AUGUST 23, 2014 MirTHErARoMENr IAN -Spe ctator Volume LXXXV, NO. 6, Issue 4349 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 Pope Francis to Armenia Offers Aid to Iraqi Yezidis Celebrate Mass on Genocide Centennial Minority Protests in BUENOS AIRES (Agencia Prensa Armenia) — Pope Francis will celebrate Mass for the Armenian Armenia Genocide centennial in the Basilica of San Pedro on April 12, 2015, according to an announcement YEREVAN (Combined Sources) — by the Archbishop of Buenos Aires Mario Poli dur - Armenia is deeply concerned about the ing a mass in the Armenian Catholic Parish of Our ongoing violence against the Yezidi popula - Lady of Narek on Sunday, August 17. tion in the north of Iraq, and the ensuring “The Pope replied to the invitation from the casualties, Arman Saghatelyan, President Armenian Catholic Church a year ago through Serge Sargisian’s press secretary Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX to celebrate a mass for announced this week. the recognition of the Genocide,” stated the pastor “The use of violence against any national of Narek, Pablo Hakimian. and religious minority, in particular, the During a meeting with the Patriarch of Iraqi Yezidis, is absolutely unacceptable, Armenians Catholics Nerses Bedros XIX and the international community must take Tarmourini in June last year, he also received the immediate steps to stop it as soon as possi - daughter of a surviving family of the Armenian ble, provide support and humanitarian aid Genocide. He told her, “It was the first genocide of to the victims. the 20th century.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the heads of diplomatic missions were instruct - ed by Sargisian to double their efforts in Armenians protest in France against the fate of Yezidis in Iraq. Political Party Calls for pursuing the issue at an appropriate level in the international arena. Artsakh Representation Today, Sargisian discussed with Prime increasing the planned volume of humani - with stakeholders on this issue.” In Tehran Minister Hovik Abrahamian the issue of tarian aid to be provided by Armenia, for On August 8, Deputy Minister of Foreign which the Armenian government will find a Affairs of the Republic of Armenia STEPANAKERT (Hetq) — The National Rebirth solution in the coming days. Shavarsh Kocharian received the represen - Political Party in Artsakh has publicly voiced its “The issue will continue to stay in the tatives of Yezidi community. concerns regarding the country’s low level of rela - Can Israel Recognize spotlight of official Yerevan, and within its The Yezidis of Armenia presented their tions with neighboring Iran. The party argues that capacities the Republic of Armenia will con - concerns about the predicament and better relations with Iran could open up new The Genocide of sistently support the friendly Yezidi people humanitarian crisis for dozens of thou - opportunities in Artsakh in the economic, political Armenians in 1915? suffering hardship,” reads Saghatelyan’s sands of Yezidis created as a result of per - and cultural sectors. National Rebirth thus urges statement. secutions by radical Islamists in Iraq. the Artsakh government to take a more proactive Foreign Ministry spokesman Tigran Kocharian emphasized that Armenian stance regarding fomenting relations with Iran and By Peter Lyukimson Balayan wrote on his Twitter account, “The shares the concerns of the Yezidi commu - calls for the opening of a permanent diplomatic rep - Armenian Missions in the UN and other nity and noted that in different internation - resentation in Tehran. international organizations have received al arenas Armenia will continue to speak JERUSALEM (Vestnik Kavkaza) — respective directives to closely cooperate see YEZIDIS, page 2 Presidential officials of Israel and Medvedev Signs Treaty Armenia are having intensive negoti - ations on recognition of the On Armenia’s EEU Armenian Genocide in Turkey in Accession 1915. The Armenian side proposed a plan, according to which Israeli Biotech and Ebola in Cambridge: YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Russian Prime Minister President Reuven Rivlin will arrive in Dmitry Medvedev inked the Treaty on the Yerevan in April 2015 as one of the Chris Garabedian, CEO of Sarepta Accession of the Republic of Armenia to the world leaders to mark the tragic Eurasian Economic Union and submitted it to event. He will declare official recogni - CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Recently, the Ebola virus has been in the news almost President Vladimir Putin for signature. tion of the genocide carried out by every day, with panicked speculation about the danger of its spread, and the “The Treaty is a fundamental document that the Turkish government in 1915. ethics of treatment. There is no tested and defines the agreement reached between the A high-ranking official of the Israeli proven treatment or vaccine available. Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus and president’s office told Vestnik By Aram Arkun Christopher “Chris” Nishan Garabedian, the Republic of Kazakhstan on the terms of acces - Kavkaza that the idea was actively Mirror-Spectator Staff the president and chief executive officer sion of the Republic of Armenia to the Eurasian promoted by leaders of the Armenian (CEO) of Sarepta Therapeutics, is frequent - Economic Union,” said the Russian government’s lobby in Israel, although their names ly sought out by the media in these discus - website. have not been given. sions. It happens that his company is one of only a handful with drugs that could The treaty was elaborated on May 29, 2014 by see ISRAEL, page 3 treat Ebola victims. Garabedian, in his Cambridge headquarters, explained that in the Eurasian Economic Commission, jointly with fact this drug is only one example of what his company can accomplish. Sarepta the state bodies of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and employs an approach Armenia. The treaty, discussed and approved on US, Armenia Want which is part of a revolu - August 7, at a government sitting of the Russia tion in biotechnology, Federation, is subject to change. Answers in Death of using Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) to specifically tar - Armenian in Azerbaijan get diseases and genetic problems. YEREVAN (Armenpress and RFE/RL) — This is a different tech - INSI DE The US State Department issued a state - nology from the ZMapp ment on the death of the Armenian citizen combination of several Karen A. Petrosyan, who was taken captive antibodies against the and killed in Azerbaijan. Ebola virus, which was in Quince The State Department stressed that the news because it was United States is deeply concerned about given to two American Power the death of Petrosyan, which, according to missionaries infected by a number of sources, was not due to natur - Ebola recently. These Page 10 al causes and took place while he was in antibodies attempt to Azeri custody. allow a person’s own Among other things, it was stated: “The immune system to identi - Chris Garabedian, Sarepta CEO US offers sincere condolences to Mr. fy and neutralize the Petrosyan’s family. We call on the virus. However, they had INDEX Azerbaijani government to conduct a full never been given to humans before, while Sarepta’s drugs have been used on non- Arts and Living . 10 and transparent investigation of this inci - human primates and in Phase 1 safety trials for the Federal Drug Administration Armenia . 2 dent and publish the results. (FDA), with promising results. The trials were supported by the Department of Community News. 4 We remind the Governments of Editorial . 13 Defense but economic issues halted the program. International . 3 Azerbaijan and Armenia of their obliga - see EBOLA, page 7 tions under international humanitarian law, see ANSWERS, page 16 2 S ATURDAY , A UGUST 23, 2014 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Tekeyan Summer Camp in Armenia 2014 For the fifth year, the Tekeyan Czech Company to Build Center Fund (TCF) has sponsored a free camp for Tekeyan Schools in Livestock Facility in Armenia and Karabagh. This summer 70 Tekeyan students and their teach - Karabagh ers from Yerevan, Gumri, Stepanavan and Berdzor had a chance to enjoy YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Representatives from the seven-day program in Aragats Genoservice, a Czech company, met with the head summer camp, in picturesque of Artsakh’s Rural and Agricultural Support Fund Hankavan. The program was primari - Ashot Bakhshiyan, to discuss a project that envi- ly for needy and excellent students. sions a large livestock breeding facility in the vil- The natural beauty of the area and lage of Talish. the warm welcome of the summer The representatives at the meeting said the loca- camp staff made for an unforgettable tion will adequately provide all of the necessary summer experience for the children. resources required for the project, such as water, They successfully integrated into power, and agricultural products. camp life, with its morning exercises, The first phase of the project will establish a com- line-ups, trumpet sounds and march - plex that will house some 400 cattle. The second ing, which was a part of daily drills. phase will expand the complex and will add a milk- Due to the efforts of Tekeyan teach - Tekeyan students together with other campers explore wild nature. processing plant. ers and the camp staff, the week The Prime Minister of Artsakh Ara Harutunian included a variety of educational, cul - also met with the European businessmen and dis- tural and fun activities. The children dances. Documentary films and discussions cussed further opportunities for cooperation. actively participated in sports compe - Camp Aragats turned into a little helped children to forge their titions and intellectual quizzes. They Armenia where patriotic education Armenian identities and a love for the Cross Stone Dedicated to were also taught national songs and was the most important element. land to which they belong. Even camp groups were named after prominent Freedom Fighters Armenian cultural figures and nation - al heroes.