THE ARMENIAN MIRRORc SPECTATOR Since 1932 Volume LXXXXI, NO. 42, Issue 4684 MAY 8, 2021 $2.00 Rep. Kazarian Is Artsakh Toun Proposes Housing Solution Passionate about For 2020 Artsakh War Refugees Public Service By Harry Kezelian By Aram Arkun Mirror-Spectator Staff Mirror-Spectator Staff EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. — BRUSSELS — One of the major results Katherine Kazarian was elected of the Artsakh War of 2020, along with the Majority Whip of the Rhode Island loss of territory in Artsakh, is the dislocation State House in January, but she’s no of tens of thousands of Armenians who have stranger to politics. The 30-year-old lost their homes. Their ability to remain in Rhode Island native was first elected Artsakh is in question and the time remain- to the legislative body 8 years ago ing to solve this problem is limited. Artsakh straight out of college at age 22. Toun is a project which offers a solution. Kazarian is a fighter for her home- The approach was developed by four peo- town of East Providence and her Ar- ple, architects and menian community in Rhode Island urban planners and around the world. And despite Movses Der Kev- the partisan rancor of the last several orkian and Sevag years, she still loves politics. Asryan, project “It’s awesome, it’s a lot of work, manager and co- but I do love the job. And we have ordinator Grego- a great new leadership team at the ry Guerguerian, in urban planning, architecture, renovation Khanumyan estimated that there are State House.” and businessman and construction site management in Arme- around 40,000 displaced people willing to Kazarian was unanimously elect- and philanthropist nia, Belgium and Lebanon. He exclaimed, come back, which means roughly 7,000 fam- ed Majority Whip, the third highest James Tufenkian. “we are facing “We should realize that we are facing a ilies needing 7,000 homes. Der Kevorkian a humanitarian humanitarian catastrophe. We are not sure The Project and Guerguerian catastrophe. that people realize this.” He observed that Guerguerian, born and raised in Par- are based in Brus- We are not sure recently, when going to the office of Hayk is, moved to Belgium four years ago. He sels, Belgium, that people Khanumyan, Minister of Territorial Admin- worked for many years in the field of infor- Asryan in Step- realize this.” istration and Infrastructure of the Republic mation technology before going to Indonesia anakert, Artsakh of Artsakh for a meeting, the building was in 2012 and opening a series of French bak- Movses Der Kevorkian empty early in the morning. However, when and Tufenkian in ery/cafes, for which he continues to work as he opened the door to leave sometime before the United States. noon, the corridor was full of people from sales and marketing manager. The 42-year- Der Kevorkian, born in Lebanon, is the Shushi, Hadrut, Kashatagh, Karvajar and old also has been volunteering for vari- founder of Sill and Sound architects in Bel- all over Artsakh, all desperate for houses or ous Armenian projects since the age of 19. gium and has over 15 years of experience places to stay. Their needs are immediate. see HOUSING, page 5 position in the legislature, this year when there was a change in lead- ership. The Rhode Island House Nora Azadian: Celebrating an Speaker lost his election and a new speaker needed to be chosen from Artist’s Purposeful Life within the body’s membership. K. DETROIT — Nora Azadian always wondered why nature did not fashion the life of hu- Joseph Shekarchi (D-Warwick) mans as it did that of trees, which lose their foliage in the fall and are revived in the spring. was elected Speaker on a bill that This year, once again, the trees are in full bloom, but now without Nora, who passed away included Christopher Blazejewski on April 29. (D-Providence) as Majority Lead- Nora was one of the rare types who er and Katherine Kazarian (D-East was fully content with her life. She was Providence) as Majority Whip. full of a creative spirit and expressed that Nora Azadian Laid to Rest “I was in a sweet spot where I creativity in many ways. Even her ordi- have been in the House for eight DETROIT — Nora Ipekian Azadian nary daily life brimmed with nobility and years, and we’ve seen young peo- passed away in her sleep on April 29. grace. ple run for office, and they wanted She is survived by her husband Edmond She always claimed that in life she someone young and more women in Y. Azadian and son Gerald Papasian. had received everything she had wished the leadership team,” she said. Nora Azadian with her portrait of Visitation was on Tuesday, May 4, with for and never envied others for status or Kazarian fit the bill: not only is a poetess from Armenia (1968) a Dan Gark Service at St. John Armenian material goods and never asked for more she young and female, but since she Church. than she had. That is why she thought she has been a member of the legislature The funeral was on Wednesday, May 5. lived her life the way she wanted, full of for eight years, she has valued expe- In lieu of flower donations are desig- enthusiasm and vivacity. rience that other young lawmakers nated to: Tekeyan Cultural Association, She looked upon death stoically and may lack. “Sponsor a Teacher Program” 755 Mt. philosophically. She courageously faced “They liked my style of working Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472. the finality of human life and peacefully with others,” Kazarian said. “I was https://givebutter.com/DrFm0n made the transition. unanimously elected by the Demo- see AZADIAN, page 10 crat members — the Whip is a party position — and it felt good.” see KAZARIAN, page 20 YEREVAN DETROIT BOSTON Armenians Forward Sisters Publish Peace of Art Together Forum Preschool Responds to Armenian President Biden Alphabet Book Page 3 Page 12 Page 7 2 SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR ARMENIA NEWS from ARMENIA Two More Russian 2021 Aurora Humanitarians Announced YEREVAN — The Aurora Humani- tions, empower survivors of gender-based will be added to the manuscript as well. Military Sites Set up in tarian Initiative on April 24 revealed the violence and reintegrate internally dis- A special ceremony took place at the Armenia’s South names of five 2021 Aurora Humanitari- placed persons: Fund for Congolese Wom- Matenadaran, the national repository of YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN. ans, chosen by the Aurora Prize Selection en, League for Congolese Solidarity and ancient manuscripts, located in Yerevan, Net) — The Russian military has Committee for their courage, commitment Association of Mothers for Development Armenia. Among around 23,000 ancient set up two new military sites in the and impact. The announcement was made and Peace. manuscripts preserved, studied and re- south of Armenia near the border at the Matenadaran, the national repository Ashwaq Moharram (Yemen), a physi- stored in Matenadaran, the Chronicles of with Azerbaijan as an “additional of ancient manuscripts located in Yerevan, cian who provides life-saving support to Aurora is the only one that was created in security guarantee” both for the Armenia. During this special event, the at- the starving population of Hodeida, fac- the 21st century and crafted according to province of Syunik and the country tendees also paid tribute to the great schol- ing a humanitarian crisis in the aftermath the ancient Armenian traditions by using as a whole, acting Prime Minister ar and philanthropist Vartan Gregorian, of conflict and blockade. Dr. Moharram only natural materials, as it has been done Nikol Pashinyan told lawmakers Co-Founder of the Aurora Humanitarian has nominated two organizations that pro- for centuries. on Monday, May 3. Initiative and member of the Aurora Prize tect the future of children and provide free “This is like creating a new history. “It’s no secret that two strong- Selection Committee, who earlier. In ac- healthcare services to the people affected When we just presented the manuscript, it holds of the 102nd Russian military cordance with the tradition, the names of by the ongoing conflict in Yemen: Save the seemed to be about modern days, but time base were established in the Syunik the 2021 Aurora Humanitarians have been Children and Doctors Without Borders. passes, and with every year, this becomes province,” Pashinyan said. inscribed in the Chronicles of Aurora, a “It is a great honor to have the opportuni- history. There is no doubt that the value “This is an additional security unique 21st century manuscript containing ty to recognize these distinguished men and of this manuscript will only increase with guarantee not only for the Syunik the depictions of the Aurora Humanitarian region but for Armenia.”France- Initiative activities. Group 5-8 One of the Humanitarians will become the 2021 Aurora Prize Laureate and will re- ceive an opportunity to continue the cycle Karabakh’s Secure of giving by sharing a $1,000,000 award Existence within with the organizations that help people in need. The 2021 Aurora Humanitarians are: Azerbaijan Impossible, Grégoire Ahongbonon (Côte d’Ivoire), Says Mirzoyan founder of the St Camille Association, YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN. which helps people in West Africa suffer- Net) — The secure existence of ing from mental illness and seeks to end the the Armenians of Artsakh (Na- inhumane local practice of keeping them in gorno-Karabakh) within Azerbai- chains. Mr. Ahongbonon has nominated jan is impossible, and the world three organizations that promote interna- should recognize their right to tional solidarity and support people with self-determination, speaker of the intellectual disabilities and mental illness- Armenian National Assembly Ara- es: CRÉDIL (Lanaudière’s Regional Com- rat Mirzoyan said on Tuesday, May mittee on Education for International De- velopment), L’Arche Canada Foundation, 4.