DECEMBER 16, 2017 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVIII, NO. 22, Issue 4516 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF Paylan Says Erdogan Armenians Hold Aurora Dialogues in Berlin Recognized Jerusalem As Israeli Capital By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach ISTANBUL (news.am) — Garo Paylan, a member Special to the Mirror-Spectator of the Turkish Parliament representing Istanbul as a member of the opposition pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP), reflected on the Turkish BERLIN — It was a refreshing change to response to President Donald Trump’s recognizing see such an initiative in the German capital. Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. As Aurora Humanitarian Initiative co- “The AKP [the ruling Justice and Development founder Ruben Vardanyan remarked, par- Party of Turkey] has signed under the agreement ticipants “were happy to see the represen- that recognizes Jerusalem as the capital [city of tatives of a developing country thinking Israel before Trump]!” he wrote on his Twitter about universal humanitarian values and account. “They are attempting to change the cor- expressing concern about dangerous ruption agenda with cheap valor.” processes unfolding today around the Paylan pointed to the agreement between the world.” The developing country in question AKP and the Israeli authorities regarding the Mavi is the Republic of Armenia. Marmara operation, and where it is noted that this What most Germans know about document is signed between Ankara and Armenians has to do with the 1915 Jerusalem. Genocide and the ongoing campaign to In June 2016, this agreement was signed in order have Turkey recognize it. But this time, the to normalize Turkey-Israel relations that had been focus was not Armenia or the past; it was a strained due to the military operation by Israel current and pressing issue facing the entire The Aurora Dialogues were attended by a high-ranking audience. Joining former President of the Bundestag Norbert Lammert as speakers and debaters were the former Chair of the against six civilian ships, including the Turkish ship world: the challenges of global migration Council of the German Protestant Church, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Huber, former president of MV Mavi Marmara. and how to meet them. Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, UNICEF’s regional Trump last week stated he recognized Jerusalem The Aurora Dialogues, which took place director for Middle East and North Africa, Geert Cappelaere, the German Chancellor’s as the capital of Israel, and said the US Department December 4-5 in Berlin, were titled, Personal Representative for Africa, Günter Nooke, the Head of the Robert Bosch Stiftung, of State has been ordered to start transferring the “Millions on the Move: Need for Christof Bosch and Nobel Prize laureate Laymah Gbowee, alongside many more speakers US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Development and Integration.” Experts and and participants. see AURORA, page 5 Armenian Christmas Armenian Parliament Services at St. Vartan Elie Berberian: Passes Bill Against Cathedral A Singer Reignites Passion Domestic Violence NEW YORK — The Nativity and Baptism of Jesus For Armenian Pop Christ will be observed at St. Vartan Armenian YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Following a Cathedral on Friday and Saturday, January 5 and 6, By Taleen Babayan heated debate, the Armenian parliament 2018. On Armenian Christmas Eve, Friday, January Special to the Mirror-Spectator passed on Friday, December 8, a govern- 5, there will be an Evening Service at 6:30 p.m., fea- NEW YORK — Singer Elie Berberian, ment bill which is meant to combat turing Scripture Readings by students of the St. one of the freshest voices of the new domestic violence in the country. Vartan Armenian School and St. Gregory Mission generation, is taking the Armenian The government pushed the bill Parish of Brooklyn. The Divine Liturgy will imme- Diaspora by storm. A classically-trained through the National Assembly despite diately follow, beginning at 7 p.m., celebrated by opera singer, Berberian, 35, was born continuing resistance from some deputies the Very Rev. Mesrop Parsamyan. in Batroun, Lebanon and discovered representing the ruling Republican Party The St. Vartan Cathedral Choir will sing the his passion for music at a young age. of Armenia (HHK). But it won over other, Divine Liturgy, under the direction of Khoren Following his classical training at more senior HHK figures who openly crit- Mekanejian. A reception will take place following Montreal’s McGill University, he began icized the initial version of the legislation the services. see BERBERIAN, page 16 circulated in September. On Armenian Christmas, Saturday, January 6, The latter joined conservative fringe Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the groups in claiming that some of the pro- Diocese of the Armenian Church of America posed legal provisions would undermine (Eastern), will celebrate the Divine Liturgy. The traditional “Armenian family values.” The Morning Service begins at 9:30 a.m., and the TCA Celebrates 70 Years Armenian Justice Ministry responded by Divine Liturgy follows at 10:30 a.m. amending the bill drafted by it. In partic- In Armenian tradition, this feast day commemo- ular, the ministry expanded the title of rates not only the birth of Christ, but also his bap- the bill to emphasize that it is aimed at tism by John the Baptist. The latter is remembered With Evening of Music not only preventing domestic violence through the “Blessing of Water” ceremony. Hratch and protecting its victims but also “restor- Kaprielian will serve as “godfather.” TENAFLY, N.J. — The Tekeyan Cultural efits the theater group’s productions ing solidarity within families.” A home blessing service and reception will take Association’s Mher Megerdchian Theater throughout the year. Women’s groups have criticized this place after the January 6 services. Group held its annual holiday gala, featuring “Elie Berberian proved himself to be one phrase, saying that “solidarity” is not a SERPOUHI VARTIVARIAN PHOTO of the best singers in the legal term and could be open to different Diaspora,” said Harout interpretations by relevant authorities. Chatmajian, director and The final version of the bill retained chairman of the Mher other significant provisions. The INSIDE Megerdichian Theater Armenian police will now be required to Group. “He has a big stop violence within families threatening repertoire and created a the lives or health of their members. very good atmosphere by What is more, the police could force a vio- Remember putting his all into his per- lent husband to leave his victim’s home formances.” (See related and stay away from it for up to 20 days. story above.) Armenian courts will be allowed to Victims The group’s accomplish- extend such bans to between 6 and 18 Page 12 ments over the past year months. included a well-received per- The law stipulates that domestic vio- formance of the Genocide- lence can be not only physical but also themed “All Rise” (Tadaran sexual, psychological and even economic. From left: Linda Tarzian, Arlene Jessourian, Hilda Hartounian, Vodkee) for the Detroit It makes clear that a “substantiated pre- INDEX Nadya Boyadjian. Back (l-r) Nairi Hartounian and Nanor Armenian community. A sumption” of such instances of violence Hartounian Arts and Living . 14 nationalistic play that can be will be sufficient grounds for police inter- Armenia . 2,3 performed for all Diasporan vention. Deputy Justice Minister Vigen Community News. 6 singer Elie Berberian, on Saturday, December communities, the theater group plans to con- Kocharian stressed that this would be Editorial . 18 9, at St. Thomas Armenian Church. tinue staging “All Rise” around the world. done by a special police unit trained to International . 4,5 The group welcomed more than 250 peo- deal with such cases. ple to the concert and fundraiser that ben- see GALA, page 10 see BILL, page 2 2 S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 6 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Armenian, Azeri FMs Hold Ramkavar Azatakan Party Decries Decision ‘Positive’ Talks on Karabakh To Recognize Jerusalem VIENNA (RFE/RL) — The foreign Moscow on November 16. In a joint posed settlement is largely acceptable ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan statement, they said they discussed to Yerevan when he addressed the YEREVAN (ArmInfo) — The statement of the US held late on Wednesday, December 6, “concrete steps to implement the agree- OSCE meeting in Vienna on Thursday. president recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of what they both described as “positive” ments reached” at the Geneva summit. “We are convinced that there is no Israel, as expected, caused a new escalation in the negotiations on the unresolved They added that the chief Armenian alternative to peace talks and that it is Middle East, which has been shaken the wars in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. recent decades. Edward Nalbandian and The Ramkavar Azatakan party released a state- Elmar Mammadyarov met in ment in which it says that President Donald Trump’s Vienna in a bid to build on statement threatens the region with new bloodshed. progress that was reportedly “In our opinion, this decision also threatens made at a recent Armenian- Armenian Jerusalem, our already shattered commu- Azerbaijani summit. The nity, and especially the Armenian Patriarchate. meeting apparently lasted for Trump’s decision and the order of the Israeli govern- several hours. ment can break the fragile balance that exists in the According to the Armenian interconfessional and interethnic coexistence of Foreign Ministry, the two Ancient Jerusalem. We find it important to consider men began the talks in the the position of the Armenian Jerusalem, it is neces- presence of the US, Russian sary to consistently strengthen its protection. and French mediators and Considering the above circumstances, the Central then spoke in a smaller for- Committee of the Ramkavar Azatakan proposes to mat.