NOVEMBER 10, 2018 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXIX, NO. 17, Issue 4561 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF Iran Sanctions by US Panel Addresses Disappearing Worry Armenia YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Deputy Foreign Christian Population in Middle East Minister of Armenia Karen Nazaryan told reporters in the Parliament on November 6 that “The issue of international sanctions against Iran is quite a WASHINGTON — Armenian-American Winkler, General Board of Church and forgotten minorities,” Aykazian said. sensitive topic for Armenia. We have always provid- leaders and activists from across the coun- Society of The United Methodist Church RFI Executive Director Hill started the ed full support to the implementation of the Joint try gathered earlier this fall in the nation’s Director Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe, and discussion by describing his experience Comprehensive Plan of Action which was signed capital for the Armenian Assembly of The Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) traveling to Armenia while representing the between Iran and the respective partner states. America 2018 National Advocacy Executive Director Kent Hill, and asked US Government and US Agency for Continuation of traditional, mutually beneficial and Conference and Gala in a unified effort to questions about what can be done on International Development (USAID), and friendly relations with our neighbor country is very strengthen congressional support for Capitol Hill to help this minority communi- expressed his admiration at seeing some of important for us. In the relations with its partner the oldest churches in Christian history. states Armenia has always been guided with the He then continued with daunting facts principle to develop these ties based on the bilat- about the current Christian population in eral political-economic interests. We are not con- the Middle East, and shared with the audi- ducting our cooperation with Iran at the expense ence findings and statistics that he of our partnership with the US,” he said. see POPULATIONS, page 20 Nazaryan said Armenia follows the ongoing developments in Iran as it is a vital issue for the country. He informed that they are in constant con- tact with Iranian partners, as well as with other Primate Extolls ‘Higher partner-states engaged in the process. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Anna Vision’ Uniting All Naghdalyan added that Armenia is currently carry- ing out a comprehensive studies on the conse- Faithful at Interfaith quences that the US sanctions on Iran can have on Memorial the country. “We are closely following the developments in NEW YORK — In the wake of the mas- this direction and we are in constant contact with sacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in all parties involved in this process. We are clearly Pittsburgh on October 27, prominent New presenting our issues and concerns. The tradition- York religious leaders gathered for an inter- ally friendly relations with Iran are of vital signifi- faith prayer service at Manhattan’s venera- cance for Armenia. Currently a comprehensive expert study is underway on the consequences on The Religious Freedom Institute Executive Director Kent Hill at the Armenian Assembly’s ble Park East Synagogue on Wednesday, 2018 National Advocacy Conference October 31. Armenia of the sanctions on Iran,” she said. The Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, the Very United States-Armenia relations and to ty. The panel was moderated by Armenian Rev. Daniel Findikyan, joined Roman No POWs in Armenia or raise concerns in the House and Senate. As Church of America (Eastern Diocese) Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Greek part of its Advocacy Conference, the Diocesan Legate Archbishop Vicken Orthodox Archbishop Demetrios, and oth- Artsakh Assembly organized a panel of experts shar- Aykazian, former NCC president and mem- ers at the invitation of Rabbi Arthur YEREVAN (Armenpress) — There are no prison- ing their insights of the realities of the per- ber of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Schneier, senior rabbi of the synagogue ers of war (POW) in Armenia and Artsakh at this secuted Christians in the Middle East. Committee on Faith Based Initiatives. see INTERFAITH, page 20 moment, Armenia’s caretaker Defense Minister The conference attendees heard from “I think this is an excellent contribution Davit Tonoyan told reporters on November 6 ahead National Council of Churches (NCC) to this assembly to know about the suffer- of parliamentary committee debates of the 2019 President and General Secretary Jim ing of Christians in the Middle East — the state budget. Tonoyan was addressing a Russian media report that claimed that Azerbaijan has offered to carry Two Decades of Armenian Studies in Germany out an exchange of prisoners. “There is no official talk in terms of exchange of the Armenian language, literature, culture prisoners. I’ve got this information from the media. If prisoners of war were to exist in Armenia or By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach and history to not only academic circles but also the broader public. Much has been Artsakh they would be exchanged, but at this and Dr. André Höhn phase there are no prisoners of war,” Tonoyan said. Special to the Mirror-Spectator achieved, and the potential for develop- ment is even greater. He emphasized that the arrested and imprisoned Since the Bundestag (Parliament) prisoners in Artsakh are convicted for committing crimes, and they cannot be considered prisoners of war. HALLE-WITTENBERG, Germany — It is passed a resolution in June 2016 recog- Tonoyan said that the operative connection func- a unique institution in the country, the nizing the Armenian genocide, interest tions between the two sides and in the event of vio- only center specializing in Armenian stud- in Armenia has expanded immensely. For lations they immediately notify for respective ies, Armenology. When the Mesrop many Germans that political act opened actions to be carried out. Arbeitsstelle für Armenische Studien the door to discovery of a hitherto (Mesrop Center for Armenian Studies) at unknown people and their culture. Diocesan Primate Fr. Daniel Findikyan address- the Martin Luther University in Halle- Several new studies, especially of the his- es New York faith leaders at Manhattan’s his- Wittenberg observed its 20th anniversary tory of the genocide, have appeared and toric Park East Synagogue, for victims of the on October 18-19, it celebrated the special been well received. Pittsburg synagogue shooting. INSIDE role it has played in bringing knowledge of see GERMANY, from page 4 Armenian Foreign Minister Constellation Meets with ADL Supreme Of Memories Council Representative Page 14 YEREVAN — On November 2, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met with Armenian Democratic Liberal Party Supreme Council representative Edmond Y. INDEX Azadian in the former’s office. The latest political devel- Arts and Living . 12 opments in the region were discussed, particularly in Armenia . 2 the light of the recent visits of representatives of the Community News. 5 Editorial . 18 American government. At left, Edmond Y. Azadian, left, International . 3,4 is with Zohrab Mnatsakanyan. 2 S ATURDAY, N OVEMBER 1 0 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Weightlifting Gold Medal Winner Yuri Vardanyan Dies YEREVAN (Combined Sources) — Yuri Vardanyan, a legendary Armenian weightlifter who won a gold medal at Illegal Burials at Talin the 1980 Olympic Games, has died in the United States at the age of 62, Church Armenia’s Ministry of Sports and YEREVAN (Armenpress) — A historic-cultural mon- Youth Affairs confirmed on Friday, ument under state protection has been illegally used November 2. as a burial site from 1994 to 2017, according to the In a November 2 statement, state. Armenia’s acting Minister of Sports The Culture Ministry had contacted the general and Youth Affairs Gabriel Ghazarian prosecutor’s department of state interest protection said Vardanyan died of a “long serious to study the reports on illegal burials in the area of illness.” the Katoghike Church — a historic-cultural site under Vardanyan, who also won a number state preservation — in the town of Talin in of world, European and national titles Aragatsotn Province. and set 43 weightlifting records during The general prosecution said that the illegal buri- his sporting career, was the world’s first weightlifter to achieve a 400-kilo- als have damaged the integrity of the historic monu- Yuri Vardanyan in competition ment. gram total in the 82.5-kg weight cate- A criminal investigation has been launched on dam- gory. After ending his weightlifting career, aging historic-cultural monuments. country’s ambassador to Georgia in Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Vardanyan moved to the United States 2014. He left his ambassadorial posi- “Yuri Vardanyan was an example for in 1992 and settled in Los Angeles. tion in 2017. many in the Armenian sport world. Artsakh Soldier Killed In 1994, he was inducted into the Despite his controversial diplomatic With his Olympic and world records he YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Soldier Aristakes career, to this day Vardanyan is hailed proved that what is impossible is just a Azatyan, 18, a member of the Artsakh armed forces, as a hero in Armenia for his deeds in challenge which can be overcome, that received a fatal gunshot wound on November 6, the the sport of weightlifting. A stamp hon- what is impossible can become possi- Artsakh Defense Ministry announced. oring Vardanyan was printed in ble,” Sarkissian wrote. “I extend my sin- An investigation is underway to clarify the details Armenia in 2010. cere condolences to Vardanyan’s family, of the incident. “A man who made thousands of fans relatives and share their grief and sad- Artsakh’s defense ministry offerd its condolences honor him with standing ovations, a ness.” to the family, relatives and co-servicemen of the sol- man whom numerous young athletes Former President of Armenia Serzh dier.