AUGUST 20, 2011 MirTHE rARoMENr IAN -Spe ctator Volume LXXXII, NO. 6, Issue 4200 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Ani Ruins May Be Put Armenian On UNESCO World Official Vows Heritage List ISTANBUL (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Turkish authorities announced its intention to apply to put ‘Unprecedented’ the ruins of the medieval Armenian capital, Ani, on the UNESCO world heritage list. The head of the Turkish Culture Ministry’s Elections Hakan Doganay said that the main standing church YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenia’s next there will be reconstructed with the funds raised parliamentary and presidential elections from tourism, Nouvelles D’Armenie reported, citing will be “unprecedented” in terms of their the Anadolu Agency. transparency, Garegin Azarian, the chair - About 23,000 tourists, mostly from France, UK man of the Central Election Commission and Japan, visited Ani in the first six months of this (CEC), said on Tuesday. year. Azarian said the integrity of the electoral “Urartians, Seljuks and Ottomans lived in Ani,” process in the country will improve marked - he said, neglecting to mention that Ani was the cap - ly already during the parliamentary race ital of Armenia in the 10th century. scheduled for next spring. “The openness of these elections will be Serj Tankian gives a concert in Yerevan. Yerevan Will Have unprecedented compared with previous elections,” he said. E-Guides for Tourists Azarian based his stated optimism on US-Armenian Rocker Tankian fresh amendments to the Electoral Code YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Special elec - tronic devices will be installed near historical mon - Calls for Change in Armenia uments and buildings in Yerevan within the frame - work of the Electronic City program, thanks to which the residents and guests of the capital will By Emil Danielyan, Elina Chilingarian have an opportunity to receive online information on historical monuments, reported the press office of the Yerevan city administration. YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Serj Tankian, renowned American-Armenian musician, on Monday, called for boosting the rule of law and combating corruption in Armenia, saying that is key to addressing the country’s fundamental problems. Clinton Discusses Speaking after his latest solo concert in Yerevan, the lead singer of the California-based band System of a Down also criticized a controversial mining pro - ‘Wilsonian’ Borders ject fiercely opposed by local environment protection groups. With Davutoglu in Garegin Azarian, chairman of the Central He at the same time emphasized his belief that Armenia has done “pretty well” Election Commission since gaining independence two decades ago. Turkey “I think we need to establish the rule of law in this country,” Tankian told a public discussion organized by the Civilitas Foundation, a Yerevan think-tank, and MOSCOW — “We the United States and Turkey that were enacted by the Armenian author - owe Armenia what was promised them by President ities in May. He singled out a new provision the local office of Counterpart International, a US civic development agency. see TANKIAN, page 16 Woodrow Wilson,” the Moscow-based Regnum that requires the CEC to publicize every news agency quoted Secretary Hillary Clinton as hour data on voter turnout from all of saying during her meetings last month in Turkey, Armenia’s 2,000 or so polling stations. according to the news agency’s source in the President Serge Sargisian likewise region. stressed the importance of those amend - Plaintiffs Score Early Victory against Turkish According to the same Regnum source, during ments when he addressed the Council of her meetings with Turkish officials last month, Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Banks in Armenian Genocide Lawsuit Clinton also allegedly outlined a new Middle East in Strasbourg last June. He pledged to and Caucasus map after an envisioned end to the “spare no effort” to ensure that the next LOS ANGELES — On August 2, a US fed - from land that was illegally seized during Karabagh conflict. This map, which supposedly Armenian elections are widely recognized eral district court in Los Angeles handed the Armenian Genocide, when the Ottoman not only includes the deployment of peacekeep - as democratic. Armenian plaintiffs an early victory in a dif - Turks drove Armenians from the Adana ing forces to the Karabagh conflict zone, also Armenia’s leading opposition groups dis - ficult legal battle over reparations for land region of southern Turkey. The property at envisions exchange of territories and transport miss such statements, however. In particu - seized from Armenians in Turkey during issue in the lawsuit is currently part of a routes. lar, they point out that the CEC continues the Armenian Genocide (Alex Bakalian et. strategic US airbase in southern Turkey. The Regnum source indicated that the afore - to be headed by Azarian, who was in charge al vs. Republic of Turkey, the Central Bank Representing the plaintiffs are the mentioned discussion was about granting Armenia of the last parliamentary and presidential of Turkey, and T.C. Ziraat Bankasi et. al, Yeghiayan Law Firm in Glendale, Schwarcz, a corridor to the port of Trabizon, following a pos - elections marred by fraud reports. Case Number 2:10-CV-09596, December 15, Rimberg, Boyd & Rader, LLP in Los sible ratification of the Turkey-Armenia protocols. The disputed presidential ballot held in 2010). Angeles and Michael Bazyler from Regnum also discussed a possible territorial February 2008 also led to deadly street Nearly eight months after the complaint Chapman University School of Law in exchange with Azerbaijan, to be overseen by US clashes between opposition protesters and was filed, the court determined that all Orange. ambassador to Baku, Matthew Bryza. The Regnum security forces. three defendants, in a first-of-its-kind law - The plaintiffs have spent recent months source said that process would be the creation of a Azarian claimed last month that elections suit in the United States, had been lawfully attempting to serve all the defendants and Greater Azerbaijan. are perceived as fraudulent by many served. then to have the court affirm their service Armenians because of opposition parties The lawsuit, filed by descendants of efforts. In the August 2 order, the court and candidates unjustly crying foul after Armenian Genocide victims, accuses the denied the Central Bank of Turkey’s and see ELECTIONS, page 2 defendants of stealing and then profiting see LAWSUIT, page 16 INSI DE Tumo Center Opens in Yerevan Memories of

YEREVAN — On Monday, August 14, the video/audio through extensive after-school Erzinga Tumo Center for Creative Technologies offi - programs. cially opened to the public, but on, Friday, Designed to serve 1,000 students a day, page 10 August 12, the public got a taste of the the 75,000-square-foot facility will offer stu - state-of-the-art facility during the opening dents in Armenia access to the latest tech - ceremonies, which were streamed live on nology and a universe of innovative ideas. the center’s website. “Teamwork, communication, Internet liter - INDEX Founded by AGBU Central Board mem - acy, analytical thinking, initiative — these are Arts and Living ...... 10 ber Sam Simonian and his wife, Sylva, the skills that will be taught at Tumo,” says Armenia ...... 2, 3 Tumo is located in Yerevan’s Ajapniak Sylva Simonian. “Sure, the kids may come to Community News...... 5 neighborhood and it is designed to intro - learn how to create a video game, or build a Editorial ...... 14 duce students, ages 12 to 18, to a profes - better website — and have fun in the process International ...... 4 sional level of instruction in animation, web — but they’ll leave with so much more.” Sam and Sylva Simonian development, video game design and digital see TUMO, page 3 2 S ATURDAY , A UGUST 20, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia AUA Graduation: 20 Years of Advancement

YEREVAN — “Twenty Years of During his address, Babayan stated, ues its efforts on the goal of a tobacco- Advancement” was the slogan as the “We no longer have the right to again free Armenia. Couple Appointed UK American University of Armenia (AUA) abuse God’s favor and treat our inde - The Department of Law held the first celebrated its 20th anniversary year and pendent republic with the same lack of Intellectual Property Moot Court for law Ambassadors to held its 19th graduation and commence - attention. Dear graduates, the responsi - students throughout Armenian here at ment ceremonies during the last week of bility to maintain our independence, AUA. Armenia June. bought at the price of our people’s sacri - School of Business and Management, Festivities began on Friday, June 24, fices, is now also yours.” in cooperation with the University LONDON (News.am) — Jonathan James Aves and with a graduation party at Ashtaraki During his address, Donahue stated, Curriculum Committee reviewed, com - Katherine Jane Leach, a husband and wife team, Dzor, where AUA faculty and staff con - “My message is simple. I challenge you pleted and implemented a new business have been appointed as the United Kingdom’s joint gratulated the Class of 2011, and cele - today to become active citizens, to make curriculum, designed to accommodate ambassadors to Armenia in succession to Charles brated the occasion of their graduation your communities and workplaces bet - the needs of working professionals, John Lonsdal. with dinner, music and dance. The party ter, to make a difference. You will face including a new 2.5-year professional Aves and Leach will take up their appointment in brought together about 300 graduates, January 2012. Both will be permanently residing in alumni, past and present faculty and Yerevan and alternate in exercising the functions of staff. ambassador on a four-monthly rotation, the UK On Sunday, June 26, AUA held its Embassy in Armenia said. commencement ceremony in the large Together they have many years’ experience and auditorium of AUA’s main building on knowledge of the history, languages and culture of 40 Baghramyan Ave. in Yerevan. The the South Caucasus and the wider region. gathering of well over 1,000 included Most recently they had a joint posting to Tokyo parents and spouses of the graduates where Aves coordinated the UK’s political input and many distinguished guests, all into Japan’s 2008 G8 Chairmanship, and Leach assembled to honor the graduating Class coordinated UK and Japanese positions in advance of 2011. of the UN climate change summit in Cancun and The commencement exercises began worked with UK and Japanese businesses to pro- with the ceremonial procession of the mote low carbon prosperity. Class of 2011, the president of AUA, the deans of the colleges and the faculty. Armenian Wrestlers Win This was followed by the anthems of the Republic of Armenia and the United In Europe Tourney States of America. An invocation was then given by Bishop Nathan AUA Graduates express their joy at the commencement exercises. WARSAW (news.am) — The Armenian team won two Hovhannisian, director of the Publishing silver and one bronze medals during the last day of Center of the Mother See of Holy Cadet European Wrestling Championships. Echmiadzin and representative of decisions at every step of your profes - MBA program with evening classes. Armenian wrestlers Albert Vardanyan (46 kilo- Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. sional and personal journey — hiring The Department of Political Science grams) and Karen Aslanyan lost to Azerbaijani AUA President Dr. Bruce Boghosian choices you make at your business, the and International Affairs, together with sportsmen in the finals, whereas Armen Hakobyan then welcomed the graduates, their fam - values you teach your children, how you the US Embassy, launched a new cycle (63 kilograms ) won bronze. ilies, faculty and many guests. In the treat the disadvantaged, whether you of the Mentoring Program for Women Sargis Kocharyan (69 kilograms) won gold, course of his address, Boghosian stated, put integrity above gain — and they all that pairs professional women with AUA defeating Russia’s Dmitry Kesopulo. Gevorg “Remember that the highest expression conspire to create the world you live in.” students. Gharibyan (50 kilograms) and Karen Abgaryan (85 of your patriotism is your willingness to Valedictorians Nonna Kamalyan and The Acopian Center for the kilograms) gained bronze medals. help your fellow citizens. This means Addeh S. Hovassapian then spoke on Environment developed, implemented Armenia is ranked fourth in the standings pre- that, even as you begin your careers, you behalf of the students of the Class of and is in the process of publishing a ceded by Russia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. should find ways to volunteer your time 2011. Biodiversity Monitoring System as a tool and energy to help this country’s public After this, 202 men and women were for monitoring the exploitation of natur - Karabagh Airport institutions grow and thrive. This is what presented by their respective deans and al resources, such as forests, open grass - we mean by ‘active citizenship.’ Civic called to the stage to receive master’s lands and wetlands in Armenia. ‘Nearing Completion’ engagement is the glue that binds a degrees in business administration, polit - A team of cryptography researchers country and its people together and that ical science and international affairs, and students from the computing and STEPANAKERT (RFE/RL) — The longer-than- makes the whole greater than simply the public health, English programs, law, information sciences program in the anticipated reconstruction of Nagorno Karabagh’s sum of its parts. AUA has always and will industrial engineering and systems man - College of Engineering initiated collabo - sole airport is proceeding rapidly and will be over always endeavor to create ‘active citi - agement and computer and information rative research projects with NTX by the end of September, a senior Karabagh zens’ who will make a difference in the sciences. These new graduates join Research and the Volkswagen Armenian official said last Friday. future of Armenia.” AUA’s 1,928 alumni for a total of 2,130. Foundation in Hanover, Germany. It remained unclear, however, just when the first Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian, Taisei Seventy-four of them now have two mas - A team of computer-aided design stu - commercial flights to and from Karabagh in two Professor of Civil Engineering at the ter degrees from AUA. dents, led by an Industrial Engineering decades will start. University of California, Berkeley, found - The graduates concluded the exercises and systems management faculty mem - Karabagh officials said early this year that a reg- ing dean of AUA’s College of by throwing their caps in the air. Warm ber, carried out a collaborative design of ular flight service between Stepanakert and Engineering and member of AUA’s words of congratulations were a novel wind turbine, together with col - Yerevan will be launched in May. However, those Board of Trustees, then conveyed greet - exchanged during an open reception leagues at Florida State University. plans were put on hold last spring amid an outcry ings to AUA on behalf of the University that followed. The Department of English Programs from Azerbaijan. of California. AUA has been an affiliate AUA graduates now occupy important convened a successful conference on lan - of the University of California since its leadership positions, such as deputy min - guage assessment and research methods US Envoy Questions inception in 1991. Indeed, the University ister of justice, deputy minister of in May, including scholars from UCLA of California is one of the organizations defense, ambassador to India, as well as and California State University Los Armenian, Azeri that founded AUA, along with the many high-level directors and leaders of Angeles. The conference had 130 atten - Armenian Ministry of Education and private corporations and international dees, all of whom were English teachers Commitment to Peace Science and the Armenian General organizations. in Armenia. YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Robert Bradtke, the chief Benevolent Union. AUA Accomplishments The Turpanjian Rural Development US negotiator in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace Commencement addresses were deliv - College of Health Sciences was select - Program through its field offices in process, has reportedly cast doubt on Armenia’s ered by Deputy Minister of Justice of ed by the Ministry of Health, USAID and Shirak and Tavush Marzes and in and Azerbaijan’s stated commitment to hammering Armenia, Emil Babayan, and Chargé other international organizations to eval - Nagorno Karabagh has so far trained out a compromise peace deal. d’Affaires of the Embassy of the US, uate the nationwide child health care over 675 rural entrepreneurs and helped “We [the United States, Russia and France] share Bruce Donahue. state certificate program. It also contin - over 145 businesses in villages. the wish that there be no war. But do the parties Through a donation from the have the political will?” Bradtke was on Thursday Turpanjian Family Foundation, the digi - quoted by The Washington Post as saying. tal Library of Armenian classics and Bradtke co-chairs the OSCE’s Minsk Group on Armenian Official Vows ‘Unprecedented’ Elections Western Armenian literature developed Karabagh together with fellow diplomats from a marketing program that is having France and Russia. ELECTIONS, from page 1 of them still not formed, would be phys - implications to the marketing of digi - In a joint statement issued in late May, the US, their poor performance shown by offi - ically unable to hold snap elections. He tized Armenian cultural artifacts. French and Russian presidents urged their cial vote results. Sargisian, the disputed also argued that some of the amend - Founded in 1991, the American Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts to finalize winner of the 2008 vote, similarly com - ments to the Electoral Code will take University of Armenia is affiliated with the basic principles of a peaceful settlement. plained earlier in July about the unwill - effect on January 1. the University of California system and is “Further delay would only call into question the ingness of opposition forces to accept The CEC chief at the same time did accredited by the Western Association of commitment of the sides to reach an agreement,” those results. not explicitly rule out the possibility Schools and Colleges, one of the six they warned. The main opposition Armenian of the HAK and the government regional accrediting bodies recognized Despite this pressure, Presidents Serge Sargisian National Congress (HAK) says that only agreeing on fresh polls in their ongo - by the US Department of Education. and Ilham Aliyev failed to iron out their differences pre-term elections held this year could ing negotiations. “If they reach agree - Through teaching, research and public at their June 24 trilateral meeting in Kazan with be more democratic. The conduct of ment and it will be necessary to hold service, AUA serves Armenia and the Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev. such polls is the main issue on the HAK pre-term elections, the Central region by supplying high quality educa - agenda. Election Commission will find appro - tion in seven different major fields, Azarian insisted on Tuesday that the priate solutions together with the encouraging civic engagement and pro - CEC and lower-level commissions, many National Assembly,” he said. moting democratic governance. S ATURDAY , A UGUST 20, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 ARMENIA Organization Offers Armenian Eco-Carpets

Representatives of the Armenian Caritas are By Gayane Mkrtchyan convinced that it will be resumed, if CAU sub - mits a long-term project proposal. “Our expectations have come true and YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) — Eco-carpets even more. As a result we have incredibly woven with the seven natural colors of wool powerful pieces of art depicting fragments are a novelty in the modern Armenian carpet- from our monasteries and cross-stones, and weaving industry. conveying a great symbolic message,” said This is due to the Cross of Armenian Unity Aghanyan. (CAU) organization in Echmiadzin, Armavir “The idea of eco-carpets is very important, region, the 14 carpet weavers, of which, have it is not only an expression of our Christian woven 24 eco-carpets within 10 months, essence, or our women’s craft, but also rep - using patterns taken from Armenian cross- resents an important social issue — transfer stones and churches, as well as images from to eco-friendly environment.” miniature gospel paintings. One of CAU volunteers David Grigoryan, CAU, officially operating since 1990, has who has also worked on the sketches of the been implementing various educational, eco-carpets, explains that one carpet repeats social, cultural, health and public awareness- patterns from church column capital and wall raising projects in Echmiadzin. carvings, as well as images from gospel man - “First of all, we studied the sheep flock, uscripts preserved in Armenia and dating Volunteers hard at work took the wool, started processing it, separat - back to different epochs. ed seven or eight shades. For the designs we “We combine them in many different ways. used patterns from church and cross-stone Here, for example, we have taken a distinct frag - carving arts, meaning we copied the pattern ment from a cross-stone, expanded it into a Land and Culture Organization onto the carpet,” said CAU founding large ornament and spread all over the carpet. President Grigor Babakhanyan. We have used five to 16 decoration patterns. The sketches are done by his brother, Here you can see the famous fisherman of the Historical Renovation Projects 2011 artist, Gevorg Babakhanyan. Akhtamar Monastery (915-921); as well as YEREVAN — This summer, Land and Carpet weavers process the wool by tradi - images from a 1315 gospel,” said Grigoryan. Culture Organization/Organisation Terre et tional methods. With a well thought-through combination Culture (LCO/OTC) volunteers headed off “It is much harder to work with this thread, of colors, the “Kings” eco-carpet depicts the to two different campaign sites. One group than with a painted kind. Armenian kings, as well as ox, eagle, lion and of volunteers went north to the Shirakamut We patiently clean the thread from remain - tiger heads, these animals traditionally sym - village, near the epicenter of the 1988 ing fleece tangles in the weaving process. bolizing might and power. earthquake, to work on the renovation of Then the weaving itself starts; with each row “These carpets have received a surprising - the historic seventh-century — fragment by fragment — the whole picture ly positive feedback; surprising because peo - Tchichkhanavank Monastery. Another slowly comes to life,” said 46-year-old ple are used to bright colors in Armenian car - group of volunteers went south to Vehanush Grigoryan, who weaves 8-10 cen - pets. Even we couldn’t have imagined that Yeghvard, on the border of the liberated ter - timeters of carpet per day. something quite like this could be achieved ritories of Artsakh, to finalize work on the CAU’s Eco-carpet project is implemented with non-contrasting colors, but the results 17th-century Sourp Astvatzatzin Church with the support of Armenian Caritas NGO, are amazing,” he said. Cleaning out around the church project. as part of its Aramazd program. Grigor Babakhanyan recalls the Jinishian Throughout July and August, over 60 vol - “It’s a social-educational project, imple - Memorial Foundation with a deep sense of unteers were in Shirakamut, Yeghvard as project with the sister cities of Vienne, mented at refugee settlements of gratitude, because it was due to this founda - well as in Goris. France and Goris, Armenia renovating the Gegharkunik and Shirak provinces with the tion’s support that, in 1996, a carpet-weaving OTC is participating in a joint venture 18th-century Sourp Astvatzatzin Church main objective of community development. workshop was founded at their organization. near the pagan era caves in Old Goris. Non- CAU is part of this project as a mediator, “We received a total of $1,000 funding, Armenian and Armenian volunteers from meaning that by his order Armenian refugee which was very little, but highly important the Vienne community and local youth from women from Azerbaijan with carpet weaving for launching the process. As years went by, Goris have committed themselves to this skills got employed and, in their turn, helped we kept the workshop going by our own project. to revive this almost forgotten carpet weaving effort, exhibition-sales of carpets, individual The volunteers from Armenia, Canada, craft,” said project coordinator Zara Aghayan. benefactors’ support. It survived, and today it England, France, Nagorno-Karabagh, Syria The project founders say they have is even able to produce eco-carpets painted and the United States were hard at work at researched and proved that the sheep wool by God, without human interference, hence these different sites clearing, digging and from those regions contains lanolin, useful these carpets will not fade for centuries,” he excavating, including discovering several for a human body. said. ancient artifacts and human remains at the Armenian Caritas Project Manager Anahit One of the CAU-produced eco-carpets car - Conducting a dig at Tchichkhanavank Tchichanavank site which were turned over Gevorgyan said that their cooperation with rying the organization’s emblem is now in to the archaeological experts for review. CAU can create employment opportunities. New-York attached to Jinishian Foundation’s “We are paying to all the workers, those main entrance door. Another one will soon who hackle, comb, weave, etc. reach the France-based club of Yans (carriers The carpets will be displayed at an exhibi - of Armenian surnames ending in -yan). tion-sale. Some of the profit from the sale will “Eco-carpets are first of all a good solution Historian Raymond Kevorkian Receives be allocated to implementation of social pro - to a social-economic issue and an effective jects in the same regions, which are very way of advocating historic and eco-ideologi - 2010 Armenian Presidential Award poor, and the rest will be used to continue cal values, as well as the best way to present the project,” said Gevorgyan. Armenian culture to foreigners. People are YEREVAN — On May 30, renowned historian book tour, which began on May 3 and con - Eco-carpet project was launched in 2010 showing new approaches to the ‘eco’ idea,” Raymond Kevorkian was awarded the 2010 tinued until May 13, with stops in Toronto, and will be completed by the end of July. said Grigor Babakhanyan. Armenian Presidential Award at a ceremony Montreal, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, Detroit that took place at the Presidential Palace. and New York. All the lectures were given in Kevorkian, along with world-renowned geno - Armenian, and over 600 people came to hear cide expert Dr. Israel Charny, was honored for Kevorkian speak during the tour. his contribution to the international recogni - In his address to the honorees of the 2010 Tumo Center Opens in Yerevan tion of the Armenian Genocide. Presidential Awards, Serge Sargisian stressed The book, The Armenian Genocide: A that their scientific and artistic achievements TUMO, from page 1 solving problems they’ll learn at Tumo, will serve Complete History, by Kevorkian, a lecturer at represented the achievements of Armenia and “Creativity is a key component in the success of them well as they make their own contributions to the Institute Français de Géopolitique, the Armenian people. “People should know any endeavor,” Sam Simonian says. “Kids attending the world in the years ahead.” University of Paris, and director of the AGBU about deserving individuals and deeds through Tumo are likely to be working in fields that don’t To learn more or watch the opening cere - Nubarian Library in Paris, gives an authori - this kind of high esteem. By giving awards we, even exist yet. But the skills, and creative ways of monies, visit tumo.org. tative account of the origins, events and con - as a state and as a society, demonstrate our sequences of the Armenian Genocide. It has standards, expectations and our value system,” been embraced in European academic circles he said. “Our public at large should learn about as providing a new understanding to many accomplishments and worthy people through previously unexamined sources on the the signs of recognition.” Armenian Genocide. In it, Kevorkian consid - Sargisian went on to single out Kevorkian’s ers the role played by the Armenian Genocide achievements. “Time constraints don’t allow me in the construction of the Turkish nation to mention one by one the merits of all winning state and Turkish identity, as well as explor - works submitted and the individuals behind ing the ideologies of power, rule and state each one. However, I ought to speak about violence. Crucially, he examines the conse - works, which have political significance and res - quences of the violence against the onance. I am talking particularly about the Armenians, the implications of the deporta - works aimed at the international recognition of tions and the attempts to bring those who the Armenian Genocide and those which con - committed the atrocities to justice. Following front its denial, activities of the scholar of inter - The Tumo Center in Yerevan the book’s recent translation into English, national standing Israel Charny and of the author embarked on a North American Raymond Kevorkian,” he said. 4 S ATURDAY , A UGUST 20, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL International News Armenia Tree Project Debuts in Russia at 155th Birth Anniversary Community Gathering in St. Petersburg

Of Ekmalian in India ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Hamlet “During long discussions people were that I trust, through the organization KOLKATA, India — On July 31, the Armenian Church and Svetlana Airapetyan hosted a bene - exchanging ideas and offering new ways that impressed me so much,” added of India celebrated the 155th anniversary of the fit for the Armenia Tree Project (ATP) at of promoting Armenia Tree Project in Airapetyan. birth of the Armenian composer Makar Ekmalian at Kuznechny Dvor (Blacksmith’s Yard) Russia.” Nalbandyan presented ATP tree plant - the Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth. here on July 7. The gallery/restaurant Hamlet Airapetyan — a businessman ing certificates to several guests that The evening began with Ov Hayoc Astvats, a song has a unique atmosphere with hand - with a great sense of humor — recalled evening. The first was given to a young by the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy made ironwork by Airapetyan. The the Russian saying “Don’t have a hun - member of the community, Angelika choir, which was followed by a number of other com- event was attended by 30 Armenian dred rubles, have a hundred friends,” Airapetyan, in honor of her taking the positions from the invaluable repertory of the great and suggested first place in the Saint Petersburg Chess musician. a competition Championship last April. Angelika and Following the concert, Very Rev. Khoren to sponsor Milena Astaturyan also received copies Hovhannisyan, pastor of Armenians in India and trees with ATP of ATP’s colorful Building Bridges manager of Armenian College and Philanthropic in honor of newsletter, which was designed to con - Academy, discussed Ekmalian’s biography, the beau- friends to see nect diasporan youth with Armenia’s ty of his works and the role that the composer played whose forest environmental heritage. in the spiritual and the lay art of singing. will grow more Trees were also sponsored in honor of Hovhannisyan concluded his speech by quoting rapidly. “The others who actively support the Komitas Vardapet’s note of appreciation for largest forest Armenian community and are promi - Ekmalian. “Dear Musician, Mr. Makar Ekmalian will indicate nent citizens of Russia including the sowed the first harmony in the desolate musical how many Airapetyan family, Garamyan family, phase of our nation. We are indeed happy that we, friends one has Rouben Harutyunyan, Armen Armenians can now proudly say that we have not made and also Meruzhanyan, Maria Safaryants, Alina been left behind from the advancement and growth the generosity Sahakyan and Zhan Tatlyan. of the person,” Guests participated in making dona - of universal professional and artistic music.” ATP volunteer Astghik Nalbandyan (left) presents a tree-planting he declared. tions to Armenia Tree Project during certificate to Hamlet and Svetlana Airapetyan, who hosted a ben - efit event for the organization at Kuznechny Dvor in Saint In anticipa - the evening, and businessman and phil - Situation for Armenians Petersburg. tion of the visit, anthropist Hrachya Pogosyan was on Nalbandyan the top of the list. An auction donation In Damascus Calm published an of Armen Meruzhanyan’s book, DAMASCUS (PanARMENIAN.Net) — The Armenian businessmen, writers, artists, philan - article about Armenia in Historical Pictures, Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not received informa- thropists and journalists. ATP titled, “If You Want To Change the Traditions, and Legends, also took tion about injured Armenians in Syria. The Ministry Hamlet Airapetyan welcomed guests World, Start With Yourself” in the local place, in which books were signed by of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Tigran Balayan, and his long-time friend Astghik Havatamq newspaper. The piece the author. Donations were made by said, the Armenian embassy in Syria has not experi- Nalbandyan, who was visiting from the describes the author’s personal experi - Hrach Airapetyan, Eduard Astaturyan, enced difficulty yet. United States to give a talk about ATP ence with ATP during her visit to Ferdinand Grigoryan, Gor Harutyunyan For her part, member of the Armenian community and share her personal impressions Armenia in May, along with an impres - and Serzh Martirosyan. of Syria, Nora Arisyan, said that the situation in about the organization. Nalbandyan sive series of before-and-after pictures of Damascus has not changed much and remains calm described ATP’s tree planting, environ - several tree-planting sites. “I am making for the community. “There are no clashes in the mental education and poverty reduction a commitment to inform the Armenian Dutch Foreign Latakia districts where Armenians live,” she said. programs and screened the “Every Tree” community about all the news from According to media reports, gunfire and shelling film released in 2009. She also presented ATP,” announced Armen Meruzhanyan, Minister Avoids rang out across Syria’s coastal city of Latakia early a slideshow of photographs taken by ATP the editor-in-chief of Havatamq. Tuesday, August 16, amid reports of Palestinian Executive Director Jeff Masarjian during “We left our country. We all had our Using ‘Genocide’ refugees fleeing a restive and impoverished enclave last spring’s tree planting season in order reasons. The founders of ATP weren’t there. The humanitarian situation deteriorated amid to illustrate the scale and scope of the born in Armenia. We are all responsible In Comments the government’s offensive in the city. Shops and organization’s work. for Armenia’s future. Now we have no bakeries were closed and at least two mosques were “The reaction of the audience was excuse not to plant trees in our country. THE HAGUE — The Dutch damaged. very positive and enthusiastic,” noted I am grateful to have this opportunity to Parliamentary factions of Christian Nalbandyan after the presentation. reach my homeland through the friend Union (ChristenUnie), Socialist Party (SP), Reformed Political Party (SGP) Turkey to Buy Six Boeing and Party for Freedom (PVV) have sub - Helicopters mitted written questions to Dutch Armenian College of India Sends Minister of Foreign Affairs Uri ANAKARA (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Turkey has Rosenthal. In a letter to the Dutch signed a deal with the United States government to Her ‘Ambassadors’ into the World Parliament, Rosenthal spoke about the buy six Boeing CH-47 military transport helicopters, “terrible events that took place in 1915” the first such weapons in its inventory, a senior pro- KOLKATA, India — This year, under the sponsorship of the Armenian and the necessity for “Turkey and curement official said over the weekend. Church of India and the guardianship of Very Rev. Khoren Hovhannisyan, Armenia to start a dialogue on this The deal is worth up to $400 million, the official pastor of Armenians in India and manager of Armenian College and question.” He also avoided the term said. Philanthropic Academy, four Armenian young persons graduated from vari - “genocide” in his letter. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, or ous renowned colleges and universities of India. For many years, both in Dutch politics DSCA, the Pentagon’s body coordinating weapons Having completed their secondary education from Holy Echmiadzin’s and media, the term “Armenian sales, notified the US Congress of a potential sale of Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy, Kolkata, India the four stu - Genocide” is commonly used. Also pre - a total of 14 CH-47F helicopters for $1.2 billion in dents continued their higher secondary education in Kolkata with excellent vious foreign ministers, including the December 2009. Congress gave permission for the results, under the sponsorship of the Armenian Church. current Vice Prime Minister Maxime sale later that month. Vahe Shirinyan of Vagharshapat, Armenia, graduated from the Indian Verhagen, use this term. It seems that The six CH-47F Chinooks will be the first heavy-lift Institute of Planning and Management, Mumbai, with an MBA in finance and the new Dutch government, under pres - helicopters in the Turkish Army’s inventory. The marketing. Tatevik Tadevosyan of Yerevan, Armenia, graduated from Loreto sure from Turkey, is turning back the deliveries are expected to begin in 2013 and end in College of University of Calcutta with a bachelor’s degree in political science. clock. 2014, Hürriyet Daily News reported. Arthur Marusevich of Vanadzor, Armenia graduated from IIHM, Kolkata, a Representatives from the Christian branch of Edinburgh Napier University, UK, with a bachelor’s degree in hos - Union, Socialist Party, Reformed Turkey Plans Transport pitality management. Jessica Milne of Kolkata, India, graduated from Loreto Political Party and Party for Freedom College of the University of Calcutta with a bachelor’s degree in education. sent a letter to Rosenthal, asking him Base in Los Angeles whether these “events” fall in the cate - gory of “genocide” as defined in the LOS ANGELES (Anatolia News Agency) — Turkey Convention on the Prevention and The plans to establish a large logistics center at the port Punishment of Genocide, or if not, they of Los Angeles, the country’s economy minister, would like to know why. Zafer Çalayan, said during a meeting Sunday. The parties point out to the minister “During our previous visit to the United States that at the submission in 2004 of the [last year], I told TM [Turkish Exporters’ Union], that “motion Rouvoet” his predecessor Mr. we could store Turkish exports to the country in a Bot has qualified the content of the warehouse at the port of Los Angeles,” said Çalayan, motion as support for his policy. The who was accompanied by representatives of the infor- motion, which then was adopted unani - mation technology and defense industries, as well as mously by the Parliament, urges the Turkish businessmen. government to put “the recognition of “If TM cannot do it, we can do it,” Çalayan said. the Armenian Genocide constantly and “We can have a logistics center based in Los expressly on the agenda” in the context Angeles to overcome the transportation difficulties of negotiations on possible Turkish between the two countries,” Çalayan said. accession to the EU. The parties ask the The young graduates with the Very Rev. Khoren Hovhannisyan minister whether indeed a policy change has occurred and if so, what are the reasons for this. S ATURDAY , A UGUST 20, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 Community Ne ws

AIWA Hosts Program Americans for In Los Angeles with Artsakh Completes Kathy Smith Summer Humanities LOS ANGELES — The Wilshire Country Club Program for was the setting for “An Afternoon with Kathy Smith,” on July 27, as approximately 125 women gathered to discover the secrets to los - University Students ing weight and staying fit. Members and guests WASHINGTON and STEPANAKERT — of the Los Angeles Affiliate of the Armenian Americans for Artsakh (AfA) announced International Women’s Association (AIWA) recently the completion of its first summer heard Smith share her secrets on how to keep humanities program for university students. muscles strong and active by eating the right Participants gathered together in foods and doing the right combination of exer - Stepanakert from Artsakh State University, cises. Mesrob Mashtots University and Yerevan Guests received a copy of her book, Feed State University for a two-week intensive aca - Muscle Shrink Fat Diet: 6 Weeks to the Best demic course that offered classes in a range Shape of Your Life , a practical, empowering of social science-related subjects. The pro - guide with a diet and workout plan for a happi - gram was sponsored by the Armenian er and healthier life. Guests also participated in General Benevolent Union and took place at a lively question-and-answer session with the Mesrob Mashtots University and the VITA effervescent author, sharing old ideas and learn - Center. ing new ones for a healthy lifestyle. Academic Coordinator Asbed Kotchikian, Diane Cabraloff, president of the AIWA, Los as well as local coordinators Arshak Balayan, Angeles Affiliate, expressed her thanks and Hamazasp Danielyan and Gayane Vardanyan, appreciation to board member Arsine Phillips brought together leading scholars from for her help in bringing Smith to Los Angeles Armenia, the United States and Canada for to address the membership. this unique pilot program. Courses were The luncheon prepared and served by the Cover of his book, taught in political science methodology, From the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean: The Global Trade Wilshire Country Club was hosted by Arous anthropology, gender studies and other relat - Networks of Armenian Merchants from New Julfa Hanna. To acknowledge special thanks to ed subjects. In addition, visiting specialists Smith and Arous Hanna, Cabraloff presented gave lectures in media, art and art theory, Smith with the best selling book, Simply Zov, civil society, Armenia-Diaspora relations and Rustic classics with a Mediterranean Twist , Dr. Sebouh Aslanian to Speak conflict resolution. Local representatives containing international recipes from the from the Halo Trust landmine removal orga - acclaimed restaurateur, Zov Karamardian and nization, the Armenian Relief Society and the to Hanna, along with a bouquet of flowers, a At Harvard University on Naregatsi Art Institute provided overviews of lifetime membership in AIWA. their programs in Artsakh. Proceeds from the luncheon will benefit New Julfa Armenians Beyond the theoretical aspects of the pro - AIWA’S forthcoming sixth International gram, workshops were held in résumé and Conference, to be held at the Palace Hotel in CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Dr. Sebouh D. Aslanian, the newly-appointed Richard application writing, social networking and San Francisco, October 6-10. Silva Katchiguian Hovannisian Term Chair of Modern Armenian History, established by the other practical skill-building techniques. At and Lily Balian, co-chairs of the Program Armenian Educational Foundation at UCLA, will speak on Wednesday, September the end of the program, the students were Committee, reported that the goal of the con - 14, at 8 p.m., at Harvard University’s Center for Government and International divided into four groups and gave presenta - ference is to bring together a strong and active Studies, Auditorium S010, 1730 Cambridge St. tions on select topics, after which they were network to address critical issues that will Aslanian’s lecture, “From the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean: The Global advance the position of Armenian women Trade Networks of Armenian Merchants from New Julfa,” will draw on his recent - worldwide. The theme is “Armenian Women: ly-published book of the same name, issued by the University of California Press. Sharing-Inspiring-Advancing.” The committee Aslanian’s lecture is co-sponsored by the Mashtots Chair in Armenian Studies at selected four major subjects which would be of Harvard University, the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations interest to everyone; where organizers are wit - at Harvard, the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard, the nessing transformation, facing challenges, sub - Harvard Armenian Society, the Zoryan Institute jects that are under scrutiny today and impact - for Contemporary Armenian Research and ing daily lives: Media and Technology, Women’s Documentation and the National Association Rights and Issues, Leaders and Entrepreneurs for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). and Cultural Identity. They have invited The lecture will be Aslanian’s first since his acclaimed and recognized women in each of appointment to the Hovannisian Chair at these fields to provide insight, knowledge, edu - UCLA. cation and an opportunity for attendees to par - Drawing on a rich trove of documents, includ - ticipate in the discussions and come away with ing correspondence not seen for 300 years, a broader knowledge and understanding of the Aslanian’s groundbreaking study, From the topics. Hamo Danielyan and Gayane Vardanyan with Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean, explores Confirmed speakers include: Mary Catherine participants the emergence and growth of a remarkable Bateson, author of Composing a Further Life, global trade network operated by Armenian silk New Hampshire; California Congresswoman merchants from a small outpost in the Persian Jackie Kechelian Speier; Swanee Hunt from the challenged in question-and-answer sessions Empire. Harvard Kennedy School and former about the details of their work. Based in New Julfa, Isfahan, in what is now Ambassador to Austria, a specialist on women The students’ final evaluations indicated Iran, these merchants operated a network of in politics; Adrienne Barbeau, actress and great satisfaction with the program as a commercial settlements that stretched from author; Mary Ellen Iskenderian, president and whole and especially with the instructors. London and Amsterdam to Manila and CEO of Women’s World Banking; Cristina Several participants noted that they wished Acapulco. Schirinian, Argentina and Armenia, chief exec - the course had been longer and hope that Dr. Sebouh Aslanian Aslanian brings to light the trans-imperial cos - utive director of Fruitful Armenia, president of similar projects will be organized in the mopolitan world of the New Julfans, the effects Armenia International Airports; Silvia Tirakian, future. “The program was very useful and we of long distance trade on the organization of president, Harvest Song Ventures, NY; Zara learned a lot,” remarked Astghik Baldryan, a community life, the ethos of trust and cooperation that existed among merchants Ingilizian, senior VP of marketing of vodkas participant from Armenia. “We could not and the importance of information networks and communication in the operation and rums, Diageo International, NY; Keri have imagined a better organized and imple - of early modern mercantile communities. Tombazian, the voice of WAVE, 94.7 FM Los mented curriculum.” Nare Avagyan, a partici - Prof. George Bournoutian of Iona College has praised From the Indian Ocean Angeles; Lara Setrakian, Reporter, ABC TVi: pant from Artsakh, said that “The instructors to the Mediterranean as “the most researched and original work” on the subject Stephanie Adrouny, KGO-TV, San Francisco; were excellent and I hope more of my class - that “exceeds, by far, all previous scholarship on the Armenian merchants of New Gasia Mikaelian, KTVU-San Francisco; Eliz mates will participate next time.” Julfa.” Gazarian Semerjian, Telemundo national sales, Students and faculty also had opportuni - The book has been selected by the Committee of the California World History Los Angeles; Anna Magzanyan, VP, advertising, ties to socialize outside the classroom. The Library as the first book to appear in their new series, Author’s Imprint, that cel - marketing and events, Los Angeles Times; group organized excursions to the village of ebrates and recognizes “exceptional scholarship by first-time authors.” Susan Antounian, World Affairs Council, San Khndzoresk, as well as Tatev Monastery in Aslanian has previously taught in the department of history at CSU-Long Beach Francisco; and Lianna Zakarian, Senior Editor, Southern Armenia and were able to experi - as an assistant professor in the fall of 2010 after serving a year at Cornell Yerevan Magazine. ence Tatev’s new aerial tramway. Towards the University as a Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral fellow in world history. Women from Armenia include: Shakeh end of the program, students had an oppor - see ASLANIAN, page 7 Havan Karapetian, owner, Artbridge Cafe; Mary tunity to meet with participants of previous AfA projects to share their experiences and see AIWA, page 7 discuss ideas for further cooperation. 6 S ATURDAY , A UGUST 20, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS

Daughters of Vartan Announces Turkish Club Claims to Be in Talks with Kobe Bryant ANKARA (Associated Press) — Turkish club Besiktas is in talks with Kobe Bryant’s repre - Scholarship Recipients sentatives about the possibility of the Los Angeles Lakers’ star playing in Turkey during the NBA lockout. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Knights of Vartan High School in Florida. She has a younger sis - “It is a fact that Kobe Bryant’s managers have contacted and its counterpart, Daughters of Vartan, are ter, Colette, who is currently attending Park us,” coach Ergin Ataman said Thursday, a week after Armenian fraternal service organizations that Vista. She decided to move back to Besiktas signed New Jersey Nets point guard Deron play an important role in cultural, educational, Massachusetts after being accepted to Suffolk Williams. religious and charitable activities within the University on scholarship. She will major in Ataman said Bryant was waiting for an offer from Armenian-American community. sociology with a concentration in crime and jus - Besiktas. The club, however, said it would need a sponsor to The intellectual development of Armenian tice studies. be able to pay for Bryant’s contract. women is one of the basic achievements of the Moushigian, 19, is the daughter of Toros and “Our board will evaluate that,” Ataman said. Daughters of Vartan. Arpi Otyag of Cambridge Zavart Moushigian of Watertown. She is a sopho - Bryant, who has won five NBA titles with the Lakers and was formed in 1945. During its 66-year history, more in the interior design program at Mount Ida is a 13-time NBA All Star, has been on a tour of China, it has championed this ideal. Their monthly College in Newton. She graduated from including a stop in Shanghai on Wednesday. He said he would consider playing overseas during the lockout and mentioned China and Turkey as possibilities. Representatives of other NBA players also have contacted Besiktas, Ataman said, without identifying any of them. Kobe Bryant The Turkish League season starts in October. Besiktas signed Allen Iverson [stats], the NBA’s MVP in 2001, last year but his time in Turkey was cut short due to injury. Another NBA player, New Jersey guard Sasha Vujacic, signed last week with the Turkish club, Anadolu Efes. The 27-year old Slovenian guard agreed to a one-year deal with an option - al second year. Nets draft pick Bojan Bogdanovic also signed with Fenerbahce of the Turkish League in June. Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard, a five-time All-Star, has said he would consider playing in China or Europe if the NBA lockout doesn’t end. Talks between the NBA and the union broke down June 30, and the owners decided to impose the league’s first lockout since the 1998-99 season was shortened to 50 games. Both sides say there are significant differences between their proposals, raising the possibility that Ani Moushigian Rebecca Shahverdian all or part of next season could be canceled. meetings are filled by different issues from Watertown High School, where she was on the Armenian communities in the US and Armenia honor roll and served as president of the but also Artsakh and Javakhk. In addition to Armenian Club during her junior and senior their daily obligations, members also contribute years. She has also been actively involved in to community projects. One of their activities ACYOA (juniors and seniors) and served on the every year is to provide scholarships. executive committee for three out of her five years This year’s recipients of the scholarships are active in ACYOA juniors. All her life Moushigian Ani Moushigian and Rebecca Shahverdian. attended Sunday school, where she became Shahverdian, 18, of Cambridge, the daughter Valedictorian of her graduating class in 2009. of Sofia and Khachik Shahverdian. She began Moushigian has been passionately interested her education at Armenian Sisters’ Academy in in interior design since the age of 8. She now Lexington. About eight years ago, she moved to peruses her passion at Mount Ida College, Florida. She attended and graduated from Alex where she has made dean’s list for both semes - and Marie Manoogian Armenian Sunday ters of her first year. She often speaks there School. She recently graduated from Park Vista about her heritage. House Ethics Committee Rules Rep. Jean Schmidt Must Repay Lawyers

CLEVELAND, Ohio (Cleveland Plain Turkish group. Dealer) — The House Ethics Committee ruled The Ethics Committee found the lawyers had - Nardolillo Funeral Home last week that a Turkish-American group n’t sent Schmidt any bills and did not tell her improperly paid roughly $500,000 in legal bills they were being paid by the Turkish group. Est. 1906 that US Rep. Jean Schmidt amassed in lawsuits Because Schmidt didn’t know she was receiving John K. Najarian, Jr. against a political rival and ordered the a gift from the group, the committee decided Rhode Island’s Only Licensed Armenian Funeral Director Republican to repay the lawyers herself. not to sanction her. It suggested she create a The committee determined that Schmidt did legal expense fund to pay the bills and ordered 1278 Park Ave. Cranston, RI 02910 (401) 942-1220 not knowingly violate House ethics rules that she amend her financial disclosure reports 1111 Boston Neck Rd. Narragansett, RI 02882 (401) 789-6300 because she had no idea that the Turkish to disclose the past gifts. Coalition of America paid bills she accrued in Schmidt and Kirkorian each released state - www.nardolillo.com disputes with an independent candidate who ments that claimed the decision vindicated them. ran against her in 2008. “As I’ve stated publicly before, I neither David Krikorian, who is of Armenian descent, sought nor intended to accept free legal ser - distributed campaign literature in 2008, which vices,” Schmidt’s statement said. “I have been Telephone (617) 924-7400 alleged the Turkish government bribed Schmidt waiting for the Ethics Committee’s advice as to to deny the genocide of Armenians in Turkey the best way to pay these bills. Now that I have during World War I. that advice, I look forward to continuing to Aram Bedrosian Lawyers paid by the Turkish group subse - work cooperatively with the Committee to quently filed lawsuits on Schmidt’s behalf that ensure that these bills are paid appropriately.” Funeral Home, Inc. claimed Krikorian made false statements and Krikorian’s statement said the decision defamed her. proved he was “right all along.” He said he finds Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 Last year, Krikorian filed complaints against it “laughable” that Schmidt “did not know the MARION BEDROSIAN Schmidt with the Office of Congressional facts regarding her own attorneys in legal 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET Ethics, which questioned whether Schmidt’s actions which she commenced in her own PAUL BEDROSIAN improperly accepted legal services from the name.” WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN

OBITUARY Robin (Jeghelian) Theriault

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Robin Anoush A memorial service was held at St. Stephen’s GF UiNrEaRgAoL sHiaOMn E (Jeghelian) Theriault of Scottsdale, formerly of Armenian Apostolic Church, Watertown, on Sharon, Mass., died suddenly on August 4. Saturday, August 13. James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC She was the wife of Douglas Theriault, Memorial gifts may be made to Saint Funeral Counselor daughter of Janet and Haig Jeghelian and sister Stephen’s Armenian Church or the Armenian 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 of Armen and Tina Jeghelian. She is also sur - Heritage Foundation, 25 Flanders Road, vived by many aunts, uncles, nieces and Belmont, MA 02478, Attention: Charles www.giragosianfuneralhome.com cousins. Guleserian. S ATURDAY , A UGUST 20, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS Bedrosian Gets Top Judicial $UPHQLDQ +HULWDJH 3DUN Post in Rhode Island 2Q WKH 5RVH )LW]JHUDOG .HQQHG\ *UHHQZD\ %RVWRQ ed some of Robert Frost’s poetry and also quot - By Tom Vartabedian ed her parents, both Armenian immigrants. Both her father and mother found refuge in Rhode Island after fleeing their homeland to PROVIDENCE, R.I. — In a history-making escape the “terrors of the times” — a reference turn, Rhode Island Gov. J. Joseph Carcieri to the genocide and persecution of Armenians appointed Haiganush Bedrosian as chief judge in 1915. of the Rhode Island Family Court. Bedrosian “Follow your dreams,” she told the gathering. not only becomes the first Armenian-American “This is America where all things are possible. to receive such an appointment but the first My parents always believed in this.” woman as well. Bedrosian is a homegrown Cranston girl with In her new role, Bedrosian will handle an strong Armenian roots, growing up in the array of deeply personal issues from divorce to Providence AYF and active with the St. adoption to termination of parental rights and Vartanantz Church community. Only days domestic abuse. The state’s growing emphasis before, she had committed to making food for a on leaving troubled or at-risk children in their church bazaar. homes instead of placing them in residential The governor credited Bedrosian as being programs is a big concern with the judge. instrumental in creating statewide standards for guardian ad litem in Family Court cases. As for Bedrosian, she was thrilled by the nod, claiming it was a dream come true — not something you necessarily plan for. Just prior to that, Beverly Najarian was named direc - tor of administration for the State of Rhode Island — the first female to ever assume that role. “I know there can be great changes,” Bedrosian said. “Everything we do will be done with a great Haiganush Bedrosian acknowledges her appointment as chief judge of deal of measured think - the Rhode Island Family Court. ing.” House Speaker Gordon C Tellalian Associates Architects & Planners, LLC. She also plans to consult with the Bar D. Fox characterized Association, judiciary and other statewide orga - Bedrosian as a sweet Armenian woman who under construction nizations about what improvements are needed does her job with “a grace and steely determi - in the court system. nation in getting to the facts.” Sponsorship/Naming Opportunities DONATE “One of my first priorities is to create a medi - Others like Anahid Varadian recalled how her James Kalustian 781 777.2407 online: www.ArmenianHeritagePark.net Charles Guleserian 617 484.6100 ation program for contested divorces,” she late husband, Haig, persuaded Bedrosian to check: Armenian Heritage Foundation Haig Deranian 617 489.2215 pointed out. “That will be my biggest move.” enroll at Brown University while he served as Walter Nahabedian 781 891.7249 25 Flanders Road an assistant guidance director and she a stu - Dr. Jack Kasarjian 617 232.6350 Belmont, MA 02478 Armenians throughout the Narragansett State celebrated the move with many attending dent at Cranston High East. She later served as the ceremony in Warwick, where she was joined a law clerk to the late Supreme Court Justice by Mayor Scott Avedisian. Thomas J. Paolino. During the induction ceremony, Bedrosian “You would not believe her curriculum vitae, promised to carry out new reforms to bring which is 12 pages long,” said Varadian. “Several greater efficiency to the court system. She recit - Armenians were among the 500 who turned Metropol-Residence out to applaud Haiganush at her swearing-in 2 Mashtots Ave. Yerevan. Armenia ceremony in Warwick. Only a few days before, Ideal for Family vacations she had given Mayor Avedisian his oath of Daily, weekly and monthly low rates, starting $65.00 per day/ residence office for a seventh term. Armenians are well- The four star residences at the heart of Yerevan with a kithcen and private bathroom is an Aslanian to Speak on New liked in Rhode Island.” ideal place to stay for families and couples. This luxurious residence is convenient for what- Included in the crowd were a large group of ever purpose your visit is. Julfa Armenians at friends, family, professional colleagues and state Harvard University officials. The 67-year-old Bedrosian replaces Jeremiah ASLANIAN, from page 5 S. Jeremiah Jr., who retired after 23 years. He received his PhD (with distinction) from Jeremiah had beat out Bedrosian for the top Columbia University in 2007. spot in the mid-1980s when few women were in Aslanian specializes in early modern world the field. and Armenian history and is the author of Before taking the bench, Bedrosian worked numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals in private practice, specializing in family law such as the Journal of World History, the after a stint as assistant general counsel to the Journal of the Social and Economic History of Providence & Worcester Railroad Company. the Orient, the Journal of Global History and She also worked as a prosecutor in the early Diaspora: A Journal of Transnational Studies . 1970s after earning a law degree from Suffolk From the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean University in Boston. will be on sale at the talk and available for sign - Bedrosian founded the Rhode Island Trial ing by the author. Limited free parking will be Judges Association and served as its president available at Harvard’s Broadway Garage (7 Felton for several years. She lost the “love of her life” Reservations in English please call Sevag at 011-374-93211217 St.) from 7 to 10 p.m. five years ago with the death of her husband, Reservations in Armenian please call Onnig at 011-374-94435445 More information on Aslanian’s lecture may Vincent Izzo. Bedrosian has a stepson and be had by calling NAASR or e-mailing daughter-in-law, two grandchildren and two [email protected]. great-grandchildren.

AIWA Hosts Program in LA with Kathy Smith

AIWA, from page 6 & Sciences, Haigazian University. Lou Papazian, Tumo Center for Creative Plans are also underway to invite Armenian Technology; Gohar Shahnazaryan, director of women authors to attend and participate in a Women’s Center; Dr. Mary Khachikyan, execu - Book Exhibit where they will be afforded an tive director, Family and Health, Pan-Armenian opportunity to feature their books. Association; Anahit Ordyan, AUA, director of For information and reservations regarding administrative affairs; Jacqueline Kara-Aslanian, the International Conference, email: education executive director, Luys Foudation; [email protected], or contact the AIWA web - and from Beirut, Arda Ekmekji, PhD, dean, Arts site: www.aiwala.org. 8 S ATURDAY , A UGUST 20, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS TCA Arshag Dickranian School: 30 Years in Retrospect

Rocha. “Their performance brought the social By Salpi Asayan political and psychological truth of Tennessee William’s characters to life.” Rocha holds a master of arts in comparative LOS ANGELES — The TCA Arshag literature from University of Milwaukee and Dickranian School marked its 30th anniversary recently received a PhD in comparative litera - during the 2010-2011 scholastic year with cur - ture from the University of Wisconsin. He is cur - ricular and extracurricular activities. This mile - rently trying to complete and publish his dis - stone was also highlighted by the major steps sertation called Latin American Literary teachers took to improve their instruction skills Adaptations for Stage and Film in the US. in order to provide students with a more con - In the area of sports, the Arshag Dickranian ducive educational environment and to stay varsity team, otherwise known as the aligned with the school’s mission. Dickranian Lions, won first place in the CIF In the area of mathematics, middle and high Mulholland League and second place in the CIF school mathematics teacher, Vergine Championship in March 2011. They also partic - Harutunian, had great success in the improve - ipated in the Double Pump Tournament held in ment of students’ results in the Stanford Test Las Vegas in April, winning two games and los - Results, a nationwide test issued by the state of ing one, whereas the Dickranian Lions Junior- California. “Since my tenure at the school in Junior Boys Basketball Team won first place in 2009, the test results improved 8 percent in the AGBU Basketball Tournament held at the 2010 and 10 percent this year,” she said. “My AGBU Pasadena Center in June. All of these goal is to improve this in the upcoming year by were victories for the school teams, proving to fostering a fun learning environment, motivat - The class of 2011 be challenging teams to play against. ing my students and helping them achieve high - Head coach Rudy Rameh attended the train - er educational standards.” ing session at Michael Jordan’s Camp at Harutunian holds a master’s degree in math - location. Creative Communication is selective Schools Institute for “Teachers of English University of California Santa Barbara in July ematics from Yerevan State University and has and students can consider it an honor if their Learners,” “Teaching Analytical Writing” and taking six ADS student along for training to completed the Eisenhower Intensive Staff work is accepted. Half of my second graders’ “Thinking Maps.” These conferences were pri - improve their playing skills. Development Program for Secondary works were selected to be published.” marily aimed at helping teachers gain better Beside the improvements made in the acade - Mathematics Teachers. She participates in the Asatryan currently holds a bachelor’s degree skills at teaching English to bilingual students. mic and sport programs at the school, the California Math Council-Southern Section in liberal arts studies from CSUN, a Preliminary In addition to this development, AP Literature school also focuses on the Armenian cultural Conference in Palm Springs every year and is a Multiple Subject Credential and will obtain a and Composition was offered for the first time arts education as well. The school held special member of Golden Key Math and Science master’s of education in Education Leadership this year to junior students and passing results celebrations this year for its 30th anniversary, Honor Society and the Mathematical from Grand Canyon University in February improved considerably. Furthermore, this year’s one of which was the 30th anniversary Cultural Association of America. She has served as a 2012. AP exam results showed marked improvement Extravaganza which took place in May at the mathematics teacher at Yerevan Community Another interesting educational journey mid - with a much higher passing rate compared to school’s Walter and Laurel Karabian Hall. College from 1977-1984 and at AGBU High dle school students made this year was with last year. Another major highlight was the very These were some of the developments that School from 1989-2009. During her tenure at their Armenian teacher, Alvard Uzunyan, and successful stage presentation of Tennessee took place this year at Dickranian School and the university and AGBU, she implemented les - their English teacher, Jose Castillo. William’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” by the plans for more improvements are already in son plans for at least five classes annually in With a master of arts in pedagogy from 12th graders. The four-day play was directed by progress in preparation for the upcoming year. basic math, pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, alge - Yerevan State University and an associate of Rocha, who is also a professional actor. “Our Visit www.dickranianschool.org for more bra II, pre-calculus, math analysis and calculus. arts degree in public speaking from Glendale student actors worked like professionals,” said information. This experience has provided her with the abil - College, Uzunyan dedicates her time to enrich ity to explain complicated mathematical con - the students at ADS with Armenian arts, lan - cepts in an effective manner, engage students of guage and literature by involving them in sev - eral projects. This year, the students participat - ed in recitation and var - ious cultural contests. Uzunyan also accompa - nied the eighth-grade students on a six-day educational trip to Washington DC and New York in March. Uzunyan also composes articles for a range of Armenian newspapers such as Asbarez and New Armenia and writes book reviews and The Arshag Dickranian faculty members with the school board critiques for Tekeyan Cultural Association. As a graduate of different learning abilities and support strug - Azusa Pacific University gling students in learning. with a master’s degree in education, Jose Second-grade students had a noteworthy Castillo focuses on teaching ADS students experience in the past months as well, in which English literature and improving their lan - they took a field trip to the California Science guage-arts skills. This year Castillo encouraged Center, where students were able to tie their students ranging from sixth to ninth grades to knowledge to actual experiments. “California participate in a poetry contest in which an Science Center is a great way to get students impressive number of 44 students were selected excited about science,” said second-grade home - to have their individual poems published by room teacher, Lusine Asatryan. “It allows them Poetic Power, a website that circulates out - to move out of the classroom and experience standing students’ writings. Castillo also the hands-on exhibits, from the shaking engaged sixth through ninth-grade students in Earthquake Room to Tess, the 50-foot body sim - drama presentations as a final project at the ulator.” end of the year, an activity designed to prepare Second-grade students also visited the Travel students for next year’s Drama Fair. “Overall, Town Museum, which is located on a nine-acre students showed great growth academically, site at 5200 Hollingsworth Dr. in Griffith Park emotionally and spiritually,” said Castillo. in Los Angeles City Recreation and Park “Other teachers have noted improvements in Department and has a unique display of vehi - students’ reading, writing and speaking abili - cles representing many modes and eras of con - ties.” veyances. The youngsters enjoyed and were In order to improve his skills as a teacher, interested in the historical development of Castillo recently attended seminars and work - transportation. shops at LAUSD headquarters to improve les - “Other than our field trips, this year I encour - son quality and effectiveness while accommo - aged my students to write poetry which was dating to students’ individual strengths and later sent out to a poetry contest. The purpose weaknesses. of the poetry contest was to bring recognition The high school English department also to student writers. Entries of high merit were experienced some positive developments this accepted to be published in anthologies. With year. English Department Chairman head, the publication being regionally based, students Ricardo Rocha, saw that all English teachers at compete against their peers in both age and the school attend LAUSD’s Title III Private S ATURDAY , A UGUST 20, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 Ne w York M E T R O AGBU Camp Nubar Holds its 31st Annual Open House

NEW YORK — On July 24, AGBU Camp The day started with Archbishop Khajag Nubar opened its gates to parents, grandpar - Barsamian celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the ents, alumni and friends at its 31st annual Open Nazarian Center with campers and staff in the House. The Catskill Mountains offered a spec - morning. Following the church service, tacular backdrop for families to visit campers campers participated in horseback riding and and for alumni to reminisce about their time at waterfront shows and played the finals of the the camp. camp-wide tennis tournament. Campers, staff and guests were also treated to an Armenian lunch prepared by a group of volunteer alumni and parents, led by Jeff Zoraian. Throughout the day, Armenian-inspired ceramics and art projects — created under the guidance of Ella Pepanyan, from one of the AGBU Children’s Centers in Yerevan — were on display. Parents watched campers of all ages perform Armenian dances and songs under the direction of Arman Julhakyan, who is also from Campers performing for parents and friends at Camp Nubar’s well-attended Open House on July 24 one of the AGBU Children’s Centers. One of the many families in attendance at the Camp Nubar is experiencing a successful Open House, which brought together three gen - 2011 camp season with record enrollment. To erations of Camp Nubar attendees learn more about Camp Nubar, visit www.campnubar.org. Diocese Releases New Sunday School Textbook NEW YORK — The Diocese’s Department of Youth and Education (DYE) announces the release of the seventh Sunday School textbook in the brand new We Believe series. Titled, The Heart of the Matter: Who Am I? What Do I Believe? , the book is part of the Grade Eight curriculum. The new textbook focuses on a close study of the Nicene Creed. Students learn the Creed line by line and explore the related historical and theological background. They also delve into personal issues of faith and are challenged to answer the deepest of questions: What does it mean to me that God created the world? How did Jesus save me, and why do I need saving? What is the church? What happens after death? A beginning unit on comparative religion sur - veys the three major Christian families, as well Campers and Nubar Kids enjoyed face painting and playing games throughout the day. as Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. Finally, students engage in a summary of The new Grade Eight Sunday School textbook focuses on the Nicene Creed. thought, content and plan and participate in a service project for four weeks. Written by Christian Education coordinator Once the text is finalized, the task of layout Ararat Center Celebrates Armenian Elise Antreassian, the textbook will be followed and design commences. One of the greatest by the publication of grades three and four — challenges has been to find photos of Sunday which are currently in the editing phase — in School children in study, play, worship, school, Independence Anniversary summer 2012, and grades two and seven in church and family life to give the textbooks 2013. During that time, a new Cradle Roll and authenticity and relevance. The DYE has been GREENVILLE, N.Y. — On Saturday, July 23, setting of the Ararat Center site during her 2005 pre-K curriculum will be installed as well. reaching out to superintendents who have, in Armenian-Americans from throughout the visit. Granddaughter Lucine Beylerian was on Curriculum development is a collaborative turn, sought help from students’ parents. Diocese came together to meet and mingle, at hand Saturday to recite the poem written by her process, with a draft writer taking the vital first The six new textbooks already in circulation the eighth Annual Festival of the Ararat Center grandmother, and she did so with pride and love. step of fleshing out DYE course outlines into have been enthusiastically received. And revi - here. Hundreds gathered together under the Both Kadian and Beylerian are members of the student text and teacher instructions. Then sion for the next series has already begun. This pavilion to break bread, feast on Armenian fare St. Leon parish in Fairlawn, NJ. begins the back-and-forth of editor and writer, may very well be the last set of textbooks pro - and visit with friends and family as they paid trib - The Eastern Diocese acquired this 65-acre site clergy reader, readers who check Scripture ref - duced in classic print form. The makeup of ute to their brethren in Armenia to commemo - in 2004. A scenic property which sits on the edge erences, language, key concepts and whether all parish communities and Sunday Schools 15 rate the restoration of the Republic of Armenia of the Catskill Mountains, the Ararat Center is objectives are met in the right chronological years from now will determine the character of in September 1991. now the permanent home of the St. Vartan order. the next generation of teaching materials. “There was an abundance of food, fanfare and Camp program. fun,” commented Pam Talanian McGrath, festival Armenia’s Ambassador to the United Nations chair. “This year the festival was open to the pub - Garen Nazarian relayed his thoughts to the lic. It was so nice to meet the locals. They were crowd on the subject of Armenia’s independence. Dr. Armen Marsoobian Appointed Ordjanian Visiting awed by the beauty of the Center and happy to Throughout the afternoon festival attendees Professor at Columbia University for Fall meet the Armenian community.” were also treated to a tour of the facility, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Armenian music and swimming in the center’s NEW YORK — Dr. Armen Marsoobian has thy of undertaking. Genocide is a highly com - Primate, welcomed festival participants and pool. During the tour many newcomers were been appointed the Nikit and Eleanora plex human phenomenon that engenders com - thanked the Ararat Center Board of Directors able to view the buildings; each building is Ordjanian Visiting Professor in the Department plex responses on the part of individuals — both and the many volunteers who help make the fes - named after an ancient Armenian city — Adana, of Middle Eastern, South Asian and African by those who were directly affected by the vio - tival and the Center so successful year after year. Aintab, Ani, Bitlis, Dikranagerd, Erzerum, Gesari, Studies at Columbia University for the fall 2011 lence and by those in the generations that fol - “Serving on the Ararat Center Board, I have seen Kharpert, Malatya, Marash, Sepastia and Van. semester. He is a professor of philosophy at lowed. Literature and the arts — both visual and firsthand how committed and hard working each Bob Karanian of the St. George parish in Southern Connecticut State University and performing — have tried to make sense of this of its members [are],” said Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Hartford, Conn. summed up the day’s experience chairperson of the Philosophy Department. most evil of crimes. dean of St. Vartan Cathedral, “the Ararat Center by commenting that “it was amazing to be a part Marsoobian holds a PhD in philosophy from In the case of the Armenian Genocide, the serves as a beautiful gathering place for people of of something that not only my family could share the State University of New York at Stony response has the complicating factor of denial. all ages to experience Armenian faith, culture and in but all Armenians as well from throughout the Brook. His primary areas of research are Historians attempt to respond to the state-spon - fellowship. We are truly blessed in our Diocese to Diocese. The center brought all attendees togeth - American philosophy, aesthetics, Peircean semi - sored official denial of the Genocide through have it and I am pleased to be part of it.” er in fellowship and love. I pray that the center otics, metaphysics and genocide studies. evidential refutation; artists create works of art The pavilion provided shade as well as a per - will be here for generations to come so that our Marsoobian will be teaching a graduate-level, that create new meaning for audiences and formance venue for the Shushi Armenian Dance children’s children will know the joy that all of us seminar-style course, titled “Memories of the readers. While answers may be sought in these Ensemble of St. Vartan Cathedral. Under chore - felt when we departed the center on Saturday, Armenian Genocide: An Exploration through works, they often raise new and troubling ques - ographer Seta Paskalian-Kantardjian’s direction, July 23.” Literature and the Arts.” It is often remarked tions. 45 of the 130-member troupe danced exquisitely “In spite of the very warm weather,” said Rose that art is about memory and this course will The visiting professorship program is made and in full costume in spite of 100-degree tem - Najarian Kedeshian, chairman of the Ararat use art to explore memories of the Armenian possible by an endowment established by the peratures. Center Board of Directors, “we were successful Genocide. The course will be held on Tuesdays, late Dr. Nikit and Eleanora Ordjanian in 1998. “Two flags...two nations...side by side; that getting our message out to the participants that 2:10-4 p.m., beginning September 6. Previous visiting professors have included caught the breeze in double pride...Midst moun - the Ararat Center is a place to call home...where There are many approaches to the study of Levon Abrahamian, Vardan Azatyan, George tains at St. Vartan’s site, Where campers gath - memories are created, shared and cherished for genocide. While the historian’s methods often Bournoutian, Seta Dadoyan, Helen Evans, ered with delight...” Sosy Krikorian Kadian generations to come and that is what took place rely upon an examination of the archive, both Roberta Ervine, Rachel Goshgarian, Arman penned those words in her poem, titled, on Saturday, July 23 at our eighth annual for official documentation and eyewitness testi - Grigoryan, Robert Hewsen, Ara Sarafian and “Between Two Flags,” after being inspired by the Festival.” mony, this is not the only approach that is wor - Khachig Tololyan. 10 S ATURDAY , A UGUST 20, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Arts & Living

Armenian Coin Premiere of ‘Lost and Found in Armenia’ Exhibits Garner Scheduled for Gold Awards Christmas

MILWAUKEE — Three displays of Armenian YEREVAN (news.am) — “Lost and Found in coins, medals and paper currency were recently Armenia,” the bilingual movie predominantly honored with gold prize awards in competitions shot here, is ready for the next stage of produc - held in Chicago and Milwaukee. tion, editing. The exhibits were prepared by numismatic The producers, Maral Djerejian (“Sideways”) expert Dr. Levon Saryan. Saryan is a member of and Valerie McCaffrey (“American History X,” the Armenian Numismatic Society, the Society “Neo Ned”), said they had been planning to for Armenian Studies and an overseas member shoot a movie in Armenia for a few years, but of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences. that there were constant financial problems. “Armenia’s Agony: Commemorative Medals “This is an entertainment film, a really awe - of the 1915 Armenian Genocide,” received some piece for laughing. I guess the actors “Best in Show” honors at the April 2011 South managed to put into life all the great scenes Shore numismatic show held in Milwaukee. elaborated in the scenario,” said Djerejian, This display presents the history of the adding that they managed to involve young but Armenian Genocide through the medium of established Hollywood actors. numismatic monuments. The prize award, a Angela Sarafyan (“On the Doll,” “Kabluey,” 1/10th ounce pure gold coin, was presented at “The Twilight Saga: the annual club banquet on May 21. Breaking Dawn”) and Rare Cilician Armenian silver coins were fea - Jamie Kennedy tured in the display entitled “A Medieval (“Bug,” “Malibu’s Armenian Coin Hoard,” which garnered second Most Wanted,” “Sol in class for ancient coins at the highly competi - Goode,” “Son of the tive Central States Numismatic Society conven - Mask,” “Extreme tion held in Rosemont, Ill., in late April. Movie,” “Spring Featured in the display was a hoard of over 250 Break ’83,” “Bending medieval silver coins dating circa 1200 AD from the Rules”), are the the kingdom of Cilician Armenia. The prize, pre - two lead actors. Angela Sarafyan sented on April 30, was a 1/4 ounce pure gold Sarafyan, born in coin. Armenia, had moved “Armenia 1919: The Artistic Banknotes,” to the US and not visited Armenia for 24 years. Actors in a scene from “Night in Erzinga” received third in class for foreign paper money, “Both of them fell in love with Armenia and also at the Central States show. Presented are Armenians. I must say that for Hollywood the attractive banknotes designed for the actors the filming con - Republic of Armenia in 1919 by noted artist ditions are at least Arshag Fetvadjian. The award was a 1/10th Golden Thread Theater unusual. They are ounce pure gold coin. accustomed to com - “In the hobby world, enthusiasts enjoy show - fort, but found none ing off their material to the public and other of that here. They had collectors, “said Saryan. “People who rebuild To Premiere Play on a really difficult first classic cars enter their cars in shows, the cars week, but at length are judged competitively, and the winners both Angela and receive fancy prizes. It’s the same in numismat - Genocide Experience Jamie fell in love with ics. Designing a competitive display is kind of Jaime Kennedy Armenians and their like being a museum curator.” SAN FRANCISCO — Golden Thread Productions announces the world premiere hospitality, said the Saryan’s displays are on Armenian subjects, producer, giving a each with a unifying theme. “To assemble a of “Night over Erzinga,” a powerful and soul-stirring play by award-winning play - wright and actor Adriana Sevahn Nichols. Sevahn Nichols is the first recipient of short account of the film. winning coin display,” he explained, “you gath - According to Djerejian, several American er material related to the theme, do basic and the Middle East America: a National New Plays Initiative, a commissioning project founded and managed by three national organizations: the Bay Area’s Golden youngsters go to Turkey for a vacation and detailed research, prepare careful written while enjoying their stay, decide to try parasail - descriptions and explanations and design the Thread Productions, New York’s Lark Play Development Center and Chicago’s Silk Road Theatre Project. ing. Their strong resolution, however, dwindles display. On the day of the show, you lay out as a storm batters their boat but the Turkish your display attractively in locked glass muse - Sevahn Nichols’ “Night over Erzinga” is a moving story about the immigrant experience in the US and the endurance of the human spirit. The central charac - captain’s encouraging words prevail upon com - um cases.” mon sense. As a result of the parasail mishap, Competing displays are graded by indepen - ters, Ardavazt and Alice, build a new life in the US in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide but the past comes to haunt them in very different ways. Inspired by the son of a US senator, Billy, finds himself in a dent judges. Criteria typically include technical small village in Armenia, where at first he is accuracy, background information, concept Nichols’ personal her - itage as a Dominican- taken for a Turkish spy. originality, attractiveness of presentation, effec - “We did not work to preserve geographical tive use of color, completeness of a collection Armenian-American, this story explores how a accuracy. It’s evident that one cannot reach and condition and rarity of the material, graded Armenia from a Turkish seaside and that prob - on a 100-point scale. Results from three or four man can lose two fami - lies in one lifetime, but ably will not worry a comedy lover who looks judges are tallied to determine the winner. for informal, funny moments,” said Djerejian. “Preparing an attractive, educational display not lose his heart; and how a grandmother can According to the producer, Armenian actors is a great way to promote our heritage and his - Mikael Poghosyan and Hrant Tokhatyan also tory to others,” Saryan said. “It’s a learning pro - reach through time, to unearth the untold story participated in the film. and bring her children “There are many talented actors in Armenia, “home.” there are many experts but they lack the expe - This tender epic spans rience of working in modern cinema. The prob - two continents and lem will be solved if people engage in film pro - three generations, from duction in Armenia,” said Djerejian, adding that Western Armenia of a single film could greatly promote general 1913, to 1930s knowledge about Armenia worldwide. Massachusetts, to 1960s “We did not make ‘Lost and Found in New York. The magical Armenia’ for Armenian audiences only. It is just story reunites ancestors a comedy and that is the precondition of its suc - with the living, as they cess, I guess. The film is based on a universal One of the exhibit displays Making it in the New World, in a scene from “Night in each search for solace story that is applicable everywhere in the world. Erzinga” and a way to make peace It was merely our wish to make it in Armenia. with the past. Nichols’ We could have shot the film elsewhere because cess for the viewer and also for the exhibitor of the poor level of technical equipment in who prepares the display. Numismatic exhibit - poetic and comic language incorporates the world of symbols and icons, spirits and the invisible, along with the everyday concerns of survival and keeping a family Armenia but the producers of the film are ing combines scholarship and concise presenta - Armenians, the director, Gor Kirakosian, is also tion of facts with a sense of aesthetics and together. see ERZINGA, page 11 Armenian and we wanted to make it here,” said design. As far as we know no one else in McCaffrey. “We have a huge potential for boost - America is preparing Armenian numismatic dis - ing the local film industry. A great number of plays and being recognized for them.” see PREMIERE, page 11 S ATURDAY , A UGUST 20, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 ARTS & LIVING Golden Thread Theater to Premiere Play on Genocide Experience

ERZINGA, from page 10 Proposal” (Egyptian Chekhov) and “The The playwright’s Armenian grandparents Review” (via skype) both by Yussef El-Guindi immigrated to the United States from Erzinga and in 2006, the Ikhwan al-Safa’s fable, “Island and Shabin-Karahisar (part of Turkish Armenia) of Animals.” in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide of Prior to working with Golden Thread, 1915. Nichols’ grandfather, Ardavazt Karmali was a teaching fellow at Harvard Oghidanian, was the sole survivor of his family. University, directed plays in London and served Nichols’ reflection on her grandfather’s experi - an apprenticeship at the American Repertory ence launched a three-year journey to develop Theatre where he assisted internationally “Night over Erzinga.” renowned directors Robert Wilson and Andrei Nichols described the play’s origin as a way Serban. “...to discover my roots; to write my way home. Golden Thread Productions is a nationally To ancestors I never knew, but feel in my recognized non-profit organization acknowl - heart. And to find a way to belong to a histo - edged as the leading theater company devoted ry and legacy that, up until that point, in my to Middle Eastern voices and experiences. life, was missing. As a writer, I feel called to tell Founded in 1996 by Yeghiazarian, Golden the stories that will inspire, move and enrich Thread’s mission, to give voice to Middle people’s hearts. We are all on a collective jour - Eastern writers, is made more urgent and vital ney, as a global family, and I believe theatre, at with all that is currently happening in the its best, has the potential to initiate transfor - Middle East.

Another scene from “Night over Erzinga” mation and healing. Although the play I have “Night over Erzinga” will run September 15 written is deeply personal and specific to the through October 9, at South Side Theatre at Armenians, it has been my intention that this Fort Mason Center. Previews are September 15- play transcends that specificity and become 17. Opening night for the general public and universal in creating dialogues among those press is Sunday, September 18, at 5 p.m. The who see it?” opening night performance will be followed by Torange Yeghiazarian, Golden Thread a reception catered by La Mediterranee. Productions’ artistic director, adds “‘Night over Erzinga’ is a courageous play that brings together the Armenian and Latino communi - ties. Adriana’s unique voice and rich language Premiere of ‘Lost and is a welcome new addition to the cannon of Found in Armenia’ American theater and Golden Thread is proud to introduce this important new play and play - Scheduled for around wright to Bay Area audiences.” During its development, “Night over Erzinga” Christmas had two enthusiastically-received public read - ings in New York and San Francisco. PREMIERE, from page 10 Sevahn Nichols is an award-winning actress Armenians work in Hollywood nowadays, but and playwright who has developed and per - most of them do not pay attention to the media. formed her work at the Sundance Theater Lab, The parents consider medicine, law and eco - South Coast Repertory, Mark Taper Forum, nomics as serious professions for their children, The Goodman, LA Theatre Works, Stages forgetting that we raised many famous writers Theatre, The Fountain, INTAR and The Lark. and art people.” Her plays have been published by Samuel McCaffrey noted, “When I visited the French and Smith & Kraus. Sevahn Nichols’ Armenian Genocide Museum, I got astonished critically acclaimed solo show, “Taking Flight,” that so many renowned people have touched garnered her a San Diego Theatre Critics Circle upon and condemned the Genocide. Nobody Award, a Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival actually knows about that, meanwhile each of Award, and the CD was a finalist for a 2008 those stories could make a splendid film sce - Audie Award. nario,” to have the same effect as Steven “Night over Erzinga” is scored with original Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List.” music by Bulgarian composer, Penka Kouneva The premiere of “Lost and Found in and directed by Hafiz Karmali. Armenia” is anticipated to take place around Karmali is an accomplished theater director the Christmas season. The producers plan to familiar to Golden Thread audiences. He direct - submit the film to mainstream film festivals, ed three new plays at the ReOrient Festival in and Sundance. 2009: “Abaga” by Yeghiazarian; “A Marriage To watch the trailer, visit http://news.am/eng/news/69573.html.

Advertise in the Mirror-Spectator The First English language Armenian weekly newspaper in the United States 12 S ATURDAY , S ATURDAY , A UGUST 20, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR , ARTS & LIVING Children’s Book Author Armenianizes Traditional Tales

By Daphne Abeel Special to the Mirror-Spectator

BEDFORD. N.Y. — In September, children’s book author Talene Dadian White will add two new titles, The Three Little Karmeegs (The Three Little Pigs) and Voski and the Archoogians (Goldilocks and the Three Bears) to her series of Armenianized traditional tales, which includes Little Red Hood and the Kesh Kayl (Little Red Riding Hood), The Gurabia Man (The Gingerbread Man) and Hagop and the Hairy Giant (Jack and the Beanstalk). As the titles indicate, White has interpolated Armenian words for English words and she has done that throughout the texts. Thus the grand - mother in the Little Red Riding Hood tale becomes Medz Mayreeg and the cow in Hagop in the Hairy Giant becomes gov . The Armenian The covers of the three books by Talene Dadian White words are printed in italic script and there is a lit - tle dictionary at the back of each book that gives the translation. law firm and then on her own, before deciding to Riding Hood, the people who kill the wolf are success. I am doing a lot of readings in schools White, who was trained as a lawyer at City give up her legal career and become a writer. hunters. In White’s version, they are lumberjacks, and I have even started to sell the books in University in New York, and is the mother of two “I ran the New York marathon and that was a “because I put them in an Armenian forest,” she Canada.” children, ages 4 and 8, said, “When I started to very empowering experience. It gave me the feel - explained. White also plans another marketing strategy — look for good children’s books in Armenian, I ing I could do anything I wanted to. Once I had White’s illustrator, who is Russian (but whose packaging her books in a gift box set. couldn’t find very much, and so I had this idea of children, I had less time for the law and I had name does not appear on the books) has helped “I think these will be quite popular for chil - always wanted to her with the book dren’s birthdays and other celebrations,” she said. write. So, I made the design, as has Abril White’s next book will be a cookbook and she decision to become a Book Review Books in Glendale, hopes to have that published by a mainstream writer.” Calif. publisher. White’s father, Soon, all her titles “I think there is a lot of interest in Middle whose family was orig - Little Red Hood and the Kesh will be translated into Eastern food, and after all, Middle Eastern cuisine inally from Turkey, Kayl. By Talene Dadian White. TDW Western Armenian is eaten in a lot of different countries and cul - was born in the Publishing LLC. 2011. ISBN 13:978- with the help of the tures, not just in Armenia.” United States and her 4565-8325 services at Abril Books. She concluded, “Publishing in Armo-English is mother was born in White has been able an idea whose time has come. Most Armenian- Aleppo. Syria. White Hagop and the Hairy Giant. By to achieve a fair Americans who are born here speak English and was baptized at Holy Talene Dadian White. TDW Publishing amount of success in I think that introducing these words into stories Martyrs Church and LLC. 2011.ISBN: 13:978-4564-77882 the marketplace, that are familiar is something that works very Author Talene Dadian White now attends St. The Gurabia Man. By Talene although she self-pub - well. It is a good way for Armenian children to Gregory’s in White Dadian White. TDW Publishing LLC. lishes her work and stay in touch with their language and culture.” Plains. 2011 ISBN 13: 978-4565-20939 does not enjoy the dis - White will be giving a reading and book sign - taking traditional children’s stories and giving “I don’t speak tribution and market - ing on Sunday, August 28, in Glendale. them an Armenian flavor.” Armenian fluently and ing services of a tradi - For more information, visit The books, printed in paperback with laminat - neither do my children. But they do go to tional, commercial publisher. She works with a ArmenianKidsBooks.com. ed, waterproof covers, are illustrated in such a Saturday School and they are learning Armenian subsidiary of Amazon, createspace. way that they emphasize the Armenian approach there,” she said. “All the books are available through Amazon to the stories. The characters, almost without “As for the Armenian words I choose to use in and the listings are linked to my website. I’ve also exception, have dark, deep-set eyes and are the texts of the story, I try to pick out the most had a lot of success marketing through Armenian dressed in Armenian peasant fashion. common ones and I even use some funny ones bookstores, libraries, schools and churches. I am “I especially love the drawings of the Hairy like the word of buttocks, for example. I space pretty well connected to the Armenian communi - Giant,” said White. “He looks so fiercely them out in the text.” ty and I’ve sent out a lot of emails about my pub - Armenian.” In addition to inserting Armenian words into lications,” she said. “I really think self-publishing White, who is married to a lawyer, practiced the stories, White has somewhat changed some is the wave of the future, and especially if you are personal injury law for 10 years, first for a large of the stories. In the original version of Little Red writing for a niche market you can have a lot of

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Your donation is Tax Deductible. S ATURDAY , A UGUST 20, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 ARTS & LIVING Newton Person Of the Week: Bob Sarkissian CC AA LLEENNDDAARR

By Chloe Gotsis MASSACHUSETTS NEWTON, Mass. (Newton Tab) — Bob Sarkissian, 40, has a new book of poems, SEPTEMBER 16 and 17 — Save the dates: A weekend of Art and The Wind Coughed at Dawn, detailed on Renewal with The Armenian Library and Museum of America amazon.com. The interview considers his (ALMA), featuring the works of Yousuf Karsh. previous book of satire, Squibbed!: Satire • September 16 — ALMA will host a gala celebration at the Fairmont and Other Oddities? . Copley Plaza, Boston, honoring the life and works of world- Chloe Gotsis: When did you start writ - renowned Armenian-Canadian photographer, Yousuf Karsh, and the ing? permanent collection of his portraits gifted by his wife, Estrellita Bob Sarkissian: In about 1994, when I Karsh. Reservations can be made online by visiting the ALMA web - was 23, I decided to try writing poems. And site at www.almainc.org or calling (617) 926-2562, ext. 31. I was surprised that I could write fairly • September 17 — Opening reception of the exhibition “Karsh: well, being trained as an engineer. Celebrating Humanity,” in ALMA’s newly-designed Bedoukian CG: What made you decide to put Gallery, 6:30-8:30 p.m., 65 Main St., Watertown. Celebrate the new together the book, Squibbed!: Satire and face of ALMA and the many faces of Karsh. For further details please Other Oddities? visit our website at www.almainc.org or call the administrative office On September 18, Holy Trinity Armenian Church, BS: I had started writing satirical news at ALMA (617) 926-2562, ext. 31. 145 Brattle St., Cambridge, will hold its Trinity stories in 1995, and fortunately I kept most SEPTEMBER 18 — Trinity Family Festival, 12-5 p.m., Holy Trinity Family Festival, from 12 to 5 p.m., featuring a deli - of them. I found the writing process cathar - Armenian Church, 145 Brattle St., Cambridge. Delicious dinner; cious dinner, children and family games, as well as tic, but I had no intention at the time of moonwalk for kids; children and family games, starting at 1:30 p.m., Armenian music by the Greg Krikorian Ensemble. For writing a book. Eventually I realized that I Armenian music by the Greg Krikorian Ensemble. Yalanchi cook-off. information, contact the church office at (617) 354- 0632, e-mail [email protected] or visit had about 200 pages of material by 2009, Blessing of Magdagh, 4 p.m. Raffle drawing for cash prizes, 4:30 www.htaac.org. and I decided that I would take the best p.m. For information, contact the church office at (617) 354-0632, e- material and try to publish it because I mail [email protected] or visit www.htaac.org. wanted to share my gift with others. I decided to self-publish because the process of trying to find a publisher seemed daunt - ing. CG: How did you come up with your “squibs” or witty sarcastic sayings? ‘Salute to Armenia’ to Take Place in Rhode Island BS: It’s a spontaneous process of letting my mind wander really. It seems to be relat - PROVIDENCE — Armenia declared its inde - Saturday, September 10, at 7 p.m. in Saints the Armenian Chorales of Rhode Island and ed to my moods. Sometimes I’ll try to come pendence on September 21, 1991 and thus, Peter and Paul Cathedral, Providence. Greater Worcester and the Philharmonic up with an idea and nothing comes to me. 2011 marks the 20th anniversary of its inde - The Republic of Armenia’s ambassadors to Community Symphony Orchestra of Rhode Other times I’ll just be inspired with an pendence. the United States and the United Nations have Island. idea based on the news or some event For this occasion, the Armenian Music accepted invitations to participate in the pro - Konstantin Petrossian is artistic director and when I’m not trying, and I’ll jot it down Festival of Rhode Island Inc., supported by gram. Federal, state and local dignitaries will conductor. Guest composers from Armenia, and get to it later if I’m busy. the Armenian Euphrates Evangelical Church, also be invited. Martin Vardazaryan and Levon Chaushyan, will CG: Are your squibs ever based on any - Saints Sahag and Mesrob Armenian The commemorative concert will include per - also be in attendance. thing in real life? Apostolic Church, Saints Vartanantz formances by Yegishe Manucharyan, Victoria In addition to traditional Armenian music, BS: They are all based on people, ideas Armenian Apostolic Church and Armenian Avetisyan (Massachusetts), Garo Nichanian the program will premier songs composed espe - or experiences that get exaggerated to an organizations of Rhode Island, will present (Canada), Kate Norigian, Joanne Mouradjian, cially for this event by Armenian composers. extreme. For instance, my conversations “Salute to Armenia.” This special program, David Ayriyan, Debra Takian Pjojian, David Admission is free and open to the public with someone at a cable company that shall dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Gevorkian, Gohar Manjelikian, David Alexander, and all are invited to a reception following remain nameless led me to create a multi - Armenia’s independence, will be held on Mher Saribekyan, Alexan Tokatlian (New York), the concert. ple-choice “cable company representative qualification examination,” which asks questions like: “What is the best way to greet the customer?” — answer: “Hello, my name is Guido, how may I break your face?” That’s not actually in the book Squibbed!, but it will be in the planned sequel. CG: You are a technical writer in your professional life and also write poems and satirical stories on the side. Do you ever combine the two and write satirical stories about high-tech? BS: I did write a poem once about using technical language about a GPS system to locate the woman of my dreams. It gener - ally doesn’t work well. I seem to keep them separate pretty easily. I also keep poetry and satire separate. They come from the same source, but my poetry tends to be quite serious. CG: Your parents are both publishers; did they encourage you to pursue a career in writing? BS: They knew I wanted to be an engi - KOHAR releases “All Time Armenian Favorites 3” neer when I was younger and were sur - prised when I showed interest in creative writing. I’m sure their writing inspired me at least subconsciously. They knew I had a KOHAR Releases ‘All Time Armenian Favorites 3’ sense of humor, so satire seemed pretty natural. NICOSIA, Cyprus — HAYASA Productions LTD releases The second DVD also includes 30-minute live documentary CG: Have any of your stories been about KOHAR’s, “All Time Armenian Favorites 3.” The three DVD’s fea - footage of KOHAR on their tour of Damascus and Aleppo in life in Newton? ture over six hours of live concert at the Opera Theater of Damascus 2009. The documentary material portrays the process of build - BS: Not specifically, but I’m sure I could and the citadel amphitheater of Aleppo in 2009. ing the stages in Damascus and the citadel of Aleppo with some write a book on that. The production is in PCM Stereo and DTS 5.1 Surround. The video short interviews, including the executive producer, director, CG: How long did it take you to write the boasts highly-professional camera work that includes for the first time sound and light engineers. Sebouh Abcarian also depicts some book? a Spidercam. This is evidence of why HAYASA’s productions are con - of the heroic past associated with his father and the citadel. BS: It really was a process of 15 years, sidered one of the greatest Armenian cultural releases which offer not The package comes with a 128-page song booklet that includes the from 1995 to 2010, of writing occasional only the enjoyment of watching the concert live but by also including lyrics of the songs in Armenian and transliterated. pieces and editing the best ones. It took lyrics of the songs on screen in Armenian and transliterated. For more information, go to http://hayasashop.com/. about a year to format it, come up with a title and have it printed. 14 S ATURDAY , A UGUST 20, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

T HE A RMENIAN COMMENTARY Mirror- Where Is the Enemy?

declared that “Azerbaijan’s enemy is our enemy.” No one Spectator has any doubts that the target of that announcement was By Edmond Y. Azadian Armenia. These are our external enemies that cannot behave oth - When Alexander the Great — who was not yet great at the erwise, based on their own national self-interest. But we time — inherited the throne from his father, Phillip II, the have internal enemies who are more detrimental. Those are Established 1932 first thing that he did was to distribute his entire wealth to the very same people who have created a caste of oligarchs the people. When he was asked what was left to him after to stifle Armenia’s economy for their own selfish interests. An ADL Publication that act of generosity, he answered with one word: “hope.” When government functionaries — and even one minister And that hope gave him enough vision and strength to con - — plundered the help that was sent to Armenia for the des - quer the old world. titute survivors of the earthquake, we were all appalled by EDITOR This brings us to the days when Armenia gained inde - how much degeneration was caused to the Armenian char - Alin K. Gregorian pendence 20 years ago. There was no power, no water, no acter by the Soviet rule. But the trend continues. Recently, bread, no heat, but the population was full of anticipation, diasporan benefactor and businessman Vahakn Hovnanian ASSOCIATE EDITOR Aram Arkun because there was hope. And hope propelled the Armenians cited some examples in an interview. He says he tried to get to win the Karabagh war and liberate Shushi. involved in the wheat business, but he received threats that ART DIRECTOR Today the situation is almost reversed: the country enjoys his wheat field would be burnt down before the harvest, Marc Mgrditchian 24 hours of electricity a day; only some rural areas complain although, Armenia is a net importer of wheat. PRODUCTION about the scarcity of water; there is an abundance of bread, He has tried to import timber from Russia, but his Dilani Yogaratnam if one can afford to buy it and Yerevan has become a Russian counterparts have even refused to deal with him, bustling city alive with cafes, nightclubs and casinos. Yet because timber is the monopoly of certain oligarchs. He has people are leaving in droves. Why? Because there is no encouraged some Diaspora Armenians to do business in the hope. It is almost ironic that people were ready and willing homeland, but the government apparatchiks have scared CONTRIBUTORS: to endure the hardships and continue holding on to the them away. Elizabeth Aprahamian, Daphne Abeel, Dr. land, yet today, in relative comfort, they are leaving the Any Armenian who has had business dealings can cite at Haroutiune Arzoumanian, Edmond homeland, which we had dreamed of for centuries. And if we least five or more similar instances. Azadian, Prof. Vahakn N. Dadrian, Diana Der Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, dare to ask the emigrants why they have decided to leave Any foreign investor seems to be at risk. The bodies of sev - Kevork Keushkerian, Sonia Kailian- Armenia, the cynical answer is ready: “We held on to the eral foreign nationals who were engaged in business were Placido , H arut Sassounian, Mary Terzian, land and we suffered too much to preserve the homeland for discovered in Armenia and even before the police investiga - Hagop Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian, you. Now it’s your turn to come and keep the country alive.” tion, stories were planted in the media about the characters Taleen Babayan The value system has turned upside down. During the of the assassinated people who were not able to defend Soviet period, people were sent to Siberia as punishment, themselves any more. while today the Russian government is inviting Armenian The same hostile policy is applied against the local peo - CORRESPONDENTS: families to settle in Siberia as a reward, by providing homes, ple. Currently there is a huge controversy, pitting the mayor Armenia - Hagop Avedikian jobs and citizenship. of Yerevan against street vendors who have put up primitive Boston - Nancy Kalajian Philadelphia - Lisa Manookian During the Genocide, honorable Armenian women structures to make a living. And of course, they have paid jumped to their deaths in the Euphrates River, to avoid exorbitant bribes to city functionaries to get illegal permits Contributing Photographers: being raped by Turks. Today, young Armenian women are to build those kiosks. Rather than going after the corrupt Jacob Demirdjian, Harry Koundakjian, Jirair Hovsepian crossing the same river into Turkey for prostitution. functionaries, the mayor is evicting the vendors, of course, Recently, Prof. Gerard Libaridian published an in-depth for a good cause. Who does not wish Yerevan to be beauti - The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published article in the Armenian press, sounding an alarm over the ful? But before that, an answer must be found to the ques - weekly, except two weeks in July, by: population decrease in Armenia. It was titled “Appeal: tion: who will feed the families of those vendors? Baikar Association, Inc. Critical Moment in Armenian History.” It is no secret to any - While oligarchs live in obscene opulence, the majority of one where Libaridian stands in the administration-opposi - the people have to struggle for survival, and if they can find 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 tion equation. Hopefully, his alarm will not be viewed with - a way to secure that survival in any other country, they will Telephone: 617-924-4420 in that context, because his voice comes from the very not hesitate for one moment. FAX: 617-924-2887 depth of our history. His theory is that Armenians can sur - Even those still living in Armenia cannot contribute to www.mir rorspectator.com vive dictatorships, genocide, earthquake, war and any other the population growth as indicated by a sociologist study. E-Mail: editor@mirrorspectator .com calamity, but they cannot survive after the depopulation of The statistics are as follows: 68.3 percent of the families do For advertising: [email protected] the homeland. not wish to have a child; 16.4 percent plan to have only one New York/New Jersey Office The precedents he has cited in his article are bitter, yet suc - child and 13.6 percent have no answer. Among the reasons 560 Sylvan Ave. , Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 cinct. The fall of the Bagratuni Kingdom was accelerated cited, economy is rated first. (201) 800-1164 when the Arzunis began a side show in Akhtamar, causing Citing a historic precedent, Libaridian writes: “Our num - the depopulation of the mainland. He also theorizes that the bers had fallen below a certain threshold, to a level that had Genocide became a feasible option for the Young Turks when made Armenian revolution against the state of the Ottoman SUBSCRIPTION RATES : the Armenian population was reduced into minority status in Empire impossible and successful self-defense against the U.S.A. 2nd Class $75 a year historic Armenian provinces, while the self-defense war in Genocide by and large, hopeless. …Nearly a century later, we 1st Class $120 a year Vasbouragan was successful because Armenians were a may now be reaching a similar threshold in the Republic of Canada majority in that region, during World War I. Armenia, where the decreasing level of population closely Air Mail $125 a year Today, with brain drain and depopulation, Armenia has linked to the unresolved conflicts with the neighbors that is All Other Countries reached a critical point, after which it will not be able to sus - threatening the viability of the economy and national Air Mail $190 a year tain a government nor defend its borders. defense.” Display advertising r at e: $7 per column inch Of course, there are objective reasons for this ominous Turks, Azeris and Georgians are Armenia’s enemies and state of affairs; Turkey and Azerbaijan are continuing their they wish to wipe out Armenia from the map. Armenians genocidal policies in an entirely different form, by blockad - have withstood that pressure for 20 years now, and maybe © 2010 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator ing Armenia into economic strangulation and possible they can resist longer. But what about the enemy within? Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA extinction. The Georgians are no lesser enemies. We cannot confront the enemy across the border without and additional mailing offices. Recently Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili openly killing first that enemy within. ISSN 0004-234X POSTMASTER : Send address changes to The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, P.O. Box 302, Watertown, MA 02471-0302 Notice to Contributors Copying for other than personal use or internal reference is prohibited without The welcomes articles, commentaries daytime telephone number. express permission of the copyright Armenian Mirror-Spectator owner. Address requests for reprints or and community news from our readers. In order to assure the accurate — Deadline for submission of all articles and advertising is noon on the back issues to: and timely publication of articles submitted, please note the following Monday of the week of publication. Baikar Association, Inc. policies: — Photos will be published without charge at the discretion of the edi - — All articles submitted should be typed, double (or triple) spaced and tors and art director. Photos will be returned only if a self-addressed 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 printed in a type size large enough to be clearly legible (10 point or and stamped envelope is included. larger). Submissions that do not conform to these specifications will be — The will publish only one article about an upcoming organiza - M-S assigned lowest priority. tional event. For major special events, exceptions may be made only — Articles sent by fax are acceptable, and e-mail submissions are by special arrangement with the editors. Check us out at encouraged. — Telephone numbers, ticket prices and other details (at the discre - mirrorspectator.com — All submissions should include the name of a contact person and a tion of the editors) will not be included in press releases. S ATURDAY , A UGUST 20, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 COMMENTARY

(D-NJ) as to whether the United States had ever denied This is simply an incredible answer from a seasoned the Armenian Genocide, Ricciardone regurgitated his ambassador who is supposed to be extremely knowledge - poorly-memorized talking point: “I stand behind able about Turkey, since he has had several postings in that President Obama’s characterization of the ‘Yedz country and speaks fluent Turkish. Ricciardone’s problem Meghern’ [sic], as the Armenians themselves call it….” is that he identifies himself too closely with Turkey. A year My Turn Unfortunately, he mispronounced “Medz Yeghern” by ago, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) placed a “hold” on reversing the first letters of the two words, making it Ricciardone’s nomination, accusing him of “quickly adopt - By Harut Sassounian clear that he had no idea what he was talking about. If ing the positions and arguments of his Egyptian diplomat - he really wanted to use an Armenian word, he could ic counterparts,” during his posting in Cairo. “Given these have simply said “tseghasbanoutyoun,” which means questions, I am not convinced Ambassador Ricciardone is Senators Should Reject President genocide! the right ambassador for Turkey at this time,” Brownback Obama’s Appointee as The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will reconvene advised Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in his August 16, in September to consider Ricciardone’s nomination after 2010 letter. Ambassador to Turkey reviewing his written responses to questions submitted by Ricciardone is now making the same mistake in his new the senators following the August 2 hearing. We have posting in Turkey. He has actually become the mouthpiece President Barack Obama has an endless number of prob - obtained copies of the six responses Ricciardone sent to of the Turkish government rather than the official repre - lems these days. Late last year, when senators blocked sev - Senator Menendez last week. The questions covered such sentative of the United States in Ankara. Unfortunately, eral of his ambassadorial nominees, including the one to issues as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “authori - Brownback is no longer in the Senate to place a new Turkey, the president resorted to the rarely-used tactic of tarian tendencies,” the return of Christian churches to “hold” on Ricciardone, but there must be other senators appointing ambassadors without Senate approval, while their rightful owners, Turkey’s refusal to remove its troops who will do so, to make sure that an American Ambassador Congress is in recess. from Cyprus, Turkish banks circumventing US sanctions upholds US interests overseas rather than do the bidding Unfortunately for President Obama, his unconventional on Iran, Turkey’s blockade of Armenia and US policy on of the host country. fix could be short-lived. If by the year’s end the Senate does the Armenian Genocide. How could anyone explain, let alone justify, not confirm his “recess appointments,” these ambassadors Ricciardone avoided responding to just about every ques - Ricciardone’s nonsensical and false assertion that most of must abandon their posts and return home in ignominy. tion he was asked. The one time that he did give an answer, the Christian churches in existence prior to 1915 in Turkey President Obama’s nominee to Turkey, Ambassador he got himself in big trouble by making the following are still functioning as churches? In fact, the exact opposite Francis Ricciardone, was in Washington on August 2, to patently false statement: is true! Only a handful of Christian churches are still func - see if the Senate Foreign Relations Committee would con - Menendez: “To the best of your knowledge, approxi - tioning as churches in Turkey today, not counting the few firm his appointment. During his appearance before the mately how many of the more than 2,000 Christian church - dozen Armenian, Greek and Assyrian churches of Istanbul. Committee, he antagonized several senators by making es functioning prior to 1915 on the territory of present-day Ricciardone’s vulgar attempt to justify the conversion of statements that were replete with Turkish propaganda. Turkey are still operating today as churches?” churches into museums or mosques is a supreme insult to When confronted with Turkey’s deplorable policies on Ricciardone: “Most of the Christian churches functioning all Christians. human rights, its occupation of Cyprus and denial of the prior to 1915 are still operating as churches. Some church - Ricciardone has clearly disqualified himself from serving Armenian Genocide, the ambassador gave a series of eva - es of significance operate as museums. The remaining have as US ambassador to Turkey. One or more senators should sive and dubious answers. fallen into disrepair or were converted to mosques for lack place a new “hold” on his nomination to keep him away In response to a question from Sen. Robert Menendez of use.” from doing any more harm to US national interests. Inclusion Should Be Our Aim A Theme Park for

ber of Armenians in the Middle East Diasporan Armenians By Nubar Dorian and regrettably in Mother Armenia. Don’t we know that the source is now dry and dead, sim - ply depleted? By John Greppin t never fails. Every time we hear or read We must stop our pretense and illusion. We are of a plan to have a community leader cel - sending to heaven, every day, so many devoted, ebrate a special occasion or commemo - reliable, passionate and dedicated Armenians, I must urgently make remarks on Prof. Jirair (Gerard) Libaridian’s rate a milestone, we are certain it will be and fail to replace them. Deep-seated cynicism, long commentary piece of August 13, on the weakness of Armenia. The held in a most prestigious, most luxuri - unwarranted hope and pronouncements of situation in Yerevan is disastrous. The corruption is unprecedented and I ous, most exclusive banquet hall or hotel. strength and progress are not substitutes for the economic collapse is well underway. The citizens are leaving, suffocated It naturally follows that only the wealthiest and truth and reality. They merely are substitutes, by a business system controlled by a small coterie who, if they want most affluent among us could or would attend. = palliatives and other panaceas. another Armenian’s property, can take it, paying only a pittance. The gift of fortune, position, intelligence and The aim of all of us is the preservation of our Recently, an American Armenian who had opened a successful min - power are made possible for them to see and be heritage, culture and community here in our ing operation, was spontaneously accused of an odious sex crime and seen at these affairs. They really require no recog - beloved America. Through our churches, organi - exiled without due process, his mine confiscated. Just now, up to nition or praise. Their names are clearly at the zations, banquets, bazaars, picnics, publications, 10,000 street vendors and kiosk owners have been banished by the top, praise craves no popularity or acclaim. They seminars and services, we try to keep the com - power of the conglomerates which control Main Street Armenia. Even have already reached heights. We have and munity alive and active. We can achieve our aim under Brezhnev’s communist government you could buy roses on should have nothing but respect for them for only by involving the uninvolved in our commu - Prospect Lenina. Now on the newly-named Mashtots Boulevard, it is helping the community and willingly attending nity affairs. This happens to be the biggest prob - impossible. these special events, nor should we envy them or lem that remains to be solved. We must put our Even education is corrupt: a substantial bribe will ensure you a med - deny them all possible acclaim for being active actions and thoughts together to make certain ical degree; no one’s home or apartment is secure, if the location is participants. that love and service for the community is indeed desirable. What Westerner would dream of investing in Armenia? The organizers of these affairs are the ones a viable, visible and enviable position to take. We With the coming of democracy and capitalism in the early 1990s, the who always forget that mistakes are for learning. have to create the atmosphere to make the com - first elected president, Levon Ter-Petrossian, was swallowed up by the They seem never to consider the welfare of the mon involved in Armenia affairs fashionable, vis - forces of entrenched Soviet corruption that brought an end to further community or that these affairs are for all, and ible, viable and enviable. democratic processes. The failure of positive negotiations concerning not just a few. For instance, why make a welcom - A lesson from Genesis is worth repeating, Turkey and Karabagh, hated by the Dashnaks but vital for the econom - ing banquet for the supreme patriarch or the “assemble the people,” said Moses, the Biblical ic survival of independent Armenia, brings Armenia near to the end of most recent celebration of the anniversary of the prophet, “assemble them all, the men, the women its 2,500 years of history. The youth are fleeing, leaving a country to Mirror-Spectator with a melange of haute cou - and strangers at the gate, that they may hear, the dispirited middle aged and helpless pensioners who are the bulk of ture and haute cuisine? The affair no longer they may learn.” So assemble they did, and hear those remaining. becomes viable and valuable, but only leaves out they did and Jewish people never let go of this The American-Armenian columnists and commentators celebrate only the low pursers. vision of the promise land. We, too, now have an the disaster of the Turkish Genocide and enjoin all patriots to ignore It may seem heretical or petty to bewail a sys - independent promise land and we have the peo - the Armenian government and remember the immediate past which tem of perpetually doing the same thing again ple, more than one million in America; unfortu - might be all the Armenians have ahead of them. Over a quarter of the and again. The comfort of the familiar is strong. nately, we fail to have them hear and learn. country has fled. Libaridian worries that the viable Armenian state is Power banquets have always been organized as a When, the big question is, to succeed in having near its end, empty of the young and able-bodied, a “theme park for symbol of love and respect for the occasion or our people hear and listen? We continue to have Diasporan Armenians.” The banishing of street vendors is what brought person. But, it is a mistake. The event, or the discord, disunity and division. There seems to be the end of the Tunisian government this spring. Now it happens in honoree, is not, and should not be, for the few. no solution to the problem, except to suggest Yerevan. The people must stand up and say something. The alternative The precious coin that buys experience is mis - that our leaders, religious and lay, of all political is continuing economic and cultural strangulation. The Armenians take, after mistake, after mistake, goes an old say - and religious factions, come together to find tried in 1990; they’ll have to try harder this time. ing. Unfortunately, we fail to learn from our mis - ways to include all the uninvolved. God knows we The end is the loss of a unique and ancient language, the glories of takes. In spite of these power banquets, they have one hundred fold, or possibly one thousand the Bagratids ignored, the grandure of Ani forgotten, the heroic tri - remain unpopular, ineffective, with very poor fold, of them who can help the community from umph over the Mongol hoards dismissed. From what the American attendance, because “the price is not right.” the danger of extinction in the near future. This Armenians are teaching their children today, they will have only the Beneath the mountain of activity, rhetoric, is our major problem that awaits solution. memory of their slaughtered grandparents and the ability to say “inch bravado and emotion, the community is not get - pes ek ”and “shnorhakalutiun.” ting stronger. We keep on boasting the increase (Nubar Dorian is a resident of Cliffside Park, NJ. of our numbers in America, without realizing He is active in the community, including as a (John A. C. Greppin is a specialist in the history of the Armenian lan - that it was at the expense of reducing the num - Diocesan Delegate.) guage and has studied and lived in Armenia since the Brezhnev era.) 16 S ATURDAY , A UGUST 20 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR US-Armenian Rock Star Calls for Change in Armenia

TANKIAN, from page 1 at the sprawling Tumo Center for Creative Teghut forest.” “I think having a rule of law in the country Technologies ahead of the concert attended by The outspoken singer from top to bottom will alleviate a lot of con - some 10,000 fans. He received a medal from revered by Armenians cerns, whether it’s traffic tickets or taxes or Prime Minister Tigran Sargisian at a separate around the world went on to wages or how many hours someone should meeting on Friday. advocate Armenia’s transfor - work. It’s all connected to this one thing of An Armenian government statement cited mation into “a lot more self- enforcing the rule of law,” he said. “And the Tigran Sargisian as praising his vocal campaign sufficient” country because efficiencies created by the lowering of corrup - for an official US recognition of the Armenian of its geographic location tion will actually really spur productivity in this Genocide. It said the premier also pointed out and uneasy relations with country … and that will make it easier for for - that Tankian’s visits are important for promot - neighbors. He called, among eign and local investment.” ing rock music in Armenia. other things, for more gov - Tankian drew rapturous applause from the Tankian said on Monday that he discussed ernment subsidies to farm - audience when he singled out the need for a with Sargisian plans by an Armenian mining ers and a strict ban on genet - strict separation between business and politics. company to develop Teghut, a massive copper ically modified agricultural “In Armenia we have business and politics in and molybdenum deposit in the northern Lori products. the same seat,” he stated. “So one of them has region covered by a 357-hectare forest. Tankian, who will turn got to get off the seat. You know, they can’t be The Teghut project, if implemented, will lead 44 next Sunday, cautioned, sitting in the same space.” to the destruction of 128,000 trees. Critics say however, that Armenians Prime Minister Tigran Sargisian presents a medal to Serj Tankian in The rock star, who has mainly performed as that would wreak further havoc on Armenia’s should be “patient” in recognition of his efforts toward Genocide recognition and innova - a solo artist in recent years, addressed more green areas that have already shrunk dramati - expecting positive changes tive art. than 200 at the end of a nearly weeklong visit cally since the 1990s. in their country. “We are a to the country of his ancestors. The highlight Tankian heaped praise on Armenian envi - 20-year-old country and in of his trip was an open-air concert late on ronmentalists campaigning against the project. retrospect, if you look at the whole situation, Tankian was also “really excited” by the Sunday dedicated to the inauguration in “I think they are doing a great job,” he said. “I I think we are doing pretty well, despite ecstatic and mostly young crowd that turned Yerevan of an information technology educa - fully and firmly agree with their stance. I think everything that we talked about,” he said. up for his concert broadcast live by an tion center set up by a US businessman of open-pit mining is very dangerous in this coun - “It’s a beautiful country with beautiful peo - Armenian TV channel. “It was something I’d Armenian origin. try and everywhere else. I think we’ll be poi - ple. There is a lot of potential, there is a lot never experienced before … It was a level of Tankian met with President Serge Sargisian soning our lives by opening up that mine in the of energy.” high that I’d never had before,” he said.

Turkey Warns of ‘Steps’ if Syria Continues Crackdown on Protests

Latakia over the weekend, activists said, as countries and others were trying to isolate The Syrian military and security forces By Anthony Shadid well as gunfire that originated from ships off Assad’s leadership. The escalation in violence pressed on with raids in Latakia on Monday, the coast. The Syrian government denied that seems to have embarrassed Turkish officials, August 15, especially on a southern neigh - ships fired at Latakia. who had only last week urged at least a mea - borhood inhabited by Palestinian refugees BEIRUT (New York Times) — Turkey’s for - Activists say 31 people have been killed sure of patience in seeing whether Assad and poor Syrians, but the violence appeared eign minister demanded yesterday that the since the beginning of the Latakia assault. would act. less pronounced than over the weekend. Syrian government end its crackdown on a “This is our final word to the Syrian five-month-old uprising “immediately and authorities: Our first expectation is that unconditionally,’’ warning that unspecified these operations stop immediately and steps would be taken otherwise. unconditionally,’’ Davutoglu told a news con - The comments by the minister, Ahmet ference in Ankara, Turkey. “If the operations KOHAR All Time Davutoglu, who visited the Syrian capital, do not end, there would be nothing more to Damascus, just last week, were the latest discuss about steps that would be taken,’’ he addition to a semantic exercise in diplomatic said, without saying what that action might ambiguity, as the United States, European include. Armenian Favorites 3 countries, Turkey and Syria’s Arab neighbors Diplomats have said that they believe have sought to condemn the violence while Turkey, during Davutoglu’s visit with Assad, giving President Bashar Assad the chance to gave the Syrian government two weeks to After much anticipation, HAYASA Productions LTD releas - change his response to the protests. introduce sweeping changes. The precise es KOHARʼs, “All Time Armenian Favorites 3.” The The Syrian government has ignored the nature of those changes remains unclear, but condemnations. Just days after the visit by the window came amid a flurry of conversa - three DVDʼs feature over six hours of live concert at the Davutoglu, who says he has visited Syria tions between President Obama, Prime Opea Theater of Damascus and the citadel amphitheater of more than 60 times, the government sent mil - Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey Aleppo. itary and security forces into the port of and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. Latakia, the third city to fall target to a crack - No less apparent are the Syrian govern - down that activists say killed 260 people this ment’s intentions. It has continued to insist month. that it is facing a rebellion by armed Islamists Since the beginning of August, government funded from abroad. It described the violence forces have retaken control of Hama, in cen - in Latakia, where the crackdown began tral Syria and Deir al-Zour, in the east, both Saturday, as an issue of security forces pur - of which witnessed demonstrations by hun - suing men armed with machine guns, dreds of thousands of people earlier this sum - grenades and explosive devices. mer. Some analysts have criticized Davutoglu’s In Hama, a Western official said security visit to Syria, arguing that it only bolstered forces used antiaircraft guns against civilian the credibility of the Syrian government at buildings. The same tactic was used in the very time the United States, European

Plaintiffs Score Early Victory against Turkish Banks in Armenian Genocide Lawsuit The documentary material portrays the built up process of LAWSUIT, from page 1 plaint by August 19. Ziraat Bank’s motion to dismiss the complaint The court additionally recognized that the the stages in Damascus and the Citadel of Aleppo with for insufficient service of process. The court Republic of Turkey had also been recently some interview with conductor Sebouh Abcarian, who acknowledged that the plaintiffs presented served with the complaint through diplomatic depicts the heroic past associated with his father and the “credible evidence that their process servers channels — a lengthy process involving high- citadel. made several attempts to serve the bank defen - level contacts between the US Embassy in The “must own” KOHAR — All Time Armenian Favorites dants at addresses in “New York City... [and] Ankara, Turkey and the Turkish Foreign were repeatedly denied access to the buildings Ministry — and must also file papers responding three package comes with a 128-page song booklet that and [were even]...misdirected as to Ziraat to the complaint by August 19. includes the lyrics of the songs in Armenian and transliterat - Bank’s actual location.” “From the outset, the banks have sought to ed. The court further found that the banks’ secu - make it as difficult as possible to litigate this law - For more information, go to rity guards had “engaged in behavior apparent - suit,” says Vartkes Yeghiayan with the Yeghiayan ly designed to thwart service of process.” The Law Firm. “Finally, after months of maneuvering banks did not deny having actual knowledge of and numerous attempts to evade service, the US http://hayasashop.com/. the pending lawsuit, and thus the court ordered federal court has required all three defendants to them to serve a responsive pleading to the com - respond to the Armenians’ complaint.”