A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2

THE ARMENIAN

In Our 80th Year MVolume LiXXrXIII, NrO. 4,oIssuer4249-Spectator$ 2.00 NEWS INBRIEF The First English Language in the United States Since 1932 French- Slam AGBU Board Sets Proposal for Azeri Wins Aside $1 Million Center in PARIS (Tert.am) — The Coordination Council of Three Medals For Assistance to Armenian Organizations of (CCAF) has con- demned a proposed bill on establishing an Azerbaijan cultural center in the French capital. In London Syrian Armenians According to Nouvelles d’Armenie, the oppo- NEW YORK — The ongoing and expand- nents have issued a statement regarding the bill. ing militarized conflict in Syria has created “On July 25, [Prime Minister] Jean-Marc Ayrault a humanitarian crisis for the population and [Foreign Minister] Lauren Fabius submitted to and is threatening, among others, residen- the Council of Ministers a draft that would allow tial areas where concentrations of the the Azerbaijani dictatorship to found a cultural cen- Armenian community and institutions are ter in Paris. The CCAF is very surprised that situated, particularly in Aleppo, Damascus France’s new government is rushing the draft, and Kamishli. Several families have already including it in the agenda. Are there no other pri- been dislodged as a result of the fighting orities in France?” reads the statement. The mem- among government and opposition forces bers of the council note that international human and the use of heavy artillery involved. rights organizations constantly slam the regime of In preparation for the imminent need for President Ilham Aliyev for violation of human From left, Arsen Julfalakyan, Hripsime Khurshudyan and Arthur Alexanyan humanitarian assistance that is emerging as rights and racist and non-democratic policies. a result of the unfolding political crisis in Syria, the Armenian General Benevolent LONDON — Three athletes from Armenia medaled at the this Union (AGBU) is committed to taking Buenos Aires Suburb week, winning one silver and two bronze medals. The silver medal was won on action to help the Armenian community in August 6 by Arsen Julfalakyan in the 74-kilogram Greco-Roman catego- distress, this time in Syria. Adopts Armenian ry. Winning a bronze medal in the same category, in the 96-kilogram division on The Central Board of Directors moved to Genocide Resolution August 7 was Arthur Aleksanyan, 20. set aside an AGBU Emergency Fund for Winning another bronze was weightlifter Hripsime Khurshudyan, in the Humanitarian Assistance to the Armenian BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — The City Council of women’s 75-kilogram category. She lifeted 128 kilograms in snatch and 166 in the Community in Syria, in the amount of $1 San Isidro adopted a resolution recognizing and clean-and-jerk. million. condemning the . The city is an Aleksanyan, 20, and Julfalakyan, 25, hail from Gumri. Khurshudyan, 25, is from A special task force, in cooperation with affluent municipality in the province of Buenos Kasakh. the District Committee of Syria, is in the Aires. process of assessing the emerging needs, to Argentina’s Senate on December 13, 2006 create the appropriate logistics in compli- declared April 24 as the Day of Tolerance and ance with federal and international guide- Respect between nations. lines, to help and support the Armenian According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, community there. Necessary arrangements Armenia’s Ambassador to Argentina Vahagn Rwanda Hosts Groundbreaking Conference are also underway in AGBU’s centers local- Melikyan, Primate of the Argentina and Chili ly in Aleppo, Damascus and Kamishli, to Diocese of the Armenian Church Archbishop Gisal On Armenian, Jewish and Tutsi Genocides make them operational hubs for coordinat- Muradian, representatives of the Armenian com- KIGALI, Rwanda — A groundbreaking Genocide” was hosted by and held at the ing the relief efforts, extending help to fam- munity and organizations in Argentina attended conference titled “Genocide and Denial: Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre in con- ilies in other locations as well, wherever the the council’s session. The Armenian, Jewish and Tutsi junction with the National Commission need arises. They will also be prepared to for the Fight Against accommodate those who may have to be Genocide (CNLG), on temporarily moved out of their homes. The Sargisian Congratulates July 17 and 18. possibility of making AGBU facilities in Obama on His Birthday The center houses a Cyprus available as temporary shelter for museum that includes families, who may need to move out of the (PanARMENIAN.Net) — On, August 4, exhibits on the Armenian country, is under consideration. Armenian President Serge Sargisian sent a con- Genocide, the Holocaust, AGBU is in close communication with gratulatory letter to the president of the United as well as genoices in officials in Armenia to be appraised of the States of America, Barack Obama, on his birthday. Cambodia, Bosnia and diplomatic efforts and social and organiza- The letter states, in part, “Your Excellency, I Darfur. The two-day con- tional initiatives being taken to address the warmly congratulate you on your birthday. I wish ference featured papers by situation. you and your family endless happiness and the suc- scholars from the US, AGBU President Berge Setrakian sent cessful implementation of your projects and initia- Europe and Rwanda. Its out an urgent appeal to the union’s mem- tives. We, in Armenia, highly appreciate your efforts primary focus was the bership worldwide to join forces and use towards strengthening our interstate relations. The analysis of denial in the their resources to help the Syrian commu- multi-faceted cooperation and strong partnership From left, Donald Miller, (unknown), John Bosco Siboyintore, aftermath of genocide. nity that has symbolized historically the ties between our countries have seen an unprece- Wendy Lower, , Bianca Bagatourian, Deborah dented growth. This has given new impetus to our Lipstadt and Hadley Rose; second row, (unknown), Tom The Rwandan media ultimate humanitarian refuge for the sur- covered the conference vivors of the Genocide. collaboration and drawn closer our friendly peo- Nhadiro, Jean-Pierre Karegeye, Glen Ford, Solange Umulisa ples.” and Jose Kagabo For more information, visit see RWANDA, page 4 www.agbu.org. INSIDE Nazar Nazarian Celebrates His Expanding 88th Birthday SSAES ENGLEWOOD, N.J. — Community benefac- tor Nazar Nazarian celebrated his 88th birth- Page 5 day on Thursday, August 2, with friends. Nazarian has touched and brightened the lives of many individuals and Armenian institutions. He has been an Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Central INDEX Board member for 33 years and has served and Living ...... 10 Armenia ...... 2,3 the organization as vice chairman as well Community News...... 5 as treasurer of the Central Board of Editorial ...... 14 Directors. Nazar Nazarian, seated, third from left, celebrates with friends. International ...... 4 see NAZARIAN, page 16 2 S A T U R D A Y, A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R ARMENIA News From Armenia US Ambassador Visits Yerevan Subway to Get $15 Million Investment YEREVAN (News.am) — The Yerevan City Hall, the Shengavit Preserve Armenian Ministry of Finance and the Yerevan sub- way system have finalized a contract with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for a $5-million grant to By Joseph Dagdigian secure the subway’s reconstruction. Also investing in the project for $5 million each will be the European Investment Bank with $5 mil- YEREVAN — On Wednesday, July 25, lion and the European Union in the same amount, a delegation from the US Embassy in as an investment grant. “The underground of the Armenia visited the Shengavit capital city is one of the main means of communi- Historical and Archaeological Culture cation and it is in the focus of the city hall. We pay Preserve, located across Yerevan Lake huge importance to the project realization as we from the embassy. Visitors included settle our citizens’ security,” Mayor Taron Ambassador John Heffern and his wife, Margarian said. Libby, as well as Cultural Affairs officer Sean O’Hara. Greeting the US delega- tion was Vladimir Tchagharyan, direc- Number of Titled Chess tor of the Shengavit Preserve; Gagik Gurdjyan, director of the Erebuni Players Growing in Historical and Archaeological Culture Armenia Preserve, which oversees Shengavit; Dr. Hakob Simonyan, director of Armenia’s YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The International Chess Research Center for Historical and Federation (FIDE) awarded chess player Davit Cultural Heritage (RCHCH), and Dr. Zakaryan with the title of FIDE master. According Mitchell Rothman, head of the anthro- From left, Director Vladimir Tshagharyan, Libby Heffern, Embassy Cultural Affairs to the Armenian Chess Federation, Zakaryan won pology department at Widener officer Sean O’Hara, Ambassador John Heffern and Armenian archaeologist Armine this title for his success in chess tournaments. The University in Pennsylvania. Rothman Hayrapetyan examining a model of a head of a fourth millennium Shengavit man number of grandmasters, international masters and and Simonyan are both conducting FIDE masters is one of the international rating cri- teria in the country. Armenia is currently ranked the site. The reconstruction illustrates fourth in world chess; each Armenian chess play- what fourth millennium-BC inhabitants er’s new title strengthens Armenia’s position in looked like. Of particular interest was world chess. the fact that the forensic reconstruction was done by noted doctor Antranig Tchagharyan, the father of Shengavit’s More than 1,200 Shots director. Heffern expressed amazement that Yerevan’s history goes back not Fired at Armenian 3,000 years, as is often cited, but 6,000 Peacekeepers years. Comparing this with the brief his- tory of the United States, he stated that YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Azeri armed forces violat- he would encourage all the staff mem- ed the cease-fire agreement at the contact line bers of the embassy to visit Shengavit between Nagorno Karabagh and Azerbaijan more while expressing hope that the embassy than 25 times on August 4. As the Nagorno Karabagh and the Shengavit preserve could work Defense Army media and propaganda department together to further develop the site. reported, 1,200 shots have been fired at Armenian The Cambridge Yerevan Sister City positions. Defense units refrained from retaliation and con- tinued with their military duties. Defense Minister of the Republic of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan, in an earlier interview with Shengavit Director Vladimir Tshagharyan describes Shengavit museum’s artifacts. Armenpress, said, “[Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe] OSCE Minsk group co- chair states relevant international organizations excavations at Shengavit. ing excavations by Rothman and and international agencies should take overall con- While examining excavations dat- Simonyan who both discussed the sig- trol of cease-fire violations. It is obvious that the ing to the fourth millennium BC, nificance of their finds. violations and subversion attempts are provoked by Gurdjyan explained why the study of Following examinations of the exca- Azerbaijanis. It is unacceptable that the Azerbaijani the Shengavit site was important not vations, Tshagharyan led the group to side, ignoring the strong control exercised by only for understanding the develop- the museum in which a number of strong states, continue border infiltration ment of civilization in Armenia, but Shengavit artifacts are on display, From left, Ambassador John Heffern, attempts. The control should be made tenser.” for the study of the entire region as including stone, bone and metal tools, Shengavit Director Vladimir Tshagharyan cultural developments occurred as well as pottery, a hearth and jewelry. and American archaeologist Dr. Mitchell alongside developments in Of special interest to Heffern was a Rothman Armenian and Georgian Mesopotamia, the Middle East and forensic reconstruction of a human elsewhere. The visitors viewed ongo- head based on skeletal remains found at Actors Working on a Association (CYSCA) is currently work- ing with the Shengavit Historical and New Joint Movie Archaeological Culture Preserve direc- YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Several actors from tor to provide amenities for visitors, pre- Georgia have arrived in Armenia to begin work on serve the aging museum building and a comedy, titled “Love Poker.” its artifacts and enhance the security of Izabella Manasaryan, who is handling public rela- the site. tions for the production company, said the movie Before archaeological excavations are takes place in Armenia and Georgia. conducted, however, it is crucial that “During the shooting breaks, some of the actors both government authorities and the sing Georgian songs. They are very pleased with participating archaeologists agree on a the Yerevan warm reception, and some even detailed plan for the preservation of the expressed concern that they will leave at least excavations and that adequate financ- seven kilograms heavier,” said Manasaryan. ing for preservation efforts be allocated. Internationally-recognized Georgian model and Currently there appears to be no firm well-known actress Shorena Begashvili is also in plan for the preservation of the excava- Yerevan. Begashvili is not only acting in the film tions and no available financing. Once but singing on the soundtrack. exposed to the elements, the archaeo- After finishing shooting in Yerevan and other logical structures can quickly deterio- Armenian locaitons, the production will leave for rate, preventing further scientific Georgia. research. The director is David Babakhanyan, the producer Details of CYSCA’s project may be is Ruben Jaghinyan, and executive producer is From left, Libby Heffern, Shengavit Director Vladimir Tshagharyan, Ambassador John found at www.cysca.org. More informa- Armen Hambardzumyan. Heffern, Armenian archaeologist Armine Hayrapetyan, Erebuni Director Gagik tion on Shengavit is also available on Gurdjyan and RCHCH Director Dr. Hakob Simonyan the website at www.erebuni.am. S A T U R D A Y, A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 3 ARMENIA Women Struggle to Find Employment in Gumri

By Nelly Shishmanyan, Roza Hovhannisyan, Lusine Avagyan

GUMRI (IWPR) — Single mothers in Armenia in the earthquake. The plant is long closed, but often find it hard to escape poverty because 20 or so families still live in the hostel many of they are paid very little, if they can get a job at them without men or a wageearner. The all. But those living in Gumri, the country’s sec- gloomy, decrepit building lacks basic amenities ond-largest city, have a particularly hard time. and almost all the staircases are damaged. The northwestern city still lives in the shad- Most of the women living there rely on state ow of the massive Shirak earthquake of 1988, benefits. Edward Baghramyan, head of the local which devastated this part of what was then social services department, said families living Soviet Armenia. Today, women make up 60 per at the hostel received basic monthly benefits of cent of the town’s 360,000 inhabitants, because 16,000 drams, the equivalent of $39, as well as so many men have left to find work in Russia as an additional 6,000 drams, or $15, for each migrant laborers. child. The hostel used to accommodate workers at Ani Koretsky, 19, lives in the hostel together Gumri’s LenTextile factory was badly damaged with her mother, brother and daughter Alvard, Staff from the American University of Armenia’s Garo Meghrigian Institute administered who is one-and-a-half. After two years of mar- eye exams to young orphans. riage, Ani’s husband abandoned his wife and daughter and left for Russia. AUA Organizes “Every night I fall asleep, and wake up terri- Conference on Global fied at the thought that this ramshackle build- ing will fall down,” she said. AUA Conducts Eye Screenings Cost of Correcting Her family’s total income comes to 26,000 drams, or $63, including the benefits received Refractive Errors by her brother and child. For Orphaned Children YEREVAN — The American University Ani doubts she will ever find a job. YEREVAN — In June and July, the American University of Armenia’s Garo Meghrigian of Armenia’s Meghrigian Institute for According to the Shirak provincial depart- Institute for Preventive Ophthalmology (Meghrigian Institute) College of Health Sciences Preventive Ophthalmology of the College ment for family, women’s and children’s affairs, continued its annual eye screenings among socially vulnerable and orphaned children. of Health Sciences organized a public 72 per cent of women in the region are unem- This time doctors went to the Mary Ismirlyan Orphanage, which currently houses 90 chil- health seminar on July 26. During the ployed, a far higher rate than among men. dren. Sixty-six children were available for a detailed eye screening. Among them, 23 were seminar, Dr. Kevin D. Frick presented his In Gumri, job adverts often specify that found to suffer from various types of refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsight- work about the global burden of visual female applicants must be good-looking, young edness and astigmatism. Twelve were prescribed eyeglasses, which were distributed to impairment from uncorrected refractive and have a university degree. them for free by Meghrigian Institute. Forty-four were diagnosed with more serious eye errors and cost-effectiveness of interven- Vahan Tumasyan, head of the Centre for conditions; all received medical assistance from the institute. Political Culture and Accord in Gumri, singled out a few such adverts – “company looking for a good-looking girl aged up to 28 to work as a cleaner”; “store looking for women aged up to 30 to work as shop assistants”; “restaurant older people, said many men do not believe Psychologist Manushak Karapetyan argues looking for a well-educated woman aged up to wives should work. that social conditions harden existing attitudes, 30 for waitressing work”. “There are many impoverished families in explaining that “unemployment makes men in Tumasyan said women’s wages in Gumri aver- Gumri, but still men would never allow their Gumri insecure, aggressive and despotic. They aged only 35,000 to 40,000 drams, roughly 85- wives to work because they think it’s disrep- fear if women start working, they will get ahead 100 dollars a month, and that many women pre- utable to work as a waitress or shop assistant,” of them.” ferred to stay at home and live on benefits. Tagvoryan said. “They believe this kind of work Lusine Ginosyan, head of the regional depart- Yepraxia Kirakosyan, 24, worked as a hair- could harm their reputation. Public opinion is ment for the family, women and children said dresser for eight months but left because of the very important here, since the society con- local government was trying hard to get more low pay. demns women who take up such jobs.” women into work through job-creation schemes “I was earning next to nothing for a whole Liana Muradyan, 26, lives in the hostel with and business loans for women in rural commu- Dr. Kevin Frick month’s work. Once I earned 40,000 drams, but her five children. Her family’s monthly income nities. the next month I only got 10,000. You can’t live is 53,000 drams, or 130 dollars. Despite their “It’s impossible to provide all women with on that, of course. Everything is expensive,” she hardship, Liana’s husband Gevorg work, but it’s clear that programs are being tions correcting refractive errors. Frick is said. Mangasaryan, 22, refuses to let her work. implemented and that some progress has been a professor in the Departments of Health Women’s rights activists say traditional atti- “I work, and that’s enough. She could only made in this area,” she said. Policy and Management and tudes towards gender roles contribute to espe- work at a cafe where there’s lots of people com- (Roza Hovhannisyan is a reporter for the International Health at Johns Hopkins cially high rates of female unemployment. ing and going. Why would I allow her to work Hayatsk daily, Nelly Shishmanyan is a free- Bloomberg School of Public Health in Vahe Tagvoryan, deputy director of the NGO there?” he said. “Besides, we have five kids. She lance photojournalist and Lusine Avagyan is a Baltimore, Md. He has joint appointments Ajakits, which helps women and vulnerable should stay at home and take care of them.” freelance journalist in Armenia.) in the Schools of Medicine and Nursing at Johns Hopkins University. Frick is an internationally-respected health economist who visited the American University of Armenia (AUA) to Avan Shushi Plaza Hotel Holds First Annual Poetry Festival teach the course “Economic Evaluation Methods in Healthcare — Understanding SHUSHI, Artsakh – Avan Shushi Plaza Hotel held its first Cost-Effectiveness.” He combines his Poetry Festival in Shushi on Friday, July 6 and Saturday, July 7. knowledge of economic analysis with clin- More than 50 students ranging in age from 9 to 16 took ical and epidemiological insights from his part. These students represented winners of poetry contests colleagues to produce cost-effectiveness organized by the Artsakh’s Ministry of Education; schools analyses that bring the tools of economic from all Artsakh regions had taken part in the contest. This decision making to policy-makers. He has year’s festival was dedicated to the great Armenian poet been extensively involved in estimating Yeghishe Charentz in honor of the 150th anniversary of his the burden of different forms of visual birth. Students from Artsakh schools were broken into three impairment in different regions in the age groups and competed for prizes in each age group. world and has collaborated in a group Winners of ’s Poetry contest and stu- that outlined state-of-the- methods for dents from dance and singing academy took part in the fes- calculating the costs of blindness in pop- tival as presenters. ulations. He has published more than 100 The organizing committee consisted of Alec peer-reviewed publications, including sev- Baghdasaryan, president of Avan Ishkhan Partnership eral international cost-benefit and cost- Group; Dr. Gourgen Melikyan, dean of Eastern Armenian effectiveness studies and framework Studies and Dr. Artsron Avakyan, dean of language, Yerevan papers on blinding trachoma, and is State University; as well as Armenian poetry stars, Lala extending his work to include vision care Mnacakanyan and Samvel Baghimian, who along with Naira services in the United States. Martirosyan, Education Ministry of Artsakh, acted as the AUA students, graduates, researchers jury for the contest. and faculty and ophthalmologists from A video of festival can be viewed on www.youtube.com key- different organizations attended the pub- word “Avan Shushi Plaza”. For Inquiries regarding taking lic seminar. part in future festivals please contact Alec Baghdasaryan or One of the young participants recites a poem. Sargis Galstyan via [email protected]. 4 S A T U R D A Y, A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R INTERNATIONAL International News Armavia Gives Superjet-100 the Boot MOSCOW (Russia Times) — The first second Sukhoi SuperJet to buy aircraft $1.3 billion has already been spent on customer of the Sukhoi Superjet-100 from Boeing and Airbus, which offer the SSJ-100 and is more than it was Aznavour to Perform in (SSJ-100) airliner has decided it is no cheaper servicing and spare parts. spent on the development of similar jets Akhalskhe on August 16 longer going to fly it. Armenian airline According to Armavia President by Canada’s Bombardier and Brazil’s Armavia became the launch customer of Mikhail Bagdasarov, Russia has also not Embraer, which required around $600 AKHALSKHE, Georgia (Tert.am) — French- the 100-seat aircraft, taking delivery of a worked out a scheme of financing the million each and $100 million spent on Armenian singer and song-writer plane in 2011. supply of equipment to foreign compa- the Tupolev TU-334 since 1992. will sing in Georgia’s Armenian-populated city, Armavia has refused to go through nies by providing government guaran- The Sukhoi Superjet-100 has suffered Akhalskhe, on August 16 as part of a concert dedi- with the purchase of a second plane and tees such as lower rates for loans. a series of setbacks in the past few cated to the opening of the Rabat fortress. both are now at the Sukhoi civil aircraft Branded as the first civilian aircraft months after a tragic crash during a Citing Georgia’s Rustavi 2 TV Channel, Gruzia test facility in Zhukovsky outside developed from scratch in modern demonstration flight in Indonesia on Online reports that Aznavour will appear on stage Moscow. Russia, the SSJ-100 consists of more May 9 that killed 45 people on board. with a 25-member band, performing his hits for Armavia spokesman Andrei Muraviev than 60 percent internationally-pro- The crash, however, was attributed to about an hour and 30 minutes. said, “So far we haven’t received any duced components. Sukhoi however human error. The Georgian authorities have fully restored the official request to cancel the purchase. claims the jet has relatively low ser- A Sukhoi Superjet-100 airliner with fortress, which had been reduced to ruins. The We are trying to resolve all issues aris- vice costs and a fuel consumption 64 passengers and six crew members on activities reportedly lasted 10 month. The ing in relations with Armavia.” amphitheatre where Aznavour is to sing will be Another source familiar completed soon. with the situation said that Aznavour’s parents hail from Akhalskhe. Armavia owes Sukhoi money for servicing of the first plane and refuses to pay. Armavia Turkish-Owned Firm reportedly used a loan from an Gets $212.5 Million Armenian bank to acquire the plane. From NASA Sukhoi Civil Aircraft has reportedly already offered to ISTANBUL (Hurriyet) — The National Aeronautics restructure the deal with the and Space Administration (NASA) has granted Armenian airline and arrange $212.5 million to the Sierra Nevada Corporation delivery of both Sukhoi air- (SNC), owned by Turkish couple, Eren and Fatih crafts through a leasing com- Azmen, to support the firm’s space-taxi project, pany. “Dream Chaser.” Sierra Nevada is one of three com- “The plane is not bad, but panies NASA has chosen to support with a total not perfect. Airbuses and funding of $1.1 billion. The other two companies Boeings fly 330-350 hours per are airplane manufacturer Boeing and SpaceX month, while the Sukhoi spent (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation). only 150 hours flying,” a NASA allocated $440 million to SpaceX and $460 source close to Armavia said. million to Boeing. “The last straw was it spent SNC has signed a deal with NASA to develop a four days clearing customs in Russia to advantage over its competitors, which board had to make an emergency land- reliable and safe spaceship to transport astronauts have a two-day service. But Armavia would potentially bring Sukhoi new ing at Sheremetyevo Airport last week and cargo to the International Space Station, Eren warned Sukhoi in July that it will under contracts, particularly after the due to a technical problem, RIA-Novosti Azmen said. “SNC Space System Group signed the no circumstances use the plane,” says Russian Accounting Chamber report- reported on Friday. deal with NASA to continue the testing process of the source. “Armavia is a small company ed that the Sukhoi project has been At the recent Farnborough Air Show, the Dream Chaser Space Systems,” he said. SNC and cannot afford experimenting and severely underfunded through state- many potential customers were reluc- has received $100 million for the project from Sukhoi has already returned the money run programs. tant to commit after the Indonesian NASA. The company aims to develop NASA’s next- paid for the plane excluding the $1 mil- Another headache is that commercial accident, suspending orders until the generation space shuttle for manned spaceflights. lion servicing fee,” concludes the loans cannot fill in the gap as the man- results of the investigation are The Dream Chaser, a vertical-takeoff spaceship, is source. ufacturer, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, has too announced. Sukhoi did not conclude planned to carry up to seven people. NASA plans to Armavia started operating the first large a debt portfolio to take any out. In any contracts, only announcing that initiate space missions in five years with one of the Sukhoi Superjet plane in April 2011. 2003-2010, the federal government Mexico’s Interjet’s option has been projects it supports. The second plane was expected to be spent a total of $518 million on the SSJ- turned into an order, and that the com- handed to the carrier last year, but it 100 project through the aircraft devel- pany plans to bring the number of jets Aleppo Consulate delayed delivery. In early July 2012 rep- opment program, while Sukhoi drew on its portfolio to 210 over the next few resentatives of the Armenian airline said another $842 million in off-budget months, signing contracts with three General of the Republic the airline had decided to give up the investment. This means that more than Asian airlines. Of Armenia Moved ALEPPO (Armenpress) — The Consulate of the Republic of Armenia, located in the second largest city of Syria, has been temporarily moved to a dis- Rwanda Hosts Conference on Armenian, Jewish and Tutsi Genocides trict heavily populated by Armenians. Armenian RWANDA, from page 1 the perpetrators.” Denial: A Comparison of Denial of the Foreign Affairs Minister Press Secretary Tigran and the Rwandan New Times ran a fea- Conference co-organizer Peter Armenian Genocide by the Turkish Balayan said, “I confirm the news.” ture article on the program. Balakian later stated that “denialism is State and Denial of the Tutsi Genocide Clashes are continuing in Aleppo between Assad The master of ceremonies and confer- the final stage of genocide, as it in Rwanda by Hutu Power loyalists and rebel forces, and the city has been left ence co-organizer, playwright Bianca attempts to falsify history and create a Genocidaires.” without telephone communication and Internet, Bagatourian, called the conference to counterfeit universe for the survivors Among the other speakers were Dr. which was restored on August 3. Arabian sources order on July 17, noting that many and their legacies, and it must be stud- Wendy Lower of Claremont McKenna state, the clashes are mainly in the Muslim dis- things, including “the legacies of denial ied and analyzed in order to be exposed College and Tom Ndahiro, researcher, tricts. Syrian-Armenian community representatives perpetrated by the Turkish state, anti- for the ethical problems it creates.” Interdisciplinary Genocide Studies note, Aleppo Armenians have not suffered from the Semitic groups and Hutu nationalists, The conference included a combina- Center (IGSC), Rwanda. shelling. connect the three unambiguous cases of tion of lectures and presentations that During both days, audiences, which According to the Syrian Human Rights Defense genocide in the 20th century.” Because dealt with facets of genocide and dimen- included Rwandans, Europeans and Organization, ongoing clashes have resulted in the denial is always an issue following geno- sions of denial. Among the speakers and Americans, showed great interest in the death of more than 17,192 people. Among the vic- cide, Jean-Pierre Karegeye, Tom their lectures were Balakian, of Colgate presentations at the Kigali Genocide tims there were seven Armenians, two of whom Ndahiro, Jose Kagabo and Hadley Rose, University, who spoke about “The Memorial Centre, which is now central were in the Syrian Army military. all discussed various dimensions of Armenian Genocide and Modernity” to the cultural life of the city and is also Because of ongoing disturbances in Syria, a num- denial in Rwanda today. Rose discussed and “A Fetishized Foreign Policy: visited by thousands of tourists annual- ber of people are leaving the country, getting the problems that arise in drafting geno- Turkish State Denial of the Armenian ly. The Kigali Memorial Centre was refugee status in other countries. The applications cide ideology laws. Genocide;” Dr. José Kagabo, of Ecole established by the Aegis Trust, founded submitted from Syria by Armenians are being expe- Noted Holocaust scholar Deborah des hautes études en sciences sociales, by Dr. James Smith, who also created dited. Lipstadt emphasized at the conference “On Genocide Against the Tutsi in the Holocaust Memorial and Education In a related development, the owner and operator that: “Denial of genocide, whether that Rwanda: Different Forms of Denial,” Dr. Centre in the UK. of Nairi Hotel in Stepanakert, Karabagh, Hakob of the Turks against the Armenians, or Deborah Lipstadt, of Emory University, The staff, led by Solange Umulisa, Abulakyan, announced this week that he will take the Nazis against the Jews, or the Hutu on “To Debate or Not To Debate: deputy director, did a superb job of mak- in Armenians leaving Syria for the duration of against the Tutsi, is not an act of histor- Strategies for Addressing Genocide ing the conference a groundbreaking instability in Syria, as long as they pay for utilities. ical reinterpretation. Rather, the deniers Denial — Like Trying To Nail a Blob of international event. “Having a scholarly He noted he has talked with the Foreign Ministries sow confusion by appearing to be Jelly to the Wall;” Dr. Donald Miller of symposium on Armenian, Jewish, and of Armenia and Karabagh, who have expressed engaged in a genuine scholarly effort. the University of Southern California on Tutsi genocides and their aftermaths,” their support. The abundance of documents and testi- “The Role of Survivor Testimony in Balakian said, “in an important sub Abulakyan, currently a resident of Australia, orig- monies that confirm the genocide are Countering Genocide Denial: Saharan African country like Rwanda inally hails from Aleppo. dismissed as contrived, coerced, or forg- Comparing Oral History Testimony of opens up new pathways for intellectual eries and falsehoods... Denial of geno- Armenian and Tutsi Genocide work.” cide strives to reshape history in order Survivors;” and Dr. Gregory Stanton of to demonize the victims and rehabilitate George Mason University on “Tactics of — Jean-Pierre Karegeye S A T U R D A Y, A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 5 Community News Tribute LA Armenians Demand New General Consul Banquet for LOS ANGELES (Hetq) — Hetq has received a letter signed by a group of Diaspora Armenians, taking Grigor Hovhannisyan, the Hirant Gulian Armenian general consul here, to task for three years of failure to perform his assigned duties. To Take Place So frustrated is the group that in their let- ter they call on Armavia Airlines to give In October Hovhannisyan a one-way ticket back to Yerevan and to charge the All Armenian Fund for the cost of the ticket. Harry and Suzanne Toufayan to The group charges Hovhannisyan with Serve as Honorary Co-chairs neglecting Armenian citizens residing in the Los Angeles area. FAIRLAWN, N.J. — The Diocese of the They say that the location of the Armenian Armenian Church of America, headed by Consulate has changed several times over the Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, will years and despite the fact that it has moved honor Hirant Gulian at a tribute banquet on closer to the densely-populated Armenian October 5, for his outstanding lifelong service community of Glendale, nothing has changed to the Armenian Church and people. Harry and in terms of community outreach. Suzanne Toufayan will serve as honorary co- The letter writers claim that Hovhannisyan chairs of the event. has avoided contact with the community, its youth, reporters and writers’ union, and has When Harry Toufayan was asked about his An architect’s rendering of the project role as honorary chairman of the banquet in only made one appearance on local Armenian honor of a “national soldier,” he said: “Hirant TV during his three-year tenure as consul. Gulian is not a ‘soldier,’ he is a ‘general.’” During that appearance, Hovhannisyan is Similar accolades are echoed within the metro- said to have urged the community not to stage politan New York-Armenian community. St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary protests outside the consulate. “The response, so far, has been extremely They also accuse Hovhannisyan of failing to positive,” said Toufayan. “The spirit of coopera- School Expands to Accommodate meet with community members at a July 13 tion has been equally impressive. Everyone protest regarding the murder of military physi- wants to help out. Everyone wants to make this Growing Student Body cian Vahe Avetyan. tribute a special one. The invitations and flyers The protestors wanted to hand a letter to are almost ready to be mailed out and a lot of WATERTOWN — By mid-September, St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School the consul, but he refused to come outside work is being put into planning the special (SSAES) will throw open the doors of its new 6,000-square-foot addition, built to and instead sent an underling to discuss event. We expect a stellar array of community accommodate its growing student body as well as provide more instructional and terms. The staffer told protestors that only one leaders from all over the United States, as well recreational spaces for current students. person would be allowed in to hand the letter as from overseas, to join us in honoring Hirant.” The projected cost of the construction is $1.3 million; through a variety of to Hovhannisyan. The banquet will be held at the St. Leon fundraising activities, the school is on target with the project’s funding. Creative As a result, they call on Armenian Foreign Armenian Church, Abajian Hall in Fairlawn. means for raising money have includ- Minister Eduard Nalbandian to recall “Abajian Hall has a capacity of around 325 peo- ed a phone drive by recent graduates Hovhannisyan and replace him with another ple,” said Toufayan. “If we have more than 325 By Alin K. Gregorian and selling bricks with students’ diplomat. people, the banquet will be held at St. Leon’s Mirror-Spectator Staff names, which will pave the walkway George and Shake Shahinian Gymnasium, in front of the building. which can hold over 600 people.” Avak Kahvejian, the president of Proceeds from the banquet will benefit the the Board of Directors of SSAES, said the project is timely. The bulk of the SSAES campus — kindergarten through fifth grade — is located St. Paul Church Holds inside the Armenian Educational and Cultural Center (ACEC) on Nichols Avenue. ‘Blessing of the Grapes’ Under the plan, the existing nursery building on Elton Avenue housing pre-nurs- ery through two nursery grades — will expand into the site of a now-demolished FRESNO, Calif. (Fresno Bee) — The Rev. house next to it, which St. Stephen’s Armenian Church, the parent organization Arshen Aivazian of Saint Paul Armenian of the school, had bought long ago, with a future expansion in mind. Church blessed boxes of table grapes at the Construction of the addition to the nursery building began immediately upon California Armenian Home during the annu- the conclusion of the school term in June. The school will open on time in early al “Blessing of the Grapes,” Sunday, August September, but the kindergarten classes will relocate to their new home in the 5. The “Blessing of the Grapes” is an annual new addition later in the month. event that is performed on the Sunday clos- Houry Boyamian, the principal of SSAES, praised the expansion effort. “The est to August 15 and signifies the feast for the expansion will give us the opportunity to breathe here. It is so congested. There is assumption of the Virgin Mary. Armenians no room for growth. This solves our capacity issues and also give us the opportuni- consider grapes to be the queen of all fruit Harry Toufayan, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, ty to participate in new programs,” she explained. since wine comes from it, and wine to and Hirant Gulian When the expansion is completed, the building will accomodate about 60 stu- Christians signifies the blood of Christ. The dents, roomy enough to add more nursery classes as well as be the new building event is one of two blessings, with a second Armenian Genocide Centennial for kindergarten classes. There will be four new classrooms and on the basement by Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church Commemoration. For many years Gulian has level, a large activities area for flexible use by all students. at the same location a week later, on August been involved with the Armenian Genocide “The idea isn’t to add classes, but to relieve student density and prevent over- 12. Saint Paul’s blessing took place after Commemoration in New York Times Square. crowding at the ACEC building,” Kahvejian said. “Spreading out students will Divine Liturgy service and was followed by a He was a founding member and co-chairman of allow us to split classrooms. The demand is there. We have had to put some stu- picnic on the California Armenian Home’s the Knights and Daughters of Vartan Times dents on a waiting list.” grounds. Square Armenian Genocide Commemoration The expanded facilities, Kahvejian added, will also help create necessary space Committee, which was founded in 1984. Since for elementary students to participate in the programs for the Science, 2007 he has served as chairman of that com- Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Initiative, for which the school has mittee. received a $10,000 planning grant from the Gelfand Family Charitable Trust. The Holy Translators to Over the years, Gulian was involved with new additional space will allow the elementary division to have a science lab. many organizations and chaired and co-chaired With the new lab, “The kids can experiment, collect data, and analyze them,” Hold Church Festival numerous events: chairman of the 1,700th Boyamian said, thus meeting STEM criteria. In addition, the additional space can FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — The Armenian anniversary of the Pontifical Banquet (2001); help with the increasing number of toddlers participating in the Mayrig and Me Church of the Holy Translators, will host chairman of the Knights of Vartan and Manoog and Me music programs. its Annual Armenian Food Festival at the 87th Convocation (2005); co-chairman of the Currently the school has almost 180 students. The incoming kindergarten class New England Laborers Training Center, AGBU Nork Children Center from Armenia, will have 26 students, first grade 20 and second grade 21 students, making it the 37 East St., Hopkinton, on Saturday, which toured six major cities (2005); chairman first year there will be two classes for the second graders. September 8, from noon to 5 p.m. of Armenian American Support and “The trend is that at the elementary level, every grade will have two classes,” Those attending can enjoy traditional Educational Center (2012) and more. Boyamian explained. “I’m very excited. I’m very happy. This shows growth.” Armenian food and homemade baked goods. “Hirant’s service to Armenia and Armenians Noted Kahvejian, “These projects are very important. The diaspora is an impor- In addition, they can listen and dance to tra- cannot be measured by hours, days, weeks, tant part of the Armenian community. Half of the Armenian population lives out- ditional live Armenian music. Baked goods months or years. His service has been lifelong, side Armenia. We are one nation and spread out. It is imperative to support the and food will be available to go. unwavering and passionate,” said Toufayan. There will be children’s entertainment On October 5, The Diocese of the Armenian see EXPANSION, page 8 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. There will also be Church of America will honor Gulian in a spe- vendors and raffles. cial way, beginning with the tribute banquet. 6 S A T U R D A Y, A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R COMMUNITY NEWS

Sheriff Koutoujian Holds Graduation Ceremony for Local Youngsters BILLERICA, Mass. — Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. addressed the cadets about the importance of Koutoujian recognized 218 graduates of the 2012 using what they learned during the weeklong Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Youth Public Safety camp to help keep themselves and others safe. He Academy (YPSA) on Friday, July 27. also talked to them about teamwork, self-esteem The ceremony, which recognized children ages 9 and role models, pointing to their parents, as well through 11, was held at the Middlesex Training as the police officers, fire fighters and sheriff’s Academy in Billerica. It was the fourth week of the department personnel they met during the week. eight-week free summer academy. Each week chil- Over the course of the week cadets were taught dren from two to four communities participate in basic first aid skills and fire safety, participated in the program. team-building exercises, were able to tour their Among those who graduated at the conclusion local police and fire departments and took part in of the fourth week of the academy were more than a series of demonstrations. 20 cadets from the local Armenian community More than 1,700 children from Middlesex County Young students at the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Youth Public Safety Academy with including Koutoujian’s sons, Peter and Christian. communities are expected to participate in this Sheriff Peter Koutoujian During the graduation ceremony, Koutoujian year’s Middlesex Sheriff’s Office YPSA program.

Assembly Interns Meet with Markey, Dean of Armenian Congressional Delegation WASHINGTON — Last week, as part of the House Natural Resources Committee. The serving preferential status to the Republic of During the meeting, in addition to Armenian Terjenian-Thomas Internship Program, the Natural Resources Committee has jurisdiction Turkey to engage in economic development on issues, other subjects including, online privacy 2012 Armenian Assembly summer intern class over H.R. 2362, the Indian Tribal Trade and tribal lands...the bottom line is that H.R. 2362 and related Internet issues were also discussed. met with Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), reported the Investment Demonstration Project Act of 2011. would reward a country whose history of For example, Markey has introduced legislation, Armenian Assembly of America. In his role as ranking member of the Natural human rights and religious freedom violations the “Do Not Track Kids Act of 2011” to afford Markey, an active member of the Resources Committee, Markey played a leader- have earned it a place on the United States greater protection of minors and limit the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, is ship role in opposing H.R. 2362. In his “Dear Commission on International Religious amount of information tracked online by com- also the dean of the Massachusetts delegation Colleague” letter to all members of the House, Freedom’s ‘watch list’ for three consecutive panies. and serves as the ranking member on the Markey stated that H.R. 2362 “affords unde- years.” “On behalf of the Armenian Assembly, I In addition to the joint opposition of the would like to extend my gratitude to Armenian and Hellenic Caucuses, Markey’s Congressman Ed Markey for his leadership in efforts were reinforced by House Minority defeating H.R. 2362,” said Lori Ayanian of Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) who voted against Massachusetts, an economics and psychology the measure. The Bill, as reported last week, double-major at Colby College interning at failed to receive the support required for passage. Markey’s office. Giragosian F U N E R A L H O M E James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC Mark J. Giragosian Funeral Counselors 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 www.giragosianfuneralhome.com Assembly Interns meet with Rep. Ed Markey (right)

OBITUARY Telephone (617) 924-7400 Laura Dabanian Sarkesian Aram Bedrosian DETROIT — Laura Dabanian Sarkesian was Funeral Home, Inc. born on March 6, 1919 to Hagop and Hranoush Dabanian, who were founding members of St. Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 John’s Armenian Church. MARION BEDROSIAN She had an older sister, Rose, and a younger 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN brother, Karnig, who both predeceased her. She WATERTOWN, MA 02472 was particularly close to her sister. LARRY BEDROSIAN She graduated from Central High School in 1937 and went to Detroit Business College to become a secretary. In the early 1940s, she Edward D. Jamakordzian, Jr. d/b/a worked for Ordinance in the War Department. She also worked for the Parson’s Company before her marriage. In Edward D. Jamie, Jr. 1941, she met Ed Sarkesian at an Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Junior League dance. Her husband told her he felt Funeral Chapel Licensed in New York and New Jersey she was the most beautiful girl he had ever 217-04 Northern Blvd., (Suite 23), Bayside, NY met with her peaches and cream complexion 11361 and beautiful smile. Service any hour, (718) 224-2390 or toll The couple dated for five years and married any distance at St. John’s Armenian Church on Oakman free (888) 224-6088 Boulevard on May 5, 1946. During their 60 Laura Dabanian Sarkesian years of marriage, they raised three children, Cathy, Peter and Jon. She was able to travel a great deal with her Throughout her life, whenever people met her, husband, and together, they went around the they felt her sweetness. She made sure every- DENNIS M. DEVENEY & SONS world. She was fascinated by computers and one else was cared for before she worried about various search engines and had an email herself. She loved her heritage, her parents, her Cemetery Monuments account with which she communicated with her siblings, her husband, Ed, her children, Cathy, grandchildren, Alex, Lauren, Chris, Katie and Peter and Jon, their spouses, Ed, Marilyn, and Specializing in Danny. Suzanne, her five grandchildren, Alex, Lauren, Armenian Designs and Lettering She made sure her children went to Sunday Chris, Katie and Danny, her adopted great- School and understood the importance and grandchildren, Tatev and Mane, her extended 701 Moody St. Waltham, MA 02543 value of their Armenian community. She was family, her friends and, last but certainly not soft-spoken, private, kind, strong, intelligent, least, Sophie, the family dog. (781) 891-9876 www.NEMonuments.com gracious and committed to her family. S A T U R D A Y, A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 7 COMMUNITY NEWS Prof. Anahid Gharakhanian Appointed Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at Southwestern Law School LOS ANGELES — Prof. Anahid Gharakhanian, tative to the Southwestern Armenia Fellowship with Southwestern and, naturally, with Dean Harvard Law School and is a member of the a longtime member of the Armenian Bar with the Ministry of Justice in Armenia, added, Gharakhanian, who we wish much success in her California State Bar. Upon graduation from law Association (ABA), has been appointed as vice “Anahid is so many good things all rolled into new and deserving position at the law school.” school, she joined the firm of Chadbourne & dean for Academic Affairs at Southwestern Law one, most certainly a wonderful model for not In announcing the appointment, Dean Austen Parke LLP in Los Angeles. During her six-year School, where she has served since 2002. In her only the student body of Southwestern, but to all Parrish said, “Dean Gharakhanian is a very tal- tenure there, she handled the pre-trial phases of new capacity, she will be in charge of the overall women and men who aspire to combine positive ented and dedicated teacher and administrator, a variety of civil litigation matters as well as arbi- academic program, faculty appointments, faculty meaning and purpose with the legal profession.” and I am delighted that she has agreed to expand tration proceedings. Subsequently, she was development and Southwestern’s self-study Edvin Minassian, chairman ex-officio of the her administrative role, as we have a very busy appointed vice president of E-commerce process, and will continue to serve as director of ABA, credited Gharakhanian with heeding the year ahead.” Development for an online retailer. She has also the Externship Program. call to service and with playing a key role in Gharakhanian earned her bachelor’s, magna served as a temporary judge in the Los Angeles As a member of the faculty for more than a bringing to life the vision of the Armenian Bar’s cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, in philosophy at Superior Court’s Small Claims Court and has decade, Gharakhanian has taught legal research commitment to the rule of law in Armenia. “We the University of California, Los Angeles. She worked on a pro bono basis in the areas of and writing, and a course on correctional educa- look forward to many more collaborative efforts completed her juris doctorate, cum laude, at domestic violence and other family law matters. tion was instrumental in the redevelopment of Southwestern’s unique Legal Analysis, Writing and Skills (LAWS) program, which greatly expanded the Externship Program to be one of the largest in the country. She served as faculty Industry Expert Nahigian Giving Series of Talks at Real Estate Events advisor to the Part-time Legal Education at Southwestern (PLEAS) program. She is also fac- NEWTON, Mass. — During the first half of Buildings to a BTS Development Process.” the national Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) ulty advisor to the Armenian Law Students 2012, Rob Nahigian — whose qualifications More than 95 attendees from California were program on July 18 for the Massachusetts Association and recently spearheaded efforts to include Fellow Royal Institution of Chartered presented at the Hotel Valencia located on the Association of Realtors in Lexington, on the create the new Southwestern Armenia Surveyors (FRICS), Society of Industrial and Santana Row in downtown San Jose. topics of industrial real estate, international real Fellowship with the Ministry of Justice in Office Realtors (SIOR), Commercial Real Estate The Rhode Island Association of Realtors had estate and brokerage, commercial real estate Armenia. (CRE) and Master of Corporate Real Estate Nahigian speak on March 9 on the “Art of fundamentals and marketing. Garo Ghazarian, chairman of the Armenian (MCR) — of Auburndale Realty Co., spoke at a Negotiating Skills” and “Synergistic Sales Finally, on July 26, the SIOR Houston Gulf Bar Association, remarked, “On behalf of the number of regional and national commercial Skills.” This event was held at the Board offices Coast chapter invited Nahigian to speak on the Armenian Bar Association, I congratulate Prof. real estate events throughout the US as an in Providence. On March 14, the SIOR Oregon “Ethics of Commercial Real Estate” and Anahid Gharakhanian on her appointment and I industry expert. On February 3, he spoke to the chapter invited Nahigian to speak in Portland, “Opportunities of Build-To-Suit.” applaud Southwestern Law School for her selec- SIOR chapter of AL/LA/MS/NW FL in Point Ore. on “The Opportunities of Build-to-Suit On July 27, Boston’s Commercial Broker’s tion. Professor Gharakhanian’s contributions to Clear, Ala. on the “The Art of Negotiating.” This Development Pro Forma,” at the private Association had Nahigian speak on “Advanced the legal community and to our association are regional event was held at the Grand Hotel Portland University Club. On March 23, the Industrial Real Estate: Logistics and Supply invaluable and wide-ranging. Her mentoring of Marriott Resort that attracted SIORs exclusive- Greater Hartford Association of Realtors had Chain.” The program was held at the board’s so many of our new attorney members as well as ly from four states. The event was sponsored by Nahigian as its featured speaker to speak on the offices in Boston. our law student members is unparalleled and has Johnson Development Company. On February “Opportunities of Build-To-Suit” and the “Art of For the fall, Nahigian has been asked to be been unheralded for too long.” 9, the SIOR Northern California chapter invited Negotiation Skills.” Approximately 50 people the featured speaker at a number of events. On Armen K. Hovannisian, vice chair of ABA, a Nahigian as the keynote speaker to its “Mini- attended the event held at the Board Offices in September 18, Nahigian will speak for the former colleague of Gharakhanian’s at Convention” in San Jose, Calif. on the “Trends West Hartford. The Ohio Association of Cincinnati Association of Realtors on “Liquidity Chadbourne & Parke LLP and ABA’s represen- and Repositioning of Vacant Commercial Realtors in conjunction with the SIOR Ohio and Commercial Real Estate.” This program is chapter had Nahigian as its speaker on April 26 sponsored by a grant from NAR Commercial. in Columbus for a full-day program. The event Nahigian will speak as the State Convention of was sponsored with a NAR Commercial grant Massachusetts Association of Realtors on and held at the Board offices. September 20 on “Commercial Buyers The New Hampshire Commercial Board of Brokerage, Commercial Brokerage Due Realtors invited Nahigian as its featured speak- Diligence in the Sale of Real Estate, and er on June 8 in Bedford, NH on “Liquidity and International Real Estate Challenges.” The Commercial Real Estate: Where We’ve Been, State Convention will be held at the Rhode Where We are at and Where we are headed; Island Convention Center in Providence. On Connecting the Dots Back to the Future.” This September 24, Nahigian has been invited by the program was sponsored with a grant from NAR SIOR E. Canada chapter to speak at its region- Commercial. The SIOR chapter again invited al event in Montreal. Nahigian will teach the Nahigian to speak at its regional convention for SIOR designation course for the SIOR accredi- a second time during 2012 at the Sandestin tation in Dallas on October 3. The topics are Resort in Sandestin, Fla. Nahigian then taught “Synergistic Sales Skills” and “The Art of Negotiating.” Lastly, Nahigian has been invited to the national faculty of CoreNet Global for its MCR accreditation and to develop a new industrial course. The new course titled, “The New Survival Tools of Industrial Operations and Real Estate Decisions,” will be offered for the first time in Chicago on November 8 and 9 at the headquarters of MillerCoors Company. Nahigian is the instructor both days, with Adam Meek of Chicago.

Entertainment Fridays and Saturdays 8 S A T U R D A Y, A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R COMMUNITY NEWS

LA Will Offer Election St. Stephen’s Armenian School Expands Info, but Not Ballots EXPANSION, from page 5 schools” in order to prevent the loss of Armenian identity in In Armenian, Russian the diaspora. And Farsi Kahvejian is happy with the pace of the construction as well as the execution of the expansion. “Many people LOS ANGELES (Daily News) — The thought we couldn’t be successful. There was a lot of skep- Los Angeles City Council on ticism.” Wednesday, August 1, agreed to devel- Boyamian said the school has produced 236 graduates. op a phased-in approach to include “When we started, all the students in grades nursery to fifth Armenian, Russian and Farsi as offi- were in this building [the ACEC]. Then, when it wasn’t fea- cial languages for city elections. sible, the church gave us a building and we added five class- While it will not include ballots es” for the nursery students, moving them out of the ACEC. printed in those languages because of “Some asked if we could fill it. Within two to three years, we the cost, the city will reach out to the had to add another classroom,” she explained. Now, again, different communities, seek poll work- the school has reached a similar situation. ers who speak the languages and offer The private, pre-nursery-Grade 5 elementary school, election information in those lan- which was founded in 1984 with a handful of students, guages. received an award from Armenia’s Ministry of Diaspora in City Clerk June Lagmay said the 2010 as “Best Armenian School” in the diaspora. It is the March 2013 election is too close to only Armenian day school to be fully accredited by the put the new language options into Association of Independent Schools in New England, the effect, but the city would have such a accrediting body for independent elementary schools in the program in place by 2015. region. Councilman Paul Krekorian said For more information about the school, visit ssaes.org. The new building is close to completion. Armenian is the most widely used lan- guage in the city after English, Spanish and Korean. “Some of the greatest debates this nation has had has involved expansion of voting rights,” Krekorian said. “Whether it was the right for women to vote or the Civil Rights Act, it has done more to make government acces- sible.” Councilman Eric Garcetti said the city can increase voter turnout by pro- viding election information and assis- tance in more languages. “We found in recent elections that we were able to increase turnout by 2,000 just by having people speak Armenian,” Garcetti said. An architect’s rendering of the project S A T U R D A Y, A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 9 COMMUNITY NEWS An Evening to Remember for a Long Time loving it, caring about it under any condition By Yeghishe Hajakian or circumstance. Why is this phenomenon of utmost impor- tance to us? The land that was there in the PARAMUS, N.J. — July 20 was meaningful to Caucasus has always been a magnet attract- this writer due to the fact that we were wit- ing Armenians from every corner of our nessing a representative of the younger gener- planet for more than 4,000 years. Our lan- ation, Baydzig Kalaydjian, deliver a speech con- guage, our church and our culture was orig- cerning the Armenian Diaspora and the for- inated on this land and summoned us like a mation of many communities in the Middle lighthouse from all over the world. I do not East and Europe, subsequent to the Genocide care who the king has been, who the presi- and the preparation of leadership and the dent has been, what party has dominated on efforts of survival as a community. the land of Armenia; it was there as a sym- Kalaydjian is the editor of the Armenian bol of a nation called Armenia throughout daily newspaper, , in Beirut, the ages. Loving our fatherland has always . She has replaced my beloved high been without any conditions — without any school teacher, Kersam Aharonian, from the regard to who is governing it. days of yore. Kalaydjian is truly deserving of Recently though I came across a book Ahoronian’s mantle, with the dedication she written for the younger generation by a has manifested for the last five years of the member of a certain Armenian political fac- publication of the paper. tion whereby 1918 and 1992 were men- Kalaydjian belongs to a generation who tioned as the only two dates that we had are still idealistic concerning the Armenian governments in the 20th century. A whole community’s future and their visibility in period of 70 years in between was erased From left, Dr. Vaghenag Tarpinian, Zarmine Boghosian, Baydzig Kalaydjian, Mr. and Mrs. this world. Hence her unswerving belief in from the history of Armenia. Soviet Armenia Yeghishe Hajakian and Shoghig Chalian disseminating it through the pages of did not exist between 1922 to 1992. The Zartonk in the very language in which it was writer of this book is Kalaydjian. created and developed. Garbis Kazanjian of the Armenian Radio party’s organ. Answer? That is what she displayed on Friday, July Kalaydjian supports the notion that Hour of New Jersey has been contributing Kalaydjian is so convincing, devoted to 20, charming her audience and moving Armenians succeeded in implementing a articles to Zartonk recently on a regular Armenia, Armenian issues, the Armenian nation them to such an extent where many mone- heroic drive for survival. Armenians have basis. Knowing his political background, I and she has such a charming personality that tary donations to Zartonk were given along thrived by constantly remembering that we asked him once how on earth he has been he just could not refuse her request of con- with much admiration toward the work do have a fatherland called Armenia, always contributing articles to a so-called opposite tributing articles in Zartonk, he explained. Kalaydjian has been doing.

help them. “I was happy to see the work that FAR Young Professionals Visit Armenia, Historic Armenia FAR is doing,” said Sedda Antekelian of Los Angeles, Calif. Alexander Jahani of Green Brook, NJ, was so Tamar Gasparian was taken aback that the local moved by the work of the center that he decid- By Maral Firkatian Wozniak signs bore no mention of the fact that this was ed to remain in Armenia at the conclusion of an Armenian Church and the work of Armenian the trip and volunteer at the facility. He has architects. been working with the center’s staff to further NEW YORK — The desolate landscape bears could get involved in strengthening their home- “For an Armenian like me, with a background develop its media center. few traces of the sprawling, illustrious land. It also stopped in the historic Armenian in art history, it really doesn’t matter what they While witnessing how Armenia is being reju- Armenian capital that once dominated the area. region of Javakhk, Georgia. wrote on the signs because art speaks for venated through the efforts of FAR, the Young Ani was once known as the “city of a thousand Departing from Gumri, the group traveled to itself,” she said. “All those reliefs and frescos on Professionals were also able to visit several and one churches.” Now the haggard skeletons Historic Armenia by way of Javakhk, Georgia. In the churches are so obviously Armenian, and sites, which serve as a testament to the coun- of a few structures remain — the last reminders Javakhk, they stopped at St. Kevork Armenian most of them have Armenian inscriptions as try’s rich history. of what was once the center of Armenian civi- Church, where the local priest invited them for well. But still, complete and accurate signs are At Khor Virab monastery, they descended lization. coffee and gata, and presented Vorperian with important, and I am hoping this will change into the pit where St. Gregory the Illuminator Ani was one of the stops on this year’s Young incense and a blessed Armenian flag, which the one day.” Professionals trip sponsored by the Fund for group would take with them on the excursion The FAR Young Armenian Relief (FAR), the humanitarian orga- to Historic Armenia. Professionals visit- nization of the Eastern Diocese. A group of 15 Arriving in Ani, the group unfurled the flag ed some of the old- young people ages 23 to 40, led by FAR’s before the altar of the Sourp Asdvadzadzin est and best exam- Project Director Arto Vorperian took part in Cathedral, and burned incense in memory of ples of Armenian the program of travel and cultural immersion, the Armenians who once worshiped there. architecture. Even June 17 to 30. The trip’s itinerary broadened the perspec- as the structures For the second time in the trip’s 18-year his- tive of the participants, as they explored the deteriorate with tory, the itinerary included a visit to Historic lands of their ancestors and witnessed the rem- age and abuse, Armenian lands in eastern Turkey, where par- nants of Armenian influence lingering in the their beauty shows ticipants explored the ruins of Ani, visited the region. Vorperian pointed out that seeing the through the crum- glorious Church of the Holy Cross on Akhtamar ruins firsthand helps build a better under- bling stones. From Island and saw the immense fortress at Tushba. standing of the rich contributions made by the delicate bas- The trip included a visit to the Republic of Armenians. relief carvings Armenia, where the group toured some of “You know about the Genocide, but you don’t depicting scenes FAR’s many projects and learned how they know about the country itself, the land we lost. from the Bible on When you see it, it really is the walls of Holy sad,” he said. “It also Cross Church to speaks to the skill and the brightly-colored The Young Professionals in Ani artistry of the Armenian frescos on the life of people.” Christ at St. Group member Vahagn Gregory the Illuminator Church, the ancient was imprisoned for 13 years. To stand on that Yeranossian of Cleveland, artwork is stunning in its beauty and resilience. ground is perhaps the closest one can come to Ohio, said that the trip to In Armenia, the group visited FAR’s pro- the origins of Christianity in Armenia. The eastern Turkey elicited grams, including its Children’s Center, soup group also visited the 13th-century monastery conflicting emotions in kitchen, Octet Music School and Gumri of Geghard, the churches of St. Hripsime and him. It was exciting to see Information Technology Center. Visiting such St. Gayane and the Cathedral of Holy sites like the Tushba uplifting projects was an opportunity for the Echmiadzin. Fortress and Aghtamar participants to see FAR’s work and to learn Before leaving Armenia, the Young Island, but he found him- about how they could make a difference in Professionals group met with Deputy Minister self upset, too, because Armenia. of the Diaspora Vardan Marashlyan, who spoke “this land was taken [from At the Children’s Center in Yerevan, which about the ministry’s responsibilities and goals, us] and it’s not being cared provides shelter and counseling to children who and answered questions. for.” have been orphaned or abused, the group met “I am very proud of Armenia,” said Chris When visiting the with the young residents and learned about the Kesici of Asbury Park, NJ. “Despite all of the dif- Cathedral of the Holy center’s services. Participants said that while it ficulties Armenia has had since independence, Cross on Akhtamar Island was painful to see children who had suffered it is a wonderful place.” The group at Holy Cross in Akhtamar on Lake Van, FAR’s com- abuse or abandonment, it was reassuring to To learn more about FAR, visit munication’s officer know that FAR had been able to do so much to www.farusa.org. 10 S A T U R D A Y, A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R Arts & Living Zybas Launches Armenian Learning Tufts’ Ina Software for iPads Baghdiantz YEREVAN — The creative team Zybas has developed the first ever iPad software for peo- ple wishing to learn the . McCabe The idea was proposed by two Armenian designers, David Margaryan and Samvel Hovhannisyan. The software provides a key to learning the Armenian alphabet, in addition to Explores more than 230 words and 38 poems. It consists of three sections, of which the first is very comprehensive and multi-functional. It Heritage teaches learners to read, write and pronounce the Armenian letters, as well as master the words and the poems. A special subsection By Katrina Stanislaw behind each letter allows users to see and hear the letter and a corresponding image, as well as write or draw the letter and learn five words MEDFORD, Mass. — The following is an beginning with it. It also offers learners an interview with Ina Baghdiantz McCabe, opportunity to hear and read a poem corre- Tufts Professor of History and Darakjian sponding to the given letter. and Jafarian Chair in Armenian History, The last two sections are simpler. They are regarding her studies of diasporas and designed for browsing letters and seeing the her insight on the formation of identities. images of animals and objects. The two have It appeared in the newsletter of The paid special attention to the aesthetic design, Fletcher School’s Fares Center for creating colorful images. Eastern Mediterranean Studies. It is not yet clear when and where the soft- Katrina Stanislaw: Your childhood was ware will be available for sale. uniquely international: raised in eight countries and educated in six languages before the age of 18. How did this expo- sure influence your passion for history? Ina Baghdiantz McCabe: Living in ADAA Announces many cultures makes you realize that Saroyan Prize Finalists, Event Arzoumanian atop Ararat LOS ANGELES — The Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance (ADAA) announced the three finalists as well as an upcoming event for its third biennial $10,000 William Saroyan Prize for Playwriting Award. ‘Ararat Reminded The finalists are: “Doon,” by Sevan Kaloustian Greene; “Night Over Erzinga,” by Adriana Sevahn Nichols; and “Belonging to the Sky,” by Kelly Stuart. Greene is a New York-based Lebanese- Me of Who I Am,’ Armenian/Pakistani actor and playwright. He is a member of The Public Theater’s 2011 Says Lebanese-Armenian Mountaineer Emerging Writers Group, Rising Circle Theatre Collective’s 2010 InkTANK Writer’s Lab, a NYTW 2011/2012 Teaching Artist at the Khalil BEIRUT — A young Armenian-Lebanese woman, Christine Gabriel Arzoumanian, Gibran Academy and a previous William reached the summit of Mount Ararat on July 18. Accompanied by friends with the Ina Baghdiantz McCabe Saroyan Playwriting Prize Finalist in 2010. same mountaineering passion, she had made it all the way up to the 5,137-meter-high “Doon” takes the familiar genre of the kitchen peak in four days. sink family drama and focuses it through the Arzoumanian is the managing partner of Korea Merchandise Center International most people are the same despite their lens of four generations of an Armenian family and is an alumna of the AGBU Tarouhi Hagopian School in Beirut. She holds a bach- cultural differences. Pain and suffering living in Cliffside Park, NJ. elor’s degree in business administration from the American University of Beirut and are universal, as is the hope people hold Nichols is a native New Yorker and award-win- a master’s degree in international affairs from Lebanese American University. She for happiness and a better future. ning actress and playwright. She received the also actively contributes in designing Revolutions have happened on the force 2008 Middle East America Distinguished and promoting health campaigns — a of this promise for happiness and equali- Playwright Award to research and write “Night By Sevag Hagopian World Health Organization awardee for ty, but they always fail because some peo- Over Erzinga,” inspired by her Armenian grand- anti-smoking contributions who plays a ple never believe it should be allowed. To parent’s survival of the Genocide in 1915. The significant role in youth development put it simplistically, people believe they play has been produced by The Lark Play and community service. She is a Rotary district representative elected to represent, are better than “other” people. The idea Development Center in New York, Silk Road lead and actively contribute in nine countries, Armenia, Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, that some people are better than others, Theatre Project in Chicago, and Golden Thread Georgia, Jordan, Lebanon, Sudan and United Arab Emirates. taken to its extreme logic, is what led to in San Francisco. Her one-woman show about This year, she became one of only a handful of Armenian-Lebanese mountaineers the Holocaust. friendship and 9/11, “Taking Flight,” had its (especially as a female mountaineer) to reach the summit of Mount Ararat. Of all the places I have lived I feel most world premiere in May 2006 by Center Theater Arzoumanian, the daughter of a former Lebanese champion in cycling and a certi- at home here in the United States; it Group in Los Angeles, and she has performed it fied International Olympic Committee (IOC) instructor, had became interested in remains the best democratic experiment, at several theaters nationwide. extreme sports, especially mountaineering, since adolescence and had achieved many despite some scary episodes. Stuart is an American playwright based in summits in Lebanon and abroad. She had also ranked the second in the women’s cat- Unfortunately, that experiment also has a New York. She currently teaches in the playwrit- egory of the “Raid of the Cedars” 18-kilometer snowshoeing competition organized very painful beginning with the annihila- ing program and Columbia University. Her plays by the Lebanese Army in 2009. tion of many native groups. As a historian include “Shadow Language,” (Oberon Press), She granted an exclusive interview upon her return. it helps you avoid the trap of exceptional- which was presented by Theatre 503 in London Sevag Hagopian: What made you think and dare to achieve Ararat’s summit? ism; you realize that many problems are and originally commissioned by the Guthrie Christine Arzoumanian: Climbing a mountain is tricky really, yet very real and universal. KS: Theatre in Minneapolis; “Mayhem,” which played solid. Only on the mountain one can reveal the truth of climbing that it is much taller Did any of the countries and cul- at Manchester’s Royal Exchange in the UK as than it seemed, farther than and harder than it looked. Nature can be very cruel if tures you experienced in your childhood well as The Evidence Room in Los Angeles (with you do not know how to embrace it or walk with it. Some people say they climb have a particularly profound impact on Megan Mullally), and “Demonology” at mountains to get enlightened, I climb mountains because I am an enlightened per- the development of your academic inter- Playwrights Horizons in New York and the Mark son by God, and I thank Him to be blessed to reflect, relate, be aware and thank every ests? IM: Taper Forum in Los Angeles. “Belonging to the circumstance I face during those moments including the hard and painful ones. My passion for history stems from Sky” is a lyrical intertwining of two monologues To reach any summit, both summits of life or mountains, I believe one should train the many cultures that I have made my by Sabiha Gökçen and Hrant Dink and their trag- see ARARAT, page 11 own and to me they are all profoundly ic historical connection. see McCABE, page 13 see ADAA, page 12 S A T U R D A Y, A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 11 ARTS & LIVING

Newton Jeweler to Make Earrings for US Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team

NEWTON, Mass. (Boston Globe) — Those red, white and blue earrings that have brought Needham Olympian Aly Raisman so much luck will soon be sparkling on the ears of her team- mates: Adamas Fine Jewelry of Newton has promised all the girls on the US Olympic Team their very own pair, after they crushed the Russians to win the gold medal in the team com- petition on Tuesday, July 31. “They are absolutely getting them,” said Adamas co-owner Veronica Sagherian. By Evan Allen Raisman and her family have long been clients at Adamas, and when Raisman earned her spot on the US gymnastics team, Sagherian and her brother Anto Aboyan wished her good luck by crafting her a pair of ruby, diamond and sap- phire studs. “I love the patriotic look,” Raisman told Channel 7 news. Raisman has scarcely taken them off — she even wore them on the cover of Sports Illustrated. “We had no expectations whatsoever, we just gave her a nice gift,” said Sagherian. “Honestly, we didn’t even know if she was allowed to wear them in competition. But we’ve seen them everywhere. Every time there’s a picture of her, there are the earrings.” Sagherian said she missed the streaming video of Raisman and her team flipping their way to gold on July 31 because she was working, but she turned on her TV as soon as she got home on Tuesday night. “I’ve never been so committed to watching the Olympics. It’s nice to have that connection,” she said. “It’s nice to see that person you’re connected to is doing so well.” Calls and emails, she said, have begun pouring in to the store: everybody wants a pair of earrings like Raisman’s. But the earrings are off-limits until after the competition is over — Sagherian is not going to fool around with something as delicate as a lucky streak. “I feel like, if she’s looking at this as her lucky earrings, I’m not going to mess with that,” Aly Raisman wearing her earrings from Adamas, with her teammate Gabby Douglas said Sagherian.

tain and did you ever feel like going back down Ararat Reminded and giving up? My prime experience is when I was around Me of Who I Am’ 300 meters away from the summit… I stopped… The altitude was kicking in, my fingers were ARARAT, from page 10 frozen, my face and lips were all blue according the mind first to be clear, clean, positive and to the guide. I had no energy to move a muscle. willful or let the purity of the soul give the nec- Our Kurdish guide stopped a Turkish moun- essary push to the mind to move with determi- taineer — a medical person whom we met by nation and love despite many challenges. coincidence — to check on me. He checked my Consequently, imagine if you have both, a beau- eyes and advised me to go down. He was wor- tiful mind and a pure soul, only then every dif- ried that I still have another 1.5 hours to reach ficulty will look so small and every dare an invi- the summit- having in mind the wind, the alti- tation and an opportunity to inspire goodness tude, the temperature and that according to his in this world. So before working on our muscles fast tempo, with the way I was trekking I may to climb mountains, we should work continu- need another two to three hours. I smiled and ously on our mind and keeping our souls clean. asked him “how are you” in his language… He Physical fitness and the right diet are the fun- smiled back and answered “I’m good” … I asked damentals of survival but it is the mind in col- my mountaineering partner to see if he is good laboration with the soul that will take you to to go. He said: “I’m very tired” with no further the summit. implications. I paused. I knew if I stopped I will SH: Is there any professional tourism or guid- be messing up the group tempo and even be a ing companies to make you reach there? Are source of discouragement. I looked at my part- there any tests regarding fitness or eligibility it ners in this mission. I looked at the beautiful is required to pass in order to be selected for a Christine Arzoumanian and fellow climbers at a base camp summit and I looked at the sky. I shouted and high altitude climb? tears rolled down my eyes and a divine strength CA: There are many tourism and guiding filled me up and I started running … it took me companies. One can browse to find them on the food, logistics like tents and crampons. gives the necessities to the body s/he will be 30 minutes to reach the summit. I was full of net. Mine was a Kurdish company. There were Mountaineers just get their gear (outfit, boots, fine. You should not listen to the pain and the emotions and determination. I was already no major physical tests required. Unless one hiking sticks) and personal needs. It is also rec- headache and the nausea while approaching to there within my mind until I made it to the sum- chooses to have one as general check-up espe- ommended to intake carbohydrates a week prior the summit … and not think so much while mit and other groups welcomed me with claps, cially for the heart condition and blood pres- to the hike along with altitude pills if necessary. walking, just walk. hugs and cognac. I went on my knees and sure. SH: How much did you hydrate during your SH: Are you more secure climbing with peo- thanked God and prayed. I was on top of Mount SH: Do you have to get prepared for a while, climb? Did you drink more fluids the higher ple you know and trust or do you on occasion Ararat. I saw Armenia. I saw our Sar and for both fitness and logistics? What do you take you climbed? like to climb with random people of same pas- waited impatiently for my group to arrive. I was- with you? CA: You should drink a lot of water all the sion? n’t able to see them from the fog and the weath- CA: The expedition agency takes care of your way even if small sips. If one learns to listen and CA: It is all same for me. In climbing you are er was getting really bad… until they all came. your own master first; you should be in full con- It was freezing cold up there…. heavenly feeling trol and trust of yourself first. will cherish forever. SH: Can you briefly describe the climbing SH: I would like to know what it was like stages? What were conditions like on the moun- upon the summit. Is it like any other summit tain? you have achieved? CA: On day one of the expedition, we started CA: For me it was a holy summit. It is the climbing from 2,200 meters until 3,100 meters summit of my roots. My summit. where there was camp 1. On day two we SH: Would you recommend our readers, climbed from camp 1 to camp 2; 4,100 meters, especially women, to try climbing Mount then went down and slept in camp 1 (this is Ararat? mainly done so the body gets use to the alti- CA: It’s a wonderful experience besides being tude). Day 3 was dedicated to going up back to a national commitment. Noah’s Ark had landed camp 2 again and sleep there. Day 4 was for the there! Our great Khatchadour Apovian was summitting journey! Fortunately, there was no there! You just do sports regularly, maintain a need for supplemental oxygen for Ararat, some healthy diet, do as many hikes as you can and other higher summits they do need though. especially on high altitudes, and a big must to The last 800 hundred meters was all covered in work on the mind, attitude and the spirit. beautiful snow and it was too cold! SH: Do you want to add anything here We were extremely happy by reaching the Christine about your great experience? summit where we all celebratied, then I real- CA: The whole journey reminded me of who ized, climbing up to a mountain is optional; real- I am as a person, my roots, my strength, my ly you can decide not to continue, but going weaknesses, the qualities of my soul, how light- down a mountain after summitting is a must, ly I deal with difficulties and with a smile and you have no other way! So we did that on the loving heart towards all. I thank all who were same day. part of my journey, before, during, and after. Christine Arzoumanian at the summit with the Lebanese flag SH: What was the scariest or maybe most SH: Thank you Christine and congratula- memorable part of your journey up the moun- tions! 12 S A T U R D A Y, A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R ARTS & LIVING ACYO-WD to Present Musical Exploring Armenian History and Identity GLENDALE — The Armenian Church Youth Organization of the Western Diocese (ACYO-WD) is pro- ducing a groundbreaking new musi- cal, titled “Polors Nuyn Hyen Enk,” meaning “We are all Armenian,” with a one-night engagement on Saturday, September15, at 7 p.m., at the Beyond The Stars Place. “Polors Nuyn Hyen Enk” is writ- ten and directed by Arpi Nakashian, current ACYO-WD Central Council event coordinator and member of St. Vartan, Oakland ACYO, who devel- oped the concept of the musical at age 13. Now, nearly a decade later, Nakashian is bringing the musical to life, presented as the annual benefit event for the ACYO-WD. The musical emphasizes the Arpi Nakashian gives direction. importance of the Armenian identi- ty, culture, language and how Christianity shaped the Armenian youth discuss that despite the challenges they nation throughout the years. This original work face today being Armenian, they are willing to face any obstacle to protect their identity. “One of the messages of the documentary musical is that we should be united and even though there might be differences between us, the basis of who we are is the same,” Nakashian said. One of Nakashian’s inspi- rations was well-known Armenian singer Robert Chillingarian’s titled single by the same name, Polors Memorable Profiles by Vatche Semerdjian Nuyn Hyen Enk. In sup- port of the musical, Arpi Nakashian directs the cast in a first read-through. Chilingirian posted his praise of the musical on his Facebook page. Tekeyan Cultural Association covers significant eras in Armenian history, “…I am so happy that the message is getting putting emphasis on the importance of unity. through and slowly but surely being practiced! Through the story of the musical, Armenian Bravo Arpi, the Cast, and ACYO for taking this Publishes New Book to the next level,” Chilingirian said. GLENDALE — Tekeyan Cultural Association (TCA), Glendale Chapter, recently pub- “Polors Nuyn Hyen Enk” will be performed in lished a new book in Armenian by writer and journalist Vatche Semerdjian, titled Armenian, with English narration. The musical Memorable Profiles. The book is the 14th publication of the TCA and contains 30 articles stars ACYO-WD members and alumni from about personalities in culture and education within the Armenian communities of the ADAA Saroyan Prize across the Western Diocese, with some of the Middle East and the Americas, who have been friends and acquaintances of Semerdjian cast members learning Armenian dialogue, during the last 50 years. Finalists and Event songs and dance for the musical. The introduction is written by Edmond Azadian and the book can be acquired from the Tickets are on sale at Beyond the Stars Place. author, 912 E. Harvard St., Glendale, CA 91205. Announced For tickets and information, visit ADAA, from page 10 http://www.acyo-wd.org/. The $10,000 Saroyan grand prizewinner will be announced at an invitation-only awards event on Saturday, December 8, 6 p.m., at the Pasadena Playhouse VIP Room. Three finalist plays were selected by a first- round panel of theater professionals, from a Sponsor a Teacher in Armenia and Karabagh 2012 pool of submissions from around the world. The winner will be selected by this year’s honorary jury of theater artists: playwright Catherine Filloux, playwright/screenwriter Eduardo Machado and actress/producer Gates Since its inception in 2001, TCA’s Sponsor McFadden. ADAA’s annual Armenian Star Award will a Teacher’ program has raised over $518,000 also be presented at the event. The award rec- ognizes an individual who has reached high and reached out to 4,064 teachers and artistic achievement in their career or has school workers in Armenia and Karabagh. assisted Armenians in the arts. This year’s recip- ient is David Kherdian, the poet, novelist and £ memoirist, whose work has been published in 13 languages, including his acclaimed Root River Cycle. The Road From Home, the biog- K Yes, I want to sponsor teachers in Armenia and Karabagh to continue raphy of his mother who survived the helping them to educate the children, our future leaders. I would like to have Armenian Genocide, has been in print for more the teacher’s name and address. than 30 years. He is also the editor of the vol- K $160 K $ 320 K $ 480 K other $————————— ume Forgotten Bread: First Generation Armenian American Writers. Name ADAA’s William Saroyan Prize for Address Playwriting, for plays on Armenian themes, is City State Zip code made possible by a grant from the William Tel: Saroyan Foundation, which established the award at the ADAA in 2007-08 in conjunction Make check payable to: Tekeyan Cultural Association – Memo: Sponsor a Teacher 2010 with the William Saroyan Centennial. The foun- Mail your check with this form to: dation’s chairman is Haig Mardikian. Additional TCA Sponsor a Teacher funding for the prize was provided by Gagosian 5326 Valverde, Houston, TX 77056 Galleries. Your donation is Tax Deductible. For more information, visit www.armeniandrama.org. S A T U R D A Y, A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 13 ARTS & LIVING Tufts’ Ina Baghdiantz McCabe Explores Heritage McCABE, from page 10 teacher enters his high school class, opens a suit- European militarized diaspora in the same cate- and could fluctuate within the same decade. connected. I have read most deeply in French case and takes out a knife and a large sausage, gory as the Armenians, the Jews, the Banians Today the café is seen as a Parisian institution, and so the ideas of some very interesting which he proceeds to hack into pieces as he and the Fukein Chinese. This remains a contest- a marker of French identity, and the French thinkers such as Bourdieu, Bataille and the very exclaims, “this is history.” ed issue as the term diaspora has rarely been think of coffee as a national drink, its “oriental” old-fashioned Fernand Braudel have marked me. History departments are cut up into national applied to Europeans abroad. I agree with Curtin roots forgotten. This very slow cycle of cultural As a historian I shy away from jargon and theo- histories — we have inherited this artificial classi- that his classifications offers a clearer picture of integration would also be the fate of many luxu- ry but I have read a lot of theory, as most of it fication from 19th-century nationalist views. The . It is very hard to reconstruct the past — ry goods imported from Asia. Initially viewed as started in France. Only in the United States worlds was not always made up of nation-states, all honest historians will accept that — but if net- foreign or exotic, the same product some few could I have become a historian, so of all of the nor will it be in the future. In this national clas- works, cross cultural contacts and exchanges, years later is viewed as representing France and cultures I know, the largest impact has been that sification, diaspora communities were an invisi- travel and movement, cosmopolitanism and French habits. This transformation fascinates of the place I have had the privilege of choosing ble group. Luckily, things are changing and transnational histories are not part of the quest, me. Most people imagine that there are some as my country. I consider the state of Vermont, many departments are now designated in terms the quest will not yield fruitful results. objective properties that are intrinsic to the where my family lives, my home. of regions or in transregional terms, but most KS: Your work estimates the importance of nature of things. In the case of coffee I could My own travels have forged a strong interest in hiring is still done according to national histo- understanding the intersection of material and show how views about coffee changed according cross-cultural exchanges, in travel writing, in ries. intellectual exchanges and how these two ele- to who was importing it and whether it profited diasporas, in trade and in intellectual exchanges. I have worked on the global silk and silver ments of history viewed together can create a France or not at that point in history. Views My Flemish mother and my Armenian father trade of a small group of Armenians — the New more complete historical pictures. Can you regarding its properties varied from nefarious were both born in strong patriarchal cultures Julfans — since 1987 and wrote my first book describe the link between these two elements enough to cause impotence to excellent for your that were not inclined to accept women as intel- about their trade in 1999. They were the same and provide an example of how they can be health. lectual or artists. Although there have been group Philip Curtin used to define the terms viewed together? I also showed how a glorious heroic tale about some, including my mother, they succeeded with “trade diaspora” in 1984 and his work on cross- IM: A striking example is the creation of the the arrival of coffee in Martinique — due to one great difficulty. I was born with a strong person- cultural trade sparked my own. My native café, a public space in 17th-century Paris, in imi- French officer — served to create total silence ality and a lot of drive, but even in the countries Armenian and my knowledge of Persian were tation of the coffee houses in Constantinople, about the use of slaves on French plantations, where I have lived in Europe I certainly would important to this research, as the New Julfans Cairo or Isfahan. I have three chapters on the making France the main European exporter of have not had the opportunities I have had here lived in Iran after 1604. I wanted to look at the- arrival of coffee in France in my latest book. coffee to the rest of Europe by the 18th century. in the United States. oretical problems and definitions of a deported, According to several French sources, the In analyzing the discourse about goods you can KS: In your writing, research and teaching you wealthy diaspora community, as well as into the Armenians opened the first five Parisian cafés. find variations in the discourse about the same focus on the role of diasporas, specifically the actual trade of the Armenians. I collaborated The transfer of ideas is often linked to goods, good that prove how fickle and changing our Armenian diaspora, and merchant networks. with many people interested in the same issues. although few historians study it that way. Many perception of reality can be. We constantly con- What is it about diasporas that piques your aca- Phillip Curtin was also a pioneer in a second ideas about health, digestion and even morality struct categories and change them to suit our demic interest? issue that fascinates me; in his discussion of were transferred with imported coffee, a com- interests. As Louis XIV used the sale of coffee to IM: In a film by Bertrand Tavernier a history trade networks in 1984 he includes the modity. Views about coffee vary tremendously raise money for his wars, court doctors advocat- ed that coffee was better for your health than wine. Because an object or good is inanimate, it is easier to show how terribly subjective we are according to our self-interests. A social scientist can study material goods to show that values are not intrinsic to objects themselves, but rather are projected onto goods by society. This goes CC AA LL EE NN DD AA RR against objectivism, a view that there is one real- ity that exists independent of the human mind, a truth with a big T. KS: History is an essential part of understand- ing contemporary culture. Are there any dynam- MASSACHUSETTS ics or patterns you have found in your research that you feel are particularly relevant when look- AUGUST 26 — Armenian Church at Hye Pointe Picnic to be held at ing at current and future interactions between American Legion Farm, 1314 Main St., Haverhill. 12-5 p.m. Music by different countries and cultures? Jason Naroian Ensemble. Menu includes Armenian cuisine, pastries IM: A study of constantly changing ideas and beverages. Raffles for cash prizes and gift certificates. Air-condi- about the “foreign,” the “exotic,” diaspora, tioned function hall. Bring your own lawn chairs. For more info, visit refugees and cross-cultural exchanges and www.hyepointchurch.org or call (978) 372-9227. encounters permeates my work. Our false cate- SEPTEMBER 9 — Trinity Family Festival, 12-5 p.m., Holy Trinity gories can be a huge obstacle to peace and mutu- Armenian Church, 145 Brattle St., Cambridge. Delicious dinners; al understanding. Categorizing something as for- Moonwalk for kids; children and family games, starting at 1:30 p.m., eign or exotic leads to an “us and them” view of Armenian music by the Greg Krikorian Ensemble. Blessing of the world. The same holds true of the tradition- Madagh, 4 p.m., followed by raffle drawing for cash prizes. Bring al view of diaspora; it is seen as a group that does your tavloo board. For info, contact the church office, (617) 354- not really belong to its host country. I have 0632, e-mail [email protected] or www.htaac.org. argued for a different view in my work. This “us SEPTEMBER 30 — Holy Trinity 50th Anniversary Grand Finale and them” view is very politically potent. I can Banquet, following church services, Charles and Nevart Talanian give you a vivid example to clarify: when you Cultural Hall, Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston, 145 hear someone argue that our current president Brattle St., Cambridge. Save the date; details to follow. is a foreigner and was not born in the United OCTOBER 25 — K. George and Carolann S. Najarian Endowed States, despite ample proof that he was, he is Lecture on Human Rights. Speaker: Ambassador Edward P. being described as “exotic,” and you are encoun- Djerejian, founding director, James A. Baker III Institute for Public tering this phenomenon of arbitrary “othering.” Policy, Rice University and former US ambassador to Israel (1992- History is supposed to be about facts; our presi- 1994) and the Syrian Arab Republic (1988-1991). Faneuil Hall, On September 9, the Trinity Family Festival will dent’s American birth certificate is the kind of Boston. Thursday, 7 p.m. An endowed public program of Armenian be held from 12 to 5 p.m., at the Holy Trinity document historians use, but what people do Heritage Park. Free and open to the public. Armenian Church, 145 Brattle St., Cambridge, with facts makes the historian’s job complex. My concern with the past gives me hope that we can Mass., featuring Armenian food, children and NEW JERSEY understand that we built this world both materi- family games and Armenian music by the Greg ally and ideologically and that we are responsible OCTOBER 5 — Save the date. His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Krikorian Ensemble. For info, contact the church for the many skewed systems of beliefs that Barsamian, Primate, Diocese of Armenian Church, invites everyone to office, (617) 354-0632, e-mail [email protected] cause us so much trouble. attend a tribute banquet in honor of Hrant Gulian. Details to follow. or visit www.htaac.org. OCTOBER 21 — Hye Doon (Armenian American Suppor t and Educational Center), 35th Anniversary Celebration, with the par- ticipation of Akh’Tamar Dance Ensemble of the Hye Doon, Armenian Folk Ensemble of Hamazkayin of Boston, Sunday, 3:45 NOVEMBER 18 — TCA Mher Megerdchian Theatrical Group Cast p.m. Bergen County Academics, 200 Hackensack, NJ 07601. All net Party and tribute to Karnig Nercessian on the occasion of the proceeds to benefit the Hovnanian Armenian School. Tickets: $50, 15th anniversary of the group. Special program and dinner, with $35 and $25. For tickets, call Sonya Bekarian, (201) 315-5916; Juliyet Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Tabibian, (201) 233-0326; Nivart Arslan, (201) 475-0224; Maral the Armenian Church, presiding. St. Thomas Armenian Church, Kalishian, (845) 729-1888; Maral Kaprielian, (201) 289-6486; Lina Tenafly. Donation, $30. For tickets, call Marie Zokian or Noushig Bakhtiarian, (732) 299-1120; Linda Gezdir, (201) 394-6310 or the Atamian. school, (201) 967-5940. NOVEMBER 17-18 — Musical theater presentation by TCA Mher NEW YORK Megerdchian Theatrical Group, Yervant Odian’s “Love and Laughter” (Ser yev Dzidzagh), directed by Krikor Satamian, with SEPTEMBER 29 — Armenia Fund’s 20th Anniversary Gala, at more than 20 actors participating. Dwight Englewood High School, Gotham Hall, New York City. Celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos, as mas- Englewood Cliffs, 8 p.m., Saturday and 4 p.m., Sunday. $25, $35, ter of ceremonies, entertainment by French-Armenian pop singer $50. For tickets, call Marie Zokian or Noushig Atamian. Patrcik Fiori; keynote speaker, Eduard Nalbandian. Details to follow. 14 S A T U R D A Y, A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R COMMENTARY

T H E A R M E N I A N COMMENTARY Mirror- Sayat Nova at 300: Spectator Epitome of Multiculturalism period of his creative career, he began writing in the Georgian lan- By Edmond Y. Azadian guage. His Armenian poems appear after age 30. (He has a poem stating that date.) He was gifted in many more languages, like Established 1932 Persian and Arabic. His mastery of the Persian language helped Multiculturalism seems to be the fad of modern times. For cen- him to introduce some Persian poetic forms and traditions in An ADL Publication turies, dominant nations would impose their own will and culture Georgia. He has a few songs that are written in all four languages on subject nations, even if that meant eventual assimilation of at the same time. weaker nations. But as the world became a global village, mass He was a wordsmith; he crafted with simple words songs EDITOR migration became the trend of the times and different people — expressing philosophical thoughts or great human passions. Alin K. Gregorian even through osmosis — came to learn more of other cultures, Through his multi-disciplined art, he explored all the dimen- sions of the human experience: religious, social and sensual by ASSOCIATE EDITOR began to tolerate them and even appreciate them. Aram Arkun The United States, which at one time was considered a melting advocating: “love the lord, love the soul, love the sweetheart.” pot, became a trendsetter in multiculturalism, especially in the When Lord Byron went to Venice to learn the Armenian lan- ART DIRECTOR guage from the Mkhitarist fathers, he wrote to his friends that he Marc Mgrditchian aftermath of the Civil Rights movement. Many nations in Europe and the Americas have even estab- had found the Armenian language to be a tough nut to crack. COPY EDITOR lished ministries of multiculturalism as they began facing the need The same can be said about Sayat Nova’s language, which is the Dilani Yogaratnam of absorbing masses of immigrants. 18th-century Tiflis-Armenian vernacular, spiced with Turkish, When we think of multiculturalism in the Armenian world, one Persian, Georgian and sometimes even Cilician Armenian words. name stands out — that of the Armenian troubadour Sayat Nova, His songs would have been locked behind the language barrier SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: who lived his prolific life in the 18th-century Caucasus. had it not been for the interpretation and translation of some Edmond Azadian In 2012, Armenia celebrates the 300th anniversary of the birth scholars. of the legendary minstrel in cooperation with United Nations Many modern singers who soulfully perform Sayat Nova’s songs CONTRIBUTORS: seldom comprehend the words. Florence Avakian, Elizabeth Aprahamian, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Daphne Abeel, Dr. Haroutiune bard is believed to have been born in the year 1712, however that The literary historian Mourouss Hasratian has translated the Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Prof. date is hotly debated. In a recent interview, the former director of bard’s poems from Azerbaijani and Georgian languages into the Vahakn N. Dadrian, Diana Der the Charentz Museum, Dr. 18th-century Tiflis-Armenian Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, Kevork Henrik Bakhchinyan, stated vernacular; a very authentic Keushkerian, Sonia Kailian-Placido, that Armenia has jumped the job, as if the poet himself had Harut Sassounian, Mary Terzian, Hagop gun on the celebration by written in his own time. He has Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian almost a decade. During the Two hundred and twenty poems also converted samples from the bard’s 18th-century poems CORRESPONDENTS: current year, Armenians also celebrate the 500th anniver- into modern Eastern Armenian Armenia - Hagop Avedikian vernacular to render them Boston - Nancy Kalajian sary of printing; this time, credited to [Sayat Nova] have Philadelphia - Lisa Manookian because documents are more comprehensible. extent and there are books There are significant studies Contributing Photographers: on Sayat Nova by literary his- Jacob Demirdjian, Harry Koundakjian, Jirair imprinted with the date of survived but scholars believe an Hovsepian 1512, we know we have the torians including Nigol right year. In Sayat Nova’s Aghbalian and Baruyr Sevak, case, no definitive docu- equal number of poems and songs as well as others. Sayat Nova’s ments are available to fix the poetry and music have cap- The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published tured the imagination of many weekly, except two weeks in July, by: exact date of his birth. Harutyun Sayatyan, who have been lost. scholars and there are studies Association, Inc. only later became known by on him in Georgian, 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 the penname Sayat Nova, Azerbaijani and Russian. Telephone: 617-924-4420 was born in Tbilisi (Tiflis at the time), Georgia. His father was born What propelled Sayat Nova’s name and the legacy into the inter- FAX: 617-924-2887 either in Cilicia (Adana) or Aleppo and migrated to Sanahin to national stage were a few scholarly and artistic works. Prof. www.mir rorspectator.com marry a local girl, Sara. Sayat Nova became a monumental cul- Charles Dawcett published his academic work in London under E-Mail: [email protected] tural figure even in his own time and became a legend in the title, “Sayat Nova, an 18th-Century Troubadour.” Sergei For advertising: [email protected] Armenian history. There is a tremendous body of academic work Paradjanov’s movie, titled “The Color of Pomegranates,” marked on his life and literary legacy that would defy any writer to come not only a new era in filmmaking but also popularized Sayat up with a complete and comprehensive study. Therefore, we will Nova’s life story and artistic legacy. One of his earliest translators avoid delving into that ocean of literature, concentrating on the was the Londoner Alice Stone Blackwell. The composer SUBSCRIPTION RATES: symbolism for which he is known. Alexander Haroutiounian wrote an opera based on the bard’s life, Two hundred and twenty poems credited to him have survived using his music in a pastiche format. Sayat Nova’s works have also but scholars believe an equal number of poems and songs have been translated into French by Elizabeth Mouradian and French U.S.A. $80 a year been lost. Morouss Hasratian, who is the author of an exhaustive poet Serge Venturini. work on the bard, makes a succinct analogy. He says, “If we pic- Back in Armenia and in the Caucasus, Sayat Nova has always Canada $125 a year ture the Medieval Armenian goussans as a mountain chain, Sayat been a very popular figure for all the nationalities. The reason Azeris and Georgians have not tried to claim as their own is that Other Countries $190 a year Nova undoubtedly represents the summit.” He was one of the most charismatic figures of his time, with the bard, throughout his poetry has identified himself as a attractive features, an equally charming voice and a supreme intel- Christian Armenian, using his baptismal name as Aroutin and lect. After winning many contests among the ashooghs or gous- referring to his father as Karabet. © 2011 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator sans (both meaning troubadours), he was invited to perform in The poet Hovhannes Toumanian had started a tradition in the Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA the court of the Georgian King Erekle II. While in the court, he early 20th century, which still continues to this day. and additional mailing offices. also worked as a diplomat forging an alliance between Georgia, He began a festival, which he called Vartadon (Feast of flowers) ISSN 0004-234X Armenia and Shirvan against the Persian Empire. during which poets, writers, singers performers and the general public are invited to Sayat Nova’s Mausoleum in the Armenian POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The There is speculation that he lost his position at the court after Armenian Mirror-Spectator, P.O. Box 302, he fell in love with the king’s sister, Anna. He then led an itiner- Quarter of Tbilisi, called Havlabar, and speeches and perfor- Watertown, MA 02471-0302 ant life until 1759, when he was ordained a priest to serve at the mances are given in memory of the great bard. Other than the editorial, views and opinions Monastery of Haghbat. It was there that he was martyred in 1795 During the Soviet period, the Sayat Nova Troubadour’s expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily when Mohammad Khan Qajar, the Shah of Iran, invaded the area. Ensemble was created to perform and perpetuate Sayat Nova’s eflect the policies of the publisher. There is a legend about his martyrdom. He was asked to come out artistic legacy, under the leadership of Vagharshak Sahakian. of the monastery and he refused by saying: “I don’t leave the Today, the same ensemble is reinforced by new musicians and church and I don’t abandon Christ,” reminiscent of the response performers under a more erudite scholar and singer, Thomas Vartan Mamigonian and his entourage had given the Persian King Pogossyan. some 1,200 years ago, when they defied the king. The historian As crude and cruel the Soviet regime was, it had a forced cohab- Yeghishe wrote, “No one can shake us in the faith of our ances- itation between constituent nationalities. Sayat Nova’s Vartadon tors. We are ready — your sword to our necks,” (translated loose- was celebrated by all the nations and the bard symbolized broth- ly.) erhood among those nations, who have since become mortal ene- Copying for other than personal use or There was a mixture of races living in the Caucasus at the time mies, fighting and murdering each other. internal reference is prohibited without and they were dominated by the Ottomans, Persians and Sayat Nova’s genuine and natural multiculturalism is needed express permission of the copyright today to bring peace and harmony to the region. owner. Address requests for reprints or Russians. They all shared the same fate when their overlords back issues to: changed hands and they lived together. The day all three nations join again to sing Sayat Nova’s music in unison the martyred soul of the bard will find its peace and the Baikar Association, Inc. Sayat Nova began writing his lyric in Azerbaijani (the language of the Tatars). He also performed in that language. In the second region will head towards a more prosperous and promising future. 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 S A T U R D A Y, A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 15 COMMENTARY

such crimes to the courts as quickly as possible. Answer: Yes, that would be true if Western Armenia was Question 2: Isn’t it a fantasy to expect that Armenians handed to Armenians today! However, this is not likely to will ever regain Western Armenia? happen. As explained earlier, before Armenians have the Answer: No one should be under the illusion that Turkish opportunity to regain their historic lands, calamitous leaders would voluntarily hand over to Armenians a single events must first occur in that part of the world. No one My Turn inch of land, let alone the territories of Western Armenia. knows the impact of such developments on the local pop- Peaceful transfers of land are extremely rare in the practice ulation. Demographic changes resulting from unforeseen By Harut Sassounian of international relations. All too often, land is taken by force. circumstances in the region shall determine how many Since Armenia is not militarily more powerful than Turkey, Kurds, Turks or even Armenians remain in the area. One and is not expected to be so anytime soon, Armenians have cannot simply assume that the status quo will remain Frequently-Asked Questions on to wait for unforeseen developments to occur in and around unchanged forever. Therefore, one cannot automatically Turkey, such as civil war, global or regional conflict, revolu- conclude that Armenians would become a minority in Armenian Demands from tion, Kurdish insurrection, natural disaster or nuclear cata- Western Armenia. Turkey strophe, to bring about a power vacuum and possible border Question 4: If someday Western Armenia is liberated, changes in that part of the world. Meanwhile, Armenians would Armenians be willing to leave their comfortable The approaching Centennial of the Armenian Genocide have to keep alive and transmit their territorial demands to homes in the West and resettle on those inhospitable in 2015 raises some fundamental questions, particularly on future generations until the opportune moment when they lands? Armenian territorial demands from Turkey. In the weeks can claim their lawful rights. Answer: The issue here is the right of Armenians to set- and months ahead, this column will address these issues by In the meantime, it is unwise for Armenians to make min- tle in their historic homeland. Once these lands are presenting the rationale for these demands and provide imalist demands from Turkey. Since Turkish leaders are not returned, it is up to each Armenian to decide whether to answers to frequently-asked questions. willing to make even the smallest territorial concession, relocate. This should not be a Turkish concern! Do all Jews Question 1: Is it true that all claims arising from the there is no point in telling them that Armenians would be live in Israel? Since most Lebanese, like Armenians, live crime of genocide become invalid after 100 years? satisfied by the return of only Ararat or Ani. Armenians outside of their homeland, do people question the reason Answer: Not true! On November 26, 1968, the UN should ask for nothing less than “Armenia from sea to shin- for the existence of Lebanon as a state? Someday, when General Assembly adopted “The Convention on the Non- ing sea” (dsove-dsov Hayastan)! Rather than minimizing Western Armenia is freed, most Armenians who live in Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and their demands, Armenians should claim the maximum, so nearby Middle Eastern countries will probably choose to Crimes Against Humanity,” which includes the crime of that they can end up getting a portion of what is rightful- relocate there. However, there is no problem if every single genocide. Article 1 of this Convention states that “No statu- ly theirs. As all good Armenian businessmen know, you Armenian from around the world does not head for the tory limitation shall apply to [these crimes] … irrespective don’t start negotiating from your bottom price! homeland. Those who remain in the diaspora will surely of the date of their commission.” Therefore, no matter how Question 3: If Western Armenia is freed, wouldn’t the play a critical role in strengthening the newly-established much time has elapsed, war crimes and crimes against overwhelming majority of the population and elected offi- country economically and politically, just as Armenians humanity, including genocide, can still be prosecuted. cials be Kurds and Turks, making Armenians a small minor- worldwide are currently assisting their compatriots in the However, for logistical reasons, it would be wise to refer ity in their own homeland? Republic of Armenia.

LETTERS Turks Counter High School Genocide Classes

remember most about the class?” ill-informed and continue to show their Remembering By Tom Vartabedian “How difficult it was for your race to be absurdity. The more Turkey refutes histori- slaughtered like that,” she replied. “We cal fact, the more scornful it becomes. The Manoog Young loved the story about the Calvin Coolidge more truth will prevail and people will see Just when you think life has dealt you a Orphan Rug and how it found its way to the how superficial the Turkish government To the Editor: pat hand, along comes a conniver to steal White House.” continues to remain. Regrettably I failed to mark the date of the your pot. The article goes go to say that the I recall once how vandals had climbed to Armenian Mirror-Spectator issue that included an For the past four years, members of our “Armenian Diaspora is spreading its lies by the top of a billboard in Watertown and article, which carried the title, “AYA Officials Meet Armenian Genocide Education Committee telling them at high schools.” defaced a Genocide sign that had been spon- to Plan Conference.” I surmise it was late in the of Merrimack Valley have filtered in and out The next paragraph quoted Kanayan’s sored by activist/artist Daniel Varoujan summer of 1942. The article included a picture of of high schools north of Boston. story: Hejinian. For years, Hejinian has been Committee Chairman Manoog S. Young alongside We have also expanded our reach to “Armenian researcher Dro Kanayan said putting up these notices to draw attention the following individuals who at the time were include schools around Greater Boston, like for those people who feel that our elders during April 24. members of the Armenian Youth of America orga- Newton South. Scores of children have ben- and the youth cannot work together, don’t For the most part, the Armenian papers nization: Harry S. Sarkisian of Watertown, admin- efited by our lessons. In most every case, worry. have publicized the act, but nothing ever istrative secretary; Haige Garabedian of New instructors have been overwhelmed by the “Kanayan and both of his peers, Albert caught the attention of the American press, Britain, Conn., regional vice chairman of Western impact being made for they, too, come out Movsesian and Tom Vartabedian, have been which matters more. New England; and Sooren Zamanigian of learning a valuable lesson in history. working together to have the so-called The fact that some screwball scaled a Worcester, treasurer. Together with other National There hasn’t been one repercussion, not Armenian Genocide included in the high building at night to commit an act of degra- Committee officials the group was engaged in con- even a grunt from a naysayer — until now. A school curriculum on Human Rights in the dation suddenly became media hype. It sidering ways and means of bringing the contribu- vile and vindictive article from a pro-Turkish Merrimack Valley. appeared in newspapers and television net- tion of Armenian youth to the nation’s war effort website (www.historyoftruth.com) enraged “They are teaching students about the so- works, giving the Armenian Genocide more in a more effective and direct manner. The confer- me, bearing the headline: “Armenians called Armenian Genocide and Armenian exposure than normal. ence was slated to take place “over the Labor Day Spreading Their Lies at High Schools.” culture.” During a commemoration that week in weekend in Boston.” Manoog Young’s leadership The gutless piece failed to carry a by-line, The story goes on to say how we have Merrimack Valley, a local priest approached and involvement in the conference were, in my thus making it more intolerable. What’s “poisoned” the students in over 10 high the podium and remarked about the insani- opinion, harbingers of greater accomplishments to more, a photograph of Wilmington High stu- schools, providing individual classroom pre- ty. come in his future. dents holding samples of postage stamps sentation on comparative genocides over “If that’s the way our genocide is going to During the fall of ’42, I maintained close ties they had designed carried the inscription: the past 100 years The account proceeded catch the outside public’s eye, then let the with Manoog who, together with his parents, har- “Their Lies Reached Schools.” to implement other high schools including a billboards be vandalized,” he lashed out. bored much love for , its rich his- The group photo also had the two pre- deaf student we had encountered at Newton “And let those responsible find guilt in the tory, language and cultural values — even though senters that day — myself and Albert S. South who learned about the Genocide process.” Armenia at the time was under Soviet rule. I fre- Movsesian. The event was to generate ideas through American Sign Language. Armenians spreading their lies in our high quently visited the Malyemezian home where for a postage stamp to be sent to the Adding more insult to injury, a second schools? Students being misinformed? Manoog tutored me in the subject of algebra. It was Postmaster General of the United States in photo was used of Dro Kanayan holding a Human rights not being violated? due to his mastery of the subject and his tutorial an effort to get a commemorative stamp for picture of his famous grandfather General We must be living in a Utopia. skills that I later succeeded in erasing a condition the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Dro, who led the siege at Bash Abaran dur- (Tom Vartabedian is a former photogra- of my enrollment at Boston University in 1942. Genocide in 2015. ing World War I. pher journalist for The Haverhill Gazette Even though World War II came along and inter- A completely harmless project meant to I should be fuming over such poppycock. and a frequent contributor to the Mirror- rupted many lives Manoog Young was not deterred both elucidate and arouse our younger non- Instead, I hold no regret over those who are Spectator.) from quickly embarking and moving forward with Armenian population was slurred with mal- the task of creating and bringing into fruition the ice. National Association for Armenian Studies and The rebuttal was generated in response to Research (NAASR) an organization that has and an all-encompassing piece written by continues so much o the perpetuation and enrich- Chairman Dro Kanayan, giving readers a ment of our cultural heritage. Upon his death the fairly detailed account of the progress made enormity and importance of Manoog’s endeavors in schools this year. How effective has it For Your Internal News of Armenia were duly acknowledged by a host of his peers and been? by organizations that played key roles in NAASR’s While attending a grand-niece’s development. Chelmsford High graduation party the week May memories of Manoog Young forever burn before, I approached a table occupied by stu- Log on to www.AZG.am brightly in our mind’s eyes and rest warmly in the dents who had been addressed during a deepest recesses of the hearts of the Armenian peo- genocide class taught by Jennifer Doak. ple and nation. “Hey, you look familiar. Aren’t you the In English, Armenian, Russian and Turkish — Haige Garabedian guy who spoke to us about the Armenian East Hartford, Conn. Genocide?” a co-ed remarked. “Yes, that’s me,” I replied. “What do you 16 S A T U R D A Y, A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R COMMENTARY

injures his foot by aggressively continuing to act as “tough” as they do while oppressing drive on him. some of the poor Armenians of Bourj Other policemen reach the sight and ask the Hammoud? I believe they won’t. The Tashnag View from Lebanon: driver to submit his license and bus registration are only used to taking a stand for example, by papers so that a fine is issued on his account, dramatically leaving and creating a scene dur- The More Tashnags Facilitate Shia to Gain Power in Lebanon, while another policeman blocks the road with ing the Armenian Genocide commemoration The More Will Pay the Price his motorcycle. The bus driver refuses to sur- this year where an Armenian young clergyman render his license and starts threatening “committed the sin” of not mentioning their Hammoud — which is not populated mostly by instead with arrogance which is becoming the representative’s name while welcoming the By Sevag Hagopian Armenians anymore — witnessed an unusual characteristic of the members of a certain reli- audience, and as if this was not enough, they phenomenon which discredits not only the gious sect and the supporters of a party in can be “man” enough to go as far as making municipality of Bourj Hammoud and the party Lebanon that unfortunately still keeps its the young Armenian clergyman attend their As I explained in a previous article, it has that patronizes it, but also it dishonors and weapons. Instead of handing his papers, he headquarters to apologize for his “sin.” The been a while since the Tashnag party in gives the feeling of fear and insecurity to the makes a phone call. Soon a suspicious car same aggressive stance is used towards homo- Lebanon has been being engaged in an adven- Armenian-Lebanese first as a community and arrives on the scene. Four armed gangsters sexual Armenian men and Armenian women turous political game through their shifting then as Lebanese citizens. jump out of the car and threaten to open fire who have fallen on hard times and need to alliances. A privately-owned public bus was passing by on the unarmed municipality policemen if they make ends meet by engaging in prostitution. Their “dyscalculia” cost them a lot since the the Armenia Street in Bourj Hammoud. Its dri- don’t open the road and let the bus pass. It is important to know what the Bourj early 1990s. Their miscalculations made them ver (the owners and drivers of most buses of Surprised and threatened the helpless munici- Hammoud municipality and its patron party lose most of the parliamentary seats reserved that sort usually belong to a certain non- pality policemen let them go of course. will do to save the honor of their own police- for Armenians they used to hegemonize?-DY for Armenian and non-Christian sects nowadays, It interests many Armenians to know about men who at the same time are supporters of the a very long time. Now it seems the time is near many of them and thanks to the Tashnag and the municipality’s stand regarding this incident Tashnag party itself. Will the municipality be when they lose what they always considered their alliances were encouraged to reside back and its aftereffects. able to sue the driver, his armed gang and who- their fortress. It seems even Bourj Hammoud in Bourj Hammoud) not only ignores the red It is even more interesting to know about the ever standing behind? Will the Tashnag party soon will not be “controlled” anymore by the light but he also disregards the municipality stand and the steps that the Tashnag party will be strong enough to force them to attend its Tashnags. A couple of weeks ago, Bourj policeman who tries to make him stop and even take to solve this situation. Are they going to headquarters for example to apologize? Until when will the Tashnag party pay — and make other Armenians there pay — the price of its risky alliances with parties of violent culture? These are questions which can be discussed For Minorities in Syria Even Neutrality Is Unsafe but it is important to get their answers from the concerned parties because many Armenians are right. But a Lebanese Christian writer got it right like me, not only feel dishonored and hurt but By Robert Fisk Lessons for them, too. When that famous when he suggested that Syria’s Christians were also as Lebanese citizens, are worried about the born-again Christian George W. Bush sent his probably following the advice of Saint Paul (1 security, well being and the future of our chil- legions into Iraq in 2003, the savage aftermath Timothy 2:1): “Therefore I exhort first of all that dren in the banana republic Lebanon has So today, amid Aleppo’s torment, let us smashed one of the oldest Christian communi- supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving become, where a municipality has no power to remember minorities. The Palestinians of Syria, ties in the Middle East — the Iraqi Christians — of thanks be made to all men, for kings and all protect its own policemen. If the situation is more than half a million of them, and the 1.5 to pieces. The Christian Coptic Pope Shenouda who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet thus, how can the Armenian-Lebanese — and million Christians — the largest number of of Egypt supported his protector Mubarak until and peaceable life…” And who but Bashar, for not only the residents — rely on them with their whom live in Aleppo — who are Syrian citizens just two days before the dictator’s downfall; now, is the “authority” in Syria? life and belongings? How can the Armenians in and who now sit on the edge of the volcano. Egypt’s Muslims remember this. So what can US who are originally from Lebanon dare to Neither wish to “collaborate” with Bashar al- the Christians of Syria do? (Robert Fisk is a columnist for the visit Beirut again or trust to preserve their Assad’s regime. But remaining neutral, you end When the Maronite patriarch of Lebanon, the Independent. This commentary originally belongings and real estate there or believe in up with no friends at all. You didn’t have to sell uninspiring Bechara Rai, said after the start of appeared in the July 30 issue of the paper.) the future of Lebanon? a loaf of bread to a Nazi in occupied France to be the Syrian uprising that Bashar should be given a collaborator. But you were, to use an old “more time,” he enraged his country’s Sunni German expression, “helping to give the wheel a Muslims. shove.” No, Bashar al-Assad is not Hitler, but God But watch Syrian television and it’s easy to spare the Palestinians and the Christians of Syria cringe at the Christian performance. The Armenian during these terrible times. Last week, it was the turn of the Maronite Lessons to be learned. The half million Bishop of Damascus to address Syrians. His Palestinian refugees in Lebanon fought on the first words? He wished to thank Syrian state Muslim-leftist side in the 1975-90 civil war. They television for allowing him to speak. He said were rewarded with hatred, mass murder and how much Christians honored Ramadan, how final imprisonment in their own camp hovels. they learned to reinvigorate their own faith Palestinian refugees in Kuwait supported from that of Muslims in their holy month — a Mirror-Spectator Saddam’s invasion in 1990; hundreds of thou- perfectly reasonable statement, though one sands were evicted to Jordan in 1991. clearly made when most of the good bishop’s YES, I would like a 1– year subscription to The Armenian Mirror-Spectator. Palestinians housed in Iraq since 1948 were flock stand in fear of those very same Muslims. USA/Second Class Mail $80.00 CANADA $125.00 slaughtered or driven from the country by the And then came the killer line. At the end of Iraqi “resistance” after America’s 2003 invasion. his sermon, the bishop gave his blessing to all So neutrality in Syria is the Palestinians’ only Syria’s “civilians, officials and soldiers.” The J THE SUBSCRIPTION IS FOR ME hope of salvation as another civil war engulfs “officials,” of course, were Bashar’s officials. NAME them. Yet their camps are visited regularly by And the soldiers were the regime’s soldiers. I the Free Syrian Army. Fight for us, they are suppose we might turn to the old Christian ADDRESS told. And their camps are infested with the advice of rendering unto Caesar the things, CITY STATE ZIP Syrian government’s “muhabarrat.” Fight for which are Caesar’s and unto God the things us, they are told. Alas, two military Palestinian that are God’s. Another reminder: Bashar al- J THE SUBSCRIPTION IS A GIFT FOR: units, Saiqa — one of the most venal militias Assad is not Caesar. after Syria’s military intervention in Lebanon in NAME 1976 — and the Palestine Liberation Army ADDRESS (PLA), are under the direct control of the CITY STATE ZIP regime. Two months ago, 17 of these Syrian- trained PLA soldiers were assassinated. Then Nazar Nazarian last week, in Damascus, another 17 PLA were Please make check payable to: The Armenian Mirror-Spectator and mail to: murdered. Celebrates His 755 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472-1509 “Some say the Free Syrian Army killed them to warn them away from the regime,” a middle- All payments must be drawn on US banks aged Palestinian cadre from the DFLP tells me. 88th Birthday “Others claim the regime murdered them to NAZARIAN, from page 1 warn them off the Free Syrian Army. All we can Philanthropy has been the cornerstone of do is cling to our neutrality. And you have to Nazarian’s life. The former president of Royale remember that some Palestinians in the Syrian Linens in New Jersey, he and his wife, Artemis, camps are themselves ‘muhabarrat’ intelligence have donated to many projects throughout the men for the Syrian government. The Popular world, including the Nazarian School in Beirut SUBSCRIBE Front for the Liberation of Palestine — General and AGBU facilities in North and South Command have themselves said they would America and the Middle East, as well as the fight for the regime.” Armenian Mirror-Spectator. Most of the Palestinians in Syria are Sunni In addition to their funding of the Ultrasound Muslims — like the majority of the Syrian pop- Centre in Armenia, the Nazarians underwrote ulation and most of the resistance. the cost of the building of St. Trdat Chapel of The Christians are citizens of Syria whose the Yerevan Cathedral, as well as funded sever- religion certainly does not reflect a majority in al educational, medical and religious endeavors any anti-Assad force. Bashar’s stability — some- in Armenia, for which they received the 1,700th what at doubt just now, to be sure – is prefer- anniversary medal from Catholicos of All able to the ghastly unknowns of a post-Assad Armenians Karekin II. This year, the Nazarians regime. There are 47 churches and cathedrals established a $6-million fund for the education in the Aleppo region alone. The Christians and preparation of clergymen at Holy believe that Salafists fight amid the rebels. They Echmiadzin. TODAY!