In Our 80th Year FEBRUARY 11, 2012 MirTHE rARoMENr IAN -Spe ctator Volume LXXXII, NO. 30, Issue 4224 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 Aram Julfalakyan Wins Protests Zarakolu’s Name Submitted for Nobel Gold at Swiss Probe Tournament Peace Prize SOFIA, Bulgaria (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Armenian Greco-Roman wrestlers won four Against Minister OSLO (Bia News) — medals at the Dan Koloff-Nikola Petrov Members of Parliament of International Wrestling Tournament currently ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey on the Swedish Left Party taking place here. Monday summoned the Swiss ambassador Amineh Kakabaveh, Jens Julfalakyan beat Hovhannes Varderesyan (both to protest his country’s probe of a Turkish Holm, Bengt Berg, Siv 66 kilograms) to win a gold medal in the final. official who is alleged to have denied that Holma, Marianne Berg and Varderesyan took the silver medal. Armenians endured a genocide. deputies of the Green Party Both Arthur Mkrtchyan (60 kilograms) and Swiss laws criminalizes denying the Jan Lindholm and Valter Hrach Hovannisyan (84 kilogram) secured Armenian Genocide. Mutt applied to the Nobel bronze medals, while Tigran Sahakyan (84 kilo - Turkey’s chief European Union negotia - Prize Committee in Oslo to grams) finished fourth. tor Egemen Bagis was alleged to have said nominate Ragip Zarakolu for in Switzerland, “There is no Armenian the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize. Genocide. Let them come and arrest me.” In their application to Ragip Zarakolu Armenian Cathedral to A Turkish Foreign Ministry official, the committee, the mem - Be Built in Ukraine speaking anonymously due to government bers of the Swedish rules, said Swiss Ambassador Raimund Parliament emphasized that Zarakolu was an internationally-recognized human KIEV, Ukraine (PanARMENIAN.Net) — On Kunz was told Monday the probe was rights defender who became a symbol for press freedom and freedom of expression. February 3, Kiev hosted a joint sitting of Ukrainian “unacceptable.” The application also mentioned several awards given to publisher, writer and Association of Union of Armenians of Ukraine and Zurich prosecutor Christine human rights advocator Zarakolu for his efforts in this context. Armenian Community in Kiev NGOs. Braunschweig confirmed officials have A news article in the Radikal daily also referred to numerous prison sentences A discussion of the coordination of all Armenian opened a preliminary investigation into the handed down to the publisher on the grounds of books on the Armenian Genocide, organizations of the Ukrainian capital, construc - allegations. see ZARAKOLU, page 20 tion of Armenian cathedral, as well as organiza - Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bekir tional and legal aspects of holding elections of the Bozdag on Monday called the probe head of Armenian community in Kiev took place “ridiculous.” during the sitting, analitika.at.ua reported. “Bagis expressed his view in a country Armenian Ambassador to Ukraine Andranik which apparently has no tolerance for free - Russia Promises Support for Armenian Manukyan, head of the Ukrainian Diocese of the dom of expression,” he said. Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) Archbishop Turkey itself is under intense pressure Agriculture, Nuke Construction Grigoris Buniatyan, head of the Union of from the European Union to increase free - Armenians of Ukraine Vilen Shatvoryan, Consul dom of speech and stop prosecuting writ - partners in the areas of cattle and seed Armen Aslanyan, representatives of Kiev city ers, intellectuals and journalists for express - By Hovannes Shoghikian breeding and in the provision of agricultur - administration and Armenian community mem - ing their views. al equipment.” bers of the Ukrainian capital were present at the Some people, including Nobel Prize win - “We mapped out very important areas of event. ning writer Orhan Pamuk, have been pros - YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — High-ranking cooperation … and that applies to agricul - When finished, the new church might be the ecuted for statements on the massacres of Russian officials pledged to help spur agri - ture and seed breeding in the first largest Eastern Rite church in the region. Armenians, but charges of insulting Turkey cultural activity in and reaffirmed instance,” confirmed Zubkov. were dropped. ’s stated support for the construc - see RUSSIA, page 4 In 2008, a Swiss court convicted three tion of a new Armenian nuclear plant dur - Journalist, Professor Turkish men of racism for denying the ing separate visits to Yerevan last Tuesday. deaths amounted to genocide. The men Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Osheen Keshishian have been fined but received no jail sen - Viktor Zubkov held what he described as Members of Congress, Hospitalized tences. “quite productive” negotiations with Prime Most historians contend that the killings Minister Tigran Sargisian that focused on Armenian Assembly LOS ANGELES — Respected journalist, long-time as the Ottoman Empire broke up was the bilateral economic ties and, in particular, Tekeyan Cultural Association’s (TCA) Central 20th century’s first genocide, and several agricultural assistance requested by the Urge Affirmation of Board member, TCA Arshag Dickranian School European countries recognize the mas - Armenian government. Trustee and publisher of the Armenian Observer sacres as such. “We agreed on the main directions of our Genocide as Clinton weekly, Prof. Osheen Keshishian suffered a stroke But Turkey maintains there was no sys - cooperation that concern agriculture in the Statement Draws Ire during a public lecture and was rushed to Glendale tematic campaign to kill Armenians and first instance,” Sargisian said. “We need Memorial Hospital, where he has since been under see PROBE, page 4 support and assistance from our Russian WASHINGTON — Members of Congress the care of intensive medical team. and the Armenian Assembly expressed We wish our colleague a speedy recovery. strong concerns regarding Secretary of — Mirror-Spectator staff State Hillary Clinton’s remarks on the Prolific Young Scholar on Armenian Genocide at a town hall meeting last week, reported the Armenian Assembly of America. INSI DE Armenian Genocide in Holland In a letter circulated this week, Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Robert Dold (R-IL), sponsors of the By Aram Arkun Armenian Genocide resolution, urged mem - Ignatius Mirror-Spectator Staff bers to join them in sending a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling On Life on the Secretary to “disavow her ill-consid - AMSTERDAM — Ugur Ümit Üngör is one ered statement.” The letter also urges the of a new generation of scholars emerging Obama Administration to unequivocally Story on page 16 from Turkey who deal forthrightly with the affirm the Armenian Genocide this April Armenian Genocide. Assistant professor at 24th and firmly recognize “genocide wher - the Department of History at Utrecht ever and whenever it occurs.” University in the Netherlands and Speaking at a town hall meeting last researcher at the Center for Holocaust and week at the State Department, Clinton, in INDEX Genocide Studies in Amsterdam, his main response to a question about the Armenian Arts and Living ...... 12 interest is the historical sociology of mass Genocide and the recent developments in Armenia ...... 2 violence and nationalism. He has recently surrounding the adoption of new Community News...... 5 published three books dealing with the Editorial ...... 18 legislation criminalizing its denial, stated: “I Ugur Üngör in Sis Armenian Genocide and related issues. International ...... 3,4 think it’s fair to say that this has always see SCHOLAR, page 8 been viewed, and I think properly so, as a see CLINTON, page 20

Benefit for the Armenian Mirror-Spectator Celebrating 80 Years and Beyond Thursday, May 24, 2012 2 S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Hayastan All-Armenian Fund Launches Renovation of Gumri Children’s Home Orphanage

YEREVAN — The Hayastan All- Opera, Ballet Premieres Armenian Fund has launched an In 2012 extensive renovation of the Gumri Children’s Home orphanage. YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The Aleksander Built in 1924, the orphanage was Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet National Academic used as a boarding kindergarten until Theatre will present a number of premieres in 2012. 1972. Two additional wings were con - Theater Director Kamo Hovhannissyan said pre- structed in 1946 and 1993, respective - miers of both ballets and operas are expected. He said ly. The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund among the works that are expected to be mounted are will refurbish the two older buildings, Bizet’s “Carmen,” Puccini’s “La Bohème” and which comprise a total area of 900 Tchaikovsky’s “Shelkunchik.” square meters. The project will include “We want to have this ballet to invite our children the renovation of the bedrooms, gym, to theatre during the New Year days,” Hovhannissyan cafeteria, kitchen and restrooms as well said, adding that “Giselle” will also be restored to the as installation of air-conditioning and lineup. fire-protection systems. Currently more than 120 children Armenia’s Universities with mental or physical disorders live and receive care at the facility. After The children of Gumri House celebrate a Christmas with staff and family. Among Top Taxpayers they reach age 6, they are placed in various mainstream or specialized YEREVAN (news.am) – Armenia’s State Revenue orphanages, among them the “Conditions at the facility deterio - will allow us to vastly improve our Committee (SRC) publicized the list of the country’s Kharberd special-needs orphanage rated day by day,” said Ruzanna operations. We will also be able to top-1,000 taxpayers for 2011, which includes the edu- and the Mary Izmirlian Orphanage in Avagyan, director of the Gumri provide the children with critically cational institutions. Yerevan. These subsequent place - Children’s Home orphanage. “The important physical therapy.” And the list’s highest taxpaying university is ments are made based on assess - water and sewage pipes were corrod - On his part, Gilbert Moumdjian, Yerevan State University, which is in 105th spot, with ments of each child’s mental and ed. As a result, the restrooms were fre - chairman of the Hayastan All- close to 790 million drams (approx. $ 2,041,280). In physical health, specific care needs quently out of order, and the walls Armenian Fund’s German affiliate, second place is the State Medical University, which is and prospects of improvement. For were gravely damaged because of reaffirmed the German-Armenian in 149th spot, with 567.9 million drams (approx. instance, children with eyesight disor - water seepage. Furthermore, the air- community’s commitment to support - $1,467,396). And the third highest taxpaying institu- ders are placed in Yerevan’s No. 14 conditioning system had long ceased ing development projects in the tion of higher learning is the Armenian State Boarding School, which specializes in to work, a fact that has made the care homeland. “Naturally we wish that all Pedagogical University, which is in 190th spot in the the education and care of children of children with various disorders all Armenian children can be healthy in list, with 434.4 million drams (approx. $1,122,445). with ocular diseases. As for children the more difficult.” body and mind,” he said. “As for those In total, the educational institutions paid to the whose health improves considerably Commenting on the upgrades cur - children with various disorders, we state budget around 3 billion 250 million drams following appropriate medical treat - rently implemented by the Hayastan must do our utmost to help ease their (approx. $8,397,672) within the first six months of the ment, some rejoin their families at the All-Armenian Fund, Avagyan stated, pain, to make their lives better and current fiscal year. families’ request. “When completed, the renovations more meaningful.” Sugar Prices See Record Inflation Armenian Journalist Freed amid Media Uproar YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Inflation was at 4.7 per- YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Facing an enforcement] system very well,” he Gevorgian was on the police wanted cent in Armenia this past year and prices for meat prod- uproar from Armenia’s leading press said. “They prepared the arrest for 20 list while continuing his journalistic ucts went up by 10 percent, dairy by 7 percent, oil by freedom groups and independent days. Even in those circumstances activities and entering government 12 percent. However, the price of sugar increased by 35 media outlets, law-enforcement they did it with huge violations, buildings,” said the statement issued percent. Speaking to reporters, chairman of the authorities released on Monday a which made my dream come true.” on Saturday. Association of Consumers, Armen Poghosyan, said prominent journalist who was arrest - Gevorgian at the same time refused The two media watchdogs also inflation is a natural phenomenon and the main factors ed on controversial charges last to comment on details of the January described as “fairly plausible” the promoting it are transport expenses. Friday. 13 incident. “They will commit more Haykakan Zhamanak claims that “It is much cheaper to transport cargos from differ- Hayk Gevorgian, a veteran editor mistakes during their further investi - Gevorgian was prosecuted for his cov - ent parts of world to Batumi, than from Batumi to and correspondent with the pro-oppo - gation and the trial. If I recount erage of the police and Gasparian in Yerevan. It is necessary to build a Fioletovo-Vanadzor sition daily Haykakan Zhamanak, details now they may avoid some of particular. railway to cut the length of Batumi-Yerevan railway by linked the case with his professional those mistakes,” he explained. Bagrat Yesayan, editor of the Yerkir 260 kilometers,” he said. activities as he walked free from Gevorgian’s release was ordered by daily, likewise dismissed the police Yerevan’s Nubarashen prison early in a prosecutor overseeing the high-pro - arguments as “laughable” and the afternoon. file criminal case. Sona Truzian, a demanded that his colleague be Armenian Coalition Gevorgian was detained for alleged - spokeswoman for Armenia’s Office of immediately set free. “I’m shocked Tensions Mount ly hitting and injuring another man the Prosecutor-General, said the pros - and just can’t find an explanation for with a car driven by him on January ecutor took into consideration the this action taken by the authorities,” YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Tensions between the two 13. The Armenian police say he did fact that the journalist is not accused said Armine Ohanian, editor of the main members of Armenia’s ruling coalition rose on not help the middle-aged man, Armen of committing a grave crime and has Hraparak daily. Tuesday as deputies from the Prosperous Armenia Frangulian, and instead verbally no prior criminal record. Gevorgian’s arrest also prompted Party (BHK) demonstratively walked out of the par- abused him before fleeing the scene. Truzian defended his detention, strong condemnations from liament one day after blocking the passage of a major Frangulian confirmed this version saying that he ignored police sum - Armenia’s leading opposition forces, government bill. of events in a police video report monses and evaded prosecution. including the Armenian National The BHK’s 26-strong faction in the 131-member broadcast by Armenian television Pashinian insisted, however, that Congress (HAK), of which Pashinian National Assembly announced a one-day boycott of over the weekend. Wrapped in a blan - the journalist simply wanted to “clari - is a senior member. parliament sessions in response to strong criticism ket, he said he has still not recovered fy his status” before showing up for President Serge Sargisian was from Speaker Samvel Nikoyan and other senior law- from the injuries despite spending interrogation. The Haykakan asked to comment on the case when makers from President Serge Sargisian’s Republican several days in a Yerevan hospital. Zhamanak editor also said that he met with female members of his Party of Armenia (HHK). The report also featured a hospital Gevorgian never went into hiding and Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) The statement, which BHK Deputy Naira Zohrabian doctor saying that those injuries were could have been easily located by the in the resort town of Tsaghkadzor on tried to read out before the walkout, cited a “non-con- of “medium gravity.” police. Saturday. Panorama.am quoted him structive atmosphere in the parliament.” Nikoyan cut Nikol Pashinian, the Haykakan The Yerevan Press Club and the as saying that only courts can deter - her short. Zhamanak editor, dismissed those Armenian Committee to Protest mine the legality of the police actions. The row centers on amendments to several eco- claims and claimed that the incident Freedom of Speech made a similar “I will not express my opinion until nomic laws drafted by the government. The most was a police provocation organized in point in a joint statement that there is a decision by the court, which important of them would ban cash transactions retaliation for Gevorgian’s scathing expressed outrage at the police I hope will be made as early as possi - among businesses exceeding 3 million drams articles about Vladimir Gasparian, the actions. “For more than 10 days Hayk ble,” he said. ($7,770). The government says the measure is impor- chief of the national police. One of tant for combating tax evasion. those articles was published on BHK deputies, whose leader, Gagik Tsarukian, is January 13. one of the country’s richest businesspeople, rejected Gevorgian likewise alleged personal this explanation. Their decision not to take part in retribution by Gasparian after his Monday’s parliament vote on the bill scuttled its pas- release. “They just wanted to show For Your Internal News of Armenia sage. The development followed months of reported what happens to those who write neg - friction between Tsarukian and Sarkisian. ative things about him,” he said out - Log on to www.AZG.am Galust Sahakian, the HHK’s parliamentary leader, side the Nubarashen jail. “This is sim - played down the BHK walkout. ply persecution.” In English, Armenian, Russian and Turkish “I had no doubts that they will arrest me because, thank God, I know the intellectual level of that [law- S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 INTERNATIONAL Clinton Briefed on Latest Summit International News

By Emil Danielyan French Constitutional Council to Examine MUNICH (RFE/RL) — US Secretary Genocide Bill of State Hillary Clinton was briefed on the results of the latest Armenian- PARIS (PanARMENIAN.Net) — The Constitutional Azerbaijani summit in Russia during Council of France will examine the bill criminaliz- separate talks with ’s ing the Armenian Genocide denial before March 1. President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s The votes of seven council members are required Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian for issuing a verdict. held over the weekend. On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill Clinton met with the two men on the criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide, sidelines of an annual conference on with 127 votes for and 86 against. If approved, the global security that took place in bill will impose a 45,000 euro fine and a year in Munich, Germany. She made no public prison for anyone in France who denies this crime statements after those meetings. against humanity committed by the Ottoman In a short statement, Aliyev’s press Empire. office said the Azerbaijani leader and Two separate groups of French politicians who the chief US diplomat had a “broad oppose the legislation — from both the Senate and exchange of opinions on the settlement the lower house — said they had formally requested of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno- the Constitutional Council examine the law. The Karabagh conflict.” It did not elabo - groups said they each had gathered more than the rate. minimum 60 signatures required to ask the council The Armenian Foreign Ministry said to test the law’s constitutionality. The council is Nalbandian and Clinton “discussed in Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with President Ilham Aliyev obliged to deliver its judgment within a month, but detail the latest developments in the this can be reduced to eight days if the government negotiating process of the Karabagh deems the matter urgent. settlement” and, in particular, In joint statement with Medvedev According to the Armenian Foreign Aliyev’s January 23 meeting with issued after the Sochi talks, Aliyev and Ministry statement, Nalbandian President Serge Sargisian that was Sargisian did not announce progress stressed the importance of the US Armenia-Israel Direct hosted by their Russian counterpart, towards an Armenian-Azerbaijani involvement in the process. The state - Flights begin in April Dmitry Medvedev, in the Russian city agreement on the Basic Principles of ment also quoted Clinton as saying of Sochi. Nalbandian shared with her the conflict’s resolution jointly drafted that Washington will continue to lend YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Armavia and details of the summit, a ministry state - by the United States, Russia and “full support” to the conflict’s resolu - Eshet Tours air companies concluded an agreement ment said. France. They only “expressed readiness tion by “in a solely peaceful way.” on the launch of Israel-Armenia direct flights in A senior US State Department offi - to accelerate the achievement” of such Both and Yerevan say that the April. cial said ahead of the Munich Security a framework peace deal. existing peace proposals by the US, Armavia intends to boost the number of flights Conference that the Karabagh issue is Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Russian and French co-chairs of the from one to two a week as an exclusive representa- “something the Secretary takes a per - Lavrov said there is still “a whole series OSCE Minsk Group are largely in tune tive in Israel. The number of passenger seats will sonal interest in.” “The Secretary of issues that remain to be agreed” by with their positions. At the same time also be increased from 50 to 130. wants to talk to both sides about the the conflicting parties. This was a fur - senior Azerbaijani officials regularly Eshet Tours also plans to sell tour packages results of that [summit] and the follow- ther indication that a breakthrough in criticize the mediating powers. including tours to Armenia and Georgia, Israeli on from that and how we can help the long-running talks is unlikely in Ali Ahmedov, executive secretary of media outlets report. move the process forward,” the official the coming months. Aliyev’s Yeni Azerbaycan party, said. The Sochi statement insisted that demanded “significant changes” in the the nearly one-dozen Aliyev-Sargisian Minsk Group’s activities the day after Scholars Call for Israeli meetings organized by Medvedev since the Sochi summit. The Trend news late 2008 have brought the parties agency quoted Ahmedov as saying that Knesset to Recognize closer to peace. Both the US and Baku could seek “a new format” for Assyrian and Greek Azerbaijan, Iran France have also repeatedly welcomed the negotiating process if the group’s the outgoing Russian president’s medi - three co-chairs fail to take “serious Genocides Gas Flow to ating efforts that have enhanced steps to resolve the conflict within a Moscow’s role in the peace process. short period.” (Armenpress) — In a significant milestone for efforts towards the worldwide recognition of Turkey Halted the Assyrian Genocide, nearly 30 internationally- renowned Holocaust and genocide scholars, and BAKU (PanARMENIAN.Net) — The Malatya Municipality to Rebuild Assyrian and Greek social, cultural and religious flow of natural gas from Azerbaijan to groups, have written to the Israeli Knesset calling Turkey was halted on Tuesday, for the inclusion of Assyrians and Greeks in the February 6, because of technical prob - Demolished Armenian Shrine Knesset’s forthcoming legislation on remembrance lems, Turkish Energy Minister Taner (PanARMENIAN.Net) The municipality promised to push of the Armenian Genocide, according to Yildiz said. world.greekreporter.com. The minister also said that the sup - — The municipality of Malatya has forward with the project without mak - agreed to rebuild a complex involv - ing any additional changes, The letter, sent on January 27 by the Assyrian ply of gas from Iran had dropped after Genocide Research Center to numerous members of an explosion at a compression station. ing a chapel, a guard house and an Köletavitoglu said, adding they were annex inside a historical Armenian also going to certify that promise in the Israeli Knesset or parliament, noted that hun- “We had been receiving around 40 dreds of thousands of Assyrians and Greeks “faced million cubic meters a day from Iran cemetery after municipal workers the governor’s office through a notary. demolished it on February 3, “We are going to purse this to the targeted killings, rape, abuse, destruction of home and Azerbaijan together and that has and villages and the razing of churches at the now fallen to between 6-7 million Hurriyet Daily News reported. end,” he said. “We had just built the “The folk in the street cried when complex with money we collected hands of the Ottoman Turks and their Kurdish cubic meters a day,” he said during a allies” during the Ottoman campaign against press conference. they saw that our Last Prayer [com - from Armenians of Malatya [resid - plex] was demolished. I don’t think it ing] in Istanbul and the diaspora. Christian minorities of the Empire between 1914 He expected supply to return to and 1923. normal and ruled out shortages. to be neighborhood pressure. There The demolition came about just as is some pressure, but it emanates we were finishing it.” While the better-known genocide of Armenians “Neither industrial nor residential has garnered more international attention, consumers will see any cut in gas sup - from sources unknown to us,” The project had originally been Hosrof Köletavitoglu, the head of the drawn up by the patriarchate of Assyrians and Greeks worldwide have campaigned ply,” he said, adding that Turkey was for the recognition of their genocides alongside still receiving gas from Russia, Algeria Malatya Philanthropists’ Association Turkish-Armenians. (HAYDER), said. The cemetery which measures that of the Armenians. “Many do not know,” the let- and Nigeria. ter notes, “that genocide was also committed A spokesman for BP, which oper - Malatya Municipality spokespeo - thousands of acres in size also con - ple said that the guard house had tains the burial grounds of the fami - against other ethnic groups, namely the Assyrians ates Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz gas and Greeks, who were living from time immemorial field, told dpa that the flow of gas to been brought down due to com - ly members of Hrant Dink, the chief plaints issued by the local populace editor of the weekly Agos, who was on their ancestral lands, which were within the bor- Turkey would resume later on ders of the Ottoman Empire in 1914.” Tuesday. and that the chapel had been mis - gunned down in front of his office in takenly demolished. Istanbul on January 19, 2007. Despite the extensive corpus of academic Turkey has experienced a series of research and archival material proving the reality gas shortages over the past weeks due “They had said the guard box was - “We were going to hold a mass by n’t suitable here and decided to organizing a tour on June 30 to of the genocide, the Turkish Republic has until in part to record high gas consump - now refused to formally recognize the genocide of tion prompted by extremely cold demolish [it]. Now they are taking bring Armenians originating from over the construction of the entire Malatya here. It will be a little diffi - Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks. Numerous gov- weather. ernments, parliaments and international bodies Turkey imports up to 6.6 billion complex by themselves,” cult to hold the mass under these cir - Köletavitoglu said on behalf of a cumstances,” he said. have recognized the Genocide. Most recently, the cubic meters of gas each year from Parliament of endorsed a resolution to offi- Azerbaijan, 10 billion cubic meters group of Malatya Armenians residing The Turkish authorities national - in Istanbul who met with officials ized the cemetery in the late 1940s, cially recognize the Assyrian Genocide, alongside from Iran and 30 billion cubic meters those of the Armenians and Greeks. from Russia. It also buys liquid natur - regarding the matter on February 6 while only some two acres are still al gas (LNG) from Algeria and Nigeria, morning. owned by the Armenian community. M&C reported. 4 S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry Completes Recruitment Drive in Lebanon

BEIRUT — From January 27 to 29, the was accompanied by ABMDR staff members Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry Naira Mkrtchyan and Gohar Malkhasyan. (ABMDR) conducted a successful recruitment On January 27 and 28, recruitments were campaign. held at the Araxi Boulghourjian Center in Led by Dr. Sevak Avagyan, executive direc - Burj Hamud, the Homenetmen Aghpalian tor of the Los Angeles-based ABMDR, the Club in Antelias and two other districts with campaign enjoyed the support of the sizeable Armenian communities. The recruit - Armenian Relief Cross of Lebanon (ARCL). ment effort continued on January 29, with a Throughout the three-day initiative, ARCL major event held at the ARCL Clinic in the Chair Taline Koulbashian and other leaders of Armenian town of Anjar. All of the recruit - ments, which fea - tured informative lec - tures by Avagyan and ARCL personnel as well as ABMDR infor - mation boots, were attended by large numbers of support - ers. The events resulted in a total of 262 recruits as potential bone mar - row stem cell donors. “My colleagues and I were delighted to promote the ABMDR cause and were overjoyed to see so many young peo - ple interested in being recruited,” A scene from one of the recruitment events in Burj Hamud Koulbashian said. In addition to pro - viding logistical sup - the organization facilitated several recruit - port for the realization of the recruitment ABMDR executive director Dr. Sevak Avagyan looks on as a young supporter is recruited. ments in Beirut, Anjar and elsewhere. events, the ARCL leadership ensured that the Moreover, they helped raise public awareness ABMDR campaign would receive maximum of the ABMDR mission through various media media exposure. Armenians joining the ranks of the registry as inspiring. What Dr. Avagyan and his assis - outlets and made informative presentations at On January 27, Avagyan gave interviews to potential bone marrow donors. The recruit - tants witnessed in Lebanon is an outstanding recruitment events. the “Vana Dzayn” Armenian radio program as ment campaign also received coverage by spirit of volunteerism which we can all be “We are so very touched by the warm wel - well as the OTV television station. Topics dis - Aztag Daily. proud of. With this regard, our special thanks come we received from the Armenian- cussed by Avagyan in both interviews includ - Commenting on the success of the recruit - go to Mrs. Taline Koulbashian and all of her Lebanese community as a whole and the ed life-threatening blood-related illnesses such ments, Dr. Frieda Jordan, president of colleagues at ARCL, for their hard work and Armenian Relief Cross in particular,” said as leukemia, the history and mission of ABMDR, stated, “The activism of the tremendous dedication to our shared mis - Avagyan, who throughout the recruitments ABMDR and the vital importance of Diaspora Armenian-Lebanese community is truly sion.”

Russia Promises Support for Agriculture, Nuke Construction Double Olympic RUSSIA, from page 1 Armenia already began importing large quan - Wrestling Champ tities of high-quality grain seed from Russia in late 2010 as part of a government plan to sig - Ponders Comeback nificantly increase domestic wheat production. About 150 farmers and agricultural firms SOFIA, Bulgaria (Reuters) — Double received such seeds last year. Olympic wrestling champion Armen Sargisian and Zubkov said that a Russian- Nazarian is pondering a return to com - Armenian “working group” will meet in petition with the lure of a gold medal at Moscow within the next month to flesh out the London Olympics on the horizon. their preliminary agreements. According to the Nazarian, who turns 38 next month, Russian vice-premier, one of them envisages the won Greco-Roman gold at the 1996 establishment of an Armenian subsidiary of Atlanta Olympics while competing for Russia’s Rosagroleasing enterprise that pro - Armenia before taking up Bulgarian cit - vides tractors and other equipment to farmers. izenship and winning gold at the 2000 He also said that a leading Russian agricultural Games. He took the bronze four bank should open a branch in Armenia and years later in Athens. start extending loans to local farmers and food- “I haven’t decided yet but it goes processing companies. Prime Minister Tigran Sargisian (left) meets with Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov (right) through my mind,” Nazarian, who Zubkov also welcomed a 16-percent increase and Transport Minister Igor Levitin (center) in Yerevan. announced his retirement in 2009, told in the volume of Russian-Armenian trade that Bulgarian daily Tema Sport on Monday. exceeded $1 billion registered in 2011. But he “I’m still in the gym all the time and said the two governments should strive to raise tion on the construction” of the new nuclear facil - I’m trying to lose some kilos. it further. ity. Kirienko was quoted as praising Yerevan for So if I improve my shape, I’ll probably Zubkov’s delegation comprised Transport its “open” dealings with the International Atomic compete in the 66-kilogram category at Turkey Protests Probe Minister Igor Levitin, who co-chairs a Russian- Energy Agency and the European Union. the Olympic qualifications in April.” Against Minister Armenian inter-government commission on eco - “This is a very correct approach in terms of oper - The Olympic qualification tourna - nomic cooperation together with Tigran ations of the existing plant, additional safety mea - ment will take place at the Arena PROBE, from page 1 Sargisian. The two men visited later on Tuesday sures taken there and the new [facility’s] construc - Armeec Sofia from April 18 to 22. that many Turks also died during the chaotic the premises of a Russian-owned research insti - tion,” he said before receiving a Medal of Honor, a On Friday, Swedish Greco-Roman disintegration of the empire. It also says that tute in Yerevan that that will soon be turned top Armenian state award, from Sargisian. wrestler Ara Abrahamian came out of death toll is inflated. into a tax-free zone for hi-tech firms. Levitin The Armenian leader discussed the crucial retirement to compete at the Nikola Turkey’s relations with France have already said that a Russian-Armenian joint venture will Russian involvement in the ambitious project Petrov tournament, also in Sofia. been strained over a bill that also criminalizes complete preparations for the launch of the tax with Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev dur - The 36-year-old hit the headlines at denial that the killings constituted genocide. haven in the next six months. ing an October 2011 trip to Moscow. Medvedev the 2008 Olympics for being France’s Constitutional Council has been The talks coincided with a separate visit to expressed hope that the two sides “will work stripped of his 84kg-category bronze asked late January to determine whether that Armenia by Sergei Kirienko, head of Russia’s out an optimal scheme” for implementing it. medal after he discarded it on the mat bill violates the constitution. state-run Rosastom nuclear energy corporation. Kirienko’s deputy, Nikolay Spassky, said in in protest at the refereeing. Turkey suspended military and economic Kirienko met with President Serge Sargisian Yerevan two days later that Moscow continues Armenia-born Abrahamian, who won cooperation after the French lower house after visiting the aging nuclear power station at to regard the project as “promising.” gold medals at the world champi - approval of the measure in December. The Metsamor and inspecting the adjacent site of a Armenia’s Energy Minister Armen Movsisian onships in 2001 and 2002 and silver at Senate gave it the green light in late January. new nuclear plant which the Armenian govern - said in December that Rosatom is ready to the 2004 Olympics in Athens, declined President Nicolas Sarkozy — who personally ment plans to build in the coming years. invest up to half of an estimated $4.5 billion to comment on his future when con - backed the bill — must sign the legislation for it A statement by Sargisian’s office said the two needed for replacing Metsamor with a more tacted. to become law. officials discussed “the development of interac - modern and safer nuclear plant. S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 Community Ne ws

97th Anniversary Commemoration of GRAEME MITCHELL PHOTO The Armenian The Armenian Cardinal and Genocide to Be Held His Servant In Times Square

NEW YORK — For the 27th year, thousands By Tom Vartabedian of Armenian Americans and their supporters will gather in Times Square (Broadway between HAVERHILL, Mass. — Growing up 43rd and 44th Streets) to commemorate the inside an Armenian Catholic Church in first genocide of the 20th century: The Harvard Square, my Sundays were always Armenian Genocide (1915-23). To be held on occupied as an altar boy. Sunday, April 22, 2-4 p.m., this event will pay I would wear the shabig and go tribute to the 1.5 million Armenians who were through the entire ritual of a Holy Mass, annihilated by the Young Turk Government of uttering the responses and smoking out the Ottoman Empire. the congregation with a censer. The commemoration will also celebrate the Each Sunday, for more than three survival and spirit of the Armenian people, their decades at Holy Cross Church, the cele - rich heritage and global contributions. brant was Fr. Luke Arakelian and he ran Presenters will include civic, religious, humani - a tight ship. His altar boys were trained tarian, educational, cultural leaders and per - like Prussian soldiers, answering every forming artists. This event is free and open to call as if the Almighty had ordered it. the public. One day, he took me aside and said, The theme of the commemoration is “Turkey “Thomas. The cardinal is coming. You will is Guilty of Genocide; Denying the Undeniable Christopher Soghoian likes to find security flaws, and then shame big organiza - tions into fixing them. be his chief servant.” is a Crime.” I thought maybe a glass of water when The 97th commemoration is organized by he needed it or perhaps fulfilling any the Mid-Atlantic chapters of Knights & request made of him. After all, it wasn’t Daughters of Vartan www.knightsofvartan.org, every day such a high authority of the www.knightsofvartan.ca, a US fraternal organi - The Pest Who Shames church would be visiting the community. zation of Armenian-Americans, and co-spon - The protocol I envisioned was nothing sored by Armenian General Benevolent Union compared to what was expected. My altar www.agbu.org, Armenian Assembly of America Companies into Fixing duties were ready to take a quantum leap. www.aaainc.org, Armenian National Committee I would serve as his deacon and give all of America www.anca.org, Armenian Council of the responses expected of my role. America and ADL-Ramgavars. His arrival to Greater Boston was met Participating organizations include: Diocese Security Flaws with high anticipation. Cardinal Gregory of the Armenian Church, Prelacy of the Peter XV Agagianian was here to bolster Armenian Church, Armenian Missionary LOS ANGELES (Wired) — Every Christopher Soghoian production follows a the Armenian Catholic faithful, stimulate Association of America, Armenian Presbyterian similar pattern, a series of orchestrated events that lead to the public shaming of the church populace and heighten the Church, Armenian Evangelical Church, a large entity — Google, Facebook, the federal government — over transgressions understanding of our common heritage. Armenian Catholic Eparchy for US and Canada, that the 30-year-old technologist sees as My nerves stood on edge in the days Mid-Atlantic ACYOA, AYF and Armenian Youth unacceptable violations of privacy. that followed. Suppose I fell apart and for - Organizations. By Mike Kessler Sometimes he discovers these security got the prayers? What if I tripped on my flaws by accident, other times because robe and took a dive? Like any sheepish someone has pissed him off, but mostly teenager, it was like waiting for a tooth to because he is parked at his computer all day looking for security flaws. be pulled. ArmenBar to Honor When he finds one, Soghoian, a PhD candidate in computer science at Indiana The year was 1951 and the big day University Bloomington, learns everything he can about it and devises what he finally arrived. I remember him hearing Rep. Schiff, Glendale sees as a viable solution. Then he alerts the offending party and gives them a my surname and smiling, “You are the chance to fix things, explaining that if they don’t, he will go public with his dis - son of a priest. I couldn’t have a more City Council Member covery. (OK, sometimes he skips the give-them-a-chance step.) When the inevitable appropriate assistant.” wave of media coverage starts breaking, Soghoian is often the first expert that Of course, he had two. On the cardi - Rafi Manoukian reporters turn to for sound bites — about stories he has effectively handed them. nal’s opposite side was Arakelian himself In the end, the security holes get patched, and Soghoian gets more notoriety and and down below, a cadre of other altar GLENDALE — US Rep. Adam B. Schiff and more work. He is vertically integrated. boys and candle bearers — the whole City Council member (and former Glendale “If Chris Soghoian points out a technology-related privacy problem, then it entourage. It went off like a charm. Mayor) Rafi Manoukian will be the guests of should probably be taken seriously,” says Marcia Hofmann, a senior staff attorney My thoughts go back to the 1958 papal honor as the Armenian Bar Association at San Francisco-based Electronic Frontier Foundation, which tackles free speech conclave in Rome following the death of (ArmenBar) hosts a reception at the Phoenicia and privacy issues. “Nobody else is doing what Chris does — at least not at his Pius XII. Agagianian was on the verge of Restaurant on Thursday, February 23. level.” being elected to the highest post in the ArmenBar’s vice chairman, dean of the Peoples Consider Gmail. Everything you send and receive through Google’s email Catholic Church. He received a large num - College of Law and member of the Glendale servers is automatically encrypted using secure sockets layer, or SSL, which is indi - ber of votes from the College of Cardinals, Civil Service Commission, Garo Ghazarian, will cated by the letters https at the beginning of a gmail URL. It wasn’t always so. eventually approaching the majority need - preside as master of ceremonies. Google used to keep SSL off by default; it can slow things down a bit. It was left ed for election. This was confirmed by the “Both Congressman Schiff and Councilman to users to figure out how to opt in for extra security. elected pope himself, Pope John XXIII. Manoukian have had long and distinguished Soghoian interned at Google in the summer of 2006 and says that, like many In a talk at the Armenian College in careers in public service,” said Edvin Minassian, Google employees, he was issued an encrypted laptop. He found it unacceptable Rome, three months after the conclave, chairman of ArmenBar. “We look forward to that the company wasn’t offering the same level of protection to the public. So the new pope admitted that his name and celebrating their exemplary careers in service three years later, when a fellowship at Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet & that of Agagianian’s “went up and down to nation and community at the upcoming din - Society gave him access to free legal counsel and contacts to numerous tech-world like two chickpeas in boiling water” ner and reception.” leaders, he persuaded 36 of them, including Ronald Rivest (the R in RSA encryp - before he finally got elected on the 11th Schiff has served in Congress since 2001, rep - tion algorithm) to sign an open letter urging Google to make SSL the default. He ballot with the two-thirds vote required. resenting Glendale and surrounding communi - sent the letter to reporters and to then Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Thousands who gathered outside St. ties. Schiff is a member of the House Soghoian won’t claim direct credit, and Google won’t give it (or deny it). But Peter’s Basilica in Rome that October 28 Appropriations Committee and a senior mem - hours after the letter was published, Google changed its position, claiming that it had laid witness to a smokestack ritual. At ber of the House Intelligence Committee. had been planning to make SSL the default for Gmail. Seven months later, it did one interval when the smoke changed During his years in the House, Schiff has been so. “All of the privacy lawyers at the big Internet companies now have Chris on from black to white, a new pope had been an unflagging voice in support of the interests their radar,” says Caspar Bowden, a former Microsoft executive who recently mod - elected, thought to be the Armenian car - of the Armenian people. He was a prime mover erated a panel on privacy organized by Soghoian. “He has a natural talent for dinal. Before the celebration began, the of House Resolution 106 in 2007, an act recog - bringing issues to a head, making real changes to corporate and government poli - smoke reverted to black. nizing the Armenian Genocide, and remained cies, and communicating the issues to the wider public. Organizations will proba - Had Agagianian been elected but so in the face of intense Turkish government bly feel bruised by the encounter but will realize in time they have been moved to declined the post? We’ll never know. pressure to have that legislative effort quashed. a better place. Few people can do that, and Chris is a rare example of a genuine - Our paths would cross again two years Before his election to national office, Schiff ly strategic activist.” later at the Mkhitarist Monastery in served a four-year term in the California State see SECURITY, page 7 Vienna where I was sent to pursue my Senate, chairing that body’s Judiciary see CARDINAL, page 6 see ARMENBAR, page 9 6 S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Cultural Life inside the AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian School

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — The Armenian Man,” accompanied by Armenian classical The next event was a visit to the school by General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Alex and music. The play was bilingually adapted by historian Dr. George Bournoutian on December Marie Manoogian School, as a Central Michigan Sebouh Avedikian, head of the school’s 2, 2011. Bournoutian was in Michigan, having University mandated charter school, began the Armenian department. been invited by several community organiza - 2011-2012 academic year with extracurricular In the afternoon, the middle and high school tions to present his latest work, an English activities and guest visits. Due to its high acad - students gathered in the main hall. The festivi - translation of a Russian statistical account of emic standards and its 97-percent university ties began with “The Birth of Vahakn” and the population of Karabagh in 1823. admittance rate, the reputation of the school is music from Aram Khachaturian’s “Gayane” bal - In the presence of Torossian, Avedikian and expanding rapidly within Armenian and non- let, followed by opening remarks in English and high school head teacher Judith Kadri, the Armenian circles. Armenian, as well as by recitations from Paruyr 11th- and 12th-grade students greeted the The school administration, composed of Sevag and Sayat-Nova, interspersed with music. scholar, whose two-volume history of the Dyana Kezelian, principal of the elementary and Then the students proudly watched scenes from Armenians they use as a textbook. Bournoutian middle school, and Dr. Hosep Torossian, princi - the military parade held on September 21, reflected upon the present and past history of pal of the high school, encourage and support 2011, on Republic Square in Yerevan. After the Karabagh. He presented his evidence which extracurricular and Armenian undertakings, showing of a video by sisters Inga and Anush, undeniably proves that 95 percent of the popu - From left, Dr. Hosep Torossian, Dr. George ensuring a high quality of Armenian education. Edmond Azadian, vice chairman of the lation of Karabagh in 1823, as well as in 1923, Bournoutian and Sebouh Avedikian The first to kick off the new school year took Manoogian School Board of Education, was was composed of Armenians. After his brief lec - place on October 27, 2011, with a commemo - invited to the podium as the keynote speaker. ture, Bournoutian answered students’ ques - ration of the Republic of Armenia’s 20th Because of his public and political involve - tions. He congratulated the school principal film, based on the experiences of her own anniversary and a celebration of Armenian cul - ment, Azadian has been an eyewitness and par - and the Armenian department teachers for grandmother during the Armenian Genocide. ture. The elementary students glorified ticipant of the process and development of inde - developing such well-informed and well-round - Torossian offered closing remarks, thanking Armenia and Armenian culture with recitations pendence in Armenia. The festivities ended with ed students. Khardalian for this film and pointing out the and songs. With great anticipation, students a medley of Armenian poems presented by mid - Afterward, Bournoutian toured the school need for more documentary films as the cen - watched a performance by the fifth-grade class dle and high school students under the direc - and visited classrooms. He expressed his delight tennial of the Genocide approaches. of Hovhannes Toumanian’s tale, “The Foolish tion of Anahit Toumajan. having witnessed the sound success of the Lastly, on December 9, 2011, the seniors, school. accompanied by their teachers, Avedikian and The next event took place on December 7, Robert Maul, along with art teacher, Nicole 2011. That day, Suzanne Khardalian, filmmaker Gouaiana, visited the Detroit Institute of Arts, to and screenwriter of the documentary film, enjoy an exhibition of the works of Rembrandt, The Armenian Cardinal and His Servant “Grandma’s Tattoos,” was invited to the school. devoted to different aspects of the Bible. She was visiting Michigan thanks to an invita - At the school’s Christmas party held to honor tion from the Armenian Research Center at the the faculty, school board members and friends, University of Michigan-Dearborn. the principals stressed the fact that the school High school students were invited to the is, first and foremost, indebted to its founders main hall, where, after Avedikian’s opening and benefactors, Alex and Marie Manoogian, as remarks, they watched the documentary with well as to their children, Richard and Louise, great interest and asked several questions. through whose material and moral support the Khardalian related in detail about the inspira - excellent standard of education continues at tion and motivation behind the making of this the school.

GF UiNrEaRgAoL sHiaOMn E James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC Funeral Counselor Cardinal Agagianian at the Mkhitarist Monastery in 1958, surrounded by elite clergy of his day 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 including Archbishop Mesrop Habozian, left, Abbott General of the Motherhouse www.giragosianfuneralhome.com

CARDINAL, from page 5 At least a half a dozen priests accompanied studies. Every morning for one year, the first the cardinal at Mass that day with me below call to duty was serving the Abbott General of this time as the altar in Vienna sparkled like this vank — Archbishop Mesrop Habozian. never before. He remembered me from 1951 ENNIS M. EVENEY & ONS And then history repeated itself. during his visit to Holy Cross Church. “The son D D S “The cardinal will be visiting us next week of a priest,” he had smiled. Cemetery Monuments and we would like you on the altar,” the abbot He stuck around the vank for a few days after general proposed. “You may have met him in that. We even got to play a game of chess dur - Specializing in Cambridge.” ing a rare moment of leisure. I didn’t stand a Armenian Designs and Lettering An old acquaintance renewed. I was psyched. chance nor did I want to. He could have been I remembered the beard, the feisty personality, the next Pope in Rome — the first Armenian 701 Moody St. Waltham, MA 02543 this passionate disciple of Christ. But most of elected to such a pontifical seat. all, I remembered the twinkle in his eye. If there Agagianian died in Rome in 1971 as the most (781) 891-9876 www.NEMonuments.com was any haughtiness in his presence, it didn’t celebrated Armenian Catholic in history. And I show. was proud to be his servant. Telephone (617) 924-7400 OBITUARY Aram Bedrosian Richard S. Serabian Funeral Home, Inc. HAVERHILL, Mass. — Richard Serabian, 70, which provided opportunities to those in need. died on Saturday, January 28. He was actively involved with the church, Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 He was born in Haverhill on October 14, 1941, serving in various organizations as Parish the son of Charles and Beatrice (Mantarian) Council member, council chairman and advisor. MARION BEDROSIAN Serabian. He was on the building and finance committees 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN He was a graduate of Haverhill High School for the current church project. WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN and received his bachelor’s and master’s He was a Red Sox and Patriots fan, having degrees in business administration from Suffolk their schedules well planned in advance. He University. also played for different softball teams while at While at Suffolk and throughout his profes - Textron-Avco and the Haverhill City Leagues. Edward D. Jamakordzian, Jr. d/b/a sional career, he was a member of the Delta He is survived by his brother, Robert, and Sigma Pi accounting fraternity. other family members, in addition to cousins in After graduation, he worked for various cer - Boston, New York and Providence. tified public accounting firms, before beginning In recognition of his many years of dedication Edward D. Jamie, Jr. a 30-year career as an internal staff auditor with to his church and the Armenian community, the the US Defense Contract Audit Agency. wake was held in the Armenian Church at Hye LicensedFinuNneweYrorak landCNhewaJperseey l Serabian was a longtime resident of Haverhill Pointe, St. Gregory’s church sanctuary. 208-17 Northern Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361 and a parishioner of the Armenian Church at Memorial contributions in his memory may Service any hour, Hye Pointe, St. Gregory’s in Haverhill. In addi - be made to: The Armenian Church at Hye any distance (718) 224-2390 or toll tion, he was involved in a number of religious, Pointe Building Fund, PO 8069, Ward Hill MA free (888) 224-6088 charitable and educational organizations, 01835. S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS AGBU to Phase out School Activity in Toronto Resources to Be Redirected toward Endowment in the Name of Taniel and Alice Zaroukian

NEW YORK — The AGBU Central Board of university post-graduate candidates of demic program based on state standards with Directors decided to relinquish its school activ - Directors announced this week that it will Armenian descent starting with the academic teaching and cultural ity in Toronto and phase it out at the end of phase out the operation of its Zaroukian year 2015, to memorialize the dedication of experiences in a small school setting. the current 2011-2012 school year. School in Toronto by the end of the current Taniel and Alice Zaroukian and their support Over the past five years, in spite of the tar - AGBU will divert its financial resources to school year. for AGBU’s educational and cultural initia - geted efforts of AGBU’s Education strengthening its cultural and youth programs The AGBU Central Board concurrently tives. The Central Board is confident that this Department in collaboration with the school in Toronto and to encouraging participation in announced the establishment of a major new initiative will help many aspiring young board at maintaining a strong academic pro - its many activities, such as its Armenia-based endowment in the name of Taniel and Alice and talented college graduates and university gram and sound instructional practices, programs that provide internships and strong Zaroukian, in recognition of their substantial students achieve their goals and aspirations through administrative and faculty changes, bonding opportunities through camps, work- gift to AGBU and their past generosity in con - through generous tuition assistance and fel - teacher development initiatives and better and-study experiences and excursions that structing the Taniel and Alice Zaroukian lowships. communication with the parents and the com - combine social service initiatives, in addition School and donating it to the AGBU. The AGBU elementary school of Toronto, munity, enrollment has steadily declined and to the online multilingual Armenian language, Through this new endowment, AGBU will named after Daniel and Alice Zaroukian, was has reached a point where it is now prohibitive history and cultural resources provided provide scholarships annually to college grad - established in 1985 and for the past 27 years to the sustenance of an optimal learning envi - through the Armenian Virtual College, by sub - uate and/or university undergraduate and has offered a curriculum that combines an aca - ronment. Consequently, the Central Board of sidizing their expenses. The Pest Who Shames Companies into Fixing Security Flaws

SECURITY, from page 5 FBI’s no-fly list in 10 easy steps. you could use your original boarding pass with and he has an ongoing suit against the The impression that Soghoian is trying to the fake name, which, when scanned, wouldn’t Department of Justice for its refusal to hand become a Ralph Nader for the Internet age is Soghoian’s Targets come up as a no-flier. over 600 pages of documents related to the only strengthened by his personal style — rum - Over the past five years, the technology Soghoian spread the word to the media — FBI’s use of GPS tracking. pled, alternately charming and grumpy, as activist has delighted in publicizing the ques - including Wired.com — and the workaround Last spring, he and some friends discovered a righteous as he is intelligent. He is notoriously tionable practices of powerful organizations. quickly made headlines. On October 27, US flaw in the privacy policy of Dropbox, the cloud frugal; he bikes everywhere, and he lives in a •TSA: In October 2006, Soghoian revealed a Rep. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat service that allows users to sync files across basement room of a Washington, DC house he TSA security breach by publishing a method for who was then a senior member of the House multiple devices. The company failed to disclose shares with four roommates. printing fake boarding passes, which earned Committee on Homeland Security, called for that it had a back door into that data. Soghoian And he talks. A lot. With a slight British him an FBI apartment raid. The TSA began to the arrest of whoever was responsible. When wrote a blog post about the flaw. “The response accent — the product of a childhood spent in close the loophole the following June. the FBI showed up, Soghoian asked the agents from the tech community and paying users was London — he speaks in 1,000-word bursts with •Firefox: In 2009, he created TACO, a securi - to wait a moment, went to his computer, and instant and vicious,” he says. Dropbox subse - nary a pause. Whether he is talking to staffers ty plug-in for Firefox that enables users to opt posted a quick note to his blog — “FBI are at quently updated its privacy policy, disclosing its on the Hill, presenting at conferences or giving out of targeted advertising. the door. Off to chat.” — then told them to come access to data stored on its servers. (The com - interviews, he is direct, confident, focused and •Google: Soghoian published an open letter to back with a warrant. They did. “Having my own pany declined to comment for this article.) unwavering. “I can walk into a room and Google, in June 2009, calling for automatic computer seized by the FBI turned what had A few weeks later, he received an email from explain how a cookie works or how geolocation encryption for Gmail users. Seven months later, been an academic interest in privacy into some - an employee at the PR giant Burson-Marsteller tracking works or how encryption works or Google made encryption the default. The follow - thing that directly impacted my life,” Soghoian offering to help him write and publish a smear why data retention is a bad idea,” he says. “This ing year, he filed an FTC complaint against the says. “I saw firsthand how a massive govern - piece about Google’s privacy policy. The effort is what I’m good at.” company for providing search info to third parties. ment agency can, in my opinion, abuse its was being funded by an unnamed client. Soghoian was born in San Francisco in 1981, •Sprint Nextel: While working for the FTC in power to go after a critic of government poli - Soghoian refused. Instead, he posted the his mother a social worker and his father a jazz the fall of 2009, Soghoian secretly recorded a cies. That one experience made it very easy to exchange online and tweeted about it. The musician and computer engineer. When Sprint Nextel executive admitting that his com - see the government as an adversary, against media picked it up, and Dan Lyons of The Daily Soghoian was 1, the family moved to London, pany gave user data to law enforcement some 8 which I continue to fight.” Beast determined that the client was Facebook, where his father had a job as a computer engi - million times in one year. The recording was fea - But Soghoian is not against fighting from which quickly found itself engulfed in a storm neer. tured on “The Colbert Report” (punch line: within the system. Once Markey realized the of bad publicity. He has been using computers for as long as “Can you hear me hear you now?”). The follow - perpetrator was a graduate student who stud - In June, Soghoian persuaded AT&T to he can remember. When Soghoian was 11, he ing year, a Ninth Circuit Court judge cited the ied security, he backed down and even suggest - require customers to always enter a password to persuaded his headmaster to sign paperwork Sprint recording in a decision about how ed that the Department of Homeland Security access voicemail, a policy that leaves users less that let him head over to King’s College Fourth Amendment protections relate to GPS give Soghoian a job “showing public officials vulnerable to phone hacking. He has been London computer lab, where he used email, tracking. how easily our security can be compromised.” pressing T-Mobile and Sprint to do the same. jumped into Usenet groups and explored the •Telecoms: In December 2009, Soghoian DHS passed, but three years later, the Federal After the Murdoch empire’s News of the World nascent World Wide Web. As a teen, he took released a list of the prices companies charge Trade Commission’s (FTC) Division of Privacy phone scandal blew up last summer, Soghoian evening classes in computer science at a com - the government for handing over private data. and Identity Protection recruited Soghoian as a appeared on NPR, explaining how phone-spoof - munity college. He finished high school at 16 This past July, he went on NPR to explain staff technologist. “They didn’t have anyone ing technology allowed reporters to access and went to James Madison University in phone spoofing and voicemail hacking. He later doing this,” Soghoian says. “That’s the equiva - voicemail illegally. The next night, he broke into Virginia to study computer science. There he appeared on “CBS Evening News” and demon - lent of the EPA not having any environmental his own voicemail on the “CBS Evening News” talked his way into a few graduate-level securi - strated the technique by breaking into his own scientists on staff.” in front of 5.5 million viewers. ty classes, which piqued his interest in the field. voicemail. His first act at the FTC was to refuse to sub - Soghoian’s financial situation improved in In 2006, Soghoian enrolled in the PhD pro - •Federal government: Soghoian coauthored mit to the required background check. “I August when he began a George Soros Open gram at Indiana University Bloomington’s a paper, published in March, that explains how shouldn’t have to sacrifice my own privacy to Society Foundations fellowship, which gives School of Informatics and Computing. During governments are able to spy on allegedly secure protect consumers,” he says. The FTC brought him a high-five-figure stipend and a research the late summer of that year, the 25-year-old websites; for example, a federal agency could him in anyway to, in his words, “add technical assistant. His fellowship project is a website was en route to Indianapolis from that most use a surveillance device from the likes of weight to their privacy-enforcement team and to called PrivacyReports.org, which will grade tele - public of venues, the Burning Man festival in Arizona-based Packet Forensics to route around help them find new cases.” Emboldened by his com and ISP privacy practices for the layper - Nevada, when privacy became a much more per - encryption software. new position, Soghoian attended the October son. Search engines, email providers, cell phone sonal issue. At the airport in Reno, •Dropbox: In April, he blogged about 2009 Intelligence Support Systems World con - companies, online backup services — Soghoian Transportation Security Administration agents Dropbox’s backdoor access to user data. Two ference, a sort of South by Southwest for secu - will break down each company’s level of securi - told him he couldn’t take his Middle Eastern days later, Dropbox clarifies its terms of service. rity wonks — cops, intelligence-gathering ty and privacy protections. “Visitors will be able lunch through security. He wrote about it on •Facebook: He helped expose Facebook as experts, surveillance-tech vendors and telecom to know how long providers are retaining their his security-themed blog, Slight Paranoia. the unnamed entity behind a PR campaign in brass who gather to discuss everything from text messages and whether they provide law Them: You can’t take these on board. They’re May to push negative stories about Google’s pri - the Patriot Act to the latest spyware. It is enforcement easy access to your location data,” liquids. vacy policy. known informally as the Wiretapper’s Ball. he says. “People have a right to know what com - Me: No. They’re solid foods. The hummous is •AT&T: In June, Soghoian persuaded AT&T When Soghoian’s contract came up in panies aren’t telling them. My hope is that after more of a paste than a liquid. to require passwords for user voicemail August 2010, the FTC chose not to renew it. a year, once I have the data up and it’s proving Them: You can’t take it through. accessed from their own phones. Soghoian claims his boss’s boss told him the to be useful, I can give it to the ACLU or some - Me: I realize that hummous and Al Qaeda “TSA doesn’t have access to the airline’s com - conference stunt was the reason. (The FTC one like that to run.” come from the same part of the world, but, well, puter systems,” he wrote. “Thus, they have no wouldn’t confirm this.) And then? Soghoian says that under the right so does algebra. real way of knowing if a boarding pass is real or Regardless, Soghoian says going to the con - circumstances he would consider another gov - Soghoian was pulled aside for a thorough not. All they can do is verify that the name on ference was worth it. “I shaved for the first time ernment job — ideally for the Privacy and Civil search. the piece of paper (which may or may not be a in several years and put on a cheap suit,” he Liberties Oversight Board, which advises the Once he got back to Bloomington, Soghoian boarding pass) matches the ID they have been says. “I felt like a secret agent, infiltrating the White House on matters of individual privacy. set about exposing what he saw as the absurdi - given.” In other words, if you were on the no-fly enemy’s HQ. It was easily the most creepy yet It has been inactive since 2008. “I don’t want ty of TSA procedures. He devoured papers on list, all you had to do was buy an e-ticket under exciting place I’ve ever been.” security clearance,” he says. “I don’t need a airline security, looking for loopholes and back a fake name and save it as HTML. You could After leaving the FTC, Soghoian went back to staff. I just want to be an ombudsman, with an doors. Then he realized he could make his point then go into the HTML code and replace the living off his savings, a graduate stipend and office and letterhead and access to lawyers and simply by altering a Northwest Airlines e-ticket fake name with your real one, print the ticket, income from a fellowship and consulting work. a fax machine. I know it’ll never happen. he had on his PC from a recent flight. The and present it and your ID at security, which And he has found plenty of opportunities to They’re not going to want someone who has a October 18 blog post he wrote about it, titled has no computers to check the no-fly list or con - continue his privacy crusade. He files up to four track record of speaking truth to power using “Paging Osama, please meet your party at the firm that the name on the ticket matches airline Freedom of Information Act requests each their soapbox to point out their flaws. But that information desk,” explained how to bypass the records. At the gate, where ID is not required, week, an arcane task that he says delights him, would be an ideal gig.” 8 S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Prolific Young Scholar on Armenian Genocide in Holland

SCHOLAR, from page 1 Üngör revealed that one of the cases he was I met Ms. Haygan Mardikyan at a Genocide context helps show that a search for the docu - Üngör studied at the Universities of Groningen, thinking about before the book was published commemoration in Holland. She is the grand - ment proving “intent” is fruitless as no such Utrecht, Toronto and Amsterdam. After obtain - was that of Ukrainian-Polish relations. In 1994 daughter of the late Hayganas Cordikoglu document exists in any genocide, while “what ing his master’s degree in 2005 at the latter uni - scholars from the two nations convened a con - (Djordikian), a woman from the Erzincan village makes the Armenian genocide genocidal is sim - versity he continued his studies until defending ference to discuss the violence openly, but the of Zimara (which is in our documentary), who ply that Ottoman Armenians were targeted for his doctorate there in 2009. He lectured at the problem is the much greater asymmetry in vio - survived the Genocide and passed away a few an abstract category of group identity: all University of Sheffield in England from 2008-09 lence in the Turkish-Armenian case. However, years ago. Haygan was the first ‘Yerznkatsi’ Armenians, loyal or disloyal, secular or reli - and served as a post-doctoral research fellow at Üngör continued, “My views on this changed Armenian I ever met, and it felt like looking into gious, rural or urban, working class or intelli - the Centre for War Studies of University after Confiscation and Destruction , which was a mirror: she talked, gesticulated, and cooked gentsia, were deported and massacred.” College Dublin (Ireland) from 2009 to 2010. a deeply frustrating and depressing book to just like any Erzincan woman in my family. It Furthermore, genocide is more than just mass According to a September 17, 2009 interview write. Perhaps for the first time ever, the enor - sounds naïve and obvious, but back then it felt murder: “It is a delusional attempt to destroy a with Vahram Emiyan published in the Beirut mity of the crime became apparent to me. like a revelation to me. It also conjured ques - hated collective identity, for example through Armenian newspaper Aztag , Üngör was led to When I finished writing, I was convinced that tions: why were these people, who were so sim - destruction of material culture (long after the his interest in the Armenian Genocide by read - the injustice was of such magnitude that it ilar to us, excluded from this society?” victims are dead), and forced identity change ing about the Holocaust, and in particular, a would be impossible to reverse or repair. In His family background helped provide him (such as conversion to Islam, or change of place book by Yehuda Bauer, Rethinking the essence, this is the nature of genocide: irre - with useful linguistic skills. Üngör speaks sev - names).” Holocaust . Bauer made comparisons with versible and irredeemable destruction.” eral Western languages and of course knows Making his work on Armenians, Kurds and other genocides, including the Armenian one. Turkish and Kurdish reactions to Üngör’s Turkish fluently. Furthermore, he said, “I con - Turks accessible to people of other back - Despite his own family origins in the same books, ranging “between vitriol and praise,” sider both Zazaki and Kurmanci mother grounds has been a challenge. At present, he region as this genocide, Üngör said, “I had have on the average been “ambivalent.” Üngör tongues because both languages are spoken in said, “I teach mostly middle-class Dutch stu - never heard about such an event and it sparked explained: “Nationalist Turks have placed me my family, though my Zazaki is better than my dents who come from similar backgrounds and my curiosity. When I did my research, I was firmly on their treachery radar and have threat - Kurmanci.” have hardly heard of Armenians, let alone their amazed by the difference between the denial of ened me in various ways, whereas liberal Turks Üngör has made an effort to learn the history. They struggle trying to imagine and official histories in Turkey versus what the ordi - have encouraged and praised me for their own Armenian alphabet and can understand a little make sense of a society 100 years and 4,000 nary population in Eastern Turkey knew about reasons. Nothing surprising there, but some conversationally. However, he is not yet able to kilometers away. In the UK the problem was the Genocide. I traveled around Eastern Turkey reactions have surprised me. Some family mem - use it for research and relied on friends and col - comparable, but with in-depth reading and plen - and did many interviews with old people, who bers have attacked me without having read a leagues for access to Armenian sources. He ty visual material in an intensive history course openly spoke about the Armenians as having single sentence from any of my publications. added that “In principle, I am very motivated to the kids could reach a reasonably high level of been massacred by the government.” But then, some Turks have contacted me pri - learn Armenian, but whether I actually will sophisticated knowledge.” It is not all that In 2007 Üngör published his first book, vately and explained that they grew up with sto - depends on future research plans, which in turn much different in broader historical circles, as Vervolging, Onteigening en Vernietiging: De ries from the Genocide. Since I never lived in depends on employment opportunities.” the Armenian Genocide has only very recently Deportatie van Ottomaanse Armeniërs tijdens Turkey, do not have a degree specifically in Üngör’s ability to study the region is begun to be integrated into broader histories de Eerste Wereldoorlog , a short volume in Turkish history and therefore do not consider enhanced, he feels, by a combination of inside such as those of World War I. Dutch which provides an overview of the myself a ‘Turkologist,’ I am rather unknown in knowledge and a certain degree of personal Üngör was featured in a documentary which Armenian Genocide. It also includes a sociolog - and isolated from the Turkish academic com - detachment or distance which can add objec - aired on Dutch public television on April 24, ical analysis of identity conflict. In the munity. That might change because my books tivity: “I often characterize myself as a ‘local 2008 called “The Country of Our Armenian-Turkish conflict, as Üngör later sum - are currently being translated into Turkish.” outsider’: I was born in Turkey but raised in the Grandparents,” in which he and Armenian sce - marized, “Armenians want to remember a his - nario writer Alexander Geokjian (also co-direc - tory that Turks want to forget.” Since their tor of this film) travel together to the sites of “constructed memories are a prime component their respective ancestors’ origins in Turkey. of group identity, both Armenians and Turks Geokjian’s family was originally from Sis or experience any deviation from that memory as Kozan in Cilicia. The film was awarded the prize a direct attack on their very identity. For Turks of Best Documentary by the Pomegranate Film most of this also relates to a guilty conscience, Festival in Toronto in 2008. a so-called ‘perpetrator trauma’: facing the full Üngör himself would “love to make” a docu - reality of the genocide is simply too painful and mentary using oral histories of ordinary people shameful.” in Turkey who are children or grandchildren of A few years later, Üngör published his doc - eyewitnesses to the Armenian Genocide. He toral thesis as The Making of Modern Turkey: already has conducted many such interviews in Nation and State in Eastern Anatolia, 1913- 2002 and 2004-7, and may also write an article 1950 (Oxford University Press, 2011). Here he based on them. He points out that “Elderly examined the process of social engineering the Turks and Kurds often remember vivid anec - Young Turks and their Republican successors dotes from family members or villagers who had engaged in to unsuccessfully create a homoge - witnessed or even participated in the mas - neous Turkey, including the use of mass vio - sacres.” He does not have the resources himself lence and genocide against Armenians and to transcribe and publish these interviews and Kurds. Üngör focused on events in the province others but he feels that this would be a great of Diyarbekir to illustrate the process of state project to launch with the goal of publishing in and nation formation. He used Turkish and 2015. Its value, he said, is that “it would Western sources, along with some Armenian Ugur Üngör in Yerevan at the Armenian Genocide memorial undoubtedly prove that there is a clash between works in translation, and conducted oral histo - official state memory and popular social memo - ry interviews of people originally from ry: the Turkish government is denying a geno - Diyarbekir. His thesis won a number of Dutch Armenians, on the other hand, have general - Netherlands. My background facilitated the cide that its own population remembers.” prizes in 2010 and 2011. ly welcomed and supported Üngör’s research. research a lot. My family provided the personal Üngör is currently occupied with a variety of His most recent volume, Confiscation and Most of the emails he has received have been contacts I used to delve deep into the local new projects. He is writing a comparison of the Destruction: The Young Turk Seizure of from interested Armenian readers, though the memories. Being educated abroad then provid - Armenian Genocide with the Soviet deporta - Armenian Property (London: Continuum, situation changes when he critically tackles his - ed me with a sense of immunity from the dense tion of Chechens and Crimean Tatars in 1944, 2011), was cowritten with Mehmet Polatel. It torical taboos or national myths. Üngör said, moral and political field in which most of this as the study of the former can also help us examines how Turkish economic nationalism “Some nationalist Armenians find that unset - research is embedded.” understand the nature of deportations, or led to the confiscation of Armenian wealth and tling and question why a ‘Turk’ should be dig - He has evaluated the strengths and weak - “forced migration.” Having already published property, and how the proceeds were distrib - ging around in ‘their’ history. At those nesses of the state of Armenian Genocide stud - an article on Kurdish collaboration in the uted. Again, general conditions are illustrated moments, suspicion can take over about my ies in a number of places, including a chapter in Genocide and already having used new Kurdish with detailed provincial studies, in this case of intentions and loyalties.” New Directions in Genocide Research materials, he is curious to learn more about Adana in addition to Diyarbekir. The role of Üngör’s research has been facilitated by his ((http://www.routledge.com/books/details/97 what the Kurdish intelligentsia wrote about in local elites and their relationship with the cen - background. His family members were largely 80415495974/). While he feels that the “dedi - this period. He is working with a close friend on tral authorities, and the participation of ordi - peasants from village south of the town of cation of its scholars, the quantity and quality authoring the history of the Kurdophone nary Turks in the plunder and distribution are Erzincan. He can trace his family back five gen - of Armenian memoirs, and the relatively well- Shirnak Armenians, who survived due to the shown. erations. He feels that “the regional culture of researched and well-documented international protection of a major Kurdish tribe of that Üngör explained to the Mirror how he ended Erzincan, i.e. Anatolian peasant/village life, has context” are its strong points, Ottoman opera - region. up doing a collaborative work: “I got in touch strongly affected my childhood (think Balakian tive documents, a thorough analysis of the As far as upcoming books go, Üngör is shift - with Mehmet when I was in Istanbul one sum - growing up in Diyarbekir Armenian culture). workings of the Young Turk regime from 1913- ing to larger-scale studies, such as a book on mer and heard he had written a master’s thesis And that culture overlaps significantly with 18, and local or regional histories showing how genocidal violence in the Hapsburg, Ottoman on the spoliation of Armenian property. Ottoman Armenian culture, which I consider genocide was perpetrated by ordinary soldiers, and Russian Empires. Üngör said, “Currently Coincidentally, I was sitting on a chapter on my own as well.” gendarmes and others are lacking. Üngör is I’m broadening my intellectual horizon. So far Armenian property I had wanted to include in Historically, Üngör said, “Armenians, Turks convinced that an exploration of the Ottoman my research and teaching have focused on my PhD thesis, but the text had become too and Kurds lived in ethnically mixed villages land registry archives (Tapu Kadastro), the mil - nation formation and ethnic conflict during the long for a book chapter. So I contacted him and whose names I used to hear in the family.” itary archives (ATASE), the General Security dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, including we sat down to discuss possible collaboration. It Culturally, he was brought into contact with the Directorate (Emniyet-i Umumiye Müdüriyeti) of the Armenian Genocide. I would still like to turned out we could easily forge the two texts Armenians of Erzincan through the literary both the Ottoman and Republican periods and keep one foot anchored in this field, but also into a book, so we did. We are fairly happy with works of Hagop Mntzuri, which were published the Foreign Ministry archives would lead to reach out the other foot to the global problem the final result; Turkish and Spanish transla - in Turkish translation by Aras Publishing major discoveries, yet, he concludes, access will of mass violence in general. After all, I came tions are underway.” House in Istanbul. Üngör came to understand not be freely given in the near future because into Armenian Genocide studies through Üngör and Polatel ended the book on a pes - the similarity between the different peoples of “just as the Turkish government is afraid of its Holocaust studies, and have also worked on simistic note concerning the possibility of a the region even more through his first person - own population’s collective memory, so it is of Rwanda and the Balkans.” He also is in the solution to the issue of restitution, but pointed al encounters with Armenians originating its own archives.” early phase of writing a more general book on to other modern cases as potential guideposts. there. He said, “I had another eye-opener when Placing Armenian Genocide in a comparative mass violence. S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS Genocide Education Project Trains Grant High School Teachers in LA

LOS ANGELES — Teachers at Grant High tor, Sara Cohan, discussed ways of integrat - School in Los Angeles learned how to teach ing the study of Armenian issues into the cur - about the Armenian Genocide at a workshop riculum, as a means of building understand - provided by The Genocide Education Project ing and mutual respect within the diverse stu - on their campus on January 17. dent body, as well as between the teachers Suzanne Douzmanian, GenEd’s Southern and students. California regional coordinator, led the work - The workshop theme was “The Eight shop for Grant’s social studies teachers, Stages of Genocide,” a valuable teaching tool which is part of a series of teacher-training developed by Dr. Gregory Stanton, a past events provided in coordination with the Los president of the International Association of Angeles Unified School District, which has Genocide Scholars. “By using Stanton’s purchased GenEd’s lesson plans and teaching work, teachers and students can better com - From left, Lily Balian, Ambassador Melanne Verveer and Joan Agajanian Quinn materials for all its high school history teach - prehend the intentional and methodical ers. nature of the Armenian Genocide, as well as “Suzanne gave an enthralling and thought all genocides, and can analyze ways of pre - provoking workshop,” said Kevin Kruska, venting genocide in the future,” said Raffi AIWA Representatives Meet with US Grant’s social studies department chair. “I Momjian, GenEd’s executive director. felt like everybody came away from the work - Teachers received a full set of resources on Ambassador Melanne Verveer shop with a greater understanding of geno - the Armenian Genocide produced by GenEd cide and specifically, the Armenian and provided by the Los Angeles Unified LOS ANGELES — At a reception and private viewing of “Women Hold Up Half the Genocide.” School District (LAUSD). Sky,” held at the Skirball Cultural Center, on January 11, Melanne Verveer, US ambas - Grant High School has a substantial The LAUSD is the second largest school sador at large for Women’s Global Issues was honored. The ambassador was presented Armenian student population that has expe - district in the country and has been collabo - with the Jewish World Watch Fifth I Witness Award in recognition of her dedicated ser - rienced tensions with the school’s Latino stu - rating with GenEd over the past eight years vice in pursuing foreign policy issues relating to the political and economic advancement dents. In the weeks leading up to the work - to help fulfill the California state mandate to of women around the world. shop, Kruska and GenEd’s education direc - teach about the Armenian Genocide. Attending the private reception were Joan Agajanian Quinn, the Armenian International Women’s Association (AIWA) representative to the United Nations, and Lily Balian, AIWA Executive Board member. At the recent sixth International Conference of the Armenian International Women’s Association in San Francisco, October 6 – 10, Verveer, at the invitation of Quinn, addressed the women in attendance by video. The ArmenBar to Honor Rep. Schiff, Glendale ambassador in her remarks reported on the huge strides made in Armenia in mobilizing support for women’s rights and economic empowerment through initiatives and pro - City Council Member Rafi Manoukian grams designed to increase women’s and girls’ access to education and health care, to combat violence against women in all its forms and to ensure that women’s rights are fully integrated with human rights in the development of US Foreign Policy. ARMENBAR, from page 5 This event afforded the AIWA representatives the chance to thank Verveer for her par - Committee and Select Committee on Juvenile ticipation in the AIWA conference and to express their thanks and appreciation for her Justice. Prior to assuming his elective duties in efforts on behalf of women throughout the world. Sacramento, Schiff served as a prosecutor in the US Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. He is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School. He and his wife, Eve, have two chil - dren. Manoukian, a certified public accountant (CPA), has directed the Manoukian Accountancy Corporation since 1993. He has served continuously as an elected officer in Glendale city government for the past decade, with duties as mayor in 2002-2003 and 2005- 2006. During his tenure as councilman, Manoukian also served as chairman of the Housing Authority and Redevelopment Agency. Manoukian embodies much of the American dream. As a youngster he and his family emi - grated from war-torn Beirut to the United States. At age 17, he enlisted in the Air Force, serving for four years before honorable dis - charge as a sergeant in 1982. One of his major From left, Rep. Adam B. Schiff and ArmenBar early goals was education. He completed an Executive Director Jacklin Boyadjian associate degree while still in uniform and, two years after discharge, he earned a bachelor’s in economics from California State University at Northridge. He completed his MBA at Cal place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., is the Phoenicia State, Dominguez Hills, in 2004. He and his Restaurant (343 North Central Ave.). Scholarships Available for wife, Zovig, have three children. For further information, visit the ArmenBar Students of Armenian Descent The venue for this event, scheduled to take website at www.armenianbar.org. Having Completed One Year of College by June 2012 Application and other information may be obtained from

Tibrevank Alumni, Inc. Vahan Adjemian Scholarship Fund P.O. Box 14 Palisades Park, NJ 07650 Or www.vahanadjemianscholarship.org Deadline for returning completed applications: From left, Glendale City Council Member Rafi Manoukian, ArmenBar Chairman Edvin Minassian April 30, 2012 and Board member Armen Hovannisian 10 S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Ne w York M E T R O Reception Pays Tribute to Bishop Haigazoun Najarian

Named Pontifical Legate of consecrated an apegha or celibate priest in London in 1975, after graduating from a high Central Europe, Sweden level Kings Theology college in England. Upon his graduation, he served as pastor for three NEW YORK — Recently, a reception was held years of the St. Peter Armenian Church in in honor of Bishop Haigazoun Najarian, who London. In 1981, he returned to Armenia to was recently elevated to this rank and was become the assistant director of Echmiadzin’s appointed pontifical legate of Central Europe Theological Seminary, then he became a and Sweden. vartabed (a higher level of celibate priest) in Najarian has served the Armenian Church for 1983, a few years later, he advanced his rank to more than two decades at the Eastern Diocese of Dzayrakouyn Vartabed and became the direc - the United States. When he was in New York in tor of the theological Seminary. He was invited late December, Hagop Vartivarian, the Tekeyan to New York, in 1994, by Archbishop Torkom Cultural Association of New York and New Manougian, who was the primate of the Jersey chair, and his wife, Maria, hosted a recep - Eastern Diocese at the time, to continue his tion in honor of the newly-appointed bishop. education and fill the position of vicar general, Amongst the notable attendees, were the at the Diocese. He also served parishes in New United States Eastern Diocese Primate; Khajag Jersey, Texas and Pennsylvania. The latter years Barsamian and a few of the Tekeyan Cultural at the US he has held the position of second to Association committee members and friends. the Primate of the Diocese of New York. Najarian attended the Vahan Tekeyan School He has stayed a cordial friend of the TCA and From left, Lucy Ishkhanian, Shoghig Chalian and Hagop Tankian in Beirut and then the Hovagimian-Manougian ADL, upholding his nationalistic religious ser - secondary school. He then immigrated to vice to the Armenian Church. He has always Armenia and graduated from Echmiadzin’s pated at TCA programs and events, in all the tentment, when he was personally present at the encouraged and has been present and partici - Gevorgian Theological Seminar, and he became countries where he has served. Najarian’s elevation to the rank of pontificial The host of the reception, Hagop Vartivarian, legate of Central Europe and Sweden, he noted gave his heartfelt congratulatory speech and the noble, spiritual soul of service that Najarian presented the Primate with a special work of possesses and his qualifications as a religious art that depicted a church in the background, compatriot, endowed with an extensive education by the talented Lebanese-Armenian painter and a loyal servant to the Mother See of Krikor Norigian. Echmiadzin. Archbishop Yeghiché Gizirian and Diocesan Council members Papken Megerian and Dr. Raffy Hovanessian, also expressed their heart - felt congratulations to the newly-appointed bishop, and wishing him success in his religious community endeavors, in Europe, where he will be very much appreciated. Najarian was touched greatly and with great emotion, expressed his appreciation for this inti - mate reception, surrounded by genuine friends, he reminisced and noted some of his special memories from his years of service in America and he thanked Archbishop Khajag Barsamian for his big brotherly advice, that had helped him in the past years and lastly, he specifically From left, Papken Megerian, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian, Bishop thanked Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin for Haigazoun Najarian, Hagop Vartivarian, Dr. Raffy Hovanessian and Dr. Hagop Gulekjian his ordination. Bishop Haigazoun Najarian Barsamian expressed his feeling of great con - Putting Corruption, Human Rights Abuses in Armenia Front and Center at Talk FAIR LAWN, N.J. — On January 27, close to Hakobian a musician, researcher, human rights Yegnukian also suggested that one way for genocide recognition was a false choice; both 300 Armenian-Americans gathered at St. Leon advocate/ trainer from Armenia, who is also Armenia’s youth to gain exposure to democrat - are worthy pursuits. Armenian Church to participate in the first seri - president of Huis (Hope), a human rights NGO; ic perspectives could be through kibbutz-like Vartan Abdo, director of the Armenian Radio ous conversation about the deplorable state of Aram Hamparian, executive director of the models, organized by the government in part - Hour of New Jersey and a vocal advocate on corruption and human rights in Armenia. The Armenian National Committee of America in nership with an organization such as Birthright these issues, made several observations about organizer’s stated purpose was to raise aware - Washington, DC; and Garo Yegnukian, an entre - Armenia. He further proposed that 20,000 the proceedings. “It was a mentally stimulating ness, share information, consider the conse - preneur, business owner, attorney and human Diasporan-Armenian business leaders should and ambitious program which covered a pletho - quences of inaction and begin the process of rights activist from New York who moved to “invade” Armenia with business plans and ra of topics. But due to lack of time, most of the exploring solutions. Armenia two years ago. He is currently a senior investments. This would create an economic topics were not discussed in detail.” The forum, titled “Truth or Consequences: fellow at Policy Forum Armenia. force to be reckoned with and help drive out He also pointed out that, “What sparked the Challenges to Human Rights and Rule of Law in The main theme of Payaslian’s presentation corrupt oligarchs. organization of Truth or Consequences was the Armenia,” was moderated by Arda Haratunian, a was that, in modern history, the Armenian Karen Hakobian began his presentation cit - news of the illegal arrest in Armenia of Nareg strategic communications and crisis manage - nation has had very little experience with the ing the massive depopulation of the country Hartounian. The reaction of the entire diaspora ment professional from New York. In her open - concept or practice of human rights and rule of since independence, mainly due to the to Nareg’s case is a clear barometer of the con - ing comments, she addressed Armenia’s docu - law. This is primarily due to its long history of inequities and corruption that deny opportuni - cern of diasporans of what transpired in mented problems with human rights and the subjugation by imperial powers. Most references ty. Then he presented various cases of egre - Armenia. The diasporans sent a clear message rule of law, but emphasized that it is much easi - to human rights by Armenian intellectuals are in gious human rights abuses, especially within to the oligarchs, patriarchs, matriarchs and oth - er to address a problem than a crisis and that the the context of human rights and liberation from the Armenian military. ers that there is just so much we can accept.” diaspora can and must be aware, engaged and outside powers. In the absence of Armenian Hakobian described how Armenia’s soldiers The discussion ended with an impromptu involved. She pointed to the cornerstones of any statehood, Armenians did not have an opportu - are often compelled to pay for “protection” by message from Saro Hartounian, his brother, democracy: free and transparent elections; a free nity to develop political institutions that could their superior officers. Those who can’t afford it who is also a target of judicial abuses by press; economic opportunity and a functioning promote modern human rights standards. are literally abused or tortured to death and Armenian authorities. He reported that many of judicial system. “Clearly, credible and objective The professor also presented a series of slides then reported as suicides. Some innocent sol - the Hartounian family’s company employees concerns have been raised about all of these in showing various indicators of Armenia’s demo - diers are coerced into confessing to the killings have been threatened and coerced into signing Armenia,” she said. cratic status versus other nations. These rank - and thrown in prison. A group of mothers has false statements about his family’s tax and busi - First up on the podium was the guest speak - ings only underscored the reality of Armenia’s been protesting these injustices for years, gath - ness practices. er, Simon Payaslian, PhD, holder of the Charles dismal human rights standing according to ering every day in front of the government The event was co-sponsored by a diverse K. and Elizabeth M. Kenosian chair in Modern international human rights standards. He also building to raise awareness of their sons’ plight. group of organizations, sending a signal to the Armenian History and Literature at Boston described how the systemic corruption of the The audience was visibly disturbed to learn of community that a public discussion of such University. Payaslian’s presentation, largely Armenian judiciary makes a mockery of the such gross injustices against Armenia’s first-line issues is both vital and urgent. The list includes: based on his new book, The Political Economy nation’s own Constitution. defenders and the wider implications they pose Armenian Bar Association; Armenian of Human Rights in Armenia; Yegnukian focused on how government cor - for national security. Engineers and Scientists Association (ASEA) Of Authoritarianism and Democracy in a Former ruption impacts the business sector and econo - Hamparian made various points and counter - NY/NJ; Armenian Human Rights Advocates; Soviet Republic (I.B.Tauris, 2011), was intend - my, noting that because of corruption in tax, points throughout the evening, among them Armenian National Committee (ANC) OF NJ; ed to create some historical context and per - customs collection and public procurement that for the diaspora to promote human rights Armenian Society of Columbia University; spective from which to launch the panel dis - expenditures, there is a budgetary loss of a and rule of law in Armenia, unity and organiza - Knights of Vartan; New York Armenian cussion and generate audience questions. quarter billion dollars a year. He urged the lead - tion are essential. He also refuted the argument Students Association (ASA); Policy Forum Joining Payaslian as panelists were three indi - ers in the Armenian government to pay more that, given the diaspora’s limited resources, it Armenia; Rutgers Armenian Club; Tekeyan viduals coming from very different experiences than lip service to its anti-corruption stance and must prioritize causes and issues. Hamparian Cultural Association and the Tufenkian and perspectives. They included Karen actively root out the violators. contended that fighting for human rights over Foundation. S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 Ne w York M E T R O A Record Year, with a Deepened Determination to Do More

Najarian reviewed some of the 2011 initia - By Judith Lee tives: AAHPO’s affiliation with the North Hudson Community Action Corporation FAR HILLS, N.J. — Following a year of record (www.nhcac.org) continues to provide medical participation by its members and recognition services to the uninsured and underinsured. from the community, the Armenian American In March, AAHPO approved the AAHPO Health Professionals Association (AAHPO) Continuing Medical Education (CME) program begins 2012 with an even stronger commitment and implemented a program that trains physi - to improve the health of all Armenians, accord - cians from Javakhk and Karabagh how to pro - ing to AAHPO President Lawrence V. Najarian, vide modern medical skills that are critically MD. needed in their home villages (“Help Save Addressing the nonprofit organization’s Lives! Support Continuing Medical Education Annual Meeting in December, Najarian of Doctors in Armenia”). In October 2011, AAHPO held a fund-raising gala that raised enough funds to ensure that the CME program will continue for another year. The relationship with the CME graduates continues through the HyeBridge Telehealth Program, a collaboration between AAHPO and The 2011-2012 AAHPO Board of Directors Armenia Fund USA. Physicians in Armenia con - sult directly with US medical experts through the latest telecommunications technology. reviewed the year’s accomplishments that Annual Meeting, more than 150 celebrated the Fifteen AAHPO members, their spouses and included a medical mission to Armenia, collab - Holiday season with a brunch and program co- families traveled to Armenian in 2011 for the oration on a project that helps save lives in chaired by Knarig Khatchadurian Meyer, PhD, first Medical Mission to Armenia. These AAHPO Armenian villages and recognition as a New and Kim Hekimian, PhD. Everyone enjoyed volunteers visited clinics, treated patients and Jersey Healthcare Hero for initiatives in the tri- piano performances by the Kafafian brothers surveyed the medical systems from rural villages state area. to regional medical centers and “By working together, AAHPO accom - tertiary medical centers. plished more to help our community than at AAHPO videotaped 29 educa - any time in its history. In short, as we enter tional TV shows about common 2012 we are a strong, growing organization medical conditions and broadcast Lawrence V. Najarian, MD, delivering the 2011 that knows it has much more to do,” Najarian them on cable TV. They can be Annual Report to members of the Armenian said. viewed on the AAHPO website American Health Professionals Organization Several dozen AAHPO members in atten - (www.aahpo.org). (AAHPO) dance brought spouses and families to the AAHPO continues its outreach Palisadium in Cliffside Park. Following the via email with important medical information (consumers may sub - scribe to the free service through www.aahpo.org) and now also shares the information through YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Also on its website, AAHPO offers a free directory of Armenian health care providers. After thanking AAHPO mem - bers for their 2011 participation, Najarian noted that most pro - The Kafafian brothers played the piano for 150 AAHPO mem - grams will be continued, includ - bers and their families at a brunch in December. ing the North Hudson alliance, educational TV programs, the email/social media outreach, and Svetlana, Armenian songs by opera singer physician CME in Armenia (“Help Save Lives!”) Anahit Zakarian, Christmas carols and a visit and HyeBridge Telemedicine. from Santa. Some additional programs already being Now in its 17th year, AAHPO was founded by scheduled include a February 17 Mentoring health care professionals determined to Program for College Students and Young improve health care. With a growing member - Professionals of Armenian Descent held in col - ship of 450, AAHPO members represent all health care professions, including physicians, nurses, dentists, nutritionists, psychologists and public health experts. “AAHPO originally was a local organization, and has expanded to become an important international voice,” noted Nabet Kasabian, MD, a urologist and one of AAHPO’s founders. “Yet AAHPO is still committed to the local com - munities. This Board has done a tremendous job of serving Armenians here and in Armenia.” Hekimian is a public health expert who joined the AAHPO Board in 2011: “I was imme - diately impressed with their professionalism and their commitment. The missions of other organizations sometimes get hampered by indi - vidual and political agendas. I have seen none of that with AAHPO — every board member is focused on serving the organization. And what a wonderful group of people to work with.” Najarian also credits the AAHPO Board for recent achievements: “Our volunteer health - care providers, led by a hard-working, selfless board, have been consistent and relentless in Knarig Khatchadurian, PhD, was co-chair of the sharing our knowledge, abilities and resources AAHPO annual brunch, which followed the with our brethren. Our sustained efforts have Annual Meeting. The other co-chair was Kim enabled AAHPO to be more engaged with our Hekimian, PhD. lay and professional communities than ever before.” The expansion of AAHPO outreach programs laboration with the Armenian Engineers and caught the attention of The Healthcare Heroes Scientists of America (for more information, Awards program, which designated AAHPO a email [email protected]). AAHPO will have finalist among organizations that make a sig - a Membership Meeting on March 16. A meeting nificant impact on the quality of health care in with the Armenian Bar Association also is New Jersey. being planned. 12 S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Arts & Living

A Brawl over Andrea Martin in Turkish Press New Cabaret Show COSTA MESA, Calif. — The multi-talented Andrea Martin will bring an entertaining twist Freedom to Segerstrom Center’s popular Cabaret Series, February 16-19, when she performs “Final Days, Everything Must Go,” her hilarious new one-woman show filled with Broadway tunes, By Susanne Fowler outrageous comedy and tales of her life, career and famous Hollywood friends. From “SCTV” on the small screen to “Young Frankenstein” PARIS (New York Times) — A war of words on Broadway to “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” between an American novelist and the prime min - on the movie screen, Martin offers a bounty of ister of Turkey over press freedom is playing out in characters and decades of award-winning per - a befittingly public venue: in newspapers and on formances in this high-octane program. The Web sites. show will feature musical accompanist and You Paul Auster, author of The New York Trilogy Tube sensation, Seth Rudetsky. USA Today and other works, told Rendezvous by telephone calls Martin “a comic genius.” from his studio in Brooklyn on Friday that he had Martin as been seen in more than 20 films told a Turkish journalist that he would not visit including “Breaking Upwards,” “My Big Fat Turkey, nor for that matter, as a way to Greek Wedding,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” protest the jailing of scores of journalists and writ - “All Over the Guy,” “Stepping Out,” “Bogus,” ers there. He was not referring to a specific recent invite, although his Turkish publisher would certainly wel - come him: Dozens of his works have been translat - ed into Turkish and his name resonates with Turkish readers. His newest book, Winter Journal , was published in Turkey months before it was due Boats on the Yarkon estuary, photo from the Kahvedjian Collection to come out in English in the United States. Our colleagues over at the Arts Beat blog report - ed earlier this week Auster’s response to being called “ignorant” by Prime Minister Recep Teyyip Erdogan of Turkey. Finest Photographs of Early Auster, in addition to being a writer, is a member of American PEN, an organization that aims to 20th-Century Palestine fight censorship and defend freedom of expression. Under Erdogan’s leadership, Turkey has made sig - nificant economic strides and has been hailed as a Shuttered in Controversy role model for the Middle East, but it has also been accused of treating independent media harshly. Andrea Martin “I wanted to make the statement,” Auster said Friday, “because not enough people in the West are By Nir Hasson discussing this, the pressure on the press in “Wag the Dog,” “New York Minute,” both the Turkey.” JERUSALEM (Ha’aretz) — On the counter of the original and remake of “Black Christmas” and “Of course in every case, these people are not put small photography shop Photo Elia in the Old City of Family of “Cannibal Girls,” for which she won the Best into jail for what they write,” he said, referring to Jerusalem lies an early 20th century picture of the Armenian Actress Award at SITGES, the international Western Wall, which appears squeezed among the horror film festival of Spain. homes of the Mughrabi Quarter that no longer exists. Refugee and Martin co-starred in the television series To contemporary Israeli eyes, there is something strik - “SCTV” for which she won two Emmy Awards ing about the scene of worshippers: Women and men Photographer for writing and received the Emmy nomination are praying together in public. for best actress. Her additional television cred - Another photograph shows the flight of the German Elia Kahvedjian its include “My Big Fat Greek Life,” in which Zeppelin here in 1931. The gigantic airship hovers in Is Fighting to she reprised her role from the popular film and black and white like a strange UFO above the Old City. numerous movies including the television film In a third picture, large sailboats are seen in the Yarkon Preserve His of “Gypsy.” She is the recipient of three estuary; in a fourth, a European-style clock tower rises American Comedy Award nominations for sev - eral cable specials including her own “Andrea Paul Auster above the Jaffa gate and in a fifth the Kapulsky chain Legacy of cafes is seen in its humble beginnings: a small coffee Martin Together Again,” which also received a wagon with a sign that reads “Kapulsky” at the edge of Jerusalem’s Zion Square. Cable Ace Award nomination for writing. arrested journalists, “but because they are accused The pictures are part of a collection of about 3,000 photographs taken by Elia She has lent her voice to an impressive list of of being terrorists. It’s a very complex business.” Kahvedjian, a refugee of the Armenian Genocide and one of the greatest photogra - animated projects. The latest figures from International PEN, he phers in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 20th century. The pictures, which had Martin has received more Tony and Drama said, showed nearly 100 writers imprisoned in been hidden away for 40 years, were rediscovered 25 years ago and serve to help Desk Award nominations as a featured actress Turkey, “not to speak of independent publishers researchers and aficionados of Jerusalem probe its past. Thus, for example, the in a musical than any other actress for her per - such as Ragip Zarakolu.” architects who reconstructed the Hurva Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter formances in “Young Frankenstein,” Zarakolu, who has described his own detention (destroyed by the “Oklahoma,” “Candide” and “My Favorite as Kafkaesque, was arrested in November, accused Jordanians in 1948 Year,” for which she won both awards as well as of having ties to a group with links to the outlawed and rebuilt in 2010) the Theatre World Award. She was last seen on Kurdistan Workers’ Party. The newspaper Radikal were guided by Broadway opposite Geoffrey Rush and Susan said this week that members of Sweden’s Kahvedjian’s pictures Sarandon in “Exit the King,” for which she Parliament have asked the Nobel committee to — as were the received the Drama Desk Award and Outer nominate Zarakolu for the peace prize. Antiquities Authority Critic Circle Award nominations, and also In boycotting Turkey, Auster unknowingly researchers who starred in the revival of “The Fiddler on the echoed a recent vow Erdogan himself had made. wanted to recon - Roof.” Martin’s off-Broadway theater credits As French lawmakers debated a proposal to out - struct elements of include her one-woman show “Nude, Nude, law denial of the Armenian Genocide last month, the city’s walls and totally Nude,” for which she received a Drama Erdogan was splashed across the Turkish front gates. Desk Award nomination, “One the Town,” for pages saying he’d never visit France again if the law The only certain City Center Encores!, “The Exonerated,” “The were enacted. fact that family mem - Vagina Monologues” and “The Merry Wives of Gypsy women dancing in Jerusalem, photo from the Windsor.” Martin has appeared regionally in Erdogan has not been invited to France. Kahvedjian Collection bers know about But Auster has been invited to Turkey. After the Kahvedjian is that he the “Torch-Bearers,” “A Midsummer Night’s public spat with Erdogan, the opposition leader, was born in the Dream,” “The Matchmaker,” “The Royal Kemal Kilicdaroglu, extended an invitation to region of Urfa in Eastern Turkey. They do not know his date of birth or even his Family” (all at Williamson Theatre Festival). Auster. original name. Eli Kahvedjian, who was named after his grandfather, says that the She also starred in “Betty’s Summer Vacation,” Will he accept? elder Kahvedjian was separated from his mother when he was a young boy, and did for which she received the IRNE and the Elliot “I don’t know what I am going to do,” Auster said not even know his surname. “At an orphanage they asked him what his surname Norton Award for Best Actress, and “The Rose on Friday, his 65th birthday. With previous com - was and he didn’t’ know, so they asked him: ‘What does your father sell in his Tattoo” at the Huntington Theatre Company. mitments, he has no time to go to Turkey this year, see PHOTOGRAPHY, page 14 Tickets for the show featuring Seth Rudetsky he said, “but perhaps some time down the road. are available online at SCFTA.org, at the Box We’ll see.” Office at 600 Town Center Drive. S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 ARTS & LIVING Jazz Sensation Grace Kelly Performs to Benefit Armenian Children

LEXINGTON, Mass. — Grace Kelly is a saxo - The Avedisian School in Malatya-Sepastia, phonist, singer, songwriter and compos - Armenia, was founded by a grant from the fam - er/arranger from here. Having studied saxo - ily of Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian under phone since the age of 10, she is rapidly mak - the stewardship of Edward and Pamela ing her way up in the jazz music world. Avedisian. The first Armenian Evangelical Trumpeter and Jazz at Lincoln Center Artistic School in Armenia, the Avedisian School was Director Wynton Marsalis was so impressed established in an existing building given to the with Kelly’s three-night stand as guest of the Armenian Missionary Association of America Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra that he invit - (AMAA) by the Armenian government. After ed her to join the ensemble at the Kennedy much renovation to the building, the school Center’s Eisenhower Theater in Washington, opened its doors on September 20, 1999, as a DC. Harry Connick Jr. heard Kelly in a master tuition-free kindergarten with 75 students in class on a December afternoon and brought her three classes. on stage to sit in with his band that night. Since Students from economically-disadvantaged then, Kelly has been voted “Best Jazz Act” in homes and some single-parent homes were Boston four consecutive years in the accepted into the school. They were hungry for WFNX/Phoenix Best Music Poll, received the the chance to explore and learn. The Avedisian ASCAP Foundation’s Young Jazz Composer’s School, under the direction of the AMAA, is Award in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011 and won now an educational jewel of Armenia and is “Jazz Artist of the Year” at the Boston Music home to nearly 300 students as well as 56 staff Awards in both 2008 and 2010. The 2009, 2010 members, including 32 teachers. As part of the and 2011 Downbeat Critics Poll added her to curriculum, the school teaches English, the list naming her one of the “Alto Saxophone Russian and French to students in kindergarten Rising Stars,” the youngest ever to be named through ninth grade. In both 2009 and 2010, so. Kelly graduated from the Berklee College of the school’s Russian-language team won first The Grace Kelly Quintet Music in December. prize in Russian language competency, compet - On January 21, the Grace Kelly Quintet per - ing against all schools in Armenia. In 2010, the formed at the National Heritage Museum in school won first place in the countrywide com - School is to bring up the present and future of civic responsibility and cultivates morality by Lexington. The event was a fundraiser for the petition for French-language competency. In Armenian generations in a nurturing environ - awakening the love and desire to learn. Avedisian School in Armenia. In an email to addition, the school and its principal, Melania ment where students receive a well-rounded Because of the school’s exceptional reputa - fans, Kelly explained her support for school chil - Geghamian, received a gold medal in 2004 from education. The school provides this environ - tion in Yerevan as a tuition-free, quality school, dren in Armenia: “Yes, it’s true. I am of Korean the Minister of Education for being the best ment by offering quality education, cultural, there is a long waiting list of families wishing to descent, have an Irish name and Armenian rel - school administration in Armenia. This presti - spiritual and moral training, three nutritious register their children there. atives. Educational opportunities for all is a gious award is given only once every five years. meals each day, summer and winter uniforms A recent engineering report found that the cause I truly believe in.” The primary objective of the Avedisian and health care. The school also instills a sense present school building is structurally unsound This was an extraordinary night with Kelly and cannot be repaired. In addition, the school displaying a prodigiously virtuosic mastery on only teaches up to the ninth grade, leaving the not only the alto sax but the soprano saxo - students to seek the last four years of sec - phone as well. Combine that with an incredible ondary education elsewhere. voice and the reader can have some idea of the The Avedisian family and the AMAA together maturity and depth of her talent. Her vocal style are committed to ensure that young people in is one that includes scat, which alone would Armenia have the opportunity for a quality edu - have been extraordinary, but during one scat cation that will provide a better future for them, segment added an improvised tale on the spot their families and for Armenia. The Avedisian relating to the evening and the Avedisian High family has pledged up to $5 million in matching School. The audience lapped it up and thun - funds to make this dream of building three derous applause greeted her at the end of the buildings, containing kindergarten through number. Grade 12, a reality. Kelly also composes deeply sensitive words The Avedisian School is slated to be the first and feelings in her compositions shown in one LEED Certified Building in all of Armenia of her songs called Eggshells . From there she exemplifying Leadership in Energy and was equally at home in her rendition of Environmental Design. Building and construc - Thelonious Monk’s Round Midnight . She and tion techniques will employ the latest advance - her quintet again brought the house down with ments in solar and energy design systems mak - that old standard Down by the Riverside . ing it both earthquake resistant and less costly It should be noted that the quintet was equal - to operate. ly impressive as the audience was treated to Jeanmarie Papelian, Esq. (chair of AMAA Development Committee), Pamela Avedisian (Avedisian The Hrant Dink Library and Research extended solos by guitar/ bass/ trumpet and School benefactor), saxophonist Grace Kelly and Edward Avedisian (Avedisian School benefactor) Center at the Avedisian School will be the drums. What a night for music it was. repository of an extensive collection of the life and works of Dink. These materials will be available for scholars, students and the public on site as well as digitally worldwide. The cen - ter will be the only one of its kind in Armenia honoring Dink. Sponsor a Teacher in Armenia and Karabagh 2012 Plans are underway for a similar benefit con - cert by Kelly in Philadelphia. The Lexington, Mass. event was organized with the help of the Boston University Armenian Student’s Association, the Avedisian family, Daniel Since its inception in 2001, TCA’s Sponsor Hagopian, Seta Kalajian and Jeanmarie Papelian (who is one of Kelly’s Armenian rela - a Teacher’ program has raised over $518,000 tives). For further information about the AMAA and reached out to 4,064 teachers and ministries, go to www.amaa.org or call the school workers in Armenia and Karabagh. AMAA headquarters.

£

K Yes, I want to sponsor teachers in Armenia and Karabagh to continue helping them to educate the children, our future leaders. I would like to have the teacher’s name and address. K $160 K $ 320 K $ 480 K other $ ————————— Name Address City State Zip code Tel:

Make check payable to: Tekeyan Cultural Association – Memo: Sponsor a Teacher 2010 Mail your check with this form to: TCA Sponsor a Teacher 5326 Valverde, Houston, TX 77056

Your donation is Tax Deductible. 14 S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING Finest Photographs of Early 20th Century Palestine Shuttered in Controversy

PHOTOGRAPHY, from page 12 Israel Defense Forces Square in the center of the the family put the storeroom in order. Eventually that it is possible to buy the book for $225. shop?’ He said ‘coffee’ so they called him city. When the brothers wanted to close up shop the family realized they had a treasure in their The family is especially proud of the quality Kahvedjian,” recalls the grandson, noting that he took out a large loan and bought it. He very hands. The first exhibition of his works was held of the book — the paper was purchased espe - “kahve” means coffee in Turkish. quickly won commercial success. in 1990 at the American Colony Hotel in cially in France and the printing was done “He went with his mother on the death His grandson believes the explanation of this Jerusalem. According to Eli Kahvedjian, “People under their supervision. In recent years, how - march (the Turkish army marched masses of surprising success lies in a certain photograph went wild — they were hungry for this material. ever, cheap imitations — using inexpensive Armenian civilians to desert regions of south - he found a few months ago, in which the grand - We knew it was a success, but we didn’t under - paper and low-quality reproductions — have ern Turkey). “His mother thought his life would father is seen in a group portrait of the stand just how much of a success.” been appearing in souvenir shops and book - be better if she gave him away. By chance, a Jerusalem Order of the Freemasons — a sur - Since then the shop has become a small shops in Jerusalem. “I don’t want to get rich Kurdish man passed by them and agreed to prising discovery to the family. “Clearly some - museum of black and white photographs from from this — it’s part of the family’s history,” says take the child, but sold him as a slave. In his one high up helped him but it’s strange that he the early 20th century in high quality prints. Eli Kahvedjian, “but it hurts me that people are new life Elia was called Abdu and he operated kept this a secret. His relationship with us was Most of the customers are tourists. Beyond disrespectful. With me there are no compro - the bellows for a blacksmith. One day the black - pretty close,” he says with a smile, hinting that their historical and anthropological value, the mises in quality. I give the pictures the respect smith got married again and the new wife did his grandfather had connections with the photos are stunning in their precise composi - they deserve.” not want Elia so he was tion and capture of inspir - Eventually the family sued three shop owners thrown into the street where ing moments and perspec - who refused their demand to stop selling the he lived from begging,” con - tives. For the most part, the pirated book. The defendants tried to argue tinues Eli Kahvedjian. pictures deal with everyday that they had not been involved in the forging “One day a man came up to life: vendors in the market, of the book, but only in its distribution, and did him and offered him food. The shoeshine boys (including a not know it was a forgery. They also argued that man took him into a cave and Jew polishing an Arab’s the photographs do not belong to the by chance Elia lost his bal - shoes) and caravans of Kahvedjian family because the grandfather had ance, fell on the floor and felt camels. inherited them together with the Hananya that the floor was full of One of the photos Brothers’ studio and there was no proof that he human skulls. He realized he became the focus of a polit - had taken the photographs. was in danger and started to ical controversy last year. Jerusalem District Court Judge Joseph run away. The kidnapper The picture, a portrait of a Shapira rejected their arguments, prohibited threw a sword at him and Palestinian family taken in the defendants from continuing to distribute wounded him in the leg. Until a citrus grove at the end of the book and ordered them to pay the family the day he died he had a scar the 1930s, served as the 63,000 shekels (about $17,000) in damages. there. When I tell this today basis for artist Eliyahu Arik “The question of copyright was not with I get the shivers,” says the Old Jerusalem street, photo from the Kahvedjian Collection Bokobza’s painting “The regard to each individual picture “but rather grandson. Citrus Grower.” MK Aryeh with regard to the book as a collection,” In the end, Kahvedjian was Eldad (National Union) explains Deuel Peli of the law firm of Agmon & saved by an American aid organization that British authorities by means of the Masons. protested the Knesset’s purchase of the paint - Co., one of two attorneys who represented the brought tens of thousands of orphans out of The help from “above” was manifested in pro - ing for its permanent exhibit, claiming that it family. “Somebody forged the whole book but Turkey to the Middle East. Kahvedjian entered jects Kahvedjian photographed for the British. was an attempt to depict the past from an Arab at a very inferior quality. We hope the trial has an orphanage in Nazareth when he was about He received further help two days before the perspective, and suggest that “we robbed and created a deterrent effect and in the near future 10 or 11 years old, the family estimates. There outbreak of the War of Independence, relates expelled them.” we will be seeing fewer pirated books. But we he was exposed to photography for the first the grandson. “A British officer came to him In 1998 the family published a volume of sev - still don’t know who printed the books.” time, when he served as a porter for one of the and told him: ‘Get rid of your things and get out eral dozen photographs titled Jerusalem Today, a photo of Elia Kahvedjian gazes down teachers at the orphanage who also worked as of here.’ He took his negatives to a storeroom Through My Father’s Eyes , sold only in a small from the wall at the family’s shop, hanging a photographer. in the Armenian Quarter and closed the shop.” shop in the Christian Quarter (for NIS 230), among antique cameras that still work. He died Eventually he moved to Jerusalem where he Kahvedjian fled to the Old City and by 1949 which became a collectors’ item. The grandson in 1999, at the age of 89, according to the fam - lived in a sort of housing project for orphans. He he had opened the small shop in the Christian relates that there are those who buy the book in ily’s estimate. “He was an incredibly strong started working for the Hananya Brothers, a Quarter that remains there to this day. order to sell it and make a profit. “They sell it for man. He had to have been,” says his grandson, well-known Christian family that ran a photogra - The thousands of negatives that were hidden the same price on the Internet, only in dollars.” “otherwise he would not have survived all that phy shop adjacent to the place known today as in 1948 came to light again only in 1987, when And indeed, a look at the Amazon site confirms he did.” Film Director Shares Sights and Sounds of Beirut’s ‘Little Armenia’

role especially after 1950s — this is where the “Muron,” named after the consecrated mixture of the streets outside. By Schams Elwazer Armenian patriotism was born ... Armenian lit - of oil, flowers and scents used in various rituals “Church has always played a central role in erature took root again. Armenian culture was in the Armenian Church. preserving the Armenian identity and culture,” reborn here in a way.” Visiting a church Bourj Hammoud, he said: he added. BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) — Film director As he walked down the bustling streets, “Muron is basically used to consecrate icons Bezjian took CNN to an Armenian radio sta - Nigol Bezjian was born in Syria, raised in Bezjian shook hands with people he knew. and also for baptizing, and I wanted to see how tion where the news is read in Armenian and Lebanon and studied in the United States, but “This is the thing I like, you run into people and this was made. where he is a regular guest. nowhere does he feel more at home than in friends without planning,” he said. “When they do a new one what remains from Ending his tour in a restaurant called Baroud Little Armenia. In an Armenian bookstore, he said: “When I the oil is mixed in the new one so in a way the run by a father and son, Bezjian ponders the Little Armenia is the vibrant Bourj come here, I see lots of acquaintances and Muron that is made today is directly connected question of identity. Hammoud neighborhood of Beirut. Bourj friends from all different walks of life, I directly to what was made in year 301. This sense of “In this part of the world people don’t talk Hammoud was developed mainly in the 1930s connect to my people and I get lots of inspira - continuity is very important.” about identity so much, it’s a given. Identity is tion from them.” Bezjian said he is not religious, but loves the North American invention ... who am I? You are In 2003, Bezjian made a documentary called church for the silence it provides from the noise who you are.”

Pianist/Composer Armen Donelian’s Whole Notes Published by Advance Music

Whole Notes: A Piano Masterclass , the music. Posture, practicing, mental and physi - international clinician, he has previously writ - third instructional book by veteran pianist, cal health, using weight and force, economy of ten the two-volume Training the Ear composer, bandleader and educator Armen movement and expression are some of the top - (Advance Music). Donelian is currently on fac - Donelian, has just been published by Advance ics addressed. These themes are amply ulty at William Paterson University and the Music. explored through detailed piano arrangements New School and is the co-director of the Written in a conversational tone, the book of Donelian’s compositions and are of univer - Hudson Jazz Workshop. He has taught at the “offers practical guidance grounded on princi - sal interest to all musicians. As a practical Manhattan School of Music and at the ples of music theory, rhythm, analysis and inquiry, Whole Notes offers many options for Yerevan State Conservatory as a 2002 composition as well as physics, anatomy and creatively applying and integrating them for Fulbright Senior Scholar; he also did Nigol Bezjian holistic development,” Donelian writes in the individual use. For this reason, the needs of Fulbright residencies in , Sweden, book’s final chapter. Although “this is not the non-pianists are also discussed. Switzerland and . “Over the years I dis - first attempt to examine these subjects in writ - The 212-page book contains photographs, covered I had a knack for teaching and later by Armenian refugees who arrived in Beirut ing, nor will it be the last,” he writes, “it incor - numerous original compositions, musical a talent and beyond that a responsibility,” after the Genocide of Armenians in 1915 and porates my personal experience in the worlds examples and technical exercises. It is avail - Donelian says. the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. of both composed and improvised music. I able through www.kendormusic.com, On “Leapfrog,” his critically-acclaimed latest Bezjian, 57, director of the 1992 film treat these not as two separate areas, but as www.jazzbooks.com, album (and ninth release for Sunnyside), “Chickpeas,” took CNN on a tour of his favorite multi-faceted expressions of universal musical www.carismusicservices.com and Donelian focuses on his spacious, lyrically- parts of Bourj Hammoud, taking in a family sound phenomena that transcend categories, www.armenjazz.com, and internationally charged compositions with an exceptional restaurant, bookshop, church and art gallery, because that is how I experience them.” through www.advancemusic.com. quintet comprised of Dutch tenor saxophonist where he catches up with colleagues. Concerned with how as well as what to play, Donelian’s career, spanning four decades, Marc Mommaas, guitarist Mike Moreno, veter - He said: “If you ask me what I am, I would tell Whole Notes is both a piano method book per includes seminal stints with Sonny Rollins, an bassist Dean Johnson and drummer you I’m Armenian. se and, more importantly, a guidebook to Billy Harper, Chet Baker and Mongo Tyshawn Sorey. “Bourj Hammoud has played a significant accompany the reader’s personal journey into Santamaria. An invaluable educator and For more information, visit S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 ARTS & LIVING A Women’s World of Art Former Academic Opens Laguna Gallery Specializing in Art by Women to Explore Concept of Gender

By Cindy Frazier

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (Coastline Pilot) — Former New Yorker Lisa Aslanian spent 20 years in academia, studying, lecturing on and admiring contemporary art by women until deciding to embark on a new journey by opening The George Gallery in Laguna Beach. The gallery — the only one in the city devoted solely to the work of female artists — held its grand opening last week. Aslanian does not think that women are under-repre - sented in galleries; nor is her gallery filled with strident feminist “message” art. The gallery’s women-only concept is simple but also subtle: What makes art by women dif - ferent from that of men? Lisa Aslanian One of the seven artists in the opening show, “Accomplished,” uses a childlike motif of braids in her work. What Talin Megherian is expressing, according to Aslanian, is a distinct feminine identity, particularly in the In her studies, she noticed that few women joined the portrays a wide range of themes, some of it obviously gen - artist’s Armenian culture, where women used to wear ranks of professional artists until the 1950s and 60s, with der-based, but not all of it. braids on a daily basis. the explosion of political — and feminist — art. “The work in this show has a refined and gentle femi - “I am not a first-generation feminist,” Aslanian said, Aslanian does think that women’s art tends to be ninity, but the artists all have more aggressive work,” referring to the early women’s movement and its empha - marginalized as “crafts” when it strays beyond paint and Aslanian said. The more provocative work will be seen in sis on boldly confronting gender issues. “Women can canvas. And there are equity issues. some upcoming shows, she said. want equality but not want to be men.” “Women are well-represented in the arts but does their The current show has a delicacy that can be deceptive. Aslanian named the gallery after the French novelist work fetch as much money as [work by] men?” she asks. Livia Marin’s “Broken Things” are reminiscent of George Sand, a woman who wrote under a male As for taking the risk of opening an art gallery at a time Salvador Dali’s dripping clocks: exquisite ceramics that pseudonym. Sand also defied gender restrictions in her when many longtime gallerists have closed their doors, appear to have melted. She also paints broken teacups, personal life, dressing as a man and declining to marry Aslanian says she is enjoying the process, which is so dif - stitching them together on the paper with gold thread. her partner, Frederick Chopin. ferent from the cloistered academic life she has been pur - Susan Jamison’s egg tempura paintings are beautifully Aslanian said that gender issues have fascinated her suing. She got a taste of what a gallerists life is like by drawn surrealist works. In one, a bare-breasted, bald, tat - since she studied for and earned her doctorate in art phi - working for a time for Salt Fine Art, also in Laguna Beach. tooed woman is seemingly being examined by white rats losophy at the New School for Social Research in New Entering the competitive world of retail art, Aslanian is who hold a red thread. One of the rats stares at the view - York. Studies in homoeroticism particularly fascinated keeping her cool — and keeping her eye on the art she er through red eyes. her, she said. loves. “Bridge of Sighs” by Carla Gannis is a series depicting “There is no pedantic polemic behind it [the gallery], “Teaching is a form of selling, and every one of the a woman’s body bridging a river or chasm, as people wan - but our experience is always gendered,” she said. “If a artists I’ve chosen is one I believe in,” she said. “We have der over her, seemingly oblivious to the fact that they are woman is an artist, does it betray that in her art?” some affordable artwork and it is all by artists who are standing on her body. On her website, Aslanian declares: “The George Gallery collectible. They are all internationally known and Future shows will consist of two-artist exhibitions, represents women artists who create within a wide range: acclaimed.” including some of the artists in the current show, and an Some boldly portray aggressive sexuality and parodies of The work ranges in price from $1,500 to $12,000, and exhibition by a six-woman New York artist collective. domesticity while others deliver art that is, like Ms. some more expensive work is coming soon, she said. The George Gallery is at 354 N. Coast Hwy., Laguna Sand’s, uncannily and ironically gender neutral.” For her introductory show, Aslanian selected work that Beach. For more information, visit thegeorgegallery.com. Mathews to Lecture on Gospel of King Gagik

LOS ANGELES — The Friends of the UCLA migrate to Jerusalem and what has been its Armenian Language and Culture Studies, a uni - more recent history there? versity-recognized organization liaising with the Mathews is the John Langeloth Loeb Armenian community of Southern California, Professor of History of Art Emeritus at New announced recently that an illustrated lecture York University’s Institute of Fine Arts and is by art historian Thomas Mathews on a lavish currently visiting California as a Distinguished Gospel, commissioned by King Gagik of Kars, Visiting Scholar at the UCLA Center for now in the possession of the Armenian Medieval and Renaissance Studies. This is a sort Patriarchate of Jerusalem will take place on of homecoming for the scholar, who served as a Sunday, February 19, at the Glendale Public professor in the UCLA Art History department Library at 3:30 p.m. earlier in his career before continuing at NYU Twice the size of Byzantine luxury works, for three decades with great renown. An this exquisite manuscript with an unparalleled acknowledged expert in his field of Early set of 227 illuminations of the Life of Christ, Christian and Medieval religious art with a spe - arguably the most ambitious illuminated cialty in Armenian church architecture and Gospel book of the entire Middle Ages, was manuscript illumination, Mathews has held commissioned by Gagik, the last Bagratuni king many prestigious fellowships and honors (e.g. of Kars in the years before the Seljuk forces Guggenheim, National Endowment for the overran the state. In his lecture, titled “The Humanities, Kress, Paul Getty Museum). Most Mystery of the Gospel of the King Gagik of recently he was invited to deliver the plenary Kars,” Mathews will share the fruits of his new lecture on medieval Armenian culture at the tri - Prof. Thomas Mathews research project, clarifying some of the many ennial meeting of the International Association uncertainties surrounding this fascinating of Armenian Studies at in October work. When was it created? How do we inter - 2011. The prolific author of 13 monographs acted as guest curator of the manuscript’s exhi - with accompanying catalogue and collected pret the profound spiritual meaning of the illu - and numerous articles, he continues to be bition at the Getty Museum in 2001. Earlier he essays. minated scenes? What is the meaning of unique actively engaged in groundbreaking research. curated an exhibition spanning the whole The lecture will be illustrated by a portrait of King Gagik’s daughter, Marem? Together with the late Prof. Avedis Sanjian, he medieval Armenian tradition of manuscript illu - PowerPoint presentation. Refreshments will be What was the manuscript’s impact on later published an innovative study of UCLA’s mination under the title “Treasures in Heaven” served after the lecture. All are invited to Cilician illumination? How did the manuscript Gladzor Gospel of the early 13th century and at the Pierpoint Morgan Library, in New York, attend. 16 S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING Ignatius Memoir Is an Inspiring American Story

Now I Know in Part. By Paul R. Ignatius. bed. We were a close family in a warm household The Armenian Heritage Press. National and I learned the values there that shaped my Association of Armenian Studies and life.” Research. 2011. 226 pp. Prior to coming to the United States, Ignatius maternal grandfather, escaping what would be the massacres of the Armenians in Turkey by By Daphne Abeel Sultan Abdul Hamid in 1895-96, moved to Special to the Mirror-Spectator Manchester, England in 1892 and became a founder of the Manchester chapter of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU). The dust jacket for Paul Ignatius’ memoir He started a soap factory, which supported the could not be more apt — it is a montage that dis - family, and as a young man, Ignatius worked plays the American flag as a screen across a fam - there for a summer. ily photo of Ignatius’ Armenian immigrant fami - Ignatius’ father, born in Harput, had studied ly that pictures his great grandmother, his grand - English at Euphrates College, but when he came father and grandmother, his father and an image to the US, he continued his studies at Eastman of himself as a small boy. The photo was taken in Business College in Poughkeepsie, NY and later 1929. moved to West Virginia, where he worked for a Ignatius, who served in both the Kennedy and glass manufacturing company. On a business trip Johnson administrations, becoming secretary of to Southern California, he met Ignatius’ mother, the navy in 1967, has written an autobiographi - a talented pianist, and founded a successful rug cal account of a thriving Armenian family, plant - company that became the basis for the family’s ed on American soil. livelihood. Although Ignatius enjoyed a distinguished Ignatius attended several public schools, most public career which began in 1961 when he was notably Hoover High School, and, showing early appointed assistant secretary of the army during signs of leadership, he was elected class presi - the Kennedy administration, a great portion of dent and president of the student body, wrote for the book is devoted to memories and anecdotes the school newspaper, acted in plays and played of Armenian family life, lived mainly in Glendale, varsity tennis. His parents were determined that Calif. he would become a good American and thus he This book, an expanded version of what never learned Armenian and although he was Ignatius published in 2000, chronicles Ignatius’ baptized in an Armenian church, he did not family history for his children and grandchildren attend Sunday School. and also the broader Armenian community. As The placid routine of home life was enlivened he says in his introduction, “I want my kids and by visits from the writer, William Saroyan, and their kids to know more about the Armenians, his uncle, Aram, who was a lawyer. The family also had some Hollywood connections and Ignatius, through his father’s relationships, land - ed a job as a messenger boy on the Warner Bros. studio lot. He rubbed shoulders with actors such as Errol Flynn, Mickey Rooney and even Ronald Reagan. He even played a few bit parts, but deep down knew that the movie world was not for him, that he was interested in a career in public service. Eventually, Ignatius enrolled in the University of Southern California (USC). There he worked hard both at his studies and a series of jobs as janitor, usher at a football stadium and movie theater and as a sorter at the Glendale post office. However, he began to read the New York Times and become interested in world affairs. After reading an article by Dean Acheson, Ignatius became focused on the rewards of gov - ernment service. Ignatius actually dropped out of college twice, once to write and produce plays and once to become a locomotive fireman in Arizona. However, as he worked on the railroad he continued a program of independent study at USC. When a recruiter from Harvard Business School visited USC, Ignatius applied to a pro - even though their connection to the ancient land gram that connected the MBA degree with ser - and people is not as intense as mine. My heritage vice either in the army or navy. Having been is 100 percent Armenian. For my children, the accepted, in 1942, Ignatius became an ordinance percentage is half this, and for their children it is officer and eventually served on the aircraft car - only 25 percent... Perhaps these children and rier, the Manila Bay. He saw active service in the their children will feel as I do, that their rela - Pacific and this service set the stage for his later tionship to a people who have suffered greatly government appointments, first as assistant sec - throughout their long history will give them a retary of the army, then as under secretary of the better understanding of the world around them.” army, assistant secretary of defense and finally as Ignatius’ maternal grandparents came to the secretary of the navy during the Vietnam War. United States in 1906, and his grandfather built One of the additions to the present publication a house in a small village called Tropico, eventu - is a spirited defense of his books, Secretary of ally incorporated into the town of Glendale. Defense Robert McNamara, who was often Later, his father also built a house in Glendale dubbed the architect of the Vietnam War. and Ignatius relates happy memories of a beau - The last chapters of the book are devoted to tiful apricot orchard in the garden and the sump - his account of an emotional visit to Armenia, tuous Armenian meals his father would prepare speculation over recognition of the Armenian for guests. It was a more innocent time and Genocide by Turkey, his belief that future gener - Ignatius and his brother and friends enjoyed sim - ations of Armenians will not forget the Genocide ple pass times, roller skating or playing roller and his efforts to establish a chair of Armenian skate hockey on the cement driveway. Studies at USC. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, life for This account is testimony to the reality that young children was peaceful and governed by the American dream can come true. And it is tes - the rhythms of family life. There was virtually no timony to the role that hard work and the street violence and the distractions of television embrace of family and family values can play in and the computer world didn’t exist. making that dream come true. Ignatius sums up a homey routine. “We would More information about the book can be walk to the excellent schools nearby, carrying obtained by contacting the National Association our lunch boxes and return home for games of Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) at before dinner, then do homework, listen to the [email protected] or by writing to NAASR, 395 radio and talk with our parents before going to Concord Ave. Belmont, MA 02478. S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 17 ARTS & LIVING ‘Still Documenting The 1915 Genocide’ Part II: Politics, Prose and Poetry

to document at a personal level the 1915 By Alan Whitehorn Genocide; this time, through a literary voice.

Artistic portrayal of the Armenian Genocide can The Woman With No Mirror emerge through the literary word, whether in nov - Born in Van els, short stories, plays, poetry or even film scripts. and only five years old Often the inspiration for such works can be found when the terrible slaughter commenced in a specific traumatic incident, a particular fami - Her parents and brothers were killed. ly’s agonizing odyssey or a village’s or region’s “History Ignored” by Hope Ricciardi Her sisters abducted. shared bleak fate. Unfortunately, a great tragic Yet, amidst the horror, void is created by genocide due to the vast num - her neighbours, bers of dead victims (often entire families and com - Muslim Kurds, munity groups). As a result, so many key episodes Artist Hope Ricciardi Opening took in the young Christian child are not fully or formally recorded. But sometimes, and hid her for several days. vivid memories continue, as best they can, in the Her kind and brave neighbours, Reception at ALMA on February 19 oral tradition of survivor accounts passed on, from were fearful of being caught defying the draco - one generation to another. They are perhaps told WATERTOWN — On Sunday, February 19, artist Hope Ricciardi will launch an exhibit nian state decrees, in hushed, quiet, reflective moments. Armenian of her works at the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA). Her paintings con - which forbade any humanitarian assistance to families often share fragmentary family recollec - sist mostly of oil on canvas and panels based on photographic transfer and focusing on the Armenians. tions from those terrible times. personal imagery: people, places and historic images that have meaning for her. And so, When Armenians learn of my ongoing aca - “My ancestry and roots in Armenian history are the catalyst for my current work. To know during the dark hours of the night, demic work on genocide, it is not uncommon what we are, we must know where we come from. The past is often muddled, memory fails us, the neighbours sent the child to be taken aside and told of a deeply per - often familial histories are selective and leave out the painful moments,” she said. up into the mountains, sonal account of the terrible plight of a par - In 2011, her exhibition, “History Ignored,” exploring Armenian history was presented at to be hidden by a shepherd amongst his sheep. ent, grandparent or even a great-grandparent. the Galatea Fine Art Gallery in Boston. Ricciardi currently maintains a studio in Boston Once there, It is often a metzmama’s searing tale of sur - and is preparing a major exhibit for 2015, the 100th anniversary of the Armenian she was cared for by others, vival. One person whom I got to know well in Genocide. Her work serves to inform and honor the history and numerous contributions until she could be safely brought to Yerevan. Yerevan told me about her great grandmoth - of the Armenian culture. She alone of her family made the final journey. The public is invited to the opening reception, which will take place at ALMA’s er. It is a powerful story that most of her col - leagues at work never knew. Her family story Contemporary Art Gallery at 2 p.m. Ricciardi’s exhibit will run through April 29. For the rest of her life, had not previously been published. From her ALMA is located at 65 Main St. in Watertown. in remembrance, account and that of her family, I faithfully she only wore black. penned the following poem. It is an attempt She mourned the loss of her extended family. She also vowed never again to look into a mir - ror. For to do so, she feared she would see not herself, but her beloved lost sisters. C A LENDAR For the remainder of her life C A LENDAR she lived with no mirror in her house. This way she would not see whom she could not bear to have lost.

Mariam’s family was profoundly grateful that MASSACHUSETTS I had recorded their family saga. After so many years of the family suffering in private, now they shared the family chapter with friends, col - MARCH 31 — AGBU New England District Presents: Per forming leagues, and others. It is a very dark page in his - Artists in Concert, 8 p.m. Under the artistic direction of mezzo- tory. This is a poem of great loss, but also offers soprano Solange Merdinian and conductor Aram Demirjian, the inau - some hope. As best we can, we continue to try gural program will feature young Armenian artists who are recipients to document the 1915 Genocide, but it is a very, of scholarships from AGBU in the performing arts. They will perform very difficult account to write. Sometimes, we the works of both Armenian and non-Armenian classical composers. have only fragments left, like a shattered mirror. Details to follow. MAY 24 — Celebrating 80 and Beyond, Benefit for the Armenian (Alan Whitehorn is author of several books on Mirror-Spectator. Royal Sonesta Hotel. Details to follow. the Armenian Genocide, including Just Poems: Reflections on the Armenian Genocide .)

FEBRUARY 22 — Holy CNroEssW A rmJEeRniSanE YChurch Women’s Guild is hosting a Lenten Luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Holy Cross Armenian Church Center, 27th Street and Bergenline Avenue, Union City. RSVP by February 25. Donation, $20. For info, call Diana Burggraf (201) 868-0520. MARCH 8 — Hovnanian School Open houses The doors of your child’s future are open, come see for yourself from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Hovnanian School, 817 River Road, New Milford. For information: (201) 967-5940. MARCH 31 — CARS presents Armenian singer Sibil from Istanbul at 7 p.m. Special guest performance by Shushi Armenian Dance Ensemble. Bergen County Academics, 200 Hackensack Ave., AGBU New England District presents its inau - Hackensack. For information, call Hilda (516) 496-0248, Margit (914) 686-0840, Adi (973) 761-1544. Tickets, depending on seats: $50, gural performing artists in concert program, $30 and $25. at 8 p.m., on March 31, under the artistic direc - MAY 19, 2012 — HMADS Gala Dinner Dance. Details to follow, June tion of mezzo soprano Solange Meridian, pic - 25. HMADS 30th Commencement Exercise at 8 p.m., Kalustyan Hall. tured above, and conductor Aram Demirjian. Works of both Armenian and non-Armenian NEW YORK classical composers will be performed. FEBRUARY 29 — HMADS Hye Bardez. Nursery and Kindergarten, Entertainment Fridays Grades 1-6, open house 9:15 a.m.-11 a.m. RSVP (718) 225-4826. and Saturdays HMADS 209-15 Horace Harding Expressway, Oakland Gardens. 18 S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

T HE A RMENIAN COMMENTARY Mirror- The New World Disorder

After sacrificing 4,500 US troops and maiming another Spectator By Edmond Y. Azadian 30,000, that country is no closer to any shape or form of democracy. Sectarian warfare is continuing and on the other hand no one is asking accountability of 1 mil - During the conference of Berlin in 1878, when the lion civilian casualties and 2 million Iraqi immigrants. destiny of the “Sick Man of Europe” (The Ottoman Of course no weapon of mass destruction was found, Empire) was at stake with the plight of its subject which was obvious to any student of the Middle East. Established 1932 nations hanging in the balance, German Chancellor Otto The next target was Libya, the most egalitarian coun - von Bismarck, the promoter of the “iron and blood” pol - try in the Middle East. Muammar Qaddafi was an eccen - An ADL Publication icy, is reported to have said: “I do not exchange the tric, but he distributed all the oil revenue to his people. bones of a dead Pomeranian soldier with the entire That is why an internal insurrection did not have a Eastern Question.” As a statesman, Bismarck’s insensi - chance to succeed in the country and NATO forces had EDITOR tivity towards the misery of the masses is not a unique to intervene. And the way Qaddafi was murdered cannot Alin K. Gregorian phenomenon; it is prevalent to this day. At present it is be justified in any norm of civilized conduct. Today, the

ASSOCIATE EDITOR even worse; people’s democratic rights are being used as country is destabilized, the economy is in ruins and Aram Arkun pretexts to induce tragedy and misery in the lives of the “democracy,” which was promised, is manifested in very nations in whose names wars are being waged and revenge killings and kangaroo courts. ART DIRECTOR lofty principals are enunciated at the highest forums of Marc Mgrditchian Egypt’s stability was guaranteed by President Hosni world politics. Mubarak, whose departure has resulted in chaos, insta - PRODUCTION With the collapse of the Soviet empire, the strategic bility, repression of the Coptic minority and other Dilani Yogaratnam balance of the bi-polar world shifted towards the West. Christians, as well as turmoil. The US policy makers were quick in forestalling the for - Now the next target is Syria, home to one of the old - mation of the United States of Europe, which could pro - est Armenian communities in the Middle East. But SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: vide a balancing act to unilateral US policies and self- Bismarck’s policy is still alive. No one gives a damn what Edmond Azadian interest. happens to the Armenians in that country, where they Of course, there is no love-lost with the demise of the CONTRIBUTORS: are respected and they enjoy all minority rights, con - Florence Avakian, Elizabeth Aprahamian, Soviet Union, especially as many constituent nationali - trary to the media characterization of the contrary. Daphne Abeel, Dr. Haroutiune ties emerged to shape their own policies and destinies. The “Arab awakening” or the “Arab spring” also blos - Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Prof. Armenia was among them. somed in Tunisia, which became one of the most unsta - Vahakn N. Dadrian, Diana Der Globally speaking, the balance of power was lost and ble societies in North Africa. Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, Kevork a uni-polar world dominance spelled disaster for most of Iran is also on the target list of the new world order Keushkerian, Sonia Kailian-Placido , the regions of the world, especially the Middle East. promoters. The US and Israel have threatened Iran with Harut Sassounian, Mary Terzian, Hagop A group of unelected government functionaries were military strikes, because Iran and Syria present a Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian able to hijack US foreign policy to use for their own counter weight to the Israeli-Turkish hegemony in the CORRESPONDENTS: ends, whose beneficiary was certainly not the United Middle East. States. The cabal of neo-cons, hiding behind the most Armenia - Hagop Avedikian Of course, no one is interested in regime change in Boston - Nancy Kalajian cynical politician of the time, namely Vice President Jordan or Saudi Arabia, which are ruled by absolute Philadelphia - Lisa Manookian Dick Cheney, the real power broker at the White House, monarchs, no better (i.e. democratic and humanitarian) engaged the country in reckless wars, wasting billions of Contributing Photographers: than the other former or current rulers of the Middle Jacob Demirdjian, Harry Koundakjian, Jirair dollars and wrecking the economy of the country in the East, because those monarchs happen to be willing to go Hovsepian process. The US was left as the most powerful nation in along with the script given to them by the US and Israel. the world, but rather than taking pride in that unchal - There is a huge media machine to dupe the world and lenged power, the neo-cons converted it into a sword of convince the people that the Arab spring or Arab awak - arrogance, wielding it irresponsibly around the world. ening is in the best interest of the nations in question. The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published The motto of the day was the creation of a new world weekly, except two weeks in July, by: The unfortunate sexual assault of CBS reporter Lara order. A few years into that policy the world is in sham - Baikar Association, Inc. Logan in the middle of a throng put a kibosh on the feel- bles and the US is in no better shape. good, giddy coverage of Tahrir Square as ground zero of 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 President Barack Obama was elected on a most moral - democracy in Egypt. Telephone: 617-924-4420 istic platform, but his promises were soon to be cor - Given the bloodshed, instability, poverty and misery FAX: 617-924-2887 rupted by the entrenched policy makers at the State resulted by the thrust of this new world order, even the www.mir rorspectator.com Department and other levels of the government. One of most naive observer cannot be convinced that the E-Mail: editor@mirrorspectator .com the first casualties was, of course, the Armenian region is being blessed with a new dawn of liberty and For advertising: [email protected] Genocide, along with the Guantanamo gulag colony, prosperity. In fact, the Arab awakening has become an with all its apologists for water boarding, recognized as Arab nightmare. torture by every major human rights organization in the But there is a pattern to this policy, which is adorned world. by the most attractive slogans of democracy and human SUBSCRIPTION RATES : The new world order was a two-pronged policy: to con - rights. Any country, which has harbored animosity tain the residual power of the former Soviet Empire and U.S.A. against Israel, is on the list of the West to be “democra - 2nd Class $75 a year to change the map of the Middle East to tailor it to the tized.” Even Tunisia, which seems an innocent 1st Class $120 a year Israeli political designs. Canada bystander in the Arab-Israeli conflict, hosted Yasser Currently, Russia is engaged in self-flagellation, con - Air Mail $125 a year Arafat and the PLO, after Ariel Sharon invaded Lebanon tent with its newly-found energy resources and devoid — in 1982, that is why it got on the list. All Other Countries almost — of any foreign ambitions, which has left only After abstaining at the UN where an invasion was Air Mail $190 a year the reshaping of the Middle East to the prophets of the Display advertising r at e: $7 per column inch planned against Libya, Moscow leaders realized that the new world order. Arab spring is coming closer to home and threatening The process began with Iraq, the most prosperous their own interests in the region and finally stood up Arab country ruled by a dictator who tended to the against this policy and vetoed the intended aggression economy and the welfare of his people, contrary to the against Syria, infuriating Secretary of State Hillary demonization of him in the Western media. No one can © 2011 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator Clinton and some European countries. Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA say he was a humanitarian, as he knew how to terrorize Turkey is smuggling arms to the “insurgents” in Syria and additional mailing offices. subjects who strayed from the proscribed path (i.e. Kurds), but before the sectarian strife was introduced and has been already hosting a government in exile. ISSN 0004-234X from outside, no one knew in Iraq who was Sunni and It is obvious to any serious student of the Middle East POSTMASTER : Send address changes to The who was Shia. When armed rebellions took place by out - that stable, albeit far-from-perfect governments are Armenian Mirror-Spectator, P.O. Box 302, side forces, the ruler had to protect his government and being pulled down for reasons that serve not their own Watertown, MA 02471-0302 the stability of the country. Timothy McVeigh, in this people and which in fact devastate them. The US and Other than the editorial, views and opinions country, was not offered a birthday cake when he Europe are not the beneficiaries of these uprisings expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily bombed a federal building. either; all they gain is hostility of the subject nations eflect the policies of the publisher. This became a standard practice; implant armed insur - and ferment hotbeds of terrorism. rection in a targeted country and cry wolf at the UN that Armenians have already left Egypt, Lebanon and the West had to rescue the people from a tyrant, of Jerusalem and now the time has come to leave Syria and course with the complicity of the pliant media. Iran. That policy did not have a chance of success in Iraq, Iran is one of Armenia’s lifelines to the outside world. Copying for other than personal use or therefore outright lies had to be sold (and told). The Any conflict with Iran will be devastating for Armenia internal reference is prohibited without excuse of weapons of mass destruction was concocted, and for the entire region. express permission of the copyright and the most honest US diplomat, Colin Powell was sac - Apparently, this philosophy of the new world order owner. Address requests for reprints or back issues to: rificed at the UN forum — reducing him to a political has gone too far, in its destructive path, to be safely renamed as the new world dis-order. Baikar Association, Inc. cadaver — and a bloody war was launched against Iraq. 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 19 COMMENTARY

interests of the community. Interestingly, those who sit on fell into deep depression. They insisted that there was an their hands are usually the ones who complain the most anti-Armenian conspiracy, claiming to have known all along about others who are serving the common cause. that the initiative would end up in failure. These people do Imagine if 20 years ago the small band of Armenian free - not seem to realize that the appeal does not necessarily dom fighters had listened to such nay-sayers and decided that mean defeat of the bill. In fact, should the council deter - My Turn it was not possible to liberate Artaskh (Karabagh) from Azeri mine that the bill is constitutional, those who would be and Soviet occupation forces! Would I be here today if my arrested for denying the Armenian Genocide could no By Harut Sassounian ancestors, the brave people of Zeitoun, located in the heart - longer challenge the new law. land of the Ottoman Empire, had not fought against powerful However, should the Constitutional Council reject the Turkish armies and won more than 40 battles and hundreds bill, it would not be the end of the world, as President Armenians Need to Pursue Their of skirmishes to preserve their safety and autonomy? Sarkozy has pledged to amend it and resubmit it to both Cause With More Confidence Returning to our own times, how often are we told by legislative houses. Nevertheless, the pursuit of the misinformed Armenians with an “all-knowing” attitude that Armenian Cause does not depend on any particular bill. And Commitment the US Congress will never recognize the Armenian Armenians have many other major demands from Turkey Genocide, when in fact it was recognized in 1975 and under international law. This week’s column deals with the self-defeating attitude 1984? Or how many times have these misguided fortune- Rather than simply deploring that the bill has ended in of some Armenians whose negative outlook manifested tellers prophesized that no US president will ever recognize the Constitutional Council, Armenians should demand that itself once again with the latest news about the French bill the Armenian Genocide because Turkey is too important, certain members of the court disqualify themselves from criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide. unaware that President Ronald Reagan recognized it in a this case due to their impermissible affiliation with Turkish Some people hold the skeptical view that any project Presidential Proclamation on April 22, 1981? think tanks or for having made prejudicial statements on undertaken by Armenians is doomed to failure. A few years These same Armenians were confident that the French this issue. It is noteworthy that six of the French senators ago, I was advised by several readers not to call for dis - Parliament would not adopt a bill criminalizing denial of who filed for the appeal are currently enjoying themselves missal of the Los Angeles Times managing editor for cen - the Armenian Genocide last December, either because in Azerbaijan as guests of the state, tasting Caspian caviar soring an article by Mark Arax on the Armenian Genocide. there would be a last-minute snag or that President Nicolas and indulging in other Azeri “delicacies.” On another occasion, I was advised not to ask Time maga - Sarkozy was tricking Armenians to get their votes in the Far more important than any bill is Armenians’ solemn zine to apologize and make amends for disseminating a forthcoming presidential elections. Yet the parliament determination to continue the struggle for their rightful Turkish denialist DVD. I ignored the defeatist suggestions approved the legislation by a wide margin. When the bill cause, undeterred by setbacks or obstacles. Having sur - that countering such powerful publications would be futile made its way to the Senate on January 23, 2012, once vived several millennia of occupation, pillage, massacres and even counter-productive. It was not an easy struggle, again the skeptics confidently predicted that an unexpect - and genocide, Armenians cannot succumb or surrender at but I am happy to report that Armenian activists prevailed ed development would block its passage. The bill was the first sign of adversity. in both campaigns. adopted by a vote of 127-86. Armenians can go forward only when they purge them - It is noteworthy that such apathetic individuals not only Last week, when some French legislators, aided and abet - selves of their self-defeating attitude and subservient men - fail to offer any assistance or encouragement, but go to ted by the Turkish ambassador, appealed to the tality, left over from centuries of Ottoman Turkish subju - great lengths to discourage those who are furthering the Constitutional Council to review the bill, some Armenians gation and servitude. New Challenges to Armenian-Iranian Relations

level relations” and reiterating a commitment to Iranian nuclear facilities that are both widely necting Iran to Armenia. By Richard Giragosian “good relations.” Similarly, in a joint statement, dispersed throughout the country and deep And sanctions have been steadily tightening the presidents “noted the right of all countries, underground raise serious doubts over the suc - and broadening, covering both more general areas including Armenia and Iran, to the peaceful use cess of any air campaign. At the same time, of trade and economic sectors, as well as targeting Armenia has always been a prisoner of its of atomic energy,” but stressed “the importance even if an air campaign locates and neutralizes more specific groups within Iran, ranging from the geography, serving throughout history as an of resolving Iran’s nuclear issue by means of most of its target list, many experts expect only Iranian Central Bank to its Revolutionary arena for both competition and cooperation for negotiations and in diplomatic ways.” a temporary setback to an already entrenched Guards. The US Congress, for example, follows larger regional powers. Since its independence, But as tension between the West and Iran nuclear program. this track, as the US Senate Banking Committee Armenia’s geographic vulnerability became has deepened, Armenia is increasingly con - A military operation would also be largely recently approved a new package of proposed only more pronounced, as both Azerbaijan and cerned over renewed consideration of a possible counter-productive politically, for three main sanctions targeting Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Turkey closed their borders with Armenia in a US or Israeli military attack targeting Iranian reasons. First, it would tend to only embolden Corps and companies involved in joint energy and demonstration of “fraternal allegiance” over the nuclear facilities. Discussion of a possible mili - and even bolster a regime in Tehran whose very uranium mining ventures with Tehran. It would Nagorno Karabagh conflict. tary strike against Iran has also grown within legitimacy is limited to posing as a perceived also penalize companies and individuals that sup - Over time, small, landlocked Armenia gener - Armenia, fueled in part by Russian media cov - victim of Western conspiracies and aggression. ply Iran with weapons that could be used against ally adapted to its isolation by adopting eco - erage, leading many in Armenia to worry about Secondly, it would further weaken the already Iranian citizens. nomic and trade strategies aimed at overcom - the country’s proximity to Iran. vulnerable, but still significant portion of pro- But this recent trend toward tighter sanction ing the constraints of having two of its four Fears of a looming military attack against American Iranians, and perhaps even drive targeting Iranian banking and financial services land borders sealed. Nevertheless, the threat of Iran have grown in recent weeks, as Israeli many Iranians to unite behind their govern - pose even more serious challenges for Armenia, isolation was never fully addressed, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned that ment in the face of open attack. A third factor by imposing new demands for greater trans - Armenia’s borders with both Georgia and Iran, there is “a wide global understanding that Iran is rooted in the likelihood that by resorting to a parency and higher scrutiny of Iranian banks as its primary export and import route and as must be prevented from becoming nuclear and military option, international support for diplo - currently operating in Armenia. It would also the only alternative trade and energy link no option should be taken off the table.” Going matic pressure and sanctions would erode, trigger new, more serious complications over respectively, only grew in strategic significance. even further, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister especially as Russia and China would most like - pending and planned bilateral projects in the Concerns and Challenges Moshe Yaalon, who heads the strategic affairs ly withdraw their support for the Western- energy sector, in some ways hindering the one Yet it is Armenia’s relationship with its south - ministry and is a former Israeli military com - designed sanctions regime. sector that is rooted in a shared economic and ern border Iran that raises concerns and poses mander, threatened that Iran’s nuclear installa - For Armenia, which has been importing small strategic interest between Armenia and Iran. challenges. And as the West imposes ever tions are “vulnerable to military strikes,” direct - amounts of Iranian natural gas through a pipeline An Opportunity in Every Crisis tighter sanctions against Iran and the threat of ly contradicting mainstream military skepticism built in 2009, meeting the demands of tighter Despite these obvious challenges for military action over Iran’s nuclear program over the feasibility of air strikes. In response, sanctions is also a challenge, especially in light of Armenia, at the same time, there is a potential mounts, so do the challenges to Armenia. however, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta current bilateral energy ties and the roughly $300 opportunity from this crisis, however. In a Only a few months ago, during a late- recently downplayed reports suggesting the million in annual bilateral trade. The energy ties broader strategic context, this opportunity is December 2011 meeting in Yerevan, Armenian “strong likelihood” that Israel was planning a include the ongoing construction of a third elec - rooted in Armenia’s role as a potential “bridge” President Serge Sargisian and his Iranian coun - military strike sometime in the coming 2-4 trical transmission line connecting the Armenian or “platform” for engaging Iran. Reflecting a terpart, Mahmud Ahmadinejad, called for a months. and Iranian power grids and the planned con - shared sense of isolation and a pronounced per - “diplomatic” solution to Iran’s nuclear standoff From a military perspective, however, any struction of two hydroelectric plants on the Arax ception of hostile neighbors, Armenia and Iran with the West. As hosts, the Armenian side was such attack against Iran would most likely fail River dividing the Armenian-Iranian border. It have been both destined and determined to careful to placate Ahmadinejad during his one- and may even be counter-productive. Militarily, would also complicate ambitious Iranian plans to forge a strategically stable relationship, no mat - day visit to Yerevan, promising expanded “high- the fact that such an operation would target build a $2.5 billion, 540-kilometer railway con - ter how unnatural and contradictory. Against this backdrop, Armenia is Iran’s only neighboring country that could serve as a reliable mediator or trusted third-party broker, hosting or point or larger). Submissions that do not con - Photos will be returned only if a self- even facilitating a new round of talks and diplo - Notice to Contributors form to these specifications will be assigned addressed and stamped envelope is includ - macy between the West and Iran. And for its part, lowest priority. ed. affirming the new role of “small states” in con - — Articles sent by fax are acceptable, and e- — The will publish only one article tributing to greater international security, The wel - mail submissions are encouraged. about aMn -uS pcoming organizational event. comes aArrtimclens,i acno mMmeirnrotarr-iSeps eacntadt ocrommu - — All submissions should include the name For major special events, exceptions may Armenia also stands to benefit from offering its nity news from our readers. In order to of a contact person and a daytime tele - be made only by special arrangement own unique insight into how best to engage Iran. assure the accurate and timely publication phone number. with the editors. Only in this way, can Armenia transform itself of articles submitted, please note the fol - — Deadline for submission of all articles and — Telephone numbers, ticket prices and other from being less a prisoner of geography to more lowing policies: advertising is noon on the Monday of the details (at the discretion of the editors) will not of a practitioner of geopolitics. — All articles submitted should be typed, dou - week of publication. be included in press releases, but should be ble (or triple) spaced and printed in a type — Photos will be published without charge at reserved for calendar listings and advertise - (Richard Giragosian is the director of the size large enough to be clearly legible (10 the discretion of the editors and art director. ments. Regional Studies Center (RSC), an indepen - dent think tank in Yerevan, Armenia.) 20 S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 11, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

Experts Warn that Armenia Needs to Tackle Drug Abuse, Alcoholism

Monday’s discussion, however, because the host Drug addiction is also more associated with are Muslims and their religion prohibits the use By Lilit Arakelyan club had a poster advertising a liquor company crime, given the illicit nature of acquisition of nar - of alcohol. But one in three young people in on its wall. cotics by those having an addiction. Azerbaijan abuse drugs that are mainly brought By his boycott of the discussion Semerjyan According to police data, more than 1,800 from Iran,” says Khudoyan. “Alcoholism among YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) — Psychologist sought to deliver a message that despite certain crimes and offences connected with illegal drug young people in Armenia decreased as compared Samvel Khudoyan says that a negative attitude legal regulations, television, radio, magazines, trafficking were registered in 2011, comparable to what its rate was during the Soviet times, not towards narcotics should be formed among chil - websites, as well as city billboards, continue to to the previous year. Marijuana, according to least due to the country’s further departing from dren early on. advertise alcohol, tobacco products and casinos. police reports, remains the most common drug, the influence of Russia [which is known to have Drug addiction, alcoholism and, increasingly, (Advertisement of strong alcoholic beverages, of which a total of 20 kilograms were confiscated a high rate of alcoholism].” gambling, are said to be growing concerns in except brandy, is banned on TV; commercials for last year. (Still, Armenia was the only former Soviet Armenia, which health care workers say reflect lighter beverages, such as beer and wine, are Khudoyan advocates hypnotherapy “... as it republic where there were no so-called sobering- economic and social problems, and that should allowed, but limited to certain hours, as are adver - aims to provide a positive change in a patient’s up stations that were commonly practiced else - merit government policy attention. tisements of gambling places and lotteries. But, in mentality and help bring him or her back to real - where in the USSR.) At a Monday forum, specialists in the field of practice, TV companies still find loopholes in the ity.” The doctor says his patients with drug addic - According to the Armenian police, 98 percent prevention and treatment of drug and alcohol legislation, such as presenting advertisement as tion problems are mainly young people aged 18- of those prosecuted for drug trafficking are for - abuse said campaigns at the state level would sponsorship of certain programming, etc. 25 who are forced to attend sessions by their par - mally unemployed. prove particularly effective among children and Advertisement of tobacco on TV is banned, and in ents or relatives. According to the Health Ministry data, of 1,631 teenagers. print media, has certain restrictions, for example, Comparing the extent of drug abuse in people tested at specialized clinics for drug abuse Psychologist Samvel Khudoyan says that a neg - it must not be placed on the front and back pages Armenia, the psychologist says it has a lower rate in 2011, 1,130 were put on the registry as drug ative attitude towards narcotics should be of editions. Tobacco advertisement on billboards than in neighboring Georgia and Azerbaijan. users, with a majority of them using cannabis formed early on among children still in school. is also banned, while billboards with alcohol and “Most of the religious population in Azerbaijan (marijuana, hashish, etc.). Armenian Narco-Clinical Center Director casino advertisement are allowed, but with cer - Petros Semerjyan is also in favor of a more coor - tain place limitations, such as away from kinder - dinated state-level campaign. He refused to attend gartens, schools, medical establishments, etc.). Zarakolu Nominated for Nobel Prize

ZARAKOLU, from page 1 in the context of an operation against the State Gives Top Marks to Armenian the Kurdish question, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Union of Kurdish Communities (KCK), an orga - and Islam — topics considered taboos in Turkey nization founded by Abdullah Öcalan, impris - Nursing and Rehabilitation Center — published by Zarakolu together with his late oned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party wife, Ayse Zarakolu. (PKK), recognized as a terrorist organization by Despite all pressure and attacks, Zarakolu con - the European Union and other countries. The JAMAICA PLAIN, Mass. — The Massachusetts tinued defending freedom of thought and con - International Publishers Association (IPA) criti - Department of Public Health declared the tributed to the reconciliation between cultures. cized his arrest and announced, “He does not Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center The Swedish parliamentarians put forward deserve imprisonment but the Nobel prize.” (ANRC) to be in 100-percent compliance with that Zarakolu became a target of the state due Zarakolu received rewards of the IPA in 1998 more than 180 federal and state regulatory to his efforts. “If Turkey established a commis - and 2008; in 1995 and 2007 he was awarded by standards after completing their annual unan - sion on law and reconciliation one day, the Turkey Publishers Association; in 2003, he nounced inspection on January 25. Zarakolu should become head of this commis - was awarded by the Norwegian Ministry of This was the second deficiency-free survey in sion,” the deputies stated. Culture and in 2010 he received the National a row for the center. Zarakolu was arrested on November 1, 2011 Library Award of Armenia. The survey team spent three consecutive days scrutinizing every aspect of care from nursing and rehabilitation services to cooking From left, Alexander Bilizerian, Ange-Marie Val and food storage, housekeeping and laundry. and Naomi Armen Using a defined sample selection process, they also examined the clinical records of 17 The Armenian active and discharged residents. In addition, indicates that the responses from residents and they observed interaction between staff and res - families were overwhelmingly positive. idents and interviewed many residents (both For more information on the survey process, individually and as a group) to obtain feedback visit www.Medicare.gov and click on “Nursing about their experience in the center. The report Home Compare.” Mirro r-Spe ctator

YES, I would like a 1 – year subscription to The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

USA /Second Class Mail $75.00 CANADA /Air Mail $125.00 USA /First Class Mail $120.00 J THE SUBSCRIPTION IS FOR ME NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP

J THE SUBSCRIPTION IS A GIFT FOR: NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP

Management staff from left, seated, Acela Hermida, business office manager, Wayne Sakovich, social Please make check payable to: The Armenian Mirror-Spectator and mail to: worker, Dawn O’Toole, RN, Ruth Kane, director of nursing, and Karla Fleming, executive director 755 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472-1509 All payments must be drawn on US banks Congress, Armenian Assembly Urge Affirmation of Genocide as Clinton Statement Draws Ire CLINTON, from page 1 “There is no debate about the historical fact matter of historical debate and conclusions of the Armenian Genocide,” Schiff and Dold SUB SCRIBE rather than political. And I think that is the told the Assembly. “Raphael Lemkin, a right posture for the United States government Holocaust survivor who coined the term geno - to be in, because whatever the terrible event cide and worked tirelessly toward the adoption might be or the high emotions that it repre - of the United Nations Convention on the sents, to try to use government power to Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of resolve historical issues, I think, opens a door Genocide, invoked the Armenian experience as that is a very dangerous one to go through.” a prime example of genocide,” continued Schiff Expressing surprise and dismay, the and Dold. Assembly sent a letter to President Barack “We welcome this bi-partisan initiative to set Obama requesting swift action. “Secretary the record straight,” stated Assembly Executive Clinton’s response is untenable and requires Director Bryan Ardouny. “We urge human immediate remedy. Mr. President now is the rights activists from across the country to make TODAY! time to fulfill your campaign promise and sure that their Member of Congress signs this unequivocally affirm the Armenian Genocide,” important letter to Secretary Clinton,” added the Assembly wrote in its letter. Ardouny.