JULY 30, 2016 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVII, NO. 2, Issue 4446 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF Egypt Parliament May Standoff with Police Continues in Yerevan Recognize Genocide CAIRO (Armenpress) — More than 300 Egyptian All Hostages Released lawmakers have signed a survey on putting up to vote a bill recognizing the Armenian Genocide, RIA YEREVAN (Combined Sources) — Novosti reported, citing Youm7. Thousands of demonstrators were marching in The initiator of the measure is noted Egyptian Yerevan late on July 25 in support of a group reporter and Member of Parliament Mustafa Bakri. of gunmen who have occupied an Armenian According to his colleague, Faiza Barakyatay, in police station for more than a week. case the bill passes, it will be “a response to The demonstrators chanted “unity” and Turkey’s hostile actions against Egypt and official called for bystanders to join them, swelling Ankara’s attempts to interfere in Egypt’s internal their numbers as the march progressed affairs.” along the streets of the Armenian capital and the demonstrators arrived at Yerevan’s central Republic Square. Iran Proposes to Triple It was the largest gathering of support Gas Exports to Armenia for the gunmen since the crisis began on July 17. YEREVAN (Armenpress) — After discussions with The march began on July 25 after mili- Armenian Energy and Natural Resources Minister tary helicopters were seen flying over the L. Yolyan in Tehran, Minister of Petroleum of Iran occupied police building. Bijan Zangeneh announced that Iran will triple the The presence of the helicopters prompt- volumes of exported gas to Armenia, Iranian state ed speculation that a military raid against A spokesman for the insurgents media reported. the gunmen was imminent. According to the Iranian Minister, the main topic The gunmen set a police van on fire near of discussion with Yolyan was the issue of transit the building earlier that day. known group called Sasna Tsrer, dubbed by Tsrer are veterans of the Nagorno- for Iranian gas through Armenia. Meanwhile, Armenian law enforcement some the Daredevils of Sassoun, which is Karabagh conflict in the late 1980s and The Armenian side has proposed to create a new agencies called on the gunmen not to take loyal to Founding Parliament Party leader, early 1990s. organization for the export of Iranian gas to any steps that would “risk the lives of citi- Zhirayr Sefilian. The Founding Parliament is sharply crit- Georgia, IRNA reported. zens or that stir up tensions.” They say they have no intention of laying ical of the way Armenia’s government has One police officer was killed on July 17 down their arms until their demands are dealt with the long-running conflict over when the gunmen, linked to the radical met. Those demands include the resigna- Nagorno-Karabagh, a territory that both Armenian Soldier Founding Parliament opposition move- tion of President Serzh Sargsyan and the Armenia and Azerbaijan claim. Killed by Azeri Sniper ment, stormed into the Erebuni police sta- release of Sefilian, who was arrested along tion. with six of his supporters on June 20 on Two Wounded On Karabagh Line The gunmen took seven police officers as illegal weapons charges. Two of the opposition gunmen locked in hostages but released the last of them on Police initially accused Sefilian of prepar- a standoff with the Armenian authorities STEPANAKERT (Mediamax) — Arsen Arakelyan, July 23 after negotiations with a senior offi- ing a plot to seize government buildings and were wounded by security forces early on. a soldier serving with the Artsakh Defense Army, cer in Armenia’s armed forces. telecommunication facilities in Yerevan. Both men surrendered to the Armenian received a fatal gun wound on the Southeastern The gunmen are members of a little- Most of Sefilian’s supporters in Sasna see STANDOFF, page 2 direction on Saturday, July 23 as a result of shots fired across from the border. NKR Defense Army expressed its condolences to Boston Innovation the family of the killed soldier. On 23 July President Bako Sahakyan signed a Summit Encourages decree according to which the medal “For Service in Battle” was posthumously awarded to Arakelyan US-Turkish Commerce for courage shown during the defense of the NKR state border. By Aram Arkun Mirror-Spectator Staff Explosions in Azeri Munitions Plant CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Usually the Mirror reports on Armenian efforts to rally BAKU (Armenpress) — According to eyewitness American political and economic support accounts, blasts took place on July 26 at a muni- for Armenia. This time, I thought it would tions plant in Shirvan, Azerbaijan, RIA Novosti be interesting to see how one of Armenia’s reported. neighbors, the Republic of Turkey, does it, “Blasts are heard from time to time. There is especially in light of the dramatic events of smoke at the scene,” eyewitnesses said. Earlier the the recent failed coup and its aftermath. Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said a fire broke out On July 21, the Washington DC-based iwhich resulted in explosions. American-Turkish Council (ATC) sponsored Twenty people have been hospitalized, with no the US-Turkey Innovation Summit at fatalities reported so far. State Rep. Katherine S. Kazarian with some students in her district. Harvard University’s Knafel Center. Its stat- ed goal was “connect private companies, universities, and government institutions Idealism and Love for Rhode to facilitate partnerships in research and INSIDE Island Drive Young Politician see ECONOMICS, page 16 PROVIDENCE, R.I. — State Rep. Katherine S. Kazarian (D-East Providence) is Modern just right for these tense, polarized times. She is young, driven and ambitious — not necessarily for herself, but for her constituents. Music By Alin K. Gregorian In language that seems increasingly rare, the Mirror-Spectator Staff young Kazarian, 26, during a recent interview Page 14 rattled off ways in which she wants to improve life for the people in her district. Her passion is to try to do best for her constituents by trying to return “vibrant store fronts.” INDEX “I felt I needed to do something to help,” she said, after graduating from college. Arts and Living . 13 Kazarian graduated from Columbia University’s Barnard College in 2012 with Armenia . 2,3 a degree in urban studies, with a concentration in economics. She won her first Community News. 6 political race later that year. Editorial . 18 International . 4,5 see KAZARIAN, page 11 Dr. Nicholas Negroponte 2 S ATURDAY, J ULY 3 0 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Armenia Welcomes Closer Ties with Bulgaria YEREVA (Armenpress) — On July 14, President Serzh Sargsyan received outgoing Ambassador of Bulgaria to Armenia Georgi Karastamatov. Sargsyan expressed his gratitude to the Bulgarian ambassador for his input in the development of the Armenian-Bulgarian relations and said in recent years the political dialogue between the two states has been intensified. Sargsyan expressed hope the next ambassador would also make efforts to deepen relations between the two friendly states and to develop mutually bene- ficial cooperation at several directions. Karastamatov expressed his gratitude to Sargsyan for the kind words as well as for the support provid- ed during his diplomatic mission in Armenia. Sargsyan Congratulates UK’s May Some of the militants in the standoff in Yerevan YEREVAN (Armenpress) — President Serzh Sargsyan sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister of United Kingdom Theresa May on the occasion of assuming the post of prime minister. Standoff with Police Continues “I am sure that due to your many years of political experience you will guide the United Kingdom STANDOFF, from page 1 “In this regard, the militants were specify the total number of people through the path of development and prosperity, police and were hospitalized shortly handed on July 25 written clarifications detained in connection with the armed withstanding all challenges and achieving new suc- afterwards. and explanations on the sequence of attack. cesses. Armenia attaches importance to the develop- A police statement said that security actions which must be taken by them Speaking to journalists on Monday ment of cooperation with the United Kingdom in forces opened fire when a police SUV and the route for their surrender,” it morning, Yenikomshian accused the fields of mutual interest, as well as further deepening driven by one of the gunmen unexpect- added in a statement. authorities of deliberately heightening of friendship between our peoples. I hope that edly emerged from the station and The NSS note delivered to the gun- tensions. “Serious developments may through joint efforts we will be able to lift our friend- approached a police cordon about 100 men was publicized by the Armenian occur at any moment,” he warned. “We ly ties to a new qualitative level and give new impetus meters away. police. It lists articles of the Armenian hope that prudence will prevail within to the bilateral agenda for the benefit of our coun- “The vehicle almost reached the cor- Criminal Code that allow individuals the ruling regime.” tries,” the congratulatory message reads. don, after which law-enforcers fired on taking hostages or seizing government its engine and tires in order to stop the buildings to avoid prosecution. Sargsyan Offers to Meet 1,600 Houses Damaged, car and stave off a serious danger ema- “You still have time to lay down your Sefilian nating from three armed men seated arms and surrender,” says the document. President Serzh Sargsyan is ready to 7 Civilians Killed in inside it,” said the statement. Two of The NSS did not specify whether the meet the jailed opposition leader them were wounded in the leg as a authorities would also not prosecute Zhirayr Sefilian if the armed member of Tavush in Last 1.5 years result, it said.