DECEMBER 15, 2012 THE ARMENIAN

Mirror -Spe ctaItn Ouor Mirror -Spe ctatror 80th Year Volume LXXXIII, NO. 22, Issue 4267 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 Mirror Christmas Armenia’s Amb. Break WATERTOWN — The Armenian Mirror-Spectator To UK to Be will close for one week in honor of Christmas. The issue of December 22 will be our last before the Buried in break. We will resume with the first issue of the New Year, dated January 5. As New Year’s Day interferes with our deadline, the paper will be Armenia after mailed out one day later than usual. We wish all our readers a Merry Christmas and a Death in the US Happy New Year.

YEREVAN (Armenpress/ArmeniaNow) — Armenia’s Ambassador to the United Azeri Drones Reported Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern In Iran, NKR Border Ireland Karine Kazinian died in the United States on December 6. Her body was TABRIZ, Iran (PanArmenian.net) — Israeli-made expected to be returned to Armenia by the Azeri drones were reportedly spotted flying over end of the week, according to the Ministry A Marash school Iran and Nagorno Karabagh’s common border on of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of what is believed to be a “spy mission.” Armenia Spokesman Tigran Balayan. According to Iran’s Press TV, Azerbaijan has No cause of death was provided, enlisted the help of Israeli military advisors in order though some sources said she had suf - Houshamadyan Project Reconstructs and to improve its drone capabilities. fered from a lengthy illness and had died Preserves Ottoman Armenian History during surgery. However, that informa - Another Armenian tion has not been confirmed. She was born on January 8, 1955, in Houshamadyan is more than a typical Killed in Syria Yerevan. She graduated from Yerevan By Gabriella Gage website — it is an interactive archive. State University in 1977. She worked in Mirror-Spectator Staff Viewers do not merely read the history, DAMASCUS (Armenpress) — An ethnic Armenian the then-USSR Embassy in Mozambique they experience it firsthand through man, Yusuf Pachora, who had been wounded a few and later in the USSR Embassy in written documents, images, artifacts, days ago in the city of Hasake on the Turkish bor - Portugal. From 1992 to 1994, Kazinian WATERTOWN — The website for the digitized textiles, depictions of tradi - der, has died. worked as a lecturer of English at the Law Houshamadyan project tional games as well as sound and video At the beginning of December it was reported (www.houshamadyan.org), at first recordings. that an Armenian man had been killed and his son glance, seems to provide a colorful “The strength and beauty of the wounded by militants in Hasake. The incident took depiction of small-town Armenian life in Houshamadyan website is that it aggre - place during an attempted kidnapping. the Ottoman era — a forgotten subject gates and organizes a vast body of infor - Spokesperson of the Berio Diocese Jirair Reisian in history. Upon further exploration, mation in a way that makes it accessible informed that there were no serious changes in Aleppo. however, visitors realize that see ARCHIVE, page 16 The only positive thing was the electricity which had been switched on for a little bit long period. Armenian, Azeri Foreign Ministers Baku Pledges to Ensure Armenian Athletes’ Face off in Dublin at OSCE Gathering Security at Olympics Ambassador Karine Kazinian DUBLIN, Ireland (PanARMENIAN.Net) — agreement,” Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister BAKU (ArmeniaNow) — Azerbaijan has pledged to The 19th meeting of Organization for Elmar Mammadyarov issued unfounded ensure the security of Armenian athletes wishing to and Philology Departments of Yerevan Security and Cooperation in Europe accusations against Armenia, such as, participate in the European Olympics in three State University. In 1997 she was appoint - (OSCE) ministerial council ended this “Armenia reinforces the status quo by vio - years’ time, said vice president of Azerbaijan’s ed chargé d’affaires of Armenia in week, with both Armenian and Azerbaijani lating the OSCE regulations and uses force National Olympic Committee, Chingiz Huseynzade. Romania, eventually becoming ambas - foreign ministers delivering speeches. to maintain control over the occupied terri - The General Assembly of the European Olympic sador in 1999. Later, she was the country’s Naturally, the Artsakh (Nagorno Karabagh) tories of Azerbaijan.” Committee decided last week to hold the first-ever ambassador to Germany, as well as being a conflict settlement was in the focus of both Mammadyarov’s speech further accused European Games in Baku in 2015. Armenia refused deputy minister in the Foreign Ministry. speeches. Armenia of “hampering the intra-communi - to vote on the decision. She received a degree from Harvard’s Besides “ruling out any alternative to ty dialogue, economic development of the “We are ready to provide security assurances to Kennedy School of Government in June peaceful resolution of the conflict and offer - region and attempts to erase all traces of all participants of the Olympics, including 2010. ing to intensify OSCE Minsk Group efforts Azerbaijani culture.” Armenian athletes,” Huseynzade said. see AMBASSADOR, page 3 in development of a comprehensive peace see DUBLIN, page 3 Earlier this month a dozen Azeri athletes took part in world youth boxing championships in Yerevan after security guarantees had been extend - PHOTOLURE ed by the Armenian federation. AIBA, the governing 24 Years on, Armenian body for international amateur boxing, praised the Earthquake Remembered level of organization of the Yerevan championship.

GUMRI (ArmeniaNow) — Nearly a quarter of a century after the devastating 1988 earthquake there are still families in Armenia that live with the consequences of that INSI DE natural disaster. A powerful tremor struck the north By Siranuysh Gevorgyan of Armenia, with the epicenter in the small city of Spitak, close to midday Istanbul December 7, 1988, at a time when most children were in school and adults at work. As a result, the earthquake, mea - suring 6.9 on the Richter scale, killed at least 25,000 people, causing vast destruc - Properties tion in the towns and villages in large parts of northern Armenia. Twenty-four years on, however, some people in the affected areas still contin - Page 12 ue to live in rusty metal makeshifts. And in certain areas, like Gumri, then known as Leninakan, there are still earthquake-damaged buildings that have not been torn down. Successive Armenian governments have promised to eliminate the consequences INDEX of the earthquake and the very notion of the disaster area, but the challenge is on Arts and Living ...... 10 despite efforts to provide immediate earthquake survivors with new housing. A street clock in Gumri stopped in the after - Armenia ...... 2,3 Still, even after the completion of the 2008-2013 housing construction program math of the earthquake to show the time Community News...... 6 Editorial ...... 14 of the current government Gumri alone will have about 4,000 families living in huts. when a devastating tremor struck the city International ...... 4 These families who, too, consider themselves to be the ones bearing the on December 7, 1988. see QUAKE, page 2 2 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 15, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Nation Bids Farewell to Beloved Echmiadzin Launches Singer Flora Martirosyan Assistance Project for YEREVAN (Armenpress/ song performed by Syrian Armenians ArmeniaNow) — Armenian President Martirosyan has YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) — An Echmiadzin-based Serge Sargisian, First Lady Rita stayed on top of the organization launched a project on December 10 to Sargisian, music fans and various cul - Armenian music provide some immediate assistance to families of tural figures came together on charts for 15 years, to ethnic Armenians who have left the conflict in December 11 to bid farewell to singer become the singer’s Syria and recently settled in Yerevan or elsewhere Flora Martirosyan, a People’s Artist of trademark song. in Armenia. Armenia. As a soloist at a The program, spearheaded by the Armenian Martirosyan, who moved to the US in state folk orchestra, Round Table Interchurch Foundation, received the 1991 and had shuttled between her Martirosyan visited blessing of Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and home and her native Armenia, died in more than 70 coun - Catholicos of All Armenians, and funding from the Los Angeles, on November 20, at 55. tries and also headed Alliance United Church. It will provide food and With consent of the family, the body of a music school in other essentials to more than 200 such disadvan- Martirosyan, was transferred to Yerevan Yerevan until 2001. taged families. Monday after a ceremony at St. In 2002, Martirosyan According to the press service of the Armenian Ghevond’s Church in Los Angeles, and established an inter - Church in Echmiadzin, the project will be imple- she was laid to rest at the City national music acade - mented in cooperation with the Ararat Patriarchal Pantheon in the Armenian capital. my in the United Diocese. People of all walks of life — from state States and in 2006 Flora Martirosyan Among the supporters of the project is also officials and dignitaries to scholars and initiated A Pan- Yerevan City, a supermarket chain. From December ordinary fans of her music — attended Armenian Song 11 to 17, the beneficiaries of the project will the funeral organized by an Armenian Contest Festival. it as a duet with Martirosyan after he receive special shopping cards which will allow government commission. In 2008, the singer, jointly with heard her perform last year in a concert them to purchase essentials at the participating Martirosyan, a native of Gumri, was the Michael Stone (a brother of Sharon promoting awareness of the Armenian supermarkets. youngest in the family of four children. Stone), set up an international organi - Genocide. An estimated 6,000 Armenians left their homes in Having inherited vocal skills from her zation, Artists for Peace, to raise aware - Wonder was one of the famed artists Syria, mainly from Aleppo. to join the Armenian singer in a cause against injustice. Martirosyan intended to stage more Hayrikyan Announces of her “Never Again” events until 2015 when Armenians worldwide will com - Presidential Candidacy memorate the centennial of the YEREVAN (Arminfo) — During a press conference Genocide, but she succumbed to com - last week, leader of the Union for National Self- plications after a surgery at a US clinic Determination Paruyr Hayrikyan announced his last month. intention to run for president of Armenia. Minister of Culture Hasmik “I have a right to announce my candidacy more Poghosyan said of Martirosyan,“She than others, because the best housemaster is the had had an invaluable role in almost all one who has built the house with his own hands,” spheres.” said Hayrikyan, referring to his active participation Martirosyan had many fans in and in the Armenian independence movement. This will outside Armenia who attended her con - also serve as the official slogan for his party’s pres- certs. One of them, Bella Kurghinyan, idential campaign. said that the singer was always interac - Hayrikyan predicted he would receive only 20 tive during her concerts, she talked to percent of the votes in the national election the audience and always wanted people because he believes the incumbent president has Flora Matirosyan with Stevie Wonder to accompany her in singing and the already secured many political allies. Hayrikyan audience responded gladly. said that while he welcomes the Armenian “Unlike many other singers who mother, the young singer took part in the ness of crimes against humanity and Revolutionary Federation’s (ARFD) platform, he quickly disappear from stage, she Garoun 1973 song contest to win the first the 2011 “Never Again” concert featur - does not believe there is enough time to implement patiently stayed and talked to everyone, place among 800 participants. In 1978, ing several famous artists was part of and discuss the platform before the election in allowed everyone who wanted to take she went to win her first international the organization’s efforts. February. pictures with her. She is a symbol of prize at a festival in Hamburg, Germany. Living soul legend Stevie Wonder femininity and morality for me,” said UN Office Marks Human Gusan Ashot’s famous Tsovastghik had promised to write a song and sing Kurghinyan. Rights Day YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — The International Human Right Film Festival, a debate 24 Years on, Earthquake Remembered on human rights and a rock concert were the cul- mination of a campaign to mark Human Rights Day QUAKE, from page 1 ing conditions. They have stressed the “You can still find collapsed buildings on December 10. consequences of the earthquake, have general unemployment and poverty in in visible parts of the city. These earth - “My Voice Counts” is the annual slogan for the not been included in the lists of benefi - the city and the province that they say quake rubbles have not been disman - campaign, aimed to further promote inclusion and ciaries — they are usually the second have reached “alarming proportions”. tled until today. We feel like we have pro-active participation in public life. generation of earthquake survivors According to official data, an estimated been tinned and preserved since those In 2012, the UN Human Rights Council adopted with their own new families who had 47 percent of people in Gumri live in times. We psychologically feel like we the first-ever resolution on the promotion, protec- nowhere else to live but these slums. poverty, which is higher than the aver - are detached from the rest of Armenia, tion and enjoyment of human rights on the Other such people are not immediate age poverty rate for Armenia (about 35 because even the traces of the earth - Internet. It affirms that human rights in the digital victims of the earthquake or their percent). quake have not been completely realm must be protected and promoted to the same descendants or had received new The group has urged the National removed here,” says Mkrtchyan. extent and with the same commitment as human homes, but had to sell them because of Assembly, the president and the govern - The woman cites the example of rights in the offline world. their debts and go back to living in ment of Armenia to recognize all groups Spitak. She says that traces of devasta - The UN Office in Armenia together with its part- makeshift housing. of citizens who currently live in makeshift tion, by contrast, are barely seen in ners organized the International Film Festival fea- In October as many as 1,756 families housing in the earthquake area as bene - Spitak today, which makes it easier for turing short films on promotion and protection of in Gumri received new apartments. ficiaries of the state housing programs the townsfolk to cope with current dif - Human Rights in the digital age. The goal of the Since 2010, 2,812 of officially regis - and provide them with homes according ficulties of life. Meanwhile, she says, festival was to promote human rights in the new tered 4,270 homeless families in Gumri to the actual number of family members people in Gumri have been able to only era of technology through a variety of means such have received housing of their own as within the next two years. partly get rid of the disaster zone men - as the Internet, the majority of whose users are part of the government program. Under the currently applied regula - tality. young people. The festival was organized simulta- Authorities have promised to provide tions, families get apartments of the Mkrtchyan, who runs a small produc - neously in Armenia, Austria and Ukraine. an additional 1,351 apartments in size that they used to have before the tion of clothes and accessories in The International Organizations Jury awarded Gumri in 2013, but for various reasons earthquake. The program does not take Gumri, also stressed the need for creat - the first prize to the producers of the film “Homo they have been reluctant to address the into account the natural growth of fam - ing jobs and training qualified work - Habilis” and the second prize to the makers of the problems of the people who are left out ilies, on the other hand, if a family force for the future development of the film “Real Rights in Virtual Life.” of the housing construction program. shrinks by a person, it gets a smaller town. The award ceremony continued with a public Members of the “The City is Ours” apartment (by one room). “We have a lot of institutions that debate led by the Human Rights Defender of civic group that was set up in Gumri The activist does not consider the train designers and tailors in Gumri, Armenia Karen Andreasyan. before last May’s parliamentary elec - government pledge to rehabilitate the but I still can’t find a proper worker for tions demand that these families, too, earthquake area to have been fulfilled my enterprise, a worker who would be enabled to leave their old metal yet, as she points to the general prob - meet the modern-day requirements of housing and provided with proper liv - lems that exist in Gumri. the market,” says Mkrtchyan. S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 15, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 INTERNATIONAL Prime Minister Tigran Sargisian on Working Visit to US

LOS ANGELES — On December 8, Prime Minister Tigran Sargisian kicked off a working visit to the United States. On the first day of the visit, the Sargisian went to the California Institute of Technology, where he met with University President Jean-Lou Chameau. During the meeting, the prime minister introduced the ongo - ing educational reform in Armenia aimed at improving the quality of education and promoting Armenian universities’ international accreditation. As they discussed the prospects of bilateral cooperation, the parties touched upon the IT devel - opments in Armenia and the existing growth potential. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), attending the meeting, said Armenia has the potential to become a Silicon Valley in the Caucasus. Sargisian next met with alumni and students of the Technological University of California and US-based Armenians scientists. Answering questions from the audience, he referred to the current status and the prospects of development in the sphere of humanities and natural sciences. Discussed were issues relat - ed to Armenian studies, astronomy, physics, mathematics, gen - eral pedagogy. Thanking the participants, Sargisian urged them to strength - en ties with the Homeland and promote development of sci - ence in Armenia. Working visit of the Prime Minister in the United States con - The prime minister and his delegation meet with Rep. Adam Schiff and technology leaders in California. tinued through December 12.

AGBU Recognizes Outstanding Individuals for Service and Dedication during 87th General Assembly in Armenia YEREVAN — For more than a century, AGBU For four decades, Jacques and Florine anniversary - a decade of helping deliver over Secretary of the AGBU Montevideo board and has enjoyed the support of tens of thousands of Deyirmendjian of Paris, France, have worked 1,400 healthy babies. In addition to its Armenia- as both the Chair of the Montevideo Chapter members and volunteers in carrying out its mis - tirelessly in the French Armenian community based initiatives, Hye Geen’s activities in and the AGBU Nubarian-Manoogian School, of sion. Eight members of the Union, along with and committed themselves to serving AGBU. California raise awareness of a host on issues which he is an alumnus — all while maintaining three individuals who have demonstrated excep - Jacques Deyirmendjian holds degrees from that affect the broader Armenian community, a dentistry practice. He has been involved with tional service to Armenia, were honored during France’s most important grandes écoles — the including its annual Interdisciplinary the organization since childhood; as a young AGBU’s 87th General Assembly, which took Ecole Polytechnique, the Ecole Nationale de la Conference, which is organized in collaboration athlete, he brought his active involvement to place in Armenia on Saturday, October 20, Statistique et de l’Administration Economique with local universities. the Chapter’s Liga de Jóvenes (Youth League) 2012. In attendance were Armenia’s Prime and the Ecole Normale Supérieure de AGBU President Berge Setrakian also grant - and South American Regional Games. More Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Diaspora Minister Musique de Paris. He has held important lead - ed the AGBU President’s Award to three cur - recently, he has dedicated himself to the arts Hranush Hakobyan and Karekin II, Catholicos ership posts at Gaz de France SA, one of the rent and former AGBU chairs who have demon - and media, serving as editor of the monthly of All Armenians, as well as AGBU’s leadership country’s top energy companies, and currently strated distinct leadership and have dedicated magazine Hai Endanik, (Armenian Family), and delegates from around the world. serves as president of Deynergies, a joint stock many years to the organization: Sofia Chapter which covers Armenian issues. He continues to For their outstanding services rendered to company, which he founded. He has served Chair Sonia Avakian-Bedrossian, Plovdiv assume special assignments on behalf of the the homeland, Gabriel Djambardji, Smpad the Union in various positions. When he first Chapter Chair Roupen Chavoushian and former organization. Lpudyan and Ralph Yirikian were recognized joined AGBU, he was the chair of UGAB Montevideo Chapter Chair Gustavo Zulamian. with the AGBU Medal. Jeunes, the organization’s French youth Instrumental in reviving AGBU’s activities in As a noted philanthropist and the president group. He later went on to become the Paris Sofia in the post-Communism years, Sonia of the Pyunik Foundation, which focuses on Chapter Chair and also served on the France Avakian-Bedrossian has been the chapter chair Armenia’s Ambassador to education in Armenia, Djambardji has con - District Committee. In addition, he has been for more than a decade. A true leader with a cre - tributed generously to various projects in the bestowed with the order of knighthood in ative mind and a vision to attract the new gen - UK Karine Dies; Remains homeland, including financial assistance to both France and Germany. Flora eration, she energized the Chapter’s base schools to modernize their facilities and to the Deyirmendjian, a CPA and a graduate of the through various activities and programs, in par - Return to Homeland recent refurbishment of the Matenadaran. He School of Management of Lyon serves on the ticular the Mothers’ Committee and the Nur AMBASSADOR, from page 1 and his wife Kohar, who are Syrian diasporans, Paris Chapter Committee and has been active Dance Ensemble. She was responsible for initi - Kazinian was appointed the ambassador to the have also been generous patrons of their local within the local AGBU Alex Manoogian ating Camp Unger, a Chapter program designed UK in 2011. community, as well as of various religious Center, which offers courses in language and to bond AGBU Sofia’s youngest members, and Sh had received the Mkhitar Gosh medal and endeavors within the Armenian Apostolic culture to scores of youth and adults. most recently, in collaboration with the AGBU the Romanian Grand Cross Order for Merit. Church. Another French Armenian to receive the hon - Plovdiv Chapter, for initiating Camp Hayler, British Ambassador to Armenia Katy Leach Smpad Lpudyan, who holds the world’s high - orary membership was Denis Ketchedjian, who which unites youth from across Bulgaria. In sent a message of condolence to Foreign est chess title of Grandmaster, has used his served as the France District Chairman from 2007, she established the AGBU Sofia Chamber Minister Eduard Nalbandian. expertise for years to cultivate the talents of 2002 until 2008. Most notably, he oversaw in Orchestra, which consistently draws scores of “It is with enormous sadness that I heard the Armenian youth and ensure that Armenia main - 2006 the four-day AGBU Centennial Armenian and non-Armenian music lovers alike news today about my dear colleague and friend, tains its strong foothold in the world of chess. Celebrations, which culminated with a gala at to several concerts each year, and organized in ambassador to the UK Karine Kazinian. Karine As the vice president of the Armenian Chess Versailles. A prominent lawyer who, for decades, 2004 the XVII AGBU World Games, which was of course a very talented diplomat, who had Federation, which is headed by President Serge also contributed his services as the organiza - brought together over 250 young Armenian made a vital contribution, in her former posi - Sargisian, he cooperates closely with AGBU to tion’s counsel in France, he is currently the athletes from five continents to the Bulgarian tion as Deputy Foreign Minister, to the step- organize the annual Interschool Republican Secretary General of the AGBU France District. seaside town of Albena for a week of sports change in Armenia’s relations with the EU. But Chess Tournament, which brings together more Panos Titizian, a noted community leader and competitions and social events. she was also a warm and genuine person, some - than 5,000 students from Armenia, Karabagh activist, who is a pharmacist by profession and Roupen Chavoushian was one of the key indi - one with whom it was a pleasure to work. Her and the Armenian schools in the Javakhk a graduate of the American University of viduals who re-established the Plovdiv Chapter energy, charm and clear sense of purpose had region of Georgia, many of whom have followed Beirut, was bestowed with . AGBU Honor after the fall of Communism. He has played a already made a great impact during her first in his footsteps, rising to the professional level. Membership, as well as the Outstanding AGBU great role in perpetuating the Armenian her - year as Ambassador in London. I know that fol - Yirikian, a Lebanese diasporan and General Volunteer Medal. Titizian has been an AGBU itage in the city, which is home to the country’s lowing the great success of the events she orga - Manager of one of Armenia’s largest companies, member for more than eight decades, over the largest Armenian population. As the current nized in London in November, to celebrate 20 Viva-Cell-MTS, is dedicated to advancing course of which he has used his talents as a and longtime Chair of the AGBU Plovdiv years of diplomatic relations between Armenia Armenia’s well-being through corporate social strategist to benefit the organization, particu - Chapter, he administers a number of Associated and the UK, she was full of ideas for how to responsibility initiatives. Viva-Cell is often rec - larly throughout Lebanon’s civil war. He served Chapters in Burgas, Dobrich, Haskovo, Russe, take things forward and work together. ognized as a leader in sponsoring social and for many years on both the Education and Silistra, Sliven and Yambol, and initiated AGBU Jonathan and I were looking forward to it educational programs and events. Yirikian has District Committees of Lebanon, and continues Saturday Schools in each of these towns, ensur - tremendously. received numerous awards, including the today to serve the organization from Southern ing the organization’s strong presence across Please accept my personal and heartfelt con - Presidential Shield from the president of California, attending to special assignments. the country. He also established the Plovdiv dolences, and those of all my colleagues here in Lebanon, the Movses Khorenatsi Medal from Sona Yacoubian is the founder of AGBU Hye Chapter’s Saturday School Theater Group, Yerevan and in London who knew and admired the President of the Republic of Armenia and Geen (est. 1994), an initiative dedicated to the which won first place in Yerevan’s 2011 Karine, for a tragic, untimely loss. Our thoughts the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Medal from promotion of the rights and well-being of Pomegranate Seed Theater Festival. On a are with her family and friends at this very dif - Catholicos Karekin II. Armenian women. In 2002, under her leader - bimonthly basis, over 800 readers receive the ficult time,” Leach said. The Central Board also bestowed upon five of ship, Hye Geen established the first of its five publication AGBU Voice, which Chavoushian Kazinian, 57, was a widow. She is survived by its longstanding members the status of AGBU Pregnant Women’s Centers in Gumri, Vanatzor, founded. His numerous contributions to the a son and a daughter. Honor Member for their staunch dedication in Talin, Yeghvart and Yerevan in response to town’s community were recently acknowledged President Serge Sargisian sent a letter of con - perpetuating the organization’s mission: Armenia’s rising infant mortality rates and the with a medal awarded by the Mayor of Plovdiv. dolence to her family, as did Artsakh President Jacques and Florine Deyirmendjian, Denis country’s general decline in maternal health. Dr. Gustavo Zulamian is considered one of Bako Sahakyan. Ketchedjian, Panos Titizian and Sona This year, the AGBU Hye Geen Pregnant AGBU’s most talented young leaders in South (PanArmenian.net contributed to this report.) Yacoubian. Women’s Centers celebrated their tenth America. He has served as the General 4 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 15, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL International News Five Armenians Die in Brazzaville Crash

of Defense website, Stepan Galstyan Africa, says the plane couldn’t fly with - EU Foreign Affairs By Vahe Sarukhanyan served in the Soviet military from out crew insurance. The fact that the 1983-1992 and that he graduated from plane never underwent a technical Council Outlines the Armavir Military Pilots Aviation inspection deprived it of being insured BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Hetq) — On Academy in 1988. as well. Armenia Partnership the evening of November 30, an Naturally, the ministry has refuted Poghosyan writes, “So who is Ilyushin Il-76T plane crashed when the above information regarding responsible regarding the compensa - YEREVAN (PanArmenian.net) — The European attempting to land at the Maya-Maya Union’s (EU) Foreign Affairs Council has agreed on Galstyan and says it’s an attempt to tion of the families and third parties. Airport in the Congo capital. smear the good name of the military. And why didn’t the RA Civil Aviation the protocol required for the Partnership and The plane was on a cargo flight from Cooperation Agreement with Armenia, which will But what’s more important is the Administration react in a timely fash - Pointe Noire when it crashed short of plane itself, rather than who owns the ion? This agency has been turned into allow the country to participate in EU programs. the runway in bad weather. The council submitted a draft of the required pro- company. Poghosyan claims that the a commercial body rather than an All seven crew members, five of them plane had been operating in the Congo administrative one. In all probability, tocol to the European Parliament for its consent. from Armenia, one police officer on The document requires the European for 16 months and illegally for the past they will claim that the plane was never board the aircraft and 26 people on the four. registered in Armenia in the first Commission and Armenia to sign joint memoran- ground were killed. 14 people on the dums that outline the extent of the Armenia’s Poghosyan goes on to claim that the place.” ground were injured. plane’s documents had been forged The website of the Ilyushin Aviation involvement in EU programs and its financial par- Aljazeera initially reported that the ticipation in the EU. and the Congolese aviation authorities Complex, the manufacturer of the IL plane belonged to the Trans Air Congo were in a panic when this was discov - model planes, lists the operating life This partnership will include participation in the company and that it was carrying out following sectors: tax and customs, financial con- ered. spans of the Il-76 planes. The plane cargo runs for another local airway The pilot says that, in fact, the docu - that crashed in the Congo is not listed. trol, consumers’ rights, justice, countering terror- Aéro-Service. Trans Air quickly denied ism and organized crime, healthcare and others. ments of all Rich Airways planes are However, according to the website, that the plane was theirs. It later forged and that the plane that went nine of the 11 Il-76 planes registered in turned out that the plane belonged to done and its crew were not insured. Armenia have surpassed their estimat - Armenian Pianist the Armenian company Rich Airways. Poghosyan, who is now working in ed lifespan. Rich Airways, along with eleven Honored with Moscow other airways, is registered in Armenia with the Civil Aviation Agency. In the Composers’ Union Medal RA State Registry, Sergey Kocharov is listed as the owner. Denmark’s Royal Library Under Fire for Genocide MOSCOW (ArmeniaNow) — Renowned Armenian In a letter to Hetq, airplane Captain pianist Hayk Melikyan was awarded the Moscow Exhibit Organized with Turkey’s Help Vitali Poghosyan writes that the plane Composers Union’s medal of honor. actually belongs to another company COPENHAGEN, Denmakr (Hetq) — Library’s decision in the case. Melikyan performed on Monday at a solo concert with the same name that is registered Denmark’s Royal Library has attracted “If you believe that all versions of his - in Moscow, where he had been invited by the offshore. Poghosyan says that those heavy criticism after agreeing to let tory are equal, then you’ve undermined union’s president, Oleg Galakhov. who died in the Brazzaville crash were Turkey co-arrange an alternative exhibi - your role as a research institution,” The program included masterpieces of the 20th his friends. tion about the Armenian Genocide. Bjornlund told Berlingske. “It was geno - century and contemporary music. In general, many airways registered The library has complied with the wish - cide and not all interpretations of this At the end of the concert, Galakhov bestowed the in Armenia operate overseas, mostly in es of the Turkish ambassador to Denmark history are correct.” honor upon Melikyan, praising his contribution to Africa and the United Arab Emirates. to be involved with the exhibition, “The The Armenian ambassador to the development and dissemination of contempo- Three years ago, Ishkhan Zakaryan, Armenian Genocide and the Scandinavian Denmark, Hrachya Aghajanyan, who is rary music. President of the RA Control; Chamber, response,” which is currently on display at a co-host of the original exhibition, is noted that airlines register in Armenia the University of Copenhagen. disappointed by the move. FM Nalbandian Meets because it is free of charge. The taxes The Turkish Embassy has been grant - “I hope that the Royal Library will they pay the Armenian government are ed the opportunity to stage a Turkish reconsider their decision and not give in with Armenian minimal at best when compared to version of the historical events in a to the possible Turkish pressure,” Armavia or ArmAero. move that has generated criticism from Aghajanyan told Berlingske. Diplomats in Europe Airways belongs to Deputy Head of a number of circles, including politi - But Erland Kolding Nielsen, the direc - PARIS (Panorama.am) — On Sunday, Foreign the RA General Staff, Lieutenant- cians, historians and the Armenian tor of the Royal Library, denied that the Minister Eduard Nalbandian met with Armenian General Stepan Galstyan, but that the Embassy in Copenhagen. institution buckled under pressure from diplomats accredited to European countries and company is registered in his wife’s “This is giving in to Turkish pressure Turkey. international organizations, the Armenian Foreign name. Poghosyan says four other and it won’t do. Without comparing the “One can’t pressure us, and we have Ministry’s press service reported. planes belonging to Galstyan also oper - two events, it’s like asking neo-Nazis to not spoken about removing the The sides discussed the results of the meeting of ate in Africa. He estimates that $9 mil - arrange a Holocaust exhibition,” the Armenian exhibition. We have simply heads of central staff and diplomatic missions of lion was spent to acquire the planes. Copenhagen post quottes Soren given them the opportunity to show Armenian Foreign Ministry held last August as well Poghosyan also points out that the Espersen, a spokesperson for Dansk their alternative exhibition,” Nielsen as the implementation of Armenian president’s young general had only four years of Folkeparti (DF), as saying to Berlingske told Berlingske. directives. peace time service before rising to his newspaper. It is not yet known when the Turkish Nalbandian presented the ambassadors with the present rank and that he never attend - Matthias Bjornlund, a historian and exhibition version will debut, but the latest developments in Armenia’s foreign policy as ed any military academy. leading Danish expert on the Armenian Turkish embassy said that preparations well as dwelt on the settlement of the Karabagh According to the Armenian Ministry Genocide, is perplexed over the Royal were underway. conflict, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial Council meeting in Dublin and the upcoming presidential elections in Armenia. Armenian, Azeri Foreign Ministers Face off in Dublin Nalbandian gave instructions to the diplomats for intensification of integration into international DUBLIN, from page 1 tage in the negotiating process and is rification of anti-Armenian attacks, organizations, expansion of cooperation with inter- “No intact monuments of Azerbaijani doing everything possible to neglect, including the praise and promotion of national organizations, development of relations culture remained in the territories occu - even to reject this agreement,” convicted Azerbaijani axe-murderer with European countries. pied by Armenia,” Mammadyarov said. Nalbandian said. Ramil Safarov. The diplomats presented processes going on in Mammadyarov also mentioned the He added, “Azerbaijan is not only “The heads of Delegation of the Europe and international organizations aimed at Stepanakert airport in his speech, say - ignoring the expectations of the inter - OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries development of relations with Armenia. ing, “it would further escalate tensions national community, but is constantly do a disservice to the cause of peace by, in the region.” taking new steps against the values of once again, seeking to impose a false Meanwhile, Armenian Foreign civilized world. The latest such case is symmetry on the Nagorno Karabagh sit - Georgia Seeks Business Minister Eduard Nalbandian’s speech the Azeri government’s release and glo - uation. For all their patently political Cooperation with objectively pointed to Azerbaijani rification of the murderer [Ramil] and artificial attempts at evenhanded - attempts to foil the Karabagh conflict Safarov, who had slaughtered with an ness, the facts on the ground are unde - Armenia settlement. axe Armenian officer in his sleep, dur - niable: Azerbaijan is the party that start - “It has become habitual for ing a NATO program in Budapest sim - ed —and lost — a war aimed at destroy - YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Armenian Ambassador Azerbaijan to backtrack even on agree - ply because he was Armenian. The ing democracy in Artsakh and prevent - to Georgia Hovhannes Manukyan met with ments to which it had previously con - Azerbaijani leadership made him a sym - ing self-determination for the people of Georgian Minister of Finances Nodar Khaduri on sented. Despite the agreement on the bol of national pride and an example to this proud republic. It is Azerbaijan December 11. creation of a mechanism to investigate follow by youth. The world’s reaction that regularly commits fatal cross-bor - According to the public relations department of the ceasefire violations, as you know, was unanimous in condemning what der attacks and is threatening to use its the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a number of issues Azerbaijan did everything to prevent its was done by Baku.” rapidly expanding arsenal of arms to of bilateral interest were discussed during the creation, even threatening to veto the In Washington, Armenian National restart its open aggression and plunge meeting. entire OSCE budget. Committee of America Executive the region into conflict. It is Baku, not Manukyan congratulated Khaduri on his appoint- “This was the case again after the Director Aram Hamparian expressed Yerevan, that is rejecting international ment and said that he hoped for further coopera- Sochi Summit of January of this year. regret at the latest statement by the calls to pull back its snipers and deploy tion between the two countries. Despite the reached agreement to accel - heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk more OSCE observers, and that is veto - Khaduri also spoke of strengthened bilateral rela- erate accord on the Basic Principles for Group Co-Chair countries this week ing the participation of the Republic of tions and indicated Georgia’s interest in business a Settlement of the Nagorno-Karabagh which demonstrated an artificial even- Nagorno Karabagh — the key stake - cooperation with Armenia. conflict, confirmed by Los Cabos handedness toward Azerbaijan and holder in any enduring settlement – Statement, Azerbaijan by its maximalist Armenia, with no mention of the ongo - from full participation in the peace approaches, is seeking one-sided advan - ing aggression against Armenia and glo - process,” he said. S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 15, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 Community Ne ws

Brad Sherman Knights of Vartan Ani Honored at DC Lodge 21 Participates in Program Celebrating Human Rights Reception WASHINGTON — On Thursday, November NKR Anniversary 29, members of the Knights of Vartan Ani Lodge #21 attended the second Annual St. WASHINGTON — Rep. Brad Sherman was Andrew Human Rights and Religious Freedom presented the Mkhitar Gosh medal at a Reception on Capitol Hill. Hellenic Caucus Co- Congressional celebration of the 21st anniver - Chair John P. Sarbanes (D-MD) sponsored the sary of the independence of the Republic of event, in cooperation with the US Helsinki Nagorno-Karabagh on December 5. Commission, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Earlier this year, President Serge Sargisian of Commission, the International Religious Armenia awarded the Mkhitar Gosh Medal to Freedom Caucus and the Hellenic Caucus. Sherman for his efforts to enhance US- Sarbanes and fellow Hellenic Caucus Co- Armenian relations and to achieve internation - Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) delivered remarks al recognition of the Armenian Genocide. and thanked the standing-room-only crowd for Mkhitar Gosh was an important Armenian their support and participation. The presence of scholar, clergyman and codifier of the Representative-Elect Dina Titus (D-NV) was also Armenian civil and canon laws. acknowledged, as she will be the only Greek- Sherman, a senior member of the House American woman in Congress when she is Foreign Affairs Committee, has been leading sworn-in next month. Religious, political and efforts since 1997 to provide US aid to the peo - diplomatic dignitaries were also in attendance, such as Cyprus’ Ambassador to the US Pavlos ple of Artsakh. Sunday School students at St. John Church Earlier in the day, Sherman also met with the Anastasiades, Father Milton Gianulis, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Nagorno- Command Chaplain of the United States Karabagh, Karen Mirzoyan, to discuss ways to Marine Corps, and former Sen. Paul Sarbanes expand cooperation between the US, Armenia, (D-MD). and Nagorno-Karabagh. Sunday School The theme of this year’s reception was The following are excerpts of Sherman’s “Human Rights, Religious Freedom and the remarks at the celebration last night: Role of Civil Society,” featuring Ivan Vejvoda, “I thank the President of the Republic of vice president of the German Marshall Fund. Armenia, Serge Sargisian, for honoring me with Students Give the Mkhitar Gosh medal in recognition of my efforts to expand US-Armenia ties and recogni - tion of the Armenian Genocide. Thank you, Ambassador Tatoul Markarian, for this award. I am privileged to receive this honor. Thanks I would like to recognize and thank the esteemed Foreign Minister of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic, Mr. Karen Mirzoyan, for SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — On November 17 and 18, Elise Antreassian, coordinator joining us tonight. Congratulations to you and of Christian Education in the Diocese’s Department of Youth and Education, vis - ited the Sunday School of St. John Church, where she led a workshop for educa - tors and gave a presentation on faith development to parents. Antreassian met with members of the Sunday School staff and school superin - tendent Alberta Godoshian for a workshop titled, “What Every Sunday School Teacher Needs to Know.” “Our teacher workshops Rep. John P. Sarbanes (D-MD), left, and accomplish a few modest but Sbarabed Jake Bournazian important things,” “We also stress Antreassian said. This includes sessions on topics His speech touched on the Christian communi - teachers need to brush up personal spirituality. ties that have been driven out of most of the on, as well as a focus on cre - Middle East. He provided statistics on the pop - ative teaching methods, And it’s a great ulation declines over the last 50 years in Turkey such as games or activities and Iraq from 1 million to less than 100,000, as appropriate for a classroom well as the exodus of Christians from Syria, setting. networking opportunity Egypt and Iran. “Teachers then do a little “This event benefits all Christians who are dis - lesson planning together, as — we all learn from each criminated against and persecuted by the a team, which is something Turkish government,” stated Ani Lodge they rarely have time for in Sbarabed Jake Bournazian. “We are here tonight the routine of the school other, sharing expertise because human rights abuses in Turkey should year,” she added. “We also be raised and discussed in Congress routinely, stress personal spirituality. and experience.” not only in April. Istanbul is home to both the And it’s a great networking opportunity — we all learn from each other, sharing Armenian and Greek Patriarchs and it is impor - expertise and experience.” tant that we confront mutual problems in chorus. Rep. Brad Sherman met with Karen Mirzoyan, The workshop began with the screening of a new film on the history and mean - Tonight, Asbeds [Knights] are here keeping the the foreign minister of Nagorno-Karabagh. ing of the Nicene Creed, which inspired a thoughtful discussion on faith, tradition, candle lit and we will remain a stakeholder for doctrine and doubt. This was followed by a review of Bible basics, related class - the Armenian people until others can join and room activity ideas and a general meeting airing concerns and strategies. participate in our righteous endeavors.” your citizens on the 21st anniversary of On Sunday morning, the Sunday School children participated in a On The Feast Day of Saint Andrew, on Artsakh’s independence. On December 10, Thanksgiving-themed exercise with the Fr. Garabed Kochakian, pastor of St. John November 30, the world’s 300 million Orthodox 1991, Nagorno Karabagh held an independence Church. He explained to the young students that just as they help set the table at Christians — the world’s second largest church referendum and overwhelmingly voted for inde - Thanksgiving, altar servers help prepare the altar for the celebration of the Divine — venerate the first called apostle and patron pendence. Liturgy. The children then assisted the deacons in bringing altar candles, the ser - saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Today we celebrate Artsakh’s freedom and vice book and other items to Kochakian. They learned about the significance of Seventeen centuries ago, Saint Andrew laid the independence. Artsakh continues to strengthen each object and each received a blessing from the pastor. foundation for the establishment of the its democracy and held its fifth presidential During the morning procession, the children carried lit tapers in the sanctuary. Ecumenical Patriarchate in the ancient election this year. The election in July 2012 was Older students passed the Kiss of Peace among the congregation. “It was a mov - Anatolian City of Byzantium, which later monitored and deemed free and fair by interna - ing experience to see the children so involved, the superintendent and teachers became the Roman-Byzantine capital tional observers. intently supervising, and the congregation equally engaged in their participation,” Constantinople, and which is now modern day Despite Azerbaijan’s deeply unjust blockade Antreassian said. Istanbul, Turkey. Over the last 100 years, the and a devastating war from 1991 to 1994, Later in the afternoon, parents gathered to hear a presentation titled “Raising Ecumenical Patriarchate — the Center of the Artsakh continues to solidify its democracy and Children of Faith.” The talk emphasized that there is no better way to prepare chil - Orthodox Christian Church — has struggled for improve its economy Nagorno Karabagh has dren for the challenges of the world than a deep and lasting faith in Jesus Christ. survival against state-sanctioned abuse and dis - been successful in its transition from a state- Antreassian shared the “whys” and “hows” of faith development and the impor - crimination. The annual tribute to Saint run economy to a market economy, which tance of the Church. “Jesus began to build a community of believers and taught Andrew is an opportunity to assess what helped achieve steady economic growth. by word and action what the Kingdom of God is like,” she said. “The same heal - progress is being made towards restoring full I was the first member of Congress to intro - ing and miracle is forever possible in each of our lives through Christ.” dignity to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and duce legislation for direct aid to Nagorno- towards advancing human rights and religious see SHERMAN, page 7 freedom the world over. 6 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 15, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Torch is Passed at Church of Our Saviour Remembering the WORCESTER, Mass. — On Sunday, Sid Davagian, Paul Davis, Michael Gulbankian, November 18, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Sr., Gerald Kheboian, John Merzigian, Heghine Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church Minassian, Francis Najarian, Vahan Pogharian of America (Eastern), visited the Church of Our and Agnes Torosian. Saviour in Worcester, Mass., where he celebrat - Posthumous honors were given in memory of Kuljian Family ed the Divine Liturgy and ordained eight Ruth Aroian, Haroutune Bilazarian, Rose acolytes. Gulanian, Richard Maksian and Bizer The eight tbirs — Alex Arakelian, Armen Simonian. ARCATA, Calif. — The Freshwater com - After recovering from breast cancer in Balian, George Balian, Andrew DeMauro, The honorees were selected for their contri - munity tragically lost three members of the 2000, she joined the Humboldt Community Patrick Kapur, Ryan Lott, Thomas Kuljian family on November 24. Howard, Breast Health Project where she built a Mshooshian and Nareg Manoukian — his wife, Mary, and their son, Geddie, per - patient navigation and support program for are Sunday School students, who have ished in the surf of Big Lagoon where they women facing breast and gynecological can - been working with the Fr. Aved Terzian, often took family walks with their surviving cer concerns. She worked tirelessly on parish pastor, to prepare for their new daughter/sister, Olivia. behalf of women and their families, trained responsibilities. Mary Elena Scott was born in Peoria, countless volunteers, built an angel fund to “They have been faithfully coming to Illinois on April 8, 1955. She was the provide resources to those in need, collabo - church,” Terzian said, adding that in daughter of James Scott (deceased) and rated with the medical community to raise some cases the boys gave up extracur - Ruth Krenn Scott (deceased). She had two awareness of the needs of women with can - ricular activities to make time for altar brothers, Michael Scott (deceased) and cer, role modeled to the staff that nothing service. “With their parents’ guidance David Scott as well as one sister, Theresa was impossible, reached out to minority and the love of the church, they will rise Jenkins. She graduated high school from populations with education and support to the occasion.” St. Mary’s Academy in Nauvoo, Ill. and then and stayed present to every single woman Barsamian congratulated the young attended the University of Iowa before mov - who came to the Project in need of infor - men and encouraged them to continue ing to Eureka in 1979 where she finished mation and support. their involvement in the life of the her nursing degree. Howard Kuljian was the forest fire ecolo - Armenian Church. “It’s inspiring and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian ordains young parish - Howard Gregory Kuljian was born July gist of the Six Rivers National Forest. He uplifting to see young parishioners step - ioners to the rank of acolyte. 13, 1958 in Hampton, Va. He was the son of received his undergraduate degree in geog - ping forward to serve our Lord Jesus Iris Kuljian and Roy Kuljian (deceased). He raphy from Humboldt State University, Christ,” he said. “May God bless you and is survived by his mother, Iris, brother, worked at Adventure’s Edge for years, then guide you always.” butions as role models for the younger genera - Daniel Kuljian, and sisters, Lynnette settled down and raised a family. He was Several hymns of the Divine Liturgy were tion of parishioners at the Church of Our Johnson and Rachel Ikola as well as their also a longtime graphic artist at Bug Press. sung by the parish’s Junior Choir, under the Saviour and for being “an inspiration to young spouses, and numerous aunts, uncles, After 20 years, he followed his longterm direction of Linda Bullock. people to be well-rooted in their community,” cousins, nieces, and nephews. Howard dream of pursuing a degree in fire ecology Following services, the parish hosted its Terzian said. attended Simi Valley High School and then and redefining his career path. He finished “Recognition Day Banquet” to honor longtime “It always gives me joy to visit the Armenian fought fires on the Hot Shot crews in the his master’s degree in 2010. parishioners for their many years of involve - Church of Our Saviour,” Barsamian said. “It is summers; however the Eureka community Geddie Kuljian was often mistaken as ment in parish life. wonderful to see today’s community continuing was calling. He was the grandnephew of the being much older than he was because of Awards were presented to the following hon - the legacy of the founders of the first parish of late Levon T. Levonian of the his maturity and the orderly way he pre - orees: Ardem Andonian, Dorothy Asadoorian, the Armenian Church in America.” Ousoumnaseratz School of Aleppo. sented himself. He volunteered to help Gregory (Geddie) James Kuljian was born wherever he could, and he was not afraid to June 5, 1996 in Arcata. He was a junior at reach out to people, even if it meant an Arcata High School. He had hopes of becom - inconvenience to himself. He wrote a ing a medical assistant in the military after newsletter for the Humboldt County Breast high school. Geddie also had a deep interest Health Project when he was ten describing in the study of aeronautical engineering. what it was like to be a child with a mother Howard, Mary and Geddie are survived by undergoing treatment for breast cancer. He GF UiNrEaRgAoL sHiaOMn E their loving daughter and sister, Olivia. was also often the server for the Freshwater James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC Olivia graduated from Arcata High School Grange pancake breakfasts. At school he Mark J. Giragosian in June and is attending college classes at was involved in both cross country, track, Funeral Counselors College of the Redwoods. sailing and loved his art classes. 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 Mary and Howard met and fell in love on A Memorial Service took place on www.giragosianfuneralhome.com a backpacking trip in the Trinity Alps. December 9, at Arcata High School. Howard proposed to Mary on the peak of The sole survivor, Olivia, is a student at the Mt. Shasta and they were married in College of the Redwoods. She is an accom - Kneeland on a nearby hilltop. Their love plished artist and track athlete. She witnessed deepened with the births of their children, the tragic accident. Olivia (Livie) Ruth Kuljian, born on Sep 25, The Olivia Kuljian Fund has been estab - ENNIS M. EVENEY & ONS 1994 in Arcata and Gregory (Geddie) James lished at the Wells Fargo Bank 27440 Kuljian born on Jun 5, 1996 in Arcata. Hawthorne Blvd. Rolling Hills Estates, CA D D S Mary Kuljian’s gift for loving and caring 90274 in order to help her. Cemetery Monuments for others came to its fullness during the six Donations may be made at any Wells years she helped provide support and Fargo Bank, Account #113-60-34-673. Specializing in resources for these people whose lives were Mail to: Olivia Kuljian Fund # 113-60-673 Armenian Designs and Lettering transformed because of her. She was an PO Box 4030 Palos Verdes, CA 90274 701 Moody St. Waltham, MA 02543 artist and cartoonist with an incredible (Online via PayPal sense of humor. She volunteered extensive - [email protected]) (781) 891-9876 www.NEMonuments.com ly in the community through her children’s (This obituary was an expanded version schools, the Freshwater Grange, and any - of the one that appeared in the Armenian where she felt she was needed. Mirror-Spectator two weeks ago.) Telephone (617) 924-7400 OBITUARY Aram Bedrosian Marguerite (Moranian) Dinjian Funeral Home, Inc. Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 WEST HYANNISPORT, Mass. — Marguerite (Moranian) Dinjian of West Hyannisport, died MARION BEDROSIAN on November 20. 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN She was the wife of the late Nubar Dinjian. WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN She was the sister of the late Alice Skenderian, Helen J. Kasarjian and Thomas Moranian. She leaves her sister, Dorothy Keverian, and Edward D. Jamakordzian, Jr. d/b/a her husband, Jack, as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Funeral services were held at St. James Armenian Church on Tuesday, November 27. Edward D. Jamie, Jr. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. James Armenian Chruch or Plan Funeral Chapel International, 155 Planway, Warwick, RI Serving the entire Armenian Community 02889. Any Hour • Any Distance • Any Location Interment was in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Call (718) 224-2390 Toll Free (888) 224-6088 Cambridge. Arrangements were made by the Aram Marguerite (Moranian) Dinjian Bus. Reg. 189-06 Liberty Ave., Hollis, NY 11412 Bedrosian Funeral Home in Watertown. Consultation Office: 217-04 Northern Blvd., (Suite 23), Bayside,NY 11361 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 15, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS Cambridge Program Addresses Border Incursions in Northern Armenia

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — On December 4, a town of Berd. and ancient history of the Berd region with region and listed some important projects in small group of concerned Armenians assem - The evening began with a presentation by all its splendor, glory and breathtaking beau - the area already under way by the Knights. bled at the hall of Holy Trinity Armenian Davidian, who had recently returned from ty. He then followed with a grim presentation Berd native Victor Hayapetian was also pre - Church to listen to presentations by Rev. that region. Since retirement several years of the violence and vengeance thrust upon sent and made a few remarks about the Dajad Davidian and Eva Medzorian and oth - ago as the pastor of the St. James Church in the area Armenians by the aggressive Azeris region and his personal experiences and pas - ers on the escalating violence on Armenia’s Watertown, he has spent most of his time in on the border, who, since independence and sion for the area. Hayrapetian is a creative northeastern border with Azerbaijan, primar - Armenia working on spiritual revival of the without provocation, have been attacking individual and dedicated Armenian, who has ily in the former Shamshadin region of the population, especially the youth. Armenian civilians. He described what is in already invested considerable funds in reno - Tavoush province, with its epicenter in the He presented an overview of the geography reality a David and Goliath scenario, with the vation of the former Berd cinema, Berd region’s 30,000 villagers facing off “Averaberd” into a modern, state-of-the-art against Azerbaijan’s 1,000,000-plus, heavily- facility complete with Internet cafe and a armed villagers on the border. He reported modern cafe/restaurant. In less than two that the population of Berd, mostly youth years since opening, Arevaberd has become and even entire families, are leaving the area the meeting place for young and old alike, Visit Armenia every day... because of a lack of jobs as well as unsafe liv - has hosted banquets and has sparked other ing conditions. Unless this situation is cor - investors to undertake developments of their rected, he predicted dire circumstances for own. Berd is a tourist paradise with its sweet, the region. In fact the Azeris could eventual - clean air, gorgeous landscapes and intelli - 2013 Cosmic Ray Division ly walk right into Armenia and take our gent, friendly people. A new mayor, lands, which he said is their goal. Haroutiun Manoucharyan, has many down-to- Next, a 20-minute documentary was shown, earth ideas and plans for revitalization. Calendars produced by Eva Medzorian, with footage Jack Medzorian reported on a project of taken during her visits in May and the Knights of Vartan which he leads for September/October 2012, focusing on the helping a local village hospital in Artsvaberd town of Berd and five surrounding villages, village. This project is underway, a fundraiser Nerkin Garmir Aghbyur, Aykebar, Movses, is in progress and his Knights of Vartan vol - Chinari and Artsvaberd. Also included were unteer team is busy packing a 40-foot con - archival video clips from Armenia of the tainer of supplies and equipment. He met destruction in the early 1990’s during the with the newly appointed minister of health war in Karabagh, which spilled over to this in October to enlist his support. The minister area of Armenia by aggressive Azeri destruc - promised to complete the renovations of this tive action. Included are videos of scenery, hospital especially as it is in a strategic, “de children, schools and houses bombed by facto war” zone. Katusha missles and interviews with eyewit - An important local figure in the Berd ness residents. The video showed how these region is Rev. Aram Mirzoyan, a young pastor incidents are accelerating; for example, in assigned by the Catholicos of All Armenians May, a band of Azeri soldiers slipped into Karekin II two years ago to bring about a Armenia at nighttime, ambushed a vehicle, spiritual revival of the area. He has already killed three Armenians and fled back. Also, in begun the construction of a new church, the the same month, another band of Azeri sol - St. Gevorg Church, in the center of Berd on diers crossed the border at the border village the same street as the Arevaberd cinema, to of Chinari and sprayed the exterior walls of a replace the one that was destroyed by the kindergarten with bullets. There are daily communists during the early 1920s. The intermittent sniper attack on civilians. In benefactor of this church is the late John May, one of these snipers struck Vajakan Stevens from Fresno, Calif., who donated Melkoumyan, a local farmer while he was nearly $1,000,000 for the project. Besides working his fields. He has lost use of one of being the local pastor, Mirzoyan is also con - his legs, so he is no longer able to put food cerned for his people, looking after not only on the table for his family. their spiritual needs but also by being Knights of Vartan Grand Commander involved in revitalization of the economy, Nigoghos Atinizian also spoke about the health, education and cultural needs. In a importance of the region. He has proposed short time he has become a true pillar of the that the Knights and Daughters of Vartan church and a community leader. focus on the development of the Tavoush province with an emphasis on the Berd — Eva Medzorian Brad Sherman Honored

SHERMAN, from page 5 Karabagh. In 1997, I introduced an amendment during the House International Relations Committee’s consideration of a foreign aid authorization bill for fiscal year 1998 for direct US humanitarian aid to Nagorno Karabagh. While this amendment did not pass, it acceler - ated the movement for direct US aid to Artsakh. In September 2012, I backed Nagorno- Karabagh’s efforts to reopen the airport in Stepanakert. The opening has been delayed sev - eral times. Unfortunately, officials in Baku have threatened to shoot down civilian planes traveling to Stepanakert. It is time for that airport to open. I condemn Baku’s pardoning and freeing of an Azeri axe-murderer, Ramil Safarov , who was imprisoned in Hungary for killing an innocent Armenian officer in his sleep in Budapest. We must hold Azerbaijan accountable for this grave injustice. Thank you.”

Ambassador of Armenia to the US Tatoul Markarian, left, presented the Mkhitar Gosh medal to Rep. Brad Sherman. 8 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 15, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS St. Sahag Church Welcomes New Pastor, Looks Forward to the Future

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Archbishop Khajag a fruitful ministry at St. Sahag Church. “Fr. Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Barseghyan is an energetic and capable young Armenian Church of America (Eastern), visited clergyman,” Barsamian said. “May our Lord St. Sahag Church of St. Paul, Minn., this month guide him, and may He continue blessing the as the parish marked the 10th anniversary of Armenian community of St. Paul.” the church’s consecration and welcomed its Following services, 140 people gathered for new pastor, Fr. Tadeos Barseghyan. an anniversary banquet in the church hall. On Saturday, December 1, Barsamian and Sunday School and Armenian School students Diocesan Council members, Fr. Aren Jebejian recited poems, and parishioner Mariam and Lisa Esayian met with the pastor, Parish Kocharian sang a selection of Armenian songs. Council Chair Avo Toghramadjian and Parish Parishioners congratulated the newly-ordained Council members to help the parish create a sub-deacons and welcomed Barseghyan with a strategic plan. celebratory cake. “There is full support of our The meeting began with a prayer service and new pastor,” Toghramadjian said. “We all have Bible study on First Corinthians (“one body, the same mission of growing our parish.” many members”). Participants reflected on the Barseghyan thanked the community for its importance of unity and the significance of warm welcome since his arrival earlier this fall. each member’s contribution of his or her “This is a new milestone for us,” he said. “I look unique skills to the parish. forward to working with all of you to reach new Jebejian then outlined some elements of a heights for our St. Sahag family. It is truly a “model parish,” and Esayian presented ways in blessing and joy to have your support as we Summer 2012 volunteers take a break following a day of painting. which the parish council might attract new embark on this new chapter of our parish his - members to St. Sahag and stressed the importance of com - munication between the council and the pastor. Serve, Tour and Play with During the daylong session, the church members developed a multi-faceted strategic plan for St. SERVICE Armenia Sahag Church, which built on the vision of Barseghyan with input BERKELEY, Calif. — Applications are now available for the Paros Foundation’s SER - from all parish council members. VICE Armenia 2013 Program. The program will run from June 24 to July 23, 2013, and The plan promotes community will facilitate young people to travel and tour Armenia and Artsakh, while engaging in outreach and communication, meaningful service projects benefiting Armenia and her people. leadership development, multi- “Following the successes we experienced in 2012 with both groups of Armenian and generational education and the American young people working on service projects in both Yerevan and in the regions, parish’s financial stability. we look forward to summer 2013. Participants will be working on renovating school class - The day concluded with a recep - rooms and distributing shoes and other humanitarian aid,” said Peter Abajian, executive tion in appreciation of the sup - director of the Paros Foundation. porters of St. Sahag Church. Throughout the program, participants will tour historic, religious and cultural sites Also on Saturday, Khoren throughout Armenia and Artsakh with experienced, English speaking staff and guides. Mekanejian, the Diocese’s Music Safe and well located accommodations and transportation combined with interesting cul - Ministry coordinator, worked with Fr. Tadeos Barseghyan with Hagop Toghramadjian and Andy tural and educational activities will ensure all will have a terrific and memorable experi - the parish choir in preparation for Ylitalo during the ordination service. ence. The program is open to both Armenian and American young people wishing to par - Sunday’s services. ticipate. Knowledge of the Armenian language is not required. On Sunday, Barsamian celebrat - More information including photos and video and the application form can be found at ed the Divine Liturgy and elevated young tory.” www.paros-foundation.org/Armenia2013. For more information, contact Peter Abajian at parishioners Hagop Toghramadjian and Andy Toghramadjian also spoke to parishioners [email protected]. Ylitalo to the sub-diaconate. Both are active about Saturday’s strategic planning session and members of the parish, and regularly serve on encouraged them to come together to achieve the altar. the goals envisioned. The Primate also formally introduced “There is a very upbeat feeling in our com - Barseghyan to the community, and wished him munity,” he concluded.

ASA Awards $68,000 in Scholarships

WARWICK, R.I. — The Armenian Students’ Mechanical Engineering; Kristin Allukian, Association founded in 1910 has to date award - University of Florida, English, PhD; Maria ed over $1.7 million in scholarships to students Petrosyan, UCLA, Business Administration; of Armenian descent. Lori Kooloian, chairper - Lara Maldjian, Columbia University, Public son of the ASA Scholarship Committee report - Health; Vanine Najarian, Arts Institute of ed that the Armenian Students’ Association of Chicago, Interior Architecture; Nellie America (ASA) has awarded a total of $68,000 Ekemkjian, UCLA School of Medicine, this year in scholarships to aid 30 college and Medicine; Kyle Dinkjian, Bentley University, university students in the United States for the Economics/Finance; Arik Avagyan, Univ of academic year. Spanning the continent, fields in Illinois, Engineering Mechanics; Jesse Arlen, the arts, sciences, business, law and medicine Wheaton College, Historical Theology; Nicole the 2012-2013 scholarship award undergradu - DerAnanian, Suffolk University, Marketing; ate, graduate and doctoral recipients and their Gary Bedrosian, University of Maryland, school for the year 2012-13 are: Dentistry; Clara Avakian, UCLA, Economics; Ani Avetisyan, George Washington University, Alexander Calikyan, Catholic University, International Development; Amy Ishkanian, Philosophy; Armen Derian, UCLA Medicine, Columbia University, Speech-Language David Geffen School of Medicine and Narini Pathology; Tara Guarino, Fuller Theological Badalian, Northeastern University, Law. Seminary, Psychology; Brian Duffell, Tulane The ASA Silver Medal Award Committee University, Medicine; Dana Majajian, Columbia selected five high school seniors to receive the University, Medicine; Adrina Shamlian, Univ of Silver Medal Award. The Silver Medal Awards are Southern California, Dentistry; Brittany given annually to high school seniors who have Kademian, Georgetown University, Public demonstrated outstanding scholastic ability. Policy and Security Studies; Ani Megerdichian, The following students were selected to Quinnipiac University, Physicians Assistant; receive the award: Matthew R. Janigian; Jane Kathy Akopjan, University of Pennsylvania, Frances Bedrossian; Emily J. Papazian; Natalie Law; Anush Avetisyan, American University, Oundjian and Christina A. Zaroogian. International Relations; Jesse Soursourian, All ASA Award Information can be found at Columbia University, Film-Writing and http://asainc.org/national/awards/ Directing; Ruzan Stepanyan, Loyola University, ASA Scholarship applications are available by Law; Emily Hanoian, Providence College, contacting the ASA National Office, 333 Sociology; Neli Martirosyan, UCLA, Atlantic Ave., Warwick, RI 02888 or e-mail: Comparative and International Education; Ivet [email protected]. To download applications, Parseghian, Lincoln Memorial University, visit www.asainc.org. Deadline for scholarship Medicine; Varant Chiloyan, Boston University, applications to be submitted is March 15, 2013. S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 15, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS Fifth Annual AGBU NYSEC Performing Artists in Concert Raises more Than $50,000 to Support Students and Music Programs Worldwide

Sold Out Performance at STEWART ISBELL PHOTO who love great music, will continue promoting Armenian talent and fostering in our youth the Carnegie Hall Pays Tribute to desire to excel and ascend to the world’s great Sayat Nova stages, thereby advancing the cause of Armenian tradition and culture.” NEW YORK — World premieres and a range Scholarship recipient Tatevik Khoja- of classical pieces, all inspired by the celebrated Eynatyan, who has performed at the White Armenian bard Sayat Nova, made the fifth House and recorded two award-winning annual AGBU Performing Artists in Concert an albums, attested to AGBU’s great impact, com - unforgettable evening. Presented by the AGBU menting, “This fellowship gave me the key to New York Special Events Committee (NYSEC), my professional development, and I love shar - the sold-out event drew crowds of more than ing my passion for music through both perfor - 260 to Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall on mances and teaching. I’m deeply thankful that Saturday, December 1, 2012, to honor the I am able to do so because of AGBU’s support.” 300th anniversary of the birth of Sayat Nova. Over the past four years, the annual AGBU Showcasing the talents of AGBU scholarship NYSEC concert has raised more than $200,000, recipients from around the globe, the concert which has supported gifted young Armenian raised more than $50,000, which will enable performers, as well as AGBU musical programs AGBU to continue to support many more bright and events. Proceeds from the 2012 NYSEC young musicians and musical initiatives. event, which included pre-concert fundraising Throughout the evening, the AGBU artists Composer Vahram Sargsyan (conducting) debuts one of his world premiere pieces played by (from efforts, will continue to support AGBU student proved that Sayat Nova’s influence has not only left to right) Armine Chamasyan, Tatevik Ayazyan, Gurgen Simonyan, Vardan Gasparyan, Anoush grants and projects worldwide. Since the AGBU endured, but has also laid the foundation for a Simonian and Sofya Melikyan (on piano) at the AGBU NYSEC Performing Artists in Concert. NYSEC event’s inception, it has benefitted from new genre, one that layers traditional Armenian the continuous support of concert benefactor and modern Western elements. Centuries after Paul Khoury. his time, the musician, poet, singer and master from the audience. In the second half of the Tatevik Khoja-Eynatyan, pianist Sofya The fifth annual AGBU Performing Artists in of languages who produced hundreds of concert, the piece Poem by AGBU Performing Melikyan, violist Anoush Simonian and clar - Concert was organized by the NYSEC Armenian ballads, continues to shape Armenian Arts Department Artistic Director Hayk inetist Gurgen Simonyan, have trained and Committee, co-chaired by Nila Festekjian and music. As the concert’s co-artistic director Arsenyan made its New York debut, adding to performed in some of the world’s finest insti - Sossy Setrakian. Members include Anita Sofya Melikyan commented, “One of the great - the evening’s distinctive ensemble, which was tutions and venues — the Conservatory of Anserian, Carol Aslanian, Betty Cherkezian, est pleasures of being a musician is the oppor - at some points lively, at others dramatic and Geneva, the Juilliard School of Music, the Melissa Demirjian, Maral Hajjar, Hilda tunity to travel back in time and give new life to somber — yet inspiring throughout. Peabody Conservatory, the Vienna Hartounian, Maral Jebejian, Vesna Markarian music. It was an honor to collaborate with all Under the direction of Hayk Arsenyan and Conservatory and Yerevan Komitas State and Vera Setrakian. AGBU Performing Artists

STEWART ISBELL PHOTO STEWART ISBELL PHOTO

Co-artistic directors Sofya Melikyan and Hayk Arsenyan share the stage during the 5th annual AGBU scholarship recipient Tatevik Khoja-Eynatyan plays the marimba during one of several perfor - AGBU NYSEC Performing Artists in Concert. mances inspired by the legendary Armenian bard Sayat Nova. the incredible AGBU artists to commemorate Sofya Melikyan, the 10 artists paid tribute not Conservatory, among others. in Concert Contributors include AGBU Sayat Nova’s birth and a delight to witness the only to Sayat Nova, but to many contemporary As both established artists and rising stars, Performing Arts Department Artistic Director ways he continues to motivate the next genera - classical composers, as well. The Armenian com - the NYSEC concert participants represent the Hayk Arsenyan, graphic designer Alex tion of Armenian composers.” poser Alexander Arutiunian, who died this year, greatest talents of their generation, each of Basmagian, events coordinator Sharis The program opened with the premiere of was honored with a performance of his whom have benefitted from the AGBU Boghossian, AGBU Associate Director of Ashkharums Akh Chim Kashil (I Would Not acclaimed Suite for Violin, Clarinet and Piano , Performing Arts Fellowship Program, which is Education Natalie Gabrelian and concert coor - Sigh in this World), arranged by Artur which is rarely heard in concert. Compositions administered by the AGBU Scholarship dinator Leslie Aslanian Williams. Akshelyan, the first-place winner of the 2006 by Antonín Dvorák, Tigran Mansurian, Sergei Program. AGBU Performing Artists in Concert For decades, AGBU scholarships have been AGBU Sayat Nova International Composition Rachmaninoff and Robert Schumann were Co-Chair Sossy Setrakian stressed the organi - awarded to qualified, talented students of Competition. The performance, which featured among the other works performed by the musi - zation’s commitment to young musicians, stat - Armenian descent studying in the performing the marimba, was one of four world premieres cians, some of whom are based locally, and oth - ing, “The annual AGBU NYSEC concert at arts who have demonstrated excellence in their that marked the event; a second piece by ers who traveled from as far as Austria, Belgium Carnegie Hall supports our talented artists in chosen fields. Those who would like to make a Akshelyan, The Universe in a Nutshell, as well and Canada to share the stage in New York. The their quest for recognition and professional dis - contribution to the AGBU Performing Arts as two works by composer Vahram Sargsyan, participants, pianist Hayk Arsenyan, mezzo tinction. I was impressed by the diversity and Fellowship Program to help sustain and sup - an arrangement of Sayat Nova’s Usti Kugas soprano Garineh Avakian, violinists Tatevik complexity of the musical repertoire and the port the enhancement of future Armenian musi - (Where Do You Come From?) and Hunting the Ayazyan and Armine Chamasyan, pianist Tanya extraordinary talent of the performers. I hope cians may contact AGBU by email at scholar - Hunter , all drew repeated rounds of applause Gabrielian, cellist Vardan Gasparyan, marimbist AGBU NYSEC, with the support of all those [email protected].

Dr. Armen Marsoobian Appointed Nikit and Eleanora Ordjanian Visiting Professor at Columbia University

NEW YORK — Dr. Armen T. Marsoobian has otics, metaphysics and genocide studies. delayed. The issue of denial raises challenging begin the week of January 22. Registration may been appointed the Nikit and Eleanora Marsoobian will teach a seminar-style course questions and added burdens for those artists be completed online at Ordjanian Visiting Professor in the Department titled, “Armenian Literary and Artistic and writers who attempt to portray the after - www.ce.columbia.edu/auditing. of Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Responses to the Genocide of 1915.” math of the Genocide itself, especially the con - The Visiting Professorship program at Studies at Columbia University for the Spring The Armenian Genocide has engendered com - tinuing trauma that characterizes the lives of the Columbia was established by the late Dr. Nikit 2013. He is a professor of philosophy at plex and conceptually challenging literary and survivors and their descendants. and Eleanora Ordjanian in 1998. Previous visit - Southern Connecticut State University and artistic responses because of its unique status as The course will explore these themes in vari - ing professors have included Levon chairperson of the Philosophy Department. a genocide that was virtually forgotten for 50 ous works in translation in film, poetry, novels Abrahamian, Vardan Azatyan, George Marsoobian received his PhD in philosophy years and has been continuously denied by the and non-fiction. Bournoutian, Seta Dadoyan, Helen Evans, from the State University of New York at Stony Turkish state for more than 90 years. The on- Registration for this course begins January Roberta Ervine, Rachel Goshgarian, Arman Brook. His primary areas of research are going denial has meant that the Genocide itself 14 and ends January 18 and is open to auditors Grigoryan, Robert Hewsen, Ara Sarafian and American philosophy, aesthetics, Peircean semi - has never come to an end and justice has been as well as to matriculating students. Classes Khachig Tololyan. 10 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 15, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Arts & Living

Michael Aram Partners Diana Der-Hovanessian With Creative Converting Featured in Poetry To Launch Madhouse Magazine NEW YORK and INDIANAPOLIS — Designer Michael Aram, known for his beauti - fully sculpted metalware tabletop and home By Adria Holmes decor accessories, has partnered with paper and partyware manufacturer, Creative The December Issue of Ibbetson Review , Converting, to launch a new brand, Madhouse, based in Somerville, Mass., features the work of a collection of home entertaining accessories Diana Der-Hovanessian, longtime president of and paper tableware. the New England Poetry Club. As poet Robert Madhouse will make its debut in January at Clawson says, not only has she directed the the winter gift markets. The brand will launch poetry organization for decades, arranging six coordinated collections of high-end, premi - countless readings by world-renowned, as well um paper tableware, statement tabletop as local poets but she has also won numerous pieces, including paper plates and napkins; awards for her own poetry and poetry collec - melamine bowls, plates, trays, plastic drink tions. She has written extensively about the ware, cutlery; and silicone placemats. The six Armenian Genocide and has been a strong collections — Ocean, Black Orchid, Olive voice making sure this holocaust will not fall Branch, Fig Leaf, Botanical Leaf and into the dustbin of history. Lemonwood — are interpretations of six of Adria Holmes: How did your presidency of Aram’s nature-inspired core collections. New England Poetry Club come to be? “Today, entertaining at home has become DDH: Well, reluctantly I must say. I was tak - about the formalization of casual and the ing a class at Harvard, actually the last class, casualization of formal,” states Aram. “Hosts Robert Lowell gave. and someone, before the want their gatherings to feel special, but they class began, told us all about a poetry reading don’t want to spend a fortune creating a beau - that evening at the Faculty Club. And I went to tiful tablescape. Madhouse will bridge that hear the New England Poetry Club program. In gap, giving accessible options for elegant, yet those days there were daily poems on the edi - easeful entertaining.” torial pages of The Times , the Trib , the The development of the collection is a Monitor , in pages of Yankee, Saturday Review , licensing arrangement with Aram as the licen - Harpers . There was a lot of poetry being pub - sor and Creative Converting as the licensee. lished. It was easier in those days and I was sell - But, as Andy Romjue, vice president of mar - ing a lot of it, since I had given up full time writ - keting for Creative Converting, noted, “I’ve ing jobs to do free lance and take care of two never been a part of a licensing agreement babies. with so much collaboration. My product team François K in studio AH: So you went to that meeting… and Michael and his product team were con - DDH: After the reading, there was a lot of stantly working together flying back and forth socializing. I had not met any other poets here to New York, then to China and the melamine in Boston. I used my married name with factory, together with Michael and his Indian Electronic Music Pioneer acquaintances so no one, really, except my fam - team, to work on sculpts for the melamine ily knew me as DDH and I was startled that so pieces. The collaboration is at an extremely many at the club, knew me from published high level. Michael has approved or designed François K Reflects on a Life stuff! In fact the president at the time, Victor each piece that we are putting put out there.” Howes, asked me to join: even asked me to be The partnership, which came about almost Of Electronica secretary! by accident, has been a huge undertaking. The AH: And that was the beginning. development of the collection, more than 18 NEW YORK (Music Radar) — There are few people that could match François DDH: Well no, I said I didn’t know short- months in the making, has not been without Kevorkian, aka François K’s, career CV, one of the most significant contributors to hand and wouldn’t make a good secretary. And its challenges. Creative Converting and its sup - Electronic music over the past 30 years. He has he laughed saying no, no, not that kind. He had ply partners had to do things that have never been a drummer, a DJ, an A&R man, studio a secretary at his university. I would merely been done before. For the paper products, the By Chris Barker owner, producer, remixer and fully-fledged send notices of meetings to the printer who’d company, which has been producing paper recording artist in his own right. But, more send cards to the membership. Well, I found products for more than 100 years, introduced notably, he is still creating and remixing at the myself, also getter speakers for Victor. It was a treatments, printing and screening processes forefront of technology and music, headlining huge DJ gigs and producing tracks. good partnership. And then after a few years he that it had never done before in order to cre - “I tried DJing because the drumming work was so hard to get, I taught myself to and the board asked me to be president because ate the different textures and other qualities splice and edit tape using some scissors and scotch tape.” I was working at the annual Boston Globe Book that emulate the same look and feel that Born in France, but now a fully-fledged New Yorker, François Kevorkian started as Festival arranging poetry readings and panel Michael Aram accomplishes with his sculpted a drummer during his college years around 1973 and although he was a drummer, discussions at the Boston Public Library. pieces. he always seemed to be taking care of the electronic side of things when playing in AH: So you started? There were similar challenges with the the bands he joined. After a brief experience as a DJ playing background music, he DDH: Not for another year. I said, I didn’t melamine products as well, such as creating moved to New York in ’75, looking for work as a drummer. know Robert’s Rules, etc., etc. and was willing the pearlescent treatments, which had not Eventually he landed a strange gig playing drums alongside a DJ (notably which to continue getting speakers. Not be president. been done before, as well as incorporating the led to Kevorkian learning the art of DJing and furthering his interest in the techni - But finally I was talked into it, I’m sorry to say. sculptural quality of Aram’s work. “Michael cal aspects of music). “I already knew some basic stuff about tape and recording”, AH: You regret it? spent hours and hours carving the pieces — explained Kevorkian, “I could do tape echoes and silly effects between tape machines DDH: Well, in a way: I wasted a lot of time, whether it was a botanical leaf or a woodgrain- and such. I tried DJing because the drumming work was so hard to get, I taught arranging meetings, but in other ways, it’s been that would be the basis for the molds,” said myself to splice and edit tape using some scissors and scotch tape.” These edits and a different kind of adventure meeting the Romjue. “In China, he even went there himself prior musical training gave Kevorkian a real edge over many of the other DJs. Having princes and prima donnas of the poetry world. and went carving into the mold to get the his own dubplates to play his exclusive versions of the records meant he quickly rose And arranging a lot of international poetry result that he wanted. His hand is all over this through the DJ ranks. events. project.” The end result is a beautiful heavy When asked about those days and if there was any piece of technology that AH: Did you know Amy Lowell, Robert Frost quality melamine that could be mistaken for changed everything, Kevorkian sharply replied, “I’ve been asked this before and to be or Conrad Aiken? And are they still an influ - stoneware — and in fact was, when early pieces honest, I don’t see how you could choose just one development as there were so ence in some ways. were shown to some retail consultants, accord - many. For a start, the Linndrum and Oberheim DMX machines meant that people DDH: I heard Robert Frost, once at Harvard. ing to Romjue. could program and sequence music very quickly and efficiently. My mother had taken me to that reading! And In addition to the six debut collections, “In the beginning a remix was another mix of the record whereas now it’s really a I heard a lot of Frost and Lowell stories from plans are already in development for two col - re-production,” he expained. older members. The club still seems to be a lections of melamine and paper tableware, as Once MIDI came, these instruments could not only synchronize with each other meeting place of both poetry from the academ - well as some giftable items with a “Christmas- but could actually talk and communicate with each other. The third of course would ic and the popular world. What I did was bring y feel” for fall holiday 2013 and a new collec - have to be Pro Tools, or Sound Designer as it was called back then, but when it went in a lot more international poetry, which had tion and line extensions of the six debut col - fully multi-track in the ’90s it was the real changing point.” In the mid-’80s, Kevorkian been Amy Lowell’s early aim. And our current lections for spring 2014. “We weren’t able to started to produce more and more and had built up a small amount of gear, but was board, especially Fred Marchant, finds Conrad do everything that we wanted to on the first frustrated at the studios he was using. “I was constantly living in other people’s stu - Aiken, still an influence in anti-war and or other go-round, so there are a few things that we will dios”, explains Kevorkian “it was such a mess trying to set these studios up for poetry of conscience. be launching, as well as some natural solid Electronic music. They were all geared towards Rock music, with valve amps, mics AH: I’ve heard that you made a lot of changes color stories,” said Romjue. and so on, but really knew nothing about MIDI, or timecode or anything like that. in the local poetry scene by moving the usual Aram added, “This brand has been a dream program hour of 8 p.m. to 7. And inviting more of mine for a long time, and we’re looking for - see MUSIC, page 11 than one poet on a program, giving more poets ward to expanding the Madhouse product exposure. Now do you think offering through 2013 and beyond.” see POETRY, page 13 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 15, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 ARTS & LIVING

Andy Serkis Plays Dual Role in ‘Hobbit’ — Gollum and Director

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — Andy Serkis challenge — mental, technological. I’d never reprises his role as Gollum in “The Hobbit: shot with 3D. Plus the day to day logistics of An Unexpected Journey,” to be released dealing with such an enormous operation. worldwide this week, but his main role this Q: Any plans to direct again? time was as a second unit director, shooting A: Just before I headed off to New Zealand battle sequences in 3D for director Peter to work on ‘The Hobbit,’ I was in the process Jackson. of setting up (my new company) The The British-born actor, 48, who rose to Imaginarium (with producer Jonathan fame as the obsessive Gollum in Jackson’s Cavendish), which is a performance-capture “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, spoke about studio and a development company. We are playing the popular CGI character, and his developing our own slate of film projects, one role behind the camera in New Zealand for of which is George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.” “The Hobbit.” It’s going to be the first film that I’ll be direct - Q: Was it nice to get re-acquainted with ing. Gollum after almost 10 years? Q: Where does acting fit in to your new - A: Yes, but he’s never been that far away found career? from me. Not a day goes by where I’m not A: At the moment, my trajectory isn’t to reminded of Gollum by some person in the think about acting. I’m absolutely devoted to street who asks me to do his voice or wants The Imaginarium, our projects and directing. to talk to me about him. But because “The And watching and enabling other actors do Hobbit” has been talked about as a project for their thing in our studio is hugely rewarding. many years, I knew that at some point I’d I expect at some point I’ll probably want to go From left: Andy Serkis, Peter Jackson, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage and Elijah Wood pose have to reengage with him. on a stage at a news conference promoting their movie “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” back on stage and do some theater, because Q: Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins) is new in Tokyo, on December 1. I’ve not done theater in 10 years. to the franchise and so are many other actors. Q: With two more installments of “The As a veteran, did they come to you for advice? Hobbit” still to come over the next few years, A: It sort of manifested itself more in a way Q: Playing Gollum was not your only job. videogame projects. So Peter’s known that you’ll be the voice of Gollum for fans for many where (as a vet) you understand the scale and You were also doing second unit directing. I’ve been heading towards directing for a long more years. Are your kids proud or embar - scope of what’s required stamina-wise. It’s a What did that entail? time. But I always thought my first outing rassed when you’re asked do his distinctive different rhythm than most movies. For a lot A: Directing was my main job this time — would be a couple of people and a digital cam - raspy voice? of the actors, you’re 12,000 miles away from more than playing Gollum. I worked 200 days era in the back streets of London somewhere! A: I’m probably running out of credits in home. It becomes a way of life — getting up at with a huge team shooting battle sequences, Q: Why do you think Peter let you do it? terms of my kids enjoying me do the Gollum five in the morning, shooting every day, day aerials. It was an amazing experience and one A: I think because the second unit was voice for others. Especially my older ones in day out, for 270 days. The new cast playing which I was very, very thankful to Peter for going to have a lot of principal cast, Peter (Ruby, 14, Sonny, 12). It was cool when they the dwarves were carrying incredibly heavy asking me to do. wanted someone that could take care of the were younger. But my youngest (Louie, 8) weights in their suits, they sat through hours Q: How did that come about? performances and create an atmosphere absolutely revels in it. He would have me do of make-up every day. So it’s quite challeng - A: I’d already started directing short films where the actors felt safe. Obviously I was it all day long for his friends at school. So I ing from a stamina point of view. when we were doing ‘Lord of the Rings,’ then briefed closely by Peter. But it was a huge still have great currency there!

quickly expanded into four rooms, three com - himself a mix engineer. “I only ended up doing It’s fine to build your name this way and be Electronic Music mercial and one private. The client list for Axis it because the engineer didn’t show up, or there involved with exciting acts this way like the became a incredible list of huge chart-topping was no budget for one so I had to do it all remixes I did for Moloko. It’s nice to work with Pioneer François K names such as Madonna, Teddy Riley, Mariah myself. But basically as of late, compared to a vocal like Roisin’s but she called me again Carey, Dee-Lite to name a few, and he wasn’t what I used to do, most of my work has been recently and I had to say no. I haven’t been able studio interview short of gear to put in it as he explains. “By this orientated towards DJing and live performance to bring myself to do any commercial remixes in point I had all the outboard you could imagine again. I’ve been for 20 years like a gun for hire, the last year really.” Kevorkian has really MUSIC, from page 10 — SSL consoles, Amek consoles, Studer and and mixed over 1,000 records in every kind of stepped back from being the producer of others There was almost resentment towards Mitsubishi tape machines and some of the gear music you an imagine. “In the beginning a and really only gets excited now about what he Electronic music and no studio in New York still sat around me today.” remix was another mix of the record whereas calls, ‘the blurring of live performance and catered for it. So, every time we had a session When we asked about how this shift from now it’s really a re-production. music creation.’ “I just find it much more excit - in one of these studios we’d have to spend at analogue to digital has affected the way he If a guy shows up with a track using a ing. I can be playing to a crowd and creating least half a day setting all of this stuff up. It got works, Kevorkian positively commented, “I have Depeche Mode sample, he then wants me to new music at the same time.” to the point when I was so sick of setting up, I five or six different Pro Tools configurations, create a new track using this sample, give me a It’s these blurring boundaries and decided to make my own facility.” from the full HD3 to the tiny Mbox Micro for flat fee and he then owns my record. But mine Kevorkian’s previous history as an accom - By 1987, Kevorkian had his facility, Axis when I’m on the road.” has been born the same way as his, it’s just an plished drummer that leads us to question how Studios, consisting of a single room before it Modestly, Kevorkian has never considered original track using a Depeche Mode sample. he sees himself — as a programmer or a player. “Well, from time to time I hire professional play - ers when I really want some masterful playing, but really this is a question that would be rele - vant 10 years ago.” He defensively explains, Sponsor a Teacher in Armenia and Karabagh 2012 “The track The Road Of Life , I made after I bought the Arturia Moog Modular software. I was playing around with the sounds and I made a track. Is that programming or playing?” It’s clear that François K will make music with Since its inception in 2001, TCA’s Sponsor whatever is there, regardless of technology. This DJing freedom translates into the studio a Teacher’ program has raised over $518,000 where Kevorkian’s track creation is far from regimented. “I know some people will start with and reached out to 4,064 teachers and the drums, or some chords but I really can’t work like that. I think I would have got bored school workers in Armenia and Karabagh. by now if I tried to work to a musical template. I’ve worked in the studio for so long and have £ seen many producers and engineers who have templates for treatments of tracks, putting the same reverbs on the same sends and using the K Yes, I want to sponsor teachers in Armenia and Karabagh to continue same preset delays and so on. I much prefer to helping them to educate the children, our future leaders. I would like to have work in a quirky kind of way, whether it’s start - the teacher’s name and address. ing from a sweet melody or some nice chords K $160 K $ 320 K $ 480 K other $ ————————— I’ve heard to fiddling around with random sounds. It’s much more inspiring.” Name Still at the forefront, François K is still a Address name very relevant to the new generation of City State Zip code music lovers but we wondered what he was Tel: going to next. “As far as the future goes”, Kevorkian explained “I’m working on much of Make check payable to: Tekeyan Cultural Association – Memo: Sponsor a Teacher 2010 my own solo material and I need to find some Mail your check with this form to: time to really finish a complete coherent album TCA Sponsor a Teacher as I’ve just been doing mixes and compilations. 5326 Valverde, Houston, TX 77056 I’ll still be touring and playing live but as I said Your donation is Tax Deductible. before, I’m cutting back on the remixing and other projects to focus on my own material.” 12 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 15, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING 2012 Declaration: A History of Seized Armenian Foundation Properties in Istanbul

these lands are marginalized or By Raffi Bedrosyan defined as ‘others’, as long as minorities are not seen as equal citizens, the democratization TORONTO — After two years of painfully- efforts in Turkey will be stunt - detailed research through thousands of docu - ed. It is our wish that this study ments, the Hrant Dink Foundation in Istanbul will contribute to facing histo - has produced a monumental work explaining ry.” the overall history and present status of all real The book then lists the estate belonging to the Armenian charitable Armenian charitable founda - foundations in Istanbul, seized by the Turkish tions and their assets. There are state government over the last few decades. 53 Armenian charitable founda - The comprehensive study, some 400 pages tions in Istanbul, administering long, for the first time compiles a list of all the 18 schools and orphanages, 48 seized properties and thereby illustrates the over - churches, 2 hospitals and 20 all picture and enormity of the plunder suffered cemeteries of the Istanbul by the Armenian schools, orphanages, churches Armenian community, support - and hospitals in Istanbul, dependent on the sole ed by the rental revenue and income from these properties for survival. assets that they owned or The title, 2012 Declaration , makes reference received through wills or gifts. Tuzla orphans’ camp built by the to the Turkish state decree of the 1936 These foundations owned 1,328 orphans themselves , Gedikpasha Declaration, which ordered the minority chari - properties, of which 661 were Armenian Protestant church table foundations to list their assets and prop - seized by the state due to sever - erties in 1936. al different reasons. During the height of the Cyprus crisis in The study could not 1975, the state arbitrarily legislated that any determine the fate of real properties obtained by the minority chari - 87 properties. After table foundations after 1936 through dona - exhausting all legal tions, inheritance, wills and gifts, are deemed means of obtaining illegal, since they were not listed in the 1936 the seized properties Declaration. The 2012 Declaration makes ref - back from the state erence to this illogical legislation and exposes through Turkish the legalized but unlawful seizure or state rob - courts, some of the bery that took place, and the recent small steps foundations took their to undo the gross injustice. cases to the European The book is not a mere historical document Human Rights Court listing an inventory of physical properties, or in the last ten years. As statistical records or legal statements. It is a they started to win all story of enormous human suffering, ranging their cases, and since from children being thrown out of their school the European court to orphans no longer finding a home, with the decisions were binding Directorate started a court case against the In 1998, the Ankara Ayas Municipality most tragic story of a summer camp complex of on Turkey through European Union accession Armenian school, based on the argument that entered into a tenancy agreement with the buildings literally constructed by orphan chil - expectations, the Turkish state recently decided since this school was not listed in the 1936 school and started charging rent. But the other dren, including Dink himself, seized by the to amend the 1975 legislation related to the Declaration, the purchase of the new school owner, Miltas, objected to the tenancy agree - Turkish state or sold to Turkish individuals. foundations, which had enabled the legal but building was illegal. The Directorate demanded ment and started court proceedings to have the The four members of the Hrant Dink unlawful seizures. With the improved legisla - that the purchase be cancelled and the building school vacate the building. In February 1999, Foundation, Mehmet Polatel, Nora Mildanoglu, tion in the last few years, 143 properties, or be returned to the seller or the heirs of the sell - Miltas won the case and on the same day, the Ozgur Leman Eren and Mehmet Atilgan, sifted about 10.77 percent of the 1,328 properties er. The court accepted the argument and in school building contents were moved outside through the Patriarchate, church and school have now been returned to the Armenian foun - 1988 the Appeal Court turned down the into the schoolyard. Contents included stu - archives, government deed and title records, dations. Armenians’ appeal. The deed was turned over dents’ desks, library shelves and books, kinder - foundation lawyers’ personal archives, old The types of seized properties are listed as to the former owner, who had since deceased, garten toys and the school piano. Faced with an maps, surveys, purchase and sale agreements, follows: Residential apartment building, resi - and as per the directions of her will, got deed - incredible situation of suddenly having no and Dink’s own research files, to produce a con - dential apartment unit, house dwelling, vacant ed to her brothers and to the Ankara Ayas school in the middle of the winter, the cise history of each charitable foundation, num - lot, orchard, fountain, store/shop, warehouse, Municipality. The brothers sold their share of Armenian parents, in an exceptional fashion, ber, location map and type of properties gifted factory, commercial building, office building, the building to a construction company spe - resorted to civil disobedience and started camp - to each foundation and then seized by the state, office unit, hospital, workplace, summer camp, cializing in apartment buildings, named Miltas. ing in the schoolyard. The public outcry forced and more than 200 photographs. The most church, school and cemetery. It is interesting to note that Ayasli’s will was the mayor of Istanbul’s Sisli Municipality to heartbreaking aspect of this historic document The owner status of the seized properties are prepared years after the school building was intervene and arrange to buy the shares of is the photographs. The attempts of the listed as follows: Unknown, municipal govern - legally sold to the Armenian school foundation. Miltas, the construction company. He also research team to obtain documents from the ment, state treasury, public building, vacant, struck an agreement with the Ayas Municipality government offices, even equipped with the lost deed/title, individually owned, owned by to have the school continue to function by pay - Freedom of Information Act, were mostly other foundation or owned by the State ing rent to the Ayas Municipality. Naturally, the unsuccessful, as the 1915-1925 era deed and General Directorate of Foundations. school lost most of its students after these dis - title records of the Armenians are still not open The process by which the foundation obtained turbances and the student population dropped the public, as they constitute, according to the properties is listed as follows: Donation, will, pur - to 35. Meanwhile, the school foundation went state, “threats to state security.” chase or by Ottoman Sultan decree. to court to re-claim the building. This article will attempt to summarize the The process by which the foundation lost In November 2012, two days before the pub - 400-page document and give some striking properties is listed as follows: Seizure by state, lication of the subject book, the court case examples of the Istanbul Armenian history. made public by state or sale to individuals or ended with victory for the Armenian school and First, some excerpts from the Introduction corporations. now, the deeds are finally returned to the Section: “This book is not the story of seized The book explains some of the seizure stories Armenian foundation and the school has buildings made of stone or cement, but the in great detail. Some examples are given below: stopped paying rent. story of flesh and bone human beings. These Tuz la Ar m enian Chi ldren’s Cam p seized institutions and buildings were cher - Mk hitar yan Bom onti School ished belongings of human beings rich and This is the tragic story of a 200-year-old In the 1950s, the Armenian Protestant poor, young and old, men and women, who had Armenian school, which ended up being a ten - Church in the Gedikpasa neighborhood of worked hard to create or acquire them. These ant in the building that it used to own, but nev - Istanbul was the arrival point of many poor and unjustly-seized buildings gave life to the ertheless, a story with a happy ending. homeless Armenian orphans, especially from schools, churches, orphanages and retirement The Armenian Catholic Mkhitarist order in Anatolian settlements. These children, number - homes of the whole community. The social and Venice founded a boys’ school in 1830 in the ing in the 60s, received their education at the cultural fabric of the Turkish Armenians Pera neighborhood. In order to serve the Gedikpasa Armenian Protestant school in the depended on this economic foundation. It is our increased student population in better educa - winter under tolerable conditions, but had wish that similar injustices will not be carried tional facilities, the school foundation decided nowhere to go in the summers. The church into the future, as people read in this book the to move the school to a larger building and in foundation decided to purchase a vacant, treed documented ‘why’ and ‘how’ of the attempts to 1958, purchased the present site at Sisli- lot near the Marmara Sea in the Tuzla munici - wipe out the life and culture of our community. Bomonti neighbourhood for 710,000 Turkish pality, for a summer camp for these children. In October 1962, the purchase was complet - The issue is not only the seizure or return of liras from a woman named Emine Tevfika Bomonti Mkhitarian School students holding the properties, but understanding this dimen - Ayasli. The school name was changed to Private class on the street after the school was seized ed from an individual named Sait Durmaz, and sion of the history and passing it to future gen - Bomonti Armenian Catholic Primary School. In and desks, books and piano were thrown out. registered in the church title, according to all erations. As long as the ancestral people of 1979, The State Charitable Foundations applicable legal procedures. From then on, S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 15, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 ARTS & LIVING every summer the children, aged 8-12, were for 17 orphan girls, aged 2 obtained properties after 1936, then they are given the task of building the camp buildings, to 10, at her home. She also deemed illegal because they are not included in supervised by a builder named Tuzlali Hasan started teaching them the 1936 Declaration. But the extent of the Kalfa. handcrafts and sewing. gross injustice would pale in comparison, when The children first erected the poles and the These personal efforts led we consider the amount of seized or lost canvas tents that they would live in during con - to the founding of one of Armenian properties after 1915, not only in struction. Then they dug a water well, taking the most important Istanbul, but all over Anatolia, especially in his - turns pumping the water needed for construc - Armenian educational insti - toric Armenia. tion. Then the foundations were prepared. Since tutions in Istanbul, the To illustrate the sheer enormity of the loss, the sea was only 500 meters away, they carried Kalfayan Orphanage consider these numbers: there were more than all the needed sand and gravel from the beach by School. The orphanage sur - 4,000 Armenian churches and schools in wheelbarrows. Slowly but surely, over three sum - vived until the late 1960s, Anatolia, each one with its own land, each one mers, the vacant land was transformed into a when the school building with its own income generating additional summer camp complex with buildings, dormito - was expropriated without lands, properties and assets. The recently-recon - ries, dining halls, play areas, soccer field, pond, compensation and demol - structed Surp Giragos Church in Diyarbakir and gym. They stocked the pond with frogs and ished, in order to build the had more than 200 separate deeds and titles to ducks. Armenian boys and girls learnt how to expressways leading to the different properties such as shops, houses, talk, sing, play, cook, clean together in Armenian. Bosphorus Bridge crossing farms, orchards, which were lost and taken over Hrant Dink was one of those boys and his wife, between Europe and Asia. by the government and private individuals, Rakel, was one of those girls. The foundation owned a erecting apartment buildings, office buildings, The happy days came to an end when the large parcel of land where it state schools, shops and houses, even a high - State Charitable Foundations Directorate wanted to transfer the way. Thankfully, the process to take these prop - applied to the courts in February 1979 to orphanage school. The erties back has already started in Diyarbakir. reverse the purchase agreement and have the State Charitable These figures are for only Armenian church property returned to its previous owner, argu - Foundations Directorate and schools, that is, community owned build - ing that the Gedikpasa Church Foundation had responded that since this ings. Next, add the properties owned by private no right to purchase a property. After four years land is not registered in the Armenian individuals, such as houses, shops, of trials, the court cancelled the summer camp 1936 Declaration, building farms, orchards, factories, warehouses, mines deed and returned the property to the former of a new orphanage there and so on. It is quite difficult to grasp the enor - A map showing Kalfayan Orphanage and other Armenian properties owner, Sait Durmaz, including the extraordi - could not be allowed, and expropriated for Bosphorus Bridge expressways mity of wealth transfer. No wonder there is nary facilities that the children had construct - that the orphans and their resistance in facing history or acknowledging ed. The camp, imprinted in the memories of teachers should be just the facts. 1,500 Armenian children, became abandoned, redistributed into other orphanages. Repeated 1930s, when the Istanbul Municipality expro - (Raffi Bedrosyan is a civil engineer as well with rusting bed frames, broken windows and applications did not yield any results and 150 priated the lands after years of legal wrangling. as a concert pianist, living in Toronto. For the overgrown weeds. In 1987, the Appeal Court people, combined total of orphans and staff, At present, these lands, which have become one past several years, proceeds from his concerts approved the previous court decision. The spent the next 30 years in various dilapidated of the most valuable and fashionable district of and two CDs have been donated toward the owner sold the camp to new purchasers, who in buildings, until a new arrangement was made in Istanbul, are occupied by the State Radio and construction of school, highway, water and turn sold it again. Several court applications by 1999 to share the school building of Television Headquarters, The Turkish Armed gas distribution projects in Armenia and the Armenian foundation in the 2000s and Semerciyan School in Uskudar. Forces Istanbul Headquarters, the Military Karabagh, in which he also participated as a most recently in August 2011, were all turned Museum, many expensive hotels such as Hilton, voluntary engineer. He was involved in orga - down. One of Hrant Dink’s last articles, titled, Sur p Hagop Cem eter y Regency Hyatt, Divan, several apartment and nizing the Surp Giragos “Humanity, I take you to court!...,” was a The Surp Hagop Cemetery lands were office buildings, as well as the expansive Taksim Diyarbakir/Dikranagerd Church reconstruc - solemn cry in the face of this gross injustice. decreed by Ottoman Sultan Suleiman to the Park, which has some walkways made from tion project, as well as promoting the signifi - Armenian community in 1550, as a reward to marble of the Armenian tombstones. cance of this historic project worldwide as the K al fayan Or phanage his Armenian cook Manuk Karaseferyan of Van, The 2012 Declaration book documents the first Armenian reclaim of church and proper - In 1865, a cholera epidemic in Istanbul left who had uncovered a plot to poison the Sultan Armenian properties lost in Istanbul, mainly ties in Anatolia after 1915. In September many children poor orphans. An Armenian nun by German spies during the siege of Budapest. during the 1970s, using the illogical but legal 2012, he gave the first Armenian piano con - named Srpuhi Nshan Kalfayan decided to care The cemetery was in use for 400 years until the argument that if the charitable foundations cert in the Surp Giragos Church since 1915.)

War I, (when they were on the side of the always send a note telling of previous publi - Diana Der-Hovanessian Germans) they drafted all the young cations or where you’ve studied. I thought Armenian men, but instead of being armed stuff like that was frowned upon. I never Featured in Poetry and trained, they were all executed. Then the knew to rewrite and send back to the editor Magazine general population was marched into the who made suggestions. I didn’t know any - deserts toward Syria. Most died. No more thing. I didn’t think of editors as friends: writ - POETRY, from page ? poets and no more readers. ers themselves who want you to succeed. It AH: Oh. Now I can understand its impact was one of my poetry editors who first sug - NEPC would benefit from social media, such on the next generation: and on your work. gested I do translations from the Armenian. as a blog or Twitter? DDH: Yes, an intelligent reader should The interview was followed by seven poems DDH: You and other younger members will know history should not be rewritten. Evil by Diana including the following: have to tell us and lead. should not be rewarded. One genocide is as AH: How do you think the Armenian wrong as another. The Turkish success led Holocaust impacted poetry? Hitler to say in 1935: .”Who now remembers TO YOU THE LIVING DDH: Well, horrifically, of course, because the Armenians?” when he started on his 250 poets were the first to be rounded up path. Greetings! and executed! Here, we don’t think of poets AH: I have a different question. What do from us, from the past. as particularly influential or dangerous. But you find the most difficult part of writing? Our message is simple: to Armenians, poetry was a way of imparting DDH: Finding enough time, I guess. Nothing lasts Entertainment Fridays pride and keeping up hope with references to Rewriting, sending out. except honor. Of course past heroes. Poets were leaders. This was AH: Any advice for writers wanting to be love, also is good and Saturdays 1915, when the Turkish Ottoman Empire was published? while you’re alive and it is understood falling apart in Europe. Greece and the DDH: Don’t be discouraged. Rewrite when even in memory. Bulgarians were the last to be freed and the and if something comes back. Especially if But honor lives past Turks were afraid the Armenians would be the editor makes suggestions. When I was the next to free their lands. So during World young and starting out, no one told me to history. History depends on the best reports and who owns the press.

Then it is forgotten by all except the gods That do exist. Oh yes, SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE Against all the odds they do. for But with different names than you Students of Armenian Descent guessed. Having completed one year of college by June, 2013 Applications and other information may be obtained from ARMENIAN STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OTHERS Scholarship Committee Other people 333 Atlantic Avenue, Warwick, RI, 02888 can have individual sorrows, Tel. (401) 461-6114, Fax (401) 461-6112 personal defeats, and aims. Email: [email protected] Not Armenians Deadline for returning completed applications: March 15, 2013 They owe two million ghosts two million debts to claim. 14 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 15, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

T HE A RMENIAN COMMENTARY Mirror- A Bleak Outcome for Syria

ical Islamist group seized large swathes of a Syrian military base Spectator By Edmond Y. Azadian west of Aleppo, consolidating its control over the territory, near the Turkish border, as reported by Agence France Presse. It was most revealing to find in a report filed by Elad Benari in the Syria has been one of the most stable countries in the Middle Israel National News that “many of the fighters are non-Syrians East and home for the most affluent Armenian community and one of the leaders, who identified himself as Abu Talha, said attached to its roots and heritage. he is from Uzbekistan.” Established 1932 The deportations and the Genocide of 1915 ended in Northern Any political analyst has to be endowed with the wildest possi - Syria; millions perished in Der Zor and survivors settled in ble imagination to the see the aspirations of the Syrian people An ADL Publication Aleppo. For many decades Aleppo has educated and provided for democracy in a thug from Uzbekistan, of all places. writers, editors, teachers as well as political and religious leaders Of course the West has been using these extremist groups to to the Armenian communities in the Middle East and beyond. achieve short-term goals with the consequence of creating long- EDITOR That is why all calls and appeals around the world to help term threats to its own security. Osama bin Laden was armed by Alin K. Gregorian Armenians in Syria emanate not only from a humanitarian con - the US with shoulder held Stringer rockets to shoot down Soviet cern, but from a rightful gratitude that the Diaspora Armenians MiG jets in Afghanistan, but who ended up bringing down the ASSISTANT EDITOR owe to that embattled community. Gabriella Gage World Trade Center in New York. These groups have proved over For many years, that proud and prominent Armenian commu - time that they are loose cannons dedicated to their own extrem - ASSOCIATE EDITOR nity has proven to be a thorn in the side of the Turks, especially ist ideology and can only harm civilized societies. Aram Arkun with its clout in Syria and its Martyrs Monument in Der Zor, bor - The Syrian conflict has spilled over from the Middle Eastern dering modern-day Turkey. Pictures and news broadcast from borders into a worldwide confrontation between East and West, ART DIRECTOR Marc Mgrditchian Syria painfully present the destruction inflicted on the Der Zor with the US and the European Union insisting on regime change Church and monument by Turkey’s hired guns to overthrow the in Syria while Russia and China blame foreign interference in government in Syria. Syria in the United Nations. In addition, threats are being directed at Armenians in Kessab Recent meetings between President Vladimir Putin and SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: to abandon the region, which they have inhabited since Roman Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Secretary of State Hillary Edmond Azadian times. Kessab was also situated in the southeastern border of the Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were not CONTRIBUTORS: Cilician principalities and the kingdom which lasted for 300 able to break the deadlock. Florence Avakian, Elizabeth Aprahamian, years. Therefore, within the framework of the larger Syrian con - Russian officials have repeatedly said that Moscow is not insist - Daphne Abeel, Dr. Haroutiune flict, Turkey is conducting a mini-genocide as its attempts at ing that Assad remain in power, but that his fate must not be Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Prof. eradicating the Armenian people from its original habitat con - decided by foreign governments or external forces including the Vahakn N. Dadrian, Diana Der tinue. UN Security Council. Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, has Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, Kevork Of course, this does not concern or bother the parties involved specifically indicated that “We cannot say, sitting in Ankara or Keushkerian, Sonia Kailian-Placido , in the Syrian war, which is continuing ferociously and thus far London or Qatar that Assad must go. That cannot be, it is not Harut Sassounian, Mary Terzian, Hagop has claimed more than 40,000 casualties, including many viable. Such decisions could potentially lead to a worsening of Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian Armenians. the situation.” CORRESPONDENTS: Each party has its own objective in destroying Syria. Therefore, The US secretary of state, visiting Dublin, has countered the Armenia - Hagop Avedikian it will be our concern to point out the reality and pursue a poli - Russian position by directing her criticism to the internal devel - Boston - Nancy Kalajian cy which will help our community in Syria, whether or not that opments in Russia, away from the Syrian conflict. Philadelphia - Lisa Manookian policy is in synch with the goals of the parties engaged in this In her recent pronouncements, she seems more and more like bloody conflict. a Cold War relic, and perhaps, she is planning her political come - Contributing Photographers: Jacob Demirdjian, Harry Koundakjian, Jirair No one can exonerate the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad back in the 2016 presidential election with that agenda. Hovsepian and his father, Hafez Assad, from being dictators. But Armenians Before her meeting with Lavrov, Mrs. Clinton took aim at what have been protected and enjoyed a privileged life under both she described as a new wave of repressive tactics and laws aimed rulers. The Syrian people have also experienced prosperity at criminalizing US outreach efforts. “The trends are indicative despite all outside pressures to isolate the country economically. of a larger reversal of freedoms for the citizens of Russia, The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published weekly, except two weeks in July, by: The irony in this conflict is, as pointed out by remarks by Belarus, Turkmenistan and other countries that emerged from Robert Fiske, Middle East correspondent of the Independent the breakup of the Soviet Union two decades ago. There is a Baikar Association, Inc. daily of London, that a host of Middle Eastern despots, beginning move to re-Sovietize the region…. It’s not going to be called that. 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 in the tiny principality of Qatar and ending in the medieval It’s going to be called a Customs Union, it will be called a Telephone: 617-924-4420 monarchy of Saudi Arabia, have been commissioned to bring Eurasian Union and all of that,” she said, referring to the FAX: 617-924-2887 democracy to Syria. Russian-led efforts for greater regional integration. “But let’s not www.mir rorspectator.com Another such medieval monarchy, Morocco, has also joined the make a mistake about it. We know what the goal is and we are E-Mail: editor@mirrorspectator .com fray in hosting and organizing Syrian opposition groups on its trying to figure out effective ways to slow down or prevent it.” For advertising: [email protected] territory. Along with the other “messengers of democracy,” this In the above quote by Mrs. Clinton, Armenia falls within “other corrupt kingdom has been fighting the Polisario Front freedom countries that emerged from the breakup of the Soviet Union.” fighters to keep their people in Western Sahara under its domi - And Moscow has been twisting the arm of that “other country” nation. to join the Eurasian Union. Therefore, no mater what foreign pol - SUBSCRIPTION RATES : Of course, Syria being on the fault line of East-West con - icy may Armenia adopt, it is perceived by the Foggy Bottom to frontation — throughout the Cold War and beyond — it has been be in the Russian sphere of influence and that answers many on the wrong side of the Middle Eastern chessboard of politics. questions which have been torturing Armenians; why doesn’t Mr. U.S.A. $80 a year First, being a bastion of Arab nationalism on the frontline with Obama use the word “Genocide?” Why doesn’t the State Israel has irritated the West tremendously. This war has nothing Department criticize Azerbaijan for destroying Armenian monu - Canada $125 a year to do with democracy; it is a grand scheme to eliminate one by ments in Jugha? Why doesn’t Karabagh conflict get solved? Why Other Countries $190 a year one all the regimes in the region considered threats to Israel, and doesn’t Washington demand Turkey to end blockading Armenia? some of the Arab regimes engaged in the battle have become Why does the US aid to Armenian dwindle? accessories to that policy. All the answers to these questions are within the subtext of the The other “mistake” of the Syrian regime is to be aligned with new Cold War being reconfigured. © 2011 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator Iran, and they are both considered Russian allies by default in Coming back to Syria, which generated this global analysis, Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA the continuing Cold War. Russia also has its own interests in the two major prospects are very obvious. First, no matter whatever and additional mailing offices. region; the collapse of the Assad regime may have a domino the outcome of the conflict, the vibrant Syrian-Armenian com - ISSN 0004-234X effect on the Iran-Syria axis, at a high cost to Moscow’s foreign munity will not be the same any longer. POSTMASTER : Send address changes to The policy. Next, in the a broader perspective of the Arab Spring (or Armenian Mirror-Spectator, P.O. Box 302, The Syrian war, which began with peaceful protests against Nightmare) — which the Syrian conflict is part of — the policy is Watertown, MA 02471-0302 Assad’s regime in March 2011, escalated into a civil war, mainly achieving its goal in this artificially-created turmoil because no Other than the editorial, views and opinions because of outside interference and the launch of a proxy war for one (except as a form of lip service) is talking any more about the expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily foreign interests seeking regime change in Syria. Recently a rad - Palestinian people nor the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. eflect the policies of the publisher.

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War II.” He wonders whether Germany could serve as a bors, it creates a black hole, a gap in your national identi - model for other countries in facing their past voluntarily. ty.” To his surprise, the Turkish columnist discovered that even In seeking to emulate the German experience, Cengiz though Germans had begun confronting their past after a hopes that he would see memorials erected in Turkey devastating defeat, they were determined to create a new about “Armenian massacres, pogroms targeting Jews and My Turn country “based on an endless process of remembering, Greeks, massacres targeting Alevis and others. When commemorating and confronting the past.” Turkey starts to remember and commemorate past atroci - By Harut Sassounian The righteous Turkish writer was “extremely impressed ties, the Topography of Terror Museum, which is built on a and touched” seeing a brick wall in a Berlin kindergarten. former Nazi headquarters, the Jewish Museum of Berlin Every year teachers would ask students to identify them - and others might be good examples to follow…. Turkey has Reflections of a Righteous selves with Jews who once lived in the neighborhood before a lot to learn from Germany in coming to terms with past Turk: Can Germany be a Model being killed by the Nazis. The students would then write atrocities.” the Jewish names on bricks and put them on top of each While Turkey’s acknowledgment of the Armenian For Turkey? other forming a wall. It became clear to him that “remem - Genocide is long overdue, the actual process of reconcilia - bering has become a part of daily life in Germany.” tion could begin by removing the names of the Turkish If it were possible to clone prominent Turkish commen - Cengiz hopes that someday Turkish “children would do masterminds of the Armenian Genocide from schools, tator Orhan Kemal Cengiz and make multiple copies of his a similar thing. I imagined children in stanbul building a streets and public squares throughout Turkey. The Turkish kind heart and righteous conscience, the Turkish govern - wall by writing on bricks the names of Armenian intellec - government should also dismantle the shameful mau - ment would then be able to come to grips with Armenian tuals who were taken from their homes on April 24, 1915 soleum of Talaat in Istanbul and replace it with a monu - demands from Turkey in a humane and just manner. and never came back again.” He is convinced that “con - ment dedicated to the Armenian Genocide. It should also Cengiz visited Germany recently with a group of Turkish fronting the past is a clear state policy here in Germany. pay billions of dollars in compensation to descendants of journalists and human rights activists at the invitation of Museums, exhibitions and the school curriculum all show Armenian victims, similar to German payments to Jews. the European Academy of Berlin with the financial support how the state apparatus invested in this endeavor. So little Most importantly, Turkey should return to Armenians the of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Turkish vis - by little I started to realize that Turkey can significantly occupied territories of Western Armenia! itors participated in a conference titled, “Difficult Heritage benefit from the German experience on this difficult terrain Germany too, as Turkey’s close ally in World War I, has of the Past,” on how today’s Germans face crimes commit - of confrontation with the past.” an obligation to Armenians — the acknowledgement of its ted by Nazis. In his second article, Cengiz boldly describes the 19th role in the Armenian Genocide. It should apologize and After returning to Turkey, Cengiz wrote two poignant and 20th centuries as “centuries of genocide,” which make amends to the Armenian people. Only then would articles published in Today’s Zaman: “Can Germany be a included the Armenian Genocide. He explains that contrary Germans fully deserve the praise heaped upon them by model for Turkey in confrontation with past atrocities?” to the mass crimes committed by other nations, the ones Orhan Cengiz for honestly facing their past. and “Turkey and Germany’s past atrocities.” perpetrated by Germans and Turks were against “neigh - While Turkey’s genocidal precedent served as model for Cengiz confesses that before his visit, he thought that bors with whom they had lived side-by-side for centuries. I Nazi Germany in committing the Holocaust, it is now “Germans were forced to look at their troubled past by think this alone is the most distinctive element of the Germany’s turn to become a role model to Turkey for rec - external powers who had them on their knees after World German and Turkish example. … When you kill your neigh - onciling with its genocidal past.

Armenagan Is Oldest Children Keep Holiday Vigil Sacred Armenian Political Party cradling the infant Jesus. By Tom Vartabedian Was this the same boy who, just the day before, Recently, the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP) organized a seminar and was checking opponents against the boards in a celebration in Los Angeles, dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the formation of hockey game and yelling at the referees over a the political party. During the seminar, some of the invited speakers mentioned that In a Christmas world often marked by frenzy, controversial call? He had gone from nasty to nice the SDHP is the oldest Armenian Political Party, which was formed in 1887. nothing appears more conducive to the season in a single day. Maybe it was the exposure to being In reality, the SDHP formed two years after the formation of the Armenagan Party than the voices of young children dressed as a saint. in Van, Western Armenia, in 1885. Inspired by Khrimian Hairig and Mgrditch cherubs and holy figures. My son had traded in his uniform for robes and Portugalian, in 1885 a group of students founded a secret organization in Van. Its Go to most any Armenian church from now a beard. His hockey stick had been replaced by a aim was to prepare the Armenian people for an eventual armed struggle. In 1908, through January 6 and you will find our younger gen - staff. He looked a bit more pious than his brother the majority of the membership of the Armenagan Party was absorbed into the eration performing in their traditional season roles. the sheep. Constitutional Ramgavar Party, one of the elements which in 1921 joined to form The angels are joined by shepherds, Magi imper - My daughter stole the show. She was Mary. the Armenian Democratic Liberal (Ramgavar) Party. sonators, even barnyard animals. They come dressed Maybe it was because she was my first child and The following is an excerpt from the book, The Heroic Figures of the ADL, by Ara as Joseph and Mary. The youngest child in the con - was making her debut. She looked like a natural. Aharonian, published in 2006 which details the formation of the Armenagan Party gregation usually winds up as the infant Jesus and No arguments. Suffice it to say it launched an in 1885: church members watch from the pews. early career on stage. The students of Portugalian’s Normal School used to secretly gather in the gar - It’s a time for reconciliation— a moment of truth I sit and watch the children each passing year. den of the home of the brothers Megerdich and Krikor Terlemezian, where they had — an opportunity for all of us to dispel the usual The names and faces may change but not the a press-house devoid of furniture. Which was called Khusri Doun. It was in this rigmarole and put Christ back into Christmas. show. While one child waves to a proud mom with house that the Armenian liberal movement gave birth to its first revolutionary orga - Nothing, not the tree or the gift-giving, affords a camera in hand, another may have his eyes nization, the Armenagan Party, in August 1885. me more pleasure than annual pageant. Having glued to the floor. Megerdich Avedisian-Terlemezian, who was the actual founder of the party, togeth - put three children through the Armenian Church, An itch that needs attention. A frown that er with his fellow idealogues edited the by-laws and made the organization’s exis - some of my most memorable moments centered knows no smile. A smile that knows no frown. A tence official, selecting Vasbouragan as the party’s center. around this tradition and all its ramifications. twinkle in some child’s eye. A tear from some dad. Subsequently plans were cultivated to also open branches in Salmasd, Moush, My youngest child wanted no part of his It runs the emotional gamut. Baghesh (Bitlis), Trebizond and Constantinople. The party had begun to announce pageant. But because he was joined with a class, It’s what Christmas is all about — the pure that the purpose of the Armenagan Party was to secure, through revolution, the there would be no excuses. Everyone had to par - essence of children in their splendor and glory. right of the Armenian people to self-determination. ticipate, recite the usual prayers, sing the carols The one time when all are at center stage in a The Armenagans, with farsighted wisdom, saw the successful end of the Armenian and relive a moment that dates back a couple house of God. liberation struggle in cooperation and the employment of realistic measures — to thousand years. Take all the Santas in the world, all the hysteria bring about an internal force by joining together patriots serving the same idea, to Otherwise, they would catch the wrath of a that surrounds the day, all the decorated trees and motivate it to engage in firing practice and military discipline by providing weapons Sunday School superintendent or even worse, the promotional gizmos and nothing could ever and ammunition, and the necessary funds for them. At the same time, it aimed to Der Hayr. replace the majesty of a Christmas pageant. prepare roving military squads, which could defend the Armenian quarters. “I hope my ‘odar’ friends don’t see me dressed You see, I, too, had that pleasure when I attend - We note with pride that the Armenagan Party became the only Armenian politi - as a sheep,” he said one day over supper. “I’ll be ed an Armenian church in my prime. And yes, my cal-revolutionary organization, which was formed and functioned on the soil of the the laughing stock of my whole school. They’ll mother made me do it. Being a staunch Armenian homeland for the realization of its goals without preaching unfavorable doctrines. never let me live it down.” Catholic, she taught us that it was better to give The members of the Armenagan Party learned to be discreet and act with daring but “No need to worry,” I told my son. “They of ourselves than to receive. unobtrusively. The Armenagans remained firmly convinced that the way to liberate wouldn’t recognize you in that outfit. Besides, you We lived down the street from a Catholic church the fatherland was through collective force and persistent martial activity, as won’t be alone. You’ll be with a goat and a cow. with the most realistic manger display you would opposed to expecting assistance from foreign powers. In the following decade, the All you have to do is look interested and utter one ever imagine. It could have passed for a live Armenagans organized their martial power by secretly arming themselves through word.” tableau. At night, I would look out my bedroom underground activity. Soon, the founding group was joined by certain revolutionary- “What’s that?” window and see the crèche all illuminated with minded youths. “Ba-a-a-a. Can you handle that?” music filling the air. It was divine. The Hamidian massacres followed in 1896. After massacring 300,000 innocent “Maybe with a little practice,” he gushed out. Until one day when the unthinkable occurred. A Armenians in Western Armenia, the massacrers reached the gates of Van. Moving My second son was a bit more adventurous. thief stole the infant Jesus from the cradle. The into action, Megerdich Avedisian organized the self-defense of Van, which was Because he could build things out of wood, he was neighborhood was on the lookout for the holy crowned with success. Tragically, however, after rescuing the Armenians of that a natural Joseph, who eked out a meager living as child. Turns out, the culprit was a 5-year-old child region, Avedisian was treacherously murdered, along with hundreds of his comrades- a carpenter. with good intentions. in-arms, in the field near the Bartholomew monastery, while he was on his way to So there he was, the day of the pageant, making “I just wanted to give the baby a ride in my Persia. his way down the aisle with the Blessed Mary, wagon,” he announced. With his death, Avedisian joined the multitude of heroes. —KM 16 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 15, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

Houshamadyan Project Reconstructs and Preserves Ottoman Armenian History

ARCHIVE, from page 1 worked at the Manhattan District Attorney’s to a wide audience. Through the presentation Office and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. of the material in this way, the website allows Once Lessersohn relocated to the Boston area, visitors to explore and find material that they she became the project coordinator for did not necessarily come to the website to look Houshamadyan and has worked to collaborate for. This is a form of historical and cultural with the local community and abroad to expand exposure that is often lacking in today’s world the project’s reach. of Google searches and Amazon.com,” said “Through my work with the project, I have Nora Lessersohn, the project coordinator for become increasingly interested in the issue of the Houshamadyan Association and website. representing and communicating historical and cultural identity and complexity. I have also, of course, taken a great interest in the study of Armenian communities in the Ottoman Empire, and their interaction with other Ottoman com - munities and peoples. I hope to explore these themes as well as others in my future studies,” said Lessersohn. According to the website, the name for the non-profit association, Houshamadyan, refer - ences “a special genre of Armenian publications that is characterized by its individuality and is immediately linked to the general subject of our website. These are memorial books, which are Photo of the Gakavian family in Van preparing thread from cotton (Source: Christine Gardon collec - also known under the name of compatriotic tion of Houshamadyan) union publications. ‘Houshamadyan’ is a com - plex word, made up of ‘housh’ (memory) and ‘madyan’ (book) — which can mean either ‘reg - preservation and research. “…The world is welcomes the public to get involved in the pro - ister’ or ‘parchment manuscript’ — putting the changing rapidly, and we believe we are using a ject by actively preserving history. Readers are words together.” medium through which we can provide acade - encouraged to visit the site, to join their Unlike many archives and special collections mically serious material in an accessible and newsletter, ask for additional information or Chorbajian family portrait in Marash with rare materials that close their collections attractive way to an increasingly large audience. provide project members with materials of any to the public or require special permission or We are proud to say that, as far as we can tell, sort that they would like to contribute to the These resources are aimed at enhancing “the payment, the Houshamadyan Association aims our work is in this way innovative and pioneer - project. “We are always looking for new infor - visitor experience and helping make the recon - to share historical resources with the global ing,” said Lessersohn. mation and connections,” said Lessersohn. struction of these lost communities all the more community. Association members collect As with any attempt at reconstructing histo - Houshamadyan is currently fundraising for the vivid.” resources and materials from around the world, ry, the Houshamadyan Association must be publication of their first book, Ottoman Lessersohn’s involvement in the project came most often digitized versions of materials, as mindful of the narrative they put forth and the Armenians, Vol. 1: Life, Culture, Society . The in tandem with an exploration of her own famil - well as hardcopies of materials, which are version of history they represent. Project col - book will be an extension of the website, with ial and cultural identity. Lessersohn first stored in their small Berlin headquarters. laborators say their goal is not to advance a par - new articles, extended versions of current pro - encountered the Houshamadyan website while Lessersohn noted, “We should emphasize ticular historical narrative, but rather to “com - researching her own family history and was that all the materials we receive from the pub - municate and recover the life, custom, tradi - immediately inspired to get involved. After lic are accessible to the public: i.e., if someone tions, cuisine, and environs of the Ottoman emailing the project director, Lessersohn sub - is preparing a publication or an exhibition, and Armenian communities.” Lessersohn explained, mitted her own great-grandfather’s recordings would like to use an image or material from our “We aim to fill in the gaps in Ottoman studies of lullabies to the project while she was living in website, we will provide the material without that have not often utilized Armenian primary New York. charge – this is the essence of a collaborative sources, as well as the gaps in both Turkish and “ I also wrote a short narrative piece on my website.” Armenian nationalist historiographies that reading of my great-grandfather’s memoirs of The concept of using online and digital often downplay the Ottoman lived reality of the his life in Marash,” said Lessersohn, which can archives remains an emerging form of preserva - Armenian people. In this way, we aim also to be be listened to via the Houshamadyan website. tion in academia, which still chiefly relies on the means by which Ottoman memory may be Lessersohn, a graduate of Harvard College standard academic resources such as printed returned to the Armenians.” (AB’09 in The Study of Religion), has also books, conferences or museum exhibitions for Given both the destruction and suppression of Armenian-Ottoman resources, as well as the dominant historical narrative put forth, Houshamadyan faces the difficult task of “reconstructing a lost world: material posses - sions, architectural structures, family docu - ments, ways of life, and historical narratives, have all been lost.” Material possessions, archi - tecture, ways of life, and countless sources have been lost and it is no easy endeavor to piece them together, nor are there countless archival sources Portrait from Houshamadyan project or teams of his - torians. “As col - laborative web - jects and more than 200 images, rather than just site, we are able a replica of the site. While Houshamadyan is to draw on the chiefly a web-based archive, the Houshamadyan materials and team says they also value the tactile and repre - memories of peo - sentative importance of physical archives and Nora Lessersohn ple from all over preservation of hard copies of materials. “We the world, and believe it is important to have such a publication, rebuild and to keep in libraries and family homes, to give to reconstruct what we can, with the materials we others as a gift or an educational tool, and to are given,” said Lessersohn. reach audiences who do not necessarily have Houshamadyan’s small team consists of pro - access to the internet […] it will only add to the ject director and chief editor, Vahé Tachjian; art strength and reach of our work if we produce director, Silvina Der-Meguerditichian; a few materials in all forms (website, books, exhibi - translators and authors; President of the tions, workshops, etc). It is always good to Houshamadyan Association Elke Hartmann express oneself in as many ways as possible, to and Lessersohn. Houshamadyan has partnered reach as many people as possible.” Coordinators with the Otto-Friedrich University, Bamberg hope to eventually translate this first publication (chair of Turkology, Bamberg, Germany), and future publications, into Armenian and Haigazian University (Beirut), the Armenian Turkish. Visitors can already access the website Genocide Museum-Institute (Yerevan) and the in both English and Armenian, and translation Armenian Library and Museum of America into Turkish is forthcoming. Also in the works is (ALMA) in Watertown, where Lessersohn a full exhibition and accompanying workshop in recently delivered a lecture on the project in Berlin in 2013. November. To get involved with Houshamadyan or make Houshamadyan’s success as a historical a contribution to the publication of their forth - endeavor rests entirely on collaborative efforts. coming book, visit The team not only hopes to share these http://www.houshamadyan.org/ or email resources with the global community, but it also directly at [email protected].