THE ARMENIAN Mirrorc SPECTATOR Since 1932

Volume LXXXXI, NO. 44, Issue 4686 MAY 22, 2021 $2.00 Three Arrested in Attack on Armenian Priest in Jerusalem JERUSALEM (Panorama.am) — Three young Jewish men were arrested in Jerus- aelm following a mob attack on an Arme- nian priest. Fr. Arbak Sarukhanyan was attacked on his way to the Church of the Holy Sepul- cher in Jerusalem. “Fr. Arbak was injured. He was rushed to hospital and was discharged after receiving the necessary aid,” Fr. Koryoun (Hovnan) Baghdasaryan, Chancellor of the Arme- nian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, wrote on Facebook on Tuesday, May 18. The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem lodged a complaint with the police, after which three of the attackers were arrested, he said. Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan inspecting the area around Sev Lake “We demand that the police conduct a fair investigation and bring all the perpe- trators to account in accordance with the law in order to avoid such incidents in the Azerbaijani Forces Leaving Armenian future,” Fr. Koryoun said. The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem severely condemns the assault by Jewish Territory after International Pressure youth upon one of the Members of the Brotherhood, Father Arpag Apegha Sa- Azerbaijani control. ry, and prevented them from digging en- roukhanian, on the road leading to the Holy By Raffi Elliott Sepulcher. Special to the Mirror-Spectator Azerbaijani soldiers had reportedly trenchments. Armenian Defense Minister crossed into the internationally recog- Vagharshak Harutyunyan later announced Father Arpag has received multiple in- GORIS, –– Azerbaijani troops nized territory of Armenia on the morning “The Azerbaijani forces near the Sev Lake juries. He was immediately transferred to are slowly pulling out of the area around of May 12 in the vicinity of that lake under have been surrounded by the Armenian the hospital, and after receiving emergency the remote mountain lake of Sev Lidj the guise of conducting “border adjust- military. All approaches to the area are un- medical procedures, was released. after they entered the area on the border ments.” Local Armenian forces halted the der our control.” The Patriarchate has officially present- between Syunik and the adjacent province Azerbaijani intrusion which reached some However, the refused to ed a protest to the police department, after of Karvajar which had recently fallen into 3.5 KM (2.1 miles) into Armenian territo- see TERRITORY, page 3 which three of the assailants were arrested.

Armenian Museum of America Acting PM Pashinyan Uses Ancient Treasures to Excite Holds Security Council New Interest Meeting on ’s By Aram Arkun WATERTOWN — The Armenian Syunik Encroachment Mirror-Spectator Staff Museum of America has been closed to visitors since the start of the novel — Armenia’s Security coronavirus pandemic last year, but (Aram Arkun photo) Council held an extraordinary sitting, inside its landmark building in Water- chaired by Acting Prime Minister Nikol town, the staff have been busier than Pashinyan on May 12. The Council dis- ever, researching its collections, pre- cussed the situation at the border section of paring new exhibits and finding ways Sev Lich in Syunik Marz of Armenia and to connect through the media and In- the steps to take in this connection. ternet with the public. Addressing the meeting, Nikol Pash- For a museum to be able to operate inyan stated, in part: “Today’s Security effectively, it is not enough to possess Council sitting is dedicated to the events an extensive and interesting collection. taking place at the border section close to Well-funded research is necessary for Sev Lich in Syunik Marz and the surround- Dr. Alisa Dumikyan identification of items and their proper ing area. Earlier today Azerbaijan’s armed presentation in exhibits. Fortunately, the museum was able forces crossed the state border of the Re- to bring scholar Dr. Alisa Dumikyan from Armenia to help public of Armenia and advanced as far as in this work. She was working in France with a post-doc- 3.5 kilometers in that section. In fact, they Illumination: Gospel Book fragment, 1477 Gift of toral grant, related Berj Chekijian, the museum’s director are trying to surround and besiege the lake. Adele and Haig Der Manuelian (photo courtesy see TREASURES, page 8 “Of course, this is unacceptable to the Armenian Museum of America) see ENCROACHMENT, page 2

ARMENIA MEXICO FRANCE Planting Hope For All the French for Rural Flavors of the Demonstrate to Armenians World Free Prisoners in Azerbaijan Page 2 Page 12 Page 4 2 SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

ARMENIA NEWS from ARMENIA Ex-Minister Gagik Planting Hope for Rural Armenians Beglaryan Arrested YEREVAN —With many villagers un- ty, soil and water conservation, and carbon with seasonal jobs, many of the villagers able to travel abroad for work due to the sequestration. Most significantly, 60 vil- prefer to stay with their families and work Upon Arrival in pandemic and socio-economic issues lagers were hired to assist in the plantings. in the village. The amount earned and Armenia brought on by the recent war, the tempo- Many of the newcomers to Aznvadzor saved abroad is not significant when all YEREVAN (Public Radio of rary work opportunities created by ATP first settled in the 1990s, and -were Ar the expenses are taken into account - ac- Armenia) – Armenia’s former are critical in creating economic opportu- menian refugees from Azerbaijan, mainly commodation, obtaining visas, travel fees, Minister of Transport and Commu- nity in rural Armenia. Most recently, the from , Ganja, Sumgait, etc. The main etc. Therefore, the seasonal opportunities nication Gagik Beglaryan was ar- Aznvadzor community in the Lori region occupation of the villagers is animal farm- created by ATP are critical in ensuring that rested upon his arrival at Zvartnots became the focal point of ATP’s job stim- ing and horticulture. However, some have the population remains in Aznvadzor, with International Airport in Yerevan, ulation. left traditional agricultural occupations to their family and near their homes. Armenia’s Police Press Service re- Situated in the northern Lori region, work in Armenia’s booming in- The selection of the new forestry plant- ports. Beglaryan, 57, was handed Aznvazdzor Village was an Azerbaija- dustry. Still, the majority of the villagers ing site in Aznvadzor village was careful- over to the National Security Ser- ly planned by ATP specialists, taking into vice after arriving from consideration several important factors on May 17. The former minister including providing job opportunities had been wanted since March 23, to these villagers, as well as the optimal 2020 on charges of misappropria- climate conditions. The main purpose of tion or waste and abuse of official forest rehabilitation here is to restore the authority. Detention was chosen capacity of degraded forest land due to as a precautionary measure. Gagik illegal and uncontrolled logging that was Beglaryan was the head of Yere- done during the 1990s. van’s Kentron community in 2002- The planting site, which encompasses a 2008 and served as mayor of Ye- territory of about 42 hectares (103 acres), revan between 2009 and 2010. He is situated on a slope of a hill about a ki- was the Minister of Transport and lometer away from Aznvadzor. Prior to Communication of the Republic of the first plantings. the entire territory was Armenia in 2012-2016. fenced. The first tree planting was imple- mented in fall 2020 during which around 100,000 trees were planted, including fruit Armenia Submits trees, decorative trees and shrubs. 85,000 Application against trees were planted during the second tree planting, which was just completed. Turkey with ECHR Though our planting in Aznvadzor was Workers in Aznvadzor STRASBOURG — On May 9, completed, our work is not finished. Just the sub- last week, ATP planted 35,000 trees in mitted an inter-state application ni settlement up until the outbreak of the engage in farming or leave for Russia for village in Lori, and hired 33 locals. against Turkey with the European Nagorno- conflict in 1989. The seasonal jobs. ATP will continue to create job opportuni- Court of Human Rights (ECHR) village is located on the southern slopes “After we left Talish we stayed in ties and stimulate economic growth in ru- claiming a number of Convention of ridge, four kilometers from the Alashan, the real name of which is Qmqa- ral Armenia through future planting proj- violations by Turkey by means of city of . It occupies an area of dzor. From there we went to Berdzor and ects, including the upcoming willow-tree recruiting and transporting Syri- 14.56 sq. kilomters and has a population to Bertadzor after that. In the end, our fate planting project, through which another an mercenaries to Azerbaijan and of about 300. brought us to Aznvadzor, Lori, which we 300 workers will be hired. providing military support to Azer- Spring planting in Aznvadzor began had never heard of. How many dzor’s Through an anonymous donor, a match baijan during the 44-day war, the on Monday, April 19, and lasted for two (gorges) do we have to enter and exit be- opportunity was created for $10,000 to as- Representative of Armenia before weeks. More than 85,000 trees were plant- fore we can have a stable future?”, said sist in hiring the seasonal workers for our the ECHR said in a Facebook post ed across 42 hectares, including pine, wild ATP seasonal worker, Ashot Bayunts. planting in Aznvadzor. Though the match on May 18. In particular, the Arme- apple, oak, and beech. A fence was also The lack of employment in the village has been reached for that project, our up- nian government claims that during installed to help protect the newly plant- forces the male population to migrate coming projects still need financial support the 44-day war Turkey violated the ed trees. The long-term impact is that the abroad for work, mainly to Russia and oth- to help us continue hiring seasonal work- right to life, prohibition of torture planted forest will contribute to biodiversi- er post-Soviet countries. When provided ers. and inhuman treatment, the right to liberty, the right to property, the right to personal and family life, as well as a number of other Conven- Pashinyan Holds Security Council Meeting on Azerbaijan’s Syunik Encroachment tion rights of the population of Art- sakh and Armenia. The government ENCROACHMENT, from page 1 has submitted extensive evidence Armenian side, because it represents an with regard to the recruitment and encroachment on the sovereign territory of transfer of Syrian mercenaries by the Republic of Armenia. It still remains to Turkey to Azerbaijan, the supply be seen why such an action was possible, of military equipment, weapons but it should be noted that this is an act and ammunition to the Azerbaijani of subversive infiltration. It should also be army, as well as other evidence on stated that our armed forces responded ear- its involvement in the war. ly this morning with appropriate tactical maneuvers and other necessary measures. “However, it should be noted that these PACE Representative to actions of Azerbaijan’s armed forces were Visit Armenia to Assess not combined with the use of firearms or any other weapon. They are trying to War Consequences justify their move with some fake maps. We still have in our possession a map ap- STRASBOURG (PanARME- NIAN.Net) — Paul Gavan (Ire- proved by the central government in Sovi- land, UEL) will visit Armenia on et era, which clearly shows where the bor- behalf of the Committee on Migra- der between Armenia and Azerbaijan runs. tion, Refugees and Population of “However, the current situation is un- the Parliamentary Assembly of the acceptable to us; the Republic of Armenia PM Nikol Pashinyan at the May 12, 2021 Security Council meeting (courtesy Council of Europe (PACE) from cannot simply accept it, but given what president.am) May 19 to 22 to gather information we have now, our primary task is to settle for his report on “The humanitar- the matter through negotiations, through situation has unfortunately given rise to reality. On the other hand, it should be not- ian consequences of the conflict diplomatic means. This is one of the op- political speculations. I would like to reit- ed that the situation is at least near-critical, between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” tions. erate that no attempt should be made to use if not critical. Were it not for that, we would PACE reported. He will hold meet- “I want us to make it clear that we can- external security threats for internal politi- not have to convene a Security Council ings with parliamentarians, includ- not in any way tolerate and come to terms cal purposes, as this is a matter of national meeting. Anyway, we need to keep calm in ing the President of the National with the situation at hand. Today, the Secu- security; we need to focus on the problem this situation. On the other hand, we need Assembly, and with representatives rity Council will address the situation, our and its solution. to be consistent in terms of defending our of different ministries dealing with counteraction, possible scenarios, and the “I wish to reiterate that any piece of in- state and national interests, and we must the humanitarian consequences of connectivity between such scenarios. formation about shootings, hostilities, inju- make decisions about the steps to take and the conflict. “In the meantime, I should note that this ries and casualties has nothing to do with the tools to use.” SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 3 ARMENIA Azerbaijani Forces Leaving Armenian Territory TERRITORY, from page 1 Moscow-led mutual defense agreement Yerevan as an attempt by the prime min- time the incident first escalated. Incidental- return to their starting line, citing a Sovi- that Armenia is a part of. Under the treaty, ister to quell domestic critics who accuse ly, Aliyev was also attending a music festi- et-era demarcation purportedly showing any intrusion against one member state is him of being soft on defense. Former Pres- val in the occupied city of Shushi several the entire area of the lake as falling within considered to be an aggression against all ident , Pashinyan’s chief dozen miles away, while at the same time, their side of the border. Armenian authori- member-states. rival in the upcoming snap elections, has Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvi- ties countered that claim with a 1975 topo- By invoking Article 2 –– the first time specifically attacked Pashinyan for neglect- li was in Armenia on an official visit. graphic map of the area clearly showing in the organization’s history –– Pashinyan ing to strengthen the security of the vulner- However, international pressure has con- the border between the two then-soviet re- is testing both the CSTO’s resolve in ful- able Syunik province, a charge which some tinued to mount on Baku to pull back its publics as crossing the northern third of the filling its treaty obligations, while simul- of his supporters feel is vindicated by the troops across the official border. The CSTO lake, with the other two thirds firmly inside taneously drawing a redline in the face of recent crisis. has convened an emergency session and de- Armenian territory. clared that it was “mon- Some claims in Armenian media of Azer- itoring the situation. If baijani forces entering the adjacent villages necessary action will of Ishkhanasar and Verishen, a suburb of be taken in accordance the provincial capital of Goris, were denied with provisions of the by the Ministry of Defense, and the villag- Collective Security ers themselves later said they heard these Treaty charter.” Russian rumors from the internet. President Vladimir Pu- One clause of the November 9 cease- tin emphasized the need fire agreement which ended last autumn’s to strictly comply with bloody war in Artsakh was the “return” all provisions of the of 7 buffer territories around Artsakh. At November 9 ceasefire least three of these territories border the agreement. “The Rus- Armenian provinces of Syunik and Ge- sian side reaffirmed its gharkunik. While the Soviet-era borders, disposition to continue which had never been designed as interna- active mediation efforts tional boundaries, had never been properly and maintain close con- demarcated. Since the war ended, a delicate tacts with Yerevan and process of border demarcation has been Baku in the interests taking place under Russian supervision, us- of ensuring stability in ing Soviet-era maps and GPS coordinators. the region” read a state- However, a variety of differing maps has ment posted to their frustrated these efforts. website. General Alex- With the Karvajar province handover andr Dvornikov, Com- taking place in December, heavy snowfall mander of the Southern prevented both Armenian and Azerbaija- Military District of the ni border guards from setting up border Russian Armed Forces markers in some of the more remote and was also dispatched to mountainous sections of the border. With Yerevan where he met the spring thaw melting most of the snow in with Armenian Defense the area in early May, Azerbaijani military Minister Vagharshak engineers rushed to set up at least one po- Harutyunyan. sition well-within the territory of Armenia. In the United States, This unprecedented incident –– the most Sen. Bob Menendez serious breach of the tense ceasefire in (D-N.J.), the chair of the place since last November – –has sparked Senate Foreign Rela- fear in Armenia that Baku is planning to tions Committee called make good on multiple threats to seize on President Biden to parts of the southern Syunik province by support Armenia. “The force. Azerbaijani dictator Ilham Aliyev violation of Armenia’s has publicly spoken of potentially launch- sovereign territory by ing an invasion in the area before Azerbaijani troops is a walking back those comments following dangerous and illegal international outcry. act of aggression that Azerbaijani military engineers conduct- underscores the sus- ed entrenching works within the territory tained threat that the of the neighboring Gegharkunik province Armenian people con- as well, according to its governor. “Yester- tinue to face,” the sen- day [the Azerbaijanis] encroached on our ator said. border towards the village of Kut under the Still the strongest guise of setting up border demarcations us- condemnation of the ing erroneous maps” Gov. Gnel Sanosyan incident came from told reporters. “We blocked them from French President Em- moving any further and are waiting for ne- Soviet-era topographic map from 1974 clearly showing the border between the two republics manuel Macron. Fol- lowing a phone call with gotiations to conclude so they may return splitting the top third of Lake Sev. to their side.” his Armenian counter- Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashin- part, Macron posted on yan, who called the situation “explosive” further potential violations of Armenian Responding to chiding from the oppo- Facebook in Armenian that “France always during an emergency meeting of the Se- sovereignty by Baku. sition, Secretary of the Security Council stands in solidarity with Armenia,” calling curity Council on the evening of May 12, Speaking to the Mirror-Spectator, Armen Grigoryan responded that the Army on Azerbaijan to immediately remove its declared that Azerbaijan’s incursion would Richard Giragosian, director of the Ye- “did not have time to man the entire length troops, and promised to bring up the mat- ter to the UN Security Council, of which not be tolerated. “I hope that this situation revan-based think tank Regional Studies of the new border before snowfall,” adding France is a permanent member. would be resolved with the Azerbaijani Center, called the situation “a test of Ar- that continuous work was being undertak- On May14, the Armenian Ministry of soldiers peacefully returning from whence menian resolve and Russian response.” He en to redeploy along the new border. Still, Defense announced that, following a night they came” Pashinyan said, adding that di- further cautioned that as Azerbaijan probes the government’s move has been supported of negotiations, the Azerbaijani forces were plomacy was but one of the options at his for weakness, “we should only expect more by parliamentary opposition leader Edmon “waiting only for an official order from government’s disposal to resolve the con- such incursions and escalations.” Marukyan. their superiors to retreat to their original flict. Referring to the seemingly-falsified Dr. Anna Ohanyan, a nonresident senior For its part, Baku denied that its military positions.” Over the weekend, however, the maps carried by Azerbaijani military engi- scholar at Carnegie Endowment for Inter- personnel had even crossed into Armenian prime minister announced, during a Securi- neers, Pashinyan characterized the incident national Peace agreed. “This is a straight- territory. “Our border guards are stationed ty Council briefing, that Azerbaijani troops as a “pre-planned provocation” designed to forward case of a breach of sovereignty, a along positions belonging to our country,” had already begun to retreat to their side of test Armenia’s response as a precursor to norm which enjoys the most support within the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in the border, and more were expected to do further incursions. international law. Russia has a chance to a statement. “Azerbaijan is committed to so in the coming days. “This crisis will not With Azerbaijan refusing to back down come out stronger as the global player it so easing tensions in the region and calls for be considered resolved until all the Azer- by May 13, Pashinyan announced that the craves to be by supporting its obligations. appropriate measures to this end.” The baijanis exit Armenian territory,” Pashin- crisis would escalate as his government for- It has a lot to lose if it does not play this statement also revealed that the command- yan announced, adding that negotiations mally invoked Article 2 of the Collective right.” er of the Azerbaijani Border Guards was would resume under Russian mediation on Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) –– a The move has also been interpreted in apparently away on a business trip at the Wednesday, May 19. 4 SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL NEWS French Armenians Demonstrate before National Turkey Worried Iceland Could Recognize Assembly for Release of Prisoners in Azerbaijan The By Jean Eckian ANKARA (Public Radio of Ar- menia) – Speaker of the Turkish PARIS – On May 18, French Armenians Parliament Mustafa Sentop on May demonstrated in front of the National As- 17 asked his counterpart in Iceland sembly to demand the release of the Arme- Steingrimur Sigfusson not to back nian soldiers held in captivity in Azerbai- the draft resolution on Armenian jan and against the violation of the territory Genocide, Anadolu Agency re- of Armenia by Baku. ports. In a letter to Sigfusson, Mus- Several representatives of the French tafa Sentop said the draft resolution community spoke, as well as parliamen- submitted in Iceland parliament tarians and French government spokesper- was “built on groundless allega- son Gabriel Attal. The latter stressed that tions.” the President of the French Republic, Em- “I learned that a draft resolution, manuel Macron, “was the first to go on the which built on groundless allega- offensive and say things clearly, which led tions and aimed at recognizing the to him being attacked by Turkish political events of 1915 as genocide, has leaders. We will continue to be on the of- been submitted to your parliament. fensive with major priorities: to uphold the It is obvious that such unfounded integrity of Armenian territory which has attempts, which we know that they suffered a new incursion in defiance of in- Activists (photo Jean Eckian) emerged with the provocation of ternational law; to find a solution for the some circles, will result in nothing Armenian prisoners who are now detained menian Organizations of France) co-pres- but shadowing the good relations in Azerbaijan in unbearable conditions,” ident. that exist between our countries,” he said. Gabriel Attal added that the use The French parliamentarians, Pierre Ou- Sentop said in the letter. He said the of social networks to put pressure on fam- zoulias, Valérie Boyer, Danièle Cazarian, resolution would cast a shadow on ilies “is abominable.” He concluded, “To- François Pupponi and Guy Tessier, pres- Turkey-Iceland relations. day we want to move forward within the ident of the Cercle d’Amitié France-Art- framework of the United Nations Security sakh, denounced the atrocities committed Russia Discusses Council.” on young Armenian soldiers, as well as the The representatives of the Armenian “museum of shame prohibited by interna- Armenia-Azerbaijan community of France, Ara Toranian and tional conventions,” as Guy Tessier said. Unrest with Iran, Mourad Papazian, spoke out vehemently He called on the UN Security Council, the against the inclinations of the Ankara-Ba- Minsk Group, the Organization of Security France ku axis of Pan-Turkism, which wishes the and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Chair- YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN. destruction of the Armenian people. “Ar- manship and the Council of Europe to de- Net) — Russian Deputy Foreign menia is in danger of death,” emphasized mand the immediate application by Azer- Minister Andrei Rudenko met Ara Toranian. For him, in the current situ- baijan of international laws of war. with French Ambassador to Russia ation of violation of the integrity of Arme- Among the sentences uttered were Pierre Lévy on May 18 to discuss nian territory, “this is a trap set in Arme- “Azerbaijan organized trafficking in - or the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as nia.” “Baku and Ankara are waiting for a gans of Armenian corpses,” “Today we well as the situation in the South response from Armenia to justify an attack need more than words,” and “Armenia is , the press service of the and put the country to fire and blood,” said the last democratic bulwark of Europe in Russian Foreign Ministry report- the CCAF (Coordination Council of Ar- the region.” Gabriel Attal (photo Jean Eckian) ed. Also on May 18, Rudenko also met Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali, exchanging views on regional matters, including on the Karabakh issue and the situation on Centuries-Old Armenian Cemetery North of Shushi Partially Destroyed the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. SHUSHI – Caucasus Heritage Watch (CHW) has made a high-confidence assessment that a centuries-old Armenian cemetery On the morning of May 12, the north of /Shushi has been partially destroyed. A portion of the grounds on the west side of a road leading into the city was armed forces of Azerbaijan violated leveled in the construction of a building complex. the border of Armenia in the south- The expansive cemetery, which spans both sides of the road, contained 96 tombstones dating 1834-1920 and two 12-13th c. ern province of Syunik, advancing cross stones (khachkars), including the tombs of noble Armenian families (). 3.5 kilometers and surrounding Sev Although the construction occurred in an area shaded by tree cover, imagery from February 2021 (middle image) reveals a Lake, which is situated on the bor- dense array of tombstones, and documentation provided by Monument Watch, in Yerevan, details specific plots in the location. der between the two countries but Neither the number of damaged tombs nor the affected plots can be determined with available data. CHW calls on the president is predominantly a part of Armenia. of Azerbaijan and UNESCO to directly assess the extent of the damage and preserve this historic site. On May 13, the Azerbaijani mili- CHW is a team of researchers at Cornell and Purdue Universities. Their mission is to monitor and document endangered and tary committed more border viola- damaged cultural heritage using satellite imagery. tions against Armenia, advancing near Vardenis (Gegharkunik prov- ince) and Sisian (Syunik province). Armenian Cemeteries Destroyed in Iran

ABADAN, Iran (International Christian Concern) – Looters de- stroyed Armenian cemeteries in Iran, seeking to find antiques and other valuables, with no govern- ment intervention. An Armenian cemetery in Abadan was registered in 2002 with the National Monu- ments List of Iran. Yet rumors of wealth hidden among the tombs have brought looters and destruc- tion of property. Up until a few years ago, the cemetery was pro- tected by guards. However, repeat- ed clashes and raids of the ceme- tery caused the police to refuse to intervene so it now lies in ruins. SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 5

INTERNATIONAL Armenia UN Rep Suggests Azerbaijan Violates International Law

NEW YORK — On Monday, May 17, of situations of humanitarian crisis require The Secretary-General’s report makes well as the wide-spread state-led campaign Armenia’s representative to the UN, Am- stronger engagement of the international a salient observation that the national pre- of dehumanization of Armenians, such as, bassador Mher Margaryan, spoke at the community, including the human rights and vention efforts require addressing the leg- for example, the recently opened “mili- United Nations General Assembly plenary preventive machinery of the UN system. acy of the past, in particular, in countries tary trophy park”, which has already been meeting on the Responsibility to Protect and Fostering international cooperation for and regions that have experienced atrocities named as “national hatred theme park” by the prevention of genocide, war crimes, eth- prevention of mass atrocities and the further before. More often than not, at the heart of the international media, come to manifest nic cleansing and crimes against humanity. development of national and international the crimes against humanity is a history of that the genocidal ideology does not merely In his remarks, he reiterated Armenia’s early warning mechanisms are important continued violations of fundamental human belong to history. This is a source of grave support for Day of Commemoration and concern that needs to be properly identified Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Geno- and acknowledged to prevent further atroc- cide and of the Prevention of this Crime. ities. In addition, he spoke against the attack by Armenia rejects all allegations and fabri- Azerbaijan on the country in September 27, cated accusations voiced earlier by the rep- 2020, which resulted in the deaths of thou- resentative of Azerbaijan, which was noth- sands and the capture and illegal detention ing short of a futile attempt to conceal the of many Armenian POWs. massive atrocities conducted by Azerbaijan His remarks in full are published below. in course of aggression unleashed on Sep- tember 27, 2020. I would like to express profound appreci- Armenia condemns such actions in the ation to the Secretary-General for his report, strongest terms and views them as an af- which provides an important reflection on front to the values, ideals and principles of the root causes of the persistent challenges the United Nations, including the collective for advancing atrocity prevention. Once commitment to prevent and punish crimes again, we are reminded in the report that that “deeply shock the conscience of hu- flawed capacities to protect human rights manity”. for all create particular risks for identi- Armenia remains strongly committed to ty-based violations of human rights, the ul- advancing prevention agenda and shares the timate manifestation of which are genocide, view that accountability for atrocity crimes war crimes and crimes against humanity. prevention can be strengthened by open re- Ambassador Mher Margaryan We are equally reminded that prevention is flection and inclusive dialogue, with civil an ongoing process that requires sustained society, free media and academia playing a efforts towards promoting respect for the priorities of Armenia’s engagement within rights and identity-based violence, when key role in this regard. rule of law and human rights without dis- the United Nations. policies of identity-based hatred and intol- As ever, we recognize the central role of crimination. Armenia, whose people have undergone erance are led and cultivated at the highest the Office on Genocide Prevention and the Addressing and countering hate speech through the horrors of Genocide in the early political level. Responsibility to Protect and expect it to de- remain crucial priorities in delivering on 20th century, will continue to support strong In our part of the world, the brutal, large- liver adequate response, at all times, and to the genocide prevention agenda. Incitement focus on the early action to prevent situa- scale violence unleashed amidst the global act in situations where atrocity risks exist, in to hatred and hate crimes, denial, justifica- tions, which can result in crises and atrocity pandemic in an attempt to resolve the Na- any part of the world. tion or glorification of past crimes, along crimes. gorno-Karabakh conflict by force led to the with instances of racial and ethnic profil- As the main sponsor of the UN General most intense and destructive escalation in ing constitute the detectable early warning Assembly resolution instituting the Interna- the region since 1990s, putting the lives of signs, which, if unaddressed, can lead to tional Day of the 9th December as the Day thousands of civilians and the ancient Ar- Arms Dealer Davit further violence and atrocities. Armenia of Commemoration and Dignity of the Vic- menian Christian heritage under existential has welcomed the UN Strategy and Plan of tims of the Crime of Genocide and of the threat. Galstyan to be Released Action on Hate Speech, which, as the Sec- Prevention of this Crime, Armenia is fully Time and again, Armenia alerted the in- retary-General has succinctly put it in his committed to strengthening this important ternational community about the danger- From Pre-trial foreword, represents “a menace to demo- platform, most notably, through thematic ously mounting level of hate speech and Detention cratic values, social stability and peace”. events aimed at fostering cooperation for racist rhetoric dominating the political dis- Today, there is a growing, urgent need to prevention of atrocity crimes and the further course in Azerbaijan, which constitutes all YEREVAN (Armenpress) – Arms dealer step up collective efforts to fight racism, dis- development of national and international elements of incitement to violence against Davit Galstyan will be released from jail crimination and xenophobia, which so often early warning mechanisms. ethnic Armenians and represents a signifi- as Judge Sergey Marabyan of the Court of represent the root causes of atrocity crimes. The first intersessional meeting of the cant indicator of risk of atrocity crimes. Criminal Appeals approved his complaint Armenia has consistently raised its voice Human Rights Council on genocide preven- Azerbaijan’s continued failure to release against the extension of his pre-trial deten- against the immense sufferings and mass tion, held in February this year, is yet anoth- the numerous prisoners of war and civilian tion, his lawyer said atrocities perpetrated against ethnic and er reflection of our strong commitment to hostages who are still being held in captivi- on May 17. religious minorities. The continuous, sys- the mutually reinforcing agendas of human ty, contrary to the international humanitari- Davit Galstyan, frequently referred to as tematic human rights violations, crimes on rights and genocide prevention which builds an law, the ongoing provocations by way of ethnic and religious grounds in the context on our extensive national record in this field. incursions into the territory of Armenia, as

Redrawing of Armenia’s Borders ‘Unacceptable’ to Iran TEHRAN (RFE/RL) — A senior Ira- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s re- nian official reportedly voiced strong Armenia’s southeastern Syunik prov- cent threats to forcibly open a “corridor” support for Armenia’s territorial integrity ince bordering Iran and Azerbaijan is the connecting Azerbaijan to its Nakhiche- when he commented on the continuing epicenter of the standoff that began after van exclave via Syunik. military standoff on its border with Azer- Azerbaijani troops reportedly advanced Meeting with Iran’s Minister of Roads baijan. several kilometers into Armenian territo- and Urban Development Mohammad Es- “The position of the Islamic Republic ry on May 12. (See related story on page lami on Monday, the Armenian ambassa- of Iran is very clear, unequivocal and 1.) dor in Tehran, Artashes Tumanyan, said resolute: the territorial integrity of the Armenia has condemned the Azerbai- Yerevan also counts on the Islamic Re- Davit Galstyan regional states must be preserved,” Moj- jani troop movements as a violation of its public’s support in the border standoff. taba Zolnour, the chairman of the Iranian territorial integrity and asked Russia and According to the Armenian Embassy parliament’s committee on national secu- the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty in Iran, Eslami reaffirmed his country’s Patron Davo (meaning Bullet Davo) by the rity and foreign policy, told the Russian Organization to for military support. support for Armenia’s territorial integri- media, is an arms dealer who previously Sputnik news agency on May 17. Azerbaijan denies such a violation, ty. In that context, he assured Tumanian served as advisor to the former Minister of “It would be unacceptable for us if they saying that its forces simply took up new that Tehran remains committed to the Defense Davit Tonoyan. He was jailed in took away a part of Armenian territory positions on the Azerbaijani side of the idea of creating a “transport corridor” February 2021. and changed our borders. That is, if we frontier. that would connect Iran’s Persian Gulf Galstyan is accused in supplying the Ar- had a new neighbor. The existing borders Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has ports to the Black Sea through Armenia menian military with poor-quality artillery must be fully protected and Iran’s border suggested that Baku may be intent on and Georgia. shells unfit for combat. The deal in ques- with Armenia must be preserved,” said “provoking an armed clash” with Ar- During a March visit to Yerevan, Ira- tion was made between Galstyan’s Moss- the conservative politician who previous- menia six months after a Russian-bro- nian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad ton Engineering and the Armenian Defense ly served as Supreme Leader Ayatollah kered agreement stopped the war in Zarif described Armenia’s territorial in- Ministry in 2018. Ali Khamenei’s representative to Iran’s Nagorno-Karabakh. He has pointed to tegrity as a “red line” for Iran. Back in February, Galstyan denied wrongdoing and claimed that the supplies were actually done as required by the con- tract. 6 SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR Community News Upcoming Armenia California Armenian Legislative Caucus Election Topic of Announces New Panel Sponsored by Caucus Member: NAASR Assembly Speaker pro BELMONT, Mass. — The Nation- Tempore al Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) / Calouste SACRAMENTO — The California Gulbenkian Foundation Series on Armenian Legislative Caucus added Contemporary Armenian Issues will new member: Assembly Speaker pro present an online panel entitled “Back Tempore Kevin Mullen to the Cau- to the Ballot Box: The June Elections cus which already includes: Senate in Armenia and the Stakes for State- President pro Tempore Toni G. At- hood,” with Nerses Kopalyan, Harout kins, Senate Majority Leader Bob Manougian, and Anna Ohanyan, on Herzberg, Senate Minority Leader Saturday, May 22, 2021, at 1:00 pm Scott Wilk, Senator Bob Archuleta, (Eastern). The program will be ac- Senator Andreas Borgeas, Senator cessible live on Zoom (registration Brian Dahle, Senator María Elena required) and on NAASR’s YouTube Durazo, Senator Anthony Portanti- Channel. no, Assembly Majority Leader Eloise On April 25, 2021, Nikol Pashin- Gómez Reyes, Assemblymember Lisa yan formally tendered his resignation Calderon, Assemblymember Laura as Prime Minister and announced that Friedman, Assemblymember Jesse he would seek re-election through Gabriel, Assemblymember Mike Gip- an early parliamentary election. It son, Assemblymember Chris Hold- was almost 3 years to the day after en, Assemblymember , the dramatic resignation of Serge Assemblymember , Sargsyan which catapulted Pashin- Assemblymember , Assem- yan to power in the culmination of blymember Blanca Rubio, and As- the Velvet Revolution. In the wake semblymember Suzette Valladares. of the catastrophic 44-day war of fall Said Mullin, “The Armenian geno- 2020 and mounting political tensions, cide that killed 1.5 million Arme- much is at stake in the June 20 elec- nians over 100 years ago resulted tions. This special panel discussion in immeasurable pain and suffering. with three distinguished experts will As a new member of the California analyze how we got here, what may Armenian Legislative Caucus, I am lie ahead, and what it means for Ar- one more voice for the global Ar- menian statehood. The featured panelists will be Dr. Adrienne Alexanian with Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II Nerses Kopalyan, assistant profes- sor-in-residence of political science, University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Harout Manougian, elections expert Adrienne Alexanian Receives currently based in Yerevan and a contributing writer for EVN Report; and Dr. Anna Ohanyan, Richard B. St. Nersess Shnorhali Medal Finnegan Distinguished Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Stonehill College. Marc And Gontag A. Mamigonian, director of academic affairs, NAASR, will serve as mod- NEW YORK — On May 11, 2021 during an intimate dinner attended by 30 prom- inent members of the Armenian Community hosted by Vera and Berge Setrakian in erator. “As a new member of the For more information contact honor of Catholicos Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch of all Armenians, His Holiness California Armenian NAASR at [email protected]. surprised Adrienne Alexanian by bestowing upon her the Saint Nersess Shnorhali Medal. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, former Primate of the Diocese of the Arme- Legislative Caucus, I nian Church of America (Eastern) and currently the Pontifical Legate of the Armenian am one more voice for NAASR Awarded Church in Western Europe and representative of the Armenian Church to the Holy See the global Armenian Mass Cultural Council/ read the Gontag on behalf of the catholicos. community as they Also in attendance were Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Primate of the Diocese of the Ar- continue to heal from MassDevelopment Grants menian Church of America (Eastern) as well as Archbishop Yezras Nersisyan, Primate this brutal atrocity. ” of the Armenian Diocese of Russia and New Nakhichevan. BELMONT, Mass. — The Na- Alexanian, who is well known to the Armenian community because of her activism, California Assembly member tional Association for Armenian received the Ellis Island Medal in 2010 for her prolific and broad based volunteer Kevin Mullin Studies and Research (NAASR) is work and philanthropy for the Armenian Diocese, the Armenian General Benevolent thrilled to announce that the Mass menian community as they continue Union, the Armenian Assembly of America and for Armenia. To highlight just a few Cultural Council, in partnership to heal from this brutal atrocity. We examples: Adrienne coordinated the Diocesan earthquake relief effort and procured 20 with MassDevelopment, has award- must make every effort to make sure tons of medical supplies and equipment as well as tons of food, clothing and toys for ed NAASR a $100,000 capital grant that history does not repeat itself and the children. All of these donations were sent to Armenia on three planes the services and a $7,000 Systems Replacement stand up against violence and hatred of which Adrienne was also able to acquire as donations. Adrienne chaired all of pub- Plan grant from the of any kind.” lic events for the late Catholicos Vasken I. She was the NGO representative of both the Cultural Facilities Fund. This fund- The California Armenian Legis- Armenian Diocese and the AGBU to the United Nations for eight years during which ing will go toward final construction lative Caucus serves as a forum for time she advocated for every aspect of Armenia’s agenda, including a major forum on costs and measures for protections members from the California Senate the Armenian Genocide whose panel included Vahakn Dadrian, the foremost expert against covid-19 in NAASR’s new and Assembly to identify key issues on the Armenian Genocide, and Juan Mendez, special advisor to the Secretary General Vartan Gregorian Building, which affecting and on the prevention of genocide. preserves NAASR’s 31,000-vol- develop and empower the Armenian Andrea Kannapell, New York Times Foreign Affairs editor, was the moderator. The ume, rare book Armenian Studies American community throughout 333 attendees included numerous ambassadors, UN department heads, NGO repre- library and serves as a research cen- California. The Caucus encourages sentatives, scholars, historians and prominent representatives of both the Armenian ter and community gathering place. advocacy and participation in cul- and Turkish communities. Among other panels and forums Adrienne organized were We are deeply grateful to the Mass tural, educational, governmental, panels on the Blockade of Armenia, the Nagorno Karabakh War, Land Mine Eradi- Cultural Council Cultural Facilities and community efforts in Califor- cation, the Armenia Tree Project, Women’s Wellness in Armenia, etc. with prominent Fund, MassDevelopment and Gov- nia. Through advocacy, the Caucus members on the panels including Congressman Frank Pallone and Baroness Caroline ernor Charlie Baker for supporting strives to ensure that California Ar- Cox. Adrienne began her advocacy of the Armenian agenda by inviting numerous cultural institutions so generously to menian American’s voices are heard continued on next page benefit the entire state. and given a platform. SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS

Deacon Michael Sabounjian To Be Ordained as Priest NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — On June 5, Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Primate of the Di- ocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) will ordain and anoint Reverend Deacon Michael Sabounjian to the Holy Order of the Priesthood. The Service of Calling to the Priesthood will take place on Friday, June 4, at 6 p.m. at the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection at 1910 Stanley Street, New Britain, followed by a reception in the John and Mary Abrahamian Hall at the Church. The Celebration of the Divine Liturgy and Ordination will take place on Saturday, June 5 at 10:00 am, also at the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection. An Ordina- tion Banquet will take place immediately following the Service at the Tunxis Country Club in Farmington CT. The sponsoring priest will be Rev. Krikor A. Sabounjian, Deacon Michael’s father, and the Godfather will be Stepan Piligian. Deacon Michael has been the Deacon-in-Charge at the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection since February 1. He is a graduate of College and St. Nersess Sem- inary and is married to Lucine Sabounjian. His parents are Fr. Krikor A. Sabounjian and Yeretsgin LuAnn Sabounjian. COVID -19 restrictions require that attendance be by RSVP only, masks be worn at all times and there will be limited seating in the Church sanctuary. There will be additional seating in the Church hall with a live stream. Those unable to join in person are invited to join in the live stream for the Service of Calling and Ordination, which can be found at http://bit.ly/ACHRLiveStream

Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Fr. Krikor Saboujian and Michael Sabounjian

Adrienne Alexanian Receives St. Nersess Shnorhali Medal and Gontag from previous page Eastern District of the Armenian Assembly ambassadors and NGO representatives to of America and she along with her mother a program to commemorate the 1700th an- Grace organized and funded a documen- niversary of Christianity which included a tary on the Nagorno Karabakh War which lecture by Abraham Terian on Armenia’s was sent to the President, Vice President, religious history followed by vocal selec- Secretary of State, Library of Congress, tions of Armenian liturgical hymns. Senators and Congressmen on behalf of the Alexanian was chairperson of the One Armenian Assembly which also appeared World Festival which was co-sponsored on PBS. The aforementioned are just some by the City of New York and attracted over highlights but the list of Adrienne’s volun- 100,000 people over the weekend. Adri- teer work goes on. enne brought together 26 ethnic groups to More recently, she spent three years display their culture and was the first chair- preparing her father Edward Alexanian’s person to incorporate numerous parishes memoir, Forced into Genocide: Memoirs belonging to the Eastern Diocese. Adrienne of an Armenian Soldier in the Ottoman fundraised and decorated the Permanent Turkish Army, for publication in 2017 by Mission of Armenia to the United Nations. Transaction Publishers / Rutledge Publish- She also initiated and chaired several fund- ers which was distributed world-wide. The raising antiques shows and rug sales for the memoir is on several websites including Armenian Diocese. Adrienne was an active the SHOAH Foundation, Genocide Watch, member of the committee that brought chil- and Houshamadyan and has been translat- dren’s art work from Armenia for display at ed into foreign languages. the Brooklyn Children’s Art Museum. As a Since its publication, Alexanian has offered member of the Diocesan Heritage commit- 29 book presentations all over the country at tee Adrienne was able to get a commitment colleges and universities, Holocaust Muse- from Elia Kazan personally to show his film ums, libraries and Armenian venues donating America, America as part of a weeklong the proceeds from the sale of the books to commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. the host venue. Her goal is to use her father’s Alexanian was chairperson of the St. memoir to educate the non-Armenian com- Vartan Cathedral Anniversary and chair- munity about the Armenian Genocide and person of several Easter Sunday luncheons the Armenian Community about an aspect and several of the Primate’s children’s of the Armenian Genocide about which there Christmas parties as well as chairperson of are no other books in literature. several Cultural Happenings on the Plaza. Adrienne and her parents have endow- Adrienne Alexanian with, from left, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Catholicos of She was the first person to introduce Eric ments funds at the Armenian Diocese, The All Armenians Karekin II and Bishop Daniel Findikyan Bogosian, Leslie Ayvazian and Ron Darian AGBU, and the Armenian Assembly of to the Armenian community during a caba- America which support various needs in Armenian to the United Nations. never change course. I believe strongly in ret evening in Kavookjian Auditorium and the Armenian community. After thanking Karekin II for honoring God’s will and that we’re on earth for a was a member of the committees honoring Beside the Saint Nersess Shnorhali Med- her with the Saint Nersess Shnorhali Med- purpose which is predetermined. You know Charles Aznavour, Governor George Deu- al and the Ellis Island Medal for her volun- al and Gontag and highlighting that it was that purpose when you look for the signs. kmejian and Lily Chookazian. teer work and philanthropy for her people, all the more special because the catholicos The signs were obvious to me because I She was also a member of the Nagorno Adrienne received an award from Lyudmi- bestowed it himself, Adrienne expressed watched both of my parents dedicate their Karabakh committee and fundraised for the la Ter -Petrosyan on behalf of her husband, her profound and heartfelt appreciation to lives to advocacy for our people. I learned war effort in the 1980s. Levon Ter- Petrosyan, the first President of the AGBU and in particular to its president by watching them that it was my responsi- Adrienne was on both the AGBU Cultur- Armenia, for her work for the Armenian Berge Setrakian. She continued to say the bility and my privilege to do the same. So al Committee and the AGBU Convention Mission, a medal and a citation for her vol- following: when you honor me this evening you are Committee and as part of the AGBU effort unteer work on Armenian American Night “Someone once said that the two most in reality honoring my parents’ legacy for fundraised tens of thousands of dollars for at Eisenhower Park and a citation from the important days of one’s life are the day which I am profoundly grateful.” Andrew Goldberg’s documentary on the government of Armenia, presented to her that you are born and the day you realize Alexanian reiterated her appreciation to Armenian Genocide which appeared on by Ambassador Garen Nazarian for her ad- why you were born. I consider myself to the catholicos, which concluded a special PBS. As a fellow trustee of the Armenian vocacy of the Armenian agenda at the U.N. be lucky because I came to that realization evening. Assembly, Adrienne was a member of the and her work for the Permanent Mission of early in life and despite having free will — Karen Bedrosian Richardson 8 SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

COMMUNITY NEWS / OBITUARY Armenian Museum of America Uses Ancient Treasures to Excite New Interest

TREASURES, from page 1 a bimonthly basis, a monthly virtual exhi- of finance and building operations, when bition, a live webinar which is also on the Michele Kolligian, president of the board museum website concerning the digitized of trustees, made the connection with her. 78 rpm Armenian record collection, and a Dumikyan was born in the village of show-and-tell of various objects conducted in the northern Armenian prov- by Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sina- ince of Lori. She went to school in the nian. nearby town of before going to Ye- The first virtual exhibition was on Art- revan for her higher education. She studied sakh rugs, followed by ones on ancient at the Valery Bryusov State University of coins curated by collector Levon Saryan, Languages and Social Sciences from 1995 the Norton Dodge collection of Armenian to 2000 and after graduating, was invited dissident art, the Azgapetian family and to teach there for about a decade. She also Near East Relief, and the forthcoming ex- taught at the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) hibition of numismatic and philatelic ma- University and the French University while terials on the first Republic of Armenia. continuing her education. These are often topical, with the Near East After a master’s degree from the National Relief exhibit in April coinciding with the Academy of Sciences in 2008, Dumikyan commemoration of the Armenian Geno- worked as a senior researcher in the Acade- cide or the first Republic of Armenia ex- my’s Institute of History while completing hibit this month coinciding with the May her doctorate, which concerns 19th century 28 anniversary of Armenian independence. issues in French Armenology, and after- The Artsakh rug exhibition, Dumikyan’s wards led to the Armenian-language book idea, was inspired by the Artsakh war. Issues in the History of Ancient and Early Triptych, 1743 Gift of Paul and Vicki Bedoukian. This at one time may have held a relic of the cross, The concerts are curated by composer Medieval Armenia in French Armenology Dumikyan surmises, and was from Charek Monastery in Utik Province. (photo courtesy Armenian and conductor Konstantin Petrossian and th of the 19 Century” (Yerevan, 2014). Museum of America) supported by a grant from the Dadouri- At the museum, Dumikyan explained an Foundation. Their virtual nature of the that it was necessary to first reexamine the non-Armenian languages. Dumikyan did companying information to the Institute of concerts allowed musicians from Armenia collections to see what they encompass. a partial interpretation and sent copies to Archaeology and Ethnography in Yerevan, such as the members of the Nairyan Vocal Initial categorizations by donors were not various experts in Armenia and the US for which determined that it was much older, Ensemble or the Yerevan State Choir to always correct. She presented a number of their help, which she is awaiting at present. dating from the 14th to 12th centuries. This participate. items that she had been researching and ob- The museum had a small 15th-centu- is another major discovery which is a coup Quinn said that during this period of served, “Most manuscripts here are dam- ry Gospel manuscript section of six pag- for the Armenian Museum. Now there are Covid restrictions, the museum increased aged and don’t have colophons. So if noth- es with illuminations, about which it was other pots in the collection which must be its online presence on Facebook and Ins- ing exists on the work, you have to study only known that the illustrator’s name was similarly reevaluated. tagram, and did more emails, while for the the period, the writer and the illustrator. Bishop Stepannos. It was a gift from Adele Of course, she pointed out that the mu- first time it started a YouTube account. This takes much time.” and Haig Der Manuelian to the museum. seum also has many items which are tru- When asked how he chose the wide There was a manuscript listed as from Lusine Sargsyan at the Mesrop Mashtots ly from Van’s kingdom of . Many range of artifacts he presented, Lind-Sina- are gifts from Paul and Vicki Bedoukian, nian responded: “Basically it is a random which have been exhibited in the past. choice. I don’t want to do too many objects Dumikyan’s work extends to a great va- out of one category. I do a little of this and riety of items and artifacts. She had found a little of that so that people will get brief a rare lunar calendar/map, the origin of introductions to a lot of areas about which which was unknown. One copy exists with that they would not necessarily be aware.” the Mkhitarians in Venice, who assumed Sohigian said: “The exciting thing about it might be a part of the Haigazian dictio- this was that we have so many things in nary. As it is not actually from this work, the collection in storage that don’t get to the search continues as to its origins. Du- be displayed. Gary brings them out, shows mikyan even contacted the Byurakan As- them to people and tells the story behind trophysical Observatory in Armenia in case them. People seem to be enjoying it. We they might have any knowledge of it. distribute it across all our social media plat- Dumikyan highly commended the pres- forms, via email, website, and YouTube.” ervation efforts of the Armenian Muse- The videos were initially an idea by Kol- um, exclaiming that manuscripts are kept ligian, who made a donation at the end of very well with climate control and great last year to sponsor the series. care. However, she hoped that the museum would be able to have the means one day Looking towards Physically Reopening, to renovate or repair manuscripts that have Increasing Membership suffered damages or the ravages of time. Dumikyan is updating the galleries of Polished black pot, 14th-12th Century B.C., Gift of Hakop Alimian (photo courtesy Armenian Museum She pointe dout, “How we maintain mu- the museum through her research and new of America) seum items shows our attitude towards our labels are being prepared based on her dis- cultural heritage.” coveries. Sohigian said, “There are some the 16th century, for example, which she Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, or Mat- She called for increasing cooperation new objects and there will be reconfigura- realized might not be from that period. It enadaran for short, in Yerevan, confirmed with Armenia and hoped that in the future tions. Alissa is finding out information that was not a hymnal as described, but actually that the illustrator appeared to be the 15th more researchers will come to work at the we did not have before, which is amazing. a “manr usumn” liturgical musical codice, century Stepannos of Arinch. museum. Collaboration between Armenia Our collection is significant and we are one with melodies indicated by the khaz type Dumikyan said that it is a beautiful work and diaspora would be fruitful, she felt, on of the few museums of this caliber in the of Armenian musical notation. Dumikyan and amazingly, she found the remaining many scholarly and cultural topics, includ- diaspora.” Beyond that, he confirmed that began contacting experts in the Republic of sections, which were in Haroutiun Kurd- ing the very timely one of Artsakh’s cultural the first-floor galleries will have a more Armenia to confirm her suspicions. ian’s collection, which he in turn had do- heritage, especially when efforts are being chronological approach and that there will This type of work was important in the nated to the Mkhitarians of Venice. She made to distort Armenian history. Dumik- be an attempt to have more interactive ex- Cilician Armenian kingdom, and indeed, it is awaiting a confirmation letter from the yan in particular stressed that dialogue and periences, perhaps with cellphone apps that was confirmed by Arusyak Tamrazyan in latter, which will allow bringing back to- vision are important in strengthening the can provide audio accompaniment while Yerevan that it dated from the 14th century, gether these manuscript pieces, at least in a state of current Armenology and helping visitors move through the museum. making this a particularly valuable item of virtual fashion. new generations of scholars advance. Sohigian pointed out that many visitors the museum. She then pointed out a pot or jug which to the museum are not Armenian and are Dumikyan showed a set of four letters was ascribed to Van’s kingdom of Urar- Virtual Activities interested in learning more about modern from the 17th century from Armenian mer- tu, and initially was thought to have been Manager of Collections and Museum Armenian, culture and customs, accord- chants of Julfa, who had a great trading used to hold food. She suspected this was Operations Zoë Quinn and Executive Di- ing to visitor surveys. Consequently, more network. The letters are difficult to read not correct, as its ornamentation or design rector Jason Sohigian listed the four pri- current materials will be added to displays because of the handwriting and the dia- was not characteristic of the works from mary types of virtual or online activities of gradually as the second and third floors are lect, which borrows words from various the kingdom. She sent its image and ac- the museum. There are virtual concerts on continued on next page SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 9

COMMUNITY NEWS from previous page position to do so, as it has been getting a lot reconfigured over time. The third floor is of attention in the media. Sohigian said, “I reserved for contemporary art and rotating have been here six months as director, and exhibits, and Sohigian said that new artists have already had several interviews with will be brought in to make the third-floor non-Armenian media. I was working in gallery more vibrant. the environmental area before and thought One major new project is the updating that was a popular cause in this country, but of the second floor Armenian Genocide now I realize the support for the arts is even exhibit with the aid of an outside schol- greater.” A major grant from the Massachu- ar. The Cummings Foundation, a non-Ar- setts Cultural Council led to a connection menian company from the Boston area with WBZ radio in Boston, which adver- provided the museum a grant a few years tised the museum for free. In turn, this led ago for this purpose as part of a multi- to an interview on the Nairyan Ensemble, year project. Sohigian said, “We are going which is unique for using sign language to to expand the range of objects displayed accompany their programs. and have a focus on regions and family Belt Fragment, circa 8th – 7th century B.C., Gift of Paul and Vicki Bedoukian (photo courtesy Armenian Even the statement on the Armenian stories of the survivors. We want to have Museum of America) Genocide by President Joe Biden last it end on a more uplifting note, since the month led to media inquiries, this time Genocide has turned into the diaspora and extent in order to allow people around the become members. He declared, “When we from various countries abroad. Many orga- the story of survival and experience.” The world to enjoy the collections and feel part came up against the situation in Artsakh nizations approached the museum for col- survivor oral histories held by the muse- of the museum. This is something new and last year, we realized a lot of our heritage laboration in April this year on exhibits or um will be integrated into new interactive positive, evidently, that came out of the and history is endangered, especially with programs, and Sohigian said the museum multimedia displays. Covid restrictions. the kind of cultural erasure we are seeing was able to contribute photos of its objects Sohigian said that the museum was work- In the meanwhile, Sohigian, who only there. We thought this makes our mission to help raise awareness of the Armenian ing towards a soft reopening this summer, came to work at the museum last No- even more important now.” Consequently, Genocide and history. possibly even as early as next month. With vember, is trying to expand the museum’s he is instituting a membership drive this He concluded, “Even though we might many visitors and museum members not membership through its various online pro- summer to help support the care and main- be physically closed, it has been an ex- being local, he continued, the virtual pro- grams. While many people have visited and tenance of the museum’s collections. tremely busy year.” It will be even busier grams will also be retained to at least some donated in the past, they did not necessarily The museum appears to be in a strong as the museum reopens this summer or fall.

OBITUARY Harry Haytayan John Kolligian Founded Manufacturing Company Army Veteran NASHUA, N.H. — Harry Haytayan welder. ARLINGTON, Mass. — John Kolli- He was past of Nashua, NH passed away peacefully at Once he graduated, Harry worked at gian, 88, of Arlington and North Falmouth, president of home on May 13, 2021 at the age of 91. Lewis and Shepard as a welder. He worked passed away on May 3, 2021. Kolligian Ram- Harry was born on July 19, 1929 in Alep- at Itek Corporation in the aerospace pro- He was the beloved husband of Ida M. bler and an po, Syria to the late Manoog and Nellie gram. (Gechijian) Kolligian for 63 years; father active mem- (Cholakian) Haytayan. He was the husband In 1970 he was laid off and decided he did of Dr. John Kolligian, Jr. of Princeton, NJ; ber of Holy of the late Katherine J. (Balian) Haytayan not want to work for anyone. He came up grandfather of Max Tyler and Zoey Marie Trinity Arme- who passed away in 2013. with an idea to fasten steel to concrete, re- Kolligian; brother of Rosalie Demarjian nian Church Harry is survived by his children: Karen place welding for commercial construction and the late Marjorie Ayvazian and Sarah of Cambridge. Tuthill and her husband Scott of Amherst, with a pneumatic fastening system. He test- Goolkasian. He also leaves many loving Private funeral NH, Harry ed the tools with a compressor in his base- nieces and nephews. services have Haytayan, Jr. ment in Lincoln. Then, in 1974, Pneutek, Kolligian attended Arlington High been held. and his wife Inc. was born. A manufacturing company, School, New Preparatory School and Tufts For more Alison of Hol- Harry believed in making everything in the College. information, lis, NH, Lin- United States. His work was his passion. He He proudly served in the Army during guestbook and to light a candle in his mem- da Haytayan was a problem solver. He then came up with the Korean conflict. ory, visit giragosianfuneralhome.com. of Hollis, a method of attaching flooring for the truck NH and Alita and trailer industry with an electro-pneu- Guillen and matic system which kept operators off their her husband knees, cut labor and worker’s comp claims Enrique of costs. California. He He had over 45 patents worldwide and is the grandfa- employed many people over the past 43 ther of Harry Haytayan III, Geoffrey Tuth- years. Harry had a big heart and helped ill, Natalie Haytayan, Jacquelyn Haytayan, many of his employees when they were in Sofia Guillen, Nicolas Guillen, Robert Hay- need. tayan, Izabella Haytayan and Julia Guillen. Harry had many accomplishments, too He was the dear brother of the late Anoush many to mention. The pride he carried was Manoukian and Yeghia Haytayan. He is immeasurable. He famously advocated also survived by many loving nieces, neph- “make your plan and execute your plan.” ews and lifelong employees and aides who His legacy shall carry on. loved him. Harry was a long-time member of Coun- Harry came to the United States in 1952 cil of Armenian Executives (CAE). after working for Syria Petroleum saving Funeral Services were held at Holy Trin- enough money for a plane ticket. He en- ity Armenian Church, Cambridge, Mass., rolled at Northeastern University School of on Tuesday, May 18. Interment was held at Mechanical Engineering where he earned a in Cambridge. bachelor’s degree and later became a Pro- Arrangements were made by the Girago- fessional Engineer. He was also a proficient sian Funeral Home.

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COMMUNITY NEWS Davidian Speaks on Ottoman-Era Painter ‘Monsieur Pierre’ Srabian

By Harry Kezelian really only known the man as “Monsieur Mirror-Spectator Staff Pierre,” as he was called when he was the teacher of fine arts and drawing at Constan- BOSTON — Noted writer, editor and po- tinople’s Berberian School during Teotig’s litical activist Arpiar Arpiarian wrote in his student days in the 1880s. A chance en- 1898 obituary of the artist Bedros Srabian, counter of the name “Bedros Srabian” in an whose works had already begun to be lost, old student magazine from the Uskudar Je- that “…what survives only is the memory maran leads Teotig to realize that this was in the hearts of friends who loved him, a “Monsieur Pierre’s” real name. Teotig’s memory inscribed in a newspaper article, quest leads him to the basic biography of until the day when these friends and these Srabian, culled from Arpiarian’s obituary old newspapers too shall go and vanish into and some information received from Srabi- an’s surviving family. The quest also, of course leads toward Srabian’s artwork, of which precious little has survived that either Teotig or current scholars know of. Arpiarian described Srabian as an artist who brought Western technique and style (he studied in Rome) to the Armenian community in Constanti- nople as well as eventu- ally depicting the realities of Armenian life in the Ottoman Empire through his works. Davidian notes that just as Arpiarian was “Armenian Beggar From Van” by Bedros Srabian, 1882 attempting to portray Otto- man Armenian life through From Paghesh” and “Manoug Aghpar” One of the best which has survived is Sra- realist literature, a move- were singled out by Arpiarian as earning bian’s “Armenian Beggar from Van” which ment of which he was the him the title of “painter of the Armenian is held by the National Gallery of Armenia. founder in the Western heart,” showing for the perhaps the first This painting which dates to 1882, shows Armenian world, Srabian time in Western fine arts a depiction of ev- a man in traditional garb whose eyes move Dr. Vazken Khatchig Davidian was doing the same thing eryday Armenians by an Armenian artist. the viewer to pity. The painting was exe- through art. Unfortunately, it is not clear whether either cuted a year after a massive famine in the the abyss of the great oblivion.” Srabian, who painted in a Realist style of these works exist today, or their where- Van region. Davidian contended that this Dr. Vazken Khatchig Davidian has ren- of academic art typical for the 19th centu- abouts; Davidian’s image of the “Armenian and similar paintings, highly appreciated dered valuable service to the Armenian ry, has perhaps been ignored by later artists Girl From Paghesh” painting is taken from by Arpiarian and other activist contempo- community and to the art world by rescu- and art historians as not having contributed Teotig’s article, and no image was shown raries, served as a way to highlight the suf- ing the story of this once-prominent painter anything new or different to the realm of of “Manoug Aghpar” which is apparently fering of Armenians in the provinces while from that “oblivion.” painting. However, as Davidian explained lost. Due to the Armenian Genocide, lack evading the censorship of the Abdul Hamid Davidian’s lecture on Bedros Srabi- in the talk, his contribution in historical of interest in Srabian, and various other era by virtue of the fact that such images an, known by his students as “Monsieur and socio-political terms was extremely factors, less than two dozen of Srabian’s were apolitical ethnographic-realist sub- Pierre,” was not only valuable for under- important. His paintings of “Armenian Girl paintings are known today. jects typical in the art of the time. In a time standing Srabian but also as a reminder of the invaluable work of Teotig, from whom most of our information on “Monsieur Pierre” comes. The tireless early-20th-cen- tury writer and researcher Teotig (Teotoros Labjinjian) was the compiler, along with his wife Arshagouhi Teotig, of the Arme- nian almanac series known as Amenoun Daretsouytse (Everybody’s Almanac). The series was published in Constantinople and later Europe from 1907 to 1929 with a gap of several years due to the Armenian Geno- cide. Davidian, who is a post-doctoral fel- low at Oxford and has his PhD in art his- tory, was joined by art history Professor Heghnar Zeitlian Watenpaugh of UC-Davis as discussant in a lecture sponsored by the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) and introduced by Marc Mamigonian. The lecture focused on the figure of Bedros Srabian (Monsieur Pierre) as seen through a single 1928 arti- cle written by Teotig and published in Ame- noun Daretsouytse.

Who Was Monsieur Pierre? Davidian introduced the topic by taking us along with him on the journey Teotig describes in his article “Monsieur Pierre.” When Teotig started his quest for informa- tion about the artist in 1922, Bedros Srabi- an was a forgotten man. In fact, Teotig had SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 11

COMMUNITY NEWS when candid documentary photography between the speak- and his contemporaries has given us the barely existed, let alone in Eastern Anato- er and Dr. Heghnar ability to understand life for the Armenians lia, it is easy to see why Srabian’s art struck Watenpaugh. A lively before the Genocide. Bedros Srabian, an such a chord with Armenian intellectuals. question-and-answer important figure of the era’s fine arts, has period was moderated finally come full circle and is being ap- A Forgotten Man by Mamigonian. preciated by scholars. The progress of the As Davidian related, Srabian’s legacy It is hoped that this Armenian community can only happen by suffers today from a double dose of neglect: lecture and others like it understanding the past, and the past con- Armenia and the does will increase awareness sists not only of suffering and political not seem to know or care about him; and of Srabian’s historical demands, or of , but also of historians of Ottoman art, almost all Turks, importance. The loss of have erased all memory of Armenian con- Srabian’s work and the tributions to the Empire’s artistic life. loss even of memory Yet Srabian was once highly respected in about him was already both communities. In the Ottoman world, predicted by Arpiarian he enjoyed the patronage of Sultan Ab- at the time of the art- dulaziz and painted the interiors of palac- ist’s death; by the time es, as well as being chosen to represent the Teotig researched the Ottoman Empire with his paintings at the artist for his almanac Paris World’s Fair of 1867. In the Arme- nearly 100 years ago, nian community, he was not only a teacher he had already been at various Armenian schools in Istanbul but forgotten. Arpiarian’s was called to Echmiadzin by none other comments about Srabi- than Catholicos Mgrdich I (Khrimian Hay- an as well as his own rig) to decorate the interior of the catholi- work being lost to “the cosal residence. He also painted a masterful abyss of the great obliv- portrait of Khrimian as well as apparently ion” were frighteningly restoring some of the historic paintings in Bedros Srabian prophetic. He could not Echmiadzin. have possibly known Davidian expressed frustration that the strongly expressed optimism that the new just how much of an oblivion all Armenian nationalist narrative of Turkish historiog- generation of Turkish scholars are turning life in Anatolia would fall into after 1915. raphy and art history is still being pro- to acknowledge the Armenian presence and Teotig, himself almost forgotten by to- mulgated by Ankara, excluding Armenian contribution. On the other hand, Davidian day’s Armenians, preserved vastly import- artists who were clearly influential in the showed his disappointment with the lack ant documentation on Armenian life before Teotig, publisher of Everybody’s Ottoman Empire (for example, sculptor of interest in Armenia about Srabian or any 1915. This was his legacy as a Genocide Almanac Yervant Oskan, the vice-director of the Armenian artists outside the sphere of the survivor and that of so many others that Ottoman Academy of Fine Arts according /modern Armenia, as well wrote countless books documenting that accomplishments and the record of life as to Armenian sources, and merely an as- as the lack of support or knowledge of Sra- life, now mostly out of print. As we have it was in recent centuries. This alone makes sistant to the director Hamdi Bey accord- bian and similar figures in the Diaspora. seen an increased interest in that era over the study of Srabian and others like him not ing to Turkish sources). However, he also The lecture was followed by a discussion the last ten years or so, the work of Teotig only worthwhile, but indispensable. Students from Armenia, US Participate in 20th AESA Science Olympiad LOS ANGELES — The Armenian En- managed the scheduling of project team formed behind the scenes in preparation of an and Anoush Chamlian Armenian School gineers and Scientists of America (AESA) interviews with multiple judging panels in the event. Last year it was almost time for (Glendale, CA). The School Award con- Science Olympiad Committee congrat- separate Zoom breakout rooms. A team of the 19th Annual SO, when the pandemic sists of $300 to go towards the purchase of ulates all the students, teachers, parents, over 30 volunteer professional scientist and was announced, forcing the team to post- equipment for their school’s science labo- judges, mentors, sponsors, donors, volun- engineer judges from the USA, Republic of pone and eventually cancel the event after ratory. teers, committee members, and all other Armenia, and Canada interviewed students all the effort put into it by the organizing The Aram Sarafian Teacher Award is supporters who made the 20th AESA Sci- to evaluate their presentation skills, creativ- committee and participants. to be presented with a plaque and a $300 ence Olympiad a successful and memora- ity, scientific thinking, data analysis, and This year, the Science Olympiad differed check to Ms. Rubina Harutyunyan of ble event. comprehension. from previous years in that the whole event YSMU “Heratsi” High School (Yerevan, Established in 2002, the AESA Science As students were in Zoom’s main room was conducted remotely due to the pan- Armenia). Olympiad Committee (SOC) has been orga- waiting for their turn to be interviewed, SO demic restrictions. Coordinating a whole The Helen Dabaghian Judge Award tro- nizing an annual Science Olympiad, which Committee PR Lead Svetlana Arutyunova day of virtual activities presented some phy is to be given to Dr. Louisa Manasyan, promotes interest in engineering and scienc- warmly communicated with the students technical challenges, yet students patient- who has been a member of SOC for many es among middle and high school Armenian and teachers, and offered the audience a ly followed the program and made a great years and a continuous judge at numerous students. The 20th AESA Science Olympiad few videos, featuring NASA’s Persever- impression on the judges. It was especially science fairs. was held on Sunday, March 7, 2021 virtu- ance Mars Rover landing. demanding of students in Armenia, as the SOC is grateful to the AESA Science ally via Zoom. About 60 Armenian young In the afternoon, Special Award sponsors time was getting late at night for them and Olympiad Endowment Fund sponsors for bright minds presented their research in Life interviewed preselected students. Cogni- their supportive teachers. financially supporting promotion of science and Physical Sciences projects. Coder, a startup that provides online pro- There were many words of appreciation and engineering education! We thank Cog- The following schools had student repre- gramming courses for kids, sponsored a for SOC members and here is a quote from niCoder for sponsoring the Special Awards sentation this year: Special Award this year. Two winners were AESA President, Richard Ohanian: “Thank and offering additional rewards to all stu- AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School awarded a choice of any free class (Scratch, you Science Olympiad Committee for dent participants this year. We also express (Canoga Park, CA), A.H. Yeritsyan Gym- Python, Web Development or Java, more making Science Olympiad happen during gratitude to ConnectTo Communications nasium at MSU Branch (Yerevan, Arme- information is available at https://cognicod- these challenging times. With every activ- for offering their studio and services for nia), Armenian Sisters Academy (Mon- er.com); This year the award is offered to ity, AESA is pushing above and beyond its recording AESA Science Olympiad an- trose, CA), Clark Magnet High School (La students in Los Angeles only, one for Junior boundaries and we all should be very proud nouncements in English, Armenian, and Crescenta, CA), Children of Armenia Fund and one for Senior level. of the organization, its achievements and Russian for the AESA Tube channel. In SMART Center (Lori, Armenia), Eleanor J. Criteria for CogniCoder Special Award the future we are creating together.” addition, ConnectTo created a brief com- Toll Middle School (Glendale, CA), High were: Most innovative use of technology; In 2021, the prize for 1st place is $250, mercial to raise awareness about the AESA school N1 after Kh. Abovyan, Hrazdan Logical approach to the problem; Real life 2nd place is $150, 3rd place is $100, and Science Olympiad in the local Armenian (Republic of Armenia), Hoover High application/utility and Out of the box think- honorable mention is $50. Special awards community and increase STEM interest in School (Glendale, CA), La Canada High ing. were presented by CogniCoder. Armenian youth. School (La Canada, CA), Poqrik Ishkhan Gugo Martikyan and Mr. Vahag In addition to the monetary awards AESA Science Olympiad Committee, Educational Complex (Yerevan, Armenia), Karayan, founders of CogniCoder, were so for the students, SOC traditionally pres- which is now part of AESA STEM Acad- Ribét Academy (Los Angeles, CA), Rose impressed by all students’ projects during ents three other appreciation awards: The emy encourages all Armenian students and Alex Pilibos Armenian School (Los interviews that they decided to offer $50 School of the Year Award, Aram Sarafian from 6th through 12th grades in public and Angeles, CA), Vahan and Anoush Cham- coupon towards any class for all students Teacher Appreciation Award, and Judge’s private schools to consider participating in lian Armenian School (Los Angeles, CA), selected and interviewed for the CogniCod- Award. The criteria for the school and the many of the programs offered in Robotics, V. Abrahamyan High School (Jrahovit, Ar- er Special Award, as well as $25 coupon teacher appreciation awards are based on Electronics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry menia) and YSMU “Heraci” High School towards any class for every participant of the number of winning students, total num- and Annual Science Olympiad. We also in- (Yerevan, Armenia). AESA Science Olympiad to recognize their ber of participating projects in each cate- vite more STEM professionals to join our Sona Juharyan, AESA SOC Chair, wel- efforts and to promote further learning. gory and level, and the point value of each team and help make a positive difference comed all those in attendance and started There is a lot of action going on during award. The judge’s award is based on the for the Armenian youth and community by the event with the judges’ orientation. SOC the event as judges, teachers, parents, spon- most number of schools’ science fairs and serving as a volunteer, judge, sponsor or members Aida Bareghamian and Araksiya sors and students can see during the event Science Olympiads judged. SOC member. We look forward to seeing Najarian facilitated the virtual setting and itself, but there is also a massive effort per- This year, the School Award went to Vah- you next year! 12 SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR Arts & Culture Hamazkayin Eastern Books Regional Executive Announces the Haratunyan’s 2021 Tölölyan Prize In Contemporary Ravens before Literature Noah: Towards BOSTON — The Regional Ex- ecutive of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of An Armenian the Eastern United States is pleased to solicit submissions for the Minas Baroque and Kohar Tölölyan Prize in Con- By Christopher Atamian temporary Literature. As in previous years, two prizes will be awarded to Special to the Mirror-Spectator the winners of the Prize: one for a “She had promised to kill the child submission in Armenian and one for as soon as it was born.” These chilling a submission in the English language. words begin Susannah Haratunyan’s Named after one of the major Ar- Ravens Before Noah, which was menian literary critics of the second awarded the 2016 Presidential Prize half of the Twentieth century and his for Literature. Born in 1963, Hara- wife, a devoted and acclaimed teach- tunyan has published eight previous er of literature, the annually awarded novels including Map Without Land prize will recognize the work pro- and Waters as well as a few short sto- duced by talented writers working in ry anthologies. A popular writer in North America. The prize is intend- Aladjadjian at a live cooking demonstration of elevated Latin cuisine for the Armenia, she also edits the literary ed to encourage new work in all the food media company, We Are Cocina magazine Karayan. The underlying major genres of literary production, premise behind much of the action as they are currently understood in in this accomplished author’s present North America. In this expanded tale should intrigue anyone with an understanding, poetry, short stories, anthropological or sociological bent. For All the Flavors novels and drama are all included, Set in a small village in the Armenian but so are works of creative non-fic- Caucasus sometime around mid-cen- tion, a genre that includes memoirs, tury, novel describes the lives of a set as well as personal, descriptive, liter- of refugees from the Hamidian mas- Of the World! ary and critical essays. Writers in all (photo by Dirk Skiba) these genres may be considered as candidates for the prize, as long as the authors are of Armenian ancestry, or Chef Crista Is Offering a Full the work has an Armenian theme or revolves around an Armenian topic. Experience of Mezze The primary purpose of the Prizes is to encourage and offer recognition PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico – Years af- B y A n i D u z d a b a n y a n - M a n o u k i a n through the award and through the ter putting on an apron for the first time when Special to the Mirror-Spectator ensuing publicity for those who wish she was only 17, chef and entrepreneur Crista to write about Armenian subjects and Marie Ani Aladjadjian traveled 31 countries, discovered world cuisines and created topics. There will also be a modest fi- Mezze, a platform that introduces food and culinary cultures from “the rest of the nancial award of $1,500 for each of world.” We agreed that I could call her Crista for short, while discussing the future of the two winners. the food industry on Zoom. She was in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, while I spoke from Members of the jury are: Dr. Sima her hometown of Los Angeles. Crista has been in Mexico since January, promoting Aprahamian-Hovhannessian (Cana- remotely Middle Eastern cuisine through her new platform and telling stories about da), Anouche Agnerian (Canada), Dr. ethnic food that excite all the possible taste buds of those millions of viewers and Vartan Matiossian (New York/New followers. And the name comes out just right for the platform, Mezze, meaning in the Jersey), Karen [Káren] Jallatyan, original Persian, to taste, which became a way of living for these last years of Crista’s PhD Candidate (California) and Dr. life constantly on the road, living like a “nomad.” Myrna Douzjian (California). “A mezze spread has different flavors and colors, textures and foods. Your life is a Hamazkayin Regional Executive sacres of 1894. The residents of said white canvas and you paint it with food. You can paint with experiences and travel the Committee of Eastern USA is grate- village lead mostly sad and supersti- same way you enjoy ful to all members of the jury and Dr. tious lives but seem happy enough. a mezze spread. And Kh. Tölölyan for his stewardship of This in spite of the fact that they live I also love the idea of the prize over the past several years. under the protective watch of Harout sharing: on the mez- Dr. Sima Aprahamian-Hovhannessian who is a combination Godfather-en- ze table everyone is gracefully agreed to assume the op- forcer. They sell their vegetables and sharing, talking and erational responsibilities of the com- fruit to surrounding villages and live the energy at that ta- mittee, to which she has been a key constant fear: fear of being discov- ble perfectly embod- contributor for the past several years. ered, fear of the Turks coming back, ies our mission,” she The Prize winners will be an- fear of each other. explains. nounced in October 2021 as a part The main plot of Ravens Before After 13 years of of the events dedicated to the Arme- Noah revolves around a child saved building a career as nian Cultural month. All submissions from certain death. Harout mean- a chef, in 2017 Crista must be sent electronically to tololy- while grows up and falls in love with was offered the role [email protected] as a a beautiful young girl, Nakhshun, who of the Culinary Di- PDF file by July 15, 2021. Submis- suddenly arrives in the village one rector at a new food Visiting the famous Basterma Mano restaurant in Bourj sions must be accompanied by the To- day, and who has been tortured and media company, Co- Hammoud in , for their delicious Sou- lolyan Prize Application form, found raped by Turkish soldiers. To compli- cina, which intend- jouk Shawarma and Basterma (of course), with Cris- online at http://bit.ly/167vSsM. The cate matters further, she is pregnant ed to elevate Latin ta’s boyfriend and business partner, Law Casey (this is Armenian and English versions of the and so the village women plot to kill cuisine. She was the part of the new Mezze travel series that was inspired Guidelines of the Prize can also be the twin girls whom she gives birth perfect candidate, by Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations” and “Parts found at the above link. to. The amot factor plays a big role having Latin roots Unknown”) Submissions may consist of works in this, given the humiliation that the on her mother’s side. published in 2019 or 2020, as well as Armenians have recently faced. But Crista’s maternal recent, yet unpublished works. when she gives birth to twins, Sato grandparents are from Mexico and Spain, where her mother grew up. However, work at This award has been made possible the midwife — who will routinely kill Cocina created the perfect opportunity to think about her paternal Armenian side as well. by Edward and Vergine Misserlian of continued on next page see FLAVORS, page 14 San Francisco. SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 13

ARTS & CULTURE Haratunyan’s Ravens before Noah: Towards an Armenian Baroque from previous page in the valleys, the crackling of the rocks the collaborationist dancer and choreog- to live apart from the rest of the world? a child in return for a sack of flour — can- pouring from the mountaintops…And Sato rapher Serge Lifar, writer Mark Franko in Only time will tell. Haratyuyan includes not get herself to kill two children. It’s a sped as she clung to the neck of the horse, his book The Fascist Turn in the Dance of some fascinating historically based details strange code of ethics, but what the heck. unable to decide which side she should take. Serge Lifar (New York, oxford University such as the rape of the virgin singer from Similarly when Harout dislikes a newcom- She had never been so afraid. She would Press, 2020) opposes the Baroque to the Moush and the different manner of cruci- er or someone in the village crosses him, he have refused if it had been up to her. But Neoclassical. The Neoclassical or Classical fixion that the Armenians were subjected has no qualms about taking an axe to their the throbbing veins of the sweating animal represents traditional ballet while the “ba- to in 1894-95. These help the reader to un- head or having them dragged by a horse, vibrated beneath her calves, and vapor rose roque” embodies the counter-movements derstand that the persecution of Armenians eviscerating and tearing them to pieces on along the side of the horse from the heat that it spawned: less rigid, more expressive by Turks was long-standing and not in fact the pavement beneath. they were generating and she was afraid of individual styles, if grandiose in presen- simply the result of Fifth Columnist fears Here is Haratunyan at her best, describ- that if she did not fulfill the command, the tation. This can of course be differentiated by the Turks or the dissolution of the Ot- ing Sato on horseback, sent on an unlikely horse with the trembling flanks would drag from the properly Baroque—a movement toman Empire—as some Turkish historians errand by Harout: to dig up some human her from a rope made of its tail hairs and in the arts and music represented by prac- and politicians continue to contend. As this shatter her bones against the rocks and no- titioners such as Rembrandt, Bernini or exciting novel pitches forward to its inev- body would bother to check when it was Caravaggio. The dictionary definition of itable ending the scene that I imagined in dusk whether it was her blood blackening the movement is rather direct: “relating to my head remains a bit naïve, a bit baroque. on the stone or the sweat of .” or denoting a style of European architec- Bibliography While Haratunyan is technically a realist ture, music, and art of the 17th and 18th Unlinked Novels («Անհաշտ վեպեր»), writer, there is something mythical about centuries that followed mannerism and is two novellas, self-published, Yerevan, 2018; her characters, so extreme are they. They characterized by ornate detail.” Although The Ravens Before Noah («Ագռավները have been deformed, stretched out, bent if Khachaturian’s work does not technically Նոյից առաջ»), a novel, Tsitsernak, Ye- you will, by history and by the veritably resemble the aforementioned painters, they revan, 2015, Edit Print, Yerevan, 2019; strange lives that their isolation and village do possess the aforementioned qualities in A Group Photo with the Dead and Im- ways have imposed on them. spades. And similarly Haratunyan’s writ- mortals («Խմբանկար մեռյալներով ու In my head while reading Ravens before ing possesses something grandiose, chiar- անմահներով»), Edit Print, Yerevan, 2013 Noah, images of a naïve or even baroque oscuro and epic on a scale that recalls the Map Without Land and Waters («Քարտեզ sensibility kept re-appearing. Naïve I sup- most Baroque of masters. If you consider առանց ցամաքի ու ջրերի»), a pose because this movement in the arts of- schools of painting and literature to exist novella, Tsitsernak, Yerevan, 2010; Susannah Haratunyan ten depicts village life in simplified, pictur- on a spherical, non-linear spectrum then The Talk Is About Fall («Խոսքն esque scenery. In particular the paintings Haratunyan’s realism—like Khachaturi- աշնան մասին է»), short stories and bone, grind it up and bake it into rolls of of the painter Gayané Khatchaturian an’s art—takes shape somewhere in be- a novella, Tsitsernak, Yerevan, 2009; bread that they then feed to some scared kept recurring. Khatchaturian, who repre- tween the wide swath that separates the two Hereditary Spring («Ժառանգաբար newcomers in order to make them over- sented Armenia at the 2009 Venice Bien- schools, naïve and baroque, if one can hold փոխանցվող գարուն»), short come their fear: nale was of course considered by many to the two in one’s mind simultaneously. stories, self-published, Yerevan, 2007; “The fear was there—the fear of the be a naïve painter. But unlike say the Hai- Back at the ranch so to speak, the villag- News from Life («Լուրեր կյանքից»), darkness, the cold, the fear of predators, tian (Ernst Louizor and Saincilus Ismaël) ers in Ravens before Noah begin to get ant- short stories and novellas, self- but their fear of God did not bring them or Croatian (Emerik Feješ, Dragan Gaži, sy. Suddenly one day a group of German published, Yerevan, 2006; to their knees, for they were doing good Ivan Generalić) schools of naïve painting, prisoners appear, forced by the Russians to The Last Monday of the Centu- deeds…She climbed on the Wild Horse Khatchaturian’s work has something gran- do hard labor outside the Armenian village ry («Դարավերջի երկուշաբթին»), and sped through the peace of the night. diose and overdone to it. The shapes are in a nearby valley. Trouble is surely ahead, short stories, Writer’s Union And the peace of that night was frighten- too large and almost super-human in their though not in the exact form that the read- Publishing house, Yerevan, 2002; ing—it consisted of groans, the screeches dimensions; and they seem expressionistic, er at first imagines. Will their hidden exis- The Eternity, («Հավերժությունը»), short of hawks, the sighing of the wind drowning even baroque in tone. In his recent book on tence come to an end or will they continue stories, , Yerevan, 1996.

The Tekeyan Cultural Association of US and Canada thanks donors for Supporting the Sponsor a Teacher Program in memory of Nora Azadian

Mr. and Mrs. Herman Hintiryan, Oak Park, MI, $1000 Karen Sarkesian, Farmington Hills, MI, $100 Mr. Osep and Dr. Nadya Sarafian, Northville, MI, $1000 Gayle Sarkisian-Hoplamazian, W. Bloomfield, MI, $100 Kevork and Flora Bardakjian, Ann Arbor, MI, $500 Mr. and Mrs. Norayr Shirvanian, Novi, MI, $100 Mariam and Sirop Bedrosian, Houston, TX, $500 Mr. and Mrs. Martin Shoushanian, Farmington Hills, MI, $100 Saro and Hilda Hartounian, Franklin Lakes, NJ $500 The Smith Family, Birmingham, MI, $100 Elizabeth Aprahamian, Northville, MI, $250 Mrs. Emma Sogoian, Bloomfield Hills, MI, $100 Judge Lisa L. Asadoorian and Garo, Rochester Hills, MI, $250 Ron Suny, Ann Arbor, MI, $100 Ara Makdessian, $250 Tekeyan Cultural Association Detroit Chapter, $100 Dr. Tavit O. Najarian, Eatontown, NJ, $250 Rev. and Mrs. Vahan Tootikian, Royal Oak, MI, $100 Elizabeth Brazilian, Birmingham, MI, $200 Hrayr Toukhanian, Madison Heights, MI, $100 Mr. and Mrs. Masis Godoshian, Farmington Hills, MI, $200 Mrs. Hasmik Sarian, Orchard Lake, MI, $80 Bedros and Anne Piandarian, Paramus, NJ $200 Mr. and Mrs. Ned Apigian, Dearborn Hts., MI, $50 Mr. and Mrs. Dickran Toumajan and family, Southfield, MI, $200 Ms. Ann Marie and Serena Egigian, Royal Oak, MI, $50 Hagop and Maria Vartivarian, Mahwah, NJ $200 Mr. and Mrs. Peter Egigian, Royal Oak, MI, $50 Armenian Genocide Education Committee, Farmington Hills, MI, $160 Mrs. Mary Keoleian, Farmington Hills, MI, $50 Mr. and Mrs. Hagop Alexanian, Bloomfield Hills, MI, $100 Mr. and Mrs. Hovsep Koundakjian, Southfield, MI, $50 Mrs. Lucy Ardash, Southfield, MI, $100 Arthur Lazaryan, Farmington Hills, MI, $50 Aram and Knarik Arkun, Lynnfield, MA, $100 Maria Shaw, Cynthia and Paul Oknaian, Scottsdale, AZ, $50 Armenian Democratic Liberal Party Detroit chapter, $100 Ara Sanjian, Dearborn, MI, $50 AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian School, Southfield, MI, $100 Pam Coultis, Redford, MI, $25 Helen Corrigan, Troy, MI, $100 Mr. and Mrs. Paul Kulhanjian, Bloomfield Hills, MI, $25 Mr. and Mrs. Demircioglu and family, Oak Park, MI, $100 Solange Messelian, Bloomfield Hills, MI, $25 Mr. and Mrs. Jack Demirjian, Northville, MI, $100 Mr. and Mrs. William Terian, Milford, MI, $25 Alin K. Gregorian, Belmont, MA, $100 David Terzibashian, Royal Oak, MI, $25 John Jamian, Rochester Hills, MI $100 Nevart Torian, Novi, MI, $25 Mrs. Vartoug Karadolian, Farmington Hills, MI, $100 Linda Karibian, Bloomfield Hills, MI, $100 Kevork and Silva Keushkerian, Pasadena, CA, $100 Thankful Appreciation Mr. and Mrs. Edward Korkoian and family, Farmington Hills, MI, $100 Edmond Azadian would like hereby to extend his sincere appreciation to all Mr. and Mrs. Titas Laurinaitis, Birmingham, MI, $100 the individuals who have expressed their condolences on the loss of his spouse George and Hasmig Mandossian, Burbank, CA, $100 Nora Azadian. She was passionate over the years in raising funds for the TCA Manoogian Manor, Livonia, MI, $100 Sponsor a Teacher Program. This program was devised to assist underpaid teach- Raffi and Nora Manoukian, Northville, MI, $100 ers at five Tekeyan schools in different cities of Armenia and Karabakh (unfortu- Houget N. Merametdjian, Warren, MI $100 nately, the Karabakh school became a casualty of the recent war). Mr. and Mrs. Hagop Minassian, W. Bloomfield, MI, $100 At this time, the Azadian family would like to thank all those who shared their Ms. Alice and Sandi Nigoghosian, Dearborn, MI, $100 sorrow through different ways of communication. Unfortunately, it may not be Rose Samarian, Rochester Hills, MI, $100 possible to respond individually to each person. Harout and Berjouhi Sanjian, West Bloomfield, MI, $100 14 SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

ARTS & CULTURE For All the Flavors of the World! Chef Crista Is Offering a Full Experience of Mezze

FLAVORS, from page 12 Michigan, when he was 18. He got an education, served joined the Hamazkayin Niari Dance Ensemble. “Even “Seeing the success of the brand of my Latin roots, I in the army and was very much involved in the Armenian though we weren’t able to stay in Ferrahian and finish thought ‘hey, what about my Armenian heritage and cul- community. Young Krikor sung in the local Armenian school, through the dance I was able to stay connected to ture!’ So that’s what inspired the whole idea of Mezze.” church choir where he met Crista’s grandmother, whose my culture. My director Catherine Hairabedian was the Christa’s grandfather Krikor Aladjadjian was born in parents were survivors of the Armenian Genocide. One one who really helped me preserve that connection to my Syria and grew up in Jordan. He immigrated to Detroit, day in 1964, Krikor received a phone call from Gabri- Armenian heritage. She is a very big part of what inspired el Injejikian inviting him me to build a business around culture,” Crista acknowl- to move to Los Angeles edges with gratitude. and become one of the first Middle Eastern culture always was a significant part of teachers in Holy Martyrs her family. Being able to expertly distinguish what kind Ferrahian High School. In of grape leaves is used to make sarma or what cheese fact, Crista’s father also be- is being used in beoreg, Crista can fully see how these came one of the first gradu- ethnic cuisines on the “other side of the world” play a ates of the school. The fam- significant role in the global food market. She said: “If ily tradition continued, as you look at the trend of the Mediterranean diet being the Crista, her brother and sis- number one diet in the world for so many years now – ter received their education It’s healthy, it’s fresh – the only thing that was holding us from the same school. back for all these years was accessibility for non-ethnic Through that same estab- people. They have to go to a specific store to buy certain lishment Crista found her ingredients to make a specific dish. They need to educate other passion, dance. She themselves about how this food is made. We are putting a

Traveling down the Dubai Creek on an abra in the United Arab Emirates (this is Crista Marie Ani Aladjadjian, while traveling through the southern Albanian part of the new Mezze travel series that was inspired by Anthony Bourdain’s “No countryside in 2020, visited the town of Berat Reservations” and “Parts Unknown”)

Performing, center, at the CSUN Performing Arts Theater with Hamazkayin Baruyr Sevag Chapter’s Niari Dance Ensemble in “Shalakho,” directed by Catherine Hair- abedian and Ari Libaridian SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 15

ARTS & CULTURE lot of responsibility on them. We can make a little more of an effort to make all these types of cuisines more ac- cessible for everyone. That would bridge the gap between cultures and that will start a very important conversation. Food can be a catalyst for a very important change that we could see in the world.” Crista’s excitement made me think that during the last 15 years I gradually saw a growing number of non-Ar- menians shopping at my neighborhood Armenian store and many others reserving tables at the local Armenian restaurant. Then there was that Canadian friend drink- ing only Armenian wine after discovering it at my place. Crista goes on with contagious optimism: “In the US we are developing a real culture by adopting all these ethnic cuisines and food experiences. Famous chefs want to do something new. It can be a new dish or even a new ingre- dient; Aleppo pepper is suddenly everywhere, sumac is suddenly everywhere! You go to the nicest, award-win- ning restaurants in LA, like Republique, and you see

Dinner Party Mezze Spread: Hummus, Baba Ghanouj, Labneh, Homemade Pita Bread, Muhammara, Grape Leaves; Original Mezze Recipe

the new generation is you need to make pretty much any Moroccan recipe, and making huge efforts the recipes come with a cookbook. to better market their Two years ago, Crista traveled to seven Middle Eastern fathers and grand- countries with a film crew and worked on a movie series fathers’ eateries and to somehow continue the efforts of her major inspiration, restaurants according Anthony Bourdain, to share all these stories from dif- to the new standards ferent parts of the world. “In Western culture we tend to and “extending the brush a lot of cultures that maybe we don’t understand, reach, trying to get to or that have politically complicated pasts, under the rug the ‘odar’ communi- and we don’t explore them. We don’t necessarily have the ties and increase the same level of appreciation for not just food, but artistry popularity of our in general for specific parts of the world. Our mission Labneh 3 Ways: Za’atar and Olive Oil, Peaches with Mint and Nigella Seeds, cuisine.” became to put these ethnic cuisines in the spotlight not Pomegranate Molasses and Pistachios; Original Mezze Recipe Intending to pres- just as a trend, but because these people have become a ent the experience big part of Western culture and brought so many things to of world cuisine the western part of the world.” Armenian cucumber on the menu (they call it Armenian with the utmost intensity, Crista is working on her very Crista is dreaming of having her own hotel somewhere Cucs), or labneh! It’s amazing!” first product, a spice kit organized by a specific country’s in France, or even any other country, where she can offer The same optimism appears when she talks about Ar- food palette. For example, if you want to explore North a full culinary vacation to her guests. But until then she menian-owned food businesses in the US, observing how African cuisine today, here are the six base spices that keeps on exploring the flavors of the world.

RSVP [email protected] •Sunday, August 15 at 2pm LABYRINTH WALKING WELLNESS program. ARME- CALENDAR NIAN HERITAGE PARK ON THE GREENWAY, Boston Meet & Greet at the Park. ON-LINE EVENTS & PROGRAMS Introduction to the many benefits. Walk the labyrinth. A part of The Greenway Fitness program. RSVP [email protected] MASSACHUSETTS JUNE 16 — SAVE THE DATE: BUILDING FOR ETERNITY~ NAASR’s Virtual Gala. Join MAY 26-AUGUST 15 — The Armenian Heritage Park will hold a series of events us as we honor Edward Avedisian, NAASR Board member and philanthropist, during the spring and summer: during NAASR’s Building for Eternity Virtual Gala, on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, •Wednesday, May 20 PARK’S GIVING DAY! Support the Park’s Care and at 7:00m Eastern / 4:00pm Pacific. Edward Avedisian is the principal benefactor Maintenance at ArmenianHeritagePark.org/Support of NAASR’s Vartan Gregorian Building and will be recognized for his outstand- •Wednesday, May 26 at 10am CELEBRATING WHAT UNITES US! virtual se- ing dedication and distinguished service in advancing education in the United ries Mediterranean Cuisine States and Armenia. He is an extraordinary philanthropist and serves as a Direc- Oldways Instructor Register: bit.ly/32FfCjp tor of NAASR, a Trustee of the American University of Armenia, and a Director •Wednesday, June 9 at 4pm TEA & TRANQUILITY ARMENIAN HERITAGE of the Armenian Missionary Association of America. Special guest, New York PARK ON THE GREENWAY, Boston Meet & Greet at the Park. Walk the Lab- Times bestselling author Chris Bohjalian will also join us in a unique conversation yrinth. View the Abstract Sculpture. Tie a Ribbon on the Wishing Tree. RSVP with Dr. Khatchig Mouradian, Armenian and Georgian Specialist at the Library of [email protected] Congress. •Sunday, June 13 at 2pm LABYRINTH WALKING WELLNESS program ARME- JUNE 21 — Gregory Hintlian Memorial Golf Tournament at Holy Trinity Armenian NIAN HERITAGE PARK ON THE GREENWAY, Boston Meet & Greet at the Church of Greater Boston. Monday. Hospitality/Registration is from 9-10:30 am. Park. Introduction to the many benefits. Walk the labyrinth. A part of The 10:30 AM “Shotgun” start. Lunch at the 9th hole. Dinner (casual dress) is at 4:30 Greenway Fitness program. RSVP [email protected] pm. Location: Marlborough Country Club 200 Concord Rd, Marlborough, MA •Sunday, July 11 at 2pm LABYRINTH WALKING WELLNESS program ARME- 01752. Register Online: The Gregory Hintlian Memorial Golf Tournament 2021 NIAN HERITAGE PARK ON THE GREENWAY, Boston Meet & Greet at the - Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston (htaac.org)or call the church Park. Introduction to the many benefits. Walk the labyrinth. A part of The office 617.354.0632 Greenway Fitness program. RSVP [email protected] RHODE ISLAND •Wednesday, July 14 at 4pm TEA & TRANQUILITY ARMENIAN HERITAGE PARK ON THE GREENWAY, Boston Meet & Greet the Boston Mayoral can- MAY 28 — Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence continues programming didates at the Park. Walk the Labyrinth. View the Abstract Sculpture. Tie the Armenian Cultural Hour programs, every Friday at 7:30 p.m. The program Ribbon on the Wishing Tree. RSVP [email protected] can be livestreamed on the church’s Facebook page by everyone at https://www. •Wednesday, August 11 at 4pm TEA & TRANQUILITY ARMENIAN HERI- facebook.com/armenianchurchprovidence TAGE PARK ON THE GREENWAY, Boston Meet & Greet at the Park. Walk Celebration concert, dedicated to 100th Anniversary of the First Republic of Ar- the Labyrinth. View the Abstract Sculpture.Tie a Ribbon on the Wishing Tree. menia 16 SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

ARTS & CULTURE Folk Healers Create Modern Techniques from Their Ancestors’ Lost Lore By Isaiah Murtaugh is reiki, a Japanese energy healing practice that, like her great-grandmother’s art, in- GLENDALE (RNS) — Growing up, volves channeling healing energy through Ani Kalafian had heard stories of how her the hands of the practitioner. great-grandmother, an Armenian healer Today, along with guided meditation living in Iran, had the power to heal by sessions and traditional coffee cup read- touch. But after her mother’s family mi- ings, Kalafian offers her own version of grated to the United States, and with the reiki, intuitively substituting Armenian passing of time, her great-grandmother’s words and symbols for the Japanese ones art was lost. in an attempt to rebuild a practice lost in Kalafian, who lives in Glendale, Cali- the tumult of family history. fornia, has inherited her ancestor’s healing The work isn’t about perfect replication. spirit and is seeking to piece together her Kalafian’s practice relies as much on intu- techniques. The closest thing she has found ition as on inherited knowledge. “Culture Recipe Cornqer Levon Kafafian. Portrait in collaboration with Jiyan Zandi, courtesy of Levon Kaf- afian

isn’t always preservation,” she said. “It’s ancestors have so many of those answers.” where you’re at now and what you’re do- Her garden in California is a laboratory ing to evolve.” where Feghali tries to divine those answers, Efforts like Kalafian’s have a history in while necessarily developing the clues she the US. Beginning in the 1960s and ’70s, has gleaned from Lebanon to invent some- then picking up speed in the 1990s, neo- thing new. She grows the roses, orange pagans began formulating faiths such as trees and poppies — her “plantcestors,” Wicca and Nordic Asatru, based on mostly as she calls them fondly — and turns them pre-Christian deities and nature worship. into the traditional oils, teas and tinctures Though they occasionally stray into that she sells on her personal online souk, ideas about white supremacy — the Cali- or marketplace. As part of a course she of- fornia-based Asatru Folk Assembly, for in- fers, Feghali will mail out a tincture or an stance, has been designated a hate group by oil and ask students to self-administer for the Southern Poverty Law Center — these two weeks before reconvening over Zoom movements are often considered a pointed to discuss. rejection of European Christian culture, Like the neopagans, some of those ex- and their adherents often champion polit- ploring traditional cultural practices are ical or social justice causes such as queer looking to free themselves from estab- identity. lished faiths that they find oppressive. Kalafian’s quest is in some ways more Six years ago, Levon Kafafian, an Arme- Mashed Potato Pancakes personal, and tied to the idea of global di- nian-American weaver in Detroit, began aspora. She belongs to a loose network of creating rites for the autumnal and spring From Salpy’s International Kitchen young healers, mystics and practitioners equinoxes and other seasonal turns based who have coalesced around a group called on Armenian practices and incorporating the Southwest Asian and North Afri- his hand-woven textiles. Salpy’s traditional Mashed Potato Pancakes are versatile and easy to assemble can Ancestral Hub, or SWANA Ancestral Kafafian, who is queer, partly hoped to and make. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, they can be a delicious Hub for short. Rather than any single cul- provide a cultural alternative to “a deep side dish for just about any meal -- or the main course for a lighter meal. Serve ture or faith, its members are bonded by and heavy judgment” in the Armenian Or- as a side dish or with roast chicken, lamb, pork, or turkey for a hearty meal with a their shared separation from their disparate thodox Church. side of applesauce, yogurt, or sour cream. homelands. They support each other as Practitioners like Kafafian “want to they research, reconstruct and catalog their move away from the liturgical aspects of INGREDIENTS: cultures’ healing and spiritual practices. religion, but you can’t move away from 2 cups cold mashed potatoes “It’s about the joy and the healing that those aspects of ethnic identity,” said Sa- 4 spring onions, finely chopped comes through being in connection with bina Magliocco, an anthropologist at the 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, minced each other and our cultures,” said Layla University of British Columbia, so they 2 cloves garlic, mashed Feghali, the group’s founder, in a phone in- turn to traditional practices. Salt and pepper to taste terview from her home near Los Angeles. The Armenian Church “has been a unifi- 1/2 teaspoon Aleppo pepper or cayenne pepper “It’s about sharing our stories.” er for a group that has such a diverse range 1 teaspoon onion granules (or dried onion flakes) Sarah Pike, a professor at California of idea, lifestyles, dialects and cuisines,” 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese) State University-Chico who studies new said Kafafian. “I think we’re at a time 6-8 medium eggs, beaten religious movements, said that in focusing where we can be so much more deeply Oil for cooking on a community of color, the work of the connected beyond that.” Finely chopped green onions and parsley as garnish, optional SWANA Ancestral Hub is akin to the work Feghali, the child of a Maronite Catho- of Black Americans revitalizing West Af- lic and a Malachite Catholic, pointed out rican Yoruba faith practices, or Chicanos that ancestor-honoring and earth-based PREPARATION: embracing Mexican Indigenous practices. practices are peppered through those an- In a large bowl, mix together all the above ingredients, except the oil, until “There’s an idea of religion being in cient churches’ worship. Her work is less thoroughly incorporated. the blood or the bones, or the genes, that about escaping church traditions than delv- Heat a few tablespoons of oil in the skillet, drop a dollop of mixture a few you carry it with you. It doesn’t depend ing into the ancestral knowledge they are inches apart in and cook until golden on one side, flip and cook for additional few on where you are, but it’s connected to a rooted in. minutes until golden on both sides. Garnish or top with chopped green onions and specific place that might be far away from It is a search she acknowledges may not parsley, if desired. you,” said Pike. have drawn her had her family not moved The source of Feghali’s work is her fam- 7,000 miles from their Lebanese village. (Original recipe and photos are courtesy of Salpy’s International Kitchen.} ily’s ancestral village in Lebanon, where, “Our need to connect is more intense be- she said, the people knew the land and her cause our sense of what’s lost is more in- For this recipe, go to: https://www.facebook.com/SalpysInternationalK- fruits intimately. “All of my seeking has tense,” said Feghali. “Diaspora has the po- itchen/photos/a.193156930836425/1613216378830466/?type=3&theater led me to an understanding that our earth- tential to be a place where we create from a based practices seem to be a place where new place, where we connect to where our all the answers are,” said Feghali. “Our ancestors come from and honor that.” SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 17

COMMENTARY THE ARMENIAN Mirror SPECTATOR Editorial Since 1932 Armenia’s Territorial Integrity Is In Jeopardy An ADL Publication Make no mistake: Armenia is facing a real Asia. existential threat. The 44-day war has not Azerbaijan has introduced its forces in the area of Sev Lich, The First English Language ended yet. At best, a tenuous ceasefire is in which is located at the narrowest point from the Nakhichevan place, as defined by the November 8 tripartite exclave, and where President Aliyev is planning to cut through in the declaration. his coveted corridor to finally integrate Nakhichevan with United States Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Tur- Azerbaijan’s mainland. key and Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan have Negotiations are taking place between Armenian and Azer- EDITOR By Edmond Y. never minced words. The first one invoked baijani forces, with the participation of Gen. Aslan Muradov, Azadian Alin K. Gregorian Enver Pasha’s unfinished plan for the Cauca- commander of the Russian peacekeeping forces in Karabakh. MANAGING EDITOR sus during the victory parade in Baku on December 10, 2020, Azerbaijan has been basing its territorial claims on fictitious Aram Arkun and the latter expressed his intention to force Armenia to build maps it has drawn and is pretending that it is conducting in- a land corridor through the “historic Azerbaijani land of Zange- nocent border demarcations, while Armenia and Russia have ART DIRECTOR zur.” been using Soviet-era authorized maps which feature Sev Lich Mark (Mgrditchian) McKertich All current military operations and the ensuing crisis are the within Armenia’s borders. prelude to achieve those objectives. Since May 12, the Azerbaijani side has agreed to withdraw its SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST Historically, when we explore the background of such mili- forces to their original positions. However, it has not yet deliv- Edmond Y. Azadian tary adventures, we discover that they take place in conjunction ered on that agreement. STAFF WRITER with other global crises, either in the same region or somewhere Ilham Aliyev has been using President Teddy Roosevelt’s fa- Harry Kezelian III around the globe. And indeed, when political attention is fo- bled adage of speaking softly and carrying a big stick. Indeed, cused on the flare-up between Hamas and the Israeli forces in its foreign minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, has been blaming Arme- CONTRIBUTORS Gaza and the forthcoming tumultuous presidential elections in nia for internationalizing a local issue and has added that Baku Christopher Atamian, Florence Avakian, neighboring Iran, the time seems most Taleen Babayan, Artsvi Bakhchinyan, opportune for the Turkey-Azerbaijan Raffi Bedrosyan, Christine Vartanian tandem to make a mischievous move, Datian, Dr. Arshavir Gundjian, Philippe under Moscow’s benevolent watch. Raffi Kalfayan, Ken Martin, Gerald President Aliyev, who inherited Papasian, Harut Sassounian, Hagop Azerbaijan from his late father, Hey- Vartivarian dar Aliyev, was a novice in foreign REGIONAL policy and state affairs at the start of CORRESPONDENTS his reign, but gradually, the Azerbai- LOS ANGELES: Ani Duzdabanyan- jani government wised up and began Manoukian, Kevork Keushkerian, to make the most cunning diplomatic Michelle Mkhlian moves in the region as well as on the YEREVAN: Raffi Elliott global scene. That development was BERLIN: Muriel Mirak-Weissbach the direct consequence of the take- PARIS: Jean Eckian over by Turkey of Azerbaijan’s state SAN FRANCISCO: Kim Bardakian affairs. CAIRO: Maydaa Nadar The current tension created on Ar- menia’s borders by the incursion of PHOTOGRAPHERS 250 Azerbaijan soldiers 3.5 kilome- Jirair Hovsepian, Ken Martin ters into the sovereign territory of

VIDEO CORRESPONDENT Armenia is a calculated risk, most Haykaram Nahapetyan probably designed by Erdogan’s ad- ministration and implemented by the Aliyev government. By exploiting the The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is configuration of military and political published weekly, except two weeks in force in the region, the Ankara-Baku July and the first week of the year, by: tandem has found out that Armenia’s Association, Inc. strategic ally, Russia, is in a stalemate 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA with the Turkish forces in the Cauca- 02472-1509 sus and not in a position to meet its Telephone: 617-924-4420 treaty obligations to Armenia. There- FAX: 617-924-2887 fore Russia has allowed the opportu- www.mirrorspectator.com nity to Baku to make its historic move E-Mail: [email protected] to occupy part of the Syunik region in For advertising: [email protected] Armenia. Syunik is not only important for Armenia as a mineral-rich province, SUBSCRIPTION RATES but above all, it is a strategic piece of U.S.A. $80 one year land which has created a bottleneck Canada $125 one year for Turkey on its way to achieve its Other Countries $200 one year pan-Turanic plans. That territory is also important for Iran for multiple reasons. That is why the Iranian MP © 2014 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator Mojtaba Zonnour, head of the Irani- Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, an Parliament’s Commission of Na- MA and additional mailing offices. tional Security and Foreign policy, ISSN 0004-234X said, “The borders of the past must be completely protected and the common border of the Islamic Republic of Iran with Armenia must be has been trying to calm the situation while at the same time, Postmaster: Send address preserved. We do not accept any changes in the borders in the Azerbaijan has begun war games on Armenia’s borders with changes to The Armenian region.” the participation of 15,000 soldiers and with heavy weaponry. Mirror-Spectator, 755 Mount The Iranian government is wary that any occupation of Ar- These are the fifth war games since January of the current Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472 menia’s territory may trigger a domino effect which may also year. Is there any question as to which party may be Azerbai- compromise Iranian territorial integrity, a potential threat which jan’s target for intimidation? Other than the Editorial, views is in Azerbaijan’s future plans, encouraged by Turkey, Israel It is surprising that while most major world powers have and opinions expressed in this and the West. condemned or expressed their concern about the Azerbaijan newspaper do not necessarily And interest in the region goes even further. China is interest- provocative actions, Russia has remained silent.Adding insult reflect the policies of the ed from a remote distance in the Syunik region, which stands as to injury, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has been publisher. a barrier to a Turkey desiring to extend its power into Central see INTEGRITY, page 19 18 SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

COMMENTARY Why Repatriation Has Failed, or Apo Sahagian’s Useless Diaspora

jority Armenian, how can we call it Armenian?” The same leader who first exasperated By Christopher Atamian Vladimir Putin and then begged him for help, and then pretended that Russian Iskander missile somehow simply malfunctioned during the 44-Day War? The same leader who By Way of an Introduction some insiders say was aware of the incipient war over a year ago but because of his It has taken me several months now to ponder and properly digest Apo Sahagian’s hatred for Robert Kocharyan was apparently perfectly happy to see Artsakh overrun contentious and ultimately self-defeating February 3 column in The Armenian Week- by Azerbaijan and an entire generation of young Armenian men murdered, while the ly. Titled “Our Useless Diaspora, Our Future Armenia,” it somehow purports to ex- enemy suffered few losses as it watched hired mercenaries fight a proxy war for them? plain that what makes the Diaspora supposedly ineffective is simply that “we” don’t The words monumental chutzpah come to mind here, but it is not emphatic enough. And care enough. “We” (a monolith that actually doesn’t exist) aren’t somehow Armenian last but not least what is to be said about all the schools, churches and cultural centers enough to have packed ourselves and our children up and repopulated Artsakh and in the Diaspora itself that have suffered immeasurably (or simply not been built) of late, — in which case the disaster of the 44-Day War could somehow have been precisely because so many funds have been diverted to the Republic of Armenia and averted. Sahagian is a bright young man, a dedicated Jerusalem-born singer/artist who Artsakh? now lives in Armenia — and thus his particularly nationalistic point of view makes Who’s (Not) Looking Presidential? some sense. And yet it doesn’t. There has also been little these past thirty years in the way of good governance in Sahagian is correct in diagnosing some of the critical underlying problems that “we” Armenia, a must for any country trying to repatriate and attract people to their lands. in the Armenian world have faced these past thirty years and which ultimately led to Of the four Prime Ministers that have ruled Armenia to date, perhaps only Levon Ter- “our” recent defeat. A series of corrupt governments (followed by the presently inex- Petrosyan was truly “presidential,” in the sense that he had the brains and the stature to perienced and potentially treasonous one), combined with a concurrent inability to re- mix it up with the best of them, people of say Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev populate Artsakh and make a go of it as an independent or incorporated state: these are and Bill Clinton’s ilk. The next two presidents were pure oligarchs, though their mili- indeed some of the main reasons that we lost the war. But as I will attempt to forcefully tary experience meant that they at least knew how to keep the country safe from invad- to argue below, it is not the Diaspora’s job to run Armenia from abroad--nor has the ers and inspired some sort of caution on the part of Turkey and Azerbaijan. The current Armenian government itself laid the proper conditions for any type of serious repatri- Prime Minister would elicit a “no comment” were it not for the fact that his ineffective- ation. It is also beyond the Diaspora’s scope and power to force Armenia to recognize ness daily risks the Third Republic’s very future as Azerbaijan continues to encroach on Artsakh’s independence—something the Third Republic has remarkably and inexplica- Armenian territory. Of all the politicians in Armenia, Armen Sarkissian appears the only bly yet to do. one with a top-rate mind and diplomatic ability — it remains unclear to some why he The Diasporan Reality does not run for Prime Minister. A highly-placed contact confirmed recently that these Sahagian seems somehow surprised — almost offended even — by the fact that the corrupt leaders—and the weak economy that they have engendered—have accelerated average diasporan Armenian would prefer to live in Los Angeles rather than Shushi; the already-existing brain drain: “Djana,” she added: “All the young men have been sent Paris rather than Gyumri; New York City rather than Yerevan. In making this observa- abroad and there’s almost no one left with any experience inside Armenia.” tion, the author has taken the donkey by the tail and/or placed the cart before the horse, Conclusions to extend the equine metaphors. Simply put is not up to the three or four million diaspo- I suspect that Apo Sahagian knows better because among other things he is Israeli by rans spread around the world, some of whom have not lived near historic Armenia for nationality. Israel provides its citizens with excellent free education and health care, and generations now and no longer even speak Armenian, to rebuild Armenia proper. These some of the best universities in the world. And any comparison of the statesmanship in Armenians negotiate their diasporan existence just fine on average—some are fully Ar- Israel dating back from Abba Eban and Ben Gurion down through Golda Meir to Ariel menian, others less so. Some have assimilated while others belong to what was termed Sharon, Itzhak Rabin and now Benjamin Netanyahu puts the four “statesmen” who by AIM Magazine some years back as “Armenian by choice,” while still others are new have run Armenia in cold perspective. Putting politics aside one moment, I have quite a Armenians by marriage. Rather it is up to the Republic of Armenia to build a livable, few American and French acquaintances who have moved to Israel over the past twenty viable state—and that includes breaking the endemic corruption that is the real reason years. Several are wealthy and bought their own condos, but others became settlers. In behind Armenia’s current failure. Then I think Sahagian will see diasporan Armenians this last case, the Israeli government had modern, functional housing and a job ready for begin to move back/repatriate in significant numbers. them when they arrived. Where is the equivalent in Armenia? It simply doesn’t exist. Let me once again repeat that the role of the Diaspora is not to make Armenia run Either through lack of vision or coordination with organizations such as the Armenia like a Swiss Clock, not is it even to support Armenia unconditionally. There are a mul- Fund, to my knowledge no such housing has been built in Hayastan or Artsakh. In fact tiplicity of diasporan communities in the Armenian transnation, each one unique in its there are still people living in containers and makeshift housing in Gyumri 30 years own way, with its own culture and its own unique historical memory that influence how after the devastating 1988 earthquake. its individual members negotiate their own relationships with the Republic of Armenia The last point that I will make refers us back to the Nergakhts or repatriation of the and Artsakh. Within those communities there are people who grow up in fully Arme- 1940s. Many of those Armenians ended up in Siberia, denounced by their fellow Ha- nian households: they speak Armenian at home, attend Armenian schools and churches, yastansis. Most reconciled themselves to being called aghpars and to never fully being and contribute to Armenian causes as second nature. There are also Armenians such as accepted as Armenians. The bitter memory of this experience has faded, but it leaves myself who are guess hai, guess odar and who may have learnt Armenian later in life in traces nonetheless. I also imagine that life in Armenia is quite different if one is a priv- college or in special immersion programs but who strongly identify with their Armenian ileged diasporan who congregates at Artbridge Café and the Yerevan Hotel (I include half. And then there are Armenians who exist along a spectrum that ranges from mod- myself in this group) or simply someone of average means wanting to return to Arme- erately Armenian to completely assimilated. Exactly where they fall on this spectrum, nia. Something like a third of the Syrian Armenians who fled that country’s terrifying as well as a whole host of other personal, educational and professional factors, influ- Civil War have already left Armenia and emigrated elsewhere. How on earth is this pos- ence whether diasporan Armenians—young and old—would ever consider repatriation. sible? The answer sounds eerily familiar: lack of jobs and lack of a coordinated policy Queer Armenians for example—who have their own organizations (GALAS, AGLA) on the part of the ROA government to welcome and house them. To expect people to and publications (The Hye-Phen Magazine, The Queer Armenian Library) can hardly move their families to a country unready to host them is sheer folly. be expected to move back to a country where they are routinely attacked with impunity Finally my parting words: you cannot run a country from a diaspora, especially one and have no legal recourse when such violence occurs. Single mothers can hardly be whose members cannot even vote from abroad in elections. Diasporans can advise and expected to hop on the next Aeroflot to Yerevan in order to embrace a new homeland donate money to Armenia and they can influence foreign policy in their own coun- known for being intensely patriarchal and often disdainful of women’s rights. tries by lobbying and demonstrating: all things that the Armenian diaspora has done Corruption, Corruption, Corruption in spades. But ultimately a country must learn to govern itself honestly if it is move In the wake of the 44-Day War, Armenians sent $180 million to Hayastan through the forward. We as Armenians have precious little time left. The barbarians are at the gate: Armenia Fund alone, of which $100 million was summarily seized by the government nay, they have crashed it already. Like Israel, Armenia is surrounded by enemies and for its own purposes—“seized” here is a kind way of saying appropriated or stolen. does not have the luxury to fool around anymore. President Armen Sarkissian, one of the few politicians in Armenia who displayed any The wonder is that through it all, the Diaspora is still so supportive of Armenia and sense of integrity during this difficult period, called the Pashinyan government to ac- Artsakh. In its essence, I don’t think that this will change: it has not in my case or in count for how this money was being spent, but you might as well have wished for the those of Armenia’s true friends. But for Sahagian’s well-meaning hopes to become a moon. No such courtesy was extended to the many diasporans who might have done all reality — i.e. for a mass repatriation to occur — then the governments of Armenia and sorts of other things with their hard-earned money. Artsakh must finally get their act together. Instead of a base kleptocracy, we need lead- I am sometimes amazed at how much of a blind eye some donors are willing to turn ers who are invested in growing a modern, successful Republic. And we need leaders to the endemic : this has ultimately been a bad strategy as it let who are willing to engage the diaspora and its talents honestly and with vision. Until previous governments pilfer state wealth and, among other things, fail to rebuild the that time comes, much to Apo Sahagian and others’ chagrin, the Armenian Diaspora Armenian military. Several Armenian friends have told me that during their mandated may unfortunately appear to be powerless if not useless. military service, for example, they had no warm coats and ate cabbage four times a week while enduring sometimes painful physical abuse at the hands of their superior (Christopher Atamian is a New York-based writer, filmmaker, translator and editor. officers. Meanwhile, leading diasporan figures who had in fact repatriated such as the He has written for leading publications such as The New York Press, The Huffington renowned musician and orchestra director Constantine Orbelian have been bullied and Post, The New Criterion and The New York Times Book Review and concentrated exclu- mistreated in the most ignominious ways by the supposed “Ministry of Culture” and its sively on Armenian culture and history in a previous column at www.yevrobatsi.com. minions—one step short of the old KGB. His first book of verse, A Poet in Washington Heights was nominated for a National Is this the government that Apo Sahagian and others think diasporans should entrust Book Award and received the 2017-18 Tololyan Literary Prize. He has translated five their lives to upon repatriation? The same one that more or less gave Shushi away to the books from French and Armenian and most recently co-edited a volume on Bedros enemy and whose current Prime Minister then announced that “Shushi was never ma- Keljik, Armenian-American Sketches.) SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 19

COMMENTARY

My Turn “Damn those who live for money and fame, greetings to those who live for Turkish Group Hacked Biden’s the Islamic cause. From here, I warn the US-backed, so-called [opposition] po- Website To Undermine His litical parties like the CHP [main opposition Republican People’s Party], HDP [pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party] and the Iyi [conservative/nationalist Presidential Election Good] Party. “We’ll be your nightmare if you don’t take your hands off my [Turkish] state, by Harut Sassounian While it was widely publicized that Russia attempted my nation. We will make you afraid of walking in the street [in shame] by re- to interfere in the 2020 US presidential election, very lit- vealing your most private conversations. tle was reported about similar meddling by Turkey. “RootAyyıldız is not a group or organization but a patriot who fights alone. The US National Intelligence Council (NIC) released on March 15, 2021 a We hail anybody who fights for Turk and Islam. May Allah be our help. We do declassified report which confirmed Turkish hackers’ cyber-attack in the 2020 not use social media. Don’t be fooled by fake accounts.” election on Joe Biden’s campaign website, to support Pres. Donald Trump. The hackers wrote under the photo of Erdogan and Abdulhamid II: “We This should not come as a surprise to anyone, given the warm personal rela- are the ones who stopped the tanks with our bare hands on the night of July tionship between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pres. Trump. 15 [2016 failed coup]. We are those who killed death that night. We have been Erdogan made weekly phone calls to the White House securing Pres. Trump’s waiting for Archers’ Hill for 15 centuries [a reference to a scene in the Battle of agreement on many pro-Turkish issues. Erdogan was certain that Biden would Uhud fought by the Muslim Prophet Muhammad]! We are the keepers of that not be as accommodating as Trump. red [Turkish] flag that will never abandon its shadow on us.” Archers’ Hill is Abdullah Bozkurt, a dissident Turkish investigative journalist living in frequently mentioned by Erdogan in his campaign rallies. Stockholm, Sweden, confirmed the Turkish hacking scheme by publishing the Bozkurt added: “RootAyyıldız is believed to have connections to elements details in the Nordic Monitor on March 25, 2021. of the Turkish government, specifically with intelligence agency MIT and the The NIC disclosed that the Turkish group RootAyyıldız hacked the police department. Its attacks on foreign governments, entities and individu- Biden-Harris presidential campaign website in October and November 2020. als have coincided with the growing noise among Turkish officials who leveled “Hackers promoting Turkish nationalist themes breached and defaced a web- harsh criticism and threats against such foreign governments, entities and in- site previously established for a candidate in the US presidential campaign, dividuals.” according to US cybersecurity press,” the NIC reported. Bozkurt ended his article revealing that the Turkish hackers group Root- “The Turkish hackers posted a nationalist and Islamist message that by and Ayyıldız “also targeted the Greek government and institutions during the large repeated the narrative often promoted by ruling Justice and Development heightened tension between the two countries in August 2020. The official web- Party (AKP) officials in Turkey, led by President Erdogan,” Bozkurt wrote. site of the Bihar Education Department in India was hacked in August 2019 The Hackers placed on the Biden-Harris website the photos of Pres. Erdo- by RootAyyıldız, which posted messages in praise of Pakistan and Islam. In gan and Sultan Abdulhamid II, named Red Sultan because of the massacres of October 2020, the group hacked the Armenian Football Federation’s website 300,000 Armenians from 1894 to 1896. during the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and posted messages in “The hackers identified themselves as ‘Turkish Muslim Defacer’ and empha- support of Azerbaijan.” sized that they follow the Turkish president, described as ‘Reis’ (Chief) in the In a separate article by the Reuters news agency, titled: “Hackers acting in posted message, and are on the path of a Turkish Islamist jihadist campaign to Turkey’s interests believed to be behind recent cyberattacks,” Turkish hack- dominate the world. The opposition political parties were alleged to have been ers attacked at least 30 organizations, including Albanian, Cypriot and Greek supported by the US, and the hackers warned of further consequences if the US government email services, the website of the national security advisor of Iraq, did not leave Turkey alone,” reported Bozkurt. embassies and security services as well as companies and other groups. Here is the translation of the Turkish hackers’ message left on the Biden-Har- “The attacks involve intercepting internet traffic to victim websites, poten- ris website: tially enabling hackers to obtain illicit access to the networks of government “We made the ablution [used here as a means to clean oneself to get ready bodies and other organizations,” Reuters wrote. to be a martyr in jihad] before and set out on a journey, we said our own fu- “According to two British officials and one US official, the activity bears the neral prayer, we sharpened our blade for our brother. We made our pledge to hallmarks of a state-backed cyber espionage operation conducted to advance the Great Sultan [late Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II, an authoritarian ruler Turkish interests,” Reuters wrote. revered by Islamist circles in Turkey]. We will kill for Reis [Chief -- President These hacking efforts by the Turkish government-linked group are yet an- Erdogan] anybody who sets their eyes on our [Turkish-Islamic] cause. other example of the violation of international laws and conventions by Turkey. Armenia’s Territorial Integrity Is in Jeopardy INTEGRITY, from page 17 its victory against Armenia. Georgia and projecting power into Syria. parroting Bayramov that Yerevan is kicking up too much Russia is rightfully worried about the internationaliza- Thus far, Pashinyan was allowed only to apply to the of a fuss about a border issue which we are trying to re- tion of the current conflict. We have to remember General CSTO on the basis of the treaty’s Article 2, Section 2, solve with our regional partners. Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defense minister, boasting about which calls only for consultations between members and France has been the most straight forward country in the Russia-Turkey joint operation in the Caucasus. He said not necessarily action. condemning Azerbaijan and has asked Baku to withdraw that Russia and Turkey had been able to successfully create Article 4 would have triggered military assistance, its forces. President Emmanuel Macron himself called a political and military plan in the region, similar to the one which, in this case, would be futile any way, after observ- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to express his solidarity in Syria. The fait accompli achieved in the region is in the ing the conduct of its members. with Armenia. Furthermore, he offered to raise the issue at interest of both parties. Armenia’s interest, even as far as its The Kremlin did not shy away from embarrassing Pash- the United Nations Security Council and proposed military existence, is the least of their worries. Any intervention or inyan publicly. The latter had applied for military aid from assistance to Armenia, under UN mandate. projection of the major power in the Caucasus is a poten- Russia during a phone call with President Putin at the start Similarly Canada has condemned the Azerbaijani incur- tial threat to that successful plan. That is why Russia has of the Azerbaijani incursion, yet Putin’s spokesman, Dim- sion. been dragging its feet in bringing the Karabakh issue to the itri Peskow, publicly countered that Pashinyan had not The US State Department Spokesperson Jalina Porter forum of the Organization for Security and Cooperation asked for military assistance - but Russia did not intend to has published the following statement on the department’s in Europe (OSCE) whose two other co-chairs, the US and provide it anyway. website: “Military movements in disputed territories are France, are against the current status. Obediently following Mr. Putin’s expectation, Pashin- irresponsible and they are also unnecessarily provocative. President Vladimir Putin has been stating emphatically yan has even postponed his appeal to the UN, to keep the And of course, we’ve seen the reports of some withdrawal that the Karabakh status issue has to be determined at an major powers away from the region. and would welcome that, if confirmed, but we expect that indefinite point in the future. However, both France and Should Armenia dare to appeal to France or to the UN Azerbaijan pulls back all its forces immediately and cease the US consider the status issue a residual agenda to be for aid, Russia has the chokehold around its neck and it is further provocation.” resolved after the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial in- in position to complicate the situation even further. Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security advisor, talking tegrity. Nor is Armenia’s defeated army ready to expel the in- to Pashinyan on the phone, has expressed his concern. The situation does not bode well for Armenia. Prime truders by forces. Armenia’s Secretary of the Security President Aliyev claims that he has solved the Karabakh Minister Nikol Pashinyan is beholden to the Kremlin; he is Council Armen Grigoryan has been grudgingly using issue by force and that there is no longer a problem of sta- allowed only to take baby steps, always looking for a nod words indicating that negotiations have been yielding cu- tus. By threatening Armenia’s own territory, he is further of approval from Putin. mulative results and the issue will be resolved peacefully. ensuring that Armenians should worry about their own ex- The Armenian army has encircled the intruding Azerbai- Pashinyan, in all his speeches, seems to be an exasper- istence before being concerned about Karabakh. jani contingent. Anyone’s impulsive reaction would be to ated and embattled leader who is trying to put on a brave He is also testing Russia’s resolve to meet its obligations use force to expel the intruders. But Armenia is deliberate- face before the Azerbaijani aggression, against irredentist to its strategic ally. In the meantime, he is testing the effec- ly engaged in unending negotiations, waiting for a favor- movements in Syunik and the opposition parties who are tiveness of the Russia-centered Collective Security Treaty able outcome. planning to extract maximum punishment in the forthcom- Organization (CSTO), which is supposed to be Armenia’s Many citizens and analysts have been questioning what ing elections. defense umbrella. That treaty was already turned into a the purpose of the 102nd Russian base in Gyumri is if it will Pashinyan and his inexperienced team could hardly mockery when Azerbaijan, a non-member, defeated Ar- not defend Armenian territory against aggressors. It has manage the government affairs in peacetime. menia, a member of that defense treaty, and several of its dawned on them that the base is there not to defend Arme- It is more questionable how they can fare in such peril- members ironically rushed to congratulate Azerbaijan on nia but rather to serve Russia’s broader interest in watching ous times. 20 SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

Diocese’s Midwest Parishes Welcome Bishop Daniel For Extended Visit NEW YORK – For 10 days in April, on ices: one dedicated in memory of the late the heels of this year’s Easter celebration, Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian, donated by parish Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel Findikyan pastor Fr. Avedis Kalayjian and his extend- traveled throughout the Midwest for an ex- ed family, and the other dedicated in mem- tended stay among the clergy and faithful ory of the late Charles Dadian, donated by of the region. He was warmly welcomed the Dadian family. by parishioners throughout the Wisconsin Parishioners of St. George Church in and Illinois communities of the Eastern Di- Waukegan, IL, gathered with the bishop ocese of the Armenian Church of America for a vespers service, and later welcomed — with whom he met in sacred, celebra- the Primate to a special parish gathering. tory, as well as informal settings. During his time in the community, Bish- The excursion from April 9 through 19, op Daniel also presided at the funeral of 2021, was an opportunity for the Primate to Susan Dayenian, a beloved parishioner of hold meetings with leaders of the Diocese the Waukegan church. Waukegan was also and its sister churches. But just as impor- the locale for the Primate’s first in-per- tantly it was a chance to spend time with son meeting with clergy of the Midwest the local people, hear their ideas and con- region since the outbreak of the pandemic. cerns — especially in the midst of the on- Fr. Sahak Kaishian, Fr. Andreas Garabedi- going pandemic — and inform them about an, Fr. Avedis Kalayjian, Fr. Tavit Boya- the outreach efforts of the Eastern Diocese. jian, Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan, and Fr. The trip began with a momentous event The ordaining of Fr. Guregh Hambartsumyan at St. John the Baptist Church, Yeprem Kelegian gathered with Bishop in the life of St. John the Baptist Church of Milwaukee, WI Daniel for prayer and discussion. Milwaukee, WI, in which the Primate or- for the Milwaukee church. Aram Kirakosyan, Brandon Simon, and Al- At Sts. Joachim and Anne Church of dained Dn. Albert Hambartsumyan as a The Sunday following the ordination exander Khoja-Eynatyan as acolytes, and Palos Heights, IL, the bishop led an eve- priest, and naming him “Fr. Guregh.” The took Bishop Daniel to St. James of Nisibis Melkon Melkonian, Vartkes Minatiskan, ning service assisted by pastor Fr. Tavit Service of Calling on April 9, and the ordi- Church in Evanston, IL, where he presid- Haig Hagopian, and Alexander Khoja-Ey- Boyajian. Later he met with parish lead- nation on April 10, brought together local ed over the badarak with the assistance of natyan as subdeacons. ers for an informal gathering in the church parishioners and faithful from throughout pastor Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan. During Continuing on to St. Mesrob Church in hall. Friday, April 16 brought Bishop Dan- the region to witness the rare and impres- the service, the Primate performed several Racine, WI, Bishop Daniel led a weeknight iel to Chicago, where he attended a formal sive sacrament, resulting in a new pastor ordinations to the minor orders, ordaining vespers service and blessed two new chal- meeting with that city’s Roman Catholic Archbishop, Cardinal Blase Cupich, at the Archdiocesan Center. Accompanying the Primate on that visit was Fr. Andreas Ga- rabedian, who later in the week welcomed The Tekeyan Cultural Association Is Rolling Up Its Sleeves Again Bishop Daniel to St. Gregory the Illumina- tor Church of Chicago, IL, for the Bishop’s long-awaited return to the parish where he Before the 44-day war, we supported the development of the strategic Berdzor corridor and made large investments in the region. Berdzor and its neighboring regions (Kashatagh) have now fallen into enemy hands. All of a sudden, its residents, students and teachers were forced to become refugees and are now helplessly scattered all around Artsakh and Armenia. They have lost everything and their living conditions are less than desirable. The good news is that once more Tekeyan is engaged to make their lives better, so that they remain in Armenia and become part of the nation-building process. This time though the help will be achieved through investments and not through donations. The creation of a sustainable economy is the aim of this appeal. Through small contributions / mass funding we will create income-generating opportunities for the displaced families. Tekeyan of Armenia in association with a local reputable NGO (Shen or Syunik or Kashatagh) will make investments in agriculture and/or housing to create income or comforts for their beneficiaries. The recipients get these funds conditional that they give back on an annual basis the equivalent in produced goods of 5% of the amount of assistance they have received. At St. James of Nisibis Church, Evanston, Contributors in this funding will be gratified to: Illinois a) Alleviate the hardship of these forcefully displaced families b) Receive a 5% annual return – goods which in turn will be redirected to schools or other ordained Fr. Andreas to the priesthood in 2019. The faithful gathered for the Divine needy institutions. Liturgy and a celebratory event afterwards, which was also attended by local Catholic clergyman Fr. Thomas Baima and Arme- nia’s Honorary Consul to the Midwest (and also a Diocesan Council member) Oscar Tatosian. The Primate’s trip culminated in his presiding over the spring Sacred Music Festival. He welcomed the attendees to the online festival from Evanston, alongside Sacred Music Council chair Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan, and delivered the key- note address on “The Badarak: Our Musi- cal Sacrament.” Bishop Daniel’s visits to the Midwest parishes invariably included a meal or other gathering with local faithful (always observing the regulations imposed by the pandemic). In his messages, the Bishop conveyed his joy at reuniting with parishio- ners of the region face-to-face, after a year https://givebutter.com/NLWnPU of separation. He also spoke enthusiasti- cally about the activities and ministries of the Diocese, and about promising develop- ments on the horizon. He engaged parish- ioners in discussions of their own efforts and challenges during the past year, and applauded their ongoing work to “Build Up the Body of Christ” throughout their re- spective communities, even under difficult circumstances of a worldwide pandemic.