APRIL 25, 2020 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXX, NO. 40, Issue 4633 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 IN BRIEF Former Ambassador to Greater New York Region US Shougarian Dies BOSTON — Ambassador Rouben Shougarian Devastated by COVID-19 died on April 21 after a stroke, his family reported. “It is with great sorrow that we announce that our loving father and husband, Ambassador community, however, has been one of vigi- Rouben Shougarian, PhD, passed away peacefully By Taleen Babayan lance. From medical professionals to busi- this morning in Boston, Mass. after suffering a nesses to outreach-minded organizations, Special to the Mirror-Spectator stroke last week,” his son, Narek, said in a each group has mobilized during this Facebook post. unprecedented time to meet the needs of Shougarian is survived by his wife Lilit NEW YORK — Life has grinded to a halt its consumers, give back, and provide hope Karapetian-Shougarian and sons Narek, Tigran and in the United States as the coronavirus pan- during this calamitous period. Haik. demic spreads through the nation, particu- While Toufayan Bakeries is well-known Businessman and He served as Armenia’s deputy foreign minister larly in the densely populated metropolis of for its pita bread and baked goods, the fam- (1999-2005), ambassador to Italy, Spain and ily-run company also Philanthropist, Portugal (2005-2008), and was Armenia’s first focuses on corporate Tekeyan and ADL Ambassador to the United States (1993-1999). social responsibility He also served as a senior staffer for the in their daily opera- Leader Armand Armenian Parliament’s Standing Committee on tions. Headquartered Foreign Affairs (1991), and a senior foreign policy in Ridgefield, NJ, Norehad Dies aide and spokesperson for President Levon Ter- with additional facto- Petrosyan (1992). ries in Florida, CHICAGO — Businessman and phil- Shougarian most recently was a lecturer at the Toufayan Bakeries is anthropist Armand Orie Norehad, age Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts helping out in vari- 85, passed away on Saturday, April University. ous ways — from 11, 2020. He was born on June 16, A more complete notice will appear in next increasing wages of 1934 to Christine (née Kashian) and week’s issue. frontline workers to Onnig Norehad (Norhadian), who fled donating to food Turkey during the Armenian banks and hospitals Genocide. His parents’ immigrant Researcher Says Social across the country. roots and faith in God shaped him Toufayan Bakeries into the wonderful man he was. Distancing May Be has a history of giv- Armand is survived by his wife of Necessary Until 2022 ing back since its 59 years, Marilyn (née Calderini), and founding in 1968, three sons, David, Michael (wife, CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Reuters) — The US may From left, Kristine Toufayan, Greg Toufayan, Karen Toufayan and Michelle), and Steven. He also leaves need to endure social distancing measures to fight Harry Toufayan according to Karen Toufayan, vice presi- his grandchildren, Julie, Jennifer, the coronavirus outbreak until 2022, according to dent of marketing Jessica, John, Peter, and Margot, as researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health. New York and New Jersey. The hardest hit and sales. An integral philanthropic pres- well as his sister, Anna Marie, and The study comes as more than 2,200 people died region has experienced loss, chaos and dis- ence not only in the Armenian-American brother, Ernest. in the United States from the outbreak on Tuesday, ruption at every turn, for every industry. community but nationwide, Karen and her see NOREHAD, page 7 a record, according to a Reuters tally, even as the The response from the Armenian-American see COVID, page 5 country debates how to reopen its economy. The overall death toll in the US from the virus stood at more than 28,300 as of Tuesday, April 21. “Intermittent distancing may be required into 2022 unless critical care capacity is increased sub- stantially or a treatment or vaccine becomes avail- able,” the Harvard researchers said in findings pub- CORONAVIRUS lished Tuesday in the journal Science. Dr. Rosemary Guerguerian, NBC News’ medical fellow, said that as with most mathematical models, UPDATE the researchers’ predictions are based on assump- tions we don’t yet know about the virus. The study acknowledged that prolonged distanc- Armenian Nursing and ing would most likely have profoundly negative eco- Rehabilitation Center nomic, social and educational consequences. According to the findings, it is likely that COVID- Reports More COVID-19 19 could re-emerge every winter. The World Health Organization has warned that Deaths, Seeks Funding to infections had “certainly” not yet peaked. Nearly 2 Meet Crisis million people globally have been infected and more than 124,000 have died in the most serious pan- demic in a century. By Aram Arkun Mirror-Spectator Staff Ararat Adult Day Health Care Center in Glendale, California INSIDE JAMAICA PLAIN, Mass. — The Armenian Adult Day Health Care Centers in Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (ANRC) on April 15 provided an update to its situation in Los Angeles Area Adapt to COVID-19 the middle of the surge of COVID-19 in the ‘O’ There Is Boston area. This month so far there have been GLENDALE — The situation of the elderly during the COVID-19 9 deaths connected to this virus at the center. pandemic has been particularly precarious due to their greater vul- Nursing homes in general in Massachusetts nerability to the disease. Those living in assisted living and nursing ‘Acoustic’ Music and elsewhere are experiencing rising numbers homes in particular have fallen prey to of deaths and difficulties in staffing. it in great numbers. There is also an Chief Executive Officer Stewart Goff in his By Aram Arkun intermediate group of elderly who Page 9 informative and often times eloquent weekly Mirror-Spectator Staff were living in their homes but going report said that there were 11 deaths this during the day to special centers for month total, which is of course higher than the assistance. This group, including many average of 2-7 monthly deaths prior to the Armenians in Glendale and other areas in Los Angeles County, has INDEX advent of COVID-19. also been gravely affected by the coronavirus crisis. Arts and Living ...... 9 ANRC stayed one step ahead of evolving Berdj Karapetian, involved in the ownership and administration of Armenia ...... 2 guidelines by deciding to test all residents, seven adult day health care centers in the Los Angeles basin serving, Community News...... 4 even those who are asymptomatic, on April 7, see ADAPTING, page 8 Editorial ...... 13 see CRISIS, page 8 International ...... 3 2 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Cases Continue Increasing in Armenia

YEREVAN (Combined Sources) — On RFE/RL’s Armenian service. through renewed business activity and Armenian Archbishop April 16, a large amount of medical sup- “I think the reason for this is that tackling the deadly virus. plies necessary for protecting front-line people are not taking [the epidemic] “My thoughts are constantly with Indicted health care workers fighting the global seriously and believe that it’s based on such families because they lack COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Armenia false information,” said Giorgi Kantaria, reserves, so to speak, to get by for one, YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Archbishop Navasard on a charter flight from China. a doctor from the Surp Grigor two or three months [without work,]” Kchoyan was charged with fraud and money laun- Thanks to a $ 100,000 donation from Lusavorich hospital who is currently he said. “They obviously need assis- dering on April 15, amid mounting tensions between the Izmirlian Foundation (as well as treating about 100 infected people tance and that assistance must come Armenia’s political leadership and the Armenian donations from other charitable organi- quarantined at a Yerevan hotel. not only from the state. Apostolic Church. zations) and as facilitated by the United “I want to assure them that it’s real “Of course, the state and business In a statement, the National Security Service Nations World Food Program in and their help is also necessary,” said need to cooperate very closely, and I (NSS) claimed that he had colluded with a business- Armenia (UNWFP) with the support of Kantaria. “Doctors’ help is not can see that the government is taking man to defraud another entrepreneur. the Office of the High Commissioner enough.” some steps in the financial, social and Although the statement named no names, it clear- for Diaspora Affairs, more than 150,000 Such appeals fell on deaf ears in the business sectors. To the best of my abil- ly referred to Ashot Sukiasyan, who was convicted in personal protective equipment (PPE) northern city of Vanadzor where more ity, I certainly give my advice when nec- December 2017 of having misappropriated most of a items, including medical suits, masks, than 2,000 employees of the local textile essary, but it’s a quite difficult prob- $10.7 million loan which his former business part- gowns, safety goggles, gloves etc. were factory, Gloria, defied a government to lem.” ner, Paylak Hayrapetyan, borrowed from an delivered to the Ministry of Health of return to their workplaces on Tuesday, “It’s not an Armenian problem, it’s a Armenian commercial bank in 2012. Sukiasyan had the Republic of Armenia. April 21, one month after being put on global problem, and it’s hard to find the pledged to invest that money in diamond mining in In addition, the United States will unpaid leave. Police officers fined sever- right balance between public health Sierra Leone. He never did that, according to prose- provide additional $600,000 to Armenia al of them but had to leave the premises and public well-being,” added cutors. for fighting the novel coronavirus after being confronted by hundreds of Sarkissian. A district court in Yerevan sentenced Sukiasyan to (COVID-19) pandemic, Armenian mostly female workers. The Armenian government ordered a 16 years in prison. However, Armenia’s Court of deputy foreign minister Avet Adonts The angry women said they want the nationwide lockdown last month in an Appeals shortened the sentence and released him said at a press conference this week. factory to immediately resume its work effort to contain the spread of coron- from prison in January this year. On March 28 the US State because they are no longer able to sup- avirus. Since then it has also approved The NSS statement said that Kchoyan, who heads Department announced that together port themselves and their families. They a series of measures designed to cush- the Armenian Apostolic Church’s largest diocese with the USAID it would provide $1.1 claimed that they have not received ion the severe economic impact of the encompassing Yerevan and the southern Ararat million to Armenia aimed at improving financial assistance allocated by the lockdown. province, owned 33 percent of the offshore company. the healthcare field, in particular devel- Armenian government to tens of thou- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan listed oping the laboratory systems, increas- sands of people hit hard by economic those measures in a televised address to Armenia to Hold Global ing the capacities for diagnosing coron- disruptions resulting from the epidemic. the nation aired on Friday. In particu- avirus, assisting the expert circles, etc. Maralik Cordoned Off lar, he touted some 7 billion drams Forum Against Genocide Health Minister Arsen Torosyan Authorities sealed off a small town ($14.4 million) in one-off cash handouts called for “additional efforts” to slow and an adjacent village in Armenia’s planned or already paid by the govern- Later This Year the spread of coronavirus in Armenia northwestern Shirak province on ment to about 100,000 socially vulnera- YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Armenia plans to hold on Tuesday after authorities reported Sunday, April 19, after 18 employees of ble citizens. They include employees of the 4th Global Forum Against the Crime the highest daily increase in infections a local hospital tested positive for coro- private firms forced to suspend their of Genocide this year, Foreign Minister Zohrab in more than two weeks. navirus. operations, microbusiness owners, self- Mnatsakanyan said on April 21. The Armenian Ministry of Health said Two local residents died from COVID- employed and unregistered workers as “We plan to hold the 4th Global Forum Against the in the morning that the number of coro- 19, a respiratory disease caused by the well as some pregnant women. Crime of Genocide this year. This is already a per- navirus cases rose by 62, to 1,401, while virus, after the Armenian police set up “The most endangered stratum in our manent platform for consolidating the expertise 29 other persons recovered from roadblocks around the town of Maralik country is those people who had no potential of the international community and work- COVID-19 in the past day. It also report- and the village of Dzorakap in the permanent jobs and were dependent on ing and developing the tool kits that foster the imple- ed two more fatalities which raised the morning. day labor; those families that have mentation of preventive measures of genocides at country’s death toll from the virus to 24. The head of the provincial adminis- always had very modest incomes,” said national and international levels,” Mnatsakanyan Torosyan said that official statistics tration’s healthcare department, Leyli Sarkissian. “Just imagine what a diffi- said. for the last several days indicate a Aslanyan, told RFE/RL’s Armenian ser- cult time those families … are having On April 24 the Armenian Genocide Memorial was “steady” rate of new infections standing vice on April 20 that one of them, a 90- now.” closed for all visitors aimed at preventing the spread at 3-4 percent. “We also have approxi- year-old man, was the father of an (Reports from Mediamax, RFE/RL of the novel coronavirus in the country. Other events mately the same number of hospitalized infected nurse working at the Maralik and Armenpress were used to compile are planned to take place to pay homage to the mem- people, which varies from 700 to 800,” hospital. this story.) ory of the victims of the genocide. he wrote on Facebook. Aslanyan said that the old man was But the minister also said: “This diagnosed with coronavirus just hours means that we all must make additional before his death. His family declined Artsakh Central Pashinyan Vows ‘Purge’ efforts to lower the peace of the spread offers to hospitalize him even though [of the disease] and have no right to he had a fever for almost a week, she Electoral Of State Officials relax and lose our vigilance.” said. YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Prime Minister Nikol “Especially worrying are recent days’ The Maralik hospital was temporarily Commission Pashinyan has pledged to purge Armenia’s govern- cases [of infection] among healthcare shut down on Saturday after the 18 ment, judiciary and security apparatus of “rem- workers at medical centers in Yerevan coronavirus cases were confirmed Declares Arayik nants” of the country’s former leadership, accusing and regions,” he added. “The use of per- among its 61-member staff. Shirak’s them of trying to discredit him and scuttle his far- sonal protective equipment is far more governor, Tigran Petrosyan, said the Harutyunyan reaching initiatives. important for healthcare workers than infected medical personnel were taken In a video message streamed live on Facebook on for other citizens.” to a hospital in the provincial capital President April 19, Pashinyan charged that many media outlets Hasmik Ghazinyan, a senior doctor at Gyumri while their colleagues were STEPANAKERT (News.am) — are keen to undercut him. Yerevan’s Nork hospital treating only placed under quarantine. The authori- The Central Electoral “It’s probably about time that real purges within COVID-19 patients, complained that ties also ordered more than 40 relatives Commission of the Republic of the government took place,” he declared before hit- many Armenians are not following and friends of the infected medics to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh ting out at former President Serzh Sargsyan and his social distancing rules or wearing self-isolate, he said. Republic) on April 21 held a reg- political allies. masks or gloves when leaving their Local officials did not disclose the ular session that was exclusively “They still have lots of their people in the govern- homes. She warned of a surge in infec- suspected source of the infections. devoted to the nationwide elec- ment and the law-enforcement system,” he said. “The tions in the days ahead. Another Maralik resident died from tions held in March-April 2020. state governance system must be cleansed of Serzh’s “Our doctors, medical personnel are coronavirus early this month. The 68- Governed by the Constitution remnants.” acting heroically on the frontline [of the year-old man was reportedly taken to and the Electoral Code, the The remarks followed a scandal that marred fight against coronavirus,] … but the the local medical center before being Central Electoral Commission Pashinyan’s live address to the nation broadcast on rear (other citizens) does not seem to hospitalized in Gyumri. declared Arayik Harutyunyan as Friday evening by Armenian Public Television. be safeguarding the achievements of The latest fatalities brought the elected president of the It emerged afterwards for at least 15 minutes pre- the frontline workers,” Ghazinyan told Armenia’s death toll from COVID-19 to Republic of Artsakh based on the ceding the broadcast, Public Television also filmed 22. The Armenian Ministry of Health results of the second stage of the Pashinyan’s preparation for the address which reported on Monday morning that the presidential elections held on focused on the government’s response to the coron- total number of coronavirus cases in April 14, 2020. avirus epidemic. The footage was leaked to some of the country rose by 48 to 1,339 in the Correction The Central Electoral his detractors who circulated it on social media to past day. Commission also accepted as a mock the prime minister. The April 11 issue of the President Sarkissian basis one of the requirements in On Sunday morning, Pashinyan’s spokeswoman, Armenian Mirror-Spectator Concerned the Electoral Code and summed Mane Gevorgyan, accused Public Television of negli- incorrectly included a recipe President Armen Sarkissian meets up the results of the presidential gence and a lack of professionalism, saying that it for brine with the recipe for with children from socially vulnerable elections held in the second stage should have alerted the premier that he is being the zucchini caviar. Readers President Armen Sarkissian has said and decided that there haven’t recorded. should to go to the online ver- that he feels the pain of scores of poor been violations of the Electoral Public Television’s executive director, Margarita sion for the correct recipe: Armenians who have lost their jobs and Code ahead of the elections and Grigoryan, resigned on Monday, saying that she https://mirrorspectator.co other sources of income due to the during the vote that could have takes responsibility for the incident. m/2020/04/09/recipe-corner- coronavirus pandemic. had an impact on the results of zucchini-caviar/ In a weekend interview, Sarkissian stressed the need to find the right “bal- the elections. ance” between easing their hardship S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 INTERNATIONAL Foreign Minister Lavrov Supports International News Azeri Drone ‘Shot Down Return of Lands to Azerbaijan In Karabakh’

YEREVAN (Mediamax, as transparent as possible regarding “Those who think that it is possi- STEPANAKERT (RFE/RL) — Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenpress) — Foreign Minister of this matter in the last two years. ble to negotiate one thing and present army claimed to have shot down an Azerbaijani mili- Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan stat- “We expressed our stance and our another to the public are wrong. No tary drone on Tuesday, April 21. ed on Tuesday, April 21, that the approaches very clearly. Foreign decision can be made without the In a statement, the Defense Army said the Israeli- peaceful settlement of the Nagorno- Minister Lavrov’s statement referred to people of Artsakh,” added made drone was hit by one of its air-defense units Karabakh conflict can be achieved many documents, including the docu- Mnatsakanyan. early in the afternoon immediately after entering its through compromise. ments which were discussed in the last Lavrov also addressed the issue of airspace over a southern section of the Armenian- He made that statement while com- two years. These approaches appeared Russia not reducing the price of gas Azerbaijani “line of contact” around Karabakh. It menting on the remarks earlier in the in 2014 and 2016 and they are unac- for Amrenia despite the global promised to release photographs of the wreckage the day of Russian Foreign Minister ceptable for the Armenian side. decrease. unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) later. Sergey Lavrov that a stage-by-stage “Since 2018, the talks on the “I think that of course allies should The statement also said that Azerbaijani war- option of the settlement is being Karabakh conflict have been limited be provided with economic advantages, planes, combat helicopters and UAVs have carried actively discussed. to the discussion and assessment of but when the price has reached where out more frequent flights near the heavily fortified The above option refers to Armenia the approaches which the sides exer- it is now, it is necessary to take into frontline of late. It claimed that Azerbaijani drones evacuating and returning territories cised in particular periods of time. account that there are concrete com- have also repeatedly attempted to cross into around Karabakh that were taken as The option of settlement, suggested mitments by contracts,” Lavrov said. Armenian-controlled territory “for intelligence-gath- an insurance policy against an Azeri in 2014, is not on the negotiation Lavrov said earlier Moscow has ering purposes” and urged Baku to avoid such invasion. table now. We have expressed our received proposals on reducing the “provocative steps.” “There have been and will be no stance clearly, stating that security is gas price. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry did not immedi- concessions. The Armenian sides will the priority for the Armenian sides,” “I am confident that while observ- ately react to the claim. never exercise that approach,” said said Zohrab Mnatsakanyan. ing the applications, and recently An Israeli company, Aeronautics Defense Systems, Mnatsakanyan. According to him, the principle of applications were received from our manufactures several types of Orbiter UAVs, includ- According to Mnatsakanyan, the self-determination is also a key ele- Belarussian and Armenian partners, ing light-weight systems designed for reconnaissance Armenian government and Prime ment in the negotiations for the our allied relations, of course, are missions and heavier attack drones. Minister Nikol Pashinyan have been Armenian sides. under consideration,” Lavrov said. The Karabakh army did not specify which one of them it shot down. It had claimed to have destroyed an Orbiter 2 reconnaisance drone in September 2019. India Sends Aid to Armenian Artists in Times of Armenia YEREVAN (Armenress) — Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan had a telephone con- Corona Pandemic: Berlin versation with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Jaishankar tweeted about his conversation with the Armenian FM, not- Harutyun, “Resurrection” in Armenian. the creative journey lasting 60 years of a ing that the medical aid sent by India to Armenia is By Muriel Mirak- The older I get, the more I understand Berlin woman artist, whose legacy is our expected to arrive soon. Weissbach the significance of this credo as victory care. Information about all our exhibi- “I had a warm conversation with the Foreign over despair. tions, photographs of expositions and lists Special to the Mirror-Spectator Minister of brotherly Armenia Zohrab This year, the power of hope for of participants are displayed for you on Mnatsakanyan. We discussed the strengthening of rebirth is especially important. My family our website. Our latest exhibition about our friendship even at the time when we are fighting BERLIN — The coronavirus pandemic and relatives are scattered in different the medium of woodcut was particularly against coronavirus. We appreciate Armenia’s careful shutdown has affected every aspect of countries and it is not clear when we successful. We await this week a 160-page attitude towards the Indian students studying in life here in Germany, from schools to will meet again at the same table. But catalog to be delivered from the printer. Armenia. We expect our medical aid to arrive soon,” shops, from factories to farms. Social this is really not a big problem, since I am Of course, for this anniversary we Jaishankar wrote. encounters that have always been part of our daily life, in restaurants, bars and cafes, fitness studies, public parks and Armenia Recalls playgrounds, have undergone a drastic redefinition, distancing has replaced Ambassador to Italy engagement, friendly personal exchange YEREVAN (Panorama.am) — Armenia recalled its stifles under the protective cloth of the ambassador to Italy. The relevant decree was signed face mask. by President Armen Sarkissian on April 13 upon the And we all agree: it is the right thing suggestion of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the to do. So far, the measures taken by the president’s press office reported. German government have contributed to Ambassador Vitoria Baghdasaryan has served as reducing the spread of the virus and it is Ambassador of Armenia to Italy since 2016. In deliberating how slowly, step by step, the November of the same year, Baghdasaryan was shutdown can be eased. appointed Ambassador of Armenia to Republic of Cultural life is suffering the impact. One of the exhibits which took place at Galentz’ gallery Malta, in combination Here in Germany, as elsewhere, theatres are closed, the opera houses are silent, the music festivals, like the annual series today with my heart and thoughts with planned a special exhibition, bright and Holy Fire Ceremony in of concerts in the Rhine valley, will not all my friends and relatives who are inspiring. Unfortunately, we can’t invite take place. Museums are shut; only those struggling with uncertainty in the near guests during the city quarantine and Jerusalem Takes Place with the adequate technical and financial future or with the disease itself, who are the opening is postponed indefinitely. Without Pilgrims resources have organized virtual tours feeling hostage to today’s situation. But of course, I will inform you of the through the internet. Homes for the I spent Sunday evening in my newly dates of new events and the schedule of JERUSALEM (Panorama.am) — The Holy Fire cer- elderly which usually enjoy visits by poet- found Berlin home, the Wolf & Galenz the gallery. We are sure that life will emony symbolizing Jesus’ resurrection took place in ry circles and small music ensembles gallery garden, in the close circle of our return to normal and we will again be a deserted Jerusalem on Saturday, without the joyful have to endure a ban on visits. team, that has become a family. We just able to host you in our gallery spaces to throng of Orthodox Christian pilgrims who would Archi Galentz is an Armenian artist had to get together on the first anniver- present you with exhibition projects that normally attend one of the most colorful spectacles whose atelier and gallery occupy an sary of the opening of our gallery, to look we prepare with creativity of designers of the Easter season, Reuters reported. important place in the cultural life of the back at the year that passed, to discuss and curiosity of practicing artists. Outside in the medieval courtyard of the Holy capital. On April 12, his new gallery future projects, both emotionally and cor- During these days of the pandemic Sepulchre, by tradition the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, should have celebrated its first anniver- dially, though of course, we sat at a cor- and general insecurity, one can especial- burial and resurrection, the plaza was empty of all sary with the vernissage of a new exhibi- rect ‘social distance’ from each other. ly understand the limits of human capa- but a few Israeli police and clerics maintaining social tion, but — alas — that was not possible. The year that began for us on April 12, bilities and the relativity of daily fussing. distancing. In a letter addressed to friends of the was both intense and challenging. We We are happy to inform you of substan- It is noted that the Holy Fire ceremony typically draws gallery, Galentz reported on how he and organized 7 exhibition projects, each of tial support of our gallery by two philan- tens of thousands of worshippers to an imposing grey his colleagues — despite everything — are which was unique in its own way. We pre- thropists from Germany and Armenia. edicule in the Holy Sepulchre that is believed to contain dealing with the current challenge. With sented group exhibitions of classics from And very special thanks to each of the tomb where Jesus lay two thousand years ago. his kind permission, we share some of his our collection and works by contempo- you! For attention, for advice, for active Sunbeams that pierce through a skylight in the thoughts with our readers. rary Berlin artists from our circle. We participation and especially for trust in church’s dome are believed by worshippers to ignite “Dear Friends, hosted guest artists from Los Angeles and us as partners helping you in collecting a flame deep inside the crypt, a mysterious act con- Allow me to address you with a per- Serbia. And the curator of the Armenian or introducing you to visual art. Please sidered a Holy Saturday miracle each year before sonal message. These days many of us National Pavilion in Venice conducted a continue to contact us with any matter in Orthodox Easter Sunday. are celebrating the holy Easter. Since my multimedia research project on the theme which our gallery can be of assistance. childhood, it has been my favorite holi- of the dialogue with authority. Respectfully yours, day. And not only because I was named We highlighted one important aspect in Archi Galentz 4 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Community News

ANI Exhibit on US Military Intervention Los Angeles In First Republic Genocide Featured in Magazine Coalition Raises WASHINGTON — The Armenian version of Funds for the 27-panel ANI exhibit ”The United States Military in the Republic of Armenia 1919- Feeding America 1920,” which is based on documentary and photographic records created by the American LOS ANGELES — The coalition of Military Mission sent to Armenia by President Armenian community organizations in Woodrow Wilson, is presently being serialized charge of organizing the Southern in the publication Hay Zinvor, Armenian California area Armenian Genocide Soldier. Hay Zinvor is a publication at the The Peace of Art billboard commemorations, the United Defense Ministry of the Republic of Armenia, Armenian Council of Los Angeles where the exhibit was recently displayed. (UACLA), the Unified Young Four installments of the exhibit have Armenians (UYA) and the Armenian appeared to date, and will continue to be seri- Genocide Committee (AGC) announce alized. The exhibit may be viewed in the 2020 We Will Overcome have announced their plans for alter- issues 11 (pages 20-21), 12 (pages 12-13), 14 native commemorative events given (pages 26-27), 15 (pages 26-27) of Hay Zinvor. state and local orders prohibiting mass “It was a very special privilege to see the ANI This Together gatherings due to the ongoing coron- exhibit go on display at the Armenian defense avirus pandemic. ministry and to have Defense Minister Davit In lieu of the traditional requiem Tonoyan, US Ambassador Lynn Tracy, and BOSTON — “We survived the 1915, the Armenian Genocide. Together we will service at the Armenian Genocide Major General Lee Tafanelli of the Kansas defeat COVID 19.” Martyrs Monument in Montebello, the National Guard do the opening,” stated ANI This is the message carried by "Peace of Art" www.Peaceofart.org since April March in Little Armenia, Hollywood Chairman Van Z. Krikorian. “It is an equally 1, which has been posted on digital displays in various cities of Massachusetts, and the Protest demonstration in front great privilege to see this very special ANI on the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. of the Los Angeles Turkish Consulate, exhibit become accessible in the Armenian lan- Daniel Varoujan Hejinian, founding president of Peace of Art, Inc., stated that the committees have been working guage and to the Armenian-speaking public as "if the Armenian nation was able to survive the genocide and reborn from together to create an all day commem- one more example of the long and deep con- ashes, together we can also fight and overcome COVID 19, the epidemic that oration which will be aired on local nections between Armenia and America,” is currently facing mankind, against which all nations and religions are equal. Armenian television channels as well added Krikorian. We must unite to defeat major epidemics, disasters, and prevent genocides, as several hours of live streaming on The exhibit profiles several important because a crime against one nation is a crime against all humanity.” social media all to take place on April American military figures, who rose to promi- In 2003, Peace of Art, Inc., a non-profit educational humanitarian organiza- 24 beginning at 10 a.m. nence as members of the American tion, was founded in Boston. This organization uses the universal language of The all-day commemoration will fea- Expeditionary Forces (AEF) that were sent over- art to raise awareness of the human condition, and to promote peaceful solu- ture addresses by several prominent seas to France to join the fight against Germany tion to conflicts, and promotes the international recognition of the Armenian government officials, community lead- during World War I. Many of these officers later Genocide. ers and the clergy, as well as by feder- joined the American Relief Administration The billboards are located on Route 1 in Walpole, and Route 106 Junction in al officials instrumental in having both (ARA), created to respond to the postwar situa- Plainville, Mass. Houses of Congress adopt the historic tion in Europe where food shortages threat- resolutions acknowledging the ened famine. The ARA was also tasked with Armenian Genocide by the United relieving the plight of vulnerable people in States of America, informative panel Armenia. Herbert Hoover, who at the time discussions concerning Genocide headed the ARA, tapped former US recognition, reparations and restitu- Ambassador to the Ottoman Turkey Henry Wakefield Station Rewards tion for the crime of Genocide. In addi- Morgenthau and General John J. Pershing, the tion, viewers will have the opportunity commanding general of the AEF, for recom- to see documentaries regarding the mendations on the personnel to be assigned to Healthcare Workers Genocide and hear from community Armenia. Many of the US officers sent to leaders, well-known personalities and Armenia were close associates of General WAKEFIELD, Mass. – Elite Gas and Service, a station in Wakefield, Mass., cultural presentations to honor the Pershing and some were highly decorated vet- offered free gas on April 10 and the morning of April 11 to any doctor, nurse, victims of the first genocide of the erans of battles in France where they turned dentist or EMT with identification. 20th century. the tide of the war in favor of the Allies. Owner Ervant (“Ed”) Kibarian declared on The Armenian Genocide brought President Wilson dispatched two missions to his Facebook page: “Just listened to a WBZ unspeakable horrors upon the Armenia, a military mission headed by General By Aram Arkun broadcast which made me want to pay it for- Armenian population of the Ottoman James G. Harbord, which investigated the political Mirror-Spectator Staff ward in gratitude and thanks to our doctors Empire, including mass starvation. At situation in the region, and a humanitarian mis- and nurses in this time of uncertainty.” These the time, Americans organized the sion headed by Colonel William N. Haskell, which health workers are risking their lives to help largest relief effort in United States was also tasked with overseeing the undertakings others, particularly now with the dangers of COVID-19. history, through the Committee for of the Near East Relief organization that the Elite’s post on Facebook reached over 10,000 people. Quite a few came on Near East Relief to come to the aid of United States Congress formally incorporated as Saturday morning, in particular, when people were off their shifts, Kibarian the Armenians devastated by the part of the humanitarian relief effort in response reported afterwards. impact of the Genocide. Armenians to the dire situation in Armenia. Kibarian started Elite Gas and Service in 2015. have never forgotten the benevolence “I want to thank the editors of Hay Zinvor who and great generosity of the American proposed publishing the Armenian version of the people. Americans are now facing a ANI exhibit and who are overseeing its serializa- food insecurity crisis due to unprece- tion,” stated ANI Director Dr. Adalian. “We also dented levels of unemployment appreciate their close coordination with the brought on by the coronavirus pan- Armenian Assembly's Yerevan office staff, who demic. To address this need, the have been supporting this undertaking with the UACLA/UYA/AGC coalition have part- translation effort. It is no small undertaking to nered with Feeding America, explain this significant and complicated chapter America’s largest food bank, to raise in American history to an Armenian audience funds to provide 1,500,000 meals to and they have done a superb job. Considering America, in honor of our fallen the challenges of continuing to forge ahead Martyrs and this Great Nation that under conditions created by the dangers of the came to our aid. Through this epic COVID-19 pandemic, I want to extend special campaign, the entire Armenian com- appreciation to the Hay Zinvor and Assembly munity will be able to give thanks to Yerevan staffs for dedicating their energies to America for its philanthropy at our properly commemorate the 105th anniversary of greatest hour of need, and now, as the Armenian Genocide.” Armenian-Americans we will do our Those who want to read future issues of Hay part to help our communities and fel- Zinvor can subscribe online. The publication is The Elite Gas and Service station low American neighbors of all back- available for free to the public and contains past and grounds and affiliations who face food current information about the Armenian military. shortages at this extraordinary time. The United States Military in the First see EXHIBIT, page ? S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 COMMUNITY NEWS Greater New York Region Devastated by COVID-19

COVID, from page 1 the community, Hirant Gulian, Chairman actions to online shopping and phone orders. ing the work, attending virtual office hours, siblings follow in the footsteps of their parents, Emeritus of the Knights of Vartan, expressed “We are minimizing contact and making sure and e-mailing to ask for feedback on essays. Harry and Suzanne, who always donated to gratitude to all of the frontline workers, includ- we are taking the proper precautions,” said They even took the time to share touching communities they lived or worked in as well as ing Dr. Kileci. George Noury, who along with his sister is help- words of encouragement with me and their places in need across the country. “Our entire Brotherhood, from coast to ing box, ship and deliver goods while offering classmates to keep our spirits up during this Prior to the pandemic, Toufayan Bakeries coast, is very grateful to all the doctors and curbside pick-up for the shopping center as well uncertain time.” (https://toufayan.com/) consistently donated nurses during these challenging times,” he said. as Nouri Cafe. “We are rolling with the punch- to a number of organizations, including Second “We thank Dr. Kileci for his dedication and es and helping out our workers, customers and Mental Health Care Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Eva’s devotion to mankind.” community however we can.” As millions stay quarantined at home and bat- Shelter, St. Paul Episcopal Church Men’s COVID-19 Task Force Although they were tuned into the news and tle the tangible and intangible consequences of Shelter, nourish.NJ, Oasis, and Interfaith Social After recognizing the severity of the pan- prepared for the increase in customer traffic the pandemic, such as unemployment and iso- Services, in addition to the plethora of initia- demic in early March, a task force was set up in before the lockdowns went into effect, George lation, it has led to an increase in mental health tives and support the family has contributed to collaboration with the Armenian Revolutionary and Christine were still surprised at the empty and anxiety issues as people’s routines and the Armenian community in the Diaspora and Federation, Armenian Youth Federation, shelves and flood of customers on Friday, daily lives have dramatically altered. Thanks to the homeland. Armenian Relief Society, Hamazkayin and local March 13. the advent of teletherapy, medical professionals “My father is grateful to be living in the New York and New Jersey churches to respond “Once we saw how packed the store was, we like Lenna Salbashian, a licensed psychothera- United States and when he sees places that to community needs and bring aid in a variety started figuring out what our new normal pist and art therapist, can remain connected to experience devastation like how Tennessee was of platforms, from making get-well baskets to would be,” said Christine. “We had to adjust their clients and help them conquer any affected by the tornadoes, his first instinct is to community members stricken by COVID-19, to according to our means and abide by all of the adverse mental effects. figure out a way to get bread to the folks there securing housing and basic needs for the vul- new rules.” “I’m extremely grateful that teletherapy in the community,” said Toufayan. “The same nerable, to delivering groceries for the elderly. Cleanliness and sanitation remain a priority exists because it is providing some means for goes for what is happening in our communities These organizations are ready, willing and able to the family-owned business and in order to me to continue to be supportive and to help now with the coronavirus pandemic.” to assist members in any capacity throughout avoid any possible health risks, George and people during this crisis,” said Salbashian, who When the pandemic surfaced in the US and the New York tri-state area. Christine decided early on to close the store is licensed in New York and Massachusetts as a was particularly menacing in the New York “This is a humanitarian need and we are during the stay-at-home orders and only focus registered Art Therapist, Licensed Mental metropolis area, Karen and her siblings took both the community leaders and the servants at on pickup, delivery and the shipment of goods. Health Counselor and Yoga Teacher. According the lead in managing their New Jersey head- the same time,” said Mher Janian. “In the last Their user-friendly website (https://nouribroth- to Salbashian, staying mentally and emotional- quarters and reassured their parents to remain one hundred years we never left anyone home- ers.com/) lists all of their items and they also ly healthy is critical for coping, building resilien- in Florida. less or hungry and we always make sure to added a delivery option within a 15 mile radius. cy, and maintaining overall wellness through “My siblings and I have been coming to work serve our people.” After a month-long voluntary closure of the this crisis. every day and we are doing our best to stay The youth are also playing an essential role, store to help keep the pandemic at bay, the She credits virtual platforms such as Zoom open so we can continue to employ our work- raising funds for local hospitals, shopping and essential business will reopen on Monday, April for providing a “healing space” and connection ers and feed families,” said Toufayan, noting delivering food, while also preparing hot home- 20 for in-store shopping with a limited number with her clients, who are responding positively that the company increased employee wages made meals and setting up a food bank and of customers permitted inside Nouri’s at one to the online sessions. with a bonus throughout the pandemic and will shelter at St. Sarkis Armenian Church in time. “Teletherapy allows us to communicate with match that amount with a donation to local Douglaston, NY. The AYF members also filmed “It has been difficult for our customers people during this time of change when they charities. “Our family also decided to donate and circulated videos informing the public to because they liked to come into our store, are inundated with more anxiety, depression, $100,000 each to two food banks, including stay at home and to reach out to them if they browse and hand-pick their items,” said George. isolation and fear than ever before,” said nourish.NJ and Second Harvest Food Bank in needed any items. Other public service “This has been a big change for everyone.” Salbashian, who runs her own private practice Florida.” announcement videos informed the community Half-Armenian and half-Syrian whose parents and is part of the group private practice Whole In addition to the monetary donations, about small business loans and grants that may hail from Aleppo, Syria, both George and Living Center. “In that way it’s been a saving Toufayan Bakeries has shipped hundreds of be relevant for Armenian-owned companies and Christine are involved in the community and grace.” cases of bread and cookies to three shelters in operations. Janian acknowledged that have been helping hospitals by contributing She acknowledges the importance of main- Paterson, NJ, and to the first responders in the Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian’s support meals, in addition to donating family dinners, taining mental health and staying both mental- hospitals in New York City, “who are helping all and leadership has been instrumental in help- all while keeping operations running as ly and physically fit to help combat the stresses of us keep healthy and safe.” ing mobilize the organizations and provide smoothly as possible. that have been brought on by the change in After a phone call from a customer who relief for the community. “At first we did have issues with distribution, everyone’s day-to-day routines. According to expressed need for food banks in the Boston “We’ve been affected the most in New York but everything is on track now and we have Salbashian, staying mentally and emotionally area, the Toufayan family sprung into action City where we have elderly Armenians who live fresh bread made onsite everyday which is a healthy contributes to one’s emotional and and filled a truck with baked goods and in these areas that have the highest rates of customer favorite,” said Christine. physical health. shipped it to the food pantries in New England infection, from Queens, Brooklyn, all the way Looking towards the future, George and “Even before this crisis we knew feelings of that were beginning to run low. out to Long Island,” said Janian, who urged Christine want to continue the current services isolation can have serious detrimental effects on “When we give back to the communities anyone in need to contact him they’re offering to customers well after the pan- mental and physical health and that loneliness is where we live, work and sell our products, it is ([email protected]). “A generation ago, demic is over. a huge risk factor for diseases like diabetes, heart just returning the favor for all those who have these elderly that we are serving now were the “As the second generation, this is a good disease and arthritis,” said Salbashian. “At the helped us become successful over the years,” ones who served our community, and now it’s opportunity for us to prove ourselves that we root, isolation can compromise the immune sys- said Toufayan. our time to give back to them.” can manage this long-established business and tem and increases production of stress hormones “Our faith in God and our strong connection that we are up to the task,” said George. “We that put us at a greater risk for developing and to the Armenian Church is what is helping us Times Square Demo Cancelled are taking it as a challenge to transition forward being prone to illnesses.” get through the stresses,” said Toufayan. “I’m Just a month ago the city streets were filled and implement our vision.” Salbashian gives options and alternatives for grateful to the St. Leon Armenian Church in to the brim with tourists lined up for Broadway people who are isolated and experiencing loss, Fair Lawn, NJ, for streaming their services shows and snapped photos of famous sites Schools Shuttered loneliness and grief. She suggests taking up a every Sunday because it gives me a chance to while locals hustled to their offices. In its place The largest education system in the United routine to create some sort of structure and forget about everything that is going on and now are barren sidewalks and emptiness, espe- States also shuttered in the face of the pan- maintain groundedness. By implementing daily pray that we all stay healthy and safe.” cially in symbolic Times Square, where the demic. All New York City public schools were practices, like meditation, people can “go annual Armenian Genocide Times Square shut down on Monday, March 16 and will inwards and heal from the inside.” She cites a ‘War Zone’ Commemoration, sponsored by the Knights remain closed through the end of the school number of free resources available on On the healthcare front, entire hospitals have and Daughters of Vartan, has taken place every year, affecting the day-to-day lives of the 1.1 mil- Instagram, YouTube, Zoom and online medita- become Intensive Care Unit wards in the New year since 1985. Due to the pandemic, the sig- lion students, teachers and parents alike in over tion groups that allow people to connect with York and New Jersey area as doctors and nificant event has been postponed to April 25, 1,800 schools throughout the five boroughs. one another over technology and pursue a cre- healthcare officials face an unprecedented num- 2021. Instead, the 105th anniversary of the In a short period of time teachers had to train ative practice, such as cooking, painting or clay- ber of sick patients. As of Friday, April 17, more Armenian Genocide will be held virtually themselves with remote learning programs working. than 200,000 residents had confirmed positive around the US on both coasts. In the New York such as Google Classroom and adjust to “I’ve been offering clients ways to get creative cases in New York State with over 17,000 hos- tri-state area, the ANCA Eastern Region will explaining lesson units virtually. To meet the using art materials so people can establish a pitalized and close to 13,000 deaths. To meet host a three-day commemoration honoring the needs of an estimated 300,000 students who sense of control, groundedness and acceptance the demands on the healthcare system, hospi- victims of the Armenian Genocide, thanking did not have wifi or laptops at home, the New for what is going on within oneself and around tals sought out retired physicians, universities members of the US Congress for their recogni- York City Department of Education purchased the world,” said Salbashian, who offers a list of coordinated to graduate medical students early, tion of the Armenian Genocide and demanding devices with assistance from Apple, T-Mobile therapy services at http://www.whole-living-cen- and also re-tasked doctors to the ER and ICU to justice from its peretrators. The virtual event and Google to provide the proper technology ter.com/ and her instagram @artandyogathera- help with the growing number of patients. Each will take place from Friday, April 24 until for all students. py. “Creative practices activate your mental and day over 30,000 new infections are cropping up Sunday April 26 on Facebook The closing of the schools caused other con- emotional health while physical practices like nationwide. (facebook.com/ancaeasternregion). cerns, such as how essential workers, including yoga, help you ground and connect through In New York City, Dr. John Arek Kileci, a com- healthcare professionals, first responders and breathing and movement.” munity member through the Knights of Vartan, Going Online transit workers, would care for their children Salbashian also encourages reaching out to has been on the frontlines helping battle the In Paterson, NJ, an industrial city that was during school hours. In response, the city pro- friends and contacting people with whom com- coronavirus at the New York University (NYU) once the hub of textile factories and an vided physical locations where students could munication has been lost over the years. She Langone Health in midtown Manhattan. He is Armenian population at the turn of the 20th be dropped off. Many students also relied on recommends connecting with a therapist and assigned to patients who have tested positive century, the longstanding Nouri Brother’s the schools for meals and the city administra- notes that some insurance companies are cur- for COVID-19 and likens the pandemic to a Middle Eastern Shopping Center has transi- tion organized “grab-and-go meals” for families rently waiving copays for telehealth. Above all, “war zone.” tioned its business model to cater to its con- to pick up breakfast and lunches during normal she states that offering support can alleviate “Many people are dying including young sumers in new ways during the pandemic. school hours. fear. ones,” said pulmonologist Dr. Kileci, noting George and Christine Noury, whose father and Karine Abalyan, who teaches social studies at “People say the opposite of fear isn’t that the Intensive Care Units are full. “As an uncle opened up the business in 1978, are help- a public school in Queens, said that despite courage, it’s compassion,” said Salbashian. “If ICU doctor, I wish all the strength and luck to ing lead the center’s operations that includes a these setbacks, her school has seen success we can show up for other people in our great- all my healthcare colleagues and workers.” grocery, cafe, electronics and jewelry depart- with remote learning. “I am very proud of my est time of fear and loss, then that’s the most Showing support for essential members of ment and switching from customer-facing inter- students,” she said. “They have been complet- beautiful thing we can offer.” 6 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR OBITUARIES

Director’s Award would be Sarkis Tatigian renamed the Sarkis Tatigian Small Business Award. The award recog- Longest-Serving Defense Department Civil Servant nizes outstanding perfor- mance by a field activity in WASHINGTON — Sarkis Tatigian, who began on this command and the entire U.S. Navy.” creating an organizational his Navy career at the age of 19 during the Tatigian’s civilian career with the Navy began climate resulting in the Second World War, passed away earlier this in July 1942 as a junior radio inspector at the advancement of small busi- week, leaving behind a nearly 78-year legacy of naval aircraft factory in the Philadelphia Navy ness opportunity through service to the Department of Defense, reported Yard and the Navy Office of Inspector of Naval exceptionally-managed the Naval Sea Systems Command Office of Aircraft in Linden, New Jersey. He left his posi- small business programs Corporate Communications on Tuesday, April 7. tion as an inspector in March 1943 and entered and challenging initiatives At the time of his death, Tatigian, the longest the uniformed Navy as an active-duty Sailor. In and who has made signifi- serving civil servant in the history of the DoD, June 1944, he started working as an aviation cant contributions to the was serving as Naval Sea Systems Command’s electronics technician’s mate in the develop- Portrait of Sarkis Tatigian in Bldg. 197 at the Washington Navy command and the DON (NAVSEA) Small Business Advocate. ment of the Navy’s first guided anti-ship muni- Yard. (U.S. Navy photo by Juan Liriano) small business program. “Mr. Tatigian truly lived a life dedicated to tion, the ASM-N-2 “BAT” glide bomb, which Because of his contribu- advocacy and the service of others,” said later became an operational weapon used by tions, Tatigian even won the NAVSEA Executive Director James the fleet at the end of World War II. position, Tatigian developed a small business award that bears his name. Smerchansky. “His decades of work oversaw In 1946, he left active duty and returned to mobile exhibit that traveled coast-to-coast, visit- In 2017, NAVSEA celebrated Tatigian’s 75th the expansion of the small business industrial the Navy department and civil service with the ing all state capitals and cities with populations anniversary of civil service. A unique service base and more than $100 billion in contracts Bureau of Ordnance in Washington, working exceeding 400,000. For his organizational pin was specially made to mark the occasion as awarded to diverse, small businesses. As we bid on the Navy’s first generation of guided-missile efforts on the exhibit, Tatigian received one celebrating that many years of service had fair winds and following seas to Mr. Tatigian, systems. From there, he moved on to his life’s Congressional recognition. never been given before to an employee. NAVSEA will greatly miss his presence but we passion, helping small businesses, as a small In June 1979, Tatigian was appointed Tatigian, explained upon his 75th anniver- will never forget the positive impact he made business analyst for the bureau. While in the NAVSEA’s associate director of the Small and sary, why he was driven to continue to come to Disadvantaged Business Utilization Office. The work each day at NAVSEA. office was eventually renamed the Small “I was retirement eligible in October 1973,” Business Program Office, where he continued said Tatigian. “But when you don’t have some- Florence (Almasian) Markarian to serve as an advocate for small business. thing to wake up for, that’s when you start to In 2012, it was announced during a ceremo- decline. And, if you love what you do and derive Dedicated to Family, Church ny honoring Tatigian’s 70 years of service that a sense of personal worthiness, it’s not really the Navy’s Office of Business Opportunities work.” WATERTOWN — Florence (Almasian) and son Joseph, Jr., the family moved to South Markarian died in April from COVID-19. She Portland, Maine and in 1955 to Ashland, Mass. was 95. when Joe accepted the position as Music She was born on July 4, 1924 and lived in Director in the Town of Hopkinton Public Zabel (Arslanoglu) Purut Whitinsville with her family until her marriage School system. in December 1946 to Joseph Markarian of For more than 30 years Florence ran the Born in Turkey Watertown. After the birth of daughter Ardis household, managed the family budget and chased her children around. In later years, she worked as a cafeteria cashier in an Ashland ele- BOSTON — Zabel (Arslanoglu) Purut passed mentary school. In 1986, Florence and Joe away on April 16, 2020 at the Armenian moved to Watertown where they reconnected Nursing Home in Jamaica Plain. She was 93 with friends and dedicated countless hours to years old. the St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church. Zabel was born on January 1, 1927 in Everek, Florence cherished her family: husband, son, Turkey to the late Garabed and Marta daughter and grandsons Jesse and Travis. She (Panosian) Arslanoglu. will be remembered most for her spirited per- She was the beloved wife of the late Kalost sonality, pride in her Armenian heritage and Purut who passed away in 2016. She is sur- deep devotion to family and friends. vived by her children; Harutyun Purut and his A private Funeral Service was held for the wife Taline of New Jersey, Herman Purutyan immediate family at the Bedrosian Funeral and his wife Laura of Concord and the late Home followed by Burial at Ridgelawn Sarkis and Zarman Purut. She was the grand- Cemetery, both in Watertown. Condolences can mother of Tamar and Nina Purut and Lorig and be sent to Joe Markarian, c/o 22 Nason Rd., Jivan Purutyan. She was the sister to Panos Swampscott, MA 01907. Arslanoglu, Takuhi Uckardes, Vartuhi Koroglu and the late Keghetsig Angac. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic and current public safety measures, private grave- George Sayegh side services were held at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord. Memorial contributions Jeweler may be made in her memory to St. James Armenian Church. BRIGHTON, Mass. — George Sayegh, 77, of Brighton, passed away on April 16, 2020 after a period of failing health and a courageous battle with the coronavirus. Donation He was born in Lebanon, son of the late Alexander and Loulou (Tufankji) Sayegh. Sandra Shahinian Leitner donated $200 to the . Armenian Mirror-Spectator A longtime resident of Brighton, he worked for many years in the Jewelry business. He loved walking and sharing fun stories with friends and family. He is survived by his beloved sister Annette, Jacques and his wife Reine, Margo and her late husband George Chryssis, John, and Emile and his wife Josephine. Due to the current COVID – 19 restrictions, F UNERAL H OME funeral and cemetery arrangements are private. Giragosian James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC Arrangements were made by the Bedrosian Mark J. Giragosian Funeral Home. Funeral Counselors 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 www.giragosianfuneralhome.com ANI Exhibit on US Military Intervention In First Republic Featured in Magazine Telephone (617) 924-7400 EXHIBIT, from page 4 * The First Deportation: The German Republic of Armenia digital exhibit is the sixth Railroad, The American Hospital, and the Aram Bedrosian exhibit developed by ANI. It follows upon other Armenian Genocide educational material developed for the centen- * The First Refuge and the Last Defense: The nial of the Armenian Genocide, including five Armenian Church, Echmiadzin, and the Funeral Home, Inc. large exhibits displaying hundreds of historic Armenian Genocide Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 photographs. These exhibits include: * Witness to the Armenian Genocide: * American Relief in the First Republic of Photographs by the Perpetrators' German and MARION BEDROSIAN Armenian 1918-1920 (about the role of the YMCA) Austro-Hungarian Allies 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN * Iconic Images of the Armenian Genocide * Survivors of the Armenian Genocide WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN (also available as a slideshow) All exhibits can be freely downloaded. S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 OBITUARIES

Businessman and Philanthropist, Tekeyan and ADL Leader Armand Norehad Dies

NOREHAD, from page 1 in the winters. This peaceful desert oasis was the gathering and Marilyn led a team from the Chicago Armenian commu- Armand, a lifelong Chicagoan, attended Kilmer Grammar place for his entire family, for whom he had unconditional nity to raise funds in order to send much-needed supplies to School, Sullivan High School, Purdue University, and gradu- love. Armand was a gifted artist and developed a passion for his ravaged homeland. Throughout Armand’s life, even dur- ated from Northwestern University Business School with a sculpting after his retirement. He continued to sculpt at the ing the busiest of times, he acted as a mentor to his family master’s degree in Business Administration. North Shore Senior Center almost to the end of his life. and friends, guiding them in key life decisions and struggles. Following graduate school, he worked for Union Cord Following in his father’s footsteps, Armand continued a For this he will be remembered by many. Products, an industrial gasket manufacturer founded by his tradition of benevolence. He spent much of his life con- Armand was a devoted and loving husband to his wife, parents during WWII. Armand worked closely with his father tributing to a variety of charitable organizations through- Marilyn, and was an active and supportive father throughout for years until he felt the pull of Wall Street. In 1969, he left out the world. As a devoted Armenian and Christian, he his children’s lives, including: coaching soccer, attending soc- the family business and moved to New York to pursue a served as treasurer of the Tekeyan Cultural Association of cer and hockey games, and gymnastics meets. This presence career with Paine, Webber, Jackson & Curtis. the United States and Canada (TCA) and was a member of and support continued into the lives of his grandchildren. Armand returned to Chicago in 1973 to pursue a position the Armenian Assembly. He supported the Armenian Armand’s legacy is his commitment to faith, family, and as an institutional salesman with Bear Stearns & Co. He General Benevolent Union (AGBU), the central board of love. He could light up a room with his charismatic smile, quickly rose in the ranks due to his competitive nature, per- which he was a member, and turned the AGBU Norehad which left an impact on those who were lucky enough to sistent drive, and thoughtful manner, leading Armand to Center into an important gathering place for Chicago know him. become a partner at the firm. Over the next twelve years, he Armenians. A celebration of Armand’s life will take place in the sum- successfully managed and built the Chicago office into the Armand’s father Onnig and uncle Bedros were active lead- mer or fall at the Church of the Holy Comforter in highest grossing location outside of the New York ers in TCA and the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, and Kenilworth, Illinois, with a reception to follow at Skokie Headquarters. this family tradition now stretches to almost a century with Country Club. After retiring from Bear Stearns, he and Marilyn traveled the third generation of Norehads. Contributions in memory of Armand may be made to the the world and retreated to the Boulders in Scottsdale, Ariz. In the wake of the 1988 Armenian earthquake, Armand Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (www.alzfdn.org).

10th SIAM Classics in Applied Mathematics. Olvi Leon Mangasarian Winters in Madison are long. Ice and snow are part of the package. While invigorating when young, at an older age the Wisconsin win- Groundbreaking Computer and Math Professor ter loses its appeal. After Olvi's retirement from the UW, he and Claire began spending the win- MADISON, Wis. — Olvi Leon Mangasarian, tiating a solid alliance for the next 60+ years. ter months in San Diego. During these months 86, died at University of Wisconsin Hospital in They lived in Berkeley, Calif., where he worked Olvi worked as a research scientist in the Madison on March 15, 2020. at Shell Development Co. Mathematics Department at the University of The son of Leon Mangasarian and Josephine In 1967, they moved to Madison when Olvi California, San Diego, where he enjoyed inter- Amassian Mangasarian, Armenian refugees, joined the faculty of the Computer Sciences action with colleagues. who fled during the 1915 Armenian Genocide Department at the University of Wisconsin. An Olvi's love of classical music began in his col- in the Ottoman Empire, he was born in 1934 in avid researcher, with over 200 peer reviewed lege years and continued throughout his life. Baghdad, Iraq. publications, and a dedicated teacher, having Like many mathematicians, he was partial to He studied at the Jesuit Baghdad College and mentored 28 PhD students at UW, Olvi was the Baroque period. Johann Sebastian Bach American University of Beirut before complet- chairman of the Computer Sciences topped his play list and concerts at the ing his final two years of undergraduate work Department for three year in the 1970s. Wisconsin Union Theater were his delight. on full scholarship at Princeton University In 1996, he was the recipient of the Hilldale Olvi is survived by his wife, Claire; his son, where he majored in Civil Engineering and was Award in the Physical Sciences division for dis- Leon of Potsdam, Germany; his son, Jeffrey of a member of the Colonial Club. He graduated tinguished professional accomplishment. As a Lake Forest, IL; his son, Aram of Paris, France; from Princeton Phi Beta Kappa with a B.S.E. in member of the editorial board of SIAM (Society and 6 grandchildren: Tarrant, Kyra, Carl-Leon, 1954 and an M.S.E. in 1955. He went on to of Industrial and Applied Mathematics) from Alma, Samuel and Elise. study applied mathematics at Harvard 1969-84 and a corresponding editor from 1985- Due to restriction on travel and gathering at University where he experienced the potential 93, he received the designation of SIAM Fellow programming where his fundamental contribu- this time, a memorial and celebration of Olvi's and frustrations of the emerging computer age, for advancing the application of mathematics to tions range from abstract theory to practical life will be postponed, probably until summer. working on the Univac, a room-sized computer, science and industry. Among other honors, he applications. His results have been character- Colleagues and friends will be informed when a powered by vacuum tubes that continually received the 2000 INFORMS Lanchester Prize ized as very elegant, having great impact and date is decided. needed to be replaced and using punch cards for machine learning and data mining. providing the basis for many subsequent exten- Olvi's family request that any gifts in his mem- that at times cascaded helter-skelter across Professor Mangasarian, the John von sions. His 1969 monograph, Nonlinear ory be directed through the UW Foundation and floor. Olvi received his PhD at Harvard Neumann Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Programming, which has remained to date an designated to the Dept. of Computer Sciences University in 1959. and Computer Sciences at the UW, was a pio- invaluable textbook for students and reference Annual Fund or the Wisconsin Union Theater In 1959, Olvi married Claire Garabedian, ini- neer and leader in the field of mathematical for researchers, was reproduced in 1994 as the Director's Discretionary Fund.

Donations The Tekeyan Cultural Association of the United States and Canada gratefully acknowledges the following donations to the Krikor and Makrouhi Kuredjian Educational Fund.

Edmond Y. Azadian $100 Van and Priscilla Krikorian $100 Hagop Vartivarian $100

Nardolillo Funeral Home Est. 1906 John K. Najarian, Jr. Rhode Island’s Only Licensed Armenian Funeral Director 1278 Park Ave. Cranston, RI 02910 (401) 942-1220 1111 Boston Neck Rd. Narragansett, RI 02882 (401) 789-6300 www.nardolillo.com 8 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Adult Day Health Care Centers in Los Angeles Area Adapt to COVID-19

ADAPTING, from page 1 dle of the following week they began rehiring tact with their own family members at their greater acceptance of each other. Karapetian he said, somewhere between 900 and 1,000 staff to expand services remotely. He said, “It is homes or in second jobs, but they have all said that though the groups may mingle, most people daily, said that they were like daytime like a doctor — you cannot abandon your recovered, Karapetian said. Other staff have of the time people congregate with people from nursing homes. “Our function is to help people patients.” Services like delivery of meals and declined to work due to health conditions or their own cultures. As most individuals are in who have been identified to be frail adults, who medication, including injections (e.g. insulin), other personal circumstances, but meanwhile their 70s or older, they are fairly set in their have one or more chronic medical conditions could not be totally suspended. demands for work are increasing as the centers ways, so the staff must adapt to this, he that could lead to their activities of daily living Nurses of these centers initially went with provide more services. Last week, Karapetian explained. deteriorating and diminishing so that it reaches protective equipment and administered shots said, they began delivering nonmedical necessi- Even the centers primarily serving a dangerous point and they are institutionalized and other medication management at the ties such as toilet paper or hygienic items to Armenians are different from one another. For into a nursing home or hospital.” More than homes of participants, but Karapetian said that people without means of shopping. example, he said, one has more Armenians from half of the participants in his centers’ programs by the end of March arrangements were made New staff are being hired to fill the demand Iran than Armenia, and even in the two centers have cognitive impairment conditions which with family members and caregivers so that and by the end of the week of April 20 which both have large numbers of Iranian complicate dealing with medical issues like dia- with training the latter could administer them Karapetian said he hoped they would have 80- Armenians, there is a difference in the way they betes and hypertension, and care plans pre- and physical contact between individuals was 90 percent of their former numbers employed, approach things. Karapetian said, “All of a sud- pared with the participation of their physicians minimized. even if not fulltime as before, Karapetian said den, they have also developed a certain identity and caretakers or family members had to be tai- Some services were provided by telephone, that this is possible because the government with the locality where they are living and they lored to their specific needs. one person at a time. During the first two and health plans have indicated that they will see themselves as people from that locality and In other words, these health care centers weeks, the staff went over COVID-19 symptoms pay for such services at the same rate as they they have their own way of doing things. allow such individuals to stay as long as possi- and did educational work in languages like used to get. Center like his have to submit tem- Whether it is North Hollywood or Van Nuys, ble in their communities, either living in their Armenian for those who did not understand porary alternate plans of services to these they look at themselves differently than those own home alone or with family members, by English well. authorities for approval. from Glendale.” slowing down the decline in their health or Meal delivery was arranged for those living The vast majority, 98 percent according to Those in Glendale, which has a denser and maintaining it at a steady level. Oftentimes, alone at home and coordination of daily activi- Karapetian, of the individuals enrolled in his larger Armenian population, were accustomed even if there is a family member or caregiver to ties that now had to take place at their homes centers were paying through either Medi-Cal to receiving services from the government and help them, constant care proves too difficult a instead of the center. (the California equivalent of Medicaid) or a major utilities in the Armenian language, unlike burden and these centers provide a respite to By the end of the second week, Karapetian health maintenance organization, usually those in places like Van Nuys with fewer the former. There are 260 such centers in said, there were more issues of anxiety, loneli- through Medicare. Armenians. Therefore, Karapetian said, C a l i f o r n i a ness and isolation that had to be dealt with. By During the process of adaptation to the new Glendale Armenians feel like they are not being (https://www.aging.ca.gov/Providers_and_Par April they started taking more creative mea- circumstances created by COVID-19, Karapetian respected if they don’t see a lot done in tners/Community- sures to connect people, such as starting a said that the California Association for Adult Armenian (or Farsi). They feel like they have an Based_Adult_Services/CBAS_Providers/), YouTube channel (for example, see that of Day Services (www.caads.org/) provided webi- ownership stake in the town. He said, “They including 152 in Los Angeles County. Karapetian’s Ararat Adult Day Health Care nars and other assistance which was incredibly have a stake in caring for things and that man- These centers are different from adult daycare C e n t e r : helpful for the centers he worked in. While each ifests itself in how they act — they are a lot more centers, which are basically free centers for https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU76zP of the seven centers operated as independent demanding.” socializing and were deemed nonessential by 9gsY8jdIbGjl6nlLA). The center’s activity per- businesses, his involvement in each helped also He pointed out that this was not unique to the government. They were shut down during son would tape a short one- or two-minute exer- in some mutual sharing of information. Armenians. Even the Latino population is not the pandemic. cise, activity or song and links were sent to Armenians in the Centers all from the same country or region of origin. Karapetian said that on March 16, when the those who could receive it on phones. The majority of Karapetian’s centers are in There are people from El Salvador, Guatemala California governor announced that the senior Otherwise family members were asked to help Glendale, but he also has centers in Van Nuys and Mexico along with Hispanics who have population was at the greatest risk, his adult them watch on smart televisions or tablets. and Lake View Terrace. Though the majority of grown up in the United States, and the centers day health care centers voluntarily decided to Karapetian reported at least one positive the people they serve are Armenians, some 35- have to adapt to their cultural differences. temporarily suspend operations until it could note: only one person out of all the participants 40 percent are not, he said, and each center has Karapetian concluded that at present, “The be clear what was going on and start providing in the seven centers’ programs reported infec- a different mixture of people. Consequently, important part is that services have continued services remotely. tion with COVID-19, and this happened only a each has its own way of addressing the cultural to this frail elderly population in an alternative By the end of that week, most of the employ- week ago, well after the centers all physically needs of the population it serves along with var- way. We have adapted through telephone con- ees were laid off, with the exception of some closed. The others are all still safe at their ious health issues. tact and the delivery of meals and medications who had to continue to provide critical services homes and not institutionalized or hospitalized, Some have mixtures of Armenian, Filipino to try and help them cope with the conditions to participants in the centers’ programs. which could lead to greater risks of infection. and Hispanic populations and attempt to cele- and minimize their risks. We feel that we are However, Karapetian said, the centers began Unfortunately, some employees became brate elements of each culture along with edu- continuing to help these individuals stay well by retraining and adjustments so that by the mid- infected after physical closure, often due to con- cating the people of other backgrounds to have staying at home and being safe.” Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Reports More COVID-19 Deaths, Seeks Funding to Meet Crisis

CRISIS, fromm page 1 FaceTime and Skype are being used to the team rises to meet each new challenge. “It’s really true that the nursing home while the Massachusetts Department of Public allow families to speak with and see their We are invigorated by the Armenian commu- industry was not prepared in any way,” Health recommended this approach on April loved ones. nity support which seems to arrive just when Barsamian said. “It’s because they were not 13. Of the 73 resident samples, 25 had symp- Difficulties to Be Met we need it. We are committed and doing the being tested. COVID is throughout the com- toms but 50 residents tested positive. The prior week, 8 employees quit work, very best we can for your loved one.” munity and it is one of the things that is very Goff wrote, “We are bewildered by this largely from the laundry and housekeeping Fundraising by Volunteers, AWWA difficult about this pandemic,” she noted. result. We have been so vigilant around any departments. Job duties were adjusted in Nancy Barsamian is a volunteer advisor to Carolyn Goff said both Bertucci’s and clinical changes in condition. Any identified response but if needed, Goff wrote, ANRC is the Armenian Women’s Welfare Association Stoked Pizza have helped the center. clinical changes resulted in a transfer to the ready to contract an outside company to ful- (AWWA), which is the body tasked with rais- “It’s just amazing. People call to help,” she isolation suite, whether day or night.” fill these needs. The nursing staff, on the ing funds to maintain the ANRC. said, even when they don’t have a loved one He added that all employees were checked other hand, remains strong and dedicated, so Barsamian, who has advised the group at the center. for symptoms and temperature when enter- he said there should be no worry about with their efforts at the Hanganank Clinic in In addition, Barsamian said that she would ing the facility on all three shifts, but this has staffing levels. Artsakh for seniors, formerly worked for the love to see a member of the clergy take limited benefit because people could be Personal protective equipment is being Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services responsibility for the spiritual needs of the asymptomatic while infected (as confirmed by conserved according to CDC guidelines and a throughout New England, is helping them nursing home. Many different pastors from the test results from the residents). group purchasing arrangement was reached raise awareness about help for their staff. local churches visit the ANRC but especially Fifteen employees were out with COVID- this week through the Massachusetts Senior She and her fellow volunteer advisor, now in the time of the pandemic, “We really 19, and almost all had positive test results, Care Association to secure the needed items Laura Purutyan, want to raise $15,000, the need a clergy assigned to this facility,” some- but two employees completed the quarantine for the next two months at the cost of amount that the ANRC had to spend on pro- one who can coordinate the spiritual mes- period recommended by the Centers for $15,000. tective gear for the staff. They want the sages from local members of the clergy. Disease Control (CDC) and have returned to According to Carolyn Goff, Stewart Goff’s money to help feed the staff. Barsamian will address the next telehealth work fully recovered, Goff stated. wife who is volunteering to help at the “We want to figure out how to help the program by the Armenian American Medical While infection with the coronavirus is not ANRC, the center has a staff of 65. staff. If people could donate to the website Association, scheduled for April 25 on elder a death sentence, Goff told family members of This is a large expense, and ANRC would and earmark it to buy the staff boxed lunch- care. residents that “should the worst-case sce- greatly appreciate donations to help with this es and gift cards for grocery stores,” For up-to-date reports, see the center’s nario unfold for your family member, please situation. There already have been some Barsamian said, that would be a great help. Facebook page. Those who would like to help know the nurses are using whatever means donations of protective equipment or aid for Barsamian explained that it costs about the Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation they have at their disposal to comfort and purchase of equipment from the community, $700 to feed the staff boxed lunches daily so Center in this crisis period may send their reassure each resident nearing end of life. We for which ANRC is thankful, as well as for that they don’t go out for their meals. Getting checks to it at 431 Pond Street, Jamaica are talking softly to them, supplementing meals for the workforce. them separate food from the rest of the resi- Plain, MA 02130. oxygen, using medication to manage comfort In his report, Goff concludes: “We are in a dents will also help the kitchen staff who has https://www.awwa.us/donate, Add memo: and anxiety and working in full partnership desperate situation. But we are invigorated to do all the cooking. support staff box meals. with our physicians through this process. We by each other in this situation. We are invig- “It gives the kitchen a break and gives the (Alin K. Gregorian contributed to this treat your loved one as our own.” orated by watching the way each member of staff a nice meal,” Barsamian said. report.) S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 Arts & Living Two New Albums Armenia In Modern Armenian Folk Nercessian Music: ‘O’ and De Oliveira: ‘Acoustic Armenia’ ‘To Love People, the Beauty Of Diversity and Feeling at By Harry Kezelian Special to the Mirror-Spectator Home Anywhere’

DETROIT — The last few years have seen a By Artsvi Bakhchinyan very interesting phenomenon in the Armenian music world —the growth of what might be Special to the Mirror-Spectator called “modern Armenian folk music.” These new interpretations of Armenian traditional YEREVAN/RIO DE JANEIRO — Armenia folk songs as well as new songs inspired by the Nercessian de Oliveira was born in Brazil, to an folk tradition seem to have started with Arto Armenian father and a Brazilian mother. She is Tuncboyaciyan’s Armenian Navy Band, but married to film director Xavier de Oliveira and the real movement today seems to be growing employed as assistant professor of sociology in in the Diaspora, with such groups as France’s Brazil. She worked for the United Nations for Collectif Medz Bazar, Los Angeles’ Element 16 years with the United Nations High Band and Armenian Public Radio, and Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and in Lebanon’s Garabala. In this piece, I am review- Missions in El Salvador and Bosnia- ing two albums that have been released in the Andrew Janjigian Herzegovina. She is currently a social past year which are significant for the progress entrepreneur, co-founder and president of of Armenian folk music in the world and in the Novica company. United States in particular. Dear Armenia, during past 20 years you Medz Bazar, which has been on the scene have traveled widely as the president of the for a while now, has released their third Novica Company. What is your company’s mis- album, “O,” this past year. Meanwhile the US No Yeast? sion and how successful you are? East Coast, headquarters of the beloved yet Novica was founded in 1999 to be an Internet controversial genre of “kef time music,” has platform to give access to the international mar- finally brought forth two entries in the field, Here’s the easy way to start a sourdough ket to artists and artisans around the world, Raffi Wartanian’s second album, “Critical providing opportunities to grow, to receive Distance” (reviewed on February 6 by Mirror- starter from a baking expert more for their work. Products are featured with Spectator contributor Taleen Babayan), and bios and photo of the artisans, shipped gift Karinné Andonian’s “Acoustic Armenia.” MINNEAPOLIS (Star Tribune) — Would-be bread bakers, you’re not mistaken. wrapped with a handwritten and signed post- (Though this is Karinné’s first album, she is no The spike in demand for flour and yeast that you’re witnessing in supermarkets is card. The goals are to connect people and cre- stranger to many in the tight-knit East Coast real. ate an appreciation for other cultures. Armenian community.) “At the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, people worried about staying at home, Novica started in Los Angeles at the base- Collectif Medz Bazar is composed of ethnic and so they stocked up, a lot,” said Mike Oase, chief operating officer of Kowalski’s ment of my daughter and son-in-law, Roberto Armenian, Turkish and French residents of Markets, which has 11 Twin Cities loca- Milk, who is our chief executive officer. It is a Paris. Their inimitable combination of tions. “People bought everything in sight. Armenian, Turkish, and other regional folk By Rick Nelson It was bigger than a Christmas week.” music, along with influences from American Oase said that flour supply lines are jazz and many other genres, while obviously returning to normal. “And yeast will be brand new, is strangely familiar to many back in stock in the next few weeks,” he said. Armenians in the US, especially in the East The phenomenon of empty baking-aisle shelves did not go unnoticed at Coast. The reason is obvious — though the America’s Test Kitchen, the Boston-based publisher of Cook’s Illustrated and members hail from France, much of the same Cook’s Country magazines. influences have gone into the traditional The difficulty of finding yeast at the supermarket came up during an online staff Armenian dance repertoire of the United meeting. That’s when senior editor Andrew Janjigian — known to his fellow staffers States, and so to the ears of this writer at as “the Bread Guy” and/or “the Bread Whisperer” — offered a solution. least, Collectif Medz Bazar’s work is some- “It’s the perfect opportunity to start a sourdough starter,” he said. thing like postmodern kef music. He’d tackled the subject in Cook’s Illustrated about four years ago, but that for- The members of the band are: Sevana mula called for two pounds of flour. Tchakerian (vocals, accordion, keyboard “Given how little flour there is out there right now, I decided to try it on a much instruments, shvi, etc.), Ezgi Sevgi Can smaller scale, and see how it works,” it said. Armenia Nercessian de Oliveira (vocals, clarinet and saxophone), Ela Nuroglu Turns out, it works just fine. Janjigian began to document the process on his (vocals), Marius Pibarot (vocals, violin, cello, Instagram account (@wordloaf), and the experiment — which he dubbed #quar- etc.), Vahan Kerovpyan (vocals, percussion), antinystarter — went viral. “Or, as I like to say, ‘fungal,’ ” he said with a laugh, men- project created with family and friends. Within and Shushan Kerovpyan (vocals, double bass). tioning that yeast is a fungus. five months we had offices in four countries. The artists work in a collaborative way, alter- To date, he’s playing a kind of sourdough Pied Piper to about 600 fellow bak- Within two years, we raised $20 million, made nating instruments and vocals, and they have ers, following along from as far away as Australia and Malaysia. “The list of names a partnership with National Geographic, written many of the songs themselves. that people are calling their starters is really good,” he said with a laugh. They received a World Bank investment and expand- Sevana Tchakerian tells us that “O” is com- include Clint Yeastwood, Courtney Loave, Carrie Breadshaw, Bread Astaire, Holly ed the company to 11 countries. Last year, we posed of songs about love, as this happened to Doughlightly and Quentin Quarantino, and no, Janjigian hasn’t christened his. celebrated having sent $95 million to the arti- be what was inspiring the members of the Because Janjigian has so many bakers following along in real time, he has field- sans. band at the time. The album opens with ed a lot of questions. Here he is on ... When first we met in 2000 in Yerevan, you Cambaz, a Turkish word which although it has Flour: “Ideally, you want to start with a mix of white with whole wheat or rye, were scouting opportunities to set up a Novica several meanings, this author took, based on because that extra nutrition will make things happen faster,” he said. “But I’ve branch also in Armenia. Why it did not take the music, to be a reference to a tightrope done it using only all-purpose. It has to be wheat flour and unbleached. The organ- place? walker, and perhaps to the difficulty of retain- isms that you get in sourdough don’t come from the air or from your hands. It’s I am of Armenian descent and have a great ing one’s culture in the Diaspora. The album from the flour itself. Ideally, it would be organic flour so that there are no fungi- interest in having Armenia represented in the gets off to an amazing start with Inch G’ella, a cides, and you’d be using filtered or bottled water for that same reason. But this Novica system. The country has nice paintings, fast, playful 6/8 tune by Tchakerian that can experiment is showing that it can work without ideal conditions.” Note: Once amazing handcrafts, and I have friends, I had only be called a “kef song,” but for once told you’ve hit the twice-a-day refreshing period, switch to using white flour only. The also met the Minister of Culture. But what pre- from a woman’s perspective, about a boy that starter no longer requires the nutrients in whole grain flours. vented us from going ahead with our purpose doesn’t love the narrator back. Tchakerian’s Temperature: “The ideal temperature for sourdough is 78 degrees; that’s when was logistical issues. Novica ships the items wonderful interpretation of this song makes it both bacteria and yeast are happiest,” he said. “Too much higher, and it will kill straight from the country where we operate to so much fun that one could imagine it becom- all that, and too much lower and it slows everything down.” If it’s too cool, he sug- the final customer and the shipping rates were ing a staple of Armenian-American kef bands gests placing the container in an insulated cooler or freezer bag, or an unheated extremely high in 2000. — if they had any female vocalists! What about now? Pari Dgha is an intense song by Vahan see SOURDOUGH, page 11 Presently, the situation has changed and we Kerovpyan, describing a boy torn between are again considering opening an office in society’s expectations and his own youthful see deOLIVEIRA, page 10 see MUSIC, page 12 10 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING Armenia Nercessian join his brother Paulo, an exciting family room, for free, because of my name. So many web designer of our site. Milena in the mer- reunion after 10 years without anyone knowing stories to remember. chandising and our top model. A few years later, De Oliveira: ‘To Love the whereabouts of each other. In 2004 in Los Angeles I met your charm- the three left Novica to follow their artistic You have been in Armenia three times. How ing daughter Milena, a film actress. How is careers. Milena in acting, Fabio in composing People, the Beauty of would you describe those visits? her career going? soundtracks, for one feature film, “Adagio ao Coming to Armenia is very special for me. My At that time, Milena was beginning her Sol,” and for three short films. Raphael had a Diversity and Feeling at visits were in three different contexts. The first career. Since then, she has starred in three music band, composing songs and playing gui- Home Anywhere’ one was in 1965, when Armenia was a Soviet short films, five feature films, and a TV series. tar. At one point, he started painting and has Republic. The second visit was in 2000 and the In 2009 she wrote and starred in a one-woman sold through Novica more than 50 works. Of de OLIVEIRA, frome page 9 third one last year. show, “LOL Latina on the Loose,” acclaimed by course, to make a living with music is not Armenia. Last September, I attended My The country has changed a lot in all these audiences and critics. She won many awards for always easy and he also works as a computer Armenia Crafts Festival in Yerevan and visisted years. In my last visit I found the people were that play. Presently, she is writing and acting. programmer. Right now, he lives in Portugal other regions to meet some artisans. Novica has more optimistic, expecting changes and hoping Milena started her carrier as Mina Oliveira, sug- with his wife and 8-year-old daughter. Recently started a partnership with the Smithsonian for a better future. Yerevan is a modern city, but gested by her agent, but lately changed her he joined the party of Lisbon Armenians and Folklife Festival to feature Armenian artists and the ancient places, buildings, churches, are artistic name to Mina Nercessian. On March, highly enjoyed it. artisans. The country has changed — and for what attract me more. In all my visits I was so her last movie, “Single Almost Crazy,” co-pro- You had – and still have – an interesting better. warmly welcomed. In 2000, I took a taxi, start- duced by MGM is going to be released in Brazil. life, being so open to the whole world, travel- Nercessian is a quite familiar name in Brazil ed a conversation and told the driver that I was She wrote the screenplay and is in the leading ing constantly, speaking almost a dozen lan- due to your brother, popular film and TV a Brazilian Armenian. When he knew that my role. Presently, she is writing a TV Series. All guages, meeting always inspiring people. I am actor Stepan Nercessian... first name was Armenia, he refused to charge that with four children! always delighted of such people, so it will be Yes, each time I give my last name in any for the ride and invited me to have a dinner What about her brothers? interesting to know what is your motto for place I hear the phrase, “are you a relative of with his family. Last year, I had another nice When I founded Novica my two sons were life? Stepan?” and after saying that I am the sister, surprise, having booked a room in a hotel in deeply involved. Fabio started Novica Brazil To love people, the beauty of diversity and the next phrase is “I love him” and of course it Jermuk, I was given an upgrade to their best and was the first director. Raphael is the first feel at home anywhere in this small world. opens doors and venues to all sorts of kindness. Not only because he is famous; he is loved due to his personality. Stepan is the one who goes to the supermarket, sit in the coffee on the cor- ner, talks to a homeless the same way he does to the highest authorities. Stepan never acted like a celebrity. He was twice elected as city Councilman and to the Chamber of Deputies of the National Congress of Brazil, our parliament, Recipe and he was President for eight years of the Actors Guild of Rio de Janeiro. I have also another actor in our family. Pedro Nercessian, the son of my sister Celina. Stepan started his career in 1970, in the lead- Corner ing role of the feature film “Marcelo Zona Sul, “directed by my husband Xavier de Oliveira. In the next five years he had acted in leading roles of 10 features films. Now, at age of 66, his fil- mography includes 58 feature films, 5 plays and by Christine Vartanian roles in dozens of TV soap operas and TV series. During his long career, Stepan won many Mshosh, a Lentil and Dried Fruit Dish important awards. The most recent, was the Photo and recipe from the Vegan Armenian Kitchen award for Best Actor in the film “Chacrinha, O Cookbook courtesy of Robyn Kalajian, a retired culinary Velho Guerreiro” by the Brazilian Movie teacher and food blogger at thearmeniankitchen.com, the Academy. It is our “Brazilian Oscar.” Stepan essential Armenian recipe and cooking blog that has was for eight years the President of the Artists become an Armenian-American treasure. Union. Since 1999, he has been the President of Mshosh may be one of the oldest Armenian recipes, and it Retiro dos Artistas, an institution that wel- is thought to come from Van. comes elderly artists with no financial This mshosh recipe (also spelled “mshmosh”) is one of the resources. I apologize being so enthusiastic latest vegan recipes featured in the new Vegan Armenian about my brother, but he is really a very inter- Kitchen Cookbook by Lena Tashjian and Siroon Parseghian. esting and captivating person. The word “mshosh” originated from the reduction of the Yes, we welcomed him in 2006 in Armenia: word “myshosh” (a variety of wild apricot). Customarily, the how did that trip influence him? apricots would be left whole, but Lena prefers them chopped Stepan is very proud of his Armenian her- to ensure a sweet taste in every bite. Mshosh is typically pre- itage, mentioning it in all his interviews. But to pared during Lent and is popular among many Western come to Armenia had a deep impact on him. He Armenians. (Variations might use pumpkin, green beans, or could not stop crying when visited the beets instead of apricots, but the apricot version is the most Genocide Memorial. Each place he visited was popular.) full of emotion, especially his visit to Echmiadzin, meeting there the Catholicos. In INGREDIENTS: the streets he saw familiar faces, people that 1 cup dry green lentils reminded him the Armenian friends of our 3 cups water father. 1 medium onion, finely chopped As a councilman of the city of Rio de Janeiro, 3 to 4 tablespoons oil Stepan submitted a bill creating the 24th of 1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped April the Tribute Day for the Armenian people. 1/2 cup prunes (dried plums), chopped Every Armenian in Diaspora has a unique 2/3 cup walnuts, crushed (a mixture of chopped almonds and pecans may be used) family story. Please tell us yours. 1/4 cup parsley, chopped My father, Karabet and his brother Paulo, are Salt and pepper, to taste survivors of the Armenian Genocide. My grand- father was taken by the military before the sol- PREPARATION: diers came to the village to evacuate the chil- Soak apricots and prunes in hot water. Set aside for 5 minutes. Drain completely. dren, women and elders. He doesn't know what Rinse and drain the dry lentils. really happened to his father. He was a child. Place the lentils in a pot with the 3 cups water. Bring to a boil, then immediately lower the heat to medium. Cook lentils, covered, until Later, the mother and brother as all the soft and liquid is absorbed, about 20-25 minutes. Check to make sure the liquid hasn't evaporated before the cooking time is up. Add women, children and elders of Haini, his village, a bit more water, if necessary. However, if lentils are fully cooked and liquid remains, drain any excess liquid. were evacuated by the soldiers for a death While lentils are cooking, sauté the onion in a skillet over medium heat until translucent. Add the drained, chopped apricots and prunes; march through the desert, like thousands of cook for an additional 5 minutes. Turn off heat, add chopped nuts and stir, then add the entire fruit-nut mixture to the pot of cooked other Armenians. Before departing, my grand- lentils. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Just before serving, garnish with chopped parsley. mother managed to hide her two sons ages 5 Serves 4 to 6. and 7, a situation that could have happened to other children. After the soldiers left the village, For this recipe, go to: https://www.thearmeniankitchen.com/2020/02/mshosh-lenten-dish-of-lentils-and-dried.html the two young kids roamed the streets, and The Vegan Armenian Kitchen Cookbook is $35.00 each. Order at: https://veganarmeniankitchen.com/product/vegan-armenian-kitchen- later ended up in an orphanage from where my cookbook/ father was adopted by a Turkish officer who References: died and was returned to the orphanage two https://veganarmeniankitchen.com/vegan-armenian-kitchen-in-the-news/ years later. By then, he had lost contact with his https://veganarmeniankitchen.com/recipes/ brother. He lived in Greece and then France. In https://www.thearmeniankitchen.com/search?q=mshosh Paris he met an Armenian lady that was trying https://kamilah.blog/blog/f/vegan-armenian-cookbook to reunite Armenians from different countries https://www.instagram.com/veganarmeniancookbook/ with their relatives. Thus he knew there was a http://ostarmenia.com/en/mshosh/ Nercessian from Haini in Brazil and confirmed to be his brother. In 1930, he came to Brazil to S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 ARTS & LIVING The easy way to start a sourdough starter from a baking expert

SOURDOUGH, from page 9 scale to keep it getting healthier and healthier. For 100% hydration levain (see Note): the dough looks right and as long as ambient oven (“Don’t forget it’s in there, and turn on the If you get to the point where you’re using it • 40 g (1/3 c.) bread flour or high-protein all- temperatures aren’t much higher than 75 oven,” he said), or near a light bulb or a work- once or twice every one to two weeks, and you purpose flour (see Note) degrees.) ing appliance. “Something to keep the chill refresh it before you put it back in the refriger- • 40 g (3 tbsp.) lukewarm (75 degrees) water Step 5: Flour the top of the dough and a away,” he said. “The only way to screw it up is ator, it will keep going forever.” • 20 g (4 tsp.) sourdough starter (see the for- clean work surface liberally and evenly. Reach to get it so warm as to encourage mold. That’s Anyone with a passing interest in bread bak- mula below) under the dough from the bottom and transfer about 90 degrees or higher.” ing should follow this self-described “bread- For dough: it to the prepared counter. Pat the dough gen- Container: “It doesn’t really matter, as long head” online, and subscribe to his newsletter; • 360 g (1 2/3 c.) lukewarm water (75 degrees), tly to form a 7-inch disc. Fold the dough’s as it keeps the starter from drying out,” he said. sign up at wordloaf.substack.com. And, of divided edges over the center, turning the dough a “Glass, plastic, Mason jars, deli containers. It’s course, read him in Cook’s Illustrated, where • 30 g (1 tbsp.) levain (from above) quarter-turn at a time, to form a round ball. nice to have a clear, straight-sided container, so he’s been working for a decade. • 500 g (3 1/4 c.) bread flour or high-protein Leave dough on the counter and cover with an you can see when it’s doubling and tripling.” “The first thing I learned to cook was pizza, all-purpose flour (see Note), plus extra for shap- upside-down bowl or loosely with plastic wrap “Feeding” vs. “refreshing” the and I became obsessed with it,” said Janjigian. ing dough and let the dough sit at room temperature for starter: “Think about pets,” he said. “You put “But I got the bread bug right after the no- • 10 g (2 tsp.) salt 30 minutes. food in a bowl, and they eat it. That’s feeding. knead recipes came out in about But here, you’re moving your culture through 2006. That’s when I realized how fresh food and water each time. Rather than good homemade bread is, and what continually adding water and flour to the same I’d been missing. That’s when I container, it’s the idea of taking a portion of the wanted to master it.” old culture and using it to inoculate a fresh con- Naturally, there’s a Minnesota tainer — you want the acids that they produce connection in all of this: Janjigian’s to be relatively dilute — so they can propagate spouse, Melissa Rivard, is a Twin in that new environment.” Cities native. In their Cambridge, The schedule: “Those first two to three days Mass., kitchen, he’s been averaging are to get it alive,” he said. “After that, you start two loaves of a bread a day during refreshing it daily. After about seven days, it this shelter-in-place period. He’s should be going enough so that you can do it looking forward to warmer weath- twice a day. That’s the typical schedule of a er, when he will fire up their back- starter at a bakery: once in the morning and yard pizza oven. once in the evening. By that point, it should The basic formula grow two to three times in volume every 12 Creating this sourdough starter hours or so.” is a simple process: In a small con- His most frequently shared advice: “Just keep tainer, stir about 1 heaping table- going,” he said. “I think I’ve said that more spoon flour with 2 to 3 teaspoons times than anything else. After the first three lukewarm water (for exact mea- days, you’ll get a lot of activity. It’s funky and surements, it’s 10 grams flour and bubbly, because the initial organisms wake up 10 to 15 grams water). Tightly quickly, but then they die off. Then other things cover, set aside in a warmish spot start growing, but they’re not as obvious. That’s and wait three days. when everyone thinks their starter is dead. After that, it’s “refresh” mode. Andrew Janjigian’s sourdough bread That’s when I say, ‘Keep going, it’ll come back.’ Follow the same formula — mix And of course, it does.” together 1 heaping tablespoon flour Learning from his Instagram with 2 to 3 teaspoons lukewarm water — but add Directions Step 6: Line a proofing basket or a colander audience: “When I teach, it’s mostly to people another step: Stir in 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of the To prepare levain: In a small container, com- with a large linen or cotton dish towel and dust who have a little experience,” he said. “I can ever-developing starter (and don’t discard the bine bread flour, lukewarm water and sour- liberally with flour. Flour the top of dough ball make assumptions about what people know rest; see story for other uses). Cover, and then dough starter. Stir until uniform, then cover and the working surface around it. Using a and don’t know. But in the world of Instagram repeat, daily, for about a week. tightly and let proof at room temperature until bench knife, carefully unstick the dough from instruction, I have to assume that people know After that, double down on your efforts and between double and triple in volume, about 6 the work surface. Repeat patting and folding as nothing. It’s humbling, and it’s been a good follow the procedure twice a day, in the morn- to 12 hours. in Step 5 to form the dough into a tight round. teaching tool and an exercise in patience.” ing and the evening. By the end of another To prepare dough, step 1: Place 10 grams (2 Pinch the seam tightly to seal and transfer the Preserving leftovers: During the build-a- week or so, you’ll have a starter strong enough teaspoons) water in a small bowl and set aside. dough to the floured towel, seam-side up. Flour starter period, Janjigian advises against discard- to bake bread. In a medium bowl, whisk together remaining the top surface of the dough and fold the ing the extra culture. “Save it,” he said, reserv- Simple No-Knead #quarantinystarter 350 grams water (1 2/3 cup water minus 2 tea- towel’s edges over the dough to cover. Place ing it for a day (in the refrigerator) as backup Sourdough Bread spoons) with levain until levain is mostly bro- colander in a large plastic bag and cover loose- insurance; once you’ve refreshed the following Makes 1 loaf. ken up. Add flour and stir with your hands or ly but completely. day, and the need for backup has passed, the Note: This dough must be prepared in a wooden spoon until no dry flour remains. Step 7: Let dough sit at room temperature backup can be scraped into a collective “dis- advance. Levain is the building block for leav- Cover bowl and let sit at room temperature for for 1 hour, then transfer to refrigerator for 8 to card” jar in the refrigerator. “There’s a whole ened bread. From Andrew Janjigian of Cook’s 30 minutes. 24 hours, depending upon what is more con- world of cooking using sourdough discard,” he Illustrated magazine and America’s Test Step 2: Sprinkle salt over top of dough, then venient with your schedule. (Or proof at room said. “You can’t use it to leaven bread, but you Kitchen and adapted from King Arthur Flour. sprinkle remaining 10 grams (2 teaspoons) temperature until the dough has about dou- can use it for pancakes, waffles, quick breads, “Volume measures are approximate here,” he water over dough. Working in the bowl, knead bled in size and does not readily spring back pasta dough, all kinds of things. I’m going to said. “King Arthur all-purpose flour is the ideal dough gently by hand until salt is fully incor- when poked with your finger, about 2 to 4 try some Korean-style pancakes.” flour for this recipe, but other bread flours will porated and dough is uniform in texture (it will hours. But note that retarding the dough in Storage: Once it has hit its bread-making work as well (King Arthur all-purpose flour is remain shaggy). Cover bowl and let sit at room the refrigerator for 8 to 24 hours will result in stride, the starter can be stored in the refriger- closer in protein content to other bread flours temperature for 30 minutes. better oven spring, easier and better scoring ator, untouched, for a few months. “But remem- than it is to other all-purpose flours). If your Step 3: Using wet hands, reach under dough, and less worry about when it’s ready to be ber, the longer it goes without being refreshed, starter is already on a large enough scale to pull it up and fold it over itself, turning a quar- baked.) the longer it takes to get back to its full vigor,” yield 30 grams — plus extra for refreshing, don’t ter-turn after each fold and folding 8 times, Step 8: 30 minutes before baking, place a he said. “Bring it to room temperature and forget that! — then you can skip the levain until dough is tight and uniform. large covered cast-iron Dutch oven on the mid- refresh it a few times before using it. Bakeability hydration step and mix it into the dough direct- Step 4: Cover bowl tightly and let dough sit dle rack of the oven and preheat oven to 500 and storeability are the two goals, so don’t put ly. If your kitchen is very cold, you can increase at a cool room temperature (68 to 75 degrees) degrees. it in the refrigerator until it’s healthy. A three- the amount of your levain to 50 grams. In the until dough is puffy, jiggly and bubbly, about Step 9: Fold back edges of towel and dust week starter isn’t as vigorous as a six-month heat of summer, you can get away with as little 12 to 16 hours. (You can generally move to top of loaf liberally with flour. Lay a 12- by 12- starter. Just keep refreshing it on this small as 5 grams.” Step 5 anytime within this window, as long as inch piece of parchment paper on a clean work surface. Gently invert loaf onto the center of the parchment paper and remove the towel. Using a sharp knife or a razor blade, make a single 1/4-inch deep slash from edge to edge across the center of the dough. Step 10: Carefully remove the Dutch oven from the oven and remove the lid. Holding the edges of the parchment paper in both hands, carefully and gently place the dough in the Dutch oven. Cover the Dutch oven, return it to the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 450 degrees. Step 11: Bake for 20 minutes. Carefully remove the lid and continue to bake until loaf is golden brown, 15 to 20 additional minutes. Carefully remove Dutch oven from the oven. Carefully remove the loaf from the Dutch oven. Return the loaf to the bare oven rack and con- tinue to bake until deep golden brown, 5 to 10 additional minutes. Remove loaf from oven, transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool for at least 2 hours before serving. 12 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING Two New Albums In Modern Armenian Folk Music: ‘O’ and ‘Acoustic Armenia’

MUSIC, from page 9 for the most part. Though her repertoire con- standing moments of the album are the use of by Karinné in addition to her excellent arrange- desires. At this point the music enters the inex- sists of mostly well-known, traditional Armenian acoustic guitar solos by Vahe Sarkisian and oud ment and vocal interpretation of the trio of plicable Medz Bazar genre – a combination of folk songs, she does not allow the familiarity of solos by Roger Mgrdichian, both instruments songs. Kherovadz Er, interpreted with only Armenian and Turkish folk music, kef music, her material to restrict her to familiar interpre- close to her heart. Voice doubling is used to Haig’s dumbeg for accompaniment, has a more jazz, and whatever else these energetic young tations. great effect on Oror Oror and Anoush Karoon. Middle Eastern feel, which gives way to the mas- people must be listening to. Unfortunately, it is “Avant-garde” is not a word that would be For the latter song, Karinné chose to reinter- terpiece of the album, Sareri Hovin Mernem. almost impossible to describe their style fur- used to describe Karinné’s music, but the word pret the melody, as she didn’t care for the tra- Karinné’s exquisite performance of this ther, and it must simply be listened to. The “vivid” immediately comes to mind, as do ditional piano accompaniment originally writ- Armenian folk classic is delivered with her sig- Armenian lyrics and phrasing, at least, are rem- “authentic” and “moving.” iniscent of folk and kef music, though often Vivid, in the truest possible about different topics. The music is moody and meaning of the word — alive. could be described as Armenian jazz — or Authentic, because Karinné Turkish jazz. sings from the heart. Lion & Bear, sung by Shushan Kerovpyan in Moving, because her voice English, is a sort of philosophical song about moves us with emotion. the dual aspects of the loved one. I Leave You, Karinné’s voice is that of a sung by Marius Pibarot, also in English, contin- young mother improvising ues with the soul searching. At this point the songs for her children, of a whole thing starts to sound like a Beatles con- person for whom music and cept album — except with an Anatolian clarinet singing is a part of daily life, solo. The album returns to Anatolian kef mode and of whom the emotions, with Sevgi Mengisi, a Turkish song by Alevi joys and sorrows of her own troubadour Neset Ertas extolling love and real-life world are reflected in peace. Then comes what will probably be the her vocalizations. But it is standout song for most Armenian-Americans, also the expression of a Vahan Kerovpyan’s Mi Mornar, basically a woman whose musical ideas “heavy kef” song with noticeable hip-hop and are profound, whose emo- jazz influences. Naturally, the singer asks an ex tions are palpable in her not to forget him. Done Yar, a traditional singing, and who has been Armenian folk song straight from the endowed with a superb, Moushetsi repertoire follows, impeccably sung beautiful singing voice. by Sevana Tchakerian, complete with davoul Karinné shared with me that Medz Bazar and zourna. in fact, her young children Blul (kaval) music beautifully opens the next comprised one of her number, a song of separation sung by Vahan in sources of feedback, and that the song Kisher ten for this song. In her version the melody nature breathy and enthralling vocals, in a free authentic Armenian folk style, similar to a Pari was in fact a lullaby written for them. stands alone, but in a slightly different interpre- meter style, accompanied by Roger’s oud obbli- “maya” (think of Dle Yaman). The fact that A labor of love some 10 years in the making, tation and phrasing than the original. She gato, allowing her to focus on her phrasing, Vahan or another band member appears to Karinné has taken a list of well-known and well- explained taht with many of these songs, she which eventually gives way to more open-vowel have composed this themselves makes it even loved songs and created brand-new arrange- learned them from the many Armenian song vocalization as Roger joins her in oud improvi- more impressive. It is at this point in the album ments for practically all of them. Her arrange- books she had access to as a child. She would sations. As the song ends on a perfect note, one that Vahan and Shushan’s strong influence ments give a fresh, living feel to these songs take what she liked and create something new would think the album was over, but Karinné from their parents, Aram and Virginia without losing the moods or emotions. from it. The arrangement of Sari Siroon Yar, for returns for a sort of encore, a gentle, heartfelt Kerovpyan (of the Akn Choral Group and the Sometimes, the arrangements are surprising, example, a childhood favorite of the artist and a lullaby, Kisher Pari. Just as in the song, Karinné Kotchnak Ensemble, specialists of Armenian new, and refreshing. Throughout, we hear staple of Vosbikian Band performances, is total- promises her children “ardoon ge desnuvink,” liturgical music as well as folk music), becomes Karinné’s own inner musical voice and ideas, as ly new and features surprising rhythmic we hope that we will soon again hear more of most apparent. well as the power of her singing. changes probably never envisioned by the Karinné Andonian’s immense musical talents. After a light, authentically presented 1920s Karinné, while accompanying herself on gui- author, Ashugh Ashot, and aided by brother Collectif Medz Bazar's album is available on style English-language offering from Marius tar on many of the tracks, has also enlisted the Haig’s dumbeg. Karinné’s wordless vocaliza- all streaming platforms: Spotify, Amazon, Apple (who like everyone in the band, has a great assistance of oudist Roger Mgrdichian, Jr., gui- tions add to the charm of the song here as Music, etc. voice) Don’t Know What to Do, we return to tarist, Vahe Sarkissian, and dumbeg player, throughout the album. Andonian's album is available on Spotify, Armenian folk music with Shushan singing the Haig Hovnanian (her brother). These three have The Gomidas Medley (Karoun A, Gakavig, Amazon, Apple Music, can be viewed on Western Armenian folk song Ousge Gou Kas, also contributed in part to the arrangements, and Shogher Jan) features excellent guitar YouTube, purchased directly from CDBaby or well-known in this country by kef music fans but I was surprised when Karinné told me that accompaniment by Vahe and more vocalizations from Karinné herself. from its rendition by the Gomidas Band of she even wrote some of the guitar and oud Philadelphia and many others after them. The solos. Even more impressively, she said she had band converts the classic 10/8 number about a essentially come up with all the parts of the lovesick singer going crazy into a light-hearted arrangements by singing to herself, recording 6/8, which works quite well. The tone gets them onto her phone, and sending them to the heavier with Les Memes Histoires, a rap song in other musicians. French (with ethnic influence) performed by “My voice is my instrument” says Karinné, Sevana. Translated as “The Same Stories,” it’s a and that extends even to her arrangements for political/social statement about the recurrence other instruments, for which sheet music was of war, invasions, lack of compassion, etc. as apparently superfluous. Tchakerian explained in an interview. Perhaps at this point we should add that On the Dikranagertsi folk song Khorodig Karinné’s father and grandfather, Steve and (Pesan Tirash Min Enink – lyrics by Onnik Jirair Hovnanian, respectively, have both been Dinkjian) a full-scale Anatolian wedding breaks featured vocalists with the Vosbikian Band out, with davoul, zourna, and clarinet. (Karinné’s grandmother was a Vosbikian) and Shushan’s beautifully delicate singing style on that Roger’s namesake father was a member of this track is reminiscent of her mother, Virginia the Philadelphia Gomidas Band along with his Kerovpyan. Shushan finishes the album in the uncle, legendary oud player Udi George same singing style with a sad song in Ladino, Mgrdichian. The influence of years of the Spanish-based language of Constantinople’s Philadelphia Armenian music history is strong Jews, Yo Era Ninya De Kaza Alta. Shushan’s here, and the presence of these past and present command of two different singing styles, jazz figures is felt in the album as well. and Anatolian-Armenian, and Sevana’s ability to It’s important to note that Vahe Sarkissian is both rap and sing Armenian folk songs with a first generation Armenian-American who grew authenticity are some of the amazing things up with the Armenian folk music and language about this group. In fact, all the group members and has been a highly talented guitarist on the comported themselves wonderfully on their American scene. many instruments and vocal pieces. This was The genesis of this album lay in Karinné the third but we hope it will not be the last quest to find the origin of a beautiful song her album from that amazing, inspiring collective of grandfather, Jirair, sang to her grandmother, French-based musicians, Medz Bazar. she said in an interview. With no success, she East Coast Voices decided to record the song for posterity herself But new voices in modern Armenian folk (track 2, Grandpop’s Song). With this song in music are also now emerging on the US East mind, she crossed paths with Roger, when they Coast. Raffi Wartanian’s “Critical Distance” has both participated in a local group that per- already been reviewed in this paper. ( formed Jewish music. Despite their family con- https://mirrorspectator.com/2020/02/06/on- nection, they had not met previously, at least to new-album-wartanians-experiment-goes-the-dis- their recollection. Karinné shared her musical tance/) vision with Roger, who was interested in record- Another of the new albums in the field is ing an album of new versions of Armenian folk “Acoustic Armenia,” the product of the musical songs. World-famous oudist Ara Dinkjian also mind and soul and especially of the enthralling encouraged Karinné in her dream to create voice of Karinné Andonian, a young Armenian- what became “Acoustic Armenia.” American singer from the Philadelphia area. Aside from the delicate beauty and romantic Unlike Medz Bazar’s work, Karinné’s is solo art, aura of Grandpop’s Song, some of the out- S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 COMMENTARY

COMMENTARY Mirror Justice for Armenian Genocide Still Elusive

As far as recognition is concerned, some 30 nations, in one Spectator By Edmond Y. Azadian form or another, have recognized the Armenian Genocide. Last year, it was a landmark victory when the two legislative bodies of the US government overwhelmingly recognized it, although The horror that the Armenians experienced in 1915, under that recognition is only ceremonial and without any legal or Ottoman rule, did not have a name nor a definition when it hap- political bearing. However, it was enough to scare Turkey. It is pened. We had to await the arrival of a Polish Jewish jurist, anyone’s guess how much we can attribute the success to the EstablishedEstablished 1932 1932 Raphael Lemkin, to the US, to define that monumental horror Armenian lobbying and political activism rather than strained AnAn ADL ADL Publication Publication as a genocide. Turkish-American relations. Ever since, Armenians have been waiting for justice, often Armenians can only hope to chance upon on such political fighting for it. opportunities and bank on them, since their own political clout The Armenians lost two thirds of their population along with in the US and Europe cannot bring to bear such results.

EDITOR their historic homeland; those who were not killed were exiled In the 1970s, a group of young Armenians, disappointed with Alin K. Gregorian from their habitat. the inaction of the political groups, took the cause of justice into Some historians, feigning objectivity, explain away the action their own hands and resorted to political violence. No matter ASSISTANT EDITOR as a historic necessity for the Ottoman rulers who wanted to what our position on terrorism may be, it is hard to deny that Aram Arkun save the empire. For the Armenians, that represents millions of attempts to kill some 70 Turkish diplomats shook up the

ART DIRECTOR corpses in the Syrian desert and in the Euphrates River. It rep- Turkish establishment and sensitized the world public opinion Marc Mgrditchian resents poet Daniel Varoujan and writer and parliament member on the Armenian Genocide. Krikor Zohrab being slaughtered by axes. The horror was so The recognition process is still ongoing. Pope Francis’ contri- overwhelming that it defied human comprehension. The blow bution was tremendous and even Kim Kardashian played a part. was so devastating that for 50 years, Armenians were left licking As far as compensation is concerned, the successor state to their wounds and putting their lives together. The year 1965, the Ottoman Empire, the present Republic of Turkey, is far from SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: the 50th anniversary of the Genocide, was a watershed when recognizing its culpability, let alone ceding any territory. The Edmond Y. Azadian Armenians began to really understand what had happened to Turkish authorities are counting on the assimilation of them. A struggle began to emerge from the devastation and a Armenians around the world to seal the fate of historic Armenia. CONTRIBUTORS: fight for historic justice along was launched as well as the con- Indeed, assimilated Armenians gradually are losing their identi- Florence Avakian, Dr. Haroutiun scious effort to build communities around the world. ty and some are even buying into the Turkish rationale asking Arzoumanian, Philippe Raffi Kalfayan, Armenia, as a member of the Soviet Union, was limited in con- why Armenia would need additional territory when its popula- Philip Ketchian, Kevork Keushkerian, tributing to the reconstruction of historic memory. tion is dwindling. Harut Sassounian, Hagop Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian The challenge was three-pronged: In the first place, lost historic territory is any Armenian’s a) Compilation of documents and the publication of volumes birthright. Second, it is a matter of principle and historic justice. CORRESPONDENTS: on the history of Genocide; b) the fight for recognition by world Why should Turks disgrace Vasburagan where Grikor Narekatsi Armenia - Hagop Avedikian bodies and states and c) formulating legal claims. prayed and created his masterpiece? And if the Armenian popu- Boston - Nancy Kalajian In recent years, lation is decimated, it is Los Angeles - Taleen Babayan some controversies because of Turkish actions. Berlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach have emerged about Today, there are 25 million Contributing Photographers: the primacy of those Kurds on Western Armenian Jirair Hovsepian tasks. Some argue lands. Were it not for the that the recognition Genocide, 20 million phase is over and the Armenians could have been focus should shift to living within the borders of The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published compensation or present-day Turkey. weekly, except two weeks in July and the first week of the year, by: retribution. On our way to compensa- Unfortunately, the tion, we will be marking this Baikar Association, Inc. recognition phase is year the centennial of the 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 not over: we need to Treaty of Sevres on August Telephone: 617-924-4420 fight for recognition 10, 2020. It defines the FAX: 617-924-2887 and compensation at Armenian territorial claims www.mirrorspectator.com the same time, based on President Woodrow E-Mail: [email protected] because they com- Wilson’s arbitration. Although For advertising: [email protected] plement each other. that treaty is still the night- Since 1965, mare of present day Turkish tremendous volumes leaders, no international legal of documentation venue seems to be open to its have been compiled; implementation. scholarly volumes The next milestone to SUBSCRIPTION RATES : and memoirs have address territorial claims is been published a the centennial of the Treaty of good number by Kars (October 25, 1921). That U.S.A. $80 a year non-Armenians such treaty was based on the terms as Yves Ternon, Yair of the Treaty of Moscow Canada $125 a year Auron, Taner Akçam (March 16, 1921), signed Other Countries $190 a year and others. between Bolshevik Russia and Institutions to study the Grand National Assembly the genocide have of Turkey led by Mustafa been set up, such as the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Kemal. Upon Stalin’s insistence, much of Armenian territory © 2014 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator Monument Institute in Armenia, the Zoryan Institute in Toronto was ceded to Turkey. Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA and the Armenian National Institute in Washington. However, The moment the Moscow Treaty was being signed, the and additional mailing offices. those do not meet the magnitude that the cause warrants. February 18 revolt had taken place in Armenia and the ISSN 0004-234X Armenians do not yet have a center to preserve documents in a Armenian Revolutionary Federation had taken over the govern- comprehensive way, nor do they have a sufficient numbers of ment, which cabled to Moscow that the Armenian delegates who scholars to collect new documents and publish regular series on were on their way did not represent the revolutionary govern- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, 755 Mount Auburn the genocide. ment. Georgia was also in turmoil and did not participate in the St., Watertown, MA 02472 The Tsitsernakabert Monument and Museum, though impos- proceedings and signing of the Moscow Treaty, which deter- Other than the editorial, views and opinions ing in its physical stature, pales in comparison to its Jewish mined the borders between Turkey and the three Caucasian expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily counterpart, the Yad Vashem in Israel, or other Holocaust muse- republics — Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. reflect the policies of the publisher. ums, when it comes to its visual and scholarly documentation. Although Turkey has violated the terms of the Kars Treaty, it What happened to the Genocide museum project in has been trying to enforce it, as it guarantees its borders. The Washington was a national disgrace. A piece of property was 2009 protocols which were supposed to have taken in Zurich acquired, a stone’s throw away from the White House, for a was the opportunity for Ankara to trap Armenia into signing planned museum. Before discord among the Armenian factions them, thereby sealing the fate of its borders with Armenia. But destroyed the project, Turkey was certainly alerted. The shame- Copying for other than personal use or that signing never took place. There is talk that Russia may internal reference is prohibited without ful lawsuits that ensued led to the failure of the project alto- request its revision next year. But that would depend on the express permission of the copyright gether. Even worse, the silence that followed the failure showed shape of the Russo-Turkish relation, as well as Armenian- owner. Address requests for reprints or a lot of adverse politics were involved. Russian relations. Currently anti-Russian rhetoric from Yerevan back issues to: Although new scholarly publications continue to be released does not inspire much hope. and some 100 scholars have signed a declaration that what hap- But the battle continues. It has taken Armenians 105 years of pened to the Armenians was indeed a genocide, documentation struggle and it may take as long again until justice is served. Baikar Association, Inc. still remains a challenge. 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 14 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY Commemorating Genocide: Recognizing the Truth, Remembering the Past, Transforming the Pain

international levels — to prevent crimes against humanity, par- Samantha Power argues the US should stop genocide for two By Matthew Ari Jendian, Ph.D. ticularly genocide. reasons: “1) We have a moral responsibility to act; and 2) It is In 2006, then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan pondered in our enlightened self interest to act.” Allowing genocide whether the United Nations was an effective defender of human undermines regional and international stability, creates milita- This year, while commemorating the 105th anniversary, it is rights, while condemning the world’s failure to halt the blood- rized refugees, and signals dictators that hate and murder are worth highlighting that both houses of the US Congress passed shed in the Darfur region of Sudan: “Sixty years after the lib- permissible tools for state usage (Dekmejian 2007). But this resolutions officially recognizing and remembering “the eration of the Nazi death camps and 30 years after the burden to act must be shared. It is not enough for the US gov- Armenian Genocide.” Cambodian killing fields, the promise of ‘never again’ is ringing ernment to unilaterally intervene, as we did in Iraq since 2003. On October 29, 2019, H. Res. 296, a resolution introduced in hollow.” The United States must exert whatever influence and leader- the US House of Representatives by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) ship it has left in the world — and let’s be honest and recognize recognizing the Armenian Genocide passed with a vote of (405 Progress? that the US government has lost some of its credibility in the to 11 with 3 present). Ratko Mladic, general of the Bosnian Serb Army during the world due to our misadventures in Iraq — but our government, On December 12, 2019, S. Res. 150, a resolution introduced Bosnian civil war in the ‘90s, was convicted of war crimes, and we, the people, must use our voice and our remaining influ- by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate including genocide, in November 2017 after a 5-year trial by the ence to ensure the United Nations or some other coalition acts Foreign Relations Committee, and championed by Sen. Ted International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague in the to prevent further atrocities in other places around the globe. Cruz (R-T.X), was passed by Unanimous Consent. Netherlands and sentenced to life in prison. Moving from the societal to the individual level, we have a Not only has Sen. Menendez led the call for a formal Senate More recently, on December 14, 2019, a court in Sudan con- personal responsibility to think about and respond to genocide. Resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide in every session victed former President Omar al-Bashir of money laundering We must not think about cases of genocide in isolation and of Congress since 2006, he co-authored such resolutions during and corruption and sentenced him to two years in a minimum focus on our particular group’s experience alone. his time in the House. security lockup. The terms “genocide” and “holocaust” are not copyrighted; Under Senate rules, legislation can pass without a roll call Al-Bashir, who also has a warrant out for his arrest by the ICC they do not belong to any one group. We must recognize and vote as long as no senator objects. However, for three consecu- on charges of war crimes and genocide, was behind the nearly learn from all genocides and join with one other, across ethnic tive weeks, Sen. Menendez brought the resolution to the 15-year genocidal campaign carried out against the Darfur and national boundaries, in order to prevent new genocides Senate Floor, only to be blocked. region since 2003, resulting in the deaths of nearly 500,000 and from occurring. On November 13, having just met with Turkish President the displacement of over three million Darfuris. Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a heated Oval Office meeting, Sen. In 2018, Sudanese protesters, organized in part by the Genocide Survivor Descendent Lindsey Graham (R-SC) hurried back to the Senate floor and Sudanese Professionals’ Association, revolted against al- I am a descendant of genocide survivors. Three of my four blocked the resolution, at the behest of the White House, say- Bashir’s authoritarian rule. Despite al-Bashir’s three decades in grandparents survived the genocide perpetrated by the ing, he didn’t think it was a good idea to pass it “with the pres- power, Sudan’s military was forced to oust him in response to Ottoman Turkish government beginning in 1915 (some schol- ident of Turkey in town.” the nationwide protests. ars say 1914), and I am working with my brother Micah and sis- Then, on November 21, Sen. David Perdue (R-GA), also upon Although Sudan’s military initially said it would not extradite ter Megan on a sequel to my first book, Becoming American, the request of the White House, objected to the resolution “due al-Bashir, 76, to the ICC, the country’s military-civilian transi- Remaining Ethnic, subtitled One Family’s Journey from to concerns that passage of the resolution would jeopardize the tional government agreed on February 11, 2020 to hand over Martyrdom to Good News, memorializing the first names of my sensitive negotiations going on in the region with Turkey and the ousted autocrat to The Hague to face trial on three counts grandfathers, Mardiros (i.e., literally “Martyr”) and Avedis (i.e., other allies.” of genocide, five counts of crimes against humanity, and two “Good News,” as in The Gospel of Jesus Christ). Again, for a third time, the White House reached out and counts of war crimes for his alleged role. As my brother Micah Jendian recalled during his address in directed Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) to block the resolution on The indictments, issued in 2009 and 2010, mark the first time San Diego on the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, December 5. Ironically, Sen. Cramer, who co-sponsored a simi- the ICC had charged a suspect with genocide. it’s important for us to “acknowledge the deep pain of our col- lar resolution during the prior session of Congress, said on the And, as of February 4, 2020, ICC investigators were collect- lective experience,” to “examine the effects of the Genocide on Senate floor, “I don’t think it’s the right time” to pass it, noting ing evidence for a case involving alleged crimes against human- the survivors, those raised by survivors, and those raised by that the resolution could undermine the Trump administra- ity by Myanmar government under Aung San Suu Kyi against those raised by survivors,” to “not be retributive but restorative tion’s diplomatic efforts. [NOTE: Cramer’s objection came two Rohingya Muslims. in nature,” and to “tell our stories and keep alive our memories days after he announced the Army Corps of Engineers had In August 2017, Myanmar security forces launched crack- as a means of transforming and transcending our experience.” awarded a $270 million contract to work on the border wall to down in western Rakhine state that, compelling evidence Indeed, our painful experiences can help us connect with the a North Dakota company, Fisher Sand and Gravel, something shows, involved mass rape, killings and the burning of entire vil- pain of others experiencing or having experienced similar forms he had repeatedly lobbied Trump to do.] lages. Consequently, over 700,000 Rohingya fled to neighbor- of oppression. After being blocked three times, Sen. Menendez and Sen. ing Bangladesh as refugees. Cruz said they were dedicated to keep returning every week 30-Year Genocide until Armenian Genocide denialism was defeated. And, they did Bystander or Upstander? In 2019, two professors in the Department of Middle Eastern it with the support of thousands of citizens’ phone calls and Why do we stand idly by while tragedy unfolds? It’s NOT true Studies at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, Benny emails to various senators. that many people don’t know what’s going on. It’s NOT true Morris and Dror Ze’evi published The Thirty-Year Genocide: The resolution, which did not require President Trump’s sig- that many people don’t fully appreciate the magnitude of the sit- Turkey’s Destruction of its Christian Minorities, 1894-1924. nature because it is nonbinding, states, “it is the policy of the uation. They argue that genocidal policies were implemented by United States to commemorate the Armenian Genocide The real reason the US has not done what it could and should three different governmental bodies in Turkey over these 30 through official recognition and remembrance” and describes do to stop genocide throughout the 20th century and today has years, including: 1) Sultan Abdul Hamid II — for the 1894-96 the genocide as “the killing of an estimated 1,500,000 not been because lack of knowledge or influence, according to massacres of approximately 200,000 Armenians and the 1909 Armenians by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923.” Samantha Power (2003), but a lack of will: “US leaders KNEW pogroms of 30,000 Armenians in Adana — 2) the Committee of what was going on, BELIEVED it to be wrong, but were not pre- Union and Progress (CUP) — namely for the Armenian Genocide Continued Denial by Turkey pared to invest the military, financial, diplomatic, and domestic of 1915-1916 and the destruction of Armenians, Greeks, and Fahrettin Altun, Turkey’s communications director, con- political capital needed to stop genocide.” Assyrians 1919-1923 — and 3) The Republic of Turkey’s contin- demned the resolution via Twitter. And, in a separate tweet pro- But, in a democracy, it is not enough to say that our presi- ued persecution of Christians during the rule of Mustafa Kemal claimed, “History will note [this resolution] as irresponsible and dent and our leaders failed us, for we the people have the abil- Ataturk (1923-1924). irrational. [US lawmakers] will go down in history as the respon- ity to create enough pressure for an administration to act. And, All three entities attempted to “de-Christianize” the Anatolian sible party for causing a long lasting damage between the two if the world does not act and remains silent, we send a clear plateau, resulting in a decrease in the Christian population of nations.” message to current and future perpetrators of genocide. nearly five million, constituting 20% of the total population, in Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavusoglu called the “null Indeed, Hitler’s comment, eight days before invading Poland in 1894 to only tens of thousands (less than 2% of Turkey’s pop- and void” decision a “shameful” and petty “revenge” for 1939, “Who today, after all, speaks of the annihilation of the ulation) in 1924. Turkey’s independent foreign policy. Armenians,” demonstrates his awareness of the fact that within two While Armenians, estimated to number around two million, This recognition has been long opposed by Turkey, and decades what had been the most important international human were the largest ethno-religious minority group in Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during a joint news confer- rights catastrophe of the 20th century had been forgotten. Armenians were not the only group to suffer, and so it is time ence with Trump, complained that two bills approved by the Passive participation reassures perpetrators of the legitimacy to recognize all of the Christian ethnic minorities targeted for House in October, one on sanctions and another on recogniz- of their actions and reveals in a breakdown of empathy. As Jane elimination during this time. ing genocide, “deeply hurt the Turkish nation.” Elliot reminds us, “To remain silent is to cooperate with the The term “genocide,” coined by Raphael Lemkin in 1943-44 The 20th century observed major advances in the forging of oppressor.” see RECOGNITION, page 15 international agreements and treaties with respect to human rights, genocide, and other crimes against humanity, but it was also one of the bloodiest centuries on record. And, the bloodi- ness has continued into the 21st century. LETTERS Ball (1999) suggests at least 15 major genocides occurred since WWII, during which some 15 million people have been massacred. Legal agreements and international laws — which Time to Unite, Armenia have been undermined through weak enforcement and limited application — are incapable, by themselves, of preventing geno- To the Editor: est, and instead focus on people’s survival and national cide. “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” declared preservation. What does the anti-genocidal slogan “Never Again” mean? President Lincoln in 1858. Edmond Azadian’s commentary last week, “Unity and Does it mean, as David Rieff facetiously interprets, “Never again That is exactly what is happening in Armenia today. Disunity in Armenia,” brings out the facts in a clear and will Germans kill Jews in the 1940s in Europe,” or, similarly, Various parties, various interests, various ideologies are com- cogent manner. “Never again will over a million Armenians be slaughtered in peting against each other for power, position and prestige. Sahan Arzruni Asia Minor”? No, “Never Again” is uttered as an aspirational In today’s world, let’s forget about money and self-inter- New York, NY hope that we will take action — at the individual, national, and S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 COMMENTARY

toward the previous regimes. spokeswoman of the Prime Minister. She curtly stated that However, I suggest that Armenians should focus on rebuild- the government does not intend to comment on the “hopes ing Armenia’s economy rather than being consumed with and desires” of the Catholicos. The spokeswoman also hatred for the rest of their lives. Those who abused their posi- recalled that Priest Vahram Melikyan, spokesman of the tions and enriched themselves should be tried in courts and Mother See of Echmiadzin, had presented a guarantee that if My Turn properly punished for their misdeeds. businessman Samvel Mayrapetyan is released from jail and Turning to the latest episode of the current acrimony, goes to Germany for treatment, he would return to Armenia, By Harut Sassounian Catholicos Karekin II issued a statement to News.am last but has not done so since January 2019. week, suggesting that former President Robert Kocharyan’s To make matters worse, the Deputy Primate of the Diocese detention in prison be changed. Here is the translation of the of Yerevan, Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan was charged by It Is not Wise for Armenian statement by the Catholicos: the Armenian government last week with fraud and money Officials and Catholicos to Be in “Under the circumstances of this pandemic, we are seeing laundering. The National Security Service [NSS] claimed that that in various countries of the world special attention is Archbishop Kchoyan had colluded with an Armenian busi- Conflict being paid to individuals who are detained in prisons, wel- nessman to defraud a third person. The NSS announced that come steps are being taken toward releasing those who do Kchoyan owned 33-percent of an offshore company. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic which is killing not pose a danger to society or changing the terms of their Archbishop Kchoyan’s lawyer denied the accusation. hundreds of thousands of people around the world, including detention, in order to protect them from this virus. In such Echmiadzin reacted by urging government officials and the in Armenia, and paralyzing the economy and societal life as issues the position of the Church is based on the divine mes- media to respect Archbishop Kchoyan’s presumption of inno- we know it, the biggest controversy these days in Armenia sage of love, care, and compassion, and in this context, our cence. The Church headquarters also stated that it is “bewil- and the Armenian communities in the Diaspora has become counsel is that the authorities of our homeland continue to dering” that the NSS announced the charges one day after a statement issued by His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos take the necessary steps in this direction. Regarding Robert Catholicos Karekin II called for a change in the detention of All Armenians, and the harsh reaction by various Kocharyan, the second President of Armenia, being informed terms of former President Kocharyan. Several high-ranking Armenian officials and some members of the media. of the expert opinions of doctors about his health, we con- clergymen also criticized the officials who had attacked the Unfortunately, such a confrontation was not unexpected. sider it important that along with implementing justice all Catholicos. Ever since the Velvet Revolution which brought Prime preventive means and measures be taken, including the We hope that the mutual accusations will cease as Minister Nikol Pashinyan to power in Armenia, there has changing of the method of detention, in order to protect his Armenians would become more respectful of everyone’s free- been a tense atmosphere prevailing in Armenia and the health from future complications during this pandemic peri- dom of speech without insulting those who disagree with Diaspora regarding those supporting Pashinyan’s govern- od.” them. At a time when the pandemic is taking many innocent ment and those opposing it. While there is nothing wrong The next day, Alen Simonyan, the Deputy Speaker of the lives and Armenia’s economy is in peril, it would be wiser to with being on the opposite sides of a political issue, the con- Armenian Parliament and a member of the ruling party, concentrate on resolving the grave issues facing our nation. frontation is so heated that often insults, profanities and even wrote on his Facebook page the following harsh response to Unique Virtual March on April 24 physical threats are exchanged, particularly on social media. the Catholicos: Since public gatherings are banned in most countries, the In an earlier interview with the Armenian media, I had urged “Today Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II said that he HyeID non-profit organization is suggesting a unique way of that Armenians should not treat those who disagree with considers it important to change the terms of detention of commemorating the Armenian Genocide this year from the them as enemies. I had said that “we can disagree without Robert Kocharyan. Let me say that thousands of citizens of comfort and safety of your homes. being disagreeable.” Armenia have already for a very long time considered it During the week of April 24, please It is understandable that most Armenians viewed the pre- important the issue of changing the All Armenian Catholicos. visit April24.hyeid.org and click “join,” indicating your agree- vious leaders as oppressors under whose unjust rule the I think citizen Ktrij Nersessian [the birth name of the ment to the following statement: “We have to stay home this Armenian people suffered tremendously. Hundreds of thou- Catholicos] who has been continuously silent, silent and April 24, but we join the on-line march… We demand justice sands of Armenians emigrated to Russia, Europe and North silent for decades, today, under the new conditions, can freely for Turkey’s Genocide of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915.” America not just because of economic hardships, but also due be the guarantor of citizen Robert Kocharyan, and for that Your agreement will be shown on the worldwide map on to social inequalities. Therefore, to a degree, it is natural that sufficient funds can be found.” screen, indicating the number of those who have joined the the majority of Armenians would harbor such toxic feelings Also reacting to the Catholicos was Mane Gevorgyan, on-line march in each country.

Recognizing the Truth, Remembering the Past From Prominent Turkish RECOGNITION, from page 14 extend beyond ethnic boundaries to stand against all and encoded into international law in 1948 through such discrimination. This means: Philanthropist to the U.N. Convention on the Prevention and Each one of us must recognize and confront our Punishment of Genocide, narrowly defines it as “the ethnocentrism — our belief that our ethnic group is intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, eth- the best and right one; Political Prisoner nical, racial, or religious group.” Each one of us must recognize and confront our Therefore, Kieser’s (2019) conclusion that the term xenophobia — our fear of outsiders or strangers. “genocide” does not seem to fit the 1894-96 and 1909 Each one of us must recognize others as “human, By Carlotta Gall massacres seems appropriate, because the Sultan’s just like me,” and develop empathy and identify with ISTANBUL (New York Times) — During a tumultuous day in court in goal was to bring the Armenians into submission the circumstances and pain of others, for empathy is February, the Turkish businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala was through violence, intimidation, and fear, not eliminate essential for the resolution of oppression and conflict. unexpectedly acquitted of trying to overthrow the government and then them. Each one of us must recognize the biological fact rearrested before he could walk free. Although, the phrase, “in whole or in part” does that every human being is related to every other He described it as the best day of his life. suggest the extermination of a population does not human being. Genetically, we are among the most sim- “We were acquitted,” he told his lawyers, referring to the eight others have to be complete in order for it to be considered ilar of all species on the planet. In fact, each person is tried with him. genocide. at least a 50th cousin of any other person on the globe Never mind that the two years he had already spent in solitary confine- Nonetheless, the combination of anti-Christian ide- and we have more in common than we do different. ment had been extended indefinitely — this time on specious charges of ology and Turkish nationalism between 1894-1924 Each one of us needs to be able to envision a world supporting a 2016 coup. He was happy that at least in one case, he and resulted in millions of Christians — Armenians, Greeks, of inclusion. And while changes can develop in indi- 15 others had been given the chance to show that the original charges and Assyrians — being systematically targeted for viduals’ minds and hearts, they must also become against them were baseless. marginalization, dehumanization, forced expulsion, manifest in ACTIONS if social change is to take place. “Nothing can affect that composure and attitude,” Murat Celikkan, a removal, and migration, and massacres, leading to I want to emphasize the importance of action. You campaigning journalist and longtime friend and colleague, said of Kavala. their nearly complete disappearance from the region. have heard it said that “knowledge is power.” I dis- “I would be furious, but in all the procedures he never raised his voice agree with that. Knowledge is not power, but merely Ourselves and Others once.” POTENTIAL power. Knowledge becomes powerful Kavala has become the most prominent political prisoner in Turkey, and The quote from Rev. Martin Niemoller (1892-1984) when it’s acted upon. You could have all the knowl- as he himself ruefully acknowledged after his re-arrest, his case is a prime — a German theologian and Lutheran pastor who ini- edge in the world, but if you don’t act on it, it is use- example of the state of injustice in Turkey today under President Recep tially supported Hitler, then opposed him, and was less. And, we must not let the excuse that we can’t do Tayyip Erdogan. arrested in 1937 and sent to a concentration camp everything prevent us from the some thing that we His case is just one of half a million prosecutions underway amid a gov- where he stayed until the end of WWII in 1945 — can do. ernment crackdown since an attempted coup in 2016, but it is one of the reminds us all of the personal costs for not speaking Together, we recognize the truth and remember the most confounding. up on behalf of others: past. Together, we transform the trauma and Best known for his good deeds, he has been variously accused of espi- “First they came for the Communists, but I was not empathize with others. Together, we stand up for each onage, links to terrorist groups and trying to overthrow the government. a Communist, so I said nothing. Then they came for other against all forms of injustice. Together, we have Even seasoned lawyers, well used to decades of political trials in Turkey, the Social Democrats, but I was not a Social the power to make a difference and to stop and pre- have described the various charges against him as “ridiculous.” Democrat, so I did nothing. Then came the trade vent genocide. The journey for humanity continues Kavala, 63, grew up and lives in Istanbul. He comes from a family of unionists, but I was not a trade unionist. And then anew, through our actions for a better future. tobacco traders who moved from the town of Kavala in northern Greece they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew, so I did And, as anthropologist Margaret Mead reminds us, to Istanbul in the 1920s as part of the population exchange between the little. Then, when they came for me, there was no one “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, commit- two countries after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. left to ted individuals can change the world; indeed, it is the only He studied management at the Middle East Technical University in stand up for me.” thing that ever has.” Ankara and economics at the University of Manchester in the United As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminds us in his (Dr. Matthew Ari Jendian earned his doctorate from Kingdom. He went on to study for his doctorate at The New School for Letter from the Birmingham Jail, “Injustice anywhere the University of Southern California and is a profes- Social Research in New York, but broke off his studies when his father died is a threat to justice everywhere. We are bound by an sor of sociology at California State University, Fresno. in 1982. inescapable garment of mutuality, whatever affects He is also the founding director of the Humanics At 26, he returned to Istanbul and took over the Kavala Group of com- one directly, affects all indirectly.” Program at Fresno State, where he has taught since panies. In 1988 he married Ayse Bugra, a social scientist. Therefore, our demonstrations and protests must 1995.) see KAVALA, page 16 16 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Almost an Ally: Italy’s New Approach To Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh

Italy’s partners in the Minsk Group and the EU. By Carlo Frappi However, while the agreements between Italy and Azerbaijan are economically significant, it is their political dimension that could bring President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Italy in about the greatest qualitative leap in the rela- February 2020 was unique in Azerbaijan’s mod- tionship. The joint declaration affirms the par- ern history. The trip marked a qualitative leap ties’ support for the peaceful resolution of the in the relationship between the countries — as Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based upon the reflected in the agreements they reached dur- principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, ing it, as well as the size and institutional pro- and the inviolability of national borders — that file of the Azerbaijani delegation, which partic- is, the pillars of international law on which ipated in a business forum hosted by the Italian Azerbaijan has traditionally based its claims Foreign Ministry. Baku’s significant political against Armenia. This signals a significant investment in the relationship appears to have departure from — if not the de facto repeal of — met with enthusiasm from the Italian business Rome’s established policy of equidistance world and, most significantly, a reciprocal effort between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The declara- by the Italian government. Officials in Rome tion’s overall political scope is unaffected by its have described their push to deepen the rela- general reference to the fundamental principles tionship as a “precise political choice” and the of the Helsinki Final Act. Moreover, the joint focus of “very high expectations.” declaration is the first Italian pronouncement Much of the Italian and foreign press cover- on Nagorno-Karabakh to make no explicit ref- age of the event has focused on the economic erence to the Organization for Security and Co- dimension of the agreements. Indeed — in line operation in Europe’s Minsk Group, the body President Ilham Aliyev during his Feburary visit to Italy. with the joint declaration on a “multidimen- that has mediated negotiations between the sional strategic partnership” Aliyev and Italian warring parties for almost three decades. The Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte signed during Azerbaijani authorities have long argued that on Nagorno-Karabakh contributed to the fail- that Rome will be unable to capitalize on its the trip — the relationship moved far beyond its the Minsk Group, of which Italy is a permanent ure of negotiations over an Association newly assertive approach to the Southern traditional driver, the energy sector, to embrace member, is ineffective and biased — with a view Agreement with the country. Moreover, such Caucasus. Still, Italy’s effort to strengthen its other strategically important areas such as to stimulating parallel negotiations or changing principles still lie at the heart of the complex relationship with Azerbaijan is primarily a polit- defence, infrastructure, and investment. the talks’ current format. negotiations over a new EU-Azerbaijan partner- ical move, one designed to address the lack of Coming shortly before the inauguration of the In this context, Rome has made a major con- ship agreement, which began in February 2017. credibility that undermines EU policy. Rome Trans Adriatic Pipeline, which will deepen eco- cession to Baku in the joint declaration — by Therefore, Italy has positioned itself as the has signaled its willingness to break with the nomic interdependence between Italy and adopting a clear position on the issue and, West’s main political (rather than merely eco- past, by adopting Baku’s point of view on the Azerbaijan, the countries have established what accordingly, responding to Azerbaijani claims nomic) interlocutor with Azerbaijan — an pivotal issue in Azerbaijani foreign policy. In they call a “mutually beneficial” partnership. that the West has double standards in its “almost ally” in Aliyev’s words. It is currently this sense, the joint declaration seems to move Within this partnership, Baku hopes to diversi- approach to protracted conflicts in Eastern difficult to tell whether the qualitative leap in the parties in the right direction. fy the Azerbaijani economy and Rome to Europe. This marks an important dealignment Italy-Azerbaijan relations will result in any con- (Carlo Frappi is a researcher at the Ca’ address Italy’s bilateral balance of payments with Italy’s partners in the Minsk Group and crete attempt to relaunch negotiations on Foscari University of Venice. This commentary deficit. the EU. Indeed, in 2014, the European Union’s Nagorno-Karabakh, a move the Italian authori- originally appeared on the website of the This marks an important dealignment with unwillingness to adopt Azerbaijan’s principles ties have repeatedly advocated. It is possible European Council on Foreign Relations.) From Prominent Turkish Philanthropist to Political Prisoner

KAVALA, from page 15 The arrival of more than three million in 2013 that began as an occupy movement of He soon began diversifying the family busi- refugees fleeing the war in Syria from 2011 was Gezi Park in Istanbul’s Taksim Square to pre- ness, following his own interests. He co-founded another milestone in her husband’s life, Bugra vent the construction of a shopping mall. the Iletisim Publishing Company, which said. He was visiting the southern city of Erdogan, who has grown increasingly became an important vehicle for democratic Gaziantep, working on a project for Syrian authoritarian, insists the protests were not a ideas at a time, after the military coup of 1980, refugees in October 2017, when he was spontaneous social movement, as they were when there was a dearth of democratic institu- detained. Police boarded his plane in Istanbul widely seen at the time, but an effort to oust tions in the country. and led him off before passengers were allowed him from power. He became increasingly interested in envi- to disembark. “This is not an innocent uprising,” he told his ronmental issues and civic rights. He aban- What has taxed Kavala and his friends the parliamentary group the day after Kavala’s rear- doned a hotel development in southern Turkey most in the 29 months since his incarceration is rest. “Behind the curtain there are those Soros- after watching the movie “Turtle Diary” and the question of why he has been singled out so like types who meddle in some countries.” learning that the beach was an important nest- harshly. He added that he had thwarted a “maneuver” ing site for turtles. The answer may be simply: everything he to have Kavala released. “He did it very easily,” Bugra recounted in a stands for. Interpreting the president’s comment, recent interview. “There was no hesitation.” He He represents the leftist-leaning, secular elite, Celikkan, Kavala’s friend and colleague, said it co-founded an environmental organization, which in Turkey’s polarized society is the oppo- did not bode well for Kavala. “Unless the presi- TEMA, among others. site of the president and his supporters. They dent leaves office, dies or changes his mind, he The most troubling issue in Turkey from the Osman Kavala are from religiously conservative, Islamist cir- is going to stay in prison forever,” he said. late 1980s was the conflict in the southeastern cles that were long sidelined from power. Kavala sees his case as driven by politics — in part of the country between the Turkish army “Osman represents another culture,” said other words, Erdogan’s desire to stay in power. and Kurdish separatists, which degenerated civic organizations took off. Asena Gunal, who runs his flagship organiza- In answers to questions sent to him in jail into a brutal ethnic conflict against the Kurdish “That was an important moment for the tion, Anadolu Kultur. “Someone who is open, through his lawyers, he said judges and prose- population. When the armed conflict ended a country as a whole,” Bugra said. “That was the cultured, who speaks English, can talk to for- cutors were acting in line with the political dis- decade later, Kavala began the work that has first time we saw a civil society mobilization. It eigners, active in society. Something they see as course. “As a result of this, legal norms are become his lasting legacy. was something spontaneous.” dangerous.” being eroded and many people are in prison “We started talking about the healing powers Kavala began building temporary housing. As he spent 16 months in detention without unfairly,” he wrote. of art and culture,” Bugra said, “and he started And he became one of the leading philan- knowing the charges against him, the pro-gov- “As I am the lead actor in the fiction of the thinking about taking culture to different parts thropists in the country, well known among ernment news media and even Erdogan himself indictment and also the only arrested defendant of Turkey.” embassies and international donors, and an accused him of nefarious connections, includ- of the case, I believe my situation is seen as a That idea grew into the founding of Anadolu energetic supporter of civic and human rights ing being part of a so-called Jewish conspiracy striking example of punishment for political rea- Kultur, an organization that supports arts and groups. led by Soros. sons,” he wrote. cultural collaboration, and takes exhibitions Among the many organizations he helped Some analysts say his work with Armenians The European Court of Human Rights in and performances all around the country. found was the Open Society Foundation in and Kurds is hated by elements in Turkey’s Strasbourg found in December that the Turkish He supported an arts space in Diyarbakir, the Turkey, the organization created by the security establishment. Others have described courts had held him without reasonable cause. biggest Kurdish city in the southeast; cultural Hungarian-born billionaire George Soros to him as victim of an internal power struggle in “His detention was intended to punish him as memory projects for Yazidis, Kurds, Armenians support democracy and transparency around Erdogan’s cabinet. a critic of the Government,” the court conclud- and other minorities; and a program to encour- the world. “It’s really hard to see people talking about ed in a statement, “to reduce him to silence as age a normalization of relations between The nonprofit sector flourished during him who don’t know him,” Gunal said. “He is a an NGO activist and human-rights defender, to Turkey and Armenia. Erdogan’s first decade in power from 2002, as nice person trying to be nice to people.” dissuade others from engaging in such activi- In between came a 1999 earthquake that Turkey was pursuing peace with the Kurds and The indictment, when it was finally revealed, ties and to paralyze civil society in the country.” killed 17,000 people and had a galvanizing instituting reforms to further its accession to charged him with trying to overthrow the gov- (This article originally appeared in the April effect on Turkish society. Humanitarian and the European Union. ernment by financing and organizing protests 9 edition of the New York Times.)