FEBRUARY 13, 2016 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVI, NO. 29, Issue 4424 $ 2.00 NEWS INBRIEF The First English Language in the United States Since 1932 Businessman Offers Five Nobel NORMARMARA.COM PHOTO $5,000 for Every Laureates to Fourth Artsakh Child STEPANAKERT (Armenpress) — Businessman Samvel Karapetyan, now based in Russia, will grant Lecture in $5,000 for every fourth baby born to an Artsakh family, President announced dur- ing a government session of Artsakh Republic. Artak Beglaryan, spokesperson for the prime minister, added that Hayastan All Armenian Fund and the Government of Artsakh will grant an apart- ment to those families with five children. By Ekaterina Poghosyan “Therefore, at least after the third child it is worth to resettle in Artsakh, dear friends living YEREVAN (Mediamax) — For the first away from Artsakh,” Beglaryan wrote on the time, will host five Nobel Prize Artsakh government facebook page. laureates, who will give open lectures on Editor and writer Robert Haddejian blows out the candles on his birthday cake biochemistry, physics and medicine this Another Elderly April in Yerevan. Turkish-Armenian Newspaper Editor The “Nobel Days in Yerevan” event, Armenian Killed in unprecedented in Southern Caucasus, will be held on April 11-16 at Yerevan State Haddejian’s 90th Birthday Celebrated Medical University. ISTANBUL — “Be inspired and create” slogan will ISTANBUL (Hurriyet) — Three robbers who last Armenian Minister of unite beneath the same roof those who week broke into the house of an elderly Armenian the Diaspora Hranoush want to get inspiration from world- couple in Istanbul’s Sisli district, first ransacked Hakobyan and many renowned scientists and work to obtain sci- the house before tying up the elderly couple and writers in Armenia, entific achievements, thus, returning leaving. and other parts see YEREVAN, page 4 A housecleaner who arrived at the couple’s of the world sent author house the next day alerted the couple’s relatives REUTERS/ANDERS WIKLUND /SCANPIX and journalist Robert when no one would open the door. They, in turn, Haddejian letters of con- called the police. gratulations on the occa- The firefighters who arrived at the scene went in sion of his 90th birthday from the window and saw the couples tied up. As it on January 26, while in tuned out, the 85-year-old husband had suffocated, Holy Trinity Church of while the 79-year-old woman was in critical condi- Beyoglu, Istanbul, an tion and is recovering at a local hospital. intimate banquet attend- ed by some 80 guests celebrated the life and MP Paylan Continues to works of this author in his presence. Haddejian Raise Issue of Turkey- (also written Haddeler Armenia Border or Haddedjian) is the longtime editor of the ISTANBUL (Public Radio of Armenia) — The Istanbul Armenian-lan- Turkish Parliament’s Commission on Planning and guage daily newspaper Budget has discussed the issue of increasing the Nor (originally number of large trade centers, Ermenihaber.am called Marmara). reports. Born in Istanbul, Addressing the Commission, MP Garo Paylan, Haddejian graduated who is of Armenian descent, referred to the closed Nobel laureate in medicine Robin Warren of from the Pangalti border between Armenia and Turkey, noting that Australia receives his Nobel Prize from Armenian Mkhitarist had the border been open, Armenia would do most Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf, December see 90TH, page 16 of its trade with Turkey. 10, 2005. According to the Turkish Sondakika website, Paylan said: “The border with Armenia has been closed for 23 years now. Had the border been open, Armenia would do three-fourth of its trade with Turkey. People would come here, relations would Barsamian Works to Revitalize Armenian Assembly develop.” Paylan added, “this could help solve the ing Armenian-Americans today through his one of the wire mill factories. I feel that I Karabagh issue as well. The development of rela- By Aram Arkun work with the Armenian Assembly of understand the community in many tions would benefit both parties.” America. As a new co-chairman of its board aspects from its origins, though of course Mirror-Spectator Staff of trustees, he is leading efforts to revitalize these took place at an earlier period, and the Assembly. As an active member of the how had to deal with many WATERTOWN — Anthony J. Barsamian Armenian Church, he also has just become hardships when they first came to the US.” has become a prominent figure represent- the first member of this church to be elect- After graduating from the University of INSIDE ed as head of the Massachusetts at Amherst, Barsamian went Massachusetts Council to Suffolk Law School in Boston. He began of Churches. (See working at a law firm after graduating, but accompanying article soon started his own firm, now called Antoura on page 8.) Hutchings Barsamian Mandelcorn and Barsamian has Robinson, where he is managing partner, always been proud of with 10 attorneys in the firm and two loca- Days his background. He tions. said, “Members of my Barsamian’s long history of involvement Page 10 family came here to the with the Assembly started after his gradua- US both before and tion from law school. His working in after the Armenian George Keverian’s office during law school Genocide. We are from led to being asked to help with President INDEX the Worcester commu- Levon Ter-Petrosian of Armenia’s visit to Arts and Living ...... 10 nity. We lived on Boston in 1994. In the process, Barsamian Armenia ...... 2 Laurel Street, which is got to know Robert Aram Kaloosdian, one Community News...... 5 where the first of the founding members of the Assembly, Editorial ...... 13 International ...... 3,4 Armenian Assembly new co-chairmen: Van Krikorian at left with Armenian church in and Carolyn G. Mugar, then (and now) its Anthony Barsamian in front of White House the US was located. My president. He later became a member of the grandfather worked in see BARSAMIAN, page 9 2 S ATURDAY, F EBRUARY 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Swedish FM Visits Armenia, Urges Peaceful Solution to Artsakh Conflict Russia Lifts Duties on Oil, Gas Supplies YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — The dynamic development of ties with YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Russian Sweden is of special significance Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Ambassador to Armenia, Foreign Minister Eduard Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Nalbandian said at a press conference on Russia Oleg Yesayan signed a protocol providing for Tuesday, February 9. indefinite exemption from export duties on petrole- Following a Yerevan-hosted meeting um products and natural gas, supplied from Russia to with his Swedish counterpart, Margot Armenia, RIA Novosti reports. Wallström, Nalbandian said the parties On December 2, 2013 Russia and Armenia signed discussed possibilities of further cooper- an intergovernmental agreement on the abolition of ation in economic, educational, scientif- export duties on deliveries of natural gas, petroleum ic, cultural and health sectors. products and rough diamonds to Armenia. The agree- “Also, we agreed to improve the legal ment was signed following talks between Presidents framework and promote investments,” Vladimir Putin and Serge Sargisian. Nalbandian noted, adding that an agree- Earlier, the Armenian government approved a set ment on avoidance of double taxation of amendments to the agreement. Energy and and prevention of fiscal evasion was Natural Resources Minister Yervand Zakharyan signed shortly before. reminded that the agreement concerns supply of “During our meeting, we dwelled Russian natural gas, petroleum products and raw dia- upon Armenia-EU relations focusing on monds to Armenia. dialogue on the new framework agree- Zakharyan said the changes will specify the proce- ment, current reforms in Armenia and dures for calculation and payment of customs duties Sweden’s readiness to support their for delivery of oil products and gas. He added also implementation. We discussed Armenia that the amended agreement would create favorable and the [Organization for Security and conditions for the development of economic ties Cooperation in Europe] OSCE Minsk between the two countries. Group Co-chairs’ efforts aimed at the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict,” Nalbandian said. Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström lays a wreath at the Tsitsernakabert Azeri Forces Fire 1,500 Wallström expressed her country’s memorial in Yerevan. Shots in Ceasefire support for peaceful negotiations, ruling out any military solution. Violations over Weekend Addressing reporters, Wallström ing the EaP member states a high status in The two discussed opportunities for described her current visit to Armenia as the EU family. the further development of relations STEPANAKERT (PanARMENIAN.Net) — The a good opportunity to get an insight into The minister also promised individual- both in bilateral and multilateral for- Azerbaijani armed forces fired around 1,500 shots the country’s perceptions of the long- ized approaches to separate member mats, as well as the negotiation process from various caliber weapons in ceasefire violations lasting land dispute. She emphasized the states to adjust different perspectives to of Nagorno Karabagh. on February 6-7, the Nagorno Karabagh (Artsakh) need to exert maximum efforts to avoid specific needs and to develop the dia- Sargisian said Sweden is among Defense Army reported. further escalation, expressing hope that logue based upon the “more-for-more” Armenia’s reliable partners in Europe. Artsakh troops continue controlling the situation a lasting peace will be achieved under principle. Wallström stated that a good platform on the contact line, retaliating only in case of the aegis of the Minsk Group. Diplomatic relations between the has been established for further devel- extreme necessity. Wallström elaborated on the European Armenia and Sweden were established oping and deepening relations between Despite the international community’s urgent calls to Union (EU) Eastern Partnership (EaP) pro- on July 10, 1992. the two friendly states, and expressed establish mechanisms for investigating border attacks ject, noting that Sweden was among the During her visit, Wallström also met readiness on behalf of her country to and Armenia’s continuing support for the idea, Baku countries calling for strong efforts for giv- with President Serge Sargisian. assist Armenia in conducting reforms. keeps stirring up tensions, the Artsakh Defense Army spokesman said in an earlier statement. Armenian-Born Athletes Catholicos of All Armenians Receives President of Named as Top German The Serbian National Assembly Boxers YEREVAN (Public Radio of Armenia) ancient times and the historical During the meeting, the participants BERLIN (Armenpress) — Arthur Abraham was rec- — On February 9, in the Mother See of Armenian-Serbian ties. also spoke about the challenges facing ognized the best boxer of the year in by the Holy Echmiadzin, Karekin II, Supreme He expressed his appreciation to the the countries and the support of the readers of BoxSport magazine. Patriarch and Catholicos of All Serbian people, for the assistance pro- churches in overcoming them. In this The seven-time WBO Super Middleweight Boxing Armenians, received Deputy Maya vided to the Armenians during the dis- regard, His Holiness affirmed that the Champion collected the highest number of votes dur- Goykovich, President of the National astrous earthquake of 1988. Armenian and Serbian peoples, who ing the voting. Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and His Holiness also reflected on the profess the same Christian values, have Women’s boxing champion Susi Kentikian was her delegation. She was accompanied existing warm relations and coopera- survived all the trials during the cen- named the best in WBA version. by Eduard Sharmazanov, the vice pres- tion between the Armenian Apostolic turies with hope and faith, and have Arthr Abraham’s coach Uli Wegner was named the ident of the National Assembly of the and Serbian Orthodox Churches. realized their wishes and cherished coach of the year winning this nomination for the Republic of Armenia. Deputy Goykovich spoke about the dreams through the spirit of optimism. 13th time. The catholicos welcomed the guests historical past and current coopera- The catholicos also conveyed his fra- Abraham’s next fight will take place on April 9 in and noted with satisfaction that due to tion between the two nations. She ternal greetings to Patriarch Irineos of Las Vegas. His opponent will be 24-year old Gilberto reciprocal visits at a high level, the also stressed the importance of ecu- the Serbian Orthodox Church. Ramírez. friendly relations between the two menical relations between the two Attended the meeting was nations are becoming increasingly clos- churches, noting that the church Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Prime Minister Receives er. Karekin II reflected on the plays an important role in the life of Director of the External Relations and Armenian community in Serbia since society. Protocol Department. New UK Ambassador YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Prime Minister received Judith Margaret Farnworth, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, on February 5. Abrahamyan congratulated Farnworth on receiving the post and expressed confidence that with her help Armenian-British relations will further strengthen. Abrahamyan praised the economic and political cooperation between Armenia and the UK, including the further development of trade and business ties. Farnworth expressed her gratitude for the warm reception and emphasized that the UK is interested in developing multilateral cooperation with Armenia. She assured Abrahamyan that she is ready to pro- mote the further development of relations. Abrahamyan and Farnworth also touched upon the development of Armenia-EU relations, regional devel- opments and other issues of mutual interest. Deputy Maya Goykovich, President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and her delegation meet with Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. S A T U R D A Y , F E B R U A R Y 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 INTERNATIONAL Turkey’s Erdogan Issues Ultimatum to US International News

tant for the United States. By Dorian Jones “It is a very important gesture; Aram I receives it’s a provocative gesture, but a legitimate one. It was a move Ambassador of Armenia ISTANBUL (Voice of America) destined to confirm the United — Turkish President Recep States’ position vis-a-vis Syria To Lebanon Tayyip Erdogan has issued an Kurds, and also a message to BEIRUT, Lebanon (Armenpress) — Aram I, ultimatum to the United States Ankara,” he said. “And the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, received to choose between Turkey and United States is not wishing to Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon Ashot Syrian Kurds. US forces have see PYD Kurds being pushed to Kocharyan on February 5. been working closely with the the Russians, this is what Ankara The catholicos and the ambassador discussed Syrian Kurdish group the PYD in the Kobani, which of course was largely is doing, exactly.” issues referring to Armenia-Diaspora relations, as battle against Islamic State. freed from ISIL control because of the With Turkish political leaders desig- well as issues regarding the Armenian community in The ultimatum followed a visit by the effective fighting of those Syrian nating the PYD and PKK as greater Lebanon. head of the anti-IS coalition, Bret Kurdish groups.” threats than Islamic State, analysts says McGurk, a week earlier to the Syrian With Ankara providing airbases for relations between Ankara and town of Kobani, where he met with US-led operations against Islamic State, Washington, are becoming increasingly Book about Massacres of members of the PYD and its militia, the Washington is having to perform a deli- strained. YPG. cate balancing act over its support for Gursel says those tensions have led to Dersim-Armenians US forces have been supporting the Syrian Kurdish groups. a redefining of the relationship. YPG in its battle against Islamic State, “Washington sees Ankara as a Published in Turkey Moscow Courting Kurds but Ankara accuses the Syrian Kurdish friend, but in the eyes of Washington, ISTANBUL (Armenpress) — Historian, writer, group of being a terrorist organization Analysts say Moscow is courting the Ankara is an untrustworthy, unreli- social scientist Kazim Gündogan’s book titled connected to the Kurdish rebel group, Syrian Kurds’ allegiance. Russia strong- able, unpredictable friend,” he said. Grandchildren of the Priest: Dersim Armenians, was the PKK, which Turkish forces are fight- ly backed the PYD’s presence, which “Believe me, Ankara and Washington recently published in Turkey, the presentation of ing in southeastern Turkey. Ankara successfully blocked, in last are not on the same page, in terms of which took place recently, Evrensel newspaper US Ambassador to NATO Douglas month’s Geneva peace talks. the Middle East.” reported. Lute is playing down the Turkish presi- Moscow has also reportedly supplied Washington, for its part, continues to The book is about the Armenian massacres that dent’s ultimatum, while underlining the arms to the Syrian Kurds. call Turkey a key partner in its fight took place in Turkey in 1895 and the Armenian importance of the Syrian Kurdish US Presidential Envoy to the Anti- against Islamic State. But observers say Genocide of 1915. The book illustrates the attempts groups. Islamic State Coalition Brett McGurk with Washington’s priority being the to eliminate the , religion and cul- “These are not new concerns with arrived in Kobani over the weekend, defeat of IS, and with Syrian Kurds one ture and the homeland of Dersim-Armenians and regard to US contact and US support officials said on February 1. of the most effective anti-IS forces in their deportation from Motherland. for the Syrian Kurdish groups,” he said. Political columnist Kadri Gursel for Al Syria, Turkish-US relations appear des- The book notes that during the Armenian “And of course the visit that you are Monitor website says envoy McGurk’s tined to remain strained for some time Genocide a great number of Dersim-Armenians were referring took place into the town of visit to Kobani was strategically impor- to come. forced to abandon their religion as well as their mate- rial goods in order to survive. Armenian Figure Skaters To Take Part in Bavarian Open 2016 OBERSTDORF, Germany (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Figure skaters Tina Karapetyanand Simon Senekal will participate in the Bavarian Open inter- national tournament, Armenia’s National Olympic Committee said in a statement. According to the report, the duo will compete against 17 other pairs. Set to kick off on February 17, the international competition will run through February 21. Karapetyan and Senekal won a bronze medal at the Golden Spin of Zagreb 2015 in . President Sargisian Meets with Chairman of Yet another historical church has been unearthed in the Cappadocia region of Central Anatolia and experts are excited about its European Parliament’s frescoes, which depict scenes hitherto unseen. (AA Photo) Conservatives, Reformists Historic Church Discovered in Turkey’s Nevsehir YEREVAN (Public Radio of Armenia) — President Serge Sargisian this week met with the visiting ‘Could Change History of Orthodoxy’ Chairman of the European Parliament’s Conservatives and Reformists Group Jan Zahradil. NEVSEHIR, Turkey (Anadolu church,” Ünver said, adding that prelim- thin walls of the church collapsed At the meeting, the parties discussed the Armenia- Agency) — Another historical church inary studies show the church might because of snow and rain but they European Union cooperation, including EU parlia- has been discovered underground dur- date back to the 5th century AD. would be fixed during restorations. mentary cooperation, reforms carried out in ing excavations in Turkey’s Cappadocia “This place is even bigger than the Istanbulluoglu said the church was Armenia with the assistance of the European Union, region, with experts saying the frescoes other historical churches in Cappadocia. filled with earth and the pieces of the as well as a number of issues of mutual interest. inside could change the history of It was built underground and has origi- frescoes had to be collected one by one. Sargisian stressed that Armenia is ready to move Orthodoxy. nal frescoes that have survived to this “The structure was found a short forward with EU cooperation in the areas of reform, The church was uncovered by arche- day,” he said. time ago. The frescoes on the walls will mobility, efficient governance, democracy, human ologists during excavation and cleaning “We didn’t even think of finding such return to their original look after rights, trade and other areas. According to the him, work in an underground city discovered a structure when we first started works. restoration and cleaning work,” he in this process cooperation with the partners from as part of the Nevsehir Castle Urban But excavations and cleaning work are added. the European Parliament plays an important role. Transformation Project, implemented continuing and we hope to find new Fellow archaeologist Ali Aydin said Sargisian noted that Armenia-EU active interac- by the Nevsehir Municipality and data relating to the history of only the roof of the church could be tion, including high-level visits, will further strength- Turkey’s Housing Development Cappadocia,” the mayor said. seen, so information about the height of en cooperative ties. Administration (TOKI). “It is reported that some of the fres- the structure would only be understood At the request of the guest, Sargisian spoke about The rock-carved underground church coes here are unique. There are exciting after the cleaning work. Armenia’s internal and foreign policies, presented is located within a castle in the center of depictions like fish falling from the Aydin said the humidity in the church his views on the current international problems and Nevsehir that spreads over an area of hand of Jesus Christ, him rising up into had to be dried up slowly in order to regional challenges, and informed Zahradil on the 360,000 square meters, within a third- the sky, and the bad souls being killed. prevent the frescoes from losing their recent developments in the NK peace process. degree archaeological site that includes When the church is completely features. Zahradil presented the history of his party, its pri- 11 neighborhoods in the city center. revealed, Cappadocia could become an “We have stopped work in order to orities and activities and stressed that the party is Nevsehir Mayor Hasan Ünver said the even bigger pilgrimage center of protect the wall paintings and the interested in developing relations with Armenia in frescoes in the church showed the rise Orthodoxy,” Ünver added. church. When the weather gets warmer the interparty as well as Armenia-EU formats. of Jesus the Christ into the sky. Archaeologist Semih Istanbulluoglu, in the spring, we will wait for humidity “We know that such frescoes have so who heads the works in the under- to evaporate and then we will start far never been seen in any other ground city and the church, said the removing the earth,” he said. 4 S ATURDAY, F EBRUARY 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL Moscow Lawmakers Suggest Annulling 1921 Treaty of Five Nobel Laureates to Friendship between Russia, Turkey Lecture in Yerevan YEREVAN, from page 1 MOSCOW (ArmeniaNow) — Two Communist favorable terms of the treaty on Turkey,” the Armenia into the international club of advanced countries. lawmakers at the Russian State Duma have parliamentarian said, as quoted by The idea to invite Nobel Prize winners in Medicine, Biology and Physics belongs appealed to President Vladimir Putin and .com. to Professor Konstantin Yenkoyan, Vice-Rector for Science and Research at Mkhitar Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to revoke a The newspaper notes that under the treaty Heratsi Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU). 1921 treaty with Turkey on “friendship and fra- “the former Kars region and the southern part He worked with Israeli biologist, 2004 Nobel laureate in chemistry Aaron ternity,” Russian media reported on Monday. of the former Batumi region that were part of Ciechanover in 2004-2005. Their close cooperation resulted in Israeli scientist’s visit According to Russia’s Izvestia daily, Sergei the Russian Empire since 1878 as well as for- to Armenia, where he delivered lectures at the invitation of YSMU in 2010. Obukhov and Valery Rashkin said in their letter mer Surmalin district of Erivan Governorate Ciechanover is one of the scientists visiting Armenia this April. that Turkey was turning increasingly “aggres- that was part of the Russian Empire since 1828 “The idea to invite other famous Nobel Prize winners to Armenia was born in late sive” toward Russia, Izvestia reported, citing a with Mount Ararat were ceded to Turkey.” 2014. We began practical steps in this direction and sent invitations to the scientists copy of the letter. Moscow’s relations with Ankara have been in 2015. I didn’t believe it would be possible to organize the event so soon, in 2016. “We should consider a possibility of legal tense over Russia’s handling of its air campaign During negotiations with people of this magnitude, you should keep in mind that review of all Russian-Turkish agreements that in Syria, and turned bitter after Turkey shot their schedule is very busy. When we received five positive answers, we decided we are unfavorable for our country and its allies. down a Russian bomber plane near the border could stop there and “be satisfied” with 5 Nobel laureates for now,” told Konstantin Ankara must understand what the escalation of with Syria on November 24, accusing it of vio- Yenkoyan, whose idea found support from the administration of his native the conflict could be fraught with for it. Only lating Turkish airspace. University. this can bring it to earth and prevent it from Moscow claims that its air strikes are aimed Biologists Aaron Ciechanover (Israel) and Ada Yonath (Israel), chemist and physi- carrying out new provocations,” Obukhov told against Islamic terrorists, but Turkey and cist Dan Shechman (Israel), pathologist John Warren (Australia) and chemist Ei-ichi Izvestia. Western governments accuse Russia of target- Negishi (Japan) will give lectures in Yerevan in April. The initiative has been supported by another ing political opponents of Syrian President Aaron Ciechanover: Born in 1947 in Haifa, to a family of Jewish emigrants from minority faction, Spravedlivaya Rossiya. Bashar Assad in an attempt to prop up his Poland, he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2004 along with Irwin Rose and According to State Duma member Oleg regime. Avram Hershko. He is a member of Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Pakholkov, the Moscow treaty was signed to Putin called Turkey’s shooting down of its Pontifical Academy of Sciences (Vatican), and a foreign associate of the United States the detriment of Russia’s interests. warplane a “stab in the back by accomplices of National Academy of Sciences. Obukhov noted that “two of the three South terrorists,” and his government sharply cur- Ada E. Yonath: Born in 1939 in Jerusalem, she is a pioneer of ribosome study. She Caucasian republics — Georgia and Armenia — tailed Russia’s trade and tourism ties with cooperated with NASA and received a Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2009. did not recognize the terms of the treaty, con- Turkey. Dan Shechtman: The Israeli physicist and chemist received the Nobel Prize in sidering it unfair.” Russia deploys some 3,000 troops in Armenia 2011 “For the discovery of quasicrystals.” “One should realize that in 1921 the in a military base that guards the South Robin J. Warren: The Australian scientist received the Nobel Prize in Physiology Bolshevik (Soviet) government was literally Caucasus nation’s border with Turkey. or Medicine in 2005 for re-discovering the bacterium Helicobacter pylori in 1979. hanging by a single thread: the foreign inter- The initiative has been supported by the Just Ei-ichi Negishi: The Japanese chemist was born in 1935. He is noted for the dis- vention and civil war continued. Under those Russia faction. According to State Duma mem- covery of the so-called Negishi reaction. He received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry circumstances Soviet Russia could not speak ber Oleg Pakholkov, the Moscow treaty was 2010. from a position of strength and impose more signed to the detriment of Russia’s interests. Konstantin Yenkoyan observes that the main goal of holding “Nobel Days” in Yerevan is to invite leading international scientists to Armenia, who will seek to moti- vate Armenian youth and show them how tangible science is today. “We have great human potential, but honestly we cannot surprise the guests with YP Toronto Joins Forces with Armenian Community the state of Armenian science. Certainly, we have brilliant individual scientists, how- ever our science is not competitive at present. Science requires huge investments. A To Hold Job Fair for Syrian-Armenian Refugees country is presentable by its culture, sport, and science. Our big goal is to have world-renowned Armenian scientists in future, who will represent Armenia herself TORONTO — On January 27, the AGBU for this cause. and not other states,” says the main organizer of the event. Young Professionals of Toronto (YP Toronto) Reflecting on the ongoing crisis in Syria, YP The event organizers emphasize that even though the main audience of the “Nobel organized a job fair for more than 200 Syrian- Toronto chair Mihran Egavian noted that “the Days” event are professionals and students in the fields of Medicine, Chemistry and Armenian refugees at the AGBU Centre in hardships inflicted upon so many people are of Physics, nevertheless, the lectures will be open the public. Toronto. Canada has been in the spotlight over historical proportions. There is a real urgency “Our guests will spend a week in Armenia and give nine lectures of public and the past few months with the resettlement of for the community to come together and professional nature. The content of public lectures will be comprehensible to every- over 20,000 refugees from Syria, among them respond. This is our moment of humanity and one. You don’t have to be a doctor, a chemist, a physicist or a biologist to attend many Armenians. The Armenian community in solidarity and YP Toronto, like other Armenian them,” says professor Yenkoyan. Canada, most notably those in Toronto and groups, is determined to do its part.” To participate in “Nobel Days”, you should register on the official website of the Montreal, have quickly mobilized resources to YP Toronto was quick in identifying the event http://www.nobeldays.am/. The participation is free for Armenian residents sponsor hundreds of Armenian families. resources it could make available to Syrian who register until February 29. Those who apply later than the appointed date Armenians already in Canada. should pay EUR 20 for registration. Utilizing its professional networks All lectures will be held at Yerevan State Medical University. The scientists will also and in cooperation with a number participate in round table discussions, meet Armenian high school students, and visit of Toronto-based organizations, YP Echmiadzin and other places of interest in Armenia. The organizers wish the world- Toronto helped organize the first in wide known scientists to see the real Armenia - with its people and colors. a series of job fairs, which attracted a number of potential agencies and employers. These initiatives are designed not only to connect prospective jobseekers with employ- Istanbul-Based Former Armenian ers but also to create an intimate, informal space where refugees, Summer Camp under Repair through small on-site workshops, can receive practical advice on ISTANBUL (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Camp Evangelical Church Foundation. resumes, cover letters and the effec- Armen, the former Armenian summer camp “On the 175th day of resistance, Camp tive use of professional networking located in the Tuzla district of Istanbul, is cur- Armen was returned to the Armenian people. sites. Ancillary services, such as rently under repair, reported. Our thanks to all of you,” said Nor In January, YP Toronto, in partnership with the AGBU Sports banking advice and opening new Representatives of a number of Armenian activist Sayat Tekir in a video message posted and Youth Committee, raised thousands of dollars for the accounts, are also provided. organizations and funds and organizations will on the Camp Armen Facebook page. The group AGBU Humanitarian Emergency Relief Fund for Syrian Christine Kavazanjian, YP participate in the reconstruction activities. also posted videos of activists celebrating the Armenians. Toronto treasurer and branch man- According to one of the activists, a camp return of the camp, congratulating one another ager with one of Canada’s largest meeting the highest international standards and line-dancing in celebration. banks, explained that “many new- will reportedly be built for children from Turkey In early June, Nor Zartonk activist Sayat Sponsorship of refugees entails commitments comers lack basic understanding and abroad. Tekir said that negotiations were ongoing from temporary housing to providing basic of Canadian banking system. It is amazing to Camp Armen was returned to the Gedikpasha between the government and Ulusoy to agree assistance with paperwork, job searches and a see what basic yet critical support YPs can pro- Armenian Protestant Church Foundation on on a price for the “donation” by the owner to range of settlement issues. vide – the kind of resources we otherwise may October 27. the Gedikpasha Foundation. Tekir said the The coordinated efforts of Canadian have taken for granted.” The foundation’s lawyer, Sebu Aslangil, Turkish government was in favor of resolving Armenians were positively and widely covered In light of growing demand for resources to announced that the return process had been the issue outside of the courts, as a trial in local and international media. Since the adequately address the plight of Syrian finalized. The camp was returned after 175 days would set a precedent for other confiscated unfolding of the crisis in Syria, YP Toronto has Armenians, YP Toronto has committed to of resistance by the Nor Zartonk Armenian properties. organized a number of fundraising activities expanding its activities in support of the AGBU movement of Istanbul. Tekir explained the significance of Camp and provided support to refugees settling in Humanitarian Emergency Relief Fund for Nor Zartonk had led a campaign to occupy Armen, noting that the confiscation of the Canada. Over the past three years, it has dedi- Syrian Armenians and will intensify collabora- the grounds of the camp since bulldozers camp was in essence an assault on Armenian cated its annual Christmas fundraiser to help- tion with local entities to assist newcomers on arrived to demolish it in early May. After weeks identity. “Taking these properties from us also ing Syrian Armenians. In January, YP Toronto, the ground. of protest, the owner of the campground, Fatih means taking our identity from us. It’s not a in partnership with the AGBU Sports and To learn more about YP Toronto’s local pro- Ulusoy, said he would sign the transfer of the small matter — it’s not only an issue of proper- Youth Committee, raised thousands of dollars grams email [email protected]. property over to the Gedikpasha Armenian ty, but also identity,” he said. S ATURDAY, F EBRUARY 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 Community News

AAHPO Reveals Armenian General Advances in Benevolent Union Medical Projects in Announces Initial Armenia, Artsakh Steps towards Transformation

By Florence Avakian NEW YORK — Encouraged by the strength and support shown by Armenians worldwide It was a joyous meeting of colleagues and during the Armenian Genocide centenary com- friends, as well as a fascinating meeting with memorations in 2015, and following two years doctors from Armenia informing their of detailed analysis, consideration and prepara- American-Armenian colleagues of medical tion, the Armenian General Benevolent Union progress in both Armenia and Artsakh. (AGBU) announced today its plan to launch a Recently, at a New Jersey restaurant, leaders bold program to transform and expand its mis- and members of the Armenian-American Health sion. Professionals Organization (AAHPO) who have Since its founding 110 years ago, this global been working pro bono in both Armenia and institution has acted as the largest philan- Artsakh, as well as in the United States for thropic entity to protect and preserve more than 10 years, heard from three promi- Armenian identity and heritage throughout the nent doctors from Armenia. diaspora and has a presence in over 30 coun- AAHPO President Dr. Larry Najarian warmly tries. Following the independence of Armenia welcomed the attendees, and introduced the in 1991, AGBU’s mission expanded with phil- doctors from Armenia: cardiologist Dr. Hmayak anthropic initiatives in Armenia, including Sisakyan, Yerevan State Medical University major cultural and educational programs. Vice-Administrator Dr. Armen Minasyan and Aiming to reconstitute the Armenian nation, internist and pediatrician Dr. Hambardzum Melanya Sarukhanyan is an active member of ATP’s eco-club in Margahovit, a vil- which was forcibly shattered and dispersed to Simonyan. lage in the northern region of Lori form the current Armenian diaspora, AGBU’s AAHPO’s founding member, Dr. Raffi transformation initiative will build on the orga- Hovanessian, paid tribute to philanthropists nization’s successes across the diaspora and in Nazar and Artemis Nazarian who have been Armenia to begin a new era for the organiza- generous donors to the AAHPO programs in A Record Breaking Year for tion and Armenians the world over. Armenia and Artsakh, as well as in America. The year 2015 marked the centenary of the Their son, Dr. Levon Nazarian, professor of tragic genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman radiology at Jefferson University, has traveled to Environmental Education Empire against the Armenian nation. With the Armenia five times, establishing the Ultrasound momentous genocide centenary commemora- Training Centre of Armenia, and Artsakh, send- tions throughout the year, Armenians across ing 25 ultrasound machines to Armenia and In Armenia the world are leaving a painful century behind with dignity and supportive attention from the Artsakh, and most recently donating an MRI to YEREVAN and WATERTOWN — Environmental education has been one of the Yerevan State Medical University, all with the whole world. Bolstered by the heroic efforts of strategic priorities of the Armenia Tree Project (ATP) since 2005, with trainings many institutions throughout the diaspora, help of his father. For 15 years, Levon has been and workshops conducted all over Armenia. Thousands of schoolchildren visit responsible for overseeing the training of hun- Armenians succeeded in surviving, recovering ATP’s two education centers sponsored by the Ohanian Family of Boston. The cen- and reviving, finding themselves now at a his- dreds of doctors in the Ultrasound Centre. ters — one located on the grounds of the Karin Nursery and another in Margahovit Future plans include live video conferences, toric juncture. Village — provide interactive lessons focused on all aspects of the environment. A century after receiving a second chance at research projects, visiting professorships, and The year 2015 was a record-breaking year as more students visited the centers exchange of students in collaboration with life, Armenians have committed “to remember than ever before. Sixty four school groups (1,646 students) from Yerevan, Kotayk and demand,” the official motto of the cente- Thomas Jefferson University. and Armavir attended classes at the Michael and Virginia Ohanian Environmental With great pride, Hovanessian announced nary commemorative events. They are also con- Education Center in Karin, which significantly exceeds the number from previous fronting what it means to “be alive” as a nation, that AAHPO has helped train almost half of the years. In Margahovit, 74 school groups (1,971 doctors in Artsakh, with the help of the Fund evaluating how the memory of victims and the students) visited the Michael and Virginia generosity of those who helped many survivors for Armenian Relief (FAR), and introduced FAR Ohanian Center for Environmental Studies Executive Director Garnik Nanagoulian. By Ani Melkonian would be best served in the future. from Lori, Tavush, Gegharkunik and Shirak. Building on its illustrious legacy, AGBU has Expressing deep gratitude to Nazar and “Our approach is that planting trees is not Artemis Nazarian for their immense contribu- decided to boldly move forward to address the enough when there is limited awareness about environmental issues in the coun- special challenges of the 21st century in order tions to AAHPO and FAR, Nanagoulian called it try,” explains education manager Alla Sahakyan. “Through our environmental “a great responsibility for FAR to be a partner to ensure a sustainable future for the Armenian education program, ATP aims to raise a responsible generation of Armenians that nation worldwide with the state of Armenia at with AAHPO, an organization which under the will take on their roles as caretakers and protectors of the environment. To sup- able and creative leadership of Dr. Larry its core. Specifically, AGBU will engage with ini- port that goal, our team works hard to instill respect, care and understanding tiatives aimed at enabling a prosperous future Najarian is becoming one of the most effective towards nature in the youth.” organizations of the Diaspora working on for Armenia while continuing to preserve and Melanya Sarukhanyan is a 13-year-old schoolgirl from Margahovit and a regular enrich the Armenian identity worldwide. healthcare issues.” This is because of FAR’s at the Ohanian Center. She’s a member of ATP’s eco-club, the inauguration of “multilayer accountability system, regular To achieve this ambitious goal, AGBU will (1) which in 2012 was cause for great excitement in the village. Sarukhanyan was reenergize the Armenian diaspora with a new reporting, beneficiary accounts, impeccable introduced to the club at school by her biology teacher Gayane Markaryan, who integrity, and high dedication and high disci- aspiration to reconstitute the widespread also happens to be the eco-club trainer. The club has 35 members in two age Armenian nation, (2) enlarge its scope to pline” of the project’s implementers such as groups — middle and high school students — and they meet three times a week. Simonyan, who like the other doctors in the include economic development of the home- “Making the extra effort after school is no inconvenience for the students because land in addition to its historic socio-cultural project, volunteer their medical services. they enjoy learning new things in a stimulating and peaceful environment,” says AAHPO’s doctors are vetted from the best in mission, (3) further professionalize its gover- Sahakyan. nance, structures and functioning, (4) signifi- Armenia, Nanagoulian continued, helping them The Ohanian Center is like an illustration straight out of a children’s book. The to develop into leaders and vocal voices in shap- cantly expand its access to resources through building itself is camouflaged to reflect the surrounding green rolling mountains, fundraising and partnerships, (5) enlarge and ing Armenia’s healthcare future, advocating for with the Hrant Dink Memorial Forest in the background and the Mirak Family “evidence-based medicine, providing them with reinvigorate its global networks of volunteer Reforestation Nursery within sight of the gardens. The front yard is a beautifully members and affiliates, and (6) leverage syner- a fund of medical information, and the continu- laid out garden and an exhibition of the children’s projects. The delicate flowers, ation of self-education.” Equally important, he gies with other organizations in order to rapid- plants and vegetables are a result of all that the children are learning in the eco- ly gain critical mass in program execution. related, is AAHPO’s building of connections club. between doctors in Armenia’s provinces, their In pursuing these strategic goals, AGBU is Here Melanya Sarukhanyan has learned how to make compost, how to graft returning to the original intentions of its Armenian mentors, and outstanding doctors fruit trees and how to plant and care for trees. She’s also learned about organic from the US, Canada and Europe. “It’s about founders in the early 20th century, which were insect control and growing organic vegetables. ATP has introduced broccoli and forcibly altered by the Armenian Genocide and creating waves of change throughout Armenia Brussels sprouts to the village, where only cabbage and potatoes were grown in and Artsakh which add up to large-scale, con- its aftermath. the past. As a first step in this process, AGBU is proud crete transformations.” Students also study the importance of bees in an ecosystem, the damage of pes- Simonyan, a dedicated doctor, spends his to announce the election of Ruben Vardanyan ticides and herbicides to bee colonies, bee care and honey production. to its Central Board of Directors. Vardanyan is weekends volunteering at the hospital in his “The goal is to connect children with the environment. We want them to value native town of Martuni, helping poor families a highly successful Armenian-born entrepre- their natural heritage,” adds Sahakyan. neur, an internationally recognized expert in and their children. Under the guidance of see ATP, page 8 Columbia University experts, Doctors the economy of Russia and emerging markets, Deckelbaum, Bilezikian and Kim Hekimian, he and an international philanthropist. Among his see MEDICINE, page 7 see TRANSFORMATION, page 6 6 S ATURDAY, F EBRUARY 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS AGBU Announces Initial Steps towards Transformation

TRANSFORMATION, from page 5 the first time in Yerevan on April 24, 2016, will his contributions to our new strategic aspira- AGBU Central Board member Noubar Afeyan major business achievements is the prominent donate one million USD towards courageous tion,” commented Berge Setrakian, President commented: “Since joining the AGBU board Troika Dialog investment bank in Russia, world citizens who have put their own lives in of the AGBU Central Board of Directors. over two years ago, I have had the pleasure to which Vardanyan built in the period 1991 to danger to save others facing tragedy. The On this occasion, AGBU also announced its work closely with President Berge Setrakian 2012, and sold to Sberbank, the largest bank in Aurora Prize was established in 2015 on behalf intention to initiate a broader set of collabora- and many members of the central board to Russia. of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide as tions with Armenia-based IDeA Foundation. expand the vision for AGBU’s future. We have In 2001, Vardanyan co-founded the Armenia an expression of gratitude to those who saved Accordingly, Berge Setrakian and Vasken worked closely with Ruben and his team at 2020 national development think-tank project Armenian lives, and in order to bring the Yacoubian have been elected to the Board of IDeA Foundation to develop a roadmap for working together with AGBU board member, world’s attention to ongoing humanitarian Trustees of the IDeA Foundation, joining cur- AGBU 2.0. During this time, we have also Dr. Noubar Afeyan. This led to the creation of injustice around the world as well as to recog- rent board member Noubar Afeyan. forged a growing and successful strategic col- the private-public partnership, the National nize modern acts of heroism. Vardanyan said: “I feel privileged and hon- laboration with the pioneering TUMO Centers Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia, in “As part of our new initiatives, I am particu- ored to join the AGBU Central Board. This initiative founded and led by long-time AGBU 2007 and subsequently the IDeA Foundation. larly proud and excited to welcome Ruben institution has been one of the most significant board member and philanthropist, Sam Founded in 2013 and operating out of Vardanyan to the Central Board of AGBU. drivers of the survival of Armenians in the last Simonian. With my longtime partner Ruben Armenia, the IDeA Foundation is a 300-profes- Having known Ruben for over 20 years, I con- century through its sustained and fine work in now joining the AGBU board, we all look for- sional strong philanthropic organization that sider him a true role model of a successful service of the Armenian nation and its many ward to engaging in the next phase of trans- identifies, develops and implements socio-eco- Armenian through his many achievements and communities across the world. AGBU is in a formation. Buoyed by the energy and strength nomic programs in Armenia. The foundation unwavering personal integrity. Through his great position to influence future prosperity in Armenians showed during the centenary, we has successfully invested more than 300 mil- work, Ruben demonstrates a combination of the homeland and redefine what it is to be remain cognizant of the opportunities and chal- lion USD over the last years in prominent pro- vision, passion and devotion towards the future Armenian in the 21st century. I am deeply com- lenges we will face.” grams like the Tatev Revival program, the of the Armenian nation. As a modern, entre- mitted to contributing my energy, know-how, “This marks an exciting phase of advance- UWC Dilijan International School and the preneurial philanthropist he brings exciting philanthropic capabilities and network to this ment and partnership for AGBU,” commented Dilijan Urban Renewal program. In 2015, innovative ideas and strong synergies through fine institution. I also look forward to the bud- Sam Simonian, Vice President of the AGBU together with co-founders Dr. Vartan Gregorian the IDeA Foundation, with whom AGBU has ding collaboration between AGBU and the Central Board. “I especially look forward to of the Carnegie Foundation and Afeyan, Mr. already been collaborating through the UWC IDeA Foundation as well as to our planned strengthening AGBU’s educational offerings by Vardanyan launched the 100 Lives project and Dilijan College. Finally, as a citizen of Russia, steps towards creating a powerful force for the leveraging TUMO Centers, IDeA’s UWC Dilijan its accompanying global humanitarian award, he helps us reach out to the important advancement of Armenians throughout the International School, American University of the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity. Armenian communities in Russia and Eastern world.” Armenia, and many other new initiatives,” he This annual prize, which will be awarded for Europe. We are very much looking forward to On the occasion of this announcement, added. Sts. Vartanantz Church Dedicates Lenten Donations Program to Church’s Centennial The Ajemian Foundation (adminisered by Peter Sarkesian, Esq.) of Troy, Mich., donated $2,000 to the Armenian Mirror-Spectator. CHELMFSFORD, Mass. — For the 47th con- those who established and expanded the parish secutive Lenten Season, Sts. Vartanantz over the past one hundred years. The brave Balakian of New Jersey donated $50 to the Armenian Mirror-Spectator. Armenian Church in Chelmsford will sponsor a men and women, who escaped the horrors of series of six fellowship evenings designed to the Armenian Genocide and immigrated to the promote spiritual renewal through prayer and US, left an incredible legacy of sacrifice and thought provoking discussion. dedication, which has inspired growth of our Telephone (617) 924-7400 Each Friday evening of Lent, beginning orthodox faith and spirituality for some five February 12, parishioners will gather at 6:30 generations in the Greater Lowell community. p.m. to participate in the Peace and Rest The Lenten Fellowship program is dedicated to Aram Bedrosian Services, which feature many eloquent peni- the memory of a former pastor of Sts. tential prayers and hymns. The faithful will Vartanantz, Very Rev. Ghevont Samoorian, Funeral Home, Inc. then enjoy a meal prepared according to the who initiated this opportunity for the parish church’s Lenten dietary guidelines. With this faithful to worship, share a Lenten meal, and Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 year marking the 100th Anniversary of the Sts. encourage spiritual examination and renewal. MARION BEDROSIAN Vartanantz Parish, the focus of the Lenten For further information, contact the church 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN Program will be on the faith and legacy of office. WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN OBITUARY Arpinee ‘Arpi’ (Kazanjian) Kazanjian GiragosianF UNERAL H OME James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC METHUEN, Mass. — Arpinee “Arpi” and a member of the Holy Cross/Hye Pointe Mark J. Giragosian (Kazanjian) Kazanjian, 89, of Methuen passed Armenian Church Women’s Guild. Funeral Counselors away on Saturday January 16, at Merrimack She also worked with her late husband and 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 Valley Hospice House in Haverhill surrounded sons to build the family business, Whirlaway www.giragosianfuneralhome.com by her family. Golf, Running & Sports Center. She was born in Arlington and was the She enjoyed spending time with her grand- daughter of the late Nishan & Veronica children and great-grandsons. She had a strong faith and touched the lives of many people who knew her. She was a very generous person. She was selfless and always Nardolillo Funeral Home had a positive outlook on life. Est. 1906 She is survived by her sons Harold, Mark and David, grandchildren Elyse (Kazanjian) Abraham John K. Najarian, Jr. and her husband Kevin, Casey, Mark Angelo, and Rhode Island’s Only Licensed Armenian Funeral Director Laurel Kazanjian, and great-grandsons Ethan and Chase Abraham; daughter-in-law Robin 1278 Park Ave. Cranston, RI 02910 (401) 942-1220 (Gulezian) Kazanjian, Dr. Lisa Solomon and fam- 1111 Boston Neck Rd. Narragansett, RI 02882 (401) 789-6300 ily, and Knar Felegian and family. She also leaves her brother-in-law Casey www.nardolillo.com Menas Kazanjian and his wife Bella of Rockville, MD, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother Herach Kazanjian. In lieu of flowers at the request of the family, (Gorgodian) Kazanjian, and the widow of Memorial contribution checks should be made Joseph “Saco” Kazanjian. to: “The Saco & Arpi Kazanjian Church After receiving her associate’s degree from Building Fund”, P.O. Box 8069, Bradford, MA, Burdett College she went on to work at the 01835. All donations will benefit the building New England Telephone Company, was a vol- fund for the New Armenian Apostolic Church at unteer at Bon Secours Hospital in Methuen Hye Pointe in Bradford, Ma. LIKE US ON FACBOOK S ATURDAY, F EBRUARY 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS AMAA Helps Family of Armenian Hero Soldier

PARAMUS, N.J. and TAVUSH, Armenia — In Armenia’s President Serge Sargisian posthu- Tevosyan’s family lives in vulnerable condi- border village life in Armenia. Constantly bom- September 2015, Haik Tevosyan, a soldier mously awarded the Military Medal to Haik tions in the village of Norashen, in the barded by sniper fire, the people in border vil- guarding the borders of Armenia in the Tavush Tevosyan for protecting the borders of the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. Their income lages face life and death decisions among their Province was killed by an Azeri sniper. Motherland courageously. is at the minimum poverty wage. He leaves five daily routines. In order to help these people, the children, three of whom are minors. AMAA has been actively involved in bettering When the Armenian Missionary Association the quality of life in border villages. Among (AMAA) became aware of the situation of the many other projects, last year, with the cooper- Tevosyan family, the poor con- dition of their half-built home, and the fact that they do not own enough cattle to provide nutrition and income (in addi- tion to a few sheep, which are kept in the yard), embarked on the renovation and repair of their home. During the renovation, AMAA Executive Director/CEO Zaven Khanjian, who was in Armenia at the time, visited the Tevosyan fami- ly with other AMAA representa- tives, and brought some urgent necessities for the family mem- Visiting the family of the late Haik Tevosyan, bers. After examining the dilap- idated home and the condition of the family, Khanjian said. “The AMAA will ation of the AMA-Australia, the AMAA also keep the warmth of this hearth. We will do our helped build a new playground in Choratan, a utmost to offer to Haik’s wife and his children border village. Projects such as these, help The Tevosyan home under construction hope for a better future.” improve the quality of life in such a difficult sit- The AMAA recognizes the daily struggle of uation. AAHPO Reveals Advances in Medical Projects in Armenia, Artsakh MEDICINE, from page 5 is currently running one of the most sophisti- cated projects in Armenia, combatting child malnutrition. He is also overseeing the distrib- ution of Diasporan healthcare humanitarian assistance. Simonyan opened with a heartfelt tribute to the more than 10 years of pro bono dedicated volunteer service to Armenia and Artsakh by AAHPO founding member, the late Dr. Edgar Housepian, and other AAHPO doctors. He explained FAR’s medical program. “We have already trained 155 physicians, and two years ago, we organized seminars,” he said, adding that FAR is advancing the program in Artsakh, especially in the rural villages. In 2015, Armenia hosted the 4th International Medical Congress, and this year saw every rural village receiving care by doc- tors, Simonyan said proudly, to which ophthal- mologist Dr. Larry Najarian revealed the great- ly advanced mission on the treatment of cataracts in Armenia and Artsakh. Noted cardiologist Dr. Hmayak Sisakyan, who ranks as the first doctor from Armenia to be admitted as a Fellow to the American Academy of Cardiology, revealed that it was nine years ago that the project to bring 20 machines in Yerevan, as well as the border regions of Armenia, was started. Dr. Armen Minasyan presented a history of the medical program in Armenia, starting in 1914, when the first hospital was opened in Yerevan, as a military hospital. In 1922, the first medical facility was organized at Yerevan State University, with “many outstanding doctors.” By the start of World War II, the hospital had become a leader in its medical practices in the Soviet Union, and in 2002 it received the status of a University hospital. Today, Minasyan continued, the hospital has many specialties, especially in neo-natal care. The year 2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the University Hospital Clinic. He expressed appreciation to the AGBU, Berge Setrakian and Nazar and Artemis Nazarian for establishing the Radiology Center. During the question and answer session, Artemis Nazarian revealed that when the AGBU went to Washington D.C. during the time of President Jimmy Carter’s leadership, they were informed by the head of the Ethics Department that in the United States, Armenians as an eth- nic group have the largest percentage of doc- tors according to their population. 8 S ATURDAY, F EBRUARY 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Record Breaking Year Anthony Barsamian For Environmental Becomes First Armenian Head of Massachusetts Education in Armenia Council of Churches ATP, from page 5 When asked what she likes about the eco- club, Sarukhanyan says they put into practice By Aram Arkun things they learn in theory. “We use modern Mirror-Spectator Staff and at the same time eco-friendly technology, which we don’t have at school,” she says. “We watch slideshows and videos together...It’s more FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Armenian- fun that way. I’ve learned that nature gives us American lawyer and political activist life, so we must care for it.” Anthony Barsamian is heavily involved in the A vital part of ATP’s education program is for life of the Armenian Church of the Holy students to make a connection between what Translators here. He and his wife Nancy were they learn and what occurs in their daily lives. among its founders, and he remains a mem- They apply their knowledge by making compost ber of its Parish Council. in their gardens and by recycling paper and “I grew up in the Armenian Church and plastic bottles. “I get a lot of phone calls from with the church community,” he said. He was parents complaining because their kids won’t involved with the Diocese of the Armenian allow them to throw trash away,” jokes Church of America (Eastern), and before Sahakyan. “That’s how I know our work is pay- ATP’s Michael and Virginia Ohanian Center for Environmental Studies is a “living laboratory” for going to law school, he went to work at the ing off.” environmental education in northern Armenia Department of Youth Ministry at the Diocese In addition to hosting local students, ATP in New York while interning for a congress- hosts diasporan youth as part of the Building man in Washington, DC. Bridges program in the USA. Students from program also includes the training of teachers nurseries and two environmental education Barsamian said, “I came up to New York to Armenia meet their peers from the diaspora to use the “Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree” manu- centers, and has greened villages, churches, do work there on weekends, and shuttled and together learn about their natural heritage al published by ATP and approved by the parks, and open spaces throughout Armenia. In back and forth between Washington and and a little bit about each other. In 2015, ATP Ministry of Education, and conducting lessons the process, the organization has provided New York. People say don’t get involved in hosted six school visits from the diaspora which at a number of workshops and summer camps. employment for hundreds of people and provid- politics and religion, but I happened to get included tree plantings at historical locations Since its inception in 1994, ATP has planted ed vital resources to thousands of villagers. For involved in both.” like . The environmental education more than 4.9 million trees, established three more information, visit www.armeniatree.org. In the 1990s, he was asked to participate in the National Council of Churches. He served on its board for 12 years, and for two years was the chairman of its constitutional bylaws committee. After moving back to the Boston area, he continued to work with ecu- menical groups, and was invited to partici- pate in the leadership of the Massachusetts Council of Churches (MCC), an interdenomi- national body which the Armenian Church

Rev. Laura Everett, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, congratu- lates Anthony Barsamian at his inauguration

joined in 2002. He served as its vice presi- dent for the last two years. The MCC supports its member denomina- tions. Most recently, a number of its leaders and clergy came to participate in the cele- bration of Armenian Christmas at St. James Armenian Church in Watertown. Barsamian said, “[MCC executive director] Rev. Laura Everett designed the service to meet the requirements of our church with great sensi- tivity, and was inclusive of all faith groups there, Christians, Jews and Muslims.” Last year, the MCC together with the Armenian clergy in the region organized the well- attended ecumenical service on April 23, 1915 at Trinity Church of Copley Square, commemorating the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. On February 6, the MCC held its annual meet- ing at Holy Translators and installed Barsamian as its president. Rev. Arakel Aljalian of St. James Armenian Church and Rev. Dajad Davidian attended. Barsamian will not only be the first mem- ber of the Church of Armenia to be president, but also the first Oriental or Eastern Orthodox. The president works with the board and the executive director for Christian outreach and programs that impact the various local Christian communions. Barsamian was enthusiastic about the work of the MCC. He said, “In the past every- body was divided among their different denominations. We are now starting to see new generations of Christians in America try- ing to create one family through the unity of the Christian churches.” He said that the MCC today is very interested in the Middle East at and many of its members advocate for Middle Eastern Christians. The MCC is plan- ning to travel to Armenia. Another focus will be the prevention of opioid addiction. S ATURDAY, F EBRUARY 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS Barsamian Works to Revitalize Armenian Assembly

BARSAMIAN, from page 1 organization. I am most proud of the fact that it is nonpartisan reports.” He noted that many world leaders, including US Vice Assembly board of directors, in the early 2000s, and from 2004 and not aligned with any US or Armenian political party. We President Joseph Biden, are confirming that ISIS is selling oil to 2006 was the chairman of that board (the board of directors cannot endorse candidates for any election in the US, as we are to or through Turkey. was merged with the board of trustees at the end of his term). a 501(c)3,” he said. “It is an inclusive organization, not exclu- Barsamian declared that the Assembly has not given up on Barsamian recalled that in those years the Assembly had sive, so that you can belong to the Assembly, and still, for exam- building an Armenian Genocide museum in Washington despite expanded, and had a large staff in Washington DC, Los Angeles ple, be a part of the Armenian National Committee of America.” its clashes with the Cafesjian Family Foundation. ANI already and Armenia. Among its accomplishments during those years People should understand, Barsamian declared, that it is not has an online museum, and, according to Barsamian, ANI’s was to help regularize US-Armenian economic relations. An act a community-based organization, and is not involved in arts or informational website last year had more hits than any other of Congress, signed into law by the US president, granted culture per se. Instead, he said, “We believe that the Armenian genocide site in the US, with over 4 million hits. Armenia normal trade partner status in 2004 and lowered trade Assembly will be a strong conduit for US-Armenian relations While parts of its collection will be accessible to readers in duties on Armenian goods entering the US. both at the state and federal level. We are now bringing in lead- the new Assembly offices, the organization is still looking at After this period, Barsamian spent more time on specific pro- ers who understand that this is the mission of the organiza- other potential properties for a museum. Barsamian said that jects in Armenia. He joined the board of the Armenia Marriott tion.” “it would take a few strong new donors along with the ones we Hotel Yerevan. Around the same time, in 2007 or 2008, he Barsamian continued, “We are investing in Armenia, trying to already have. It is a big project and somebody must be deeply joined the Armenian Tree Project (ATP), which was founded by raise the standard of living in Armenia, and security is a big part passionate about the project. We, the Armenian Assembly, are Mugar in 1994 and affiliated with the Armenian Assembly. of that. We are asking the United States, which can help with passionate about it. We need to regroup around a new leader- Barsamian said, “What I really like about ATP is that it is built security, to work with Russia and as part of the ship for the museum project. We need both the resources and around the education of the younger generations.” Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to leadership to move it forward.” He found its work in Armenia to be extremely significant. He make sure that the region does not become destabilized.” Barsamian was co-chairman of the Massachusetts Armenian said, “It is probably the most symbolic gesture we can make for “Right now,” he said, “we are focused on Karabagh and the Genocide Centennial Committee last year, which organized four the country. Putting a shovel in the soil and planting trees, ceasefire violations of the Azeris.” The Assembly, said major events in Boston with great attendance. He said, “The sig- helping rural development in the villages, and reminding the Barsamian, “talks to both the Administration and the US medi- nificant take-away [lesson] was that people took us very seri- country about sustainability is probably one of the most noble ator of the OSCE about the ceasefire violations caused by ously. The effort we made was professional and serious. All things we can do. It shows we are there for the future and want Azerbaijan on a daily basis. Azerbaijan needs to be held organizations worked together flawlessly. It gives me hope and to protect village life.” accountable for those violations.” He added, “We have the ear pride that we can indeed work together as Armenians in a very Barsamian serves on ATP’s executive committee at present. professional manner.” Barsamian traveled a lot to Armenia for these kinds of pro- He was optimistic about the impact of the centennial com- jects, and had some fun serendipitous encounters. Last year, memorative events. Barsamian declared, “Nothing went with- while he attended an ATP meeting in October Yerevan with out notice. Having 15,000 people in Times Square in New York Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Garen Nazarian, Conan City was noticed, with the entire United Nations ambassador O’Brien happened to be staying at the Marriott Armenia Hotel corps at St. Vartan Cathedral. Having the Massachusetts while preparing a special episode of his late night talk show Congressional delegation with us, and the governor, senators about Armenia. Barsamian said, “Knowing he was from and all high level officials, and having around 160,000 people Brookline [Mass.], we said hello, and asked if we could have a in Los Angeles for the largest demonstration ever in the histo- picture. Later we spoke with Sona Movsesian, his assistant.” ry of that city did not go without notice. And all the while coun- Barsamian became more directly involved in the administra- tries continued to recognize the Armenian Genocide through- tion of the Assembly in 2015, as part of an ambitious reorgani- out the world.” zational effort. In a recent interview, Barsamian said, “The Internationally, he said, “What we learned last year is that the Assembly founders, people like Hrair Hovnanian and Aram world fully understands and affirms the Armenian Genocide, so Kaloosdian, asked that a new generation come into leadership. it is now an issue for Turkey and its government to deal with We are bringing that new generation into the Armenian and understand its recent past.” With more and more countries Assembly.” recognizing the Armenian Genocide, Barsamian said, “my hope Barsamian and Van Z. Krikorian were elected in February Anthony Barsamian, Assembly Regional Director Arpi Vartanian, is that the US does not end up becoming one of the last in the 2015 as co-chairmen of the board of trustees, while on May 1, Conan O’Brien, Assembly Board of Trustees President Carolyn tiers of countries to formally and unequivocally reaffirm its 2015 key Assembly leader Hrair Hovnanian assumed the title of Mugar and Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Garen recognition of the Armenian Genocide.” chairman emeritus. Barsamian pointed out that Krikorian is Nazarian at the Marriott Armenia Hotel He said that in a different sense, the Washington DC com- experienced, as he has been with the Assembly since the 1970s. memoration was the most significant event of the year, because He sued the State Department over its incorrect characteriza- it brought together the Armenian Church’s hierarchy and peo- tion of the Armenian Genocide, and was one of the chief archi- of Congress. Unlike Azerbaijan and Turkey, which have aligned ple. He said, “To have our entire community together with tects of Section 907, which restricted aid to Azerbaijan because and spent millions of dollars on paid lobbyists, we use our net- catholicoi and all the bishops with full unity of our church is of its blockade of Armenia. The position of chairman is being work of Armenian-American citizens who live in this country.” not something we can now walk back from.” shared because of the heavy responsibility and burden of work, The Assembly on January 29 sent a letter to US Secretary of Barsamian issued a challenge for the church hierarchy, pro- as well as the opportunity to draw on the different realms of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew opposing claiming, “It is truly time to unite our church. It is not some- expertise of the co-chairmen. a potential bailout of Azerbaijan by the International Monetary thing the people can do. It is something the leadership can Talin Yacoubian, a Los Angeles lawyer who was co-chair of Fund and World Bank. do…That will be the true legacy of these two catholicoi and the the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of the “That the US is even considering a package of this mag- bishops.” Western US (which organized a 160,000-person march) and nitude for a rogue nation, with its human rights record and Current developments in the Middle East have created a third chair of the Armenian General Benevolent Union Western lack of regard for its neighbors, shows the power of the set of issues that the Assembly must urgently deal with today, District Committee of the US, was recently inducted as the Azeri lobby, and why the Armenian Assembly needs to exist. Barsamian pointed out. He said, “As Armenian Americans, we newest Assembly trustee. Other experienced board members If Azerbaijan is rewarded with a bailout package, it will send should reflect back 100 years to a time when we could not our- like Kaloosdian and Mugar remain involved. the wrong message –— that dictators can get away with egre- selves do anything about the situation of Armenians and A series of changes in staff has been underway. The four- gious violations with no repercussions. The Azeris have been Christians in the Middle East. There is a call for action now. We member fulltime staff at the Assembly’s Washington, DC head- scored at the absolute bottom [of human rights country list- need to redouble our efforts and help those, whether Christian, quarters was expanded to five, when Danielle Saroyan was ings] by Human Rights Watch, yet the US has been reluctant Yezidi or Muslim, in the Middle East, to get safe passage to hired as an associate in the Communications/Press department to criticize the Azeris for across-the-board violations until Armenia.” in September. This number does not include the affiliated just recently, after direct protest from the Assembly in DC,” Barsamian suggested that all Armenian organizations should Armenian National Institute (ANI), founded in 1997. More new Barsamian said. develop a “come to home” policy for assistance and resettle- Washington hires are in the works, he said. Now, the US mediator has been very critical of Azerbaijan. ment for all Armenians. In addition, he said, non-Armenian vic- Bryan Ardouny remains as the Assembly’s executive director Armenia’s relations with Turkey and the ongoing denial of tims of Middle Eastern turmoil should be assisted to resettle in after over a decade in the position. the Armenian Genocide by the latter constitute another set of Armenia. Barsamian said that the Assembly is working with the The Assembly has an office in Yerevan, which used to be ongoing major concerns for the Armenian Assembly. Barsamian Near East Foundation and others on such issues when it meets headed by a Country Director. In April 2015, the position of said, “At this time, more and more people in Turkey openly with the US National Security Council and State Department Regional Director was created, and Arpi Vartanian, who had acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. The question is how will in Washington DC in closed-door meetings. The Assembly is worked for the Assembly in various posts in the past, was the respond to calls for open acknowl- also talking with all Armenian organizational leaders regularly, appointed to it. The office deals with all the countries in the edgement and account for this dark chapter in their history.” he said, so that the voice of the Armenians is heard in area, as well as Armenia, and has four staff members besides the He stressed that, “There has to be full accounting for what was Washington. director. done. Lives were lost, properties taken and churches confiscat- Barsamian said, “Armenians have been leaving the major In January 2016, Mihran Toumajan was appointed as ed and demolished. Just like we need to hold ISIS accountable, urban centers to settle all around the country. Our goal is to Western Region Director at the Assembly’s Glendale, California the inheritors of the Ottomans need to account for this to the have organizations in all 50 states. We have them in around offices. The Armenian Tree Project, affiliated with the Armenian people.” 25 states now.” These state organizations work on the Assembly, and established in 1993, has an office in Watertown Barsamian added that the Assembly would want to be part of Congressional and state level on issues relevant to and one in Yerevan. Jeanmarie Papelian was hired as its execu- any legal case that is brought against Turkey in this connection. Armenians. Barsamian said that it was largely due to the tive director in May 2015 to replace managing director Tom While Barsamian said that the Assembly would love for Assembly’s work that some 43 states now recognize the Garabedian. Turkey to be a member of the European Union (EU), in order Armenian Genocide. The Washington headquarters itself has just been moved to a for this to happen, it has to act more like Europeans. In other The Assembly is going to be represented at both Democratic more spacious location on 15th Street, only a few blocks away words, he said, “Instead of being more multicultural, Turkey has and Republican presidential national conventions this year, from the White House. This will, among other things, allow the started conflicts with the Kurds again. It talks about a good Barsamian revealed. He said, “We usually get involved in a lot showcasing of materials from the Armenian National Institute’s neighbor policy, but I am not sure how many of its neighbors of the subcommittee meetings, and we meet with members and archives pertaining to the Armenian Genocide, including the consider Turkey to be a good neighbor.” Turkey has to open its leadership.” It has also been present during some primaries, Morgenthau Library. The headquarters also hosts the offices of borders fully with Armenia and its other neighbors if it is to such as in New Hampshire this year. the Legate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America enter the EU, he added. The Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship Program offers (Eastern) and the Permanent Representative of the Nagorno Barsamian said that the US relationship with Turkey is not another route for people to become involved in Armenian Karabagh Republic in the US. going in a good direction and US attitudes are changing. He affairs. It is the oldest and largest such Armenian program, dat- Barsamian spoke about the nature and mission of the declared, “Turkey has not a good job of sealing its porous bor- ing back to 1977 in Washington DC. The Assembly also started Assembly. “The Armenian Assembly is an Armenian-American ders and seems to be supporting ISIS according to some a second program for internships in Armenia. 10 S ATURDAY, F EBRUARY 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Arts & Living Goodbye, Antoura Memoir to Be A Date with Presented at Destiny —- Armenian Society 55 Years Of Los Angeles

GLENDALE — The noteworthy memoir, Later Goodbye, Antoura: A Memoir of the Armenian Genocide (Stanford Univ. Press, 2015), by the late Karnig Panian, will be the focus of a pro- By Tom Vartabedian gram on Thursday, February 18, at 7:30 p.m., at the Armenian Society of Los Angeles Main Hall, 117 S. Louise St. Time has a habit of keeping us con- The event is organized by the National nected to the past. Association for Armenian Studies and Research After 55 years, I am returning home — (NAASR) and co-sponsored by the Ararat- not literally but in a very special way. Eskijian Museum, Hamazkayin Armenian An Armenian Catholic Monastery in Educational and Cultural Society, Hamazkayin Vienna, Austria, where the Benedictine Jemaran Association, Nor Serount Cultural monks donned long, black robes and Association and Tekeyan Cultural Association. sported white flowing beards that extend- Featuring remarks by the author’s daughter, ed below the neckline. Houry Panian Boyamian, Principal of St. They were the Mekhitarist Fathers — a Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School in 290-year-old monastic order dedicated to Watertown, the event will also include presen- spirituality and literature. All of them tations by Dr. Richard G. Hovannisian, profes- were erudite but humble, celibate of sor emeritus of Modern Armenian and Near course, and ritualistically austere as Eastern History, UCLA, and Adjunct Professor demanded by the order. of history, UCLA, as well as independent I was the first American student to researcher Maurice Missak Kelechian. Dr. Keith invade their premises for any duration of David Watenpaugh of the University of time — a baptism by fire that would hope- California, Davis, will provide comments via fully open doors for subsequent students video, and Dr. Viken Yacoubian of Woodbury of my generation. University and the Hamazkayin Central My mission was a worthy one: to study Executive Board will serve as Master of the Armenian language, learn more about Ceremonies. your culture and heritage, and above all, Born in the Anatolian village of Gurin, Karnig make a firm impression. Panian was only five years old when World War “Threaten the Pope” by Lucine Kasbarian It was a tall order. I was a 19-year-old I began. Four years later, American aid workers journalism major at Boston University, found him at an orphanage in Antoura, born to Genocide survivors, and deeply Lebanon. He was among nearly 1,000 involved with my church and community. Armenian and 400 Kurdish children who had Cartoons Worth a On the social side, you could call me a been abandoned by the Turkish administrators, whirling dervish, attending dances and left to survive at the orphanage without adult carousing until the wee house of morn- care. He grew up to become an educator and ing. vice principal at Djemaran, the Armenian Thousand Words For one year, I minded my manners and applied myself to their rules of decorum. I spoke their language, ate their food, WESTON, Mass. (Keghart) — The centennial of the Armenian Genocide last year observed their tenets and played by their brought forth a welcome avalanche of political activism, books, scholarly and jour- rules. I grew my own beard and often nalistic reports, conferences, community donned a robe, particularly when it came projects, music, theatrical performances, to serving Mass for the Archbishop and visual arts presentations, and civic and reli- By Jirair Tutunjian Abbot General of this monastery. gious commemorations. I found myself inside a coterie of 15 One such event was the multi-exhibition priests and three older seminarians about series “Kiss the Ground” (Yergurbakootyoon), which featured Perspectives from to be ordained. Each priest was an entity Exile— 22 political cartoons by author, journalist, activist, and cartoonist Lucine unto its own. I often wondered how a Kasbarian of New Jersey and Massachusetts. group of men, personalities diverse, could Fourteen other Armenian-American creative people participated in the “Kiss the bond the way they did. Ground” exhibition, which explored memory, loss and culture, and was held at the And how, despite their advanced ages, Cambridge School of Weston. could they maintain such a diligent liter- An offshoot of the exhibition is Kasbarian’s Perspectives from Exile, a 110-page ary pace. I was grounded once for not illustrated volume that includes a foreword by Curator Todd Bartel, a visual arts meeting curfew and disciplined another teacher and the director of the Cambridge School’s Thompson Gallery. time for not having my lessons prepared. The volume’s incisive political Obedience, chastity and poverty were per- cartoons explore topics such as manent vows with no exception. Armenian Genocide denial, repa- I came out a new man, resolved toward rations, Turkish and Azeri bel- maturity, and about to embrace the uni- ligerence and NATO indifference versity with a new and serious frame of to the Armenian Cause. mind. No. The idea of being ordained into One of Kasbarian’s cartoons priesthood never entered my mind. My produced during the Genocide parents thought otherwise, fearful of any centennial year, titled Lyceum, based in Beirut, Lebanon. last-minute decisions. They wanted mar- “Threaten the Pope,” spotlight- His memoir, Goodbye, Antoura, offers the riage, grandchildren, a son with a career ed Turkish President Erdogan extraordinary story of what he endured in those other than the church. dreaming about the fate of years — as his people were deported from their After a year, I vowed to return. The year Pope Francis after Erdogan Armenian community, as his family died in a was 1960. Elvis was singing the blues. threatened the latter for refugee camp in the deserts of Syria, as he sur- “Ben Hur” was rocking the big screen. acknowledging the Armenian vived hunger and mistreatment in the orphan- John F. Kennedy was on his way to Genocide. The cartoon depicts age. The Antoura orphanage was another pro- becoming our 35th president. And I had Erdogan recalling yesteryear’s ject of the Armenian Genocide: its administra- just smashed up my father’s Buick. attempt on the life of Pope tors, some benign and some cruel, sought to Things weren’t going particularly well John Paul II by Turkish citizen transform the children into Turks by changing on the home front. I had broken up with Mehmet Ali Agca. their Armenian names, forcing them to speak a girlfriend and could tolerate the family’s Also included in Perspectives Turkish, and erasing their history. luncheonette business no longer after from Exile are an interview Lucine Kasbarian Goodbye, Antoura was translated by Simon being weaned into it. see CARTOONS, page 11 Beugekian and edited by Aram Goudsouzian. It To put it bluntly, I needed a change in includes a foreword by Dr. Vartan Gregorian see DESTINY, page 12 see MEMOIR, page 11 S ATURDAY, F EBRUARY 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 ARTS & LIVING Armenian Brandy and Winston Churchill

LONDON — October 29, 2015 was a special the unprecedented success of the Armenian Embassy has been sending brandy to day for Sotheby’s Auction House. Under the brandy in misty Albion will help to promote the a “dead” Churchill for the past ten auspices and with the participation of Albert, fame of “Ararat” brand. years! Unfortunately from that day on the Crown Prince of Monaco, an auction was When and where did Churchill first drink the our source of the Armenian brandy dried organised on the occasion of the 50th Death Armenian brandy? up! By the way, added Sara, “I used to enjoy Anniversary of Winston Churchill. My wife Vivienne and I had the pleasure of ‘Ararat’ as much as my father.” The main organizers of the event were Prince enjoying the friendship of Winston Churchill’s After the dinner only the empty bottle of Albert of Monaco, the British Ambassador to daughter Sara for many years, starting from ‘’Ararat’’ remained on the dining table! Monaco and the former Prime Minister and cur- late 1960s. When for the first time she was invit- — Assadour Guzelian rent Ambassador of Armenia Dr. Armen ed to dinner, she noticed in our sitting room on London, December 2015 Sarkissian. The entire proceeds of the auction the piano, a bottle of “Ararat” Armenian brandy. was allocated to Prince Albert’s charities relat- She looked at the bottle with amazement and ed to climatic changes. said, Items being auctioned were the drinks, cigars “From 1945 until his death, my father used and menswear of renowned brands and others to drink this brandy.” objects favoured by Churchill. Then Sara told us when and where Churchill During the auction the main attention was first drank “Ararat.” focused on the statue of Churchill by the well- During the Yalta Conference In 1945 known sculptor Oscar Nemon February, after the din- and a decades old bottle of ner Stalin asks “Ararat” Armenian brandy with Churchill an interesting background histo- if he wishes to have ry. Many years ago, this unique a drink. bottle of Armenian brandy was “I would like a sold at an auction by Christy’s brandy with my cigar,” for more than GBP15, 000. answers the British According to the documents pro- Prime Minister. vided the bottle was filled from The host offers the same barrels from which for Churchill “Ararat,” the Winston Churchill many years Stalin supplied best Armenian brandy. Churchill with “Ararat” According to Sara, Armenian brandy. Churchill “falls in love” The exclusive bottle of brandy with “Ararat” was donated to the auction by Armenian brandy and former Prime Minister and cur- asks Stalin, “Where Recipe rent Ambassador of Armenia Dr. can I purchase few bot- Armen Sarkissian. tles of this brandy? Sotheby’s auction house was Stalin instructs the filled with many high class aris- Soviet ambassador to Corner tocrats. What happened at the the UK to present auction next, surpassed every- Churchill with a case one’s expectation; The 70-year- (12 bottles) of “Ararat” by Christine Vartanian Datian old “Ararat” was sold for every month. $120,000! “My father passed The participants to the auc- away, but we contin- tion with amazement and admiration spoke ued receiving every month a case of “Ararat.” Eggplant, Tomato and Kale Moussaka about Armenia and the Armenians. Hopefully Many years later, someone realises that the What are you to do if you love the luscious Greek eggplant dish mous- saka but are a confirmed vegetarian? Don’t fret — read below. INGREDIENTS Cartoons Worth a Thousand Words 2 medium eggplants, washed, sliced ¼" thick (eggplant may be peeled, if desired) 2 medium tomatoes, sliced thinly CARTOONS, from page 10 journalists; its shooting down of a Russian mil- 2-3 cups fresh kale, cleaned and roughly chopped with Kasbarian conducted by Bartel, photos of itary jet; Ankara’s continued denial of the 2 medium onions, finely chopped the exhibition, highly informative articles by Armenian Genocide; its president’s support of 1 green bell pepper or 2 Anaheim peppers, seeded and diced Kasbarian about the history and consequences ISIS and aggression into Syria and Iraq, not to 3 cloves garlic, minced of the Genocide and its denial, and the artist’s mention his numerous inane pronouncements, 2 1/2 cups marinara sauce or tomato puree statement. Kasbarian’s Perspectives from 2 eggs, beaten Kasbarian’s cartoons have appeared in more Exile provides some much-needed relief from Chopped flat-leaf parsley and mint, about 1/4 cup each than twenty-five Armenian and non-Armenian the oppressive insanity and criminality pouring 1 teaspoon sea salt or Kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper publications and websites, including Foreign out of Ankara. 1 teaspoon dried crushed oregano Policy Journal, Zartonk, Women’s International This publication deserves wide distribution 1/2 teaspoon each crushed red pepper flakes and paprika Perspective, Weekly, Veterans Today and as it is undoubtedly a significant contribution 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg Keghart.com. to the published observances of the Centennial Olive oil and unsalted butter Kasbarian’s political cartoons reaffirm the of the Armenian Genocide. 2 tablespoons each chopped walnuts and pine nuts validity of the opinion of many critics of “mod- To order Perspectives from Exile ($24 USD), 2 cups shredded or grated fresh Parmesan, Jack, Mozzarella or mizithra cheese ern” Turkey that the rulers’ mindset has not visit: http://www.lulu.com/shop/todd-bartel- Greek yogurt, lebne, or ricotta cheese for garnish changed from that of the Ottomans and the and-lucine-kasbarian/lucine-kasbarianperspec- Lemon zest and juice of one lemon for garnish Young Turks. tives-from-exile/paperback/product- In a year which saw Turkey’s continued 22477813.html or place an order with PREPARATION: oppression of its indigenous minorities and Armenian booksellers. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine the cheese with the eggs, parsley, mint, salt, pepper, oregano, red pepper flakes, paprika, and nutmeg; mix and set aside. Sauté the kale, onions, bell pepper, and garlic in a few tablespoons of olive oil until the Goodbye, Antoura onions are translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Spread a half cup of the marinara sauce or puree on the bottom of a 9 X 13 glass bak- To Be Presented in ing dish. Arrange the eggplant slices on top of the sauce, cutting slices, if necessary, to fit spacing; repeat and alternate in layers with the sliced tomatoes, sautéed onion mixture, Los Angeles and the remaining sauce, and finish with the eggplant slices on top. Pour the cheese and egg mixture over the top of the moussaka and spread evenly; driz- MEMOIR, from page 10 zle with olive oil and top with chopped walnuts and pine nuts. Add a few dabs of butter and an introduction and afterword by Prof. on the top and bake (on a cooking sheet) for one hour or until the eggplant is tender. Keith David Watenpaugh. Remove moussaka from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before cutting into squares. Panian paints a painfully rich and detailed Top each square with a dollop of Greek yogurt, lebne, or ricotta cheese, and garnish with picture of the lives and agency of Armenian lemon zest or lemon juice, if desired. orphans during the darkest days of World War Serves 6-8. I. Ultimately, Karnig Panian survived the Armenian Genocide and the deprivations that Christine's recipes have been published in the Fresno Bee, Sunset and Cooking Light followed. Goodbye, Antoura assures us of how Magazines, and at http://www.thearmeniankitchen.com/. humanity, once denied, can be again reclaimed. For Christine's recipes that have been published in Sunset and Cooking Light Magazines, Copies of Goodbye, Antoura will be available go to: the night of the lecture through a partnership http://www.myrecipes.com/search/site/ with Abril Bookstore of Glendale. Datian. For more information about this program Houry Panian Boyamian contact NAASR or [email protected]. 12 S ATURDAY, F EBRUARY 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING CC AA LENDARLENDAR

Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School, who will speak CALIFORNIA about her father, Karnig Panian’s memoir, Goodbye Antoura: A Memoir of the Armenian Genocide. Complete MARCH 6 — Author Dawn Anahid Mackeen to sign Lenten dinner. Social hour and mezza at 6.15 p.m., din- copies of her book The Hundred-Year-Walk: An ner at 7 p.m. $15 per person. St. James Armenian Armenian Odyssey. St. Vartan Armenian Church, Church, Charles Mosesian Cultural and Youth Center, Sunday, Lecture/Book Presentation at St. Vartan Keljik Hall, 465 Mount Auburn St., Watertown. Armenian Church. Sponsored by the AGBU, UC Berkeley MAY 12 – Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Armenian Studies Department, and St. Vartan. 650 Boston Presents the Dr. Michael and Joyce Kolligian Spruce St, Oakland, CA. Distinguished Speaker Series, with John Prendergast, MARCH 16 — Abril Books, Wednesday, Book reading founder of “The Enough Project,” an initiative to end and signing, Author Dawn Anahid Mackeen The genocide and crimes against humanity, co-founder “The Hundred-Year-Walk: An Armenian Odyssey. 415 E. Sentry,” a new investigative initiative focused on disman- Broadway, Suite 102, Glendale, CA tling the networks financing conflict and atrocities. 7 p.m. Thursday at Charles and Nevart Talanian Cultural MASSACHUSETTS Hall, Holy Trinity, 145 Brattle Street, Cambridge MA Info: 617.354.0632 FEBRUARY 13 – May 21 — Multiple dates, authors E. MAY 27 — 65th Annual Armenian Night at the Pops, Philip Brown and Tom Vartabedian will speak about Featuring Boston Pops Orchestra, Keith Lockhart, their book, Armenians of the Merrimack Valley. Conductor; presenting Edvard Poghossian, cello. February13, Book launch and presentation, 10 a.m. to On Monday, March 7, Houry Panian Presented by Friends of Armenian Culture Society. noon, Haverhill Public Library, 99 Summer St.; Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. For tick- Boyamian, pictured above, will be the February18, Book-signing and presentation, 7 pm, ets and information, visit facsboston.org Tewksbury Public Library, 300 Chandler St.; March 31, guest speaker at St. James Armenian SEPTEMBER 30 — OCTOBER 2 — 25th Anniversary book-signing and presentation, 7 p.m., Buttonwoods Church’s Men’s Club. Boyamian will Celebration, Armenian International Women’s Museum, 240 Water St., Haverhill and May 21, book-sign- speak about her father Karnig Association. Charles Hotel, Cambridge. ing, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Vermette’s Market, 6 Pond St., Panian’s book, Goodbye Antoura: A Amesbury. Memoir of the Armenian Genocide. FEBRUARY 18 — Thursday, 6 p.m., Hrant Dink NEW HAMPSHIRE The program will begin at 6:15 p.m., Memorial Peace and Justice Lecture, “Complex Truths with a full Lenten dinner served at 7 MARCH 19 — Book-signing and presentation, 1-4 p.m., in Trials of Conflicts,” Knafel Center, formerly Radcliffe Barnes and Noble, Salem, NH by authors E. Philip Brown p.m., at St. James Armenian Church, Gym, 10 Garden St., Rakel Dink, Hrant Dink Foundation and Tom Vartabedian will speak about their book, – Istanbul and Cemal Kafadar, Vehbi Koç Professor of Charles Mosesian Cultural and Youth Armenians of the Merrimack Valley. Turkish Studies, Harvard University. Main speaker, Sir Center, Keljik Hall, 465 Mount Geoffrey Nice, Gresham College Professor of Law. This Auburn St., Watertown. NEW JERSEY event will be live streamed. Free and open to the public. Seating is limited. MAHINDRA HUMANITIES CENTER / MARCH 18 – Cultural Committee of St. Thomas HARVARD - mahindra.fas.harvard.edu Armenian Church presents A Night at the Opera, FEBRUARY 20 – Armenian Business Network Career MARCH 6 — Actor and director Jirair Papasian of Paris, Anoush by Tigranian, HD Opera with K. Kasbarian, D. Day for Armenian high school seniors and college stu- France will speak and present a screening of his produc- Levonian, A. Garabedian, M. Andonian. Friday, 7:30 dents, Saturday, 1-6 p.m., Microsoft N.E.R.D. Center in tion of the musical “Garine” at the AGBU Center, 247 Mt. p.m., Atrium, 174 Essex Drive, Tenafly, NJ 07670. Wine Cambridge, MA. Meet prominent mentors from many Auburn St., Watertown. Proceeds will support the Dikran and cheese reception. Donation $10 adults & children. professions. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity! Tchouhadjian International Institute. The event is cospon- For reservations, please contact: Talar Sesetyan Registration required, Feb. 1 deadline. No charge. For sored by the AGBU New England District Chapter, Sarafian: (201) 240 – 8541 or Church Office: (201) 567 details: www.armenianbusinessnetwork.com. Amaras Art Alliance, and the Tekeyan Cultural – 5446. FEBRUARY 24 — Resilient Women Series: Armenian Assocation. More details to come shortly. Women in Iran, Wednesday, 7 p.m. reception, 8 p.m. MARCH 6 — St. Stephen’s Armenian Church in NEW YORK presentation. Speaker: Ani Babaian-Khachikian. Co-spon- Watertown will host a Lenten Dinner, sponsored by sored by AIWA New England Affiliate and NAASR at the St. Stephen’s Ladies’ Guild. Begins at 1 p.m. in the APRIL 5 – Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) presents Armenian Cultural Foundation, 441 Mystic Street, church hall, 38 Elton Ave. Board Member Raffi Manjikian Sahan Arzruni in Benefit Concert “Together for Arlington, MA. RSVP at [email protected] or will speak on the “Cultural Traditions of Armenian Armenia,” Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. An evening of solo piano 617.501.1215 Carpets.” Donation: $25. For more information, call music to benefit the Vanadzor Old Age Home adminis- MARCH 6 — Book Launch, commemorating International Deanne Nahabedian, (781) 891-7249 or the church office tered by FAR. Merkin Concert Hall - Kaufman Music Women’s Day: In the Ruins by Zabel Yessayan. Sponsored by at (617) 924-7562. Center, 129 West 67th Street, New York. Tickets $35, will the Armenian International Women’s Association. 2 p.m., MARCH 7 — St. James Armenian Church’s Men’s Club go on sale in February 2016. Please contact FAR for more Watertown Free Public Library. will host Houry Panian Boyamian, principal of St. info: [email protected] or 212.889.5150.

A Date with Destiny —- 55 Years Later

DESTINY, from page 10 life. It came one Sunday after church when my pastor proposed the idea of a pilot pro- gram. The decades trickled by. Each Christmas for 25 years, my wife and I made it a point to send the seminarians gifts at Christmas, mailed well before Thanksgiving. Six years ago, I met a man in Armenia who remem- bered the “Santa Claus from America” who brightened the day with presents. I did not recognize him in his adulthood. He remembered me like a true brother. And suddenly, just like that, sentiment sent me Armenian Catholic Mekhitarist Fathers of Vienna, Austria, with whom the writer (back row) studied in 1960 as a 19-year-old. soaring to the skies. At 70, time was running out on my promise to revisit. This past September, a trip to Turkey was had a year to recalculate. After some serious The city of Strauss and a coterie of priests learned my backgammon here and seldom postponed, due to the unrest in that country. thought, we decided upon Munich, Salzburg awaiting my arrival. The church where I prevailed. Istanbul was under siege and other points of and Vienna. It was now or never. Our sojourn enjoyed my altar duties. The distillery where Ironic, isn’t it, the way serendipity has cho- interest on our itinerary were being compro- will take place March 8-16. Just the two of us, I helped to prepare the greatest cordials and sen to play its idyllic course. We’ll soon meet mised. my wife and me. cognacs throughout Europe during work- again at the crossroads of destiny and I will In order to preserve our airlines tickets, we The mere thought puts a tear in my eye. study. The chess games at sidewalk cafes. I have fulfilled a vow of my own. S ATURDAY, F EBRUARY 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 COMMENTARY

COMMENTARY Mirror Robert Haddejian: Dean of Armenian Spectator Journalists at 90 Garbis Janjikian, Zaven Biberian and Antan Ozer saw their lives By Edmond Y. Azadian cut short because of illness or sufferings they experienced as par- ticipants in the left-wing political movement. Haddejian, Zareh Kharkhouni and Zahrad were lucky to sur- EstablishedEstablished 1932 1932 Robert Haddejian may not be a household name on the vive and to continue contributing significantly to the develop- western shores of the Atlantic, but his literary and journalis- ment of Istanbul Armenian literature, which eventually also An ADLAn Publication ADL Publication tic achievements place him among the major icons of impacted literature in the diaspora and Armenia, with Armenian cultural history. (See related story on Page 1.) Varteres Karageuzian and Garig Basmadjian serving as a January 2016 marked a watershed in his life, as he stepped bridge between those communities. into his ninth decade, still going strong, still producing and Despite the daily responsibilities of being an editor, EDITOR creating relentlessly with an unstoppable zeal. Haddejian has proved to be one of the most prolific writers of Alin K. Gregorian The Istanbul Armenians celebrated the 90th birthday of this his generation. Additionally, he turned a daily paper into a lit- phenomenal man. Armenia and the Diasporan Armenians have erary forum, where prominent writers gathered and younger ASSISTANT EDITOR talents were nurtured. Aram Arkun also been joining that celebration. Although his literary out- put is confined to Armenian, his creative life has impacted not Haddejian published his first play in 1960 under the title of ART DIRECTOR only the Istanbul Armenian community, but also the entire “Three Sundays in a Life,” and he received the Anahid Marc Mgrditchian diaspora. Literary Prize. Haddejian’s prodigious output can be categorized under lit- “Intimately with Hagop Baronian” reveals the famous erature or journalism. The combination of his literary and satirist’s life, talent and sadness. This work seems to have been journalistic talents have rendered him into a wise community inspired by and fashioned on the famous biographies of Henri leader who has guided the Armenian community through Troyat, in which the profile of a celebrity’s life (Turgenev, SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: many trials and tribulations in that historic and inclement Tolstoy, etc.) also covers the burning issues of contemporary Edmond Y. Azadian landscape. First and foremost, he is a prominent writer, having life. Errors in Words is the collection of short stories pub- produced pioneering works in prose. Almost 70 years of his lished in 1972. “Sunday Closing” and “Vastak” (Achievements) CONTRIBUTORS: Florence Avakian, Dr. Haroutiun life have been dedicated to Armenian journalism, 50 as the edi- are two plays, the first dealing with love and marriage and the Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Diana tor-in-chief of latter with aging. Der Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, Marmara daily news- Fifteen Days of My Kevork Keushkerian, Harut Sassounian, paper. Diary, published in Hagop Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian Since the establish- 1977, a travelogue ment of the Republic written in a brisk CORRESPONDENTS: of Turkey by Ataturk, journalistic style, Armenia - Hagop Avedikian the country has expe- contains the pages of Boston - Nancy Kalajian rienced many political enduring beauty and Philadelphia - Lisa Manookian Berlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach upheavals — each literary lure. His change impacting the award-winning collec- Contributing Photographers: Armenian community tion of short stories, Jacob Demirdjian and Jirair Hovsepian life. Haddejian has On the Greatness and proven to be one of Wretchedness of the more prudent Man, was published The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published leaders, safeguarding in 1977. It delves into weekly, except two weeks in July and the first the community’s phys- the analysis of two week of the year, by: ical presence while opposite poles of the Association, Inc. preserving its cultural human condition and identity. is endowed with mod- 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 ern style and a fresh Telephone: 617-924-4420 Despite the stipula- tions of the Lausanne outlook. FAX: 617-924-2887 Treaty of 1923 which The Ceiling is a www.mirrorspectator.com guarantees linguistic, novel published in E-Mail: [email protected] cultural and religious 1983 and is consid- For advertising: [email protected] freedoms for the ered to be his master- Christian minorities in piece. His hero is an Turkey, Armenian invalid, confined to community life had his bed for the become a suffocating remainder of his life, experience in the early watching the ceiling, SUBSCRIPTION RATES: days of the new repub- which allegorically lic. Following the becomes a screen Genocide, a decimated where he watches the U.S.A. $80 a year Armenian community lives of his children, Canada $125 a year survived in Istanbul, far away in Canada, under the watchful subjected to an alien Other Countries $190 a year eyes of the vengeful culture and assimila- Turkish authorities tion. Here Armenian who enforced rigorous nostalgia emanates © 2014 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator restrictions, including through his humani- Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA literary and press censorship. Armenians were made to feel ty. and additional mailing offices. almost apologetic that they had not shared the fate of their The above-listed literary output is only a fraction of martyred brethren and “disappeared” from the face of the Haddejian’s creations. ISSN 0004-234X earth. Haddejian is a phenomenal writer; he is a natural. His pen It was in this atmosphere and within these parameters that flows easily. His style is simple yet in his simplicity, he cap- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The the Armenian community had to shape its collective life and tures human nature, thus achieving greatness. Armenian Mirror-Spectator, 755 Mount Auburn develop its literature. If anything, that led to a literature of In addition to editing Marmara, a respected daily, Haddejian St., Watertown, MA 02472 sublimation and displaced alienation. has his trademark daily “Notebook” (Houshadedr) where he Other than the editorial, views and opinions Until World War I, Istanbul had been the hub of Armenian focuses on the mundane chores of daily life while often mean- expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily literature and culture, where the Armenian spirit soared dering into philosophical thoughts. For example, a simple reflect the policies of the publisher. through the genius of Varoujan, Siamanto, Tekeyan, Zohrab description of a bird gradually flows into the mysteries of and others. But the new era, with its restrictions, generated a nature, with sensitive beauty. new atmosphere where symbolism and surrealism could only Readers are fortunate that the daily “Notebooks” eventual- survive unscathed. ly become volumes. At last count, the volumes had hit number The human and social frustrations of the Armenian writers 70. And his pen is still writing. Copying for other than personal use or had to be channeled through universal themes. As we ponder the life and the deeds of this man, we discov- internal reference is prohibited without express permission of the copyright European literature, filtered through the poetry of Turkish er that he is more than an individual. He is larger than life, owner. Address requests for reprints or writers such as Nazim Hikmet and Orhan Vali, came to dominate and he is an institution in and of himself. back issues to: the budding Armenian literature: Henri Bergson, Albert Camus, Haddejian has made writing the focus of his life and not Jean-Paul Sartre and T.S. Eliot became role models for the young wasted a single moment in that endeavor. Thus, he has given Baikar Association, Inc. Armenian writers. Robert Haddejian was one of those young tal- back to his community as well as to humanity and served as a role model for an exemplary creative life. 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472- ents. Other promising talents, such as Haigazn Kalousdian, 1509 14 S ATURDAY, F EBRUARY 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

eral Turkish newspaper published in , to confess, also, that the duty of the Government was to prevent reproduce the most interesting portions of it. These have these abuses and atrocities or at least to hunt down and pun- been translated from Turkish for Current History by M. ish their perpetrators severely. In many places, where the Zekeria, a native of Constantinople. They represent about property and goods of the deported people were looted, and fifty pages of the original manuscript, the opening sentence the Armenians molested, we did arrest those who were My Turn of which, ‘I do not tell all the truth, but all I tell is truth,’ responsible and punished them according to the law. I con- aroused a great sensation in Turkey.” fess, however, that we ought to have acted more sternly, By Harut Sassounian In his memoirs, as in his interview with Aubrey Herbert, opened up a general investigation for the purpose of finding Talaat tries to exonerate himself by blaming everyone else — out all the promoters and looters and punished them severe- Armenians, Russians, even Turks — for the Armenian mas- ly. But we could not do that. Although we punished many of Talaat’s Personal Account of The sacres. He does not deny “the deportations of the Armenians, the guilty, most of them were untouched.” Armenian Massacres in some localities of the Greeks, and in Syria of some of the Talaat proceeds to provide excuses for not pursuing per- Arabs,” but claims that such reports “were exceedingly exag- petrators of the Armenian massacres who “were short-sight- In my column last week, I reported that Talaat Pasha, the gerated.” Talaat then adds: “in saying this, I do not mean to ed, fanatic, and yet sincere in their belief. The public encour- mastermind of the Armenian Genocide, had told British intel- deny the facts. I desire only to eliminate the exaggerations aged them, and they had general approval behind them. They ligence officer Aubrey Herbert in 1921 that he had written and to relate the facts as they occurred.” were numerous and strong. Their open and immediate pun- “a memorandum on the Armenian massacres.” The former Grand Vizier confesses: “I admit that we ishment would have aroused great discontent among the peo- I would like now to present brief excerpts from Talaat’s deported many Armenians from our eastern provinces, but ple, who favored their acts. An endeavor to arrest and to pun- lengthy account published in the November 1921 issue of we never acted in this matter upon a previously prepared ish all these promoters would have created anarchy in Current History, the monthly magazine of the New York scheme. The responsibility for these acts falls first of all upon Anatolia at a time when we greatly needed unity.” Times, titled: “Posthumous Memoirs of Talaat Pasha,” and the deported people themselves. Russia, in order to lay hand To set the record straight, Talaat’s claims that Armenians subtitled: “The former Grand Vizier’s own account, written on our eastern provinces, had armed and equipped the stabbed Turkey in the back during WWI are completely false. shortly before his assassination, of why and how Turkey Armenian inhabitants of this district, and had organized Minister of War Enver Pasha, Commander-in-Chief of the entered the war — Secret alliance that preceded the conflict strong Armenian bandit forces in the said area.” Ottoman Armed Forces, in a letter to the Bishop of Konya, — Causes of the Armenian massacres as stated by the man Attempting to repair his tarnished image, Talaat acknowl- praised the bravery of Turkish-Armenian soldiers fighting who ordered them.” edges the Turkish brutalities against Armenians: “I admit against the Russian Army in the winter of 1914-1915. In an introductory note, Current History editors explain also that the deportation was not carried out lawfully every- Ironically, Talaat’s assertion that his government would how they obtained a copy of this revealing report: “…After where. In some places unlawful acts were committed…. Some have taken brutal actions against Armenians even at “a time Talaat’s death, the manuscript passed into the possession of of the officials abused their authority, and in many places of peace” reconfirms long-standing Turkish genocidal prac- his wife, who remained in Germany; she has not yet pub- people took preventive measures into their own hands and tices as previously demonstrated by the Hamidian and Adana lished the whole of it, but after the acquittal of her husband’s innocent people were molested. I confess it.” massacres of Armenians which were carried out when there assassin she permitted the Paris correspondent of Vakit, a lib- Continuing his face-saving rhetoric, Talaat concedes: “I were no wars.

LETTERS Analysis: Karabagh Likely to Be Part of Azadian Paints Too Rosy a Picture of Hollande Putin-Erdogan Talks

(The following letter by international and and the respect of their memory. But, unfortu- the European Court of Human Rights) to start a By Naira Hayrumyan human rights attorney Philippe Raffi Kalfayan is a nately, this is pure hypocrisy when it comes to seri- new study about a legally indisputable project response to the editorial by Edmond Y. Azadian, ous steps and there is nothing to expect other (which is an inconceivable idea in law; fortunately “President Hollande’s Second Coming,” which than words. The “deep State” of France (every a law is always disputable and interpretable). He The presidents of Russia and Turkey, appeared in last week’s edition.) State has its own, not only Turkey its “derin did not assign him the mission to draft a law! Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, devlet”) is not favorable to Armenian new claims Further, you should be informed of many other are expected to meet in Moscow on To The Editor: and is currently totally dependent on its political elements and analyze the announcement in the Wednesday, and many Armenian experts Based out of Europe, I am a regular reader of and economic interests with Turkey and light of them. I bring those to your appreciation: expect from this meeting agreements that your editorials dispatched through the press Azerbaijan (don’t forget that France sold in the 1) The first government of Hollande stopped a may be a challenge for Armenia. digest of Mr. Mihran Keheyan, and I appreciate last years a few high-tech military satellites that new draft law criminalizing the Armenian Erdogan, along with a number of Middle most of them, especially the pertinence of your help in killing Armenian soldiers in Artsakh!). Genocide during a Government meeting in East leaders, will attend the opening of the analysis about Armenian cause or the situation of Secondly, President Hollande may be even September 2012; the foreign affairs minister reconstructed mosque in Moscow. This will Armenia. One can read wise and balanced opin- more cynical than previous ones, because he strongly opposed it. happen on the day when U.S. President ions. keeps making promises for four years without 2) The same foreign minister is going to leave Barack Obama will host Pope Francis in However, in your last column titled “President ever delivering, with the exception of his visit to the Government and join the Constitutional Washington. Experts see this as a kind of Hollande’s Second Coming,” with all the respect Dzizernagapert on April 24, 2015. He is continu- Council shortly, as his president. message of Putin that Russia is on the side due to you, I must make a few comments. The ously laughed at for this very reason. 3) The former secretary general of the of the Sunni countries, while the United assessment, although cautious, is rather euphoric It is also unjust to say that the law passed early Constitutional Council, who formed the opinion States is trying to improve relations with about Hollande and his announcement. Secondly, 2012 criminalizing the denial of the Armenian back in February 2012, is now the Secretary the Shi’a, including Iran. but this is another issue that I won’t address at Genocide was not proclaimed because Sarkozy General of the Government, and he has no inten- However, Armenian experts will rather length here, you seem rather tough with the lob- did not sign the promulgation of the law in the tion to change his mind. watch whether Erdogan and Putin manage bying activities in the United States, while many legal time-window. He had 15 days to do it. Since 4) The lawyer designated by President to agree on a number of issues, among people, including myself, are rather appreciative of more than 60 deputies and more than 60 senators Hollande has been “missioned” on the eve of the which may be those related to Nagorno- what is done on the other side of the Atlantic. were going to oppose the law by referring it to the dinner! Karabakh. There is information that Lobbying is practiced very professionally in your Constitutional Court, it would have been a rather 5) His mission is almost impossible, and he is Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev may also country, while we are very amateur in France and undemocratic and explosive move to speed up the perfectly aware of it due to the limits put by the visit Moscow and the three presidents will Europe in general. process and sign the law before the registration of European Court of Human Rights’ Grand talk about the terms of settlement of the It is true that five years ago, there was no din- their challenging petition. Chamber decision in the Perinçek vs. Karabagh issue with the introduction of ner and no president appearing in the Armenian Now let’s come to the announcement. What did Switzerland case on October 15, 2015 and the Russian peacekeepers. community. Sarkozy and Hollande are probably Hollande announce exactly? He announced that later decision of the French Constitutional Western and Azerbaijani media actively sincere in their sentiments toward the Armenians he has missioned a lawyer (former President of Council decision on January 8, 2016, which stran- write about the existence of such a plan. glehold any future draft law. That point deserves a Pentagon spokesman Evelyn Farkas, accord- too long and technical presentation and I may ing to Russian news agency Interfax, visit- demonstrate it comprehensively. ing Baku recently, said that Russia is part of 6) President Hollande, who claims not to be an the Minsk process on the Nagorno- opportunist, is lying and is looking to gain time Karabagh conflict and cannot introduce before the Armenian community. There are so troops without the consent of the United many other hot draft laws and legal controversies States and France. At this stage Armenian coming at the Parliament that the chance of see- officials also deny the probability of the ing such a law adopted is almost negligible. In any entry of peacekeepers into the conflict case, it will face the same fate as the 2012 law. zone. 7) Even some socialist dignitaries say cryptical- However, as former head of the National ly: “Be satisfied with what you got in 2015!” Security Service of Armenia David 8) The economic and social crisis is so tense Shahnazaryan said in an interview with that none of the parties or the public opinion will 1in.am, formally and legally Karabagh is accept the resurgence of a new debate about a law part of Azerbaijan, and the issue of the criminalizing the denial of Armenian genocide. entry of peacekeepers, if it emerges, will be All in all, what will remain from those nice pic- discussed with Azerbaijan rather than tures and very “popular” dinners for the Armenia. And Armenia will be offered only Armenian cause? Just words from President to withdraw from the territories, where Hollande and lies from the Armenian community peacemakers may be introduced. representatives (CCAF), which know perfectly well It is not clear whether these issues will the reality. eventually be discussed during the Moscow Raffi Kalfayan meetings, but many experts agree that the Paris, France see PUTIN, page 16 S ATURDAY, F EBRUARY 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 COMMENTARY

their sins on our Centennial. Their evil crimes should not be written With Regime Gains, under your name. We have the faith in God and we believe our prayers will work. The Last Both missionaries and European Great Powers apprehended the Fight in Syria Turns perpetrators before the Armenian Genocide and confronted them with the Armenian Question. Thus, ground negotiation was created Against Turkey causing extreme discomfort upon the enemy seeing as they only used their brutal barbaric might. The possibility that European powers were trying to solve the Armenian Question in a civil manner did not Backed by relentless airstrikes by Russia, government Burning help, nor did it end the Armenian Genocide. forces and allied Shiite militia may have altered the Turkey deliberately lied to the Armenians about having “brother- course of Syria’s five-year civil war over the past week, hood” with one another and later committed the Hamidian (1894- delivering a series of blows to rebel factions that have 1896) and Adana (1909) massacres, followed by the Armenian also managed to challenge Turkey’s core strategic inter- Genocide (1915-1923). They used the same “brotherhood” lies with ests. you, Middle East, as they did with the world to enter your countries Days after virtually encircling Aleppo, where rebels Candle with a “zero problems with neighbors” policy. Now the enemy is try- have controlled the eastern portion of the city since ing to clear their sins, desecrate their sins, and hide their fingerprints 2012, the regime and allied Hezbollah and Iranian forces under your name. have advanced to within 25 kilometers (15 miles) of Dear Arab World, Turkey is typically known for denying the Armenian Genocide and Syria’s border with Turkey and the key rebel-held logis- Things change, people change, politics changes, geopolitics lying about their crimes to the world; the world diplomats witnessed tical hub of Azaz. changes, but the lies do not change; they remain. A lie is a lie. A dog’s their crimes and the world press covered extensively the news of the Ankara has been one of the main external backers of curling tail will not be Armenian Genocide. Turkey now has told the world that not a single the armed opposition centered in Idlib and Aleppo straightened even when it’s Armenian would be alive if the Armenian Genocide took place. provinces, acting as a conduit for weapons, supplies and By Rachel Melikian placed under a hard-pressed Before the uprisings, for the last two years, Turkey entered your fighters as well as a safe haven for opposition forces. iron for an entire century. The countries preaching unity and secretly observed the Syrian lifestyle The regime’s advance effectively cuts off rebel-con- lies will remain and they will and locations of Armenian churches and Armenian neighborhoods in trolled eastern Aleppo from supply lines running north not be straightened under the pressure of our truth. Lebanon, Syria, preparation for attack and bombing. to the Turkish border crossing at Bab al- Iraq, Egypt along with other Middle Eastern countries have looked In retrospect, you know the Turkish nation was a nation of geno- Salama/Oncupinar, but the border crossing at up to Armenians and have taken pride in accepting and representing cidal people. You know they were inhumane but you still believed Reyhanli/Bab al-Hawa remains open west of Aleppo and Armenians to other cultures. their lies and gave the enemy differential treatment, opening your under the control of Turkey’s preferred Islamist group, When the Armenian Genocide was deliberately forgotten, you doors to them. They have the animal instinct to rule. Genocidal peo- Ahrar al-Sham, thus keeping rebel supply lines in Idlib knew where we came from, as you were witnesses when we marched ple never change. After a century of lies, a beast remains a beast, just open. the death marches and knocked on your door. You knew how the like a dog’s curling tail will not be straightened even when it’s placed The narrow sliver of contested rebel territory running few survivors arrived at your shore through the death marches of the under a hard-pressed iron for an entire century. All these years north from Aleppo to the border is under Russian and Syrian desert of Der Zor, or through Port Said (Egypt) after our hero- Turkey has lied to you and you believe them as they continue to regime assault from the south and by the “Islamic State” ic resistance in the mountains of Musa Dagh. (Forty Days of Musa deceive you. (IS) from the east. Dagh, Franz Werfel describes Armenians heroic resistance against “Simply with us [Armenians], death had fallen in love. Yet we will- From Syria’s western canton of Afrin, the YPG the Armenian Genocide). You knew why we came and you knew ingly did not give ourselves And we were forced to leave our own Kurdish militia, which have ties to Kurdish rebels in what happened to us. It was the Armenian Genocide. land. Where ever we reached, wherever we went, Everywhere we Turkey, are advancing on Azaz, a further blow to You were witnesses when the enemy wanted to kill so why did we [Armenians] left an indelible trace. We have joined efforts for every- Turkish- backed rebels. come to your land? You have recorded history with your open arms one, always We plowed everywhere, we built bridges, and we tied The Kurds - who on and off have fought against and you hold records of the Armenian Genocide. Who came? The arches. We plowed everywhere and we brought forth crops. We gave Turkmen and Islamist rebel groups backed by Turkey - Armenians! Why did we come? Due to genocide and forced deporta- everyone mind, proverbs, and songs. In other words, we defended are benefiting from the airstrikes by Russia and appear tions from our ancestral lands. Who led the Armenian Genocide? The them from Spiritual coldness. Everywhere we left our eyes reflec- to have reached a tactical understanding with Russia Turkish and Ottomans who systematically massacred us. What was tion.” and the regime. the aftermath? The survivors left their homes and found a new home Help Syria now: make every action count, make every silence For Turkey, the section of territory controlled by IS with you. Why are Armenians scattered worldwide? This is proof that count. You believed what Paruyr Sevak said about Armenians and along the border between Azaz and Jarabulus is vital Turkey sought to wipeout our entire civilization. Please dear Arab took us in (in your countries) with pride. How did you allow the because it separates the noncontiguous Kurdish-con- nation, wake up, don’t let the devil deceive you. It is not too late to enemy to lurk into your country, knowing they were the perpetrators trolled cantons of Afrin from territories in northeast make things right, step away from the deniers of the Armenian of the Armenian Genocide? Rid the enemy from your lives and take Syria. Genocide. credit for taking Armenians in with open arms. We will not betray you The regime advance in the northern Aleppo country- Many Arab scholars have studied Armenian history and have as Turkey has been doing for we have humanity. Throughout histo- side adds to a string of successes on the back of four become experts in this field of discussion. Please don’t get trapped in ry, Armenians are known to be hardworking and peaceful loving peo- months of Russian airstrikes in the south, Latakia and the winds of the enemy. ple. Tell the truth. Our survivors arrived in Syria and you helped us Idlib that helped to scuttle UN-backed peace talks in What the enemy seeks from you is to ruin every trace of our civi- situate in Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, and your other neighboring coun- Geneva last week. lization. You were deceived by Turkey to let them through your bor- tries. Dear Arab world, please speak the truth as to why the Now in a position of strength, Russia and the regime ders, thus, Turkey claimed Aleppo to be their “fiancée” after the Armenians came and the occurrence of the Armenian Genocide. appear to be trying to divide and crush the opposition Armenian Genocide. Now all we can do is chant for you to save “We are few, yes, but we are Armenians And we know how to sigh and, in some cases, negotiate the withdrawal of rebels Aleppo and Kessab. We Armenians are currently fighting to not from yet unhealed wounds. We know how to lend a helping hand to and the restoration of regime control in certain towns bomb Syria and organizing relief aids for Syrians. Save Syria! our friends, And how to repay goodness to those who helped us. We and neighborhoods. Iraq, Mosul, Egypt, and Libya, what can we save? What can we do? compensate to any goodness by ten And the benefit of it is just with Otherwise, the regime will continue with a strategy of We can ask US Congress to help prevent the bombing in Aleppo; the sun. We are few but we are called Armenians.” siege, starvation and bombardment. however, they are duped to believe there are terrorists in Arab coun- You claimed to have adopted the Armenian aesthetics of beauty, Hossam Abouzahr, the editor of Syria Source at the tries, although the US Vice President Joseph Biden spoke the truth virtue, kindness, nobility and goodness. You said this with great Atlantic Council, told DW that the balance of power has of ISIS. After the enemy infiltrated Syria, ISIS was created, and now honor and pride when we were few, with no country, with no gov- shifted so dramatically that the armed opposition faces Congress is led to believe terrorism is occurring. The enemy is lying ernment, no power, and no ambassadors. Armenians, better yet, the an existential struggle for survival. left and right, yet no one is wise enough to see the truth. They sought ancient Armenians the first Christians, the cradle of civilization, were “The asymmetrical balance is so much in favor of the to annihilate every Christian Armenian church in the Middle East and unknown. Armenian history and Genocide documentation has been regime,” he said. “It is the beginning of the end for the on the Eve of our Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, the enemy removed from history books and when no one knew of us. opposition. They are not able to hold out against the attacked Kessab and desecrated our churches in Kessab, followed by “Yet over no one have we become tyrants. And if we [Armenians] Russian air force.” the relentless bombing of the rest of our churches. have ruled, only with our books. If we have prevailed, only with our Abouzahr said that once Aleppo is surrounded, the The Middle East is under attack by the enemy, who mask them- talents.” question will be whether the regime will leave the city selves before the world and continues their cultural genocide upon Thousands of Armenians from Syria and neighboring countries trapped and conserve resources to go after other rebel- Armenians. Turkey’s goal is to “mess up” the Armenian Genocide gathered at the Armenian Genocide Memorial Church in Der controlled areas one by one or fully lay siege and retake Centennial Commemoration as they publicly announced it. Our Zhor every year on April 24th to commemorate the Armenian the city. Centennial on 2015 was implicitly desecrated and the enemy took Genocide. On the Eve of our Centennial and on Armenia’s The regime offensive in Aleppo city and province away our heart of diaspora from the Middle East by destroying any Independence Day, Turkey destroyed our martyrs memorial, which has sent tens of thousands of civilians fleeing to the bor- traces of Genocide evidence and obliterating the memory of our mar- housed the remains of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. der with Turkey as fear mounts that Syria’s largest city tyrs. On August 3, 2004 His Highness Prince Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan and former commercial hub could face a sustained siege. “To serve civilization is to serve Armenia.” – William Gladstone, extended his condolences and support to His Holiness Aram I, Turkish officials have warned that hundreds of thou- British Prime Minister. Catholicos of Armenia of the Great House of Cilicia, in Antelias, sands of people could ultimately be forced to the border. Yet, if you destroy Armenians, you are destroying civilization, per Lebanon, on the eve of the brutal church bombings that rocked Aaron Stein, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, the enemy’s request. Was it the influence of the French and British Iraq. “The destruction of God’s homes disturbed us all. The mis- told DW that recent events in Aleppo have undermined colonization in the Middle East who kept law, order, and respect for chievous acts targeted not only Iraq–but also every single one of us. Turkish interests but the country still has options. the Armenians, or was it you and your genuine hospitality? Credit is May God grant peace unto the souls of the innocent victims and “Ankara still has a lot of cards to play,” Stein said. given where credit is deserved; are you afraid to accept your credit? immediate physical and spiritual recovery to the injured.” “Turkey is the most important external backer of the How has the enemy threatened you if you don’t remain silent? “Yet if they desire to rule us with force, We know how to smoke Syrian opposition and will not simply look on as Dear Arab world, do not fall into the enemy’s trap; nothing remains and how to quench their fire. And if it is needed to disperse darkness, Russian, regime and Iranian forces surround Aleppo.” hidden forever. The world has eyes and God sees everything. Behave We [Armenians] can turn into ashes like burning candles. We are, we Stein said Ankara’s options included increasing sup- with dignity and don’t be blamed for the enemy’s crimes. This cen- shall be, and become many.” -Paruyr Sevak (Baruyr Sevag) port to the opposition in Idlib through the Bab al-Hawa tury in which you distanced yourselves from Turkey’s crime against So when the enemy wants you to burn our churches and bomb border crossing or demanding that Syrians displaced humanity and civilization, yet, Turkey has been able to cause your our people, are we, Armenians going to disappear with the last spark from Aleppo be protected inside Syria opposite the bor- embedment with their lies. You insisted that the Armenian Genocide fire of the candle? Will we become pilgrims once again and leave der crossing at Oncupinar. is not a religious issue neither a Christian and Muslim problem, behind the last fire burning in your darkness? Perhaps you might see The idea of a safe zone has been floated by Turkey rather it’s the rapacious barbarity of Turkish. the light of the candle that offers truth, just as Muhammad saw the since the early days of the conflict but has garnered lit- Muhammad believed the Armenian churches were divine, so is the divinity of the Armenian Church. tle international support. first Caliphate and Salaheddin Ayoubi. This is Muhammad’s legacy to (This analysis by the German news site Deutsche you; follow your prophet’s words. The enemy has burned us to ashes (Rachel Melikian, former GCC Woman of the Year, lives in Welle was originally published on Feb. 8.) in our churches during the genocide, and they want you to repeat California.) 16 S ATURDAY, F EBRUARY 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

itage of dialects, Vaux is well-known to audi- Armenian Studies Proliferate at UCLA ences in Southern California from his many appearances in Prof. Richard Hovannisian’s conference series on Cities and Provinces of LOS ANGELES — The University of University of Armenia (AUA) campus. The first speaker, Dr. Marco Brambilla, an Historic Armenia. On this occasion, Dr. Vaux California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Narekatsi Workshop presenters will comprise graduate architectural historian specializing in the histo- provided a lively overview of the characteristics Chair in Armenian Studies organized two and postdoctoral students from UCLA, AUA ry of Armenian and Islamic architecture, dis- of the dialect of Salmast, to the delight of its events in February and one in March. and other universities in Yerevan. cussed the significance of 17th-century speakers in attendance. As part of the presen- The Graduate Student Workshop on the “With this workshop, we’re eliciting the Armenian merchants for the Iranian economy tation, Edward Hayrapetian recited a poem in Contemporary Construction of Armenian involvement of students from a wide variety of as well as international trade and diplomacy the Salmast dialect, while many other audience Identity is organized by Dr. S. Peter Cowe, perspectives and disciplinary backgrounds so as before transitioning to the construction and members responded to Dr. Vaux’s questions Narekatsi Chair of Armenian Studies at UCLA, to encourage a rich, multidimensional embellishment of the 20 blocks of khoja hous- regarding its phonetics and lexicon, as he and co-sponsored by AUA. The conference will exchange,” Cowe said. es in New Julfa. demonstrated how distinct the dialect is from be held during March 23-25 at the American The announcement of the forthcoming collo- The next speaker was Dr. Touraj Daryaee, the close counterparts of Khoy, Maragha and quia and workshop came on the heels of the professor of history and director of the Samuel Tabriz. UCLA Conference on Armeno-Persian Relations M. Jordan Center for Persian Studies and On his part, Sarkis Barkhoudarian, president and the Persarmenian Community throughout Culture at the University of California, Irvine. A of the Salmast Heritage Committee, expressed Analysis: Karabagh the Ages, organized by Cowe on November 14, specialist on ancient and medieval Iranian his- appreciation for the UCLA Armenian Studies 2015, at Royce Hall. The Hampartzoum and tory, Daryaee discussed the historical legacies Program’s spearheading of conferences of this Likely to Be Part of Ovsanna Chitjian Conference on Armenian of Arshakuni Armenia and Arsacid Iran, empha- scope and caliber. “The Salmasttsis in atten- Studies, the second in a series inaugurated in sizing their close ties during the period they dance were very proud to have professors and Putin-Erdogan Talks 2013 by Zaruhy Sara Chitjian in memory of her were governed by the same dynasty. PhD candidates at two world-class universities, parents, was co-sponsored by the recently Next, Kristine Martirosyan-Olshansky, a doc- namely UCLA and Cambridge, show serious PUTIN, from page 14 renewed Salmast Heritage Committee. toral candidate in archaeology at UCLA, deliv- interest in the history, language, archeology, Karabagh issue has always been a subject of After opening remarks by Prof. Charles ered a talk on prehistoric connections between and culture of Salmast, the historic Armenian bargaining between Russia and Turkey, and the Stanish, director of the UCLA Cotsen Institute the inhabitants of the Armenian Highlands and province,” he said. “Members of the Salmasttsi bargaining between these two nations has now of Archaeology and Prof. Alessandro Duranti, the Iranian Plateau. community are excited to hear about their her- intensified. The matter primarily concerns Dean of the UCLA Division of Social Sciences, The final speaker was Dr. Bert Vaux, univer- itage. They are eager to learn about their ances- Russia’s controversial actions in Syria, which, Cowe offered a moving tribute to the recently sity reader in phonology and Morphology at the tors, history, and culture. Their goal is to have despite their being controversial, coincide with departed Archbishop Gorun Babian (1941- University of Cambridge, and Fellow and academic-level studies and publications to doc- the interests of Turkey. As Turkish Foreign 2015), the longtime Prelate of New Julfa, to Director of Studies in Linguistics at King’s ument their culture for future generations.” Minister Firidun Sirinlioglu, who recently visit- whose memory the conference was dedicated. College. A foremost expert on Armenia’s her- ed Moscow, said, Ankara’s and Moscow’s posi- tions coincide on the inadmissibility of the col- lapse of Syria. The disintegration of Syria and the redistri- Turkish-Armenian Newspaper Editor Haddejian’s 90th Birthday Celebrated bution of boundaries in the Middle East will lead to a denunciation of international treaties, 90TH, from page 1 that time for Armenian periodicals in Turkey. later year he also was awarded the Armenian according to which 100 years ago the Ottoman High School in 1944, and then graduated from He and his newspaper played and continues to Ministry of Culture’s gold medal. In 2011, he Empire was divided. Part of the Empire, in par- Istanbul University with a degree in philosophy play an important role in the community life of received the Mesrob Mashtots Medal from ticular, the Armenian lands were divided under and psychology. He began his association with Istanbul Armenians, and is a rich resource for Armenian President Serge Sargisian for his literary the Russian-Turkish agreements. The Karabagh Marmara by editing its literary and cultural sec- Armenians anywhere wishing to follow news and cultural achievements. He has published issue is certain to be in the context of the cur- tion. He took over the full editorship of the about Turkish-Armenians, Turkey and Armenia. dozens of books and is the author of numerous rent post-Ottoman territorial integrity. Both newspaper in October 1967. Haddejian was the recipient of the Tekeyan published and unpublished novels, short stories, Russia and Turkey are interested in preventing His editorials, commentary and translations Cultural Association’s first annual Vartkess and Rita plays, poems and translations in Armenian. changes of this integrity. enriched the paper greatly, while in 1976 he Balian Press Award, established in 1986. In 2002, (Please see Edmond Y. Azadian’s editorial col- (Naira Hayrumyan is a correspondent for began to print the newspaper through an offset he received the Movses Khorenatsi Medal from umn this week, on page 14, which is dedicated ArmeniaNow in Armenia.) press, which was a technological advance at Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. In to Haddejian.)