SEPTEMBER 9, 2017 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVIII, NO. 8, Issue 4502 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF New Armenian Mirror- Fund Established for Houston Armenians Spectator Website HOUSTON — The Category 4 Hurricane Launched Harvey, which made landfall on August 25, dumped more than 50 inches of rain in WATERTOWN — The Armenian Mirror-Spectator some spots of Houston and its suburbs, is proud to announce the launch of its new, putting large chunks of the city under revamped and interactive website, https://mirror- water or devastated. spectator.com/ The St. Kevork Armenian Church in While the address has not changed, the content Houston has not been spared in the devas- and functionality have. Readers will be able to tation. Rev. Martiros Hakobyan and Parish renew subscriptions online, as well as place ads. In Council Chair Areg Sahakian estimate that addition, we will have the ability to upload videos a quarter of the parishioners have been on the site. severely affected — with many Armenian Readers can leave comments on stories on the families displaced, their family homes unin- site, which will appear every week. habitable, their personal belongings lost. A new calendar function will also automatically In a directive this week, Diocesan be updated every week. Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian The new website was created by the team at called on all parishes to hold special collec- Pantoo Marketing and Advertising Agency in tions on each of the Sundays of September Newton (www.pantoo.com or https://www.face- — starting September 3, and continuing on book.com/PantooCreativeAgency). September 10, 17, and 24 — to help provide The storm submerged entire neighborhoods in and around Houston As various functions go live, we will update readers. relief to the affected people of St. Kevork Church. Putin Congratulates Checks should be made out to the type “St. Kevork Flood Relief” in the space check includes “St. Kevork Flood Relief” in Diocese of the Armenian Church of provided). the memo. The Diocese will send a tax- Russian and Syrian America (630 Second Avenue, New York, The Diocese encourages everyone to deductible letter. NY 10016), with the memo: St. Kevork help with the general relief effort. PayPal Giving Fund: Pay online by cred- Military on victory in Flood Relief. The Diocese will be transfer- Funds are starting to be collected across it card, provide your name and email or Deir ez-Zor ring funds to the Houston parish every few various areas to support the Houston remain anonymous. You will receive letters days, as proceeds from each week’s parish Armenian community. and tax deductible information from MOSCOW (Armenpress) — Russian President collections arrive. Armenian Church Eastern Diocese of PayPal Giving Fund and we may receive Vladimir Putin extended congratulations to the Donations can also be made on the America: Donate by check to our Diocese your name and email address if you choose. Russian and Syrian militaries for the largescale vic- Eastern Diocese’s secure server (please in New York, and they will wire the funds Funds will be received within 15-45 days. tory over terrorists in the city of Deir ez Zor and select “Other” in the drop-down menu, and to us at a regular interval. Ensure your see FLOOD, page 20 also sent a telegram to Syrian President Bashar al- Assad, Tass news agency reported on September 5. Knights and Daughters of Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday, September 5, “Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin has con- Vartan Hold Grand gratulated the command of the Russian military Convocation in Cambridge group as well as the command of the Syrian state army on such a strategically important vic- CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Knights and tory over terrorists from the standpoint of Daughters of Vartan held their 77th Grand Syria’s liberation from the Islamic State (a ter- Convocation rorist organization outlawed in Russia).” August 8 to According to Peskov, “President Putin sent to By Aram Arkun 14 at the Syrian President (Bashar) Assad a telegram, in Mirror-Spectator Staff H y a t t which he highly evaluated this strategic victory and R e g e n c y congratulated the Syrian president with such an Hotel, hosted important step toward the liberation of Syria from by Ararat Lodge and Arpie Otyag (lodge). terrorism.” Peskov added that “terrorists put up a There was a full program of events and festivi- solid resistance and they still continue resisting, ties attended by member Knights and used suicide bombers and 50 of them were elimi- Daughters from around the country, culmi- nated, but the zone of the breakthrough keeps nating in the election of the 99th Grand growing and the battle moved to the streets of Deir Council. ez-Zor.” The events began Wednesday morning “This is a very important strategic victory,” with a bus tour of some of the Armenian Peskov added. cultural institutions in the Boston area, Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said earlier that including the Armenian Cultural Deir ez-Zor was the main strategic point on the Foundation (ACF) in Arlington, the Euphrates. An end to its blockade would largely Armenian Museum of America (ALMA) in herald completion of the struggle against terrorists Watertown, the National Association for in Syria. A New Restaurant Brings Middle Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) in Belmont, and the Armenian Heritage Eastern Flavors to the South End Park in downtown Boston. The tour was led by former Commander Jack Medzorian BOSTON — The South End in the past couple of decades has become a desti- and historian Aram Arkun. Talks were INSIDE nation for fine dining. A new addition to the list of restaurants there will be Nina given by staff or leaders of each institution and Raffi Festekjian’s anoush’ella saj see KNIGHTS, page 11 kitchen, launched by this month. By Alin K. Gregorian The “fine casual” restaurant, the name Kurkjian Mirror-Spectator Staff of which literally means “may it be sweet,” is located at 53 West Newton St. and offers traditional Lebanese foods. Paintings The space is large and airy, with a long communal table as well as many other smaller tables and cozy nooks. The large table is covered with glass, under which Page 14 there are spaces filled with many of the Middle Eastern spices that will be used in the recipes, such as za’atar and cardamom, explained Nina Festekjian. Some of the food that will be welcomed by those from the Middle East or sim- ply fans of food from the region includes sabich, a sandwich with hardboiled eggs and grilled eggplants, as well as shakshukah, eggs in a rich garlicky tomato sauce. INDEX The centerpiece of the restaurant is the saj, a convex griddle for making Arts and Living ...... 13 Lebanese flat bread, manoush. That bread then is transformed into various Armenia ...... 2 yummy concoctions such as manaish (olive oil and za’atar) or lahme jun (meat Community News...... 6 Editorial ...... 18 Outgoing Grand Commander Steven and tomato sauce). International ...... 3-5 see FOOD, page 9 Kradjian and outgoing Grand Matron Sona Manuelian 2 S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA

News From Armenia President Attends Artsakh Republic Armenian Woman Independence Wounded in Egypt Celebrations Arrives Home for STEPANAKERT — President Serzh Sargsyan on September Treatment 2 participated in celebrations dedicated to the 26th anniver- YEREVAN (Arka) — An Armenian tourist, who was sary of the proclamation of wounded at the Red Sea Hurghada resort in Egypt, Artsakh Republic. returned home, Tigran Balayan, press secretary of Accompanied by President of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, wrote on Twitter, on Artsakh Bako Sahakyan, the September 5. official delegation of the On July 14, two German women and a Czech A large Armenian flag is carried by residents of Stepanakert. Republic of Armenia and sever- woman were stabbed to death by an Egyptian man in al guests from abroad, Hurghada and three others, including an Armenian Sargsyan joined the solemn woman, were seriously wounded. march from Renaissance “The Armenian citizen wounded in Hurghada Square all the way through to returned safely home to continue treatment,” the Stepanakert Memorial to Balayan wrote. pay tribute to the memory of Earlier, Armenian Health Minister Levon Altunyan those heroes who perished for ordered to organize a consultation of specialists after Artsakh’s independence. transporting the woman to Armenia, to assess her Later today, President condition and report on the further process of her Sargsyan attended a festive treatment. reception in capital Stepanakert, followed by a gala Another Wildfire Rages concert dedicated to the procla- mation of Artsakh’s indepen- In Armenia dence held at Renaissance Square. YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Hundreds of firefighters, President Sargsyan, center, with Karabakh President Bako Sahakian in Stepanakert forestry workers and civilians battled a massive wild- fire in central Armenia for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, September 6. The fire raged in a partly wooded area near Byurakan, a village 35 kilometers northwest of Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Announces Yerevan. It is located on the southern slope of Mount Aragats. Scholarship for Yezidi Students Residents of Byurakan and nearby communities as well as more than a hundred soldiers and a military YEREVAN — The Aurora dents that education can be a force for Scholarship Program, each of whom helicopter joined the firefighting efforts this week. Humanitarian Initiative has announced peace,” Vardanyan added. has been chosen for their academic As was the case during two previous major wildfires a new annual scholarship for Yazidi stu- “This scholarship is the opportunity potential and social engagement. that erupted in other parts of the country last dents, established in partnership with of a lifetime for young people from my Together, the 11 students come from month, the rocky terrain made it practically impossi- renowned Yazidi human rights activist community. I am grateful to the Aurora Syria, Lebanon, Palestinian Camps in ble for the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Lamya Haji Bashar. It is the latest addi- Humanitarian Initiative for opening Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Situations to deploy heavy fire engines near the tion to the Gratitude Scholarship the door to a global education that will Greece, Egypt, Ethiopia and Iraq. Each blaze. Program, a $7-million initiative estab- be transformative for these students is either a refugee or displaced, living Thick plumes of white smoke continued to rise lished in gratitude to the above the burning pastures, trees and bushes around people from countries who Byurakan on Wednesday afternoon. offered shelter and food to “We have modern fire engines but they can’t those displaced by the approach such terrain,” complained the head of the Armenian Genocide more ministry’s Civil Defense Department, Artak than a century ago. Nahapetian. He said his emergency teams are only The first beneficiary of the able to use some of their outdated Soviet-made Lamya Haji Bashar machinery. Scholarship is Aido Khiro “As of noon, there was no active fire in this par- Omar, an 18-year-old student ticular area, there were only small smoldering from Mosul, Iraq, a city rav- sources,” Nahapetian said at the scene. “But as you aged by violence since 2014. can see, 200-300 square meters of forest is burning Omar was selected for his down there and we are doing everything to contain academic excellence and it.” ambition to create education The official estimated that the fire has burned 200 opportunities for orphans in hectares of woodland and grass since erupting on Iraq, for whom access to life- Sunday. enriching learning has been The authorities similarly struggled to extinguish disrupted. the August wildfires that broke out in the Vayots The Lamya Haji Bashar Dzor province and the Khosrov Forest State Reserve Scholarship will be awarded southeast of Yerevan in the space of two days. They annually in recognition of followed weeks of unusually high temperatures that Haji Bashar’s fight for sur- have continued into this month. vival from sexual enslave- The Khosrov blaze was particularly serious. It was ment by the Islamic State in Lamya Haji Bashar put out with the help of a heavy water-dropping air- 2014. Following many failed craft sent by the Russian Ministry of Emergency attempts, she eventually Situations at the Armenian government’s request. escaped enslavement in 2016 only to who have suffered and overcome pro- in extreme poverty, or living with the be caught in a landmine explosion that found obstacles,” said Lamya Haji loss of a parent or guardian. The schol- Armenian Defense left her with extensive injuries. Today, Bashar. ars will begin their studies in she remains dedicated to her work as a Omar will study in the two-year September at one of the 17 UWC Minister Meets with public advocate in Germany, raising International Baccalaureate program schools and colleges around the world. awareness for the plight of the Yazidi on a full scholarship that includes The Gratitude Scholarship Program CSTO Gen-Sec community around the globe. tuition, accommodation and expenses is a joint undertaking of the Aurora at UWC Dilijan in Armenia, an interna- Humanitarian Initiative and the Near YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Defense Minister of “Lamya is a role model for all of us, tional boarding school that hosts stu- East Foundation. Over the course of Armenia Vigen Sargsyan met with the Collective especially for young people fighting for dents from 82 countries. “Through an the program, 100 promising students Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary social justice around the world. She is experiential learning curriculum that from countries affected by conflict, dis- General Yuri Khachaturov on August 28. He arrived a shining example of the integrity and taps energy and idealism, Aido will be placement and poverty will benefit in Armenia to discuss preparatory works of a number dedication that the Aurora provided a platform both to educate his from the opportunity to study at one of of CSTO sessions scheduled in Autumn in Minsk. Humanitarian Initiative strives to rec- peers on Yazidi culture, ensuring its the 17 UWC schools and colleges During the meeting the sides also focused on the ognize and inspire in young leaders.” rich history is not forgotten, and to put based on four different continents. To- preparatory works of two military exercises to be said Ruben Vardanyan, co-founder of gratitude into action so that he may date, 21 young scholars have begun conducted in the Republic of Armenia in October, as the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and make his dreams a reality for the their studies in the UWC College net- well as issues of international and regional security. the United World College (UWC) in Dilijan. “As UWC Dilijan strives to orphans of Iraq,” said Denise Davidson, work with support from the Gratitude bring together aspiring young leaders Head of UWC Dilijan. Scholarship Program. from around the world, the Lamya Haji Omar will join 10 other young bene- Further information is available at Bashar Scholarship reminds our stu- ficiaries of the 2017 Gratitude www.auroraprize.com S A T U R D A Y , S E P T E M B E R 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 INTERNATIONAL Turkey’s President Calls US Indictments International News

Of His Guards a ‘Scandal’ India Ready to Further

anger when the initial indictments were attempt and vowed to fight extradition. Deepen Diplomatic ties By Rick Gladstone announced three months ago, doubled Thousands of people suspected of with Armenia down on his criticism on Friday when being followers of Gulen and his sect asked about the additional indictments. have been purged from their jobs and YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Foreign minister of WASHINGTON (New York Times) — “This is completely a scandal,” he told prosecuted in Turkey since the coup Armenia Edward Nalbandian and minister of exter- Turkey’s president denounced what he reporters in televised remarks on the attempt. Erdogan’s government refers to nal affairs of India Sushma Swaraj exchanged con- called the “scandalous” American judi- first day of the Eid al-Adha holiday. “It Gulen’s sect as Feto, an acronym for gratulatory messages on the 25th anniversary of cial system on Friday, September 1, is clearly a scandalous sign of how jus- “Fethullah Gulen terrorist organization.” establishment of diplomatic relations between responding to new indictments of his tice works in America.” The Turkish leader also has criticized Armenia and India, press service of the Armenian bodyguards over a brawl during his visit foreign ministry told Armenpress. In his message the to Washington in May. Armenian FM appreciated the firm inter state rela- The remarks in Istanbul by the presi- tions between Armenian and India that are based on dent, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, under- mutual trust and respect, stating that high-level polit- scored his view of the indictments as ical dialogue and broad legal framework have been another affront in an increasingly formed between the two countries. strained relationship with the United Nalbandian attached importance to the recent visit States, a NATO ally. of Indian Vice President to Armenia which gave a Members of Erdogan’s armed securi- new impetus to the bilateral ties at various spheres. ty detail were captured on video punch- In her message the Indian minister said the close ing, kicking and choking pro-Kurdish relations of the two countries are based on historical- protesters, including American citizens, cultural ties that have more than two millenniums of outside the Turkish ambassador’s resi- history. dence in Washington on May 16. Video clips also showed that Erdogan, who Kirkuk Votes to Take was in Washington to meet with President Trump, witnessed the brawl. Part in Kurdish Washington police officers intervened to halt the fighting, which the Independence Poll Metropolitan Police chief, Peter The Turkish president’s guards who have been indicted Newsham, described as a brutal attack KIRKUK (Aljazeera) — Council in Iraqi province on peaceful protesters that had left at backs participation in September 25 referendum, but least 11 people injured. American law- Turkmen and Arab members boycott vote. makers and other officials expressed Erdogan also said he would discuss the American military for aiding Syrian Councilors in the Iraqi province of Kirkuk have outrage that Erdogan’s guards had the issue with President Trump if the Kurdish militia fighters in the fight to voted to take part in next month’s Kurdish indepen- behaved in such a manner. opportunity arose. Both are attending rout the Islamic State from Syria. dence referendum, in a session, however, that was Twelve Turkish security officers were the United Nations’ annual General Erdogan and his aides regard the Syrian boycotted by Turkmen and Arab members. charged in June in connection with the Assembly summit meeting later this Kurds as enemies because of their links The central government is strongly opposed to attack. A federal grand jury indicted month. to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Iraqi Kurdistan’s planned September 25 referendum, three more this past Tuesday. Four oth- The criminal charges have added to Party, the main Kurdish militant group which is non-binding but could lead to independence. ers also have been charged. Erdogan’s irritation with the United in Turkey, also known as the P.K.K. Kirkuk, an ethically-mixed oil-rich province is not All but two of the defendants — a pair States, which predates Trump’s presi- “These developments in the United part of the Kurdistan region, but has a large Kurdish of Turkish-American businessmen — are dency. States are not good at all,” Erdogan said population. at large, and most, if not all, are believed Erdogan has repeatedly called on the Friday. “The United States is still a In Tuesday’s vote, 22 of the 24 present councilors to be in Turkey. American judicial authorities to extra- country where the Feto gang is being in the 41-member Kirkuk council voted in favor of Erdogan’s aides have said his security dite Fethullah Gulen, a cleric who lives protected.” holding the referendum, said Hala Nur Eddine. detail was shielding the Turkish presi- in exile in Pennsylvania. He is the leader He also said the United States “has Kirkuk’s provincial council consists of 26 Kurds, dent from what they called inadequate of a Turkish Muslim sect accused by literally become a country where the nine Turkmen and six Arabs. protection by the Washington police Erdogan of having helped orchestrate P.K.K. terrorist organization is under While Baghdad says Kirkuk is “administratively from the demonstrators, who were an attempted coup that roiled Turkey in protection.” dependent” on Iraq’s central government, many protesting Erdogan’s crackdown on July 2016. (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09 Kurds — including the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Kurdish separatists. Gulen, a longtime critic of Erdogan’s, /01/world/europe/erdogan-turkey- which dominates political life in the province — Erdogan, who had expressed his has denied any connection to the coup washington-bodyguards-indicted.html) demands the province’s incorporation into the Kurdish region. Kirkuk’s Turkmen, for their part, oppose this, insisting that the ethnically-diverse province enjoys a “special status.” Speaking to journalists afterwards, Kirkuk Armenian Defense Chief Visits China Governor Najm Eddine Karim described the vote as a “historic event.” BEIJING (RFE/RL) — China’s talks an agreement on the release of 10 ing cooperation and implementing a But Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi Defense Minister Chang Wanquan and million yuans ($1.5 million) in fresh number of mutually beneficial projects in denounced the decision as “wrong.” his visiting Armenian counterpart Vigen Chinese military aid to Armenia. the area of defense,” the Armenian Sargsyan reportedly agreed to deepen Earlier in the day, Sargsyan visited Defense Ministry said at the time. Armenian Shoes Make military ties between their countries the Beijing headquarters of the China Sargsyan’s predecessor, Seyran when they met in Beijing on Monday, Poly Group, a state-owned business con- Ohanian, paid an official visit to Beijing in Big Impression in Russia September 4. glomerate engaged, among other December 2013, less than two years after “The sides concurred that it is neces- things, in exports of Chinese-made two states signed an agreement on “mili- MOSCOW (Arka) — With the support of the sary to step up efforts to deepen Chinese- weapons. The Defense Ministry said he tary and military-technical cooperation.” Development Foundation of Armenia (DFA), eight and top Poly News reports said in 2011 Armenia shoemaking companies jointly represented Armenia Group executives has acquired Chinese AR1A multiple- at the MosShoes-2017 fair, taking place in Moscow “expressed readi- launch rocket systems with a firing September 5-8. Following the previous fair in March ness to continue range of more than 100 kilometers. Armenian companies received export orders worth active discussions Yerevan did not officially confirm that, more than 300 million drams (around $627,000), on prospects for though. So far the Armenian military DFA said in a press release today. mutually benefi- has demonstrated only WM-80 rockets MosShoes, the biggest exhibition of footwear and cial bilateral systems that were supplied by China in leather accessories in Russia and Eastern Europe, is defense coopera- the late 1990s. conducted four times a year, attracting wholesale tion.” No details China’s President Xi Jinping and his buyers, specialists and distributors. The DFA repre- were reported. Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan sentatives assist the Armenian producers in finding C h i n e s e - apparently discussed defense issues at partners and holding meetings with potential buyers Armenian military their March 2015 talks in Beijing. A five- and costumers during the exhibition. ties appear to have page joint communique released by “The Foundation represents Armenia and its com- China’s Defense Minister Chang Wanquan and his visiting already deepened them after the talks said the two petitive products at their best at various internation- Armenian counterpart Vigen Sargsyan in the last several nations will “continue their practical al platforms. It also creates all the necessary condi- years. A top partnership in areas such as mutual vis- tions enabling the attending companies to hold meet- Chinese military its by military delegations, training of ings with international buyers and suppliers. I am Armenian cooperation in the area of official, Rear Admiral Guan Youfei, visit- military personnel, and provision of mil- hopeful that Armenian companies will seize this defense, especially given the existence of ed Yerevan in April for talks with itary aid.” opportunity to the maximum and will conclude new potential for that,” the Armenian Sargsian as well as the chief of the Defense Minister Sargsyan was cited export contracts”, noted the event manager of the Defense Ministry said in a statement on Armenian army staff, Lieutenant by his press office as telling Chang that Marketing team of DFA Lusine Hovhannisyan. their talks. “They reached an agreement General Movses Hakobian, and Deputy Armenia supports China’s increased to intensify mutual contacts.” Defense Minister Davit Pakhchanian. role in “confronting contemporary glob- The two ministers signed after the “Agreements were reached on expand- al challenges.” 4 S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL

customs union were out of the question. These continuing stopover on a longer flight. It has become evident that the arrests have “nothing in common with our principle of the energetic efforts undertaken by Merkel and Foreign Hostage to rule of law,” she stated. Rejecting Erdogan’s earlier public Minister Sigmar Gabriel, to free the prisoners, or even to appeal to German voters of Turkish background, not to cast enforce consular contact with them, have failed and that their ballots for the CDU, SPD or Green party, Merkel said, does not bode well for future captives. “That is alone the decision of people in our country who Prisoner exchanges are generally associated with wartime Erdogan have German citizenship.” situations, or post-war negotiations between former bel- In a nationally televised debate on September 3 between ligerents. Or with crises between nations whose diplomatic Merkel and her SPD challenger, chancellor candidate Martin relations are strained or even cut; one thinks of the Cold Schulz, viewed by 16 million people, Turkey was a central War spy-exchanges, the US hostages in post-revolutionary By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach issue. Schulz promised that he, as chancellor, “would termi- Iran, or American prisoners in Vietnam or North Korea. Special to the Mirror-Spectator nate talks on Turkey’s entrance into the EU,” saying that “A Germany and Turkey are not at war, and their diplomatic point has been reached where we have to end the econom- ties are still officially valid. That notwithstanding, Erdogan ic relations, financial relations, customs union talks and is proceeding as if they were engaged in hostilities. As the BERLIN — When Turkish authorities arrest German citi- negotiation for membership” into the EU. Merkel explained FAZ and other media reported, Erdogan has arranged to be zens they are not taking prisoners, but rather collecting that according to regulations, the EU as a whole would have given enhanced powers enabling him to play the role of hostages. What was mooted as a hypothesis months ago has to agree to end negotiations. She stressed that her party the negotiator in a hostage-exchange scenario. On August 15, a been confirmed by the detention of two more individuals CDU — unlike Schulz’s SPD — had never been in favor of decree was issued in Turkey, which, one should remember, holding German passports. Turkish membership at all, and had proposed a “privileged is still in a state of emergency. A similar decree was blocked On Thursday August 31, upon their arrival at Antalya air- partnership” instead. The negotiations “are non-existent, by the opposition back in 2015, but today the situation is port a married couple were arrested and taken into custody. anyway” she said. The real problem is the direction Turkey much changed. Article 74 of Decree 694 confers on Erdogan German consular authorities, who learned of the action is heading in; Merkel said Turkey “is distancing itself from the power to swap foreigners detained in Turkish jails for through non-official channels, inquired officially and all political manners at a breathtaking speed.” The question Turkish prisoners detained in foreign countries, “if national received confirmation from airport police, that the two were is: where will it all lead? security or the interests of the country require it.” The new indeed German citizens of Turkish descent. Although no for- decree applies not only to indicted felons but also persons mal charges had been made, it was said that the reasons Creeping Dictatorship detained who are awaiting trial – precisely the category into were political. The two were apparently accused of being There are no serious doubts regarding the game Erdogan which the 11 German political prisoners fall. As for the for- members of the movement of Fethullah Gülen, who is offi- would like to play with the Wild West tactics he has ordered mal procedure, according to the FAZ report, it is the Turkish cially designated a terrorist in Turkey, for his presumed role his police force to follow. “Catch a German” is the name of foreign minister who must initiate the process, which the in the failed coup attempt last summer. Thus, they brought the game, and the more citizens of the Federal Republic he interior minister then is to propose, followed by the presi- the number of politically motivated detentions of Germans can put behind bars, the better his chances (he figures) of dent, who is to confirm it. At the same time, the authorities in Turkey to 12. forcing Berlin to extradite to Turkey targeted persons he ruled that the length of time that persons may be kept in For days, German authorities had no access to the two believes are on German soil. As he himself said, “If they [the detention awaiting trial should be extended from 5 to 7 individuals and the foreign ministry confirmed their identi- Germans] are not helpful in extraditing, then they should years. This would apply to Germans like Deniz Yücel et al. ties only on September 3. The same day, it was announced know that they will not be able to have the citizens that fall The problem that the Turkish president faces, but refuses that a lawyer had established contact with them. On the into our hands either.” to acknowledge, is that neither Germany nor the European next day, it was reported that the woman had been released. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, a daily of record, Union as a whole are likely to act according to his adven- Although initially it was said that both were only German published an extensive report on September 2, with back- turous script. The EU has legal proceedings to regulate the citizens, remarks by the Turkish foreign minister indicated ground on Erdogan’s hostage-taking policy. The FAZ quot- transfer of citizens back to their home country to serve their he considered them dual citizens. ed remarks that an unidentified official, involved in bilater- sentences after they have been imprisoned abroad, for hav- al Turkish-German relations, had made to the paper back in ing committed a crime. But here, what is the crime? What Cause Célèbre in Berlin the middle of July: “By now we have the impression that the legitimate court has heard the case and ruled in fairness? In what has become almost a ritual, political figures in Turkish government is following a plan to systematically The same may be said of those persons Erdogan seeks to Berlin denounced the arrests and fed the debate on what arrest Germans,” he said. “They apparently want to reach a extradite. Among the names mooted in the German press new measures should be pursued to pressure the govern- critical mass, with the expectation that they will be able to are Adil Öksüz, an Islamic theologian, attorneys Zekeriya Öz ment of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Chancellor Angela Merkel exchange the hostages for Turkish citizens who have filed and Celal Kara, who had carried out investigations into blasted the move, saying such arrests “in most cases have no for asylum in Germany, since they are suspected of terror- alleged corruption among persons in Erdogan’s entourage, basis” in law. She called for “a determined response” and ism there.” The FAZ quoted the person’s travel warning. and numerous military and diplomatic personnel who have added, “Perhaps we have to rethink our Turkey policy fur- Germans who might have reason to believe that they could applied for political asylum. Have they committed any ther.” Concretely she said that talks on expanding the EU be arrested should cancel plans to travel there, even for a crime?

EU Gearing Up for New Accord with Armenia

YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — The European Union (EU) is making final preparations to sign a landmark treaty with Armenia in November, the head of the EU Delegation in Yerevan, Piotr Switalski, said on Wednesday, September 6. “I am fresh from [a trip to] Brussels, I landed in Yerevan at 5 o’clock this morning,” Switalski told reporters. “Based on my conversations with all persons tasked with prepar- ing for the signing of the agreement, I can say that every- thing is going according to plan.” “People [in Brussels] are working very hard so that we can sign the agreement at the [EU’s] Eastern Partnership summit in November,” he said. “On the EU side, we are preparing everything.” The Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), finalized in March, is designed to deep- en the EU’s political and economic relations with Armenia. It reportedly contains the main political provisions of a more far-reaching Association Agreement which the two sides nearly concluded in 2013. President Serzh Sargsyan prevented the signing of that accord with his unexpected decision to seek Armenia’s Pan-Armenian Symphony Orchestra to Perform at accession to the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). The move was widely attributed to Russian pres- Gramophone Classical Music Awards sure exerted on the Armenian government. Late last month he dismissed suggestions that the LONDON — The newly-formed Pan-Armenian Symphony France. Smbatyan, is not only the founder, Artistic director and prin- planned alternative deal with the EU may also collapse at Orchestra will perform at the Gramophone Classical Music Awards cipal conductor for the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia, but is the last minute. “We have no reason to not sign that doc- 2017, widely regarded as the Oscars of the classical music world. also an Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia. ument,” he said of the CEPA. He insisted that Moscow did Led by conductor Sergey Smbatyan, the orchestra will join some The glittering event on September 13, which for the first time not pressure him into abandoning the Association of the biggest names in classical music as Gramophone Award win- takes place at the 8 Northumberland Avenue venue, honors the Agreement four years ago. ners past and present take to the stage to celebrate the 40th anniver- most outstanding recordings of the previous year in 12 cate- Asked whether Russia’s mounting tensions with sary of the awards, which celebrate the very best of classical music. gories, with one of these named as Recording of the Year on the Western powers could scuttle the CEPA, Switalski reiter- Several high-profile guests from Armenia are also expected to join night. ated that the EU expects to sign the agreement in the celebrations. James Jolly, Gramophone’s editor-in-chief, said: “We’re delighted November. For the second year running, the ceremony will be live-streamed to be joined once again by an orchestra for the Awards. Drawing on The EU diplomat also noted in that regard that Armenia on medici.tv. some of the finest Armenian orchestral musicians from ensembles and the EU are currently engaged in a “visa facilitation dia- The Pan-Armenian Symphony Orchestra comprises Armenian all around the world, the Pan-Armenian SO will add a truly inter- logue” aimed at making it easier for Armenian nationals to musicians from all around the world, and players are drawn from national dimension to the event. And we also look forward to some travel to EU member states. “I think it’s a very fruitful dia- other high-profile orchestras such as the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, Armenian orchestral music during the course of the evening played logue,” he said. the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra and the National Orchestra of by people who clearly respond to its magic.” S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5

Colombian Guerrilla Group Admits to Killing Russian-Armenian Hostage

The ELN has refused to stop taking hostages The ELN has sought peace before, holding By Helen Murphy and Luis Jaime Acosta for ransom, launching bomb attacks and extort- talks in Cuba and Venezuela between 2002 and ing foreign oil and mining companies while 2007, but experts have said those discussions talks are ongoing. The government has said it were dogged by lack of will on both sides. NORTHWESTERN JUNGLES, Colombia Foreign Ministry in Moscow did not immediate- will not move forward on issues like a bilateral Yerson is the commander of the Ernesto (Reuters) — Colombia’s ELN guerrilla group ly respond to requests for comment. ceasefire until it does. “Che” Guevara Front, that fights under the said a Russian-Armenian citizen it held hostage The ELN’s practice of kidnapping civilians is Talks with the ELN are being held as the command of the ELN leader known as Uriel for six months was killed in April while trying a key issue at peace talks taking place in the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia who commands the Western War Block Omar to escape, a startling admission that risks Ecuadorean capital of Quito. The fact that (FARC), until this year the biggest rebel group, Gomez. He declined to say how many rebels throwing current peace talks with the govern- Voskanyan was killed as talks progress and the has demobilized, formed a new political party fight in his unit. ment into jeopardy. ELN failed to inform the government may com- and ended its part in a civil war that killed more The ELN — which has kidnapped hundreds of In a rare interview, a commander of the plicate already tricky negotiations to end 53 than 220,000 people and displaced millions Colombians and foreigners for economic and National Liberation Army, Colombia’s last years of war and make the need to agree a over five decades. political gain — previously said in a statement active guerrilla group, said that ransoms from that Voskanyan escaped injured after a struggle kidnappings were necessary to keep its fighters that left several fighters wounded as they tried in the field and that peace would be impossible to release him to the International Committee without state funding to feed and clothe the of the Red Cross. rebels. The killing of Voskanyan may turn already The ELN seized Arsen Voskanyan in dire public perception further against the ELN, November. The group claimed that he was col- analyst Ariel Avila told Reuters. lecting endangered, poisonous frogs in the jun- “The impact will be on public opinion and in gles of the northwestern department of Choco the questioning of the talks,” he said. and accused him of wanting to smuggle wildlife Inspired by the Cuban revolution and estab- overseas. lished by radical Catholic priests in 1964, the After his lengthy captivity, Voskanyan was ELN was close to disappearing in the 1970s but shot when he grabbed a hand grenade in a bid steadily gained power again. to escape, according to the ELN commander, By 2002 it had as many as 5,000 fighters, who would only give his nom-de-guerre Yerson. financed by “war taxes” levied on landowners “He’s dead,” Yerson told Reuters in a remote and oil companies. It is now believed to have area along the banks of a river that sees fre- about 2,000 fighters, but Yerson, who would quent combat between the leftist rebels, gov- not confirm the number, said the group is heav- ernment troops and right-wing paramilitaries. ily recruiting. “The grenade exploded ... several of our boys Considered a terrorist group by the United were wounded, the entire unit of five boys. He States and the European Union, the ELN has fled, he was shot and killed ... The issue of his stepped up attacks on economic infrastructure body will be negotiated,” he said, adding that this year, hitting oil pipelines and power lines the death took place within his unit. Yerson Yerson is a commander with Colombia’s ELN. repeatedly. supplied no evidence to back up his assertions. President Juan Manuel Santos, who meted Another person with knowledge of the mat- out some of the most crushing military blows ter also subsequently confirmed that against the FARC and earned a Nobel Peace Voskanyan had been killed. ceasefire more pressing. His face covered by a thin black balaclava and Prize last year for his efforts at peace, has had Reuters could not independently confirm the “It makes it urgent to get a bilateral, verifi- wearing a beret and camouflage fatigues, less success with the ELN, which moves in circumstances surrounding Voskanyan’s death. able ceasefire as soon as possible so this does- Yerson, 35, said he has been fighting in mobile units of four or so fighters. Colombia’s government said it knows noth- n’t keep happening,” leftist Senator Antonio Colombia’s jungles and mountains “for many, The ELN has said it may declare a temporary ing of the ELN’s claim and the last it knew was Navarro Wolff, who once belonged to now- many years.” ceasefire to honor Pope Francis during his visit a statement from the ELN that said he had demobilized urban guerrilla group the M-19, Flanked by two fighters carrying semi-auto- next week to Colombia. escaped. told Reuters. matic rifles as other rebels watched on, he ques- “The responsibility is with the ELN,” the Yerson and his troops said they are not opti- tioned the government’s willingness to make senior official said, asking not to be named. mistic a peace agreement can be reached sufficient concessions but said he would adhere (Additional reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin The Russian Embassy in Colombia, because neither side will give ground on kid- to the wishes of his leadership if a peace deal in Moscow; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Colombia’s High Peace Commissioner and the napping. was reached. Mary Milliken and Bill Trott) Armenian Official Hails Israeli Freeze on Drone Sales to Azerbaijan

YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — A senior Armenian senior ADS executives agreed on launch the drone on July 7. The commander of an army Ministry’s decision positive, but they must be military official praised the Israeli authorities’ deadly craft on the target, according to Maariv. unit stationed in northeastern Karabakh said in consistent,” Pakhchanian told the Armenian reported decision to halt exports to Azerbaijan ADS denied the report. early August that two of his soldiers were light- military’s Hay Zinvor newspaper. “That incident of “suicide” drones manufactured by an Israeli The Azerbaijani military most recently ly wounded in the incident. may have been exposed, but I am convinced company accused of using them against an attacked its frontline positions with a suicide “Naturally, I find the Israeli Defense that there have been many more such cases.” Armenian army position. In a newspaper interview published this week, Deputy Defense Minister Davit Pakhchanian echoed those accusations, saying that Israeli arms dealers have repeatedly struck Newly Appointed Syrian Ambassador Presents Armenian targets at the behest of Azerbaijani officials. The company in question, Aeronautics Credentials to Armenian President Defense Systems (ADS), said last week that the Israeli Defense Ministry’s export control agency YEREVAN (Arka) — Ambassador of the Syrian Arab Republic to stressed that the Syrian authorities value Armenia’s position and has at least temporarily banned it from deliver- Armenia Mohammad Ahmad Haj Ibrahim presented this week his support in the reinstatement of peace and stability in the country. ing a batch of Orbiter 1K drones to a key for- credentials to President Serzh Sargsyan. He praised the Syrian-Armenian community, which is an integral eign client. In a statement, ADS said it was due As they discussed the agenda of the Armenian-Syrian relations, part of the country and has made a valuable contribution to the to supply $20 million worth of such unmanned the interlocutors touched upon the possibilities of developing and country’s development for many decades. aircraft, capable of carrying special explosive strengthening bilateral cooperation in different spheres of activity. payload, to the client in 2017-2018. Sargsyan and Haj Ibrahim exchanged views on the situation in The ADS statement did not specify the buyer Syria and in the Middle East, the problems and challenges faced in of the sophisticated weapon. But it did attribute the region. With reference to the Syrian crisis, President Serzh the ban to an ongoing inquiry conducted by the Sargsyan expressed the hope that the Syrian authorities and the Israeli agency. friendly Syrian people will be able to withstand that most serious The Israeli newspaper Maariv reported on test under the leadership of the President of their country, and will August 13 that the agency launched an investi- restore peace and stability in Syria, in which Armenia is so much gation after receiving a formal complaint stem- interested. ming from ADS’s commercial dealings with the “Any people may come to face trials in different periods of histo- Azerbaijani government. It said ADS represen- ry: only those who succeed in defying them continue their course. tatives traveled to Azerbaijan earlier this sum- Armenia is deeply concerned about the fate of the friendly Syrian mer to finalize a contract for the sale of Orbiter people. It was a great pain to follow the developments and the drones to the Azerbaijani military. humanitarian situation all the way through this process. We have The paper claimed that two Israeli drone been trying to support both the suffering Syrian-Armenian commu- operators working for the company rebuffed nity and the whole Syrian people,” Sargsyan noted. Mohammad Ahmad Haj Ibrahim Azerbaijani officials’ demand to demonstrate Thankful for the reception and kind remarks, Haj Ibrahim the use of the deadly drone by hitting the Armenian position with it. But other, more 6 S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Community News

USC, Zerunyan to Clovis Family Establish Policy, Management PhD Stranded in Program in Armenia Houston after

By Matthew Kredell Cruise Is Canceled

LOS ANGELES — The University of by Liz Gonzalez Southern California (USC) Price School of Public Policy is pursuing a plan to establish a special doctoral program in public policy and CLOVIS, Calif. (KFCH News) — A Clovis fam- management in Armenia, designed to build ily is now stranded in Houston, as a result of the academic infrastructure to address the Tropical Storm Harvey. significant public management needs of this “We had no idea that a storm that hasn’t hap- growing country and region. pened in ten years would happen this week- While Armenia has a growing need for end,” says Rebecca Simonian. trained public policy and management profes- Simonian, her husband and two of their chil- sionals, it does not have a PhD program at dren had planned to go on a cruise this week- any of its universities that can provide train- end. ing to meet this need. The USC Price The trip had been planned since April 2016. Armenian Scholars program would begin Simonian had been keeping up with news with awarding one student from Armenia a about Hurricane Harvey and had concerns full scholarship to enroll in the PhD in Public about how this would affect her family’s depar- policy and Management Program at the Price Greg Thomajan ture from Texas. School in 2019. Scholarship recipients must “I called asked if we could change it and leave make a commitment to return to Armenia to from Florida. But I was told the cruise hadn’t teach, research and train. been canceled, so we couldn’t do that,” she says. Each year for five years, USC Price will con- Greg Thomajan, the Dashing So the family left Fresno Saturday, and tinue enrolling an Armenian scholar, provid- arrived in Houston. ing comprehensive support — including It planned to board Royal Caribbean’s Liberty tuition, health insurance, housing, books, Haberdasher behind Zareh, of the Seas Sunday. food and transportation — to grow the facul- Despite the weather conditions, the cruise ty until a five-member department is ready to Calls it Quits line insisted in a series of messages that the trip sustainably prepare a new generation of poli- would go on as planned. cy thinkers and public management scholars BOSTON (Boston Globe) — The markets may fluctuate in the Financial But soon after the family started to drive to in Armenia. District, but one thing remains consistent. Be it bull or bear, the titans of indus- Texas City— and later Galveston— the cruise was The plan was developed by Prof. Frank try need their suits, and for the last 84 years, they bought them at Zareh. canceled. Zerunyan, who is of Armenian descent. Bob Kraft and John Fish are clients. Bobby Orr was, too. Mayors Kevin White “We were on the roads for two hours trying “The future of the Armenian democracy and John Hynes shopped there. Alan to make our way and find our way to safety,” rests on the shoulders of young leaders, aca- Shepard donned Zareh’s when he Simonian says. demics, who are committed to the practice of By Janelle Nanos wasn’t sporting a spacesuit. Others going on the cruise weren’t as lucky. teaching and rigor of research necessary to For the last 58 years, Monday They were already on site and wound up ensure that Armenia continues to develop through Friday, between the hours of stranded. into an independent market economy pro- 9 and 5, the dashing haberdasher behind the counter has been Greg Thomajan, “Their vehicles are under water, their luggage moting good governance,” Zerunyan said. who inherited the business from his father in the 1970s. So it was with a heavy is gone and they have no way to get to the air- Zerunyan secured support from Dean Jack heart that Thomajan began telling his customers that he’ll retire at year’s end, port,” Simonian says. H. Knott, along with all necessary faculty closing the store and ending an era. approvals, to found the Armenian Scholars “My happiest day of the week is Monday morning,” he said one recent morn- program, building upon USC Price’s success- ing, ever dapper in a three-piece navy suit. “But an 81-year-old gentleman who ful history in global education. The last step signs a five-year lease should have his head examined.” to establishing the program is raising an ini- Thomajan’s father, Zareh, opened his store on State Street in 1933, selling tial endowment of $3 million. gabardine shirts for $7.50. Today, the suits at One Liberty Square start at Expanding Educational Impact in $3,500, off the rack, but the store looks much as it always has: the plush green Armenia carpets of a country club; handsome wooden cases stocked with button-downs; Each of the past four summers, Zerunyan crystal chandeliers dangling over the racks of Oxxford suits, illuminating sub- has traveled to Armenia, where he teaches a tle gradations of blue and gray. The store’s mascot, a 7-month-old golden one-week executive course on public adminis- retriever named Skipper, channels his energy into a chew toy. The Simonian family of Clovis is stranded in tration to Armenian officials at the American Churchill Franklin, the head of Acadian Asset Management and its $90 bil- Houston after its cruise was canceled. University of Armenia (AUA) in the capital lion portfolio, bought his entire wardrobe at Zareh. “Shopping with Greg is city of Yerevan. He is also a visiting professor heaven. When I show up, I am his single focus and attention,” he said. at the Yerevan State University and the Public For the entirety of his career, Thomajan’s routine has rarely wavered. He uses After a series of wrong turns — thanks to GPS Administration Academy of the Republic of yellowed index cards to track the shopping habits of the city’s power class. — the family found itself near Bush Armenia, where he also serves on the Eschewing e-mail, he has no problem calling financial heavyweights to let them International Airport in Houston and sur- see USC, page 12 know that it’s high time for a new suit. (Many clients make five-figure purchases rounding hotels. without hesitation.) He doesn’t take lunch breaks or vacations. He puts the The family tried four hotels. occasional witty ad in the paper, just as his father did. Most clients come by All of them were booked with pilots and word-of-mouth. flight staff, stranded travelers and evacuees, “This has always been a men’s club,” said Thomajan’s wife, Andrea, who is including seniors from a nearby facility. Zareh’s bookkeeper. The duo met on the sales floor in the 1970s, back The fifth time was the charm, but came only when plaid jackets were in vogue. (She shudders at the memory.) She pointed after Simonian’s husband came to the rescue of to the crystal carafe in the window that they used to fill with Scotch and a hotel worker. bemoaned the end of the two-martini lunch, which was great for business. “She had been stranded in the elevator for “The guys come in and hang around; they all know each other,” she said. over an hour,” Simonian says. Her husband and “Our clients become our friends.” another man helped free the woman. Simonian Thomajan has earned the confidence of his clients, which is necessary when thinks this is what helped them get a room at asking a high-powered man to strip down to his skivvies and have his inseam the hotel, after waiting four hours in the lobby. measured. To the city’s elite men of a certain age, he is a comrade. In his three- “We got a single bedroom with a couch for piece suits and Ferragamo ties, Thomajan is not just a reflection of themselves, the four of us. We are on the second floor, no but elite in his own right. They respect his ability to size a man just by looking risk of flooding. It was a dry, comfortable at him: his pant size, and his character. room,” she says. “My client list is a group of breathtakingly successful men, all of whom have one Their hotel is in the Northeast part of thing in common: humility,” Thomajan said. It’s a trait that many say he shares. Houston, and was spared much of the major “I was always struck by his dedication to customer service; it’s probably the flooding. best I’ve seen, and I’m in that business,” said Bob Reynolds, the chief executive “We can’t venture a block or two before we of Putnam Investments and a client for 30 years. hit flooding,” Simonian says. Zerunyan with Vache Gabrielyan, deputy see ZAREH, page 7 Her family is making the most of the situa- prime minister and minister of international tion by spending the time playing cards and economic integration and reforms watching TV. see STRANDED, page 7 S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 7 2 0 1 7 S EPTEMBER 2 , 2 0 1 7 COMMUNITY NEWS In the Spirit of Giving Gala to Benefit Children In Crisis

BOSTON — The Boston Area Orphan and Child Care Committee of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) will celebrate its 26th annual In the Spirit of Giving Gala, a wine and dine fundraising event. The event will take place on Thursday, September 28, at 7 p.m. at the Wellesley Country Club, Wellesley. The dinner will feature Live and Silent Auctions, Wine Pull, music from the Zangakner Performing Arts Ensemble and a special performance by Berklee guitarist and composer John Baboian. All proceeds will benefit Armenian children in crisis. Individuals or businesses wishing to donate goods or services, or those wishing to purchase tickets for the event may do so by contacting Dianne Chilingerian at [email protected]. Founded in 1918, the AMAA is a non- profit, charitable organization that provides services to underprivileged youth through education, relief and mission ministries. For additional information, visit Vulnerable families in Armenia will be helped. Event committee members at work amaa.org.

Greg Thomajan, the Dashing Haberdasher Behind Zareh, Calls it Quits

ZAREH, from page 6 ever gone to a restaurant?” he asks, exaspera- Service, as defined by Thomajan, means hav- tion creeping into his voice. “The men are ing his tailor whip up alterations in an hour, dressed like cab drivers.” then delivering the suit straight to the And he casts a sideways glance at the men- client’s office, along with the bill, so a spouse tion of the made-to-measure menswear startups doesn’t catch wind of a spending spree. He is that promise custom suiting with a few the man you call when your pants split on the online keystrokes. Ever the gentleman, he sums subway just before you need to close a million- up his thoughts on the new-age competitors dollar deal, and the one who will open the shop with a quick dismissal: Their suits simply do not on a Saturday to attend to your daughter’s fit the way a good suit should. “I have tremen- prom dress on the night of the big dance. That dous concerns about my industry, which I love,” attention to detail comes free of charge. he said. “I had a lot of friends who shop there, and we Thomajan said he is now focused on ending talk all the time, saying, ‘What are we going do his career on his own terms. “I’m choosing to if Greg’s not there?’” Reynolds said. “I refuse to invite my customers in, shake their hand and think about it.” thank them for everything they’ve done for me, The store carries only a dozen labels, most sew on a few last-minute buttons, and go away.” classic American styles. He admitted it’s hard to imagine retirement “His taste level is impeccable,” said Karen when his career never felt like a job. “I’ve never Alberg Grossman, the editor of MR, a menswear known anything but this shop, and I’m terrified industry magazine. as to what I’m going to do,” he said. Thomajan credits much of his success to the And then there is, of course, the issue of his line of Oxxford suits he carries, a classic beloved suits. “I’m never going to wear them American brand that can cost $4,500 when again,” he fretted, contorting his face in a gri- made to measure. The company’s chief execu- mace. “I’m going to be wearing chinos.” tive, Bob Denton, said Thomajan has always been their “go-to guy in Boston” and is one of its top 10 accounts in the country. (Neiman Marcus is also in that group.) Thomajan said that during the store’s best Clovis Family Stranded in years, 2000 and 2001, Zareh did $2 million Houston after Cruise Is annually in sales. It is the kind of operation few can emulate Canceled today. “The buzzword now that all these gurus are talking about in brick-and-mortar retail is STRANDED, from page 6 that you have to create the experience” for the She knows her family is fortunate to be safe customer, Denton said. “But he did that 58 — indoors, with running water and electricity. years ago.’’ “It’s so difficult to watch,” she says. “It’s so Which makes the news of his departure all heartbreaking. That’s why I’m so thankful. This the more devastating for his clients. isn’t where we intended to be right now. But we “When I walk in there, I see my father,” said are extremely blessed. I pray for everyone stuck Mitchell Jacobs, who began shopping at Zareh in all of that.” in 1960, collecting pocket change to purchase The Simonians have been told by United knit ties for his dad’s birthday. When he was a Airlines their best hope of returning to the young lawyer, Jacobs said, Thomajan gave him Central Valley will be Friday — unless it can get a suit before his first day of work and told him to Austin. he didn’t have to pay for it until he got his first Flights have been canceled at Bush paycheck. International through Thursday. “This is the kind of guy he is and was and Rebecca Simonian says another option would always will be,” Jacobs said. “When you walk in be going to her sister’s home in Dallas, but she the room, you feel like you sit at the head of the is being told the roads are not safe. table.” Royal Caribbean is refunding the cost of the Thomajan, who has bemoaned the erosion of cruise and is offering customers a discount on the dress code for decades, worries that his a future purchase. departure may mean a swath of the city will But it is not reimbursing families the cost of Check us out at www.mirrorspectator.com take it as a sign it’s OK to dress down. “Have re-booking flights, rental cars, hotel rooms and you gone down to the Cape on a weekend and meals. 8 S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Ambassador Nina Hachigian to Be Guest of Honor at San Diego Gala

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The organizing committee 100,000 members. She also was a founder of received three Emmy Awards for his exceptional of the 5th Bridge to the Future Gala announced Women Ambassadors Serving America (WASA). journalism. It’s his second year hosting this recently that Nina Hachigian will be the guest of She was awarded the Meritorious Honor Award event. He is a close friend of San Diego’s honor at the event on September 30, 2017. The for her Ambassadorial service. Armenian community and a passionate support- gala is taking place at the picturesque Sheraton Prior to that, Hachigian was a senior fellow er of the new church campus. Hotel and Marina Bay Tower. The theme, and a senior vice president at the Center for Notable chefs and restauranteurs from “Carnival in Venice,” sets the stage for an evening American Progress focused on Asia policy, was around San Diego will be serving some of their inspired by romantic Italy. The purpose of the the co-director of Asia policy for the Obama cam- signature dishes as appetizers in stations during event is to raise funds to construct a state-of-the-art paign, and was the director of the RAND Center the cocktail reception. Guests will also be treat- church campus near Del Mar that will become the for Asia Pacific Policy. In early August, Los ed to a gourmet dinner with fine wines, live auc- new spiritual and cultural home for the Armenian Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti appointed her tion, entertainment by NRG Music & community of San Diego. deputy mayor for the newly created Mayor’s Production, celebrity guest vocalist, Monica Hachigian served as the second US ambas- Office of International Affairs. Her late father, Louwerens, $10,000 raffle prize, and more. sador to the Association of Southeast Asian Dr. Jack Hachigian, lived in San Diego for many The Trust Fund Committee is organizing the Nations (ASEAN), from 2014 to 2017. During years and was a founding member of the Trust event under the auspices of Parish Priest Very her tenure, the United States established a Fund Committee of St. John Garabed Armenian Rev. Fr. Pakrad Berjekian. The goal is to raise strategic partnership with ASEAN, held the first Church. $150,000 to begin the construction of a new Leaders’ Summit in the United States, launched Dan Cohen, co-anchor of CBS News 8 This church campus near Del Mar. a Presidential initiative on economic coopera- Morning and CBS News 8 at 11 a.m., will be the To order tickets online or receive updates, visit Nina Hachigian tion and grew the youth program to more than master of ceremonies and auctioneer. Cohen has www.stjohngarabed.org. OBITUARY

group, whose passing closes a critical chapter in for 12 years, encouraging inter-denominational Rev. Arnak Kasparian the story of the Armenian Church in America. and interfaith engagement and cooperation. He Nersoyan ordained Minas to the priesthood served on the Diocesan Council for eight years (1920-2017) on April 4, 1948 at the New Britain church, and — four as its chairman. He also served on the gave him the ordination name Arnak. Board of Trustees of St. Nersess Seminary from NEW MILFORD, N.J. — Rev. Arnak Kasparian infant when his parents fled persecution in In 1962, he moved his family to New Jersey its establishment in 1962 through 1986, serv- died on August 28, at his home in New Milford, Ottoman Turkey. They settled in Aleppo, Syria, to become pastor of the newly established ing as secretary throughout his tenure. Most N.J. He was 97. where Minas attended school. At the age of 14 Armenian Church of Bergen County, in Tenafly, recently, He self-published two books, titled Kasparian was a pastor for almost 70 years. he traveled to Jerusalem to study at the semi- NJ. Fr. Arnak worked with the building com- Memories (2003) and Challenges (2013). Whether he was inspiring his flock through nary of the Armenian Patriarchate, from which mittee and a growing, prosperous body of He is survived by his wife of 66 years, acts of human kindness, or challenging them he graduated at the age of 22. parishioners to build the St. Thomas Armenian Yeretzgin Violet; their five children: Dr. Stephen through his incisive grasp of the Gospel, he led Returning to Aleppo he taught science in a Church—which under Fr. Arnak’s leadership and Janet Kasparian, Laurie and Randall countless souls local Armenian primary school. was modern in both design and outlook. He Preston, Maro Kasparian, Ardis and Robert to embrace In 1946, Minas was invited, along with four spent nearly 30 years as the engaging pastor of Waldron, and Thomas Kasparian; and nine their faith more former seminary classmates, to continue his this vibrant community, before retiring to New grandchildren: Maria, Laura, Elena, Samuel, deeply and con- religious education in America. The invitation Milford, N.J., in 1991. Even in retirement he Trevor, Jacob, Micaela, Minas, and Matthew. sciously. came by way of the forward-looking young continued to serve the Armenian community, The Divine Liturgy and Final Anointing were He was born Primate of the Diocese of America, Bishop performing weddings, baptisms, and funerals, held on Tuesday, September 12, at St. Leon in Marash, Tiran Nersoyan. Kasparian was a member of the and assisting as a visiting pastor to mission Church. Turkey, in the historic “Class of 1948”: a group of seminarians parishes or filling in for vacationing clergy. An Parishes in the Eastern Diocese will observe St. Stepanos from the Jerusalem Patriarchate, who were active member of the Tenafly Clergy the 40th-day karasoonk service on Sunday, Church, on hand-picked by the late Primate, Archbishop Association, Fr. Arnak served as its president October 8. February 27, Tiran Nersoyan, to serve the church in America. 1920. His par- A brotherly spirit prevailed among these men ents were throughout their lives; besides Fr. Arnak they Sarkis and included Fr. Vartan Megherian, Fr. Arten Donation Turfanda (Manoogian) Kasparian, who gave Ashjian, Fr. Shahe Altounian, Fr. Garen their son the baptismal name Minas. He would Gdanian and Deacon Hagop Nersoyan. Charleen Mosesian Onanian recently donated $1,000 to the Armenian Mirror- be the eldest of their four children. He was an Kasparian was the last surviving member of the . Spectator Harry Dorian Longtime Board Member of Karagheusian Foundation ENNIS M. EVENEY & ONS BETHESDA, Md. — Harry A. Dorian died on D D S August 28, 2017. He was 89. Cemetery Monuments He was a longtime board member of the Howard Karagheusian Commemorative Specializing in Corporation New York. Armenian Designs and Lettering On behalf of the entire board of directors of the Karagheusian Foundation, the president 701 Moody St. Waltham, MA 02543 Michael Haratunian expresses his deep appreci- ation for the many positive contributions (781) 891-9876 www.NEMonuments.com Dorian had given not only to the foundation but also to the entire Armenian community. Dorian was recruited for the HKCC board personally by Leila Karagheusian, a member of the HKCC founding family. He was sponsored for board membership by Dr. Pergouhi Svajian on October 30, 1974 and approved that day. He served on the board with distinction for some F UNERAL H OME 40 years. Giragosian A lawyer by training with a long career in James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC finance, Dorian contributed significantly to the Mark J. Giragosian investment committee. In 1995 he assumed the Funeral Counselors dual role of foundation treasurer and chairman 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 of the investment committee. He continued in awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his www.giragosianfuneralhome.com that role until his retirement from the board in philanthropic work in the Armenian communi- 2014. He was honored by the HKCC with a din- ty. ner in 2015 to celebrate his long career of char- His professional life included senior roles at itable activity. Philadelphia National Bank, Delaware Trust Harry gave much time to Armenian causes. and Hamilton Bank. He also taught as a pro- Telephone (617) 924-7400 He was a past Grand Commander of the fessor and lecturer at Temple University, Knights of Vartan and he spoke fondly of the Eastern College, Bucknell University and the Aram Bedrosian community wide effort to launch the Armenian American Institute of Banking. Sisters Academy in Radnor, PA. He was a Dorian was the loving husband of Alice (nee trustee of that institution. In the formative Gabriel). Father of Harry, Jr. (Patricia), Stephen, Funeral Home, Inc. years of the American University of Armenia, Paul (Michele), James (Eleni) and Alexia Luka Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 Harry lived in the homeland and lectured at the (Gabor). He is also survived by his sister, AUA. He proudly discussed his Aintabsi her- Victoria Mesropian, and 12 grandchildren and MARION BEDROSIAN itage and he took great pleasure in visiting the three great-grandchildren. 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN HKCC Armenia programs with its board of Interment was September 6 at Gate of WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN directors in 2002. In that same year, he was Heaven Cemetery, Silver Spring, MD. S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS A New Restaurant Brings Middle Eastern Food to the South End

FOOD, from page 1 She said that another special touch will be a There is also a lounge seating area, complete custom-designed light fixture which has ele- with Middle Eastern rugs. The flooring aims to ments of a khatchkar or Armenian cross stone. reproduce the cobble stone look of old streets It is a creation based on photographs by Hrair and a small wagon will showcase some of the “Hawk” Khatcherian. items on sale. The restaurant, which can seat 60, will offer The space is cozy and welcoming while beer and wine, and in a modern twist, offer embracing much of the current industrial-chic wine on tap. aesthetic. The restaurant has an upscale interi- According to Raffi Festekjian, wine on tap is or, with a focus on the saj,. gaining in popularity.The restaurant will offer Another feature will be a labne bar, featuring daily lunch and dinner as well as brunch on various mix-ins with the thick yogurt (techni- weekends and later offer breakfast was well. cally cheese). The cost is expected to average about $15 per Nina Festekjian designed the space, noting customer, without an alcoholic beverage. that being an interior designer, she welcomed Nina Festekjian stressed that all the food will the challenge. be made on site, and will be essentially home- “I had a vision of my own space open for the made, with no ready-made elements brought in. public, with food and drinks, crafted from The hummus will be made every two days to be scratch, and a more personal touch and avail- fresh, she noted. able for people to experience,” she said. In addition to all the savory dishes, many The walls will have some paintings available Lebanese desserts will be served, including for sale. In addition, there will be spices and olive ashta and rice pudding. oil — primary ingredients for the food there — on Asked why the restaurant has come to be, she sale. laughed and said, “It was Raffi’s crazy idea.”

Some of the dishes served at anoush’ella

Raffi Festekjian is executive chairman and The South End location opened up precipi- managing partner of Empyrean and Nuarca. tously. The couple were looking for a site but it She added, “We always thought we didn’t was hard to find a good location there. Then, have the foods we grew up with.” this building opened up, owned by a non-profit Raffi Festekjian added his two reasons for organization, that was willing to give the space starting the restaurant: “Nina is such a great over. cook. And I was bored. I convinced her to do it.” If the restaurant is successful, the couple She concurred: “I cook a lot and entertain a said, they might open multiple locations. lot. Now, I just make it for the public instead of For more information on the restaurant, visit friends and family.” http://www.anoushella.com/ She developed all the recipes and they will be replicated by the kitchen team. The goal, her husband noted, is to program the mechanized devices so that the recipes can be replicated exactly, every single time. St. Stepanos Church Marks The idea for the restaurant came about two Twin Milestones years ago, and Raffi Festekjian said that they honed their recipes by hosting a lot of different ELBERON, N.J. — On the weekend of August The rounds of dough that are baked as people and getting feedback from informal 26-27, the St. Stepanos Church of Long Branch manoush. focus groups. celebrated a special joint anniversary, marking 30 years since the church consecration and 60 years since the parish’s founding. The festivities went forward under the auspices of Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian. During a banquet on Saturday at the Oyster Point Hotel in Red Bank, NJ, parish pastor Rev. Fr. Daniel Karadjian expressed his appreciation to the parishioners for welcoming his family into their hearts. Distinguished guests for the occa- sion included Armenia’s United Nations Ambassador Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone, N.J. State Senator Jennifer Beck, Monmouth County Freeholder Serena Dimaso, and Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider. The Very Rev. Daniel Findikyan and former St. Stepanos pastor Rev. Diran Bohajian also attended. The special honoree of the evening was Sirvart Hovnanian — who with her late husband, Kevork Hovnanian, planned and completely sub- sidized the construction of the church 30 years ago. Chief among several official proclamations in her honor, Barsamian presented Hovnanian with the St. Nerses Shnorhali Medal on behalf of Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. Parish Armenian school students offered tra- ditional song and dance performances, and a special video presentation documented the ori- gins and growth of the church. A booklet memo- rializing the work and dedication of parish- ioners was distributed to the attendees. The anniversary continued on Sunday with the Primate celebrating the Divine Liturgy and ordaining a parishioner into the diaconate. Sub- deacon Maurice Lahham was ordained after many years of dedication to St. Stepanos, serv- ing the community as an altar server, organist, and substitute choir master. A luncheon in Hovnanian Hall concluded the anniversary schedule. 10 S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 COMMUNITY NEWS Knights and Daughters of Vartan Hold Grand Convocation

KNIGHTS, from page 1 all members to work together to serve the at each site, including Heritage Park architect Daughters of Vartan. Donald Tellalian, ACF Board of Trustees Kradjian took the podium again and remi- President Robert Mirak, ALMA Executive nisced about his mentor, former Grand Director Berj Chekijian and Curator Gary Lind- Commander Bob Barsam. During 17 years, Sinanian, and NAASR Director of Academic Barsam became a dear friend as well as a men- Affairs Marc Mamigonian and Library Curator tor. Kradjian, after pointing out that the Knights Ani Babaian. A reception was held that evening of Vartan has always been concerned about the in the Hyatt hosted by the Grand Commander people living in the Republic of Armenia, and Grand Matron. declared that with its new Yerevan office, its pres- A display about some of the activities of the ence with visibility can assure the people of Knights, including programs in Armenia, was set Armenia that the Knights of Vartan is there, at up in the hotel, and paintings by various home now. He proudly stated, “The leadership of Armenian artists were available for sale. the Knights of Vartan in Armenia will contribute On August 10, workshops were held in various to the improvement of our homeland.” rooms of the hotel. Speakers included Hirant Kradjian expressed his pride in Knights who Gulian on Turkish Armenian issues, and Dr. spent virtually their adult lives as members. He Nora Nercessian, speaking on Armenian orphans exclaimed, “It is the most important fellowship in and the enormous Near East Relief orphanage of my life outside of family,” and added, “The Gyumri. In addition, former Grand Matron Lisa Knights and Daughters of Vartan is a special Kradjian spoke on the role of fedayin women. In organization, unlike any other that I have seen in the evening, a dinner with Armenian music was From left, outgoing Grand Commander Steven Kradjian, Master of Ceremonies Ara Balikian, my adult life.” held at Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Convocation Committee Chairman Nelson Stepanian, Ani Stepanian, Leo Manuelian He called to the podium the new grand com- Cambridge. mander. Zamanigian spoke with humor and alle- On August 11, meetings for the Grand gory, delivered a clear message. He stated that Convocation took place. The Daughters of quet program that evening. Ara Balikian served cy and preserving the Armenian heritage. the Knights of Vartan changed since its incep- Vartan organized a luncheon with remarks from as the master of ceremonies, and injected an ele- Outgoing Grand Matron Sona Manuelian tion 101 years ago. Today it has numerous pro- Grand Matron Sona Manuelian, a presentation ment of humor by repeatedly mangling the pro- introduced the Daughters of Vartan Woman of grams both in the US and Armenia, many of by playwright Joyce Van Dyke, and Best nunciation of various names, especially that of the Year, Dr. Laura Korkoian. A television pro- which he listed. He said, “I believe we have hid- Newsletter of the Year awards to Betty Orsi the newly elected Grand Commander Gary ducer, she executive produces and directs the den our virtuous service far too long.” (Worcester chapter), Susan Nemet (San Zamanigian. The latter played along with A&E hit series “Born This Way.” This documen- On the other hand, he continued, “We are now Francisco chapter) and Hasmik Daghlyan Balikian, amusingly expressing his surprise and tary series depicting the lives of seven young at the dawn of our second century, and the cur- (Bayside NY chapter, with Sylvia Sanossian dismay. adults born with Down Syndrome, including the rent Avak Tivan [Grand Council] feels the issue accepting on her behalf). Fr. Antranig Baljian delivered the opening actions and thoughts of their The day concluded with a banquet at the hotel invocation and Fr. Dajad Davidian delivered the parents, won the 2016 Emmy with close to 350 guests. The Sayat Nova Dance closing prayer. Elie Berberian sang several Award for Best Unstructured Company of Boston presented a special perfor- Armenian songs to the great delight of the audi- Reality Show. mance, and Sheriff Peter Koutoujian made some ence. Korkoian spoke about her rousing remarks. More guests came after 9 pm to Convocation chairman Nelson Stepanian family’s deep commitment to dance to the Armenian music of Elie Berberian, thanked his committee, after which Nazar the Knights and Daughters of from Montreal, Canada. Proceeds from the dance Nazarian was announced as the Knights of Vartan, which made the award will be allocated to support the construction of Vartan Man of the Year (2017). Although he even more special to her. She the new Hye Point Church in Haverhill, Mass. could not attend, he sent a statement appreciat- spoke about her career, and The Grand Convocation continued on August ing the honor and thanking the Knights of how she switched from psy- 12, and installed a newly elected set of Grand Vartan. Nazarian called for working together to chology to television. Her Councils for 2017-2018. It concluded with a ban- support the Armenian people, insuring our lega- advice to others was similarly to take a risk when a door opens in front of you and go The newly elected leadership of the Knights of Vartan: seated, through it. After doing some from left, Lt. Grand Commander Howard Ateshian, Grand popular shows, she was look- Commander Gary Zamanigian; standing, from left, Grand ing for a challenge, and was Treasurer Edward Bedikian, Grand Recorder Deacon Richard given the Down syndrome Norsigian, Grand Sentinel Ray Boujoulian, and Grand Master of show to produce. She was able Ceremonies George Boyajian. Missing is Grand Chaplain Gary to show that “different is beau- Javizian. tiful” and that adults with Down syndrome are no worse or better than the rest of us. She also learned of membership must be addressed, because its from the show that living in the moment is appalling decline is a fact.” He said that the important. Knights would focus on recruiting qualified Outgoing Lieutenant Grand Commander Armenian professionals, so “we will develop a Hunan Arshakian, chairman of the scholarship five-year plan to reverse this trend.” The Knights, committee, recognized his fellow committee he added, did not want to become a foundation, members and then announced the awards. He as has happened to other Armenian organiza- also gave a copy of the official DVD in a hand- tions in the US. made case of the Knights of Vartan trip to In addition to Zamanigian, the newly elected Armenia last year to set up a new office. members of the Grand Council are Lt. Grand Outgoing Grand Commander Steven Kradjian Commander Howard Ateshian, Grand Recorder voiced his appreciation of Nelson Stepanian’s Deacon Richard Norsigian, Grand Chaplain Gary work in planning this convocation and awarded Javizian, Grand Treasurer Edward Bedikian, him a special recognition plaque. He then award- Grand Master of Ceremonies George Boyajian Lucy Murad, left, with Tanya Bukucuyan, in front of exhibit about the Children of Armenia ed Matron Anahid Mardiros with a plaque in and Grand Sentinel Ray Boujoulian. Sponsorship Program/Knights of Vartan partnership program. recognition of her excellent work as co-chair of The newly elected members of the leadership the convocation committee. Commander Tigran of the Daughters of Vartan include, in addition Sahakyan was given an award in absentia for to Tookmanian, Barbara Tchalikian, Barbara planning and execution of the 2016 trip to Khazoyan, Zovig Tashjian, Salpy Mankerian and Armenia. Knight Eric Demirdjian, webmaster for Taline Kedjidjian. the Knights, was given an award in recognition of his work. He is living in Paris, France at pre- sent. Former Commander Sam Sassounian from Pasadena, California, was awarded a medal for helping connect the Knights with the Diaspora Ministry and the government of Armenia. This eventually led to the creation of an office in Yerevan for the Knights. The first Grand Convocation ever in Armenia took place in September 19-20, 2016 in Yerevan. Kradjian summoned by name the 31 participants in this convocation, though not all were present that night, to come up, be photographed, and receive a commemorative award. Outgoing Grand Matron Manuelian then voiced her thanks to those who worked with her in her post, and congratulated the newly elected. Dr. Laura Korkoian accepts her award as She introduced new Grand Matron Diana Daughters of Vartan Woman of the Year. Donald Tellalian speaking to visiting Knights and Daughters of Vartan at Armenian Heritage Park. Tookmanian from California, who then called for 12 S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Rep. Valadao Meets with Armenian-American Representatives

FRESNO — A delegation comprising con- The delegates thanked Valadao, currently in Administration and Related Agencies. 1994 ceasefire agreement signed by representa- stituents of California’s 21st Congressional his third term in the US House of The Assembly-led delegation discussed a wide tives of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Nagorno District, clerical and lay leaders of the San Representatives, for his leadership in the range of issues of paramount concern to Karabakh, and is a clear violation of Section Joaquin Valley’s Armenian-American communi- Armenian Caucus. They noted the importance Armenian Americans during the meeting, 907 of the Freedom Support Act, which is ty, and internship program alumni and friends of his membership of the US House Committee including Azerbaijan’s incessant and deadly intended to restrict US assistance to the gov- of the Armenian Assembly of America met last on Appropriations, which is partially responsi- attacks, which escalated in 2015, upon civilians ernment of Azerbaijan until it takes “demon- and soldiers living in Armenia and Artsakh. strable steps to cease all blockades and other They reminded Rep. Valadao that Azerbaijan’s offensive uses of force against Armenia and initiated violence is in contravention to the May Nagorno Karabakh.”

USC, Zerunyan Endeavor to Establish PhD Policy, Management Program in Armenia

USC, from page 6 so it’s a great honor to be given this uni- editorial council for its public administration form,” Zerunyan said. “It’s a very unique scientific journal. position to be in as an Armenian-American. It The class at AUA is especially popular with also illustrates that USC Price’s work in exec- Armenia’s defense ministry, which filled 25 of utive education for global leaders is being the 60 seats this past summer. appreciated and recognized at the highest Defense ministry officials and high-ranking levels in Armenia.” officers associated with the educational mission While in Armenia, Zerunyan also met with of the Armenian Army found the course both Vache Gabrielyan, deputy prime minister and relevant valuable — and as a result, they asked minister of international economic integration Zerunyan to guest lecture at the Vasgen and reforms, to discuss the USC Price Armenian Assembly of America representatives with clerical and lay leaders from San Joaquin Valley Sargsyan Military University, with the condition Armenian Scholars program and the need for with Rep. David G. Valadao, fourth from left that he add an extensive course to be taught at educational reforms in Armenia. Last summer the Vasgen Sargsyan Military University and Zerunyan had already met with the education the Air Force University next summer. minister of the Republic, Levon Mkrtchyan. week with Rep. David G. Valadao (R-CA), co- ble (along with members of the US Senate To teach at those universities, he was award- “USC is in a key geographic location, because chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Appropriations Committee) for the approval of ed the honorary title of colonel instructor Southern California is home to the largest pop- Issues. US foreign assistance to the Republics of along with the corresponding Armenian Army ulation of Armenians outside of Armenia,” “The Assembly is pleased to have had an Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), as opportunity to lead a delegation of constituents well as humanitarian assistance to Syrian citi- and San Joaquin Valley leaders to meet with zens who have sought refuge in Armenia as a Rep. Valadao, and discuss paramount issues of result of the Syrian Civil War. Within the House concern affecting Armenia, Artsakh and US- Appropriations Committee, Valadao serves as Armenia relations,” Assembly Western Region vice chair of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Director Mihran Toumajan stated. Rural Development, Food and Drug

RI Hot Wheels Club Revs up the Fun

Atwood Avenue in Johnston who donated the By Pete Fontaine 40 trophies that vintage vehicle owners took home after the day’s judging. “When it comes to putting on a classic car SMITHFIELD, R.I. (Johnston Sun Rise) — show, no one does it better than George The shiny black tires on John Tomasso’s [Arakelian],” Lombari said of his long-time 1931 Model A Ford Hot Rod weren’t the only friend. “We’re grateful for his donation of hot wheels on display Sunday in the these beautiful trophies and the many raffle Smithfield Elks parking lot at 326 Farnum prizes he brought here today.” Pike in Smithfield. Dominic Izzi, who took home the show’s “Emma,” a 1952 M37 Dodge Troop/Cargo top prize, entitled “Best of Show” for his Carrier owned by Master Sgt. Bruce Ferreira spiffy 1970 Mercury Cougar, also heaped (retired) of Burrillville, was a huge hit with words of praise upon Arakelian after viewing people who walked all around the Elks’ prop- the beautiful, custom designed trophies. erty admiring nearly six dozen classic cars. Likewise, people like Chris Brusso – who Lodge 2359’s main dining room was over- won the A Custom Car Stereo Trophy– said flowing with people who took in The Rhode that “George always makes sure every award Frank Zerunyan at the Vasgen Sargsyan Military University Island Hot Wheels Club 2nd Annual Toy he gives out is extra special.” Show. Annunciata won his trophy for his shiny “We are thrilled…absolutely thrilled with black 1955 Chevrolet BelAir while Brusso’s uniform. He plans to wear this uniform at USC Zerunyan said. “So it’s very natural for us to what is going on here today,” said Jim captured his honor via his spiffy 2011 Ford on Sept. 21 to honor his colleagues in Armenia participate in bringing our knowledge to Lombari, who serves as the Hot Wheels Club Mustang. John Tomelleo won the trophy for to celebrate Armenia’s Independence Day. Armenia and help this young republic advance president. “We’ve got five dozen or so classic Best Bike of the Show. “I’m very proud of my Armenian heritage, public policy and management.” cars outside and look at the people here, it’s fantastic.” More impressively, perhaps, is that over 50 vendors, whose hobby is trading, selling and buying all kinds of toy cars, set up shop inside Lodge 2359 and along with 375 spec- tators helped raise a tidy sum of $1,272 for Meeting Street School. Another way Sunday’s show filled its cof- fers for the highly-acclaimed charity was with the more than 70 raffle prizes that ranged from auto cleaning supplies to gift certifi- cates. “This was another great success for our club,” Lombari said of the non-profit RI Hot Wheels Club that was founded in 1995 by Robert Wilner and meets the second Tuesday of every month at the Kelley-Gazzerro VFW Post 2812 on Plainfield Pike. “Some of our table vendors had some very rare cars to offer and fellow collectors…everyone, in fact, came away happy with the day’s results.” Sunday’s success story was due to the efforts of George Arakelian, the owner-opera- tor of A Custom Car Stereo Center on S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 Arts & Living

20th Annual Arpa Spotlight on Real International Film Life Characters Fest to Honor Behind Arthur Hollywood Icons at Ransome’s Fictional Anniversary Gala Swallows

HOLLYWOOD — Plans are currently under- GRASMERE, UK (Westmoreland Gazette) way for a spectacular weekend (November 3 to — An Anglo-Armenian family from Syria, who 5) marking the 20th anniversary of Arpa inspired Arthur Ransome, feature in a mixed International Film Festival. The three-day festi- media exhibition running at Thorney How, val will once again feature a dynamic set of Grasmere. films from around the world at the historic Karen Babayan’s “Swallows and Armenians” Egyptian Theatre. The weekend will culminate is based on the inspiration for the Walker fami- with a special Awards Gala Banquet at the ly in the classic Arthur Ransome book Loews Hollywood Hotel on Sunday, November Swallows and Amazons. 5. Highlights of the Awards Gala Banquet will C-Art Cumbria Artist of the Year 2016, include a red carpet and cocktail reception, fea- Appleby-based Babayan said: “There is a lot of turing an exclusive silent auction prior to the publicity around the current film version of the evening’s dinner and awards ceremony. book, but nothing that tells us about This year’s honorees include Oscar-winning Ransome’s inspiration for the family and chil- Irish screenwriter and director Terry George, dren in the book who are clearly the music icon Chris Cornell (in memoriam), Altounyans, an Anglo-Armenian family from acclaimed actor Carl Weathers, and Oscar-win- Allepo, who spent summer holidays in Coniston ning screenwriter Alexander Dinelaris. Awards with their maternal grandfather WG will also be presented to winning filmmakers Collingwood. He was a notable artist and secre- Sibil Pektorosoglu for their films in the best feature, best docu- tary to John Ruskin, who lived nearby at mentary, and best short categories. Brantwood and Arthur Ransome was a close The Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award, family friend, who for many years, visited them presented each year to a filmmaker whose in the Lake District as a child and later, as an work contributes toward the struggle for social adult. He went so far as to name three of the consciousness and human rights, will be award- AIWA Presents children in his book after three of the ed to Terry George (“In the name of the Altounyan children: Susan, Titty and Roger.” Father,” “Some Mother’s Son,” “Hotel Born in Iran to Armenian/British parents, Rwanda,” “The Shore,” “The Promise”) in Karen moved to UK following the Islamic recognition of his extensive body of work that ‘An Evening Revolution. She has lived in Appleby since has shed light on the situation in his native 2009. Northern Ireland, the Rwandan Genocide and She added: “It is recorded that in 1928 Dora the Armenian Genocide. (nee Collingwood) and her husband Ernest vis- The award is named after the German sol- ited Coniston with their five young children, to dier/medic who was stationed in the Ottoman With Sybil’ stay for the summer at Dora’s family home by Empire during World War I, where he wit- Coniston Water. Arthur Ransome and his nessed the onslaught of the Armenian Russian wife Evgenia met up with Dora and Genocide. The photographs he took docu- BOSTON — The Armenian International Women’s Association (AIWA) will host Ernest and rekindled their friendship. Arthur menting the plight of the Armenians today the internationally acclaimed Armenian singer from Istanbul, Sibil Pektorosoglu, in comprise the core of the witness images of the her first New England appearance on Saturday, September 30, at 7 p.m. at the Genocide. In the years following the end of Ellsworth Theatre in Pine Manor College, Newton. World War I, Wegner also voiced his opposition “We are thrilled that Sibil could come to help support AIWA and our mission of against the anti-Semitic policies of the Nazis, empowering women,” said AIWA Vice President and Chair of the Planning who later persecuted him. Committee Carolyn Atinizian. “She is a call to the past and the future for strong, Arpa International Film Festival is honored talented and determined Armenian women. We know that both Armenians and non- to be presenting this year’s Lifetime Legacy Armenians will be moved by her performance and the special guests she has invit- Award to the late music icon Chris Cornell. ed for the evening.” Cornell, best known as the lead vocalist for the Tickets for “An Evening with Sibil” are $100, $75 and $50 (with discounts for rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, as AIWA members), and are available at www.aiwainternational.org/sibil. Music lovers well as the founder and frontman of Temple of are urged to reserve tickets soon, as a sold-out audience is expected. Seats are the Dog, was also a human rights activist com- grouped on a first-come, first-served basis. mitted to the world refugee crisis and the “An Evening with Sibil” provides a unique opportunity for the community to despair of vulnerable children. The Grammy become acquainted with the Istanbul singer’s lovely renditions of traditional Award-winning singer/songwriter’s last solo Armenian and other Middle Eastern melodies, along with her striking presentation release was the charity single The Promise of new music. Sibil’s appearances have inspired Armenian and non-Armenian audi- written for the motion picture of the same ences alike throughout the Middle East as well as in Europe and America. The win- name. The Cornell family, along with special ner of several international awards, she has twice performed at the opening cere- Karen Babayan friends, will be present to accept the award. monies of the Pan-Armenian Games, where Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan Weathers, the actor best known for his por- awarded her the “Medal of Gratitude” for her contribution to the games. trayal of Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” series, Sibil’s first CD released in 2011 quickly became a popular hit, with songs such as and Ernest went off to Barrow and bought will be the recipient of Arpa’s Lifetime Namag (Letter, with lyrics by the Armenian poet Hovanes Sevag), Giligya (Cilicia), Ernest’s children two 14-foot dinghies, which Achievement Award. The Hollywood veteran and Oror (Lullaby). It was followed shortly thereafter by her second album “Ser” were to become the catalyst for Swallows and has also starred in hit films such as “Predator,” (Love), which was widely applauded. Her music videos have been widely played in Amazons.” “Action Jackson,” “Hurricane Smith,” “Happy Turkey and they include the first Armenian-language songs to be aired on Turkish Babayan’s exhibition shows a selection of Gilmore” and “Little Nicky.” The former pro- state and leading television channels there. work in mixed media, exploring the real-life fessional football player’s most recent project A native of Istanbul, Sibil was named after the well-known Armenian writer Zabel characters behind Arthur Ransome’s fictional was directing John Patrick Shanley’s “Danny Assadur, whose pen name was Sibil. Her father, Garbis, was born in Istanbul, and ‘Swallows’ in the context of her own family his- and the Deep Blue Sea.” her mother, Mari, comes from a Sebastia/Tokat family that fled from home during tory, storytelling and mythmaking. Oscar-winning screenwriter Alexander the Armenian Genocide. The exhibition runs until October 29. Dinelaris, best known for his original screenplay Her interest in music began at an early age when her father took her regularly Meanwhile, there will be a talk by Karen for the 2014 film “Birdman,” will receive Arpa’s to the local Armenian Church. There she became immersed in the traditional Babayan and screening of the original Career Achievement Award. His body of work Armenian hymns (sharagans), and she later joined and became a soloist in the choir “Swallows and Amazons” film on Sunday, includes numerous theatrical pieces and musi- of the Sts. Vartanants Armenian Church. She attended Mekhitaryan Elementary September 17, at 5.30 p.m. cals, including “The Bodyguard” (2012) featur- School in Istanbul. Donations will go towards the Tsiatsan ing the music of Whitney Houston, and the crit- In 2010 Sibil began appearing in Istanbul in such venues as Guitar Café, and she Children’s Textile School, Spitak, Armenia. ically-acclaimed “On Your Feet!” Broadway musi- appeared on the stage in a production of Dikran Chukhajian’s musical comedy To book email [email protected]. cal about the life and career of Gloria Estefan. “Leblebiji,” attracting the attention of leading Armenian, Greek, and Turkish Thorney How is open 2-7.30 p.m. during the C- Dinelaris’ earlier works include the powerful artists. Working with them, Sibil quickly became known for her sensitive interpre- Art Festival, which runs from September 8-17 play “Red Dog Howls” in which he touches tations of Armenian and other songs. (except Sundays); 3.30pm-7.30pm at all other times. upon the Armenian Genocide. The piece was As her fame spread and her repertoire expanded, Sibil was invited to perform in For further information visit www.thorney- influenced by his Armenian grandmother, who see SIBIL, page 17 how.co.uk. played an important role in his younger years. (http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/ see ARPA, page 15 NEWS/15507040) 14 S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

up to a rear entrance of the Boston where he was drawn to portraits, water KURKJIAN: Union and the seven por- coloring and tinting. traits, all cleaned and His place of business, the Arcade Art Studio wrapped in protective cover- was less than a block away from the gymnasium Reuniting ing, were placed into the on lower Boylston street and every Tuesday and back seat of my Camry. Thursday nights, and Saturday afternoon, he “This is the right result,” would walk over to the Union to play handball, Portraits and wrote Stephen W. Kidder, a rigorous game that required speed and agili- the attorney for St. Francis ty, which he — nicknamed “Flash” in high House, responded. school — excelled at, and played until he was Subjects, One So I began my search to well into his 80s. find out who these seven For decades, streams of people hurrying by men were. his studio in the basement of the Little Building Story at a Time While their loyalty to the to make their trolley at the Boylston Street YMCU was the reason the MBTA station would slow down to see his latest men had been chosen to works on display. Rocky Marciano, a legendary have their portraits, I tightwad, shelled out $500 for the portrait that By Stephen Kurkjian learned they shared a similar my father had done on his own of the heavy- story. Like so many others in weight champion in the early 1960s. His por- 20th-century America, most trait of Pope John Paul had hung in the win- BOSTON — Although they looked as brilliant had come to America as dows of Jordan Marsh, the downtown depart- as if they had been completed and placed in immigrants and all had risen ment store, shortly before the Pontiff’s arrival their golden frames the day before, the seven above their humble and in Boston in the late 1970s. The John F. portraits had been discarded, placed in a dark- diverse beginnings to find Kennedy Library displayed his painting of the ened, cluttered room one floor below the old success in law, insurance, late president soon after its opening in 1979. gymnasium of the Young Men’s Christian business and law enforce- It’s difficult to put a dollar value on portraits Union (YMCU) in downtown Boston. ment. that I was giving away. Since they were of The portraits had been done decades before Perhaps the most notable friends, I am thinking my father charged the by my late father, Anooshavan Kurkjian, a com- among them was William J. YMCU only a few hundred dollars for each por- mercial artist, and showed seven directors and Taylor, who put off his retire- trait when he painted them in the 1970s. A clos- trustees of the YMCU whom he knew from his Anooshava Kurkjian inside his Arcade Art Studio in Boston. ment as superintendent-in- er estimate of each’s value might be $2,500, as lifelong membership there and had grown to chief of the Boston Police that’s what the Massachusetts attorney gener- call friends. My coming upon the paintings in Department in the mid- al’s office paid him to paint a portrait of the late early 2015 now feels like I was beginning an ilies of the men was a natural one as I had just com- 1970s, to serve as interim commissioner. On his continued on next page archaeological search which would end with me pleted a book on the historic art heist from the death in 2005, then Boston uniting the men in the paintings with their fam- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and knew what Police Commissioner Kathy ilies, and me with once again with my father’s the loss of those masterpieces meant to the muse- O’Toole said of Taylor: “He was gifted artistry. um, the city and the art world at large. If the YMCU a legend. He was beloved by My work as an investigative reporter made which had commissioned my father to do the paint- people who worked with him me perfectly suited to find out who the men ings didn’t want them anymore, they needed to be and for him.” were and, since presumably they were all in the hands of the families of the men shown in the My father’s story was a simi- deceased, who their next-of-kin might be. portraits. lar one. A survivor of the Once the paintings had proudly hung along Despite my good intentions, the new owners Armenian Genocide who had the second-floor corridor Union’s administra- of the building balked at turning over the paint- lost his father and brother and tive office, reminders of the YMCU’s proud his- ings to me in 2015. The new owners of the sister in the massacres, he had tory as the oldest gymnasium in America, locat- building, St. Francis House and the come to America with his ed in a building that had been designated as a Archdiocese’s Planning office for Urban Affairs, mother and settled in national landmark. said they wanted to hold onto the paintings so Watertown in the early 1920s. But the YMCU had been failing financially for they could be hung in a “legacy room” that Although he may not have years and would soon be shuttered. It had would be built on the first floor of the new had the professional or finan- already been sold to a new owner who intend- building to honor neighborhood groups that cial status of the YMCU’s ed to develop it into affordable housing and an had supported the project. trustees, he did have some- emergency shelter for the homeless. My atten- But more than two years later seeing no thing that set him apart – his tion had been called to them by a friend of my movement that the development was beginning, artistic mastery. It had been father and I knew as I pulled them out of the I reached out again to the non-profit developer. recognized during his years at heap of that small crowded room if I didn’t try In late Spring, I was told that Karen LaFrazia, Watertown High, and a coun- Tephen Kurkjian, center, handing the painting of Boston leather to intervene, they might wind up getting stolen director of the St. Francis House, had changed selor helped him secure a merchant John Greenberg to his grandson, Sheldon Schwartz or even thrown away. her mind. scholarship to attend the and his wife, Devorah, outside their Provincetown leather store. My impulse to turn the portraits over to the fam- On a rainy Friday morning, I backed my car Vesper George School of Art in Recipe Corner by Christine Vartanian Artichokes with Tomato Sauce and Mint

INGREDIENTS 4 large fresh artichokes, washed 1 medium onion, finely chopped 2-3 cloves garlic, mashed 2 1/2 cups canned stewed tomatoes or crushed fresh tomatoes Olive oil, fresh chopped mint Sea or Kosher salt, black pepper, paprika and Aleppo pepper Juice of one large lemon

PREPARATION: Wash artichokes, cut off stems, and cut into quarters. Place artichokes quarters in a large bowl and cover with cold water for a few minutes. Drain and set aside. Sauté the onions and garlic in olive oil, add the stewed tomatoes, salt and pepper, and cook for 10 minutes on medium low heat until bubbly. Add the artichokes to this mix- ture, toss, and cook for 10-15 minutes longer or until tender. Top with paprika or Aleppo pepper to taste. Add chopped mint and lemon juice at the end, and serve hot.

Serves 4-6. *Christine's recipes have been published in the Fresno Bee Newspaper, Sunset Magazine, Cooking Light Magazine, and at http://www.thearmeniankitchen.com/ S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 ARTS & LIVING from previous page Although it had been 20 years ago, that testa- Paul McLaughlin, a state prosecutor who had ment was echoing in my ears after I took possession been gunned down by a gang leader he was of the seven portraits and set out on my mission to about to bring to trial in 1995. get them in the hands of the families of the men The vividness of the portrait is stunning, and shown. Even for me, a lifelong investigative on seeing it for the first time McLaughlin’s reporter, it was not a simple task but with the assis- father, Edward, a former Massachusetts lieu- tance of two of my father’s old friends who had also tenant governor, was so touched by it that he been members of the Y, I learned the identities of asked a favor — before it was unveiled at an offi- the seven. Lisa Tuite, The Globe’s chief librarian cial ceremony at the State House, that he be whose research skills are legendary, was able to find allowed to take the painting home with him for obituaries on most and from there I connected with the weekend. the next of kin. “For the first time since Paul’s death, Ed was So far, I have returned three of the portraits, able to open up, and he did it by having a con- and am busy in tracking down the kin of the versation with that painting. That’s how real it other four. was,” Elizabeth McLaughlin, the slain prosecu- From the responses of the first two families I tor’s mother, told me at the unveiling ceremony connected with, I knew that my impulse in get- later at the State House. The painting still ting the portraits into the hands of the kin of hangs in the Attorney General’s office at the them men shown in the portraits had been the State House. right one.

the seven paintings at my home;

“It’s like I am getting my father home,” said After Greenberg’s death in 1963, Schwartz Myrel Fishman of Chestnut Hill, when I turned said he and his brothers called and visited the the portrait of her father, Samuel J. Raphel, YMCU several times over the last 20 years to over to her. “After all these years, my father is see if they could purchase the portrait but were coming home.” told every time that the painting had disap- Fishman had seen the painting once before peared. when it was unveiled at the museum in 1971, “He was our family patriarch and this cap- several months after his death at age 64. A tures him so perfectly,” Schwartz said of por- lawyer in Boston, who had grown up in trait. “It’s our family’s heirloom and I think will Dorchester, Rachel had been a member of the be visiting many of our homes in the years to YMCU for more than a quarter of a century and come.” delighted in playing handball. Sheldon Schwartz, who owns a leather goods (Stephen Kurkjian is a retired reporter and store in Provincetown, was similarly thrilled to editor for the Boston Globe and a founding learn that the portrait of his grandfather, John member of the Globe’s investigative Spotlight Greenberg, would be given to his family. Team. He shared in three Pulitzer Prizes. Schwartz and his brothers had seen the paint- Kurkjian has written extensively on the ings on several occasions decades ago when Armenian Genocide and is a board member of their grandfather, a Jewish émigré from the National Association for Armenian Studies The family of Boston Police Supt. in Chief William Taylor surrounding his portrait Lithuania, would bring them into the YMCU for and Research. This story originally appeared a workout. on WCVB, Channel 5.) 20th Annual Arpa International Film Fest to Honor Hollywood Icons at Anniversary Gala

ARPA, from page 13 with this fantasy until the day his boss sends The star-studded evening will also feature spe- him to Paris for business where his imagination cial performances by theremin virtuoso Armen begins to flourish with new romantic possibili- Ra and renowned vocalist Mister X. Armen Ra’s ties, to the point of forgetting his values, iden- music fuses Armenian folk influences with mod- tity and family. ern instrumentation, along with melodic lounge Over the course of 20 years, Arpa standards and classical arias. The self-taught International Film Festival has continuously musician’s concerts are known for their combi- provided a platform dedicated to cultivating cul- nation of both visual arts and live music. A doc- tural understanding and global empathy for umentary on his life, “When My Sorrow Died,” international cinema. Recognized as one of the premiered at Arpa International Film Festival a oldest independent film festivals for interna- few years ago. Mister X, a renowned multilin- tional cinema in Los Angeles, Arpa has bridged gual vocalist, has held concerts and taken part cultural divides by fostering dialogue among in music festivals around the globe. The classi- people of diverse backgrounds. By showcasing cally trained singer has had a solo career span- local, international and Armenian films that ning 17 years. explore critical issues such as war, genocide, The festival’s opening night on Friday, dual identities, exile and multi-culturalism, Arpa November 3, will feature the French film Dalida has solidified its role in safeguarding films that based on the true story of the acclaimed music continue to make a social impact. icon born in Egypt to Italian parents. The One of the overarching goals of Arpa famous singer gained celebrity in the 1950s, Foundation for Film, Music & Art (AFFMA) in singing in French, Spanish, Arabic, Hebrew, launching its signature Arpa International Film German and Italian. She tragically committed Festival two decades ago, was to create an suicide in 1987 in Paris, after selling more than arena that offers Armenian filmmakers, 130 million records worldwide. The film is Armenian films and Armenian-themed films directed by Lisa Azuelos and co-produced by wider exposure in Hollywood. In light of its Vivien Aslanian. landmark anniversary, AFFMA has decided to Two of the films slated for the festival’s cen- create internship opportunities for students of terpiece program on Saturday, November 4, will Armenian heritage who are pursuing careers in be “Intent to Destroy,” released by Survival cinema and entertainment. This will augment Pictures and the joint French-Lebanese produc- previous forms of support given to filmmakers tion “The Traveller” or “Le Voyageur.” A final over the past 20 years, and allow the organiza- lineup of the festival’s film screenings will be tion to deliver an increased number of film announced soon. screenings and other events promoting In “Intent to Destroy,” Academy Award- Armenian artists year round. nominated director Joe Berlinger embeds To date, AFFMA has awarded over 150 indi- himself on the film set of “The Promise,” to viduals with grants in support of their creative take an unwavering look at the Armenian endeavors. Through its Arpa International Film Genocide. Historians, scholars, and high-pro- Festival, AFFMA has recognized industry leg- file filmmakers come together in Berlinger’s ends, with Lifetime Achievement, Career cinematic exploration of the tangled web of Achievement, Humanitarian and Breakthrough responsibility that has driven a century of Artist Awards. Arpa International Film Festival Read the news in denial by the Turkish government and its takes great pride in working toward recognizing strategic allies. the diverse tapestry of international talent and Armenian In “The Traveller,” Adnan, a travel agent in a presenting it to an appreciative audience. We small Lebanese village, has always dreamed of place a strong emphasis on filmmakers’ unique www.haydzayn.am” traveling the world, but never had the chance to artistic vision, cultural diversity and social leave his country. Married with a child, he lives understanding. 16 S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING CC AA LL E E N N D D A A R R

before 9/1/17 • $65.00 after 9/1/17. $50 for Students21 Gerald Papasian from Paris. The play recounts the trial MASSACHUSETTS and under. Continuous Buffet 7:30 – 9:30 pm. Advance tick- proceedings of Soghomon Tehlirian who avenged the ets only. John Arzigian - 603-560-3826, Lucy Sirmaian - 978- SEPTEMBER 10 — Trinity Family Festival, 12-5 pm, Holy extermination of his nation and family by assassinating 683-9121, Peter Gulezian - 978-375- 1616, Sharké Der Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston, 145 Talaat Pasha in Berlin on March 15, 1921. The play will Apkarian - 978-808-0598, To Benefit: The Armenian be Brattle St., Cambridge. Delicious Armenian food – shish, in Armenian with English subtitles. For reservations and Churches of the Merrimack Valley (St. Gregory Armenian losh, chicken and Kevork’s doener kebab - paklava, other questions, you may contact Eventbrite or: Karine Apostolic Church of N. Andover, The Armenian Apostolic khadaif, and more with take-out available. Armenian Koundjakian at 248-761-9844; Shoushan Minassian at Church at Hye Pointe, Haverhill, Sts. Vartanantz Armenian music for listening and dancing, featuring the Greg 248-762-4641; Pamela Coultis at 248-646-7847; Noreen Apostolic Church of Chelmsford, Ararat Armenian Krikorian Ensemble with Greg Krikorian, oud and vocals; Masropian at 248-376-0899; Doris Krikorian at 734-464- Congregational Church of Salem, NH) www.Armenian George Righellis, guitar and vocals; Bob Raphalian, violin; 7973; Yvonne Korkoian at 248-254-3029 or Diana FriendsofAmerica.org. John Berberian / Oud, Mal Charlie Dermenjian, dumbeg; and Steve Surabian, tam- Alexanian at 248-334-3636 Barsamian / Clarinet, Ara Dinkjian / Keyboard, Ron bourine. Lots of activities for children including the DECEMBER 2 — Nor Keghi Kef Time Keghi Iii Pagharch din- Tutunjian / Dumbeg Moonwalk. Blessing of the Madagh at 4 p.m., followed ner and dance multi-purpose fundraiser for Nor Keghi OCTOBER 19 — The Battle of Bash Aparan. Lecture by by raffle drawing for cash prizes. For further information, school in Armenia, 7 p.m. at St. John Armenian Church Dr. Dikran Kaligian. Presented by the National log on to www.htaac.org/calendar/event/448/, contact Hall, Southfield. Continuous music by an assembly of Association for Armenian Studies and Research and the the Holy Trinity Church office, 617.354.0632, or Detroit’s All-Star Armenian Musicians will again entertain Armenia Tree Project. At NAASR, Belmont, Thursday, email [email protected]. attendees to the third “Pagharch” feast that residents of 7:30 p.m. SEPTEMBER 17 — Sunday Afternoon at the Park for the historic Armenian district had retained for centuries is OCTOBER 22 — Annual Banquet of Holy Trinity Families and Friends.2-4 p.m. Armenian Heritage Park on now pursued by proud Armenian Americans with the DNA Armenian Church of Greater Boston, Celebrating the The Greenway, Boston. Cindy Fitzgibbon, WCVB-TV5 is of their ancestors. The government of Armenia on 56th Anniversary of the Consecration of Holy Trinity emcee. Enjoy the Greg Krikorian Ensemble. Hoodsies! At February 1962 renamed the region of Ashdarag to Nor Armenian Church, Sunday, 12:30 p.m., Charles and 2:30 pm meet Wally the Green Monster and his sister, Tessie. Keghi to honor the history of Keghizees of historic Nevart Talanian Cultural Hall, 145 Brattle Street, RSVP appreciated hello@ArmenianHeritagePark. org Western Armenia. Details to follow. SEPTEMBER 17 — Armenian Church of the Holy Cambridge. Save the date; details to follow. Translators annual Armenian Food Festival, to be OCTOBER 26 — Annual Fall Dinner and Drawing spon- NEW HAMPSHIRE held at the church (38 Franklin Street, Framingham, MA), sored by the Friends of Holy Trinity 1000 Club, 6:30 Noon – 5 P.M. Traditional Armenian food menu includes p.m., Charles and Nevart Talanian Cultural Hall, Holy SEPTEMBER 30 — Shish Kebab supper at the historic Shish, Losh, & Chicken Kebabs, dinners, beverages and Trinity Armenian Church, 145 Brattle St., Cambridge. All Ararat Armenian Congregational Church in Salem pastries. Entertainment includes live Armenian music, are invited, and you don’t have to be a member of the NH. 4:30 - 7. Delicious meal with shish kebab, pilaf, veg- dancing and children’s activities. Church hall is available 1000 Club to join us for a delicious losh kebab and pilaf etables, salad and dessert! Adults $15; children 12 and for unwanted weather conditions. For furt her informa- dinner; $9.99 per person; tickets on sale at the door. under $7.50 tion, contact the church office: 508-875-0868. Regular monthly raffle drawing at 8 p.m., plus five $25 SEPTEMBER 20 — Meet and Greet the Doctors of the door prizes. “One-time” numbers will be sold on the NEW JERSEY Muratsan Chemotherapy Clinic of Yerevan State night of dinner; special offer: purchase five “one-time” Medical University, 7-9 p.m., Charles and Nevart Talanian numbers for $20, save $5. For further info, contact the OCTOBER 7 — Kalfayan Orphanage of Istanbul Charity Cultural Hall, Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Holy Trinity Church office, 617.354.0632, or email Fund Event. Please save the date for the Gala banquet Boston, 145 Brattle St., Cambridge. All are invited to [email protected]. celebrating the 150th anniversary of the orphanage at St’ meet Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan and Dr. Liana Safaryan of the SEPTEMBER 30 — Concert by famous Istanbul- Leon’s Armenian Church, Fairlawn. Held under the Chemotherapy Clinic for an informative evening to learn Armenian singer, Sibil Pektorosoglu (www.sibilmu- Auspices of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian (Primate), more about the wonderful work they are doing at this sic.com), at the Ellsworth Theatre at Pine Manor College, Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern). Clinic that treats children dealing with cancer from all Chestnut Hill. Sponsored by the Armenian International NOVEMBER 18 — Save the date. Gala banquet cele- over Armenia. Light reception. For further information, Women’s Association. Details to follow. brating the 70th anniversary of the Tekeyan Cultural contact Cynthia Kazanjian, 339.222.9900. NOVEMBER 2 — Thursday, Symposium with the partic- Association. At the Terrace at Biagios. 299 Paramus SEPTEMBER 21 — Welcome Reception for New Citizens ipation of International media representatives, dedi- Road, Paramus. Featuring Elie Berberian and his band following the Naturalization Ceremony at Faneuil cated to the Armenian Mirror-Spectator’s 85th from Montreal. Hall. Armenian Heritage Park on The Greenway, Boston. Anniversary. Details to follow. Funded by the Anna & Noubar Afeyan Endowed Fund. NOVEMBER 3 — Friday, 85th Anniversary Celebration NEVADA For information, email hello@Armenian HeritagePark.org Banquet of the Armenian Mirror-Spectator SEPTEMBER 22 — St. James Hye Café. Join us for deli- Newspaper the first English Language Armenian NOVEMBER 10-12 — Association of Armenian Church cious food and fellowship, and live musical entertain- Newspaper in the United States @ Newton Marriott Hotel Choirs, 2017 Convention & Assembly, Las Vegas. Saint ment! Enjoy Kebab, Falafel, Imam Bayeldi, and more. Banquet Hall. 85 Years and Beyond. Details to follow Geragos Armenian Apostolic Church, Contact: website: Doors open at 6:15 p.m. For more information visit NOVEMBER 10 — Benefit dinner for Armenia Tree www.aaccwd.com • email: [email protected]. The www.stjameswatertown.org. St. James Armenian Project’s 100th anniversary living memorial to AACCWD is an organization of the Western Diocese of Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown. General Dro and the Battle of Bash Aparan, present- the Armenian Church of North America. OCTOBER 4 — Wednesday, Sts. Vartanantz - Hye Point ed by the Armenia Tree Project and the Kanayan family. Golf Outing @ Butter Brook Golf Club, Westford. Armenian American Social Club, Watertown. Details to PENNSYLVANIA $150 includes Golf, Lunch, Dinner, and 20 Raffle follow. Tickets. 10:00 a.m. shotgun start. Registration desk NOVEMBER 12 — From Armenia to Boston for the first SEPTEMBER 23 — Sayat Nova Dance Company of on October 4 open at 9:00 a.m. Contact: Mark at 508- time. Beloved singer RUBEN SASUNCI, live in concert Boston is headed back to Pennsylvania to celebrate 633-7447; Steve, 978-808-2820; or with the Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston (SNDC). Armenian Independence Day, with its 30th anniversary email [email protected]. Proceeds to benefit schol- Sunday, at 4 p.m. at Shaw Auditorium - Watertown High production of “The journey continues...” At Centennial arships for Diocesan youth programs. School, 50 Columbia St. Tickets: $45 and $35 to be Hall of Haverford School, 450 Lancaster Ave., Haverford. OCTOBER 10 — Reducing and Managing Stress: reserved from front to back, in the order calls are Saturday, 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are going Walking the Labyrinth. 5:30 p.m. Armenian Heritage received. For tickets and info, please call Mike Demirchian fast so please reserve your seats ASAP. For tickets, call Park on The Greenway in partnership with Hollister (617) 240-8266 or Vrej Ashjian at (339) 222-3429. Ana Torcomian at 610-659-7839, Alina Ashjian at 617- Staffing. HUBweek program. Networking Reception fol- NOVEMBER 18 — Armenian Women’s Welfare 8521816 or email sayatnovadancecompany @gmail.com. lows at Hollister Staffing, 75 State Street. RSVP appreci- Association Lucheon/Auction will be held on Saturday, Tickets are $30, $40 and $50 with discounted rates avail- ated at HUBweek or [email protected] at the Oakley Country Club in Watertown. able for groups of 20 or more. OCTOBER 13-14 — St. James 70th Annual Bazaar. NOVEMBER 19 — The Westin Waltham Boston Hotel, Delicious Armenian Food and Pastries! Silent Auction, Project SAVE will celebrate with a Thanks Giving RHODE ISLAND Attic Treasures, Booths and Vendors. Raffles, Children’s brunch event to honor Founder Ruth Thomasian’s vision Activities and more! Details to follow. St. James and 42 years of service and to acknowledge the many SEPTEMBER 13, 2017-MARCH 14, 2018 — Armenian Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown. volunteers, photo donors and supporters who have con- Film Festival “The Nation’s Past & Present”Sponsored For more information contact 617.923.8860 tributed to Project SAVE. An event for the community to by Cultural Committee of the Sts. Sahag & Mesrob [email protected] or visit come together and celebrate as we look ahead to the Armenian Church, in Hanoian Hall, 70 Jefferson Street, www.stjameswatertown.org. future. For more information call 617-923-4542 or Providence. New exclusive showings of : “Cultural OCTOBER 11 — Geometry as Public Art: Celebrating email: [email protected] . Genocide” Wednesday, September 13, , at 7 pm, the Immigrant Experience. Armenian Heritage Park “Country of Armenian Kings - 1” (Van, Diarbeqir, on The Greenway, Boston. 5:30pm. HUBweek pro- MICHIGAN Tigranakert) Wednesday, October 11, , at 7 pm, “Garni, gram. Reception hosted by The Bostonian Hotel. RSVP Geghard” Wednesday, November 15, 2017, at 7 pm, appreciated at HUBweek or hello@ArmenianHeritage “Armenia” (Yerevan, Echmiadzin, Khor Virap, Zvartnots, OCTOBER 8 — The Tekeyan Cultural Association will pre- Park.org Sevan, Dilijan, Lori) Wednesday, January, 24, at 7 pm sent the stage play“All Rise, the Court is in Session” at the OCTOBER 14 — Armenian Friends of America, Inc. “Country of Armenian Kings - 2” (Ani, Kars, Edesia, Lawrence Technological University Mary Marburger Present HYE KEF 5 Dance Featuring: ONNIK DINKJIAN. Musaler)Wednesday, February, 21, at 7 pm, “Country of Science and Engineering Auditorium. 3 p.m. The play is a 7 p.m. – Midnight, 123 Old River Road • Andover. AFA Armenian Kings - 3” (Cilicia, Kharbert, Adana, Zeytoun) drama by one of Armenia’s prominent playwrights, Perch room rates until 9/16/17 • Call 978-975-3600. Ticket Prices Wednesday, March, 14, 2018, at 7 pm. All presented in Zeytuntsyan, performed by the TCA MHER Megerdchian Include Buffet and Dance • Cash Bar Only. $55 if purchased English, donation of $10. Theatrical Group from New York. Adapted and directed by S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 17 ARTS & LIVING AIWA Presents ‘An Evening With Sybil’ Second Annual Banquet of Fresno’s Armenian SIBIL, from page 13 Cultural Conservancy September 23 other countries. She was the recipient of an award in the category of “Magical Voice” at FRESNO — Subsequent to last fall’s the “Armenia Music Awards” in Moscow in Inaugural Banquet of Heritage Fresno’s 2012. In Armenia, in addition to her appear- Armenian Cultural Conservancy (ACC), a ances at the Pan-Armenian Games, she series of monthly programs were presented received “The Armenian Music to the community in keeping to its mission. Ambassador” award at the Tsitsernak On Saturday, September 23, ACC’s National Music Award Ceremony for her Second Annual Banquet will be held in the efforts in spreading and preserving Armenian west Quad of the historic Old Administration song and music in the diaspora. Building of Fresno City College: social hour, In 2014 Sibil’s album “Love” was presented 5 p.m. and dinner, 6 p.m. at Moscow Cinema in Yerevan, and all the pro- Keynote remarks will be delivered by Lena ceeds were donated to one of Armenia’s kinder- Maranian Adishian, the founder of The 100 gartens. During the presentation Sibil received Years, 100 Facts Project. She holds dual the Komitas Medal from the Minister of degrees in economics and psychology, as Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan as well as the well as a master’s in business administration. Gold Medal from Yerevan Mayor Daron Michael Retting, the editor of California Margaryan for her contributions to the dissem- State University, Fresno’s Hye Sharzhoom ination of Armenian music and for her charities newspaper, will serve as emcee for the in Armenia. evening. Rettig, a graduate student of histo- Among her appearance in America, Sibil per- Michael Rettig Lena Adishian ry at California State University, Fresno, is a formed in Los Angeles at a special event spon- descendent of survivors of the Armenian sored by the Organization of Istanbul Genocide. itage to benefit our Armenian community Barrett, co-chairs; Linda Hamilton, treasurer; Armenians in 2012 and also that year in Bergen The ACC’s mission is “to collect, preserve and the broader community.” Gary Becker, secretary; Mike Kilijian, ban- County, NJ, and Montreal, Canada. In 2014, she and interpret the evidence of the Armenian To RSVP for dinner reservations ($50 per quet chair; Deacon Allan Y. Jendian, program was among the celebrities who appeared at the experience in Central California in an endur- person, college students with ID $25), write and public relations; Mary Ekmalian, World Armenian Entertainment Awards in ing institution of learning.” At last year’s to: Armenian Cultural Conservancy, 2930 N. newsletter editor and invitations; Margaret Palm Springs, Calif., where she received a “Best Inaugural Banquet, Dr. Matthew Ari Jendian West Avenue, Fresno, CA 93704. Hokokian, membership and reservations; stated, “We need a place where we can grow ACC’s ad hoc committee members are: Herb Arden, mailing; and Larry Johnson and roots, an institute that will preserve our her- Chuck and Midge (Anoushian/Sweet) Deacon Van Der Mugrdechian, website.

Singer in the Diaspora” award. In 2016, Sibil appeared in solo concerts in Tehran and Isfahan, Iran, and in Beirut. The year was also distinguished for the concert with an Armenian rock band “The Beautified Project” in Holland. She has continued her pop- ular concert also released a music video with the song To Lake Van. For her September 30 appearance, Sibil will be joined on stage by the Zangakner Performing Arts Ensemble as well as other local artists. AIWA, which celebrated its 25th anniver- sary last year, is a global network dedicated to empowering Armenian women every- where. AIWA’s mission is to promote and enrich the social, economic, and personal advancement of Armenian women worldwide through education and other community activities that unite Armenian women, pro- mote gender equality, and emphasize our Armenian cultural heritage. For more information about Sibil, visit the AIWA website or www.sibilimusic.com.

OCTOBER 22 — The Cultural Committee of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church & The Rhode Island Orthodox Clergy Fellowship presents - Spiritual Music Festival, 6:00 p.m., Sanctuary of Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Armenian Church, 70 Jefferson Street, Providence.

Calendar items are free. Entries should not be longer than 5 lines. Listings should include contact information. Items will be edited to fit the space, if need be. A photo may be sent with the listing. Items should be sent no later than Mondays at noon. 18 S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

COMMENTARY Mirror A Political Whirlwind Engulfs Spectator Nagorno Karabakh was applied when Armenian forces overran the Azeri army to lib- By Edmond Y. Azadian erate a piece of historic Armenian territory. The basic legal prin- ciples in all the cases being the same, the only difference is that the Russian and NATO guns and the diplomacy accompanying EstablishedEstablished 1932 1932 Richard Hoagland, the US co-chair of the Organization for those forces are more powerful than Armenian arms and diplo- An ADLAn Publication ADL Publication Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, matic clout. Despite these blatant facts, the major powers will unleashed a political whirlwind around the stagnant Karabakh continue insisting cynically that all the other cases are different situation, announcing unilateral conditions in his parting salvo. from the Karabakh conflict. He is soon to be replaced by Andrew J. Schofer as co-chair. The Another area where Armenians have to fight a double-standard

EDITOR six principles laid out by Mr. Hoagland represent the Madrid is the way Karabakh gained its independence from the Soviet Alin K. Gregorian Principles in general and they have been rejected by both parties Union; it did so in the same way Azerbaijan did, that is based on during the negotiations. the principles of the Soviet constitution extant at the time. ASSISTANT EDITOR Traditionally, when the Minsk co-chairs, representing the US, The other aspect which runs against the claim of Azerbaijan’s Aram Arkun as well as Russia and France, have a message for the negotiating territorial integrity is that Karabakh has never been part of

ART DIRECTOR parties or for the diplomatic community, they coordinate their Azerbaijan’s territory; it had always enjoyed the status of an Marc Mgrditchian actions to speak as one. Why then come out hastily with a uni- autonomous oblast or region. lateral proposal at this juncture? While Karabakh’s case is a topic of hot discussion, the fate of There are certainly some undertones to Mr. Hoagland’s haste Nakhichevan has been conveniently forgotten. That exclave also and in the content of his message. had a legal status during the Soviet era. It was an autonomous By now, everybody understands that the Nagorno Karabakh republic under the Baku administration, though outside its bor- SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: conflict has become a political football for all parties involved, ders, thus an exclave. It had an ethnically diverse population, Edmond Y. Azadian and especially the major powers, which have no immediate stake with an Armenian majority. That status was guaranteed by in its timely resolution. Russia and Turkey under the Treaties of Moscow and Kars. CONTRIBUTORS: There was a news item in the Russian news outlet Regnum As a member of the Soviet Politbureau, then-Azeri-leader Florence Avakian, Dr. Haroutiun that Moscow was about to start a dialogue on Nagorno Heydar Aliyev, who was born in Nakhichevan, was able to expel Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Diana Karabakh within the framework of Russia-Azerbaijan-Nagorno the Armenians under the nose of the leadership, to alter the eth- Der Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, Kevork Keushkerian, Harut Sassounian, Karabakh. That news was amplified by a statement made by nic profile of the region. Hagop Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian Gennady Zyuganov, the head of Russia’s communist party, that Today, Azerbaijan has quietly absorbed Nakhichevan as part of there is no solution to the conflict without Russian intervention. its territory, with Moscow’s tacit acquiescence. Based on historic CORRESPONDENTS: This announcement set the scene, in view of US planners, that and treaty stipulations, it is the Baku government which has Armenia - Hagop Avedikian the issue is veering in another direction and that something con- usurped territory that does not rightfully belong to it. Boston - Nancy Kalajian crete may come out of the Sochi summit between Presidents Unfortunately., the powers that be interpret treaties and his- New York/New Jersey - Marylynda Vladimir Putin and Serzh Sargsyan: therefore Mr. Hoagland and toric facts through political expediency, where the usurper Bozian-Cruickshank Berlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach the State Department behind him were compelled to state that comes on top as a victim. the US also has a say and that it has a presence in the Caucasus. Only Armenia maintains that there is no infringement on Contributing Photographers: The other motive behind the hasty and lopsided proposal was Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity in Karabakh’s independence. Jacob Demirdjian and Jirair Hovsepian

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© 2014 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA and additional mailing offices. the intention to reward Azerbaijan for all the services it has ren- Even friendly nations, such as strategic ally Russia, acknowledge ISSN 0004-234X dered to the US and its allies, all criticism regarding the brutal Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. nature of the Aliyev rule notwithstanding. Mr. Hoagland outlines the solution as follows: The conflict is locked because two mutually incompatible prin- In light of Nagorno-Karabakh’s complex history, the sides POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, 755 Mount Auburn ciples are used to try to solve it: the territorial integrity of should commit to determining its final legal status through a St., Watertown, MA 02472 Azerbaijan versus the right of self-determination for the people mutually agreed and legally binding expression of will in the Other than the editorial, views and opinions of Karabakh. future. Interim status will be temporary. expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily To disarm any criticism a priori, Mr. Hoagland has reiterated •The area within the boundaries of the former Nagorno- reflect the policies of the publisher. the routine argument taught to all US diplomats that the Karabakh Autonomous Region that is not controlled by Baku Nagorno Karabakh issue is different from the conflicts in South should be granted an interim status that, at a minimum, provides Ossetia, Abkhazia and Dniestra. Upon further questioning, it will guarantees for security and self-governance. boil down to the fact that they are all based on the same princi- •The occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh Copying for other than personal use or ples of international law. But most of them have been resolved should be returned to Azerbaijani control. There can be no set- internal reference is prohibited without through the power of arms or diplomacy. Thus, President tlement without respect for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, and the express permission of the copyright Clinton bombed the former Yugoslavia to create Kosovo, a recognition that its sovereignty over these territories must be owner. Address requests for reprints or Muslim pseudo-republic in the heart of Europe, after the ethnic restored. back issues to: cleansing campaign of the Serbian majority against the Muslim •There should be a corridor linking Armenia to Nagorno- minority in the country. Karabakh. It must be wide enough to provide secure passage but Baikar Association, Inc. And in 2008, the Russian tanks rolled in the Georgian territo- it cannot encompass the whole of Lachin district. 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472- ry to “liberate” South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The same process continued on next page 1509 S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 19 COMMENTARY

II, Bako Sahakyan, President of Artsakh, Prof. Ugur Ungor, in a particular hotel that he would stay. Sexual favors would an expert on the Armenian Genocide, Baroness Caroline Cox, be delivered to him – under-age males. Also, it was delivered a member of the UK House of Lords, eyewitness accounts of in his townhouse; it was bribery, foreign bribery which con- survivors of both the 1915 Armenian Genocide and the mas- stituted treason. But that was a very small portion of what sacres in Baku and Sumgait, Azerbaijan, since 1988, and ear- the FBI has already gathered. In Chicago, he also was direct- My Turn lier in the 20th century, and this writer. ly involved with the notorious Turkish network that handled The interviews were conducted in several countries, includ- very large percentage of heroin-related activities, operations, By Harut Sassounian ing the United States, United Kingdom, Armenia, Artsakh, sales in the United States, including receiving cash in suit- Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Russia by camera crews sent to these cases from these particular people, and he and his Chief of places at major expense and great risk. The documentary Staff; their evidences were monitored. They were bugged not New Documentary Links 1915 also weaves the commonality of various genocides from only for audio, but also for video. The FBI had in its posses- Genocide To Recent Azeri Cambodia to Sudan (Darfur), the Holocaust, the Bosnian and sion, starting from 1997 slam dunk evidence in their hands, Rwandan genocides. criminally implicated Dennis Hastert. The State Dept. knows, Massacres of Armenians Here are important excerpts from statements made by many people in Congress whom I testified to, they know. And some of those interviewed by the documentary-makers: I said, ‘you watch, there would be no accountability and A new Armenian Genocide documentary will be screened Julian Assange: “Turkey has gone all around the world mockery of the entire system.’” in many theaters across the United States and also available aggressively lobbying diplomatically to make sure there are The documentary also shows an original footage in which “on demand” as of October 7, 2017. Unlike other documen- no references to the Armenian Genocide, including even the Azeri soldiers barbarically cut off the heads and ears of taries on the topic, this one is different and more relevant to major powers such as the United States.” Armenian soldiers and civilians during Azerbaijan’s attack on today’s non-Armenian viewers. The documentary titled, President Serzh Sargsyan: “The leaders of Turkey and Artsakh during April 2017! “Architects of Denial,” and sub-titled “Genocide denied is Azerbaijan announce from time to time that they are one Finally, the documentary-makers question several mem- genocide continued,” links the mass killings of Armenians by nation, but live in different countries. And naturally along with bers of Congress who refuse to answer whether they believe the Ottoman Empire in 1915 to contemporary massacres of that one nation, they are injecting the ideology of denial.” the Armenian Genocide actually took place, except Rep. Armenians by Azeris, ethnic kin of Turks, in various cities of Perhaps the most scandalous revelation in the documen- Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) who is shown giving a Azerbaijan, and threaten to kill Armenians living in the tary was made by Sibel Edmonds who was fired from her FBI speech at an Azeri energy conference, where she boasts:” I enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh). job for informing her superiors about the involvement of am a member of the [congressional] Azerbaijan Caucus, The documentary is produced by two Hollywood celebri- high-ranking US politicians in illegal Turkish schemes: “The enthusiastic member, and supportive member!” ties, Dean Cain and Montel Williams. It includes interviews justification to the excuse the United States government has The documentary-makers then ask Johnson on camera: with world famous personalities and experts on the been using, we are doing this [denial of the Armenian “Do you deny that the Armenian Genocide happened?” She Armenian Genocide, some of them for the first time, such as Genocide] for sensitive diplomatic relations. This is a shamelessly answers: “I do deny that!” This is a major scan- Julian Assange (WikiLeaks), FBI whistleblower Sibel hypocrisy that I have been witnessing, especially with inside dal for a serving member of Congress to make such a cate- Edmonds, prominent international lawyer Geoffrey knowledge of what takes place in the United States. It start- gorical denial which is rarely denied by Members of Robertson, Prof. Taner Akçam, one of the first Turkish schol- ed with trying to do the right thing and we fought criminal Congress. The Armenian-American community nationwide ars to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, Dr. Gregory activities bought and abused and basic retaliation for that.” and their friends should support her opponent in the next Stanton, President of Genocide Watch, Armenia’s President Explaining why Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert election and those in her district should vote against her to Serzh Sargsyan, Tom de Waal, an expert on the Caucasus killed the genocide recognition bill at the last minute, remove her from Congress. Once one of these denialist region, former US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, Rep. Edmunds stated: “It was a move that came with a price. He scoundrels is kicked out of office, other members of Adam Schiff, former Kurdish mayor of Sur, Diyarbakir in had bribery with cash to lock this vote. He also took bribery Congress will be very careful not to deny the Armenian Turkey, Abdullah Demirbas, His Holiness Catholicos Karekin in the form of sexual favors during his junket trips to Turkey Genocide. We need to make an example of her.

A Political Whirlwind Engulfs Ankara Sit-in Demands Justice for Pro-Kurdish Bloc

Nagorno Karabakh September 2014. The youths, thought to be sympa- By Amberin Zaman thetic to the pro-Islamic party Huda-Par, were killed from previous page during mass protests that erupted in the city over the •An enduring settlement will have to recognize the right of all IDPs and government’s perceived complicity with the Islamic refugees to return to their former places of residence. As Turkey’s top Kurdish lawmakers continue to rot State when the jihadis laid siege to the Syrian •A settlement must include international security guarantees that would in jail over thinly documented terror charges, fellow Kurdish town of Kobani. include a peacekeeping operation. There is no scenario in which peace can politicians have launched a sit-in outside the Demirtas is being tried in 20 other cases for allegedly be assured without a well-designed peacekeeping operation that enjoys the Constitutional Court in Ankara to protest their plight. insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the confidence of all sides. Osman Baydemir, a spokesman for the country’s Republic of Turkey, and for resisting laws regulating pub- The time has come for the sides to commit themselves to peace negotia- largest pro-Kurdish bloc, the Peoples’ Democratic lic protests. Turkey’s most popular Kurdish politician is tions, building on the foundation of work done so far. Party (HDP), said, “There is one reason that we are among Erdogan’s biggest bêtes noires for opposing his Mr. Hoagland’s statement has heralded the next two steps to be taken in gathering outside the Constitutional Court today. … It now fulfilled ambitions of scrapping Turkey’s parliamen- light of his proposal. The first one is the meeting of the two foreign minis- is to demand justice.” tary system in favor of an executive presidency during the ters, Edward Nalbandian and Elmar Mammadyarov, on the sidelines of the Baydemir noted that HDP Co-chair Selahattin Demirtas June 2015 parliamentary elections. United Nations General Assembly in New York. And as a follow-up, a meet- and 10 other HDP lawmakers have spent “306 days being With his biting wit, youthful good looks and calls ing between the two presidents. If past meetings and negotiations are any unlawfully held hostage under orders from the [govern- for a democratic and united Turkey, Demirtas won indication, no resolution can be expected from spinning the wheels. That will ment].” The move is the latest in a series of peaceful over hundreds of thousands of non-HDP voters who allow Azerbaijan to continue its war rhetoric and border skirmishes, in the protests organized by the HDP to raise awareness over the helped to propel the HDP into the parliament for the hopes of wearing down Armenia into making concessions or succumbing to imprisonment of its parliamentarians and hundreds of first time in 2015. The AKP lost its parliamentary complete annihilation. other pro-Kurdish politicians, including 85 popularly elect- majority, another first since catapulting to power in All sides claim that there is no military solution while Azerbaijan contin- ed mayors. 2002. A furious Erdogan sabotaged his own party’s ues its arms buildup. Lately, a more chilling scenario has been floated in the One of the HDP lawmakers taking part in the sit- attempts to forge a governing coalition, forcing a new eventuality of war. Indeed, Azerbaijan’s former Foreign Minister Tofiq in said the Constitutional Court had “failed in its round of elections in November 2015. The AKP hand- Zulfugarov, in a statement to Yeni Musavat daily, has raised the possibility of duties of overseeing the fair conduct and imple- ily won these thanks in no small part to the collapse hitting Yerevan from Nakhichevan. He has noted, “We should clearly under- mentation of justice in the country.” Meral Danis in July of a 2½-year cease-fire that had been mutually stand that it was impossible to benefit from the Nakhichevan factor in the Bestas told Al-Monitor, “We have two appeals pend- observed by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels first [Karabakh] war, as its defense was very weak. After the start of the sec- ing with the Constitutional Court. The first is relat- and security forces. ond phase, it is very important for Azerbaijan to beef up its defense capaci- ed to the May 2016 stripping of the parliamentary The government has since been demonizing ties there. Everyone realizes that if war starts, it will be between two states. immunity of our elected members. The other is to Demirtas and the HDP, casting them as pawns of the If the military operations were in the Karabakh region provisionally, they do with their November 2016 arrests. The PKK. Prominent human rights lawyer Erdal would not be in that region now, as it will not be possible to describe it as Constitutional Court has yet to deliver its opinion Dogan believes the end goal is to strip Demirtas of his an aggression against Armenia as the situation is different [in view of the and we demand to know why it’s taking so parliamentary seat. “They want to defang him,” he Russian-Armenian Treaty].” long.” The HDP wants to take the cases to the told Al-Monitor. In as much as Mr. Hoagland planned to state that the US has a say in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg Three HDP members, including Co-chair Figen region, the underlying message was also to reward Azerbaijan for its overt but cannot do so until the Constitutional Court Yuksekdag, who is also in jail, have already been and convert services. Azerbaijan has been buying billions of dollars’ worth rules on them. “The delay seems like a deliberate stripped of their seats. of military hardware from Israel, which is a boost to the latter’s economy. As attempt to delay justice,” Bestas said. The most prominent case against Demirtas, over it was revealed recently, additionally the Aliyev family has $600 million tied Justice has been in ever shorter supply ever since the Kobani riots, remains bogged down in intrajudi- up in investments in Israel. Over and above those investments, political and Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) cial squabbles. As a result, Demirtas has not yet military cooperation between the two countries has been significant. Israel imposed emergency rule in the wake of last sum- appeared in court. Mahsuni Karaman, who is repre- and the US use Azerbaijan’s territory to spy on Iran and in case of military mer’s failed coup. The government has used these senting Demirtas, said, “Nobody wants to prosecute conflict, Azeri territory will become a launching pad against Iran. A powers to jail tens of thousands, most over alleged Demirtas because the sin is too great.” Bulgarian journalist’s bombshell revelations in Trud daily newspaper demon- links with the putschists. But emergency rule has also (Amberin Zaman is a columnist for Al-Monitor’s strates the extent of Azerbaijan’s services to the US and Israel. The inves- served as cover to crush the HDP and its affiliates and Turkey Pulse who has covered Turkey, the Kurds and tigative journalist Dilyana Gaytandzhieva has divulged that the Azerbaijani to erase all manifestations of Kurdish nationalist iden- Armenia for The Washington Post, The Daily state airline, Silk Way, has been carrying weapons from Saudi Arabia, United tity in the provinces and districts they ran in the main- Telegraph, The Los Angeles Times and the Voice of Arab Emirates and Turkey to Syria, under diplomatic cover and CIA direc- ly Kurdish southeast region. America. She served as The Economist’s Turkey cor- tion. Therefore, we should not be surprised that paragraph 90 of Freedom Demirtas, who was arrested on Nov. 3 last year on respondent between 1999 and 2016. She was a Support Act, denying arms to Azerbaijan, is routinely bypassed through US charges of establishing and leading a terrorist organi- columnist for the liberal daily Taraf and the main- presidential executive orders, rendering that piece of legislation into a farce. zation, among others, faces up to 142 years in prison stream daily Haberturk before switching to the inde- Before departing, Mr. Hoagland intended to reward Azerbaijan, at the for allegedly instigating violence that resulted in the pendent Turkish online news portal Diken in expense of Armenian lives. deaths of four Kurdish youths in Diyarbakir in 2015. On Twitter: @amberinzaman) 20 S ATURDAY, S EPTEMBER 9 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

UK at Center of Secret $3-Billion Azeri Money Laundering and Lobbying Scheme

BAKU (Guardian) — Azerbaijan’s ruling elite Azerbaijani Laundromat. Confidential banking the original source of the payments received. run it between Russia, Malta and the Cayman operated a secret $2.9-billion scheme to pay records were leaked to the Danish newspaper Details of cash given to Volontè emerged in Islands. Does Scotland raise a red flag in your prominent Europeans, buy luxury goods and Berlingske and shared with the Organized 2016 and caused outrage. He received more mind? No.” launder money through a network of opaque Crime and Corruption Reporting Project than 2m in instalments via his Italian-based All four British companies are named as pay- € British companies, an investigation by the (OCCRP), the Guardian, and other media part- Novae Terrae foundation. Prosecutors in Milan ment channels in the Italian prosecution case Guardian reveals. ners. The data covers a 30-month period. It may have indicted him for money laundering and against Volontè. They have since been dissolved. Leaked data shows that the Azerbaijani lead- show the tip of an iceberg. corruption. The banking data shows that the Azerbaijani ership, accused of serial human rights abuses, The leaked bank records show multiple pay- Volontè denies wrongdoing. He is seeking to fund was used for a wide variety of purposes. systemic corruption and rigging elections, ments to several former members of have the case thrown out. More than $2.9 billion went to companies, with made more than 16,000 covert payments from the Council of Europe’s parliamentary assem- The data also shows money being paid via the about $50 million paid out to individuals. Many 2012 to 2014. bly, Pace. One is Eduard Lintner, a German ex- British companies to Kalin Mitrev, a Bulgarian beneficiaries were retail and service firms in Some of this money went to politicians and MP and member of the Christian Social Union, appointed last year to the board of the London- western Europe. In all probability, they would journalists, as part of an international lobbying the Bavarian sister party to Angela Merkel’s rul- based European Bank for Reconstruction and have been unaware of the origins of the pay- operation to deflect criticism of Azerbaijan’s ing Christian Democrats. Another is the Italian Development. Mitrev received at least ments they were receiving. president, Ilham Aliyev, and to promote a posi- former chair of the center-right group in 425,000 for private consulting work from a There were payments to the tuition college € tive image of his oil-rich country. There is no Pace, Luca Volontè. local Azeri company, Avuar Co. He acknowl- Bellerbys and to the ICS international school in suggestion that all the recipients were aware of The payments came at a time when edges the payments and says they were for legit- London. Bellerbys said it was investigating. The the original source of the money. It arrived via Azerbaijan was under fire for arresting human imate business consultancy. He denies all data suggests there were a number of relatively a disguised route. rights activists and journalists, and for holding knowledge of the conduit used to execute them modest bursaries to regime-connected Billions of pounds came through two rigged elections. The regime sought to blunt or the original source of the funds. Azerbaijani students studying in Britain, as well Glasgow-based companies using obscure struc- criticism from Europe and the US by allegedly “All the income, generated by activities in dif- as rental deposits on upmarket London flats. tures that let owners hide identities. bribing delegates in what has been ferent countries, was duly reported and taxed in Azerbaijan’s ruling family is not directly But the revelations once again highlight the called “caviar diplomacy.” my country of residence, Bulgaria,” Mitrev said. named. But the evidence of a connection is use of the lightly regulated British corporate This intensive lobbying operation was so suc- His consultancy work stopped when he joined overwhelming. Large sums come via the state- landscape to move large sums of money around, cessful that Council of Europe members voted the London bank, he said. owned International Bank of Azerbaijan. This is beyond the purview of regulators and tax against a 2013 report critical of Azerbaijan. The revelation that her husband consulted the largest bank in an oil-wealthy country, and authorities. Seven million pounds was spent in Lintner stood down as an MP in 2010, but for an Azeri company might prove awkward for yet earlier this summer it filed for bankruptcy Britain on luxury goods and private school fees. remained a firm supporter of Azerbaijan. He Mitrev’s wife, Irina Bokova, who is the director protection in New York. The cash, contributed by an opaque array of founded the Society for the Promotion of general of UNESCO. Bokova has bestowed one The scheme was used to pay for the govern- paymasters in Azerbaijan and Russia, travelled German-Azerbaijani Relations in Berlin, which of UNESCO’s highest honors, the Mozart ment’s incidental expenses including the medi- to the British companies — all limited partner- received 819,500 (£755,000). One 61,000 Medal, on Azerbaijan’s first lady and vice-presi- cal bills of Yaqub Eyyubov, Azerbaijan’s first € € ships registered at Companies House in payment was made two weeks after Lintner dent, Mehriban Aliyeva. She also hosted a deputy prime minister. London — via the western financial system with- returned to Berlin from a trip to Azerbaijan photo exhibition at UNESCO’s headquarters in Business partners of the US president, out raising red flags. One of Europe’s leading where he monitored the country’s 2013 presi- Paris, titled “Azerbaijan: A Land of Tolerance.” Donald Trump, in a project to build a luxury banks, Danske, processed the payments via its dential election. He said the poll was up to The Heydar Aliyev foundation organised the Trump Tower in Baku also appear in the branch office in Estonia. “German standards” in direct contrast to offi- event. Laundromat scheme. Danske Bank said “money laundering and cial election observers who found “significant Large sums from the scheme were spent on The hotel’s local developer was Anar other illegal practices” had taken place. It first problems.” lobbying. In 2014 Eckart Sager, a former CNN Mammadov, the billionaire son of Azerbaijan’s noticed the irregular payments in 2014. Lintner says he received the money for his producer based in London, received nearly ex-transport minister Ziya Mammadov. At the Estonia’s financial regulator said systems society, did not personally benefit, and was not 2m from the British companies. His PR com- time the scheme operated, the Mammadovs € designed to stop money laundering at the an MP or Council of Europe member at the pany is linked to articles that promote the were one of the country’s most powerful and branch had failed. time. An Azerbaijani NGO paid for his election Azerbaijani government and its views. One wealthy families. The scheme has been nicknamed the trip, he says. He says he has no knowledge of piece denies wrongdoing by Baku in the It is not entirely clear where the money used Volontè case. Sager did not comment. in the scheme comes from. The Russian gov- Another beneficiary is a London-based ernment paid $29.4 million into the Azeri, Jovdat Guliyev, who received 25 pay- Laundromat via its main weapons company, ments totalling almost £400,000. Guliyev is a Rosoboronexport. Several transactions link to member of the Anglo-Azerbaijani Society, a another $20-billion money-laundering scheme, lobby group co-chaired by the Liberal Democrat which operated out of Moscow between 2010 peer Lord German. Guliyev did not respond to and 2014. The scheme, the Global Laundromat, repeated messages asking him for a comment. was exposed in March by the OCCRP, Novaya The four firms at the center of the Gazeta and the Guardian. Azerbaijani Laundromat were all limited part- A mysterious private firm in Baku, nerships registered in the UK. They Baktelekom MMC, pays in more than $1.4 bil- were: Metastar Invest, based at a service lion. The firm is what fraud experts call a dop- address in Birmingham; Hilux pelganger entity. Services and Polux Management, set up in The Danish bank Danske said it had not been Glasgow; and LCM Alliance, from Potters Bar, good enough at monitoring suspicious transac- Hertfordshire. Their corporate “partners” are tions at its Estonian branch. The bank has since anonymous tax haven entities based in the “tightened procedures and controls” and “ter- British Virgin Islands, Seychelles and Belize. minated relationships” with some customers. L Burke Files, an international financial Madis Reimand, the head of Estonia’s finan- investigator, said these company structures cial intelligence unit, said his office had come were “purposefully opaque”. Foreign criminals across the suspicious Azerbaijani cash flows in used Scottish limited partnerships, or SLPs, he 2013 while analyzing separate case. said. In June the government announced SLPs Reimand said Estonia’s financial supervisory would have to name their significant owners, or authority had identified what had gone wrong pay fines, amid evidence of growing fraud. and taken steps to prevent similar fraud in the “No one suspects Scotland. It’s never been on future. the Financial Action Task Force(FATF) list of (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017 non-compliant countries,” Files said. “If you are /sep/04/uk-at-centre-of-secret-3bn-azerbaijani- going to launder money it’s probably best not to money-laundering-and-lobbying-scheme)

Fund Established for Houston Armenians

FLOOD, from page 1 Square Store: Donate online to the Square online store. There is a roughly 3-percent fee for credit card transactions, but the persons in need will receive the funds next business day. The Houston residents will also receive the donor’s name and address so that they can send thank you letters and tax deduction letters. For now, the group cautioned that no checks be mailed to Houston itself as regular mail delivery is not established yet. Those interested in helping can also go to the Houston Armenian Community Help site to request help from or offer help to the community. This site lets people request and offer services and to request and offer lodging. According to the group Armenians of Houston on Facebook, “We, the Houston Armenian community of Texas, have been the boots on ground zero trying to help many families and friends who are experiencing Harvey’s devastating impact. So far, we know of at least 20 Armenian families who have been displaced and/or lost all of their belongings. This forum was set up to be a central source of communication to provide immediate assis- tance to those in need.” To help, visit http://houstonarmenianfest.com/help/