JUNE 15, 2019 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXIX, NO. 47, Issue 4591 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF (RUTH SOWBY RANDS / GLENDALE NEWS-PRESS) Mirror-Spectator Armenian Annual Summer Break WATERTOWN — The Armenian Mirror-Spectator will close for two weeks in July as part of its annu- Justice al summer break. The last issue published before the vacation will be that of June 29, and the first edition back would be that of July 20. Minister The office will be closed July 1 through 12. Morocco Ambassador Resigns Visits Armenia YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenia’s YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The new ambassador Justice Minister Artak Zeynalian tendered of Morocco to Armenia, Faouz El Achchabi (resi- his resignation on Friday, June 7, after just dence in Kiev, Ukraine), presented her credentials to President Armen Sarkissian, the Presidential over a year in office. Glendale City Council member Zareh Sinanyan Zeynalian gave no reason for his decision Office announced, on June 6. which he announced on Facebook. Instead, At the meeting the Armenian president congrat- he thanked Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan Zareh Sinanyan Leaves City Council ulated the Ambassador on assuming office and for appointing him as justice minister fol- expressed hope that El Achchabi’s long experience lowing last To Work for Armenian Government will serve for the development and deepening of year’s Velvet relations between the two countries. Revolution. He The president said Armenia and Morocco are GLENDALE (Glendale News-Press) — Glendale countries with millennia history and have a great also thanked City Council member Zareh Sinanyan is stepping Justice Ministry By Lila Seidman cooperation potential which is not utilized and down from his municipal post to accept a position needs to be revealed. employees for with the Armenian government. the “interesting, Talking about the bilateral mutually beneficial Sinanyan, first elected to the local council in 2013, announced his resignation partnership, Sarkissian considered technology, fruitful and on Friday, June 7, according to a city statement. responsible joint information management and artificial intelligence “Zareh has had a very positive impact on City Council,” Glendale Mayor Ara as prospective areas. The sides also highlighted the work.” Najarian said. “He’s very analytical. He reads the material and understands Artak Zeynalian “I’m sure that field of tourism in terms of developing the bilater- the issues.” al relations and raising mutual awareness. everything will Sinanyan will be in charge of Armenia’s diaspora affairs, reporting to the coun- be fine … But if try’s prime minister, according to Armenian news outlets. it won’t be fine, it will be very fine,” wrote see SINANYAN, page 9 Armenia Facilitates Zeynalian. A spokesperson for the Justice Ministry Ties between EEU and refused to comment on his resignation. Zeynalian, 49, is a prominent politician Iran, FM Says and former civil rights campaigner affiliat- Journalist Deniz Yücel Speaks YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Thanks to Armenia ed with the pro-Western Hanrapetutyun the development of Eurasian Economic Union’s (Republic) party. He retained his post even Out on Arrest in Turkey (EEU) foreign economic component gained an after the party challenged Pashinyan’s My additional boost, Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Step alliance in the December 2018 parlia- (DEUTSCHE-WELLE PHOTO) Mnatsakanyan said during parliamentary hearings mentary elections. titled “Year of Armenian Presidency at EEU: My Step’s parliamentary leader, Lilit By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach Challenges and Opportunities” on June 10. Makunts, suggested that his resignation is Special to the Mirror-Spectator “Armenia’s political and economic ties with Iran connected with sweeping judicial reforms created conditions for the union to enter the planned by the Armenian authorities. Middle East, as a result of which the interim agree- FRANKFURT, Germany — Many journal- Makunts said some My Step lawmakers are ment aimed at the creation of a Free Trade Zone ists, too many, have been arrested and unhappy with the reform-related work of (FTZ) between the EEU countries and Iran was jailed in Turkey and for political reasons. the Justice Ministry and Zeynalian in par- signed on May 17, 2018 in Astana,” he said. The numbers run into the hundreds. Deniz ticular. The three-year deal reduces or abolishes import Yücel is one of them; he was “not the first Makunts told reporters that they voiced customs duties for a broad range of products. to be arrested illegally, but was the first to their “concerns” after government support- Deniz Yücel Mnatsakanyan said the implementation of agree- be freed illegally.” ers blocked the court buildings across the ments with Iran and China, as well as completion This is how he summed up his special country at Pashinyan’s urging on May 20. of negotiations with Singapore, Serbia, Egypt, case during a meeting held on June 5 at the moderator was Martin Wiesman, and She insisted, however, that none of them Israel and India, can be an additional boost for the Literaturhaus in Frankfurt am Main, Yücel’s dialogue partner was Doris Akrap, called for Zeynalian’s resignation. EEU’s integration into the global economy. Germany. Titled, “Freedom is something journalist and editor of the Tageszeitung Speaking to journalists on May 21, The EEU-Iran FTZ deal has been ratified by all that one does,” the event was organized by (TAZ) newspaper. Zeynalian pointedly declined to comment members of the Union. see RESIGNATION, page 2 the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. The see ARREST, page 5 Armenian Museum Receives $100,000 from Cummings Foundation INSIDE WATERTOWN — The Armenian Museum vival and witness. We are extremely grateful of America is one of 100 local nonprofits to to the Cummings Foundation and Bill and receive grants of $100,000 each through Joyce Cummings for their generosity and Yerevan’s Syrian Cummings Foundation’s “$100K for 100” vision that will allow us to continue our program. The Watertown-based organization mission to share the art, culture and histo- was selected from a total of 574 applications ry of a proud and enduring people,” said Food Scene during a competitive review process. Armenian Museum Board of Trustees Representing the Armenian Museum, President Michele Kolligian. Stuart Green and Berj Chekijian joined the The funding will be used to strengthen Page 14 approximately 300 other guests at a reception the museum’s visitor experience, particu- at the TradeCenter 128 in Woburn to cele- larly as it relates to exhibitions exploring brate the $10 million infusion into Greater the Armenian Genocide and resultant dias- Boston’s nonprofit sector. With the conclusion pora community. Dispersed over a four-year INDEX of this grant cycle, Cummings Foundation has period, the grant award will allow the Arts and Living . 13 now awarded more than $260 million to Museum to expand its current display that Armenia . 2,3 Community News. 6 Armenian Museum Board of Trustees Greater Boston’s nonprofits alone. focuses on the Armenian Genocide. By “The Armenian Genocide is an essential showcasing unique family histories entrust- Editorial . 18 President Michele Kolligian, right, with International . 4,5 recent guest Dr. Helen Evans of the story for our Museum to tell. Our collection ed to the Museum’s care, renewed interpre- Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York objects tell the tragedy of the Genocide, tation and exhibition design will articulate while often also serving as objects of sur- see GRANT, page 16 2 S ATURDAY, J UNE 1 5 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia AGBU Leadership Briefs Armenia’s Prime Pianists Vie for Title at Minister on Current Strategic Goals Aram Khachaturian YEREVAN — On June 5, on the heels Setrakian noted that there are many Armenia-Diaspora relations. of an official visit to Artsakh in support areas of mutual alignment, citing such “Anything that AGBU can do to help Competition of the AGBU Fund for Artsakh, AGBU examples as the AGBU Women’s the people of Armenia succeed in their President Berge Setrakian met with Entrepreneurs program (W.E.), personal lives and as citizens of a coun- YEREVAN (Panorama.am) — The semi-final round of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the designed to uplift the status of women try with so much human potential will the 15th Khachaturian International Competition is government building. Along with AGBU in Armenia through financial indepen- help keep the entire Armenian Nation underway on June 10 at Yerevan specialized secondary Armenia’s President Vasken Yacoubian dence, and its efforts to build capacity moving in a positive direction,” music school named after Tchaikovsky. According to and Executive Director Talar Kazanjian, the Aram Khachaturian Competition Cultural Setrakian briefed the prime minister Foundation, 13 participants have passed to the semi- and key staffers on the Artsakh visit, final round for the main award and the prizes. presented the organization’s strategy The final round of the competition will take place for accelerating socio-economic develop- on June 12. The finalists will perform with the State ment in the war-torn republic, and Symphony Orchestra of Armenia which is the offi- updated them on the progress of other cial symphony of the competition. AGBU initiatives throughout Armenia The Khachaturian International Competition is since the first official meeting with then- held in Yerevan from June 6 to June 14 every year interim PM Pashinyan shortly after the starting from 2003. For the first time it was imple- Velvet Revolution. mented within the framework of events, dedicated to Now, a year later, with the New the 100th anniversary of great composer. Armenia Agenda under way, areas of In 2013 the Khachaturian competition was elected mutual interest could be explored with as a member of the World Federation of International greater substance and specificity with Music Competitions becoming the only Armenian com- an understanding that the work of petition ever honored with such a privilege.