INTERNATIONAL Indignation on the Rise As Kessab Armenians Flee International News KESSAB, from Page 1 Guarded,” Ardouny Said
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APRIL 5, 2014 MirTHErARoMENr IAN -Spe ctator Volume LXXXIV, NO. 37, Issue 4331 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 COMMUNIQUÉ ADL District Committee International Indignation on the Condemns Kessab Rise as Kessab Armenians Flee Atrocities We were appalled by the atrocities perpetrated by terrorist gangs against Armenians in Kessab, WASHINGTON and YEREVAN Syria, this past month. Ninety nine years after the (Combined Sources) — The United States Turkish government launched its genocide against and Russia issued statements this week its Armenian population, the survivors and victims expressing concern over the fate of Kessab, of that crime once again have become homeless the Armenian-populated town in Syria that refugees because the same bloody hands are using has been under attack by Islamic militants mercenaries and criminals to achieve their political in recent days. goals. During a daily briefing in Washington on We share Senate Foreign Relations Committee Friday, March 28, US Department of State Chairman Robert Menendez’s concern and initia - deputy spokesperson Marie Harf said the tive to sensitize US legislators and the State United States is “deeply troubled by recent Department about the crimes being committed fighting and violence that is endangering against the Armenian residents of the historic the Armenian community in Kessab, Syria region of Kessab. and has forced many to flee.” The avowed principles of democracy and human More than 600 ethnic Armenian families rights advocated by our US government around the had to flee their homes in the town situat - Armenian lawmakers speak upon their return from Kessab. world will sound hollow unless concrete action is ed in the northwest of Syria after armed taken to stop the rampage perpetrated by terrorists bands reportedly affiliated with al-Qaeda and the government of Turkey, which is clearly the penetrated from across the Turkish border yesterday, they discussed among other about the threat posed by violent extrem - instigator of those crimes, is called to account for and seized control of the town after clash - things the plight of minorities, especially ists, and this latest threat to the Armenian its activities. es with Syrian government troops. The Christians, inside Syria today.” community in Syria only underscores this Whatever the political objectives behind the cri - Armenians took refuge in Latakia, some 60 Harf also referred to some statements further,” Harf said. sis in Syria, the carnage in Kessab, as well as kilometers to the south. issued by groups fighting in Kessab saying This statement by the US official was fol - Aleppo, will not justify any legitimate political goal. “There are far that they will lowed by a remarkable exchange with a We call upon the world community of Armenians too many innocent not target civil - reporter attending the daily briefing. to support our brothers and sisters finding refuge civilians suffering “...you may have seen from the readout of ians and will Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign in Latakia, Syria. as a result of the President Obama’s conversation with Pope respect Affairs of Russia also disseminated a state - We also urge the US government to intervene war. All civilians, as minorities and ment on Friday expressing concern over with Turkey’s leaders in order to curb their genoci - well as their places Francis yesterday, they discussed among holy places. the attacks on Kessab. It strongly con - dal intents and allow the Armenian population of of worship, must be other things the plight of minorities, “We expect demned the acts of terrorism and other Kessab to return to their ravaged homes and dese - protected. As we those commit - crimes against civilians, clearly stating that crated churches in order to piece their lives back have said through - especially Christians, inside Syria today.” ments to be tank guns were applied from the territory together and live in peace in that troubled region out this conflict, we —US Department of State deputy spokesperson Marie Harf upheld. The of Turkey. of the world. deplore continued United States “The seizure by extremists of the town of The pictures from Kessab are a reminder to the threats against Christians and other minori - will continue its steadfast support to those Kessab elicited a broad response in world that justice for Armenians has yet to be ties in Syria,” she said. “And as you may affected by violence in Syria and through - Armenian communities throughout the achieved. have seen from the readout of President out the region, including Syrian world. A demonstration took place in front — ADL District Committee of US and Canada Obama’s conversation with Pope Francis Armenians. We have long had concerns of the UN office in Yerevan with the demand for the persecution against ethno- confessional minorities by illegal armed Armenian Serviceman units to be put an end to in Syria. see KESSAB, page 3 Receives Posthumous Award Prof. Richard Frye, YEREVAN (Armenpress) — On April 1, President of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic (Artsakh) Bako Armenian Studies Sahakyan signed a decree posthumously awarding commander of the N military unit, senior lieutenant Pioneer, Dies of the NKR Defense Army Harutyun Safaryan with the “For Service in Battle” medal for courage BOSTON — Prof. Richard Nelson Frye, shown during the defense of the Nagorno who helped establish the field of Armenian Karabagh border. studies and the National Association for An Armenian army lieutenant was killed in a Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), mine blast on the Nagorno Karabagh – Azerbaijan died on March 27. He was 94. Contact Line on Monday. According to a press Frye was the seminal figure in the estab - release of the army, serviceman, Safaryan, born in lishment of 1987, was fatally wounded in action. Iranian Studies in the United A scene from “The Story of the Last Thought” States. He joined the Harvard fac - ulty in 1948, was INSI DE The Play’s the Thing… Dissent, the founder of the university’s Denial and Artistic Freedom Center for Middle Eastern Goudsouzian Studies, and By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach served as the Book Special to the Mirror-Spectator Aga Khan Prof. Richard N. Frye Professor of Page 12 Iranian Studies KONSTANZ, Germany — At one from 1957 until 1990. He published count - point in Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” less important articles, chapters, and books the young prince stages a pantomime on Iranian history and culture. play, which features a murder scene: Frye, who studied under the pioneering INDEX Gonzago is poisoned and the murderer Armenologist Robert P. Blake at Harvard, Arts and Living . 10 gets his wife. Hamlet’s strategy is a was also an early and lifelong advocate of Armenia . 2 masterpiece of psychological insight: Armenian Studies, and it was he who was Community News. 4 he knows that his uncle Claudius, the the catalyst for the establishment of Editorial . 14 Edgar Hilsenrath International . 3 king, who will be among the audience, NAASR and the creation of permanent pro - see PLAY, page 7 grams in Armenian Studies in the US. see FRYE, page 6 2 S ATURDAY , A PRIL 5, 2014 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Angeghakot and its Poet Armenia’s Brandy, Vodka Production Up By Joseph Dagdigian YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The production of brandy and wine has been increased in the ANGEGHEKOT — Angeghekot, a vil - Republic of Armenia in January-February of the lage of about 2,000 – 3,000 people is in current year. The brandy production has been Southern Armenia, about 10 kilmoeters increased by 1.8 percent during January-February from Sisian, the regional capital of of the current year in comparison with the same Syunik province. Travelers from period of the previous year, thus reaching 2.2 mil- Yerevan on their way to Karabagh pass lion liters, while the vodka production was by Angeghakot, then Sisian and Goris increased by 1.6 percent and reached 1.4 million before entering the Lachin Corridor. liters. The drive from Yerevan to Angeghakot In accordance with the data of the National takes roughly four hours. With an alti - Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia, the tude of about 6,000 feet, summer days wine production volume in our country was are hot but evenings can be quite cool. increased by 3.4 percent, thus reaching 678,000 Thus, unlike some other regions of liters. Armenia, little fruit is grown here. Agriculture consists primarily of raising livestock and planting grains. Armenia’s PM Attends Upon entering Angeghakot, we asked Funeral of Suárez a few people for directions to some his - Angeghakot village scene torical sites. In each instance we were YEREVAN (Armenpress) — A state funeral was held advised to find Mayolis Karapetyan — in Madrid on the death of Adolfo Suárez González, the repository of Angeghakot’s history (1250–1305), indicates that Christianity Joseph Emin (1726-1809) to enlist for - who occupied the post of the Prime Minister of and culture. was first brought to Armenia in Syunik eign help to liberate Armenia, but this Spain in 1976-1981. Upon the invitation of Juan We found him, and learned that by Saint Bartholomew. too failed. According to Karapetyan, Carlos I of Spain, the Prime Minister of the Angeghekot’s history dates to the stone In 1699 Israel Ori (1658-1711), born Ori’s meeting with the Meliks took Republic of Armenia Tigran Sargisian left for and bronze ages. In or near the village in nearby Sisian, but spent a couple of place at Melik Safraz’s home in the out - Madrid on March 31 to participate in the ceremo- are monuments attributed to the decades in Europe learning European skirts of Angeghakot. He adds that the ny.