States and you weren’t. It was a very good takes a unique approach. It conducts its own environment and remains so.” research and forms new companies after the Afeyan said he believes being an immigrant and research has started to bear fruit. Using this an entrepreneur are complementary. “What keeps approach, Flagship Ventures and VentureLabs have you from innovating is being comfortable,” he said. launched dozens of startup companies, primarily in “If you’re an immigrant, then you’re used to being the life sciences and sustainability. out of your comfort zone.” S ATURDAY, M ARCH 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS Detroit Community Hosts Forum on Crisis in Middle East and Impact on Armenians

DETROIT, from page 4 Sahakyan, who is a Manoogian Postdoctoral ever, the Syrian Armenians could be regarded receive tuition scholarships from the AGBU and “Armenia in the Midst of Turmoil” was the Fellow in the Department of Near Eastern as refugees because they are unable to return to Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. subject of Azadian’s presentation. He traced Studies, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. His their residences due to the conflict, violence Not surprisingly, housing continues to be a Armenia’s history from World War I when talk focused on the “Impact of the Syrian and aggression in Syria. problem. The plan to construct a district for Armenia lost an opportunity to have a port in Armenians in Armenia” since 2012. Sahakyan stated that the current influx of Syrian Armenians in Ashtarak (about 15 miles either Alexandretta (Iskenderun) or Trabzon — Sahakyan’s talk began by discussing the Armenians was in fact the third massive from Yerevan) that would accommodate only resulting in Armenia being a landlocked coun- change in policies in Armenia, and then how it influx of ethnic Armenians. The first 2000 people lacks the funding to be completed. try — to the present. There are no reliable statistics about When Armenia was absorbed into the numbers of Syrian Armenians who the Soviet Union, its geographic limi- are employed, self-employed, or unem- tations were minimized — until ployed. There are about 300 small Armenia gained its independence. For businesses owned by Syrian the last 25 years, Armenia has faced Armenians — contributing to the eco- war for Karabagh and the earthquake nomic diversity in Yerevan — especially while being blockaded by neighboring in the area of food service. However, Turkey and Azerbaijan, resulting in these small businesses attract mostly ongoing depopulation. Syrian Armenians. These neighbors and Georgia have While job or business opportunities effectively choked Armenia by design- are possible, the major problem is low ing energy pipelines and railways to by- wages. The unemployment rate is 17 pass Armenia. percent; the poverty rate is about 33 Armenia was courting the European percent. Even if employed, Syrian Union — until the emergence of the Armenians are not able to make new cold war with Russia seeking to From left, Ed Haroutunian, Alice Nigohosian, Ani From left, Dr. Vahe Sahakyan, Edmond Azadian, Dr. Ara enough money to support their fami- Kasparian Sanjian ascend to its former status as a super- lies. This is one of the reasons they pre- power — resulting in Armenia being fer to leave Armenia for third countries. “pulled” into Moscow centered Sahakyan concluded his talk by stat- Customs Union. According to Azadian, Russian affects the integration of Syrian Armenians. occurred in 1988-1992 when Armenians fled ing that the Syrian Armenians came to Armenia Base No. 102 (outside Yerevan) with its recent According to the Ministry of Diaspora of the Azerbaijan; the second occurred in 2003- with an idealized image of a homeland. Their buildup and military exercises have proven Republic of Armenia, about 20,000 Syrian 2004, when Armenians fled Iraq. These were great expectations were met with disappoint- beyond doubt that Armenia will be the last one Armenians have entered Armenia since 2012, of recognized as refugees. In July 2012, the gov- ment — when their homeland was unable to to benefit from this alliance. whom 16,000 have stayed in Armenia. ernment of Armenia authorized the con- embrace them and meet their needs. Much He also discussed an interesting development Sahakyan mentioned that Armenia is not open sulates in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq to issue remains to be accomplished. that took place on December 23, 2015 in to all Syrian refugees, but more importantly, the citizenship and passports to people of A brief question-and-answer session was mod- Moscow where a meeting took place between Republic of Armenia does not view Syrian Armenian descent free of charge. erated by Edward Haroutunian and Alice pro-Kurdish Democratic party leader Salahettin Armenians as refugees as stated at a workshop Sahakyan explained that granting refugee Nigoghosian. Haroutunian is active in the State Demirtas and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei on February 24 by Hranush Hakobyan, the status to Syrian Armenians would be an extra Bar of Michigan and is a current member of the Lavrov about a plan to “reshape” Turkey by cre- Minister of Diaspora. Three years ago, the min- burden to the government. Its preemptive deci- State Bar of Board of Commissioners. ating the Anatolian Confederate Republic. ister stated “The Syrian Armenians cannot be sion to provide citizenship to the Syrian Nigoghosian, formerly associate director of Meanwhile, in the background, various called refugees in their homeland.” This Armenians overrides the possibility of their Wayne State University Press, now produces treaties are being challenged, abrogated, possi- explains why Armenia has not accepted Syrian becoming refugees. books as Book Publishing Consultants LLC. bly annulled. Some Armenians believe that refugees who are not of Armenian descent. Because the vast majority of Syrian An afterglow with the participants followed Putin will return Ararat to Armenia. As long as The government’s view is that Syrian Armenians lack refugee documents, and have this informative program. the Karabagh issue is not settled with Armenians are repatriates rather than refugees. been granted Armenian citizenship, they This program was sponsored by the Detroit Azerbaijan, there will not be an improvement in According to the standards of the UN 1951 should be treated the same as other citizens of United Committee - Armenian Assembly, ADL- the relationship between Armenia and Turkey. Convention on Refugees and the Republic of Armenia. Sahakyan’s view is that they have to Ramgavar Party, AGBU, Armenian Research Kasparian introduced the third speaker, Vahe Armenia’s law on Refugees and Asylum, how- be treated differently because “they are actual- Center—University of Michigan-Dearborn, CSAI, ly refugees.” Detroit Armenian Women’s Club, Daughters of Syrian Armenians face challenges in inte- Vartan-Zabel Otyag Chapter, Knights of Vartan- grating successfully in Armenian society. They Nareg Shavarshan Lodge, Tekeyan Cultural need assistance in four areas: housing, employ- Association, Wayne State University Society of ment, access to health care and education. Armenian Students. Along with other citizens of Armenia, Syrian This summary of highlights from the pro- Armenians have free access to primary health gram was prepared by Alice Nigoghosian. ӇӥӹӥӧӯԃӥӳӥӺӏԆԁӸӥӺԅӅԄӥӧӯԄ care facilities and public schools. Students in The video titled “Armenians and the Crisis in Ӈ Programme of Armenian Studies higher education institutions in Armenia may the Middle East” can be viewed via YouTube.

to senior management and directed the strate- Mark Kolligian to gic planning process for the retail division. During his tenure at CVS Health, he was award- Speak at St. James ed three Chairman’s Awards for outstanding performance. Men’s Club Kolligian has been cited in many publica- tions, including: Market Research Matters by WATERTOWN — On Monday, April 4, Mark Robert Duboff and Jim Spaeth, Understanding Kolligian, former vice president for customer The Consumer in Drugstore News, articles experience at CVS Health will be the speaker at about public attitudes toward homelessness in the St. James Men’s Club. He will speak about the Boston Globe, the economic impact of ener- ² “Healthcare In the gy shortages in the Boston Herald, market 21st Century.” research’s contributions to retail mergers and Kolligian is a acquisitions in the Research Conference ELEMENTARY WESTERN ARMENIAN | MON 4 JUL 2016 THU 28 JUL 2016 recently retired Report, and he is a noted Who’s Who in shop- This course provides students with the essential tools for using language. executive with more per insights by Shopper Marketing’s Path to Students will learn to write simple sentences and read basic texts. than 25 years of Purchase Institute. He has also spoken at major ² experience in cus- conferences on the topic of consumer insights, tomer relations. He including at the New England Market Research started his career as Association and the national Advertising INTERMEDIATE WESTERN ARMENIAN | MON 1 AUG 2016 THU 25 AUG 2016 a full-service market Research Foundation. The next level of language learning. Students will learn to converse with research supplier, He now lives in Franklin with his wife Nancy. native speakers about daily life and read the newspaper-level texts. managing a diverse His daughter is a Roger Williams graduate and Mark Kolligian ² group of clients, is currently working at Arnold Advertising. His including Avery son is a graduate of Quinnipiac University’s ADVANCED WESTERN ARMENIAN | MON 6 JUN 2016 THU 30 JUN 2016 Dennison, BASF, Bose, Boston Edison, School of Business and is a finance analyst at Converse, Chrysler, Citizens Bank, Farberware, Converse. Mark is passionate about music, Students will acquire advanced understanding of grammar and Fleet Bank, IBM, John Hancock, King Arthur woodworking and helping others. He currently considerable sophistication in communicating with native speakers. )XOOVFKRODUVKLSVDUHDYDLODEOHWRFRYHUVWXGHQWV·WXLWLRQIHHVFRXUWHV\RI Flour, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Marshalls, serves on the board of directors at Old Colony Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company, Ocean Habitat for Humanity and is also a board mem- Spray, Prince Spaghetti, Smartfood Popcorn, ber for the CVS Health Charity Classic and the Star Market, Store 24, Very Fine, and Armenian Museum of America. the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Please consult our website for WearGuard among others. The social hour starts with Mezza, at 6:15 application deadlines and further details. At CVS Health he managed a team of more PM followed by a complete dinner at 7 p.m. The  than 200 professionals executing the functions dinner meeting will be at the St. James SUPPORTED BY: MORE INFORMATION: of Customer Relations, Customer Analytics, and Armenian Church , Charles Mosesian Cultural  Market Research for the retail, clinic and PBM and Youth Center - Keljik Hall, Watertown. www.progarmstud.org.uk divisions. He also served as a strategic advisor Ladies are welcome. [email protected] 8 S ATURDAY, M ARCH 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS

college in Syria and worked for nine years in Eastern food, so it is in great demand. Ani Ani Catering Saudi Arabia in sales of electronics before com- Catering and Café has participated in the ing to the United States in 1988. He worked Watertown-Belmont Chamber of Commerce again in electronics in New York for three years annual food festival, garnering more expo- And Café before starting a food distribution company, sure. specializing in Middle Eastern ingredients. He Customers now come from as far afield stopped the distribution business in 1995 and as Concord, Lexington and Wellesley, Entices with worked in a different field of sales until 2005, while the catering business ranges over all but continued catering part-time on weekends. of eastern Massachusetts, even going into Armenian and In 2006, Hovannes Janessian turned the neighboring Rhode Island occasionally. catering business into a fulltime one, and Events for up to 600 people have been moved to the present location in Belmont. His catered, including both corporate and Middle Eastern wife still helps when needed. Ani and Hovannes family or social occasions indoors and out. Janessian developed the recipes. Customers Ani Catering has a trailer with a portable asked for takeout and so in May 2012 grill, so onsite cooking can easily be Cuisine Hovannes Janessian expanded the business, arranged. Advice for event planners can be while in October 2014 he was able to turn part of his store into a sit- By Aram Arkun down restaurant. Mirror-Spectator Staff There are 16 seats inside, and 8 more outside during the summer. The interior of the restaurant has BELMONT, Mass. — Lately more and more pictures of Yerevan, Aleppo and restaurants in the Boston area seem to be offer- various Middle Eastern and Greek

Hovannes Janessian, founder of Ani Catering and Café Eggplant pome- granate salad, Ani’s kebab ingredients. Hovannes exclaimed, “If it was up to me, I would even eat it with ice cream!” Hovannes categorized his food as endowed in general with full, robust flavor. Chicken and lamb kebab are among Ani’s other popular dishes, as is a salad made of pomegranate juice and egg- plant. One unusual item is catered five or six times a year primarily for show on special occasions like weddings: a whole lamb is cooked in the store oven and its belly stuffed. It is taken to the event and guests can pull off desired pieces of meat. The dining room at Ani Catering and Café Desserts include paklava, Ani’s katayif and moushabak as well famous as apple and strawberry pie ing shawarma and other Middle Eastern foods, cities, along with a television slide show of func- chicken and cookies. New items are but Ani Catering and Café in Belmont has a tions catered by the business in the past. The shawarma periodically brought onto the on a spit combination of spices in its mix that make its apricot and red colored walls are covered with a menu, and Hovannes’s travels chicken shawarma different from the others. It painted stylized Mt. Ararat. to Armenia and the Middle has become the top-selling menu item for the Son Ari has always helped in the catering East often lead to new culinary business — and a weekly addiction for this jour- business, but he began to work fulltime with provided concerning photographers, music approaches. nalist. Ani’s range of Syrian and Armenian dish- the takeout business. His father proudly said, and entertainment. With Ani Catering and Café so successful, es and its warm and welcoming staff have made “We owe the success of the takeout business to Hovannes Janessian explained that “fresh- Hovannes Janessian now is planning a second it a mainstay for many non-Armenians as well as his efforts and outgoing personality.” Aside ness is our secret. We use only natural ingredi- restaurant and takeout place in a different town Armenians living in Belmont and surrounding from father and son, there are two more full- ents, with no preservatives or processed food.” in the region. He declared that as he and his towns. time employees, and one part-time driver for They replace the chicken stacked on the spit or family are a part of the Armenian community, Ani was established in 1993 as a part-time evening deliveries. The business is open at pre- vertical rod for shawarma three times a day, so Ani supports all organizations that need its catering company by Hovannes Janessian sent from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. it is always fresh, while falafel is fried only after help, whether through food, donations or vol- together with his wife the eponymous Ani. Hovannes Janessian said that people in the it has been ordered. The garlic sauce or “toum” unteer work. Janessian, born in Aleppo, studied economics in area are familiar with Armenian and Middle is always in demand. It is only made of pure Ani is located at 687 Belmont St., Belmont. HMADS Gala Dinner Dance: The Tradition of Celebration Continues…

BAYSIDE, N.Y. — When Holy Martyrs Armenian fundraising committee. This ensures the school’s dinner served at 9 p.m. Talented international For further information on the Gala Dinner Day School (HMADS) first opened its doors to the legacy will carry on for years to come. singer Harout Bedrossian and his band from Dance call the school office. Armenian community as “Hye Bardez” in 1967, lit- The preservation of HMADS and its mission is Toronto will provide the evening’s entertainment. — Arpi Arukian, Class of 1992 tle did its founders realize the impact it would have the main goal of a dedicated group of supporters on generations to follow. For nearly 50 years, known as “Friends of HMADS.” The Friends com- HMADS has upheld a tradition of excellence in ele- mittee has coordinated and promoted fundraising mentary education while inspiring a love and appre- activities since 1994, with extraordinary support ciation for Armenian heritage, language and cul- from the greater Armenian community. Time and ture. time again, this unwavering generosity has amazed Surpassing the mandated New York State edu- us, allowing HMADS to maintain its high academic cation standards, HMADS cultivates in its students standards, while keeping the tuition affordable for a love of learning, a thirst for knowledge, a spirit of families. Chaired by school board treasurer unity, and strength of character. Several years post- Hovannes Malikyan, the Friends committee meets graduation, many of the alumni maintain a strong frequently to plan social and cultural programs and desire and responsibility to give back to the school, events, including the most anticipated one of the either monetarily or through service. They distin- year: the annual Gala Dinner Dance. guish themselves with academic and professional This year’s gala will be held on Saturday, May 21, honors, and as active and respected members of the at the North Hills Country Club in Manhasset. This Armenian community. It brings the school com- most significant fundraiser for the school will bring munity great pride and joy to witness the return of together a vast group of HMADS supporters and many older alumni to HMADS as parents and mem- friends. The evening’s festivities will begin at 7:30 The Friends of HMADS group bers of the PTO, School Board, and Friends p.m. with a cocktail hour, followed by a multi-course S ATURDAY, M ARCH 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 Arts & Living

Joseph Bohigian Aileen Agopian Curates Composer’s Lectures on Voice Concert Contemporary NEW YORK — Composer Joseph Bohigian is Middle Eastern Art curating a concert for the Composer’s Voice Concert Series featuring music by Stony Brook composers on Thursday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. at By Hagop Vartivarian The Firehouse Space in Brooklyn. The concert will feature music by Stony Brook University NEW YORK — Considering the times we are faculty, students, and alumni representing the living through, an unusually interesting unique and diverse musical voices that have evening lecture took place on March 8 dedicat- come out of the Stony Brook Department of ed to contemporary art in the Middle East, Music. especially Arab, Persian and Islamic art. It had A current master’s student at Stony Brook, greater significance because it took place in Joseph Bohigian is an Armenian-American com- the heart of Manhattan, at the Graduate poser, percussionist and pianist whose music Center of the City University of New York. has been heard around the world in Germany, The hall originally allocated for the lecture Portugal, Armenia, and across the US. Of on March 8 turned out to be too small for the his time at Stony Brook, Bohigian states that audience and therefore, prior to the start time the school is “very open and encouraging to of 7 p.m., the program was transferred to a larg- composers of various styles, as reflected in its er hall. composition faculty and students. With this Dr. Anny Bakalian welcomed the guests and concert, I hope to highlight this diversity in the introduced the lecturer. The latter has more works of my accomplished colleagues and than 20 years of experience in the world of teachers by bringing their music to new audi- international art, having worked at great art ences in New York.” shows and auction houses, especially at the The April 21 concert will feature works by Students with their new instruments White Cube Gallery of London, where she lived Stony Brook University faculty members while a student, and Phillips in New York. In Matthew Barnson and Daria Semegen, current 2011 she joined the auction firm Sotheby’s as students Bohigian, Alan Hankers and Andrew a senior specialist of contemporary interna- Conklin, and alumni Robert Voisey, Ryan tional art, and of Middle Eastern and North Carter, João Pedro Oliveira and Philip Let The Trumpets African contemporary art in particular. She Schuessler. These composers’ works have been became vice president of the firm’s contempo- performed around the world at such prestigious rary art division. In 2015 she opened her own venues as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, firm, Agopian, dedicated to world art. ISCM World Music Days, Wigmore Hall and Agopian took an interesting and successful Aram Khachaturian Museum Hall by such Sound! path in her profession. Her first collaboration ensembles as the Arditti Quartet, Cleveland was with the artist Mona Hatoum, a Lebanese Chamber Symphony, International YEREVAN — “The world is changing, and so are human values. Only music of Palestinian background who innovated by Contemporary Ensemble and JACK Quartet. remains a constant spiritual island.” These wise words are those of Diana drawing her works The concert will feature performances by Hovhannisyan, director of the Anahit Tsitsikian Music School, in Yerevan. In a mes- with parts of her sTem (Meagan Amelia Brus, Eric Umble, and sage to readers of the school’s home page (http://anahitmusicschool.com/ ), she own body instead of Sophia Subbayya Vastek), Fly String Quartet points to the responsibility of parents and teachers in guaranteeing that the with brushes and (Jaram Kim, Andrew Minguez, Alison Rowe, younger generation preserve “timeless human values,” and emphasizes the crucial pencils. Agopian and Brendan Shea), soprano Beth Griffith, clar- role that musical education plays in this process. Music always worked to By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach shapes the cognitive powers of encourage female Special to the Mirror-Spectator a child, as well as its moral atti- artists, and had as tudes. Instead of wasting time her social focus the and energy on senseless TV promotion of equali- programs or video games, a child who learns to play a musical instrument devel- ty and reciprocal ops intellectual rigor, learns to define goals and acquire the power of concentra- respect as part of the social mentality tion to achieve them. The aim of her school, she writes, is “to foster the young gen- Aileen Agopian eration’s spiritual development” through musical education. Whether or not a of the peoples of the child may become a professional musician in the future, he or she “will inevitably Middle East. She become part of the world of music, keen to behold everything that is beautiful, succeeded in equally valuing and evaluating devoted to things that are harmonious, kind, and timeless. He/she will learn to males and females as artists. Consequently, think, feel and live touched by the truly exquisite magic of Music.” Hatum’s works received international recogni- Founded in 1987, the music school, N. 21, was named after the well-known vio- tion. linist, Anahit Tsitsikian in 2007. Among its graduates are prize-winning students, Agopian’s great love and dedication to her many of whom have continued their studies in Armenia and abroad. In 2014, the work comes from her parents, and in particu- U.S. Embassy’s organization Helping Hands and the Fuller Center for Housing lar, from her mother, Vicki Shoghag see TRUMPETS, page 11 Hovanessian, who has more than half a centu- ry of experience in Chicago, Yerevan and New Joseph Bohigian York in organizing art exhibitions, and pro- moting contemporary art. Agopian was sur- rounded by art from childhood. It was with her inetist Ford Fourqurean, pianists Shiau-uen mother’s encouragement that in 1995 in Ding, Yumi Suehiro and Niloufar Nourbakhsh, London, she recognized the value of the works and percussionists Joseph Bohigian, Ross Aftel of Damien Hirst, then relatively unknown, and and Brian Smith. that led to her future specialization. The Composer’s Voice Concert Series is an She became recognized as a promoter of opportunity for contemporary composers to works of art and a specialist in international art express their aesthetic and personal voice. in New York and London, and, simultaneously, Founded in 2001 by Robert Voisey, himself a and perhaps more interestingly, in the Middle Stony Brook alumnus, Composer’s Voice has East, especially in Kuwait, Beirut and Doha presented hundreds of concerts in New York (Qatar). Sotheby’s wanted to expand its auc- City. The series has premiered thousands of tion markets. Agopian focused on this, and works from living composers from around the unexpectedly found a very great reception. world. Works are chosen from a wide range of Very soon the Al-Thani royal family of Qatar at contemporary composers of different styles, the Doha art exhibition and the Sharjah aesthetics, and genre. The works are performed Biennial made purchases worth millions of dol- by dedicated musicians devoted to new music. lars of choice European, and, in particular, Performances are recorded and archived to fur- French Impressionist art works, sometimes ther promote new music, performers, and com- breaking all prior records of such sales. In this posers. Audio, video, scores, and programs can way, Agopian opened up a new market begin- be found on the Composer’s Voice website. Students with their new instruments ning in 2006 for international contemporary www.ComposersVoice.com art in the Middle East. The Firehouse Space is located at 246 Frost see ART, page 10 St, Brooklyn. 10 S ATURDAY, M ARCH 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING

Balakian to Present New Works and Elia Kazan’s ‘America, America’ during Armenian Genocide Month

NEW YORK — Award-winning author and the news program, “60 Minutes” in 2009. Balakian is the author of seven books of poet Peter Balakian will lead a discussion in The second half of the program will feature poems and three non-ficiton books, including honor of the Armenian Genocide commemo- a partial film screening of renowned director : The Armenian Genocide ration from his new book of essays and poet- Elia Kazan’s, “America, America,” which por- and America’s Response, which won the 2005 ry, Ozone Journal, as well as discuss Elia trays the Armenian massacres for the first Raphael Lemkin Prize and was a New York Kazan’s film, “America, America,” on Friday, time on the Hollywood screen. Kazan’s 1963 Times Notable Book and a New York Times April 8, at the Eastern Diocese in an event Oscar-winning film has been called one of the and national bestseller. His memoir, Black Dog hosted by its Development Department. most daring human rights films in cinema his- of Fate won the 1998 PEN/Martha Albrand Balakian’s new publications include tory and which Kazan scholar and film critic Prize for the Art of the Memoir, and was a best insightful passages and references to Foster Hirsch has called an “American mas- book of the year for the New York Times, the Armenian history and literary culture. In Vise terpiece.” Kazan, himself, singled out LA Times and Publisher’s Weekly, and was and Shadows: Essays on the Lyric “America, America” as his favorite film. recently issued in a 10th anniversary edition. Imagination, Poetry, Art and Culture, he ded- “America, America is Kazan’s groundbreak- This event is free and open to the public and icates five separate essays to artist Arshile ing film that brought the plight of the will be held on Friday, April 8 at 7p.m. in the Gorky, writers Yeghishe Charents and Armenians and Greeks in Turkey to the big Guild Hall of the Diocese of the Armenian and filmmaker Elia Kazan. screen,” said Balakian, who is the Donald M. Church of America (Eastern), 630 Second Ave. Ozone Journal contains a sequence of and Constance H. Rebar Professor of the A reception will follow the discussion and poems, including one focusing on the Humanities, Professor of English and book signing. author’s memories of excavating the bones of Director of Creative Writing at Colgate For questions please email Taleen Babayan, Armenian Genocide victims in the Syrian University. “It is time the film is understood director of development, at taleenb@arme- desert with a crew of television journalists for for what it is about.” niandiocese.org. Aileen Agopian Lectures on Contemporary Middle Eastern Art

ART, from page 9 Koons’ works for $20 million, Warhol and and the 99-year-old Saloua Raouda Choucair, of contemporary international art, Agopian was It was a novelty for the Arab Gulf countries Giacometti works for $100 million, and finally, a who in 2013, had her exhibition in London’s able to hold the attention of her audience when the world-class art museums of the Louvre Picasso for $150 million. The list goes on. During Tate Modern. through her immediacy. in Paris and the Guggenheim in New York a short period of time painters of 25 countries Art history lecturer Prof. David Joselit of In that great crowd, we ten Armenians gath- signed agreements with various Arab museums. (in particular, from the Americas, large countries CUNY conducted a brief interview, after which ered together could only exchange expressions This introduced the Arab people to the classics of Asia and classical European), dealers of art attendees had the opportunity to ask questions, of admiration. We felt proud of the achievements of contemporary art and brought a new level of works and purchasers began to widely partici- which Aileen confidently answered. of our new generation in the difficult world of quality to culture in those countries. Various pate in the art world of Doha, and this helped Familiar with the psychology of the customers international art. exhibitions began to be organized in countries create the great success of the Sotheby’s auction in her field, and well-versed in the developments (Translated from the Armenian) from the United Arab Emirates all the way to which Aileen organized there in 2013. The great Morocco. Through these exhibitions, the oppor- exhibition halls of the West opened their branch- tunity was also created to introduce the works of es there, and the unique place which Beirut Indian, Persian and even Armenian artists. Dubai enjoyed before the Lebanese civil war now was in became the center of this world of art. Imagine the Arabian Gulf. This, unfortunately, took place that the Persian artist Farhad Moshiri’s work at Lebanon’s expense, and that of our Armenian Recipe called “Light” already had begun to be valued at artists, like Paul, Asadour, Norigian, Hrayr and one million dollars in the art market, and the Zaven, who were the creators of modern art in Egyptian artist Mahmoud Sa’id’s work created in the Arab world. 1929 at $2.55 million. Yet it should be noted that the most expensive Corner And what can be said, when in February 2015, canvas sold in this market by Aileen of painters of the royal family of Qatar paid almost $300 mil- the Arab world belonged to the Egyptian-Armenian by Christine Vartanian Datian lion for Paul Gauguin’s Tahitian painting of two painter Chant Avedisian. It was his work “Icons of women, “Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You the Nile,” which was valued at $1.56 million in 2013 Marry?)” breaking all previous international at the Doha Sotheby’s auction. records. The previous record was the sale in At the same time, the works of modern Middle Oriental Bulgur Bowl with Chicken 2011 of Paul Cézanne’s “The Card Players” at Eastern artists began to be shown in New York, auction for $250 million. This followed with Jeff with pieces by the 90-year-old Persian Monir and Vegetables Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian appearing at the Guggenheim, while the Egyptian Wael Shawky, INGREDIENTS and the Lebanese Walid Raad at New York’s 2 cups medium bulgur Meg Ryan’s Film Museum of Modern Art. 4 cups low-sodium chicken, turkey or beef broth (vegetable broth may also be used) Agopian spoke about the cultural awakening A handful of broken or crushed vermicelli, orzo, or egg noodles Based on Saroyan in Saudi Arabia, where numerous artists, includ- 2 cloves garlic, minced ing women, are appearing. Among them she 1 medium onion, finely chopped Novel Featured at mentioned Manal Al-Dowayan, who has chiefly 1 stalk celery (and top greens), finely chopped been inspired by the daily life and customs of 1 cup diced cooked chicken, ham, pork, or turkey Festival women in her country. When we consider the 1/4 cup each sliced carrots and frozen peas severe conditions of the kingdom, especially con- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce SONOMA, Calif. — Meg Ryan’s direc- cerning women, this can be considered as a rev- 1/2 tablespoon garlic chili sauce torial debut is titled “Ithaca,” based on olution in connection with a movement for the 2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger Armenian American William Saroyan’s liberation of women. She also mentioned the 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt (to taste) novel The Human Comedy. This year at artist Abdulnasser Gharem, who after serving for Black or white pepper, red pepper flakes or paprika (to taste) the Sonoma International Film Festival twenty years in the Saudi armed forces, dedicat- Olive oil or unsalted butter, 3 tablespoons (SIFF) in Northern California, Meg ed himself to the world of art through his cre- Finely chopped green onions, slivered almonds, and fresh mint and basil Ryan will be honored with a Sonoma ations. Toasted sesame oil Salute Award at a tribute event on Despite the battles and war which continue in 4 beaten eggs, scrambled Thursday, March 31. The event will Iraq, artists there also are participating in this begin with a screening of “Ithaca” at contemporary renaissance of art. Hayv PREPARATION: 3:30 p.m. Kahraman is one example. Syria is in a similar In a large pot, sauté the vermicelli or noodles in the butter or olive oil until browned, toss- “Ithaca” centers around the fictional position, and has the photographer Hrair ing frequently but do not burn vermicelli, for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, onions, and town of Ithaca, Calif. during World War Sarkissian who succeeded in showing psycho- celery, toss, and cook for a few minutes longer. Add the bulgur, chicken, ham, pork, or II. It is the story of 14-year-old Homer logical and historic moments in the torment and turkey, carrots, peas, soy sauce, garlic chili sauce, ginger, salt, pepper, seasonings, and the Macauley, who is determined to be the turmoil of the daily life of the Syrian people. broth; mix and bring ingredients to a full boil; mix again and reduce heat to medium low; best and fastest bicycle telegraph mes- She finally focused on the Lebanese artists cover and cook for 20-22 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. senger. His older brother has gone to who without a doubt were the brilliant founders Let the bulgur sit about 5 minutes before serving. Toss with a fork. Serve in bowls and war, leaving Homer to look after his of the cultural life of the Arab world, not only of top each serving with some scrambled eggs; garnish bowls with chopped green onions, widowed mother, his older sister, and the fine arts and drawing but also of theater, almonds, mint and basil; drizzle with toasted sesame seed oil and serve hot. his 4-year-old brother. The Human music, dance and architecture. The 91-year-old Serves 4. Comedy is based on Saroyan’s personal artist Etel Adnan, the oldest of the painters, is life, growing up in Fresno with his sib- the standard-bearer for contemporary Arab- Christine’s recipes have been published in the Fresno Bee, Sunset and Cooking Light lings and his mother. American culture. Her works often are exhibited Magazines, and at http://www.thearmeniankitchen.com/ “Ithaca” will be featured at SIFF, from New York to London. She creates symbolic For Christine’s recipes that have been published in Sunset and Cooking Light Magazines, which kicks off on March 30 and runs images of Lebanon’s nature with such faithful- go to: http://www.myrecipes.com/search/site/Datian through April 4. ness and with harmony of colors. Of course, there is also Walid Raad, the 48-year-old artist, S ATURDAY, M ARCH 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 ARTS & LIVING An Inheritance of Pain and Secrets

NOVEL, from page 1 this story. One of the greatest moments in my And emotion is certainly present in this The hardcover came out in 2015 and after a life was finding out that the Independent book. Ohanesian steers clear of getting cheap tremendous reception, the paperback was pub- Bookstore Association had chosen it as the #1 tears but deftly brings to life the rich lished earlier this year. pick for April 2015. I love indie booksellers and Armenian family whose daughters are care- The book combines the tender story of love- the idea that they chose my book over all the takers of their family. Their mother, a woman struck teens amidst the background of the others was incredible,” she said. who fancies herself an artist and had hoped Armenian Genocide, uprooting and death, “I was walking in the airport in Portland the to live abroad, is in the depths of a depres- while also telling the contemporary story of a other day and spotted my book on a shelf right sion after the arrest of her brother. The young Turkish man who upon the death of his next to Toni Morison. I gasped audibly. I’m still father is trying to run their textile business grandfather, realizes that the family’s home- trying to process all the love this book has but day by day it becomes clearer that the stead has been willing to an old Armenian received,” said the humble Ohanesian. Armenians’ fate is not an enviable one. Add woman in a Los Angeles nursing home. The writing process is hard, but in one inter- to this mix a young Turkish boy and his The story captures the experiences of a well- view, Ohanesian had said that one day she clear- father who work for this family and you have to-do Armenian family right at the start of the ly heard the words of Seda, the older Armenian a microcosm of the fate of the Armenians. Armenian Genocide. Of course, it is crushing to protagonist stuck in a Los Angeles nursing Ohanesian is a descendent of Genocide sur- read how they are going about their lives, not home, and that her character was born. vivors. She was born in Kuwait to Armenian realizing that the end is near. When asked if this happens regularly, she parents who had come from Lebanon and Ohanesian’s book didn’t just get reviewed; it joked, “Are you asking me if I regularly hear Syria. “I came to Los Angeles at the age of 4 got raves in the New York Times, Los Angeles voices? No, I don’t normally hear voices! It hap- and have lived here ever since,” she said in a Review of Books and the San Francisco pened in the very beginning and only once, recent interview. Chronicle, among others. unfortunately. It was the catalyst that brought “My maternal great-grandmother, Elizabeth “The credit goes to my publisher, Algonquin me to the writing table. I definitely don’t think Arslanian, was a survivor. I knew her as a child “I admire both those writers tremendously Books, and I suppose to fate or kismet. All pub- characters are floating in the ether. Story ideas, and she was the one who first told me about and have read all their works,” she said, adding, lishers send books to these publications. Very emotions, yes. But characters are built over the genocide. My paternal grandparents were “I don’t think it’s my place to compare my writ- few of them get reviewed and even fewer get time with a great deal of meditation.” also survivors. They met as orphans in ing with theirs.” favorable reviews.” Reading Orhan’s Inheritance, one would be Lebanon,” she noted. The story takes place in the Sivas province as And not only did the book get raves in news- hard-pressed to guess that this is the first novel One of the striking things about the book is well as Istanbul, both of which Ohanesian has papers, it became a book group favorite and for Ohanesian. that the characters are not black and white; the visited. She added that her family hails from endorsed by many other groups and writers. She shyly demurred. “I never felt self-assured delicacy of the teens’ love or the violence of Adana and Antep, but that she has not gone to The book was a #1 Indie Next Pick for the while writing it. I simply did my best to inhabit their separation and different fates come those regions yet. “I would definitely go back to month of April 2015, a Barnes & Noble the body and psyche of whichever character I through with a light touch. Turkey. I’d like to visit the eastern provinces Discover Selection, an Amazon Top 100 Book happened to be writing about. I never studied “I relate in different ways to different charac- with my sons,” she noted. of the Year, and a Library Journal Editor’s Pick. writing or literature in school. If I have any ters. The difficulty of writing from a character’s Currently there are no plans to turn the book The book was also long listed for the presti- training at all it has to do with the fact that I perspective has very little to do with their gen- into a movie, but Ohanesian said that she is gious 2015 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize have been a voracious reader and lover of fic- der or race. It has more to do with who they are looking for a film agent. “I started writing this book in 2007. I had no tion my entire life.” on the inside, their values, their soul,” she said. Ohanesian is currently working on her next contacts in the industry and had no idea if it When asked whether the subject and its “It was easier to write from Orhan’s perspective novel, “a reimagining of one of one of Western would ever publish. The timing of the release closeness to her made it harder or easier to than it was his father’s. Orhan is a kind decent Civilization’s founding narratives.” was not intentional. The universe sometimes write about, she said, “Both. Easier because I person and an artist/ photographer. It was eas- She noted that she is also touring with the works in our favor,” she said. felt I knew this land and these people. Its sor- ier for me to relate to him than his religiously paperback version of Orhan’s Inheritance. “Every storyteller needs an audience. It is rows and joys were part of my DNA. Harder extreme, close-minded father.” Orhan’s Inheritance, published by Algonquin why we write. Pretending otherwise would be because there wasn’t enough psychic distance Ohanesian said that she admires the works of Books, is available at Amazon and bookstores disingenuous. I am extremely grateful to people between me and the story. I doubt I will ever be Turkish authors who tackle the issue of the across the nation. and institutions that recommend the book to as emotionally vulnerable as I was while writing Armenian Genocide, including Elif Shafak and others because it means more people will know this book.” Orhan Pamuk. Let The Trumpets Sound!

TRUMPETS, from page 9 Armenia renovated the recital hall, where students have the opportuni- ty to perform for family and friends, Anahid gaining valuable experience. Although the school had pianos and string instruments, wind Tsitsikian instruments were lacking and most students from the local community who attend this school are not able Anahit Tsitsikian (1926–1999) was born in to purchase their own. In response, Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia. After AYO! (https://weareayo.org/music- studying under Professor Karp Dombayev at school/) launched a crowd the Yerevan State Conservatory (1946– fundraising drive in late 2014. As 1950), she won the Stalin Scholarship and AYO! wrote in its project presen- completed her graduate course at the Moscow tation, “The school now has a State Conservatory in 1954. While still a beautiful performance space” and child, she started to perform both as a soloist and with symphonic more than 300 articles and scripts for both radio and television. She “tremendously dedicated students orchestras. Beginning in 1961 she was the principal soloist at the was a member of many local and international organizations, among and staff. What could be missing? Armenian Philharmonic Hall. She appeared in concerts throughout them, the Composer’s Union of Armenia, the Union of Soviet Instruments!” the Republics of the former Soviet Union and in 27 countries Composers, the Armenian Theater Union, the Journalists Union, the The Fund for Armenian Relief around the world, and produced four vinyl discs under the Melodiya Women’s Committee of the USSR, AOKS (cultural liaison committee (http://farusa.org) backed the label. of Armenia with foreign countries), the effort and invited the Mirak- Her repertoire featured the music of History of World Culture Committee in Weissbach Foundation (www.m-w- modern Armenian composers, whose the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet stiftung.org), among others, to works she often co-authored, edited and Union, The World Scientific Association join. The funds needed for the premiered. In 1950 she began teaching at of Historical Archaeology, etc. Anahit instruments came together, and the Yerevan State Conservatory where she Tsitsikian passed away on May 2, 1999 in early March it was announced introduced three new courses: “The and in that year the “Anahit Cultural that the school had received a History and Theory of Bowed Foundation” was established to continue shipment of new wind instru- Instruments,” “History of Armenian her work and fulfill her dreams. The mis- ments, including trumpets, flutes, Performing Arts” and a course in music sion of the foundation is to facilitate the clarinets and saxophones. The teaching practice. While still a student of promotion of Armenian music by sup- only other item missing was fur- the Conservatory, she began her research, porting musicians in their professional niture: to allow parents and and focused on bowing history and Musical education and work, setting up and friends to enjoy the concerts in Archaeology, of which she was the founder implementing cultural programs and the renovated recital hall, funds in Armenia. A participant in international events, and stimulating the integration were needed to buy 120 chairs. If scientific conferences, her studies have of Armenian music within international all goes according to plan, a con- been published in Armenia and abroad. music. cert will take place during the Her artistic career included performances commemoration events around in over a thousand recitals, recordings of (Adapted from http://anahitmusic- April 24th this year. (If it is 60 pieces of archived music, and texts of school.com/?page_id=213) “standing room only,” then not for lack of chairs….) 12 S ATURDAY, M ARCH 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING CC AA LENDARLENDAR

APRIL 9 — Sayat Nova Dance Company 30th anniver- Society in collaboration with the Labyrinth Guild of New CALIFORNIA sary Alumni Reunion. Saturday, 7:30 p.m. in England and Friends of Armenian Heritage Park. For first-time Cambridge. Calling all SNDC Alumni and members for an walkers at 12:45pm, an Introduction to walking a labyrinth APRIL 15 - DEADLINE. If you are looking to embark on the evening of fun and surprises. Come eat, socialize, remi- with Chiara Megighian Zenati, Certified Labyrinth Facilitator. educational adventure of a lifetime, then consider the nisce.... RSVP by March 20, At 1:30 pm - Reception to View The 2016 Configuration of American University of Armenia’s Summer Program at [email protected] or call 617-923-4455. the Abstract Sculpture Welcome: Nanore Barsoumian, Editor, 2016. The program combines unique academic offerings APRIL 9-10 — Two days of workshops, presentations, Armenian Weekly; Public Art: Lucas Cowan, Public Art with the benefits of a safe, welcoming, and exciting envi- community and discovering your Armenian roots. Curator, Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy; Personal ronment. Participants will also experience the authentic This conference grew out of the Armenian Genealogy Perspective: Alin Gregorian, Editor, Armenian Mirror sights, sounds, and flavors of Armenia through the group (Haygagan Dzakumnapanutyun) on Facebook. Spectator; Tea & Desserts hosted by MEM Tea Imports and Discover Armenia Educational Tours. Apply Watertown. Cosponsored by National Association for Eastern Lamejun Bakers. All are invited. at im.aua.am by April 15. Armenian Studies and Research; Project SAVE Armenian MAY 12 – Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Photograph Archives, Houshamadyan, Armenian Boston Presents the Dr. Michael and Joyce Kolligian CONNECTICUT Museum of America, Tekeyan Cultural Association, and Distinguished Speaker Series, with John Prendergast, -Boston. Various times, Watertown area. To founder of “The Enough Project,” an initiative to end APRIL 23, 2016 Annual Armenian Genocide register, visit http://www.armeniangenealogyconfer- genocide and crimes against humanity, co-founder “The Commemoration. Connecticut State Capitol; Flag ence.com/registration/ Sentry,” a new investigative initiative focused on disman- Raising at 11:00 a.m.; Commemoration in the House APRIL 15 — “Conversing with My Sister.” Salpi tling the networks financing conflict and atrocities. 7 Chambers at 11:30 a.m. Keynote Speaker, Shant Ghazarian, director of the Institute of Armenian p.m. Thursday at Charles and Nevart Talanian Cultural Mardirossian, Chairman Emeritus, . Studies at the University of Southern California, inter- Hall, Holy Trinity, 145 Brattle Street, Cambridge MA Info: views her sister, author Maral Boyadjian, on Maral’s 617.354.0632 MASSACHUSETTS book, As the Poppies Bloomed, a family history. 7 p.m. MAY 14 — Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston con- Reception, 8 p.m. At the Armenian Cultural Foundation tinues its 30th anniversary celebrations with a night of MARCH 13-MAY 21 — Book Tour Schedule for in Arlington. Sponsored by the Armenian Cultural song and dance with beloved singer Ispiryan, direct Armenians of the Merrimack Valley. Authors E. Philip Foundation, Armenian International Women’s from Armenia. Don’t miss out on this night of pure Brown and Tom Vartabedian are embarking on a presen- Association, and Amaras Art Alliance. Free and open to Armenian entertainment. Come and celebrate with us as tation tour and book signing of their new book. the public we sing and dance all night with Arabo. Generous appetiz- •March 31: Buttonwoods Historical Museum, 7 pm, 240 APRIL 16 – Centennial Commemoration of the 1916 ers (mezze) will be provided. Doors open at7:30 p.m. To be Water St., Haverhill Consecration of the Sts. Vartanantz Church, Lowell. held at St. James Armenian Church, Charles Mosesian •April 2: Armenian Museum of America (ALMA), 2 pm, Worship Service and Program at the original Sts. Vartanantz Cultural and Youth Center, 465 Mt, Auburn Street, 65 Main St., Watertown, sponsored by ProjectSAVE Church, 60 Lawrence St., Lowell. Outdoor architectural tour Watertown. Tickets are available by calling Apo at 339-222- •April 7: Avak luncheon, St. Gregory Church, 158 Main of the original Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church at 60 2410 or Hagop at 617-780-6295. VIP table seating at St., North Andover, noon Lawrence St., Lowell, starting at 5:30 p.m. followed by a $100/person (includes 1 free drink/person and a bottle of •May 21: Vermette’s Market, 6 Pond St., Amesbury, 10- prayer service and narrated slide presentation on the for- champagne for the table); Premium table seating at 2, book-signing only mation and early life of the parish at 6:00 p.m. The church $75/person (includes a bottle of champagne for the table); MARCH 31 — 8:00 p.m.: “From to the is handicap accessible. Reception to follow. Complimentary General seating: $65. Please reserve your tickets early. Warsaw Ghetto: Armenian and Jewish Armed admission. For further information, please call 978-256- MAY 18 — Chefs Party for Our Park! Benefit for Resistance to Genocide,” with Eric Bogosian, Dr. 7234, or email [email protected]. Armenian Heritage Park’s Ongoing Care Royal Sonesta Deborah Dwork, Dr. Dikran Kaligian, and Dr. James R. APRIL 17 — Erevan Choral Society Spring Concert, “In Hotel Boston, Cambridge. Celebrate with Boston’s Top Russell. Co-sponsored by the Center for Jewish Studies at Commemoration of Our Sainted Martyrs of 1915.” Chefs, presenting signature dishes inspired by parents, Harvard University, the Mashtots Chair in Armenian Sponsored by Holy Trinity Armenian Church, 2:30 p.m., grandparents or mentors for you to taste while you mix, Studies at Harvard University, and the National Church Sanctuary, 145 Brattle Street, Cambridge. The con- mingle and support a great cause. Advanced Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). cert is under the direction of Composer Konstantin Reservations only. To be acknowledged in the Evening At Harvard University, Science Center Auditorium D, 1 Petrossian, Music Director and Conductor. Guest Soloists are Thank You, please respond by May 6. To receive an invi- Oxford Street, Cambridge. Contact 617-489-1610 or David Ayriyan (Kamancha) and Gohar Manjelikian (Mezzo tation, please email your name and email address to [email protected] for more information. Soprano), with Nune Hakobyan on the organ and piano. The [email protected] APRIL 2 — Swing into Spring Dinner-Dance. Sts. Armenian and non-Armenian community is invited to com- Vartanantz Armenian Church, Chelmsford, Kazanjian memorate through music the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Ballroom, 180 Old Westford Rd. Chelmsford. Dinner at 6 ILLINOIS Genocide. The concert is a gift to the community. p.m. followed by non-stop Armenian and Middle East music APRIL 22 — The annual commemoration of the APRIL 18 — Award-winning poet and critic Peter by the Jason Naroian Ensemble featuring Jason Naroian, Armenian Genocide at the Massachusetts State Balakian will give a Center for Advanced Study (CAS)/ dumbeg and vocals; Brian Anisbigian, oud; Ara Jeknavorian, House. Friday, 10.30 a.m., State House Chamber, MillerCommlecture on “The Armenian Genocide, Poetry clarinet; and Dave Anisbigian, guitar. Paid in advance tickets Catered Reception at 12 noon in the Great Hall. of Witness, and Postmemory” at the Spurlock Museum (received by March 27) are $25 for adults, $10 for children Auditorium at 4 p.m. University of Illinois at Urbana- (6-12), and 5 & under, free. At-the-door, $35 for adults and APRIL 23 — Procession and flag raising for 101st Champaign. The event is free and open to the public and $15 for children. For reservations, please contact Maria at anniversary of Armenian Genocide at Lowell City Hall, hosted by The Initiative in Holocaust, Genocide, and [email protected] (617-240-3686). 10 a.m., followed by a reception and cultural program by Memory Studies. Co-sponsored by: Center for South APRIL 2 — Back by popular demand — Sayat Nova area schoolchildren at nearby Masonic Center. Sponsored Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Department of Dance Company of Boston (SNDC) proudly presents by the Armenian National Committee of Merrimack English, Department of French and Italian, Department the return of renowned entertainer/comedian/ Valley & Armenian Genocide Commemorative of Germanic Languages and Literatures, Department of pianist Kev Orkian to Boston, with his brand new show Committee of Merrimack Valley. For the march, gather at History, Department of Religion, European Union Center, “Little Fingers.” Saturday, 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30) in corner of Merrimack & John Streets at 9:30 a.m. Program in Comparative and World Literature, Program Shaw Auditorium, Watertown High School, 50 Columbia APRIL 30 — Armenian / American Dance, Saturday, 7 in Jewish Culture and Society, Spurlock Museum, The St., Watertown. Reserved seating only. Tickets are avail- p.m. – 12 a.m., 1 Market Street, Lawrence, Future of Trauma and Memory Studies Reading Group. able by 617-852-1816. VIP tickets (limited amount avail- Complimentary Coffee & Dessert, Cash Bar, 50/50 Raffle, able) are $65 and include reserved priority seating and Armenian music provided by Jason Naroian Ensemble, pre-show private reception with Kev. General show tick- American music provided by DJ Kory Sirmaian. Tickets: NEW YORK $20 in advance; $25 at the door. Melanee Naroian:(978) ets are $50, includes reserved seating. Visit www.sayat- APRIL 5 – Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) presents 683-0613, Lucy Sirmaian: (978) 683-9121. Sponsored by nova.com for the seating chart and see attached flyer for Sahan Arzruni in Benefit Concert “Together for The Armenian Church at Hye Pointe Women’s Guild. more details. Armenia,” Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. An evening of solo piano MAY 5 – “Can Feminists Revive a Nation? Afterlife of APRIL 4 — St. James Men’s Club, Monday, featuring as music to benefit the Vanadzor Old Age Home adminis- Armenians in Post-Genocide Turkey.” Reception and speaker former CVS Health Vie President for customer tered by FAR. Merkin Concert Hall - Kaufman Music illustrated talk with MIT Professor Lerna Ekmekcioglu on service Mark Kolligian, whose topic will be “Healthcare in Center, 129 West 67th Street, New York. Tickets $35, will her new book, Recovering Armenia: The Limits of the 21st Century.” Losh Kebab and Kheyma Dinner. go on sale in February 2016. Please contact FAR for more Belonging in Post-Genocide Turkey. 7:30 p.m. Armenian Social Hour 6:15 p.m., Dinner 7 p.m. $15 per person. St. info: [email protected] or 212.889.5150. James Armenian Church, Charles Mosesian Cultural and Museum of America, Watertown. Co-sponsored by the Youth Center, Keljik Hall, 465 Mount Auburn St., Armenian International Women’s Association, National Watertown. Ladies are welcome. Association for Armenian Studies & Research, and RHODE ISLAND APRIL 7 — Book Event: Reclaiming Konia: A Tale of Armenian Museum of America. Info: 617-926-0171 or APRIL 16 — Saints Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Love, Loss and the Armenian Genocide by Heather [email protected]; 617-489-1610 Church, Providence, Commemoration of the Martin book talk and signing, 7:30 p.m., Adele & Haig [email protected]. Armenian Genocide, “Legacy of our Martyrs,” Der Manuelian Galleries (3rd Floor). Heather Martin will MAY 7 — Experience Public Art! during ArtWeek Boston. Saturday at 7 p.m. Concert of Armenian Patriotic Songs speak about the development of the book, reading her Armenian Heritage Park on the Greenway, Boston. At 1 p.m. Performed by the Armenian Chorale of Rhode Island, 70 favorite passages, and signing copies. The event is free - World Labyrinth Day: Walk As One At 1 Together with peo- Jefferson St., Providence. Fellowship- Egavian Hall, fol- and open to the public and light refreshments will be ple in cities and towns worldwide, walk the labyrinth at 1pm lowing concert served at the reception. joining this annual international initiative of The Labyrinth S ATURDAY, M ARCH 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 COMMENTARY

COMMENTARY Mirror Armenia Bonds with Greece and Cyprus Spectator Over Common Foes on the one hand, Armenia being a member of the Eurasian By Edmond Y. Azadian Customs Union is viewed as it serving as a bridge between the EU and that union and on the other hand, Armenia’s close rela- tionship with (embargo free) Iran creates a potential for eco- EstablishedEstablished 1932 1932 As the European Union (EU) bowed down to Turkish nomic development between Armenia, Greece and Iran. demands and brought Turkey’s accession talks with the union a During the Armenian President’s visit to Athens, Greek Prime An ADLAn Publication ADL Publication step closer, Armenia’s President Serge Sargisian paid official vis- Minister Alexis Tsipras said that he considered the Iran- its to Greece and Cyprus, whose rights were trampled by the Armenia-Greece collaboration to be a prospect that needed to be other members of the EU. (See related story, page 3.) developed. He added that Greece sees opportunities also in the It was an opportunity to express solidarity with those two establishment of cooperation between the European Union and EDITOR friendly countries and to develop further bilateral relations. the Eurasian Economic Union and wishes to contribute to this Alin K. Gregorian Turkey has occupied 38 percent of Cyprus’ territory, estab- objective. In addition he expressed his readiness to assist in the lished a client state on the northern part of the island and to development of closer relations between Armenia and the EU. ASSISTANT EDITOR add insult to injury, refuses to recognize the legitimate govern- It was also revealed that the legal framework of bilateral rela- Aram Arkun ment of Cyprus as a sovereign state. And yet, the EU is com- tions is quite wide. It covers more than 40 agreements of coop- ART DIRECTOR promising the sovereign rights of one of its own members, eration in the economic, military, cultural, scientific healthcare, Marc Mgrditchian namely Cyprus, to settle the temporary issue of the refugees, communication, tourism and other sectors. which was ’s making to begin with. Armenia with its limited resources, never dared to move A Greek representative of the EU Parliament, Gen. Eleftherios beyond its immediate neighborhood while other political con- Synadinos, has been politically incorrect at one of the sessions, figurations have been developing in the Middle East which may by expressing his outrage on the EU conduct vis-à-vis Turkey, impact Armenia’s plight directly and indirectly. While citing the SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: making the following statement in a speech: “Mr. President, the Armenia-Greece-Iran cooperation format, Tsipras observed that Edmond Y. Azadian day before yesterday, a summit was held between the European his country has experience in such trilateral cooperation in Union and Turkey. The results of this weren’t just disappointing Greece-Cyprus- and Greece-Cyprus-Egypt formats which he CONTRIBUTORS: but a diplomatic Waterloo for the Union leaders. Twenty-eight said have worked efficiently. Florence Avakian, Dr. Haroutiun Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Diana Turk-loving leaders with dwarf stature sat and listened to a cruel As the EU and the US back Turkey at the expense of Greece Der Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, blackmailer, a common crook, Davutoglu, imposing conditions and Cyprus, the latter have been developing their own blocs to Kevork Keushkerian, Harut Sassounian, for surrender and submission … You have sold yourselves out to counter Turkey’s ambitions. The common factor that brings Hagop Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian the Ottoman Erdogan.” Greece, Cyprus and Israel together is the gas reserves discov- He also spiced his speech with more colorful language, for ered recently under the Mediterranean. CORRESPONDENTS: which the parliament has expelled him as a “racist.” When Cyprus and Israel began exploring the undersea gas Armenia - Hagop Avedikian The Greek Parliamentarian had certainly predicted the out- deposits, Turkey bullied them with armed intervention. But as Boston - Nancy Kalajian come of his speech, but at least, he made sure that EU members its problems with its neighbors got overbearing, Ankara backed Philadelphia - Lisa Manookian - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach got what they deserved. down. Turkey has been bullying Cyprus since its 1974 aggression During former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi’s Islamic Contributing Photographers: and the EU is contin- government, Turkey Jacob Demirdjian and Jirair Hovsepian uing to accommo- had come dangerous- date the bully. ly close to Egypt. But Ankara is trying to after the takeover by Gen. Abdulatif Sisi’s The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published have the same princi- weekly, except two weeks in July and the first ple in both ways. It military regime, week of the year, by: has occupied Cyprus Egyptian-Turkish Baikar Association, Inc. under the pretext of relations can best be protecting the described as acrimo- 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 Turkish minority nious. Telephone: 617-924-4420 there, while fighting Therefore by pro- FAX: 617-924-2887 tooth and nail in moting relations www.mirrorspectator.com denying the right of with Cyprus and E-Mail: [email protected] self-determination to Greece, Armenia can For advertising: [email protected] Armenians in weave its policies Karabagh. throughout the web A l t h o u g h of those internation- Armenians and al relations. Greeks have suffered During Mr. under the yoke of Sargisian’s visit to SUBSCRIPTION RATES: the Turks and they Greece and Cyprus, have experienced the the topic of the genocidal policy of the same power, they have not developed Genocide was discussed. Armenia thanked both countries for U.S.A. $80 a year their policies to their full capacity yet. recognizing the Genocide. In addition, special thanks were Canada $125 a year The same could be said about the lobbying endeavors in the extended to Cyprus which has also adopted laws criminalizing US and Europe. While Greek and Armenian groups face the Genocide denial. Other Countries $190 a year same political challenges, they realize that they are against the Predictably, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry reacted angrily to the same dangers and they cooperate occasionally but that cooper- statements by President Sargisian and Greek President ation seldom develops into a permanent common cause. Prokopis Pavlopoulos about the Genocide. © 2014 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator Perhaps that was the reason for Armenia’s president visit to Both in Nicosia and in Athens there were expressions of Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA the two friendly countries, especially in view of the fact that mutual support for the Karabagh and Cyprus problems. and additional mailing offices. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia cooperate permanently to iso- Armenia’s close relations with the two EU members will cer- late Armenia in the region. tainly enhance its foreign policy and liberate the country from ISSN 0004-234X The political moment was also right to take that concrete step; its choking isolation.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, 755 Mount Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472 Other than the editorial, views and opinions Armenian General Benevolent Union Continues expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the policies of the publisher. Its Mission in a New Era The AGBU kept pace with the daily life of It opened the Melkonian Educational By Hagop Vartivarian our people and its homeland over time. Institute, where our public figures who would Copying for other than personal use or Though born simply as a philanthropic orga- lead Armenian life were formed. On this internal reference is prohibited without nization in the diaspora, it quickly expanded model, the Union opened in nearly every com- express permission of the copyright Without a doubt, the Armenian General the scope of its mission, especially after the munity its schools, which not only became the owner. Address requests for reprints or back issues to: Benevolent Union (AGBU) has been a gift of Armenian Genocide, in order to meet the lim- furnaces of formation of Armenian culture, but providence for Armenians throughout the past itless needs of Armenians in exile by opening also brought good things to the Armenian 110 years. It has achieved preeminence over orphanages, maternity hospitals, schools, nation in general. The educational and Baikar Association, Inc. the course of time as a philanthropic organi- poorhouses and dispensaries in nearly all our Armenian patriotic level of these schools 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472- zation, and it impartially served the myriad of newly established communities. turned into synonyms of success and accom- 1509 needs of our people, humanitarian, education- Its chief concern remained providing an plishment. al, cultural and youth-oriented. Armenian upbringing to the new generation. see AGBU, page 14 14 S ATURDAY, M ARCH 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Remembering April 24: A Personal Odyssey

of publication. It was quite a revelation for me to explore and develop advanced analytical and the- lay with loving respect in a circle around the eter- By Alan Whitehorn see so many books, some for the first time. oretical frameworks. After several weeks of teach- nal memorial flame. During a brief break in the Global Forum, ing such diverse models, inevitably the senior stu- I am always in awe at the vast wave of the President Serge Sargisian visited the book dis- dents ask for a summary. After one very long humanity peacefully making its collective play. I had a few moments to talk with him about evening class, I tried to pen a one page synopsis. homage to those who perished in the 1915 depor- I am the grandson of an orphan of the 1915 my books and gave the president a copy of Just The already compacted and dense draft page was tations and massacres. On this day, nothing else Genocide. Several years ago I thought about what Poems: Reflections on the Armenian Genocide a complex piece of prose, but the early contours matters and the Armenian nation is united as one I should do as 2015, the 100th memorial year of along with Return to Armenia/Veradardz depi of a poem could be seen. As I went into heavy in remembering and seeking long overdue recog- the Armenian Genocide, approached. As a politi- Hayastan. I also showed him the mock-up of the editing, I stripped down the text to its essence. In nition and justice. As a member of the Armenian cal historian, how could I contribute in that his- new Armenian Genocide encyclopedia. a minimalist fashion, all unnecessary descriptors Diaspora, I am always humbled by this profound toric year of remembrance and further educate and connectives were pruned. What remained moment of solidarity with both our ancestors and Resurgence of the Diaspora the world and ourselves about the genocide? was a stark, minimalist poem — one word per line with one another. Little did I know that instead of writing a few As I listened to the various speakers during the – but which in only a few key words captured the When I went back to the Armenian Genocide journalistic articles and chapters in academic 10 day Literary Ark seminar, I wondered if the essence of the various phases of genocide. The memorial site a day later on April 25 of last year, books about the Armenian Genocide, I would Young Turk dictators of 1915 had projected that poem was composed of a series of malevolent I was struck by how the long lines remained. embark on a more challenging odyssey. Early in virtually none of the elderly and orphaned verbs. A university course on genocide had given Armenians were still waiting patiently. They 2012, I was invited by Holocaust scholar and Armenians would survive. No doubt, the Turkish birth to a new poem, the “Verbs of Genocide.” It stretched as far as my eye could see. Twenty-four rabbi professor Steven Jacobs, working with the triumvirate arrogantly believed that the elderly has been several years now since the poem was hours after the official dignitaries had left, the major American publisher ABC-CLIO, to con- Armenians would surely soon perish and the published in Return to Armenia/Veradardz depi Armenian people were still waiting to show tribute to a new online genocide encyclopedia orphans would rapidly disappear through assimi- Hayastan and elsewhere. It has also been read at respect. The spirit of “we remember” continued which later became the four-volume Modern lation. History, however, can unfold in complex Armenian community gatherings and even to prevail. Genocide: The Definitive Resource and and ironic ways. Many Diaspora Armenians, often recorded on You Tube by Armenian Canadian Remembering Metzmama on April 24th Document Collection (2014). I would write from mixed marriages, who in their youth might students. entries on the Armenian Genocide for both ver- have wished to assimilate and “fit in” to their new About a year ago, one of my translators told me As I stood on these dark stone steps at sions. Soon thereafter, a much more monumental society, have in their later years sought to seek that a German editor/publisher, who had done , I was surrounded by hundreds task arose. For the next three years, I edited and out and explore their Armenian identity. significant outreach work on genocide with of thousands of mourners from around the world. wrote entries for a related volume. It was to be Thus, on the eve of and during the centennial young students, had used my “Verbs of There was a collective sense of enormous grief the first-ever encyclopedia on the Armenian year of 2015, we have witnessed a renaissance of Genocide” poem in some of his workshops. amongst Armenians, particularly in that historic Genocide with the publication date goal of 2015. Armenian writings, particularly on genocide-relat- Jurgen Jankovsky had not only used the poem as 100th memorial year of 2015. Our parents and The Armenian Genocide: The Essential Reference ed themes. For example, we can read historical a key introductory overview piece in a collection grandparents had endured so much terrible and Guide emerged as a 425-page major volume that novels by Chris Bohjalian, Sandcastle Girls, 2012 of children’s accounts about genocide, but he had unnecessary suffering. However, there was also a included seven overview essays, 150 subject and Dana Walrath, Like Water Like Stone, 2014. chosen to use the poem’s two closing lines feeling of pride that the Armenian people have entries, a detailed chronological timeline, maps, We also note the following journalistic and aca- “Verleuegnet…Vergessen?” [Denied…Forgotten?] survived. Not only survived, but throughout the photographs and an extensive selection of key demic volumes by Meline Toumani, There Was as the title of the newly edited German volume. diverse Diaspora and the Republic of Armenia, we documents (including portions of the British gov- and There Was Not, 2014; Eric Bogossian, have rebuilt our family lives. April 24 and Armenian Families ernment’s official 1916 report The Treatment of , 2015; Vicken Cheterian, A great many of us owe our very existence to Mourning and Remembering the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, American Open Wounds: Armenians, Turks and a Century those brave few who helped the so many emaci- Ambassador Morganthau’s memoirs and 1915 of Genocide, 2015; Mathew Karanian, Historic April 24th is a unique date in the Armenian cal- ated orphans. On the very special historic day of press reports from The New York Times). Armenia After 100 Years, 2015; Mariam endar. Almost all normal commercial activity in April 24, I think of my metzmama — my grand- Mesrobian MacCurdy, Sacred Justice: The Voices Yerevan, the capital city, comes to a complete mother — and what enormous suffering she Literary Ark Writers’ Workshop and the and Legacy of Operation Nemesis, 2015; Armen halt. Much of the downtown traffic is either total- endured for so many years in one refugee camp Global Forum T. Marsoobian, Fragments of a Lost Homeland: ly blocked off or dramatically altered to allow the and orphanage after another. But she possessed While working on the encyclopedias, I received Remembering Armenia, 2015; Rubina hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to walk kilo- a remarkable will to survive, a passionate desire an invitation to participate at the Yerevan Literary Peroomian, The Armenian Genocide in meters up the steep hill to Tsitsernakaberd, to live a life full of love and joy and to raise her Ark Festival in April 2015. This was an ideal Literature: The Second Generation Responds, where the Armenian Genocide Memorial monu- own family. opportunity to share with other writers our reflec- 2015; Ronald Suny, ‘They Can Live in the Desert ment and flame are located. Whether rain or This journey that I travel is very much inspired tions on the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. but Nowhere Else’: A History of the Armenian shine, wave after wave of extended families, entire by her. I owe it to tell her story and that of the so The Literary Ark Festival took place for 10 days Genocide, 2015; and Alan Whitehorn, ed., The school classes of students, organized groups of many other countless orphans of the genocide. and overlapped with the two-day Global Forum Armenian Genocide: The Essential Reference Armenian citizens, foreign student Diaspora dele- And so on a wet, windy day, I bow my head at the Against the Crime of Genocide that was held at Guide, 2015. The Diaspora literary and academic gations, and even some visiting scholars and memorial flame and shed a tear of both sadness Yerevan’s great hall of the Sports and Concerts voices are very much alive and growing. tourists line up patiently for hours. Slowly the and joy. Metzmama, we remember. We remember. Center. On the two sides of the plenary hall were mass of the Armenian nation inches solemnly From Academic to Poet and Back Again various displays about the Armenian Genocide. towards the massive grey stone memorial. Near [This article is an abridged and updated ver- The National Library mounted a major book dis- In teaching university courses on comparative the end of the procession, each person on the pil- sion of a chapter in Literary Ark 2014: Armenia play, organizing the sections by country of origin studies of genocide, it is crucial to be able to grimage usually acquires a flower, often a tulip, to Hosts Literature (Yerevan, AOKS, 2015).] Armenian General Benevolent Union Continues Its Mission in a New Era

AGBU, from page 13 suffering people in the disaster zone with all tions, museums, and libraries turned the cathe- Mother See a subject of his great esteem and Simultaneously, it opened gathering places, possible financial and human resources, includ- dral into a font of light. support. By joining the AGBU, he will bring his clubs, for these youth who graduated these ing through foreign humanitarian organiza- Together with all this, the Union continued participation now to the work of our great schools or were in various fields of work. There tions with which it was in contact. It became its initial mission in the . It Union. His benevolence already reaches in an Armenian environment our healthy and the advocate of that noble task, and served as encouraged our professional youth to join the Armenian schools and education. idealist youth matured. an example to other organizations sharing the AGBU and Armenian community life. The present leadership of the AGBU plans to Moreover, with the Sovietization of same ideology. They collaborated in sending Unfortunately, our traditional communities, revitalize the traditional structures of the Armenia, the AGBU for 70 years kept alive large scale aid. having lost the attractiveness and capacity Armenian diaspora, to expanding its mission that spirit of wholesome patriotism in the new The AGBU welcomed the birth of the third which they enjoyed in the past, became frag- among professional circles, and to secure new generation, and in the masses, so that they Republic of Armenia, and rallied all its mented and their residents scattered to new sources of funding in order to be able to con- would love the homeland and be proud of its resources to help assure the prosperity of the shores. Meanwhile new communities were cre- front new challenges. scientific, cultural, educational, and, during homeland and the restoration of Armenian ated in various parts of the former Soviet There are, in addition to the president, Berge the days of World War II, military exploits. It statehood, just as it had assisted Soviet republics. Unfortunately, numerous Armenians Setrakian, important idealist forces in the encouraged the repatriation of Armenians to Armenia in the past. It opened new possibilities also left Armenia to seek their fate in various AGBU Central Board, including Sam Simonian, Soviet Armenia. It provided its financial sup- for the new generations in Armenia in econom- countries, forming new communities, especially Vasken Yacoubian, Sarkis Jebejian, Nazareth port in the initial stage to construction efforts, ic, educational, social and cultural spheres on in Europe. These were the new challenges the Festekjian, Dr. Levon Nazarian, Ani Manoukian and later, to repatriation. It informed the the global level. It was important that the youth AGBU faced. and Noubar Afeyan, who while preserving the Armenians of the diaspora of the cultural of Armenia understand the accomplishments of glorious traditions of the Union will try ascendance of our homeland, now already at other great states besides Russia, including After the Genocide Centennial, the through new programs to reach our new gen- peace and with secure borders. their political and financial situations, relations, AGBU Prepares New Programs erations. We are confident that our over 1,600- It always remained a believer in the unshake- cultures and languages. The AGBU opened the In February of this year, the AGBU Central year-old Armenian alphabet and our even older able and universal supremacy of the Mother American university and assisted the French Board presented to Armenians a bold reformu- language will again enjoy a place of primacy in See of Holy Echmiadzin. It believed in the noble university in Armenia. Our new generation lation of its national mission under the name these programs. After all, other ancient peoples principle of the unity of the Church of Armenia. began to achieve in a different manner with dif- “Advancement and Prosperity.” Of course it will who have traversed history with us concluded It exhorted the diasporan Armenian during all ferent standards. The use of computers and the take time to be completely developed, but it is after a 2,000-year experience of diaspora that the years of the Cold War to be closer to his internet dictated by the modern world quickly clear that new programs will be added to its tra- the uniqueness of a people is preserved homeland and Holy Echmiadzin. These would also became a part of the daily life of Armenian ditional ones, especially in Armenia. through the use of a language which becomes remain constant beacons of hope, insuring that youth. The participation of the well-known Russian- the chief guarantee of the preservation of that Armenians would remain connected to their The Union continued to show its unreserved Armenian philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan will people. people and heritage. love for the Mother See, securing it new bene- play a distinctive role in this. For the first time We are happy to see the presence of a suc- factors and friends, and turning Echmiadzin in the history of the AGBU, an Armenian living cessful new generation in the supreme body of Stepping toward the 21st Century into the Armenian Vatican. It fostered a high in the homeland will be a part of this supreme- the AGBU, which is a guarantee of the success At the end of the last century, the AGBU was level of education so that henceforth worthy ly Western Armenian organization. of the new mission of the Union. confronted with new challenges. First, the great clerics would enter service and lead our dias- As a member of the Supreme Spiritual earthquake…and the Union reached out to our poran and homeland dioceses. New publica- Council, Vartanian has already made the (Translated from the Armenian) S ATURDAY, M ARCH 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 COMMENTARY

Government Reform Committee, he was doing “plenty of Mandela’s African National Congress. At least two Burton favors for contributors, according to an exhaustive investiga- contributors worked in the foundation’s Washington office, tion by The Hill and other publications in 1997 and 1998,” according to the Los Angeles Times. Consistent with his Sobel wrote. Burton had done “favors for reputed terrorists, work with the foundation, Burton opposed sanctions against human rights violators, and a despot.” As an example, Sobel South Africa’s apartheid government and openly criticized My Turn cites Burton’s request to “the State Department to give for- the African National Congress.” mer Zairian dictator Mobutu Sese Seko a visa to visit the “In another case, Burton intervened with the Department By Harut Sassounian United States after receiving thousands of dollars in cam- of Education for a campaign contributor who owns a medi- paign contributions and honoraria from Mobutu’s cal school in the Caribbean, according to Roll Call. Soon Washington lobbyist…. Around the time of the contributions, after doing the favor, Burton asked his contributor whether How to Get Rich While in Burton also made statements on the floor of the House of his daughter could apply to an affiliated veterinary program.” Congress And Even After Representatives praising Mobutu.” Sobel’s research on Burton indicated that he had “run into Burton “also took thousands of dollars in legal contribu- other kinds of trouble as well. For example, the FBI investi- Retirement! tions from people with business interests in Turkey,” Sobel gated charges that Burton demanded that a lobbyist for reported. “Afterwards, he made a statement on the floor of Pakistan raise $5,000 for his campaign or be barred from Two weeks ago, I reported that former Rep. Dan Burton the House of Representatives he had cribbed from a Turkish Burton’s office. (Burton admitted meeting with the lobbyist, had resigned as chairman of the Washington-based government official. The statement defended Turkey against but denied shaking him down.) In addition, The Hill reports Azerbaijan America Alliance because he had not been paid well-documented charges that its government committed that Burton paid his criminal defense lawyer $25,000 out of for a year! serious human rights violations against the Kurds. In 1996, his campaign — rather than personal — funds. Also, accord- It is hard to feel sorry for a man who had eagerly gone to Burton made another floor statement that almost exactly ing to The Hill, Burton took an allegedly illegal contribution bed with the dictatorial regime of Ilham Aliyev until the echoed materials that Turkey’s lobbying firm gave to mem- from a group founded by five organizations that the State money stopped. bers of Congress, according to The Los Angeles Times. Department identified as Sikh terrorist groups. Burton advo- For years, many members of Congress have supported all Burton calls himself a defender of international human cated the group’s cause — an autonomous Sikh homeland in sorts of shady causes and foreign and domestic interest rights. Nevertheless, after receiving contributions from .” groups to not only reap financial benefits during their tenure Turkey’s allies, he defended the country’s government on Regrettably, Burton is not an exception in Washington. in Congress, but more importantly, land a lucrative lobbying numerous occasions — despite the fact that the United There are many others in and out of Congress who are just job after their retirement from “public service”! Nations, State Department and numerous human rights like him. Therefore, it is imperative to establish an Armenian- Last week, a reader sent me an old article that had exposed groups have made serious allegations against Turkey’s gov- American watchdog group that investigates the financial Rep. Dan Burton’s questionable practices during his first 18 ernment.” records of all elected officials who consistently vote against years in Congress, not including the last 12 years before his Sobel also reported Burton’s involvement “in programs Armenian issues and support Azerbaijan and Turkey. These retirement. Titled “The Hypocrisy of Dan Burton,” the article put on by the conservative International Freedom two countries have such odious human rights records that was written by American Prospect Online reporter Lindsay Foundation. Later investigations revealed that South Africa’s the only reason politicians would support them is to enrich Sobel in December 2001. apartheid government funded the foundation in order to themselves either during their service in Congress or after Ironically, while Burton was chairing the House increase support for apartheid overseas, and discredit Nelson retiring, and often both!

Sexual Violence Against Armenian Russia Has Sent a Clear Signal to Syria’s Assad a brutal and expensive war against the Sunni Women: A Weapon of Genocide By Loay Mudhoon majority population in Syria. A second Afghanistan would massively damage Russia’s ANY WHO TALK and teach about the Armenian Genocide have had real difficulty economic and political interests. over the past 100 years naming the systemic abuses against Armenian women for There is no question about it: Russian Mission accomplished what they are: sexual violence and rape as tools of genocide. President Vladimir Putin surprised friend and Putin has now to a great extent achieved his Even ten years ago, when I was working on Facing History and Ourselves’ book foe alike with his decision to withdraw most of goals: The Assad regime has been stabilized Crimes Against Humanity and Civilization: The Genocide of the Armenians, crimes his country’s troops from Syria. with the help of the Lebanese Hezbollah and of sexual violence and rape were rarely addressed, despite the fact that nearly every In the Arab world, almost all of Assad’s various Shiite militia. It has been possible to account of Armenian women during the genocide included these experiences. I opponents welcomed the move — above all extend the strategically important military found myself unsure how to tell these stories, despite years of working in education Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which are the main base in Tartus; a second base was even built. M on issues related to genocide. supporters of the “moderate” Syrian opposi- And a change of regime along the lines of the But much has changed in the last ten years. Increasingly survivors, scholars, and activists are tion forces. Both countries hope Russia’s step NATO intervention in Libya is no longer pos- looking for ways to break the silence. At a 2014 United Nations Global Summit on sexual violence will give a boost to the current Syria talks in sible. Russia has thus asserted itself as the pio- in conflict, actress and activist Angelina Jolie explained, “We must send a message across the Geneva. neer of a new authoritarianism that apparent- world that there is no disgrace in being a survivor of sexual In the case of the Assad regime, however, joy ly aims to contain and destabilize democracies. violence. The shame is on the aggressor.” at the partial Russian withdrawal seems more But there is something still more important: By Adam Strom According to genocide scholars John Roth and Carol subdued. In the past few days, media With its bloody intervention, Russia was able Rittner, rape has been a used as a weapon of war for cen- have reported multiple times on major differ- to demonstrate to the West, which has turies, but until recently it was not recognized as a war ences of opinion between Putin and Assad that remained passive in the Syria conflict, that this crime worthy of prosecution or a topic worthy of study. It was not until the International Criminal occurred shortly before Putin announced the former world power, recently disparaged by US Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in 1996, the first international war crimes trial held withdrawal plans. politicians as a “regional power,” is firmly back since World War II, that the victims and activists finally moved international political will to prose- This disagreement between Assad and his on the stage of international politics. It at any cute rape and other forms of sexual violence as an international war crime. On June 28, 1996 a protecting power regarding the goals of rate seems almost unimaginable that there headline in the New York Times read: “U.N. Court, for First Time, Defines Rape as War Crime.” Russia’s intervention had already made itself could be a political resolution of the complex The historic ruling included the indictment of eight Bosnian Serb military and police officers for felt directly after the recent ceasefire went into proxy war in Syria that goes against Moscow’s their connection with the rapes of Muslim women during the war in Bosnia. This historic ruling force: In interviews with the international will. was a landmark in the efforts to prevent and prosecute sexual violence during war. press, Syria’s dictator made no bones about his For this reason, Russia’s troop withdrawal is Victims of wartime sexual violence have often been discouraged from speaking about the abuse intention to bring the entire country under his to be seen as a signal to Assad. Putin wants they suffered, fearing shame, stigmatization, and ostracism. However, scholars note that survivor control. This candor provoked several Russian him to enter at last into serious negotiations accounts of genocide and mass violence often explicitly speak to sexual abuse; this is particularly diplomats to put him in his place — and to with the opposition so that the remaining state true in testimony from the Armenian Genocide. But it is true of sexual assault elsewhere as well: In a point out the necessity for a political resolution and above all the territorial unity of Syria is 1998 case before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Jean-Paul Akayesu became the of his country’s conflict. preserved. But so far, Assad doesn’t really seem first person convicted of rape as a component of genocide. That same year, the Rome Statute was This incident shows clearly that Russian to be considering sharing power. establishing the International Criminal Court (ICC). Increasingly, Armenian American theater and lit- interests are not entirely congruent with those In view of the fact that only a transitional erature have been exploring these themes as well, including recent work such as Chris Bohjalian’s of Assad. It is true that Putin wanted to save Syrian unity government without Assad can Sandcastle Girls, Joyce Van Dyke’s “Daybreak” or Judith Boyajian’s Women of Ararat. the Assad regime from destruction at the pave the way for a political resolution, all Facing History and Ourselves recognizes the difficulty of talking about sexual violence and rape hands of rebels. He also aimed to weaken the Western hopes for an end to the brutal war in inside and outside of the classroom. Educators, in particular, need to be particularly sensitive Western-backed “moderate” rebels, with the Syria are pinned on — of all people — Putin. about the ways they share these stories with their students who come from a wide variety of back- fight against the so-called “Islamic State” play- But for this outcome to occur, Putin would grounds and life experiences. They will need practice, professional development, and resources to ing little or no role in his considerations. have to be prepared to drop Assad. help think through developmentally appropriate strategies for introducing these histories into But Putin on no account intended to help their curricula. his vassals in Damascus win a military victory: (Loay Mudhoon is a staff writer for the As part of the revision of our landmark resource Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and This would have drawn the Russian army into German-based Deutsche Welle agency.) Human Behavior, we worked with Professors Rother and Rittner to produce a mini-documentary, Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War and Genocide. It is only one part of a larger conversation that is that examines the effect of genocide on women, and when viewed in the context of Facing History’s approach to teaching, can be a useful introduction for classrooms. Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian Dies Facing history can be hard and uncomfortable. At the same time, that discomfort, if well facili- tated, can create opportunities for deep moral and ethical reflection. All of us who care about the YEGHISHE, from page 1 history of the Armenian Genocide, and preventing genocide today, have to find a way to name the During the past few years, Gizirian agreed to share some of his wisdom and life crimes and recognize the patterns. It is only then that prevention is possible. experience in video interviews. At the following links, our faithful can listen to his (Adam Strom is the Director of Scholarship and Innovation at Facing History and Ourselves. life story in his own words, and hear his wise thoughts on the meaning of prayer. He is the author, editor and producer of numerous digital, print and video resources and publica- The Final Anointing and Burial service took place on Wednesday, March 23, also tions including Crimes Against Humanity and Civilization: The Genocide of the Armenians. The at St. Vartan Cathedral, 630 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y.). Interment will be at Armenian Museum of America and Facing History and Ourselves are co-sponsoring “Past and Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, NY, after which there will be a hokejash at the near- Present: Commemorating Women Affected by Genocide” on April 10 at 4:30 p.m. at the Armenian by St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church, 1131 North Street, White Plains. Museum of America in Watertown.) 16 S ATURDAY, M ARCH 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

and government of Nagorno Karabagh, Armenian President Sargisian to Members of Congress whose fate and future are the subject of Request Assistance for ongoing talks,” the letter reads. Last week, Secretary of State John Kerry Visit Boston March 28-31 Armenia, Karabagh confirmed that the crimes committed by ISIS constitute genocide against Yazidis, VISIT, from page 1 at Tuft’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, ASSISTANCE, from page 1 Christians, and other religious minorities, various unrelated political issues. The prime min- at 12:45 p.m., the president and the new leaders to promote the important issues out- including Armenians. Armenia does not have ister, the last two ambassadors of Armenia and Armenian ambassador to the United States, lined in the letter,” Assembly Executive adequate resources to continue helping the foreign minister, as well as both catholicoi of Grigor Hovhannissian, will be received by Charlie Director Bryan Ardouny said. “We live in a refugees escaping from genocide. The admin- the Armenian Church have visited the park Baker, Governor of the Commonwealth of dangerous time, as ISIS commits genocide istration’s proposed budget allocated nearly already. Massachusetts, and other high-ranking state offi- against Christians and other minorities, mil- $3 billion for migration and refugee assis- The president also has heard the praise of cials at an official state welcoming ceremony at lions of people have become displaced by vio- tance, some of which could go towards Boston as a unified and vibrant community from the Massachusetts State House (24 Beacon lence and civil war, and Azerbaijan threatens Armenia’s resettlement efforts. the previous several ambassadors of Armenia to Street). This ceremony is open to the general a new war in the South Caucasus with its the US, according to Kalustian. Consequently, public. In the protocol for the visit of a head of Armenia accepted the third largest amount repeated cease-fire violations. With the pro- the latter said, visiting this community has been state, the front doors of the State House are of refugees in Europe, sheltering nearly posed changes to the FY 2017 a longstanding desire of the president. opened and the Armenian delegation will pull up 20,000 . Armenia hosts six Syrian Appropriations Budget, the Administration Nazarian added, “This presidential visit cele- to the entrance in their car. The governor will refugees per 1,000 nationals — a ratio much has the opportunity to help resolve some of brates the 25th anniversary of the rebirth of our greet the president at the steps of the State higher than most countries. these critical concerns.” nation, something not witnessed by our ances- House and escort him up the stairway for the The letter calls for a stronger US stance “As a host country, Armenia has been abso- tors over the past few hundred years.” Armenian and American pledges of allegiance. regarding Azerbaijan’s increasing number of lutely exemplary in terms of the ratio of wel- Tuesday, March 29, will begin with Sargisian Afterwards he will meet with the president in his hostile acts against Armenia and Nagorno comed Syrian-Armenian refugees to the num- making a brief visit to the Old North Church to office. Karabagh. Earlier this month, the Obama ber of native inhabitants,” said United express Armenia’s appreciation for the kind Later that afternoon, the president will give a Administration released its budget for the Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reception Armenians have been given in the US major address at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy upcoming year, maintaining a military parity (UNHCR) Representative in Armenia by the Episcopalian Church. The ecumenical and School to academics. He will also be visiting between Armenia and Azerbaijan at $1 mil- Christoph Bierwirth. interfaith community will be invited to this event. Armenian churches and community institutions lion for Foreign Military Financing (FMF) The letter supporting increased assistance Later the same morning, at 10.30 a.m., a for- during his visit. A leadership reception will take and $600,000 for International Military to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh for FY mal wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the place at Keljik Hall of the Charles Mosesian Education and Training (IMET), a decrease 2017 was signed by Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ); Heritage Park, with the presentation of colors Cultural and Youth Center at St. James from the previous year. The letter recom- Robert Dold (R-IL); Gus Bilirakis (R-FL); and a short program with Massachusetts offi- Armenian Church with Armenian American mends a suspension of US military aid to Tony Cárdenas (D-CA); David Cicilline (D-RI); cials. This ceremony is free and open to the pub- community representatives. Azerbaijan “until its government ceases Judy Chu (D-CA); Katherine Clark (D-MA); lic. Individuals must make their own transporta- The next morning, the president will stop at cross-border attacks, ends its threat of Mike Coffman (R-CO); Jim Costa (D-CA); tion arrangements. the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United renewed war, and agrees to a settlement of Joseph Crowley (D-NY); Anna Eshoo (D-CA); The president will go on to MIT to meet with States Senate on the way to the airport to pay regional conflicts through peaceful means.” Chaka Fattah (D-PA); James Langevin (D-RI); scientists, academics and administrators. After his respect to the Kennedy family and Senator Members of Congress are also requesting Barbara Lee (D-CA); Daniel Lipinski (D-IL); this, there is a program with the Luys Education Kennedy in particular. The senator helped supplemental language to strengthen Zoe Lofgren (D-CA); Stephen Lynch (D-MA); and Endowment Fund for the Armenian World Armenia open up to the West and was close to Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY); James McGovern and the Luys scholars, followed by a dinner for the Armenians. Victoria Kennedy, the senator’s The letter points out that Karabagh gov- (D-MA); Grace Napolitano (D-CA); Collin scientists hosted by the Ann and Noubar Afeyan widow, will give the president a private tour of ernment officials have been excluded from Peterson (D-MN); Jared Polis (D-CO); Mike Foundation. Dr. Noubar Afeyan said, “MIT rep- the institute. the peace process since 1998. “Nagorno Quigley (D-IL); Charles Rangel (D-NY); Linda resents global excellence in science and engi- “We are excited to host the president, his Karabagh should, in the interests of peace Sanchez (D-CA); Loretta Sanchez (D-CA); neering, as well as education, and Armenia is chief of staff, new ambassador and cabinet sec- and basic fairness, be permitted to fully par- John Sarbanes (D-MD); Jan Schakowsky (D- aspiring to excel at a global level in these and retaries on their first official visit to ticipate in all talks regarding its future. The IL); Adam Schiff (D-CA); Brad Sherman (D- other fields. Coming and seeing this example, Massachusetts. We appreciate the work of best and most sustainable path to peace CA); Jackie Speier (D-CA); Dina Titus (D-NV); and connecting with Armenians in these fields Dusty Rhodes and Conventures, Inc., in assist- requires direct engagement with the people and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). today is a major step in a positive direction.” ing us with this official visit to the On Wednesday, March 30, after a closed event Commonwealth,” said Barsamian.