SEPTEMBER 7, 2013 MirTHErARoMENr IAN -Spe ctator Volume LXXXIV, NO. 8, Issue 4302 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the Since 1932 Improves Cultural Giant Position in Global Competiveness Report Levon Ananyan YEREVAN (Armenpress) — In accordance with the World Competitiveness Report for 2013-2014 Dies in Yerevan issued by the World Economic Forum, Armenia improved its position by three points in three dif - ferent areas. Manuk Hergnyan, the chairman of the By Aram Arkun “Economy and Values” Research Center, stated this Mirror-Spectator Staff at a press conference held on September 4. Hergnyan said, “There are 148 countries involved in the report and the Republic of Armenia YEREVAN — Levon Ananyan, writer, occupied the 79th position. Compared with the pre - journalist, translator and chairman for the vious year’s report, our country improved its posi - past 12 years of the Writers Union of tions for three points.” Armenia, died from cancer on September 2. For the fifth year in a row, Switzerland was Ananyan had an unmistakable voice, ranked the most competitive country in the world. raspy and gravelly, perhaps due to years of smoking. He was not classically handsome, yet there was Number of Edmond Y. Azadian signs a copy of something appeal - A Legacy of Armenian Treasures, at NAASR. Has Decreased in ing about his vis - Testimony to a People age, which was (Armenpress) — A member of the Armenian almost as recog - Diocesan Council in Egypt, Suren Bayramyan, stat - nizable as his Azadian Presents New Book on ed that the number of Armenians in Egypt voice, as it was decreased from 7,000 to 5,000 in the past few seen frequently years. on Armenian tele - Michigan’s Manoogian Museum Currently there are also more than 400 vision. Dedicated BELMONT, Mass. — Edmond Y. Azadian, the chairman of the Armenian Armenian citizens residing in Egypt due to dual cit - Levon Ananyan to promoting lit - izenship. Bayramyan noted, “The Armenians were erature and the Democratic Liberal (ADL) party Eastern District Committee of US and Canada and vice chair of the Tekeyan Cultural not hurt in the clashes in Egypt. The Armenian love of reading in structures and churches were not damaged as well. Armenia, he strove to make Armenia’s cul - Association (TCA) Board of Directors, present - ed his new book, A Legacy of Armenian Notwithstanding, it’s noteworthy that there is no ture known abroad. negative attitude towards the Armenians in Egypt.” He also did not shy away from expressing Treasures: Testimony to a People , on the Alex and Marie Manoogian Museum in Southfield, Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tigran his opinions as an intellectual on public Balayan stated that no Armenian citizens have issues. He leavened his insights with humor Mich., on Saturday, August 24. The program, jointly sponsored by the Armenian Mirror- turned to the Armenian diplomatic representation in and wit. Egypt asking for the assistance to leave the country. Almost 67 when he passed away, Spectator and the National Association for Ananyan was born on October 13, 1946 in Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), was the village of Koghb in the province of held at NAASR’s headquarters. Red Cross Officials . He was proud of his family con - Azadian is the executive editor of the book. nection with ancient Armenia, which he see TREASURES, page 12 Visit POW in Baku see ANANYAN, page 3 BAKU (ArmeniaNow) — An International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) official in Yerevan has confirmed that the organization’s rep - resentatives visited the Armenian soldier who was Armenia to Join Customs Union Kevork Marashlian taken prisoner in Azerbaijan last month. Hakob Injighulyan, 22, crossed into the area near Retires after 24 Years Karabagh controlled by Azerbaijani armed forces With Russia Rather than EU Of Distinguished and was taken prisoner on August 8. Armenia has confirmed that the soldier did not face prosecution MOSCOW (Combined Sources) — In remarks posted on his website, Service to TCA, ADL at home. ICRC Armenia Delegation Communication Armenian President Serge Sargisian said Sargisian pointed to Armenia’s membership Officer Ashot Astabatsyan confirmed that the this week that his country would join the of the Collective Security Treaty WATERTOWN — At its general meet - Committee’s Baku office representatives visited the Russia-led Customs Union. Organization, a Russian-led military ing on August 24, the Central Board of prisoner of war on Monday. Sargisian made the surprise announce - alliance, as part of the reasoning behind his Directors of the Tekeyan Cultural The parents and relatives of Injighulyan staged ment after talks with his Russian counter - decision. Association Inc. (TCA), representing all protests near the ICRC office in Yerevan last month part, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow on “When you are part of one system of mil - chapters in the US and Canada, accept - demanding that the Red Cross take action to help September 3. itary security it is impossible and ineffective ed the retirement of Kevork Marashlian repatriate him. Armenian authorities were angered He said Armenia is also ready to take part to isolate yourself from a corresponding from his post as executive secretary, by Azerbaijan’s parading the POW on television, in the establishment of the Eurasian eco - economic space,” he said. which had been presented to the board which it said constituted a violation of the Geneva nomic union. “I confirmed Armenia’s inten - Sargisian also vowed to continue com - six months ago. Convention on the treatment of POWs. tion to join the Customs Union and the municating with “European structures,” Marashlian retires for health reasons process of the formation of the Eurasian adding that his government remains com - after a distinguished career of manag - Union,” he told reporters. “It is a rational mitted to institutional reforms sought by ing the offices of the Tekeyan Cultural decision stemming from the national inter - those bodies. Association Inc., the Armenian ests of Armenia. This decision does not con - Sargisian made no mention of a planned Democratic Liberal Party’s Eastern INSI DE stitute a refusal to continue our dialogue Association Agreement with the European District of US and Canada and the with European structures. We intend to Union. Armenian Mirror-Spectator . continue these reforms in the future.” see CUSTOMS UNION, page 2 The board passed a special resolution acknowledging his dedication to the Kherdian organization and his leadership quali - ties. Marashlian will continue his services Explained to the above organizations on a volun - tary basis, as his health allows him. Page 10 The Central Board of Directors of Tekeyan Cultural Association Inc. acknowledges the selfless devotion of Marashlian beyond the call of duty dur - INDEX ing his 24 years of services at the Arts and Living ...... 10 premises of Baikar Association in Armenia ...... 2, 3 Watertown. Community News...... 4 He has also actively participated in Editorial ...... 14 joint organizations of a multitude of International ...... 4 Presidents Serge Sargisian, left, and Vladimir Putin community events in Massachusetts, as see MARASHLIAN, page 16 2 S ATURDAY , S EPTEMBER 7, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Syrian Armenians Concerned about the Negative Effect of Possible US Air Strikes New Classroom Opens in Sardarapat School YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) — University in Stepanakert, Ethnic Armenians who have By Gohar Abrahamyan according to the government fled during the last two press office. SANDARAPAT, Armenia — A modern classroom years of conflict and took Khachik Chozikyan, who opened in a community school with the support of refuge in Armenia consider moved from Syria to Armenia VivaCell-MTS. The creation of the classroom with that possible US strikes against the alleging that the United States is mis - a year ago, fears that American strikes innovative solutions became possible due to the country will prove a futile effort to leading the international community by against the Assad regime will only make cooperation between VivaCell-MTS, Children of resolve the crisis, while only causing neg - putting the blame on the government things worse for the entire country. Armenia Fund and Sardarapat School. ative effects. forces in Syria. Chozikyan, who has been a member of With an electronic smart board as well as six new They acknowledge with regret, howev - Armenia is following the situation the Help Your Brother initiative of the computers, the classroom is designed for 30 stu- er, that Syria is getting continuously around Syria with particular interest Armenian Revolutionary Federation dents and special mobile furniture allows students plagued by the civil war that has been and not only because of the involve - (Dashnaktsutyun), delivering humanitar - to perform individually, in pairs or groups. going on in this Middle Eastern country ment of major regional powers in it, ian aid to compatriots in Syria, says a Organizers of the renovations hope the advance- for more than two years now with no including its top ally Russia, neighbor possible US intervention may have ments will facilitate modern technologies, class dis- end in sight. and historical foe . Syria is unpredictable consequences. cussions and lectures, reading sessions and games. The situation around Syria, where home to an 80,000-strong Armenian “I can’t imagine how Muslim soldiers “If we manage to make the learning environment opposition forces are waging armed bat - community and the civil war in this can embrace Americans. Maybe they will, more attractive, we will get the expected results tles against government forces loyal to country has already resulted in thou - but maybe they won’t. If they don’t, within the shortest terms. Our nation’s unique President Bashar al-Assad, aggravated in sands of them leaving their homes and there will be a situation similar to Iraq, approach towards education should be targeted at the wake of the alleged use of chemical relocating to Armenia. which is dangerous. The people of Syria preparing skilled professionals,” VivaCell-MTS weapons on August 21. The United States The Armenian government has been are tired, they are waiting for peace in General Manager Ralph Yirikian said. claims to possess conclusive evidence that neutral on the internal conflict in Syria, whatever way it may come, but launch - the Assad regime used sarin gas near but has been concerned about the phys - ing missile strikes is not a solution,” said President Discusses Damascus on that day killing 1,429 civil - ical safety of ethnic Armenians as well as Chozikyan. ians, including 426 children. Meanwhile, the integrity of the community that was He urged for the United Nations to Aviation Issues each side in the conflict in Syria blames established in Aleppo and other major post peacekeeping forces there. its opponents for the attack. Syrian cities by survivors of the genocide Another Syrian-Armenian, who did YEREVAN (Armenpress) — President Serge Washington has threatened to punish in Ottoman Turkey. not want his name to be published (as Sargisian on September 4 hosted Andre Andonian Assad for the use of banned weapons, Prime Minister Tigran Sargisian on many young male Syrian Armenians do and Alex Dichter of Mckinsey & Co. Also taking with a limited military operation and has Sunday said that Armenia should be probably to avoid possible problems with part in the meeting were member of the Board of increased its military presence around ready for the worst-case scenario in the military authorities back in Syria), Trustees of National Competitiveness Foundation, Syria in recent days. Syria crisis. agreed that he believes that US strikes Ruben Vardanyan. While some major US allies in , “A great outflow [of ethnic Armenians] will only aggravate the situation in the The assembled discussed issues relating to airline such as the UK, Germany and other is expected from Aleppo. The problem is . reforms in Armenia, state regulation in aviation NATO members, have not agreed yet to that traveling around Syria by land can - The 25-year-old student at the sphere, necessary conditions for improvement of be part of the military campaign against not be safe today. It is clear that we Yerevan State University said: “I don’t services in the sphere, existing problems and ways Syria, others, such as France and should be ready for such developments think that the United States will take of solving them. Representatives of “Mckinsey & Turkey, have supported an even more in order to be able to receive Syrian such a foolish step. It will only result in company” which signed agreement with National fierce response to the alleged use of Armenians who are able to overrun this more human deaths, more destruction, competitiveness foundation of Armenia in order to chemical weapons by the Assad regime. blockade somehow. We are discussing all the situation in the Middle East will develop of program aimed to securing competitive Assad’s key allies, including Iran and scenarios,” he said addressing teachers become more confused, which will not and stable air transport in Armenia introduce to Russia, have spoken against the strike, and students at the Artsakh State be favorable to anyone.” the President the results of their work done in that direction and future plans. School to Offer Armenia to Join Customs Union Rather than EU CUSTOMS UNION, from page 1 ed by a third country.” and seven other ministers from Nordic DILIJIAN, Armenia (Armenpress) — All students of Putin hailed Sargisian’s announce - EU High Representative for Foreign and Baltic countries warned against the Dilijan International School will take classes in ment, saying Yerevan’s decision to join Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Russian pressure on post-Soviet states. Armenian as part of the curriculum. Veronica the “Eurasian integration process” will Ashton said she wanted Armenia to “Any economic threat or political pres - Zonabend, the wife of benefactor Ruben Vardanyan, boost bilateral and mutually profitable explain the decision to join the Russia- sure directed against Eastern partners announced the decision during a press conference ties between the two countries. initiated Customs Union. because of their European aspirations on September 4. “We have made the decision that “We will be doing our utmost to facil - “We expect clarifications from and engagement with the EU is unac - everyone will be taught the Armenian language. It itate this process,” he said. “I am confi - Armenia, and then we will be able to ceptable,” they said. means that children who have come from Singapore dent that Yerevan’s membership in the assess the consequences this move may Alexey Malashenko, the co-chair of or Argentina can communicate in Armenian,” said structures of Eurasian integration will have,” Ashton’s spokesperson Maja the Carnegie Moscow Center’s Zonabend. Students with Armenian citizenship will become a powerful impulse for mutual - Kocijancic said in Brussels. Religion, Society and Security have to pass Armenian language and Armenian his- ly beneficial economic cooperation.” Linas Linkevicius, the Foreign Program, said Armenia’s decision was tory subjects according to educational program of Yerevan’s membership of the Minister of Lithuania, which holds the quite expected, given the country’s the country. Customs Union must still be approved rotating EU presidency, said Armenia strategic partnership with Russia and The construction of Dilijan International School by the other union members, Belarus “has blocked its chances of signing a the Nagorno Karabagh peace process. began in 2012 and it is set to be completed in 2014. and Kazakhstan. free trade deal with the European “With Armenia’s joining the Customs The school will receive pupils beginning in Armenia had been poised to initiate Union by choosing to join the Russia- Union, the status quo in the region will September 2014. There will be 90 pupils in the first an association and free trade agreement led union.” not change. Europe will not be criticiz - educational year, with the hopes of ultimately hav- with the EU at a November summit in “We respect any choice of countries ing Yerevan for a long time,” he added. ing a student body of around 650. Vilnius. but they cannot enter both organiza - But EU officials have repeatedly tions at the same time because of dif - (Stories from RFE/RL and made it clear that the agreement is “not ferent tariff requirements,” he said. PanArmenian.net were used to compile NKR FM Hosts Les compatible” with possible Armenian In a separate statement, Linkevicius this report.) Pennes-Mirabeau membership of the Russian-led trade bloc. Armenian Union Meanwhile, the prospect of such a EU Delegation to Armenia Launches Online deal has triggered growing Russian STEPANAKERT — On September 3, Nagorno pressure on Yerevan over the past year. Civil Society Dialogue Karabagh Minister of Foreign Affairs Karen Reacting to Sargisian’s announce - Mirzoyan received members of the delegation from ment, EU Enlargement Commissioner YEREVAN (Public Radio of Armenia) — The European Union (EU) the Armenian Union of Les Pennes-Mirabeau, Stefan Fuele’s spokesman Peter Stano Delegation to Armenia has launched an online civil society dialogue page in France. said he was “currently consulting our an effort to take account of the views of civil society in different policy areas Welcoming the guests, Mirzoyan spoke of the Armenian partners on the latest devel - and to help it to conduct more focused consultations, EU Neighborhood Info importance of the Declaration of Friendship signed opments” and that the “potential impli - Center reported. on June 11, between the towns of Les Pennes- cations” would be examined when “all The main aim of the sit is to give civil society participants the opportunity Mirabeau and Martuni. the necessary details” were to hand. to exchange their opinions with each other and with the EU delegation to The declaration discusses the importance of cre- Secretary General of the European Armenia about important questions for the future development of EU- ating and developing free, democratic society and Friends of Armenia (EuFoA) Michael Armenia relations. condemns the unacceptable isolation of the Kambeck said he believes that Discussion topics range from draft political and operational documents, Artsakh people. The document also declares the Armenia’s decision to join the Russia- consultations on ad hoc initiatives and establishment of priorities of pro - establishment of friendly relations between the two initiated Customs Union “was not a free grams. A press release from the EU delegation to Armenia said the new cities and the implementation of programs in choice”. online tool would give a “productive and useful record of interaction between spheres of education, culture, sport and trade. Kambeck urged the EU to “find a the European Union and civil society.” new modus operandi with Armenia, Those wishing to participate in the first consultation session should which visibly wants to cooperate close - first register their organization online. ly with the EU but apparently is restrict - S ATURDAY , S EPTEMBER 7, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 ARMENIA Armenians Celebrate 22nd Anniversary of NKR

PANARMENIA PHOTO STEPANAKERT (Arka, Armenpress) — On Martirosian, the NKR dently, but they have necessary will, strength September 2, Artsakh, Armenia and members National Assembly Speaker and spirit to make reality that dream and desire, of the global diaspora celebrated the anniver - Ashot Ghulyan, the Premier to be the owner of their rights and historical sary of Nagorno-Karabagh’s idependence. Ara Harutunyan, other offi - country.” Known as Republic Day, the celebration com - cials from the Republic of “The Republic of Nagorno Karabagh created memorates the 1991 declaration by Nagorno- Armenia and the Nagorno by the people’s will during more than 20 years Karabagh’s elected legislative body announcing Karabagh Republic, and after declaration of independence have over - the formation of the Artsakh Republic. guest from abroad participat - come the hard historical road of state building In his congratulatory address to the people ed in the event. full of hardships,” he added. today Karabagh President Bako Sahakyan “We are full of determina - There were also several commemorative described the day as a “magnificent state holi - tion and perseverance to events simultaneously held in Yerevan, day, which we traditionally celebrate with deep solve together all these including a series hosted by the Armenian pride and responsibility.” issues successfully, to settle Revolutionary Federation (ARF) from “We take pride in the heroic people who them with daily painstaking September 2-7 organizes a series of events gained freedom and independence through the work, with the active sup - dedicated to Nagorno Karabagh indepen - A military parade took place in Stepanakert in honor of the anniver - blood of their brave sons and nowadays keep port of our sisters and dence anniversary. A photo exhibit was sary celebrations. carving their own future. We feel responsibility brothers from Armenia and opened September 3 to honor the Artsakh for strengthening the statehood created the Diaspora,” Sahakyan liberty war. through great sacrifices, developing the native noted the significance of holding such events in stated. “This year is 22nd year of Artsakh indepen - land, and leaving a strong and prosperous the town of Shushi considering it valuable both The chairman of the National Assembly of dence and the 25 anniversary of the Artsakh homeland for the generations to come,” said for the development of classical music in the Republic of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan movement. On Northern Avenue we will be dis - Sahakyan, according to his press service. Artsakh and the preservation of historical-cul - likewise noted the importance of the anniver - play photos dedicated to liberty fight,” said ARF Sahakyan also took part in the staging of tural monuments. sary. Abrahamyan noted, “With their dignified Chief of Staff Artak Aghbalyan. Andrey Babayev’s “” opera per - Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sargisian, fighting and convincing victory for indepen - The scheduled Yerevan events culminate in a formed at the historical building of the Shushi the Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the dence the people of Artsakh proved that they September 7 screening of Jivan Avetisyan’s film, Intermediate Secondary School. Sahakyan Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Parkev cannot only dream and think of living indepen - “Interrupted Childhood.” Cultural Giant Levon Ananyan Dies in Yerevan

ANANYAN, from page 1 Levon Ananyan, while mortal, has contributed thought was evidenced even in his last name. greatly to it. The president of the Armenian His ancestors, members of the Bagratuni Writers Union was an intelligent and energetic princely dynasty, emigrated after the 1319 cultural leader — a dynamic Armenian patriot. earthquake in . The loss now of his intelligence, his energy, and In 1968 he graduated Yerevan State his shrewd resourcefulness is going to be University Department of Philology and soon severely felt. But his lasting contribution will found work at a number of periodicals while also be felt. He served Armenia.” Several vol - editing the newspaper Mankavarzh umes of Sourian’s writings were translated into (Pedagogue). In 1975 he became an editor for Armenian and published thanks to Ananyan’s the renowned literary monthly Garun , and in support. Sourian in the past has expressed his 1990 became its editor-in-chief. appreciation for the inspiration provided by During the early post-Soviet period, he found - trips to Armenia to events of the Writers Union. ed a publishing house called Apolon (Apollo), Sourian ended an essay penned in memory of which specialized in presenting world literature Ananyan with these words: “We never spoke of to Armenians in translation. It had published friendship, for it seems to have been unneces - around 150 books by 2001. Ananyan was elect - sary. I am proud to have had the gift of that ed in May 2001 as president of the Writers friendship. I had not thought to realize that the Union, and ended his editorship of Garun that loss of it in this world was going to be so painful. same year. The Writers Union managed to pre - Levon Ananyan, left, with President Robert Kocharian, center, in 2005 and other guests In a peculiar sense I am glad that it is painful serve more of its assets and prestige than some because the pain is a measure of my friend’s of the other Armenian unions in the creative value, a pain I am proud to bear. Finally, and not fields after Armenian independence, and understood by those around him. He described guages and always affirming the connections less important, it is also a measure of his stature although it was no longer directly a branch of his great energy in amazement, likening him in between literature in Armenian and literature that it was fun to be with him. He was a gifted the government, Ananyan continued to adroitly this respect to Arshag Tchobanian, and pointed by Armenian writers in other languages. He was man — gifted with a love of life — and many of obtain state support for its activities, materially out how Ananyan made the Writers Union cen - a gatherer of the wide global culture that is those that knew him, knew that he was a gift to and morally. Ananyan even had been a candi - ter itself very active. Danielyan praised Armenia in the 21st century.” them. A large spirit, he will live large in the date for Parliament several times, though he Ananyan’s efforts to unite diaspora and republic, UCLA’s Narekatsi Professor of Armenian hearts of those of us who knew and loved him.” did not succeed in winning office. breaking down old stereotypes. Studies Peter Cowe declared: “Journalist, diplo - Ananyan’s funeral was to take place on Ananyan used new methods of fundraising President Serge Sargisian extended his con - mat, smooth communicator and effective fund- September 4 at St. Sarkis Church in Yerevan. such as telethons successfully, along with find - dolences to the Ananyan family and praised raiser, committed to and writ - He leaves three children, Aram (director of ing private patrons of literature. He lowered the Ananyan’s contributions to Armenian literary ers’ needs, Ananyan will be a hard act to follow.” Armenpress), Davit and Astghik, and his wife average age of union members by some 20 life. Novelist and literary critic Peter Sourian, pro - Aghavni, who is a teacher of mathematics at a years and made more resources available to the President Bako Sahakyan of Artsakh called fessor emeritus of English at Bard College, secondary school and the Khachatur Abovian youngest members. In his time, new types of lit - Ananyan “a great patriot,” who in addition to wrote: “Our culture is our immortality, and Pedagogical University. erary contests were instituted, and new period - his work for Armenian literature and culture, in icals established. He was reelected as president Artsakh is also “known as a man devoted to the of the union one last time at the end of last July. national liberation movement who played an Ananyan continued to teach at Yerevan State active part in the just presentation of the University’s Department of Journalism while Artsakh issue, making the Republic of Nagorno Mother See Publishes New Titles representing the Writers Union. As a proud son Karabagh recognizable to international cultural of Koghb, he served as leader of the circles.” ECHMIADZIN — With blessings from Karekin wide range of readers interested in Armenian NGO from 2002. He wrote or Vazgen Manukyan, chairman of the Public II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Studies. edited numerous books, and hundreds of arti - Council of the Republic of Armenia, declared Armenians, the publishing department of the The first volume of the textbook General cles and forewords. He did translations from that “as an intellectual, he was deeply con - Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin has published Church History provides a factual standardized Russian and English into Armenian. In 2008, he cerned with cultural, public and national issues; the novel The Cross of Ashot the Iron by Anahit analysis of rich material, illustrates the estab - was awarded the title of Meritorious Cultural [he was] a public figure who contributed to the Parsamyan; the educational manual Ancient lishment of the church, the historical progress Figure (Vastakavor Mshakutayin Gortsich) by establishment of our newly independent state.” Armenian Literature by Varag Nersisyan; the first of during the first century, the the Republic of Armenia. The mayor of Yerevan, Daron Margaryan, the volume of the textbook, General Church History pragmatic developments as well as the univer - Among his many activities, Ananyan attempt - Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe, and by Father Ervand Ter Minasyan and the Russian sal issues that arose during the first violation of ed to bring together writers from the diaspora several other organizations have issued state - monograph Khrimyan Hayrik’s Patriarchate the dogma. and Armenia through a series of conferences ments, and no doubt many more will write about from 1893 to 1907 by Valery Tunyan. Khrimyan Hayrik’s Patriarchate from 1893 to for Armenian-language and non-Armenian- him in the forthcoming weeks. The Cross of Ashot the Iron depicts the life of 1907 examines the pursuits of Mkrtich I language writers, and introduced a number of American and Canadian Armenian writers Ashot the Iron, his struggle for the homeland Khrimyan from 1983 to 1907. With extensive diasporan writers of Armenian origin to such as Nancy Kricorian and Alan Whitehorn and the unity of the church and nation during archival, historical and source material, accord - Armenian readers. have also expressed their appreciation of those critical times. ing to the publishers, this book is intended for A number of Armenian public figures, intellec - Ananyan. Poet, writer and academic Peter Ancient Armenian Literature is considered all those who are interested in the history of the tuals and politicians have already expressed their Balakian, the Donald M. and Constance H. one of the greatest accomplishments of Armenian people and Church during the late condolences publicly. Literary critic Prof. Suren Rebar Professor of Humanities at Colgate Armenian Studies in recent years. The authors 19th and early 21st centuries. Danielyan, director of the Diaspora Scientific University, declared: “Levon was an exceptional not only hope that the work will contribute in The works were published through the spon - Educational Center in Yerevan, wrote that presence as I knew him — always welcoming to providing professional knowledge to University sorship of Gabriel Chemperchyan, benefactor of Ananyan was a true innovator, sometimes mis - Armenian writers from other countries and lan - students, but that it will also be helpful for a the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin. 4 S ATURDAY , S EPTEMBER 7, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL International News Turkish Armenians Celebrate, Commemorate their Past DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (The their numbers remain unknown. Osman and short-sighted. ‘Paradjanov’ Considered Economist) — A dainty silver slipper, a Koker, a Turkish historian, reckons that But such worries were pleasantly hand-engraved copper bowl. Silva more than half of Diyarbakir’s popula - absent during a recent afternoon in For Ukraine’s Academy Ozyerli, an ethnic Armenian, runs a lov - tion used to be non-Muslim, mainly Surp Giragos, as tourists gazed at the ing finger over these and other family Armenian Orthodox, but also Catholic, church’s repaired altars and onion- Award Entries treasures strewn across her dinner table Syrian Orthodox and Jewish. “Now”, domed belfry (which had been in Istanbul. They are due to go on dis - said Koker, “there is practically none.” destroyed by the Ottomans in 1916 KIEV (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Serge Avedikian and play at a new museum of Armenian cul - Yet a growing number of Turkish because it dwarfed surrounding Olena Fetisova’s “Paradjanov” has been chosen ture in Ozyerli’s native city of Armenians are reclaiming their heritage. minarets). The church is drawing hun - among the films to be nominated as Ukraine’s sub- Diyarbakir at the end of 2013. mission for best foreign language film at the The Armenian museum, the first of its Academy Awards, along with Kira Muratova’s kind in Anatolia, will be part of the “Eternal Return” and Akhtem Seitablayev’s newly restored Surp Giragos Church “Haytarma,” Ukrainian media reported. complex. Its aim is to chronicle “Paradjanov” stars Avedikian as a brilliant director Armenian life in Diyarbakir, in Turkey’s Sergey Paradjanov, whose nonconformist behavior mainly Kurdish south-east, before 1915. clashed with the Soviet system. Paradjanov’s eccen- That was the year when Ottoman troops tricities landed him in jail, where his indestructible and their Kurdish accomplices began love for beauty allowed him to withstand the years slaughtering more than one million of imprisonment, isolation and oblivion. Armenians and other Christians across “Paradjanov,” co-produced with Ukraine, France, the country during what many histori - Georgia and Armenia, was named the best feature ans say was the first genocide of the film at Odessa Festival. 20th century. Ukraine will announce its official entry for the Turkey denies that mass killings took Academy Awards’ foreign language entry on place, insisting that the Armenians had September 12. The Academy Awards will be take perished from hunger and disease dur - place on March 2 in Los Angeles. Surp Giragos Church in Diyarbakir ing their forced march to the deserts of Syria. (The Ottoman government Czech Footballer deported the Armenians, notionally for In 2010 hundreds flocked to the island dreds of people every day. “Many of their safety, as the empire collapsed. Yet of Akdamar in the eastern province of them are Islamized Armenians like me,” Discusses Armenia Team thousands were massacred as they Van to attend an inaugural mass at the laughs Gafur Turkay of the Surp marched, and countless others were newly restored Church of the Holy Giragos Foundation. “The truth about PRAGUE (Armenpress) — Czech Republic footballer killed before they set off.) Local school Cross. (The church is now a museum, 1915 cannot be concealed,” says Ayik’s Tomas Sivok recently stated in interview with textbooks perpetuate this myth. but holds mass on religious holidays.) daughter Pelin Alik. “But as a young denik.cz that playing Armenia is always a chal- Granting permission to restore Surp Turkey’s culture ministry has obliged Armenian I don’t want to be pitied as a lenge. Giragos is seen as part of a larger gov - with a list of other ancient churches that victim. I am the proud torchbearer of a “Our fans want a victory from us but we should ernment campaign to placate diaspora it plans to restore, says Osman Kavala, a rich civilization that not only has sur - not underestimate Armenians. We want to play in Armenians, who have been lobbying Turkish philanthropist who is helping to vived but continues to thrive.” an attacking style but playing such football against governments around the world to rec - promote Turkish-Armenian reconcilia - Armenia will be equal to suicide. It is one of the ognize the Genocide. When Surp tion. And Armenian-language lessons, fastest squads in Europe,” said Sivok. Giragos reopened in 2011, after lying in available since last year in Diyarbakir’s The World Cup 2014 qualifying round match ruins for more than 20 years, it became historic Sur district, are increasingly Turkish Writer between the Czech Republic and Armenia took Turkey’s first church to be revived as a popular among Turkey’s so-called “invis - place in the city on September 6. Yasar Kemal Gets permanent place of worship. ible Armenians” who had abandoned “The museum is a way of showing their culture in order to survive. Grikor Narekatsi Japan to Open Embassy that thousands of Armenians con - Abdullah Demirbas, the district’s mayor, tributed to the city’s wealth and cul - argues that the Kurds must also make Medal In Armenia ture,” explained Ergun Ayik of the Surp amends for their complicity in the Giragos Foundation, which runs the Genocide. YEREVAN (Public Radio of TOYKO — Japan will open embassies in Armenia, church. “People will look at the pho - Armenians applaud these efforts, even Armenia) — Acclaimed Turkish Turkmenistan and four other countries according tographs, the objects and wonder where as they note a persistent strain of Turkish writer Yasar Kemal has received to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Japan did all these people go?” nationalism that perceives non-Muslim the Grikor Narekatsi (Gregory of officials are also considering opening embassies in Around two million Armenians lived minorities as suspect. The government’s Narek) Medal from the Armenian Bhutan, Namibia, Barbados, Turkmenistan and the in Turkey before the Genocide. Now conversion of several Greek Orthodox Culture Ministry, Hurriyet Daily Republic of the Marshall Islands. there are about 70,000. Survivors are churches into mosques, together with its News reports. Japanese officials stated that they anticipate scattered across the Middle East, recent espousal of unabashedly Islamist Kemal was awarded the medal increased economic activity by Japanese companies Europe, America and . Many rhetoric, heightens some concerns that for his successes and contribu - in those countries. They also stated that they will more converted to Islam to carry on, but efforts to appease Armenians are cynical tions to literature, in addition to increase the number of staff in those countries by his works which have helped pre - 70. serve Armenian cultural heritage. Diplomatic relations between the Republic of “We are here to show our Armenia and Japan were established on September appreciation to Kemal on his con - 7, 1992. In June 2010, Armenia opened in embassy Armenian Tourism Poster Wins tribution to protecting important in Tokyo. such as UNWTO European Nomination Akhtamar Church [in Lake Van],” US OSCE Minsk Group said Culture Ministry representa - HARARE, Zimbabwe — Armenia was on the UNWTO website until the next tive Seyranuhi Geghamyan during Co-Chair to Visit South named the winner of the Europe nomi - edition of the Vettor Giusti posters com - a visit to Kemal’s home to present nation of the 2013 Vettor Giusti tourism petition in 2015. him with the award. Caucasus poster competition during “I am from Van. … Today I the 20th General Assembly salute you and thank you, and I VIENNA (Armenpress) — Ambassador James of the United Nations really would like our societies to Warlick, the new US co-chair of the Organization World Tourism communicate again,” said the for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Organization (UNWTO) Armenian representatives deputy Minsk Group, announced on his Twitter page that held August 24-29. Aragats Akhoyan, adding that he would soon make a visit to Armenia, Nagorno Presented by the they were determined to build an Karabagh and Azerbaijan. He stated, “I will travel National Competitiveness environment that lends itself to soon to Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Nagorno- Foundation of Armenia and communication. Karabagh to begin my efforts to help bring about a the Ministry of Economy, “On these lands people have settlement.” the “Symphony of Stones” gone through pain. The most Warlick most recently served as deputy special poster was named the best sacred effort is to fight against representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and among 44 member-coun - hostility,” Kemal said, adding that lead negotiator for the Bilateral Security tries of the UNWTO he admired the poetry of Gregory Agreement with Afghanistan. He served as ambas- Commission for Europe. of Narek and that he was honored sador to Bulgaria from 2009-2012, principal deputy The Vettor Giusti tourism to receive the medal. assistant secretary of state in the Bureau of posters competition is held The Armenian representatives International Organization Affairs from 2006 to every two years on the also gave Kemal an Armenian 2009 and director of the Office of European occasion of the sessions of translation of one of his most Security and Political Affairs from 2005 to 2006. the UNWTO General famous works, Memed, My Hawk, Warlick earned a bachelor’s degree from Stanford Assembly. This year the which was first published in 1975. University and holds master’s degrees from Assembly was attended by Kemal said Anatolia was the Wadham College, Oxford University and the more than 140 countries. land of many civilizations, includ - Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts Armenia’s “Symphony of ing the Armenian civilization, University. Stones” poster will be dis - which had left a lasting impres - played at the entrance hall sion in various fields, from archi - of the UNWTO building in Armenia’s “Symphony of Stones” poster tecture to art and music. Madrid and will be viewed S ATURDAY , S EPTEMBER 7, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 Community Ne ws

Group Appeals for Glendale Support for Syrian Hosts Green Armenians Armenia LOS ANGELES — The Syrian Armenian Relief Fund released the following statement this week, appealing for support for : Walkathon For the past two years, Syria and our Armenian community in Syria have been going GLENDALE — An awareness-building through a crisis; our once self-sufficient and pros - and fundraising walkathon organized by perous community has been thrust into such a Green Armenia will take place on disastrous situation, that our people have September 22 at 1 pm. become in need of basic necessities. Participants will gather at City Hall, From the early days of the crisis, the Armenian then proceed to Verdugo Park to join the community in the Western US united efforts to celebration of Armenia’s 22nd collectively provide moral and financial support Independence Day. to meet the needs of our young and old bothers This event is intended to raise aware - and sisters in Syria. The greater community unit - ness in the community of the environ - ed under the auspices of the Syrian Armenian mental issues that confront the Dr. Richard Hovannisian at one of the classes Relief Fund (SARF) and the accomplishments of Republics of Armenia and Artsakh. the past year attest to the extent of our commu - Information will be available at Green nity members’ care and compassion. Armenia’s booth at the celebration. Despite calls for peaceful resolution of the cri - Mining has been chosen by the gov - Zoryan Hosts University sis, the situation in Syria is not improving; on the ernment of Armenia as a path to eco - contrary, it is under risk of further deterioration. nomic development. Yet, some critics say The Syrian people, including Armenians, are sub - it is being practiced in a destructive, Students to Study Genocide jected to further threats and innocent civilians exploitative fashion. Organizers of the and their neighborhoods are being victimized event hope to remedy this problem by with violence, which trample over every law and supporting projects that promote wise From Planning to principle, that guides humanity. stewardship and sustainable use of the Just as during the beginning of the crisis, also country’s natural resources. According Prevention today, the people of the Western US, along with to Green Armenia, the objective is not the rest of the Armenian people worldwide, stand TORONTO — The running of the 12th annual Genocide & Human Rights in solidarity of the suffering people of Syria, University Program (“GHRUP”) couldn’t have been timelier considering the atroc - including the Armenian residents. ities and human rights violations currently taking place in Syria, Egypt, and sev - We appeal to our compatriots to make tangi - eral countries in the Middle East and Africa. ble expressions of their solidarity by contributing This year, 22 students came to Toronto from 10 countries to meet and study to SARF and raising funds to help alleviate the with 10 distinguished genocide scholars. Many of the students came from back - suffering of our brothers and sisters. grounds where gross violations of human rights and genocide are part of their We also invite our community to participate in national or personal experience, such as Kurds, Nigerians, Pakistanis, Armenians, prayers for their safety on Prayer Day, Sunday, Jews, Muslims and Christians. There were several students who work to provide September 15, at all of our churches. aid to affected communities, such as those of Guatemala and Sudan. Perhaps even We are still hopeful and we believe that this more remarkable was the number of students who do not have a direct connec - crisis will be over and the people of Syria will tion, yet are deeply motivated to understand human rights violations and genocide find peace. and how to raise awareness to prevent them around the world. The following churches, charities and organiza - The course director, Prof. Joyce Apsel of New York University, noted, “Several tions came together to form the Syrian Armenian students who are teachers commented on how much they learned from watching Relief Fund in August 2012: Armenian Catholic the pedagogy of different instructors, as well as from the course content. Other Eparchy in North America; Armenian Evangelical students consulted me and other instructors about which directions and schools Union of North America; Western Diocese of the to pursue for graduate education. They proved to be an outstanding group of stu - Armenian Church; Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America; Armenian Flyer for Green Armenia Walkathon dents, and it was a privilege to have two weeks in and out of the classroom to exchange ideas and interests.” General Benevolent Union; Armenian Missionary Indeed, the students brought many diverse experiences to the classroom. One Association of America; Armenian Relief Society student who is a journalist by trade, described to the class, based on a personal of Western U.S.A.; Armenian Democratic Liberal simply to stop all mining, but to provide Party; Armenian Revolutionary Federation- alternatives and make sure any mining is visit to North Korea, the importance of maintaining a critical perspective on decades-old yet still ongoing human rights abuses there. Another student pre - Western U.S.A.; and Social Democrat Hunchakian done in a safe and economically benefi - Party-Western U.S.A. cial way. sented the current and historical human rights abuses of disabled peoples affect - ed by policies of eugenics in the US, a group she works with in her field of social Visit the SARF website at In addition to focusing attention on www.SyrianArmenianReliefFund.org. the mining problems at hand, the work and disability studies. Yet another brought the class to tears by discussing her own family’s history of having suffered chemical attacks in the Halabja mas - Mailing address: Syrian Armenian Relief walkathon will serve as a fundraising Fund, PO Box 1948, Glendale, CA 91209-1948. vehicle to provide the resources needed sacre of March 16, 1988. The GHRUP allows students the opportunity to voice to make improvements in the homeland. these backgrounds, to analyze comparatively how genocides unfold, their immedi - “Our efforts are starting to get trac - ate and transgenerational effects on people, and to explore how we can stop them. tion already. Green Armenia is receiving see ZORYAN, page 16 Fairfield University Faces requests for support from our compatri - Additional Lawsuit in ots in the homeland for alternative eco - nomic development projects — such as Child Sexual Abuse Case beekeeping, activist efforts to build awareness in the affected areas, and even NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Fairfield for doing the nitty-gritty legal work that University and others that supported a charity can help prevent the worst abuses,” said designed to help feed and educate boys in Haiti Alfred Eisaian, one of the organization’s are facing another lawsuit by a man alleging he founders. was sexually abused by a founder of the school. According to its website, Green The federal lawsuit seeks $20 million in damages. Armenia is “committed to raising aware - The university and others reached a $12 mil - ness and providing scientific expertise lion settlement last month with children sexu - related to environmental issues in the ally abused by Douglas Perlitz, who was sen - Republics of Armenia and Artsakh.” tenced to nearly 20 years in prison for sexually Green Armenia is part of the Armenian abusing boys who attended Project Pierre Engineers and Scientists of America Toussaint School in Cap-Haitien. (AESA), which is a nonprofit 501(c)(3). The victims’ attorney, Mitchell Garabedian, said As with all walkathons, participants he’s investigating another 31 claims of sexual abuse will seek the sponsorship of their friends by Perlitz and may file additional lawsuits. and relatives. To participate, email The faculty and students of the Genocide and Human Rights University Program The suit alleges the defendants ignored warn - [email protected] or register at the (“GHRUP”) ing signs and failed to prevent or stop abuse. event. Telephone messages left with attorneys and a Jesuit spokeswoman were not immediately returned. 6 S ATURDAY , S EPTEMBER 7, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS

Gala Honors George Clooney for Shoah Foundation Support

LOS ANGELES — The University of Southern California (USC) Genocide, in April 2015. “It’s crucial that we take the vital and pre - Shoah Foundation, whose digital archives soon will include the cious words of those who went through the filmed testimonies of 400 Armenian Genocide eyewitnesses and and make their testimonies available for students, educators and survivors, will honor actor George Clooney at a gala dinner on scholars so that they can learn directly from these eyewitnesses of October 3, in New York City and significant Armenian attendance history,” said Stephen Smith, executive director of the USC Shoah at the event is expected. The gala, chaired by Shoah founder Foundation. Steven Spielberg, also will feature special guest Sandra Bullock In April 2010, the Armenian Film Foundation and founder J. and a musical performance by Norah Jones. Michael Hagopian, along with his wife, Antoinette, entered into an Armenian Film Foundation Chairman Jerry Papazian said, “We agreement with the USC Shoah Foundation to license the 400 are thrilled to be participating in this event, paving the way for the Armenian Genocide testimonies filmed by Hagopian to Shoah’s inclusion of these Armenian Genocide eyewitness testimonies into Visual History Archive. Next month, Shoah will receive the digi - the Visual History Archive of the USC Shoah Foundation. We are tized interviews from The Armenian Film Foundation. Upon deliv - encouraging a large Armenian presence at the event in support of ery, Institute staff will incorporate these eyewitness accounts into the project.” Papazian confirmed that former US Ambassador to the USC Shoah Foundation’s Visual History Archive. the Republic of Armenia John Marshall Evans will attend the ban - Shoah’s Visual History Archive is the largest digital collection of quet as part of the Armenian contingent. its kind in the world, with 105,000 hours of video testimony. The Jon Stewart will emcee the gala honoring Clooney for his collection is available at 44 institutions around the world, and humanitarian work. The gala committee includes a broad spec - approximately one million students, researchers, teachers and lay trum of celebrities and influential people, including Matt Damon, people view the testimonies every year. In addition, thousands of Ralph Lauren, Jerry Seinfeld, William P. Lauder and Andrew high school students across the country can view the testimonies Tisch. All of them are committed to helping raise money for the through IWitness, the Shoah Foundation Institute’s educational USC Shoah Foundation, whose mission is to overcome prejudice, website that makes 1,300 full life histories and testimonies of sur - intolerance and bigotry — and the suffering they cause — through vivors of genocides from the Visual History Archive available to the educational use of the Foundation’s visual history testimonies. secondary students so they can create multimedia projects and Shoah is actively engaged in an international fund-raising cam - complete interactive activities. paign to ensure completion of the integration of the Armenian tes - For additional information about the event and to support this timonies so that they can be presented to the world in time for the project, contact Sylvia Moskovitz at the USC Shoah Foundation – commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian [email protected].

Fair Lawn Artist Dies after Fall from Roof FAIR LAWN, N.J. (Patch) — A Fair Lawn man Despite their efforts, Chehirian succumbed to died on August 31 after he fell from the roof of his injuries. his house while inspecting it for storm-related Chehirian was an accomplished artist who spe - damage, Fair Lawn Police Sgt. Richard Schultz cialized in a process called Verre Eglomise, or GF UiNrEaRgAoL sHiaOMn E confirmed. reverse painting on glass. Some of his work is dis - James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC Rafi Chehirian, 59, of Saddle River Road, had played on his website. Mark J. Giragosian climbed a ladder to his roof to check for storm- In November, some of his works will be on Funeral Counselors related damage when he apparently lost his bal - display at the 35th Annual Philadelphia 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 ance and fell to the ground. Museum of Art Craft Show at the Pennsylvania www.giragosianfuneralhome.com Police arrived to the scene around 1 p.m., Convention Center. where they found Chehirian motionless on the Chehirian was chosen as one of “195 of the ground in his backyard. finest and most dynamic craft artists in the Officers applied first aid with assistance from United States, selected from more than 1,400 Valley Hospital paramedics and the Fair Lawn applicants,” according to the art craft show ENNIS M. EVENEY & ONS Ambulance Squad. website. D D S Cemetery Monuments Zoryan Hosts University Students to Study Specializing in Armenian Designs and Lettering Genocide from Planning to Prevention 701 Moody St. Waltham, MA 02543 ZORYAN, from page 5 career-changing. It focuses on the history of (781) 891-9876 www.NEMonuments.com It was remarkable to see descendants of per - genocide, the patterns of genocide, the denial petrator and victim groups in the Armenian and prevention of genocide.” Genocide — students of Armenian, Kurdish The Zoryan Institute and its subsidiary, the and Turkish background — find common inter - International Institute for Genocide and Telephone (617) 924-7400 ests with each other, and within the academic Human Rights Studies, is the first non-profit, environment of the program and based on his - international center devoted to the research torical facts, explore issues of stereotypes, and documentation of contemporary issues Aram Bedrosian memory, denial and reconciliation together with a focus on Genocide, Diaspora and and see each other through the prism of Armenia. Funeral Home, Inc. humanity. One student from Pakistan, currently a Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 member of the UNAMID effort in Darfur, MARION BEDROSIAN Sudan, brought to the course the perspective 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET and the dedication of those who work to pre - PAUL BEDROSIAN vent genocide in the field. WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN This year, a business student audited the course. At the end of the course this student made a spontaneous and moving speech in Edward D. Jamakordzian, Jr. d/b/a which she said that the course restored her faith in humanity. The GHRUP evokes a pow - erful sense of enthusiasm and commitment from students and faculty alike, and makes Edward D. Jamie, Jr. them reflect on their own lives and the lives of all others in the world. This student’s feeling ServiFnguthne eentrireaAlrmCenhianaCpomemlunity of connectedness to the students and the Any Hour • Any Distance • Any Location course was really a beacon of hope. The sentiments of all the students who Call (718) 224-2390 Toll Free (888) 224-6088 attended the course are perhaps best captured Bus. Reg. 189-06 Liberty Ave., Hollis, NY 11412 in their own words. Explaining their percep - Consultation Office: 217-04 Northern Blvd., (Suite 23), Bayside,NY 11361 tion of the program’s greatest strength, one student commented, “I think the GHRUP does an amazing job of providing an incredibly com - prehensive course in such a short period of Entertainment Fridays Donation time. The quality of the scholars and students, and Saturdays and the incredible range of experiences and In memory of her parents, Oscar and Mary Aranosian, Gladys A. Hays of Pembroke, NH, has donated $500 to the . backgrounds are unparalleled.” Another stu - Armenian Mirror-Spectator dent wrote that “This program is life- and S ATURDAY , S EPTEMBER 7, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS New Priest Ordained in Dallas

ty received a training session from Findikyan, By Mary Mukhtarian who explained the process of the ordination ser - vice, and emphasized the role the people would play in it. He encouraged parishioners to memo - DALLAS — Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, rize the expression: “He is worthy as their con - Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church sent to the entry of the deacon into priesthood. of America (Eastern), officiated at the ordination Diocesan director of music ministry Khoren of the Rev. Ghevond Ajamian in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Mekhanejian trained the choir, organist and dea - Texas, on August 25, in the presence of commu - cons in the appropriate hymns. nity, family and guests from around the country. On the Saturday preceding the ordination, the The Very Rev. Daniel Findikyan was the spon - community had an outstanding reception to meet soring priest. The Very Rev. Simeon Odabashian, and greet all the dignitaries, following the dra - Rev. Nersess Jebejian, Rev. Mardiros Chevian and matic Service of Calling-the prelude to a priestly Rev. Mikael Devejian assisted in the ordination in ordination. different roles, along with several deacons and On Sunday, the Primate celebrated the Divine altar servers. Liturgy, during which the ordination took place. For the Armenian community in North Texas, Ajamian was led to the altar by Findikyan, his this was a momentous occasion. The Primate had sponsoring priest. There, the candidate knelt fac - ing the people, while Barsamian asked the faith - assigned Deacon Justin Ajamian as the deacon-in- During the ordination service at St. Sarkis Church of Dallas, from left, behind Dn. Justin (now charge of the St. Sarkis Armenian Church two ful whether they found him worthy of becoming Fr. Ghevond) Ajamian are Fr. Mardiros Chevian and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian. years ago, and since then, his ordination has been a priest. There was a thunderous agreement, as all indicated their assent. The highlight of the ceremony was the first pro - nouncement of the name of the new priest: Der A Young Man’s Journey to the Priesthood Ghevond Ajamian. At the conclusion of the ordi - nation, the parishioners filed past their new DALLAS — In a centuries-old inspiring ceremony replete with Armenian religious tradition, priest, kissing his hands, which had been anoint - Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America ed by the Holy Myron. (Eastern), ordained Deacon Justin Avedis Ajamian into the holy priesthood, at the St. Sarkis A banquet followed the ordination, where the Armenian Church of Dallas on Sunday morning, new Der Ghevond received a hand cross from his August 25. Hundreds of parishioners as well as the godfathers, his uncles Ara and Vartan Ajamian, By Florence Avakian young priest’s family members and several priests and various gifts from the St. Sarkis ACYOA, took part in the inspiring ritual. Parish Council and the Women’s Guild. The ban - The newly-named Rev. Ghevond Ajamian is now at quet participants included the youth of St. Sarkis, St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New York for the traditional 40-day solitary period of who danced, sang and expressed their affection introspection, meditation, prayer and fasting. for Ajamian. Ajamian was 15 when he realized that he wanted to be a priest. Ajamian took the podium to thank everyone “My family had moved to a new town, Waldwick, NJ, which was close to St. Leon Armenian for their support. Church [in Fair Lawn]. And I was forced to go to the St. Nersess Summer conferences by my Barsamian reminded everyone that he had uncle Vartan Ajamian, who was a 1988 seminary graduate and a deacon at Bayside’s Holy been present at every important milestone in the Martyrs Armenian Church. Once there, though, I enjoyed the priests, participants, morning existence of this community, from building the and evening services, and courses in Armenian history and culture.” church, to building the adjoining social hall, to Around that time the Rev. Diran Bohajian, pastor of the St. Leon Church, asked Justin to The newly-ordained Rev. Fr. Ghevond Ajamian, the donation of the new church property, and serve on the holy altar-and that’s where he received a calling. When he graduated from with his wife Yn. Hasmik and their daughter now to this ordination. Waldwisk High School, Justin “knew and wanted to go to St. Nersess,” where he was great - Noelle Srbouhi He said: “I feel the inspiration in this commu - ly encouraged and inspired by the seminary dean, the Very Rev. Daniel Findikyan (who was nity, and with such inspiration, what seems the sponsoring priest at the August 25 ordination). impossible becomes possible.” He reflected that The Rev. Stepanos Doudoukjian and the Very Rev. Ghevont Samoorian also took him a constant expectation. 98 years ago, when the majority of Armenian cler - under their wings. The event itself was a long process. For weeks gy were killed in the Genocide, no one could have While attending Ramapo College, where he majored in world history, the young Justin beforehand, the whole community worked togeth - predicted that in the United States, sometime in Ajemian attended classes at St. Nersess once a week. Following his college graduation in er to prepare for the event by forming committees the future, there would be Armenians born in 2006, he attended classes full-time at both St. Nersess and St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary to handle details like seating, videography, print - America who would become priests of their for four years. “My stay at the seminaries helped me to become a better future priest for the ing, food preparation, and musical presentations. ancestral church. American-Armenian community,” he said. All deacons and choir members were brought up The Primate thanked the parents and grand - In 2003, he made his first pilgrimage to Armenia, which he continued to do through 2005 to date with the specific hymns of the day. parents who have brought up young people as with the Diocesan ACYOA’s Armenian Service Program. There he studied Armenian history Donations were collected to cover the expenses both Americans and Armenians. He asked every - and classical Armenian at Yerevan State University and served at Yerevan’s Holy Trinity incurred, and everyone was informed of the fes - one to focus on the positive, and to be inspired by Church. tivities surrounding the ordination weekend. the Holy Spirit in order to continue doing mirac - His studies continued in 2011 with a six-month period at ’s Armenian Prior to the ordination weekend the communi - ulous things. Patriarchate where he strengthened his knowledge of liturgics, hymnology, classical and modern Armenian. This was followed with an internship at the St. David Church in Boca Raton, Fla., with the Very Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian. In 2011, the deacon was assigned to the St. Sarkis Church in Dallas. In the days prior to his priestly ordination, having already served two years as deacon-in- charge of a parish, and having embarked on life as a husband and father, he still expressed a sense of awe over the next chapter in his ministry. “I do sometimes feel overwhelmed about serving God in a different capacity-about joining the ranks of the apostles, and the many priests of our church,” he said reflectively. “And St. Sarkis is a special church” he revealed, adding that it was the first church that Barsamian consecrated after becoming Primate. “With one chapter of my life closing and this new and very significant chapter now begin - ning, I look forward to ministering to the people, celebrating the Divine Liturgy and preach - ing God’s message. As the head of this parish, it means I will take responsibility. As President Harry Truman once said, ‘The buck stops here.’” Free Review Ajamian was born 29 years ago in Akron, Ohio, to an Armenian father and a non-Armenian mother. He was named after his great-grandfather Avedis Koondakjian —the only one of five Annuities • Bonds • CD’s • Stocks brothers to escape the Armenian Genocide. Retirement Rollovers / Consolidation “Ours was not a typical Armenian household, where you have pilaf and dolma every night,” he recalled. “I knew I was Armenian when I went to the summer conferences at St. Nersess. Business Retirement Plans My mother, who is of Irish, Sicilian and German heritage, and whose brother was a Roman 401K • IRA • Roth Retirement Plans Catholic priest, was very accepting of my life choice.” During his 13 trips to Armenia he met his future wife, Hasmik, whom he married in 2008. Educations Savings • Life Insurance Their daughter, Noelle Srbouhi, was born two years ago. “This chapter of my life which began at age 15 has come to fruition,” he said in conclu - Long Term Care Insurance sion. “We are now in the process of building a new church in Dallas on a four-and-a-half acre property.” Most of the parishioners of St. Sarkis have come from Beirut, Turkey, Iran and Armenia. But their children are born here, he explained. “We needed a larger church to get these two Greg Panjian, AAMS® generations involved.” Ajamian says he is happy he grew up in America. “It means that I know what the youth Financial Advisor are going through, and might go through in the future.” 68 Bridge St., Suite 100, Suffield CT 06078 The new church will have a Sunday school, Armenian school, large hall and gym. “We hope Toll Free (855) 668-5983 to break ground by 2015, the 100th anniversary of the Genocide, to celebrate a new chap - ter in our history, in a place I never thought Armenians existed.” [email protected] “We need this new church for future generations,” he said. www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC 8 S ATURDAY , S EPTEMBER 7, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS AGBU FOCUS Raises $80,000 for Generation Next

SAN FRANCISCO — Every two years, AGBU FOCUS brings together young Armenian pro - fessionals from around the world to a new city where they share their ideas, expand their net - works and spotlight a different AGBU cause. From August 1 to 4, 400 guests gathered to aid the AGBU Generation Next Mentorship Program (GenNext), which pairs at-risk youth with positive mentors. The seventh biennial AGBU FOCUS weekend had guests flying to San Francisco from across the US and as far as Bahrain, Greece, Israel and Monaco — to name a few of the 18 countries represented. Thursday’s kick-off event, Perspectives, opened with welcome remarks by AGBU Central Board Member and AGBU Silicon Valley Chapter Chair Dr. Yervant Zorian. During Perspectives, panelists Gabriel Armas- Cardona of New York, AGBU Young Professionals (YP) Coordinator Sarine Karajerjian, YP Northern California Board Member Rose Nemet and YP London Coordinator Ara Yeromian spoke to more than 160 guests in an open conversation on what it means to be an Armenian. Throughout the dis - cussion, moderator Lara Setrakian, a journalist and founder of SyriaDeeply.org, brought the audience back to one key issue: how the dias - pora can preserve traditions in today’s rapidly The AGBU Focus attendees changing world. The theme prompted many to comment from the floor, including Henri Arslanian, a native of graves to the upcoming opening of their first AGBU FOCUS, with a Teamwork Award. with a new curriculum developed in partnership Canada who works in Beijing and pointed to Armenian community center. Many don’t know Through fundraising and promotional activi - with the Didi Hirsch Community Center, the the little-known, but growing, Armenian com - Asia has a young Armenian community and ties, the YP Network helped support FOCUS Glendale Unified School District and Glendale munities in Asia. He remarked, “I was so AGBU FOCUS was a great platform to create and GenNext by building momentum in the Healthy Kids. That, and more, will be made pos - that awareness.” months preceding the Those efforts are weekend. already being led by At the Saturday the worldwide net - night AGBU FOCUS work of AGBU YP gala, attendees cele - Groups, which held its brated the impact that biennial assembly ear - their support will have lier that Thursday. on GenNext. More The YP assembly pro - than 400 guests filled vided a forum for the City Hall for the YP Network to con - evening, where vene, brainstorm and GenNext Program exchange ideas, as Director Saro well as discuss areas Ayvazians presented of opportunity for the program’s plans cross cooperation and for the future. collaboration. More Modeled after the From left, FOCUS committee member and YPNC Board member Rose than 30 YP leaders Big Brothers Big During Perspectives, FOCUS guest from London, Arnaud Attamian, com - Nemet, Gabriel Armas-Cardona, YP Lebanon Coordinator Sarine met to discuss new Sisters of America pro - mented on the challenges facing the today. Karajerjian and YP London Coordinator Ara Yeromian with moderator ways to help build gram, GenNext was Lara Setrakian. capacity for the global founded by a subcom - organization and mittee of YP Los Angeles in 1997. It quickly took sible by pre-FOCUS fundraising-which reached a strengthen connec - off, becoming its own program and connecting record-breaking total of $80,000. pleased to talk about exciting projects that tions with the Armenian community at large. hundreds of troubled teens with positive men - Ayvazians thanked the crowd for their gener - Armenians in Hong Kong are working on, from They also took the opportunity to award YP tors. In the coming school year, Ayvazians ous support, which will allow the program to the restoration of 19th century Armenian Northern California (YPNC), the local host of detailed, they will build on those past successes continued on next page

Armenia to Host 2014 Division C Europe Basketball Championship

LOS ANGELES and YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) — Armenia is going to host next year’s FIBA Europe Division C Championship, the country’s Basketball Federation confirmed last week. The news first emerged during the training camp of the national men’s basket - ball team in Yerevan last month. A group of Armenian American players of the team led by US-based coach Carl Bardakian spent 10 days in Armenia at the beginning of August to join some local players in preparation for the major tournament due next June. Other countries participating in the championship will include Scotland, Wales, Malta, Moldova, San Marino, Gibraltar and Andorra. Bardakian says Armenia’s goal is to successfully compete for a medal. “Our players are committed and dedicated. The players recognize the great honor they have been granted to play under the tri-colored flag of Armenia. We will be ready to compete from the outset,” emphasizes the 42-year-old tactician, who led the Los Angeles Men’s Basketball Team to a memorable success at the latest Pan-Armenian Games in Yerevan in 2011. Yerevan last experienced FIBA basketball in 2009-2010 when a revived Soviet- era women’s club, Hatis, successfully competed in club-level European tourna - ments to the delight of many local fans. Now the members of the men’s national team feel it is their turn to inspire the local fans. But before that, they’ve borrowed some of the inspiration from the fans themselves. “Our hard work at training camp is going to pay off. The basketball fans we met from Yerevan to Artsakh really inspired us. We can’t wait for next summer!” says player Garen Spendjian. And captain Mike Danielian adds: “We worked really hard… The training camp Coach Carl Bardakian with some of the players really united us.” S ATURDAY , S EPTEMBER 7, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS Hovannisian to Lecture on Smyrna Catastrophe

WORCESTER, Mass. — Professor Richard G. Hovannisian will present an illustrated lec - ture, “The Smyrna Catastrophe, 1922-2013,” on Thursday, September 12, at 7 p.m., in the Blue Lounge-Student Center at Worcester State University. The program will be co-spon - sored by Worcester State University, the Worcester Armenian Book Commemoration Committee and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), with the support of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Church Of Our Saviour and the Armenian Church of the Martyrs. AGBU Focus participants mingle. September marks the 91st anniversary of the “Smyrna Catastrophe” when much of the city, the second largest in the from previous page ing in the northern Sonoma wine country, Ottoman Empire, was destroyed by fire continue serving dozens of GenNext mentees, and a downtown exhibited curated exclusive - during the final phase of the Greco- stating, “Our youth depend on our adult com - ly for FOCUS on Art which featured sculp - Turkish War. The calamity, a part of the munity for all kinds of support: to interact with tures, sketches and tapestry designs by cele - final phase of the Armenian Genocide, and encourage them, to listen to and appreciate brated Armenian American artists: the late marked the end of a strong Christian pres - them, and, most importantly, to show up con - Haig Patigian, Nadine Takvorian, Jacques ence in the historic Aegean coastal regions sistently in their lives as dependable role mod - Terzian and Leslie Terzian Markoff. Also pre - and turned hundreds of thousands of els. Thank you for stepping up to the plate with sent were pieces by William Saroyan, which Greeks and Armenians into refugees. a resounding show of support for the future of stood alongside that of GenNext’s own, 19- In this illustrated lecture, Hovannisian our community. Thank you for showing our year-old Arpa Shirvanyan. Years ago, as a will discuss the role of Smyrna (Izmir) in Armenian youth that they have not been over - middle school student enrolled in GenNext, modern Armenian history and the inferno looked or forgotten.” Shirvanyan’s mentor helped foster her love that engulfed the city in September 1922. Building on Ayvazians’ remarks, Greg Nemet, for drawing. Now an artist in her own right, Hovannisian is the editor of the recently who serves as co-chair of YP Northern Shirvanyan is planning to become a GenNext published Armenian Smyrna/Izmir , the Prof. Richard G. Hovannisian California (YPNC) as well as FOCUS with mentor herself. eleventh volume of proceedings from the Steven Cherezian, commented, “The countless Cherezian credited the weekend’s success to UCLA conference series “Historic phone calls, thousands of emails and hours of the work of the FOCUS volunteers, YPNC and Armenian Cities and Provinces.” He also traveled to Izmir and environs in June 2012 as the planning for FOCUS 2013 were worth it to the AGBU Central Office in New York, remark - historian-guide for a NAASR Armenian Heritage Tour led by Armen Aroyan. bring us to this moment: young Armenian pro - ing, “We made a dynamic team that put togeth - A book signing of Armenian Smyrna/Izmir will immediately follow the lecture. The lec - fessionals from around the world under one er a stellar four-day affair. On behalf of the ture is free and open to the public. roof for one amazing cause. AGBU’s GenNext AGBU FOCUS committee, I want to thank Hovannisian is the author of Armenia on the Road to Independence , the four-volume will produce the next generation of young those groups, as well as all the attendees who history The Republic of Armenia and has edited and contributed to more than 25 books Armenians who will rise to the challenges fac - made San Francisco their playground and including The Armenian Genocide in Perspective, The Armenian People from Ancient to ing our global diaspora. We’ve shown here this GenNext their cause. We left our hearts in the Modern Times, Remembrance and Denial, Looking Backward, Moving Forward and The weekend that we can help them.” city, and we know everyone else did, too.” To Armenian Genocide: Cultural and Ethical Legacies . Hovannisian was the first holder of As with previous AGBU FOCUS weekends, learn more about the AGBU Generation Next the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History at UCLA. FOCUS 2013 brought guests all over the Mentorship Program, visit: For more information about the program contact NAASR at [email protected]. host city. Sold-out events included wine tast - www.agbugennext.org. 10 S ATURDAY , S EPTEMBER 7, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Arts & Living

Donna-Lee Frieze, 16th Annual Arpa Editor of Lemkin Film Festival Draws Autobiography, to 60 Films from 30 Speak at NAASR Nations LOS ANGELES — Arpa Foundation for Film, BELMONT, Mass. — Dr. Donna-Lee Music, & Art (AFFMA) will host the 16th Frieze, genocide scholar and editor of the anniversary of its signature event, Arpa newly published autobiography of International Film Festival, which will be held Raphael Lemkin, will give a lecture enti - September 26 to 29 at the Egyptian Theatre in tled “Raphael Lemkin: The Armenian Hollywood. This year’s program of 60 films Genocide and the Autobiography of the draws from an all-time high of 30 countries, ‘Insistent Prophet,’” on Thursday, showcasing a global range of artistic vision and September 19, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. at the thematic concerns. National Association for Armenian The 2013 line-up includes a documentary Studies and Research (NAASR), 395 program of 11 feature-length films and six Concord Avenue. The lecture will be shorts; a narrative program of seven feature cosponsored by Facing History and films, and 24 shorts and 12 music videos. Ourselves of Brookline, and NAASR. According to Alex Kalognomos, Arpa’s direc - When Lemkin collapsed at a bus stop tor and programmer, “Documentaries always on 42nd Street in New York City on play an important part in opening new vistas August 29, 1959, he had either just visit - for our audience, but this year’s submissions ed the Curtis Brown Publishing Agency offered such compelling breadth of perspectives on Madison Avenue or was on his way we felt this section deserved special emphasis.” there to discuss his autobiography, Notable documentaries include Totally Unofficial . He left behind a near- “FrackNation” which follows journalist Phelim complete autobiography, which was even - McAleer’s perilous quest to find the truth about tually donated to the New York Public fracking and Rupa Kanade’s “An Eternal Library 23 years after Lemkin’s death, in Journey” based on Kumbhamela — a festival August 1982, by Alexander Gabriel from that started 4,000 years ago and portrays the the Transradio News Agency, UN Bureau. amalgamation of spiritually inclined people In June 2013, Yale University Press from diverse cultural backgrounds. published Totally Unofficial , in which Among the recognizable names at Arpa this Lemkin highlights the Armenian geno - year, Academy Award-nominee Ethan Hawke nar - cide in order to articulate his conceptual rates the documentary “Welcome Nowhere” David Kherdian understanding of the meaning of geno - actress Camilla Belle (“From Prada to Nada”) cide. Lemkin’s autobiography clearly stars in the narrative short “Zero Hour;” underscores the lawyer’s detailed analysis Grammy-winner Desmond Child, who has writ - of the crime. It is argued that the events ten hit songs for a who’s who of acts from Kiss, of 1915 provided the framework for Bon Jovi and Aerosmith to Michael Bolton, Kelly Lemkin’s understanding of genocide as a David Kherdian: Clarkson and Joss Stone, is the subject of “TWO: crime of intended group destruction, and The Story of Roman and Nyro” and euthanasia not necessarily as mass killing. The long- activist Dr. Jack Kevorkian is featured in the doc - awaited publication of Lemkin’s autobi - umentary “.” ography is a watershed event in the ongo - A Life Saved by Writing The Opening Night Film, on Thursday, September 26 will be the North American pre - NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — A recent interview with David Kherdian felt more like miere of “My Name is Viola” (Armenia, 2013). an educational journey through human development than a discussion focused on Featuring two luminous female leads, Lusine his latest books and poems. Alexanian in the title role and Janet Spitzer as A lifelong poet, novelist and thinker, her hero/nemesis, the film tells the story of the By Armen Festekjian Kherdian is living a peaceful life in this quiet emotional journey of a young woman longing Special to the Mirror-Spectator Western Massachusetts community. He did - for freedom. Rich in visual imagery, the film is n’t always live in such a rural setting; he grew a unique, often dream-like take on sexuality, up in an industrial town in Wisconsin, a son relationships and class. “My Name is Viola” is of survivors of the Armenian Genocide at a time when immigrants in the US were written and directed by Ruben Kochar, a risk- not embraced. taking artist whose 30-year career spanning the Sitting by the window in the living room, his tone deepening as he recalled the pre- and post-Soviet eras has brought him past, the innate storyteller began to weave his words into an image of a young, con - renown in his native Armenia and the Russian fused, and troubled boy, caught between the two separate worlds of an American film industry, along with an impressive list of future and an ancient, traditional Armenian past. international awards. “There was a great deal in our collective past that was troublesome,” he said. The program includes two centerpiece films. “Then there was discrimination in the school, and there were times I was flunked On Friday September 27, the feature is simply because I was a minority. These things affected my personality, and my atti - Dr. Donna-Lee Frieze “Abstraction,” (US, 2013) by Los-Angeles indie- tude towards life, as well as my attitude towards people.” director Prince Bagdasarian, an established pro - However, as the young Kherdian matured, he realized that he had to understand ducer who here makes his feature directorial for himself the unsettling past he had inherited from his ancestors, as well as the tor - debut. The intense crime drama stars Korrina ing reassessment of his seminal work on tured past of his parents. All of this had to be put into order for him to move for - genocide. Rico (“In Time”), Ken Davitian (“The Artist,” ward with his life. “Borat”), Natalie Victoria (“Deadheads”) and Eric Frieze is a Prins Senior Fellow at the “To be inhibited by these [complications] is to become enslaved by them if we do Center for Jewish History in New York Roberts (“The Dark Knight”). On Saturday, not free ourselves,” he said. September 28 it is the multiple-perspective City and a Visiting Fellow at the Alfred Kherdian was 19, he said, when realized that “if I didn’t get the first 12 years of Deakin Research Institute in Melbourne. urban crime drama “The Power of Few” (US, my life straightened out, I would never become an adult, much less a free man.” 2013) by writer/director Leone Marucci and She taught a graduate unit, titled With this inner freedom as his goal, Kherdian began looking back on his childhood, “Genocide,” for more than 10 years at starring Christopher Walken, Christian Slater, and it was only then that he discovered his talent for writing and realized he could Anthony Anderson, Juvenile and executive pro - Deakin University, Melbourne, and has use this skill to set himself free from the traumas of his parents’ lives, that is, once published widely on the Armenian geno - duced by Roy Kurtluyan. Sunday’s closing night he began shaping his identity and controlling his destiny. film will be “Masque,” directed by Robert Hatch cide, the Holocaust and the Bosnian Thus, for him, writing became an act of healing, through which he could gain genocides in relation to testimony, film and starring Lauren Holly and Wilford Brimley. peace with himself. Arpa founder Sylvia Minassian commented, and philosophy. She is the editor and It was not long before his writing began to expand from being therapeutic into transcriber of Totally Unofficial (Yale “We have hosted many notable premiers of something that could bring meaning and understanding to others. In freeing him - films that have gone on to enjoy commercial University Press) and the first vice presi - self with his stories and poems, he could reach others and allow them to heal. dent of the International Association of success. Currently the Jamie Kennedy comedy, “If what I had discovered for myself liberated me,” he said, “that meant others could ‘Lost and Found In Armenia,’ which had its Genocide Scholars. participate in similar pursuits, and not necessarily in writing, but in creative remem - The NAASR Bookstore will open at 7 sold-out US Premier at Arpa last year, is enjoy - bering — and in whatever form they found appealing. The important thing is to ques - ing consecutive sold out screenings nationwide. p.m. the night of the lecture. Totally tion, to enquire, to explore, to examine. Art at its best is a liberation from what is to Unofficial: The Autobiography of “We are certain there are many success stories what can be, an opening to a higher dimension of reality, beauty and strength.” within this year’s program as well.” Raphael Lemkin, will be available for pur - see KHERDIAN, page 11 chase the night of the lecture. Tickets will be available from September 5 through 29 at www.affma.org and www.itsmyseat.com/affma. S ATURDAY , S EPTEMBER 7, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 ARTS & LIVING

A Public Conversation David Kherdian: A Life Saved by Writing With Prof. Hovannisian KHERDIAN, from page 10 Although he considers himself a poet, By Rabbi Elie Spitz Kherdian spent much of his time writing novels, autobiographies and anthologies. “I had to Insights by David Kherdian make a living in writing, so for me poetry was a TUSTIN, Calif. — On August 18, members luxury,” he said. During these 25 years he made •“The first impressions you of the Jewish and Armenian community a living in writing, he would get up in the morn - take are the strongest and your shared a kosher Armenian dinner mentored ing and work until noon “[writing] anywhere first coming into life and every - by Zov Karardian, a child of survivors of the from roughly 500 to 2,000 words a day.” thing that comes to you is new, Armenian Genocide and proprietor of Zov’s William Saroyan, towards the end of his writ - real, astonishing and mysterious, Bistro. Afterwards, we enjoyed a public con - ing career, became Kherdian’s mentor. “I was and you are just electrified by life versation with Prof. Richard Hovannisian. the only protégé he ever had and I was very but you don’t understand it, you Hovannisian taught at UCLA, published proud of that. And one of the questions I asked don’t understand what’s happen - extensively on Armenian history and with him was, ‘how do you start a story?’ And he ing to you. You have nothing to his students interviewed close to 800 sur - said, ‘Well, compare it to because you’ve vivors of the Genocide. you write. And never not been that way, but you As a Jew and a child of survivors of the it may start on have the advantage when your Holocaust, listening to Hovannisian gave the fourth older to find out what it all me a wider context for my people’s own page; it may meant, because it had deep mean - tragedy. I learned that the nationalist not start on ing and the way you responded to Young Turks in an emerging new nation of the first page. all of the things in your life had Turkey saw the collapse of the Ottoman You may have huge meaning for you because Empire as a national affront. Christian to write a they told you who you are by countries, such as Russia, were taking land while and what you value, by what you away. In crafting the new Turkey, there was then some day notice. The truth of those experi - a desire to consolidate identity. Christians, you say, oh ences is not known to anybody Greek and Armenian, were seen as a poten - this is it.’” because we just remember it as tial subversives and as lacking a commonal - Kherdian incidences, as experiences, as happenings, some of them dreadful, some wonderful, some ity with the Islamic, Turkish majority. has written amazing, but they have no real truth for us because we don’t understand them. Under the cover of World War I, the Turks hundreds of were able in an organized, centralized fash - poems and “What happens when you write is that you enter that space through this great gift ion to direct the deaths of close to 60 per - that is given to you and you touch your spirit. There is a part in you that knows every - cent of the more than two million Cover of scores of Road from Home books, includ - thing, there isn’t anything about you that isn’t known by you, but it isn’t necessarily avail - Armenians who had lived in Turkey. Men ing his most able to you. I think when you die, it becomes available. But the great advantage of being were shot and most women and children famous work, The Road From Home , written in a writer is that you can find that while your still alive, and in finding it, you are trans - died during brutal marches in the desert. 1979. In this Newbery Honor novel, he recre - formed.” Hovannisian described a parallel with ates his mother’s voice in telling the true story World War II and the Germans. Forced to of a childhood interrupted in 1915 by the •“I looked around at all the suffering of my people and made a decision that I would pay enormous penalties marking the end of Armenian Genocide. “I never called it my book, not live an ordinary life, but would do something extraordinary in order to balance our World War I and beset by a world econom - I called it my mother’s book, I did it for her as suffering, because this thing could not stand as it was. This was not meant as a con - ic crisis, German nationalism and scape - a gift,” he said enthusiastically. He and his wife, demnation of the Turks, but an attempt to bring order back into the universe because goating grew. The Nazis sought to purify Nonny Hogogrian, have collaborated often in life had gone out of balance for my people. But the remedy was not just for them but for Germany of the foreigners, the Jews, as children’s books. In a new children’s book, the entire universe. You can ask, how can a child think this big, but it is not how it potentially disloyal and different in race and Come back, Moon , Hogogrian provided the sounds, it is not about ideas, but just the ordinary, normal need that a young being has faith than the Aryan. Under cover of war, illustrations and Kherdian the text. for a reasoned balance that will bring an enduring meaning to life.” the Third Reich was able to engage in mass While writing a novel or an autobiography extermination of the Jews. takes time and determination, “poetry is a very A key difference between the Jewish and different animal,” said Kherdian. “You cannot Armenian communities is the aftermath of start a poem; a poem starts in you. And there Seeing that very few Armenian-Americans are memoir, and creative non-fiction, he found a our respective genocides. The Armenian are moments — maybe once a year — suddenly familiar with this story, to which Kherdian new method for inner transformation, but he Genocide meant Armenians lost their his - a power appears inside of you and you have a refers as “a symbol of our Armenian nation,” he likes to say that these creative discoveries are in toric homeland and were left to define connection to the unconscious that you don’t saw the inspirational potential of putting the the air and come to us for a purpose higher themselves as primarily a diasporan com - have ordinarily. And you find that you want to tale into his own words. than our own needs. “We are meant to bring munity. The Turkish government made it a write something, you begin to write something, Kherdian was ahead of his time in discover - what we find into the light of consciousness for crime to claim that the Turks perpetrated your being touched by something way beyond ing that through writing he was able to repair the purposes of our planet.” Many of mass killings of the Armenians. Instead, the you and transmitting this energy.” his relationship with his father, who had long Kherdian’s works can be found on Amazon as official line was that there were Armenian Kherdian has recently finished writing a since passed from this earth. As a memoirist, well as his personal website at provocations and a kind of civil war. Turkey retelling of the legend of David of Sassoun. working interchangeably with poetry, fiction, www.davidkherdian.com. used much leverage against governments who were willing to recognize the Genocide. For instance, in 1982 there was the first international gathering on geno - cide, organized by institutions in Israel and to be held in Tel Aviv. Several hundred Sponsor a Teacher in Armenia and Karabagh 2013 scholars from around the world were sched - uled to participate. Turkish leaders contact - ed their counterparts in Israel and said that if the Armenian’s participated, Turkey Since its inception in 2001, TCA’s ‘Sponsor would close its borders to Iran during a time in which many Iranian Jews were flee - a Teacher’ program has raised over $563,000 ing toward freedom. Elie Wiesel, chair of the event, withdrew. He said that he could and reached out to 4,440 teachers and not deny the Armenian Genocide and would not want to jeopardize Jewish lives. school workers in Armenia and Karabagh. The Israeli sponsors withdrew their names from the conference, which still took place with the Armenian scholars participating, £ including Hovannisian. Both the US and Israel have failed for political reasons to offi - K Yes, I want to sponsor teachers in Armenia and Karabagh to continue cially acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. helping them to educate the children, our future leaders. I would like to have Jews have had a long history of diaspora and the teacher’s name and address. the events of World War II were part of a larg - er identify of suffering and dispersion. Germany K $160 K $ 320 K $ 480 K other $ ————————— acknowledged its responsibility and reparations Name were paid. In fact, in the aftermath of the Address Holocaust, Jews regained a national land in City State Zip code Israel. And Jews have memorialized their story Tel: through film, museums and ritual events. I asked Hovannisian, “How can we as Make check payable to: Tekeyan Cultural Association – Memo: Sponsor a Teacher 2010 wounded peoples heal?” Hovannisian Mail your check with this form to: responded, “We need to make our particu - lar stories universal, so that that they will TCA Sponsor a Teacher 5326 Valverde, Houston, TX 77056 be meaningful to others, and we need to respond to suffering in the world.” As a Jew, Your donation is Tax Deductible. I am much identified with his guidance for our people’s healing. 12 S ATURDAY , S EPTEMBER 7, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING Azadian Presents New Book on Michigan’s Manoogian Museum

TREASURES, from page 1 At any given point, he noted, only about one- community life in New England, with its pletho - “It is a wonderful book, and a potent In his comments, Azadian thanked the third of the museum’s 1,500 items is displayed. ra of organizations, including three Armenian reminder of the richness of — of course — this Mirror-Spectator and NAASR for sponsoring Its design, he said, has had input from the pro - newspapers and several cultural organizations, one particular diasporan institution, the the program, detailing his history with both fessionals behind the Detroit Institute of Art, including the Armenian Library and Museum of Manoogian Museum — but also in a larger sense organizations. one of the country’s most notable museums. America. of the richness of Armenian diaspora culture “I have been involved with NAASR since its The book — an expertly detailed catalogue of He said, “It may be taken as one of the fail - and institutional life. All a roundabout way of early years when its pioneering mission began the treasures of the museum — was put togeth - ures of the community — and that sounds a lit - saying: value, participate in, and support these to place Armenian Studies on the academic er by a team composed of Lucy Ardash, Sylvie tle more harsh than I intend it — that many of diasporan institutions. They are doing impor - map of the country, beginning with the Merian and Azadian, and took the better part of these same publications and institutions and tant work and need your help to continue,” he Harvard Chair and expanding towards the West a decade to come to fruition. It contains essays the work they do, which are so vital to main - concluded. Coast. All under the leadership of my old friend, by eight scholars, including Alina Ayvazian and taining the continuity as well as the mental Alin K. Gregorian, the editor of the Mirror- the late Manoog Young, a human dynamo, mov - Felix Ter-Martirosov, Amy Landau, Theo van fiber of the Armenian community, end up being Spectator introduced Azadian, who writes a ing slowly yet inexorably.” Lint, Vahram Tatikian and Peter Cowe. The largely taken for granted. This is not, I am sure, weekly column for the newspaper, to the The Manoogian Museum was opened in 1992 book covers the treasures of the museum, packed room. Gregorian praised with Bishop Paren Avedikian, then pastor at St. including illuminated manuscripts and printed Azadian for his “intellectual agili - John’s Armenian Church, tasked with collecting books, ceramics, inscribed rugs, ancient coins, ty,” noting “he has an unquench - artifacts with the support and guidance of the fabrics and embroidery, sacred and religious able desire to learn and can write late Alex Manoogian. objects and metal objects. equally well in French, Armenian “Building the collection itself was an adven - The book also features sharp photographs by or English. The depth and ture, since Armenian manuscripts, khachkars Robert Shell Hensleigh and is designed by Mike breadth of his political, social and and artifacts are scattered around the world,” Savitski. economic analyses are stagger - Azadian said. “Who would have imagined that Azadian praised the efforts of Merian, a ing.” a copy of the first printed Bible in 1666 by librarian at New York’s Pierpont-Morgan She listed some of the books Vosgan Yerevantzi would be discovered in Library, and Ardash. He said Merian was “the he has written, including Dhaka, Bangladesh, of all places? Also, who backbone of our team, as she assumed more Portraits and Profiles, could have believed that His Holiness, responsibilities than we originally envisioned. Observations and Criticisms as [Catholicos] Vasken I, of blessed memory, Besides her masterful treatment of the illumi - well as History on the Move . would be able to convince the Soviet authori - nated manuscripts chapter, she also wrote the “He has had a longstanding ties to dismantle a 16th-century khachkar chapters on embroidery along with entries on connection with the Manoogian which took a long voyage from Armenia to metal objects. She proved to be a scholar’s family, first with Alex Manoogian Leningrad and over the ocean to Montreal to scholar.” and later, his son, Richard. It is reach its overland destination in Detroit and Also working on the book was the late Dr. From left, Alin K. Gregorian, Marc Mamigonian and Edmond through this relationship that he find its place on a pedestal at the Manoogian Garabed Belian, a dentist by profession but art Y. Azadian has become such an integral part Museum?” collector by avocation, who sadly died before of the Detroit Armenian commu - He added, “Each item has a similar saga his chapter on paintings and sculptures was nity, and more specifically, the behind it, very much like the destiny of our cre - completed. Azadian stepped in to finish them. a phenomenon unique to , organizations founded or supported by the ative people, who were uprooted from their “Because of the eclectic nature of the collec - but for those of us who work for or are involved Manoogians, including the Manoogian 3,000-year native land.” tion, it was necessary to expand the team of in Armenian-American institutions, it poses Museum,” said Gregorian. According to Azadian, much thought and scholars to do justice to the entire book. In very real challenges, such as: How best to “The appreciation of art, whether books, the - care has gone into not only acquiring the col - selecting items to be featured in the book, each remind the community that the work you do ater or music, is part of Mr. Azadian. He is an lection, but placing it in just the right context. item underwent rigorous academic and scientif - has value and that you need its continued sup - advisor to the Alex and Marie Manoogian “A team of historians and scholars have toiled ic study to ensure authenticity,” Azadian port in order to survive.” Museum, as well as an advisor from the diaspo - for many years to place the collection in histor - explained. He continued, “Then, we have an institution ra to the Ministry of Culture,” she said. ical perspective. In the museum’s galleries, indi - He explained, “Sylvie has drafted an imitation such as the Alex and Marie Manoogian Following his talk and a brief video from vidual artifacts are presented in the broader colophon in a tongue-in-cheek style and it Museum, which is located in Southfield, Armenian television about the museum, context of their respective categories,” he said. appears at the end of the book. I encourage Michigan, alongside the beautiful St. John Azadian answered questions and signed copies “Over time, as items were acquired or donated, every reader to begin the book with scribe Armenian Church. I will wager that few in the of his book. the museum was shaped into eight areas, Sylvie’s colophon.” Boston community are aware of the museum.” A Legacy of Armenian Treasures is available including paintings, rugs and carpets, sacred Opening the program was Marc Mamigonian, He praised the museum’s “remarkable collec - for purchase at NAASR. vessels, vestments, textiles, household items NAASR’s director of academic affairs. tion of Armenian rugs and […] silver ecclesiasti - and early manuscripts. Mamigonian stressed the richness of Armenian cal pieces,” as well as the new book. — Alin K. Gregorian S ATURDAY , S EPTEMBER 7, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 ARTS & LIVING CC AA LLEENNDDAARR

inspired and shaped their writings. $5 donation appreci - FLORIDA ated. OCTOBER 18 and 19 — St. James Annual Bazaar! OCTOBER 26-27 — St. Mary Armenian Church Armenian Delicious shish, losh, kheyma and more! Fabulous pas - Food & Music Fest 2013, Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and tries, manti, kufte and toorshi! Children’s activities, ven - Sunday, 12 noon- 7 p.m. Armenian food and pastries dors galore, farmer’s market - Fun! Friends! Family! 11 including Mediterranean specialties, arts & crafts vendors, a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. live music and children’s area; 4050 NW 100 Ave., Cooper OCTOBER 19 — Hye Kef 5 featuring Leon Janikian, Joe City. For info, call (954)-450-5578 or email: Kouyoumjian, Greg Takvorian, Ken Kalajian, Bob [email protected] Raphalian and Jay Baronian, Haverhill, MA, 7:30 p.m., Michael’s Function Hall- 12 Alpha Street, Tickets: $40.00 MASSACHUSETTS Each Students $30, includes individually-served mezza platters. Proceeds to benefit all Armenian churches in SEPTEMBER 8 — Greater Worcester Armenian Chorale Merrimack Valley and New Hampshire. Call either John 13th Anniversary Gala concert and dinner, 12:30 p.m., Arzigian, 603-560-3826; Sandy Boroyan, 978-251-8687; Cultural Center of the Armenian Church of Our Saviour, Scott Sahagian, 617-699-3581, or Peter Gulezian, 978- 34 Boynton Street, Worcester. Led by conductor 375-1616. Organized by Armenian Friends’ of America. Konstantin Petrossian, soloist Narine Ojakhyan, “Arevig” On September 10, Clark University OCTOBER 24 — K. George and Carolann S. Najarian, Armenian Children’s Dance Group. Reservations call will host a staged reading of Joyce MD Lecture on Human Rights: In Our Midst: Slavery Elizabeth Orsi 508-865-9432. Tickets $25.00, $12.00 chil - Van Dyke’s “Deported/ A Dream Unmasked; 7 p.m., Faneuil Hall, Boston, with keynote dren; for program donations call Charles Der Kazarian Play,” 7 p.m. at the Little Center, 950 speaker Siddharth Kara, fellow at the Carr Center Program 508-963-2076. Main Street, Worcester, MA. The play on Human Trafficking & Modern Slavery, Harvard Kennedy SEPTEMBER 8 —Annual Husenig Foundation PICNIC. at is about the Armenian Genocide and School of Government. Contact Barbara Tellalian for more Husenig Grove, Simmons St., Rehoboth, featuring live was first produced in Boston in 2012. info: 617-332-1880. music by Gary Kashmanian’s New England All Star Band. It tells the story of two friends, the NOVEMBER 16 — Armenian Women’s Welfare Delicious Husenig-style shish kebab, losh kebab, khey - playwright’s grandmother and the Association (AWWA) 38th Annual Luncheon/ ma,chicken, pilaf. Also bake table and raffle. Starts at Auction, 11 a.m. at the Burlington Marriot, 1 Burlington mother of Dr. H. Martin Deranian dur - noon. For more information contact Marc Janigian, 401- Mall Road. Event kicks off with a silent auction and bid - 942-3477. ing the Armenian Genocide and is ding; Visa and MasterCard accepted, tickets $60. For SEPTEMBER 8 – Sayat Nova Dance Company performs at directed by Judy Braha, featuring a reservations, contact [email protected]. Peabody International Festival with favorite dances from their cast from the recent Boston produc - repertory; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Members of the Dance tion. A Q&A will follow. The event is NEW JERSEY Company manning dessert booth featuring homemade deli - free and open to the public. For reser - cacies; Peabody Square on Lowell Street. For details, call vations, email [email protected] SEPTEMBER 14 — Richard Kalinoski’s Play “Beast on the Peabody Town Hall. or call 508-793-7356. Moon,” presented by the Tekeyan Cultural Association of SEPTEMBER 8 — Picnic Festival, St. Gregory Armenian Greater New York, adapted by Nancy Issa Torosian. Church, 158 Main St., North Andover, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Tickets: $50, $35, $25; English subtitles. For info and tick - featuring Armenian music by Leon Janikian, Jason ets call Marie Zokian (201) 745-8850, Helen Misk (347) Naroian, Joe Kouyoumjian, John Arzigian, along with 8:30 a.m. registration, 10 a.m. start; sponsorships and golf regis - 368-6993 or Shemavon Atamian (718) 344-7489; Oradell Siroun Dance Group; Armenian food and pastries. For trations still available; contact the church office at 508-756-2931. Elementary School, 350 Prospect Ave., Oradell more info, visit www.saintgregory.org. SEPTEMBER 21 — Armenian Independent Broadcasting SEPTEMBER 22 — The Armenian Relief Society of SEPTEMBER 9 — St. James Men’s Club Meeting hosts of Boston presents Avik Deirmenjian’s newly pub- Eastern United States, Agnouni, Pergen, Shake and speaker Shant Mardirossian, chairman of the Near East lished book of poems, , 5 p.m. MC Dr. Ara Spitak Chapters, presents Poet and author Vahan Foundation, an international development organization; Ghazarian, book presentation by Khajag Mkrtichian, cul - Zanoyan, as he launches a tour of the US and Canada for 6:15 p.m. (social hour) and 7 p.m. (dinner); losh kebab tural program and reception to follow; free admission; his new book, A Place Far Away , 2 p.m., Sts. Vartanatz and kheyma dinner, $12. Ladies welcome; Charles Armenian Cultural Foundation, 441 Mystic St., Arlington. Church, 461 Bergen Blvd., Ridgefield. Refreshments will Mosesian Cultural &Youth Center- Keljik Hall, 465 Mt. SEPTEMBER 22 — Nor ton Dodge Collection Exhibit be served. Auburn St., Watertown. Opening: from the Post-Soviet Period, SEPTEMBER 10 — Staged reading of Joyce Van Dyke’s including art by Vartan Gabrielian and Ashot Kazarian; 5 NEW YORK “Deported/ A Dream Play,” 7 p.m. at Clark University, p.m., Guest Nancy Dodge; reception to follow; ALMA’s Little Center, 950 Main Street, Worcester. The play tells second floor, 65 Main St., Watertown. SEPTEMBER 26 — Vahan Zanoyan will speak and sign the story of two friends, the playwright’s grandmother SEPTEMBER 28 — Story SLAM workshop with Nora Dooley copies of his new book, A Place Far Away , his new and the mother of Dr. H. Martin Deranian during the of Massmouth. 4-6 p.m. at ALMA, 65 Main St., novel on human trafficking in Armenia, 7 p.m., at the Armenian Genocide; directed by Judy Braha, featuring a Watertown. Learn to tell a story! Topic will be objects that Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium, 630 Second Ave. cast from the recent Boston production; Q&A to follow; have special meaning in our lives, so bring an object or Jointly sponsored by the Armenian Studies program of the free. For reservations, email [email protected] or call heirloom to discuss. $5 donation appreciated. Department of Youth and Education, the Krikor and 508-793-7356. SEPTEMBER 28 — Smithsonian Magazine’s Annual Clara Zohrab Information Center of the Diocese of the SEPTEMBER 15 — Talk by Tom Vartabedian titled, “A Museum Day: Free Admission to ALMA. Admission tick - Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and the Fund 50-year Retrospective into Journalism;” 7 p.m., ALMA, ets available for download on the Museum Day Live! for Armenian Relief. All Proceeds from the book are being 65 Main St., Watertown. Vartabedian, award-winning Website. One ticket admits one person, plus a guest; 65 donated to organizations devoted to protecting writer and photographer, will kick off the fall season at Main St., Watertown. children. ALMA with a talk about his 50-year career with The SEPTEMBER 28 — Annual “Walk of Life” Walk-a-thon, NOVEMBER 23-24 – TCA Mher Megerdchian Theatrical Haverhill Gazette and his work as a correspondent with New England Chapter of the Armenian Bone Marrow Group celebrates 15th Anniversary with production of the Armenian Press since the early 1960s. Donor Registry (ABMDR), in Watertown. To register or Hagop Baronian’s “The Perils of Politeness” SEPTEMBER 15 — Trinity Family Festival, 12-5 p.m., Holy donate, visit http://www.abmdr.am. (Kaghakavaroutyan Vnasneruh) directed by Gagik Trinity Armenian Church, 145 Brattle St., Cambridge. OCTOBER 5 — “Inheriting the Light:” In Conversation Karapetyan from Armenia; Dwight Englewood High Delicious food, Armenian music, Children’s games, with Diana Der Hovanessian and Nancy Kricorian, 5- School, 315 E. Palisade Ave., Englewood, NJ. Nov. 23, Blessing of Madagh at 4 p.m., raffle drawing and more. 7 p.m., ALMA, 65 Maint St., Watertown. Poet Diana Der Saturday at 8 p.m. and Nov. 24, Sunday at 4 p.m. For tick - SEPTEMBER 16 — Armenian Church of Our Saviour hosts 20th Hovanessian and Novelist Nancy Kricorian will engage in a ets; $50, $35, $25; call Marie Zokian (201)745-8850 or Annual Golf Tournament at the Sterling Country Club, Sterling, dialogue about how family and communal history have Missak Boghosian at (212)819-0097 or (347)365-6985.

ALMA Offers Free Admission for Annual Museum Day

WATERTOWN — The Armenian Library and the Museum Day Live! website on and the spread of knowledge accessible to every - Yousuf Karsh, a gift from his wife, Estrellita Museum of America (ALMA) will open its doors www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday. One one, giving museums across all 50 states the Karsh. The “Who Are the Armenians?” exhibit free of charge on Saturday, September 28, as ticket is permitted per household, per email opportunity to emulate the admission policy of spans more than 3,000 years of Armenian histo - part of Smithsonian magazine’s ninth annual address. the Smithsonian museums in Washington DC. ry and culture and the “Permanent Genocide Museum Day Live! A nationwide event, Museum Day Live! is Current exhibits at ALMA include, “Karsh: Exhibit,” provides a visual narrative of the From 12 to 6 p.m, ALMA will grant free access expected to attract close to 400,000 partici - Celebrating Humanity,” which is the permanent events of the 1915-1923 Genocide, and the con - to visitors who present a Museum Day Live! pants. Inclusive by design, the event represents collection of portraits by the renowned tinuing aftermath and denial by the Turkish gov - admission ticket, available for free download on Smithsonian ’s commitment to make learning Armenian-Canadian portrait photographer ernment over generations. 14 S ATURDAY , S EPTEMBER 7, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

THE ARMENIAN COMMENTARY Mirror The Historic Price of Individualism

This individualism in Armenia always developed within the Spectator By Edmond Y. Azadian context of foreign domination, which made the survival of the individual questionable most of the time. Every Armenian devel - oped his individualism at the expense of his fellow Armenians, Why do Armenians gravitate away from their native land and always losing the collective perspective. live in far-away countries, overwhelmed with the nostalgia of the The contrast was stark during the Ottoman years. As the ancestral homeland? We seldom pose the question to ourselves majority of the Armenians suffered in the provinces, Amiras and Established 1932 and when we do, we always have cop-outs: we blame our neigh - the privileged class of Armenians lived in affluence in bors, curse our conquerors and decry our enemies. An ADL Publication Constantinople and other urban centers. They served the Sultan, It is true, history has treated the Armenian people very harsh - who sometimes used them to exploit fellow Armenians in the ly, for a number of reasons. As we try to enumerate or analyze provinces by assigning them tasks such as tax collection, which those reasons, it never occurs to us to assess our own responsi - was performed most of the time with a whip crashing on the EDITOR bility in shaping our destiny as one of the oldest nations on the back of the Armenian peasant, to please the Sublime Porte. Alin K. Gregorian planet. If one day we decide to delve into our own responsibility, The class of Armenian Amiras were completely detached from perhaps we will begin to soberly plan our future. the aspirations of the Armenian masses living in the hinterlands. ASSISTANT EDITOR Gabriella Gage The reason Armenian have not been able to become a domi - Today the Armenian Amiras are remembered in Istanbul because nant nation — except during Tigranes II reign in the first centu - they were able to secure some favors from the Sultan to build ASSOCIATE EDITOR ry BC — is our individualism. Individualism denotes self-reliance, churches and schools in Istanbul. Aram Arkun self definition, independence and all the other positive attribut - Individualism among the Armenians sometimes is expressed in

ART DIRECTOR es. But when contrasted with the collective will, catastrophe the form of factionalism. Indeed, with a very primitive concept of Marc Mgrditchian ensues. patriotism, Armenian volunteers in the Russian army refused to Because of various depravations, victimizations and constant fight under General Antranik, as the Russian army relinquished foreign domination, Armenians have developed a very strong indi - its conquests, heading home and leaving the fortress of Kars vidualist trait, which has always been in conflict with collective dis - defenseless towards the end of World War I. Food, ammunitions SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: Edmond Azadian cipline, nation-building and focus on a common future. That is how and clothing were abandoned, but the Armenian volunteers they have survived through all the adversities of history. refused to defend the fortress of Kars, stating that Kars was not CONTRIBUTORS: During the dark ages, individualism was suppressed especially part of their homeland and our national hero left the front, Florence Avakian, Elizabeth Aprahamian, through religion, where eyes and hopes were diverted away from despondent. Daphne Abeel, Dr. Haroutiune the individual to the sublime and to heaven, which religious lead - After World War I, as Ataturk was able to hold together a Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Prof. ers conveniently used to consolidate their hegemony over their defeated country through diplomacy bordering on hypocrisy, Vahakn N. Dadrian, Diana Der subjects. It is no wonder that kings and rulers claimed divine lin - Armenians jeopardized their first republic, created after six cen - Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, Kevork eage to legitimize their power over the masses. turies of foreign domination. Granted, perhaps Armenia’s fate Keushkerian, Sonia Kailian-Placido , The lay rulers and the clergy used and abused their absolute was doomed as Ataturk and Lenin were trying to outmatch each Harut Sassounian, Mary Terzian, Hagop Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian power over people, suppressing any expression of individual other, but our perpetual infighting also contributed to the ideas. demise of the First Republic. As a result of the February upris - CORRESPONDENTS: The Inquisition in Europe punished any deviation from the ing, tens of thousands of young Armenians killed each other on Armenia - Hagop Avedikian church doctrine harshly. People were denied independent think - top of the 1.5 million victims at the hands of the Turks. Boston - Nancy Kalajian ing, facing torture and burning at the stake. The famous victims The Soviet era proved to be one of the darkest chapters of Philadelphia - Lisa Manookian of such intolerance were Galileo and Giordano Bruno. human history. It was as if the Catholic Inquisition had returned Berlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach With the emergence of the Renaissance, society’s focus shifted with a vengeance, with an atheistic twist. On top of the loss of Contributing Photographers: towards the individual. And later, fueled by the Industrial the entire leadership and intellectual class of Western Jacob Demirdjian, Harry Koundakjian, Jirair Revolution, the individual came to control his or her destiny and Armenians, a new crop of literary talents fell victim to Stalin’s Hovsepian enjoy life’s blessings without inhibitions. atrocities. Europe eventually came to balance individualism versus col - The was a huge prison. Personality and individ - lective will, thus developing empires to control the peoples and ualism were sacrificed for the collective. The new philosophy The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published resources of other continents. As individuals negotiated the lim - called for the creation of the new man, the Soviet citizen. weekly, except two weeks in July, by: its of their freedoms with the imperatives of national consensus, Despite all adversities and casualties, the Soviet system proved Baikar Association, Inc. powerful governments were formed, without compromising indi - to be a blessing in disguise for the Armenians. Travel bans con - vidual liberties. Nationalism became the glue to hold together tributed to the development of the demographics in Armenia 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 the individuals. The French philosopher Voltaire became the pro - with immigration from the Balkans and the Middle East. If only Telephone: 617-924-4420 ponent of individual freedoms within the parameters of collective forced attachment to land could keep Armenians in the native FAX: 617-924-2887 will. He encapsulated that concept succinctly when he said, homeland. That stability in turn contributed to the tremendous www.mir ror spectator.com “Your freedom ends where my nose begins.” development of science, literature and music, beginning a new E-Mail: editor@mirrorspectator .com Armenians pride themselves that the Renaissance dawned in golden age in Armenian history. For advertising: [email protected] Armenia before Europe. Gregory of Narek’s poetry is considered Today, all that was created during the Soviet era is being a watershed in that development. Indeed, the poet, in his suppli - blown to four winds and Armenians are leaving their country at cations to the Supreme Power, dwells on the frailties of the indi - a rapid pace. vidual, imploring divine forgiveness or help. In the Book of Azeris are waiting at the gate and they have already concoct - SUBSCRIPTION RATES : Lamentations, Gregory of Narek outlines human desires and for - ed a history that Armenians are sitting on Azeri land. bidden urges within the confines of his prayers, with a poetic If this time around we lose the second republic, that will be the craft unsurpassed for many centuries. historic price we pay for Armenian individualism. U.S.A. $80 a year

Canada $125 a year

Other Countries $190 a year Nor Gyank Closes Its Doors: Filling the Void of a Legacy Left Behind

© 2011 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator So it was with somber acceptance that I the Shenians, he founded and oversaw the suc - Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA By Taleen Babayan heard Nor Gyank , a leading Armenian news - cess of a newspaper founded from the grass and additional mailing offices. paper in our community, had stopped its press - roots. Both independent publications offered ISSN 0004-234X es after 35 years. This wasn’t the first wide platform for others to present their own While many newspapers were revered in our Armenian newspaper that had ceased publica - viewpoints and thoughts on contemporary POSTMASTER : Send address changes to The household, there was a separate stack that Armenian Mirror-Spectator, P.O. Box 302, tion — nor would it be the last — but the dis - Armenian issues. Watertown, MA 02471-0302 remained on our kitchen countertop, a silent appearance of Nor Gyank into the pages of Although I was younger, I was privy to con - Other than the editorial, views and opinions symbol of the significance of these publica - diasporan history, naturally has me question - versations about the happenings in our com - expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily tions in our home. ing the future of Armenian newspapers and munities and in our homeland when with the eflect the policies of the publisher. As a child, I would pick up the Armenian whether my generation — and those following Shenians and Boghosians. When the voices Mirror-Spectator, Armenian Reporter, us — have the dedication, interest or will to became hushed, I knew a juicy topic was on Armenian Observer, Baikar and Nor Gyank continue their contributions to our ethnic the table and I would strain my ears just a bit and look through the photos and intriguing press. more to hear a sound bite. These were in fact headlines about the presidency of Levon Ter- I saw firsthand the investment and effort my first lessons in geopolitics, our homeland, Petrosian, the conflict in Nagorno Karabagh or that went into Nor Gyank by the Shenian fam - the diaspora and above all, journalism. Copying for other than personal use or the local Armenian dinner-dances and fundrais - ily, who were at the helm of the Glendale-based Both Shenian and Boghosian were boot - internal reference is prohibited without ers. As I matured, I delved into the articles, high - trilingual weekly since 1978. My grandparents strap journalists, who after moving to the US, express permission of the copyright lighting blockades and corruption in our home - were close with Krikor and Arsho Shenian, realized there was a need to fulfill — a thirst for owner. Address requests for reprints or land, while also touting the advancements in and whenever we visited Los Angeles, we Armenian news. They collected news the old- back issues to: infrastructure and trade. These newspapers would see this industrious and patriotic cou - fashioned way — through on the ground Baikar Association, Inc. became an even more integral part of my life ple. Their dedication to Nor Gyank and the reporting, covering not only local communities 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 when my own pieces were published in those dissemination of Armenian news reminded me but also diasporan happenings and news of pages — some weeks my pieces appeared in the of the late Eddie Boghosian, the editor of the our homeland. same issue as my grandfather’s. New York-based Armenian Reporter. Similar to continued on next page S ATURDAY , S EPTEMBER 7, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 COMMENTARY

on this issue. atonement through the Asian Women’s Fund.” During Deputy Consul General Masahiro Suga’s meet - Turning to the differences in the reaction of Turkey to ing with ANCA, it became evident that the Japanese gov - the Armenian Genocide and Japan’s to the abuse of “com - ernment had been far more forthcoming regarding the fort women,” Consul General Niimi made three points in crimes committed by the imperial Japanese army than the following statement: My Turn the Turkish government was on the Armenian Genocide. “The government of Japan is well aware of the tragedy of Suga explained that Japan had recognized its responsi - the Armenian people at the beginning of last century. We By Harut Sassounian bility for violating the rights of “comfort women” by would like to express our deepest condolences and sympa - issuing an apology and offering compensation to the vic - thy to the victims. It is our strong belief that this kind of Japan and Turkey: On ‘Comfort tims. tragedy should never be repeated. The second point is Nevertheless, the “comfort women” remain dissatisfied regarding the position of the Turkish government. This is Women’ and Genocide with Japan’s acts of “atonement,” accusing Japanese offi - about another country’s position. Even though we are cials of making conflicting announcements on this issue. aware of that atrocity, yet, we are not in a position to grasp The sleepy town of Glendale became the center of a Most “comfort women” have also rejected the offered finan - the details of precisely what happened a century ago in that major international controversy on July 9, when the City cial compensation, claiming that it was partially provided area. So we cannot make a comment on the Turkish gov - Council approved a memorial to “comfort women” — a by private sources and not the government of Japan. In ernment’s position. But, I would like to repeat that we are euphemism to describe up to 200,000 young females who 2007, the US House of Representatives adopted a resolu - aware of the tragedy and would like to express our sympa - were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese army dur - tion in support of “comfort women,” urging the Japanese thy and condolences. And the third point is that, regardless ing its occupation of Korea and neighboring countries government to “formally acknowledge, apologize and of the position of the Turkish government, the Japanese before and during World War II. accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal government’s position on the issue of “comfort women” is The City Council, after hearing conflicting testimonies manner for its Imperial Armed Forces’ coercion of young that it expressed apology and remorse and made efforts to from members of the local Japanese and Korean communi - women into sexual slavery.” extend support to former ‘comfort women.’” ties, approved with a 4 to 1 vote the installation of a mon - To find out how Japan’s reaction to the issue of “comfort I informed the Consul General that Japan’s position on ument in Glendale in honor of “comfort women.” At the women” differed from the Turkish government’s denialist the Armenian Genocide is not much different from that of unveiling ceremony of the monument, council members stand on the Armenian Genocide, I interviewed Jun Niimi, Turkey. I asked Niimi to relay to his country’s Foreign Ara Najarian and Zareh Sinanyan expressed sympathy for the Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles. He fondly Ministry that Japan’s lack of acknowledgment of the the plight of “comfort women,’ as their own Armenian spoke about his “affinity” toward Armenians developed Armenian Genocide reinforces the skepticism of those who ancestors had suffered from mass atrocities in Turkey. during his 1995-1998 service at the Japanese Embassy in question the Japanese government’s sincerity in dealing Concerned by the parallels drawn between the Genocide Tehran, and his subsequent visits to Armenia, while sta - fairly with the issue of “comfort women.” of Armenians by Turkey during World War I and the tioned at the Embassy of Japan in Moscow. In response, the Consul General of Japan expressed his Japanese military’s sexual enslavement of “comfort Regarding the Japanese government’s position on “com - understanding that “the word tragedy doesn’t sound good women” during World War II, the Consulate of Japan in fort women,” Niimi explained that Prime Minister Tomiichi to you, because it’s Genocide.” He promised to convey to Los Angeles sought a meeting with the Armenian National Murayama issued a statement in 1995, expressing “deep his government “the sentiments of the Armenian commu - Committee of America to present its government’s position remorse” and “heartfelt apology.” Japan also “provided nity” on this issue.

from previous page were branded as trailblazers and broke new Let’s meet at the Pecheneq Monument on September 8 ground in diasporan Armenian journalism. These journalists stirred the public with Remember the Van Akhtamar Church which was going to be demol - say: “The relief of the archer on the left depicts the Central Asian peo - their opinionated writing, an element that’s ished in 1951 and which later in 2007 was restored? I used to think that ple who are still in the hunter-gatherer phase. Whereas the grapes, lamb not seen as often in today’s papers, either it was an Armenian church, yet it turns out to be a Turkish church. and human shown on the right depicts the Armenians which have because of the apathy of diasporan The State has lied to us. Now they will have to account for this. Soon achieved the settled agricultural phase of civilization.” Armenians or because everyone wants to be our public prosecutors can start three very important court cases: 1) In addition to this misrepresentation, I want to warn my ASIMDER “politically correct.” But challenging ques - Against the Turkish Armed Forces friends to the possibility that the Armenian lobby, which is as malignant tions need to be asked — editorials that rile for attempting to demolish a thou - as the interest rate lobby, might say: “Pecheneq Turks did not live on the people up need to be written. Shenian and By Baskin Oran sand plus year old Turkish monu - southern shores of the Black Sea but on its north. Furthermore if this is Boghossian were not afraid to voice their ment on June 25, 1951; 2) Against a Turkish church, why are all the inscriptions in the Armenian alphabet? controversial opinions, regardless of the per - Prime Minister Erdogan’s govern - Didn’t the Pecheneqs use a Runic alphabet i.e. the Gökturk alphabet?” sonal threats those opinions may have ment for declaring it as an “Armenian Church” and restoring it as such The shortest answer to this would be: “There is no such thing as an engendered. in 2007; 3) Against all the past Turkish Republic governments for allow - Armenian alphabet. Like the Kurds, Armenians are also Turks; therefore The closing of Nor Gyank is unfortunate ing this Turkish monument to almost collapse due to neglect. Of course their alphabet is a copy of the Gökturk alphabet.” But if, for some rea - for me on a personal level and as a journal - all three cases will have to be opened under the Turkish Criminal Code son or other this does not sound convincing we can make the following ist. Of course, many national newspapers are Article 301/1, which covers “publicly insulting Turkishness.” claim: “The original inscriptions were written in the Runic alphabet, but succumbing to the digital era — but to us I had heard firsthand about these destructions years ago, but this fact in 1915 the so-called Armenians came, they erased the originals, and Armenians, these weeklies were more than a has nothing to do with our present subject matter. In the spring of 1999 replaced them with their own writings.” source of news information. They tied us to I had visited the Cappadocia region. Our guide had told us: “I was with This latter claim might be even more appropriate because when the our republic when it was under Soviet rule a commando unit during my military service. One day, our commanding recent issue of the demolishment of ancient Armenian houses in Mush and connected us to other diasporan com - officer told us to gather a large amount of explosives and to blow up the had come to the fore, Irfan Ermis from ASIMDER had said: “There is a munities who, like us, were trying to keep ruins of two Armenian churches nearby. We flattened both of them.” monument in the Kurtulus (Independence) Park. (…) We know how they their language alive, their schools open and But of course those were completely different from this one. Let us lis - changed the inscriptions on that monument (…) If you look now only their churches vibrant. ten to what Göksel Gülbey, the president of ASIMDER (The Association the names of the 120 martyred children is written” (The Son Nokta While there are different reasons why Against International Unfounded Armenian Allegations) has to say: Newspaper, Elazig, August 24, 2013) Armenian publications close — loss of rev - “The church that the Armenians are alleging as theirs belongs to If the lobby still insists saying “On the Akhtamar church not only has enue, declining circulation, a family business Pecheneq Turks, Christian Turks. (…) Unfortunately the Armenians have the Armenian alphabet been used but the architectural style of the with no successor — we still mourn the loss fabricated a myth, claiming the church to be theirs.” church is also Armenian.” Based on the principle that you should imi - of another Armenian-Armenian newspaper The President points also to a very important matter as follows: “This tate the smell as the sound(*) we can say: “Just as the Armenian alpha - that bound us scattered Armenians. is where in 1915, during the Van massacres, Moslem women from Van had bet has been copied from the Gökturk alphabet, the Armenian architec - Although we have no control over the thrown themselves into Lake Van, in order to escape rape, thus saving tural style has been copied from Seljuk architecture. The dome of the extinction of these papers, we, as the next their honor.” No wonder, MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) deputy Prof. Akhtamar Church is exactly like the dome of the Mevlana Shrine in generation of Armenians, can fill this emerg - Yusuf Halaçoglu (former president of the official Turkish Historical Konya. As a matter of fact, the Turks also brought their own architects ing void. We need to write articles, launch Society) had mentioned this on April 29th in Salihli and had even given with them on the way from Central Asia.” Of course the construction websites, become entrenched in our respec - the exact number of women involved by saying: “For the 50 Van women dates of those two monuments (921 AD and 1358 AD, respectively) tive communities and use modern means of for whom we have not even been able to erect a monument of chastity.” might cause some controversy, but I am sure that our friends from communication to distribute our news and Incidentally we heard that MHP has a law proposal for such a monument. ASIMDER will think of a scientific answer to that problem. our message. We also need to be active and I had heard this “saving their honor” in the past in relation to 1915, The whole world is now scared that Turks are becoming too strong, alert about posting Armenian-related pieces but from a totally different perspective which I cannot remember now. and this has a bearing down on us. 2015 is also getting close. Our own in non-Armenian media and react promptly Anyway, President Gülbey ends his statement by saying: “As Turks, we state is collaborating with the against the Armenians. The and professional to references there about will be present here for the September 8 religious service. With a three Turks should erect a Chastity Monument on the Akhtamar Island on Armenian issues. Several Armenian news bus-full crowd, we will participate in these services and tell our side of which ASIMDER is planning to show up on September 8, so that we can outlets have successfully transitioned to the the story.” proudly prove to the World that we did not commit genocide against the online world and the potential is there for The proofs given by Gülbey are rock solid: “There is a relief on the top Armenians. more people to solidify an Armenian online side of the Akdamar [sic] Church depicting a horseman shooting arrows However, as it is difficult to refute all arguments one by one, I propose presence. We have to make sure that poten - backwards. All historians agree that only Turks shoot arrows backwards an all-encompassing strategy. We should firmly stand behind the fact tial is not wasted. while riding horses and there is no Armenian with slanted eyes. The that sometime in the past the Armenians came down from Space and While our community may have one less horse on the relief also has a crescent above its hoof and on its rump. then returned back to Space in 1915. newspaper to sift through on a weekly basis, The use of the crescent as symbol by Turks even before Islam is an and one less paper on our kitchen counter - accepted fact by all historians.” (*) Translator’s Note: This “principle” comes from a Nasreddin Hodja top, we can pay homage to those journalists I looked at those pictures from books that I found, and on the East joke which goes as follows: Nasreddin Hodja, a well-known anonymous who came before us, who connected us to façade of the church there is a relief of a hunting scene where the eyes figure of Anatolian wisdom, invited somebody to dinner, who, while hav - our homeland when there was still no real of the rider who is shooting the arrow is looking backwards. Of course ing dinner, accidentally farted, and then made the wooden floor creak homeland to connect to. the Armenian propaganda machine can misrepresent this saying: “If the to imitate the sound. Upon which the Hodja couldn’t help saying: “Now It is now our turn. We need to be active, archer is not cross eyed, his eyes would naturally slant towards the back that you have successfully imitated the sound, I wonder how you will the way our predecessors were — to be because that is where he is looking. Also the Armenian artist might have imitate the smell?” engaged, to be informed, and above all, to be shown Central Asian people in a hunt scene.” (This commentary appeared in both Agos and Radikal-2 in Turkey. the trailblazers of our generation. Armenians might also point to the relief on the right and might even Oran has done extensive research on minorities in Turkey.) 16 S ATURDAY , S EPTEMBER 7, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

ate the dead. The Jewish Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide Yet, the Germans, like the Turks, did at times engage in massive, bloody killing binges. In Kiev It was destiny. sible, the lesson of occupy and control the Straits of Bosporus in in 2009, we visited Babi Yar, a memorial to thou - During our By Jiri Valenta and Leni Valenta the Genocide was what is now Istanbul, and to revive the Christian- sands of Jews but also gypsies and Soviet POWs, research trips to soon forgotten — a Byzantine Empire overthrown by the Turks in who were bludgeoned, raped, battered and Europe my wife, fact not lost on 1455. During WWI, Germany was arming Turkey slaughtered in a massive Nazi killing spree. Leni, and I sought only to address the issues of anti- Hitler. Before the 1939 invasion of Poland he told to counter the deployment of the Russian fleet in Searching for Leni’s ancestor’s, the large Semitism and the Holocaust as it affected our own his Nazi commanders, “Who, after all, speaks the Black Sea, a measure undertaken by Russia Lubarsky family, in the Odessa and Kiev archives, families. We toured synagogues, death camps and today of the annihilation of the Armenians?” to protect the Ukraine. The Reich was also incit - we were able to find the name of only one. memorials in numerous countries attesting to the Both the Nazi’s and the Turks justified the anni - ing the Moslem tribes against the Russians. In Differences between the two genocides include slaughter of six million Jews. But in 2009, we visit - hilation of their victims based on a theory of racial 1913, partly for this reason, Russia responded to their organization, scope and methodology. The ed the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide superiority. The Germans cited Aryan superiority; an Armenian petition to guarantee Armenian civil genocide of the Jews happened gradually over a Memorial Complex in Yerevan and came face to the Turks, Muslim pan-Turanianism. In both cases rights in the Western part of Turkey. The Turks, period of six years and included all the European face with the history 1.5 million Christian people the targets were chosen because of xenophobic however, viewed this as the first step towards countries occupied or invaded by Germany. As who perished during the Armenian Genocide. What hatred of a different racial and religious group. Both making Turkey a Russian protectorate. Thus, confirmed by historical sources and interviews was so chilling was the fact that the Armenian aggressors launched the assaults by denying their although they signed a 1914 treaty with Russia with family members, the German holocaust in Genocide and the Holocaust turned out to be linked victims civil and human rights. granting those rights, as with similar treaties in occupied Bohemia proceeded in stages from in some ways. The Armenian Genocide, as Vahakn Far from being inferior, however both the Jews the past, they completely failed to implement it. 1939-45. Those who had intermarried with Dadrian has pointed out, was the first genocide of and the Armenians boasted many brilliant intel - The actual mechanics of the both the Holocaust Christians, including my mother, were to be the 20th century. Dadrian stated, “The Armenian lectuals. Yet, because of their visible success, and Armenian Genocide both involved organized killed last. I recall my grandfather’s words, “If Genocide’s relevance to the Holocaust derives from Armenians, like Jews, were accused of being dis - state murder; the intention being not to subjugate your mother had not been pregnant with you, the fact that the concept of ‘crimes against human - loyal and clannish, of not only being parasites, but the victim group, but its deliberate, premeditated you wouldn’t be here.” Jews and those of mixed ity’ in international law was first introduced pub - actively plotting against the state. The Armenians elimination. The Turkish form of genocide was nev - race, as my uncle, Lada, explained, were normally licly, explicitly and formally by the World War I were thus as useful to the Turkish regime as the ertheless more brutal, often involving savage tor - gathered in ghettoes and sent by train to concen - Allies — namely Great Britain, France, and Russia. Jews were later to the Reich. ture and mutilation and conducted without the dia - tration camps to perform slave labor. The occasion for this bold venture was the Ottoman Quite possibly, the three Turks involved in the bolic technology of the Germans. There was no In Turkey, on the other hand, at least a million Turkish authorities World War I Genocide against Genocide of the Armenians were partly motivated sophisticated registration of the victim population Armenians were killed in 1915 alone. Under Turkey’s Armenian population.” by their fears of Armenian irredentism in Russia. and no building of ghettoes to isolate the Jemal Pasha’s oversight, many of those who sur - Despite the condemnation and declaration that For centuries Russia was the traditional enemy of Armenians. There were no trucks with gas, deadly vived the massacres were sent to concentration they would hold the Ottoman authorities respon - Turkey. One of the major goals of Russia was to “showers” with Cyclone B, and furnaces to inciner - camps in Syria. Like the Jews, they worked as slave laborers while slowly being starved to death. As we learned at Tsitsernakaberd, the Armenian Genocide also occurred in specific stages. First the intellectuals were rounded up and murdered. Then young Armenian men were drafted and slaughtered. The remaining men were then rounded up and shot, while their defenseless women and children, driven out to the wilds of Anatolia, were subjected to robbery, rape, starvation, typhus, torture, kidnapping and murder by both Kurds and Turks. In 1918, the eastern corner of Armenia became an independent republic for two years, but lost half of its land in a 1920 war with Turkey. The remain - der was absorbed by the Soviet empire. In 1991, Armenia became independent. The Jews also received a promise of their own state in 1918, but did not receive it until 1948. The justice given to each victim group was also different. For the Jews, an international tribunal was held at Nuremberg which con - demned the German perpetrators of the Holocaust and oversaw their execution. There was no Nuremberg for the Armenians, although in 1919, the three Genocide perpe - trators were convicted of war crimes in absen - tia and sentenced to death by an Istanbul court. It was left to the Armenians, however, to wreak justice on their own. The man who signed the orders for the elimination of the Armenians, Interior Minister Talat Bey, was killed in 1921 by an Armenian assassin in Germany. The assassin was acquitted by a German court. Talat’s colleague, Enver, was killed by two other Armenian assassins a year later in Tblisi. Today there are few states which deny the Jewish holocaust happened. Yet to this day, any mention of the Armenian Genocide in the arena of world politics has always been vehemently denied by Ankara. The frequently quoted Pastor Martin Neimoller (1892–1984) about the rise of the Nazis is once more apropos: “First they came for the commu - nists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a communist; Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a trade unionist; Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — because I was not a Jew; then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.

Kevork Marashlian Retires From TCA, ADL

MARASHLIAN, from page 1 well as maintained communications with TCA chapters, cultural institutions, publications and leadership centers in Armenia and throughout the world. Throughout his career, Marashlian proved himself to be a leader in Boston-area community. The Central Board of Directors of Tekeyan Cultural Association Inc. wishes Marashlian good health and a well-deserved retirement. — Tekeyan Cultural Association Central Board of Directors