NOVEMBER 9, 2013 MirTHErARoMENr IAN -Spe ctator Volume LXXXIV, NO. 17, Issue 4311 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 President, Minsk Group Islamized Discuss NKR Conflict YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — President Serge Sargisian discussed the Karabagh conflict settle - ment with the Organization for Security and Armenians: Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group co- chairs, Ambassadors James Warlick of the United States, Igor Popov of Russia, Jacques Faure of Coming to Grips With a France and Andrzej Kasprzyk, the personal repre - New Reality sentative of the chairperson-in-office. According to presidential press service, no details of the meeting were provided. By Hrant Gadarigian Earlier, the ambassadors met with Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian, with the parties focus - ing on possible routes to promote solution of the ISTANBUL (Hetq) — Over the centuries, conflict. The co-chairs briefed the Armenian official untold numbers of Christian Armenians on the results of meetings held in Baku. have converted to Islam. The vast majority Nalbandian further drew the co-chairs’ attention have done so under various degrees of pres - to Baku’s military rhetoric as well as frequent vio - sure and given the exigencies of the time. lations of ceasefire. While relatively subtle on occasion, the imperative to convert to a religion mostly regarded as the faith of the “enemy” was Air Armenia Obtains often clear-cut — convert or perish. Ruben Meliksetian, left, with Fr. Diradur Sardaryan Second Plane Over the past decade or so, a new sub- grouping of Armenians, either called YEREVAN (Arminfo) — The second plane of the Air Armenia company arrived at Zvartnots Airport on Music, Literature and Religion in Tuesday, November 5. Three- Day Istanbul Conference German-Armenian Cultural Dialogue The A-320 liner can carry 150 passengers and is Seen as First Step in supposed to fly to Moscow on a daily basis. BERLIN — The Armenian community had much to celebrate in Germany at the Marketing Manager of Air Armenia Sirak Opening Dialogue end of October: in Berlin it was the 90th anniversary of the founding of the com - Hambartsumyan said that on November 17 the company will redouble the number of its flights Islamized of Muslim Armenians, has come munity, commemorated with a to Moscow. to the fore. formal ceremony on October 26 Air Armenia’s Boeing 737-500 will now fly to While the existence of such Armenians is in the Charlottenburg Town Hall, By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach Samara, Sochi, Krasnodar and Rostov-on-Don. not new per say, the issue of who they co-sponsored by the Minister for Special to the Mirror-Spectator The first charter flight between Yerevan and exactly are in terms of overall Armenian the Diaspora of the Republic of Rostov-on-Don was carried out on October 23 and identity has been gaining greater exposure, Armenia Hranusch Hakobyan the first regular flight to Moscow on October 27. both in Armenian circles and in Turkey. and the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf Mayor Reinhard Naumann. To the south, in Air Armenia is also licensed to fly to St. Petersburg. One such attempt to grapple with this Stuttgart, it was the 30th anniversary of the Armenian Holy Cross Church (Surb issue is the conference now taking place in Khatch) in nearby Göppingen, and the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Istanbul. Baden-Wurttemberg Armenian community. The double jubilee was commemorated Ohanian Condemns Titled, “Islamized (Islamicized) within the context of the third annual “Armenian Cultural Days” organized by com - Armenians” and organized by the Hrant munity leader and parish priest Father Diradur Sardaryan from October 24-27, in Azeri Provocations Dink Foundation, the conference began on collaboration with several state institutions as well as the Embassy and the Cultural YEREVAN (Armenpress) — During a November 5 November 2. Ministry of the Republic of Armenia. press conference, Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian The scope of the conference is immense see GERMANY, page 12 stated that the provocations of the Azerbaijani and has attracted a number of prominent armed forces in the sector of Voskepar-Baghanis of scholars and heretofore unknown speakers the Tavush province were conditioned by the commenting and analyzing the centuries- ple in the hall to listen to what speakers like Catholicos Karekin II recent staff changes in the country. old conversion process of Armenians in the Taner Akçam, Ayse Gul Altinay, Hranush “In general such harassments and violations are Ottoman Empire, with a special focus on Kharatyan, Laurence Ritter, Anoush Suni, Elected a World taking place in the framework of the political the 1915 Genocide and its aftermath. and Adnan Celik, amongst others, had to events. I think that the incident was conditioned say on the subject. Council of Churches by the recent staff changes or the commanders Rakel Dink, representing the President decided to open fire on [it],” said Ohanian, adding Hrant Dink Foundation, wel - that the situation has been analyzed and corre - comed speakers and audience BUSAN, Korea — On November 4, at sponding action will be taken. alike, stressing that the confer - the World Council of Churches’ 10th Azerbaijani forces opened fire on October 30 in ence was merely an initial step in Assembly, the delegates voted for Voskepar-Baghanis. The shots were fired via small discussing both the history, and Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and caliber weapons. No injuries were reported. more importantly, the present Catholicos of All Armenians, to serve as On October 12, Azerbaijani troops opened fire reality of Islamized Armenians. one of the president of the World on civilians of Inner Karmiraghbyur in the same Religion, identity, memory, eth - Council of Churches (WCC) for the next province. A Navur villager, Hayk Kosakyan, was nicity, are just a few of the inter - eight years. wounded during this attack. twined topics that the speakers The WCC presidency consists of eight touched in their presentations. members whose mission is to foster inter- Naturally, I cannot delve into church and ecumenical relations, defend all the subjects that the 30 human rights, justice and peace. INSI DE Outside the Istanbul conference speakers will raise over the The delegation of the Catholicosate of course of three days, but I can All Armenians attended a celebration of give readers a concise overview. Divine Liturgy at the Coptic and Greek Bogaziçi University’s Albert Long Hall After an opening conversation amongst Orthodox Churches, at the end of which Honoring was packed the other day when the confer - Fethiye Çetin, Nabahat Akkoc and Sibel Karekn II’s 14th anniversary as catholi - ence kicked off. There were at least 700 peo - see ISLAMIZED, page 3 cos was celebrated. Heroes Garry Kasparov Seeking Latvian Citizenship Page 10

MOSCOW (Guardian) — The former world chess champion turned Kremlin critic, Garry Kasparov, has asked Latvian politicians to grant him citizenship to INDEX help him pursue his political activities in Russia. Arts and Living ...... 10 In a letter seen by Reuters, Kasparov, 50, said Armenia ...... 2 Latvian citizenship would give him the security to Community News...... 4 work “in Russia and in other countries across the Editorial ...... 14 world where civil rights are denied and democratic International ...... 3 norms are trampled on.” Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II 2 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 9, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia London Doctors Visit Armenian Lighthouse Charitable Foundation Police Stop Opposition March, Arrest 20 PTGHUNK, Armenia — On October 6, ety of conditions. The a delegation of doctors from London, people treated were YEREVAN (Reuters) — Armenian police detained 20 England provided medical examinations among Armenia’s poor - people in clashes on Tuesday with anti-government and treatment free of charge to 47 vil - est and socially neglect - protesters armed with sticks and firecrackers who lagers at the outreach center of the ed sector who have no tried to march on the presidential palace, witness- Armenian Lighthouse Charitable access to healthcare. es said. Foundation (ALCF). Patients came from all President Serge Sargisian was re-elected to a sec- The team was organized by Dr. Susan the regions of Armenia ond five-year term in February but independent Onanyan, a physician from Yerevan, who currently served by the monitors said the vote lacked real competition and has been volunteering her time with the ALCF’s charitable pro - some small street protests flared for a short time ALCF’s Myradoon and Husi Jerag pro - grams and family spon - afterward. grams for more than two years. The sorships. After the one- Tuesday’s protest march, led by Shant London-based volunteers were Dr. day clinic, the team com - Arutyunian, a flamboyant opposition activist who Kevork Hopayian, Dr. Seda Boghossian, mitted to return to ran in the 1999 parliamentary election, was Dr. Lilian Johnston and psychologist Armenia every year. In Doctors from England volunteer their services to 47 blocked by police en route to the presidential Liza Kouyoumjian. Joining them were the meantime, Onanyan patients. palace. Sona Mouradian and Richard Surabian will conduct follow-up Scuffles ensued as dozens of protesters wearing visits Guy Fawkes masks on the backs of their heads with all the patients who A shipping container that originated threw large firecrackers at policemen, injuring sev- were treated. from the ALCF’s California-based ware - eral, a police spokesman said. Seta Ghazarian, house was expected to arrive in Armenia Guy Fawkes, a 17th century English Catholic, founder of the Armenian by the end of October. The container was the best-known conspirator in a plot to blow up Lighthouse Charitable holds medical supplies and equipment the English parliament. Foundation, explained, that was donated by Sherman Oaks “By far, our most vulner - Medical Supplies of Sherman Oaks, able population are the California. Sherman Oaks Medical Juice, Non-Alcohol Drink elderly. They are unpro - Supplies gives the ALCF $1,000 per Production Increases tected, neglected and month to heat Myradoon, the shelter for very lonely. There are battered and abused women and their YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The volume production also children and adults children. The supplies and equipment of juice in Armenia during the months of January- who need to see doctors will help the ALCF continue to address September increased by 20 percent compared with and are in dire need of the medical needs of the local and sur - A visiting doctor consults with a patient. the same period of the previous year and made psychological counsel - rounding communities. 12,392,100 liters. ing. The villagers were Mayradoon is a shelter for battered According to the data provided by the National honored that doctors and abused women and their babies. The Statistical Service of Armenia, during those nine from San Francisco, Calif., as well as from as far away as London were willing ALCF houses and guides its residents months of last year, 10, 323,100 liters of juice were Talar Stepanian and Sarmen Boghosian. to come to our center and serve their for up to two years. The women are produced in the country. The physicians arrived with medica - needs; they felt loved, appreciated, and taught the basics of good parenting, The volume production of non-alcohol drinks and tion, inoculations and testing equipment supported. This was an impressive and child nurturing and hygiene for the mineral waters also increased in comparison with to serve the local villagers for a wide vari - emotional day for our entire staff.” entire family. All of their medical expens - the same period of 2012 by 40 percent and 25 per- es are covered and they receive special - cent respectively. During this period, 41,607,700 ized vocational training in sewing, cook - liters of non-alcohol drinks and 26,269,300 liters of ing, computers, beauty services and culi - mineral water were produced in Armenia. Building Continues at Disputed Site nary arts. Husi Jerag is an outreach program grounded and left the site. which offers needed services to local, National Assembly Chair By Siranuysh Khachatryan said today that no one underserved communities including Promotes Dilijan Gevorgyan from CESJA visited the construction computer classes, women’s dental and site to demand they stop construction. health services, feeding the poor and International School The ruling of the administrative court is elderly, supporting a local kindergarten, YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) — Despite unprecedented for densely-populated weekly Bible study, family sponsorships YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Chairman of the an administrative court ban, the con - Yerevan, where residents of several and donations of essential goods to the National Assembly of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan troversial construction at 5 Komitas St. more buildings (in Hrachya Kochar, needy in Armenia and Artsakh. stated during a recent press conference that the resumed this week. Sayat-Nova and Amiryan streets) have The Armenian Lighthouse Charitable Dilijan International School of Armenia (DIS) “will Head foreman Rafik Khachatryan now joined the protest against those in Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, contribute to the high-quality education of the said that the construction has never charge of the construction, claiming public benefit corporation registered in future generations.” Abrahamyan later added, “I stopped and that the company in that construction continues involving the State of California and Republic of welcome this initiative, as a huge work is carried charge has all the legal grounds to violations of seismic resistance norms Armenia. To contribute to the ALCF or out for our country. Now we see the tremendous carry on. and by occupying neighboring court - for more information, visit www.armeni - activities carried out at the course of just one Meanwhile, the administrative court yard areas. anlighthouse.org. year.” of Yerevan has prohibited Liber compa - The DIS has been marketed as a “vibrant and ny to implement construction at the dynamic coeducational international boarding address of 5 Komitas St., “until the school, for boys and girls aged 13 to 19, located in legal act solving the issue comes into Armenia, at the heart of the ever-shifting balance effect.” Since summer there have been between the East and the West.” repeated acts of protest by civil activists and the residents against construction Scholar Notes Changes at this address. Residents of neighbor - ing buildings claim that the building In Turkey’s would compromise the seismic resis - tance of their buildings and will block Historiography light. The building is planned to be a seven- YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Turkey’s historiography story building or larger while surround - has undergone serious changes over the past few ing buildings are capped at four stories. years. According to Correspondent Member of the In August and September, there were National Academy of Sciences of Armenia Ruben several incidents involving protestors Safrastyan, Turkey’s historians are actively and the police. The residents who engaged in discussions regarding the similarities of received the administrative court the Kemalist and fascist ideologies, which were not notices turned to the police on noticed years ago. Saturday demanding to make them stop “Currently they reconsider Mustafa Kemal’s role the construction, however the head in the country’s history. Modern Turkey is not what foreman made reference to the provi - it used to be years ago,” Safrastyan noted during sion of the law by which the adminis - an international conference dedicated to the 90- trative court decision “is subject to Poet Charents’ Monument Unveiled year-old history of the Turkish state, its internal immediate implementation in accor - and foreign policy issues, Armenian-Turkish rela- CHARENTSAVAN, Armenia (ArmeniaNow) — Armenian President Serge dance with the order provided for by tions and current political developments held in Sargisian visited the town renamed in 1967 after poet Yeghishe Charents as the law on Compulsory Enforcement of Yerevan on November 5. part of his trip to the Kotayk province. Judicial Acts” and insisted that only the Sargisian attended the inauguration of a new monument dedicated to Compulsory Enforcement Service of Charents. A celebration of the 115th anniversary of Charents was held from Judicial Acts (CESJA) has the power of October 14 to 22. stopping the construction. Police offi - cers accepted this argumentation as S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 9, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 INTERNATIONAL Islamized Armenians: International News Energy Minister Coming to Grips With a New Reality Confirms Russia Will Subsidize Gas ISLAMIZED, from page 1 He also pulled no punches in criticiz - Asna, the first day saw three separate ing the academic work carried out in MOSCOW (ArmeniaNow) — The Russian govern- panels exploring such topics as: Three- Day Istanbul Armenia for the past 20 years, labeling ment will subsidize the natural gas price hike for “Burden of History,” “Politics of it as not only academically inferior but Armenia, Armenian Energy Minister Armen Names,” “The Recent and Distant Conference Seen as also damaging, given its nationalist, Movsisyan said during the debate over the 2014 History of the Islamization” and even racist, overtones. Luckily, Kaiser draft budget at the National Assembly on Monday. “Islamized in 1915.” noted, there is a new generation of aca - The official reaffirmed that the 2014 state budget Avedis Hadjian, an independent jour - First Step in Opening demics coming of age in Armenia who does not envisage any subsidy of the price of nat- nalist based in New York, spoke about are raising the bar when it comes to aca - ural gas supplied to Armenia that was increased for Constantinople Patriarch Shnork Dialogue demic scholarship, pointing to the pres - consumers in July. According to Movsisyan, at pre- Kaloustian’s “Four categories of ence of two young scholars from sent the talks over the natural gas price between Anatolian Armenians and Today’s Armenia as panelists. Armenia and Russia continue in the context of Muslim Armenians.” “Many of these women could never Kaiser then turned his criticism to Armenia’s entry into the Customs Union. “An It was interesting to hear that some return to the larger Armenian fold, espe - Armenian academics in the United agreement will be signed by the end of the year,” 40 years ago, Kaloustian had come up cially if they had children with Muslim States who, he argues, haven’t pro - the minister said in response to a query. with different classifications of men,” Tachjian noted, adding that the duced anything new in the past 40 Armenians who had converted based on fact that so many “converted” years. Vatican Embassy in when the conversion had taken place, Armenians were present at the confer - “Tell me one publication on the exter - whether it was a conscious decision or ence underscored the need for a plat - mination, as I call it since I don’t like the Damascus Hit by Mortar not, and whether they had converted form on this issue that has now taken term Genocide anymore, which has back to Christianity when conditions on a greater sense of urgency. been published in the last 10 years in DAMASCUS (Reuters ) — The Vatican embassy in allowed them to do so. “These individuals, naturally, are the US. What comes to mind? You real - Damascus was hit by mortar fire on Tuesday, Hadjian, who has been touring interested to hear what the wider world, ly have to scratch your head,” Kaiser November 5, but there were no casualties, a Vatican Western Armenia for the past two years, especially Armenians, have to say on the said. spokesman said. is writing a book titled A Secret Nation , subject. We must approach this issue on Raymond Kevorkian, the prominent It was not clear if the embassy was deliberately which will present his findings regard - a human level and shy away from mak - Genocide scholar based in Paris, moder - targeted. It is located in the wealthy Maliki area of ing the Islamized Armenians he has ing snap judgments as to whether these ated the “Islamized in 1915” panel. the Syrian capital, where there are several met. people are Armenian or not,” Tachjian “This is an issue that will only grow embassies as well as the residences of government The author, a native of Aleppo who stressed. in significance in the future. And it is an and security officials. moved to Argentina at an early age, says During the conversation, Rakel Dink issue that blows away the Turkish There was damage but no one was injured. The his work is a journalistic investigation walked by and hearing the word “judg - state’s decades old argument of a mortar hit a wing of the embassy that is currently into the lives of these people and will ment,” noted that identity is a concept homogenous populace. As such, the not being used,” Father Ciro Benedettini said from serve as an introduction for a wider that is not merely based on religion and issue of Islamized Armenians should be Vatican City. audience. that all of us have a duty to build seen as an integral part of the overall An official at the embassy said the mortar had “My purpose is not to proselytize or bridges between these newly discovered internal Turkish process now going on damaged part of the roof and left broken glass to make judgmental declarations. We Armenians and the traditional commu - in various ethnic communities regard - inside the building. must first come to recognize one anoth - nities. ing a search for identity, and that there “It was very strong and noisy. We stayed inside er without preconditions or precon - Hilmar Kaiser, a German historian, are actually several Turkish identities,” and we were very afraid,” Monsignor Giorgio ceived notions. This conference is a step whose presentation dealt with the Kevorkian said. Chazza told Reuters in Beirut. in the right direction,” Hadjian says, assimilation of Armenian deportees He stressed that the entire issue The embassy, which is still operating in the adding that the book should be out in a between 1915 and 1917, was also pre - demands greater research on a social embattled city, had been hit by eight to ten times few months. The first edition will be in sent at the seminar. level and that the anecdotal studies car - by mortar bombs since July, he said. Turkish and then translated into In his presentation, Kaiser noted that ried out to date aren’t sufficient. Rebels fighting to topple the government of English. the Committee for Union and Progress “The diaspora must come to grips President Bashar al-Assad regularly launch mortar Hadjian added that tragically, the (CUP), was split on the issue of con - with the fact that the bulk of these con - fire at government-held areas inside Damascus. Armenian Diaspora lacks the facilities verting Armenians to Islam. One group - verted Armenians will remain as they to engage this new group of Armenians ing tolerated such conversions, which are. So how do we relate to them and, Damascus, Rebels given that the church, as a religious physically “saved” many Armenians in particular, how shall we relate to organization, cannot by its nature initi - from certain death, while others in the those who display a willingness to come Coordinate to Let 1,800 ate a dialogue with individuals who pro - CUP saw it as presenting a future dan - into contact with traditional Armenian fess another religion. ger to the state. communities and structures,” Civilians Flee Siege Another speaker was Vahe Tachian, Kaiser noted that this conference and Kevorkian added. DAMASCUS (Reuters) — A rare moment of coordi- an historian and chief editor of the web - an earlier one in Diyarbekir has Summing up the challenge that these nation between the Syrian government and rebels site Houshamadyan. Tachjian spoke at a returned the Armenian debate back to converted Armenians now pose to the enabled 1,800 civilians to flee a besieged town on panel titled “Islamized in 1915: History Turkey, where it naturally belongs. greater Armenian community, the edge of Damascus on Tuesday, but thousands and Bearing Witness.” His focus was on “We are witnessing the reemergence Kevorkian said, “We face a new reality remain trapped with little food, water or medicine. how many Armenian women during the of the Armenian community of today. A significant segment of us had A source in the Ministry for Social Affairs said Genocide entered into mixed marriages Constantinople as the intellectual pow - disappeared and are now resurfacing, the evacuation from Mouadamiya had gone ahead and prostitution as a means of survival. erhouse that it once was. Armenian but in a new form.” with the help of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and Tachjian talked about attempts to rein - intellectualism is returning to the very “We have to come up with an answer, some civil groups. tegrate these women into post-Ottoman place that it was cut down in 1915. And better yet, a set of answers. This confer - “I was living in terror and now I am free and safe Armenian communities and how many the Turkish colleagues are back. Thus ence is a preliminary step in the search with the army, thank God,” a resident of were ostracized and shunned by the logic of the killers is denied,” Kaiser for answers, and I have no doubt that Mouadamiya told a Reuters reporter on condition Armenian society and organizations. argued. the search will continue.” of anonymity. “There is no food or water. We got out with a new spirit now.” Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have used sieges to root out rebels from residential areas London Tekeyan Trust Announces New Komitas Choir during the civil war that has cost more than 100,000 lives and displaced millions. LONDON — The London Tekeyan and Armenia. as well as Armenia and to partici - The government says the residents of Trust (LTT) announced that, for the According to its supporters, the pate in international concerts and Mouadamiya are being “held hostage” by terrorists. first time ever in the UK, it has ini - existence of a professional festivals. The choir repertory con - This is the third such evacuation from tiated a professional Armenian Armenian choir will enhance sists of a wide variety of songs: Mouadamiya and the United Nations says 3,000 choir named “Komitas,” after one of Armenian culture through the inter - Armenian folk, classical, spiritual women and children have already left. the founders of Armenian classical national media in the UK and help and international, etc. The opposition says 12,000 people face starva- music. the recognition of Armenian cultur - The choir conductor Sipan tion and death in the town, which they describe as The LTT, a registered charity al values, historical background as Hagopyan, an expert from Armenia, 90-percent destroyed. since 1979 and the backbone of the well as the forthcoming Armenian as well as the volunteer artists hope International pressure has mounted on Syrian Tekeyan Cultural Association Genocide Centenary. to lead the choir to success, and by authorities to open humanitarian corridors to (London) as well as the Tekeyan In cooperation with the TCA doing so, enhance Armenian musi - deliver aid to besieged civilians but relief agencies Center Fund (Yerevan), is dedicated London, the Tekeyan Trust has cal heritage all over the world. say they have not been granted access. to the preservation and promotion planned the activities of the The LTT invites all who love Mother Fadia Lahham, a nun who helped orga- of Armenian cultural identity, and Komitas Choir which will include choral music to become Komitas nize Tuesday’s evacuation, said she was working to since its creation, it has organized a concerts in London and in other Choir benefactors by donating fund - rescue all the civilians. number of concerts, exhibitions, Armenian community centers in the ing for its activities for the forth - “The minister of social affairs ... volunteers, our public debates, workshops and UK & Ireland such as Manchester, coming years. team, the people of Mouadamiya, outside and other cultural events and communi - Birmingham, Cardiff and Dublin. For further information, contact inside, the opposition and even the security ser- ty life activities that further links The choir also intends to visit V.Ouzounian at vices ... have contributed,” she said. between the Armenian Diaspora European Armenian communities [email protected]. 4 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 9, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Community Ne ws

Richard Hovannisian St. Sahag and To Speak at UC St. Mesrob Church Berkeley Celebrates 50 Years BERKELEY, Calif. — Prof. Richard In Wynnewood Hovannisian will speak at the University of California, Berkeley, on Tuesday, November 19, WYNNEWOOD, Penn. — In a gala anniver - on contested interpretations of the burning of sary weekend, the St. Sahag and St. Mesrob the city of Smyrna/Izmir in 1922. parish celebrated 50 years in its current church Smyrna was the second largest city of the building. Through half a century of growth and Ottoman Empire and a major port for interna - activity, the castle-like church has been the tional trade. Its Christian majority was deci - focal point of community life for the West mated and expelled in September 1922. Philadelphia Armenian community and a well- Hovannisian will discuss with a power point pre - known and highly regarded presence in the sur - sentation the city’s important Armenian com - rounding society. munity, its cultural, educational, religious, and The commemorative events began in suitably athletic organizations, and the fate of the com - spiritual style on Saturday, October 19, when munity in the final phases of the Armenian two young men of the parish were ordained as elimination in the Ottoman Empire and Turkey. altar servers of the church. In a solemn cere - The lecture is sponsored by the Armenian mony, Loutfig Arabatlian was ordained as an Studies Program directed by Prof. Stephan acolyte, and Steven Keytanjian was ordained as Astourian and the Institute of Slavic, East a sub-deacon, by the hand of Diocesan Primate European and Eurasian Studies at UC Archbishop Khajag Barsamian. Berkeley. The program will take place in 155 Kroeber Hall on the Berkeley campus begin - Authentic Armenian food was served at the event. ning at 7 p.m. It is open to the public without charge. During the month of October, Hovannisian was one of the co-presenters, with Father Levon Zekiyan, in a two-day seminar on Armenian his - TCA Arshag Dickranian tory and culture in Winterthur, Switzerland, with participants coming from Switzerland, France, Belgium, Italy and Turkey. He also was School Celebrates invited to Vienna to speak on modern Armenian issues in the auditorium of St. Armenian Cultural Month Hripsime Armenian Church, held under the auspices of Armenia’s ambassador to Austria, LOS ANGELES — In observance of the Armenian Cultural Month in October, Arman Kirakossian. the Tekeyan Cultural Association’s (TCA) Arshag Dickranian School (ADS) held an During the first weekend of November, all-day special event on Monday, October 28, at the Walter and Laurel Karabian Hovannisian was in Connecticut to make pre - Hall. The event was organized by the school administration, Armenian department sentations on Armenian history at the West teachers and music teacher. Honorary guests of the event included Archbishop Hartford Campus of the University of Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, along with Rev. Manoug Connecticut, sponsored by the School of Social Markarian of St. John Church and School Work and the Norian Program of UConn. Next, Board Chairman George K. Mandossian. he was the guest speaker at the Holy Ascension Principal Dr. Manoug Seraydarian, stu - (Hampardzum) Church in Trumbull in the dents, parents, guests, teachers and Bridgeport area, under the auspices of Father school staff gathered at the school court - Untzag Nalbandian and the Men’s Society. yard in the morning, to enjoy a day of per - Before returning to California, Drs. Richard and formances, Armenian food and games. Archbishop Barsamian presents parishioner John Vartiter Hovannisian also had the opportunity Prior to the commencement of the cele - Eskandarian with the St. Nersess Shnorhali Medal. to visit Southern Connecticut State University bratory functions at the Walter and and to be given a tour of the campus by recent - Laurel Karabian Hall, Kindergarten ly-installed President Mary Arshagouni teacher Aline Bezdigian conducted an A reception in honor of the occasion fol - Papazian and her husband, Dr. Dennis amusing puppet show for students rang - Papazian. lowed, where the newly-ordained altar servers ing from Prekindergarten to third grade. were congratulated by family and friends in the At 11 a.m., senior student Nerses parish. Bogosyan delivered the opening remarks “Steve and Lou are two young Armenians Attorney Vartkes of the event in which he greeted and wel - who have been deeply inspired by their service comed the attendants and guests, stress - to the church, and have made a spiritual home ing upon the significance of the event as here,” said St. Sahag and St. Mesrob’s pastor a reminder of the Armenian culture and Yeghiayan Awarded Pop singer Ani Christy performs her the Very Rev. Oshagan Gulgulian. “Our church identity. Next, elementary Armenian hit songs. is very proud of their achievement.” Papal Medal teacher Arevik Nazaryan presented the Later that evening, a dance in the renovated fourth and fifth grade students, who church hall brought together several genera - LOS ANGELES — Glendale attorney Vartkes played a short skit written by Bezdigian. Dressed in traditional Armenian cos - tions of parishioners — some of whom had trav - Yeghiayan was recently awarded a papal medal tumes, the children read letters to the great Armenian King Tigran the Great in an eled from out of town especially for the week - (cavaleri) by Archbishop Raphael Minassian at emotional performance. end. the Armenian Diocese. The medal had been see DICKRANIAN, page 5 The feeling of an anniversary reunion of fam - awarded by the retired and venerable Pope ilies and friends continued into Sunday, as the Benedict XVI in recognition for Yeghiayan’s community gathered in the church’s sun-lit work and endeavors to secure compensation for sanctuary for the Divine Liturgy. Armenian Genocide heirs. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian was the cele - Yeghiayan is an Armenian-American attorney brant and delivered a homily on the season of specializing in international law. Yeghiayan is the Holy Cross, and on the way the cross of known for launching several lawsuits against Christ has inspired more than four generations insurance companies for insurance policies of worshippers at St. Sahag and St. Mesrob. issued to Armenians in the early twentieth cen - “This parish started out in West Philadelphia, tury during the time of the Armenian Genocide. in a neighborhood where the immigrant After gathering evidence and finding several Armenian families lived and worked close to descendants of the victims of the Genocide, in one another,” the Primate observed. “But 50 1999 he filed a class action lawsuit against New years ago, the people of this church were faced York Life in a case which lasted for four years. with a choice. They had built a vital Armenian In January 2004, New York Life agreed to settle community — and were proud of that fact. A by paying $20 million to the plaintiffs. Since whole new generation had grown up together, then Yeghiayan, along with colleagues Mark and formed a tight-knit group — an extended Geragos and Brian Kabateck, have filed suits Armenian folk dancing by ADS students family.” against other insurance companies, including The community was growing and changing, AXA, which agreed to settle in 2005 by paying he said; and that momentum inspired the see $17.5 million. WYNNEWOOD, page 7 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 9, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 COMMUNITY NEWS Dickranian School Celebrates Armenian Cultural Month

DICKRANIAN, from page 4 After Shahbazyan’s performance, attendants Next, the first special guest of the event, Seda were invited to enjoy the authentic Armenian Hayrian, a known teacher and former TV host, dishes and drinks that were served in the court - addressed the students about Armenia and its yard of the school by students. Attendants and history. Hayrian talked about Armenian histori - guests mingled together, savoring the food and cal figures who played a significant role in shap - music, after which they gathered around the ing and sustaining the Armenian culture, such basketball court to cheer for the 10th and 11th as Mesrob Mashdots and Komitas, and graders in their spirited basketball match. Armenian painters from the Medieval period Following the basketball game, everyone who have left a rich heritage for Armenians to reconvened at the Karabian Hall for the second admire and be proud of. Hayrian also talked part of the program which included recitation of Armenian poetry arranged by junior high Armenian teacher Nazelie Kojayan, Armenian folk dances presented by the junior high and high school students and songs performed by the school choir, which was conducted by music teacher, Keshishian. High school student Armine Gulyan as usual delighted the guests with her beautiful operatic voice singing the classic Armenian song Garmeer Vart and junior high students recited Armenian poetry. Following the various cultural performances, Seraydarian thanked the teachers, performing students and supportive parents for their effort and devotion in organizing this event. He also invited parents to participate in future events and work hand-in-hand in order to achieve the Archbishop Hovnan Derderian conducts a pledge with the students to safeguard the Armenian identi - school’s noble goals. ty and culture. The last act of the event was delivered by

singer Ani Christy, one of Armenia’s most famous pop stars, who performed her hit songs, to which parents and students started a circle dance. She ended her appearance as students Singer Hovhannes Shahbazyan sings popular joined her on the stage and danced with her Armenian songs. during her last song. The cheerful performance about non-Armenian poets such as Lord Byron who had learned the Armenian language and culture and praised them. After Hayrian’s talk, Armenian Department Chairperson Anahit Nasoyan invited Derderian to deliver his message to the students. Derderian spoke about the importance of main - taining the Christian identity of Armenia and concluded his remarks by conducting a pledge in which students vowed to safeguard their Armenian heritage and strive to serve their community and motherland. Next, popular Armenian singer Hovhannes Shahbazyan took the Karabian stage and sang several Armenian popular songs ending his series with Komitas’s Horovell to which students and parents clapped and cheered, igniting an air of celebration in The school choir sings. the hall.

High school student Armine Gulyan sings Garmeer Vart.

lit the hall with joy and brought the celebration to a lively end. Located at 1200 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, the TCA Arshag Dickranian Armenian School is a federally tax exempt, Pre-K to 12th grade private educational institution. For more information visit the school’s website www.dickranianschool.org.

Entertainment Fridays and Saturdays 6 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 9, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Soorp Haroutiun Church Celebrates Dedication of Cultural Hall

ORLANDO, Fla. — Soorp Haroutiun Church ordination service is the first of many to be per - marked its third anniversary on Sunday, formed in this young parish.” October 27, and celebrated the dedication of its At the conclusion of services, Archbishop cultural hall — a step that the community hopes Barsamian led a veneration prayer for the will help inject new energy into parish life. “Relic of St. Vartan the Brave” — a gift to the Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of Eastern Diocese from His Holiness Karekin II, the Diocese of the Armenian Church of the Catholicos of All Armenians — which the America (Eastern), celebrated the Divine Primate had brought with him from St. Vartan Liturgy. He was assisted by the Very Rev. Cathedral in New York. Anania Tsaturyan, a visiting priest from Holy Parishioners then gathered in the church Echmiadzin, and Deacon Vahe Bagdasarian, a narthex, where Archbishop Barsamian blessed student at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary. a plaque in honor of the late Haroutiun and Khoren Mekanejian, the Diocese’s Music Siranoush Toufayan, the parents of church Ministry coordinator, directed the choir. benefactor Hratch Toufayan. Hratch Toufayan During badarak , Archbishop Barsamian and his wife, Suzanne, served as the grand god - ordained three young men — John Vatian, fathers of Soorp Haroutiun Church when it was Robert Vatian, and Narek Nersisyan — to the consecrated in 2010. The plaque was hung rank of acolyte. The three had worked with the above the doors leading into the sanctuary. Archbishop Barsamian also blessed the church’s cultural hall, which was dedicated in honor of longtime parishioners Drs. Aram and Aida Khatchadourian Tchobanian. The couple led a ribbon-cutting ceremony; they had served as cornerstone godfathers at the church’s con - secration, and recently made a generous contri - bution to the parish. “We want to see this cultural hall used by the Armenian community,” Dr. Aida Khatchadourian Tchobanian said, adding that she hoped it would serve the old and young alike. “It’s a great place Drs. Aram and Aida Khatchadourian Tchobanian cut the ribbon to the church’s cultural hall. for Armenians to get together after church. For the children, especially, it’s perfect for meeting each other, playing together, and keeping the help with the project, but other support will be their support of and participation in parish life. Armenian spirit alive.” needed as plans move forward. “It was only three years ago that I consecrated In the afternoon, a banquet was held in the Barsamian thanked the Toufayan and this beautiful church in central Florida, but Archbishop Khajag Barsamian ordains young new hall. Dr. Albert Eckian served as the mas - Khatchadourian Tchobanian families for their gen - already there are signs of growth and vibrancy men to the rank of acolyte. ter of ceremonies. Young flautist Sara Nazarian erosity, and extended his appreciation to the here,” Barsamian said. “I am so proud of what has performed several selections. parish council members, Sunday School superin - been accomplished here, and I look forward to cel - tendent and staff, and the entire community for ebrating new milestones with you in the future.” 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

Hratch and Suzanne Toufayan look on as Archbishop Khajag Barsamian blesses a plaque in honor GF UiNrEaRgAoL sHiaOMn E of the late Haroutiun and Siranoush Toufayan, which has been hung in the church narthex. James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC Mark J. Giragosian parish’s former visiting pastor, the Rev. Parish Council member Lucine Mardirosian- Funeral Counselors Abraham Malkhasyan, as well as other parish - Harvey spoke about fundraising for the 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 ioners to prepare for their new responsibilities. church’s planned Armenian Genocide memorial www.giragosianfuneralhome.com “It is such a joy to see these young men step — a khatchkar monument that will be installed forward and serve their church,” Archbishop on church grounds. Drs. Aram and Aida Barsamian said. “I am confident that today’s Khatchadourian Tchobanian have agreed to Telephone (617) 924-7400 NAASR Hosts Armenian Dialects Lecture Aram Bedrosian BELMONT, Mass. — Linguist Luc Vartan arguments in favor of such a view have already Baronian will present a lecture titled “On the been proposed by noted linguists. Baronian Funeral Home, Inc. Classification, Antiquity and Spread of the brings the arguments together for the first Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 Armenian Dialects ” on Thursday, November 21 time, along with a series of new findings from at 7:30 p.m. at the National Association for a careful study of dialect material. As will be MARION BEDROSIAN Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) made clear, this new take on Armenian 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN Center, 395 Concord Ave. dialects is more consistent with a prehistoric WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN In this talk, Baronian will propose a new def - spread of the Armenian language from the inition of the East/West border dividing tradi - West of the Plateau to its East, rather than the tional Armenian dialects. The original defini - opposite. tion, due to Adjarian’s (1909) foundational Holder of a PhD in Linguistics from Stanford Edward D. Jamakordzian, Jr. d/b/a work, is based on the present tense formation University, Baronian is an associate professor of and reflects the pre-1915 Russian/Ottoman Linguistics at the Université du Québec à border. Baronian will argue that a methodolog - Chicoutimi (UQAC). He is the principal investi - ically sounder division should rest on conso - gator on a three-year Quebec governmental Edward D. Jamie, Jr. nant systems, which then places the border grant on Lexical Diffusion in the Linguistics Funeral Chapel roughly between Greater Armenia and the Atlases of French Canada. He has published on Serving the entire Armenian Community minor kingdoms of the West. Louisiana French, Quebec French and Western Any Hour • Any Distance • Any Location By pushing back in time the Western con - Armenian in the areas of phonology, morpholo - Call (718) 224-2390 Toll Free (888) 224-6088 sonant system, it becomes much more likely gy and historical linguistics. that it was inherited from a spoken dialect con - For more information on this program, email Bus. Reg. 189-06 Liberty Ave., Hollis, NY 11412 temporary with Classical Armenian. Some [email protected]. Consultation Office: 217-04 Northern Blvd., (Suite 23), Bayside,NY 11361 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 9, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church Celebrates 50 Years In Wynnewood

WYNNEWOOD, from page ? founders of the parish to locate a new sanc - tuary which would serve the future needs of the parish. “It was a difficult choice, and it took great courage and foresight to make the decision,” said the Primate. “But in the end, your founders realized that in our mission as the Armenian Church in America, we must always look forward, and pursue growth. Your new church became the anchor for a whole new community — as Armenian families began to move into the surrounding towns, into the orbit of the St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church in Wynnewood. And as you moved to this area, you brought the Armenian Christian spirit with you.” To conclude the service, Archbishop Barsamian led a veneration prayer for the “Relic of St. Vartan the Brave” — a gift to the Eastern Diocese from Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians — which the Primate had brought with him from the Diocesan Center in New York. Following services, the crowd adjourned to the church hall for a beautiful anniversary banquet, over which the Primate presided. Also present for the occasion was Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, the Diocesan Legate. In the banquet program, Steven Barsamian served as master of ceremonies, offering a toast for the occasion before Marie Azadian Parishioners at the anniversary banquet at St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church officially welcomed the crowd on behalf of the parish’s 50th anniversary committee. Parish pastor Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian anniversary year were Helen Amirian, Deacon humble, self-effacing manner so characteris - the past half-century and more. offered remarks, as did Parish Council Minas Mihranian and Laura Zakian — each of tic of his long service to the Wynnewood The splendid two-day anniversary event Chairman Robert Zakian. Aykazian also whom received heartfelt applause from the parish. was co-chaired by Migirdich and Marie The Primate concluded the afternoon with Azadian and Robert and Nanette Zakian. his warm congratulations and blessings. Organizing committee members included As a special gift to each attendee, the orga - Alma Alabilikian, Laraine Ballard, Elizabeth nizing committee produced a beautiful com - Barsamian, Steve Barsamian, Julyet memorative book, some 90 pages in length, Degirmenci, Nadine Hoplamazian, Jovia filled with historical information and photos Keytanjian, Lisa Manookian and Robin of the people and events of the parish over Williams.

“Stewardship Award” recipient Helen Amirian with Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian spoke. audience as they came forward to be recog - The St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Junior Choir, nized. under the direction of Khoren Mekanejian, As a capstone to the banquet, longtime the Diocesan music ministry director, delight - parish leader John Eskandarian received the ed the crowd with a performance of two clas - “St. Nersess Shnorhali Medal,” conferred by “Stewardship Award” recipient Deacon Minas Mihranian with Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian and sic Armenian selections. Catholicos Karekin II. Archbishop Barsamian Archbishop Khajag Barsamian A photo montage prepared by Gulgulian presented the award to Eskandarian on transported attendees back through 50 years behalf of the Catholicos, and commended the of activity at the church: from the purchase honoree’s devotion to the youth of the of the property through parish events. parish. Viewers were especially touched to see the John Eskandarian’s work in the parish, and faces of many departed members, as well as the important role he has played in the life of living parishioners in their earlier days. its youth for several decades, were the sub - The parish also presented its 2013 ject of personal reflections delivered by “Stewardship Award” to three outstanding Gulgulian, Steve Barsamian and Alex parishioners who have been exemplary and Topakbashian. Finally, Eskandarian himself inspirational figures throughout these past approached the podium with his wife, Opy, 50 years. The honorees in this special beside him, to express his gratitude in the

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www.NEWTONAUTOANDSALES.com Contact Persons 249 Centre St. Newton, MA 02458 Tel: 617-964-6136/ 617-964-6131 JOSEPH KAMMOUJ “Stewardship Award” recipient Laura Zakian with Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian and Archbishop Khajag Fax #: 617-964-9139 Barsamian Like Us on Facebook STAN BOCHUKOV 8 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 9, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS

Randy Sapah-Gulian Sets Sights on Improving Lot of Youth in Armenia

has often said, “one of the greatest gifts that By Florence Avakian a parent can give a child is to teach them how to give.” Seferian and the team of medical doctors NEW YORK — For Randy Sapah-Gulian, from around the world that are part of the the future of Armenia depends on assisting Pediatric Critical Care Association were also young people. “The plan of our foundation is in Armenia in July. This group meets once a to build a broad yet inter-locking range of year for training and education. During last programs directly focused on the Armenian year’s meeting they decided to make this youth. We believe that the youth in all soci - training available to doctors and nurses in eties are the foundation from which you can Armenia. Five doctors from the US, Seferian develop something of substance that and four non-Armenians from different hos - endures,” said Sapah-Gulian in a recent inter - pitals made this trip to Armenia. Seferian view. headed the team. A pediatric critical care spe - Sapah-Gulian founded the Sapah-Gulian cialist, Seferian worked at the Mayo Clinic for Foundation in 2012, which works through eight years, and has been with at Cedar Sinai the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR). He Hospital in Los Angeles for the last four. explained that programs supported by the US Ambassador John Heffern visited the foundation would emphasize several youth- Muratsan hospital where the team’s program oriented initiatives, such as the Pediatric was housed to observe the training and make Critical Care Program, promoted by his a presentation to the doctors. The 30 local Randy Sapah-Gulian and Dr. Ed Seferian with Ambassador John Heffern, right brother-in-law, Dr. Edward Seferian of Cedar doctors and nurses who took part will be Sinai Hospital. “This Medical Training involved in the follow-up training that will Program — Pediatric Critical Care, which is stressed Sapah-Gulian. “Further, the chal - agree.” take place every year with the help from a an international program in scope, will lenge, of course, with developing these types A benefactor who has been to Armenia grant from the Sapah-Gulian Foundation. emphasize the healthy growth of children so of programs is to maintain a high level of more than 40 times, Sapah-Gulian is chair - While in Armenia these five “very eager” doc - they may become productive members of quality and to not lose focus. Better to do man of FAR, which since the 1988 earth - tors visited other hospitals, demonstrating society,” he said. three or four things really well rather than quake has been deeply committed to assist - the commitment and energy with which they ing, rebuilding and providing educational and pursued their work, commented Sapah- training programs for Armenia’s population. Gulian. His expertise as a CEO and president in the The July trip was Seferian’s first visit to world of providing human capital solutions to Armenia. “We were all engaged to provide large corporations around the world makes better care and train the trainers, especially him a seasoned team player for FAR’s ambi - outside of Yerevan which was the center of tious programs in Armenia. the training,” he explained. “We taught “In the world outside of what I do for didactically, using hands-on simulation equip - Armenia, through my company we now have ment to mimic real life situations.” In large-scale Human Capital Programs running Yerevan, the five-person team worked with 20 in 62 countries for our clients. We should be local doctors and four nurses, including two able to use those learnings to benefit the peo - medical translators. Their plan is to continue ple of Armenia,” he explained. this project in Armenia so they can educate On his last visit to Armenia in July, Sapah- local physicians and others who provide help Gulian met with Catholicos of All Armenians to critically ill children. Karekin II, and US Ambassador to Armenia For Seferian, it was also “breathtaking to John Heffern to explain and promote the stand on the soil of our homeland and to see goals of his foundation. With him were his the snow-capped mountains, especially Mt. wife Corinne (nee Seferian), his two younger Ararat, the strong symbol of Armenia. This daughters and his niece. trip is the beginning of an ongoing and long- Randy Sapah-Gulian with children at the FAR Children’s Center in Yerevan His daughters, Alexa, 20, Olivia, 16, and term relationship. It was very rewarding to Gabrielle, 15, have all been to Armenia and give back to Armenia, and it will definitely volunteered at the FAR Children’s Center in continue.” The Sapah-Gulian Foundation focuses on 10-20 things adequately. The Pediatric Care Yerevan – one of FAR’s most important pro - And for Sapah-Gulian and his family estab - children from an “early age on having the program is an international program with the jects. “Our three daughters will one day be lishing this crucial program in Armenia right kinds of care, such as what the pediatric highest training and certification standards the trustees of our foundation,” he empha - through his foundation accentuates his life- care program provides all the way through run by leading pediatric doctors from around sized, “and they know they have a large long belief that “everyone has to have some - the educational process, ultimately leading to the world. To be perfectly frank, when Ed responsibility.” He then quoted Archbishop thing that speaks to them. For our family, it job training and employment. It is the life suggested bringing it to Armenia to my wife, Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian is children, Armenia, and Armenians.” he cycle from birth through to their early 20s,” Corinne, it probably took me 30 seconds to Diocese (eastern), and President of FAR who said.

an evening of tranquility, smiles, treats and sur - A Royal Evening prises. It was an event fit for the Queen herself. Those in attendance were asked to wear a hat With HMADS on this special Mother’s Tea. Ladies of all ages, from young moms, grandmothers, and ladies within the Armenian community joined in the Mothers excitement of singing, participating in a cre - ative activity and joyfully conversing with one another. By Diana Tavitian-Kojoian Kalustyan Hall was decorated in an autumn motif and a lavish table was set in the middle of the room, heaped with hors d’oeuvres. There BAYSIDE, N.Y. — It was a royal affair on the was an array of delicacies representing the culi - eve of Thursday, October 24, when the Class nary art from the Armenian cuisine to contem - Mothers at the Holy Martyrs Armenian Day porary international, including the famous School (HMADS) gathered together to prepare cucumber teapot shape sandwiches. Fruit platters were abundant with oranges shaped like blos - soming flowers. A watermelon full of various fruits which was carved in the shape of a tea ket - tle, sat in the middle of the table. And of course, a tea party would - A proper tea party with HMADS mothers n’t be complete without tea and cake. Ladies were able to enjoy vari - piano. The crowd was so pleased with the musi - contest. ous flavored tea (including decaf cal selections, they requested more As the hats were given out, various materials and herbal) As the evening pro - songs. Copies of popular Armenian songs were also distributed. Participants were allowed gressed ladies sipped on their placed on each table encouraged all to partici - to use anything they had within their pocket - tea, they were entertained by the pate in singing, led by Rakoubian. books as well. beautiful voices of Yeretsgin Finally, before the winning ticket was picked The table whose hat won top honors went to A festive tea table Karine Malkhasyan and Hasmig for the raffle prize (a Michael Aram bowl), each an HMADS alumna and mom, Kristen Kelekian- Rakoubian, who also played the table of guests participated in a hat-decorating Hackman. S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 9, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS A New Playwright in Town: Taleen Babayan Dazzles

Spectator . Furthermore, she continues to receive the attention Kaprielian. Harout Chatmajian, one of the directors of the By Hagop Vartivarian and care of her loving mother, Hermine. Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Mher Megerdchian Theatrical Like many others of her generation, Babayan spent her col - Group, contributed greatly to the acting aspect of the play. lege years away from home in a non-Armenian environment, but The play teems with the painful phenomenon of Armenian- NEW YORK — The cultural life of the Greater New York maintained the ties to her Armenian culture during that time. American contemporary life. For example, the family priest Armenian community was further enriched with the theatrical She has acquired her knowledge of the Armenian language at (played by Taniel Ohanian) introduces Paul (played by Andrew endeavor of Taleen Babayan. Already a familiar name to the home and from Saturday Armenian School. She is worthy of Saganda), a seminarian who aspires to become a priest yet who readership of the Armenian-Mirror Spectator for the last much praise. doesn’t know one word of Armenian. He will serve in the decade with her frequent articles and reporting, we are doubly Back to the play. “Where Is Your Groom?” is 80-percent Armenian Church and if left to such priests, our sacred Badarak pleased to see a young talent interested in writing plays, possi - English and 20-percent Armenian and they complement each will be performed in English one day. Babayan highlights this bly the most difficult genre of literature. other in perfect harmony. All the young actors at the perfor - and many other painful occurrences within our community life mance on Saturday, October 26, at The in her play. ANAHID KAPRIELIAN PHOTO Players Theatre, were essentially the prod - We congratulate her and the team of young cast and crew uct of the Middle East and close to 250 and who continue to keep our theatrical heritage alive. attendees watched their acting and accu - -Translated by Nerses Babayan rate Armenian pronun - ANAHID KAPRIELIAN PHOTO ciation with pure plea - sure. The play takes place at the home of Koko (Aris Hamparsoumian) and Siroun (Katherine Sabbagh). The couple’s two children, Lara (Zarig Baghdadlian) and Saro [Haig Minassian], wish to marry non-Armenians, after having bad expe - riences dating in their own community. Lara introduces her parents Taleen Babayan on stage with the cast and crew of “Where Is Your Groom” after the to an ignorant performance. American young man, who has not even heard Koko (played by Aris Hamparsumian), Siroun (played by Katherine Sabbagh) and of Armenia. Meanwhile, Medz Mayrig (played by Lori Cinar) play matchmaker to Lara (played by Zarig Babayan possesses a deep knowledge of what defines an Lara’s parents introduce her to young men of Baghdadlian) BELOW: The family home of the Keshishians, who are searching for a Armenian-American family: the traditional family clinging firm - Armenian families. Finally, she meets the suitor for their daughter ly to ethnic customs, juxtaposed with the current generation right Armenian and the engagement (khos - striving to adapt and adjust to a new environment. Whereas gab) takes place as well-known singer Robert ANAHID KAPRIELIAN PHOTO during the last century renowned literary figures such as Chilingirian enters the stage singing a wed - Peniamin Nourigian, Aram Haigaz, Vahe Hayg, Souren ding song. Manuelian, and Hagop Asadourian lamented the pain of immi - Some on the stage had acting experience grants arriving from historic Armenia, today Babayan laments and others none, yet all performed very well. the pain of young Armenian-Americans, whose families arrived The set, featuring an Armenian living room, from Beirut, Aleppo, Istanbul, and Tehran, and who strive to was beautifully furnished. Other participants speak and live the Armenian spirit outside of their homeland. included Lori Cinar, Joe Hovsepian, Tanya We only hope that her endeavor becomes an inspiration to her Bas, Taniel Ohanian, Raffi Gulbenk, Sarkis generation. Yenikomshuyan, Sedrak Yenikomshuyan, She was indeed raised in a traditional Armenian family. Her Daniella Baydar, Taniel Ekshian, Andrew grandfather, Yervant Babayan, is a prominent educator and pro - Saganda and Edwin Baghdasarian. lific writer, and her father, Nerses, was engaged in journalism Backstage volunteers were Taleen for many years and associated with the Armenian Mirror- Baghdadlian, Anoush Gulian and Anahid

ANAHID KAPRIELIAN PHOTO

The sold out crowd waiting outside The Players Theatre before the show. 10 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 9, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Arts & Living AIWA Presents A Mainstream Exploration of Writer Zabel Yessayan, Post- Home for Genocide Literature Alternative Art ARLINGTON, Mass. — Intellectuals who sur - vived the Armenian Genocide struggled to In Armenia come to grips with the enormity of their nation’s loss and to find a way to reflect this predicament in their creative work. The writer By Elizabeth Zach Zabel Yessayan experimented with several dif - ferent approaches in her post-genocide writing. YEREVAN (New York Times) — Every week - A recognized author, Yessayan had been the end at the Vernissage Market here, locals and only woman on the Turkish government’s list of tourists survey handsomely woven Persian intellectuals to be arrested and sent to exile and rugs, vintage Soviet military medals, samovars, death on April 24, 1915, but she managed to chess sets and intricately carved jewelry boxes. evade the police and escape abroad. The 1920s It’s like a step back in time to a Silk Road found her living in Paris and publishing various bazaar. fiction and non-fiction books and articles. In contrast, just across the street sits a staid In a talk at the Armenian Cultural and humble building, designed as an auditori - Foundation (ACF) on Sunday, November 17, um when the Cold War was drawing to a close Prof. Nanor Kebranian of Columbia University and then, for a time afterward, left vacant. In will examine the topic “The Survival of front, appropriately, is Yervand Kochar’s tower - Empathy: Zabel Yessayan and Post-Genocide ing 1959 sculpture “Melancholy,” seemingly Armenian Literature.” serving as a testament to the political and eco - Kebranian cites words of journalist Hrant nomic crises that have convulsed Armenia since Dink that “echo the wisdom of numerous the collapse of Communism in the region near - Armenian intellectuals who survived the Young ly a quarter century ago. Turk’s genocidal campaign during the First The statue, however, also gestures promising - World War” and ly to the building itself, which since 1995 has “signal a veritable housed the Norar Pordzarakan Arvesti crisis of empathy Kentron, or Armenian Center for understood in its Contemporary Experimental Art. Founded by psychoanalytic Armenian émigrés to the US and hailed by sense.” Yessayan many as the epicenter of Armenia’s culture rev - recognized “both olution and renaissance, it hosts exhibits by the perils and young, avant-garde artists and offers concerts promises of Jewelry created by Arto Hachikian for families of Boston Marathon Bombing victims and performances in its large auditorium. Armenian-Turkish Among other endeavors, artists at the center empathy, of posi - initiated and organized Armenia’s participation tioning oneself as at the Venice Biennale in 1995, and continued the other,” Jeweler Designs Gifts for to do so for eight years. And the center’s Prof. Nanor Kebranian Kebranian points founders are set to introduce an independent out. Her talk will study program for graduates in the arts and explore the impli - Boston Marathon Victims architecture, modeled on a similar one at the cations of this recognition as evidenced in some Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. of Yessayan’s postwar writing, especially in “It used to be that many of our young artists terms of survival. WATERTOWN — Local jeweler, Harutyun Arto Hachikian, on Sunday, November would exhibit their work in underground gal - Kebranian is an assistant professor at 3, presented jewelry especially designed for the families of Boston Marathon leries,” said Sevada Petrossian, the center’s Columbia in the Department of Middle Bombing victims MIT Officer Sean Collier and 8-year-old Martin Richard, as well as coordinator of architectural events. “We like to Eastern, South Asian and African Studies. She injured MBTA Officer Richard H. Donohue, at the Armenian Library and Museum think of the center as a mainstream place for received her doctorate from the University of of America (ALMA). “These are special pieces I designed for them from my heart. alternative art.” Oxford with generous graduate fellowships They are innocent victims of this tragedy,” Hachikian explained. For a city of roughly one million, Yerevan’s from both the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Hachikian was born in 1960 in the Bunyan Gigi village in the Kayseri Province of artistic standing and cachet have been notable and the Clarendon Fund (Oxford). Her special - Turkey. His great-grandfather died during the Genocide. Since leaving Istanbul at in the past century. In 1972, the Soviet Union izations encompass, but are not limited to, late the age of 17, Hachikian has worked as a established its first Museum of Modern Art Ottoman social, political, and cultural history, jeweler, traveling to Greece, Canada and here. The city’s National Art Gallery showcases and literary studies. Current projects include a New York before settling in Boston in 1984. the third-largest collection of European masters book monograph on late Ottoman prison nar - He has hand-designed jewelry for his in the former Soviet Union, including works by ratives and a study of “Diaspora” as an anti- Boston-based jewelry store, Anais Jewelry, Rodin, Rubens and Tintoretto. And Yerevan communal ethic and for retail stores throughout the coun - itself exudes a distinct bygone elegance, with its The program is sponsored by the Armenian try. softly hued 19th-century tuff stone edifices that International Women’s Association (AIWA) as Hachikian is no stranger to loss and line its leafy boulevards. part of a current project whose focus is to tragedy. In 2002, Hachikian was in a car Aside from the center and its focus on exper - translate into English and make available the accident and sustained a spinal cord injury, imental art, there is also the Cafesjian Center works of the pioneering Armenian women leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. for the Arts. Opened in November 2009, it writers of the late nineteenth and early twen - “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. holds an extensive collection of contemporary tieth centuries. Yessayan is a major figure of … I could feel their pain through my own and glass art, as well as works by Marc Chagall the period, and AIWA plans to release by the pain,” said Hachikian. But Hachikian hopes and John Altoon, who was of Armenian descent. end of the year two volumes of translations his story will offer the survivors and their And yet, despite Yerevan’s artistic fervor, into English: one the complete edition of families hope. when Edward Balassanian and his wife, Sonia, Yessayan’s memoir of her childhood and early Through years of determination and per - set out to establish the contemporary and education in Istanbul, The Gardens of severance, he has relearned to make jewelry experimental art center, they expected — and Silihdar , and the other Yessayan’s multi-lay - from his wheelchair, despite partial paraly - encountered — resistance. ered novel, My Soul in Exile, along with sis in both hands. He relies on his wife, “While we believe in academic education, we other short works. Alice, to help with his daily activities, but he also promote breaking away from it once study Co-sponsors of the talk are the National has returned to doing what he loves — is completed,” Balassanian said. “Those within Association for Armenian Studies and Research designing jewelry. Each piece is custom- Jewelry created by Arto Hachikian certain art circles, namely some artists schooled and the ACF. designed and made by Hachikian. for families of Boston Marathon during the Soviet era and most of the members The public is invited to attend the program, “As Armenian-American citizens, we Bombing victims of the Painters Union of Armenia, still either free of charge, beginning at 2 p.m. at the ACF, stand strong in support of our American don’t understand the center’s motives and/or 441 Mystic St., Arlington. A discussion period heroes, including the victims of the Boston vocally reject its projects.” and reception will follow the program. Marathon bombings. We respect and honor the victims and their families. God bless The Balassanians are part of Armenia’s glob - Further information about this program or America. Be strong,” said Hachikian. al diaspora of eight million. They were both AIWA’s various initiatives to increase the “They will always be in our hearts and thoughts as an American heroes for free - born and raised in Iran, fleeing the country in visibility of Armenian women is available dom,” he added. 1979 after the Islamic revolution and eventual - by contacting AIWA at 65 Main St., — Gabriella Gage ly settling in New York. Watertown, [email protected] or But when Armenia declared its independence www.aiwainternational.org. see GALLERY, page 11 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 9, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 ARTS & LIVING Big Role for ‘A Little Princess’ in Boston

BOSTON — Actress Sirena Abalian of Lexington will be girl with a big imagination. Separated from her father and featured in Fiddlehead Theatre Company’s production of “A the open-hearted Africans who helped him raise her, young Little Princess” at the Strand Theatre (543 Columbia Road, Sara is sent to boarding school in London. When things go Dorchester) November 21 to December 8. badly for her there, her imaginative powers come to the res - This production is a Boston-area premiere, and cue, helping to transform a drab institution into a place of Fiddlehead Theatre Company’s first as the new resident magic and mystery. As the girl wins the affection of the company at Boston’s historic Strand Theatre. other boarders she draws the ire of Miss Minchin, the dour Tony-Nominated composer Andrew Lippa will present a headmistress; Sara is made a servant to the institution when talkback following the show on Friday, November 29, host - her father is reported dead, his fortune is seized. Sara coun - ed by WGBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen. ters the headmistress’s best efforts to degrade her with the Abalian, a junior at Lexington High School, will play the grace and virtue of a true princess. lead role of Sara Crewe in “A Little Princess.” She has been “A Little Princess” is presented through special arrange - acting in professional theater since the age of 6 and has ment with Music Theatre International (MTI). appeared in numerous Fiddlehead Theatre Company is the resident theater com - productions through - pany of the historic Strand Theater located in Dorchester. out the Boston area Since its inception in 1993, Fiddlehead Theatre Company including most recent - has been dedicated to producing professional theater expe - ly, “Fame, Jr.” with riences for the greater Boston community, and educating Fiddlehead Theatre. local youth in the theater arts through its Children’s She was awarded Theatre Division. Fiddlehead’s partnership with the City of “Most Promising Boston designating the company as residents of the Strand Performance by a Child Theatre has placed the IRNE award winning theater-compa - Actor” by the ny on the forefront of Boston’s regional theater community. Independent Named after the fantastical fiddlehead fern found in fairy- Reviewers of New tales and symbolic of imagination, Fiddlehead Theatre England (IRNE) for her Company is committed to producing theater that uplifts the performance as Jojo, in spirit while engaging audiences in provocative social issues, Wheelock Family motivating and energizing their audiences to renew their Theater’s production commitment to community, and instilling hope for a better of “Seussical The tomorrow. Sirena Abalian as Sara in “A Musical.” Tickets may be purchased by calling the box office or Little Princess” “A Little Princess” online at www.fiddleheadtheatre.com. Student, senior and tells the story of a little group discounts are available. Lianna Haroutounian Stars in ‘Les Vespres Sicilienne’

enemy is also his biological father. These are Some of you may feel that this represents pre - nists. This is first-rate casting. By Rupert Christiansen familiar Verdian tropes, handled so lamely and cisely the sort of arrogant liberty of interpreta - The chorus raises the roof in thrilling fashion, clumsily by the librettists that it is hardly sur - tion that has become extremely unpopular and Antonio Pappano’s ardently committed con - prising that for the opera’s first-ever Covent among mainstream audiences, and you certain - ducting never becomes emptily hysterical: the LONDON (Daily Telegraph) — Composed Garden production, the director Stefan ly can’t extract perfect narrative logic from the delicacy and detail of the orchestration glows. just after La Traviata, Les Vêpres Siciliennes Herheim and his team of dramaturgs and new mise-en-scène. I can only say that I found it Never mind the production’s occasional represents one of the biggest jumps in Verdi’s designers have chosen to jettison the superfi - magnificent to look at, and profoundly Verdian excesses and eccentricities: executed at every career — an opera in five acts, cial historical setting. Instead they in its theatricality and response to the music. designed to gratify the exigent freely and poetically explore the Others will disagree, no doubt. tastes of a jaded Parisian public and REVIEW work in terms of its historical con - But the four principal singers are indis - its demand for extravagant specta - text and implications. putably excellent: Lianna Haroutounian sings cle and extensive ballet interludes. The Herheimers takes us inside with poise, sweep and warmth as the noble But given its sprawling plot, extreme vocal the Paris Opéra of the mid-19th century, where heroine, failing only to render the shimmy and demands and a score of variable quality, it has revolutionary artists are battling backstage sparkle of her final Bolero . The men are just been neglected and even scorned by posterity. against the forces of royalist reaction. From the about ideal: Bryan Hymel effortlessly navigates Set in medieval Sicily, it tells a semi-fictitious boxes, an audience watches with detached the high-lying tenor role, and stentorian tale of rebellion against foreign occupation, piv - amusement and interest — they don’t take it for Michael Volle and snakey Erwin Schrott could oting on a son’s discovery that his political real, and perhaps we shouldn’t either. not be bettered as the double-crossing antago - A Mainstream Home for Alternative Art in Armenia

GALLERY, from page 10 vent the wheel, he said, he and his contempo - hard-pressed to find a place to screen his work. from the Soviet Union in 1991, Balassanian, an raries are pushing for a larger building to house Despite Yerevan’s growth, there is only one architect and urban planner, and his wife, a the works now at Yerevan’s Museum of Modern operating cinema in the city, and he did not feel painter and poet who has exhibited at major Art. it fit his alternative genre, he said. A friend sug - venues in the United States and Europe, includ - In response, Edward Balassanian said the gested contacting the center, which offered him ing The Project Room of the Museum of establishment of the Museum of Modern Art in a screening room. Modern Art in New York, were eager to return. 1972 was indeed “a daring act,” and he draws a “One year later, I was invited by the center to After the Islamic revolution, she began con - parallel between it and the center he co-found - chair their cinema department,” said Ghazareh, centrating her art on cultural, political and ed. who joined in 1999, later becoming the center’s social suppression, and she felt a natural calling “It was an expression of resilience and audac - artistic director and has since gone on to devel - Lianna Haroutounian toward Armenia. In 1992, she organized her ity under politically repressive conditions,” he op annual festivals in Yerevan for film and the - first contemporary art exhibit in Yerevan, said, noting that his center had “institutional - ater. including her work and that of eight other ized the concept and role of the curator as a dis - Vahram Akimian, another young filmmaker artistic level with terrific flair and verve, this is artists, culminating in the center’s official open - tinct profession, something that didn’t exist pre - who joined the center’s staff in 2005, is now the grand opera at its grandest — a gorgeous visual ing in 1994. She and her husband gradually viously in Armenia, as such tasks had been per - program director for the “One Shot” and musical treat. introduced video and multimedia art to the formed by government-appointed managers.” International Short Film Festival, which has The opera will run through November 11. Armenian art scene, as well as photography as With poverty, corruption and a weak democ - partners in Italy, the Netherlands, Russia and The performance on November 4 was relayed its own art genre. racy continuing to bedevil Armenia, the cen - Slovakia, among other countries. He was also live to cinemas in HD; a relay will be broadcast Not everyone in Yerevan has been receptive. ter’s artists say they seek to tether their work the center’s associate curator of the Armenian on BBC Radio 3 on November 18. Among those is Anatoly Avetyan, who began his to social and political issues alongside ques - Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2009. Today, artistic career in the 1970s and has gone on to tions of national identity and culture. The cen - he is the center’s director of video, cinema and command strong sales of his art, which includes ter organized an exhibition in 2007 called theater. metal works, paintings and sculptures now “Yerevan Crisis,” for example, which focused on “Our government speaks of a ‘national cul - owned by current and past presidents of Russia, social problems resulting from rapid growth, a ture’ or ‘national art,”’ said Akimian one after - Finland and Germany, not to mention George spontaneous boom in high-rise construction noon at the center as he looked across the The Armenian W. Bush. and escalating property prices. street at the bustling Vernissage Market. “But Mirror-Spectator “Much of the best generation of artists has This issue was also at play in 1997, when there’s still no agreement today on what that st already passed away,” he said. Rather than rein - Gagik Ghazareh, a film student at the time, was is.” Now in its 81 year of publication 12 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 9, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING Music, Literature and Religion in German-Armenian Cultural Dialogue

GERMANY, from page 1 days whose aim it was to In both Berlin and Stuttgart, it was culture “bring the two cultures that consolidated the bridge between the together and to present German and Armenian participants. Following Armenian culture, which has greetings by Vartkes Alyanak of the Berlin had great significance for the Armenian community, representatives of the European development, to a mayor and the Armenian Embassy spoke. broader public.” The initiative Diaspora Minister Hakobyan reported on carried as a slogan, progress in the independent Republic’s political “Enthralling Diversity, and economic development. In his keynote Fascinating Culture!” The speech, Prof. Mihran Dabag, from the Institute events ranged from speeches, for Diaspora and Genocide Research of the for example on “Armenia Ruhr University in Bochum, picked up the between Integration and theme introduced by his predecessors, of the Identity Safekeeping,” by “homeland” — a question that has acquired new Prof. Karen Swassjan, to a meaning for Armenians in the Diaspora since round table discussion on the establishment of an independent nation. “The Diaspora as Bridge Among the many Armenians living abroad Builders in Development are world-class musicians who have succeeded Cooperation – The Example in mastering the greatest achievements in both of Armenia.” Participants the European and Armenian traditions. Berlin could become acquainted with had the honor of hosting soprano Hrachuhi crucial features of Armenian Bassenz and bass Gor Harutyunyan as well as culture, like its cuisine, Diana Kruger Anahit Ter-Tatshatyan on the piano, who pre - through an introductory cook - sented works stretching from Giuseppe Verdi to ing workshop, for example, or Komitas. learn some basics of Armenian in a quick lan - part, recited a couple of poems in the original. ing which Archbishop Karekin Bekdjian, In Stuttgart the cultural festival opened with guage course. An event highlighting Armenian A special treat at this event was musical accom - Primate of the Diocese in Germany, delivered music and concluded with a gala concert. fairy tales provided a taste of folk culture. paniment by Mikael Bagratuni (the 16-year-old the blessing of the Catholicos to church leaders Following an ecumenical prayer service by German participants also had a chance to son of the cellist), who played some of his orig - and choir members. Later the same day, Father Diradur Sardaryan and Protestant min - get sample Armenia’s rich literary heritage. inal compositions on the piano. Authors also Margret Jaschke and Prof. Robert Stähle illus - presented some new works on the history of trated a project on the restoration work on bib - Armenia: former Greek Ambassador to lical texts being conducted at the Matenadaran Armenia Leonidas Th. Chrysanthopoulos in Yerevan, and Sardaryan presented a new vol - introduced the German edition of his book, ume of the complete liturgy of the Armenian Caucasus Chronicles, Nation-Building and Apostolic Church in a German translation, Diplomacy in Armenia, 1993-1994 , and I was which he worked on together with Prof. invited to do a reading from my book, Through Gabriele Winkler, a leading authority on the the Wall of Fire: Armenia — Iraq — Palestine: subject. From Wrath to Reconciliation . The highpoint The Armenian Cultural Days in Stuttgart among the literary contributions was a perfor - represent a considerable achievement, especial - mance of Dogan Akhanli’s play, “Anne’s ly in light of the fact that Sardaryan, who initi - Silence,” which deals with a Turkish-German ated the project three years ago, came to the immigrant girl’s discovery of her Armenian Armenian community in Baden-Wurttemberg roots. At the end of the emotionally powerful only in 2007. The increasing number of monologue, which was brilliantly performed by Germans who attend the events testifies to actress Bea Ehlers-Kerbekian, Rainer their growing interest in Armenia, its history, Blankenburg opened a round table discussion culture and current political process. And now, with Sibylle Thelen, author of a book on the from November 15-24, the Theater am Olgaeck, Armenian issue in Turkey, and myself, which which hosted the play and some readings, will members of the overflow audience joined. hold an Armenian film festival including ses - Most wanted to learn more about the back - sions with directors. ground of the ongoing debate in Turkey and Such events also prove that language need Conrad Kuhn and Christoph Haacker recite works by Charents. the perspectives for progress towards recogni - not be an obstacle to cultural exchange as a tion of the genocide, especially in the context part of understanding among different peoples. of the Gezi Park movement. Music, of course, plays a singular role in the ister Matthias Vosseler, pianist Ruben Author Konrad Kuhn from Vienna presented No portrayal of Armenian history and culture process because of its universality, as pianist Meliksetian, who has been awarded the an overview of the life and works of Yegishe could be complete without exploring the role of Hayrapetyan from the Acoustic Colors Quartet “Komitas medal” by the Armenian Diaspora Charents, and Christoph Haacker delivered a the church. On Sunday, October 27, a special emphasized. In impromptu remarks in English Ministry, performed works by Rachmaninoff, fiery recitation of selections in the new service took place at the Holy Cross Church at the end of the gala, he said he believed “It is Wagner-Liszt and Komitas. Four days later, the German translation by Kuhn – who, for his (Surb Khatch) to celebrate its 30th jubilee, dur - music that will save the planet.” several hundred guests who filled the New Palace hall for the gala concert had the oppor - tunity to hear magnificent soloist singers and instrumentalists who offered selections from the European and Armenian classical traditions as well as contemporary repertoire. Sponsor a Teacher in Armenia and Karabagh 2013 Mezzosopranos Juliette Galstian and Anna Manasyants, and Baritone Mikael Babajanyan gave passionate renditions of arias from operas including “Sayat Nova,” “Carmen” and “Don Since its inception in 2001, TCA’s ‘Sponsor Carlos,” whereas cellist Vache Bagratuni, violin - ist Kristina Altunjan and pianist Tatevik a Teacher’ program has raised over $563,000 Mokatsian delivered a brilliant performance of the F-Minor Piano Trio by Arno Babajanyan. and reached out to 4,440 teachers and The Acoustic Colors Quartet from Yerevan was the “surprise” announced for the second part of school workers in Armenia and Karabagh. the concert: mezzosoprano Varsenik Avanyan joined with pianist Vahagn Hayrapetyan, saxo - phonist Armen Hyusnunts and Norayr £ Kartashyan, expert on the duduk and other tra - ditional wind instruments (as well as drums), K Yes, I want to sponsor teachers in Armenia and Karabagh to continue dazzled the audience with one vibrant piece helping them to educate the children, our future leaders. I would like to have after another. The quartet displayed technical the teacher’s name and address. and musical mastery of European composition - K $160 K $ 320 K $ 480 K other $ al excellence in combination with traditional ————————— Armenian folk melodies, and transformed them Name through “cosmopolitan free-jazz” improvisation Address into a unique musical experience. As one news - City State Zip code paper wrote: “Their repertoire consists of their Tel: own works as well as elaborations of model examples of Armenian music. All their arrange - Make check payable to: Tekeyan Cultural Association – Memo: Sponsor a Teacher 2010 ments reflect an excellent feel for musical forms Mail your check with this form to: and produce a lively mixture of different stylis - TCA Sponsor a Teacher tic and sound levels which is internationally 5326 Valverde, Houston, TX 77056 comprehensible.” Between the opening and concluding musical Your donation is Tax Deductible. experiences were a series of activities over four S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 9, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 ARTS & LIVING CC AA LLEENNDDAARR

members Steve Dulgarian and Joe Dagdigian; remember - CONNECTICUT ing the 25th anniversary of the earthquake in Armenia; soloist Nina Hovsepian, accompanied by Mary Barooshian; NOVEMBER 23- Holiday Fair 10-3pm, Holy Resurrection On November 16 donation, $20 adults, $10 students. Armenian Church, 1910 Stanley Street, New Britain. at 11 a.m., the DECEMBER 6 AND 7 — Trinity Christmas Bazaar, Friday, Featuring Armenian food & pastries, Vendors for holiday Armenian 3-9 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Holy Trinity shopping, Kitchen Cafe, Santa appearance from 11 a.m. Women’s Welfare Armenian Church, 145 Brattle St., Cambridge. to 1 p.m. Admission is free. For more info, contact the Association DECEMBER 15 — Erevan Choral Society and Orchestra- church office at 860-223-7875. (AWWA) will host its 38th annual Christmas Holiday Concer t, 7 p.m., Church Sanctuary, Luncheon Auction Holy Trinity Armenian Church 145 Brattle St., Cambridge. MASSACHUSETTS at the Burlington Save the date, details to follow. Marriott, NOVEMBER 10 — “The Art of Madeline and Eunice Burlington, MA. MICHIGAN Kolligian” opening reception. 3 to 5 p.m. Armenian There will be silent Library and Museum of America, Inc. (ALMA), 65 Main auction and bid - NOVEMBER 24 — Members and friends of Detroit St., Watertown. Contemporary Art Gallery (3rd floor). ding with guest Tekeyan Cultural Association honor the retiring chair- Free Admission. For more info. [email protected], (617) auctioneers Al man of the TCA CHAPTER, Nora Azadian, 5 p.m., 926-2562. Kaprielian and Belian Art Center, Troy. NOVEMBER 10 — St. Stephen’s Ladies Guild presents Cindy Fitzgibbon. “The Gamavor Story,” performed by the Way We Were Tickets are $60. NEW JERSEY Ensemble of New York/ New Jersey, 2 p.m., St. Stephen’s Church Hall, Elton Ave., Watertown. Tickets: $20 NOVEMBER 9 — Armenian Democratic Liberal Party of advanced purchase, $25 at the door, $10 children under Greater New York invites all to an evening with Hasan 12. For tickets, contact Mary Derderian at NOVEMBER 16 — 50th anniversary celebration of the Cemal in an open discussion with the audience. 9.30 a.m., [email protected] or 781-762-4253; make checks Lowell Armenian Relief Society Center, 6:30 p.m., 142 Tekeyan Center, 560 Sylvan Ave., First Floor, Englewood payable to St. Stephen’s church. Liberty St., Lowell. MA. Appetizers, cocktails, music. Free Cliffs. RSVP Shoghig Chalian, 201-803-0240. NOVEMBER 16 — Armenian Women’s Welfare admission, donations welcomed. Reservations by Nov. Association (AWWA) 38th Annual Luncheon Auction, 9, please call either Sona Gevorkian, (781) 275-8875, or RHODE ISLAND Burlington Marriott, Burlington; 11 a.m. silent auction Sossy Jeknavorian, (978) 256-2538. and bidding; Guest auctioneers Al Kaprielian and Cindy NOVEMBER 17 — “The Survival of Empathy: Zabel NOVEMBER 9 and 10 — Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Armenian Fitzgibbon; $60 per person, Visa and MasterCard accept - Yessayan and Post-Genocidal Armenian Literature,” Church, Providence, 83rd Annual Armenian Food Fair ed. For reservations and info, contact: awwaauc - presentation by Columbia University Professor Nanor and Bazaar, Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and [email protected]. Kebranian. 2 p.m., Armenian Cultural Foundation, Sunday, noon to 6 p.m., Egavian Cultural Center, 70 NOVEMBER 16 — Second annual Mer Doon Benefit Arlington. Sponsored by the Armenian International Jefferson St. Authentic Armenian food and pastries, Take- Dance, 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., Charles Mosesian Cultural Women’s Association, with the National Association for out food booth. Armenian Market featuring traditional and Youth Center, 465 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown. Armenian Studies and Research and the Armenian Armenian favorites. Activities for children. Daily & scratch Featuring John Berberian, Bob Mougamian, Mal Cultural Foundation. ticket raffles. Silent auction, Penny social, TV room for Barsamian and Bruce Gigarian. Mezza, dessert table and DECEMBER 6 — Anniversary celebration by Lowell football. Cash, Check, Visa and MC accepted. Free admis - more. Tickets: $40 adult, $30 student; for tickets and “Aharonian” Gomideh, 6:30 p.m., St. Gregory Church, sion – everyone welcome. FREE valet parking. Call 401- table reservations, please call Mark at 617-256-5358. North Andover; dinner and program honoring 50-year 272-7712 or visit www.armenianfoodfairri.com

Shushi Dance Ensemble Performs in Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — On the occasion of the dles and pray. 100th anniversary of St. Sahag & Mesrob The following day, October 20, Shushi had its Armenian Church, 70 performers and more debut performance in Rhode Island with a patri - than 50 parents of the Shushi Armenian otic program of song and dance. Under the lead - Dance Ensemble of St. Vartan Cathedral in ership of artistic director and choreographer New York visited another state — Rhode Seta Paskalian-Kantardjian, 66 dancers of the Island. On October 19, the ensemble took the ensemble along with artists from Los Angeles, weekend trip to this historical state and made Calif., musical director Andranik Mouradian some time for sight-seeing the mansions of and vocalists Salpi Mailyan and Armen Newport. Hovannesyan, provided a performance that In the evening, St. Sahag & Mesrob earned a standing ovation. Armenian Church Cultural Committee and the On the occasion of the premier program of ACYOA Jrs, hosted members of the ensemble Shushi in Rhode Island, Souin presented and their families to a meet and greet with din - Paskalian-Kantardjian and the Shushi Dance ner and dancing. Father Shnork Souin, pastor Ensemble with a memorable plaque. of St. Sahag & Mesrob Armenian Church led For more information on Shushi Dance the group to the church sanctuary to light can - Ensemble, visit www.shushidance.org. Sushi Dance Ensemble group photo

Salpi Mailyan and Shushi dancers entertained the crowd. Taking a bow at the conclusion of the program 14 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 9, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

THE ARMENIAN COMMENTARY Mirror Six-Hundred-Year-Old Dream Fading

the issue of Karabagh. Is Karabagh included in the Customs Spectator By Edmond Y. Azadian Union? Should war break out, does defense of Karabagh enter into the military agreement between Yerevan and Moscow? “Am I the last poet? Am I the last singer [singing the praise] Recently, some reassuring voices have been heard from the of my country?” wondered the poet Vahan Teryan in the after - Russian side. Indeed the commander of 102nd Russian base math of the Genocide. It was a doomsday situation which led in Gumri, Andrey Ruzinsky, has stated: “If the Azerbaijani Established 1932 the poet to such a degree of desperation. leadership decides to restore the control over Karabagh Armenia has gone through many catastrophic experiences through war, the Russian military will intervene in case of a An ADL Publication throughout its turbulent history, but it has survived, some - war and Armenia will pay a price.” Without trying to interpret times miraculously, by the turn of unforeseen events. the last caveat, let us say that the warning carries some Today the most optimistic people have only that mysterious weight but it is not a substitute for a treaty. EDITOR force to pin their hope on. Otherwise the country is once Armenians believe that the Russian base is there for their Alin K. Gregorian again on the verge of that doomsday situation. defense, whereas Moscow has far more important strategic Finger-pointing, lamenting, expressing anger and frustra - goals in the region; it intends to project its posture to keep ASSISTANT EDITOR tion are no remedy for the situation. A sincere national soul the balance between Turkey and Iran and in the current situ - Gabriella Gage searching would be a timely approach. ation to monitor the war in Syria. It is a known fact that arm - ASSOCIATE EDITOR People have been wondering what happened to the long ing Armenia and Azerbaijan on the same level only exacer - Aram Arkun and arduous road to independence. Were the dreams and bates the situation rather than reduces the tension which is struggles of six centuries only to see Armenia free and inde - the main cause scaring the Armenian population away. ART DIRECTOR Marc Mgrditchian pendent in today’s situation? Returning to the domestic situation, the Armenian govern - After six centuries of dreaming, Armenians are abandoning ment can and must take some measures. It is said that invest - their homeland in droves. The statistics are very depressing ments in Armenia have dropped 65 percent. Diaspora- and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. At Armenian investments have dropped even more dramatically. SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: the dawn of independence in 1991, Armenia’s population Only the rule of law can correct this situation. How many Edmond Azadian stood at 4 million. Today it stands at 3 or 3.1 million. For a Diasporan Armenian investors have to be beaten or killed to CONTRIBUTORS: small country of 4 million, the loss of 1 million has a devas - warn them to stay away? Florence Avakian, Dr. Haroutiune tating effect. In addition, taxation is exercised in an unfair manner. The Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Prof. Following the fall of Sukarno’s regime in Indonesia, tax authorities are tolerant of oligarchs while the full brunt Vahakn N. Dadrian, Diana Der General Suharto’s dictatorship massacred 500,000 ethnic of the taxes is directed at the middle or lower classes to dis - Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, Kevork Chinese in Indonesia. All-powerful China did not even raise a courage small businesses. The food monopolies have driven Keushkerian, Sonia Kailian-Placido , finger, because that was the politically-correct policy, but prices three or four times higher than prices in the region. Harut Sassounian, Mary Terzian, Hagop above all, the loss of half a million Chinese for a country of There is a 35-percent unemployment rate. Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian 1.5 billion is insignificant demographically. For a middle class family a vacation in Turkey or Georgia is CORRESPONDENTS: Only during the first nine months of the year 2013 more affordable there than any resort in Armenia. Armenia’s population has decreased by 10,000 people. A poll Corruption is rampant and only the government can solve Armenia - Hagop Avedikian Boston - Nancy Kalajian carried out at the end of December 2012 showed that 50 per - that problem, yet the government seems to be part of the Philadelphia - Lisa Manookian cent of the remaining population would leave if they had the problem more than part of the solution. With the youth leav - Berlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach opportunity. This statistic was conducted by the Institute for ing the country at such an alarming rate, one wonders who Contributing Photographers: Political and Sociological Consulting under Samvel will defend the borders. Jacob Demirdjian, Harry Koundakjian, Jirair Manukyan. The current political situation is not conducive to tackle Hovsepian According to this institute the causes of migration are and resolve serious issues. For months now the political many, chief among them the income gap, lack of confidence debate has been centered around an obnoxious member of in the justice system and low public involvement. We have to parliament questioning the president about his gambling add also the blockade and the impending threat of war. habits at a European political forum as if Armenia did not The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published weekly, except two weeks in July, by: There are conditions that are beyond the grasp of the have any other problems. This is reminiscent of the Byzantine Armenian government. Even if some miracle happens and the Court debating how many angels could fit on the tip of a nee - Baikar Association, Inc. diaspora forces join the Armenian government to overcome dle while Fatih Sultan Mehmet was scaling the ramparts. 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 those challenges, nothing could change the geopolitical map On the other hand, the opposition leader and former pres - Telephone: 617-924-4420 of the region, where Turkey and Azerbaijan have joined forces ident, Levon Ter-Petrosian, is asking President Serge FAX: 617-924-2887 to strangulate Armenia out of existence. Sargisian to resign. But whoever replaces him will be soon www.mir ror spectator.com The tenor of Azeri President Aliyev’s inaugural speech, as surrounded by the same oligarchs who control and strangle E-Mail: editor@mirrorspectator .com he took office for the third time recently, was that his coun - Armenia’s economy. Any turmoil will deteriorate the situation For advertising: [email protected] try will continue isolating Armenia internationally. At times even further. Influential print and electronic media are he has stated that Azerbaijan will wait to see Armenia further financed by foreign sources whose last worry is Armenia’s depopulated to be ripe for a take over. He claims Armenia to plight. That is why the role of media is more confusing than be part of Azerbaijani territory, perhaps based on the newly- educating or guiding. SUBSCRIPTION RATES : discovered document that his grandfather was born in Incidentally, those oligarchs have moved their capital over - Yerevan. seas to be the first ones to jump ship should a wreck occur. Our ally and defender Russia has not been helpful in stabi - No one has yet found or suggested a solution to these dire U.S.A. $80 a year lizing the region to reassure Armenians to continue living in situations and this column is not presumptuous enough to their ancestral lands. Adding insult to injury, Russia has offer a silver bullet. Canada $125 a year opened immigration offices in Yerevan offering able-bodied Only when the government and the opposition come to Other Countries $190 a year workers to move to Russia’s scarcely-populated regions with their senses, realizing that the problem hurts both sides and job and citizenship offers. Thus, destitute Armenian families needs a supreme and united effort to find a solution inter - reluctantly take advantage of these incentives and depart per - nally and fight external threats, will we find some stability in manently from Armenia. © 2011 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator the country and hope for economic improvement and sur - One uncertainty which has plagued the Armenian people is Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA vival. and additional mailing offices. ISSN 0004-234X POSTMASTER : Send address changes to The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, P.O. Box 302, Watertown, MA 02471-0302 Other than the editorial, views and opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily Notice to Contributors eflect the policies of the publisher. The welcomes articles, commen - and a daytime telephone number. Armenian Mirror-Spectator taries and community news from our readers. In order to assure — Deadline for submission of all articles and advertising is noon the accurate and timely publication of articles submitted, please on the Monday of the week of publication. note the following policies: — Photos will be published without charge at the discretion of the — All articles submitted should be typed, double (or triple) editors and art director. Photos will be returned only if a self- Copying for other than personal use or spaced and printed in a type size large enough to be clearly leg - addressed and stamped envelope is included. internal reference is prohibited without ible (10 point or larger). 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Despite Tokyo’s crowded sidewalks, everyone goes about heard Armenian spoken with a Japanese accent! their business, without pushing or shoving, arguing or rais - Japanese friends had kindly arranged that I meet CEO’s ing their voices. Drivers respect traffic laws and conduct of several major corporations in Tokyo and Kyoto and dis - their cars in an orderly manner, without cutting in front of cuss investment possibilities in Armenia. I was highly others or honking horns. impressed by state of the art stem-cell research laboratory My Turn Many people are seen in the streets wearing medical at Kyoto University. masks. One would think that they were protecting them - Later that day I had the unique opportunity to give a lec - By Harut Sassounian selves from catching the flu or some other disease from ture to a group of bright university students and their pro - passersby. It turns out that the mask wearers were the ones fessors. They spoke English quite well and asked numerous Land of the Rising Sun: Fertile who had the flu. They were being exceedingly considerate, questions, even though I was told that Japanese students not wishing to pass their germs onto others! normally do not ask questions. My talk covered the Ground for Armenians Besides visiting Japanese shrines and ancient palaces, I Armenian Genocide, the Artsakh (Karabagh) conflict, had the opportunity to engage in Armenian-related activi - Syria’s civil war, the Arab Spring, the controversial issue of I visited the amazing land of Japan for the first time last ties in this far away land. I was pleased to learn that the Comfort Women and the necessity of peaceful resolution of month. Republic of Armenia had an Embassy in Tokyo. conflicts. The minute I set foot on Tokyo’s Narita Airport, it felt like Ambassador Hrant Pogosyan and Attaché Monica After returning to Tokyo, my hosts surprised me by pre - entering a surreal country — almost too good to be true! Simonyan received me graciously and briefed me about senting me from the archives of The Japan Times newspa - The first thing that one notices is the extreme politeness their relentless efforts to foster friendly relations between per, a copy of the issue dated October 4, 1998, which had of the Japanese people. Their repeated bowing to greet the two countries. We discussed opportunities for collabo - a half-page article about my humanitarian efforts for guests is incomparably more respectful than our customary ration between the Armenian community in the United Armenia on behalf of the United Armenian Fund. casual handshake. I was amazed to find out that everyone States and the Embassy of Armenia in Japan, particularly My final meeting was with three high-ranking Japanese gets the same excellent service, at no extra charge! No one during the upcoming Centennial of the Armenian government officials with whom I discussed at length gets tips, including waiters and parking attendants. Genocide. Japan’s relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, China, Japan is impeccably clean. No litter can be found any - A totally unexpected treat was the concert organized by Russia and South Korea. where. Piles of dirt or garbage are nowhere to be seen. You the Armenian Embassy, celebrating the 110th anniversary My conversations with Japanese university students and cannot find a single car in the streets with a dent or speck of Aram Khachaturian’s birth. Three top musicians, government leaders made me realize that Armenians have of dust. Even trucks hauling construction materials are pianists Armen Babakhanian and Julietta Vardanyan, and made a habit of concentrating all of their political efforts covered with a net and hosed down before leaving the load - cellist Aram Talalyan, had flown from Armenia especially on the Middle East, Europe, North and South America, and ing site, not to scatter dirt on city streets. Amazingly, after for this one night performance. The Japanese audience, for - totally ignoring the large number of strategically important a typhoon directly hit Tokyo, there was no debris in the eign diplomats, and a handful of Armenian students and countries in Asia. streets. businessmen were highly impressed with Khachaturian’s It may be politically and economically more productive to To top it all, there is very little crime in Japan due to the music and the virtuosity of the performers. I even met a extend the span of our attention to countries whose citi - calm demeanor of the population and absence of guns. Japanese scholar who spoke Armenian fluently. I had never zens know hardly anything about Armenia and Armenians. Kurds Emerge from Embers of Syrian War

east; their lands contain the bulk of Syria’s to impose its rule in areas the regime had ly. Yet the permissive attitude of the Turkish By Fouad Ajami oil. Arab nationalism, the creed of the author - left. In mid-July, clashes broke out in Kurdish state toward the jihadists battling the Syrian itarian Syrian state, was avowedly racist in its towns and have erupted intermittently since. Kurds has been a source of trouble for treatment of them, denying them the most Thousands of Syrian Kurds have made their Erdogan. He has gone a long way toward More than 200,000 Syrian Kurdish basic and cherished right: use of their own way to Iraqi Kurdistan, where they receive keeping the jihadists at arm’s length. refugees have moved into Iraqi Kurdistan. language. The regime of the Assads, father help, even as the authorities in Irbil don’t The dream of greater Kurdistan is just that. They have crossed an international border to and son, has been cunning and devastating in want to encourage an exodus from Syria. History has given the Kurds a second chance be sure, yet it is, in the Kurdish world view, a the way it pitted the Kurds against one anoth - Turkey casts a large shadow. The line that in Iraq and Syria, while Turkish democracy passage from one part of their homeland to er. separates the Syrian and Turkish Kurds is gives them a voice in the country’s direction. another. The Kurds disregard these frontiers, Yet in the civil war that erupted in 2011, artificial. As the prominent Turkish colum - Matters are stagnant in Iran, where the imposed on the Fertile Crescent almost a cen - the Syrian opposition has troubled the nist Cengiz Candar observes, the Kurds don’t oppression of the Kurds is of a piece with the tury ago by Anglo-French power. Kurds, too. The leaders of the Sunni Arab speak of Turkish and Syrian communities. tyranny of a theocracy. No Kurd is lamenting the erosion of the rebellion were committed to creation of their For them the line of separation was a simple The Kurds can’t erase all the hurts of their borders in this tangled geography. The parti - own centralized state. Turkey’s sponsorship railroad track that allowed them to move to modern history and those who choose to stay tion of the successor states of the Ottoman of the rebels created suspicions as well. The and fro, with ease and freedom. in Syria remain embattled, yet the isolation Empire brought the Kurds grief and dispos - foreign jihadists who made their way to Syria Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip that had been their lot is now in the past. At session. The Persians, Turks and Arabs were yet another source of anxiety. Erdogan faces a dilemma. He is invested in a the foot of those once sheltering mountains, secured their own states. Indeed, the Arabs The Kurds had a small volunteer force of peace process at home with the Kurdish a new and a safer life has sprung forth. were bequeathed several states in the geog - their own, but it was no match for Jabhat al- Workers’ Party, or PKK, and its imprisoned (Fouad Ajami is a senior fellow at raphy of “Turkish Arabia” that runs from the Nusra, or the Nusra Front, whose Islamist leader, Abdullah Ocalan. And Turkey has a Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. Iraqi border with Iran to the Mediterranean. warriors had weapons aplenty, money and flourishing relationship with Iraqi Kurdistan, The commentary was originally written for Kurdistan was singularly betrayed, its peo - unchecked zeal. The group was determined whose oil and natural gas it needs desperate - Bloomberg News.) ple divided among Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. Kurdish history became a chronicle of thwarted rebellions. According to a deeply felt expression, the Kurds had no friends but the mountains. Trouble in Armenia’s Neighborhood: Middle East Arms Race Intensifies Yet a new life is stirring in Kurdistan. Irbil, Armenia’s recent military acquisitions and announced moderniza - The air raid by Israeli warplanes gave the Syrian conflict a whole the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, once a forgot - tion of some of its defense capabilities may fit the general context of new dimension, turning it into a full international conflict, threat - ten fortress town, is a booming city of shop - a big war prospect ening to engulf the entire region. ping malls, high-rises and swank hotels. Oil in the Greater The high command of the Syrian Army issued a statement in and natural gas have remade the city, as has By Naira Hayrumyan Middle East that is which it said that Israel had entered into an agreement with exter - its political stability, remarkable when set deemed as real as nal and internal forces hostile to Syria. But this was rather the first against the mayhem of the rest of Iraq. ever after this direct accusation by Syria against Israel. The Kurds are shrewd. They aren’t about to week’s direct involvement of Israel in the escalating conflict in Syria. Meanwhile, international experts believe that any Israeli attack claim Irbil as the capital of a restored greater Apparently, an attempt is being made to drag Iran into the war in against Syria could lead to a serious deterioration in the situation Kurdistan, but it has pride of place in their a country with an allied ruling regime in order to have a legitimate in the region. Iran has already said that it would consider any such world. It is the home of Massoud Barzani, the region for strikes against the Islamic Republic that has annoyed the attack as aggression against its territory. Iranian Foreign Minister president of the Kurdish regional govern - West by its nuclear ambitions. Experts say this is a legitimate sce - Ali Akbar Salehi stressed that Tehran supports the Syrian people ment, and of almost 5 million people, who are nario, and it is not excluded that the recent reinforcement of missile and the political program of settling the crisis in Syria. officially part of Iraq but in reality belong to capabilities of the countries sharing borders with Iran could be con - The Russian Foreign Ministry has harshly denounced Israel’s an independent nation. nected with this war threat. actions, saying that they could be a gross violation of the UN The realists among the Kurds know the Iran has a frontier with Armenia and a de-facto border with Charter. power and ruthlessness of the nations that Karabagh, so any destabilization of the situation in the country will Meanwhile, Israel itself now speaks more about Iran than Syria. have divided and ruled their world, yet they certainly affect the two Armenian states as well. Therefore, experts Officials in Tel Aviv insist that an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear are determined to make the best of this suggest that the visit to Armenia by a delegation of senior Russian facilities will not give sufficient effect and that a U.S. military inter - moment when borders and attachments are military led by Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu earlier this week vention is necessary. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suddenly in flux. could be connected to the likely developments in Iran. said that the attack must be made prior to the point when Iran com - It is the fate of Western Kurdistan — Rojava On January 30 at dawn, Israeli jets violated Syrian airspace pletes the process of enriching uranium to 20 percent and 2013 is in Kurdish — that has given rise to this new and bombed military targets outside Damascus. Two people were considered to be decisive in this sense. sense of urgency. The war between the killed and five were wounded in the attack on a facility where, So far, Washington has consistently refused to overtly interfere in Damascus regime and the principally Sunni according to some sources, Syrian authorities were conducting the processes, not only in Iran but also Syria. rebels presents peril and possibility for the 2 research on unconventional types of weapons, including biologi - million to 3 million Kurds within Syria. cal and chemical ones. (Naira Hayrumyan is an ArmeniaNow correspondent.) The Kurds inhabit fragments of Syria by the Turkish and Iraqi borders, in the north - 16 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 9, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR