OCTOBER 6, 2012 THE ARMENIAN Mirror -Spe ctaItn Ouor Mirror -Spe ctatror 80th Year Volume LXXXIII, NO. 12, Issue 4257 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 US Supreme Court Asks Government to File Donations Continue Brief on Genocide-era Pouring in to Support Life Insurance Claims Humanitarian Aid WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court this week Initiatives across Syria asked the solicitor general to file a brief detailing the US government’s position on the Ninth Circuit NEW YORK — The online and phone Court decision earlier this year which had struck fundraising campaign launched by the down a California law that allowed Armenian Armenian General Benevolent Union Americans to pursue Genocide-era life insurance (AGBU) earlier this month to aid Armenian claims, reported the Armenian National Committee communities affected by the deepening cri - of America (ANCA). sis in Syria has seen an overwhelming ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian response, with more than $150,000 dona - welcomed the move, adding, “The right to seek redress tions received in September. Support has from insurance companies and banks which have poured in from all corners of the world to improperly profited from the Genocide-era murders of meet the growing needs of thousands of their parents and grandparents should be absolute.” Armenian families in Aleppo, as well as in The US solicitor general will have several months AGBU volunteers form an assembly line to ensure that families throughout Syria Damascus and Kamishli, where cautionary to review and file its brief regarding the Ninth receive necessary food and supplies. security measures are being taken. Circuit Court decision, after which the Supreme see AID, page 16 Court will decide whether or not to hear the case. The Supreme Court’s decision is the latest in a long and complex legal history that has included three separate and conflicting opinions from the At UN General Debate Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the most recent one Armenia Pledges to Armenian Assembly of America on February 23. Contribute to UN Reform 40th Anniversary Celebration Pays Armenian Woman Dies NEW YORK — On the last day of the In Aleppo Shelling General Assembly’s high-level debate on Tribute to Political, Social Leaders ALEPPO, Syria (PanARMENIAN.Net and October 1, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Armenpress) — An Armenian woman was killed in WASHINGTON — In Eduard Nalbandian, pledged to make a “fea - an Aleppo shelling, Outreach to Syrian Armenians a capacity-filled venue, sible contribution” to United Nations Facebook group founder Anahit Adamyan said. Armenian Assembly reform stressing the urgency of the settle - Citing Aleppo-based Serob Jahukyan, the 53-year- members, supporters ment of disputes by peaceful means. old woman died of her injuries in a hospital on and friends alike gath - “A few days ago, in the framework of the Saturday, September 29. ered last Saturday in UN, the first-ever High-Level Forum on the According to preliminary data, the number of downtown Los Angeles, Culture of Peace took place, urging toler - Armenian victims in Syria has topped 20. Calif., as the Assembly ance and building mutual understanding However, according to Aleppo Prelacy Press celebrated its 40th and mutual respect,” Nalbandian told the Secretary Jirayr Reisyan, residents are gradually anniversary, reported 67th Assembly at its general debate, at the returning to their everyday life. the Assembly. The UN Headquarters in New York. Arab mass media reported that the clashes in the Assembly gala honored “Unfortunately,” he added, “nowadays old market areas are ongoing. Earlier information several outstanding hate and intolerance are continuing to was received that 500 stores and shopping centers individuals exemplify - spread in some parts of the world and we have been burnt down in the historic old market. HARRY KOUNDAKJIAN PHOTO ing decades of public and community service. Mexicans Puzzled by Presenting the Assembly’s “Distin- Aliyev Monument guished Humanitarian MEXICO CITY (AP) — A life-size bronze statue of Award” to Elizabeth late Azerbaijan President Heydar Aliyev on Mexico Agbabian, Flora George and Gloria Deukmejian with Hirair Hovnanian City’s main boulevard has some Mexicans upset. Dunaians and Savey The memorial to an authoritarian leader from Tufenkian, Assembly the Caucasus been erected within sight of Mexico’s Chairman Hirair Hovnanian praised their work stating, “I am truly proud of them for bicentennial monument. Apparently, Azerbaijan their dedication and their loyalty to the Armenian people.” Hovnanian added: “You have contributed millions of dollars to landscape and set an example for people to follow in your footsteps.” Speaking on behalf of all three remodel the park where the monument is located, women, Dunaians stated, “we are overwhelmed and grateful for the honor.” as well as another public square in downtown Headlining the program, George Deukmejian, the 35th governor of California, pre - Armenia’s Foreign Minister Eduard Mexico City. sented the Assembly’s “George Deukmejian Award for Public Service” to Deborah Nalbandian shares a laugh with United Protesters say that a man who ruled such a far- Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. and Charles Poochigian. In accepting the award, Deborah Poochigian expressed her away land with a heavy hand should not be on a appreciation stating that the governor and his wife were role models, adding, “we boulevard decorated with statues to Mexican and will always make you proud.” Charles Poochigian thanked the Assembly and its have yet to dig into the roots and causes of see ASSEMBLY, page 8 such a situation, to have the courage to openly ask difficult questions on the reasons and face sometimes painful responses.” INSI DE In his statement, Nalbandian referred to Mary Papazian Inducted what he termed the government of Azerbaijan’s “release and glorification” of As President of Southern Ramil Safarov, who was convicted of killing an Conn. State University Artistic Azeri officer, saying, “the scandalous affair has serious undermined the Nagorno-Karabagh NEW HAVEN (Combined Sources) — Dr. negotiation process and endangered the fragile Mary Papazian was inducted as the 11th pres - Landing regional security and stability.” ident and second female president of Southern Nalbandian also voiced concern at the Connecticut State University (SCSU) on Page 10 worsening situation in Syria, which he said Friday. directly affected the large Armenian com - Papazian, 53, the first Armenian- munity. “The denial of genocide and American woman to lead a US university — impunity pave the way for the repetition of focused academically on British literature, INDEX new crimes against humanity,” he noted. specifically 17th-century poet and clergy - Arts and Living . 10 Nalbandian is one of scores of world lead - Armenia . 2 man John Donne. She was provost and Mary Papazian (center) is invested by ers and other high-level officials presenting senior vice president for academic affairs Community News. 4 Michael Meotti (behind Papazian), Editorial . 14 their views and comments on issues of indi - and professor of English at Lehman College Executive Vice President of the Board of International . 3 vidual, national and international relevance of the City University of New York before Regents, as the 11 President of Southern at the Assembly’s general debate. (See the coming to SCSU. Connecticut State University. full text of his speech on page 2.) see PAPAZIAN, page 7 2 S ATURDAY , O CTOBER 6, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Text of Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian’s Speech at the United Nations Syrian Armenian NEW YORK — Armenian Foreign applaud the glorification of a community are speaking in one lan - Families Request Asylum Minister Eduard Nalbandian deliv - heinous murderer? Azerbaijani lead - guage regarding the Nagorno- ered a speech at the General Debate ership is continuing to pretend that Karabagh issue. The documents on In Armenia of the 67th Session of the UN this act corresponds not only to the the settlement of the Nagorno- General Assembly. In his speech, he Azerbaijani constitution and legisla - Karabagh conflict adopted in the YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Eighty-five Syrian- touched upon the release of the con - tion, but also to the norms and prin - frameworks of the OSCE Armenian families, totaling 220 persons, have victed Azerbaijani murderer Ramil ciples of international law, the (Organization for Security and requested asylum from Armenia. Safarov, who had been released from respective European Convention. Cooperation in Europe) Astana As the head of the service said, more than 4,000 a Hungarian prison, the quest for The Council of Europe Summit of 2010 and Ministerial Syrian-Armenians are currently in Armenia, the peace in Nagorno Karabagh, the Commissioner of Human Rights Conferences of Helsinki 2008, head of the immigration office, Firdus Zakaryan, state of Syrian’s Armenian commu - warned, “to glorify and reward such Athens 2009, Almaty 2010, Vilnius said. “The most urgent issue our Syrian compatri- nity and recognition of the a person flies in the face of all 2011, the statements of presidents ots are facing is lack of jobs. Some specialties do Armenian Genocide. Excerpts from accepted standards for human rights of the co-chair countries in the not conform to the available work.” the text of the speech are presented protection and rule of law.” The frameworks of the G8 Summits in Union of Employers of Armenia is also making below: European Parliament president and L’Aquila in 2009, in Muskoka in efforts to alleviate the difficulties by offering free Armenia has committed itself to Parliamentary Assembly of the 2010, in Deauville in 2011 and dur - advice. Head of the Union of Employers of Armenia the strengthening of the institution - Council of Europe president alerted ing the G20 Summit 2012 in Los Gagik Makaryan said, “In the near future we have al capacities of the United Nations.