JUNE 24, 2017 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVII, NO. 49, Issue 4493 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF Annual Mirror- Erdogan Decries ‘Unacceptable’ US Arrest Spectator Vacation WATERTOWN — The Armenian Mirror-Spectator Warrants for Staff in Washington Brawl will be closed for two weeks for its annual summer vacation. The issue of July 1 is going to be the last issue Armenian Groups Delighted officials demanded a firm response to the arrest warrants was “wrong, biased and before the vacation. The first issue back will be that violence. lacks legal basis.” of July 22. WASHINGTON (Combined Sources) — Washington DC’s metropolitan police “That the brawl in front of the Turkish Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, chief, Peter Newsham, announced that Ambassador’s Residence was caused by the has furiously condemned the US decision arrest warrants failure of local Three Soldiers Killed to issue arrest warrants to 12 members of were being issued security au- By Azeri Army his security detail because of their involve- for the 12 Turkish thorities to ment in a bloody brawl with peaceful pro- nationals, as well as “Why would I take my guards to the United take necessary STEPANAKERT (Panorama.am) — The testers in Washington DC last month. two Americans and measures; that Azerbaijani forces continue violating the ceasefire In a dramatic escalation of tensions two Canadians. States if not to protect myself?” this incident from firearms, Senor Hasratyan, Spokesperson of between two NATO allies, Erdogan said on Shortly after the Recep Tayyip Erdogan would not the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Thursday, June 15, that his government announcement, the have occurred Republic) Defense Army, told Panorama.am, com- would “fight politically and judicially” US ambassador to i f t h e U S menting on the situation on the frontline at night. against the warrants that had been issued Turkey, John Bass, was summoned to the authorities had taken the usual measures On June 16, at around 6 p.m., the Azerbaijani earlier in the day. country’s ministry of foreign affairs and they take in similar high level visits and forces broke the ceasefire regime across the The brawl, in which nine protesters were told the US’s actions were “unacceptable.” therefore that Turkish citizens cannot be Karabakh-Azerbaijan Line of Contact, firing rocket- injured, prompted strong reactions in The ministry said in a statement that the held responsible for the incident that took propelled antitank grenade launchers in the direc- both Turkey and the US, where senior US ambassador was told the decision to issue place,” the statement said. tion of one of the military posts, as a result of Erdogan echoed these statements in tele- which three Karabakh Defense Army servicemen – vised remarks on Thursday night. “Why Arayik Matinyan, Vigen Petrosyan and Vardan would I take my guards to the United Sargsyan were killed. All three were 20 years old. States if not to protect myself?” he said. On June 17, Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan “They have incarcerated our citizens. signed a decree according to which the servicemen How is that possible? ... What type of legis- were posthumously awarded with the “For Service lation is this? What type of law?” Erdogan in Battle” medal for bravery shown during the said. defense of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic state Tensions between the two countries have border. been high since Barack Obama decided to On June 20, Speaker of Armenia’s National arm the Kurdish People’s Protection Units Assembly Ara Babloyan visited the Malayan (YPG) as part of the US efforts to fight Ophthalmological Center, where Karabakh service- Islamic State. man Myasnik Hovhannisyan, 33, who had been The Turkish government considers the wounded during the incident, was receiving treat- YPG a terrorist outfit affiliated with the ment. Hovhannisyan was severely wounded on outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) June 16 and underwent successful surgery. and was further angered by Donald Trump’s decision to continue working with Gala Danilova off Halo Trust explains the organization’s work in Stepanakert. the group. Armenia to Launch The brawl, which occurred as Erdogan Tourism Website Soirée Raises $220,000 for returned from a meeting with Trump at the White House, has pushed the strained rela- YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Armenia’s official tions further, experts say. tourism website will be ready soon, Ara Khzmalyan, Clearing Landmines in Karabakh see ERDOGAN, page 5 tourism director at the Development Foundation of Armenia (DFA), announced, adding that the web- WINCHESTER, Mass. — A dinner party on Saturday, June 10, at the home of site is designed in a way that a person unaware of Raffi and Nina Festekjian, raised $220,000 for Halo Trust’s Safe Steps for the Armenia will have a complete picture about the People of Karabakh Campaign, surpass- Four French-Armenians country. “The website will contain information on ing expectations by the organizers. where the tourist can visit, live, who can host By Alin K. Gregorian The goal is to demine the entirety of Elected to Parliament him/her, how much it will cost and etc. In other Mirror-Spectator Staff Artsakh by 2020. words, the more the information, the more confi- The Festekjians are the co-chairs of PARIS (armenews) — The second round dent the tourist will feel himself/herself in the campaign. of the legislative election on June 18, Armenia. In a digital space we work on attracting Raffi Festekjian said the safety of the nation was paramount in order for its econ- which elected the deputies of the National potential tourists”, he said, adding that the website omy to thrive. “To create a better infrastructure, you need safety,” he said. Assembly (Parliament) for 5 year terms, is created by the cooperation of the State Tourism With safer lands more jobs are created, he noted, adding that Halo itself is the ended with a clear victory of President Committee and the DFA. second largest employee in the republic, and that 90 percent of funds raised for Halo Khzmalyan added that the tourism department go back to Artsakh. is being separated from the foundation to become A vigorous auction of Scout a separate entity. Tufankjian’s photographs and wine from Karabakh, as well as donations, brought the total raised to $110,000, which will be doubled by an anonymous INSIDE donor. Several representatives of The four members of the Parliament in France Halo Trust were present, includ- ing the organization’s CEO, Father’s Maj. Gen. James Cowan. Emmanuel Macron’s En Marche party, Cowan, when addressing the which garnered more than 49 percent of assembled, said many remem- the votes. Day Honors ber the iconic picture of the late Four Armenians were elected to the par- liament. They are: Danièle Cazarian, Princess Diana when she Page 10 walked through an Angolan Guillaume Kasbarian, Jacques minefield that had been Marilossian and Nadia Essayan. cleared, mere months before One French-Armenian candidate, Pascal Scout Tufankjian explains her ties to Chamassian, lost. He suffered from his Karabakh and describes her photographs. her untimely death. He lament- ed that she could not live to see party’s performance in a region where the INDEX that 122 countries signed the right and extreme right are particularly Arts and Living ...... 13 Ottawa Treaty banning landmines well established. Armenia ...... 2,3 Community News...... 6 So far, he said, Halo has destroyed 1.5 million landmines. “Each one of the He was defeated by Valerie Boyer, whose name is associated with the struggle Editorial ...... 17 landmines came out of the ground at huge personal risk,” he said. International ...... 4,5 see HALO, page 15 against Holocaust and Armenian Genocide denial. 2 S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia UNHCR Welcomes Armenia’s Approach Towards Refugees, Displaced Persons ArmenFilm For Sale YEREVAN (Public Radio of their integration, given constraints in UNHCR wishes to emphasize that Again Armenia) — The United Nations High their ability to work, limited number refugee protection needs to be Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) of job opportunities and low wages. offered without discrimination and YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Less than two years welcomes the receptive approach In addition to persons displaced irrespective of ethnic background or after being returned to the state, Armenia’s govern- both the Government of Armenia and due to the conflict in Syria seeking religion of the displaced. ment-owned ArmenFilm studio is being offered for the overwhelming majority of the protection in Armenia, the country In conclusion of the media briefing sale once again. Armenian population have taken in faces other displacement challenges. on the occasion of World Refugee The sale forms part of a wider sale of state proper- receiving persons displaced due to Among the over 360,000 persons Day 2017 the UNHCR Bierwirth ty, through which the government hopes to raise the conflict in Syria seeking protec- who were displaced between 1988 noted: “In Armenia the recollection approximately $73 million from foreign investors tion in Armenia, according to and 1992 in context of the Nagorno- of the terrible and tragic events from the sale of 47 publicly-owned entities in need of Christoph Bierwirth, the UNHCR Karabakh conflict, some 2,000 have which started 102 years ago entail modernization. Property on sale within the 2017 representative in Armenia. not yet availed themselves to the the memory of many Armenians hav- — 2020 Privatization Program recently adopted by Since the start of the conflict in opportunity of naturalization in ing survived because protection, asy- the Armenian government includes buildings belong- Syria, Armenia has wel- lum was offered to them by other ing to Armenia Post, Yerevan central bus station and comed more than 22,000 nations, in Europe, in the Americas, a jewelery factory. persons, primarily of eth- but also in many Arab countries. The According to a report by Armenian news nic Armenian background. institution of asylum is valued highly site News.am, in recent years ArmenFilm has been While some of them have in the Armenian society. This collec- operating at a loss, except for 2016 when the studio moved on to other coun- tive memory and experience should returned a profit of 68,000 dram ($141). tries, serving as migrant also govern approaches to today’s dis- “The effective operation of the film studio requires workers in the Gulf states, placement challenges.” extensive funds. The state cannot provide such sup- having made use of reset- He emphasized: “Refugee protec- port, so it is advisable to privatize this company,” tlement opportunities or tion and integration is not only a representatives of the State Property Management united with family mem- task for the authorities, everyone, Department of Armenia stated. bers elsewhere, the every member of the society can con- UNHCR estimates that tribute to the creation of a receptive Armenia, Iran Sign New about 15,000 displaced environment. Everyone can and persons continue to stay should care; be it the landlord who Economic Cooperation and UNHCR notes with offers rent at a fair price, the employ- appreciation the signifi- er who offers a fair salary to the dis- Memorandum cant progress many fami- placed employee and patience during YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Armenia’s deputy min- lies where able to make the initial coaching and adaptation ister of economic development and investments Mr. towards achieving self- period, the neighbor who offers a Emil Tarasyan and vice president of the Institute of reliance and integration helping hand to the refugee who into the Armenian society. moves in next door, the consumer Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI) Christoph Bierwirth Mr. M. Maghadam signed a memorandum of under- “The highly developed who makes a choice between cheap standing on cooperation on June 14 in Tehran. service culture, diligence and sometimes low quality imports Under the memorandum, the sides will enhance and quality of work of the and the products offered by displaced Armenian and remain de jure cooperation in the following areas: exchange of infor- displaced businessmen and workers entrepreneurs, or the student who refugees. mation on the legal arena of food and non-alcoholic has brought fresh energy to the shows his new displaced fellow stu- The escalation of the Nagorno- beverages, audit and training regarding control on Armenian economy and society and dent around the campus and famil- Karabakh conflict in early April 2016 products certified as “halal,” information exchange contributes to their development” iarizes him or her with the study sys- resulted in, at peak, over 2000 per- regarding the markets of the two countries, imple- emphasized Bierwirth, adding that tem in Armenia. There is no limit for sons, overwhelmingly women, chil- menting joint projects, issuing Iranian “halal” certi- “this fits very well, the new direc- creativity as to ways how to address dren and elderly, having fled from fication in Armenia. tions of the government as to the the plight of refugees and means to economic development of the coun- Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. Most demonstrate that you care.” try giving increased attention to of them found shelter with relatives Government Allocates small and medium size enterprises or family friends often belonging to and the development of the tourist the poorer segments of the society. Prime Minister Funds for Cultivating sector.” UNHCR was impressed by the level of UNHCR has also noted with appre- hospitality and support extended to Visits Children’s Grapes ciation that Prime Minister Karen the displaced. The cash based inter- YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The Armenian govern- Karapetyan has repeatedly and pub- vention allowed for a more dignified Clothing Factory ment has allocated 144 million drams to the viticul- licly acknowledged the value of the and flexible response. Most of those YEREVAN (Armenrpess) ture and winemaking foundation. Agriculture displaced population for Armenian displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh — Prime Minister Karen Minister Ignati Arakelyan said the financing will economic development, sending a were able to return; by the end of Karapetyan visited this week Alex come from the government’s reserve fund. clear message of welcome to the pop- 2016 a total of 573 persons (repre- Textile, a newly founded children’s “A program of nearly 252 million 282 thousand ulation. senting 172 households), primarily clothing factory. drams has been approved by the board of trustees of Despite all progress made there are originating from the conflict affected Karapetyan toured the produc- the foundation for 2017, of which 108 million 250 still challenges and more needs to be village of Talish, remained in dis- tion plant inspecting its output thousand has already been allocated to it. 144 mil- done to successfully conclude the placement. capacity and forthcoming pro- lion drams must be allocated to the foundation for multifaceted integration process, Moreover, Armenia also hosts grams. The representatives of Alex implementation of the whole year’s programs,” UNHCR says. Some families, in par- refugees displaced due to the conflict Textile reported that all the prod- Arakelyan said. ticular those consisting of elderly, in Eastern Ukraine as well as single headed households or stu- refugees from Iraq, Iran and in small- ucts of children’s clothing are dents or having family members with er numbers originating from a vari- exported to Russia at the request Artsakh President disabilities face more problems in ety of African and Asian countries. of Detsky Mir chain of stores. Operational since January, 2017, Attends ‘Revived Talish’ the factory employs 350 people. Ceremony The company is going to set up 5 Government of Artsakh Develops similar plants by this yearend with YEREVAN (Armenpress) — On June 17 Artsakh 7.5 thousand new jobs. President Bako Sahakyan visited the village of Talish The prime minister next visited in Martakert to attend the opening ceremony of the Solar Energy Branch Hello Company, which is engaged Revived Talish monument. in the production of textile prod- The president expressed gratitude to the creators YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The energy branch. “I find it difficult to give ucts. Part of the output is sold on of this initiative, stating that the monument has a Republic of Artsakh is taking steps for preliminary estimates, it would be better the domestic market; the balance special meaning and reflects our firm will and deter- the development of solar energy in the to wait for the completion of the studies. is exported to Georgia, Russia and mination to restore the former glory of this settle- country. At the directive of Artsakh’s Currently the mapping works are being the United Kingdom. The compa- ment, make it populous and prosperous again. Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan, done, territories are being outlined. ny employs 100 people. Hello Sahakyan stressed that the restoration of Talish the ministry of economy is studying Studies will show more specifically as to intends to redouble the number of was among the significant state programs. “Such a the capabilities of the sector. “The where exactly we can install solar sta- its employees during the year monument is a message to the world showing that Prime Minister has given a clear direc- tions. I am convinced that the potential owing to new investments. our will is unbending, faith is steadfast, and optimism tive to set a schedule. Our experts is huge,” he said. Stressing the need to expand is inexhaustible. We respond to barbarism by our must study the possibilities of the solar Gabrielyan added there are investors textile industry, the prime minis- unity, our potential to live, create and build,” energy sector within a 6-month period. who are interested in this field, and ter noted that there is a huge Sahakyan said. We are currently at this stage, after they must present them with specific potential for this. Karapetyan dis- The Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the completing the studies we will present calculations. Therefore, after complet- cussed with the heads of compa- Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Parkev specific proposals for the development ing the studies, the Artsakh govern- nies a wide range of issues related Martirosyan and other officials were present at the of solar energy”, deputy minister of ment will carry out targeted work with to forthcoming investment pro- event. economy of Artsakh Tigran Gabrielyan the investors. The ministry also finds jects, expansion of plants and the said. work with the population regarding mechanisms of state support. According to the official, Artsakh has the significance of solar energy to be huge potential for developing the solar priority. S A T U R D A Y , J U N E 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 ARMENIA Women’s Empowerment Conference Held at AUA

Women’s Studies Program small nation such as Armenia, it is particularly important to make full use of the abilities of Envisioned women. However Dr. Hovhannisyan presented her opposition to the use of quotas to improve YEREVAN — Programs and strategies the position of women, calling instead for designed to break through the barriers that pre- women to come together and to prepare them- vent Armenian women from full participation in selves to advance through their own talent and the social, economic, and political spheres of abilities. society were explored at a two-day “Conference In her keynote address, Dr. Mary A. Papazian, on the Empowerment of Girls and Women in describing herself as a fourth-generation Armenia,” hosted by the American University of Armenian-American, characterized discrimina- Armenia (AUA) on April 20 and 21. tion against women as a problem experienced Keynote speakers Arpine Hovhannisyan, regionally and globally, not just in Armenia. Armenia’s Justice Minister; Mary A Papazian, After citing instances of gender inequality on president of San Jose State University; and the United States, she noted that “it is sobering Veronika Zonabend, chair of the Board of to realize the extent to which women in Governors at Dilijan College in Armenia headed America and Armenia face similar issues and a full agenda featuring more than 50 presenters challenges.” President Papazian went on to from Armenia and abroad who addressed cur- pledge “a meaningful, enduring partnership rent issues facing Armenian women. A large and knowledge exchange between AUA and and enthusiastic audience made up of commu- San Jose State University due to our shared val- nity activists, entrepreneurs, professionals, stu- ues and enduring commitment to inclusion and dents, professors, as well as the general public equity.” Veronika Zonabend, Chair of the Board of Governors, Dilijan College participated in a series of plenary and parallel Keynote speaker for the second day, Veronika breakout sessions. Zonabend, described recent changes that affect In his opening remarks, AUA President Dr. the roles of men and women. Our goal should tions in Armenia, such as AUA and Dilijan lots of opportunities around.” Armen Der Kiureghian observed that approxi- be to bring back balance in societies that have College, “provide the opportunity for girls to The conference panels covered a broad array mately 60 percent of the AUA students are become unbalanced, she stated. If formerly fully realize their potential, allow them to know of topics, including mentoring, challenging the women, “many of them among our very best organizations were run by managers, in post- their own strengths and fallibilities and prepare traditional societal structures, Armenian students,” but wondered how many of them industrial societies relationships make up the them for life beyond the classroom.” women in the army, women in the health-care would end up in leading positions in the public important factor. Women are generally strong In a theme stressed by several of the speak- system, the effects of Armenian nationalism on or private sectors in Armenia. in emotional intelligence, also in multi-tasking ers, Dr. Zonabend advised the audience, “Don’t women, strengthening rural communities “While the situation has improved in recent and in adaptability. Higher educational institu- be afraid to try something different — there are through empowerment of women, dealing with

Armenia’s Minister of Justice Arpine Hovhannisyan

domestic violence and with trafficking, women as media leaders, and a host of others. To celebrate the various contributions by women to society, the conference also included performances by musicians Lilit Pipoyan and Vahagn Hayrapetyan, book signings, and an exhibit showcasing the works of females in Armenian modern art. Taking up the subject of women’s studies Chatting before the opening of the Conference on Women’s Empowerment, from left, Barbara Merguerian and Eva Medzorian from Boston (founders of raised at the conference opening, one of the the Armenian International Women’s Association), Keynote Speaker Dr. Mary A. Papazian (president of San Jose University), and Conference Chair Dr. final breakout sessions dealt with academic Shake Kafterian approaches to women’s empowerment. Der Kiureghian announced that two new courses would be offered at AUA next year: in the fall years,” Der Kiureghian stated, “the prospects semester Prof. Arpi Balian will teach a course still are not bright.” The purpose of the confer- on Gender and Social Change, and in the spring ence, therefore, he noted, was to bring together (2018) semester Provost Randall Rhodes will a broad array of women in various fields of offer a course titled “Women and Gender in the endeavor in order to learn from their experi- Visual Arts.” Also, next year, Dr. Hasmik ences and chart a path forward. The country Khalapyan will give a course on “Local cannot afford to neglect the full potential of 50 Endeavors, Global Context: Armenian Women’s percent of the population. History and Movement in the 19th-21st The conference also serves as a precursor to Centuries.” the planning of a series of courses in women’s This conference was designed to have a and gender studies to start in fall 2017 that broad approach to the theme of women’s “hopefully, in due time and subject to the avail- empowerment,” stated Conference Chair ability of funds, will evolve into a minor pro- Shakeh Kaftarian of Los Angeles, who had gram of studies for our undergraduate stu- overseen the planning of the conference dents,” the AUA president announced. while on a Fulbright Scholarship in Yerevan. Offering welcoming remarks, Justice Minister “The goal was to entertain multiple aspects Arpine Hovhannisyan pointed out that she was of the ‘empowerment’ issue from not only an well aware of the problems facing women in academic, but also from a practice orienta- Armenia. However progress is being made, and tion, in order to highlight and frame the as an example she noted that the Ministry of multi-dimensionality of the topic.” Kaftarian Justice’s main body is made up of 386 employ- expressed confidence that “this nascent aca- ees, of whom 208 are women and 35 occupy demic ‘movement’ at AUA has great momen- managerial positions. tum, since it is based on unprecedented sup- Speakers at the AUA Women’s Empowerment Conference included, from left, Conference Chair port from its leadership, and an expressed “One of the key indicators of a society’s devel- Shakeh Kafterian, AUA President Armen Der Kiureghian, and Chair of the Board of Governors of opment is the role of women and how said soci- Dilijan College Veronika Zonabend. interest by our international colleagues and ety treats them,” the justice minister said. For a academic institutions for collaborations.” 4 S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL International News EU to Provide 3 Million in Support to € Archbishop Ateshyan Syrian Refugees in Armenia Expected to Formally YEREVAN (Public Radio of EU Commissioner for European the Syrian crisis. The focus is on fur- Resign as Locum Tenens Armenia) — This week, the European Neighborhood Policy and ther improving access to education Union Regional Trust Fund in Enlargement Negotiations Johannes for the next school year, especially in ISTANBUL (Agos) — Patriarchal locum tenens of Response to the Syrian Crisis adopt- Hahn commented: “Thanks to the EU Lebanon with an allocation of 58 € the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul Archbishop ed new projects totaling 275 mil- Trust Fund, children in Jordan, million, and on offering protection € Karekin Bekjian, who is currently in Germany, was lion. These projects will support Lebanon and Turkey are able to go to from violence, abuse and exploita- scheduled to Istanbul on June 20. “Upon returning refugees and their overstretched host school and have access to safe spaces tion. to Istanbul, I expect Archbishop Ateshyan to submit communities in Turkey, Lebanon, for non-formal education, protection • 25 million program to support € his written resignation. We will inform our commu- Jordan, Iraq, the Western Balkans, and psycho-social care. Syrian stu- vulnerable women and girls in Iraq, nity about the resignation through media,” Bekjian and Armenia. dents whose studies were disrupted Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. This said. Projects will focus on education, by the war are receiving scholarships will recognize the important role of He said he will convene the Spiritual Council upon health care, support of local commu- to attend Jordanian, Lebanese, and women in promoting peace and secu- arrival. nity, social inclusion, gender equality. Turkish universities. Through voca- rity, and the need to safeguard the “After the Council’s session we will meet with The newly adopted assistance pack- tional training and job fairs, Syrian rights, protection and specific needs Istanbul’s Governorate [officials] and we will notify age brings the current overall volume refugees and host communities are of women and girls. In Iraq, maternal them about our decisions. After that, we will convene of the EU Trust Fund up to more improving their chances on the and childcare facilities built with the another assembly on forming a steering body,” than 1 billion which was the goal employment market. The EU will con- support of the EU Trust Fund are € Bekjian said. set by President Jean-Claude Juncker tinue to respond to the needs arising now in place. Bekjian was elected locum tenens of Istanbul’s on September 23, 2015 at the from the Syria conflict, as testified by • 21 million program to help € Armenian Patriarchate on March 15. After his elec- Informal meeting of the European the fact that more than 1 billion is Serbia manage the migration/refugee € tion, the Patriarchal Vicar Archbishop Aram Council on migration and in the being channeled to improve lives via crisis along the Balkan route to Ateshyan refused to step down, which resulted in Communication on Managing the this Trust Fund.” strengthen the operational capacity of confusion and tension. After some time however, Refugee Crisis. The EU Trust Fund Board meet- the Serbian authorities to provide ade- Ateshyan announced he would resign. The EU High Representative for ings brought together the European quate accommodation facilities, living Foreign Affairs and Security Commission, EU Member States and conditions and services in order to Armenia Cyprus Inter- Policy/Vice-President of the representatives of Turkey, Lebanon, effectively respond to the needs of Commission Federica Mogherini said: Jordan, Iraq and the World Bank to migrants/refugees and asylum seek- Parliamentary Relations “We are giving a lifeline to millions of support Syrian refugees in the ers. Syrians inside the country and across region. • 10 million program for Jordan’s € Further Upgraded the region, helping create a future for The new 275 million aid package public health system to ensure € YEREVAN (Armenpess) — Speaker of the National Syrian refugees and host communi- focuses on better access to liveli- increased access to and quality of sec- Assembly of Armenia Ara Babloyan received on June ties. By enabling girls and boys to hoods, healthcare, education and pro- ondary and tertiary healthcare for 19 a delegation led by Commissioner for Humanitarian access quality education, we are help- tection services. It includes the fol- Jordanian and Syrian refugees. ing to prevent a lost generation of lowing actions: • 3 million to support Syrian and Foreign Affairs of the President of the Republic of € Cyprus Fotiu Fotis. children whose lives have been devas- The funds will be distributed thus: refugees in Armenia by enhancing tated by the Syrian conflict. It is a • 126.5 million assistance pack- access to health and psychosocial ser- Babloyan assessed highly the existing political dia- € logue between Armenia and Cyprus. He said, “The moral duty, and it is also the smartest age for Turkey: vices, improving housing conditions, investment we can do in the security, • 90 million program for educa- increasing access to economic oppor- parliamentary relations between Armenia and € Cyprus have entered into a new phase during the stability and prosperity of our own tion in Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan tunities, and by facilitating the inte- recent years thank to joint efforts and today there an region. So, ultimately, it is an invest- invested in the future of refugee chil- gration of schoolchildren and stu- excellent inter-parliamentary cooperation today.” ment in our own future.” dren and young people affected by dents. Babloyan expressed gratitude to the friendly peo- ple of Cyprus for extend a helping hand to the Armenians who survived the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and for recognizing and condemning the Students Fundraising for ‘Much-Loved’ Armenian Armenian Genocide in 1975, becoming the first European country to do so. According to Babloyan, Armenia and Cyprus have Lecturer Who Escaped Grenfell Tower Fire always supported each other in the issues concerning to the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict and LONDON (Tert.am) — Kind-hearted the Cyprus issue. students have started a fundraising Fotis touched upon the Armenian community in page for a Croydon lecturer who lived in Cyprus, which, in his words, has a great role in the the Grenfell Tower and lost of all his strengthening and developing friendly relations with possessions, including research for his Armenia. He also mentioned that the two states PhD, in the deadly fire which broke out should deepen cooperation in economic, cultural and on June 14. spiritual domains, struggling together for the inter- Mesrob Kassemdjian, an ethnic national recognition of the Armenian Genocide and Armenian known as Robbie to his stu- the solution of the problems facing the two coun- dents, managed to escape his 17th floor tries. flat with his girlfriend and elderly aun- tie before the fire engulfed the building. The death toll stands at 79 now and is European Parliament expected to rise. The teacher of criminology at Demands Release of University Centre Croydon (UCC), based Azeri Journalist at Croydon College, watched as the building “caught fire like a candle.” YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The European Now, his students, who describe Parliament has adopted a resolution calling on Kassemdjian as “much-loved” are trying Mesrob Kassemdjian Azerbaijan to release journalist Afgan Mukhtarli. to collect £1,500 for him to replace his The members of the European Parliament (MEPs) extensive book collection, laptop and also sharply criticized the state of the media in equipment he used to teach and for smelt the smoke. and we could see people inside waving Azerbaijan. The MEPs emphasized that the leader- research into his PhD, which were all “I went inside and looked out the win- at us. ship of Azerbaijan should stop the criminal persecu- lost in the blaze. dow and I could see the flames coming “We were telling them to come down tion and imprisonment of journalists and human On the JustGiving website, one of the out from beneath. but they were waving back which makes rights advocates and immediately set free all political organizers of the fundraiser wrote: “We “I woke up my auntie and with the me feel like maybe they couldn’t prisoners. want to try raise money for Robbie so help of my girlfriend we moved fast so because there was already smoke when In addition, the European Parliament has called on that he can replace these things in order that we could move slowly down the we were going down the stairwell but the Georgian authorities to carry out a detailed to carry on learning, teaching and stairs. I tried to warn my neighbor. Him maybe the smoke got worse and people investigation on the case of Mukhtarli’s abduction in researching. If you can make a contri- and his wife were right behind us by a were scared to take the risk of I suppose May and clarify the involvement of Georgian agents bution to help Robbie get back on his couple of minutes.” suffocation. in the incident. feet please do, any contributions will be He said “chaos” broke out behind “I don’t know everybody in the Mukhtarli is a critic of the Azerbaijani authorities’ greatly appreciated.” them on the stairwell and he felt like building by name but we know each policies. Since 2015, he has lived in Tbilisi in order Kassemdjian said he was watching a they were minutes away from “real dis- other by face. We see each other every to remain safe. He disappeared from Tbilisi only to movie when he heard the sirens of the aster.” day, everyone in the building is really later appear in Baku in custody. He said that he was fire trucks, and says he didn’t hear any He added: “When we got outside the nice. kidnapped from downtown Tbilisi by unknown people fire alarms going off. initial fire that I saw underneath me, by “It’s full of families and children and wearing civilian clothing. He was then transfered to Speaking outside the tower block the time we got down, which took about I’ve seen a lot of people, I’m so happy to Azeris across the border. on the American “Today” program 10 to 12 minutes, had risen along the see them, we’ve all come together but earlier this week, he said: “I went out- whole length of the building. there’s a lot of people I haven’t seen side to check the lifts to see if there “The building caught fire like a can- either. I don’t want to think the worst was any activity. It seemed quiet but I dle. We were outside and looking up but it’s really worrying.” S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 INTERNATIONAL Erdogan Decries ‘Unacceptable’ US Arrest Warrants for Staff in Washington Brawl

ERDOGAN, from page 1 ward to continuing to work with the relevant authorities to and independent investigation, is unacceptable.” “Even though there were smiles and so on at the Trump and identify all involved,” said ANCA Exective Director Aram President Erdogan later reacted to the news, asking “What Erdogan meeting, the relationship had certainly not gotten Hamparian. “Law enforcement is doing its part; now it’s time kind of a law is this? … If they [bodyguards] are not going to back on an even keel,” said Bulent Aliriza, director and senior for the Trump Administration to take action and demand that protect me, why would I bring them with me to America?” associate of the Turkey Project at the Center for Strategic and Turkey lift any claims to diplomatic immunity for those involved Erdogan vowed to fight the charges leveled against his body- International Studies. in this crime, so that criminal proceedings can move forward guards. Aliriza said the incident had the potential to further compli- and justice can be served.” Hamparian was videotaping live at the scene of the May 16 cate an already troubled relationship. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) attack, which took place in front of the Turkish “This makes it much, much worse,” he said. commended DC police on issuing the arrest warrants, and Ambassador’s residence where President Erdogan was “There will be demands for action that may ultimately dam- called on the State Department to “double down on efforts to scheduled to have a closed-door meeting with representa- age the diplomatic relationship to the point of ambassadors help bring these individuals to justice.” tives of The Atlantic Council, a leading think tank in being yanked back — which is unprecedented.” House Intelligence Committee Ranking Democrat Adam Washington, DC which receives funding from Turkey. The US State Department confirmed ambassador Bass attended a meeting at the Foreign Ministry, but would not pro- vide details on the conversation. Newsham said the warrants were issued with the help of the state department, the US secret service and the US attorney’s office in DC. “We all saw the violence that was perpetrated against the pro- testers,” Newsham said. “We’re not going to tolerate this.” “We are hopeful that those responsible will do their part and present themselves to answer to these charges,” he continued. Newsham said there was “no probable cause” to seek the arrest of Erdogan, who was seen watching the protests. The Washington DC mayor, Muriel Bowser, said the attacks represented “a clear assault on the first amendment” and were not welcome in a city that hosts political demonstrations “month to month.” “We host millions of people who come to the seat of their government to protest peacefully,” Bowser said. “We support them to make sure they are safe.” Two people were arrested on June 14 for their role in the clash: Sinan Narin was arrested in Virginia on an aggravated assault charge and Eyup Yildirim was arrested in New Jersey on charges of assault with significant bodily injury and aggravated assault. Yildirim appeared in court that day in Newark, where his pub- lic defender, David Holman, said Yildirim had received death threats because of the incident. Two men had also been arrested at the scene of the clash on charges of aggravated assault and assaulting a police officer. US senator John McCain called for Turkey’s ambassador to the US to be removed from the country because of the fight The members of President Erdogan’s security staff for whom arrest warrants have been issued and to charge those involved with the incident. “After all, they violated American laws in the United States of America, so you cannot have that happen in the United States Schiff (D-CA) applauded the DC Police decision to follow up Hamparian’s video showed pro-Erdogan forces crossing a of America,” McCain told MSNBC last month. “People have the with the filing of criminal charges. “This sends an important police line and beating peaceful protesters —elderly men and right in our country to peacefully demonstrate and they were message that while violence and repression have become the several women —who were on the ground bleeding during peacefully demonstrating.” norm in Erdogan’s Turkey, they remain unacceptable here. most of the attack. The House committee on foreign affairs echoed the senators’ Bringing these thugs to justice will ultimately require the State Hamparian testified before a May 25 Foreign Affairs call in a letter to secretary of state, Rex Tillerson. “Alarmingly, Department to prioritize this issue with Turkey, and I will be Subcommittee hearing on this matter. Joining him at the hear- this behavior is indicative of the broad crackdowns on political urging them to ensure that those charged today face justice,” ing were Lusik Usoyan, Founder and President of the Ezidi activists, journalists and religious freedom in Turkey that have Schiff said in a statement.” Relief Fund; Murat Yusa, a local businessman and protest orga- greatly harmed Turkish democracy in recent years,” the letter House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) tweeted that he nizer; and Ruth Wedgwood, Edward B. Burling Professor of said. is “encouraged that Turkish security who violated the rights of International Law and Diplomacy, at Johns Hopkins University McCain, a Republican, also co-authored a letter with Senator peaceful protesters in DC will face justice.” School of Advanced International Studies. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat, to Erdogan that said his securi- According to the Associated Press, Secretary of State Rex Usoyan and Yusa were victims of the brutal assault on May ty detail had responded to the protestors in a “wholly unac- Tillerson said the charges “send a clear message that the United 16. ceptable” way. States does not tolerate individuals who use intimidation and On June 6, with a vote of 397 to 0, the U.S. House of The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) wel- violence to stifle freedom of speech and legitimate political Representatives unanimously condemned Turkey in response to comed, as a meaningful step toward justice, Washington, DC expression.” the attacks, taking a powerful stand against Ankara’s attempts Mayor Muriel Bowser’s and Police Chief Peter Newsham’s in- Tillerson did not specify what further action the Trump to export its violence and intolerance to America’s shores. depth investigation that led to 18 arrest warrants – including a Administration would take in the matter. The US could seek H.Res.354, spearheaded by House Foreign Affairs Committee dozen against Turkish President Recep Erdogan’s bodyguards extradition of Erdogan’s security detail or bar their return to Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel (D- — in connection to the May 16th attacks on peaceful protesters the United States. NY), House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and outside the Turkish Ambassador’s residence. Hours after the arrest warrants were issued, the Turkish Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), has received the public “We commend the efforts of Mayor Bowser, Chief Newsham Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Ambassador to Turkey John backing of House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI). A companion mea- and all the law enforcement agencies involved in taking this Bass and, according to a press statement, “emphasized that the sure has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Ed Markey step toward bringing the perpetrators to justice, and look for- decision, which clearly was not taken as a result of an impartial (D-MA). Azerbaijan Blacklists Uruguayan Human Rights Lawyer

MONTEVIDEO (Agencia Prensa Armenia) Azerbaijani government may generate on added him and other deputies and author- — The National Institution of Human the rights of Dr. Oscar López Goldaracena, ities of Bolivia to the country’s blacklist, Rights (INDDHH) of Uruguay sent a letter especially in the area of freedom of expres- after they officiated as international to the Uruguayan Chancellor Rodolfo Nin sion and freedom of transit, and requests observers during the constitutional refer- Novoa expressing “concern” over the deci- the Secretary of State to carry out the rel- endum in Artsakh. sion of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan evant steps to ensure the immediate cessa- Goldaracena said that Nagorno Karabakh to blacklist Dr. Oscar Lopez Goldaracena tion of the violation of the mentioned is “a country of Armenian population, inde- after his work as monitor in the last consti- rights of said Uruguayan citizen,” said the pendent for 25 years by history and by deci- tutional referendum in Artsakh (Nagorno letter. sion of its people; A democratic, republican Karabakh Republic). In May, Lopez Goldaracena denounced country, with an institutional framework in “The INDDHH expresses its concern Azerbaijan for adding him to his “black- rights, with Ombudsman and mechanisms Dr. Oscar López Goldaracena about the effects that this resolution of the list.” The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry of direct democracy that really work.” 6 S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Community News

Remembering CA Legislature Allocates Bash Aparan and $10 Million for Human Building a Green Rights Curricula, Genocide Education Sustainable Training, Museum Armenia SACRAMENTO — The California Legislature passed AB 97, the Budget Act of 2017 on June WOBURN, Mass. — Last month, Armenian 15, which allocates $10 million to support the communities around the world commemorated History-Social Science curriculum framework, the 99th anniversary of the battle of Bash as well as regional trainings and professional Aparan. development available for teachers and admin- On May 21, 1918, an Ottoman Turkish division istrators with an emphasis on the Armenian attacked Armenian forces at Bash Aparan, with the Genocide and other human and civil rights intent of pushing towards Yerevan. After three days issues. The legislative initiative was spearhead- of fierce combat, the Armenians, led by General ed by California State Sen. Anthony J. Drastamat Kanayan, known as General Dro, began Portantino (D-CA-25), Chair of the Senate to repel the Turkish regiments, and they retreated Budget Subcommittee on Education. on May 29, 1918. The victory at Bash Aparan, along “On behalf of the Armenian Assembly, we with Armenian success at Saradarabad and extend our profound gratitude to State Senator Karakilisa, was instrumental in leading to the for- Portantino for his leadership in securing sub- mation of the First Republic of Armenia. stantial funding for the recently adopted As the 100th anniversary of the battle History-Social Science curriculum framework approaches, General Dro’s family is cooperating Caption: Edward Avedisian receiving the inaugural AUA Presidential equipping educators with innovative resources with Armenia Tree Project (ATP) to create a liv- Commendation award from AUA President Armen Der Kiureghian (Photo: AUA) in the teaching of human and civil rights, ing memorial to Dro and his victory at Bash including genocide education and prevention. Aparan. There is a park in the town of Aparan, Senator Portantino’s achievement is a testa- Armenia at the site of the battle where a visitor ment to his commitment in shaping human will find General Dro’s final resting place as well Philanthropist Edward Avedisian rights education throughout his legislative as a monument to the victorious battle of Bash career,” Armenian Assembly Western Region Aparan. Director Mihran Toumajan stated. “The ATP has begun to beautify and improve the Receives Inaugural AUA Armenian Assembly also commends Senate Aparan site, planting trees and shrubs and President pro Tem Kevin de Leon for his developing walking paths. This project will cul- Presidential Commendation staunch support on issues of importance to his minate in May 2018 with a ceremonial tree Armenian American constituents, and to all leg- planting at the park with Dro’s family and YEREVAN and BOSTON — This year’s commencement ceremonies cele- islators who voted in favor of the 2017-2018 friends. brated a number of firsts for the American University of Armenia (AUA), budget,” he added. General Dro’s grandson Philip Kanayan including the inaugural AUA Presidential Commendation award, bestowed to The total figure includes a $3-million funding states, “Any monument to our grandfather Edward Avedisian. The award was given to the AUA Trustee and major bene- commitment for the Glendale-based Armenian should be a living memorial. General Dro was factor of the University “In recognition of extraordinary achievements and dis- Museum, bringing the state investment in this tinguished service in the advancement of education in Armenia,” as stated on project to $4 million. Earlier in the year, the Commendation. Portantino helped restore the initial $1 million Prior to embarking on a long list of philanthropic works, Avedisian established from last year’s budget. Portantino asked the himself with a notable professional career as a musician, taught at a university, State Senate to prioritize increasing the State’s and became a successful investor. He served as a clarinetist in the Boston Pops commitment to the museum to an additional $3 and the Boston Ballet Orchestra for 30 years and 43 seasons, respectively. His million over the next three years. musical talent has spanned much of the East Coast as he held posts in the Atlanta Portantino, with the support of Senate Pro and North Carolina Symphonies, Boston Opera Company, Boston Lyric Opera Tem Kevin de León and Budget Subcommittee and Harvard Chamber Orchestra, as well as the Boston Symphony and the Chair Richard Roth, arranged a presentation Metropolitan Opera. In Armenia, Avedisian has also appeared as soloist with the from Armenian Museum Executive Board Armenian State Philharmonic, the Armenian Radio and TV Orchestra and the Member Zaven Kazazian before the budget sub- National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia. committee. Portantino joined Kazazian in mak- Later in his career, Avedisian began combining his musical talents with ing the presentation before the subcommittee. teaching. He served as adjunct professor of music at Boston University in the “I am extremely happy that as a member of 1970s as well as a lecturer at Endicott College. Later, he was a panelist for the budget committee, I was able to bring these the National Foundation for Advancement of the Arts. In 2008 when he two important proposals to light this year. It received the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award from Boston was such a pleasure to invite Zaven Kazazian University’s College of Fine Arts. He served as artistic administrator of the from the Armenian Museum Board to Harvard Chamber Orchestra for 15 years. While serving as orchestra com- Sacramento to present this significant human mittee chairman with both the Lake George Opera Festival and the Boston rights project to the attention of the Senate Ballet Orchestras, Avedisian wrote and negotiated the first union contracts and then into the State Budget,” commented for both organizations. Portantino. As a private investor, Avedisian has reinvested his success by establishing endow- In 1985, the California Legislature considered As the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Bash ments and award grants to a number of nonprofit organizations. At AUA in partic- a bill introducing a human rights and genocide Aparan approaches, ATP is creating a living ular, he fully funded the Center for Health Studies and Research and the Center for curriculum throughout the California public memorial to General Dro and his victory in 1918 Business Research and Development. Beginning in 2005, he served as the principal school system. Both the State Senate and near the monument and final resting place of this benefactor and Chair of the construction committee of the new 100,000 sq. ft. national hero Assembly passed the bill in September of that Paramaz Avedisian Building (PAB). The PAB, named after Avedisian’s late brother, year. Then-Governor George Deukmejian signed now holds most of the AUA’s academic facilities including schools, colleges, and the bill into law on September 28, 1985, and the research centers and has added enormous value and space to the University. not a man who wore medals. He lived a life of new curriculum was first printed in 1987. Both in 2008 and 2014, he was awarded the Movses Khorenatsi Medal by service to the Armenian nation, and in that vein By 1998, however, the publication was out of Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan for Contributions to Education, Culture the Armenia Tree Project promotes those ideals print. The Armenian National Institute (ANI) Literature and the Arts. In 2016, he was awarded the distinguished Ellis Island of giving back to the Armenian Nation.” brought the matter to the attention of the Medal of Honor and was one of the few recipients invited to deliver personal General Dro’s daughter Olga Proudian of California Legislature. Then-State remarks at the ceremony. Presently, he remains a Trustee of AUA, the National Watertown, describes her father not as a war Assemblymember Howard Kaloogian (R-CA-74) Association of Armenian Studies and Research, and the Armenian Missionary hero, but a man who was always true to his and then-State Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA-27) Association of America. ideas and himself. “He was always positive requested appropriations for the reprinting of During the 2017 AUA Commencement exercises, Avedisian was called on to be about the future of Armenia,” she said. “He the Model Curriculum for Human Rights and recognized for his extraordinary service to the university. “The award honors an assumed we would have an independent Genocide in the Fiscal Year 2000 budget. The individual who has made extraordinary contributions in advancing education and Armenia, and he believed we should give it pri- Armenian Assembly Western Region Office scholarships with a special impact on Armenia. I am therefore very pleased to ority. His mission was always an independent took the lead in coordinating community sup- announce that this year’s recipient is Edward Avedisian,” AUA President Dr. Armenia. He would not allow the world to not port for the budget allocation needed to reissue Armen Der Kiureghian said. have an Armenia.” the curriculum. Avedisian addressed the graduates, adding, “I was fortunate to get through In 2000, Olga and other family members On April 23, 2001, California passed school on a number of scholarships. But that is a very small accomplishment accompanied Dro’s remains to Armenia, Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 22 to fur- when I think of what I can do for others, and I encourage all of you to do the where they were re-interred near the Bash ther develop a model curriculum on human same.” Aparan memorial. It was an emotional expe- rights and genocide. Resolution No. 22 “recom- rience for Olga. She felt a tug on her sleeve. mends that the State Department of Education see SUSTAINABILITY, page 7 see ALLOCATION, page 9 S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 7 COMMUNITY NEWS AGBU Young Professionals of Greater New York Welcome Imagine Armenia Forum

NEW YORK — On May 22, the Armenian moving to, living, working and doing business General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Young in Armenia, offering their insight into the coun- Professionals of Greater New York in coopera- try’s professional environment and lifestyle. tion with the Repat Armenia Foundation host- They also discussed employment opportunities ed the Imagine Armenia forum at the AGBU in their organizations and Armenia. Central Office. “The task of today’s meeting is to introduce The forum attracted young professionals from different experiences of people who either the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area. moved to or are engaged with Armenia so that The panel comprised seven speakers, repre- each one of you can find something interesting senting Armenian Volunteer Corps, Birthright to follow up and see how you can contribute, Armenia, DEPOP Institute for Governance, participate, engage and engage others,” said MAROG Creative Agency, ONEArmenia, Repat Vartan Marashlyan, Repat Armenia’s executive Armenia Foundation, Teach for Armenia and director and moderator of the panel. Tufenkian Foundation. Linda Yepoyan, a board member of the The forum addressed several issues of inter- Armenian Volunteer Corps and executive direc- est for AGBU, including diasporan engagement tor of Birthright Armenia, shared her thoughts in contributing to the development of Armenia. on how working in Armenia creates career At the beginning of the forum, AGBU’s advantages for young professionals. Director of Development and Outreach Karen “Working in Armenia propels your careers,” Papazian spoke briefly about the global said Yepoyan. “You are able to do things much Armenian nation, emphasizing the need for the faster and have a bigger impact. It is more chal- diaspora to help Armenia grow. lenging and rewarding.” “We recognize that vibrant homeland and Repat Armenia concentrates on three major engaged diaspora are codependent and must be principles: promoting repatriation, providing viewed as one,” said Papazian. individual integration support and influencing She stated that AGBU laid the foundation to government policies to develop a pro-repatria- secure human capital and launch sustainable tion environment in Armenia. Repat Armenia Ani Sarkissian, executive director of One Armenia, speaking at the Imagine Armenia forum held on development projects in Armenia, encouraging also helps people who are interested in moving May 22 at the AGBU Central Office in New York. other organizations to follow suit. to Armenia, with employment, setting up a busi- The panelists shared their personal stories of ness or other aspects of integration. Remembering Bash Aparan and Building a Green Sustainable Armenia

SUSTAINABILITY, from page 6 and tactician, but also much more: “Not only He grew up on a farm in Igdir, and at times fed self-sufficiency, aiding those with the fewest An elderly man, recognizing her as Dro’s did General Dro play a key role in formation of his army from the harvest of his father’s farm: resources and conserving the indigenous daughter, wanted to show her a small house the First Republic, he rekindled the Hai Tahd “Dro understood the importance of what the ecosystem. nearby. He explained that his father and Dro fighting spirit. Thanks to his work in Armenia land can provide for the people. Armenia Tree “ATP is proud to participate in this project. had fought the Turks together from that and the Diaspora, the spirit of Hai Tahd lives on Project provides resources for our people to We’re honored to help remember the historic house in 1918. in youth around the world.” survive and prosper by living off the land, which victory at Bash Aparan. Planting trees for the Tatul Sonentz-Papazian first met Dro in Cairo General Dro’s grandson and namesake, Dro follows Dro’s ideals to continue helping our future is a fitting tribute to the bravery and sac- in the early 1950s, when both men attended Kanayan of Massachusetts, says that planting nation.” rifices of General Dro and his troops,” said ATP the ARF World Congress there. He said he trees in his grandfather’s honor is appropriate Since 1994, ATP has used trees to help Executive Director Jeanmarie Papelian. remembers Dro as a great diplomat, strategist because he had a strong connection to the land. Armenians improve their standard of living and ATP and the Kanayan family will hold help protect the global environment. ATP’s fundraising and promotional events on the east work is guided by its core principles: promoting and west coasts in the coming year.

Last fall, ATP began the beautification of the site honoring General Dro and the Battle of Bash Aparan by planting nearly 1,000 trees with volunteers from Birthright Armenia 8 S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR OBITUARIES

Ferrahian Armenian High School, launching France, Belgium, Greece, Norway, Lebanon, Hagop Arshagouni the first Ferrahian Walkathon to raise needed Argentina, and Armenia — they recorded the funds for the school. More recently, the couple names and stories of as many family members Community Activist, History Enthusiast became the “first fans” of the Ferrahian as they could find. These efforts led to emo- “Armens” boys and girls basketball teams. tional family reunions and the establishment — LOS ANGELES — Hagop Arshagouni, hus- the anniversary. Theirs was a marriage of love, The couple was known for their many travels or reestablishments — of family bonds that band of the late Marilyn Altoon Arshagouni and fulfillment and deep commitment to family and on which they chronicled the stories of their might have been lost without their efforts. father of Robert, Mary (Papazian), Michael, and community. They were blessed with four chil- extended families who were dispersed across A voracious reader of books of biography Paul Arshagouni, passed away peacefully dren and five granddaughters, as well as a far- the globe as a result of the Armenian Genocide. and history, Hagop shared his love of history Monday , June 5. He was 85. flung extended family throughout Europe and Where ever they travelled — across America and and learning with his children and grandchil- Born in Piraeus, Greece in 1932 to Yeghia North America whom they visited whenever Canada and to places as far away as England, dren, and with anyone with whom he came in and Berjouhi (Tosjian) Arshagouni, originally of they could. contact. He was deeply involved Sis (Kozan), Cilicia, he attended and graduated Throughout their married life, Hagop and in the lives of his children, serv- from the Zavarian Armenian School in Paleo- Marilyn worked side by side in the service of ing as Boy Scout leader and Kokinia, Greece. Although he grew up in the community. Together, they served on the camp counselor at Camp Kessab, Greece during a period of war and instability, he Armenian Monument Council and were an as well as taking his family on gained strength from his family and communi- important part of the team that established the long summer vacations to his- ty. His father, Dr. Yeghia Arshagouni, a 1923 Armenian Genocide Memorial in Montebello, in toric points of interest, visits to graduate of the American University of Beirut 1968. In the 1970s, he served as treasurer of family and friends, and camping in dentistry, was an active community leader what later would become the Armenian Film trips to National Parks across the who nurtured his eldest son with stories of Foundation in support of Dr. J. Michael United States and Canada. Armenian history, politics and culture. His Hagopian’s two important documentaries on He leaves behind his children mother, Berjouhi, created a warm and loving the Armenian Genocide: The Armenian Case Robert (Manya), Mary (Dennis), home life for Hagop and his younger siblings, and The Forgotten Genocide. And it was his Michael, Paul (Long), his five brother Hrair and sister Ani. vision 20 years ago to create an Armenian granddaughters Nina (Matt) and An active participant in the Armenian com- History Timeline spanning more than 5,000 Liana Arshagouni, Ani and Marie munity in Greece throughout his childhood, he years of Armenian history on the winding side- Papazian, and Beth Arshagouni; brought that same love of family, community, walk leading to the Ararat Home of Los his brother Hrair (Sonia); sister Ani and education with him when he traveled to Angeles. The Armenian Timeline was accompa- (Panayotis), and countless nieces Los Angeles in 1952 to continue his studies at nied by an Armenian Timeline book and, for ten and nephews, cousins, and friends UCLA. years, a Quiz Bowl for students in local whose lives he touched. Arshagouni met his beloved wife, Marilyn, Armenian schools, that focused on Armenia’s while both were students at UCLA. They were rich history as inscribed in stone on the Ararat He was laid to rest on Monday, married in 1956 and would have celebrated Home walkway. June 12, at the Forest Lawn their 60th wedding anniversary last year but He was also strongly supportive of Marilyn in Memorial Park in Hollywood Marilyn passed away before they could mark her 30 years as a teacher at Holy Martyrs Hills, CA.

shown himself to be a true friend of the Kahuhipa, whose love and support have sus- Rosalie V. Chorbajian Armenian people. tained her and her grandchildren since the After retirement, Rosalie continued to lend passing of her only son, Dr. James P. Longtime Capitol Hill Staffer her support and services to the Armenian Chorbajian, in 2006 and his wife, Cheryl (Wolfe) Embassy and to other organizations to further Chorbajian in 2005. WASHINGTON — Rosalie V. Chorbajian, 89, Connecticut, Rep. Robert Steele of advance the success of Armenia and its people. Rosalie was a member of St. Mary Armenian of Bowie, MD, a dedicated advocate for the Connecticut, Sen. Wayne Morse of Oregon, She leaves her grandchildren, Christie Church of Washington, DC, the Daughters of Armenian community, passed away on March Rep. Herbert Zelenko of New York and Rep. Chorbajian of Bowie, MD, Jacqueline Vartan, as well as the National Association of 19, surrounded by family. Frank Pallone of New Chorbajian of Harrisburg, Penn., Peter (Jenni) Retired Federal Employees. Born in Worcester, to Jersey. During her last Chorbajian of Dunkirk, MD, and Christian Rosalie was an intelligent, strong, loyal and Sarkis and Maritza position as Office Manager Chorbajian of Dunkirk, MD; her siblings, caring woman whose values and principles (Babolian) Gazoorian, for Rep. Pallone, she was Natalie Barmakian of Belmont, Mass.; Lee earned her the respect of all those whom she she graduated from influential in assisting the Gazoorian of Haines Falls, NY and Marcia encountered. She served as an example of North High School and Congressman in founding Gazoorian of Worcester; her great-grandchil- strength and dignity for her family members Salter Secretarial School, the Congressional dren Luke and Carly; and several nieces and and friends, and lived her life with a sense of both in Worcester. She Armenian Caucus whose nephews. She also leaves an extraordinary fam- purpose inspiring those around her to be worked for 36 years for interests are focused on ily, the Ludwigs – Jeffrey, Sally, Jacqueline and “ladies and gentlemen at all times.” the United States govern- US relations with the inde- ment on Capitol Hill in pendent nation of Armenia various positions, earn- and the recognition of the Telephone (617) 924-7400 ing a reputation for her Genocide of one and one- professional skills and half million Armenians by keen knowledge of gov- the Ottoman Turks in Aram Bedrosian ernment operations in 1915, a cause that was Washington. very important to her. Funeral Home, Inc. She was dedicated to When Armenia became government service mak- an independent nation, Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 ing exceptional efforts to resolve constituent Pallone, Chorbajian and the entire staff became MARION BEDROSIAN problems of every nature. Her assignments the first forces in Congress to insist that the 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET included work for the House of Representatives United States had a vested interest in nurturing PAUL BEDROSIAN Select Committee on Ethics, as well as for sev- and supporting Armenia to be a free and inde- WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN eral Congressmen and Senators including long pendent nation. To this day, Congressman time service for Rep. William St Onge of Pallone is dedicated to this cause and has

Albert Auburn GiragosianF UNERAL H OME Longtime Attorney, World War II Veteran James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC Mark J. Giragosian NEEDHAM, Mass. — Albert Auburn of North He was born in Watertown. Funeral Counselors Hill, Needham, formerly of Wellesley, son of He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 Kazar and Zartig Abrahamian, died on June 10, Marion Rae Auburn, and seven brothers and www.giragosianfuneralhome.com 2017 at the age of 99. sisters. He leaves his two daughters, Pamela Auburn of Houston, Texas and Cynthia Auburn of New York City. He practiced law in Wellesley from 1953 until three weeks prior to his death. He was educat- ed at Suffolk Law School after serving in the Army Air Corp as a bombardier in the Pacific Nardolillo Funeral Home Theater in World War II. He retired from the US Est. 1906 Air Force reserves in the 1977 having attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. John K. Najarian, Jr. He served as a selectman in Wellesley for Rhode Island’s Only Licensed Armenian Funeral Director many years and was an active member of the Kiwanis Club there. 1278 Park Ave. Cranston, RI 02910 (401) 942-1220 A memorial service in celebration of his life 1111 Boston Neck Rd. Narragansett, RI 02882 (401) 789-6300 was held at the Unitarian Universalist Church, www.nardolillo.com 309 Washington St., (Rt.16), Wellesley Hills on Friday, June 23. S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS Aram Gavoor Receives Teaching Award at George Washington University Law School

WASHINGTON — Armenian Assembly of receive his JD from GWU, and earned an LLM America (Assembly) Board Member Aram A. from Georgetown University. Gavoor was honored with the 2017 “We are all proud to see Aram’s talents Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Teaching acknowledged with this award. We know Award from The George Washington how seriously he takes his teaching responsi- University (GWU) Law School on May 21. bilities as well as his professional work, and it “I am delighted to present the 2017 is wonderful to have an Armenian Assembly Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Teaching board member recognized this way,” stated Award to Professorial Lecturer in Law Aram Assembly Co-Chairs Anthony Barsamian and Gavoor for his outstanding teaching and Van Krikorian. record of service,” GWU Law School Dean He is an alumnus of the Assembly’s Blake D. Morant stated during the com- Terjenian-Thomas internship in the summer mencement ceremony. “Professor Gavoor, of 2003, where he worked with then-Senator many thanks indeed for your outstanding Chris Dodd (D-CT). Gavoor is also a frequent efforts and substantial contributions you speaker at intern and other Assembly events continue to make to our law school,” he in Washington, DC. This summer, he will be added. meeting with the Assembly’s internship class Gavoor has been a member of the GWU to share insight and guidance for those who Law School’s adjunct faculty since 2008, and are interested in pursuing a career in law. currently teaches Administrative Law and “Mr. Gavoor’s advice on forging a success- Government Lawyering. He is an advocate ful legal career using the knowledge and and scholar who specializes in administrative experience gained at the Assembly will be law, federal courts, and constitutional law. invaluable to our current class of interns. We Gavoor has litigated federal court appellate are all eager to sit down with him next month and trial cases involving high profile chal- and learn from him,” Assembly Terjenian- lenges to statutes, regulations, and policies. Thomas Intern Coordinator Robert His cases have been covered by the Arzoumanian said. Washington Post, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Politico and The Huffington Post. Gavoor completed his undergraduate stud- Aram A. Gavoor receives his teaching award from GWU Law School Dean Blake D. Morant. George Aghjayan to ies at the University of Michigan, went on to Lead Genealogy Workshops at NAASR BELMONT, Mass. — Researcher George Aghjayan is leading a series of genealogy workshops beginning on Thursday, June 22, at the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) Center, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478. Subsequent meetings will take place on Thursdays June 29, July 13, and July 20 (there will be no meeting on Thursday, July 6), all at 7 p.m., with additional sessions being planned for the fall. For beginners to more experienced researchers, this workshop will provide both a general overview of available resources and research strategies as well as address specific inquiries. All are welcome to participate in the discussions led by Aghjayan, NAASR Board Member, researcher on Armenian demographics and population records in the Ottoman Empire, and co-organizer of the 2016 and 2017 Armenian Genealogy Conferences in Watertown and Dearborn, Mich. Advance registration (per session or for all four) is required for all attendees. Contact NAASR at [email protected] to register.

CA Legislature Allocates $10 Million for Human Rights Curricula, Genocide Education Training, Museum ALLOCATION, from page 6 and school districts convene workshops and teacher training seminars to introduce state educators to the curriculum” and encourages teachers “to utilize the exemplary curriculum to teach the millions of state pupils about human rights and genocide.” “The Armenian Assembly and Armenian National Institute have been longtime sup- porters of human rights and genocide educa- tion and assisted in creating appropriate cur- ricula. Funding to help train teachers accu- rately instruct students on the Armenian Genocide and other examples of genocide such as the Holocaust, the Cambodian, and Rwandan is essential,” ANI Director Dr. Rouben Adalian said.

Check us out at www.mirrorspectator.com 10 S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Society of Istanbul Armenians of Boston Honor Fr. Aljalian at Father’s Day Dinner

WATERTOWN — The Society of Istanbul assimilation and Turkification. Serop’s brother Armenians of Boston honored Fr. Arakel also came to Jerusalem and became a priest. He Aljalian, pastor of St. James Armenian Church now serves the Armenians of Switzerland. of Watertown, as Serop was very kind, respectful and polite, “Father of the according to Meneshian. He went on to the By Aram Arkun Year” at the seminary, and then in 1983 to General Mirror-Spectator Staff Society’s annual Theological Seminary in the US. Meneshian dinner on went on to describe Fr. Arakel’s priestly educa- Saturday, June tion and training. In 1993 he was ordained a 17 at St. James’ Armene and Veronica priest. After various other positions, he came to Tarvezian Hall. St. James Armenian Church in 1999 as pastor, Dr. Aida Yavshayan served as the master of where he has faithfully served ever since. ceremonies, and the president of the Society of Meneshian said, “Our community is very for- Istanbul Armenians of Boston, Krikor tunate to have the multitalented Fr. Arakel as Shaboyan, welcomed the guests. Initially some the pastor of the most active church of the slides were shown without narration of various Armenian [Eastern] Diocese.” sites familiar to Istanbul Armenians. Fr. Aljalian’s wife, Yeretsgin Natasha Aljalian, The Zangakner Performing Arts Ensemble, was then invited to come to the podium. She featuring local Armenian children and artistic described her husband as “faithful, dedicated director and founder Hasmik Konjoyan, sang and entirely committed to God and serving his several Armenian songs for the audience. Its church.” She added that he is very proud to be presence enlivened the audience. Konjoyan known as a Sasountsi, as well as to have lived spoke a few words about the importance of in Istanbul and Jerusalem. fathers, as well as that of spiritual fathers (i.e. As a family man, she said, the greatest joy of clergymen) in the lives of our families. his life (as well as of hers) was when each of Fr. Krikor Maksoudian gave a benediction their children, Gabriel Simon and Mary Grace, prior to the meal. A second clergyman, Fr. Aved Terzian, pastor of the Armenian Church of Our Savior in Worcester, was also in the audience. Yavshayan then introduced several Armenians to speak about Fr. Alajalian. First came George Haroutiounian, who was a good friend and classmate of Fr. Aljalian in high Yeretsgin Natasha Aljalian and Fr. Aljalian with their son Gabriel. school over thirty years ago in Jerusalem. Their friendship endured and grew stronger years later in Watertown. He said that Fr. Aljalian’s calling to be a priest came early to him as a Armenian seminary. In the mid-1980s, Aljalian Armenian community. He teenager. Haroutiounian praised Fr. Aljalian’s came to the US, and two years later so did gave a copy of Matthew leadership abilities, and exclaimed, “Your hum- Kalaydjian. In 1998, they met once more, and now Karanian’s book on ble, balanced approach to life is inspiring.” practically see each other every day. Kalaydjian con- Western Armenia, Alex Kalaydjian spoke next. A native of cluded with the words that fatherhood is like the Historic Armenia after Jerusalem, Kalaydjian has known Aljalian for about morning dew in a field, both pure and sweet. He 100 Years, as a present to 40 years, from when he came from Turkey to study wished Aljalian a long life, and strength, health and Aljalian. at the Dadourian Saner School, and later at the patience, both as a father and as a leader of the Rita Haroutiounian Meneshian then took the podium. Nineteen years ago, she was astounded and pleased to learn that her former Fr. Aljalian receives present from Dr. Aida Yavshayan student, with the birth name of Serop, would come to St. James Armenian Church as its next pastor. During the was born. Despite difficulties, she continued, second half of the 1970s, when Meneshian’s sis- they always tried together to make them smile ter was emigrating to America in the middle of and enjoy life, even when the cards seemed the school year, she asked Rita to fill her place as stacked against them. He manages to lift their a teacher in the Holy Translators School in spirits up, she said. Jerusalem. Serop was among her students. He To show some of the unofficial or private life first had come to the Dadourian School from of Fr. Aljalian, his wife screened a short video, Sasoun, in Turkey. The Dadourian School was which elicited many oohs and aahs from the intended to save Armenian youth in Turkey from CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Honoree Fr. Arakel Aljalian, with the organizing committee for Father’s Day Dinner: from left, Nektar Aschjian, Vartuhi Ohan, Garo Yavshayan, Berj Yildirim, Fr. Arakel Aljalian, Krikor Shaboian, Dr. Aida Yavshayan, Elizabeth Ganjian, and Arto Kurkjian

Several members of the Zangakner Performing Arts Ensemble, led by artistic director Hasmik From left, Dr. Aida Yavshayan, with Zangakner member Ani Belorian, director Hasmik Konjoyan and Konjoyan Christina Konjoyan. S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11

Holy Trinity Armenian Church’s Armenian and Sunday Schools Celebrate Another Successful Year

dents, parents, the Parish Council and all the parish- Balagyozian, then presented its Special Awards with the By Seta A. Buchter ioners who support and encourage Holy Trinity’s assistance of Amalia Petrosyan. The “Academic Christian education ministry. She stated that “what tran- Achievement Award” was presented to Armen spires … on Sunday mornings is truly inspired by God.” Youssoufian; “Extra Effort Awards” were given to Gohar CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The parish of Holy Trinity The Sunday School is such a “warm, loving, lively and Kirakosyan, Meri Gyulumyan and Armen Tadevosyan. Armenian Church of Greater Boston celebrated the con- special place. Our staff is dedicated, smart, funny, cre- Also recognized were the teachers’ assistants — Anahid clusion of another successful year for its Armenian and ative, caring, kind, energetic, and so knowledgeable.” Ohanyan, Rubina Simikyan and Anush Kirakosyan — for Sunday Schools with a Closing Day Program, a Special She reviewed some of the activities of this past year and their community service. Awards Ceremony and a “School’s Out Celebration,” on her aspirations for the coming year for the Sunday In his closing words to the students, staff and parents Sunday June 11. School program. of the Church Schools, Fr. Vasken Kouzouian brought The morning began in the Peter Adamian Hall with Special Awards were then presented as follows: One- everyone’s attention to the five young adults who are the distribution of Certificates of Appreciation to all stu- Absence: Harry Goshdigian, Grade 1; Eric Ohanyan, learning more about their faith and Armenian heritage dents in both Church Schools and recognition of teach- Grade 3; Leila Belubekian, Grade 6/7; and Levon in the ancient land of the Bible. He stated, “Those five ers and staff. Students, teachers and families then Haroutunian, Teen Seminar (Grade 8/9). Perfect people, who we facetimed with earlier in Jerusalem, sat attended Church Services where a Special Awards Attendance: Gohar Kirakosyan, Grade. 6/7, Alina where you all are sitting today. They all graduated from Ceremony was held at the conclusion of the Divine Kouzouian, Teen Seminar (Grade 8/9) (she has achieved Sunday School and/or Armenian School, and yet, they

Fr. Vasken Kouzouian with 2017 Holy Trinity Armenian School award recepientsand Fr. Vasken Kouzouian and his wife, Arpi, with Attendance Award recepients

Liturgy. The Ceremony was presided over by Fr. Vasken Perfect Attendance for 10 consecutive years); Lori took the time to travel with people their age to the Holy A. Kouzouian, pastor of Holy Trinity Church, with the Dorian, Grade 10/11 (she has achieved Perfect Land … to learn more about God and their culture. And assistance of his wife, Arpi Kouzouian, Sunday School Attendance for 13 consecutive years); and Anush that’s what Sunday School and Armenian School are all Superintendent, and Naira Balagyozian, Armenian Kirakosyan, Grade 10/11. Dan Teager, the director of about. It’s about teaching the faith of Jesus Christ so School director. the Sunday School’s Music Appreciation Program, was that we may all make the right decisions in life, and The Special Awards Ceremony began with an opportu- invited to present the Music Appreciation Award to reflect the God-given values that the Armenian people nity to facetime with a group of five young adults from Gohar Kirakosyan. Eleanor Yessaian, the Grade 4 have held onto for generations, like so many other the Holy Trinity parish — Gregory Dorian, Ani Hollisian, Sunday School teacher, was invited to present the nationalities.” Sandra Hovsepian, Anna Margaryan and Naneh Florence Cirino Achievement Award, which is presented Following church services, a School’s Out Celebration Petrosyan — who are currently participating in the to a Grade 4 student who has shown commitment, active coordinated by Parish Council member Ani Ross Grubb Diocesan Young Adult Pilgrimage to Jerusalem. participation and exemplary attendance. This year’s with a hard-working committee, was held in the Charles In a heartwarming moment, Fr. Kouzouian then recog- recipient was Christina Hovnanian. and Nevart Talanian Cultural Hall where everyone nized and presented to Kayla Antico, who is a Daisy Girl The Arsha Sarkisian Award, for Outstanding Student enjoyed lunch. Scout and Sunday School Kindergarten student, a special of the Year was presented to Michael Haroutunian, a During the celebration, the TMU’s 8th Annual Tavloo Girl Scout pin she earned for “My Promise, My Faith.” teen seminar student. The Sarah Goolkasian Award for Tournament Final was held between Fr. Vasken Yn. Arpi Kouzouian in her remarks stated that this Outstanding Sunday School Teacher of the Year was Kouzouian and Marty Nahigian. This was a spirited past year was “an incredibly rewarding year. We have awarded to Robert Takvorian, a teacher in the teen sem- match with Kouzouian emerging as the winner and accomplished so much.” She attributed this accomplish- inar class. being crowned this year’s “Holy Trinity Tavloo ment to Fr. Vasken, the Sunday School teachers, stu- The Armenian School, under the direction of Naira Champion.”

Society of Istanbul Armenians of Boston Honor Fr. Aljalian at Father’s Day Dinner

FROM PREVIOUS PAGE audience, especially with many cute images of the Aljalian children. At the end of the program, Fr. Aljalian thanked the organizers and participants. He expected a “nice and simple get-together with the Bolsahays,” but it turned into a much big- ger affair. He said that all parents must be grate- ful for the gift of a life that they can share. He was given some special gifts, and then helped cut the Father’s Day cake. Arden Fereshetian provided music for the evening after the formal program was over. The Society of Istanbul Armenians executive board, Nektar Aschjian, Vartuhi Ohan, Berj Yildirim, Krikor Shaboian, Dr. Aida Yavshayan, Elizabeth Ganjian, and Arto Kurkjian, along with Garo Yavshayan, comprised the organizing commit- From left, Alex Kalaydjian, Rita Haroutiounian Meneshian, George Haroutiounian and Yeretsgin Natasha Aljalian tee for this event. 12 S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 Arts & Living

Fresno Church to Host CYSCA Hosts Community Conversation Prof. Ashot On ‘The Promise’ FRESNO — The Armenian Cultural Conservancy in partnership with St. Paul Armenian Church is Chilingarian hosting a community conversation on the film “The Promise,” following a featured panel presentation. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — On April 17, the The event is slated for Tuesday, June 27, at 7 p.m. Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City Association at St. Paul’s Haig Berberian Hall, 3767 N. First St., (CYSCA) held its annual program for the Fresno. Cambridge Science Festival, showcasing its “The Promise” premiered in 2,251 theaters special guest, internationally-famous Professor across the country on April 21 and grossed more Ashot Chilingarian from Yerevan. than $4 million during its opening weekend. Chilingarian heads the Yerevan Physics Thousands of Americans from all different back- Institute and its world-renowned Cosmic Ray grounds, including large numbers of Armenian- Division, directing the International Research Americans, rushed to theaters to see the first major Center for High Energy Astrophysics, Space motion Hollywood film that depicts the events of Weather and Atmospheric Space Weather. The the Armenian Genocide of 1915. main event was a panel discussion organized A panel of distinguished individuals will discuss by CYSCA, and co-sponsored by the National the impact and significance of “The Promise:” Carla Association for Armenian Studies and Srboohie Abajian Garabedian, PhD, associate director of “The Research (NAASR) and the Massachusetts Promise,” filmmaker, director and writer; Jack Institute of Technology (MIT) Armenian Geiger, professor of theatre arts, West Hills Society. Community College; Matthew Ari Jendian, PhD, A panel of six local experts joined Professor professor and chair of the Sociology Department, Chilingarian to discuss “New Perspectives: Glendale Artist Exhibits Fresno State; and Houry Sanderson, judge of the Lightning, Climate Change and Other Exciting Superior Court, Fresno County. Marshall D. Scientific Challenges.” There were about 100 Moushigian, Esq., a community activist, will serve participants, with more than 50 percent of Work in Japan as Part of as moderator. those attending college age. Following the panel discussion, community mem- Mike Wankum, chief meteorologist at bers will have an opportunity to participate in a WCVB, moderated the panel discussion with ‘Armenia Culture Week’ question-and-answer session. Refreshments will be creative, lively comments. served. The event is open and free with prior reser- Chilingarian began his presentation explain- vations. Please RSVP by calling St. Paul Church. GLENDALE (News Press) — The Armenian Embassy in Japan invited Glendale ing that at the Aragats Cosmic Ray Research artist Srboohie Abajian to exhibit her art earlier this month during “Armenia Center, 3,200 meters above sea level, they mea- Culture Week” in Tokyo. sure secondary cosmic rays, products of parti- At the exhibit, Abajian showed video footage of her “Murals on the Sky” project, cle interactions with terrestrial atmosphere. He ‘They Shall Not Perish’ which she displayed locally last year at Deukmejian Wilderness Park in La explained that thunderclouds are full of water Crescenta. Screening and Panel at and radiation and that water vapor is the fuel The work consists of five 9-foot-by-4-foot outdoor sculptures, depicting eyes, for thunderstorms. He said lightning will strike hands and faces that show human emotion expressed by people demanding their Jacob Burns Film Center far more frequently in a world under climate rights. change. Also, the increase of lightning flashes PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. — A screening of “They In Tokyo, she also exhibited an art-on-canvas piece from the series, “All Roads would lead to a higher number of wildfires. He Shall Not Perish: The Story of Near East Relief,” fol- Lead to People,” which was on display at the Brand Library & Art Center in 2014. lowed by a question-and-answer session with the The series explores the human need for companionship. With a focus on the filmmakers and experts will take place on immigrant population in Los Angeles, the work highlights eyes, faces and hands Wednesday, June 28, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m., at the Jacob searching for a connection with others. Burns Film Center, 364 Manville Road. In her artist statement, Abajian said she prefers line drawing for its “simplicity Although this event is free, organizers are and immediacy,” and that she enriches the line with emotion to heighten the impact asking for registration as seating is limited. of her images. The one-hour documentary film features the sto- The cultural event in Tokyo from May 9 to 14 aimed to introduce Armenian cul- ries of individuals who witnessed the Armenian ture to the Japanese. For the Glendale artist, it was the first time exhibiting her Genocide and of the American people who rallied work in Japan. their country to provide the largest non-govern- She was able to do so with help from her daughter Mayreni Abajian, who is cur- mental humanitarian response undertaken up until rently an exchange student in Tokyo. that time. Motivated by nothing but a moral sense When Mayreni Abajian went to visit the embassy to work with officials on shar- of duty, these men and women — among them ing Armenian culture with Japanese children as part of a volunteer project, she told industrialists, ambassadors, missionaries, teachers, officials that her mother is an artist. nurses, admen, and Presidents — helped bring care Dr. Ashot Chilingarian speaks to Armenian That’s when ambassador Grant Pogosyan and attaché Yervand Markosyan, who and comfort to millions of suffering Armenian, Cultural Foundation audience organized the cultural event, reached out to Srboohie Abajian. Greek, and Assyrian refugees in extremely harrow- “Every exhibition is important to me because this is giving me a chance to reach ing environments. out to the public with my experience or story,” Srboohie Abajian said. added that the location of the center is high up Narrated by six-time Emmy-nominated actor The artist said she represented the Armenian diaspora as she shared her experi- in the mountains in order to get more particles Victor Garber, the film is set against a mix of his- ence, through her art, in what it also means to be an immigrant. from clouds which are located directly on the torical footage and archival photographs, and uti- She said she deeply values listening to and learning from others. stations. lizes contemporary interviews from leading aca- “It doesn’t matter which country we live in. As human beings, we are looking to Dr. Areg Danagoulian, assistant professor of demic experts such as Taner Akçam, Peter connect to each other and understand each other and invest in honest relation- nuclear science and engineering at MIT, talked Balakian, Susan Harper, John Cooper, Dr. Martin ships. I think that’s the most important thing for us,” she said. about nuclear security and elaborated on the Deranian, and Keith David Watenpaugh. In addi- Others featured in the exhibition in Tokyo were New York-based artist Dana danger of nuclear weapons. The first test of tion, the letters of American officials, relief workers, Walrath and the late French-Armenian painter Jean Jansem. nuclear weapons in New Mexico changed the and orphans are brought to life through the voices world and began an arms race. In addition, he of leading actors — Michael Aronov, Kathleen talked about the Nuclear “Triad” submarines Chalfant, Dariush Kashani, Andrea Martin, Ron where one submarine has 24 missiles and one Rifkin, Tony Shalhoub, and Kara Vedder — taking submarine missile has 6 million tons of TNT the audience on a journey from the depths of cru- equivalent. He also noted that explosives used elty to the triumphs of survival. in all of WWII wer only 3 million tons and that Executive Producer Shant Mardirossian, the US, UK and Russia have 20 nuclera sub- inspired by his grandparents’ escape and sur- marines. There are problems: 1) too many vival during the genocide, says he produced this weapons, thus an unstable balance could cause film “not just to remember those we lost in the accidental nuclear war; 2) loose nukes, loose genocide, but to shed light on an important materials, thefts, proliferation, nuclear terror- chapter of American history when ordinary cit- ism. What to do? First, ambitious arms reduc- izens stood together against a great injustice tion treaties and need technologies for securi- and saved the lives of 132,000 orphans.” ty to verify the treaties. Second, he added, it is These historic rescue efforts led to the for- necessary to develop systems for weapon mation of what is known today as the Near East authentication, physical cryptography and the Foundation. The work that started over a cen- tury ago continues to be reflected in NEF’s fingerprint of a weapon. Danagoulian favored Srboohie Abajian the use of nuclear power for peaceful use. He work today, particularly, current programs that focus on improving the lives of Syrian and Iraqi see CYSCA, page 14 refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. 14 S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING CYSCA Hosts Prof. Ashot Chilingarian Recipe

CYSCA, from page 13 regional center for astro-particle physics, also explained the pros of nuclear power reac- space weather, and thundercloud atmosphere Corner tors for clean power with no carbon dioxide particle acceleration. The professor explained as well as the possibility for energy indepen- the decline in the physics education depart- by Christine Vartanian Datian dence. He said the cons would be to spend ment in Armenia. He noted the decline for money on fuel storage, allaying the fear of PhD candidates on age distribution. One of radiation as well as proliferation risks. He the problems is the change of generation of also noted that in Armenia, nuclear power scientists in the 45-49 age group. Summer Vegetable Potato Salad provides 40 percent of the country’s energy. Chilingarian explained that the Cosmic Ray INGREDIENTS Dr. Joseph Dwyer, Professor and Peter T. Center was founded in 1942 by brothers 1 pound fresh string beans, washed, trimmed, cooked, and drained Paul Chair in Space Sciences at University of Abram Alikhanov and Artem Alikhanyan. The 2 medium potatoes, peeled, boiled and sliced in chunks New Hampshire, introduced lightning and center has scientific publications that are 1 small can artichoke hearts, cut in quarters said that it is a big spark. He explained that recorded and presented but do not reflect the 2 small zucchini, cut into strips lightning has large currents as wide as one’s true numbers. It has the collaboration of 2 cups garbanzo or any white beans, washed and drained finger, that lightning is the same temperature 5,000 scientists. Now they have 332 employ- 2 medium carrots, peeled, cut into strips as the sun and it is made in thunderstorms. ees. 1 medium green or red bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips He also talked about lightning safety, saying The first expedition on Aragats took place 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half that it happens 4 million times every day and in 1942. 1 small sweet red onion, sliced or diced there are 4-5 billion losses a year. How do we For 75 years, the center has continued 2-3 cloves garlic, minced reduce our risks? First, go inside during measurements in almost all fields of Cosmic 1/2 English cucumber, sliced thinly thunderstorms. Second, when inside, don’t Ray Research. The Cosmic Ray Division of 6 to 8 medium sized fresh mushrooms, sliced use electricity. After lightning strikes, first, the Yerevan Physics Institute has very mod- 4 radishes, sliced thinly go inside another 30 minutes (finale). ern, state of the art equipment, and includes Green onions or scallions, sliced Second, cars (metal) are also safe but don’t engineers, technicians and students. Sea or Kosher salt, coarse black pepper, paprika, Aleppo pepper touch conductors. Chilingarian went on to say that in the last Fresh parsley, dill, mint, and tarragon Dr. Ningyu Liu, Associate Professor of eight years, they have been doing work in Red or green roasted peppers, sliced Physics and Space Science at University of thunder clouds. Does it have anything to do Lemon juice, white or red wine vinegar, and olive oil New Hampshire, discussed transient lumi- with global warming and volcanos? He said Kalamata or black olives as garnish nous events caused by thunderstorms and that there are big/small cycles where perime- Fresh Feta, Parmesan or Romano cheese as garnish lightning. He said that lightning can go to ters and atmosphere become very important. Fresh lemon wedges as garnish space; that transient luminous events such as He noted that without lightning, there is no jets, sprites, halos, etc. were discovered 25 weather. One year in Armenia there was no PREPARATION: years ago. He showed pictures taken of gigan- sun for 1 1/2 months and no lightning for Combine all vegetables in a large bowl, add the seasonings, lemon juice, vinegar, and olive oil to taste, and toss a few times. Cover and chill overnight. When serving, toss salad again and adjust seasonings. Garnish with parsley, olives, fresh dill, and Feta, Parmesan or Romano cheese. Serve with fresh lemon wedges on the side. Serves 8 to 10.

*Christine's recipes have been published in the Fresno Bee Newspaper, Sunset Magazine, Cooking Light Magazine, and athttp://www.thearmeniankitchen.com/

From left, Dr. Joseph Dwyer, Dr. Areg Danagoulian, Dr. Bagrat Mailyan, Mike Wankum, Dr. Earle Williams, Dr. Ningyu Liu tic jets observed above tropical depression in half a year with spring being late. 2013. He noted that sprites and their fine Chilingarian said that they have interna- structures are caused by lightning. tional conferences for 50 people each year Dr. Bagrat Mailyan, a post-doctoral student and summer school for high school where at the Florida Institute of Technology, dis- master courses are offered to the best 5-6 stu- cussed terrestrial gamma-ray flashes, light- dents. The informative evening ended with a ning and geographical distribution (TGFs). question and answer session followed by Dr. Earle Williams, research scientist, MIT, refreshments. talked about lightning and temperature indi- Chilingarian visited various institutions The HALO Trust has been clearing minefields in Nagorno Karabakh cating that lightning has relation to tempera- during his stay, at which he made presenta- since 2000. We’re over 90% done – with your help we can finish ture. He said that there is no thermometer in tions to students including University of New the job, making every step a Safe Step for the people of Karabakh. the tropics; thus, temperature is the same Hampshire and Worcester Polytechnic every day. He also noted that the atmosphere Institute. He also visited the Boston Museum serves as insulation. He indicated that global of Science and MIT’s Haystack Observatory. Every gi will be matched by an anonymous founda*on, dollar lightning and global warming have been in CYSCA President Alisa Stepanian com- for dollar. hiatus for 15 years from 1998 to 2013. mented, “We are pleased to have had the A second event featuring Chilingarian took privilege to host Professor Chilingarian in place at the Armenian Cultural Foundation our area and hope that contacts we helped For more informa*on on benefit events in (ACF) in Arlington on April 22. Dr. him make locally will aid him and his scien- Boston & New York in June, please call 202.331.1266 Chilingarian discussed science education in tists in Armenia in their internationally To learn more or to donate online: www.halotrust.org/MineFreeNK Armenia. Introductions were made by Ara important work. Also, we are indebted to for- To donate by check (mark check 'for NK campaign'): Ghazarians, director of ACF, followed by mer CYSCA Board member Joseph Dagdigian The HALO Trust, 1730 Rhode Island Ave NW, Suite 403, Washington, DC 20036 Joseph Dagdigian, who explained when and and his wife for hosting our guest.” how he met Prof. Chilingarian. The professor For more information about CYSCA visit The HALO Trust (USA), Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organiza*on. Your dona*on is tax-deduc*ble to the extent allowed by law. Federal Tax ID Number 52-2158152 started his explanation about the Cosmic Ray www.cambridgeyerevan.org. research on Mt. Aragats in Armenia. It is the S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 ARTS & LIVING

Keusseyan’s Monograph on Saroukhan’s Satirical Cartoons Published

WATERTOWN – Alexander Saroukhan (1898- 1977) is one of the most famous Armenian car- toonists of the 20th century. Some of his best works appeared in the satirical magazine Armenian Cinema, published in Cairo. A prolific artist, he not only prepared Armenian-language cartoons but also many in other languages, which brought him international recognition and awards. His caricatures appeared in newspapers such as Punch, Manchester Guardian(England), Le Rire, Marianne (France), and the New York Times (US). This year, Krikor Keusseyan has pub- lished a bilingual edition of his study, Armenia Cinema Satirical Magazine (1925-1926),originally written in Armenian and now translated into English by Vatche Ghazarian. It was made possi- ble through a grant from the Dolores Zohrab

LiebmannFund. This volume provides background information to Saroukhan’s works, analysis, and sample cartoons in both English and Armenian. Keusseyan himself is a cartoonist, editor, art critic and columnist of Armenian newspapers. The volume has been printed by Mayreni Publishing of California.

Saroukhan’s cartoon on the League of Nation’s loan to Armenia Alexander Saroukhan

Soirée Raises $220,000 for Clearing Landmines in Karabakh

HALO, from page 1 The advantage of Halo’s work, he said, is that “it is a finite problem that can be solved. We are extremely close to finishing the job in Karabakh.” Until that evening, he said, $1 million had been raised for the effort, which with an anony- mous donor’s agreement to double donations up to $4 million, stands at $2 million. The pro- ject needs to raise a total of $3 million more to reach its goal of $8 million. Adam Jasinski, the executive director of Halo Trust in the US, said “there has been an amaz- NKR Representative in the US Robert Avetisyan ing level of support in Boston and Los Angeles” addresses the assembled. for the demining efforts in Karabakh (Artsakh). “It is hugely inspiring,” he said. Also present was Tony Halpin, a British jour- Judith Saryan bids (successfully) on a photograph by Scout Tufankjian He added, “They free Artsakh land from nalist who was formerly a writer and editor for mines and create arable land. They make agri- the now-defunct Armenian International cultural land in Artsakh much safer. They save Halpin said that he had heard of Halo’s work square meter by square meter.” Magazine (AIM). He is currently the govern- lives, first and foremost.” when it originally started demining Artsakh, in Robert Avetisyan, the permanent representa- ment editor for Russia and former Soviet Tufankjian also attended the reception. She 2002, when he was living in Armenia. “I went tive of Nagorno Karabakh Republic to the US, republics at Bloomberg. expressed her love for the tiny republic and out with a colleague to see how they were work- stressed his government’s continued support praised the work of Halo Trust to make it safer. ing and they took me to a field,” he recalled. for Halo, noting that the group’s work is “very “The work that Halo is doing is integral to “The area was littered with mines. It was really important for the safety and economy of every aspect” of life there, she said, including impressive to see how they work. They went Artsakh. They also create jobs.” “eco-tourism, farming, schools, etc. The people are working incredibly hard, now even planting coffee and avocados.” For all that, she said, they need lands that are safe from mines. “The people there are truly extraordinary,” she said. In his comments, Halo regional director Andrew Moore noted that Halo Trust is work- ing with the mayor’s office in Stepanakert to Robert Avetisyan, left, with Raffi Festekjian create a monument to everyone injured or killed by landmines in Karabakh. Gala Danilova, the finance director for Halo in Stepanakert, was also present at the fundrais- er. She told the story of a farmer with nine chil- dren, one of whom, a 16-year-old boy, died on an unexploded mine. The family, she explained, needs firewood and that is why the boy was walking toward the forest to collect wood, not only for personal need but to sell. She also said that often people walk on the lands with mines to collect herbs or to graze their cattle. Every day, she said, for many families in Karabakh there is the need to find bread and From left, Kenneth Keverian, Dr. Shahe Fereshetian, Jack Keverian, Nazareth Festekjian and his wife, water and thus survive one more day. Seza and Vatche Seraderian Nila “We have to provide them with a better life and together, we can do that,” she said. 16 S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING CC AA LENDARLENDAR

www.GrandConvo.com for registration and hotel reser- MASSACHUSETTSFLORIDA vation. On Saturday, August 11, there will be a dance NEW JERSEY with Elie Berberian, at the Hyatt Regency, 575 Memorial JANUARY 20-28, 2018 — Armenian Heritage Cruise Drive, Cambridge. All proceeds will benefit the construc- NOVEMBER 18 — Save the date. Gala banquet cele- XXI 2018 Eastern Caribbean Cruise aboard the Royal tion of the Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye brating the 70th anniversary of the Tekeyan Cultural Caribbean’s Freedom Of The Seas. Travelling to: St. Kitts Pointe. Dinner & Dance—$100 Dance Only—$60, $120 Association. At the Terrace at Biagios. 299 Paramus / St.John’s Antigua / San Juan / Labadee, Private Island. after July 4 $75 after July 4, Under 25: Dance only $40. Road, Paramus. Featuring Elie Berberian and his band Cabin Rates starting from US $1044 / person based on Tickets, [email protected], 781.264.8680 or from Montreal. Double Occupancy, including Port Charges and ACAA 617.223.7520 registration fee. Government taxes of $108.36 are addi- OCTOBER 14 — Armenian Friends of America, Inc. NEW YORK tional. Armenian Entertainment, Armenian Cultural Present . . . HYE KEF 5 Dance Featuring: ONNIK Presentations, Armenian Festival Day, Tavlou & Belote DINKJIAN. 7 p.m. – Midnight, 123 Old River Road • JUNE 29 — The Freeport Memorial Library will have a Tournaments and much more. Call TRAVELGROUP INTER- Andover. AFA room rates until 9/16/17 • Call 978-975- lecture on the history of the Armenians, Thursday NATIONAL @1- 561-447-0750 or 1-866-447-0750 Ext. 3600. Ticket Prices Include Buffet and Dance • Cash Bar at 2 p.m. by Dr. Ronald Brown, professor of history and 108. Ask for Janie. Only. $55 if purchased before 9/1/17 • $65.00 after ethnic studies at Touro College and world religions at the 9/1/17. $50 for Students 21 and under. Continuous Unification Theological Seminary in New York City. Free MASSACHUSETTS Buffet 7:30 – 9:30 pm. Advance tickets only. John to the public. The library is located at 144 W Merrick Rd, Arzigian - 603-560-3826, Lucy Sirmaian - 978-683-9121, Freeport, NY 11520, phone (516) 379-3274. JUNE 20 — 7 p.m. ABN-AIWA Boston Spring Soiree. Join Peter Gulezian - 978-375-1616, Sharké Der Apkarian - NOVEMBER 29 — 7:30 pm, Save the date! Armenia the Armenian Business Network and Armenian 978-808-0598, To Benefit: The Armenian Churches of the Fund USA proudly presents the historic debut of the International Women’s Association for an evening of net- Merrimack Valley (St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra with leg- working and a view of the Tall Ships at 7p.m. at the Boston Church of N. Andover, The Armenian Apostolic Church at endary violinist Pinchas Zukerman and others at Carnegie College Club (100 Federal Street 36th Floor, Boston) Hye Pointe, Haverhill, Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Hall, NYC! Details will follow. $130 per person. Space is limited. Register at aiwainterna- Church of Chelmsford, Ararat Armenian Congregational tional.org/ABNAIWA2017 Church of Salem, NH) www.Armenian RHODE ISLAND JUNE 25 — Sunday, An Afternoon of Classical Music, FriendsofAmerica.org. John Berberian / Oud, Mal JUNE 30 — Friday, 7 p.m. Egavian Cultural Center. Sts. Armenian Cultural Foundation, Arlington, Featuring Nor Barsamian / Clarinet, Ara Dinkjian / Keyboard, Ron Sahag and Mesrob Cultural Committee presents trio. 3 p.m. Works by Glinka, Franck, Ghazarosian, Tutunjian / Dumbeg “SUMMER RHAPSODY” Concert featuring Jasmin Aleksanyan, Khachaturian and Büsser The Mirak SEPTEMBER 30 — Concert by famous Istanbul- Atabekyan and the Gasparyan family quartet ( from Chamber Music Series: Inaugural Concert. Armenian singer, Sibil Pektorosoglu (www.sibilmu- Greece) Janet Khalarian, vocal NAZELI Dance Groups. JULY 2 — Armenian Church of Cape Cod presents - Kef sic.com), at the Ellsworth Theatre at Pine Manor College, American, Armenian music, and dance. Providence. Time - Dinner & Dancing, Fourth of July Weekend - Chestnut Hill. Sponsored by the Armenian International Donation $15. Refreshments. Sunday, July 2, 2017 - 5 to 11 p.m., The Cape Club, 125 Women’s Association. Details to follow. Falmouth Woods Road, North Falmouth, Chicken Kebab NOVEMBER 2 — Thursday, Symposium with the partic- & Losh Kebab dinner Leon Janikian band and DJ, For ipation of International media representatives, dedi- WASHINGTON, D.C. tickets contact Andrea Barber - (617)201-9808. $60 per cated to the Armenian Mirror-Spectator’s 85th JUNE 25 — Book reading, Adrienne G. Alexanian, person, children ages 7 to 14 - $10 Anniversary. Details to follow. Forced Into Genocide, memoirs of an Armenian AUGUST 8-14 — The Knights & Daughters of Vartan NOVEMBER 3 — Friday, 85th Anniversary Celebration Soldier in the Ottoman Turkish Army. 1 PM, 4125 will hold their Grand Convocation in Cambridge. Banquet of the Armenian Mirror-Spectator Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC. Organized by Hosted by Ararat Lodge and Arpie Otyag. Registration Newspaper the first English Language Armenian Knights & Daughters of Vartan, St. Mary’s Armenian help: (781) 399-5152 Hotel reservation: (617) 492-1234. Newspaper in the United States @ Newton Marriott Hotel Apostolic Church Parish Council, Armenian Assembly of Hyatt Regency Hotel - Cambridge, MA Visit Banquet Hall. 85 Years and Beyond. Details to follow America, Armenian National Committee of America.

Armenian Arts to Publish Directory of Arts Professionals

LOS ANGELES — Armenian Arts als working in a wide range of cultural and announced recently that it will publish a entertainment fields. The first-of-its-kind directory of Armenian artists and profession- directory will be released in October 2017. Currently Armenian Arts is seeking submissions for inclu- sion in the directory. Artists, designers, writers, editors, and musicians; professionals work- ing in television, theater, and the movie industry; as well as culinary professionals and enter- tainers in various fields are being encouraged to submit their name, phone number, email, and web address, with a mention of their area of exper- tise for proper listing, to [email protected], for free inclusion in the upcoming Armenian Arts Directory. Space for display advertising is also available in the Armenian Arts Directory. For rates and to reserve space, advertisers can email [email protected]. The Armenian Arts Directory will be published annually. Armenian Arts is a division of Knowledge Truck, Inc., a non- profit California organization that celebrates the Armenian identity by showcasing American-Armenian contribu- tions to American civilization and humanity as a whole. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 17 COMMENTARY

COMMENTARY Mirror Armenia Is Bleeding

ing the vulnerable areas of the Armenian defense forces. They By Edmond Y. Azadian have failed in their attempt and have been repelled so far. Spectator The presidents of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), recently made their Yerevan is one of the ideal touristic destinations in the sum- regular trip to Armenia and Azerbaijan to continue admonishing mer season, both for Europeans and as well as travelers from the parties to exercise restraint and prepare their respective pop- Moslem countries. No one has yet conducted a statistical analy- ulations to compromise as there is no military solution for the EstablishedEstablished 1932 1932 sis on the impact of the visits by Pope Francis and the Karabakh conflict. Kardashian sisters. Nevertheless, both visits have helped many to Armenians had been expecting that the Minsk Group cochairs An ADLAn Publication ADL Publication discover Armenia, tucked away in the faraway Caucasus would address Azeri belligerence, but the group came to Mountains. Armenia with the same mantra they recited in Baku. Yerevan especially is a showcase for tourists; Moslem visitors, One school of thought believes that Azeri President Ilham mostly from Iran and the Gulf Emirates, find welcome relief from Aliyev is running out of patience and funds and the sooner he EDITOR social restrictions while European visitors are always surprised can bring a military solution to the conflict, the better it will be Alin K. Gregorian to find a modern country in many measures rivaling their soci- for his nation since the country’s petrodollars are depleting fast and fossil fuel exports have been ASSISTANT EDITOR Aram Arkun facing an uncertain future. Aliyev has been rewriting his- ART DIRECTOR tory to present Armenians as rel- Marc Mgrditchian atively recent settlers on the so- called “Azeri lands,” even though there was no nation called Azerbaijan before 1918 and archeological finds show SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: Armenian presence in the region Edmond Y. Azadian goes back at least two millennia. CONTRIBUTORS: Azerbaijan wants a war now, Florence Avakian, Dr. Haroutiun not necessarily to recover “his- Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Diana toric Azeri territory,” but to Der Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, cover up the nation’s deteriorat- Kevork Keushkerian, Harut Sassounian, ing economic situation and in Hagop Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian the meantime to whip up nation- alistic fervor to divert attention CORRESPONDENTS: and anger from the rampant cor- Armenia - Hagop Avedikian ruption which have become the Boston - Nancy Kalajian New York/New Jersey - Marylynda talk of the town in Baku Bozian-Cruickshank through the Panama Papers and Berlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach other scandals. For Azerbaijan, the war is a matter of saving the Contributing Photographers: Jacob Demirdjian and Jirair Hovsepian Aliyev dynasty with its wealth, eties, in the backwaters of the collapsed Soviet empire. while for Armenia, it is a matter of existence. Summertime in Yerevan is an idyllic fairyland for its inhabi- The OSCE group is focusing on the Madrid and Kazan princi- tants and visitors alike, offering social, cultural and culinary ples, which prominent anthropologist and political analyst The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published delights. Hranoush Kharadyan finds unacceptable, because, she says, weekly, except two weeks in July and the first But, unfortunately, the country as a whole is wasting away as “They do not favor Armenia. It does not make sense [for week of the year, by: it is bleeding on two fronts. There is a population hemorrhage Armenia] to cede seven regions today hoping to attain a status Baikar Association, Inc. and there is bloodletting on the border with Azerbaijan. Three for Karabakh, as that status may materialize in 20 years, and no 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 soldiers were killed recently, sending a shockwave through the one knows under what conditions.” Telephone: 617-924-4420 population, especially in families with sons of military draft age. It is common knowledge that to maintain peace, a country has FAX: 617-924-2887 The Azeri leaders have discovered that they will not be able to to prepare for war. That is where Armenia is now. www.mirrorspectator.com achieve victory through a frontal attack and thus they have Military analysts have ranked the Armenian army as the opted for a war of attrition, which Armenia can ill afford. E-Mail: [email protected] best fighting force in the Caucasus region. And that has been Developments in the region do not bring any comfort to proven time and again in every instance that Armenia has For advertising: [email protected] Armenia. Iran has been one of the safe outlets to the world for stopped Azeri aggression. But no one can predict the out- Armenia as well as a reliable trading partner, but was recently come of a conflict with combination of forces that is, in case shaken by two terrorist acts, meant to destabilize that powerful Turkey lands tactical support to Azerbaijan, if not outright country. participation. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia used to hold military drills The depleting number of soldiers on the borders will certainly SUBSCRIPTION RATES : every other year. However, this year, they had a second set of do their best to minimize bloodletting on the battleground, but drills to keep Armenia on edge. to stop the population hemorrhage, needs a well-thought-out pol- Military analysts in Armenia and around the world have been icy for fast economic recovery, eradicating corruption, equal U.S.A. $80 a year pondering the root causes of last April’s flare-up in which application of the law and above all, inspiring hope for a more Azerbaijan killed many soldiers by a sudden, brutal attack on the prosperous future. Canada $125 a year border. Gen. Norad Ter-Grigoriantz, one of the founders of the Many have pinned their hopes on Prime Minister Karen modern Armenian Army, said during a recent interview that the Karapetyan, who has already introduced some bold reforms. Other Countries $190 a year Azeri war planners, assisted by the Turkish brass, had been prob- The proof of the pudding will be in its eating.

© 2014 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA and additional mailing offices. An Armenian-American Diplomat in Yerevan: ISSN 0004-234X The Responsibility of a Hyphenated Identity POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, 755 Mount Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472 Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. Subsequently, felt a particular sense of responsibility to Other than the editorial, views and opinions By Ruben Harutunian when the possibility to serve as Deputy Chief understand the political, social, and security- expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily of the Political/Economic Section at the US related events, trends, and realities in reflect the policies of the publisher. Embassy in Yerevan presented itself, we Armenia and the South Caucasus as fully as I returned to Armenia as a US Diplomat in thought it was a unique opportunity to return possible. I have sought to present my analysis 2014. But had I ever left? to Yerevan and support the effort of building to the leadership at the Embassy in Yerevan The thing is, I was born in Yerevan, about ever-stronger ties between the United States and the Department of State and White Copying for other than personal use or 10 kilometers from where the US Embassy and Armenia by serving as personal conduits House in Washington, so that those formulat- internal reference is prohibited without currently stands. After settling in the United in this process. ing US foreign policy towards Armenia and express permission of the copyright States permanently in 1991, I came back to My posting in Yerevan has challenged me in the region during these past three years could owner. Address requests for reprints or back issues to: Armenia periodically to visit relatives. Then I a very personal way. As an Armenian- do so with as nuanced and complete a picture met my wife, Astghik, and we were married in American, on most days I have had to navigate as possible. I have tried to unpack Armenia’s Yerevan; and we made a few more short trips my several personas — the Ruben born in complex domestic political environment and Baikar Association, Inc. back as a family with our children. Soviet Armenia, the one raised in the US, the key developments from the Constitutional 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472- I began my career as a US Diplomat in 2007 American diplomat, or the Diaspora Referendum in December 2015 to the 1509 with postings in Tel Aviv and Moscow, then as Armenian. Parliamentary Election in April 2017, the a Special Assistant to Secretaries of State Because of my hyphenated identity, I have see IDENTITY, page 18 18 S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY Iraqi Kurdistan’s Path to Independence

By David L. Phillips The Trump administration is trying to be even-handed. It is committed to “a unified, stable, democratic, and a federal Iraq.” At the same time, the State Department expressed under- ASOUD BARZANI, President of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), standing for the “legitimate aspirations of the people of Iraqi Kurdistan.” announced a referendum on Iraqi Kurdistan’s independence for September 25, America’s top priority is destroying ISIS. For now, the Trump administration is nominally 2017. The referendum will be held in all territory controlled by the KRG, as well opposed to independence because it fears that independence will distract from the urgent pri- as historically Kurdish lands claimed by the Iraqi government. ority to defeat ISIS. The overwhelming majority of Kurds want independence. In July 2003, a group US officials know that Iraqi Kurdistan will be the next newest nation. They do not question of Kurdish intellectuals in Suleimani launched the Kurdistan Referendum whether Iraqi Kurdistan will become independent, but rather when and how. M Movement. Voters were given two options in an unofficial tally on January 30, The KRG needs a plan for the day after its referendum. 2005. : (1) to stay a part of Iraq, or (2) to be independent. A total of 1,998,061 people partici- KRG officials must not to move precipitously to declare independence. They should negoti- pated in the referendum. The pro-independence vote garnered 98.8 percent support. ate the details of a friendly divorce with Baghdad and work cooperatively on shared problems Kurds moderated their national aspirations, deferring their demand for independence. They – the ISIS threat, the return of displaced people, and managing the region’s economic crisis. supported Iraq’s 2005 constitution, which declared Iraq as a federal, democratic republic. I directed Columbia University’s task force on “State-Building in Iraqi Kurdistan.” Iraqi Despite fraternal talk about “Iraqi brothers,” Kurds are deeply distrustful of Baghdad. Kurdistan faced a perfect storm of problems in 2015. It was attacked by ISIS. It managed a Article 140 of Iraq’s constitution envisioned a referendum on the status of Kirkuk by the humanitarian emergency, providing for more than two million internally displaced persons. end of 2007. However, Baghdad repeatedly missed the deadline. Failure to address Kirkuk’s World oil prices collapsed, and the KRG’s budget shortfall was exacerbated by Baghdad’s per- status has exacerbated other core Kurdish concerns such as the ownership of natural nicious decision to cancel revenue sharing from the sale of existing energy resources. resources, control of oil revenues, and the role of Kurdish militia called “Peshmerga.” Today, the situation is more stable. Today Iraq exists in name only. Iraqi Kurdistan exercises all the elements of statehood, Announcing a date for the referendum is a big step on the path to independence. Going except it lacks an international legal personality. forward, the KRG should patiently negotiate with Baghdad. However, negotiations must not A declaration of independence is meaningless unless other countries are on board. Front- be open-ended. Twelve months, after the referendum (September 2018), the KRG should line states predictably disapprove of Barzani’s referendum. However, their objections are less declare independence with or without Baghdad’s agreement. shrill than they might have been. It is never the perfect time to assert one’s right to self-determination. Faced with an The Government of Iraq (GoI) objects primarily to the timing of the referendum. It also inevitable outcome, Baghdad will come around. objects to holding the vote in Kirkuk and other disputed territories. Meanwhile, the KRG must get its house in order. It must consolidate democracy, strength- The GoI needs support from Kurds. It is counting on Kurdish participation in Iraqi provin- en democratic institutions, and overcome internal divisions. It must recommit itself to minori- cial elections later this year and parliamentary elections in 2018. ty rights and women’s rights. Yezidis need special privileges and protection. Independence of Tehran opposes the referendum. However, its opposition was less strident than expected Iraqi Kurdistan will be a unifying event, helping to overcome factionalism among northern- after the recent terror attack by ISIS. When Iranian officials admonished the Kurds for stand- ers. Independence will also be an inspirational event, enabling interests solidarity among ing against “the unity” of Iraq, the KRG told them to stop “meddling.” Kurds across the region. While Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim called the referendum “irresponsible,” The US cannot stand on the sideline. There is a Kurdish adage: “Kurds have no friend but President Tayyip Erdogan was silent. Erdogan’s view is only one that matters in Turkey. the mountains.” In the Arab Middle East, the US has no better friend than the Kurds. There is more money to be made by Erdogan and his cronies by controlling the transport of oil and gas from Iraqi Kurdistan to the Turkish port of Ceyhan on the Mediterranean. (David L. Phillips is Director of the Program on Peace-building and Syria is too destroyed to pay more than lip service to events in Iraqi Kurdistan. Though Rights at Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Iraqi Kurds and Syrian Kurds do not get along, Damascus fears that Syrian Kurds in Rojava Rights. He worked as a Senior Adviser and Foreign Affairs Expert at (Afrin, Kobani, and Jazeera provinces) will also seek independence. Syrian Kurds already exer- the State Department’s Near Eastern Affairs Bureau where he worked cise a high degree of democratic autonomy. on the Future of Iraq Project. He has authored many books on America’s position is critical. The US and KRG enjoy a strategic partnership. Not only do Kurdish issues such as Losing Iraq: Inside the Postwar Reconstruction Iraqi Kurds and Americans share values, there is extensive security cooperation. Peshmerga Fiasco, The Kurdish Spring: A New Map for the Middle East, and An turned the tide against ISIS. Peshmerga liberated large swaths of territory in Northern Iraq Uncertain Ally: Turkey Under Erdogan’s Dictatorship. This commen- and fought bravely in Mosul. tary originally appeared in the Huffington Post.) The Implications of Qatar-Turkey Alliance

tions with Qatar and closed their airspace to com- training cooperation. and were brought to parliament by AKP MPs in By Saeed Al-Haj mercial flights, Turkey condemned the blockade “A very grave mistake is being made in Qatar, an extraordinary session. against Qatar, sent food stocks to stave off possi- isolating a nation in all areas is inhumane and A key ally of Qatar, Turkey is setting up a mil- ble shortages in the country, and fast-tracked leg- against Islamic values. It’s as if a death penalty itary base in the country — the first Turkish The unfolding Gulf diplomatic crisis earlier islation through parliament to deploy Turkish decision has been taken for Qatar,” Turkish overseas military installation in the Middle this month has managed to put old alliances troops on Qatari soil. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told members East. Qatar also hosts the largest US airbase in and partnerships to the test, while also reveal- On June 7, Turkey’s parliament ratified two of his ruling Justice and Development Party the Middle East, Al-Udeid, where around 10,000 ing new ones. bills; one allowing the deployment of Turkish (AKP) in Ankara last week. military personnel are stationed. Shortly after Saudi Arabia Egypt, Bahrain and troops in Qatar and another approving an Both agreements were drawn up before the The defense cooperation between Doha and the United Arab Emirates severed diplomatic rela- accord between the two countries on military spat between Qatar and its neighbors erupted Istanbul dates back to 2014, when the two nations signed an agreement aimed at helping them confront “common enemies.” Both nations have provided support for the Egyptian uprising and condemned the military An Armenian-American Diplomat in Yerevan: The coup that brought the country’s current lead- er, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, to power. They have both also refused to classify the Responsibility of a Hyphenated Identity Muslim Brotherhood movement and Hamas as “terrorist organizations” and backed rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al- IDENTITY from page 17 Armenian audience in a manner and a language wedding day. And when we baptized our son at Assad in Syria. nuances of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as that would connect with the Armenian experi- Echmiadzin Cathedral, I was instantly trans- Besides allowing for a Turkish military base viewed from the Armenian perspective, and ence and perspective. ported to my own clandestine baptism ceremo- in Qatar, which would primarily serve as a Armenia’s relations with its immediate neigh- In many ways, our time in Armenia was a ny over 25 years earlier in the bowels of our venue for joint training exercises, the deal also bors and regional partners – Iran, Turkey, homecoming, tinged with nostalgia and memo- home, hidden away from the prying eyes of gave Qatar the option of setting up a similar Russia, and China. ry. Soviet atheism. facility in Turkey. Through it all, I have never felt as though my I never truly saw Armenia with a fresh set of We’ll leave Yerevan after three years with a In an interview with Reuters in late 2015, various identities were ever in conflict, because eyes like the rest of my American new set of memories, experiences, and friend- Ahmet Demirok, Turkey’s ambassador to Qatar it was fundamentally clear to me that by fur- colleagues. Instead, when I looked out at the ships that we wouldn’t exchange for the world. at the time said 3,000 Turkish ground troops thering US interests in Armenia, I was also sup- majestic, unfettered view of Mt. Ararat from the And we’ll take these with us to new parts of the would be eventually stationed at the base, as porting the economic, political, and democratic Embassy’s grounds, my eyes really saw the world, where we’ll tell of the enduring friend- well as air and naval units, military trainers and development of Armenia itself. painting of Sis and Masis hanging on the din- ship between the Armenian and American peo- special operations forces. At the same time, with particular pride in my ing room wall of my childhood home, with its ple, of the creativity of a nation still re-defining In 2016, then Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet “American story,” I have looked for every oppor- muted colors and crooked frame. When I itself after all these centuries, and of the Davutoglu visited the base where 150 troops tunity to engage with the Armenian people — sipped ArmAs’ wine paired with local cheese resilience of a people who are determined to were already stationed, according to the youth in particular — to relate my personal and dried fruits, my nostrils really took in the survive and thrive despite all odds. Turkish daily, Hurriyet. experience of an inclusive and welcoming aromas and smells of my grandmother’s I carry my hyphenated identity as a badge of It is reported that 200 Turkish troops are cur- United States. Whether through participation kitchen, where she ruled with an iron fist and honor, and am proud to be an Armenian- rently deployed in the base, which has the in televised programming and radio shows or always had an extra place around the table. American Diplomat. capacity to accommodate up to 5,000 troops, guest lectures at universities and American When I ran my fingers across an exquisite (This commentary originally appeared in the but it remains unclear when the base would be Corners throughout Armenia, my objective has Megerian carpet, I was really touching the rug EVN Report, an independent, non-profit online completed. been to explain US foreign policy to an that my mother had received as dowry on her weekly magazine.) see ALLIANCE, page 20 S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 19 COMMENTARY

May 14, 2018. According to Ballard’s registration with the committee. Justice Department, the firm will provide the Turkish gov- Ballard makes no secret of his special connections with ernment “with advocacy services relative to US-Turkey bilat- President Trump. “I would imagine if Hillary Clinton were elect- eral relations.” The lobbying activities include “advising, ed I wouldn’t be here,” he told the Tampa Bay Times. Ballard counseling, and assisting [Turkey] in communications with said “he doesn’t discuss how he works or his contacts with the My Turn US Government officials. Maintaining US relations with this president. He’s been spotted at the White House, however, and important NATO partner.” Trump maintains phone relationships with allies.” By Harut Sassounian Brian Ballard is the longtime lobbyist for President Donald In addition, the Turkish Embassy in Washington, DC, Trump as the representative of the Trump Organization in signed a contract with Burson-Marsteller for $1.1 million for Tallahassee, Fla. He raised $16 million for Trump’s presiden- the period May 1-December 31, 2017. Ironically, from 2012 Turkey spends $2.6 Million to tial campaign while serving as his state finance chairman and to 2015, Burson-Marsteller was doing lobbying work for the Hire Two New Lobbying and PR later as vice chairman of the President’s inaugural commit- Alliance for Shared Values, a group tied to the Turkish tee. Ballard issued a statement asserting that he “still speaks Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen whom Erdogan opposes and Firms to Trump on occasion.” Susie Wiles, who was introduced by seeks his extradition from the US to Turkey. The Turkish Ballard to Trump during the campaign, served as Trump’s government reportedly threatened Burson-Marsteller’s oper- Last week, I wrote about a dozen public relations and lob- Florida campaign manager. She is now working for Ballard ations in Turkey if the firm continued to lobby for Gulen. bying companies the Turkish government had already hired. Partners. Ballard also hired former Congressman Robert Burson-Marsteller is supposed to provide “integrated pub- In recent weeks, the Republic of Turkey added two new such Wexler (Democrat-Florida) to be in charge of the Turkish lob- lic relations services to support the [Turkish] Embassy’s com- firms: Ballard Partners and Burson-Marsteller. bying account. As co-chair of the Congressional Turkey munications objectives in the United States. Activities Turkish officials don’t seem to realize that having more Caucus, Cong. Wexler actively lobbied and voted against a include media outreach, monitoring and analysis; event sup- than a dozen lobbying firms not only is a waste of money due proposed House Armenian Genocide resolution on Oct. 10, port; stakeholder engagement; social media counsel; and sup- to unnecessary duplication, it is also a waste of the valuable 2007. His new job is his reward for staunchly supporting port for Turkish consulates in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los time of several Turkish Embassy officials in Washington, DC, Turkey in Congress for years! Angeles, Miami and New York.” spending a lot of their time on a daily basis to give detailed According to the Tampa Bay Times, Ballard’s first interac- It is noteworthy that despite the millions of dollars spent instructions to these lobbying firms, read their reports, com- tion with Trump occurred several years ago when he wrote by Turkey on more than a dozen high-powered lobbying and ment on them, meet with them, forward their reports to the a letter to Trump after reading his book, Art of the Deal, and public relations firms, they could not counter the large num- Foreign Ministry with lengthy explanations, and take correc- Trump answered. Ballard wrote back stating: “if you ever ber of news articles and TV coverage critical of the Turkish tive action based on Ankara’s reaction. Unless such an have any issues in Florida, please don’t hesitate to call.” government for the attack on peaceful protesters by intense and elaborate effort is made in working with so many Trump called him after purchasing Mar-a-Largo in 1985, and President Erdogan’s bodyguards in front of the Turkish lobbying firms, Turkish officials are simply wasting their paid Ballard at least $460,000 from 2013 to 2015 for lobby- Ambassador’s residence in Washington, DC, on May 16. This country’s money. ing work. Trump personally called Ballard asking for his help fact reinforces my firm belief that Turkey is wasting millions I am happy that the Turkish government has decided to when he launched his presidential campaign. Ballard is now of dollars annually trying to cleanse its image in the U.S., waste more of its money by agreeing to pay Brian Ballard’s organizing a fundraising banquet for Trump on June 28. The which is further tarnished by the Turkish government’s bru- firm, Ballard Partners, $1.5 million from May 15, 2017 to cost is $35,000 per person and $100,000 to join the host tal policies both at home and abroad!

US Seems Keener to Strike at Syria’s Assad than it Does to Destroy ISIS

Indeed, the military in Damascus is making undertaking one of its most ambitious opera- cess of the Assad regime is certainly troubling By Robert Fisk no secret of the fact that it has ended its regu- tions since the start of the war, advancing the Americans – and the Kurds. lar arms and ammunition supplies to the Kurds around Sueda in the south, in the countryside So who is fighting ISIS? And who is not fight- — it has apparently given them 14,000 AK-47 of Damascus and east of Palmyra. They are ing ISIS? Russia claims it has killed the terrible The extraordinary destruction of a Syrian rifles since 2012 — and the Syrian regime was heading parallel with the Euphrates in what is and self-appointed “caliph of the Islamic fighter jet by a US aircraft on Sunday has pre- outraged to learn that Kurdish forces recently clearly an attempt by the government to “liber- State”, al-Baghdadi. Russia says it is firing cious little to do with the Syrian plane’s target received an envoy from the United Arab ate” the surrounded government city of Deir ez- Cruise missiles at ISIS. The Syrian army, sup- in the desert near Rasafa — but much to do with Emirates. Zour, whose 10,000 Syrian soldiers have been ported by the Russians, is fighting ISIS. I have the advance of the Syrian army close to the There is unconfirmed information that a besieged there for more than four years. witnessed this with my own eyes. American-backed Kurdish forces along the Saudi envoy also visited the Kurds. This, of If they can lift the siege, the Syrians will have But what is America doing attacking first Euphrates. The Syrians have grown increasing- course, follows the infamous Trump speech in another 10,000 soldiers free to join in the recap- Assad’s air base near Homs, then the regime’s ly suspicious in recent months that most Riyadh, in which the US President gave total ture of more territory. More importantly, howev- allies near Al-Tanf and now one of Assad’s fight- Kurdish forces in the north of Syria — many of American support to the Saudi monarchy in its er, the Syrian military suspects that ISIS – on er jets? It seems that Washington is now keen- them in alliance with the Assad government anti-Iranian and anti-Syrian policies — and then the verge of losing Raqqa to US-supported Kurds er to strike at Assad – and his Iranian support- until recently — have thrown in their lot with later supported the Saudi-led isolation of Qatar. and Mosul to US-backed Iraqis – may try to ers inside Syria – than it is to destroy ISIS. That the Americans. On the ground, the Syrian army is now break into the garrison of Deir ez-Zour and would be following Saudi Arabia’s policy, and declare an alternative “capital” for itself in Syria. maybe that’s what the Trump regime wants to In this context, the American strike on do. Certainly, the Israelis have bombed both the LETTERS Monday was more a warning to the Syrians to Syrian regime forces and Hezbollah and the stay away from the so-called Syrian Democratic Iranians — but never ISIS. Forces – the facade-name for large numbers of It is instructive that the West now expresses Church Unity Letter Misses the Mark Kurds and a few Arab fighters – since they are more outrage at the use of gas — it blames the now very close to each other in the desert. The Assad regime for this, of course — than at the Kurds will take Raqqa – there may well have continued cruelty of ISIS towards civilians in To the Editor: is referring to control over the Diocese maybe been an agreement between Moscow and most of the areas the “caliphate” still occupies The letter published in the June 10 by he should refer instead to the control over the Washington on this – since the Syrian military in Syria and Iraq. If we are to believe all the Charles Kasparian (aka C.K. Garabed) on the Prelacy by a political party which is well known is far more interested in relieving Deir ez-Zour. Americans now say, they want to destroy ISIS subject of “Church Unity a Dead Issue?” and understood. I suspect Mr. Kasparian The map is quite literally changing by the but are quite prepared to go on attacking the deserves a serious response even though I sus- approves of that political control over the day. But the Syrian military are still winning Syrian government forces that are fighting pect it was meant to be mischievous. He asked church he belongs to. against ISIS and its fellow militias – with ISIS. Does Washington want simply to break up what was meant by “special relations?” Let me Finally, his last paragraph comparing the Russian and Hezbollah help, of course – Syria and leave it as a failed state? And can it illuminate him. Catholicos of All Armenians in an insulting way although comparatively few Iranians are succeed when Russia is threatening to attack The joint unity committee surely understood to the Catholicos of Cilicia is not worthy of com- involved. The US has been grossly exaggerating US aircraft if they again strike at Syrian jets? very clearly what was meant by the future unit- ment other than to condemn the hatred that the size of the Iranian forces in Syria, perhaps (Robert Fisk is the Middle East correspon- ed diocese having “special relations” with the still exists among some diehard members of his because this fits in with Saudi and American dent for the Independent. This column origi- See of Cilicia. It was intended to define what church. nightmares of Iranian expansion. But the suc- nally appeared in that newspaper on June 20.) relations the united diocese would have with Michael Haratunian Cilicia after it returned back to its historic pres- Former co-chairman of the Joint Unity ence in only the Middle East. In other words, we Committee would return to the period prior to 1957 where- in all the dioceses in North America would Setting the Record resume jurisdiction under the Catholicos of All Armenians in Echmiadzin. Hence America Straight on Unity would return to what it was since its founding, as a single church under the Catholicos of All To the Editor: Armenians, while also maintaining a meaning- It is unfortunate that we Armenians should ful, unofficial “special relations” with Cilicia. read the divisive rhetoric written by This was the compromise decided by the joint C.K.Garabed (Charles Kasparian) in the June committee. 10, 2017 issue of the Mirror-Spectator. To suggest that somehow the Eastern I was a Diocesan Delegate during the “ Diocese or any future united diocese should Church Unity” discussions. His explanation of come under the jurisdiction of Cilicia because what eventually occurred is unequivocally not they are unhappy with Echmiadzin is laughable true. Mr. Garabed’s arrogant and blatant disre- and untrue. I don’t know where Mr. Kasparian spect for the Holy See of Echmiadzin is abhor- gets his information on church matters but he rent . is completely incorrect to imply that the Dr. Gary Zamanigian Diocese is in conflict with the Mother See. If he Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 20 S ATURDAY, J UNE 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Hayastan All-Armenian Fund Begins Construction Implications of of Sports Complex in Ditavan Qatar-Turkey Yerevan — On June 8, the Hayastan All- Alliance Armenian Fund held a groundbreaking ceremo- ny for the future sports complex of Ditavan, a vil- ALLIANCE, from page 18 lage in Armenia’s Tavush region. Guests attend- The defense partnership agreement ing the event included the sponsor of the con- came at a time of increased regional insta- struction project, Argentinean-Armenian bene- bility in the face of a perceived waning of factor Nadya Ekserciyan, as well as her daughter. US interest in the region. The planned sports facility having a total area But Turkey’s involvement in the recent of 504 square meters, will be used for a range spat between Qatar and its neighbours of physical exercises and matches. The struc- marks the latest demonstration of the ture will also feature classrooms for preschool- country’s departure from its traditional ers and an underground bomb shelter where “soft power” policy approach towards the residents of Ditavan, which is located near regional affairs, reflecting an increased the border with Azerbaijan, will be able to take desire by the AKP to expand Turkey’s cover in case of an emergency. influence as a powerful player in the “Ditavan is burgeoning in front of our very regional and global arena. eyes,” said Ara Vardanyan, executive director of Furthermore, Turkey’s disputes with the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, and contin- several of its fellow NATO partners have ued, “With its recently built infrastructures and prompted Ankara to seek new partner- community institutions, this village stands ships and diversify its alliances to coun- apart as among the best in not only the Tavush terbalance the country’s dependence on Region, but Armenia as a whole. For this its traditional Western allies. achievement, the support of the Ekserciyan Unveiling a graphic depiction of the completed project at the groundbreaking ceremony Turkey already has a presence family has been invaluable. Today, we are in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia delighted that Mrs. Nadya continues the benev- and Kosovo whether through peacekeep- olent work of her late husband, Armen ment projects in Ditavan, which has a popula- newborns, and contribute to agricultural-devel- ing, humanitarian or other missions. In Ekserciyan, by providing ongoing support for tion of 412. They include natural-gas and water opment projects carried out in the village. addition, Turkey is also reportedly setting the steady growth of Ditavan.” networks, as well as a school and a multifunc- In recognition of the Ekserciyans’ far-reaching up a military training camp - said to be its Through the Ekserciyan family’s contribu- tional community center. In addition, the support, Ditavan has named its school, main largest overseas facility - this year in tions totaling nearly $1.5 million, since 2007 Ekserciyans provide social assistance to street, and square after the benefactors, who have Mogadishu, Somalia. The camp will be the fund has implemented a string of develop- Ditavan’s newly-wed couples and families with also been made Honorary Citizens of the village. used to train Somali soldiers in the fight against the al-Shabab group. This is in addition to Turkey’s military adventures in northern Syria where it has been shelling both the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, known as ISIS) fighters and Kurdish rebels of the Popular Protection Units (YPG). The country is also involved militarily in northern Iraq and in the battle for Mosul against ISIL. More recently, it emerged that Turkey also offered to build a military base in Saudi Arabia shortly after work began on its facility in Qatar in 2014 — a demand which Saudi Arabia rejected. As Ankara looks to stretch its military presence across Arab and African soil, a deepening strategic alliance with Qatar — one of the world’s largest exporters of nat- ural gas — fits the country’s foreign poli- cy aspirations and boosts its $857bn economy. “The military base in Qatar is an impor- tant power projection asset for Turkey,” Can Kasapoglu, a defense analyst from Turkey’s EDAM, told Al Jazeera in an ear- lier interview. “This indeed suggests that Turkey sees its defense ties with Qatar as an indis- pensable pillar of its strategic posture in the region,” said Kasapoglu. “It also shows that Ankara would not drastically alter its long-term vision for regional fluc- tuations.” For Qatar, defense cooperation with Turkey would reduce the nation’s com- plete dependency on US, especially with the current US administration, whose pol- icy on the Middle East remains ambigu- ous. The defense agreement defines the objective of the mission as “developing Qatar’s defensive ability” to carry out joint training and exercises, as well as “missions the two countries agree on.” Nevertheless, the GCC crisis has put Turkey in a delicate position, as the coun- try has long maintained good relations with the other Gulf states and has sought to solidify military links with several of them. As Turkey tried to defuse the diplomat- ic dispute and position itself as a media- tor, the country defended Doha from the beginning and called out Gulf leaders to end the blockade while falling short of appearing to take an anti-Saudi stance. But as the crisis enters its third week, the prospects of Ankara maintaining close ties with Saudi Arabia and Qatar at the same time are becoming more complicated. (This analysis originally appeared on Al Jazeera on June 18.)