MAY 18, 2013 MirTHErARoMENr IAN -Spe ctator Volume LXXXIII, NO. 44, Issue 4289 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 Speier Tackles Increase Obama Asks In Military Sexual Supreme Court Assaults WASHINGTON (San Francisco Chronicle) — One day after a Pentagon report revealed a jump in Not to Hear military sexual assaults, more evidence has emerged of disturbing behavior directed towards female service members. Insurance Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) issued a letter last week to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Marine Claims Case Commandant James Amos and Inspector General Lynne Halbrooks, alerting them to a Facebook WASHINGTON — The Obama page displaying content degrading female mem - Administra-tion urged the Supreme Court bers of the US Marine Corps. She urged that not to hear the appeal of the Ninth Circuit’s action be taken. 2012 decision striking down a California The background wallpaper for one particular law extending the statute of limitations on page shows a woman’s breasts, and includes Armenian Genocide-era life insurance numerous pictures depicting women in various claims, reported the Armenian National forms of nudity and being verbally and some - Committee of America. times physically abused. The page also includes “President Obama, rather than filing a images of women taken without their permis - brief based on the merits of this case, chose sion, inviting commenters to add their own cap - instead — on the eve of Prime Minister Genocide Survivor Siran Kassabian tions. Many of the pictures imply women only Erdogan’s visit to Washington, DC — to send advance professionally by performing sexual Ankara a political gift by both deepening his Receives State House Proclamation favors and otherwise promote the idea that administration’s complicity in the denial of women are inferior and only useful as sexual the Armenian Genocide and also obstruct - WATERTOWN — The Armenian Community of Massachusetts, with the spon - objects and sandwich makers. ing justice for American citizens seeking sorship of several state senators and representatives, has organized the Armenian Speier added that the sexual assault numbers redress through the US courts,” said Genocide commemoration at the Massachusetts State House for the last 28 years. show reforms to be “woefully insufficient” thus far. Armenian National Committee of America At the commemoration, survivors receive proclamations. This year’s commemo - “The military cannot eradicate this problem (ANCA) Executive Director Aram ration was scheduled to take place on April 19 but was scrapped due to the trag - without fundamentally changing its approach, Hamparian. “We will, despite the president’s ic events in Boston and Watertown on that day. On Sunday, May 12, Mother’s including its tolerance of participation in these retreat from principle, persevere in pursuit of Day, after the Divine Liturgy, state Rep. Jonathan Hecht (D-Watertown) and state kinds of websites,” she wrote. the justice owed the Armenian nation.” Sen. Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont), presented the first State House proclama - According to reports, a whistleblower alerted In a 27-page brief submitted to the tion to St. James Armenian Church parishioner, Siran Kassabian, 93, signed by Speier to the site. The Facebook page in ques - Supreme Court last week, the US Solicitor Gov. Deval Patrick. In the photo, from left, are, Fr. Arakel Aljalian, Brownsberger, tion has since been taken down, but contained General argues that the California law Hecht, Kassabian and her daughter, Hrip Parsekian. more than 10,000 likes and hundreds of com - improperly allows courts “to issue judg - ments on various photos . ments based on politically contentious events that occurred in the Ottoman Empire nearly a century ago, with no sub - Mark Geragos Speaks at St. James Men’s Club Armenia’s PM Hosts stantial basis to claim that it is regulating in Outgoing Swiss an area of its traditional authority.” It also makes reference to selective By Nancy Kalajian Ambassador Executive branch opposition to Armenian Special to the Mirror-Spectator Genocide legislation, but not the US record YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Prime Minister of recognition of the Armenian Genocide as Tigran Sargisian hosted the Ambassador of a crime of genocide, including: WATERTOWN — Attorney Mark Geragos, Switzerland to Armenia Konstantin Obolensky 1. The US government’s May 28, 1951 the featured speaker on Monday, May 6, at last week, who is finishing his diplomatic mission written statement to the International the monthly dinner meeting of the Men’s in the country. Court of Justice regarding the Convention Club of St. James Armenian Church, drew The government press agency reported that on the Prevention and Punishment of the an audience of more than 500 men and Sargisian praised the activity of the ambassador Crime of Genocide, in which the “Turkish women. The noted criminal defense attor - for improving relations between the two nations. massacres of Armenians” is cited among ney spoke about his new book, Armenian “A steadfast foundation for the expansion of From left, Bob Semonian, Mark Geragos the Armenian-Swiss ties has been laid during other “outstanding examples of the crime heritage, current events and the successful and Peter Koutoujian of genocide” lawsuits against New York Life Insurance these years. The experience of Switzerland in the see INSURANCE , page 16 and AXA Corp. for claims on insurance poli - development of various spheres is a good exam - cies issued to Armenians before the ple for us; hence, the strengthening of bilateral Armenian Genocide. cooperation is of a certain importance to us.” see GERAGOS, page 7 The two also discussed joint projects, includ - ing developing rural communities and cattle breeding in the province of Syunik, which is Holy Trinity Armenian more agricultural in nature. Church Hosts CNN’s Peter Bergen INSI DE CAMBRIDGE — CNN national security analyst and journalist, Peter Bergen, shared his first-hand Diocesan By Gabriella Gage experience Mirror-Spectator Staff of meeting Osama Bin Assembly Laden, dur - ing his May 7 talk as part of Holy Trinity Pages 8-9 Banquet Honors Nazar and Artemis Nazarian Armenian Church of Greater Boston’s Dr. Michael and Joyce Kolligian Distinguished NEW YORK — About 400 friends and family members attended a banquet, joint - Speaker Series. ly sponsored by the Armenian General Benevolent Union and the Diocese of the Bergen, best-selling author of Manhunt: INDEX Armenian Church of America, honoring Nazar and Artemis Nazarian for their life - The Ten-Year Search for Osama Bin Laden Arts and Living ...... 11 time of service and philanthropy, on Friday May 10, at the Plaza Hotel. Presiding — From 9/11 to Abbottabad , gave a talk Armenia ...... 2 over the event was the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, who had traveled titled “The Awakening: The Remaking of Community News...... 4 from Armenian specially for this occasion. At the end of the program, Archbishop the Middle East” to an audience of more Editorial ...... 14 International ...... 3 Khajag Barsamian invited the catholicos to present the Nazarians with the Knight than 120 people in the church’s Charles of Holy Echmiadzin Medal. and Nevart Talanian Cultural Hall. see BERGEN, page 16 2 S ATURDAY , M AY 18, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia ‘Armenia in My Eyes’ Photo Exhibit Opens YEREVAN — The “Armenia in My Eyes” photo exhibit sponsored by Montenegro Deputy the Tekeyan Centre Fund, opened on May 4. Prime Minister Visits The art show included works by eight photographers: Armen Armenia Yengoyan, Aram Arekhtsyan, Armen YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The Deputy Prime Tsulikyan, Norayr Abgaryan, Andranik Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Keshishyan, Hovhannes Badalyan, European Integration of Montenegro Igor Luksic Alexander Khanbekyan and Harutyun paid a visit to the Tzitzernakaberd memorial on Khachatryan. Not all of them are pro - May 7 as part of his diplomatic tour of the country. fessional photographers, some are just After commemorating the memory of the lovers of nature and broad-minded Armenian Genocide victims, Luksic visited the travelers who were inspired by the pic - Genocide Museum, where the director of the turesque landscape of Armenia. Museum-Institute of Armenian Genocide, Hayk All the photos at the exhibition were Demoyan, introduced the history and artifacts of taken after the year 2000; the geogra - the museum to the guest. phy included areas from Western Luksic made a note in the memorial book of offi- Armenia to Karabagh. The goal of the cial visits. exhibition was to reveal undiscovered The opening of the exhibit Luksic paid an official visit to Armenia on the corners of the motherland and to con - invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Eduard Nalbandian. The President of vey its beauty to public. The exhibition Armenia Serge Sargisian, the chairman of the also raised the issue of environmental National Assembly Hovik Abrahamian and Prime protection. Minister Tigran Sargsian met with Luksic as well. The Director of Tekeyan Centre “Armenia and Montenegro are in good relations, Fund Armen Tsulikyan, who was also but we have agreed to get involved in closer politi- one of the participants at the exhibit, cal negotiations to develop our cooperation in the said the Fund tried to contribute to forthcoming future,” stated Luksic. “In this case it the preservation of nature and the is quite important to encourage the ministries, tour environment which is a global issue all agents and air companies to organize charter over the world, and hoped to draw the flights between the two countries,” he added. attention of the society to the environ - Nalbandian stated that during his meeting with ment problems that threaten the plan - Luksic, they discussed the development of the com- et. mercial and economic, education and scientific and At the opening, Tsulikyan promised cultural relations. to continue the range of programs and said he hoped to find more photogra - From left, Harutyun Khachatryan, Vartan Ouzounian, Hovhannes Badalyan, Norayr Abgaryan, Alexander Khanbekyan, Andranik Keshishyan and Armen Tsulikyan phers and nature lovers in Armenia to Armenian President participate in future exhibits. Marks Victory Day In Nagorno-Karabagh Sex Imbalances at Birth Threaten Armenia’s Demography YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenian President Serge Sargisian last week visited Nagorno Karabagh to mark YEREVAN (Public Radio of Armenia) process, part of men of the most active At the conference, Guilmoto present - the 68th anniversary of the end of World War II. — The United Nations Population Fund age in terms of entering marriage, 20- ed the study findings in deeper detail. He took part in celebrations of Victory Day, of Armenia (UNFPA) held a press con - 39 year olds, will relatively soon face In addition, a number of presentations which is also marked on the same day as the Day of ference this week to present the find - problems, and being unable to find a were given to shed light on the phe - Nagorno-Karabagh’s Army and the anniversary of ings of the 2012-2013 study, “Sex pair will be forced either to migrate or nomenon of sex imbalances at birth the liberation of Shushi. Imbalances at Birth in Armenia: to look for wives from abroad”, said from a variety of perspectives including The history-laden town came under Armenia’s Demographic Evidence and Analysis.” Hayrapetyan. those of demographic, health, social control on May 9, 1992. The purpose of the study was an in- The press conference was followed by and gender equality. depth analysis of sex-at-birth imbalances a conference, where the representatives UNFPA is an international develop - List of Newly-Elected in Armenia and projecting the possible of different stakeholders were greeted ment agency aimed at fostering a world consequences of the skewed sex ratio by Arayik Petrosyan, first deputy minis - where every pregnancy is wanted, every Yerevan Council of for the country. The study was con - ter of labor and social issues and birth is safe, every young person’s ducted by Christophe Z Guilmoto, Huque. potential is fulfilled. Aldermen Published senior fellow at the French Institut de recherche pour le development (IRD, YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The Central Electoral Research Institute for Development) Commission of the Republic of Armenia considered based at Center for Population and the applications for withdrawal submitted by the Development (CEPED) in Paris and a candidates of the Yerevan Council of Aldermen and leading expert on the issue of prenatal invalidated the registrations of 21 candidates from sex selection, at the request of UNFPA the ruling Republican Party of Armenia and 113 Armenia Country Office. candidates from the Prosperous Armenia Party. Guilmoto, together with Dr. Zahidul The press service of the Central Election Huque, UNFPA representative for Commission reported that the registration of Turkey and country director for Mesrop L. Movsisyan from the “Hello, Yerevan” Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and bloc was also nullified. Garik Hayrapetyan, UNFPA Armenia assistant representative spoke at the Newly-Built St. Johannes press conference. As the speakers indicated, the sex Mkrtich Church of ratio at birth in Armenia rose after early 90s and today remains at a very high Abovyan Consecrated level of 114-115 of male births per 100 YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Karekin II, the female births. This corresponds to one Catholicos of All Armenians, consecrated the of the highest levels of birth masculini - newly-built St. Johannes Mkrtich Church in ty observed anywhere in the world, sur - Young Armenian-American Abovyan. The church was built by the leader of the passed only by China (118) and Prosperous Armenia Party, Gagik Tsarukyan. The Azerbaijan (116). opening ceremony of the church was attended by According to the study, if the adverse Couple Dies in Georgia the president of Armenia, Serge Sargisian, the for- practice of preventing girls from being YEREVAN (Combined Sources) — Allen Yekikian, the director of com - mer president, Robert Kocharian, as well as the born for the sake of having a boy is con - munications at the American University of Armenia (AUA), and his wife, president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, who tinued, almost 93,000 women will “go Sose Thomassian, died in a car accident on May 10 in Georgia. Yekikian had arrived in Armenia for an official visit. missing” and Armenia’s population will was the former assistant editor for the English-language section of Asbarez During the ceremonies, Tsarukyan expressed his reduce by an additional 80,000 inhabi - newspaper. gratitude to all those present as well as the team tants (it corresponds to the annual Messages of condolence were posted in the Asbarez website and civil - who implemented the works. number of births over two years) by net.am, a site he had been designing and developing, as well as social Architect Artak Ghulyan spoke briefly, adding 2060, constituting, ceteris paribus, 2.60 media sites, with many readers stunned by the news of the young newly - that the work spoke for itself. million. weds’ deaths. The church construction had started in 2006. As the speakers noted, in Armenia, male children born after 1996 already A candlelight vigil was held outside the AUA’s main building on outnumber female children by almost Saturday, May 11. 39,000. “If we fail to prevent this S ATURDAY , M AY 18, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 INTERNATIONAL

Turkish PM Photos of Jailed Azerbaijani Activists International News Condemns Cleaning Toilets Spark Outcry BAKU (RFE/RL) — Photos posted The youth activists were detained on Armenia Seeks French Israeli Air online showing three detained opposition April 30 at a protest marking the fourth Investors activists cleaning toilets and performing anniversary of a shooting spree at other manual work at a prison have Azerbaijan’s State Oil Academy. PARIS (Arminfo) — Armenian Foreign Minister Strikes in sparked anger in Azerbaijan. The photos’publication sparked an out - Eduard Nalbandian met with his French counter- The photos were posted May 10 on cry on Facebook, though many users also part Laurent Fabius on May 13 during his visit to Syria Haqqin.az, a news website run by former pointed out that there is nothing shame - France. jailed Azerbaijani journalist Eynulla ful about cleaning toilets. Some users The ministers welcomed the high level of coopera- ANKARA (Hurriyet Turkish Fatullayev. shared photos of themselves cleaning tion between the two countries and said they hoped Daily News) — Both Israel and its The activists, two of whom have already their own toilets. to work towards the enhancement of economic coop- arch-foe Iran received their share been released, have called the photos a Fatullayev, who runs Haqqin.az, spent eration. In this context, Nalbandian said that of criticism from Prime Minister “provocation” and an act aimed at dis - four years in jail on charges his supporters Armenia welcomed the growth of French invest- Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week crediting them. ments in economy of Armenia and new initiatives. for their policies regarding Syria, The three are Abulfaz Qurbanli, The ministers discussed Karabagh peace process, as he broke his silence on Israeli head of the opposition with Nalbandian stressing Armenia’s willingness to strikes in Syria. Azerbaijani Popular Front Party’s contribute to the efforts of the Organization for In his condemnation of “interna - youth wing; Turgut Gambar, a Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk tional policy” on Syria, Erdogan member of NIDA, a youth opposi - Group for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. singled out the two regional rivals. tion movement active on social He also lamented that the UN media and son of opposition Security Council would suffer the Musavat party leader Isa Gambar ICC to Examine Gaza consequences if it continued to and Ilkin Rustamzadeh, a mem - Flotilla Raid remain silent in the face of atroci - ber of the Free Youth organiza - ties committed in Syria. tion. THE HAGUE, Netherlands (PanArmenian.net) — “The air strike that Israel car - Qurbanli and Gambar were Activists are shown cleaning toilets and perform - The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) prosecu- ried out on Damascus is com - released on May 10. ing other manual work around the prison in Baku tor said on Tuesday, May 14, that she would open pletely unacceptable. There is no Rustamzadeh is still serving his a preliminary examination into the events sur- rationale, no pretext that can 15-day sentence and was sched - rounding the 2010 Israeli raid on a humanitarian excuse this operation,” Erdogan uled to be released on May 15. say were related to his journalistic work aid flotilla bound from Turkey to the Gaza strip in said, addressing a parliamentary In a statement on May 13, more than 30 before he was released from prison by a which nine people died. meeting of his ruling Justice and civil society activists expressed their objec - presidential pardon in 2011. Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a statement that Development Party (AKP). tions to the photos’ publication, decrying Earlier this year, Amnesty International she was obliged to open a preliminary examination fol- “These attacks are chances, the violation of the detained activists’ cut ties with Fatullayev after he “misled lowing a referral from the Indian Ocean island nation opportunities offered on a golden rights. They say that the photos were post - the organization about the source of fund - of Comoros, to which one of the vessels raided was plate to al-Assad and to the illegit - ed online with the intent of discrediting ing for a project.” registered. Few preliminary examinations ever lead to imate Syrian regime. Using the the activists. Fatullayev has increasingly been siding a full investigation, let alone a trial. Israel attack as an excuse, he is Qurbanli said they were not aware they with the Azerbaijani government. In a “My office will be conducting a preliminary exam- trying to cover up the genocide in were being photographed. March 10 article, he accused the head of ination in order to establish whether the criteria Banias,” Erdogan said, referring Haqqin.az claims the photos were ini - the US-funded National Democratic for opening an investigation are met,” she said in to a Syrian coastal town where tially published on pro-government web - Institute’s (NDI), Alex Grigorievs, of aim - response to the referral, which was transmitted by anti-Assad activists said at least 62 sites that had “mocked” the activists, but ing to fund a “Facebook revolution” in a Turkish law firm. people were killed by government RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service could not Azerbaijan. His article went viral on pro- fighters over the weekend. find the photos posted on any other web - government media sites. “Al-Assad, who has not sweated sites. Azerbaijan has stepped up its crack - Azerbaijan Starts a single drop against Israel for the Vugar Mammadov, a spokesman for down on activists and NGOs ahead of the Military Exercises Near [occupation of the] Golan Heights Azerbaijan’s ombudsman, has appealed to October presidential election. On May 10, is now using the Israeli attack to the Interior Ministry for an explanation. four local residents were sentenced to 10 Karabagh cover up the Banias massacre,” he “These pictures could not have been days in prison for participating in an said. Israeli officials said the air taken by someone from outside,” unsanctioned protest in Azerbaijan’s BAKU (RFE/RL) — Azerbaijan has started military strikes on May 3 and May 5 were Mammadov said. northeastern town of Xudat. exercises near its mainly Armenian-populated not intended to influence its neigh - breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabagh. bor’s civil war, but only at stopping The Defense Ministry announced on May 14 that Iranian missiles reaching Lebanese Defense Minister Safar Abiyev was personally lead- Hezbollah militants for possible ing the maneuvers. use against the country. Erdogan AGBU Raises $5,000 in Plovdiv Azerbaijan’s land and air forces are taking part in likened the mass killings of civil - the exercises, which are expected to last until the ians in the town of Banias to the PLOVDIV, Bulgaria — The AGBU Chair Roupen Chavoushian, as well as a end of the week. Battle of Karbala. He also likened Plovdiv Chapter celebrated its 103rd number of prominent city council mem - the perpetrators to Caliph Yazid. anniversary with a charity gala, bers and politicians. Dorians Seek Eurovision After the Hama massacre in “Children and Youth — Our Future,” to The gala guests enjoyed a program 1982, Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini raise funds for the participation of with the participation of the AGBU Win for Armenia had distanced himself from then- Bulgarian-Armenian children and youth Vocal and Instrumental Band Erebouni, Syrian President Hafez al-Assad at AGBU and Diaspora Ministry summer the Armenian Dance Group Nayiri and MALMO, Sweden (ArmeniaNow) — Armenia’s and accepted him into his office programs in Armenia. The AGBU the Bulgarian Dance Ensemble Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan has called on only months after the massacre, Plovdiv Young Professionals played a Rachenitsa. They also watched video all ethnic Armenians living in Europe to support Erdogan said. “Fine, now I ask pivotal role in organizing the successful presentations on programs targeted by the Dorians, a rock band representing Armenia at those who are now running the evening, which raised more than the fundraising efforts, including this year’s Eurovision contest. same office: I wonder how long $5,000, including proceeds from an auc - AGBU’s Discover Armenia, Yerevan The first semifinal in the Eurovision 2013 Song you will turn a blind eye to this tion, at the city’s exclusive Viennese Summer Internship Program, Antranik Contest began this week. The Dorians, led by vocal- massacre? The organizations that Pavilion. Scout Camp, as well as the Diaspora ist Gor Sujyan, will perform in the second semifinal lend support to Syria’s illegiti - The gala was attended by more than Ministry’s Ari Tun program. on May 16. The grand finale of the contest, in mate regime, the states that back 220 guests from five different cities in The main event of the evening was which the winner is decided by a combination of Syria’s illegitimate regime, partic - Bulgaria, including Armenian the auction titled, “For the Children by jury and audience televoting, will take place on ularly the UN and the [UN] Ambassador to Bulgaria Arsen Shoyan, the Children.” All the items up for auc - May 18. Security Council, will suffer the Vicar General of the Armenian Diocese tion came from Armenia, including a In a statement released on Monday, Hakobyan consequences,” he said. in Bulgaria Archimandrite Abgar duduk, a mother-of-pearl khachkar and urged all Armenians in Europe to vote for the Expressing outrage at the Hovakimian, Honorary Consul of four works of art made by the youth at Armenian representative. killing of children by the regime, Armenia in Plovdiv Ehiazar Uzunyan, AGBU’s Children’s Centers in Armenia, “I ask all those whose souls are filled with which he said he had seen pic - former mayors Garabed Tomasyan and which became the object of a heated Armenianness, who are ready to have a contribu- tures of, Erdogan blasted the Spas Garnevski, AGBU Plovdiv Chapter bidding war. tion to keeping Armenia’s name high at an inter- international community for its national contest… if our compatriots living in failure to act. Europe find some time to support our singer, our “I wonder how long you will Azeri Mercenaries May Be Fighting in Syria victory will be assured,” said Hakobyan. turn a blind eye to this massacre,” What are often called “ethnic votes” have long Erdogan said. “Damn your inter - DAMASCUS (PanARMENIAN.Net ) — chat with his son, Mamedov was told been a factor in Eurovision contests. Such votes national policies!” he yelled, while A report on Azerbaijani terrorists fight - there were a number of Azeris within are also believed to have helped Armenians win urging the UN Security Council to ing in Syria along the side of the rebels the Syrian rebel ranks. high places in the competition in the past. “urgently convene” over the aired on the Azeri ANS TV channel. The mother of another Azeri, Rizvan This year Armenia may have another major boost Banias killings, which have sent Gafgazregion.az quoted the father of Suleymanov, said that she had recently as co-author of Sujyan’s song, Lonely Planet, leg- residents fleeing. one such reported mercenary, Rashad, discovered that her son is fighting in endary Black Sabbath guitarist Toni Iommi has Over the weekend, Erdogan had who had reportedly joined the Syrian Syria. “They’re not fighting against recorded a video asking his European fans to vote called the Syrian president a rebels. Zakaria Mamedov, the father, Muslims, they are protecting Muslims for the Dorians at Eurovision. “butcher,” in his harshest attack was quoted as saying, “that is my son, against Armenians, the enemies of in recent months. he’s doing Jihad in the name of Allah for Muslims. That’s all there is to it,” she the protection of Muslims.” In an online said. 4 S ATURDAY , M AY 18, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Community Ne ws

Detroit St. John’s Rhode Island Commemorates Dual Commemorates Remembrances Armenian Genocide

PROVIDENCE — On Sunday, April 28, under a By Julia Papyiants bright sun and deep blue sky, the Armenian Martyrs’ Memorial Committee of Rhode Island DETROIT — The clouds loomed above, gray commemorated the 98th anniversary of the and heavy with rain. It was a Wednesday. “I had Armenian Genocide at the Armenian Martyrs’ hoped for great weather today,” said Father Memorial Monument at the entrance to North Garabed Kochakian on April 24, the day Burial Ground, something the community has Armenians worldwide gather to commemorate done for 36 years. the Armenian Genocide. The April 24 The program opened with the presentation of Commemoration was different this time around the flags by the Homenetmen Scouts and placing at St. John Armenian Church of Greater Detroit, of wreaths in front of the monument. Archpriest the church Father Garabed has presided over Rev. Gomidas Baghsarian from Sts. Vartanantz for more than a decade. This year, a new mon - Armenian Church; Rev. Shnorik Souin, Sts. ument stood adjacent to the 1915 Martyr’s Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church and Rev. Monument, and with it, a new tradition of Dr. Ara Heghinian, Armenian Evangelical remembrance emerged. Church performed a requiem service in memory The new monument was a project that of the 1.5 million martyrs. The combined choirs spanned several years and remembered the from the Armenian churches sang our Armenian pogroms of 1988-1991 of Armenians in hymns. The elected officials present and gave Azerbaijan. Shortly after the collapse of the their messages were, US Representatives Jim Soviet government, thousands of Armenians Langevin and David Cicilline, Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts and Providence Mayor Angel Tavares, suffered this smaller-scale genocide. Eventually, Senior students reciting poetry during the commemoration event those who survived found refuge across the who pledged their unwavering support to the globe and many settled in metropolises like Armenian community. Brooklyn, Detroit and Los Angeles, to name but State Rep. Katherine Kazarian was also pre - a few. sent. Former lawmaker and great supporter of The brainchild of Kochakian, the memorial TCA Arshag Dickranian Armenian causes, Aram Garabedian, spoke a few project, dedicated to survivors of these tragic words. Nearly 400 hundred Armenians were pre - events, was led by Ed Korkoian, lovingly called sent to pay homage to the martyrs. “Haigy” at the St. John Parish. Korkoian has Pauline Getzoyan and Esther Kalajian, who School Commemorates represent the Genocide Education Project, Rhode been a member of the Church for more than 50 years, committing himself to various Armenian Island Branch, announced their 2013 causes. Naturally, this monument was no excep - Genocide Educator of the Year, Lindsay Grant tion. The vision also could not have been exe - Armenian Genocide

LOS ANGELES — The TCA Arshag Dickranian School held several programs dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide during April. Students par - ticipated in events that addressed both the Armenian Genocide and the ongoing aftermath of the tragedy. On April 23, TCA Arshag Dickranian School commemorated the victims of the Armenian Genocide and paid tribute to the school’s founding benefactor, Arshag Dickranian, who died on April 24, 1996. The event was attended by members of the Dickranian family, guests, board members, PTO members, students, teachers and parents. The event began at 7 p.m. with a candle light vigil, which was held at the school’s courtyard, at which time Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian and Rev. Manoug Markarian A group of clergy from Armenian churches in the conducted the requiem service with the participation of the school choir. state at the commemoration After the requiem service, congregates gathered at the Walter and Laurel Karabian Hall, which had been decorated with pictures of the Genocide and Armenia, as part of the program dedicated to the martyrs of the Genocide and the Aromin of North Smithfield High School. This life of the late Arshag Dickranian. award includes a $500 stipend, which is made A video about Armenian orphans called “The Children of Antoura” was pre - possible through the support of the Armenian sented by Missak Keletchian and was followed by a documentary about the life of Martyrs’ Memorial Committee of Rhode Island Dickranian. The presentations were intermediated by poetry recitations about the and the Armenian National Committee of Rhode Genocide — both in Armenian and English — and songs by the school choir. Island. Aromin has designed her classes about The event concluded with the closing remarks and prayers by Hovsepian who the Armenian Genocide and they are well attend - asked students to always remember their identity and work hard to achieve suc - ed by the students in her school. Her great-grand - cess. After the program, coffee and sweets were served while guests mingled. mother was a Genocide Survivor. The new monument dedicated to the victims and see DICKRANIAN, page 5 Guest speaker this year was Robert C. Petrucci survivors of the Azeri pogroms of Armenians Jr., who is a graduate of Rhode Island College and is a social studies teacher at East Greenwich High School. Petrucci has written three courses for the cuted without the time and talent of Arthur high school including “Genocide of the 20th Lazaryan, the architect of this project. Century” (2006). His method of teaching the Fast forward several years and the vision Genocide is done in a very unique way and now finally became a reality. The church sanctuary holds 5 weekly sessions in the school. The class is was filled with solemn music and prayers as the very popular with the students and they get to evening began with a requiem. Once the church learn not only about the Armenian Genocide, but ceremony was over, parishioners and visitors by opening his students’ minds to see and recog - shifted outside. “And then,” Kochakian says nize what genocide means and what they can do with a smile, “It was as if God pushed the to help educate students and adults. He is one of clouds aside and let the sun peek out.” two teachers involved with 75 students who meet The change of venue from ambient lighting to annually at the State House to discuss global bright surroundings revealed a record-breaking issues. His remarks were very interesting and edu - number of people. Some were faces Father cational and he received a standing ovation. Garabed sees every Sunday, like Deacon and Six wreaths were placed by the following orga - Mrs. Mihran Hoplamazian, while others like Mr. nizations, Armenian Church Youth Organization and Mrs. Karen Der Boghossian came from of America, Armenian Relief Society Arax Grand Rapids, a journey that takes three hours Chapter, Armenian Revolutionary Federation, each way. After Father Garabed read a prayer Armenian Youth Federation, Homenetmen for the 1915 Martyr’s Monument, he moved on Chapter and the Knights and Daughters of to bless the new Baku-Sumgait-Kirovobad Vartan. The Honor Guards included the Memorial. On April 24, 2013, a much overdue Rapper R-Mean performing at TCA ADS Armenian Masonic Degree Team, the Knights of unification occurred. Tears were shed as those Vartan and the Homenetmen Scouts. who lost family in the Armenian Genocide were see DETROIT, page 5 — Joyce Yeremian S ATURDAY , M AY 18, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 COMMUNITY NEWS

Armenian Sisters’ Academy Holds Commemorative Planting Ceremony

RADNOR, Penn. — Students of the tragedy and speaking Armenian to keep the Armenian Sisters’ Academy (ASA) planted a culture alive. He challenged the students to garden together as part of their annual April make a difference during the next two years. 24 commemoration of the Armenian Once in the auditorium, the academy’s Genocide. youngest students recited “Abril Meeshd The event was led by Principal Sister Abril” and sang Artyok Ovker Yen . Emma Moussayan, Very Rev. Oshagan The sixth through eighth grade classes Gulgulian and Rev. Nishan Bakalian. then presented the play, “God’s Power is Following the planting, the students sang Great,” which tells the story of the Turks’ Hye Enk Menk , accompanied by assembled mistreatment of the Sisters of the parents, grandparents and guests. Immaculate Conception. Sister Emma announced the unveiling of a The program concluded with a requiem countdown clock, which will track and tick service and the symbolic pinning of red bows away the 730 days leading up to the 100th on a black cross. anniversary of the Genocide on April 24, That evening, academy students partici - 2015. pated in the Philadelphia area Inter- Gulgulian blessed the endeavor, encourag - Communal Genocide Program at St. Sahag Principal Sister Emma Moussayan and the Very Rev. Oshagan Gulgulian sing and pray with ing everyone to do his or her part by spread - and St. Mesrob Armenian Church in Academy students during the Academy’s planting ceremony. ing the message of the nearly century-old Wynnewood, Penn.

and do the things that are necessary to con - Peabody Commemorates Armenian Genocide vince people that if we turn our backs on geno - cide and holocaust, then down the road, we are short-changing our children and grandchildren PEABODY, Mass. — On Thursday, April 25, in Martyrs’ Day.” He compared two completely Cambodian neighbors, and Rwandan neigh - because the ugly head of genocide and holo - front of the Peabody City Hall, a flag-raising opposite occasions and concluded, “It’s the bors, and when we stand with all our neighbors caust will rise again and I think we have a ceremony was held in honor of the 98th promise that misery, and sorrow and death who have suffered Genocides in their pasts; it’s responsibility to see that it doesn’t happen anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, led by itself, are not the end. The Armenian people important to us because that’s who we are…. again.’ So, I have Peter’s permission to be here Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt. have brought into this promise for generations. And we are a people of faith.” addressing you and that makes me feel better. Jackie Torigian, the widow of the former And because of that Promise, we see ourselves Patrice Tierney represented her husband, It was Peter who opened my eyes to your his - mayor, Peter Torigian, and his sister, Mary as followers of the Risen Lord, and not as vic - Rep. John Tierney (D-MA), who was in tory.” Foley, were present. Washington. “The Armenian Genocide was pre - “Denial has consequences. Deniers are After the Armenian meditated, deliberate, systematic murder of 1.5 accessories after the fact of genocide who have National Anthem, the million innocent people which created fear and so far prevented an international political and Peabody Veterans intimidation with the intent to destroy genera - legal process affirming the Genocide and that Memorial High School tions of Armenian families. This was not a war, does not require appropriate restitution or (PVMHS) Chorale sang but an armed government. This was not an curb further Turkish mistreatment of the American National overblown incident; this was a brutal crime Armenians,” she said. Anthem. against humanity.” She touched upon the Nagorno-Karabagh Bettencourt said, “The The main speaker was Sudi Smoller, the and Azerbaijan conflicts also. Armenian Genocide library teacher at the local middle school, who The speaker ended her speech by remember - Ceremony has been held has developed a curriculum about tolerance ing that on April 10, the state of Maine joined in Peabody for the past that is inclusive of the history of the Armenian Massachusetts and Rhode Island and adopted 25 years. I remember one Genocide. legislation to support the democratic indepen - day during my senior Smoller said, “When I was asked to speak, I dence of the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic. year at Peabody High thought, “What could an Irish woman say “Some believe these small steps are being School, Mayor Peter about what it means to be Armenian?” Then made now with two years before the 100th Torigian came and spoke she decided before accepting to speak, she anniversary. Now, more than ever, is the time to my history class. It was The members of the Peabody High School Chorale, with Mayor watch recordings of the Armenian Genocide Edward Bettencourt in front of them to forge more inroads to normalize relations.” the first time I had heard ceremony, including from 2001, which was the After the ceremony, a light luncheon was about the Armenian last time Mayor Peter Torigian hosted this served in the Wiggin Auditorium. Peabody Genocide. His stories of family tragedy and tims of death.” event. “His words seemed to speak directly to Vocational Director Maria Ferri and Culinary incredible courage in the face of such evil were He continued, “So it’s important to us, as me. He said: ‘It doesn’t have to be an Arts Students assisted at lunch, which was so moving, and he spoke with such passion and Armenians, to let our faith shine through, in Armenian standing here to do this. If we are sponsored by Aurelian and Anahid Mardiros. emotion. It left a mark on me.” the cities and towns where we live; to let our good at what we do, it could be anybody who Father Vasken A. Kouzouian of Holy Trinity faith shine through in front of all of you; to let would stand up here, understand our cause, — Ani Babaian Armenian Church in Cambridge, and Deacon our faith shine in front of our elected officials; Avedis Garavanian, of North Andover’s St. and to let it shine when we stand in line on Gregory Armenian Church, performed the Election Day to vote, and when we serve on blessing and requiem service. our local PTO’s, or coach our children in Little Dickranian School Commemorates Armenian Genocide Kouzouian said, “more three weeks ago, League, or serve in local soup kitchens, or help Armenians celebrated the miracle of Easter keep our Cities and Towns green; and it’s DICKRANIAN, from page 4 ry teacher Adam Ocampo spoke about their and now we gather here in the heart of the important to us to let our faith shine when we The school was closed on April 24 while stu - experience at the school and the role the City of Peabody to remember Armenian stand with our Jewish neighbors, and our dents visited the Armenian Genocide Martyrs’ Armenian culture has played in their lives. The Monument in Montebello, accompanied by teachers talked about the similarities and dif - Principal Dr. Maral Yeranossian, AP art history ferences between the Armenian culture and the teacher Adam Ocampo and Armenian teacher Columbian, Mexican and Greek cultures. Detroit St. John’s Anahit Nasoyan, where they attended the annu - Rapper and songwriter R-Mean visited the al program and placed a wreath at the monu - school on April 12, where he performed a few Commemorates Dual ment. songs from his album “The Rising Son.” On April 23, eighth and ninth grade students Students gathered at the Walter and Laurel Remembrances went on a five-day educational trip to visit his - Karabian Hall waiting for R-Mean to take the torical sites in New York, Philadelphia and stage. A highlight of R-Mean’s performance was DETROIT, from page 4 Washington DC. On April 24, the students vis - Open Wounds — a song he wrote about the reminded that the struggle for survival contin - ited St. Vartan Armenian Church and attended Armenian Genocide, which corresponded with ues into the present. a service dedicated to the commemoration of the purpose of the event being a part of pro - After the flowers were laid, a traditional the victims of the Armenian Genocide. grams this month dedicated to commemorate madagh dinner was served inside the Cultural On April 19, Dr. Minas Kojayan visited TCA this tragedy in our history. Hall. It was here that guest speaker author Arshag Dickranian School to talk to students On April 9, Stepan B. Partamian visited TCA Chris Bohjalian spoke of his most recent publi - about historical lands that were lost to Turkey Arshag Dickranian School where he met with stu - cation. He explored his personal journey that during the Armenian Genocide in 1915. dents ranging from 6th to 12th grade levels to edu - led to writing The Sandcastle Girls , a sweeping Chris Bohjalian Kojayan visited the area in the summer of 2011 cate students about the role and life of Armenians historical love story deeply steeped in his own and 2012 and created a portfolio of his pil - in the US. Partamian presented his book ethnic Armenian roots. Eyes were glued to the grimage there, which he presented to the stu - Armenians in America and a slide show about the podium as Mr. Bohjalian eloquently narrated church’s hallway, and snippets of conversations dents in a slideshow. The purpose of his visit to accomplishments of Armenian-Americans in the his journeys to Armenia and the inspiration between folks was certainly telling of the entire the school was to give students the opportuni - areas of science, literature and art. that led pen to paper. Later in the evening, evening. “I want it signed for my daughter, ty to see what historic Armenian lands. TCA Arshag Dickranian Armenian School is Bohjalian signed copies of both The Sandcastle Angelina, so she reads and knows how strong During the morning assembly on April 15, a federally tax-exempt, Pre-K to 12th grade pri - Girls and Midwives . The line of people waiting her people are,” said Sam Antonyan as he head of English department Ricardo Rocha, vate educational institution. For more informa - for a book signing wrapped around the patiently anticipated speaking with Bohjalian. English teacher Pascal Nittis and AP art histo - tion visit www.dickranianschool.org. 6 S ATURDAY , M AY 18, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS South Florida Armenian Community Commemorates Genocide

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. —On Wednesday April the deportation of women, children, the elderly 24, several hundred members of the South and infirm on death marches to the Syrian Florida Armenian American Community gath - Desert. The total number of Christian ered at St Mary Armenian Church to commem - Armenians who perished as a result between orate the 98th anniversary of the Armenian 1915 and 1923 has been estimated at around Genocide. 1.5 million. The Turkish government has yet to The evening began with a hokehankist formally acknowledge the Genocide. (memorial service), which was offered for the Raffy Yaghdjian, member of the St Mary victims of the Armenian Genocide by the Rev. Armenian Church parish council, served as mas - Nareg Berberian of St. David Armenian Church ter of ceremonies. In Yaghdjian’s opening words he stated, “We are gathered here today to remind ourselves that the struggle is not over. The world did not learn. There were many more genocides fol - lowing ours. The Assyrians, the Greeks, the Jews, the Cambodians, Rwandans and those in Darfur. So we continue with the struggle. We must con - tinue to educate. We must con - Armenian Genocide survivor Harry Pilafian was recognized by South Florida Armenian American tinue to publicize. We must con - community. tinue to publish books and write papers. We must continue to FIU Professor Hannibal Travis presents his studies on the make the effort. We must contin - A short screening from the documentary Remembrance Day for the first time in Florida Armenian Genocide. ue to be creative in how we do it. “Orphans of the Genocide” was also presented history,” to a round of applause. After all, and I quote, ‘all that is by south Florida film producer Bared Joulfayan offered in closing, “Many thanks to necessary for the triumph of evil Maronian. A musical interlude followed, with you, dear South Floridians, families, youth, and and Rev. Vartan Joulfayan of St. Mary Armenian is for good men to do nothing.’” Alique Mazmanian performing Karouna by children, but, in a way, I should not be thanking Church. As the program continued, Harry Pilafian, a Komitas on piano, Audrey Pilafian performing you. We do not thank each other on this day. After the service, a cross-cultural, multimedia survivor of the Genocide who was in atten - Manoushak and Yeraz on cello, Joseph Today, we simply come to remember and never program delved into the history surrounding dance, was recognized with standing applause. Yenikomshian playing Lord Have Mercy on forget.” the Armenian Genocide, as well as the emotions Lilit Mnatsakanyan and Tanya Lusararian read clarinet and Sage McBride performing Krounk The South Florida Armenian Genocide com - experienced by not only the survivors and papers they had composed regarding their per - by Komitas, on violin. memoration was held under the auspices of St. descendants of survivors, but also the survivors spectives on the Genocide, and Rita Vartanian Before the conclusion of the program, David Armenian Church of Boca Raton, St. of many of the numerous other genocides of of St David Armenian Church presented Yaghdjian unexpectedly once more approached Mary Armenian Church of Hollywood and the 20th century. Armenian poetry. the podium to say, “I was just given a note that Florida Armenians, together with the Armenian Armenians worldwide commemorate the Guest speaker Prof. Hannibal Travis of the the Florida State Senate just passed a resolu - Assembly of America, the Armenian National Genocide on April 24 of each year, the day Florida International University (FIU) College tion recognizing April 24 as Armenian Martyrs Committee and the Knights of Vartan. when, in 1915, Ottoman authorities arrested of Law addressed the audience about his ongo - 250 Armenian intellectuals and community ing study of the Armenian Genocide, particu - leaders in Constantinople. Soon after, the larly how it has been addressed by the US. Ottoman military took Armenians from their Travis is the author of the first comprehensive homes and began a systematic extermination of history of physical and cultural genocide in the Armenians which was implemented in two Middle East and North Africa, titled Genocide phases: the killing of the able-bodied male pop - in the Middle East: The Ottoman Empire, Iraq GF UiNrEaRgAoL sHiaOMn E ulation through massacre and forced labor, and and Sudan . James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC Mark J. Giragosian Funeral Counselors 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 ACHT to Host Annual Golf Tournament www.giragosianfuneralhome.com WAYLAND, Mass. — The Armenian Church of fund the parish’s local community outreach the Holy Translators (ACHT) of Framingham programs, such as the Salvation Army Miracle will host its 13th Annual Golf Tournament at Kitchen. the Sandy Burr Country Club on Monday, June The church is offering several sponsorship Telephone (617) 924-7400 10. opportunities for supporting as an individual, Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m., and tee- family or business at various levels. They are off is at 10 a.m. This year’s tournament will fea - also accepting raffle and silent auction dona - Aram Bedrosian ture more than 40 ways to win. There will be tions. Donations may include sports tickets or three prize categories: men’s, ladies’ and co-ed, equipment, clothing, memorabilia and gift cer - Funeral Home, Inc. with first, second and third place for each as tificates for goods or services. well as longest drive and closest to the pin. The cost per golfer includes golf, continental Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 Longtime Boston sportscaster, Bob Lobel, breakfast with choreg, lunch and authentic MARION BEDROSIAN will be MC-ing the day and other sports per - Armenian appetizers and dinner provided by a 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN sonalities have been invited to attend. local Armenian caterer. For an additional cost, WATERTOWN, MA 02472 Funds raised by the ACHT Golf Tournament participants can receive 50 raffle tickets with LARRY BEDROSIAN will help enhance the religious education and many raffle prizes. For those who do not golf, cultural programs sponsored by the Sunday dinner reservations are also available. School, Armenian School and youth groups. Reservations and a full list of sponsorship Edward D. Jamakordzian, Jr. d/b/a Additional proceeds will help pay off damages opportunities and ticket prices can be viewed at sustained from last year’s flood to the historic www.holytranslators.org or by emailing acht - building. Donations will also be made to help [email protected]. Edward D. Jamie, Jr.

ServiFng uthne eentrirea Alr mCenhiana Cpomemlu n ity Detroit SOAR Chapter Holds First Fundraiser Any Hour • Any Distance • Any Location DETROIT — The Detroit Chapter of SOAR (Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief) held Call (718) 224-2390 Toll Free (888) 224-6088 its first fundraiser at St. John Armenian Church on Wednesday, May 8. Bus. Reg. 189-06 Liberty Ave., Hollis, NY 11412 Chapter Chairman Drew Zamanigian welcomed 125 parishioners and other attendees. Consultation Office: 217-04 Northern Blvd., (Suite 23), Bayside,NY 11361 Zamanigian and Vice President Arlen Boyajian discussed SOAR’s work in Armenia. SOAR’S mission is to provide Armenian orphans around the world with humanitarian relief, which includes the essentials of food, medicine and clothing. Zamanigian informed those present that guest-speakers, attorneys Mark Geragos and Pat Harris, had a flight delay from California and would not be able to attend. Geragos and ENNIS M. EVENEY & ONS Harris were scheduled to discuss their newly published book, Mistrial: An Inside Look at D D S How the Criminal Justice System Works … and Sometimes Doesn’t . In the absence of the guest-speakers, local writer George Mouradian was asked to speak Cemetery Monuments about his works and gave a brief description of each, Evils of the World, Time to Die, Specializing in Armenian Sayings and Family Relations, Armenian InfoText and several books for chil - dren. Armenian Designs and Lettering During the reception which followed, copies of Mistrial were available for purchase with 701 Moody St. Waltham, MA 02543 a portion of the proceeds designated to aid SOAR. (781) 891-9876 www.NEMonuments.com S ATURDAY , M AY 18, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS Mark Geragos Speaks at St. James Men’s Club

GERAGOS, from page 1 were Boston, Watertown and Armenian To help raise funds for their non-profit strong.” He described SOAR as a group that group, SOAR (the Society for Orphaned provides humanitarian relief to orphan chil - Armenian Relief) volunteers set up an infor - dren in Armenia, and introduced George mational booth and sold scores of copies of Yacubian, SOAR founder and National Mistrial: An Inside Look at How the Criminal President, who spoke about its mission, Justice System Works...and Sometimes accomplishments and growth from its creation Doesn’t, a new book co-authored by Mark in 2006 to current 37 chapters mainly in the Geragos and Pat Harris. Accommodating to USA but even reaching out to Yerevan, guests queued up to have him autograph their Moscow and Berlin. Garo Arakelian of the books and pose for pictures, it looked as SOAR Boston chapter also spoke. though Geragos was with his extended family After Koutoujian’s introduction, the audi - and friends as he smiled, hugged, and warmly ence stood up to cheer Mark Geragos who shook hands with an admiring fan club. quickly took to the podium giving credit to Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian “Watertown as the original Glendale” and served as the master of ceremonies during the deflating self-interest, humorously wondering program and in his introduction reflected on if the $12 dinner deal promoted by Bob the recent Marathon bombings saying, “We Semonian (chairman of the Speaker’s

From left, Dick Janjigian, Garo Arakelian, Mark Geragos, Bob Semonian and Peter Koutoujian

Committee of the St. James Men’s Club) was to represent a certain person and came home what attracted so many people to the Monday and mentioned it to his daughter who night dinner. From covering current events explained who that well-known person was. He ranging from the Boston-Watertown area to said it drives him crazy to be called a “celebri - those in California, he covered a lot of ground. ty lawyer.” He shared his thoughts on the mysterious Regarding recent lawsuits relating to insur - Misha — described by a relative of Marathon ance policies issued to Armenians before the bombing suspects as an Armenian (Christian) Armenian Genocide, he described the great who converted to Islam — and the insensitivity of such a statement coming to light during a time when Armenians commem - orate the Armenian Genocide, and where so many Armenians live in Watertown where the bombing suspects were caught. As he grew up, Geragos was surprised how little people knew about the Genocide. Geragos shared the influence of William Saroyan’s meaningful More than 500 people attended Mark Geragos’ talk at the meeting words about Armenians of St. James’ Men’s Club. that are printed in a poster in his office. On a personal level, he shared that his dad was also a lawyer. effort and steps involved in documenting the Mark Geragos signed copies of his book after his talk at the St. James’ Men’s Club. Seeming pretty down to earth and frank, he insured, finding heirs, and how one insurance shared that on one occasion, he received a call company marketed to Armenians and Syrians; his research found that about 40 percent of policies issued to Armenians had no claims at all since no descendants were left. The word “genocide” is controversial, Gergaos stated, and he spoke about the impor - tance of reparations. As he completed his talk, audience members gave him another standing ovation. During the question-and-answer peri - od, he suggested a few ideas for creating awareness of Armenians and issues of impor - tance: developing candidates for political office, and engaging the media. Many guests stayed long after the official program was over to engage in conversation and share their impressions of the night’s guest speaker. “Mark Geragos is a leading advocate of the Armenian ethnic group. I don’t think there’s a finer representation of what our agenda should be on a larger scale; reparations should be our priority issue,” said Bob Avakian. George Khorikian concurred, “I feel proud to be an Armenian. It’s good there is someone backing Armenian causes.” At 18, Ani Hollisian may have been one of the youngest people in the audience but as an aspiring lawyer, she was greatly impressed. “I loved his speech. It was short and to the point. He didn’t use lawyer jargon so it was easy to follow him. He fights for Armenian causes.” Attorney Richard Tarvezian agreed. “I was thoroughly impressed. He was entertaining, knowledgeable, and extremely competent. I’m proud to have him representing us.” Not only did this meeting have the largest attendance of any Men’s Club dinner meeting ever held but the design of many food stations helped ensure that most guests didn’t have to wait too long to eat a tasty traditional home - made losh and kheyma dinner with pilaf and salad. 8 S ATURDAY , M AY 18, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS St. David Church Hosts 111th Diocesan Assembly

BOCA RATON, Fla. — During the 111th Central Council addressed the Assembly, thank - distributed to beneficiaries in March 2013. Manoogian, gave a touching reminiscence. “As Diocesan Assembly, hosted by the St. David ing delegates for their continued support of ACEF Board of Directors chair Bruce Ballard an honorable prince of the Armenian Church, Church from May 2 to 4, delegates heard ACYOA programs. said the endowment fund has helped diverse he carried himself with grace and dignity, reports from the Diocesan organizations, Dn. Rubik Malian, chair of the Sacred Music Diocesan and parish programs, from St. Vartan always,” Terzian recalled. “He was a leader, a including the Diocesan Council, Legate’s Council, noted that the council will continue its and Hye camps to St. Nersess Armenian teacher, an inspiration.” Committee, Fund for Before adjourning, Barsamian Armenian Relief, Armenian thanked the assembly officers and Church Endowment Fund, expressed his appreciation to the Ararat Center, and St. Nersess Boca Raton parish for hosting the Armenian Seminary. Assembly. He expressed special Archbishop Khajag gratitude to the host parish’s pas - Barsamian, Primate of the tor, the Very Rev. Nareg Diocese of the Armenian Berberian, and its organizing Church of America (Eastern), committee chair Carol Norigian. presided over the meeting of Next year, the Diocesan clergy and lay delegates, repre - Assembly will be hosted at the senting parishes from across Diocesan Center in New York the Eastern Diocese. City. The assembly opened on Thursday, May 2, with a read - Below are the names of individ - ing of the message of uals elected to Diocesan boards Catholicos and Supreme and positions during the 111th Patriarch of All Armenians Diocesan Assembly. Karekin II. Rev. Narek •Board of Trustees: Dr. Raffy Avagyan, a visiting priest from Hovanessian; Holy Echmiadzin, read the •Diocesan Council: Very Rev. message. Aren Jebejian; Rev. Fr. Aved “It gives us great joy to see Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, addresses delegates. Terzian; Thomas Ashbaian; that under the shadow of the Antranig Garibian; James all-powerful arm of the Lord, Kalustian; Richard Norsigian the children of our nation in the diaspora keep parish workshops for choir members through - Seminary and FAR’s Vanadzor Old Age Home •Proposals Committee: Rev. Fr. Tadeos Armenian life strong,” His Holiness wrote. out 2013, and host the Boyajian Youth Choir in Armenia. He asked parishes to consider tak - Barseghyan; Bruce Ashbaian; Karen Dederyan; “With God-pleasing undertakings, they Directors Program for young participants in ing advantage of the opportunity to invest with Jay Kapur and Van Krikorian strengthen the Diocese that is under the Lord’s August. The organization also offers scholar - ACEF. •Nominating Committee: Rev. Stepanos care, and reinforce national institutions, as a ships for deacons training and music study pro - Jay Kapur, a member of the Ararat Center Doudoukjian; Ed Brewster; Dn. Ara testimonial to the splendor of their faith and for grams. Board of Directors, gave an overview of the his - Jeknavorian; Michael Mamishian and Dr. Gary the preservation of their identity.” The Women’s Guild Central Council looks tory of the 65-acre camping, retreat, and con - Zamanigian The assembly was chaired by Raffi Balian, of forward to supporting the Fund for Armenian ference facility, and encouraged parishes to •Auditing Committee: Ara Araz St. Mary Church of Washington, DC, Relief’s Vanadzor Old Age Home in Armenia, make use of the center for retreats and meet - with Michael Yapchaian, of St. James Church of said Central Council Chair Charlotte Sevazlian. ings. Watertown, Mass., serving as vice chair. Terry The Women’s Guild also will continue its suc - Rev. Mardiros Chevian, dean of St. Nersess Peterson, of St. Mesrob Church of Racine, Wis., cessful Children of Armenia Sponsorship Armenian Seminary, and Stephen Mekenian, Diocesan Assembly served as the English secretary, and Rev. Program, and plan retreats for parish chapters seminary board member, spoke about plans to Hratch Sargsyan, pastor of St. Gregory of Narek to explore the Diocese’s new theme, “Living the relocate the seminary to a new campus in Church of Cleveland, Ohio, served as Armenian Gospel of Christ.” Armonk, NY. The seminary is also working to Introduces New secretary. Outgoing Diocesan Council Treasurer increase enrollment and strengthen its relation - Outgoing Diocesan Council Chair Oscar Papken Megerian and the Diocese’s director of ship with the hierarchical sees of the Armenian Theme for 2013 Tatosian gave the Diocesan Council report. Finance and Administration Bill Casey present - Church. They stressed that the community’s Very Rev. Simeon Odabashian, Diocesan Vicar, ed the 2013 revised budget and the 2014 pro - support would be critical for the success of the BOCA RATON — “What the realities of the outlined the activities of the Armenian Studies, posed budget. Both budgets, which were seminary’s mission in North America. modern world have not changed — what they Christian Education and Youth Outreach sec - approved by the assembly, reflect efforts to min - Diocesan Council member Paul Mardoian will never change — is the human need to draw imize expenses. The Diocese will continue to gave a presentation on parish membership. He close to Jesus Christ,” said Archbishop Khajag seek new sources of revenue through its facili - noted that in 2012, close to 20 parishes were Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the ties rentals, bookstore and other avenues. The able to attract new members, but added that Armenian Church of America (Eastern), in his assembly was introduced to the new more parishes need to continue to increase address at the 111th Diocesan Assembly last Development Director Lou Ann Matossian, who dues-paid membership. St. James Church of week. will start later in the year. Watertown, Mass., was cited as a model in this “We still need his healing, and we still need Antranig Garibian, a member of the Legate’s endeavor, and the parish was invited to share his words to guide and inspire us. We still need Committee, presented the activities of 2012. the steps it took to reach out to potential mem - his life within our hearts, within our communi - Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, the Diocese’s ecu - bers. These included building personal relation - ties. We will always need to ‘Live the Gospel of menical director, continued to meet with offi - ships with community members and developing Christ.’” cials of the US government at the State marketing materials to highlight the benefits of The 111th Diocesan Assembly introduced the Department, and in the Senate and House, to membership. Diocese’s theme for 2013: “Living the Gospel of discuss the status of Christian minorities in the Diocesan Council member Lisa Esayian and Christ” — a theme which will be explored across Middle East, including the Christian communi - Richard Norsigian presented the results of a the parishes through diverse resources, which ty in Syria. sub-committee appointed by the Diocesan include retreats, Bible studies, print materials, Aykazian has also worked to bring attention Council to review the “Guidelines for Diocesan and a new series of interactive iBooks for the Carol Norigian, chair of the St. David Church to issues concerning Armenians in Jerusalem, Bylaws of the Armenian Church” — a proposed iPad. organizing committee for the Assembly, and Georgia, and the Middle East. In January 2013, constitutional framework for all Armenian The second general session opened on Friday Very Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian, pastor of St. he was elected president of Christian Churches Church dioceses, worked out during meetings morning, May 3, with an address by guest speak - David Church. Together. Garibian encouraged parishes to fol - of a five-member committee at Holy er, Rev. Mark Leondis, pastor of St. Mark Greek low the legate’s activities and to engage in ecu - Echmiadzin. Delegates voted to amend the Orthodox Church of West Palm Beach, Fla. He menical efforts on a local level. existing Diocesan bylaws to incorporate spoke about the biblical phrase “beloved chil - tions, as well as the Krikor and Clara Zohrab The Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) saw a changes to two of its provisions (a second vote dren of God,” and stressed its importance to Information Center and Communications successful year in 2012, when it exceeded pro - at next year’s assembly is needed to ratify these applying the teachings of the Gospel to daily life. Department. Each of the departments shared jected revenue by 54 percent, said FAR Board into Diocesan bylaws). “We are the beloved of God,” he said. “Being resources currently available to parishes. of Directors Chair Randy Sapah-Gulian. He Additional proposals approved by the assem - the beloved is an important phrase. These words Dr. Sam Mikaelian, coordinator of develop - went on to describe some of FAR’s existing pro - bly include a recommendation to reduce annu - allow us to understand who we are in relation to ment at the Diocese, spoke about the success of jects, such as the Homeless Children’s Center al parish member dues for parishioners God and in relation to each other.” the 2012 Annual Appeal: the Diocese raised in Yerevan, the Octet Music School and between the ages of 18 and 24, and a clarifica - He went on to describe ways through which $726, 577. He also noted that the 2013 Information Technology Center in Gumri, and tion on what constitutes a quorum at Parish the message of the Gospels can be incorporated Diocesan calendar, “The Stones Cry Out,” was several soup kitchens throughout Armenia. Assemblies. into daily living. “Understand what it means to a particularly successful fundraiser. Thanks to a generous donation from Edward The assembly also voted in favor of establish - be the beloved of God, and your life will be ful - Rev. Tateos Abdalian, director of the and Janet Mardigian — who were honored as ing guidelines by which parishes can move, filled,” Leondis concluded. “We all have a calling Diocese’s Mission Parish program, shared “Armenian Church Members of the Year” at the alter, or discard gifts made for capital improve - to enter a life with Christ — a life of love, service, updates from the mission parish of Jacksonville, Diocesan Assembly banquet — FAR will launch ment, and called on the Diocesan Council, and action.” Fla., which completed the renovation of its new a new initiative aimed at reducing poverty in Primate, and Legate to work together to estab - Following the inspiring address, clergy and parish hall. Abdalian also highlighted the mis - the Tavush region. Called “Breaking the Cycle lish a Diocesan plan to commemorate the 100th delegates had an opportunity for Bible study. sion parishes in Atlanta and elsewhere. of Poverty, Developing Thriving Communities,” anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 2015. In his address to the Assembly, Barsamian Karen Derderian, Armenian Church Youth the project will be implemented over a five-year On Saturday morning, a requiem service was outlined the significance of the Diocese’s new Organization of America (ACYOA) Central period. held for Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, the theme. Council vice chair, said the organization is con - The Armenian Church Endowment Fund late 96th Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, and “The words of our Lord were not only meant tinuing its work to increase the number of chap - reported that its portfolio saw a return of 11.3 long-serving former Primate of the Eastern to be heard — whether two thousand years ago, ters across the Diocese. Later the entire ACYOA percent in 2012, and a total of $3.5 million was Diocese. Rev. Aved Terzian, a former student of continued on next page S ATURDAY , M AY 18, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS

Gov. Jeb Bush Honored As ‘Friend of Armenians’ Mardigians Continue Family Tradition At Assembly Banquet

BOCA RATON, Fla. — When Edward and Janet Mardigian made Yerevan, increasing and extending a commitment the family has BOCA RATON — As the son and brother a magnanimous gift to the Fund for Armenian Relief earlier this already made to support the center. to two US Presidents, and the successful year — one of the largest donations ever contributed to FAR — it Another generous recent gift to the Diocese will serve to endow two-term governor of Florida, John Ellis wasn’t simply a one-time benefaction to the Armenian community. programs and activities of the Diocesan Department of Youth and “Jeb” Bush is certainly one of the most influ - Rather, it was the continuation of a pioneering family legacy — Education (DYE). ential figures in America today. He’s a reaching back well over half a century — to support the advance - And a new music school in the Armenian city of Gumri is being proven trailblazer on the national scene, an ment of the Armenian Church and nation in a variety of creative, built thanks to the vision and generosity of the family foundation. innovator in policy and governance, and a innovative ways. The entire Mardigian family — Edward, Janet, and sons Matthew and voice of wise counsel on issues facing our “My parents taught us to want to give back; they communicated Grant — traveled to Gumri for the start of construction on the new country and the world. that this country had been good to them, and so they wanted to school, which will serve a city still laboring under the shattering But it was an act of compassion in a time give back to the community,” says Edward of desperate need that drew Jeb Bush into Mardigian. “My father focused on the Armenian the hearts of the Armenian people, in community, but he wanted to serve everyone.” America and in Armenia. That attitude was impressed upon Ed from his It was in the earliest days after the earliest days. He was born into one of the most Armenian earthquake — mere weeks after active Armenian communities in America, into of the cataclysm of December 1988 — that Jeb one of our “first families.” His father, Edward Bush announced he had volunteered to trav - Mardigian, Sr., was one of our community’s great - el to the stricken country to deliver supplies est leaders in business and philanthropy. His moth - to the victims. He would make the trip in the er, Helen, was a woman of rare piety and sweetness. company of his 12-year-old son, George. The parents enjoyed a beautiful, tender marriage — The fact that the son of the new president- a true partnership, in which husband and wife elect would travel on such a mission to one brought out the best in each other. of the Soviet republics drew international Via their parents, Edward Jr. and his late sister headlines. But Jeb Bush’s response was that and brother, Marilyn and Robert, learned by exam - it was merely an example of the “thousand ple the virtues of kindness, generosity of spirit, opti - points of light” his father had spoken about mism, and hope. They also witnessed the power of during the recent presidential campaign. their parents’ imagination and industry, and how Even so, the reality that greeted the these qualities could shape whole communities, Bushes on the ground in Armenia was even and lead them forward. Edward and Janet Mardigian, with sons Matthew and Grant, receive the “Armenian more desperate than what they had expect - The elder Mardigians were pillars of Armenian life Church Members of the Year” award. ed. “Just about every structure was off its in their native Michigan, throughout the Diocese foundation,” a family member would recall. and indeed on the world stage. Holy Echmiadzin “There were people literally walking effects of the 1988 earthquake. and the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem are among the insti - through the street with very little clothes on Their involvement in Armenia was the inspiration of Janet tutions that benefitted from their support. Churches, museums, and starving.” In a television interview, Jeb Mardigian, who visited Armenia several years ago as a member of hospitals, universities, and institutions like the AGBU and Bush described a hospital visit to children the Diocesan Council. “She came home and said, ‘We have to do Armenian Assembly all came to bear the stamp of their generosity. injured in the tragedy as “something that’ll something over there. There’s so much need’” recalls Edward. In Inspired by Helen Mardigian’s love of teaching, they made extra - be with me and my son for the rest of our short order, in collaboration with FAR, they conceived the ambi - ordinary contributions — financial as well as personal — to ensure lives.” tious Tavush project. that younger generations would be educated in the ancient, holy A newspaper account painted a touching Janet’s strong convictions, her can-do attitude, and enthusiasm traditions of the Armenian Christian heritage. The long-running portrait of the trip. “With tears in his eyes, for reaching out in many directions are qualities well-known in the Helen and Edward Mardigian Institute, the Diocese’s groundbreak - the son of President-elect George Bush pre - family’s native community, the St. John Church of Southfield, Mich., ing training program for Sunday School educators, is one fruit of sented food and gifts today to brighten the where she is a longtime leader of the parish council. this mission. Christmas of children injured in Armenia’s And Ed has taken up a role on the Board of Directors of the Fund Today they support the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) and the earthquake,” it read. And then the article for Armenian Relief, using the vast experience and knowledge of his Diocese is clearly of a piece with the Mardigian family legacy. added this poignant quote from Jeb Bush: successful business career to help steer FAR to even greater heights The gift to FAR will allow the humanitarian organization to “This is probably the greatest Christmas gift of achievement. launch a new initiative, Breaking the Cycle of Poverty, Developing I could give myself or my son.” Meanwhile, the family’s Helen and Edward Mardigian Foundation Thriving Communities, aimed at relieving poverty and diminishing In later years, President George H. W. has become a true family enterprise, with sons Grant and Matthew its effect on children and families in Armenia’s Tavush province. A Bush would tell how his son’s act of com - adding their ideas and concerns to its list of worthy beneficiaries. portion of the gift will also support the FAR Children’s Center in passion had even larger repercussions. He recalled Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev “telling me afterwards that when Jeb went to church in Armenia and shed a tear there, it did more for the US-Russia relationship than Diocesan Assembly Introduces New Theme for 2013 anything I could possibly imagine.” That theme of the power of outreach at a from previous page focus will be on the five tabernacle feasts of the learn more about each of the five tabernacle time of need would later drive Jeb Bush’s or today. His Gospel was — and is — meant to be Armenian Church: Christmas, Easter, feasts. The Very Rev. Daniel Findikyan approach to executive governance. During acted upon,” Archbishop Barsamian said. “The Transfiguration, Assumption and Exaltation. By encouraged parish leaders to share this inno - his eight years as governor, from 1999 to words of Jesus are alive, and that life needs to exploring each of these feast days in depth, vative resource with their parishes, and to 2007, he was widely applauded for leading beexpressed through us: through the way we parishioners across the Diocese will have an make use of the iBooks in the coming year. improvements in Florida’s economy, envi - opportunity to “live Chris Zakian, director of the Diocese’s ronment and health care, as well as for alongside” Christ Communications Department, walked clergy reforming its education system. through each of the and delegates through the first iBook in the And his experience among the great celebrations of series, which focuses on the Feast of the Armenian people, viewing their suffering his ministry, and to Transfiguration. The new iBook features as well as their will to survive, likewise left gain a richer under - video, audio, and other multimedia, such as a strong impression — as shown in standing of their role photo galleries, touch-activated text, and a Governor Bush’s proclamations designat - in continuing his quiz. A virtual sanctuary allows users to lis - ing April 24 as Armenian Martyrs Day. He ministry today. ten to the hymns sung on the called on “the people of the United States The Very Rev. Transfiguration, while a mini dictionary to observe [the date] as a day of remem - Simeon Odabashian, helps teach key Armenian words related to brance for all the victims of genocide, Diocesan Vicar, intro - the feast day. especially those of Armenian ancestry,” in duced the resources Delegates then had an opportunity to brain - the conviction that “recognition of this developed by storm ways in which they might introduce the tragedy [would] educate people about Diocesan depart - new theme in their parishes. Ideas included genocide and may prevent future occur - ments to aid parishes hosting presentations following services, mak - rences of genocides.” in realizing the ing resources available to parishioners via the In choosing Jeb Bush as the “Friend of theme on a local web, and organizing workshops and retreats. the Armenians” for 2013, the Diocese cited level. These include “We are excited about the resources intro - his record as the governor of Florida, and articles on the feats duced by our Diocesan departments,” said the also recalled with great fondness that trip to Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Diocesan Vicar, introduces the resources days in English and Rev. Hratch Sargsyan, pastor of St. Gregory of Armenia after the earthquake. “Your expres - developed by Diocesan departments to aid parishes in realizing the 2013 Armenian, Bible Narek Church of Cleveland, Ohio. “These sions of compassion at that time — and the theme, “Living the Gospel of Christ.” study guides, sermon tools will help us reach parishioners across images of you and your son standing side-by- outlines for pastors, generations, and even initiate dialogue with side with the Armenian people — truly forti - and illustrated pre - other Christian communities.” fied the friendship between America and live, through our families, and our community.” sentations from the Krikor and Clara Zohrab The Rev. Vasken Kouzouian concluded the what would shortly become the free “Living the Gospel” means understanding In formation Center. Also planned are retreats morning session with a summary of the mate - Republic of Armenia.” Christ’s mission, and recognizing that we have for ACYOA Juniors and Seniors, Women’s rials presented to the delegates. “As ordained Marta Batmasian, a member of the Fund to play a role in this mission, he said. For Guild chapters, and parishes at large. and lay ministers, we are continuing the mis - for Armenian Relief Board of Directors, Armenian Christians, that understanding begins Lastly, the Diocese will offer a series of free sion of the Apostles,” he said. “Our work will accepted the award on behalf of Governor at the doors of the Armenian Church. iBooks — new interactive publications that succeed only if we commit to ‘Living the Bush at the Grand Banquet of the 111th The Primate then explained that this year’s will reach a wide audience and help users Gospel of Christ.’” Diocesan Assembly on Friday, May 3. 10 S ATURDAY , M AY 18, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Shengavit Director Hosted by Knights and Daughters of Vartan in Worcester

WORCESTER — On Monday, April 29, relations over a wide area. Vladimir Tshagharyan, the director of the Tshagharyan has been director of the site for Shengavit Historical and Archaeological about three years and has extensive experience Culture Preserve in Yerevan, was hosted at a in managing Armenia’s ancient historic monu - joint dinner meeting of Knights Of Vartan ments. Shengavit was originally excavated in Arshavir Lodge No. 2 and the Daughters Of the 1930 but most recently has been largely Vartan Santoukht Otyag No. 5. About 100 peo - ignored with zero funding by both the Armenia ple attended the illustrated talk at the and Yerevan governments. During the last few Armenian Church Of Our Saviour in Worcester. years excavations have resumed there but with Dr. Tigran Dolukhanyan translated no funding for maintaining the site, including Tshagharyan’s comments, which were in its small but interesting museum. About two Armenian. years ago the Cambridge Yerevan Sister City Prior to the talk, Worcester’s Mayor Joseph Association (CYSCA) initiated a plan to finan - Petty presented the key to the city to cially help with site preservation and renova - Tshagharyan and praised Tshagharyan’s effort tion. Since that time much progress has been at preserving Armenia’s historical heritage and made but much more needs to be done to make cultural legacy. In return, Tshagharyan present - the site visitor friendly. ed the mayor with a book on Yerevan (in Following the formal part of the talk, a long English) together with a desktop Armenian flag and lively question and answer session ensued, and a flag with Yerevan’s insignia. He invited after which both the Knights and Daughters of the mayor to visit Yerevan as his guest. Vartan presented details of many programs The oldest layer of the Shengavit archaeolog - they help fund. Both the Avak Sbarabed of the ical site is a Neolithic settlement (late Stone Knights, Nighogos Artinizian and the Avak Age) with remains of buildings and artifacts Vladimir Tshagharyan receiving the key to the city of Worcester from Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty Dirouhie of the Daughters of Vartan, Agnes from the daily living of its inhabitants dating to Sahagian, gave reports on recent activities and 3500-4000 BC. Since that time the site has accomplishments. The Knights of Vartan con - been continuously inhabited, later becoming revealed ancient homes of the inhabitants, Tshagharyan described the history of the site cluded with a generous donation to Shengavit part of the Urartun Empire, and then part of tools, animal bones, gravesites and flour, which and its importance for the study of regional civ - through the Cambridge Yerevan Sister City the early Armenian kingdoms. The site has amazingly have been preserved to this date. ilization as Shengavit had cultural and trade Association. TCA Arshag Dickranian School Juniors Visit New York, Washington and Philadelphia LOS ANGELES — On April 23, eighth and York where they spent two days visiting the students visited Ground Zero where they also three days visiting sites. Moreover, the stu - ninth grade students went on a five-day edu - famous Time Square, Empire State Building, paid their respects to the victims of 9/11. dents visited the site preserved for The cational trip to visit historical sites around the Statue of Liberty, the Financial District On April 25, students boarded a tour bus Armenian Genocide Museum of America. The the United States escorted by their English and 5th Avenue. On the following day, April and headed to Philadelphia, where they spent students also got the opportunity to visit teacher Pascal Nittis and eight parents. The 24, the students visited St. Vartan Armenian the hours of the morning visiting the Liberty Georgetown, which allowed them to acquaint trip was organized by school parent Cathedral, where they attended a service ded - Bell, Independence Hall and Benjamin themselves with the possibility of attending Shoushan Vanoyan from Econo Travel. icated to the commemoration of the victims Franklin’s grave. They then stopped by a Georgetown University some day. The students made their first stop in New of the Armenian Genocide. Following service, restaurant and enjoyed a hearty meal of They returned to Los Angeles on Sunday, Philly steak sandwich. The students then April 28. boarded their buses again to continue their For more information about the school, Armenian Festival in Upstate NY to trip to Washington, DC, where they spent visit www.dickranianschool.org. Feature John Berberian Ensemble

WATERVLIET, N.Y. — The John Berberian Ensemble will be featured at this year’s St. Peter Armenian Church’s Festival, providing tradition - al live Armenian music for the two-day event. The Armenian Festival on June 8 from 12 to 8 Papken Suni p.m. and June 9 from 12 to 5 p.m., will be held on the scenic grounds of the church property located in upstate New York. The parish community — known for their deli - cious cooking— will have plenty of traditional Agoump Armenian foods on hand to enjoy throughout the weekend. Of course, other traditional Armenian American Social Club favorites will also be available for purchase, including both savory and sweet dishes. The John Berberian Ensemble — featuring John himself on oud , Mal Barsamian on the clar - inet, Harry Bedrossian on keyboard and vocals, John Berberian • Hall available for parties and Charles Dermenjian on the dumbeg — will and functions provide hours of live musical entertainment for both days of the festival. Additionally, there will including a MacBook, iPad, an iPod, or a gift be carnival games for the children as well as a card to eat at Applebees Restaurant. Catering on site and off, bounce house throughout the weekend. On Vendors will be on hand selling an array of • Sunday afternoon, a tavloo tournament will take items, including St. Peter’s very own Armenian Maximum 100 guests place and Victor the Clown will be on hand to Bookstore. provide amazing balloon art while Bumble Bee FREE admission and parking. rain or shine with Featuring traditional will offer face painting. tent and hall coverage. For more festival informa - • This year will also include a special “Apple tion, to become an event sponsor or to purchase Armenian and Middle Eastern Raffle” to win one of five apple-related items, your raffle ticket, contact the church office. foods Jenike & Johanson Named Business of the Year • Social Club open six days a week LOWELL — During Enterprise Bank’s ty impact.” “Celebration of Excellence” award ceremony at Sixty years ago, a 39-year-old, Polish-born the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, bulk material engineer named Andrew Jenike founded the engineering company, Jenike & Johanson, company with the idea of applying science and received the award for “Business of the Year.” engineering to analyze the storage, flow and For information on prices, menu President John W. Carson and CEO of the processing of particles. Industries from mining and availability, call Manager company and St. James Armenian Church to chemicals, food, pharmaceuticals and every - deacon, Herman Purutyan, took the stage thing in between still depend on Jenike & Kevork Boyajian at (617) 921-1415 before a crowd of more than 1,800 business Johanson for a reliable, consistent flow of parti - Or (617) 924-9678 and community leaders to accept the award cles on demand, at the required rate and con - on behalf of the company. This award “recog - sistency. nizes and honors successful, local businesses Jenike & Johanson have more than 70 for their financial achievement, positive work - employees spread over three offices in the US place environment, and continued communi - and one each in Canada, Chile and Australia. 76 Bigelow Ave., Watertown, MA 02472 S ATURDAY , M AY 18, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 Arts & Living

Lifetime Nerkararyan Achievement Featured in Award Given to Artist Seeroon Rachmaninoff Yeretzian Opera GLENDALE — Artist Seeroon Yeretzian received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 Diamond Awards for Achievement in By Tom Vartabedian the Arts. The award was given by the City of Glendale, Library Arts & Culture Department and the Arts & BRIGHTON, Mass. — In celebration of the Culture Commission on April 29, 2013 140th anniversary of composer Sergei at a lavish ceremony held at the Rachmaninoff, the Commonwealth Lyric Glendale Central Library Auditorium. Theater will perform his opera, “Aleko: The Yeretzian, recently diagnosed with Gypsies” June 9-13 at Center Makor. ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), has spent Appearing in the lead female role will be the last 30 years creating and promot - popular Armenian soprano Knarik ing art. She is the founder and director Nerkararyan, who has performed frequently of Roslin Art Gallery, which exhibits the throughout Greater Boston and the North work of Armenian artists from around Shore. the world. She is well-known for her art Dog and Wolf by Talleen Hacikyan The soloist will appear twice in the chal - inspired by the Medieval Armenian illu - lenging role of Zemphira, Sunday, June 9, at minated manuscripts, especially for her 3 p.m. and again on Thursday, June 13, at 8 recreations of the Armenian alphabet in p.m. colorful ornate initials. Her art album The theater is located at 1845 Talleen Hacikyan Commonwealth Ave., site of the former Boston Vocal Arts Studio. Exhibit Opens A month ago, Nerkararyan electrified a At ALMA

WATERTOWN — Talleen Hacikyan, an illustrator and printmaker, will give an informal talk about her work at the opening of her exhibit at the Armenian Library Teri Deaver presents the Lifetime and Museum of America (ALMA) on Wednesday, May 22, at 7 p.m. The exhibit will Achievement Award at the 2013 Diamond include prints and illustrations, including monotype, woodcut and linocut printing. Awards for Achievement in the Arts to Collagraphy is Hacikyan’s “medium of choice” as she notes that the flexible and Seeroon Yeretzian. direct nature of the technique allows for a more intuitive approach. She writes, and poetry book were recently pub - “Working on the cardboard lished by the Abril Publishing plate that will be inked and Company. printed onto paper becomes an The ceremony included a dinner act of play. Etching and tearing reception and a piano performance by the plate, gluing materials onto Arman Keyvanian. Awards were also it and building it up with plaster presented to Ruben Avoian for Young lets me create fluidly. Images Artist, Srboohie Abajian for Artist, and and episodes of an unconscious the Xpress Art Center for Community narrative are revealed to me as Knarik Nerkararyan Partner, among others. I work. Through symbols and Teri Deaver, the chair of the Arts and textures that echo indigenous Culture Commission, made the opening art and the memory of child - Merrimack Valley audience during the 98th remarks and personally presented the hood I explore various themes anniversary commemoration concert of The Lifetime Achievement Award to that deal with our primordial Armenian Genocide. She was joined there by Yeretzian. connection to the natural mezzo-soprano Victoria Avetisyan and tenor “I am deeply honored to have this world.” Yeghishe Manucharyan. opportunity to present the Lifetime Parallel to her printmaking Nerkararyan is the winner of American Achievement Award to Seeroon practice, Hacikyan also illus - Educators of Italian Origin United 41st Yeretzian. … Seeroon has an exception - trates children’s books. The Opera Auditions and was runner-up in the al body of work and an unrelenting pas - exhibition features the original Los Angeles International Liszt Competition sion for social justice that cries out illustrations for Tork Angegh for Vocalists. She also won first place in both from the canvas, her sculptures and her (Gomidas Institute, London, Talleen Hacikyan the 2007 and 2010 Concerto Competition at written works. She illuminates and cel - UK, 2007) and Aesop’s Fables Azusa Pacific University. ebrates her heritage and culture in all retold by children’s author, Highlights of her operatic roles are Mimi in its variations and complexity. Her Michael Rosen (Tradewind Press, Vancouver, BC, 2013). The illustrations for both “La Boheme” and more recently as Kupava in works, draw us in, break down barriers books were created with acrylic paint, combined with hand printing and collage. For the American premier of Rimsky-Korsakov’s and give us the opportunity to become the hand-printed textures, she used objects ranging from woodblocks designed for opera, “The Snow Maiden,” with the Lowell a better people,” Deaver said. textile printing, to leaves, onions, cabbage and broccoli. House Opera Society where she gained rave “Thank you Seeroon for sharing your Born in Montreal in 1959, Hacikyan is a visual artist, art educator and fiction writ - reviews. She has also appeared with Opera art and yourself with us so passionately er. She has bachelor’s in anthropology from McGill University and a BA in fine arts Boston and Boston Lyric Opera. over these many years. And for con - and fine arts education from Université du Québec à Montréal. Awards include the Nerkararyan currently serves as choir tributing to and enhancing the City of Loto-Quebec Printmaking Prize, the Pierre Henry Prize from Pratt and Whitney director for St. Gregory Church in North Glendale through your clarity of vision, Canada, and in 2012, a residency at Atelier de l’Île in Val David, Quebec. Andover. your depth of creative work, your per - Hacikyan has held many solo exhibitions and has participated in more than 70 The libretto itself is an exciting story about sonal investment and your commitment juried group exhibitions in North America, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, France, Spain, gypsies: love, betrayal, jealousy and a crime to the community. It is my honor to pre - Portugal, Taiwan and Australia. of passion. Written in 1892 when sent you with the Diamond Award for Her website is www.talleen.net Rachmaninoff was still a teenager, “Aleko” Lifetime Achievement in the Arts,” she Admission is free and open to the public. Refreshments will follow. became his most-performed opera in Europe. concluded. The last time it was performed publically was in 1916. 12 S ATURDAY , M AY 18, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING Gerald Papasian Featured in Hit Movie, TV Series in France

PARIS — The thriller ring role of a dangerous Turkish gangster While fully engaged in the French movie “Mohamed Dubois” was called Baba Aroudj in the series. His charac - and TV films, Papasian has never aban - released in French cinemas ter is introduced in the series towards the doned his love for the Armenian operas and on May 1 and has received end of the third season in 2013 and will also plays, especially his passion to present great critical acclaim, fea - continue in its fourth season in 2014. In this them to international audiences. His produc - turing French-Armenian TV series Gerald is in the company of a group tion of opera buffa “Gariné” (Leblebiji actor Gerald Papasian. of celebrated actors of international reputa - Horhor Agha) by Dikran Tchouhadjian which In the lead role is actor tion, like Jean-Hugues Anglade, Nicolas was successfully staged in Paris and Marseille Eric Judor, a film and tele - Duvenchelle, Karole Rocheret and Joseph in 2010, has been invited again by the Odeon vision star known for his Malerba. The series is directed by Manuel Theater in Marseille for two nights in hit TV series, “Eric et Boursinhac. November. Ramzy.” In the film, Papasian plays the lead character’s uncle. The film is directed by Ernesto Ona and produced by Manuel Munz. In addition to the film, Papasian has joined the team of the hit TV series, “Braquo,” now in its third season. The series was cre - ated by Olivier Marchal and airs not only in France, but also in Quebec, Canada and Australia. Geoffroy Thiebaut and Gearld Papasian in “Braquo” Papasian plays the recur -

Gerald Papasian, with the star of “Braquo” Jean-Hugues Anglade and two of Papsian’s bodyguards

Sponsor a Teacher in Armenia and Karabagh 2013

Since its inception in 2001, TCA’s ‘Sponsor a Teacher’ program has raised over $563,000 and reached out to 4,440 teachers and school workers in Armenia and Karabagh.

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Make check payable to: Tekeyan Cultural Association – Memo: Sponsor a Teacher 2010 Mail your check with this form to: The Armenian TCA Sponsor a Teacher 5326 Valverde, Houston, TX 77056 Mirror-Spectator Your donation is Tax Deductible. Now in its 81 st year of publication S ATURDAY , M AY 18, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 ARTS & LIVING

James Russell to Speak Balakian’s Article on Lemkin to Appear in Holocaust and Genocide Studies At NAASR on ‘The WASHINGTON — Peter Balakian’s essay in the Spring 2013 issue of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, published Animal Style in Art: by Oxford University Press in association with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, explores Raphael From Scythia to Lemkin’s overlooked concept of cultural destruction in Aghtamar to Modern the case of the Armenian Genocide. Using Lemkin’s soon-to-be published memoir, Totally Russian Literature’ Unofficial, and various other archival documents, Balakian shows how Lemkin’s thinking was significantly BELMONT, Mass. — Dr. James R. Russell, shaped by the Armenian Genocide. Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies at Balakian focuses on the Ottoman government’s van - Harvard University, will give an illustrated dalism and destruction of Armenian cultural monuments, lecture titled “The Animal Style in Art: especially churches, the mass killing of Armenian intel - From Scythia to Aght’amar to Modern lectuals, the use of crucifixes as weapons of torture and Russian Literature,” on Thursday, May 30, forced conversions to Islam. In conlusion, Balakian assess - at 7:30 p.m. at the National Association for es the long-term impact cultural destruction has had on Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), Armenians. Among the 20 images in the article, 15 are in 395 Concord Ave. The lecture will be given color — many of them images of ruined churches in in honor of the 90th birthday of Prof. Nina Turkey today. G. Garsoian. To order single print copies (as well as subscribe to the The Church of the Holy Cross on journal and obtain online access to single articles), visit Kurdish peasants use ruins of St. Arakelots Monastery, near Muh, as barn ca. 2000 Aght’amar island in Lake Van, Armenia, http://www.oxfordjournals.org/our_journals/holgen/ac (Courtesy Hrair Hawk Khatcherian) built in 920 AD, famously features a spec - cess_purchase/buy_online.html tacular bas-relief sculptural program on its outer walls, where we find antic animals strikingly reminiscent of images from Scythian art, wrought in gold, of the ancient world. The impression one takes away of Scythian art is of the pleasure of movement, the beauty of the kinetic body. CC AA LLEENNDDAARR And if one recalls that much of this art was meant to be portable, often to adorn a rider and his mount, it is understandable that it celebrated the galloping horse, the swoop - ing falcon, the hare or stag in full flight. If the Animal Style, which endured for many centuries past the Classical age, found its way from gold to stone, with per - MASSACHUSETTS haps a quick stopover in Sasanian Iran, it is surely at home in Armenia. Tracing the MAY 19 — “Re-population Efforts in Nagorno-Karabagh,” 2 imagery of Scythia and Aght’amar’s p.m., talk by Dr. Arshak Balayan, assistant professor of phi - Church of the Holy Cross and following it losophy at Yerevan State University, about his research into the into Russian art and literature, Prof. James re-population of New Shahumyan (Karvachar) and Kashatagh R. Russell will pursue the meanings and Regions of Nagorno-Karabakh; free event hosted by ALMA, 65 repercussions of this pattern of animal Main St., Watertown, MA. imagery, in visual art and in the written MAY 31 and JUNE 1— Armenian Memorial Church Annual word. Fair (rain or shine); open Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. serving Russell has been the Mashtots Professor Armenian kebab meals; entire Fair open Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 of Armenian Studies at Harvard University p.m.; Armenian meals served all day Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. since 1992. His books include Bosphorus Beef, chicken or losh (ground beef) kebab dinners with sauce, Nights: The Complete Lyric Poems of pilaf, salad, pita bread; take out available; also Armenian vege - Bedros Tourian, Armenian and Iranian tarian meals; Armenian delicacies table featuring paklava, Studies, The Book of Flowers, An kadayif, cheoreg, mante, koufte and other baked specialties; Armenian Epic: The Heroes of Kasht, silent auction of exciting items and gift certificates; craft fair; 32 Zoroastrianism in Armenia and Bigelow Ave., Watertown, take Watertown bus from Harvard Hovhannes Tlkurantsi and the Medieval Square; admission free. Wheelchair accessible; for more infor - Armenian Lyric Tradition . mation, call 617-923-0498. This lecture is presented in honor of the JUNE 1 — Armenian Night at the Pops, 8 p.m., featuring On June 9 at 3 p.m. and June 13 at 8 p.m., 90th birthday of Prof. Nina G. Garsoian. young violinist Emmanuel Tjeknavorian from Vienna and the soprano Knarik Nerkararyan will appear as Garsoian received her BA from Bryn Mawr Boston Pops Orchestra at Symphony Hall, Boston. Presented by the female lead in Sergei Rachmaninoff College 1943 and her MA and PhD from Friends of Armenian Culture Society. For tickets and information, opera “Aleko,” presented by the Columbia University in 1946 and 1958 in visit http://www.facsboston.org. Commonwealth Lyric Theater, 1845 Byzantine, Near Eastern and Armenian JUNE 9 and JUNE 13 — Soprano Knarik Nerkararyan appear - Commonwealth Ave., Brighton, MA. For tick - History. Garsoian was the first female dean ing in the lead female role of Sergei Rachmaninoff opera “Aleko” ets, visit .CommonwealthLyricTheater.com. of the Graduate School at Princeton by Commonwealth Lyric Theater, 1845 Commonwealth Ave., University and a two-term trustee of the Brighton; two appearances June 9, 3 p.m., and June 13 at 8 Ford Foundation. Currently, she is p.m. For tickets, visit www.CommonwealthLyricTheater.com. JUNE 13 — St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church of Avedissian Professor Emerita of Armenian JUNE 15 — St. Nersess Seminary annual Summer Picnic, noon Merrimack Valley Men’s Club Fourth Annual Cigar Night & History and Civilization at Columbia to 7 p.m., John Beberian Ensemble, kebab, super raffle, chil - Dinner, in memory of Fr. Vartan Kassabian; surf & turf dinner, University and is the director of the Revue dren’s entertainment, tavloo tournament; free parking and open bar, cigars, live & silent auctions, raffles; tickets $150, con - des Etudes Armeniennes in Paris. admission, rain or shine; 150 Stratton Road, New Rochelle. More information about this program tact Greg Minasian @[email protected], or 978-470- may be had by e-mailing [email protected], or 3075;158 Main Street, No. Andover, 01845. writing to NAASR, 395 Concord Ave., JUNE 17 — The Gregory Hintlian Memorial Golf Tournament, RHODE ISLAND Belmont, MA 02478. this year remembering Dan Dorian, sponsored by Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston, Marlborough Country MAY 23-27 — ACYOA 2013 General Assembly & Senior Sports Club, Marlborough. Weekend. Providence host chapter. Sporting Events to be held at Providence Career and Technical Institute Sports Facility. All are welcome to attend. Kef Time dance featuring John NEW YORK Berberian, Richard Hagopian and Onnik Dinkjian, on Saturday, May 25, Crowne Plaza, Warwick. For more information or reser - JUNE 7 — The Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural Association of vations email [email protected], NY presents a concert dedicated to the 300th jubilee of Sayat [email protected] or [email protected] Nova, 8 p.m. featuring Elie Berberian (Canada) and his band per - forming songs by Sayat Nova and other favorite minstrels, sug - gested donation $25 post-concert reception included at the Free Calendar Submissions Armenian Center, 69-23 47th Ave., Woodside. Contact The Mirror-Spectator accepts calendar submissions free of [email protected] or call (212) 689-5880 for tickets. charge. Calendar entries of a maximum of five lines can be JUNE 8 and JUNE 9 — The John Berberian Ensemble will submitted to [email protected]; entries exceeding five lines entertain at St. Peter Church Festival in Watervliet. will be subject to charge. We encourage readers and com - Weekend includes kebab, games, raffle, vendors. Free parking munity members to submit their events so that we may pro - and admission. Weekend room block rates available at Hampton vide readers with a comprehensive calendar of events. Inn Albany Airport 518-782-7500. For more info, call the church at 518-274-3673. 14 S ATURDAY , M AY 18, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

COMMENTARY T HE A RMENIAN Mirror- Turkish Prime Minister’s Triumphant Spectator Visit to Washington

ing as an independent state. But ironically at this time, Ankara has By Edmond Y. Azadian embraced Iraqi Kurdistan, at the expense of destabilizing Iraqi Premier Maliki’s central government, because Erdogan’s adminis - Established 1932 tration believes they have contained Kurdish aspirations in their It is well said by English historian and writer Lord Acton that own country, eliminating any spillover of Kurdish irredentism from An ADL Publication power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Iraqi Kurdistan. There can be no better example to demonstrated the veracity of As the political agenda is reviewed, we certainly doubt that Mr. the above adage then citing the names of a political duo at the top Obama will ask Mr. Erdogan whether he has given any thought to EDITOR of the power pyramid in Washington DC: President Obama and his suggestions at the Turkish Parliament during his first term; Alin K. Gregorian Secretary of State John Kerry. meaning modern Turkey would make peace with its ugly Ottoman On the eve of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s history. ASSISTANT EDITOR Gabriella Gage visit to Washington, they have already sacrificed the most dispens - Mr. Erdogan is being accorded all these accolades because he is able issues in honor of the visiting dignitary: Armenians and the coming with bloody hands as the front man in destabilizing a sov - ASSOCIATE EDITOR Armenian Genocide. Obama and Kerry seemed to be espousing the ereign country — Syria — which has refused thus far to bow down Aram Arkun most humanistic and moral causes while serving in the senate. Mr. on Palestinian rights and continues to make claims on its confis - Kerry is extremely knowledgeable on the Armenian Genocide and cated territories by Turkey in 1939, the Sanjak of Alexandretta and ART DIRECTOR Marc Mgrditchian at times he has made the most stirring remarks in favor of its offi - Golan Heights in 1967 by Israel. cial recognition. Yet during his recent shuttle diplomacy between The recent bombs that killed 46 people and injured more than Washington and Ankara, he praises Turkey’s position as a positive 100 in Reyhanli, which is located in the Hatay region mostly pop - one in resolving the Karabagh conflict. And he makes the state - ulated by Arabs and Alevis, may have been a warning by the rest - SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: ment with a straight face, showing little concern with this political less Arab populace, agitating against Erdogan’s shipment of mer - Edmond Azadian about face. He has no comments on the continuing illegal block - cenaries and armaments in Syria. But for Mr. Davutoglu and for CONTRIBUTORS: ade of Armenia. the West, it is most convenient to point the finger at the Assad Florence Avakian, Elizabeth Aprahamian, As to Mr. Obama, he has already repeated his “Medz Yeghern” regime in Syria. That accusation, compounded by the orchestra - Daphne Abeel, Dr. Haroutiune charade on April 24 and continues to keep Guantanamo Bay tion of “the use of chemical weapons” constitutes a concoction for Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Prof. gulag, which had given a black eye to the US human rights posi - casus belli . Vahakn N. Dadrian, Diana Der tion during the Bush-Cheney era and continues the stigma on the By serving as a proxy for the West in the Middle East, Turkey Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, Kevork Obama administration’s rhetoric on democracy and human rights. has acquired the status of a regional power, and an independent Keushkerian, Sonia Kailian-Placido , Mr. Obama has given more to Turkey than the latter even expect - one at that. That status renders Armenia’s maneuvering room very Harut Sassounian, Mary Terzian, Hagop ed, because on the political market, Armenian rights and issues limited. That is why during Erdogan’s visit to Washington no one Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian have proven to be the most disposable ones. will give him a slap on the wrist to lift the blockade of Armenia. CORRESPONDENTS: He had already reduced US aid to Armenia dramatically and now The Turks have also planned their version of a Genocide cen - Armenia - Hagop Avedikian presents a legal gift to Mr. Erdogan on a silver platter. Indeed the tennial in 2015, as quoted in an article by Robert Fisk in London’s Boston - Nancy Kalajian Obama administration has urged the Supreme Court not to hear Independent (May 12, 2013, see it reproduced below). The Philadelphia - Lisa Manookian the appeal of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ 2012 striking announcement by Turkey’s Foreign Minister Davutoglu is most Berlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach down of a California law extending the statute of limitations on the revealing: “We are going to make the year of 1915 known to the Contributing Photographers: Armenian Genocide-era life insurance claims. This is a third-world world over, not as the anniversary of a genocide, as some people Jacob Demirdjian, Harry Koundakjian, Jirair practice of exerting political pressure on the judiciary to abort jus - claimed and slandered [sic] but we shall make it known as a glori - Hovsepian tice. Had this been undertaken by a private citizen, it would be ous resistance of a nation in our defense of Gallipoli.” labeled as obstruction of justice. Rather than leaving the Supreme There is no conciliation or repentance in Davutoglu’s tone. Court to determine the merits of the case, the administration has Turkey intends to drown calls for Armenian Genocide recognition The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published already intervened to block the adjudication of the case. in the drumbeat of a dubious victory in Gallipoli that was one of weekly, except two weeks in July, by: It is reported that Prime Minister Erdogan will receive the high - history’s mysteries as to how a crumbling Ottoman army defeated Baikar Association, Inc. est state welcome during his visit to the US on May 16-17. He will French and British forces under Winston Churchill’s command, receive two full military honors, one at the airport and the other while troops from Australia and New Zealand were slaughtered by 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 at the White House, as the formal guest of US President Barack Mustafa Kemal. The jury is out on the issue because suspicion Telephone: 617-924-4420 Obama. lingers that Britain betrayed its own army to deny access to its FAX: 617-924-2887 The agenda of their discussion will comprise a full plate, Syria World War I ally, Russia, access to the warm waters of the www.mir rorspectator.com being the most dominant issue. The other items on that agenda Mediterranean and the strategic Strait of Bosporus. E-Mail: editor@mirrorspectator .com will certainly include Ankara’s initiative to open a dialog with the Armenians could counter Mr. Erdogan’s triumphant march on For advertising: [email protected] Kurdish minority, relations between Israel and Turkey, which have the red carpet in Washington by a massive rally (not just 50-100 always constituted the centerpiece of US Middle East policy under youth, which can prove to be counterproductive), with slogans any administration, because, Israel, using the US muscle can con - such as “Recognize the Genocide,” “Lift the Blockade” and tinue its hegemony in the entire region, with the tacit collusion of “Bloody hands off Syria.” But we have opted for the more com - SUBSCRIPTION RATES : medieval potentates (“moderate Arab nations” in Washington’s lex - fortable position of armchair diplomats, additionally sacrificing the icon.) completion of the Genocide Museum in Washington. Iran and Iraq have been viewed by divergent views at their Mr. Erdogan will think “If this is the political clout of one mil - U.S.A. $80 a year respective capitals. Despite US sanctions against Iran, Turkey is lion plus American Armenians, then I can walk triumphantly — not Canada $125 a year continuing its policy of business as usual, and in the case of Iraq, only on the red carpet but also over the bones of 1.5 million Turkey was scared of that country’s position of Kurdistan emerg - Armenian martyrs.” Other Countries $190 a year

© 2011 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA The Armenian Hero Turkey Would Prefer to Forget and additional mailing offices.

ISSN 0004-234X sonally awarded medals for his courage by think it should join the EU. How can we POSTMASTER : Send address changes to The By Robert Fisk Enver Pasha, Turkey’s war minister and the Europeans claim that the Muslim world wish - Armenian Mirror-Spectator, P.O. Box 302, most powerful man in the Ottoman hierarchy. es to stay ‘apart’ from our ‘values’ when an Watertown, MA 02471-0302 The greatest hero of Gallipoli was Mustafa entire Muslim country wants to share our Other than the editorial, views and opinions Think Captain Terossian. Confronted by the Kemal who, as Ataturk, founded the modern European society? We are hypocrites indeed. expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily chilling 100th anniversary of the Genocide of Turkish state. But in view of the desire of some Yet how can Turkey still hope to join the EU eflect the policies of the publisher. 1.5 million Armenian men, women and chil - of Turkey’s most prominent historians to when it still refuses to acknowledge the truth dren at the hands of the Ottoman Turks in brand Torossian a fraud, the word ‘modern’ of the Armenian Genocide — and symbolizes 1915, Turkey’s government is planning to should perhaps be used in inverted commas. this denial by a scandalous attack on a long swamp memories of the Armenian massacres Now these academics are even claiming that dead Ottoman officer? Does Dreyfus’ phantom with ceremonies commemorating the Turkish the Armenian army captain invented his two hover over such a moment? For however much victory over the Allies at the battle of Gallipoli medals from the Enver. Yet one of the most the Turkish government bangs the drum at Copying for other than personal use or in the same year. Already, loyalist academics the outspoken Turkish historians to have fully Gallipoli in 2015, Torossian’s ghost is going to internal reference is prohibited without have done their best to ignore the presence of acknowledged the 1915 Genocide, Taner haunt those 1915 battlefields. express permission of the copyright owner. Address requests for reprints or thousands of Arab troops among the 1915 Akçam, has tracked down Torossian’s family in His memoirs, From Dardanelles to Palestine, back issues to: Turkish armies at Gallipoli — and are now even America, met his granddaughter and inspected were first published in Boston in 1947. Ayhan Baikar Association, Inc. branding an Armenian Turkish artillery officer the two Ottoman medal records and one of Aktar, professor of social sciences at Istanbul who was decorated for his bravery at Gallipoli them bears Enver Pasha’s original signature. Bilgi University, first came across a copy of the 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 as a liar who fabricated his own biography. Turkey, as we all know, wants to join the book 20 years ago and was amazed to learn — In fact, Captain Sarkis Torossian was per - European Union. I also, by chance, happen to see HERO, page 16 S ATURDAY , M AY 18, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 COMMENTARY

the Armenian Genocide, alleging that such measures would Agreement,” which “addressed only the claims of those “undermine efforts to encourage improved relations who were US citizens at the time of World War I, not those between Armenia and Turkey.” who became US citizens after the war had concluded.” - Section 354.4 “would impermissibly intrude upon the The Solicitor General’s “legal opinion,” besides being federal foreign affairs power” in an area where the US flawed on all counts, is more of a political statement that My Turn “acted in the post-World War I era to resolve certain claims deprives American citizens of their right to insurance by American citizens” through the Ankara Agreement claims. By Harut Sassounian (October 25, 1934), American Treaty of Lausanne (August One would hope that the Supreme Court will ignore the 6, 1923), and Treaty of Berlin and Claims Agreement Solicitor General’s brief, and agree to hear the case, even (August 10, 1922). though the chances are slim, because the Court accepts White House Files Politically- Several rebuttals are in order to the Solicitor’s General’s only a small percentage of cases submitted to it. Motivated, Anti-Armenian Brief misguided and politically-motivated arguments: The Solicitor General’s overreaching arguments, if - The California law does not intrude on the federal gov - unchallenged, would have a chilling effect on all future To US Supreme Court ernment’s foreign affairs powers as it simply attempts to genocide restitution efforts, particularly on the eve of the regulate the obligations of insurance companies, an area of Armenian Genocide Centennial. The US Supreme Court asked the Obama Administration state competence and jurisdiction. This law provides an Armenian-American community leaders should take all last October if it should review a Federal Appeals Court opportunity to right a historic wrong by forcing insurance possible measures to counter the Solicitor General’s politi - decision that had struck down a California law (Section companies to make long overdue payments to heirs of their cally-motivated arguments, by cutting all ties with the 354.4) extending the statute of limitations on Armenian deceased clients. Obama Administration, organizing protests at presidential Genocide-era life insurance claims. - German insurance companies are the defendants in this appearances, seeking congressional intervention to estab - The US Solicitor General, the lawyer representing the US case, not Turkey, even though the latter filed a brief oppos - lish a federal commission for genocide restitution similar to government before the Supreme Court, filed a response ing the lawsuit. Remarkably, the Solicitor General’s brief that of the Holocaust, and amending Section 354.4 of the last week. He urged the Supreme Court not to hear the mirrors some of the arguments advanced by Turkey. California law to circumvent the presented objections, no appeal, and let stand the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rul - - The Solicitor General selectively cites the opposition of matter how flimsy. Moreover, the Armenian government ing that the California law “impermissibly” intruded into Clinton and Bush administrations to congressional resolu - should immediately withdraw its signature from the the federal government’s foreign relations powers. tions on the Armenian Genocide, ignoring the long-stand - Armenia-Turkey Protocols which are repeatedly cited by Given President Obama’s disappointing record of kow - ing US record on genocide recognition, including resolu - the White House and US courts as a pretext for opposing towing to Turkey, particularly on Armenian Genocide tions adopted by the House of Representatives in 1975 and Armenian Genocide-related efforts, under the guise of issues, it is not surprising that the administration’s brief 1984, President Reagan’s Presidential Proclamation of wanting not to undermine Armenia-Turkey relations, which went far beyond the question whether the Supreme Court 1981, and US Government’s 1951 written statement to the are non-existent. should hear the appeal. International Court of Justice (World Court) acknowledg - It is now crystal clear that President Obama’s deceptive The US Solicitor General erroneously claimed that: ing the Armenian Genocide. use of “Meds Yeghern” in his annual commemorative state - - Contrary to the assertion of Armenian litigants, - All three treaties/agreements cited by the Solicitor ments does not amount to an acknowledgment of the “California was not acting within an area of its traditional General are unrelated to the subject matter of this lawsuit. Armenian Genocide, contrary to the gleeful pronounce - competence,” i.e., insurance regulation. The Ankara Agreement and the American Treaty of ments of some gullible souls. - The California law “intrudes upon substantial foreign Lausanne involve the Republic of Turkey, not German Finally, the Armenian-American community should affairs powers” of the federal government and leads to judg - insurance companies. Also, the American Treaty of reconsider its strategy of seeking genocide acknowledg - ments “based on politically contentious events that Lausanne lacks any legal standing as a non-ratified treaty. ment through congressional resolutions which are not only occurred in the Ottoman Empire nearly a century ago.” The Solicitor General undermines his own position by unnecessary, but counter-productive, as these unsuccessful - Beyond simply intruding, this law would “disturb for - acknowledging that the California law “does not expressly attempts undermine previously adopted resolutions and eign relations” with Turkey. Presidents Bill Clinton and conflict with the Ankara Agreement, the American Treaty cast doubt on the long-established US record of Armenian George W. Bush had opposed congressional resolutions on of Lausanne, or the Treaty of Berlin and Claims Genocide recognition.

Turkey’s 2015 Plan: Avoid the Word ‘Genocide’ at All Costs LETTERS

Armenian Diaspora promote 2015 as a mile - Even organizations such as the Elie Wiesel By Orhan Kemal Cengiz stone for global recognition of genocide, the Foundation, which persistently says what hap - A New Word Turkish state, mobilized by defensive instincts, pened in 1915 was unquestionably genocide, continues denying everything, just as it has are saying that international conventions can - The groups that call the 1915 events in been doing all these years. not be retroactive, and that is why there can - For Genocide Turkey “genocide” filled Istanbul Taksim It was known that the Turkish Foreign not be demands for land or compensation Square on April 24, along with Armenians Ministry was preparing to counter the from Turkey. But while it looks difficult for the To the Editor: who came from abroad to remember millions Armenian diaspora’s 2015 strategy. Armenians to win in international courts, that Well, President Obama did it of Armenians who lost their Haberturk, in a report by Sibel Hurtas in doesn’t rule out the possibility of individual to us again — he did not use the lives and suffered untold September 2011, titled “Foreign Ministry countries taking legal action on their own. G word, though the dozen or so OPINION agony on this land. Only five sends coded message to raise 2015 alarm,” For example, the cases brought against words he used in his statement or six years ago, it was said that in a secret message to Turkish German insurance company Munich Re in were pretty much the dictionary unthinkable that such an observance could be embassies worldwide, Turkish diplomats were California in 2003 within the framework of the definition of genocide. What is held in Turkey. These developments encourage asked to monitor and prevent Armenian activ - 2000 Poochigan law should make one think. so special about the word geno - optimism, but even as democratic and forward- ities related to 2015. Pursuant to this law, German insurance com - cide anyway? It was not even a looking Turkish faces were displayed in In an incident in Denmark in December panies that had insured Armenians in 1915 word until the 20th century. The Istanbul, we also noticed that the Turkish 2012, we noted that the secret message had but did not pay damages were sued in Jews, who also suffered a geno - Foreign Ministry was still repeating the clichés served its purpose and Turkish ambassadors California. The cases were dismissed because a cide, are content to call their of the last 98 years that we all know so well. were acting in accordance with the official federal appeals court in San Francisco abro - tragedy a holocaust, which in The Foreign Ministry criticized the April 24 strategy. In response to an Armenian genocide gated the law. But the court’s opinion on meaning is closer to medz yegh - statement of US President Barack Obama with exhibit at Copenhagen University in December Movsesian v. Victoria Versicherung AG may ern than to genocide. a tone bordering on condemnation: “We find 2012, the Turkish Embassy immediately make it easier to understand why Turkey is Significantly, however, holo - this statement that ignores historic realities opened an alternative exhibit. As you can eas - fighting so desperately. The court, while abro - caust is uniquely attached to the troubling in all its aspects, and regret it.” What ily surmise, according to the Turkish Embassy gating the law, mentioned that Obama had Jewish tragedy, whereas the led to this critical tone was Obama’s saying exhibit, the Armenian genocide never hap - refrained from using the term “Armenian word genocide has become an that the Armenians were mercilessly massa - pened. genocide” and indicated that the law might almost generic term meaning the cred and forced on a death march in the last Barcin Yinanc of Hurriyet Daily News wrote not be in harmony with US foreign policy. This mass killing of a race of people. days of the Ottoman Empire. on April 23, probably on information provided conceivably could mean that should Obama However, thanks to the obsti - On one hand, Turkey has erased a years-long by the Foreign Ministry, that Turkey will not and the US administration label the events of nacy of the Turks, almost every - taboo and is now debating 1915 freely as stop at developing counter arguments to 1915 as genocide, the judicial system could one is pretty much aware that its never before. In addition to the April 24 obser - Armenian Genocide claims, but will also make change its mind accordingly. primary reference is to the crime vances, people are openly expressing their efforts to normalize relations with Armenia We see that the Turkish government, fearing against the Armenians. But views by referring to 1915 as “genocide” in before 2015. future sanctions, is continuing with the policy maybe, we should follow the print and visual media. Keeping all this in mind and rereading of denial, and this will not change before 2015. Jewish example, and coin our But on the other hand, looking at the offi - Turkey’s reaction to Obama’s message, it could Whether Turkey will develop humane and own word for what happened to cial reactions of the Turkish government, you be understood that Turkey’s message was not rational policies once the fear of 2015 is past us. Such a word could be, can’t find the slightest change. Why? Why is for today, but rather forward looking. It remains to be seen. Armenocide, Haiasbanoutiun. Turkey is trying to keep the world from debat - appears that Turkey, by reacting strongly This might not break the dead - ing an issue that is freely discussed in Turkey today, was trying to ensure that the US presi - lock we have with the Turks, but, itself? Why was Obama’s statement received dent will not mention genocide in 2015. (Orhan Kemal Cengiz is a human rights at least, it would be a change of with such a stiff reaction, even though there Why is Turkey so worried by the use of this lawyer, columnist and former president of tactic. According to Albert was no mention of genocide? Why is Turkey, word? Because Ankara thinks that there could the Human Rights Agenda Association, a Einstein, insanity is doing the while taking serious steps to solve major ques - be legal ramifications of the US and European Turkish NGO that works on human- same thing over and over again tions such as the Kurdish issue, still repeating countries recognizing genocide. rights issues ranging from the prevention of and expecting a different result. its century-old clichés on the Armenian issue? From the international-law angle, whether torture to the rights of the mentally disabled. — Berge Tatian All these appear to be part of Turkey’s strat - Turkey’s acknowledgement of genocide has This column originally appeared in Al-Monitor Stoneham, Mass. egy for 2015. While Armenia and the legally binding implications is open to debate. on April 30.) 16 S ATURDAY , M AY 18, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Holy Trinity Armenian Church Hosts CNN’s Peter Bergen

BERGEN, from page 1 US.” By this logic, Bergen said, Bin Laden US in Syria, the 2012 Benghazi attack and the Kolligian and her family in memory of her hus - Bergen’s previous books include, Holy War, could argue that all wars were “wars against effectiveness of modern media journalists as band, Dr. Michael Kolligian, with the purpose of Inc.: Inside the Secret World of Osama bin Islam.” Bergen also stated that according to the “watchdogs” of the world. “providing high-quality, educational and cultur - Laden (2001), The Osama bin Laden I Know media, one of the Boston Marathon bombing The discussion concluded with closing al programs to enhance knowledge and provide (2006) and The Longest War: The Enduring suspects, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, said that one of remarks by Kouzouian during which he once enjoyment to the members of Holy Trinity Conflict Between America and al-Qaeda his principal motivations for the attacks was again thanked Bergen and the Kolligian family Armenian Church, as well as the community at (2011). “the wars in Iraq and in Afghanistan.” He fur - for making the event possible. Copies of large.” Previous speakers have included Dr. Bob Fr. Vasken A. Kouzouian provided opening ther noted that many of the violent ideologies Bergen’s book were available for purchase and Arnot in 2004; Immaculée Ilibagiza, survivor remarks and thanked Bergen for his presence. found in these regions were “created in author - signing, and refreshments were served. and author of Left to Tell, Discovering God “Through his work he [Bergen] brings about itarian prison systems in the Middle East.” This was the fourth lecture in the Dr. Michael Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust , in 2007; and truth and awareness from places far removed Given the magnitude of the 9/11 attacks, and Joyce Kolligian Distinguished Speaker Mia Farrow speaking on the Darfur crisis, in from our everyday life.” Kouzouian then wel - Bergen argued that the Boston Bombings Series, which was established in 2000 by Joyce 2010. comed the daughter of Dr. Michael and Joyce should be contextualized and that US citizens Kolligian, Valerie Kolligian Thayer, to the podi - should be encouraged by the decrease in fre - um to welcome Bergen. Thayer noted the quency and magnitude of terrorist attacks on unexpectedly timely nature of Bergen’s visit to its people. He also called the “absence of Bin Cambridge, given the recent Boston Marathon Laden’s ideology” from most of the Arab Spring bombings and subsequent police chase and “good news.” The Armenian Hero Turkey manhunt in Cambridge and Watertown. She Bergen explained the decrease in attacks as then introduced Bergen as “one of the few partially a result of several factors, including westerners to ever interview Osama Bin the US’s highly-integrated and educated Would Prefer to Forget Laden.” Muslim population, the effectiveness of US Bergen began by recounting his 1997 meet - Task Forces, the increase since 9/11 in ing with Bin Laden in Afghanistan after a long CIA/FBI collaboration and information-shar - HERO, from page 14 minister and the most powerful man in the process of negotiations, during which he ing, other precautions such as the 20,000 given Turkey’s attempt to annihilate its entire Ottoman hierarchy) had clear orders to the described Bin Laden as “intelligent” and names on the “no-fly list” at US airports and Armenian population in 1915 — that there local governors not to deport officers’ fami - revered as a cleric by those around him. finally, improvements in public understanding were officers of Armenian descent fighting for lies.” Bergen then discussed the inherent weak - and awareness which have prevented several the Ottomans. Lower-ranking Armenians in the Ottoman nesses of al-Qaeda groups, stating that, “Coded attacks on US soil. The eight month battle for Gallipoli — an army were disarmed and later massacred amid in their DNA are the seeds of their own destruc - As for ongoing military actions in Allied landing on the Dardanelles straits the Genocide, in which women were routinely tion.” These inherent flaws include their will - Afghanistan, Bergen said, “I am optimistic dreamed up by Winston Churchill in the hope raped by Turkish soldiers, gendarmerie and ingness to kill Muslim civilians during their ter - about the future of Afghanistan.” of capturing the Ottoman capital of their Circassian and Kurdish militias. Churchill rorist attacks, a tendency to make enemies over The discussion was followed by a brief ques - Constantinople (today’s Istanbul) and breaking referred to the massacres as a “holocaust.” allies, a desire to restore a Taliban empire tion-and-answer period. During the questions, the trench deadlock on the Western Front — Akçam, the Turkish historian who discov - severely restrictive on individual liberties and there were a few observable moments of ten - was a disaster for the British and French, and ered Torossian’s granddaughter, was stunned their unwillingness to engage in politics or elec - sion in the audience, particularly when Bergen the mass of Australian and New Zealand troops by the reaction to the Turkish edition of the tions. Bergen cautioned that although these was asked about possible ties between Ruslan (the ANZAC forces) fighting with them. They book. One critic, Akçam said, even claimed that flaws should reassure the public to a degree, he Tsarni, the uncle of the Boston Marathon abandoned the beach-heads in January of the Armenian officer did not exist. “This book, believed the real legacy of Bin Laden is one of Bombing suspects, and former top CIA official 1916. along with Aktar’s introduction, pokes a hole ideas — ideas that occasionally inspire others. and acquaintance of Bergen, Graham Fuller, In his book, Torossian recounts the ferocious in the dominant narrative in Turkey about the Specifically referencing the recent Boston whose daughter was previously married to fighting at Gallipoli and other battles in which Gallipoli war being a war of the Turks. As Aktar Marathon bombings, Bergen said, “His [Bin Tsarni. Bergen quickly dismissed the question, he participated — until, towards the end of the shows in his introduction, not only Torossian Laden’s ] ideas can live on. His ideas can be saying he did not understand the reason for the Great War, he found his sister among the and other Christians played an important role very deadly […] Bin Laden’s most toxic legacy is question, which sparked a verbal outcry of dis - Armenian refugees on the death convoys to in Gallipoli, but some of the military units were that he supplied an ideology.” Bergen said Bin approval by an audience member. Syria and Palestine. He then turned himself also composed of Arabs,” said Akçam. Laden’s fundamental philosophy was, “Islam is Bergen also fielded questions on subjects over to the Allied forces, meeting but not liking Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu under attack by the West, an attack led by the such as Sunni-Shiite relations, inaction by the TE Lawrence of Arabia — he called him a mere spoke at Gallipoli two years ago and gave a “paymaster” — and re-entered Turkey with frank account of how Turkey planned to define French forces. He eventually traveled to the US the Armenian Genocide on its hundredth where he died. anniversary. “We are going to make the year of Aktar, however — noticing his colleagues’ 1915 known the whole world over,” he said, unwillingness to acknowledge that Arabs and “not as an anniversary of a Genocide as some Armenians fought in the Ottoman Army — people claimed and slandered [sic], but we shall decided to publish Terossian’s book in the make it known as a glorious resistance of a Turkish language. Initial reviews were favor - nation — in other words, a commemoration of able until two historians from Sabanci our defense of Gallipoli.” University took exception to Aktar’s work. Dr. So Turkish nationalism is supposed to win Halil Berktay, for example, wrote 13 newspaper out over history in a couple of years’ time. columns in Taraf to declare the entire book a Descendants of those who died in the ANZAC fiction and Torossian a liar, a view that came troops at Gallipoli, however, might ask their close to what Aktar called “character assassi - Turkish hosts in 2015 why they do not honor nation.” He said, “It is a ‘trauma document’ of those brave Arabs and Armenians — including an integrationist Armenian officer who fought Torossian — who fought alongside the Ottoman in the first world war,” Aktar said. “But his fam - Empire. ily was deported to the Syrian deserts in spite (This column originally appeared in of the fact that Enver Pasha (the Turkish war the May 12 edition of The Independent .)

Obama Asks Supreme Court Not to Hear Insurance Claims Case

INSURANCE, from page 1 Court of Appeals, the most recent on February 2. President Ronald Reagan’s April 22, 1981 23, 2012. That decision struck down the Proclamation number 4838; in which he stated, California law extending the statute of limita - in part, “like the genocide of the Armenians tions for certain life insurance claims based on before it, and the genocide of the Cambodians, an unprecedented expansion of the rarely which followed it — and like too many other per - invoked doctrine of foreign affairs field pre - secutions of too many other people — the lessons emption. In its ruling, the Ninth Circuit invali - of the Holocaust must never be forgotten.” dated the California law, which was unani - The Supreme Court, which had requested the mously passed by the legislature, because of Administration’s brief in October of 2012, will Turkish government threats aimed at silencing consider the Solicitor General’s position, along discussion of the Armenian Genocide in the with several “friend of the court” briefs defend - United States. ing the California Armenian Genocide-era life Plaintiffs’ petition to the Supreme Court to insurance law, including one filed by California hear the case was filed by Igor Timofeyev of Attorney General Kamala Harris, Nevada Paul Hastings, LLP. Claims for unpaid life Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, insurance policies dating back to the Armenian Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette and Genocide were first brought by plaintiffs’ attor - Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin. ney Vartkes Yeghiayan. Attorneys who have The case has traveled a long and complex been representing plaintiffs include Lee legal path, which has included three separate Crawford Boyd, Rajika Shah, Mark Geragos and and conflicting opinions from the Ninth Circuit Brian Kabateck.