DECEMBER 8, 2012 THE ARMENIAN

Mirror -Spe ctaItn Ouor Mirror -Spe ctatror 80th Year Volume LXXXIII, NO. 21, Issue 4266 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 Armenia Voted for Palestine Status Winning Move: Chess Reigns as Kingly Pursuit in Armenia Upgrade at UN JUSTIN VELA PHOTO No One Is Bored with YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Armenia voted Board Game in Nation that for the recognition of Palestinian Authority as a non-member observer state at the United Nations, Adores Grandmasters Foreign Ministry Spokesman Tigran Balayan said. YEREVAN (Wall Street Journal) — The UN General Assembly voted to recognize Reporters stake out Tigran L. Palestine as a non-member observer state by a vote Petrosian’s home. Fans seek his auto - of 138-9 in favor, with 41 nations abstaining. graph. His image is splashed across mag - The UK abstained from the vote, as did Germany. azine covers and his youthful face The Czech Republic, Canada, the Marshall Islands beams from posters on teenagers’ walls. and Panama were among the nations voting with The sturdy 28-year-old isn’t a star ath - the US and Israel in opposing the measure. lete or a movie star. He is a chess grand - master. In this chess-crazy country, that Ayas President to Build makes him a king among pawns. “Chess here is like soccer in Brazil or Noah’s Ark in Sochi football in America,” Petrosian said over SOCHI, Russia (PanARMENIAN.Net) — The presi - coffee at the Yerevan Chess Academy dent of Ayas nautical research club, captain of a before a concert to honor the country’s famed Armenian vessel “Cilicia,” Karen Balayan, top players. The concert featured musi - Students last month at the Patriarch Vasgen elementary school learned to play chess, spoke of plans to construct Noah’s Ark in Sochi, which is compulsory in Armenian schools. cians and singers performing in Russia, at a meeting with Polar Odysseus sea club see CHESS, page 3 president Victor Dmitriev in Petrozavodsk. Dmitriev hailed the idea as a potential interna - tional social and cultural project, expected to involve Mediterranean and Black Sea countries as well as the Armenian Diaspora, among others. Schiff Calls on Appropriations Committee “This might be a unique opportunity to launch a scientific experiment of reconstructing the most To Cut All Security Funding to Azerbaijan famous vessel in human history,” he said. Ombudsman under WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, December security assistance to Azerbaijan, including any acts of aggression against Armenia or 4, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) sent a letter to Azerbaijan’s International Military Nagorno-Karabagh, and this hateful action Fire over Dink Case Senators Patrick Leahy and Lindsey Education and Training Account (IMET) by President Aliyev undermines all interna - Graham, and Representatives Kay Granger funding. This latest request comes after the tional efforts to bring about a peaceful solu - ISTANBUL (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Pressure is and Nita Lowey — the chairmen and rank - egregious repatriation and release of Ramil tion in the region.” mounting for Turkey’s first ombudsman who was ing members of the State and Foreign Safarov, an Azerbaijani army captain who The full letter Schiff sent to the only recently elected to resign amid criticism from Operations Subcommittees in the House had confessed to the savage 2004 axe mur - Chairmen and Ranking Members is below: the family of slain Turkish-Armenian journalist, edi - and Senate — calling on them to cut all der of Armenian army lieutenant Gurgen Dear Chairmen Leahy and Granger and tor-in-chief of Agos bilingual weekly, Hrant Dink, Margaryan during a NATO Partnership for Ranking Members Graham and Lowey: who was assassinated in January 2007. Peace Program. As you continue work on the 2013 State, According to Hurriyet Daily News , Mehmet Kevorkian’s Genocide “Azerbaijan has committed the most ter - Foreign Operations and Related Programs Ömeroglu, a retired member of the Supreme Court rible subversion of justice — making a hero appropriations bill, I urge you to cut all of Appeals, is under fire for his role in an appeals’ Painting to Remain at of a cold-blooded killer,” said Schiff. security assistance to Azerbaijan, including court verdict. He was one of the judges who “Plainly the investment we have made in Azerbaijan’s IMET funding, in response to approved the late Dink’s sentence under Article 301 ALMA training Azeri forces has been worse than the egregious repatriation and release of of the Turkish Penal Code, which outlaws “publicly wasted. The United States must not tolerate see APPROPRIATIONS, page 16 insulting the Turkish nation,” in July 2006. Dink’s brother, Hosof Dink, said the appeals By Deirdre Fernandes court verdict was the late journalist’s death sen - tence. “Instead of calling those who gave this ver - WATERTOWN (Boston Globe) — Diocese Ecumenical Director Visits dict to account, they are rewarded,” he said. It’s a question frequently asked by vis - Ömeroglu responded saying he was not even itors to the intimate Watertown Iraq as Part of US Delegation aware that the name in that case was “Hrant” since museum: Do you have the Kevorkian it was written as “Firat,” Dink’s official name in the registered documents, according to a daily Radikal paintings? BAGHDAD — Archbishop report on Nov 30. The Armenian Library and Vicken Aykazian, the Diocese’s The main opposition Republican People’s Party Museum of America has a rich collec - ecumenical director, joined US (CHP) also called for Ömeroglu’s resignation. tion of illuminated manuscripts and a church leaders on a visit to Iraq “Under these circumstances, we can say the catalog of portrait photographs of earlier this month, where the del - ombudsman institute in Turkey was stillborn,” some of the 20th century’s leading egation met with government CHP deputy Atilla Kart said. figures, but the grisly paintings by Dr. officials to discuss Christian- Death himself, assisted-suicide advo - Kurdish relations in the coun - cate Dr. Jack Kevorkian, continue to try’s northern region. be a draw. The visit, which took place from see PAINTINGS, page 16 November 3 to 10, was led by INSI DE Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the retired Roman Catholic archbish - op of Washington. Participants also included Evangelical and Returning Episcopalian church leaders. The church leaders met with government officials of the To Van Kurdish autonomous region, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian greets President Massoud including its President Massoud Barzani in Iraq’s Kurdish autonomous region. Pages 8 and 9 Barzani, Prime Minister Nechervan Idris Barzani, and head of the Security Council Masrour meet with Archbishop Avak Asadourian, Barzani. They also met with local church the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of INDEX leaders in Iraq. Iraq, and to visit the Armenian Church in Arts and Living ...... 11 Conversations focused on the difficul - Dohuk. In addition, he spoke with govern - Armenia ...... 2,3 ties facing Christian families in the ment officials about the possibility of build - Community News...... 6 region, and on ways the government ing a new Armenian Church in nearby Editorial ...... 14 “1915 Genocide 1945” could reach out to support this minority Erbil, where some 250 Armenian families International ...... 4,5 population. reside. Officials promised to clear the way Aykazian also had an opportunity to for the construction project. 2 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 8, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia AGBU’s GORIZ Leadership Program

Armenian Freight Plane Holds 4th Annual Seminar Crashes in Congo Media Trainings with YEREVAN (AFP) — A cargo plane that crashed at Journalists Give Participants the Brazzaville, Congo, airport killing all 27 people The Tools to Advocate on board belonged to the Armenian freight special- ist airline, Rij Airways, the Foreign Ministry said Across Europe Saturday. The plane, carrying seven crew members, crashed YEREVAN — From Thursday, as it tried to land in a storm on Friday. October 18 to Sunday, October 21, Most of the victims were local people killed when GORIZ held its fourth annual seminar, the plane skidded off the runway and ploughed into which brings together young leaders houses and a bar in the Congolese capital. with exceptional academic and profes - Of the seven crew members, five were Armenian. sional backgrounds and trains them to Among those were Varazdat Balasanyan, crew com- represent their Armenian Diaspora mander; Ara Tovmasyan; Andranik Gevorgyan and communities throughout Europe. Edgar Avetyan. While previous GORIZ sessions focused on themes such as youth political par - ticipation and economic development in Economy Gets Praise Armenia, during this year’s conference, During the Yerevan-based conference “EU Eastern Partnership Youth Seminar about From World Bank Rep. “EU Eastern Partnership Youth Communication and the Media,” AGBU GORIZ participants learn how to effectively Seminar about Communication and the raise awareness of Armenian issues. YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The Armenian economy Media,” participants learned how to has undergone a major transformation in the last harness the media effectively in order to 20 years; a market environment has been formed put Armenian issues in the internation - speak in front of the camera in the GORIZ seminar. GORIZ participants thanks to inclusive growth and structural reforms, al spotlight. future. A visit to the ArmNews televi - also had the opportunity to join a num - which today is conducive for trade, investment and Working alongside top journalists, sion studio provided further insights ber of Assembly events, attending in technological innovation, noted World Bank’s the 22 GORIZ participants, who trav - into broadcast journalism. The work - particular the session chaired by AGBU country manager for Armenia, Jean-Michel Happi, elled from 10 countries — Armenia, shop, “Media Watch on Hate Speech,” President Berge Setrakian on Saturday, at a reception dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, led by the Hrant Dink Foundation, October 20, 2012, where they learned Armenian membership in that body. more about the organization’s recent “We have come a long way with Armenia. It is of work, the challenges that the future crucial importance for the World Bank to witness holds and ways they can continue to the poverty reduction, improvements of public make a difference – one news story at a administration and infrastructure in Armenia. Yet, time. we acknowledge that there are still some challenges To learn more about Goriz and its which have to be solved and the World Bank is will- future seminars, visit http://en.agbueu - ing to support Armenian government and nation” rope.org/goriz/. Happi said. Prime Minister Tigran Sargisian said at the recep- tion that it would be hard to imagine the econom- ic reforms of Armenia and the structural amend- Knights of Vartan ments without the active participation of the World Bank. Donate Incubator to Armenia Hospital Donor Conference to CHAMBARAK, Armenia — The Knights of Vartan, in cooperation with Raise Funds for Speeded A media training workshop led by international journalists equips GORIZ partici - the Daughters of Vartan, started a col - pants with the skills to interview on television. laboration in early 2011. Up Reforms Working with Jack and Eva Medzorian leading a team of Knights YEREVAN (Arminfo) — Armenia, jointly with the Romania, Spain, Turkey, the UK and which is committed to promoting inter - volunteers and donors, Shen NGO rep - World Bank, European Union, Asian Development Ukraine — developed successful strate - cultural dialogue, gave participants the resentatives developed a project of Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and gies for interviewing on television, tools to combat discrimination in the donating medical equipment and Development (EBRD), is expected to hold a donor engaging with social media and coordi - press. goods to the poor hospitals and med - conference to raise funds to seed up economic and nating messages. Together, under the On Friday, October 19, the group met ical centers of villages. Today with the institutional reforms, Prime Minister Tigran guidance of reporters Armen Georgian with AGBU Europe Chairman Alexis support of the US-based International Sargisian said in an interview with Interfax. and Achren Verdian of France 24 Govciyan, who co-founded GORIZ in Medical Equipment Collaborative the He said that the Russian Federation’s involve- International Television, they conduct - 2009. They were joined by members of hospital in Chambarak is well equipped, ment in the conference is currently being studied. ed, taped and analyzed mock inter - the AGBU Europe Board, who were in serving the area’s 17,000 residents and “We are currently preparing development projects views, receiving critical feedback that Yerevan for AGBU’s 87th General the government of Armenia has under - and the conference conception. We have officially gave them the skills and confidence to Assembly, which coincided with the taken the renovation of the building. requested Russia’s participation in it. Such donor The donated equipment makes it pos - conferences are held in many countries, especially sible to provide higher-quality service, where there is need in financial and technical assis- for example, newborns that need addi - tance to overcome poverty, boost reforms and Armenian Speaker Calls for Resignations tional temporary care are placed in the improve the living standards. We are preparing our incubator that they did not have previ - donor conference building on the given model. After President’s Criticism of Prosecutors ously. Old beds with ragged mattresses Surely, we should study in details all the financing YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenian al’s office often forge documents, alter were replaced with comfortable and programs, credits and grants, with our Russian col- parliamentary speaker Hovik data and misuse facts to help criminals functional beds and necessary furni - leagues,” the prime minister said. He believes that Abrahamian says serious repercussions avoid justice. ture. There are easily transportable spe - Armenia has no problems with the foreign debt ser- will follow President Serge Sargisian’s Sargisian also accused law-enforce - cialized tables for medical tools and vice, as it is lower than average and Armenia fulfills recent harsh criticism of the country’s ment officers and prosecutors of fram - medicine in the rooms. all the debt service commitments. prosecutors. ing innocent citizens in order to protect There is also equipment for medical Asked about Yerevan’s stance on the Customs Abrahamian, who is on an official trip real criminals. He said several com - liquids needed for medical treatment Union and the Eurasian Union, the prime minister to the Czech Republic, said he expects plaints have been filed saying citizens that require long-term injections. said that the country is interested in integration resignations in the prosecutor-general’s were beaten in prosecutors’ offices. The surgery room furnishings can be processes within the Commonwealth of office. The president also questioned morale compared with the ones in Yerevan hos - Independent States and Eurasian Economic “There are always resignations in all in the ranks of prosecutors and law- pitals. The modern anesthesia equip - Community (EurAsEC). spheres,” Abrahamian said. “In this enforcement officers. According to him, ment gives the opportunity to keep the “At their recent meeting our presidents voiced case, the president has raised the issue there have been many cases in which patient’s situation under control. This that issue and Vladimir Putin noted quite precisely very seriously.” police officers have misbehaved in pub - enables the implementation of more that Armenia’s case is specific — no common bor- In a televised meeting at the prose - lic and also have been found guilty of complicated surgeries. ders with EurAsEC and Customs Union. There is no cutor-general’s office on October 29, beating people. Before the renovation when there other country in the world to have no borders with Sargisian angrily accused some prose - Sargisian demanded what he termed was a need for surgery, the patients the Customs Union but have membership. cutors and law-enforcement officials of “more professionalism and a serious were advised to go to hospitals in Therefore, the presidents charged setting up a involvement with organized crime attitude” from the prosecutor-general, Yerevan or other cities in the province. working group. The working group is charged with groups. his deputies and their investigators. Now, hospital director and surgeon Dr. developing means to boost integration processes Sargisian said little has been done to His unusually tough criticism of law Armen Melkumyan proudly states that considering the above peculiarities,” Sargisian said. curb the corruption and thoroughly enforcement officers and prosecutors even some patients from Yerevan investigate cases. According to the pres - comes as the country is getting ready decide to come to his Chambarak hos - ident, investigators at prosecutor-gener - for presidential elections in February. pital for operations. S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 8, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 ARMENIA Mirrors for Largest Telescope Produced in Armenia

of scientists from 12 different countries, By Anahit Sargsyan including Yerevan Physics Institute. Official inauguration of the first HESS II tele - scope was held on September 28, 2012. The YEREVAN (news.am) — The largest-ever mirror facets for a telescope as tall as 20-story Cherenkov telescope has 875 hexagonal mirror building were produced by Galaktika CJSC facets each of them having a stamp with (Garni) which is a part of physics and astro - “Armenia” inscription on it. physics department at the National Academy of The largest High Energy Stereoscopic Sciences of Armenia. The company has been cooperating with Germany-based Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics since 2002, Galaktika CJSC Director Ara Mirzoyan said in an interview. Armenia won the bid and was selected as a produc - er of mirrors for the world’s largest HESS II telescope. Since Cherenkov tele - scopes are installed with - Mirror polishing out a dome, the require - ments for mirrors are very strict. The product was to Werner Hofmann, the Director of Max Planck nobody in the world has such a production be adopted by Germany Institute,” Mirzoyan added. rate,” he added. and metrology should be The first images from HESS II were received Mirzoyan expressed great appreciation to the carried out in Germany as on July 26 before the official opening. At the team members, the people whose work gives an well. Therefore, Galaktika moment the data is being studied and the pro - opportunity to see “Armenia” inscription on has developed a device to ject is declared successful. 875 mirrors. measure the mirror Ara Mirzoyan said each member state paid reflectance which has no about 1 million euro for participation in HESS analogue in the post- collaboration. Soviet area. “Under the decision of the Armenian govern - It was rather difficult to ment, Yerevan Physics Institute produced 200 AUA Supports find skilled manual work - additional mirrors for Germany as a contribu - ers but they worked hard tion to the project. In addition to the Institute, Syrian Students in to deliver the orders in the National Academy of Sciences is also a full time. They managed to member of HESS collaboration,” the scientist Armenia meet the requirements explained. and deliver 900 mirrors Mirzoyan and his team plans to continue YEREVAN — Philanthropists Sonia and within specified schedule. their efforts and participate in the next tender Zaven Akian and Rita and Adam Kablanian are General view of HESS II telescope “During the opening invited for a larger project called The supporting students from Syria to study at the ceremony in Namibia it Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) which is esti - American University of Armenia (AUA), with - was noted German side is mated at 200 million euro. The goal of the pro - out paying tuition. System (HESS) II telescope with an area of proud of the team working for the project. It is ject is to build two observatories with 100 small The Akian Family Foundation pledged 600 square meters started operation in a great honor and we are really proud,” telescopes. $125,000 for scholarships for Syrian-Armenian Namibia in September 2012. Together with Mirzoyan said. “While producing mirrors for HESS project, students at AUA. A portion of the gift has other four 12-meter telescopes already in The scientists faced certain difficulties in the we increased our production capacity. We hope been earmarked to underwrite the current operation since 2004, the observatory will course of their work but the most important is to win the next tender as well. We produced classes offered to the Syrian-Armenian stu - continue studying cosmic sources. The HESS to achieve result. 900 mirrors in nearly two years. To date, dents. The remainder will be used for schol - observatory is operated by the collaboration “We were honored to hear high praise by arships for qualified Syrian-Armenian stu - dents, as they complete their undergraduate or graduate education at AUA. With this gift, the Akian Family increases Winning Move: Chess Reigns as Kingly Pursuit in Armenia their past support to Armenian students. The Akian Family has also supported AUA in nam - CHESS, from page 1 superiority over the West. the country. ing the Akian Gallery, a space for art and cul - front of 10-foot-high chess boards while the But whereas chess players are on their own At the Patriarch Vasgen elementary school ture, in AUA’s Paremaz Avedisian Building. audience clapped rapturously. in many Soviet spinoffs, they still have full in Yerevan’s northern suburbs, aspiring Zaven Akian has enabled the AUA to meet Petrosian — whose father named him state support in Armenia. The country’s pres - grandmasters daily squeeze into the chess the ever-increasing needs of Armenia’s stu - Tigran after a former chess champion with ident, Serge Sargisian, also is the president of room: a makeshift shrine adorned with the dents. the same surname — is one of a legion of top the Armenian Chess Federation. sober faces of former champions and half a “My family and I believe that investing in chess players that have catapulted this poor In September 2011, his government passed dozen huge magnetic boards showcasing the AUA is an investment in Armenia’s future. We nation of three million into world champions legislation that made chess compulsory in game’s most celebrated offensive and defen - feel providing an American education in the on the 64-square board. In September, he was schools. Promising players get free training at sive plays. region will help build a stable economy, and part of the five-man squad that claimed elite chess academies. The state pays for chil - All boards, pieces and textbooks are pro - that is why we support AUA’s mission,” Armenia’s second consecutive gold medal at dren to play in foreign championships and vided by the government. The children switch Akisan said. “I have personally met and spo - the World Chess Olympiad. pays a salary to all grandmasters. between theory and practice and sit through ken with AUA’s students and faculty and I con - Being good in chess carries big benefits in Sargisian hailed a “golden age” for a written test every two months. The teacher, tinue to be impressed by their level of dedica - Armenia. Top players say they struggle to be Armenian chess in a speech earlier this year. Marina Kamalyan, a frizzy-haired chess evan - tion and passion.” allowed to pay for gasoline or parking. “It continues to inspire our society with belief gelist who plays online late most nights, Rita and Adam Kablanian pledged $132,000 Restaurant bills sometimes never materialize in its own strength and self-confidence,” he insists on total dedication from the pupils. to establish the Kablanian Family when they go out to eat. said. “Chess is a real passion that is a metaphor Scholarship. This new scholarship is targeted “Some girls giggle when they see us on Armenia’s love affair with the game is less for life. Education is a very important part of for qualified Syrian-Armenian students in the the streets and some even give me pre - than half a century old. The country caught our mentality in Armenia, and I want to pass undergraduate program starting in Fall 2013. sents,” says 30-year-old Levon Aronian, the chess bug on May 20, 1963, when 33- on this passion to the children,” Kamalyan A portion of the pledge has also been ear - Armenia’s No. 1 player and the second- year-old Tigran Petrosian, no relation to the said as she moved white pieces into an unas - marked for AUA’s immediate needs to under - ranked player in the world. “Most of us are current player, dethroned reigning world sailable position on one of the class’s wall- write the classes taken by currently-enrolled just regular nerds, so it’s quite a lot to get champion Mikhail Botvinnik, a Soviet, over a mounted magnetic boards. Syrian-Armenian students. used to. I’ve changed the way I dress for grinding 24-game match. Many of these children are already veter - Upon touring the campus, Adam Kablanian photo shoots but that’s all.” Nicknamed “Iron Tigran” because of his ans, but they are determined to join noted, “I was so impressed by the quality of Armenia’s veneration of its chess players impenetrable defense, Mr. Petrosian’s victory Armenia’s top players as world beaters. the students and the faculty. I also loved the recalls a bygone era when the game produced made him a national hero. Thousands of fam - “I want to be world champion. state-of-the-art campus facility. Ican see how a series of global household names. ilies named their children Tigran in his honor. Grandmaster is not good enough,” says 9- AUA is making a difference in the lives of so In a Cold War grudge match that captivat - “In the US, everyone can remember where year-old Yervand Davtyan, after thrashing a many students, as they offer such a high-cal - ed audiences world-wide, American Bobby they were when President Kennedy was reporter in a game lasting less than 15 min - iber education.” Fischer in 1972 broke Soviet dominance by killed. In Armenia, everyone can remember utes. The popularity of the program has been beating champion Boris Spassky. Chess is where they were when Petrosian won that “I taught my mother how to play better, overwhelming. There are many students still still popular across much of the former Soviet championship,” said Aram Hajian, board but I didn’t show her all the secrets because on a waiting list for the tuition-free classes Union, a legacy of Moscow’s patronage of a member of the Chess Academy of Armenia. I want to be the best,” adds 8-year-old Julia offered in this program. To support Syrian- game it said demonstrated its intellectual Nowadays, chess fever starts young in Hakobyan. Armenian students who wish to study at the AUA, visit aua.am. 4 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 8, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL International News Syrian Jets Bomb Near Turkish Armenian Serviceman Border as NATO Seeks Missile Sites

Murdered in Lebanon ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Syrian war - bilateral relationship was so close that President Vladimir Putin will visit BEIRUT (Armenpress) — An ethnic Armenian sol- planes on Tuesday, November 27, in 2008 Assad and Prime Minister Turkey on Dec. 3 and the issue may be dier was murdered in Lebanon while chasing a attacked targets close to the Turkish Recep Tayyip Erdogan vacationed discussed in talks with Erdogan. criminal in the Christian region of Junie, said edi- border for the second consecutive day together with their families. Since the Turkey Monday scrambled warplanes tor-in-vhief of Azdak daily, Shahan Kandaharian, in as North Atlantic Treaty Organization destruction of a Turkish jet in June, the after the Atma attack, which destroyed an interview with Armenpress. He said that the officers arrived to select missile sites to deaths of five Turks killed by a mortar more than 200 empty tents at a refugee deceased serviceman was Samson Andranikian, the counter President Bashar Assad’s round from Syria last month and the camp being set up by the pro-Islamic commander of a division of the Lebanese Army. forces. use by rebels of Turkish bases, military Turkish aid group, Humanitarian Relief The criminal started shooting in the direction of US, Dutch and German officers repre - tension has sharply increased. Foundation or IHH, the state-run the division pursuing him. Also Kandaharian stated senting the three NATO countries with The Syrian crisis “has not shown any Anatolia said Tuesday. It was not clear if that the accident is not connected with politics. Patriot surface-to-air missile batteries sign of resolution and the regime’s Syrian jets were targeting the Turkish- As to the current situation in Lebanon, visited Turkish provinces near the attacks on the civilian population, as sponsored camp. Kandaharian stated that the situation in the north- Syrian border Tuesday, authorities said. well as the clashes have continued on Thousands of Syrians who fled after ern region of Tripoli is relatively calm. As work began, Assad’s jets struck the an increasing scale,” Turkish Foreign the attacks on Tuesday were huddled on According to Kandaharian, the political situation town of Harim, the state-run Anatolia Ministry spokesman Selcuk Unal said the Turkish border and waiting to cross in Lebanon is still tense, though not violent. news agency said. That followed on Twitter Tuesday. to safety, the Foreign Ministry said. Monday’s bombing of a Turkish-spon - A Syrian air attack on an olive press Turkey accepts refugees once a place sored refugee camp near the Syrian killed at least 20 people and wounded has been found for them at refugee Afghan DM Lauds town of Atma that sent thousands of “dozens” in the northern city of Idlib, camps, a process which can take days or people streaming toward the frontier. the opposition Local Coordination weeks. About 180,000 Syrians have fled Armenian Contribution Russia renewed its opposition to Committees said Tuesday. Rebels mean - to Turkey so far, Erdogan said on KABUL (Arka) — Defense Minister of Afghanistan NATO’s involvement Tuesday, with while said they shot down a Syrian heli - November 25. Bismillah Mohammadi expressed his gratitude for Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey copter near the city of Aleppo, accord - Turkey’s exports to Syria have Armenia’s leadership for its contribution to Iraqi Denisov telling a Berlin press confer - ing to Al Jazeera television Tuesday. dropped by some 70 percent over the stability at his meeting with Armenian Minister of ence “we don’t like this plan.” The United Nations Secretary General past year, Mehmet Buyukeksi, head of Defense Seyran Ohanian who was in Kabul for an alliance’s aims were unclear: “Who’s Ban Ki-moon will visit Turkey from the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly told a official visit last week. threatened? Where’s the threat coming December 7 to 8, Unal said in his news conference in Istanbul today. The Armenian Ministry of Defense reported that from?” he said. Iran has also opposed Twitter posting. Ban may visit a refugee The Turkish government has called Mohammadi said he appreciated the role of the move. camp on the Syrian border, he said. on Assad to step down and has allowed Armenian peacekeepers in training Afghan security Turkey’s military said Monday that Any Patriot deployment would aim to Syrian officers to command the rebel forces. the Patriots were a purely defensive augment Turkey’s air- defense capabili - Free Syrian Army from a refugee camp Ohanian assured his hosts that Armenia will con- measure and won’t be used to enforce a ties, NATO Secretary General Anders inside Turkey, and opposition fighters tinue taking part in coalition forces to establish “no-fly zone” or to launch attacks. Fogh Rasmussen said on November 21. frequently cross into Turkey to obtain long-lasting peace and security in Afghanistan. Before the start of Syria’s civil con - The alliance will make a final decision food, medicine and clothes. Turkey The Armenian peacekeeping contingent, working flict 20 months ago, Turkey and Syria’s based on the expert report. Russian denies arming the rebels. under German command, is in Kunduz and Mazar- i-Sharif provinces as part of North regional com- mand of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. AGBU Young Professionals of Lyon Gurdjieff Armenian Folk Primate of Damascus Rhône-Alpes: A Ensemble Wins Edison Award Visits Diocese of Canada Successful Launch EINDHOVEN, Holland (Hetq) — Armenia’s Gurdjieff Folk Instruments DAMASCUS (Armenpress) — At the invitation of Ensemble has won the 2012 Edison Awards prize for best folk album. Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Bishop Armash LYON, France — On Friday, October Levon Eskenian, founder of the ensemble, and members Emmanuel Nalbandian of Damascus paid an official visit to the 19, in the heart of old Lyon at Le Hovhannisyan and Norayr Diocese in Toronto and Montreal. The Primate of Baronn, the AGBU Young Professionals Gaboyan, travelled to the the Armenian Diocese in Damascus celebrated the of Lyon Rhône-Alpes (YP Lyon Rhône- Dutch city of Eindhoven Divine Liturgy in the Holy Trinity Armenian Alpes) celebrated the launch of its new for the awards ceremony Church of Toronto on November 18 and St. professional network established this on November 28. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral of Montreal on fall. Aiming to bring together active Upon accepting the November 25. young Armenians from the eastern award Eskenian said, Nalbandian met with the faithful in Toronto and region of the country, the debut group “Winning this award is a Montreal and discussed the challenges facing the is proudly joining the AGBU YP great honor for us. It has Armenian community in Syria. During his stay in Network, which is present in 16 coun - given us a huge creative Toronto, he met Canadian ecumenical leaders. In tries around the world, including France boost. It was also a great Montreal, he visited the AGBU Alex Manoogian in Paris and Marseille. opportunity for the ensem - Two members of the ensemble perform at the awards ceremony. School accompanied by Galstanian. Like the other worldwide YP Groups, ble to once again perform The Canadian Diocese’s fundraising campaign for YP Lyon Rhône-Alpes endeavors to on the international stage.” Syrian-Armenian relief is still underway. All the unite young Armenian professionals by The Edison music award is an annual Dutch music prize, awarded for out - proceeds collected will go to the relief effort, to be offering events and activities through - standing achievements in the music industry. distributed through the Mother See of Holy out the year in business, culture, and The Gurdjieff Folk Instruments Ensemble was founded in 2008 by Levon Echmiadzin. leisure, such as after-work mixers, con - Eskenian with the aim of creating ethnographically authentic arrangements ferences, and professional training of the G.I. Gurdjieff/Thomas de Hartmann piano music. NATO Approves Patriot opportunities. “Lately we have noticed a The ensemble consists of leading Eastern folk instrumentalists in Armenia. Its decline in community interest from members are on duduk , Emmanuel Hovhannisyan; blul , Avag Margaryan; Missiles for Turkey young Armenians and believe that we kamancha, Armen Ayvazyan; oud , Aram Nikoghosyan; kanon , Meri Vardanyan; will help fill this gap to attract lost mem - santur , Vladimir Papikyan; tar/saz , Davit Avagyan; dap/daf,dhol , Mesrop BRUSSELS (BBC) — NATO has approved the bers as well as new ones,” said Grégory Khalatyan; duduk in G, Norayr Gapoyan and duduk in A, Narek Mnatsakanyan. deployment of Patriot anti-missile batteries along Gazarian, YP Lyon Rhône-Alpes Turkey’s border with Syria. Chairman. “Centralizing our YP events The long-expected move emerged from a meeting in Lyon will also be a great opportunity of NATO foreign ministers here, and amid growing to help bring together young Armenians fears that Syria could use chemical weapons. from neighboring communities located NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh in St. Etienne, St. Chamond, Vienne, Rasmussen said the ministers had “unanimously Grenoble and Valence.” expressed grave concerns” about the use of chemi- The group’s kickoff event was hon - cal weapons. ored by the presence of Robert Syria has said it would never use such weapons Aydabirian, former Chairman of HP against its own people. France and Chairman of the Board of The meeting of the 28-member Western military Osiatis. In his address, Aydabirian invit - alliance’s foreign ministers in Brussels follows a ed guests to embrace three essential request from Turkey to boost its defenses along the qualities for professional success: com - border. petence, confidence, and communica - In a statement, NATO said it had “agreed to aug- tion. His words of wisdom were well ment Turkey’s air defense capabilities in order to received by the more than sixty partici - defend the population and territory of Turkey and pants present from throughout the to contribute to the de-escalation of the crisis region. along the alliance’s border.” To watch a video of the YP Lyon Artistic Director Levon Eskenian receives the award. Rhône-Alpes launch, please visit: youtube.com/UGABLYON. S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 8, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 INTERNATIONAL

‘Armenian Churches in Tbilisi, Yesterday and Today’ Exhibition Opens in Georgia

TBILISI, Georgia (Hetq) — An exhibition tor Givi Shakhnazari, Van Baiburtian, advisor detailed account about the history of the churches in Tbilisi. He also introduced a dele - entitled “Armenian Churches in Tbilisi, to the president of Georgia and the editor of Armenian churches in Tbilisi; some of them gation from Yerevan that included Samvel Yesterday and Today” opened on December 1 Vrastan (Georgia), Henry Muradyan, chairman are partially or completely destroyed, confis - Muradian, head of cultural relations of the at the “Hayartun” Cultural Center of the of the Union of Armenians in Georgia, repre - cated and not returned to rightful owner. He government of the Republic of Armenia; Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox sentatives of Embassy of the Republic of recalled Church of the Red Gospel and Saint Sonya Mirzoyan, deputy director of the Church in Georgia, Armenia to Georgia, intellectuals, artists and Gevorg of Mughni Church being in ruins, and National Archives of Armenia and researcher The exhibition is dedicated to the founders others. Church of the Holy Seal the belfry of which Gohar Avakyan. of the Armenian Church Apostles Beka Mindiashvili, the head of Georgian Bartholomew and Thaddeus. Public Defender’s Office, famous artist The idea of the exhibition belongs to Giovanni Vepkhvadze and an archaeologist Varujhan Khachaturov (Jean Khach), a well- Sarkis Darchinian said in their speech that known Armenian painter from Tbilisi, who respect for the protection of religious monu - died young. ments is the responsibility of the government The “Hayartun” Cultural Center at the of every civilized and democratic state. Georgian-Armenian Diocese, the Union of The leader of the Diocese of the Armenian Armenian Painters of Georgia and the Apostolic Orthodox Church in Georgia, National Archives of Armenia with the sup - Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan praised and port of Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of blessed everyone who helped to materialize Diaspora of Armenia are the organizers of the the idea of organizing the exhibition. event. According to the head of the Diocese, There were 26 Armenian churches in Tbilisi “Armenians living in Georgia always praised until 1930, when a portion of them was the government and the people of Georgia. destroyed by the Soviet authorities and the But we Armenians also have the right to other churches became Georgian in the demand from the Georgian authorities to pro - 1990s. The ideological basis of the exhibition vide a solution for the issue of six Armenian is to represent Armenian churches in Tbilisi churches, confiscated during the Soviet peri - working until 1990s, those destroyed, not “Armenia Churches in Tbilisi, Yesterday and Today” Exhibit od and inactive today.” Five of these temples working or made Georgian. The paintings of are located in Tbilisi and one in Akhaltsikhe. Armenian and Georgian artists from Tbilisi The head of the Diocese thanked monu - and other regions participated in the exhibi - At the beginning of the event Levon had collapsed. ments specialist Samuel Karapetian for pub - tion. Chidilyan, Coordinator of the Hayartun The historian Yenok Tadevosyan represent - lishing a series of booklets in three languages Sergo Vardosanidze, professor and rector of Cultural Center, noted that the exhibition pre - ed the history of the Armenian community about Armenian churches in Tbilisi. At the the St. Andrew University at the Georgian sented works of 15 artists that showed all of and Armenian churches in Tbilisi. end of the exhibition 150 slides about Church Patriarchate, and sheikh Vagif Akperov, the the 26 previously existing historic Armenian Director of the National Archives of of the Holy Seal were shown and leaflets were leader of Muslims Department in Georgia, churches in Tbilisi. Armenia Amatuni Virabian spoke about the distributed to the public. were the guests of honor at the exhibition. Merujan Shaumyan, Chairman of the Union scientific work that archivists had to spend in The exhibition will run through December The event was attended by poet and transla - of Armenian Painters of Georgia, presented a order to restore the history of Armenian 10, 2012. Filmmakers Struggle to Tell Story of Canadian HIV Crisis

Officials with the Canadian AIDS Society Acclaimed Canadian filmmakers David “We’re talking about money that is nothing By Bruce DeMara have been frank from the outset about the dif - Cronenberg and Atom Egoyan have tentatively in the big picture, nothing,” he said. ficulties ahead, Saltzman said. agreed to direct segments when their schedules Huskins said he hopes that the big pharma - “They said, ‘You wouldn’t believe how hard it permit and if funding is found to move forward. ceutical companies — which are earning hand - TORONTO (Canadian Press) — Filmmaker is to get anybody to sit up and take note of the Saltzman said he’d also like to persuade some profits through the sale of HIV drugs — Paul Saltzman says he would have an easier need to battle what is still a pandemic, and it’s Canadian rock star Bryan Adams, a skilled pho - will support the project. time making a documentary about HIV/AIDS if much easier to get people interested in AIDS in tographer, to direct a segment. But without “They (companies) have doubled and tripled it were set in Africa. Africa than in AIDS in Canada because we have committed funding, progress on the project is their market in the last several years and they’re For the past two years, Saltzman (“Prom this amnesia, we think it’s all gone because it glacial, he noted. not stepping up to the plate,” Huskins said. Night in Mississippi”), along with filmmakers isn’t as bad as it was in the 1980s when people Simcha Jacobovici (“The Naked Archaeologist”) were dying a lot,’” Saltzman said. and Ric Bienstock and a network of activists In fact, statistics provided by the society show across the country, have struggled to find fund - that while the face of HIV/AIDS is changing, it ing and support for a film on the HIV/AIDS cri - isn’t going away. The latest figures show: Armenian Graves Spotlighted at sis in Canada. • there were about 71,300 people living with Along the way, they have faced a wall of com - HIV/AIDS in Canada in 2011, 25 per cent of placency and the vestiges of stigma associated whom are undiagnosed, meaning they’re Surat Science Museum Exhibition with the disease that — despite public percep - unaware of their HIV status. tion — remains a serious public health issue for • 3,175 new cases were diagnosed in 2011. SURAT, India (hetq) — In India, as part of the graves on my website and said that I would try Canadians. • while the vast majority of those diagnosed United Nations Educational, Scientific and to get the English translations of them. The project’s working title is Reignite were gay or bisexual men when the virus first Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World A few months passed and with the help from because of the need to re-instill a sense of emerged, only 46.6 per cent of new infections in Heritage Week November19-25, the Surat the fantastically knowledgeable historians urgency that the crisis here is far from over, 2011 were among that group, with 37.2 per Science Museum held an exhibition that spot - Professor Sebouh Aslanian and Father Krikor Saltzman said. Indeed, Saturday’s annual World cent attributed to heterosexual contact. lighted the Armenian graves of the city of Maksoudian from the USA the translations AIDS Day highlights a disease that barely reg - • women represented 23.8 per cent of new HIV Surat. The exhibition has already caught the began to take shape. This truly international isters on the national consciousness the way it cases in 2011, up from 12 per cent prior to attention of the local residents who attended. story of working together and co-operation once did. 1998, and First Nations people represented The exhibition, run by the Surat Science would not have brought such lime-light onto 12.2 per cent of new cases, despite representing Museum has a photo gallery of the Armenian the Armenian graves of Surat. We have all only 2.5 per cent of the population. graves with the English translations beside played a part and now the grave photographs Activist Brian Huskins — who has lived with them. and the transcriptions form part of the Surat HIV for 22 years — agreed with Saltzman’s Until recently the Armenian graves were only Science Centre Heritage Programme this Catholicos of Cilicia assessment. ever seen with their Armenian script. Had it not week.” Awards Bohjalian with “There was a time when with a project like this, been for a “pure chance” moment, it is unlikely Although the exhibition ends on November you’d just say you were doing it and people would the exhibition would ever have taken place. 25, the photographs and English translations Mesrop Mashtots Medal be beating down your door to fund it because Photographs of the graves were posted by can be permanently found on Chater’s website, they wanted to have their name associated with it Arpine Gyulinyan to the Indo-Armenian chater-genealogy.com. BEIRUT (Armenpress) — The because it was the right thing to do. Now the Friendship NGO Facebook page and were spot - Chater has recently self-published a book on Catholicosate of Cilicia hosted a presentation of right thing to do is to do it in Africa or Eastern ted by Liz Chater, a UK-based family history Armenian graves in Dhaka titled, Armenian Chris Bohjalian’s ‘The Sandcastle Girls’ on Europe or South America,” Huskins said. researcher. Graves , Inscriptions and Memorials in India – December 3, attended by Lebanese lawmakers The planned format for the film will be a Chater then contacted Gyulinyan and the lat - DACCA 1722-1977, in which the English trans - and executive body representatives. As Anthelia series of 4- to 6-minute vignettes exploring the ter introduced her to Sanjay Choksi, the pho - lations from classical Armenian have, for the informed Armenpress, Chris Bohjalian thanked lives of people living with the virus and others, tographer who took the pictures. This heralded very first time been made publically available by for presenting his authored book, dwelled on including activists, researchers, health-care the start of a story of collaboration and co-oper - her. She was assisted with this project by Very his Armenian and non Armenian roots. The workers and those who have lost loved ones to ation spanning three continents. Rev. Krikor Maksoudian of Arlington, Mass., author of the bestseller recalled his childhood , AIDS, cutting across all demographic bound - Chater says: “In a way without Indo- who translated the classical Armenian script days her mother used to take him to his dead aries. With a goal of 15 to 18 vignettes, only Armenian Friendship NGO Facebook page it and who is also actively translating the grandparents, old Bohjalian home, which has three have been completed to date. wouldn’t have happened. Sanjay Choksi and Armenian graves at Surat for her. left a deep impression on him. “Ric and Simcha are doing this for the same Piyush Dalal [Arpine’s husband] took the pho - Liz Chater’s genealogical database has more Bohjalian expressed gratitude to Aram I and reason I am. None of us have time, it’s not a tos, Arpine posted them to IAF Facebook page, than 10,000 Armenians who once lived, worked the people who have organized the book pre - commercial venture. We just believe it is our and I happened to see them. I asked if I would and died in Asia and it is hoped that she will be sentation. duty, our social responsibility,” Saltzman said. be allowed to post the photographs of the able to get this information published. 6 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 8, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Community Ne ws

Jorjorian Establishes Prosecutor Second Endowment Gasparian Says NJ Fund with Armenian Killing ‘Like Educational Foundation Predator Going GLENDALE — The Armenian Educational Foundation (AEF) has announced the establishment of the After its Prey’ Jorjorian Armenia Scholarship Endowment Fund through the dona - tion of $150,000 by George Jorjorian of By Jenna Pizzi Chatsworth, Calif. The Endowment Fund will be used to provide full, four- TRENTON (Times of Trenton) — Three gun - year university scholarships for 12 stu - man in a coordinated assault, targeted and then dents graduating from high schools in killed 34-year-old Emilio Lopez earlier this the cities of Alaverdi and Spitak of the month on a Trenton Street, prosecutors said Lori region of Armenia, and last week. Stepanakert in Artsakh. Jorjorian The attack, captured on surveillance video, established the Endowment Fund in showed Lopez crossing a street as he saw the the name of his two daughters, Camille three men coming his way, Assistant Prosecutor and Christine, both of whom are sup - Michelle Gasparian said during a hearing in portive of their father’s philanthropic Superior Court in Mercer County. projects. “The men then cross the street and approach In 1994, Jorjorian established his the victim in a three pronged approach,” first Endowment Fund at AEF to pro - Gasparian said. vide university scholarships to 3 stu - One man walked in front of Lopez, another dents graduating from the Haratch K. behind and one directly toward him. All three Goulbenkian secondary school in were armed with handguns, she said. Lopez Anjar, Lebanon. Jorjorian, a lifelong was shot at least twice. educator, retired from the Los Angeles “Like a predator going after its prey,” Unified School District (LAUSD) and Gasparian said. “Blocking any chance the vic - was also an adjunct professor at Pierce tim had of escape.” College in Woodland Hills, Calif. Roberto Cruz, 31, Jose Rivera and Kenneth Prior to his retirement from the Eileen Stepanian Rivera, both 19, have been charged with mur - LAUSD, Jorjorian went to Lebanon for der and weapons offenses in Lopez’s death. The a year on sabbatical and volunteered at three cousins appeared by video from the the Haratch K. Goulbenkian secondary Mercer County Correction Center, this morning school in Anjar. While there, he real - Mass. Nurse Continues for a bail review before Judge Thomas Sumners. ized how much assistance the commu - Lopez was killed on Kent Street near Division nity and the school needed. Street in the Chambersburg section of the city Having heard about the work of AEF, To Work at Age 80 just before 11:45 p.m. on November 16. he approached AEF and donated Gasparian said investigators obtained video $85,000 to establish an Endowment surveillance from different cameras in the area NEWBURYPORT, Mass. (Newburyport Daily Journal) — Eileen Stepanian is a Fund to provide university scholarships that shows a minivan arrive at 100 block of whiz at teaching online nursing classes for St. Joseph’s College in Maine, and has to three students graduating from the Kent Street with the gunmen. The video cap - spent countless hours working toward her doctorate degree. Goulbenkian school. AEF has been tured the gunfire that killed Lopez. Of course, she has to fit those in around her job as public health nurse for the administering Jorjorian’s endowment “The muzzle flash from the gun is visible in town of Merrimac. And, in between, her volunteering as parish nurse for Pilgrim for the past 18 years by providing three the video,” Gasparian said. Congregational Church. $2,000 scholarships each year, now Gasparian said that Lopez was first shot in Some might scratch their heads and wonder how Stepanian even had time to totaling $98,000, to the Goulbenkian the forearm, likely while he was trying to slow down and celebrate her 80th birthday last week. Luckily, the nurse did — and school students. The Endowment Fund defend himself, before he suffered a gunshot she did it in the biggest way possible. is expected to continue in perpetuity. wound to the back. Stepanian traveled to San Francisco where she was honored as the recipient of At the same time, to help the school Gasparian said she could not comment on the prestigious Lillian Wald Service Award from the public health nursing section directly, Jorjorian committed and has which of the three men shot Lopez because it of the American Public Health Association on Oct. 30 — one day after her mile - been donating $2,000 each year to AEF remains an ongoing investigation. stone birthday. The distinction, granted to a nurse for exemplary public health to be forwarded to the Goulbenkian Trenton police recognized Cruz from the sur - nursing practices, was one of three national awards given at the annual meeting, school. Following his retirement from veillance video and arrested him hours after the where Stepanian was joined by several of her children. the LAUSD, Jorjorian travelled to shooting, Gasparian said. While Stepanian, a Merrimac native, knew colleagues had nominated her last Armenia and Artsakh each year, lived He was wearing a “distinctive” jacket similar winter, she was completely astounded to find out earlier this summer that she had in the villages, and became acquainted to the one in the video and had a ski mask in won — when she eventually heard the news, that is. with the families and the educational his pocket, Gasparian said. Cruz also faces drug “I have three email addresses,” she said, and the news of her award was sent to needs of the high school graduating charges. an address that she hadn’t yet checked upon arriving to work one day. Instead, she students in the area. Then, at the end Cruz’s attorney Tom Gombar said in court opened her second account, where her inbox was flooded with messages of con - of his stay, he would provide tuition that his client is innocent of the charges against gratulations. money to those village students going him and that they are working on securing wit - “It was sort of a roundabout way of finding out,” she said. to college who could not afford the nesses that would say that he was elsewhere For those who know Stepanian, the news of her honor was hardly a surprise; tuition. He continued this philanthrop - during the time of the killing. but, they agree, it couldn’t have been awarded to a more deserving recipient. ic work until last summer when he “I think the whole case is going to turn on “She’s incredible, she really is,” said Laura Dillingham-Mailman, executive direc - could no longer physically continue, at that video tape,” Gombar said, noting that he tor of the Merrimac Council on Aging. A friend of Stepanian’s for 20 years, the age of 87. has not had a chance to review the tape yet. Dillingham-Mailman says the woman has taught her colleagues “so much.” The Armenian Educational Foundation Investigators interviewed several other peo - Initially hired as the town nurse in 1971 — a part-time job that she would work expresses its gratitude andappreciation to ple and learned that Cruz was known to asso - on her days off from Lawrence General Hospital — Stepanian’s main responsibili - Jorjorian for his generous donations and ciate with his cousins Jose and Kenneth Rivera, ty was to check in on patients who had recently returned home from hospital commits to continue his mission and his Gasparian said. stays. wish to provide university scholarships to Jose and Kenneth Rivera were taken into cus - For Stepanian, who first attended nursing school because her family didn’t have twelve graduating students from tody on November 19. Police found Jose Rivera the money to send her to college, it was the start of a “side job” that developed Stepanakert, Alaverdi and Spitak high driving the same minivan that was seen in the into a passionate joint career. As the world changed, and so did the public health schools through his new Endowment Fund. video. The minivan is registered to his mother, field. The Armenian Educational Gasparian said. Today, the role of a public health nurse is multi-faceted as she covers a wide Foundation was established in 1950 to “Jose was also wearing clothes similar to range of responsibilities from running flu clinics to following up on reported com - provide support to Armenian students those in the video,” Gasparian said. municable diseases. She is also responsible for holding blood pressure clinics, and Armenian educational institutions. In an interview with Jose Rivera’s mother, health teaching and education, running community wellness and public health Over the past 20 years, AEF has reno - investigators learned that she saw her son in prevention initiatives and public health emergency preparedness support. vated more than 180 schools in the minivan with two other men around the Throughout the years, as Stepanian worked at Lawrence General and, later, Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk and has time of the murder, Gasparian said. Amesbury Hospital, she raised four boys and three girls, while never slowing down. provided aid to thousands of students “These men were trolling the city streets In 1998, she joined other public health nurses in forming a statewide organiza - For more information, visit AEF’s looking for victims,” Gasparian said. tion, the Mass. Association of Public Health Nurses. website at www.aefweb.org. All three men are being held in the Mercer see NURSE, page 7 County Corrections Center in lieu of $750,000 bail. S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 8, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS San Diego’s Armenians Raises $140,000 at Second Bridge to the Future Gala

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — All of the elegance and embarked on a new chapter — a new church ing in God with unity, positive attitude and glamour of a red carpet celebration greeted campus to unite, educate and edify our entire moral and financial support, the 14 acres of bar - guests attending the second annual Bridge to community at the new property near Del Mar.” ren land that has been purchased by the Trust the Future gala dinner and dance on Saturday, The event’s program featured a Color Guard Fund will be transformed into a beautiful November 10, at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey presentation of the American and Armenian Armenian Mother Apostolic Church campus. I Pines. Nearly 250 people attended the event, flags by the Naval Reserve Officers Training encourage each of you and your families to con - which raised a net profit of $140,000 for a new Corps (NROTC), the singing of the national tribute and take active part in this historic pro - church campus. The event was organized by the anthems by soloist Anahit Nersesian accompa - ject.” Gala and Trust Fund Committees of St. John nied by Alex Mirolyan, opening remarks and Nalbandian offered closing remarks and the Garabed Armenian Church of San Diego. invocation by Derderian and a welcome by Gala benediction. The evening’s entertainment fea - The event featured Archbishop Hovnan Chair Kathy Kassardjian. tured waltz, samba and tango performances by Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of Derderian shared: “Tonight’s fellowship is the professional dancers from San Diego’s the Armenian Church of North America, as reflection of the Christian faith of this commu - Champion Ballroom Academy and lively dance guest of honor, and San Diego’s 10News nity. A few years back, a new journey was music from international superstar Robert anchorwoman, Kimberly Hunt, as mistress of designed with the vision of expanding the Chilingirian and his Band. ceremonies. Gala Chair Kathy Kassardjian church community to better cater to the spiri - The funds raised at the gala support the first Dignitaries and officials included Archbishop tual needs of our future generations. The pur - phase of the Bridge to the Future campaign, Vatche Hovsepian, former Primate of the chase of a new church property certainly has whose goal is to raise a total of $1 million for Western Diocese; Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Jendian, St. John Garabed Parish Council been a major undertaking which has called expenses and fees associated with the Primate of the Diocese of Damascus, Syria; Rev. Chairman; and Harry G. Krikorian, St. John upon the dedicated members of the St. John Conditional Use Permit application and final Datev A.K. Tatoulian, parish priest of St. John Garabed Trust Fund Committee chairman. Garabed Armenian Church and the entire San land acquisition. The property is located at Garabed Armenian Church; Joe Kellejian, mayor The evening began with guests treated to Diego Armenian communi - of the City of Solana Beach; Mary Murphy, champagne, appetizers and a silent auction. ty to gather as a family and dancer, choreographer and judge on Fox Inside the ballroom, Hunt opened the evening launch a new beginning in Television’s “So You Think You Can Dance;” by welcoming guests and dignitaries. She stat - our spiritual journey. We Margaret Ajemian Ahnert, author of the novel ed, “It is a pleasure to be among you tonight. have responded to God’s The Knock at the Door ; Armen Hampar, With the faith and hope of Armenia’s forefa - call in launching this most Diocesan Council chair; Deacon Micah A. thers, today’s Armenian community has exciting mission. My mes - sage to you all is clear and direct: Let us all be share - holders in the realization of our New Church — A Bridge to the Future.” During dinner guests enjoyed a live auction led by fundraising auctioneer Keith McLane. The auction successfully sold jewelry, L to R: Former Chargers Linebacker Billy Ray Smith, Emcee Kimberly trips to Armenia, New York, Hunt of 10News, Mary Kellejian and Joe Kellejian Mexico, Newport Beach and California’s Wine Country; an African safari in Kenya; tickets to 13860 El Camino Real in the Del Mar area of the 2013 Grammy Awards with special after- San Diego. party access; and unique experiences like To make an online donation or for more infor - attending the NASCAR Nextel Cup race, flying mation about the new church campus, visit a fighter jet and seeing Celine Dion in Las www.stjohngarabedtrust.org. Vegas. Above and beyond the excitement of the live auction, $20,000 was raised in Fund-a-Need pledges to the Bridge to the Future campaign. After dinner, Tatoulian addressed the audi - Mass. Nurse Continues to Front Row L to R: Rev. Fr. Datev A. K. Tatoulian, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian; Gala ence. He said, “I greet and welcome all of our Chair Kathy Kassardjian; Bishop Armash Nalbandian of Damascus, Syria; Gala Committee, from honored and distinguished guests, dignitaries, Work at Age 80 left, (Partial): Viviane Hagopian, Rose Babayan, Beth Broussalian, Nora Balikian, Lisa Kradjian, Alan benefactors, supporters and all of our commu - Yaghdjian, Sonia Serpekian, Liza Istamboulian, Janet Desmond and Suzanne Meader nity organizations of San Diego to the second NURSE, from page 6 annual Bridge to the Future banquet. By trust - She earned her degree in health care admin - istration and then completed her master’s degree in nursing at the age of 70. She was 64 years old when she received her bachelor’s. In 2005, she was hired by St. Joseph’s College to teach an online class in public health. It sparked her interest to begin pursuing her doctorate. “I feel like a living history book of nursing,” she said. After Stepanian returned home from the West Coast, the festivities didn’t stop. The town held a luncheon celebrating Stepanian’s award earlier this month, where she was given a cer - tificate by the Board of Selectmen proclaiming November 7 “Charlotte Eileen Stepanian Day” in Merrimac. “There’s just not enough words, she’s remark - able,” Dillingham-Mailman said. “We just love her to pieces. She’s one of those people, you just shake your head. Her mind never stops. One of her sons just retired, and she’s still work - ing.” Eileen Hurley, the chairman of the Board of Health, called Stepanian “a joy to work with.” “She goes above and beyond,” Hurley said. She’s always willing to comply with anything that anyone asks. She’s a marvel.” Over the years, Stepanian has added pro - grams — such as the monthly column she writes for the Senior Center newsletter — and contin - ues to take part in symposiums and conferences around the state, Hurley said. Constance Hoyt, the receptionist at the Senior Center, first met Stepanian when she was her Sunday School teacher. The two women, both nurses, worked together at vari - ous hospitals over the years, Hoyt said. “She was 14 and I was 8 when she was my teacher,” Hoyt said last week. “When I rejoined the church, I sat besides her, and she asked me if I remembered her. “She’s a workhorse; she doesn’t slow down a bit,” she added. 8 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 8, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Beloved Armenagan Martyrs: A Cup of Water from

VAN (Vasburagan) — I carried out my oath as which lasted one week. On the other hand, this a political party member this summer, in full, By Hagop Vartivarian successful resistance of the Armenians inspired invoking the spiritual words above. anxiety not only in the Turkish government but After entering the ranks of the party, I had Translated from the Armenian also in the English consul, W.H. Williams. The sworn to pray on my knees to those Armenagan English government feared that this resistance comrades who were the forerunners (mgrdich) of the Armenians would form a pretext for the on the Armenian plateau of the Armenian lib - Russian Tsarist government to attack Turkey. eration struggle and revolution. Consequently England tried to find an end to We were proud, we Democrat Liberals, of hav - this crisis, through its experienced diplomatic ing descended from the Armenagan organiza - machinations. tion — and especially our generation, which on The Armenians, fearing Williams’ dishonest the 50th anniversary of the Great Crime swore behavior, demanded that the other consuls in to remain faithful to the creed of our past, Van, the French, Persian and Russian, partici - believing in the constructive force of our people pate in peace negotiations. The populace, for and the great historical mission reserved to it. the sake of safety, took refuge with the We joined the ranks of the Democrat Liberal American missionaries and Persian and Russian Party (ADL) with unshakeable optimism, believ - consulates. Here, too, however, the sad role of ing that the just solution of our land case and the English consul was going to have decisive the movement for repatriation would without a consequences. The men crowded into the doubt be realized. Finally, our oath was American establishments, especially the youth, through nonnegotiable patriotism to aid at least received the command to leave. If they did not, a tiny bit that wonderful goal and the realiza - they were threatened with surrender to the gov - tion of the dream. This is what was passed ernment. down to us from our old comrades, the And he, Williams, succeeded. After the nego - Armenagans. tiations, it was demanded from the Armenians Those forerunners or mgrdiches were three: that the fighters leave Van for Persia. It was Mgrdich Khrimian Hayrig, Mgrdich Portukalian promised that nobody would pursue them on and Mgrdich Terlemezian-Avedisian. It took this journey, while the Armenians of Van and its forty long years for me to be fully able to real - surrounding villages would be left free. ize that dream. Consequently, the important notables of Van, The first step was my visit to Marseille in Hagop Vartivarian at the foot of St Bartholomew monastery holding a consultative assembly, decided to August 1989. The local priest, Karekin send the fighting youth with their weapons to Vartabed Bekjian (today the Primate of Persia. Germany’s Armenians), led me to the grave of journey. I was able to find a driver in Van who inspired the Khrimians and Portukalians. Later events showed that Williams’ promise one of the three mgrdiches — Portukalian. We knew where the monastery was, not far from The Avedisians became manifest through this was mere trickery. His permanent fear was a prayed there and I renewed my oath to serve the border of Iran. On September 9 I was able self-defense, as well as Yeghishe Kundakjian, Russian intervention, so he rushed as quickly to fulfill my third oath. Arisdages Akhigian, Krikoris Terlemezian and as possible to suppress the fighting and remove still other martyred and living dedicated the Armenagans from Van. Our revolutionaries Pilgrimage to Van Armenagan revolutionaries. The following cer - who were struggling for self-defense and inde - It is worthy to relate the story, and why one tainly will remain as memorable figures of the pendence encountered only harm from the should go on pilgrimage to that monastery. self-defense battles of Van: Garabed Sanoyan, Christian Great Powers of the West, just as later The Sasun massacre of 1894 caused great Hmayeag Tankarajian, Garabed and Manug Mihran Damadian and his fighters with the emotion not only among Armenians but also in Sanoyan, Haji (Zeytuntsi), Arshag Chchian, Armenians withdrew from Cilicia thanks to the world of politics. Van, due to its special posi - Uzun Ohannes, Sev Laj, Garabed Hiusian, French intervention. And for this reason, tion and situation remained free of the 1895 Kevork Ashjian, Arabaji Kaplon, Markar Armenians were only able to find constant general massacre. However, as provincial gover - Solakhian, Dikran Mherian and Sahag friendship from the sole Christian state of the nor Nazim Pasha was considered incompetent Pehrizian, all Armenagans. As for the Armenian east, Russia. and incapable by the sultan, one of the imperi - Revolutionary Federation members, there were Nearly 1,000 Armenians assembled at night al guards, Ferik Saadeddin Pasha, was sent to Bedo and Vartan, and from the Hnchagists, at Varak Mountain. The Armenagans, 600 Mardig, Vahe and Sarkavag. Behold, the num - strong, led by Mgrdich Avedisian, were going to ber of our martyrs in the self-defense battles in go to Persia via by the Chukh and Bashkale those days formed such proportions. route, through St. Partoghimeos Monastery. Our revolutionary comrades from all political The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) parties were sacrificed in the self-defense effort, members and Hnchagists, around 60 in num -

Khrimian Hayrig my nation, homeland and political party. On that day Portukalian’s relatives entrusted to me relics which I keep to this day like the apple of my eye. The second took place in July 2000. We came as part of an ADL delegation to visit Echmiadzin and officially meet with Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. Archbishop Mesrob Krikorian, a warm and steadfast friend of the ADL, was with comrades Hagop Avedikian, Rupen Mirzakhanian and Dr. Krikor Mugurditch Portukalian Adanalian. Before the meeting, the archbishop recited a prayer in front of Mgrdich Khrimian Hayrig’s tomb, which lay at the entrance of the Van in order to organize and rouse the Turkish Cathedral, for the latter’s soul. After the meet - and Kurdish mobs in Van and its environs ing with Catholicos Karekin II, the latter invit - against the Armenians. ed Krikorian and myself to Haykashen, where “The Armenagans, guessing the intention of his summer residence was. this extraordinary inspector of the sultan, natu - The third remained, Mgrdich Avedisian, the rally, while employing all means for self-defense, location of whose tomb is not known. were going to try not to provide any excuse for With a group of American-Armenian pilgrims the excitation of Turkish fanaticism,” as Ardag we visited historical Armenia — our sacred sites, Tarpinian later recorded in his memoirs. our mountains…and all our lands. Each of Mgrdich Avedisian, who had newly returned those pilgrims is an heir to that land. We con - from Salmas to Van, took on the leadership of ducted our prayer which began with Kars in the self-defense of Van. He was aided by the front of the ruins of Ani, regarding from close Armenian Revolutionary Federation leader at hand the lands of our Republic of Armenia Bedo, and the Hnchagist Mardig. Truly, the firmly anchored on the other banks of the spring of 1896 turned out to be critical when Akhurian River. Scraping by the west of Ararat gradually the specter of massacre turned into a we reached Van and traveled to the Church of reality. The massacre began on June 5 and the the Holy Cross on Akhtamar. Armenian quarters completely fell victim to The Monastery of St. Partoghimeos Turkish barbarism. Its description is sad. (Bartholomew) is not distant, where the immor - It became clear in those battles that the tal Armenagan hero Mgrdich Avedisian was youth of Van were best able to understand the martyred with his lion cubs. It is a two-hour meaning and spirit of the revolution which S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 8, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS Your Birthplace Van as Balm for Your Thirsty Souls

cuted, succeeded in arriving in front of Surp And the Armenian world’s nature and land I also pray individually for the souls of Partoghimeos Monastery, which was not far still grow more beautiful to my eyes. Khrimian, Portukalian and Avedisian — those from the Persian border. The group attempted We are now in the Albayrak village near the who taught us to be revolutionary, but cau - to take refuge in the sturdy monastery. It did monastery. It is populated by Kurds. tious; revolutionary, but thirsty for education not succeed in this. Not only the monastery, but It is forbidden to ascend to the monastery, and progressive; revolutionary, always being led all the important positions around it, had pre - which possessed great military significance as it by the supreme interests of the nation and the viously been surrounded by the enemy. The was on a hill. The soldiers defending the border people. Armenians were caught in an unequal battle of have occupied the church. Over there we see I experience the inner satisfaction of having one against ten, a description of which unfor - Persia. The plain of Apostle Bartholomew, carried out my obligations. I see at this stage of tunately is lacking. Avedisian and five hundred where our heroes, including our Avedisian, my life, over sixty, the carrying out of a dream, men of his brave group of dedicated Armenagans fell there. The members of the Hnchagist and ARF group, who from the start separated from Avedisian’s group, after waiting about a week at Varak Mountain, decide to go to Persia, but they too on the road are completely annihilated by Kurds. As a result of this great loss, Van remained without youth. It was an irreparable loss. It was the promising youth born of the inspiration of Mugurditch Avedissian Portukalian and Khrimian who disappeared, leaving behind very few Armenagans, such as Panos Terlemezian, Krikor Beozigian, Karekin ber, after waiting several more days on the Pagheshtsian (Manugian), Mikayel Natanian, mountain to see how events were developing, Rupen Shadvorian, Krikor Ajemian. were going by a different route to the same This disappearance of intellectuals was more place. costly for Vasburagan and all Armenians than Of course, with the densely Armenian-popu - even the actual massacre of Van. lated Aykesdan district of Van defenseless, the Turkish and Kurdish mob again attacked, mas - In the Field of Heroes sacring 600-700 people. Saadeddin Pasha was Certainly after the final evacuation of Van, no in great joy. With the departure of the ideological fighter visited this holy place, the Armenian youth, the control of Van was left in plain of the apostle Bartholomew, where the his hands. Armenagan fighters are buried. The car has - The Armenagans who left with Avedisian, tened from Van toward the aforementioned Participanting ADL members, from left Hagop Vartivarian, Oscar Tatossian and Dr. Jacques Gulekjian who were the elite of the intellectual youth of monastery. These are our fields and hills…it is Van, took the Aghpag road. Contrary to the after all the nature of the homeland which I am promises that were made, 8 to 10 thousand enjoying from within my thoughts. Alone. I fol - Turkish soldiers and Kurdish Hamidiye regi - low step by step that road on which our were martyred, lies at the foot of the monastery. an oath. Carrying out this last one was the most ment members began to harass the departing Armenagan comrades going toward martyrdom I take out of my bag a bottle of water which difficult. group starting at the outskirts of Van, especial - walked. I had taken this morning from Lake Van. First We return. It is already dusk. The land of the ly at the passes of Rukh and Giuzel Dere. After Meanwhile I go over my memories stretching I recite a prayer aloud for the souls of the dead Armenians is orange, the color of apricots. Lake a 24-hour battle, and several dead, the group over more than forty years of political party life and then the Lord’s Prayer and then I sing the Van appears from a distance, and I go to the succeeded in breaking through the siege lines to each stage, and sometimes I get emotional, ADL march. I have also brought with me our shore of the lake and I say, “Lands of the and advanced toward Aghpag. During this peri - but often I become happy with the experiences political party’s coat of arms lapel pin, which I Armenians, new generations of Armenagans od, around 40 fighters succeeded in returning that I have had. I spend the approximately two mix into our native soil, I sprinkle Van’s water will come from every corner of the world and to Van. hour trip with its vicissitudes, enthusiasms and on the red soil of the martyrs, on their thirsty from our Armenia here and again make the The group, increasingly exhausted and perse - disappointments, and successes and failures. and parched souls as balm. lands of the Armenians flourish.”

Haig Karakashian Receives Send off to New Home in Waltham

BOSTON — On Wednesday, November 14, the Armenian Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (ANRC) hosted a luncheon in honor of Haig Karakashian who moved to a new home in Waltham on November 20. “Haigie” had been an ANRC resident since August 1998. The luncheon featured Chinese food, one of Haigie’s favorite meals, and was attended by 15 of his closest friends, family and care - givers. Close friend “Auntie” JoAnn Janjigian gave him Patriots’ football posters for his new bedroom, and his cousin, Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, presented him with a framed citation marking this mile - stone. Other guests included Koutoujian’s parents, Connie and Peter Koutoujian, and Steve Stepanian, another close family friend. ANRC staff members in attendance were two of Karakashian’s long-time certified nursing assistants, Eunice Palmer and Zola Watson, Haigie’s favorite nurse, Donna Fitzpatrick, RN, as well as ANRC Activities Department staff Siran Salibian and Salpy Yeterian. Karla Fleming, executive director, Wayne Sakovich, social worker, and Massachusetts Department Developmental Services Coordinator Cheryl Makuch were Seated, from left, Eunice Palmer, Haig Karakashian, Sheriff Peter Koutoujian; standing, from left, JoAnn Janjigian, Karla Fleming, Zola Watson, also part of the group of well-wishers. Donna Fitzpatrick, Anaida Agopian, Wayne Sakovich, Connie Koujoujian, Salpy Yeterian, Peter Koutoujain, Siran Salibian and Cheryl Makuch Karakashian’s new residence is located just off Trapelo Road. The large, newly built five- bedroom, single-family home was customized activities. There is also a wheelchair-accessi - and participate in other events in the Although the staff and residents of the for his needs and those of his four other ble van dedicated to their use. For Armenian and wider community. He and his ANRC were very sad to see him go, this new housemates. Staff are on duty at all times to Karakashian, this means that he will be able housemates will also receive routine medical move is the opportunity of a lifetime for help the residents with meal preparation, to attend services at his church, St. James and nursing care that may be required for the Karakashian who will be able to enjoy living housekeeping, and laundry, and to provide Armenian Church, in Watertown, every week rest of their lives. in a non-institutional community setting. 10 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 8, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS ‘Dixie’ Evokes Strong, Sometimes Mixed Emotions

ST. GEORGE, Utah (The Spectrum) — When state where he “promised every girl she would be “It ought to be Dixie State University Rebels,” Council Director Scott Hirschi, whose job is to Dixie State College (DSC) began exploring what a cheerleader, and every boy he would play foot - he said. “I’ve fought very vehemently to get rid of recruit national businesses that will provide a sig - the school’s name and brand should be after it is ball if he wanted to,” Arslanian helped drive an Red Storm. We’ve got to get back to the Rebels.” nificant economic benefit to the county, said the granted university status, the debate reawakened increase in enrollment from 164 students to 265. Arslanian acknowledged concerns that the name Dixie does often prove confusing to out - memories of the impassioned divide over the He also was part of the drive to distinguish the name Dixie might be offensive because of its ties siders, however. school’s mascot change five years ago. college from Dixie High School by changing the nationally to the South’s slave history, but he “Some take it in stride. It leads to a discussion In 2007, Dixie State announced it would retire mascot for post-secondary students from the said he doesn’t buy that argument. The of our history,” Hirschi said. “Their initial the Rebels nickname after having shelved the Flyers to the Rebels. The change, Arslanian said, University of Nevada-Las Vegas and the response is one of curiosity and confusion. They Rodney the Rebel confederate soldier mascot was in honor of the region’s pioneers, many of University of Mississippi both have kept their just don’t associate Utah or the West with Dixie. previously. The school’s Red Storm name and whom were natives of the southern states and Rebels mascot and Confederate imagery amid There’s confusion about our location anyway. mascot were introduced in January 2009, after sent to Southern Utah to establish a cotton changes to their brand, and they still attract sig - For most people outside of Utah, their image of voting settled on Red Hawks, Red Devils and industry for residents during the Civil War’s tex - nificant numbers of African-American students, Utah is the Wasatch Front — mountains, snow Red Storm as the preferred alternatives. tile shortages. he said. Ole Miss fans also regard the and great skiing. … We are so foreign to that.” Red Storm was the least popular of the three, Coach Sark would later go on to coach at Confederate tune Dixie an unofficial school fight Hirschi said he’s often asked what the “D” on but the committee charged with the final deci - Weber State and Colorado State before leading song. Black Hill and the “Dixie” on the Red Hill mean. sion preferred Red Storm’s originality. pro teams in Italy, Japan and Armenia and ulti - During the past year, DSC President Stephen When he’s given a chance to explain the region’s Sarkis Arslanian, also known as “Coach Sark,” mately returning full circle to coach at Pine View Nadauld often told students that he hopes by heritage and the schools’ part in it, it becomes a said his feelings about Dixie’s identity run deep. High School. In 1999, he was inducted into the next year the school will be “Dixie State non-issue. The challenge is seeing through the The second-generation Armenian came to Dixie College Hall of Fame. University.” But, he has said the name is more of questions clients don’t ask, he said. Dixie with a friend in the 1940s to play football “This is my first love,” he said. “You can’t find a place-holder title and not a decided-upon result, “I get all sorts of questions about [whether] under famed Coach Walt Brooks, then returned a nicer place to have a college than right here. … even though some of Southern Utah’s legislative anyone will work on Monday night. Will they in 1955 to coach after having begun his career in We just love it. But they’re not getting the money representatives have said they think the name is work on Sundays? I’ve even had companies ask northern Utah. they should be.” a done deal. do they have to pay tithing on their revenues. “They were going to close the school. The gov - Arslanian said he believes Dixie State disap - St. George resident Thad Stewart, the founder But they don’t ask about the Mormon influ - ernor had given us a two-year moratorium — if pointed many of its alumni and potential donors of Dixie Lumber and Hardware, said he and his ence,” Hirschi said. “The question that begs to be we didn’t increase the enrollment, they were when it did away with the Rebels mascot. If the partner chose the word Dixie for their company answered is, how many clients have I had that going to close it,” Arslanian said. “I told the pres - school abandons the name Dixie when it simply because it was descriptive of the area had questions [about Dixie] and didn’t ask them? ident, ‘Let me have the school car.’” becomes a university, probably next year, that when he launched the business in 1972. That’s something I can’t quantify.” After touring communities throughout the will be another nail in the coffin, he said. “This is Utah’s Dixie,” Stewart said. “[There is] Hirschi said most outside corporations already no negative aspect whatever, just positive.” assume Dixie State is a university, so he doesn’t Dixie Lumber is one of more than a hundred think the transition to university status will OBITUARY companies listed in the phone book with the make a big difference to them. word Dixie in the title, beginning with Dixie “[But] I could see how [university status] Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and includ - would be a big advantage for students,” he said. Aram Peter Kezirian ing the hospital, schools, motels and Realtors. “To get a graduate degree at home would be a Washington County Economic Development real big advantage for them.” Armenian Assembly Board Member

LOS ANGELES (Metropolitan News A fifth-generation Armenian-American, Enterprise) — Aram Peter Kezirian Jr., a Kezirian served as the state chair of the Nardolillo Funeral Home Republican activist and a member of the Board Armenian Assembly and in 1995 was a member of Trustees of the Armenian Assembly of of the faculty, headed by US Supreme Court Est. 1906 America, died unexpectedly last week at the age Justice Antonin Scalia, for the Armenian of 48. Judiciary Conference in Yerevan, the Armenian John K. Najarian, Jr. A spokesperson for the Armenian Bar capital, which worked on issues of constitution - Rhode Island’s Only Licensed Armenian Funeral Director Association said Kezirian was playing basketball al interpretation. at his church on November 19 when he sud - As a member of the Council on Foreign 1278 Park Ave. Cranston, RI 02910 (401) 942-1220 denly collapsed. Relations, Kezirian also served on task forces 1111 Boston Neck Rd. Narragansett, RI 02882 (401) 789-6300 “Peter was a dynamic, talented, dedicated evaluating NATO’s military role in Bosnia and www.nardolillo.com individual who greatly contributed to the Kosovo and a wide range of bilateral issues fac - Assembly’s ongoing work for the betterment of ing the US and Mexico. Armenia and Artsakh,” said Assembly In 2003 he joined a team led by former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman to oversee Edward D. Jamakordzian, Jr. d/b/a Cambodia’s national elections. Kezirian was an active member of the Pacific Council on International Policy. He headed a delegation to observe and report on changes in Edward D. Jamie, Jr. US Army training tactics and methods in armored warfare and, more recently, as a Funeral Chapel German Marshall Plan Fellow, worked with Serving the entire Armenian Community business, governmental and philanthropic lead - Any Hour • Any Distance • Any Location ers in six countries to help strengthen transat - Call (718) 224-2390 Toll Free (888) 224-6088 lantic relationships. In recognition of Kezirian’s service in the Bus. Reg. 189-06 Liberty Ave., Hollis, NY 11412 public sphere and his keen interest in politics Consultation Office: 217-04 Northern Blvd., (Suite 23), Bayside,NY 11361 and international relations, the Assembly Board Aram Peter Kezirian of Trustees announced the endowment of a scholarship in his name for students participat - ing in the Assembly’s Terjenian-Thomas Telephone (617) 924-7400 Chairman Hirair Hovnanian and President Summer Internship Program in Washington, Carolyn Mugar in a statement. DC. As an undergraduate student at Georgetown The eight-week summer program is designed Aram Bedrosian University School of Foreign Service, Kezirian to provide college students of Armenian chaired the largest Model United Nations pro - descent the opportunity to intern in the Funeral Home, Inc. gram in the world, with 3,200 participants and nation’s capital in congressional offices, think a multi-million dollar budget. tanks, media outlets, government agencies and Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 He was also the first intern to work for US non-governmental organizations, while taking Sen. Pete Wilson (R-CA) and ultimately joined part in a full schedule of educational, social and MARION BEDROSIAN 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET his staff as the research assistant for national cultural activities. PAUL BEDROSIAN security. At the time of his death, Kezirian was gener - WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN Kezirian first became involved with George al counsel for the California department of the Deukmejian while volunteering on his 1982 Cooperative of American Physicians, which gubernatorial campaign. Four years later he helps its physician members protect against pro - worked with Deukmejian again as part of the fessional liability risks. finance team for the governor’s 1986 reelection Kezirian is survived by his wife, Michelle effort. Kezirian, his mother Marilyn Kezirian, four Kezirian went on to earn his law degree from brothers, two nieces and a nephew. the University of Southern California, where he Services were held at the United Armenian GF UiNrEaRgAoL sHiaOMn E was the articles editor of the law review. Congregation Church, followed by interment at James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC When Wilson became governor in 1991, he Forest Lawn in Glendale. Mark J. Giragosian appointed Kezirian general counsel of the The family requests that in lieu of flowers Funeral Counselors newly-created California Department of charitable donations be made to the Aram 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 Corporations, which licenses and regulates a Peter Kezirian Jr. Foundation at 2335 East www.giragosianfuneralhome.com variety of financial services and securities busi - Colorado Boulevard, Suite 115-230, Pasadena, nesses. CA 91107. S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 8, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 Arts & Living

Mumbai Art Galleries Young Pianist’s Promoting Foreign Artists Love of Music For Potential Market MUMBAI, India (India Express) — In Mumbai And Dedication Art Room, a small two-room space located in one of the Colaba bylanes, a month-long exhibition of Put Her on Path Armenian-French video artist Melik Ohanian con - cluded last week. Nearby, Gallery Maskara has To Success four contemporary Belgian artists showcasing their works in a month-long exhibition, the first- of-its-kind in the country. By Serena Hajjar Last week, Sakshi Gallery played host to a show Special to the Mirror-Spectator by British artist Julian Opie, for the second time in two years, even as Galerie Mirchandani+Steinruecke’s exhibited fine-sketch MONTREAL — At age 17, Alina Israilian drawings of British artist Nicola Durvasulala. has already accomplished what most seri - Jhaveri Contemporary gallery at Walkeshwar Road ous pianists only dream of: playing at is currently displaying works of Pakistani artist Carnegie Hall — at age 11, no less. Hamra Abbas for the first time in the country. “It was everything I’d dreamed of in While international artists exhibiting in one place,” she recalled. Mumbai is not entirely new, these recent In addition, she has been a recipient of instances reflect the fact that the city has wit - the McGill Conservatory Vera Black nessed a marked rise in the number of such Scholarship for the last two years. Yet shows. Clearly, Mumbai’s galleries are now warm - despite these accomplishments, Israilian’s ing up to the works of artists from across the warm, welcoming smile and jovial shores. “People are wearing western clothes and demeanor have not changed. eating global cuisine. In the art world too, there Born in Toronto and raised in Laval, is an attitudinal shift Montreal, Israilian attended her first happening. People piano lesson at the age of 4, under the have started thinking, direction of Tina Kakabedze. In 2003, at ‘Why should my art Lori Sahakian 7, she participated in her first piano com - be confined to my petition; two years later, she won the sec - nationality?’” says ond place prize in the 9-year-old category Abhay Maskara, direc - at the Canada Music Competition. At the tor of Gallery 2006 World Piano Competition in Armenian Performers in Maskara. Cincinnati, she placed second, and was If Mumbai’s increas - awarded the prize to play at Carnegie ingly global citizens are Hall. “It was very exciting. I don’t think I Boston Ballet’s World ready to look beyond Melik Ohanian was aware that I was playing at Carnegie Indian art, the galleries Hall, but now that I look back, it’s, ‘Oh my are seeing it as an exer - God, I played there,’” she recalls. Premiere of ‘The Nutcracker’ cise to expand their repertoire. “It’s like the way it To top it all off, she has taken some BOSTON — Students of Armenian descent who attend the Boston Ballet School and was with films; after the DVD and Internet boom, master classes from renowned pianist the popularity of Iranian and Korean cinema, which Anton Kuerti and Prof. Marc Durand. a new member of the main Boston Ballet Company who joined the troupe this year from Armenia, are among the performers in we were not familiar with, soared,” says Geetha Boston Ballet’s debut production of Artistic Mehra, director of Sakshi Gallery. “Similarly,” she By Ara Arakelian Director Mikko Nissinen’s “The Nutcracker.” says, “people want to look beyond the top 20-30 The show, which started on November 23 Indian artists that we have, and foreign artists are a to rave reviews, will have 43 performances, breath of fresh air.” Her gallery has been host to a ending on December 30. wide range of artists from Israel, Netherlands, The Boston Ballet School students have been a vital part of celebrating the Holiday Brazil, Japan and England. “Its a part of a long-term Season with the magic of “Nutcracker” for more than 44 years. Boston Ballet’s 2012 process,” she says. production showcases the talents of the Boston Ballet’s company dancers and features Ranjana Mirchandani, director of Galerie all new costumes and sets. Mirchandani+Steinruecke agrees. “The footfall Boston Ballet soloist Avetik Karapetyan, 27, performs in the Russian Dance and has substantially increased, not the market. But Chinese Dance segments in Act II. Karapetyan graduated from Yerevan National Ballet visitors are very enthusiastic that such exhibitions Academy of Armenia in 2003 under the direction of Hovannes Divanyan. He was then are taking place here. In the long term, we will invited to study at the Heinz Bosl Ballet Academy of Munich, where he trained with see the emergence of a new generation of young Alexander Prokofiev. Upon graduating in 2005, he worked in Staatsoper in Vienna for Indian art collectors who will have a more global a year, before dancing with the Royal Swedish Ballet in Stockholm. He is the recipient approach to collecting,” she says. Maskara spells of outstanding prizes and awards, including the bronze medal in Sergey Lifar Ballet it out more clearly, “In spite of not yielding great Competition in Kiev, Ukraine; first place in the 2009 Rome Primo Ballet Competition, immediate market value, these exhibitions act as first prize in the 2012 International Istanbul Ballet Competition and second place in exercises to familiarize the audience with such the 2011 Beijing Ballet Competition. work. It’s an ongoing dialogue, an association Alina Israilian Lori Sahakian of Lexington, an eighth-grade student at the Lexington Christian that will culminate a few years down the line.” Academy, performs as a soldier in Act I and as Tea/Chinese dancer in Act II. Sahakian According to both Maskara and Mehra, their has been attending the Boston Ballet School for the last 10 years, with appearances second shows with artists such as Ruben Bellinkx Israilian’s musical heroes are pianists in the previous production of “The Nutcracker” for four consecutive years. Students and Max Streicher and Opie, respectively, showed Vladimir Ashkenazy, Martha Argerich and Hazelyn Aroian and Talia Der Sarkissian, are making their first appearances in this a considerable leap in enthusiasm, interest and Jan Lisiecki. She enjoys playing pieces year. knowledge about the artist’s works. “By the sec - from the Romantic Era, and says that she Students of Boston Ballet School in “The Nutcracker” were hailed by the Boston ond show, the audience was far more familiar recently “started to expand my view on Globe as “adorable, focused and disciplined,” handling serious pattern and partner with the style and felt more associated,” says classical music, from the Classical period” work with “impressive aplomb.” All children performing in “The Nutcracker” are stu - Mehra. after playing Beethoven’s Third Piano dents of the Boston Ballet School and coached by an experienced staff including One of the reasons behind the Mumbai art col - Concerto . While her favorite piece to Nissinen, Boston Ballet School’s Director Margaret Tracey, Ballet Mistress Melanie lectors’ delayed awakening is the lack of institu - play is Chopin’s Etude No. 3 , she noted Atkins and the school’s world-renowned faculty. Students have an exciting schedule tional support. “Besides us, the government she would love to learn Brahms’ First through the months of October, November and December, which includes rehearsals museums too need to develop a program to show Piano Concerto . with company dancers, costume fittings, experiencing the unique, backstage atmo - international art and engage the public. The mar - Israilian says her parents are her inspi - sphere at the Boston Opera House and numerous performances accompanied by ket depends on both institutional and private sup - ration, acknowledging the invaluable role Boston Ballet Orchestra and enthusiastic audiences. port,” says Priya Jhaveri, co-director of Jhaveri they have played in her career. “They Boston Ballet School is the largest ballet school in North America, now operating Contemporary that specializes in showcasing encourage me a lot. They’re great sup - studios in Boston, Newton, Marblehead and other programs throughout New England. works by artists who, though born abroad, are porters. They just love music,” she says. Nissinen commissioned Robert Perdziola to design the immaculate new sets and a deeply affected by India in their art. “We attend concerts together, we share total of nearly 350 new costumes. The previous production, which the company fea - How do the artists view India as a space for opinions on concerts, everything.” tured for 17 years, was set in 1835 during the Biedermier period. Nissinen and their art? “Even though India is not exactly on an She says her father often reminds her Perdziola brought the new production back 20 years, to what many know as the “Jane international artist’s map, it is always an exciting to live in the moment and take advantage Austen era.” prospect for them; it is probably India’s exoticism of the time she has now: “When there’s For more information about “The Nutcracker,” including events around Boston, and mystery that naturally attract them,” says an opportunity, I have to open my eyes…if blogs, videos and images of the production, visit www.bostonballet.org. Susan Hapgood, director of Mumbai Art Room, a see ISRAILIAN, page 13 non-profit organization that has a half-Indian half- foreign program of shows. 12 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 8, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING

Boston Armenian Community Meeting with

US Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia

John A. Heffern, Ambassador Heffern will Present the ³20th Anniversary of US-Armenia Diplomatic 5HODWLRQV¶´ Q/A after the presentation Master of Ceremony

Sheriff Peter Koutoujian Thursday, December 13, at 7:00 PM St. James Armenian Church, Charles Mosesian Cultural and Youth Center, Keljik Hall 465 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA Free Entrance Reception

Sponsor a Teacher in Armenia and Karabagh 2012

Since its inception in 2001, TCA’s Sponsor a Teacher’ program has raised over $518,000 and reached out to 4,064 teachers and school workers in Armenia and Karabagh.

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

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

Your donation is Tax Deductible. S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 8, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 ARTS & LIVING Teen Violin Virtuoso’s Star Is Ascending

2010 — Armenian Martyrs’ Day — he won the “Two of my favorites are the old masters, es and excites me. Other times, I feel like I’m By Tom Vartabedian Gold Medal at a classical music competition in Arthur Grumiaux, a Belgian, and the Polish- in the process of discovering something won - Canada. born Isaac Stern. When I play, I often feel like derful. In my ‘violin’ time, nothing is the same Two months later, he was honored again as a different person than going to school or as ‘real’ time.” BELMONT, Mass. — On the surface, Haig winner of the Young Promise International hanging out with friends. Sometimes, it relax - His early success has not come without a Aram Hovsepian is like most 13-year-olds. He Competition. price. Hours of personal sacrifice and enjoys video games and other electronic gad - In addition to per - rehearsal have certainly proven advantageous. gets, YouTube, even beat-boxing, break danc - forming extensively at The private lessons and expense are on-going ing, swimming lessons and music. various community rituals. What separates him from the pack is the vio - and charitable events, Any free time after school is tied up with his lin, when it could very easily have been the sax - Haig has appeared as a music, whether it’s the lessons or his school’s ophone, clarinet or the piano. He was equally soloist with the “coolest jazz band around.” Last year the adept at all four, as well as the Armenian Belmont All-Town ensemble won a platinum award at the recorder (sh’vi) , before making his choice. Elementary Chorus Districts (better than gold). The sh’vi ? and participated in a He has a management team in place, led by “I took lessons for two years with a great Belmont Telethon to his mom Ani, a talented keyboard artist-teach - teacher who came here from Armenia,” he raise funds for the er, and dad Jirair, whose photography and recalls. “It was an opportunity to play our tra - town’s food pantry. video work carry their own merit. Last we ditional music on an ethnic instrument. This He’s a former mem - heard, the youngster’s calendar is rather experience created more interest in Armenian ber of the Abaka crowded with dates. music which has now become an important Dance Group, St. On Saturday, December 8, he and his moth - part of my violin repertoire.” Stephen’s Armenian er are presenting a mother-son concert for the As for the sax, that medium gives him a jazz Saturday School and a Merrimack Valley community at St. Gregory element which also complements the classical. first prize winner in Church in North Andover. It’s all becoming He listens to jazz and improvises. Add it up the Armenian Relief fairly routine for the young star. and you have one boy with five instruments. Society’s annual essay “My parents check the calendars for any Anyone present at the State House last April contest. possible conflicts and off we go,” he says. “It’s for the Armenian Genocide commemoration “I often listen to a great experience to play for various types of would have seen a pre-teen stand before a other violinists on Haig Hovsepian is making quite a reputation these days on the violin. events and audiences. I learn a lot from packed house with his instrument in hand, YouTube,” he reveals. that.” performing like a true professional before an audience holding its applause. On hand were state representatives and sen - ators as well as members of Congress and other leaders. Friends. Family. Total strangers. Young Pianist’s Dedication Puts Her on Path to Success And four Genocide survivors who appeared quite moved by it all. ISRAILIAN, from page 11 In other words, he “nailed” it. I really want something, I should go get it.” About his stellar performance that day, he Israilian hopes to inspire young musicians to had this to say: commit to their goals and remain optimistic. “I was trusted to represent our cultural her - She adds more to the generic response of “try itage in front of a very large audience of your hardest and dream big.” She advises those Armenians and non-Armenians with merely seeking a career in music to “always practice. one piece — and it had to be done well. The After the practice there’s always something sense of responsibility was overwhelming but I good that comes out. … If they work hard when was inspired by the thought that this was a they’re young, when they’re older they can tribute to those who perished and those who look back and they’ll live the life they always survived. I felt proud to carry the torch of the wanted.” past and celebrate the present.” In fact, she cites an anecdote from her own Hovsepian has a dream, one that may have experience to prove how much she values prac - been far-fetched some years back but more ticing. While preparing for the Canadian Music realistic these days. He’d like to become a pro - Competition, Israilian, who was 12 at the time, fessional violinist and perform in the sympho - began feeling pain in her hands from playing ny. To reach that level, he’ll continue playing the big chords in Rachmaninoff’s Second at schools and nursing homes. Piano Concerto . After a visit to the doctor, The ultimate, he feels, would be taking his Israilian was forced to change her piece, with instrument to Armenia and play before the only two months left before the competition. majestic Mount Ararat. During that time, Israilian practiced diligently. “To paraphrase William Saroyan’s words,” “I was determined, I was motivated, and I got he says, “we can always create a new Mount the piece, it was ready... I played it at the com - Ararat anywhere in the world so long as we petition and I really liked my performance. That keep up our hard work. Our nation has pro - just proved that if I practice and if I set my mind duced many great musicians and artists. I’m to something, I could really get some good Alina Israilian proud to be an apprentice, hoping to become results. And anything is possible if you practice one of them someday. All the sorrow and suf - hard,” she said. in the performance aspect of being a pianist. When she is not at the piano — she antici - fering our nation has witnessed reveals itself A recent graduate of Ecole Internationale She is curious about the “behind-the-scenes” pates spending up to 5 hours a day practicing in music with more passion and depth.” (high school) in Laval, Israilian is currently pur - portion of staging a concert, and believes a this year — Israilian enjoys traveling, hiking and In such a short time, he has built up an suing a double major in university. She studies business degree will enable her to do her own reading. She windsurfs, too, when on vacation impressive resume. He’s been studying violin music at the Conservatoire de Musique de marketing and managing. Although the busi - in a tropical island. On top of that, she plays since the age of 4. In 2009, he received his Montreal under the guidance of Andre Laplante ness studies are usually completed in two years, another instrument — a vocal one. She sings in first competitive award at the Massachusetts and business at Marianopolis — an odd combi - Israilian has opted to spend three years on the the Nor Dzaghig (New Flower) Armenian choir. Music Teachers’ Association. On April 24, nation indeed. Israilian is not interested solely program “so that I can focus more on music.” Israilian has also been a member of the Garni Armenian dance group for the past five years. For Israilian, the best part of being a pianist is playing both solo and with an orchestra. “When I play with the orchestra, I feel like I’m guiding this music and there are 40, 50 musi - cians following my lead…Playing solo, I get into SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE my own bubble, my own world … and make the for best music I can. I just love it.” Students of Armenian Descent She only wishes that more people would appreciate the beauty of classical music. “I just Having completed one year of college by June, 2013 find it too bad, you know. It’s a great thing, Applications and other information may be obtained from classical music.” Israilian plans to participate in more compe - titions this coming year, including international ARMENIAN STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION ones. She hopes to have the opportunity to Scholarship Committee play at a concert with her younger sisters, who 333 Atlantic Avenue, Warwick, RI, 02888 play the piano and violin. In the meantime, Israilian is living by the Tel. (401) 461-6114, Fax (401) 461-6112 wise words of her father. “I’m never going to Email: [email protected] be, say, 17 again. I have to take advantage of Deadline for returning completed applications: March 15, 2013 the time I have now. It’s a great age; I can accomplish a lot.” 14 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 8, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

T HE A RMENIAN COMMENTARY Mirror- Minorities in Egypt

Minorities have thrown in their lots with the secularists. The Spectator By Edmond Y. Azadian Muslim religion in Egypt and in the Middle East, for that mat - ter, does not have the Christian equivalent in the West; it is a way of life, it is a political philosophy and an ideology. There is I am back in Cairo, Egypt, in this most turbulent of times. no dividing line between religious and lay leaders. This is a city which I called home for almost a decade when I Under the previous regime, the Muslim Brothers provided was invited to serve as the editor of the daily Arev , established social services to the poor for many years. They helped the Established 1932 in 1915 by its founding editor, Vahan Tekeyan, who is general - underprivileged with food, water, shelter, schooling and ly celebrated among Armenians worldwide as a poet. clothes, and they made inroads in society on the grassroots An ADL Publication My term as editor coincided with the Gamal Abdel Nasser level, as their leaders languished in jail cells. Today, they have era, when patriotic fervor was in abundance, balanced with the shaken off their shackles and are now trying to force their scarcity of commodities and food staples. At that time, contrary sociopolitical philosophy upon the general populace. However, EDITOR to outside adverse publicity, the government treated the there is a world of difference between running a government Alin K. Gregorian Armenians and minorities with kid gloves, as long as our com - and distributing charity without the prerequisites of states - munity observed a cool distance in its relations with Soviet manship. ASSISTANT EDITOR Armenia. Visiting dignitaries, artists, clergy and writers were Gabriella Gage Not only the secularists but also a good segment of Islamists under vigilant scrutiny, but welcomed anyway. are alarmed by the political direction that the country is veer - ASSOCIATE EDITOR Armenian churches, schools, cultural centers and newspa - ing toward. But since the army and the Interior Ministry have Aram Arkun pers were tolerated and well-protected, sometimes with that taken a neutral stance, Morsi’s government is plowing ahead, official “affection” bordering on a “bear-hug.” as far as one can see. ART DIRECTOR Marc Mgrditchian Upper middle class Armenians suffered across the nation as The average man on the street believes that Europe and the a consequence of the Arab socialist experiment, which some US are behind the “Arab Spring” or the violent changes in the people took erroneously as directed only at minorities. Middle Eastern countries, and consequently, they have been In the aftermath of World War II, the Egyptian-Armenian asking why Washington has let this change happen. Why did SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: community was 45,000-strong, only to be reduced to less than they support the Muslim Brothers’ ascension to power? Edmond Azadian 5,000 today. The answer is very simple. At the onset of the ascension to CONTRIBUTORS: Armenian contributions to Egypt are one of the best-kept power by the Muslim Brothers, the US Secretary of State Florence Avakian, Elizabeth Aprahamian, secrets of Egyptian history. During the construction and the rushed to Cairo to take the pulse of the new leaders. Daphne Abeel, Dr. Haroutiune opening of the Suez Canal, Nubar Pasha tried to secure the Subsequently, she gave a green light upon being assured that Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Prof. majority of the Canal shares for the Egyptians; that was con - Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel will remain untouched and Vahakn N. Dadrian, Diana Der sidered a challenge to the British colonial authorities who were that the new leaders will play the tune of the US in Middle Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, Kevork vying for the full control of the waterway. Eastern policies. Keushkerian, Sonia Kailian-Placido , Nubar Pasha also instituted a fairer legal system for Egyptian After those guarantees, they were allowed to treat their peo - Harut Sassounian, Mary Terzian, Hagop citizens by establishing mixed tribunals. Until that period, each ple any way they liked and the West euphemistically called the Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian foreign consulate ran its own court system and any foreign game “democracy in progress.” CORRESPONDENTS: national who had a case against an Egyptian citizen would pre - Mr. Morsi, in his turn, made good on his pledge by announc - Armenia - Hagop Avedikian sent his case to their respective consulate and it was not diffi - ing in Tehran, during his first foreign trip, that President Assad Boston - Nancy Kalajian cult to predict the verdict of that particular court. of Syria must go, gleefully cheered by Washington and the EU. Philadelphia - Lisa Manookian There were other prominent Armenians who contributed sig - Egypt also continued its stronghold on the Rafah passage, to nificantly to the education, industry, agriculture and economy choke Palestinians in the gulag of Gaza, a favorite stand in the Contributing Photographers: Jacob Demirdjian, Harry Koundakjian, Jirair of Egypt. eyes of the Israeli government. Hovsepian Boghos Nubar Pasha, son of Nubar Pasha, was the director After Mr. Morsi brokered a cease-fire between Hamas and of the railway system and in 1906 took the initiative to found Israel in Gaza, the Hamas leadership switched allegiances from the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), whose real Tehran to Cairo, very much in line with the Western policy of estate holdings and endowments today date back to that era. isolating Iran in the region. The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published weekly, except two weeks in July, by: One would be remiss not to refer to a very interesting com - Therefore, Mr. Morsi earned an international license to chart parison with Armenia: a communist revolution took place in his own domestic policy, undisturbed by outside interference Baikar Association, Inc. Armenia and all the facilities built by Boghos Nubar Pasha and allegations of mismanagement. 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 were taken over and the compound which was named after his To say that there is uncertainty in Egypt is an understate - Telephone: 617-924-4420 family, Nubarashen, was re-christened as Sovetashen. ment; not only the civic institutions are under assault but the FAX: 617-924-2887 Independent Armenia restored the name, but ironically that future of minorities is in limbo. www.mir rorspectator.com compound is mostly known for an infamous jail nearby. Unless a rapid slide towards Sharia is stopped, Egypt may E-Mail: editor@mirrorspectator .com Similarly, a socialist revolution took place in Egypt but the become another fundamentalist country like Iran, serving as a For advertising: [email protected] name of Nubar Street in Cairo was kept as well as the agricul - counterweight to the latter, which adheres to the Shia sect of tural region called Nubaria, which has kept its name. Islam. For a while, Turkey claimed the leadership of the Sunni This comparison demonstrates that the Armenians in branch in the Middle East and it looked as if an undercurrent Armenia tried to be the more Catholic than the Pope. of competition may be triggered between the two nations. SUBSCRIPTION RATES : Today Egypt is undergoing another phase of its history, with However, for now, there seems to be a sharing of leadership, the coming to power of Muslim Brotherhood. There is an unset - much to the long-term detriment of Armenia. tled air in the atmosphere. Hosni Mubarak ruled Egypt with an The 10-million strong Coptic community — the descendants U.S.A. $80 a year iron fist, at the same time providing security and stability. of the indigenous Egyptians — has been reduced to an Today insecurity reigns and fluid political trends are rampant. oppressed minority. The bombing of churches, which coincided Canada $125 a year The Muslim Brothers’ leadership, which mostly inhabited the with the rise of the Brothers, has intimidated that ethnic Other Countries $190 a year jails before, has returned to power with a vengeance. President group, whose members all seem to be headed to the West. The Mohammed Morsi, who is considered a moderate by Middle recently-elected Coptic Pope Tawadros II has reflected that sen - Eastern standards, is trying to keep the balance between the timent of desperation in his inaugural sermon, by stating that secularists and the Salafists who are on the extremist right of during his tenure, he will avoid being involved in politics. © 2011 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator the political spectrum. Both the Muslim Brothers and the Armenians have been reduced to a negligible minority. Their Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA Salafists are eager to rule the country under Sharia law, but institutions have historically been well-funded as the communi - and additional mailing offices. their interpretations of that law differ widely. ty is overall wealthy, often with their children studying abroad. ISSN 0004-234X Ever since I left Cairo, a number of magnificent mosques That trend also seems to indicate where the community is head - POSTMASTER : Send address changes to The have been built with their minarets pointing to the sky, but ing. Armenian Mirror-Spectator, P.O. Box 302, unsure if they lead the believers to heaven or the Middle Ages. Incidentally, no other Armenian-Diasporan community, Watertown, MA 02471-0302 The veil and the chador — once ridiculed by Nasser himself — besides India, has similarly solid financial foundations, as the Other than the editorial, views and opinions are common in Cairo. To find out the degree of fanaticism of founders of Kalousdian School in 1854, Agha Garabed expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily any male believer one has only to measure the length of his Kalusdian, bequeathed endowment funds and large holdings of eflect the policies of the publisher. beard; Salafists almost always wear a longer beard (most of the real estate to perpetuate Armenian schools and the church. The time without a mustache) and the Muslim Brothers shorter community is more affluent than it can manage. Recently, the ones. Kalousdian school, which boasted 850 students in the 1950s, Images aside, President Morsi has taken his role very seri - lost most of its student population and joined the Nubarian ously. Following the abrogation of parliament by the School, to educate a student body of 145. The Boghosian Constitutional Court, he has decided to rule by decrees until a School in Alexandria has 27 students. The Diocesan headquar - new constitution is adopted, touching off a firestorm of con - ters, the cultural clubs, newspaper offices have been main - Copying for other than personal use or troversy. The legal system is paralyzed and the courts have no tained magnificently to cater to a dwindling population. internal reference is prohibited without jurisdiction at this time. Society has been polarized. Tahrir Is the Egyptian-Armenian community on its way to emulat - express permission of the copyright owner. Address requests for reprints or Square has changed its complexion. This time around, the peo - ing the Armenian community of India? back issues to: ple who have taken to the streets are the judges, the intellec - We hope not. But, everything depends on the political furor Baikar Association, Inc. tuals, the professionals and overall, the secularists. of the country. 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 8, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 COMMENTARY

The Azeris have now decided to fight the Artsakh war in To make matters worse, Ali Hajizade, an Azeri journalist, Hollywood, after Armenia officially submitted to the attacked Teni Melidonian, the publicist for the Academy of Academy Awards an innocuous film titled “If Only Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, for simply being of Everyone,” for the category of Best Foreign Film. The Armenian heritage. As part of her official duties, she had movie’s American premiere was held last Saturday at the issued a press release that named all 71 foreign countries My Turn ARPA International Film Festival in Hollywood. that had submitted movies for the Foreign Language Film The Armenian movie depicts the story of a young category, including Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey. By Harut Sassounian Russian girl whose father was killed during the Artsakh It is important for Azeris to understand that such racist war. Twenty years later, she comes to Armenia hoping that remarks have no place in civilized society. The conflict between the commander of her father’s military unit would help Armenia and Azerbaijan needs to be resolved through peaceful Karabagh War Comes to locate his unmarked grave. After a lengthy search, the negotiations, not by hurling xenophobic insults. Hollywood, Courtesy of young girl discovers that her father’s grave lies on the Someday, when peace returns to the region, Armenians other side of the border, inside Azerbaijan. She and the and Azeris will have to live side by side, not as enemies, but Azerbaijan Armenian commander cross the frontline surreptitiously in as neighbors and friends. Azeris who are engaged in sow - the cover of darkness, and while planting a birch tree by ing seeds of hatred and racism are not only besmirching The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over her father’s grave, are confronted by an armed Azeri shep - their own reputation, but unnecessarily aggravating and Karabagh (Artsakh) should not give free license to anyone herd who threatens to shoot them. Upon learning that the prolonging the antagonism between the two peoples. to make racist and insulting statements about people on girl’s father is buried there, the Azeri lets them go safely Fortunately, Armenians have refrained from retaliating the other side of the border. Even under war conditions, after telling them with a heavy heart, that his 10-year-old against the film submitted by Azerbaijan to the Oscars. there are civilized norms of behavior. son had also died during the war after stepping on a land - Political feuds should not be converted into cultural wars Since these two neighboring countries are in the midst mine. The Azeri shepherd tells that he is unable to visit his or personal vendettas. May the best movie win regardless of delicate negotiations to resolve their thorny conflict, it is son’s grave because it is located inside Artsakh. The movie of whether it is produced by an Armenian, an Azeri or a highly irresponsible to pour oil on the fire by inciting inter- ends on a high note with a wonderful gesture, when the Turk. The Academy will announce the short list of nine ethnic and inter-religious hatred, and inflaming pent up Russian girl and her Armenian companions plant another films in the Foreign Language Film category on December emotions. While some Armenians may engage in periodic tree, this time next to the young Azeri boy’s grave. 20, 2012, the five finalists on January 10, 2013, and the emotional outbursts, Azerbaijan’s leaders have exacerbated Even though the movie neither contains anti-Azeri Oscar winner on February 24, 2013. the conflict by making racist statements and anti-Armenian rhetoric nor depicts any scenes of the Karabagh war, “If Only Everyone” is co-produced by Tereza threats into state policy. Azerbaijani journalists have harshly attacked it without Varzhapetyan and award winning actor and director Such despicable behavior has caused the Artsakh con - having seen a single clip. Apparently, the fact that it was an Michael Poghosyan, who plays the role of the retired flict to spill over into Hungary (by using an axe,) Mexico (by Armenian film was enough reason for them to try and Armenian commander. Natalia Belyauskene is the director offering a $5 million bounty for Heydar Aliyev’s statue with undermine its submission to the Academy Awards! The and Ekaterina Shitova plays the role of the young Russian an anti-Armenian plaque in a park) and many other coun - Azeri media falsely labeled the movie as a “propaganda girl. The movie was screened in Yerevan, Moscow, Paris, tries around the world, thousands of miles away from the film” and an example of “the information war unleashed by Bucharest and Hollywood, and has won several awards at actual theater of conflict. Armenia against Azerbaijan.” international film festivals.

Saving the Syria Story, with A Tale of Two Technology at Our Side Christmas Trees

Farida Beydoun and her three children live off food hand - Along the way, I shed my old media skin and took on a tech outs in a camp for displaced Syrians, in the border town of startup mentality: just build and iterate. Accept that there will By Tom Vartabedian Bab al Salam. They fled their home in Aleppo and now live in be kinks and flaws, a hair or two out of place — instead of a tiny tent with no always expecting to live life camera-ready. Be flexible and let hen is a Christmas tree not a warm blankets, no the platform evolve. The Syria Deeply you see today will Christmas tree? When the By Lara Setrakian shoes on her chil - change with new ideas and user feedback, as we learn what naysayers of our society have a dren’s feet. There’s a works in optimizing foreign news for digital delivery. problem with the “word” stench of sewage over The best part of what we’re doing: we are connecting peo - Christmas and want to call it a the camp, as a child defecates on the ground nearby. ple on both sides of the story. We know that Americans care holiday tree. “Journalists come here and take photos and leave without about what’s happening in Syria. Teachers like Andrew Beiter W Somehow, it doesn’t seem to fit. helping us. You take pictures and then what? If we don’t die at Springville Middle School are working with us to turn the When people want to wish me a because of the war, we will die because of the filth,” she told Syria story into a social studies curriculum, bridging the news - “happy holiday,” I cringe, then retort, “You mean Christmas, us. room and the classroom. We’re helping college students at don’t you?” And I add a little chagrin to their grin. She’s right. As journalists we don’t help, not enough, Yale, Stanford, the University of Michigan and UC Long Beach We grew up in a modest neighborhood as children. No because we’re not telling her story, Syria’s story, in ways our as they launch a movement called Caravan Aid, promoting matter how tight our budget was, my immigrant parents audience can understand. awareness and refugee relief for UNHCR. always made sure we put Christ into Christmas. Dad We float in and out of the issue, our attention pulled in so They all fit into a vision of America that I believe in and have always managed to erect the biggest tree he could find. many directions. That’s no one’s fault: as a foreign correspon - dedicated myself to serve. The old, cynical narrative that Because he worked seven days a week in his lun - dent I have to chase the latest breaking crisis; as a viewer, you Americans aren’t interested in foreign news just isn’t true. The cheonette, many times the tree didn’t go up until follow the headlines that flow. But as a result we never really Pew Research Center shows a growing number of Americans Christmas Eve. I suspect he combed the lots of get a deeper understanding of a what’s going on. Its victims, want more foreign news coverage and that their number-one Somerville in that final hour, looking for the biggest deal like Farida Beydoun, get forgotten. obstacle is a lack of background information. As we properly he could find for his big tree. I love what I do in journalism, covering the world on radio fuse new media and traditional journalism, that becomes an As I recall one Christmas, he had difficulty finding a and television. But when I look at the system as a whole, how easy problem to fix. commercial tree. Off into the woods he roamed to cut all of the networks and newspapers cover foreign news for an Journalists alone can’t feed the Beydoun family, or put down a balsam. Good thing the neighbors didn’t catch American audience, I know we can do much, much better. We shoes on their children’s feet. But we enable you to do that - him or he would have had some explaining to do. are failing the Syria story and complex issues like it. once we empower you with information, instead of just bom - I was cut from the same mold. For years, we ventured For the sake of the Syria story, for women like Farida barding you with content. If we change how people see the in and out of the many tree lots of my city, looking for Beydoun, I’ve pressed pause on my TV career and leaned into world, we can change the world, because we all act on our per - the perfect tree. Being a bad judge of character and size, technology. I decided to build Syria Deeply, a single-story web - ceptions of reality, our mental fact file of myths and miscon - the lucky tree which found our home was usually high - site that launches today (December 3), using the best digital ceptions. We can make the world a much better place, in a er than our ceiling. tools we could find to convey the story in a more complete quantum leap, if we can achieve a breakthrough in how we I was about to take a cutter to it when one of my kids way. Our goal is to bridge journalism and technology, educa - explain it. let out a yelp. tion and foreign policy, by reshaping the way we create and It’s a lofty goal, but consider Syria Deeply the open source “Dad, how would you like your head cut off?” the deliver the story. R&D. What we learn and hone we hope to apply to a range of child reminded me. “Can’t we just keep it long?” Syria Deeply was created to share the best of what we know, global issues: think Iran Deeply, Pakistan Deeply, Drug War And we did. A heavy angel on top caused it to droop in ways that technology now makes possible. I cracked open Deeply, Debt Crisis Deeply. If we do that, we can get a whole like an arch. Indeed, it was our very own archangel. As my rolodex, rounded up my favorite experts and started tak - lot smarter, together. Then the good we all have in us will have the years progressed, we tagged and cut our own at a ing a much more open approach to my craft. When I have an better information to go on, shrinking wicked problems down tree farm, replete with Santa, hot chocolate and all the interview with a great mind on Syria, I do it over Google+ for to size. magic that surrounded the search. all to see. As I hear from Syrian journalists and bloggers, I take That’s the hope and the jet fuel that’s driving us at Syria Big was always beautiful with me. My wife was a little the time to elevate their voices, giving my American audience Deeply. It’s a creative news experiment and I sincerely hope more sedate when it came to the tree. She found “small” greater access their perspectives. you’ll join us for the ride. to be more practical. Easier to decorate with fewer nee - As I started building Syria Deeply, wonderful friends (Lara Setrakian is a foreign correspondent and founder of dles covering the rug. I remember one year, because we stepped forward to help — members of the Middle East press Syria Deeply. She has covered the Middle East for more than were so late, all that was left of our tree were the barren pool who all believe it’s time to try something new. The ven - five years, filing for ABC News, Bloomberg Television, branches. The needles were completely detached. erable Deborah Amos of NPR agreed to serve as our advisor. Monocle Magazine and the International Herald Tribune . It was rather sad seeing something so stately standing Technology partners like Prezi, Soundcloud and Google+ all She splits her time between New York and Dubai and lives on there with bare limbs and just a few bits of tinsel cling - stepped up to help us deliver new ways to serve our audience Twitter as @lara. This commentary originally appeared in the ing to it. It was still the tree of life. with information. Huffington Post on Monday, December 3.) see CHRISTMAS, page 16 16 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 8, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

Schiff Calls on Appropriations Committee To Cut All Security Funding to Azerbaijan

APPROPRITIONS, from page 1 tolerate any acts of aggression against Armenia tion between the United States and foreign either regional stability or the absorption of Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani army captain who or Nagorno-Karabagh. countries; and democratic values and a respect for human rights. had confessed to the savage 2004 axe murder of Furthermore, the United States should imme - • To increase the ability of foreign national I would be happy to discuss this issue further Armenian army lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, diately suspend all IMET activities with military and civilian personnel to absorb and with you or your staff, but we cannot continue while the latter slept. At the time, the two were Azerbaijan. According to the Defense Security maintain basic democratic values and protect to embrace a government and a military that participating in a NATO Partnership for Peace Cooperation Agency, which oversees IMET, the internationally recognized human rights. operates at cross-purposes to our own interests exercise in Budapest, Hungary. After the mur - program has two aims: Azerbaijan’s actions in pardoning, parading and in violation of the most basic norms of der, Safarov was sentenced to life in prison by a • To further the goal of regional stability and promoting an axe-murderer like Safarov international behavior. Hungarian court and imprisoned in Hungary. through effective, mutually beneficial military- clearly indicate that our investment there in Sincerely, On August 31, Safarov was sent home to to-military relations which culminate in IMET has been an abject failure. The funding, Adam Schiff Azerbaijan, purportedly to serve out the increased understanding and defense coopera - training and support has plainly not fostered Member of Congress remainder of his sentence. Instead of prison, he was greeted as a hero by the Azeri government and promenaded through the streets of Baku carrying a bouquet of roses. President Ilham Aliyev immediately pardoned Safarov and he Kevorkian’s Genocide Painting to Remain at ALMA was promoted to the rank of major and given a new apartment and eight years of back pay. PAINTINGS, from page 1 the museum’s goal of teaching the public about was a leading voice in the right-to-die move - The Aliyev government’s rapturous welcome After a year of legal wrangling with the the Armenian Genocide, he added. “As far as I ment, and, according to his own estimate, had for Safarov in Baku exposes a fundamental con - Kevorkian estate, the museum has managed to was concerned, a lot of the paintings were of no helped 130 terminally ill people take their tempt for the rule of law that is the underpin - keep four of the 17 paintings by the late pathol - relevance to our mission.” lives. He was convicted of second-degree mur - ning of any state that aspires to greater inte - ogist it had been holding. Under a settlement The painting shows the bloodied head of a der in 1999 for giving a lethal injection to a gration into Euro-Atlantic institutions. It also that was announced in October, the Kevorkian woman held by two arms. On one sleeve is a 52-year-old Michigan man with Lou Gehrig’s further poisons relations between Azerbaijan estate obtained the remainder of the paintings, Nazi uniform; the other is dressed in Ottoman disease. and Armenia over the ethnic Armenian territo - and is expected to offer the pieces for sale at art Turkish garb. Kevorkian, the son of Armenian Before going to prison to serve his 10- to 25- ry of Nagorno-Karabakh. The OSCE’s Minsk galleries, according to news accounts. Genocide survivors, is said to have used a mix - year term, Kevorkian gave his paintings to the Group (United States, Russia and France) has The museum plans to display its Kevorkian ture of human blood and paint in the piece. Watertown museum. He served eight years of been trying to work with the parties to fashion paintings at some point, but exactly when has - The museum, at 65 Main St. in Watertown, his sentence before he was released on parole. a settlement to a crisis that threatens to plunge n’t been determined. At least one of them, will also keep “The Gourmet,” about the mean - He visited the museum in 2008 for an exhibi - the Caucasus into war. That effort, already dif - “1915 Genocide 1945,” will be shown in April, ing of war, “The Double Cross of Justice,” about tion of the paintings. ficult because of years of repeated sniping inci - when the museum commemorates the the broken judicial system, and “Fa, la, la, la, After Kevorkian’s death, his estate claimed dents by Azeri forces, as well as a stream of bel - Armenian Genocide, said Haig Der Manuelian, la,” which reflects on the commercialization of ownership of the paintings, saying they were licose statements from Baku, is now even more chairman of its board of trustees. Christmas. The messages of all these the paint - simply on loan to the museum for exhibition challenging. That painting, which links the killing of 1.5 ings are dark, and the images feature decapitat - and storage, and arranged to sell them at auc - Azerbaijan must pay a high price for its million Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish ed heads or skeletal bodies. tion in New York. The museum filed a civil law - actions. Baku treasures the security assistance empire during and after World War I, and the 6 Mayer Morganroth, a Michigan-based attor - suit sued in federal court to block the auction, that it receives from Washington, not because it million Jews killed by Nazi Germany three ney who represented the estate, did not saying the paintings had been donated to it by needs the money (it does not), but because it decades later, was the most important piece for respond to a call requesting a comment on the Kevorkian. The estate has said the paintings signifies a certain closeness in the bilateral rela - the museum to hold onto, and why the organi - settlement. The estate has picked up its 13 could be worth as much as $3.5 million. tionship. By cutting off military aid to zation was willing to engage in its first legal bat - paintings from the museum. The Watertown museum is satisfied with the Azerbaijan, the United States would signal its tle, Der Manuelian said. After the settlement, Morganroth told the settlement, Der Manuelian said. It allows the disgust with the Safarov affair, while also “The reason why we were adamant about it Detroit News , “The settlement recognizes the museum to keep the paintings that are impor - reminding Aliyev that the United States will not was the one painting,” he said. It resonates with need for his art to be preserved as part of tant to its mission and avoids the legal costs of Armenian culture, while returning artwork to a protracted dispute, he said. his heir.” “The paintings are a small aspect of our col - Kevorkian died last year at the age of 83. He lection,” Der Manuelian said.

A Tale of Two Christmas Trees CHRISTMAS, from page 15 with lights. As the children grew older, we cut down a She would retire for the night with the same notch or two once they were off to college and twinkle in her eyes. Christmas had turned her on to their married lives. The tradition of a larg - tiny quarters into a wonderland. We even added er-than-normal tree remained steadfast. The a music box. It was as close as we could get to cards never diminished. Neither did the gifts. those nostalgic days of yesteryear. Our tree was the centerpiece, above the lights, Two years ago, on the eve of her 99th birth - our wreaths, our bells and whistles. day, she took a turn for the worst just before And then we did the unthinkable. We went Thanksgiving. One of her final wishes during a vinyl. A fake tree to match the bowl of wax fruit bedside chat centered upon a lifelong in our living room. Mercy! I could have died a Christmas tradition. thousand deaths. Truth be told, I was overruled She turned to me in her declining state and by another hierarchy. uttered, “Tommy. Don’t forget my tree.” “No fuss, no bother,” came the word. “Look I didn’t. We put her tree up a bit earlier than at this! Full, balanced branches, perfectly usual that year. The joy in her heart spilled out tapered with non-shed needles. Burn a candle if into the facility. She died with Christmas in her you want the smell.” heart. I had two of them going at once and all it did I cleared out her room and brought the was make me nauseated. It was the first time in miniature home, settling upon an obvious con - my life I owned a Christmas tree that didn’t pull clusion. My children are gone. We have no its weight. guests visiting us. Nobody’s coming to our When my mother was inside a nursing home home. We make the visits. during the last few years, I wanted her to recon - So up went Mom’s tree in her memory. I lit a nect with Christmas. Off to the store we trekked pine tea light and there you had it. Matter of to pick up a pygmy tree — perfect for her table. fact, I liked it so much, I pulled the same ges - There it stood right before her bed, decorated ture again this year. For Your Internal News of Armenia Log on to www.AZG.am In English, Armenian, Russian and Turkish