JANUARY 28, 2012 r 0th Yea InMOur 8 irTHE rARoMENr IAN -Spe ctator Volume LXXXII, NO. 29, Issue 4223 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 Commemoration of Baku Armenian Victims French Senate In Tsitsernakaberd YEREVAN (Armenpress) — A march commemorat - Passes Measure ing the Armenians killed in Baku and Sumgait mas - sacres and marking Dink’s murder day was orga - Making Genocide nized last Thursday in Tsitsernakaberd. The event was organized by Yerevan State University’s Association of Young University Denial a Crime Colleagues non-governmental organization. The head of the organization, Gevorg Melkonyan, PARIS (AFP) — French senators have passed briefed journalists that the massacre of the a bill outlawing the denial of the Armenian Armenians in Baku was the continuation of the Genocide in 1915, with a seething Turkey slam - Sumgait pogrom committed by the Azerbaijani gov - ming the move and warning of consequences ernment in 1988. while Armenia hailed a day “written in gold.” “If international community had given political The French Senate on Monday, January 23, assessments to Sumgait, Baku and Maragha approved, by 127 votes to 86, the measure pogroms in time, I am sure, Hrant Dink’s murder which threatens with jail anyone in France who would not happen in Turkey,” said Melkonyan. denies that the 1915 massacre of Armenians by He reminded that all those people have been Ottoman Turk forces amounted to genocide. killed for the mere reason that they were French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose Armenians. “International community should right-wing UMP party put forward the bill, must give relevant political assessments to all these now sign the bill for it to become law. Demonstrators at the French Embassy in Yerevan thank President Sarkozy. events,” he said. see FRANCE, page 20 Azeri Soldier Crosses Border into Karabagh Thousands Mark Dink’s Death, Trial Verdict STEPANAKERT (Arminfo) — On January 23, 3:30 p.m. local time, the servicemen of the NKR Defense ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Tens of thou - Army detained a citizen of Azerbaijan, who was sands of protesters marked the fifth crossing the border of Karabagh in the northeast - anniversary of Turkish-Armenian journalist ern section of the contact line. Hrant Dink’s murder on Thursday, January According to the NKR State Commission on 19 as outrage continues to grow over a trial Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons, that failed to shed light on alleged official the detainee was wearing the military uniform of negligence or even collusion. the Azerbaijani armed forces without any Human rights activists placed red carna - insignias. tions on the spot in Istanbul where Hrant He had a military card in the name of Jr. Sgt. Dink was gunned down in broad daylight Ahundzade Mamedbagriu Taliboglu (born in 1990), outside of his Agos newspaper office by a the native of Lenkoran region of Azerbaijan. The nationalist teenage gunman. relevant bodies of Karabagh are trying to find out The case highlights Turkey’s uneasy rela - the circumstances of the incident. tionship with its ethnic and religious The NKR authorities informed the Offices of the minorities, including at least 60,000 International Committee of the Red Cross and the Armenian Christians. Many people carried OSCE in Stepanakert about the incident. black banners that read: “We are all Hrant, we are all Armenian,” and some chanted Tens of thousands marched in honor of Hrant Dink’s death. Petrosian Becomes “Turkey will be a grave for fascism.” Tens of thousands marched for justice, a Armenian Chess call shared by Turkish leaders and leading businessmen who expressed unease over and editor-in-chief of Agos , told AP televi - this week’s sentencing of one man, Yasin sion in an interview. Champ Hayal, to life in prison for masterminding The gunman, Ogun Samast, was sen - YEREVAN (Panorama.am) — In the 11th round the killing, while another 17 were acquitted tenced to nearly 23 years in prison in July of the highest league tournament of 72nd of charges of acting under a terrorist orga - by a separate juvenile court. Armenian Men’s Chess Championship Tigran nization’s orders. The court neglected to Umit Boyner, the head of Turkey’s Petrosian beat Robert Hovhannisyan and issue a verdict about a 19th suspect. influential industrialists’ association became the champion of Armenia, with 7 points, “The verdict is tragic and is weighing TUSIAD, said the court’s decision had armchess.am reported. heavily on the conscience of everyone in “shocked” the public. Robert Hovhannisyan became vice champion, Turkey,” Rober Koptas, Dink’s son-in-law see RALLY, page 3 with 6.5 points. Samvel Ter-Sahakyan finished third, with 6 points. West Coast ADL District Committee and Tekeyan Cultural Association Drop Lawsuits INSI DE WATERTOWN, Mass. — Several contentious issues between the West Coast ADL District Committee and Tekeyan Cultural Association, Inc. Central Board had result - ed in the two sides taking their issues to court. Puppets of Samuel Maserejian However, the parties met on December 16, 2011 to resolve their differences. The court cases were dropped on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, when a settlement agreement was signed to the satisfaction of both sides, marking the beginning of Armenia cooperative relations. Here below we publish the official joint communiqué regard - Samuel ing the issue: Story on page 13 Communiqué Maserejian Dies The ADL US Western District Committee and Tekeyan Cultural Association, Inc., US and Canada Central Board representatives held negotiations on Wednesday, BOSTON — Samuel Maserejian, a January 11, 2012, at the TCA Beshgeturian Center in Altadena, Calif., and agreed to drop all legal actions and continue their cooperative relations. longtime supporter of the Armenian INDEX Mirror-Spectator and the paper’s con - ADL US Western District Committee tact person with the central post Arts and Living ...... 13 Tekeyan Cultural Association, Inc. Central Board of US and Canada Armenia ...... 2 office, died on January 19, at January 11, 2012 Community News...... 5 Massachusetts General Hospital, after Altadena, Calif. Editorial ...... 18 experiencing health complications. George, Mandossian, Tekeyan, Cultural Association, Inc. International ...... 3, 4 see MASEREJIAN, page 8 Hagop Nazarian, ADL Western District Committee 2 S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Aliyev, Sargisian Pledge to Step up

Brandy Factory to Start Search for Karabagh Peace Exporting to China SOCHI (RFE/RL) — The presidents of Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders agreed earlier on Monday, Medvedev insisted Armenia and Azerbaijan pledged to inten - that they need to “move away from max - that these talks have been “useful” YEREVAN (arminfo) — The Yerevan Brandy Factory sify their efforts to agree on the basic imalist positions” in order to ensure fur - despite the lack of concrete agreements will start exporting brandy to China this year, the principles of resolving the Nagorno- ther progress in the peace process. reached to date. “I hope that this kind of director general of Armenian Development Agency, Karabagh conflict after fresh talks hosted Aliyev and Sargisian were reportedly contact will continue in the future,” he Robert Harutunian said this week. by their Russian counterpart Dmitry close to achieving a breakthrough at said in televised remarks. He said that the arrangement on brandy delivery The trilateral statement similarly spoke to the Chinese Urumchi company was made last of “progress” in the Russian-mediated year. negotiations. It also said that Aliyev and The Yerevan Brandy factory was privatized in May Sargisian called for continued mutual vis - 1998 by the French Pernod Ricard. It is the biggest its by Armenian and Azerbaijani intellec - producer and exporter of Armenian brandy. tuals and other prominent public figures. According to Lavrov, they asked Armenia, Malawi Moscow to continue to arrange such “humanitarian ties.” “Dmitry Medvedev Establish Relations certainly agreed,” he said. YEREVAN (armradio.am) — Malawi and Armenia have formally established diplomatic ties. The two countries forged formal diplomatic relations Hayastan Fund last Friday at a signing ceremony that took place at Completes the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations in New York. Renovation of Malawi’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Brian Bowler, signed the diplomatic papers From left, Presidents Ilham Aliyev, Dmitry Medvedev and Serge Sargisian Nephrology, Dialysis on behalf of the Malawi Government whereas his counterpart, Garen Nazarian signed on behalf of the Departments at Armenian Government. Medvedev on Monday. their previous face-to-face talks with Yerevan Hospital According to a communiqué released after the cer- In a joint statement with Medvedev Medvedev that took place in another emony, the two countries have agreed to promote issued in the Russian city of Sochi, Serge Russian city, Kazan, last June. Prospects YEREVAN (armradio.am) — The their bilateral cooperation through their diplomatic Sargisian and Ilham Aliyev said, “they for a near-term solution to the Karabagh Hayastan All-Armenian Fund missions at the United Nations and other convenient expressed readiness to accelerate the conflict have dimmed since then. recently completed an extensive diplomatic channels. achievement of an agreement on the The two presidents also discussed but renovation of the Nephrology and The two countries are convinced that the establish- basic principles of the Nagorno-Karabagh apparently failed to reach a final agree - Dialysis departments of Yerevan’s ment of diplomatic relations corresponds to the settlement.” In that regard, they stressed ment on joint investigations of deadly St. Gregory the Illuminator (Surb national interests of both countries and will further the importance of switching to discus - ceasefire violations in the conflict zone, Grigor Lusavorich) Hospital. The strengthen international peace and security. sions on a comprehensive peace accord which have been proposed by the US, refurbishment was made possible based on those principles. Russian and French co-chairs of the by the fund’s Toronto affiliate (with The statement did not say, however, that Minsk Group. Their joint statement said sponsorship of a Toronto-based Youth Cut Trees at Sevan Aliyev and Sargisian narrowed their differ - that the mediators were instructed to benefactor), within the framework National Park ences on the framework peace deal drafted “continue this work” on concrete proce - of 2011 projects implemented by Russia, the United States and France dures for such investigations. through sponsor-specified grants. YEREVAN (news.am) — Armenia’s Police Force under the aegis of the OSCE Minsk Group. The Sochi summit highlighted Russia’s The renovated premises, encom - received a call on Friday that trees were illegally cut According to the Interfax news agency, central role in the Armenian-Azerbaijani passing a total area of 1,120 square at the Akhtamar forest section of Sevan National Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov negotiating process that has been pub - meters, include eight patient Park. said after the trilateral meeting that there licly praised by the United States and the rooms, a cafeteria, two offices and On the same day, police detained four Tsovagyugh is still “a whole series of issues that European Union. Medvedev has orga - all restrooms. In addition, the village residents for illegally cutting down 10 pine remain to be agreed” before the conflict - nized a dozen Aliyev-Sargisian meetings power and water systems have trees at the park a few days prior. ing parties can sign a document on the during his four-year presidency. been replaced and a central-heat - The material damage is being assessed, and an basic principles. Lavrov said the In a separate meeting with Aliyev held ing system was installed. Both investigation is underway. upgraded departments have been fully operational since mid- December. Stepanakert to Have New UK Ambassadors Begin Armenia Mission Dr. Razmik Pandunts, who heads the Nephrology and Dialysis 24-Hour Water Supply YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Five months departments, had high praise for after their highly-unusual appointment, STEPANAKERT (NEWS.am) — Nagorno-Karabagh the quality of the upgrades as he a British married couple formally took Republic (NKR) President Bako Sahakyan held a con- conveyed his gratitude to the over as their country’s new ambas - sultation last seek devoted to improving the water Hayastan All-Armenian Fund. sadors to Armenia when they handed supply of the capital. “Without a doubt, our staff has their credentials to President Serge The president stressed that improving been delighted to work in such Sargisian on Thursday. Stepanakert’s water supply is of particular impor- beautifully renovated facilities,” Jonathan Aves and his wife Katherine tance and noted that great efforts were exerted to Pandunts said. “This new environ - Leach will take turns to run the UK make sure the capital had a 24-hour water supply, his ment is also having a visibly posi - Embassy in Yerevan for four-month ses - office said. tive effect on our patients.” sions. The British Foreign Office has Jonathan Aves and Katherine Leach, the Sahakyan also noted that several flaws and omis- The Nephrology and Dialysis said the arrangement is meant to first two-person team of ambassadors in sions were discovered while improving Stepanakert’s departments employ a staff of 36, enable the career diplomats to look Armenia water network and stated that such work is not including six doctors and 30 nurs - after their three small children. acceptable. es. Today some 55 patients receive Meeting with Aves and Leach, Karabagh’s president instructed the government Armenians seriously,” former Deputy treatment at the two wings, which Sargisian expressed confidence that and the corresponding agencies to eliminate all prob- Foreign Minister Arman Navasardian together have the capacity to serve they will “contribute to the develop - lems in this regard immediately. told Britain’s The Daily Mail newspaper up to 80 patients at a time. ment of British-Armenian relations and last August. “I doubt whether they The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund the deepening of bilateral cooperation would send a couple to the United is currently carrying out two other Ghahramanyan to Get in various fields.” States or many other countries.” projects sponsored by its Toronto Although the Armenian authorities The paper also quoted an unnamed affiliate: the complete renovation of Armenian Passport on did not object to the dual appointment, Armenian official as similarly asking the third and fourth floors of the it clearly took officials and pundits in Heels of Hetq Coverage whether London would “foist such a Nork Retirement Home, in Yerevan Yerevan by surprise. Some of them self-indulgent plan on a country they and the refurbishment of the YEREVAN (hetq) — Republic of Armenia Police Chief wondered if it is a sign of Armenia’s think of as important.” Education and Cultural Centre of Vladimir Gasparyan has instructed his Passport and insignificance to the United Kingdom. Zambia is the only other country Shushi, Artsakh. Visa Department (Ovir) to issue Igor Ghahramanyan “The British do not take us where the post of British ambassador is Commenting on the completion an Armenian passport. shared by two diplomats married to of the St. Gregory Hospital project The new head of Ovir, Hovhannes Kocharyan, this each other. A Foreign Office spokesman and other initiatives sponsored by week met with Ghahramanyan and told him to bring argued in August that such arrange - the Toronto affiliate, Mkrtich his military discharge papers and a photo. ments “keep families together and Mkrtichian, its chairman, said, “We This decision comes after Hetq reported on Correction reduce travel and shipping costs.” are extremely gratified by the fact Ghahramanyan’s plight, a former orphan and veteran Because of a typo in a front-page “Doing the job jointly will enhance that the Armenian community of of the Artsakh War, who had been fired from his job ADL communiqué last week, we our effectiveness at work, as well as giv - Toronto is doing its utmost to be of for not possessing an Armenian passport. are reprinting the item again on ing us both the chance to spend time assistance to our sisters and broth - the front page. We regret the error. with our children while they are ers in the homeland.” young,” Leach has said. S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 INTERNATIONAL Thousands Mark Dink’s Death, Trial Verdict International News RALLY, from page 1 “What we solidly see in this trial Saint Stepanos Church process is that the Opens in Bulgaria belief in justice has been shaken and SOFIA, Bulgaria (Armenpress) — The Saint Stepanos weaknesses in our Armenian Church opened in the Bulgarian town of justice system have Pazardzhikon Monday, December 19. The Ministry of been revealed,” he Foreign Affairs press office reported that Fr. Abgar said. Hovakimian, Locum Tenens of the Armenian Turkey’s leaders Apostolic Church’s Diocese of Bulgaria, celebrated a have vowed a thor - Holy Mass at the Church. ough investigation Armenia’s ambassador to Bulgaria, Arsen Shoyan, into Dink’s killing — chair members of Armenian Apostolic Church Committee signaling dissatisfac - in Bulgaria, mayor of Pazardzhik and Armenian philan- tion with Tuesday’s thropists also attended the Divine Liturgy. court ruling by a The church’s groundbreaking ceremony was held in panel of judges. 2005. Dink’s lawyers have Tens of thousands marched in memory of Dink, carrying signs that said “We’re all Hrant, we’re all said they will appeal Armenian.” the verdict, saying the Turkish Hostel to Be investigation was flawed because the rectify the verdict), Turkey’s image can able and questioned why and how the Opened in Tumanyan judiciary had not followed up on evi - be repaired but I’m not very hopeful.” court had neglected to issue its verdict dence alleging officials may have been Rustem Eryilmaz — who led the panel on the 19th suspect. House-Museum aware of the plot. of judges — sparked even more fury when “The assumption that only one per - Protesters marching past the site of he told the daily Vatan in an interview son was responsible for this incident has TBILISI (News.am) — The house-museum of Armenian the January 19, 2007 killing carried published Thursday that he was not satis - damaged the public conscience,” Arinc writer Hovhannes Tumanyan here will be sold, accord- banners that read: “This case cannot fin - fied with the decision, acknowledging that said Thursday. ing to the Armenian community in Tbilisi. ish like this.” A black marble plaque the court had failed to reveal allegations Dink had sought to encourage recon - Part of the house-museum was sold to a business- marking the spot bore the solemn of negligence or collusion between the ciliation between Turkey and Armenia, man in the 1990s, who is now going to sell it to a words in Turkish and Armenian: “Hrant state and the suspects. but several years before his death he Georgian-Turkish company Geo Turan. The latter will Dink was killed here.” “We could not shed light on what was was prosecuted under Turkish law for build a hostel for Turkish citizens. The company has President Abdullah Gul said the case going on behind the scenes, which is describing the early 20th-century mass offered Tumanyan’s great-grandchild, Alain amounted to a tough test for Turkey. what everyone is curious about,” killings of Armenians as genocide. Tumanyan, to sell the other part, however, he refused. “The conclusion of this case in a Eryilmaz said. “There must be instiga - Historians estimate up to 1.5 million transparent and just manner in line with tors ... but there is a need for evidence Armenians were killed by Ottoman Eduard Sharmazanov our laws is an important test for us,” to accept the existence of such from a Turks around the time of World War I, Gul said on Thursday. legal perspective.” an event widely viewed by genocide Attends Havel Funeral Koptas responded that politicians Eryilmaz said the judges felt pressure to scholars as the first genocide of the were feeling guilty because they had issue a verdict after the 4-1/2 year trial, 20th century. PRAGUE (Armenpress) — On December 23 the done nothing in five years to ensure and did not have time to examine thou - Turkey, however, denies the deaths Deputy Speaker of the RA National Assembly Eduard justice. sands of telephone conversations at the constituted genocide, saying that the Sharmazanov represented the Republic of Armenia at “If Hrant Dink was a test, Turkey scene on the day of the assassination. toll has been inflated and that those the funeral of former President of the Czech Republic failed, the ruling party failed,” he said. “If Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc killed were victims of civil war and Václav Havel in Prague. candid steps are taken in the future (to said Eryilmaz’s remarks were unaccept - unrest. The source notes that the representatives of Turkey and Azerbaijan did not attend the funeral. Petition to Free Nedim Sener Hits 3,000 Names Canada Marks 20 Years Of Recognition of IPI Urges Increased Support (REUTERS/STRINGER) Armenia’s Independence As Turkish Journalist’s Trial OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird this Continues week issued the following statement on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Canada’s recognition of Armenia’s independence: By Scott Griffen “Twenty years ago today, Canada was among the first Western nations to recognize Armenia as an independent state and, a few days later, to formally VIENNA (International Press Institute) establish diplomatic relations. Today, we enjoy a — A petition, led by the International strong and growing partnership, notably through our Press Institute (IPI) calling for the release ongoing cooperation in multilateral organizations.” of imprisoned Turkish investigative jour - “Over the years, we have forged bonds of friendship nalist and IPI World Press Freedom Hero and cooperation based on our shared commitment to Nedim ener, has already received over promoting democratic values and global peace and 3,000 signatures. On January 5, an security. These links have been further strengthened Istanbul court declined once again to by the presence of more than 50,000 Canadians of release ener, who has spent nearly 300 Armenian descent who continue to make significant days in prison. Journalist Nedim Sener (left) reacts as he leaves his house escorted by plainclothes contributions to Canada’s cultural, political and eco- Sener and nine other journalists were policemen in Istanbul on March 3, 2011. nomic life.” arrested last March and charged with To mark the anniversary, Baird recently met with serving as the media wing of Ergenekon, Armenian ambassador to Canada, Armen Yeganian, an alleged clandestine ultra-nationalist on highly questionable evidence, includ - tice and a direct blow to independent and presented him with a framed reproduction of the organization with ties to military and ing a file containing Sener’s name found journalism. If it was not, all of the official declaration establishing diplomatic relations security forces accused of plotting to over - on a computer inside the offices of Oda detained journalists would have been between Canada and Armenia. throw the government. If convicted, TV, also implicated in the Ergenekon freed. This case has become an instru - Sener faces up to 15 years in prison. case. Independent forensic investigators ment of intimidation against the entire According to The Freedom for have suggested that the file was placed media environment in the country. The Azerbaijan Amassing Journalists Platform, an umbrella group there by outside hackers, according to a journalists have spent more than 10 representing 94 local and national media report circulated by defence lawyers. months in detention. The detention itself Arms for Possible organizations in Turkey, nearly 100 jour - IPI Press Freedom Adviser for Europe has turned into punishment. We all know nalists are behind bars in the country. Steven M. Ellis attended the court’s read - that in democracies punishment must Karabagh War The figure includes 40 journalists arrest - ing of the indictment against the jour - come after the verdict.” BAKU (Bloomberg) — Azerbaijan is buying up modern ed during mass raids in late December nalists in Istanbul on 26 December in a IPI Executive Director Alison Bethel weaponry to be able to regain control of the Nagorno- and accused of spreading ‘terrorist propa - show of support for Sener and the other McKenzie said: “Every signature on this Karabagh region quickly and with few losses should ganda’ and makes the country one of the imprisoned journalists. The next hearing petition sends a message to the Turkish peace talks with neighboring Armenia fail, President world’s leading jailers of journalists. in the case is expected to take place on government that attacks on press free - Ilham Aliyev said. IPI named Sener a World Press Freedom 23 January. dom are unacceptable. IPI and its sub - Defense spending will rise 1.8 percent this year to Hero in 2010, three years after he pub - Following last week’s decision denying sidiary, the South and East Europe Media $3.47 billion, which Aliyev said tops Armenia’s entire lished a book investigating the govern - Sener’s request for release pending trial, Organisation (SEEMO), urge supporters state budget. ment’s handling of the 2007 murder of Ferai Tinç, a member of the International of free media and freedom of expression “It’s not a frozen conflict, and it’s not going to be Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. Press Institute (IPI)’s Executive Board around the world to add their names and one,” Aliyev said this week in remarks broadcast on In court last week, Sener was quoted and the chair of IPI’s Turkey National help our imprisoned World Press state television channel AzTV. by the New York Times as calling himself Committee, commented: Freedom Hero — and by extension the “a victim in a revenge operation — noth - “What we are witnessing in this case dozens of other journalists imprisoned in ing else.” The government’s case hinges can be described as a total denial of jus - Turkey.” 4 S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL A Time to Act: What Will Become of Varak Monastery After the Recent Earthquake in Van?

is saved, then all credit will be due to the Turkish authori - in this writer’s opinion, such a move will be unfortunate. These By Ara Sarafian ties. villagers have guarded much of Varak over the years. During The local Kurdish village at Varak is also in a terrible state. the last five years, Mehmet Coban was even appointed as an Its 600 inhabitants (65 families) are mostly farmers, though official guard at the main church, with a small government LONDON — Varak Monastery, near Van, was one of the many of them are simply unemployed. The earthquake hit the stipend, but little else. Fortunately, he excelled in his work, great monastic centers of the Armenian church. Its main struc - putting a makeshift wall around the monastery, covering the ture was built at the end of the 10th century. Much of the openings in the roof with plastic, and making sure that all vis - monastery was destroyed in 1915, a significant part was itors were supervised. In short, he took care of the place. He destroyed in the 1960s, while good sections have just barely has proven to be a kind and considerate man, but his future is survived until our days. In recent years, busloads of tourists also now uncertain. have visited Varak as a place of historic interest. Many have What will become of Varak? The local population supports been Armenian, but also Germans, Japanese, Italians and the preservation, and hopefully the restoration, of the Americans. monastery. The local government in Van, both at city and The 2011 earthquake in Van hit Varak Monastery badly. provincial levels, also wants to preserve Van’s culture and her - Parts of the main church collapsed, while other parts were itage. There is even talk of inviting Armenians to participate in significantly weakened. Old cracks got bigger, new ones the future development of this region with educational events, appeared. It is too early to state if the monastery can be civil society projects and economic ventures. Varak’s future, as made safe for visitors again. In the opinion of this writer, well as the future of other similar sites, may be linked to such who hopes to be wrong, what remains of the monastery of positive contacts — and a lot more can be done if Diaspora Varak may well be doomed. However, according to one Armenians were more actively involved in the development of serious damage outside porch evident (2010 report, a team of Turkish engineers recently inspected the this region. monastery and claimed they can save it. They hope to start restoration work as early as this spring. Such promises (Ara Sarafian is a historian and director of the Gomidas have been made in the past and one needs to be a little villagers hard and they now live in tents and containers sup - Institute. He is a frequent visitor to Eastern Turkey, especial - skeptical. The current state of the church makes such work plied by the Turkish government. Most of their houses are ly the Van region, where he organizes specialized academic much harder than at any time in the past. If the monastery unsafe for habitation. There is talk of relocating the village, but tours. For more information, contact [email protected].) At 95, French Resistance Veteran Loyal to Radical Roots

VITRY-SUR-SEINE, France (Agence France But there was tension between the Presse) — At 95, age has not diminished the rad - Resistance network run by Gen. Charles De ical convictions that led Arsene Tchakarian to Gaulle from London and Manouchian’s alliance join France’s legendary Resistance against the of communists and radicals: their critics feared Nazis. the influence of Moscow. Tchakarian, a Turkish-born Armenian, is the “They hesitated when it came to supplying last survivor of the Manouchian Group, mainly weapons,” he said. foreign-born Resistance fighters who were ini - “They were scared of the USSR and for them, tially shunned for their communist orientation we were Bolsheviks,” he recalled. but later decorated as war heroes and feted in Once the different strands of the Resistance poetry, song and film. began working together, the Manouchian He has worked to keep their legacy alive, Group emerged, bringing together activists belonging to a proud tradition of radicals — from Italy, Armenia, Polish Jews and other such as fellow Resistance nonagenarian immigrants. Stephane Hessel, whose 2010 pamphlet Tchakarian fought under the codename Indignez Vous! (Time for Outrage!) turned into “Charles” as the group carried out attacks a surprise best-seller, urging a popular move - including the September 1943 ambush of SS ment against finance capitalism. Gen. Julius Ritter, whom they gunned down in The title inspired Spain’s Indignados (The a Paris street. Indignant), among masses worldwide who have But just months later, in February 1944, the taken to the streets to protest government aus - group was decimated when French police, col - terity programs seen as punishing ordinary peo - laborating with the German security service, ple for the excesses of big business. arrested 23 of its members, including Tchakarian said: “With the crisis, we are Manouchian. destroying countries... It is here, now, the real After a one-day show trial they were all sen - dictatorship.” tenced to death. Tchakarian, a struggling apprentice tailor when Tchakarian slipped through the net thanks to he came to Paris in 1930, has been showered with Arsene Tchakarian a Paris police officer who hid him. He made his decorations for his wartime activities including way south to Bordeaux and continued his the Legion d’Honneur, France’s highest award. Resistance activities until the end of the war. Though he concedes he lives an easier life low Turkish-born Armenian Missak Returning to Paris was a shock, he said. Today, his home outside Paris is packed with these days, Tchakarian says he remains a radi - Manouchian. While many comrades, including “There were Germans everywhere, the Nazi flag archives on the Manouchian Group’s exploits, cal “revolted by the capitalist system.” Manouchian, were hunted down and executed, on the Eiffel Tower.” and he still visits schools to recount their “I’ll always belong to the working class,” he Tchakarian and a handful of others survived to He already knew Manouchian, a journalist wartime role. said. tell their story. and poet. It was Manouchian who supplied him “Not everyone likes what I have to say, but I Tchakarian was part of a network run by fel - With the death in November of fellow veter - with his first anti-Nazi pamphlets in 1942. don’t care,” he said. an 90-year-old Henry Karayan, he sees his mis - sion as all the more important. “In a way, I’m the last of the Mohicans,” he joked. Assen Armenian Like Manouchian, it was Tchakarian’s com - Canada Deports Rwandan Genocide Suspect munist convictions that led him to take up the Cemetery Opened, fight against the Nazis. TORONTO (PanARMENIAN.Net) — A adding Mugesera would most likely be held in Long before Nazi troops swept across Rwandan man charged with crimes against one of two prisons in Rwanda. Named for Dink Europe, Tchakarian was putting his beliefs to humanity has been deported from Canada and Mugesera, who says he fears torture or death the test on the streets of Paris. is due to arrive in the central African country if returned to Rwanda, spent years fighting his ASSEN, Holland — The Armenian resi - overnight, Rwanda’s justice minister said on deportation in various courts. He and his fami - dents of Assen, after an eight-year effort Code Name: ‘Charles’ Tuesday, January 24. ly lived in the predominantly French-speaking led by resident Nicolai Romashuk In February 1934, he was among a group of According to Reuters, Leon Mugesera, who province of Quebec. Hairabedian, have become the owners of communists who fought French fascists outside lost a 16-year battle to stay in Canada, will face The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 2005 a cemetery, which they have named in parliament during riots that some left-wing charges of inciting murder, extermination and that a speech Mugesera made in Rwanda in honor of the late Turkish-Armenian jour - commentators have described as a coup genocide. 1992 was a crime against humanity by inciting nalist Hrant Dink. attempt by the far right. Justice Minister Tharcisse Karugarama said he Hutus to kill Tutsis, whom he referred to as Said Hairabedian, “Because we are He later became active in the left-wing was told Mugesera was on a plane bound for cockroaches that should be exterminated. commemorating the fifth anniversary of Popular Front alliance, struggling for better Rwanda, after Canadian authorities said on Rwanda says Mugesera, who was a member the murder of Hrant Dink for five years, working conditions. Monday he would be deported as soon as possible. of the ruling Hutu party when he made the we have dedicated the cemetery to Hrant And when the war broke out in 1939 he was “There would be some security that is accom - speech, is a war criminal who was complicit in Dink.” among those sent east on a doomed mission to panying him and they would hand him over to the 1994 genocide, in which 800,000 Tutsis and confront the invading Nazi forces. Rwandan authorities,” Karugarama said, moderate Hutus died. S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 Community Ne ws

Lecture by Taner Akçam At NAASR on Judgment at Five More Istanbul: The Armenian Genocide Trials Received

BELMONT — Dr. Taner Akçam, the Robert Aram and Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen The ‘Gift of and Marian Mugar Professor of Modern Armenian History and Armenian Genocide Studies at Clark University, will give a lecture Hearing’ titled, “Judgment at Istanbul: The Armenian Genocide Trials,” on Thursday, February 16, at 8 p.m., at the National Association for LOS ANGELES — Just before the year ended, Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) four young children and one young adult Center, 395 Concord Ave. The lecture is co- received the “gift of hearing” due to the efforts sponsored by the Zoryan Institute for of the Armenian International Medical Fund Contemporary Armenian Research and (AIM Fund). Even though the “switch on” of Documentation, the Mashtots Chair in the cochlear implants took place on December Armenian Studies at Harvard University and 24, 2011, the surgeries were performed a NAASR. month before. The newly-published volume Judgment at AIM Fund’s ninth medical mission took place Istanbul (Berghahn Books), by Vahakn Dadrian in November 2011 by a team of volunteers from and Akçam, is a new, authoritative translation UCLA: Akira Ishiyama, MD, Salpy Akaragian, of the Key Indictments and Verdicts and RN-BC, MN, Don Kawachi and Shant detailed analysis of the Turkish Military Shekherdimian, MD. The cochlear implant surg - Tribunals concerning the crimes committed eries were performed at the Erebouni Medical against the Armenians during World War I. Center in Yerevan, under the leadership of The authors have compiled the documenta - Arthur Shukuryan, MD. Most of the patients tion of the trial proceedings for the first time in were children under the age of 5, two of whom English and situated them within their histori - had their impairment identified through neona - cal and legal context. These documents show tal hearing screenings, which are performed on that Wartime Cabinet ministers, Young Turk all newborns in Armenia. party leaders and a number of others inculpat - Workshop participants make sandwiches for a South Florida homeless shelter. In addition to the surgeries, during this mis - ed in these crimes were court-martialed by the sion state-of-the-art virtual training took place Turkish Military Tribunals in the years immedi - at the Armenian International Ear Center locat - ately following World War I. Most were found ed at Erebouni Medical Center. The chosen fel - guilty and received sentences ranging from ACYOA Chapter Workshop low, Gayane Sargsyan, and other ENT special - prison with hard labor to death. ists practiced drilling temporal bones (part of Judgment at Istanbul will be available for the skull near the ear) under the guidance purchase and signing the night of the lecture. Focuses on Strengthening tutorship of cochlear implant surgeon, Prof. Dr. In this lecture, Akçam will discuss the Akira Ishiyama. authors’ new findings and the importance of Although these surgeries are free for the these trials in light of recent scholarship, as well Local Chapters patients, the implants are costly — the implants as address the critiques of and attacks against are funded by AIM Fund and the Armenian gov - BOCA RATON, Fla. — Thirty-five ACYOA members from parishes across the the validity of the trials and documents discov - ernment, specifically Minister of Health Eastern Diocese gathered earlier this month for the ACYOA’s fourth annual ered through the proceedings. Harutun Kushkyan, MD. Today, 49 children and Chapter Workshop, hosted by St. Until recently, knowledge of the trials was young adults are able to enjoy sounds most peo - David Church. The workshop was limited to those trials whose indictments and ple take for granted due to the successful By Armen Terjimanian designed and facilitated by the seven- verdicts were published by the Takvim-i Vekâyi. results of their cochlear-implant surgeries. member ACYOA Central Council with Over the course of years of meticulous AIM fund plans to continue giving the “gift of the diocesan vicar, the Very Rev. research, Dadrian and Akçam discovered that hearing” to more children this year. To accom - Simeon Odabashian, serving as the workshop chaplain. there were as many as 62 trials. In Judgment at plish this goal, a fundraising event is scheduled Under the theme “We’re All In This Together,” the January 13-15 workshop Istanbul they not only list these until-now- for March 11, at Pandora on Green Restaurant aimed to provide an interactive atmosphere for participants to share successes, unknown cases but also analyze the political at 5:30 p.m. For more information, contact AIM struggles and advice on how to nurture and build their respective ACYOA parish conditions of the time and the history of these Fund at www.armenianimf.org. chapters while also providing opportunities for service, worship and Christian fel - trials. lowship. Akçam is the author of From Empire To The first night of the workshop started with an icebreaker where participants Republic: Turkish Nationalism and the worked in small groups. Their task was to complete a puzzle which spelled out Armenian Genocide and A Shameful Act: the words describing leadership skills they would later present to the full group, such Peter Musurlian Wins Two Armenian Genocide and Turkish as “dedication,” “communication” and “trust.” After another team-building session Responsibility , as well as numerous articles in see ACYOA, page 9 Golden Mikes, Interviews Turkish, German and English. His forthcoming book, The Young Turks’ Crime Against NBC’s Tom Brokaw about Humanity: The Armenian Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing in the Ottoman Empire , will Burbank be issued by Princeton University Press in April. BURBANK, Calif. — Veteran Broadcast Admission to the event is free (donations Journalist Peter Musurlian won two Golden appreciated). Mikes Saturday, January 21, at the 62nd Annual More information about the lecture is avail - Golden Mike Awards, organized by the Radio & able by e-mailing [email protected]. Television News Association of Southern California. The event was held at the Universal City Hilton and was attended by hundreds of work - ing radio and television journalists from media markets all around Southern California. Musurlian, who is the station manager and senior producer for the Burbank Channel, won for shooting and editing a feature story on the making of Burbank’s Centennial Rose Float. He also wrote and narrated the piece. Since 2002, Musurlian has won 10 Golden Mikes, in seven different categories, including: documentary, serious reporting, business reporting, entertainment reporting, videogra - phy, editing and producing the show “Burbank Magazine,” which he created in 1999. He is also nominated for four Los Angeles Area Emmys. ACYOA members speak about ways to strengthen their local chapters. The big honorees at the event were NBC’s Tom Brokaw, who was given the Broadcast Legend Taner Akçam Award and KCRW’s Warren Olney, who was pre - sented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. 6 S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS East Coast Transplant Who Rose to California Governorship Looks Back at Life of Service

lawyer who dabbled in real estate. The county counsel was Harold Kennedy, third term. They met at the Lafayette Hotel in By Kenneth Ofgang A former New York governor, Hugh Carey, who held the job from 1945 to 1967. Los Angeles. Deukmejian says he and Reagan graduated from the school a few years before Deukmejian, who was assigned to work on air hit it off immediately, and “remained friends Deukmejian, while Carey’s successor, Mario pollution issues, says he met “a lot of wonderful until his passing.” LOS ANGELES (Metropolitan News- Cuomo, got his degree a year after the future people,” including Baldo Kristovich, who later After the election, the new governor asked Enterprise) — It was the 1950s, a time when Californian. became the county public administra - the new senator to head up a group of law - the Golden State was just that, for so many. Deukmejian had an early interest in politics, tor/guardian, and John Larson, who later makers dedicated to implementing Reagan’s California’s population, 10.6 million in 1950, although he can’t recall exactly what attracted became county counsel. legislative program. grew by nearly half during the decade, with per - him to it. “Nobody in my family was active polit - But while he enjoyed the work and the peo - But while taking on more responsibility in sonal income growing nearly 150 percent in ically,” he notes. ple, Deukmejian says, he only stayed a year and the Legislature, Deukmejian had personal busi - that time. His first campaign, he explains, was that of a half. “I didn’t want to be in the public sector ness to attend to. As if his solo law practice had - Not every California dream worked out, of Thomas E. Dewey, his home-state governor who forever,” he explains, and he was taking on new n’t suffered enough with the extended sessions, course. But for a young lawyer from upstate made his second bid for the presidency in 1948. responsibilities. the 1966 election saw the enactment of a ballot New York, who took his older sister’s advice There was a Korean War-era draft, and his Living on the Westside at the time, he had measure backed by the Assembly’s top and came to Los Angeles, the decision worked Democrat, Jesse Unruh, to eliminate the budget out beyond anything he says he could have session and allow annual sessions of unlimited imagined. length. He has been a lawyer, a legislator, attorney It was, in effect, the beginning of the full-time general and governor. Now “trying to be Legislature, although lawmakers were still retired,” living “without demands,” George allowed to have outside business interests. Deukmejian is a 2011 MetNews Person of the The Lucas brothers were well-established in Year. Long Beach, having practiced together since Now 83, he speaks fondly of the village in 1954. Malcolm Lucas had met Deukmejian at a which he grew up, Menands, NY near Albany. bar meeting, he recalls. His parents were Armenians who emigrated “The quality I recognized right away was that from eastern Turkey, each in the first decade of this guy radiated honesty and integrity,” Lucas the 20th Century, then met in the Albany area. says. He attended local public schools as his father, “From the beginning and all throughout his also George Deukmejian, worked at a series of career, George took his role as an advocate and occupations. representative of the people very seriously,” the The elder Deukmejian had worked in New former chief justice, now a private judge, com - Haven, Conn., as a photographer, before com - ments. “George was always well-liked by both ing to the New York capitol region, where he sides. He worked well with...opposing counsel operated photo shops with a brother. That and [in public office with] those of differing enterprise was not ultimately successful, and he political views.” moved on to a local department store, operat - Campbell Lucas — who later was appointed ing an Oriental rug concession. by Deukmejian as presiding justice of Div. Five That didn’t work out, either. “It was hard to of this district’s Court of Appeal and is now sell Oriental rugs in the Depression,” his son deceased — received his own Superior Court remembers, so he closed down the business and appointment from Reagan in 1970. That led became a jobber, buying paper products which Deukmejian and another lawyer who had he then sold to retailers. joined the firm, Donald Dyer, to merge their His mother, he notes, also worked outside the George Deukmejian with then-Gov. Ronald Reagan practice with a well-established Long Beach home, at least from the time he was 6. firm, Riedman, Dalessi & Woods, which became The all-consuming event of his youth, as one Riedman, Dalessi, Deukmejian, Woods & Dyer. might imagine, was World War II, which induction had been deferred as long as he was met Gloria Saatjian, a Long Beach resident, at a Then-partner Fred Woods is now a justice of America joined when he was 13. a student. So in June 1952, he graduated from wedding in Pasadena, and they were married in Div. Seven of this district’s Court of Appeal, to “The war dominated our life in those days,” St. John’s, passed the New York bar exam and 1957. He moved to his wife’s hometown and which Deukmejian appointed him in 1988. he recalls. “[T]here was not much in the way of took a state job he knew would be temporary began looking for opportunities in private prac - Gaining public attention with his advocacy of any divisions….There was a lot of pride in the while he waited for the call from Uncle Sam, tice. anti-crime legislation, Deukmejian rose to the way the war was going, especially after D-Day.” which came in February 1953. He noticed that the Belmont Shore area of Republican Senate leadership within three That day — June 6, 1944 — happened to fall “I was sent to Ft. Dix [in New Jersey] for 16 the city was virtually unlawyered. He joined the years, and decided to run for attorney general on his 16th birthday. weeks of infantry basic training,” he explains, local business association, where he gained a in 1970. While some law enforcement groups It was also a time of great sadness, of course, “and got into the best shape I’ve ever been in.” number of small businesses and individuals as backed him, he came in last of four candidates, as over 400,000 Americans lost their lives. As a law school graduate, and despite the fact clients, and was soon asked to serve as the as the better known and better funded Evelle A senior in high school when the war ended, he was no more than “a buck private out of group’s president. That led to a stint on the Younger, district attorney of Los Angeles Deukmejian wanted to go to college, an oppor - basic training,” he was able to wangle a coveted board of the Long Beach Chamber of County, won the primary and later, the general tunity that had not been available to his immi - assignment to Paris as a member of a team that Commerce, and a chance to meet the city’s election. grant parents or his older sister, who had left evaluated financial claims by French civilians. It “movers and shakers,” he recalls. Fortunately for Deukmejian, some quirky high school in order to work. (She later gradu - was more like being a lawyer than a soldier, he He also volunteered to help Republican can - legislative politics enabled him to run statewide ated from UCLA.) notes, as a handful of military personnel didates, including the local assemblyman, without giving up his Senate seat. Money being scarce, he went to Siena worked in an office with 22 French civilians, William Grant, whose 1960 re-election effort he The new Long Beach district was originally College, a Franciscan institution in Albany. “I mostly translators. volunteered for. supposed to be the 34th, meaning that was very appreciative that there was an afford - So PFC Deukmejian was given a subsistence The Deukmejians had no children at the time Deukmejian would have had a four-year term. able school,” close enough that he could live at allowance to live in the city and buy civilian and the Legislature was an attractive place for But John Schmitz, the ultra-conservative home, while working part-time and during vaca - clothing. He later was sent to Fontainebleu, an upwardly mobile young lawyer because the Republican who had been the sole senator from tions, he recounts. about 30 miles south-southeast of the city cen - work was part-time. Orange County, and was thought to be contro - He had several jobs, including serving as the ter, where the Supreme Headquarters Allied And then came 1966, one of the busiest years versial enough to be at risk of losing a primary, vacation replacement for the only paid member Powers Europe, or SHAPE, was established, to of his career. In addition to the lengthy legisla - balked at being reapportioned into a two-year of a local volunteer fire department and filling “brush up on tactics,” although the Army tive calendar, he had a new electorate to face. term, so the numbers were switched. kerosene tanks for an oil delivery company. “never asked me to go out on a firing range or The US Supreme Court had handed down a Deukmejian thus started with a two-year He was also an assistant manager for Tom anything like that.” series of decisions between 1962 and 1964 term, then won a four-year term with 91 per - Thumb, a company that sold ice cream from He returned stateside in 1955, going home to known as the “one-man, one-vote” cases. The cent of the vote in 1968, when only the trucks. His major was sociology, he chuckles. “If Albany, at first. But his sister had moved to Los court said that legislative and congressional dis - American Independent Party put up an oppo - it was up to me now I think I would have been Angeles with the man she married in 1950 and tricts could no longer be drawn so as to make nent. a business major,” he says. she encouraged her younger brother to visit, so the votes of rural residents worth more than In 1974, with Younger expected to run for He obtained his degree, and was admitted to he made a cross-country drive. those of voters in urban areas. governor, Deukmejian was preparing for a sec - the law school at St. John’s University in New He liked what he saw, and so he flew home, While the California Assembly at the time ond try at the attorney general’s post. York City. wound up his affairs, and moved to California was apportioned on the basis of population, the Fundraisers were held around the state, but “It was reasonable, $300 a semester,” he for good. state Constitution provided that no county Younger — who wound up running four years remembers. He couldn’t practice here, of course, so he could have more than one senator. So Los later and losing to incumbent Jerry Brown — Life in the big city was a lot different from got a job with Texaco in its Land and Lease Angeles County, with nearly 40 percent of the decided the timing wasn’t right and ran for re- that upstate. Department while studying for the bar exam. state’s population at the time, was represented election instead. “Oh boy, that was a big change,” he remem - Failing on the first try was “discouraging,” he by just one of 40 members of the upper house. So Deukmejian curtailed his campaign and bers. “I’d never been out of my area.” says, but in retrospect is understandable. Under judicial mandate, the California Senate refunded donations to contributors. The law school, which moved to its current “I was rusty, and I didn’t know California was reapportioned, giving Los Angeles County While he wound up not running in 1974, he Queens location in 1972, was then located in a law,” he explains. He passed on the second try its proportional share of the upper chamber, retained the allegiance of supporters, who were 14-story building in downtown Brooklyn. and was hired as a deputy county counsel, one some 13 seats. there for him again when he won the office in Deukmejian and three roommates moved into a of only about three dozen lawyers in the office That was the same year Ronald Reagan won 1978. One of those was Marvin Baxter, a Brooklyn apartment building owned by a at the time. the governorship, upending Brown’s bid for a continued on next page S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS

from previous page The attorney general ultimately beat the Deukmejian rejects criticism from those Fresno lawyer at the time and now a state lieutenant governor by about 7 percentage who say that his opposition to the three was Supreme Court justice. points, and went into the general election an an attack on judicial independence. The 1970 race was an uphill battle, though. underdog to Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, The result, he says, was not surprising. “He was a very young legislator,” Baxter whose path to the Democratic nomination “They were very, very unpopular.” recalls. “And he didn’t have the funds or expo - had been considerably smoother. His own role in their rejection, he adds, sure to compete effectively against Younger.” “I finally determined that maybe we had a should not be overstated. With Younger running for governor in 1978, chance,” Deukmejian recounts. “When all the The actual work of taking on Bird, Reynoso, the stage was set for another Deukmejian run votes were counted, we won by 93,000.” and Grodin at the ballot box was done by oth - for attorney general. Better known and better The transition from a liberal Democratic ers, including Robert Philibosian, who had funded than before, he had a single primary administration to a conservative Republican served as Chief Deputy to then-Attorney opponent, James L. Browning Jr., a former US one, was “very difficult, very demanding,” he General Deukmejian and later as Los Angeles attorney for the Northern District of California. says. “You have to start making key appoint - district attorney. Easily dispatching Browning — whom he ments — the governor’s immediate staff, The success of the campaign, Philibosian later appointed to the trial bench in San Mateo major agency heads — deliver an inaugural says now, enabled Deukmejian to appoint con - County — in the primary, Deukmejian was an address, deal with the budget [and] make an servative justices to the court and “literally early underdog in the general election, in address to the joint session of the Legislature. changed the course of California history.” which his opponent was Yvonne B. Burke, then And all of this over the holidays.” While Deukmejian did many great things as a member of Congress who had won a close As expected, the new administration governor, Philibosian says, his judicial Democratic contest with Burt Pines, then the appointed many judges from the ranks of appointments were “a real legacy.” He Los Angeles city attorney. prosecutors, as well as business lawyers. But “appointed people who would adhere to the Looking back, Burke — who later became a both Deukmejian and Baxter say they are ethics and principles” that he himself Los Angeles County supervisor — says the state especially proud of their efforts to diversify espoused, and many of them still serve today, may not have been ready for an African- George Deukmejian with President Gerald Ford the bench, particularly when it came to the former district attorney, now a lawyer in American woman in the post, 32 years before women lawyers. private practice in Los Angeles, comments. the election of current Attorney General Working with Judith Chirlin, serving as liai - As the easily re-elected governor of the Kamala Harris. But she adds that Deukmejian appoint a different kind of jurist, a pledge he son between the administration and California nation’s largest state, Deukmejian became the did well as attorney general, and said she made good on later. Women Lawyers and later a Deukmejian subject of the inevitable talk about being on “never had any problems working with him” But the road to the GOP gubernatorial nom - appointee to the Los Angeles Superior Court, the national ticket in 1988. California was con - when he was governor. ination was not the cakewalk that the attorney Baxter came up with an impressive list of judi - sidered a battleground state then, and some Burke, Deukmejian says now, was simply ill- general primary had been. Lt. Gov. Mike Curb cial appointments, male and female, the ex- thought that as the vice-presidential nominee, suited as a candidate for that particular office. got a jump on the attorney general and had governor says. he might make the difference in the outcome. Although Brown was re-elected governor in raised $1 million, “which in those days was a Chirlin, now executive director of the But had he been elected vice president, 1978, there was a conservative mood in the lot of money,” Deukmejian says. Pasadena-based Western Justice Center then-Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy, a Democrat, state, as voters that year approved another “We started late and had a lot of catching up Foundation, says the governor “did a terrific would have succeeded him. So he wrote then- death penalty initiative — the one Deukmejian to do,” he recalls, but was able to raise more job,” with women gaining 20 percent or more Vice President and presidential nominee had sponsored six years earlier was thrown out than $8.5 million with the help of a finance of jobs. George H.W. Bush in August, while on a trade by the state Supreme Court, committee headed by Los Angeles attorney Early on, the Senate rejected his appoint - mission to South Korea, saying he could not As attorney general, he argued personally in Karl Samuelian, a partner in the firm of Parker, ment of Michael Franchetti, his former chief be considered. two cases — one on the death penalty and the Milliken, Clark, O’Hara & Samuelian. deputy attorney general, who had worked He had no animus against McCarthy, he famous Tanner case in which the state high Samuelian, now retired from the firm that under Merksamer on the transition team, as explains, but if he had left office at the time, court upheld the “Use a Gun, Go to Prison” still bears his name, said he knew Deukmejian finance director. the Democrats would have had full control of law. during his time as a state senator and attorney He realized, he says, that the lawmakers the executive and legislative branches of gov - Many of Brown’s appointments to the general, and was attracted to a fellow had their own ideology and constituencies to ernment. He says he “couldn’t bring myself to bench, in particular Chief Justice Rose Bird, Armenian American. answer to, and that his small victory margin do that, to benefit me personally.” had come under heavy criticism. “Jerry’s “I believed in him,” the attorney explains. didn’t help. “I hadn’t been elected by a land - As the 1990 election approached, judges,” as they were dubbed, were often liber - “He was a solid candidate,” someone to whom slide, but I was a former legislator. I thought Deukmejian neither encouraged nor discour - al, more concerned with making policy than donors were attracted, “very strong on fiscal they’d give me a little deference.” aged speculation that he would run for a third following the law, and often inexperienced, crit - issues and on law enforcement issues.” After disastrous experiences like his meet - term. “It had been 28 years” in public office, ics charged. “He knew what he was talking about,” ing with the Democratic senators and addi - he points out. “That was enough. I accom - If elected, Deukmejian vowed, he would Samuelian says, “and he was 100 percent credible.” tional meetings with Democratic committee plished what we set out to do. I never dreamed chairs, some of whom “were nothing but con - I’d be governor of California….I was very frontational,” he developed a new approach. thankful, but it was time to turn it over to “I finally told the staff we’re not accom - some younger people.” Great opportunity to plishing anything,” and that from then on, He decided to return home to Long Beach, Deukmejian says, when he needed to meet and to practice law in the Los Angeles area. with legislators, there would be five people in He says he spoke to eight law firms before set - the room — himself, the president pro tem of tling on Chicago-based Sidley & Austin, “a study in Armenia and the Senate, the speaker of the Assembly, and very large and old firm going back to the days the minority leaders of the two chambers. of Abraham Lincoln.” “That’s how the ‘Big 5’ got started,” he It was 1991, his first year at Sidley, “I was receive college credit explains, referring to what became a standard just sort of getting used to my surroundings mode of operation. and for the first time in my life I was starting The approach worked, he notes, because the to make some money,” he explains. He was in Northeastern University’s Dialogue of Civilizations program has been sending stu - speaker at the time, Willy Brown, D-San Washington on business, and was renewing dents to Armenia for the past three years to learn about Armenia’s history, politics, Francisco, “was a very pragmatic leader.” acquaintances with President George H.W. and culture. Classes are held in English at the American University of Armenia and Brown, he says, “knew his caucus very well” Bush, who had narrowly carried California and “could tell me whether he had the votes with the governor’s help, as well as with two are supplemented by numerous field trips. Students earn eight college credits. The for something or didn’t.” former governors, Attorney General Richard program will be held in Yerevan from late May to late June 2012. Visit the website: Brown, he jokes, “would [publicly] call me Thornburgh and Bush’s chief of staff, John http://www.northeastern.edu/internationalaffairs/learning_coop/dialogue/ the part of the horse that went over the fence Sununu. last, but we worked well together.” Relations Thornburgh was planning to leave office to with Senate President Pro Tem David Roberti, run in a special election for the Senate in Qualified non-Northeastern college students may apply. Contact Gregory D-Los Angeles, were a little more complicated, Pennsylvania. At one point during the meet - Aftandilian, adjunct faculty member, at [email protected] or phone 703- he posits, because power in the Senate is less ing, the attorney general and Sununu stepped 402-9134. centralized. out, so Deukmejian and the president were “He had a balancing act with the Rules alone, and the president told him, as he Committee,” Deukmejian explains, “but it all recounts it: worked out pretty well.” The administration “I know you and John have talked about “accomplished what we set out to do,” includ - [succeeding Thornburgh] and I really want ing creating an improved business climate, he you to consider it.” comments. He declined, he explains, but “I told him ‘If Deukmejian entered the 1986 campaign as you can’t get anybody else, I’ll reconsider it.’ ” an odds-on favorite for re-election. The state’s The president subsequently appointed economy was doing well, voters were giving Thornburgh’s deputy, William Barr, to the credit to the governor for bringing the state position. budget into surplus after discovering a $1.5 Deukmejian remained at Sidley until 2000, billion deficit when he took office, and his crit - then moved on to a quiet retirement in Long icism of the liberal majority on the state high Beach, where he is still one of the city’s most court was resonating. recognizable citizens. He made the still-controversial decision to State Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, announce that he would vote against three strongly supported the renaming. The ex-gov - incumbents on that year’s retention ballot — ernor and his wife, he says, “have achieved Bird and Justices Cruz Reynoso and Joseph almost beloved status” in the city. Grodin. All three were swept from office, the Deukmejian, the senator says, “has served only three members of the appellate bench to his city and state so well…I can’t think of any - suffer that fate in the 78 years since contested one who deserves it [to have the courthouse elections for those positions were abolished. named for him] more.” 8 S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR OBITUARY

Abrahamian, Lucy Simonian and Roxie Gregory Abrahamian Maljanian and his brothers-in-law, Arthur Simonian and John Maljanian. Especially close NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — Gregory An active member of the Armenian Church to him were his parish priest, the Rev. Kapriel Abrahamian, 81, died Thursday, January 5, after of the Holy Resurrection in New Britain, he Mouradjian, whose prayers and visitations were a lengthy illness. He was the husband of Mary was instrumental in the building of the pre - most comforting and his devoted friend, Bill (Yessian) Abrahamian for 56 years. sent church on Stanley Street in 1982. He Higgins whose daily visits were most welcomed. He was born on October 24, 1930, in New served selflessly on the Building Committee He also leaves cousins, Jennie Garabedian and Britain, to the late John Hovhaness where he volunteered as project engineer and Philip Pilibosian and nephews and nieces, Mark Abrahamian and Mary (Halajian) Abrahamian. general contractor. In his honor, the church Simonian, Guy Simonian, Craig Simonian, He was educated in New Britain schools, grad - auditorium was named after his parents, the Arthur Simonian, Debra Maljanian-Kerr, Susan uating from New Britain High School in 1948. John and Mary Abrahamian Auditorium. He Sagherian, John Maljanian Jr., John He attended Indiana Tech College and graduat - served on the Parish Council for many years Abrahamian, Dr. Lori Pirundini and Rachel ed in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engi - and was the Diocese Delegate for many terms. Boloyan and their spouses. He also leaves 20 neering. On October 17, 2010, Abrahamian was pre - grandnieces and grandnephews. He was employed for a short time by the state sented the St. Vartan award by the Diocese of He was predeceased by brother Paul of Connecticut Highway Department. In 1959, the Armenian Church of North America for his Abrahamian. he began employment with the City of New exemplary leadership and devoted service to In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gregory Abrahamian Britain serving in many capacities. He was the the Armenian Church of the Holy the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection, assistant engineer and acting chief engineer in Resurrection. 1910 Stanley St., New Britain, CT 06053. the Water Department until 1964, when he was He belonged to the Shuttle Meadow Country appointed to the Engineering Department, ris - Club, the New Britain Elks Club, the ing to director of engineering from 1970 to Professional Engineering Society, the Edward D. Jamakordzian, Jr. d/b/a 1980. In 1981, he began employment with the Armenian Democratic Liberals and the Mattabassett District in Cromwell as executive Armenian Seniors at the Armenian Church of director until his retirement in 1993. the Holy Resurrection and the Garmery His hobbies included tending to his vegetable Kharpert Benevolent Society. Edward D. Jamie, Jr. garden, playing golf, flying after getting his pri - In addition to his wife, he leaves his children, vate pilot’s license at age 60, cooking Armenian Lee Abrahamian of New York City, Diane Roy LicensedFinuNneweYrorak landCNhewaJperseey l style, playing cards, reading, especially the daily and her husband, Dr. Gerard Roy, of 208-17 Northern Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361 passages of the Holy Bible, which sustained him Farmington, Conn., Gregory Abrahamian of Service any hour, through his illness, and uniting annually with Baltimore, Md. and David Abrahamian of any distance (718) 224-2390 or toll his old buddies from the Championship Royals Farmington; three grandchildren, Jack, Sam free (888) 224-6088 basketball team from the YMCA in the 1940s. and Lily Roy; his sisters-in-law, Margaret Dr. Antranig Zoulikian Nardolillo Funeral Home Longtime Supporter of Tekeyan Est. 1906 John K. Najarian, Jr. LONDON — Dr. Antranig Zoulikian, a long - a number of articles and publications referring time supporter of the Tekeyan Trust and the to the problems of Armenians all over the world Rhode Island’s Only Licensed Armenian Funeral Director Tekeyan Centre Fund, died at St. Helier and pursued the Great Genocide in favour of 1278 Park Ave. Cranston, RI 02910 (401) 942-1220 Hospital on January 14. our nation. 1111 Boston Neck Rd. Narragansett, RI 02882 (401) 789-6300 Zoulikian was one of the national, social fig - Despite his bad health during the last years, ures of the London-Armenian Community. he continued writing articles, corresponding www.nardolillo.com A surgeon, he was a member of Fellow of and working with various institutions and mass Royal College of Surgeons /FRCS/ as well as a media of the diaspora. member of the London Armenian Doctors’ A great patriot, thinker and a man of princi - Union. Simultaneously to his professional activ - ples, Zoulikian remained faithful to his ideas, ities, Zoulikian was deeply involved in commu - the Motherland and the Armenian Church until nity life and patriotic activities. He dedicated the end of his life. his services to the Mihran Damadian Club Vartan Ouzounian, chair of the Tekeyan (1980-1998), the Church Council of the London Centre Fund (Armenia) and honorary secretary GF UiNrEaRgAoL sHiaOMn E Armenian Community, the Armenian General of the Tekeyan Trust London, said in a state - Benevolent Union and the Tekeyan Cultural ment, “At this sorrowful moment, on behalf of James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC Association (1970-1987). He was also a member the Tekeyan Trust London and Tekeyan Centre Funeral Counselor of the Board of Trustees of the Tekeyan Trust Fund (Armenia,) I extend my deepest sympa - 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 London as well as Tekeyan Centre Fund, thies on the passing of Dr. Antranig Zoulikian Armenia, from 1996 to 2008. to his family, relatives and friends who share www.giragosianfuneralhome.com From 1980 to 1987, Zoulikian was the editor- the great loss. Dr. Zoulikian will always remain in-chief of the Erebouni, a biweekly published very much alive in the memory of all those who by he Tekeyan Trust for many years. He wrote loved, respected and treasured him.” Telephone (617) 924-7400 Samuel Maserejian Aram Bedrosian MASEREJIAN, from page 1 Sarine Nigoghosian; brother, Krikor Maserejian, Maserejian was in and out of Mt. Auburn of Waltham, Kevork Maserejian of Arlington Funeral Home, Inc. Hospital in Cambridge for some time and was and Zareh Maserejian and Souren Maserejian, Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital both of Belmont. on Friday, January 13, shortly before his death. The funeral service and a celebration of his MARION BEDROSIAN He was born in Aleppo, Syria, on February 7, life was held at the Armenian Memorial Church 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN 1940. When he was 4, during a picnic in the on Saturday, January 21. In spite of the snow - WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN mountains nearby, he was lost and presumed storm, the church was packed with relatives dead. After 48 hours, Maserejian was found by and friends. Rev. Avedis Boynerian officiated. local shepherds and brought back home. That is Zareh Maserejian, in his eulogy said that why he was named the “Lost and Found” of the “Sam was the singing bird of the family, when family. At 16, Maserejian traveled to Kuwait City we were all together for happy or sad occasions; Donation to make a life for himself. During his stay there he was the one who prolonged our happiness for 17 years, he helped the local priest during with his songs or ease our sadness with In memory of our mother Siranoush Hovsepian, aunts, Esgouhi Simonian and Sirvart Simonian, the Sunday mass and during funerals, weddings Armenian recitations and proverbs. He loved and Godmother Maritza Ohannessian, we donate $100 to the Armenian Mirror-Spectator. and baptisms because he had a great voice and humanity, he loved every body.” Charles Hovsepian, New Britain, CT recited the prayers very well. In Kuwait, he mar - Sam Maserejian’s daughter, Ani, in her eulo - Ruth & Wil Swisher of Newington, CT ried Eugeny Osanna Tekeyan and had two gy said “My father did not have a high educa - daughters, Silva and Ani. In 1972, Maserejian tion, but he used to help me and my sister, and his family immigrated to US and joined his Silva, in our homework when we were in high brothers and parents. school. He was a happy man, filling our lives He was an active member of Armenian with jokes, sometimes repeated jokes, which Secretary Needed General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and local were better presented each time. I did every - organizations and participated with Krikor thing for him to have peace and comfort during Satamian in presenting theatrical presentations his last days on this earth, and I am sure he is The Armenian Evangelical Church of New York is seeking an in Massachusetts and New York. in heaven now, united with our mother and experienced bilingual secretary (Western Armenian and His wife passed away in 1996. He is survived telling her the same jokes.” by children, Silva Emerian and her husband, Internment was at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, in English). Computer proficiency a must (Microsoft). Part time Jayson, of Fresno, Calif. and Ani Nigoghosian Cambridge. Family, relatives and friends attend - or full time. Please call 1 (609) 466-0226. and her husband, Vahe, of Waltham, Mass.; ed a memorial dinner at the church hall after - grandchildren, Silas and James Emerian and wards. S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS ACYOA Chapter Workshop Focuses on Strengthening Local Chapters

ACYOA, from page 5 — a quiz using “Armenian Church Hye Q” game cards, which tested the young parishioners’ knowledge of the Armenian Church and culture — evening vespers concluded the first night’s events. Saturday began with morning matins, after which Central Council Chair Danny Mantis led a session on “Mission, Team, and Organization,” challenging the workshop par - ticipants to understand the ACYOA’s mission and the resources the organization has to make it succeed. Participants were told that a clear mission, balanced team and healthy organiza - tion were important aspects of a successful chapter. Participants were asked to analyze the “health” of their respective chapters, and they discussed with Central Council members what they thought would make for a successful ACYOA chapter. “It’s great how chapters in the same region are able to work together for the same common goal: To create a solid ACYOA organization,” said Alyne Corrigan from St. Stepanos Church of Elberon, NJ. “I’m looking forward to this upcom - ing year.” Participants were then broken up into groups based on geographic regions to brainstorm ideas for events and put together a 12-month Chapter Workshop participants pose for a group photo with the Very Rev. Nareg Berberian. calendar using guidelines for goalsetting and the “Circle of Crosses” chart. After a service lunch, where participants made over 100 sandwiches for a South Florida Participants were happy with what they got homeless shelter, a Bible study was led by out of the weekend. Odabashian on the 2012 Diocesan theme of lay “This weekend was an incredible experience ministry. Participants were divided into three that I shared with individuals who, like me, small groups to allow for better conversation. have a common goal of bringing together our The study groups were guided by Odabashian; Armenian youth through social events, church the Very Rev. Nareg Berberian, pastor of St. and other activities,” said Andrew Khachatryan David Church and Garen Karamyan, the youth from the St. Sarkis Church of Carrollton, Texas. director of Holy Martyrs Church of Bayside, NY. “We as ACYOA board members want our youth A panel discussion followed on the challenges to be closer to God, and our bond through faced by the ACYOA. The panel discussion tack - workshops like this makes me feel blessed.” led questions such as what is the Central Since the program began in 2009, more than Council’s role in the ACYOA and how can chap - 100 ACYOA chapter leaders from 27 parishes ters overcome a lack of participation at events. have participated in similar chapter workshops. The Armenian Sisters’ Academy, Lexington, MA

30th Anniversary Gala Event

The Very Rev. Simeon Odabashian leads a Bible study discussion.

AIWA Scholarship Applications Now Available, Including Special Awards in the Sciences

BOSTON — The Armenian International full-time female students of Armenian descent Women’s Association (AIWA) is now accepting attending accredited colleges or universities. applications for scholarship awards for the Students entering their junior or senior year in 2012-2013 academic year. college, as well as graduate students, are eligi - In addition to awards in the humanities and ble to apply for the awards, which are based on social sciences, grants are available to students financial need and merit. in the sciences through the Lucy Kasparian The Aharonian science awards were initiat - Aharonian scholarships, granted by AIWA in ed in 2007 in memory of the late Lucy conjunction with the Society for Women Kasparian Aharonian, an active member of Engineers — Boston Chapter. the Society of Women Engineers, who Saturday, February 11, 2012, 6:30 pm Students in the fields of science, mathemat - enjoyed a long career in software engineering Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, Boston ics, engineering, technology, computer sciences even while raising a family. With degrees in and architecture are eligible for Aharonian mathematics and business administration, Awards of $2,000 to $6,000 (juniors and she worked for several major firms in the seniors) or up to $10,000 (MS and PhD stu - Boston area and also taught on various lev - Keynote Speaker, His Excellency, dents). els. Later, she embarked on a second career In addition, AIWA offers a number of schol - as a basket artist. Rouben Shugarian, arships for female students in all academic Applications for all AIWA scholarships for the former Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia fields, ranging in value from $500 to $2,000. 2012-2013 academic year are available on-line The program was initiated with the Agnes K. or can be requested by mail. The deadline for Missirian Scholarship, which was established in applications is April 10. Winners will be memory of the professor of management at announced at the association’s annual meeting Musical Entertainment by: Bentley College (Waltham, Mass.), a strong in May. advocate for women’s rights. Further information about scholarships and Elie Berberian Also available for students in all academic other AIWA programs to advance the status of fields are Dr. Carolann S. Najarian, Ethel Armenian women is available from AIWA’s new Jafferian Duffett, Rose A. Hovannesian and website (www.aiwainternational.org), or by mail For tickets and table reservations, Zarouhi Y. Getsoyan scholarships. from 65 Main St., #3A, Watertown, MA, 02472 please contact the school office at (781) 861-8303 AIWA scholarships are awarded annually to or e-mail: [email protected]. 10 S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Ne w York M E T R O

The spirit of the season shone brightly at HMADS. HMADS Students Present Fun, Festive Christmas Program

deliver personalized gifts for each child at the By Lana Kazangian school. Mr. and Mrs. Dikran Cherchian, along with Jaque Minoyan, Roupen Aslanian, Tony Tahmisyan and HMADS Alumnus Allen OAKLAND GARDENS, N.Y. — On Friday, Nisanyan joined forces to make Christmas hap - December 23, 2011, the 80 Holy Martyrs pen like no other year before. On their own ini - Armenian Day School (HMADS) students — tiative, these individuals pooled funds, hand- from 3-year-olds in nursery through the gradu - selected gifts, with the help of HMADS fourth- ating seniors in the sixth grade — put on an grade teacher Talar Aydin and wrapped and unforgettable show, wowing parents, grandpar - delivered them on the night of the Hantes to ents, friends, alumni, guests and VIPs alike, the children. These young benefactors gave all with song, dance, recitation and comedy in two a reminder that the true spirit of Christmas is languages. about giving — and in this instance, giving back Starting the year, HMADS Principal Zarminé to their alma mater and for the education of the Boghosian knew it would be like no other, as young. this year, the school is celebrating its 45th HMADS is also the recipient of another gen - anniversary and its 30th graduating class. “I am erous Christmas gift from the proceeds of a tra - so proud of our students,” said Boghosian. ditional Annual Thanksgiving Eve Party that is “They exemplify what HMADS has accom - sponsored by five young organizations in the plished through its 45-year history — providing community. the children of the community with a competi - At the end of the program, the HMADS tive New York State education and an unsur - Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) presented a passable attention to Armenian literacy.” check for $5,000 as a result of a year-long The program began with the opening prayer fundraising efforts, parent volunteerism and delivered by Fr. Bedros Kadehjian, the interim contributions. “We are very proud to be a sup - pastor of Armenian Church of the Holy port to HMADS,” said PTO Co-Chair Liza Martyrs. Notable at the event was the presence Andreopoulos, “because it gives so much to our of Rev. Vertanes Kalayjian, from Washington children, and has given so much for the past 45 DC, (brother of principal Boghosian), who years.” The PTO presents a check for $5,000. spoke briefly at the program’s conclusion, giv - The school looks forward to its 45th-anniver - ing Christmas Blessings to the school and all sary celebration this year, commemorated with present. Also in attendance were St. Vartan a Gala Concert in the Church of the Holy area. Oakland Gardens, Queens. Students graduate Cathedral Choir Director Khoren Meikanedjian, Martyrs on Saturday, January 28, 7:30 p.m., fea - HMADS is a New York-based private elemen - with dual fluency in English and Armenian, HMADS board members, volunteers and mem - turing HMADS Choir and a number of tary school, fully accredited by the New York along with pride and knowledge of their her - bers of the media. renowned artists from the Greater Metropolitan State Department of Education, operates in itage. The Christmas program was full of non-stop top-of-the-line entertainment. The Class of 2012 were the emcees of the evening. The Nursery class’ Nativity scene was as ethereal and spiri - tual as it was adorable. Ballet buffs loved Kindergarten’s rendition of Tchaikovsky’s Pas De Trois (instructor Medeia Mark). All grades recited and sang in both English and Armenian, with old favorites like Gaghant Baban Aha Yegav and Gaghant Baban Oosh e Munaster , as well as new presentations like the avant- garde (not to mention quite comedic) Couch Potato Santa by the fifth and sixth graders. The one-and-a-half-hour show was nostalgic, as well as light and funny, full of Christmas cheer and the true joy of the season. The HMADS children shined on stage — in costume and their fancy attire — for their parents and all of the show’s guests alike. The success of this very entertaining and cel - ebratory evening was due to the combined efforts of HMADS faculty including choirmaster Anahid Boghossian, pianist Nevart Z. Dadourian, Armenian Language Department teachers: Houri Ghougassian, Anie Manuelian and Socy Nigdelian, all the teachers of the indi - vidual grades and the strong leadership of the principal. Of course, no Christmas is complete without a visit from Gaghant Baba (Santa Claus) him - self. A group of generous young representatives The students perform at the Hantes. of the community came together to help Santa S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 Ne w York M E T R O HMADS Celebrates 45th Anniversary with Gala Benefit Concert

setting: the church itself with its heavenly drives, and volunteer when called upon in ser - By Lana Kazangian acoustics. With the participation of the afore - vice to the school. HMADS is now in its “grand - mentioned artists, as well as a symbolic proces - parenting” stage, with some of its former stu - sion of 45 students and alumni of the school, the dents, now grown, married and sending their OAKLAND GARDENS, N.Y. — Holy Martyrs entire evening will surely delight from start to fin - children to the school. “As a proud alumna of Armenian Day School (HMADS) is marking its ish. Special attention is being given to all artistic the school,” said Jackie Baklajian-Baron, 45th anniversary this year. Starting in 1967 as elements of the concert, from costumes to HMADS parent and PTO executive member, the Hye Bardez Nursery School, the school grew ambiance, and all in-between details, to maximize “I’m further proud that I can pass on the lega - from only a nursery program to a comprehensive the beauty of the musical experience, and pay cy of HMADS to my son, who is now a second nursery through sixth grade elementary school, homage to the prestigious occasion. grader in the school I graduated from.” fully accredited by the New York State Board of In comparison to most schools of its caliber, Housed in the community center wing of the Education. To date, 265 students have graduat - HMADS is tiny, but let there be no mistake — Church of the Holy Martyrs, HMADS is non- ed from the school, with a competitive American HMADS has plenty of power in its punch. Year Boghosian, the principal of HMADS. “It is affiliated and is supported by various organiza - education coupled with intense study in after year, HMADS produces a graduating class heartwarming to see the fruit of our labor is tions, as well as individual benefactors. This Armenian language, history and culture. of sixth graders with a strong academic footing not only the education, but also the love and year marks 45 years of its inception and the To commemorate the great resource that and ever-grounded in their pride and knowl - camaraderie nurtured within these walls.” 30th graduating class. HMADS has been to the New York community, edge of their Armenian language and culture. Throughout its years, HMADS has done more Tickets are almost sold out and may be pur - parents past and present, friends, supporters They go on after graduation to successful than just educate kids — it has lent a hand in chased by contacting the HMADS School and school staff are organizing a gala benefit junior high and high school terms, and later on, establishing and developing a true community, Office. All proceeds will benefit the Holy concert for the school in the Church of the Holy to recognition in their college and professional a family of friends, supporters, parents current Martyrs Armenian Day School www.hmads.org. Martyrs in Oakland Gardens on Saturday, careers. and past, alumni, who have benefited in their A gala champagne reception will follow the January 28. The concert, set to begin at 7:30 “I am so touched that this concert has such own ways from HMADS, and continue to par - concert in HMADS’ Kalustyan Hall. All atten - p.m., will showcase the talents of many local overwhelming support,” said Zarminé ticipate in its events, donate to its fundraising dees and participants of the concert are invited. vocalists such as lyric soprano Anoosh Barclay, baritone Vagharshag Ohanyan, mezzo soprano Hasmik Meikhanedjian and contemporary artist Hooshere. Instrumental musicians fea - tured are violinist Diana Vasilyan, international 40th Anniversary Celebration of Armenian and prize-winning pianist Tania Gabrielian and accompanist Janet Marcarian. Also participat - ing in the concert will be the HMADS Choir, Sunday Schools Establishment in White Plains composed of the upper-grade students of HMADS, under the direction of conductor/lyric WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — December 4, 2011 who also ordained three young men in minor this parish. … Although we can firmly state that soprano Anahid Boghossian and accompanist will remain in the annals of St. Gregory the orders. Andrew Kayaian was ordained “tbeer” for the past 40 years, our schools have not only Nevart Z. Dadourian. Enlightener Armenian Church as a date of an (acolyte) and Paul Derderian and Arsen Yelegen survived, but actually thrived and prospered, “We are anticipating a remarkable evening,” unforgettable celebration of joy. The Tutak Hall were made sub-deacons. All three young men there are more challenges lying ahead. … But said Arek Nisanyan, HMADS board co-chair, “to of the church was filled to capacity with chil - have been studying and preparing for this day most of all, we have to maximize our efforts on commemorate an important achievement in dren, teachers, parents and friends of Armenian with seriousness and faithfulness. The congre - your children to make their presence here HMADS history. We invite all to join with us in and Sunday Schools, gathered there to observe gation present followed the impressive ceremo - enjoyable and enlightening. This Parish celebrating the contribution of this great insti - the 40th anniversary of the establishment of ny with approval and joy. Following the cele - Council, and many more to come, has and will tution to our children’s lives.” both Sunday and Armenian Schools. brant archbishop’s message, a special requiem exert all its efforts and use all available tools to The program promises to be one to remember The day started with the celebration of service took place for the teachers of the ensure a positive and nurturing environment with a beautiful array of Armenian favorites and Divine Liturgy by Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian Armenian School as well as for members of for our youngsters.” European classics performed in the most perfect Gulbenkian family, whose name has been Yn. Dawn Kasparian was invited to read parts immortalized in this parish as Gulbenkian of the messages received by some of the teach - Sunday School. ers and assistants from the past years. As people began to enter Tutak Hall, they Teachers received special recognition and a were given a celebratory booklet and a souvenir memento as appreciation; Lisa Kouzoujian for pen, donated by Robert Stepanian of the longest non-stop Sunday School teaching Promotional Concepts of Greenwich, Conn., in for more than 20 years, Margrit memory of his father, Bob, who is known in the Hamparsoumian for the same distinction in the parish as the founder and the first chairman of Armenian School, Mark Derderian for his the MR/MRS/MISS Club. longest term as Sunday school superintendent The program started with the children of and Anahid Chookhachian as Armenian school both schools on the stage singing The Lord’s principal for the longest duration. Prayer and the American and Armenian nation - A 15-minute video presentation on the life al anthems. They then offered some sharagans , and activities of both schools within 40 years by songs, a pledge and prayer before Gizirian’s Maria Bedonian and Sylvia Kruizenga was table blessing. Children were standing on the enjoyed by all. stage between the US and Armenian flags and Two graduates of both schools were invited large size logos of both schools. to express their sentiments as to how their Following the luncheon, catered by Anahid experience in both schools had impacted their Krichian of Paterson, NJ, Dr. Anna Kazanchian, Christian-Armenian formation aside from the chairperson of the Planning Committee, for - deep influences of their families. Both Michael mally welcomed the audience, stating in part Aram Wolohojian and Lydia Kurkjian have wit - current and past teachers of both schools ness in their eloquent testimonies about the deserve highest praise for their hard work, as influence of both schools in their lives. “they are the ones carrying the torch that will Two graduates of the Armenian School, keep the light of Christianity and the pride of Gayane Hamparsoumian and Kayla Kalayjian being Armenian alive and well in our children.” Love, who have become star dancers in Shushi Fr. Karekin Kasparian, the pastor of the Dance Troupe, performed two beautiful dances parish since its founding, reminded the audi - to the delight and warm applause of the audi - ence that the church members rejoiced in wel - ence. coming the unprecedented large audience since A huge birthday cake specially made for the the church’s consecration banquet, presided occasion with logos of both schools by “Sweet over by Karekin I, Catholicos of All Armenians. Lisa” of Stamford, Conn., was enjoyed by all He stressed the special relationship of this with appreciation by all present for the art work parish with St. Nersess Seminary, which he of Lisa and Steve Maronian. headed 40 years ago; whose students have had Rev. Mardiros Chevian, one of the early stu - a prominent role in the establishment of both dents of St. Nersess who has served as superin - schools. He stated that more than 250 teachers tendent of the original Sunday School of our have taught at both schools within the past 40 parish, shared some sweet and humorous remi - years, with 20 of them men and women con - niscences from his experience. Rev. Untzag nected with St. Nersess Seminary. He expressed Nalbandian also extended his warm greetings his conviction that it is vital for children to and wishes to the pastor and both schools. receive knowledge and commitment about both The closing words of appreciation and their Christian faith and Armenian culture to encouragement were reserved for Gizirian, who establish firmly their identity. in his inimitable way, uplifted the labor of the Zaven Tachdjian, chairman of the Parish pastor and all who have contributed to the lofty Council, said among other things, “…The work done in both schools as humble but vital schools are the pillars of our community. They agents of promoting our Christian legacy and are the incubators that nurture and form the cultural heritage. core group of the new generations, thus ensur - With the singing of Der Getso , the program ing the continuity, survival and prosperity of came to conclusion in a festive mood. 2011 TCA Sponsor a Teacher in Armenia and Karabagh Program Supporters

Since its inception in 2001, the Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Sponsor a Teacher Program has raised more than $518,000 and reached out to 4,064 teachers and workers in Armenia and Karabagh. The Program is in its 12th year and it continues succesfully. The followings are the 2011 donors by state, as they were received.

Sarkis & Marita Nazarian AR $160 Frances Poloshian CT $160 Mr. & Mrs. Raffi Shekookian NJ $160 John Ehramjian AZ $160 Zabelle N. Vartanian IL $50 Nazik Sesetyan NJ $160 Berjouhie Long CA $160 Dr. & Mrs. Vahe & Silva Karachorlu IL $200 Takouhi & Arshag Tarpinian NJ $160 John Chookasezian CA $160 Mariam Tatosian IL $160 Mary I. Gueyikian NJ $160 Alice S. Mazmanian CA $160 Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Giragosian IL $25 MaryAnn Tutunjian NJ $25 Krikor Tcholakian CA $500 Dr. & Mrs. Gerard Goshgarian IL $320 Michael Halebian NJ $500 Mr. Zaven P. Berberian CA $480 Edward James Keledjian IL $320 Anne Anahid Shirinian NJ $320 Karabuild Development & Const. CA $160 Mr. & Mrs. Charles & Rose Margosian IL $160 Raffi Allaverdi NJ $160 Sossy Shekerdjian CA $30 John Doumanian IL $1,600 Ms. Joyce Ishkanian NJ $160 Mr. & Mrs. Mardiros Ekshian CA $160 in honor of Dr. Heratch & Sonya Doumanian Dr. & Mrs. Michel Costes NY $320 Kevork & Silva Keushkerian CA $320 Robert Kaprelian IL $320 Masis Harzivartyan NY $50 Vahe Avanessian CA $320 Oscar Isberian Cleaning Service IL $160 Ms. Joyce Haroutunian NY $25 Alice Sahagen The Alice Sahagen Trust CA $320 Dennis Corrigan IL $320 Mihran Mooradian NY $160 Diran Depanian CA $160 Marilyn & Armand Norehad IL $1,000 Darian NY $150 Dr. Berjouhi Koukeyan CA $160 Arsen & Karen Demirdjian IL $320 Mardirossian NY $100 Alexander Grigorian CA $160 Armand & Nadia Mirijanian IL $160 Mr. & Mrs. Papken & Anahid Megerian PA $160 Harry & Aida Chakarian CA $320 TCA Chicago Chapter, IL $1,574 Yn. Angel Metjian PA $160 V.K. Altebarmakian CA $160 Vartan & Mary Proudian IN $160 Arlene R. 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Robert & Mrs. Mariam Dorian NJ $25 Sonia Kalpakdjian $160 S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 Arts & Living

Dissident Director’s Life to Turn into Diana Der International Movie Hovanessian: MOSCOW (Russia Today) — The rollercoaster ‘I Write Almost life of Armenian film director Sergey Paradjanov is worthy of a gripping movie plot. Adored by Federico Fellini and Francois Truffaut for his Every Day’ edgy and flamboyant films, he spent years locked in a Gulag for allegedly being gay. In fact he had been imprisoned for speaking out against the stiffness of the Soviet regime in By Artsvi Bakhchinyan his movies. He was a man of mystery, of scandal and CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Diana Der tragedy. But no matter how surrealistic his Hovanessian does not need to be intro - films — his real life was even more so. A new duced. This dynamic Armenian lady has multi-national co-production of his life is in the been active in American literature, with works directed by a man who knew him. writing and translating poetry. This year The film will take viewers to the places most was very productive for her: three vol - loved by Paradjanov — where he worked and umes by her have been published, both spent most of his life: Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia her writings and translations. This trinity and France. It is to be directed by fellow of books was the reason for running an Armenian Serge Avedikian, who won the best interview at Der Hovanessian’s place in short film prize at Cannes in 2010. He couldn’t Cambridge, full of literature, arts and say no when offered the project having met and A scene from “The Birthday Gift” Armenian-ness. interviewed Paradjanov in 1984. Avedikian says Artsvi Bakhchinyan: This year you it is as if Paradjanov “prompted” him to agree to added three new books to your publica - tell the tale of a free man who created his own tions. How many does that make? world in defiance of the real one. Yerevan’s Hovhannes Diana Der Hovanessian: Fifteen of my “Charming but unbearable,” according to his own books and 10 volumes of transla - second wife, Paradjanov defied the authorities tions. for the sake of truth and good humor. When Tumanyan State Puppet AB: The new translations are called invited to play Karl Marx in a Soviet movie, he Armenian Poetry of Our Time . And the pretended to nit-pick the thick beard. That was Theater Visits East Coast book starts with 20th-century greats such the end of his acting career. as Daniel Varoujan, Siamanto, Tekeyan Paradjanov was born in 1924 in Georgia, but RICHMOND, Va. — For the first time ever, the Hovhannes Tumanyan State and goes on to young contemporary most of his works were created in Ukraine. He Puppet Theater of Yerevan visited the United States this January. Its East Coast per - poets such as Vahe Arsen. You’ve been moved there after the tragic death of his first wife. formance tour began on January 20 at St. James Armenian Church here and con - working on this book a long time? She had been thrown under a train by her own tinued to various Armenian churches and communities in Washington, DC, DDH: Yes, very long. brothers — for marrying the penniless Paradjanov Philadelphia, Fair Lawn, NJ, New York City and White Plains, NY, as well as Boston AB: Do you think of translating as part who couldn’t pay the traditional ransom for her. and Providence. A five-member ensemble of of your own work? Or do you consider it Paradjanov was a true eccentric; his dinner the group, including its artistic director, per - an obligation? Or is it a way of being a By Aram Arkun formed Robert Arakelian’s short story, “The part of great poetry you admire? Mirror-Spectator Staff Birthday Gift,” in Armenian, and Hovhannes DDH: I’ll answer yes to all those ques - Tumanyan’s “The Foolish Man” in English tions. Translating isn’t as much fun as cre - with floor puppets. The initial presentation ating something new and it has a lot of was directed in particular at younger children. The four actors of the ensemble also responsibilities attached. But I started sang a medley of lively Armenian traditional and folk songs. because there was no contemporary The Richmond premiere was well attended, with some 65 Armenians in the audi - anthology of Armenian poetry in English. ence, including a strong contingent of children. St. James pastor, Fr. Mesrob Some individual poems had been trans - Hovsepyan, introduced the performance, explaining the importance of introducing lated by past poets, even Henry various aspects of Armenian culture to Armenian children (and adults) in the Longfellow. But in 1896, working from lit - United States. Artistic director and theater manager Ruben Babayan coordinated eral prose translations from Armenian the sound system for the performance, providing the background music and some scholars and friends Alice Stone prerecorded dialogue for the puppets. Blackwell produced the first edition in Serge Avedikian The two stories had important moral messages for children. The animals of “The English of Armenian Poems . Then in Birthday Gift” showed the importance of giving and not just receiving, while the 1917, for Near East Relief, and to call attention to the murder of Armenian plate had to be arranged in a specific way, and famous Tumanyan short story, “The Foolish Man,” based on a folk story, depicted poets in 1915 and the Genocide, she there were rules for putting a cup on a table. added more poems and published anoth - His fantasy knew no borders — and neither did er edition. his movies. He came to prominence in 1964 AB: Alice Stone Blackwell was a great with the “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” — a friend of the Armenians and a humanist. story of a Ukrainian Romeo and Juliet in which But she was not a poet. Do you think her fantasy and traditions take over from realism. translations hold up? Described as “the greatest movie ever created,” DDH: Of course, they are dated. She it caused Paradjanov to fall from grace with the uses 18th- and 19th-century phrases. For authorities. They forced him to re-edit his next instance, she begins Bedros Tourian’s surrealistic creation — “The Colour of “Little Lake:” “Why dost thou lie in Pomegranates” — a story of a medieval poet, hushed surprise, Thou little lonely mere?” told through a magic mix of color, plasticity, It’s too bad that Julia Ward Howe who music, it talks about love and criticized author - was also active (she was president of The ities in a disguised way. Friends of Armenia) did not do some of His jokes didn’t go down well with the Soviet the poems. She was a known poet. authorities, and he was accused of homosexual AB: Alice Stone Blackwell’s book was rape and spent five years in a Gulag. It was only long out of print, I believe, was that why the intervention of filmmakers such as Fellini, you started? Truffaut and Michelangelo Antonioni which got The Richmond audience DDH: Before I had any book publica - him released. tions, but was publishing poetry in jour - After a 15-year break he got back to work in nals and newspapers, a Bulgarian poet 1983 creating his masterpiece, “Legend of a man who was unable to recognize and take advantage of good fortune. asked me to work with him on an anthol - Suram Fortress.” The puppeteers skillfully manipulated their charges, and spoke or lip-synched ogy of Bulgarian poetry. And I said, No, I Paradjanov died of cancer in 1990 in their dialogue distinctly. Though the English dialogue was understandable, one sug - can’t do that...when there isn’t a modern Armenia, leaving his final movie, “The gestion for improvement would be to correct some aspects of English pronunciation Armenian Anthology. Confession,” unfinished. “My whole life I was and style in the prerecorded portions. AB: And you began... motivated by jealousy,” Paradjanov once said, “I The four principal puppet actors were Aghasi Melkonyan, Inga Zahalyan, Naira DDH: I started it with my father. We used to be jealous of beautiful people — and Hakobyan and Robert Sargsyan. The youthful Aghasi Melkonyan said in an inter - had already done a few translations became charming. I was jealous of smart people view that he fell in love with puppetry as a youth, and soon graduated together. The first were for a concert the and became unpredictable.” Some say, he might see PUPPETS, page 15 see POETRY, page 14 have been jealous of talented people — and became a genius. 14 S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING

Diana Der Hovanessian: ‘I Write Almost Every Day’ POETRY, from page 13 dreams. On my first trip to Armenia I was work - Boston Pops was doing of Armenian sharagans ing on that book ... and met his daughters and for his friend the conductor Rouben Gregorian. spent a lot of time with Anahid. And the second for a lecture on Daniel AB: And remember during another trip I Varoujan my Hayrig was giving and wanted six took you to meet late Regina Ghazaryan, a poems in English for that program. I was pub - friend of Charents who had buried some of his lishing poems already in those days...and when papers. I saw how the Varoujan turned out I sent them DDH: Oh yes, yes, yes. That was a unforget - to one of my editors who surprised me by tak - table meeting. It is important to meet people ing the whole batch. who personally know the authors you translate. AB: And that’s how you started? I hope they remember Regina in Armenia. DDH: No. Actually another editor of mine AB: One of your new books is Dancing At invited me to lunch and said she was thinking the Monastery . It has a lot of prosy poems. of starting a page, at the Christian Science Have you abandoned formal verse and rhyme? Monitor, of International Poems and wanted me DDH: No, my very newest manuscript has a to do some Armenian. larger share of sonnets and villanelles, etc. AB: And you did? AB: But the brand new book, just out this DDH: I told her I didn’t know Armenian that month, from Cervana Barva Press, Now I See well. This was a long time ago. And she looked It , is in the works. at me, and said, “Well, you’re young. Learn it!” DDH: Actually those poems are just pub - So I did, I took every course offered at Harvard. lished but were written a while ago. My editor And every course at Boston University. But, at Sheep Meadow Press would also take out any also, I had lots of help. After my father’s death light or humorous verse, any strange shapes. many friends sent me poems or read to me. And But in the last few books he allowed sections of of course, my students in Armenia would run light verse. By the way, I’m a great admirer of around gathering books. And poets of course Charents’s light and satiric verses. I enjoyed would come to read to me. The only book I did translating those. all alone was the volume of Derian. I did it with AB: And you didn’t have dreams then about a dictionary and then had it checked. The arguing with him about those? Kouchag too. Strangely enough, I didn’t find DDH: (laughing) No! But to get back to the Kouchag’s dialect difficult. It sounded similar to shaped poems. In the 16th-century English, the dialect my grandmother had spoken to me. poet George Herbert did some religious poems But Sayat Nova was hard. And most intimidat - in the shapes of altars and wings and more ing was Narek, even though I worked from recently in the 1950s in Brazil and Germany modern Armenian translations of the old some artists were combining strewn words on Krapar . For the first anthology I did the Narek posters and art and calling the movement with the help of Hayr Oshagan, a priest at Holy Concrete Poetry. Trinity Church in Cambridge. And for the book AB: Tell me a little bit about your writing of Narek, translations done with Tom habits. Do you write every day? Do you rewrite? Samuelian…he would send a driver every morn - Do you keep old versions? You did a recent pro - ing with word for word translations done by a gram with an American poet, X. J. Kennedy called priest, when I was in Yerevan on a Fulbright. “Where Does a Poem Come From?” Did you two And then when I returned to Boston, the rest decide where poems come from? were sent by email. DDH: We decided of course they come from AB: How do you choose which poems to poets: and they come to poets from the most include in an anthology? unexpected places: a news item, a remembered DDH: I think a translator often does a poem conversation, someone else’s poem you wish to he wishes he could have written himself. Or else answer, a dream. A lot of poems used to come it is a very important poem, pivotal in some his - to me when I was half asleep and I would get toric aspect, and must be done. For instance I up to write them down. Now...I just ignore had to translate Bedros Tourian for the first them. But I do write almost every day...mostly anthology because he was important historical - rewriting. And I throw most of it away or my ly...he was the first to use vernacular Armenian house would be filled with paper. Even more and write about personal themes. than now! I do write on paper first. Then type AB: But you didn’t like Tourian? it into the computer and keep changing it. DDH: No, although he was my mother’s What takes up most of my time is the New favorite. He did have one great poem, England Poetry Club: planning programs, find - “Drdounch.” My rules for translating include ing judges for contests, introducing speakers, three debts the translator owes. 1. The transla - answering mail. I am hoping to retire from it tor owes the reader the poem the original poet soon. We have a good vice-president. wrote. 2. The translator owes the original poet AB: I hope the Varoujan prize and programs the best possible version in the second lan - on translations that you started will continue. guage. The original poet’s reputation is in his DDH: I hope so too. hands. And 3. The translator owes the poem a AB: I have one last question I think you have vibrant second life in the second language. often been asked. Have you thought of writing AB: You did a large volume of Charents with a memoir? After all you have known and M. Margossian. And some of those translations worked with some of the biggest names, not were used in a recent film made in Yerevan. Is only in Armenian poetry but world poetry: Charents one of your favorite poets? Andrey Voznesensky, Bella Akhmadulina, DDH: Not when I started. During the five Tomas Tranströmer, Yevgeni Yevtushenko, years I was translating Charents I would dream Czeslaw Milosz, Seamus Heaney? about him. We would have arguments in these DDH: (laughs) Mmm.

World Premiere of Piano Work by Gilbert Biberian

GLOUCESTER, U.K. (This is Gloucestershire) inspired by a poem by the Greek poet — It seems the Charlton Kings-based guitarist Constantine Cavafy and felt like a musical jour - Gilbert Biberian has turned his mind to compos - ney, albeit an inward one. Biberian’s Greek- ing. All was revealed when the Rautio Trio gave Armenian roots, were embedded within the music the world premiere of his piano trio, for rather than evident on the surface. Gloucester Music Society. This is a work of great variety with a declama - Titled Ithaka , the eight-movement work is tory start and several dramatic outbursts along the way. But the excitement was balanced by a sil - very nottorno, a dance, which reflected the sinu - ous rhythms and melodies of Asia Minor and a heart-felt Alleluia. The composer is now working on a string quartet and a guitar concerto. The Rautio Trio demonstrated their versatility and musicianship elsewhere in the program. The Piano Trio in G composed by the 25-year- old Beethoven abounded in youthful exuberance. The stimulating second half placed special demands on the players who gave a warm, affec - Gilbert Biberian tionate account of Frank Bridge’s Phantasie Trio . S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 ARTS & LIVING

AGBU Ardavazt Performs Yervant Odian’s ‘Ser Yev Dzidzagh’

New Performances Added

LOS ANGELES — Now in its 31st year, the AGBU Ardavazt Theatre Company continued its mission of pre - senting Armenian-language productions to the community with 10 performances of Yervant Odian’s two-act comedy, “Ser yev Dzidzagh” (Love and Laughter), which ran November 5 through December 10, 2011, all to full houses. “Ser yev Dzidzagh” is a synthesis of three of Odian’s comedies: “Charshle Artin Aga,” “Michnort Der Baban” (The Priest-Broker) and “Taghaganin Gnige” (The Vestryman’s Wife). The setting is Constantinople during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this time successfully por - trayed through the use of slides. The plot revolves around the separate campaigns waged by the parents of an eligible daughter to marry her to one or the other’s chosen suitor, with the aid of brokers; meanwhile, the daughter successfully pursues her own choice, based on love, as opposed to material considerations reflective of the bourgeois mentality of the Armenian middle and upper classes during that period. Actor and director Krikor Satamian once again put on stage a cast of 16 seasoned and young performers, as well as introducing several new ones and playing the role of one of the suitors. This production was enhanced by the periodic rendi - tion of short excerpts from Tigran Chouhajian’s “Leblebiji Hor-Hor Aga” operetta, taken from the pro - duction staged jointly a few years ago by Ardavazt Theatre Company and Lark Musical Society, as well as a recording of folk music by John Bilezikjian and the intro - duction of solos. Favorable reviews of Ardavazt’s latest production appeared in Asbarez , as well as Nor Or and Massis . In fact, the show garnered such acclaim that additional per - formances have been announced in Pasadena (January 29), Orange County (February 5) and Fresno (February A scene from the AGBU Ardavazt Theatre Company’s performance of Yervant Odian’s “Ser Yev Dzidzagh” 26). Visit www.agbuca.org for additional information. Yerevan’s Hovhannes Tumanyan State Puppet Theater Visits East Coast

PUPPETS, from page 13 example, a trip to the United States used to how the performance would be before revealing Party Perfect donated the stage equipment for the Puppet Institute in Yerevan. He has been take one month a century ago and now it is just that he is Armenian.” the performance. working as part of the Tumanyan Puppet a matter of hours. Staging cannot avoid taking Babayan felt that videos, films and modern For a video trailer of the show, see Theater for 16 years. While this may be his first this into consideration.” technology have not lessened the value of pup - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkE9XQ2 visit to the United States, he has traveled a lot with the puppet ensemble to many other coun - tries. In particular, he enjoys participating in international festivals, as he can learn a lot from other puppeteers there, both technically and stylistically. The Tumanyan Puppet Theater was founded in 1935 and has a building as its headquarters in Yerevan along with a distinguished history. With a large staff, its presentations can include as many as 17 performers. Babayan said in an interview that he began working in the puppet theater from 1980 as head of its literary division and then as a stage director. In 1998 he became its chief artistic director and manager. The theater maintains a large permanent repertoire of 34 different pieces. They include both Armenian works and various famous international ones and repre - sent all the types of puppetry art ranging from finger and hand puppets to marionettes. The theater has given presentations all over the world, in countries as distant as India or Kazakhstan. In these places, English only is used. Last year in 2011 it participated in seven international festivals. Babayan teaches at Yerevan’s Theater and Film Institute where he holds a chair in Acting Skills and Production. He has prepared three A scene from “The Foolish Man” generations of puppeteers who all are now working at his puppet theater. In general, there are a large number of young people working This East Coast tour is a first in a number of pet theater. Each time a new technology is BQiQ. More information on the theater itself is there. aspects. Not only is it the first visit of the the - introduced, people fear that older forms of art available at www.armpuppet.am. Babayan said, “The theater changes with ater to the US, but this is the first time that it will die out. It was the same with theater when The group has the following performances: time and must always remain contemporary. At travels as the result of an invitation from film was introduced, or film when television Fair Lawn, NJ, Saturday, January 28, 6 p.m., at the same time, some of its presentations have Armenian communities. Babayan pointed out began to be available, yet these fears turned out St. Leon Armenian Church continued in the repertory for 35 years. The sto - that while outside Armenia, its role is often to to be largely unfounded. The live connection ([email protected]); New York, NY, ries of Tumanyan, Alexander Pushkin, Hans introduce Armenian culture to non-Armenians, with an audience is unique. Friday, January 29, 3 p.m., St. Illuminator’s Christian Anderson, Shakespeare and others though sometimes Armenians turn up at per - The Republic of Armenia’s Ministry of Cathedral, ([email protected]); Providence, are classics, so the main changes in their pro - formances too. He related one amusing anec - Culture provided subventions for the East Saturday, February 4, 6 p.m., sponsored by Sts. ductions are new actors.” However, Babayan dote: “We primarily participate in international Coast tour of the theater. A number of local Sahag & Mesrob Armenian Church, Egavian pointed out, there is one chief aspect in his festivals. Last year we went to Hungary for a fes - Armenians, Chuck Ashjian, Bedros Bandazian, Cultural Center and Watertown, Sunday, work that has changed: “The rhythm of the tival and performed. The festival director after - Sam and Maral Haboush, Karen and Nouneh February 5, 3 p.m., Watertown Middle School, times has become more rapid and so the pro - wards introduced himself and said that I am Karapetian and Harry Deloian, subsidized the sponsored by the Erebouni Saturday School and duction must also become more condensed. For Armenian. He said that he was waiting to see Virginia performance, while local company Amaras Art Alliance(www.AmarasOnline.com). 16 S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING

The Balian Family and Ottoman Architecture: New Book, New Challenges

LONDON — The Balian family dominated Ottoman landmarks such as the Dolmabahce the - Armenian Amira class, including the Balian fami - Ottoman architecture for much of the 18th and atre, the old Ciragan Palace, Beylerbey Palace, ly, had a special place in this structure. They even 19th centuries. A recent work by Pascal Carmont the Mosques of Ortakoy, Nusretiye and Hirka-I produced important dignitaries in the Ottoman maintains that “For two centuries, this family cre - Sherif. So far, no serious art historian has credit - civil administration. When the Russian armies ated the Ottoman splendor of Constantinople, ed Can’s assertion. Not surprisingly, Yusuf were at the gates of Constantinople at the end of covering it with magnificent buildings in a cul - Halacoglu, the former head of the Turkish the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, Sultan Abdul- tural encounter between East and West. From Historical Society, has praised Can’s work. Hamid II sent Arakel Dadian to greet Grand Duke 1840 they were all trained in Paris at the Ecole According to Carmont, the Balians were part of Nicolas, the brother of the Tsar. des Beaux Arts. The family continuity of the a broader Ottoman Armenian aristocracy (the The Amiras, however, were also at the heart of Balians was one of the determining factors of Amiras) who dominated much of Ottoman econ - the Armenian community (millet) of the their influence, whose starting point was the Era omy, finances, military production and architec - Ottoman Empire. They represented the power of of the Tulips. Without compromising the archi - ture for several generations. These Armenians “Ottoman Armenia” by working for the well- tectural canons of the Orient or Islam, the were at the heart of the Ottoman Empire and being of such national institutions as the Balians dominated a gradual westernization of enjoyed the favors of a succession of Ottoman Constantinople and Jerusalem Patriarchates, the official Ottoman architecture.” Some members of Sultans. In his semi-biographical account of the formation of an Armenian Catholic Millet and the Balian family were given the title of Ser Amiras, based around 10 major families, Carmont educational and artistic projects. Mimar-i Devlet (Chief State Architect) and deco - argues that the Ottoman Empire was not simply (The Amiras: Lords of Ottoman Armenia , The cover of Pascal Carmont’s rated with Grand Cross of the Medjidia. a Turkish Empire as it is maintained today. The translated by Marika Blandin, introduction by However, a Turkish historian, Selman Can, has Ottoman Empire was a mosaic of different peo - Ambassador Bernard Dorin, was published in The Amiras: Lords of Ottoman Armenia recently maintained that the Balians were sim - ples, religions and classes, who served Ottoman London by Taderon Press, 2012, and costs ply contractors and not great architects of Sultans in their different capacities. The $22/UK£17.) Armenian Pianist Drew Petersen Specializes in Chopin

NEW YORK — He may not sound Armenian 15, to full houses. On Saturday, he played at degree at the Harvard University Extension with the name Drew Petersen, but indeed, he the Broward Library where audience mem - School. With nothing to hold him back, he is half Armenian pianist he is indeed half bers arriving too late watched from the lobby will complete his academic degree this year Armenian, and the other half, a mix of on a large screen TV, and on Sunday at the while concurrently studying with Jerome Norwegian, Irish, German and Finnish. Of all 800-seat Grenada Presbyterian Church in Lowenthal at the Juilliard School. the nationalities represented in Petersen, Coral Gables. These were concerts that left a Petersen, who turned 18 in December, has “Armenian is the one I identify with most, lasting impression on the listeners. After all, had a very busy life; not only is he perform - thanks to my family and my upbringing,” he how can one forget Chopin’s Sonata No. 2 in ing around the country, but he has traveled said. B-flat Minor, Op. 35 , rarely performed in its to Europe many times to perform in festivals Petersen, an 18-year-old pianist from New entirety, which includes the famous third in Italy, Germany and Switzerland. At age 5, Jersey who is now studying at the Juilliard movement Marche Funebre ? he was presented in Carnegie’s Weill Recital School in New York City, just performed two The audience listened intently without a Hall. By age 10, he had performed in New recitals in Florida as a top scholarship winner sound, to the entire masterpiece until the York City’s Steinway Hall for Steinway & for the Chopin Foundation of the United end when the crowd rose to their feet with Son’s 150th Anniversary, and by 11, he was States. He played two different all-Chopin excitement and applause. asked by conductor Lukas Foss to perform a programs for the foundation’s concerts on At the age of 14, he left traditional high Mozart piano concerto under his direction Saturday, January 14 and Sunday, January school to begin a bachelor of liberal Arts for the Music Festival of the Hamptons open -

CC AA LLEENNDDAARR Drew Petersen ing night gala. Leading up to that perfor - mance Petersen was the focus of a documen - tary titled “Just Normal,” produced and aired on Plum TV. Petersen has been the winner of many MASSACHUSETTS piano competitions, one of which allowed him to perform a recital in New York’s JANUARY 28 — Friends of Hrant Dink presents An Evening with Symphony Space this March. He has per - Ahmet Altan, editor and founder of Taraf , Turkey’s leading liberal formed on PBS’s “From the Top” and has newspaper, recipient of the 2011 International Hrant Dink Award. been heard several times on Robert Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Armenian Library and Museum of America, 65 Sherman’s “Young Artist Showcase” on Main St., Watertown. WQXR. MARCH 31 — AGBU New England District Presents: Per forming In addition to playing the piano, Petersen Artists in Concert, 8 p.m. Under the artistic direction of mezzo- has been studying conducting since the age soprano Solange Merdinian and conductor Aram Demirjian, the inau - of 10, in addition to composition. gural program will feature young Armenian artists who are recipients Although multi- lingual in English, French of scholarships from AGBU in the performing arts. They will perform and German, Petersen regrets not yet mas - the works of both Armenian and non-Armenian classical composers. tering the Armenian language and traveling Details to follow. to Armenia.

NEW JERSEY On March 31, the AGBU New England District will present a concert featuring young Armenian artists JANUARY 28 — Voice of Armenians TV presents Yerevan’s who are recipients of scholarships from the AGBU Hovhaness Tumanis Puppet Theater. Two plays in a single night in in performing arts. Under the direction of mezzo- English and Armenian at 6 p.m. Saint Leon Armenian Church, 12-61 soprano Solange Merdinian and conductor Aram Saddle River Road, Fair Lawn. Adults, $25, children under 8, $15. Demirjian (pictured here), they will perform the MARCH 8 — Hovnanian School Open houses The doors of your works of both Armenian and non-Armenian classi - child’s future are open, come see for yourself from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. cal composers. Details will follow. at Hovnanian School, 817 River Road, New Milford. For information: (201) 967-5940. MARCH 31 — CARS presents Armenian singer Sibil from Istanbul at 7 p.m. Special guest performance by Shushi Armenian Dance Ensemble. Bergen County Academics, 200 Hackensack Ave., NEW YORK Hackensack. For information, call Hilda (516) 496-0248, Margit (914) 686-0840, Adi (973) 761-1544. Tickets, depending on seats: $50, JANUARY 28 — Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School celebrate its $30 and $25. 45th anniversary with a Benefit Gala Concert at the Armenian MAY 19, 2012 — HMADS Gala Dinner Dance. Details to follow, June Church of Holy Martyrs. Admission, $45. Reception to follow. 209-15 25. HMADS 30th Commencement Exercise at 8 p.m., Kalustyan Hall. Horace Expressway, Oakland Gardens. RSVP (718) 225-4826. S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 17 ARTS & LIVING

Still Documenting the 1915 Genocide: Politics, Prose and Poetry By Alan Whitehorn After almost a century since the 1915 state-sponsored mass slaughter of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, one would think there would be few new pioneering books on the subject of the Armenian Genocide. That, however, is not the case. At least four important new reference volumes on the Armenian Genocide have appeared in English within the past year: Verjine Svazlian, The Armenian Genocide: Testimonies of the Eyewitness Survivors, Vahakn Dadrian & Taner Akçam, Judgment at Istanbul: The Armenian Genocide Trials, Raymond Kevorkian, The Armenian Genocide: A Complete History, and Shahen Khachaturian, The Color of Pain: The Reflection of the Armenian Genocide in Armenian Painting. Each book is an important work that has been years in the preparation. Collectively, these works will have an enduring impact, as we approach the 100th memorial year.

The Armenian Genocide: Judgment at Istanbul: The Armenian Genocide: Testimonies of the Eyewitness The Armenian Genocide Trials A Complete History

Survivors Vahakn Dadrian and Taner Akçam are two remarkable Raymond Kevorkian’s The Armenian Genocide: A and respected scholars (one Armenian and one Turkish) Complete History (London, I.B. Tauris, 2011; 978 1 Verjine Svazlian, author of a number of previous books of who have individually published many important books 84885 561 8) is a 1,029-page opus that provides a survivor memoirs on the Genocide, is a remarkable scholar on the Armenian Genocide. Their new co-authored 363- broad canvass on the plight of the Armenians in the lat - who has produced her lifetime’s legacy book: The Armenian page volume Judgment at Istanbul: The Armenian ter decades of the Ottoman Empire during both times Genocide: Testimonies of the Eyewitness Survivors Genocide of peace and war. The book commences with chapters (Yerevan, Gitoutyoun, 2011; ISBN 978-5-8080-0857-1). At Trials (New on the massacres in the 1890s, then explores in-depth 848 pages, it is epic in scope, in almost every sense. Svazlian York, the pre-WWI era, documents extensively the key phas - began her research interviews in the Soviet Union of the Berghahhn es of the 1915 Genocide, including individual chapters 1950s when it was politically dangerous to conduct such Books, 2011; on specific events in the different regions of Anatolia. research. Half a century after and, at considerable expense in ISBN 978-0- Quite significantly, it also includes extensive coverage personal time and money, she has produced the most com - 85745-286-3) of the post-war trials and the emergence of the crucial prehensive published docu - focuses upon concept of “crimes against humanity.” This is a volume mentary account ever of the years after that is epic in time frame and regions covered. As an Armenian Genocide survivor World War I academic book, it is well-footnoted, with 200 pages of testimonies. Seven hundred when a new references. The tables of data on Armenian population entries, most mini-autobiogra - Turkish regime statistics, number of churches/monasteries and phies, are included. Svazlian, sought to pun - schools are senior research professor at ish the former exceptionally the Armenian Genocide Young Turk useful. They Museum, has published key government remind us that portions of her genocide sur - and party offi - the Genocide vivor research previously, but cials who had was not simply this is the integrating ency - engaged in the death of a clopedic volume. Notably, it is atrocities and million and a co-sponsored by the presti - extensive human rights abuses. A Turkish-language ver - half individuals, gious National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of sion of the book was originally published in 2008. but an entire Armenia, the Museum-Institute of the Armenian Genocide Drawing upon many primary sources in a variety of lan - ethnic communi - and the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography in Yerevan. guages, this volume pulls together the most complete ty targeted and With the help of her daughter Dr. Karnik Svazlian, the epic record to date of the pioneering post-WW I trials. It details slaughtered, volume is exceptionally well-indexed by survivor’s name, city, the charges laid in a Turkish military court against Young with neighbor - region and subject. It has become an essential primary Turk leadership, the course of the trials and the verdicts hood schools, source documentary work. That this vast volume was (including death sentences in absentia for Mehmet Talaat, churches and achieved by one individual, rather than a team of scholars, is Ismail Enver, Ahmed Cemal and Mehmet Nazim). This piv - monasteries extraordinary. Without a doubt, it will become a crucial ref - otal volume shows the too-often neglected story of a key destroyed. erence source for future researchers and educators writing stepping stone for the emergence of human rights law, as Genocide is a about the Genocide. A copy should be acquired by every it relates ultimately to crimes against humanity, genocide crime against a genocide and human rights museum. An Armenian-language and war crimes. These landmark Turkish court cases pre - collective group version is also available. A Turkish language version was ceded by three decades the crucial and far better know of people such planned, with a brave publisher in Istanbul. Regrettably, he Nuremberg and Tokyo Tribunals of the 1940s. It would as an ethnic group or religious minority. Amongst its was arrested by state authorities in the fall of 2011. take even longer, until the end of the 20th century and key targets are community schools and places of col - Government coersion, with the intent of silencing and intim - the beginning of the 21st for the creation of the lective worship. Raymond Kervorkian, based in Paris, idating publishing on the 1915 Genocide, continues in International Tribunals for Yugoslavia, Rwanda, originally published this important work in French in Turkey even to this day, almost a century later. It is an aggres - Cambodia and the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2006. Now that this encyclopedic volume is available in sive authoritarian form of genocide denial and, according to the Hague to prosecute others for such crimes against English, his epic work will have an even wider audi - Genocide Watch’s Gregory Stanton, the last stage of geno - humanity. Judgment at Istanbul is part of several ongoing ence. It is destined to become a key reference work. We cide. Dr. Svazlian’s encyclopedic volume, in English and projects sponsored by the Zoryan Institute to document should all be grateful for his life-time dedication to the Armenian, is an articulate and powerful response to such ever more fully the Armenian Genocide. writing of this massive volume. arbitrary state censorship. The Color of Pain: The Reflection of the Armenian Genocide in Armenian Painting

In addition to detailed analysis by scholars, members of (Vostanik Adoyan), Kero Antoyan, generation, this might be quite infor - the Arts community have also endeavored to “describe Carzou (Carnik Zulumian), Jansem mative. the indescribable.” Shahen Khachaturian’s edited collec - (Hovhannes Semerdjian), Papaz As best we can, we continue to try to tion The Color of Pain: The Reflection of the Armenian (Hagop Papazian), Hagop Hagopian, document the 1915 Genocide, but it is Genocide in Armenian Painting (Yerevan, Printoinfo Grigor Khandjian and others. The a very, very difficult account to write. Publishing House, 2010; ISBN 978-9939-53-643-9) is a edited collection could have included We draw enormously upon dedicated compendium of Armenian artists’ account of mass other contemporary artists such as individuals who have devoted a lifetime killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. This 208 Canada’s Hagop Khoubesserian, but to tell as full a story as possible after page bilingual (English and Armenian) large-format art it is, without a doubt, an impressive such enormous death and trauma. But book focuses upon color paintings on the Hamidian volume. The quality of the color it not enough that scholars and artists Massacres of the 1890s, the 1915 Genocide and the con - prints is excellent. It is often said that pen this profoundly moving story. It tinued period of suffering long after the horrific deeds. a picture can convey more than also requires others to resist the ‘sin of This volume is a powerfully moving portrayal of the col - words. Together these works of art indifference’ and read these important lective suffering from state-sponsored ethnic and reli - offer a highly-effective way to teach accounts. They need to better learn gious persecution of the Armenian people. The insights about the Young Turk’s genocide of and understand. They can further help are through the eyes of famous and notable Armenian Armenians. The Color of Pain is an by donating copies of these volumes to artists. Many of the paintings included in this volume can important new volume that lends powerful visual testi - community and public libraries, so that the voices of the be found in the collections of the National Gallery of mony through the artists’ perspective. A DVD or website dead are more widely heard and not forgotten. These four Armenia and the Armenian Genocide Museum in version would be useful to widen the audience reach of books can help make a difference. They are worthy tes - Yerevan. The painfully-evocative paintings include those this volume. I could imagine such organizations as taments to the Armenian victims and their kin. by Hovhannes Ayvazovsky, Vartges Sureniants, Sarkis Facing History and the Genocide Education Project (Alan Whitehorn is author of a number of books on Khachaturian, Arshak Fetvadjian, V. Podpomogov (Ter- using such materials in their high school genocide edu - the Armenian Genocide, including Just Poems: Astvatsatrian), Khoren Der-Harutian, Arshile Gorky cation seminars. For a younger more visually-oriented Reflections on the Armenian Genocide .) 18 S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

T HE A RMENIAN COMMENTARY Mirror- Georgia’s Chokehold on Armenia Spectator Reaches Critical Level

II had promised to resolve the contentious issue, which to By Edmond Y. Azadian this date remains unattended. The Georgian government, in its desire to join NATO and Established 1932 the European Union, had promised to discontinue tram - An ADL Publication While Armenian news media outlets have been concen - pling minority rights. One of the issues the Georgian gov - trating on the French Senate action criminalizing the ernment had pledged to HH Karekin II and the interna - denial of the Armenian Genocide, closer to home relations tional community was to recognize minority churches as

EDITOR with neighboring Georgia are causing heartaches for citi - legal entities. Now that issue has turned out to be a catch- Alin K. Gregorian zens and government officials alike. Relations are tense, to 22. The legalization of the Armenian Church in Georgia say the least. has been tied to the legalization of the Georgian Church in ASSOCIATE EDITOR Georgian authorities are cognizant that they have the Armenia, where there is no restriction whatsoever, not only Aram Arkun upper hand in their bilateral relations with Armenia; they for different religious groups, but even fanatical sects. But ART DIRECTOR are using that advantage to help tighten the noose which it turns out that the Georgian Church does not intend to Marc Mgrditchian Azerbaijan and Turkey have put in place through their take the initiative to seek legal status in Armenia, thus leav - blockade. That policy is nothing less than the continuation ing the legal status of the Armenian Church in Georgia in PRODUCTION Dilani Yogaratnam of the Genocide by squeezing Armenia out of existence. limbo, because of a lack of reciprocation. By virtue of its NATO ambitions, the Tbilisi government Every day a new scandal breaks out, forcing the is doing anything and everything to ingratiate itself to Armenians to forget the existing ones. The most recent SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: Ankara and Baku. Unfortunately, Armenia is at the receiv - scandal is the potential sale of the poet Hovhanness Edmond Azadian ing end of that policy. Toumanyan’s Tbilisi house which in 1899 was baptized as Georgian actions have bearings on three different areas: Vernadoon, where writers, poets, artists, editors gathered CONTRIBUTORS: a) regional politics, b) domestic abuses of human rights in rendering it a hearth of Armenian culture. Writers Florence Avakian, Elizabeth Aprahamian, Georgia and c) a planned depopulation program in Ghazaros Aghayan, Avedik Issahakian, Levon Shant, Daphne Abeel, Dr. Haroutiune Javakhk. Derenik Temirjian and others have been permanent guests. Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Prof. Because of the blockade, Armenia is restricted in its In the 1930s, Toumanian’s descendants had turned over Vahakn N. Dadrian, Diana Der access to the outside world, which impacts negatively on the house to the government of Soviet Georgia, including Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, Kevork Keushkerian, Sonia Kailian-Placido , its economic development. a valuable research library. After taking over that cultural Harut Sassounian, Mary Terzian, Hagop One outlet for Armenian is Iran, which remains precari - sanctuary the Soviet government of Georgia had put it to Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian ous, because of sanctions and threats against that country “good use” by converting it to a macaroni storage. And by the United States and the European Union. In the event today, the democratic government of Georgia has put the CORRESPONDENTS: of a conflagration, Armenia will be devastated. facility for sale and the buyer is a Turkish-Georgian com - Armenia - Hagop Avedikian The other outlet is, of course, Georgia. The Tbilisi gov - pany, which intends to convert it into a hostel for Turkish Boston - Nancy Kalajian ernment is using that leverage against Armenia cynically. guest laborers. Armenians in Armenia and Georgia are Philadelphia - Lisa Manookian Every excuse is being used to restrict the movements of appalled and they are trying to salvage that cultural icon. Contributing Photographers: people and goods to the outside world through Georgian The third level of pressure is on Javakhk Armenians. Jacob Demirdjian, Harry Koundakjian, Jirair territory: road conditions, weather, tense relations with Javakhk is a historic Armenian territory that fell into Hovsepian Russia, etc. Recently many citizens of Armenia were strand - Georgian hands during political upheavals in the region, ed on the Georgian borders with Turkey and Russia before the region’s absorption into the Soviet Union. because of weather conditions. Their ungraceful Georgian The Russian government maintained a military base in The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published hosts took the opportunity to impose exorbitant taxes on Javakhk. Armenians depended heavily on the base for eco - weekly, except two weeks in July, by: those citizens. These seem minor issues, but many nomic sustenance and for security guarantees. Moscow Baikar Association, Inc. Armenians travel to Turkey through Georgia to bring decided to evacuate the base prematurely, driven by its own goods for sale to Armenia in order to provide for their fam - political motivation, leaving the Armenian community to 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 ilies. Telephone: 617-924-4420 the tender mercy of the Georgians. But besides such low-level harassments, high political Javakhk is a depressed economic area. There are no prop - FAX: 617-924-2887 games are at play. At one point, Mikheil Saakashvili’s gov - er roads, living conditions are substandard and the author - www.mir rorspectator.com ernment toyed with the idea of a federation with ities manipulate the situation in such a way that the con - E-Mail: editor@mirrorspectator .com Azerbaijan to further strangulate Armenia. During his last dition of the Armenians is further aggravated. Political For advertising: [email protected] visit to Baku, the Georgian president assured President activists like Vahakn Chakhalian are jailed, organizations Ilham Aliyev that Georgia would side with Azerbaijan are banned in this country, which is a darling of the West should a war break out. The only problem that Azerbaijan for its openness and transparency. There is yet another has at this moment is with Armenia (if we discount the late threat hanging over the heads of the Armenians; the Tbilisi SUBSCRIPTION RATES : president of Azerbaijan Abulfez Elchibey’s dream to wrest government is planning to resettle in Javakhk Turkish U.S.A. 2nd Class $75 a year Northern Azerbaijan from Iran). Metzkets exiled to Central Asia by Stalin. That will further 1st Class $120 a year To add insult to injury, recently Georgia’s deputy speak - exacerbate the ethnic tensions in the region, which is the Canada er of the parliament, Friton Dotvan, announced in Baku intention of successive Georgian administrations. Air Mail $125 a year that “Azerbaijan and Georgia will return their occupied ter - Anti-Armenian policies in Javakhk are so strong now that All Other Countries ritories, because those are their own.” The reference is, of they don’t even allow textbooks from Armenia to be used Air Mail $190 a year course, to Nagorno Karabagh, which is being equated to by Armenian students there. Display advertising r at e: $7 per column inch South Ossetia and Abkhazia, all casualties of reckless What is the Armenian government doing to confront actions of war-mongering leaders in Georgia and these provocations? Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, Yerevan’s hands are tied; first, Armenia The next level of political harassment in Georgia is does not wish to jeopardize its access to the outside world against citizens of Armenian origin. For centuries, Tbilisi through Georgia. And then, the leaders in Armenia remem - © 2011 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator had been a hub of Armenian culture. Georgian jealousy has ber that history repeats itself. We are at a political juncture Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA reduced that community to a shell of its former self and where we were during the first independent republic (1918- and additional mailing offices. that discriminatory policy is still on-going. Armenians are 20). Armenia cannot confront its hostile neighbors on ISSN 0004-234X not only being denied equal economic opportunities under three sides. different, at times cryptic statutes, but their schools are Recently, Minister of Culture asmik Poghosian gave an POSTMASTER : Send address changes to The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, P.O. Box 302, forced to close down and their churches are being usurped interview citing all these problems and highlighting the Watertown, MA 02471-0302 and re-consecrated as Georgian churches. importance of Georgian-Armenian relations. She has dis - Other than the editorial, views and opinions In 2009, the 14th-century St. Kevork of Mughni Church patched a commission to study the situation in Georgia and expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily collapsed; despite repeated requests to the government to seek solutions. eflect the policies of the publisher. shore up the building before the collapse, the government That very much outlines the position of the government, took no steps to help. The Georgian authorities have yet to which soft-pedals all relations with Georgia. Following the make good on their promises to rebuild the church. At this visits of Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian and even time, the destiny of St. Nishan Church in Tbilisi is at stake. President Serge Sargisian, similar pronouncements were Recently an “accidental” fire broke out, causing the col - made. A deceptive formula is being promoted to hide the lapse of one wall. In the late 19th century, there were 29 intentions and grievances of both sides that there are no Copying for other than personal use or internal reference is prohibited without active Armenian churches in Tbilisi; today there are only problems between the two countries that cannot be solved. express permission of the copyright two. St. Nishan is among the six Armenian churches We need to be aware, however, that not only are the owner. Address requests for reprints or claimed by the Georgian Orthodox Church. issues not being solved, but that Georgia is able to easily back issues to: During the visit of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin apply more pressure to keep up its chokehold, its political Baikar Association, Inc. II to Georgia both President Saakashvili and Patriarch Illya fig leaf not withstanding. 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 19 COMMENTARY

fied if the Ambassador is withdrawn, only to be sent back Armenian Genocide. in two weeks. Also, Turks may not be too impressed by 10) Withdraw from the United Nations because in 1985 Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s announcement the UN Human Rights Commission adopted a report rec - that he would no longer visit Paris. ognizing the Armenian Genocide. While Turkish officials are recovering from the shock of 11) Ban all Turkish official visits to France. My Turn the French vote, we wish to offer some tips on how Turks 12) Expel all French citizens from Turkey and demand can make a bad situation even worse. In its fury, the that all Turkish citizens immediately leave the territory of By Harut Sassounian Turkish government may take retaliatory measures not France. only against France, but also all countries that have recog - 13) Do not allow French tourists and businessmen to nized the Armenian Genocide. Such extreme, irrational and enter Turkey. 20 Steps Turkey Could Take to self-defeating actions would contribute to Turkey’s isola - 14) Shut down French automobile factories in Turkey, Worsen Relations with France tion and hurt its own interests. Below are suggested ideas causing the unemployment of thousands of Turkish work - on how Turkey could settle scores with France and other ers. After Genocide Vote perceived adversaries: 15) Rename all French streets in Turkey to Algerian and 1) Withdraw the Turkish ambassador from France and North Korean names. Turkey’s leaders have been threatening France for do not send him back until the French government 16) Adopt a resolution by the Turkish Parliament accus - months with various reprisals should the French govern - renounces its acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide ing France for the so-called Algerian “genocide.” ment pass a law making it illegal to deny the Armenian and the newly adopted French bill. 17) Deport all citizens of Armenia working illegally in Genocide. 2) Expel the French ambassador from Turkey and shut Turkey. Deprive them of all food and water during their Ignoring Turkish threats and blackmail, the French down the French embassy. long march from Istanbul to Armenia or, even worse, to the Parliament adopted a bill on December 22, 2011, criminaliz - 3) Break all economic, military, cultural and political ties Syrian desert! ing denial of the Armenian Genocide. The Senate followed with France. 18) Withdraw all private and public Turkish funds from suit on January 23, 2012, with a vote of 127-86, after a seven- 4) Collect all French products such as chocolates and French banks. hour debate. The new law, to be signed soon by President wines from store shelves throughout Turkey and dump 19) Blacklist all French books, movies, newspapers and Nicolas Sarkozy, carries a one-year jail term and a fine of them in the sewer; and ban French fries and French kiss - TV programs in Turkey. $60,000 for anyone denying the Armenian Genocide. Every ing! 20) Arrest French citizens in Turkey in retaliation for single member of the French legislature, even those voting 5) Cancel all Turkish Airlines flights to French cities and Turks imprisoned in France for denying the Armenian against the bill, stated that they had no doubt whatsoever do not allow Air France flights to Turkey. Place similar Genocide. about the facts of the Armenian Genocide. restrictions on French ships. The French Senate’s decision is part of the high price the The hour of truth has now arrived. One wonders if 6) Prohibit teaching of French in Turkish schools and Turkish government has been paying for the past 100 years Turkey’s leaders have the courage to carry out their bom - shut down private French schools in Turkey. for its persistent denial of the Armenian Genocide and the bastic declarations. We would like to ask them two ques - 7) Forbid access to all French websites. heinous crimes committed by its Ottoman predecessors. tions: 1) Are you all talk and no action or, as the saying 8) Discontinue Turkey’s efforts to join the European Until Turkey acknowledges its guilt and restores the goes, is your bark worse than your bite? 2) Will you be tak - Union, in view of the expected submission of similar mea - Armenian lands and properties to the descendants of ing short-term face-saving measures or more serious and sures on Genocide denial to all 26 EU member countries. Genocide victims, it will continue to face serious challenges permanent steps? 9) Cancel Turkey’s membership in the Council of Europe from other countries and will be denied a place in the fam - Unlike a month ago, the Turkish public will not be satis - because in 1987 the European Parliament recognized the ily of civilized nations.

Hrant Dink Case Exposes A Moral Israel Must Recognize Shortcomings of Turkey’s Justice System Armenian Genocide

Today, as Armenians and non-Armenians alike mark the fifth anniversary of the tragic assassination of Armenian-Turkish By Israel W. Charny journalist Hrant Dink, and pause to reflect on his life’s work, I never cease to be amazed at the deep disappointment continues to be expressed regarding the January 17 Turkish court decision in the Dink case, which fell never cease to be amazed at the “upside-down “upside-down double talk” that far short in rendering justice. double talk” that genocide deniers speak — not Despite its public commitment to do so, Turkey failed to con - only in denial of the Armenian Genocide, but in genocide deniers speak — not only duct an exhaustive investigation and the January 17 court deci - denial of the Holocaust and, believe it or not, sion reflects this fact as all suspects were acquitted of charges denial of the Rwandan genocide. In fact, many in denial of the Armenian Genocide, of acting as part of an organized conspiracy. The European of us scholars characterize denial of genocide Parliament’s rapporteur on Turkey, Ria Oomen-Ruijten, called I as the “last stage of genocide.” but in denial of the Holocaust and, the verdict “disappointing.” “The Hrant Dink case could have In a recent article in the Jerusalem Post called been an example of how properly functioning judicial institu - “Armenian Genocide: Israel must maintain its moral com - believe it or not, denial of the tions deal with disrupting forces in a society. This verdict makes pass,” the arguments set forth by Hakan Yavuz and Tal clear the need for further judicial reform in Turkey,” Oomen- Buenos are a thin veneer for nothing less than a pro- Rwandan genocide. Ruijten continued. Turkish government position of maintaining denial of the moral principles that are intrinsic to recognition to In the weeks following Dink’s assassination in January 2007, Armenian genocide. another people’s genocide or holocaust, Israel’s recogni - then Chairman Joseph Biden, Jr. (D-DE) of the United States What is their argument? For Israel to now break its tion of the Armenian Genocide would constitute another Senate Foreign Relations Committee, at the urging of the silence and recognize the Armenian Genocide would be politicized move rather than a moral correction. Armenian Assembly, introduced legislation (S. Res. 65) con - tantamount to confessing, retroactively, that its been Finally, the authors seek to stall with a disingenuous demning Dink’s murder and urged Turkey to repeal Article 301 playing politics all along by remaining silent and, with promise, 70 years after the Holocaust, that further study of its penal code, which criminalizes discussion of the Armenian crocodile tears, admitting that those of us who care of the concept of “genocide” will bring us to an under - Genocide. about Israel cannot allow that to happen. standing we do not have, as if we do not know that geno - The legislation, which also supported “an exhaustive investi - Wrong enough, but their basic argument is extended cide is the mass murder of a significant part of a target - gation into the assassination of Mr. Dink” by the Turkish gov - by a manipulative and factually irresponsible debate of ed people, executed by a government or any other entity, ernment, unanimously passed the Senate Foreign Relations the very concept of “genocide.” Suddenly the historic such as a religious or ideological group or a terrorist Committee, the first time in 18 years that a Senate Committee Polish attorney Raphael Lemkin, a Jew with a high post organization. approved legislation with reference to the Armenian Genocide. in the Polish government legal system who we recognize The facts are well known: The Turkish government Biden commented at that time: “Hrant Dink was a man of as having virtually given his life to bring into internation - executed the Armenian Genocide — in which one to one- strong conviction who wanted, above all, to foster greater under - al law the concept of “genocide” that he created, is char - and-a-half million Armenians were murdered. standing and respect between Turks and Armenians. His assas - acterized as “an employee of the US government” who And for us Jews and Israelis, there are added mean - sination is one more tragic reminder of why Turkey needs to he was serving to gain a moral advantage over the ings: One Israeli professor at Bar Ilan University once reform its laws and allow for an open discussion of events sur - Germans after WWII. characterized the Armenian Genocide as a “dress rounding the Armenian Genocide. It should never be a crime to There is not a word of recognition that Lemkin first rehearsal for the Holocaust.” We also know that Hitler speak the truth.” submitted a resolution about the mass killing of religious explicitly built on the precedent of the Armenian Memorial services honoring Dink are being held throughout and national entities to the League of Nations long Genocide when he went after us Jews. the Armenian Diaspora, while in Turkey tens of thousands have before WWII. Lemkin was an employee of the US occu - taken to the streets again to demonstrate solidarity with the pational army in Germany very briefly after surviving the (Dr. Israel W. Charny is executive director of the Dink family and to protest the court’s failure to hold all those Holocaust in which he lost virtually all of his family. Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide in Jerusalem, involved with Hrant Dink’s murder accountable. After giving up law positions at Duke University as well editor of the web magazine GPN Genocide Prevention “Hrant’s spirit touched us all as he sought to make Turkey a as Yale, he devoted himself full time to the passage of Now, a co-founder and former president of the better place for everyone. His exemplary courage will always be the Genocide Convention in the newly-founded United International Association of Genocide Scholars and edi - remembered. Our thoughts and prayers are with Rakel Dink and Nations. The authors should be reprimanded severely for tor of the Encyclopedia of Genocide. He was awarded the her family, especially during this difficult time in light of the their distorted presentation of Lemkin’s identity. Armenian Presidential Prize — similar to the Israel Prize recent court decision,” stated Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, The key issue that emerges is the question of whether, — in Yerevan in June 2011 for his contributions to the legate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of after years of a realpolitik denial of the Armenian study of denials of genocides — including the Armenian America in Washington, DC. Genocide, in disheartening obsequiousness to Turkey in Genocide and the Holocaust. This article originally (This commentary was sent by the Washington-based an attempt to gain their favor at the expense of the basic appeared in the January 22 issue of the Jerusalem Post .) Armenian Assembly of America.) 20 S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 28, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR French Senate Passes Measure Making Genocide Denial a Crime

FRANCE, from page 1 Earlier Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet (AP PHOTO/LAURENT CIPRIANI) for the condemnation and Turkey furiously denounced the move, with Davutoglu, who cancelled talks with European prevention of crimes Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin telling CNN- Union foreign ministers in Brussels on Iran’s against humanity,” Turk television that it was “a great injustice and nuclear drive, to deal with the crisis, said Sargisian wrote. He said it shows a total lack of respect for Turkey.” Ankara had already prepared its response. was “a historic day for “We strongly condemn this decision which “We have previously determined the steps to Armenians all over the is... an example of irresponsibility,” the Turkish be taken if the bill is finally adopted. No one world.” foreign ministry said in a written statement, should doubt it,” the state-run Anatolia news Several hundred young adding that the government would not hesitate agency quoted Davutoglu as saying. political activists and stu - to swiftly implement retaliatory measures.” Davutoglu said Saturday the law would trig - dents also gathered out - When France’s lower house passed the bill ger “permanent sanctions,” arguing that it goes side the French embassy last month, Ankara froze political and military against European values and would not help in Yerevan to express ties with Paris. Turkish-Armenian relations. their gratitude, bringing Armenia meanwhile praised the vote, with Trade between France and Turkey was worth flowers and candles and Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian saying: 12 billion euros ($15.5 billion) in 2010, with waving French and “This day will be written in gold not only in the several hundred French businesses operating Armenian flags. history of friendship between the Armenian there. Armenians citizens from France gather in front of the Senate in Paris, Some carried placards and French peoples, but also in the annals of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Monday, January 23, as a bill that would make it a crime to deny that with slogans like “France the history of the protection of human rights Erdogan accused France of hypocrisy and the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks nearly a century ago was a is a guarantor of historical genocide is scheduled to begin debating in the mid-afternoon. worldwide.” Sarkozy of pandering to France’s estimated justice,” while others The vote “will further consolidate the exist - 400,000 voters of Armenian origin, three chanted: “Long live ing mechanisms of prevention of crimes against months ahead of a tough re-election battle. Armenia, long live France, humanity,” the statement said. “I hope the Senate will not make France a rated by riot police demonstrated outside the long live the Franco-Armenian friendship!” Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II has country contradicting its own values,” Erdogan Senate as the debate began. “We came here to say thank you to the addressed a letter of gratitude to French said. “This is a debate which is entirely against Gendarmes were deployed within the cham - French ambassador and ask him to convey our President Nicolas Sarkozy. “From the Mother the freedom of thought. This is merely a step ber, checking the identities of those going in, a huge thanks to President Sarkozy, the senators See of Holy Echmiadzin we welcome and bless taken for the upcoming elections.” rare precaution. Dozens of foreign media, par - and the French people,” one of the rally’s orga - you, the state officials of France, our friends, Erdogan had closely followed the debate and ticularly Turkish, filled the press gallery. nizers, Artur Kazarian, told AFP. the French people, and express the deep grati - had met with Davutoglu to put final touches on France has already recognized the killings as “France has shown once again that it places tude of our church and world-spread Armenians the measures Ankara could take, according to a genocide, but the new bill would go further, human values higher than economic and mili - for passing the Armenian Bill at the Senate,” he media reports. by punishing anyone who denies this with a tary interests,” he said. wrote. The Turkish media showed intense interest in year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros ($57,000). Armenia and its large diaspora around the “The voice of justice was again heard from the vote, with many Turkish news channels Armenia’s president thanked his French world has long campaigned for international the French Senate: our people have been wait - broadcasting the session live. counterpart Tuesday after France’s Senate recognition of the mass killings by Ottoman ing for its victory for a century. The passed law Turkey’s deputy prime minister Bulent Arinc approved a bill. Turks during World War I as genocide, despite proves your devotion, the devotion of the warned that Ankara could ask Europe’s top “France has reaffirmed its greatness and strong denials from Turkey. French state and people to democratic princi - rights court to denounce Paris if the legislation power, its devotion to universal human values,” The issue, which inspires intense feelings ples, universal values, the fixing of which will is adopted, a move he said would be a “historic Armenian President Serge Sargisian said in a among Armenians, has poisoned relations rule out the violations in the world and the shame”. letter to French leader Nicolas Sarkozy. between the two neighbors whose mutual bor - tragic crimes against humanity,” he concluded. Around 15,000 Turks from France, Belgium, “This day is exceptional for all those who are der remains closed. France has already recognized the killings as The Netherlands and Luxembourg rallied struggling for the protection of human rights, (Armenpress contributed to this report.) a genocide, but the new bill would go further, peacefully on the streets of Paris on Saturday to by punishing anyone who denies this with a protest the law. year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros ($57,000). Several hundred Turks and Armenians sepa - PM Rebukes Traffic Police for Delays in Issuing Licenses

YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Prime Minister “Lately we have been receiving complaints Tigran Sargisian criticized the Armenian traffic regarding services provided by the police and in police on Thursday for what he described as particular the car registration and the issuance excessive delays in the registration of cars and of drivers’ licenses,” Sargisian said, during a the ongoing replacement of drivers’ licenses. weekly meeting of his cabinet. “Instructions Sargisian said he has instructed the chief of regarding this problem have been given to the the national police department, Vladimir police chief, and we must improve the quality of Gasparian, to personally address long lines the services within a short period.” formed at traffic police offices in Yerevan. “This is an area where more than 300,000 citi - The long queues are a result, in large mea - zens of Armenia deal with the state each year. It sure, of the government’s decision last year to creates an attitude towards the state,” he said. replace all drivers’ permits issued in Soviet The premier announced that the traffic police times and in the 1990s with new, plastic ones. are now developing a new computerized data - Scores of motorists scrambled to receive them base of vehicles and will open a new office in before the January 2012 deadline. The deadline the capital this April. He said car owners should has been extended to June. be able to spend no more than 20 minutes com - pleting the police paperwork. Sargisian has also initiated other major changes in road policing. That includes the Czech Police Detain ongoing gradual installation of surveillance and speed cameras. Armenian on the Run for Eight Years President of Nagorno PRAGUE (CTK National News Wire) — Czech police have detained an Armenian man, wanted Karabagh Visits on suspicion of property and violent crimes, Stepanakert Airport who has evaded justice for eight years, in Brno last week, South Moravia police spokeswoman STEPANAKERT, Karabagh (Armenpress) — Petra Vedrova said this week. On January 24, Nagorno Karabagh (NKR) She did not specify the acts that he had com - President Bako Sahakyan visited the mitted. Stepanakert airport, got acquainted with the The man used false personal documents. Police ongoing work on site and convoked a working have been searching for him since 2003. A consultation on issues related to putting the European warrant for his arrest has been issued. airport into operation. The Armenian worked in Brno at a fruit and The head of the NKR Civil Aviation vegetables stand. Department, Dmitriy Adbashyan, representa - During a police check, he submitted a Bulgarian tives of the department and the airport deliv - passport and other documents of Bulgarian origin. ered corresponding reports, the press service of Policemen checked them thoroughly and found out the NKR president said. that they were forged. Sahakyan expressed satisfaction with the They also compared the man’s fingerprints with work being done at the airport, adding that the police register and revealed his real identity. quality of the work should be maintained.