JANUARY 5, 2019 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXIX, NO. 24, Issue 4568 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF Forbes: Armenia A Happy Among Top Budget Musical Travel Destinations YEREVAN — An article in Forbes magazine named Armenia among the best budget travel des- tinations for 2019. New Year “Set in the Caucasus Mountains, Armenia is a hidden gem that’s still untouched by mass tourism, and yet has so much to offer: rich history, wineries, For Dilijan impressive landscapes, ancient monasteries and breathtaking mountains as far as your eyes can see. The capital, Yerevan, is a lively city with wide Students avenues, delicious restaurants, museums and street markets selling local handicrafts,” the article by Alexandra Talty notes. “For wine lovers, Armenia is the perfect place to By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach try wines made from different fruits such as pome- Special to the Mirror-Spectator granate (Armenia’s national symbol), blackberries and cherries. Outside of the capital is picturesque nature. You can pay a visit to the oldest winery in DILIJAN, Armenia — Students at the the world in Areni, stop by stunning monasteries, State Art College of Dilijan are ringing in or check out the oldest cathedral in the world in the New Year with music, and with brand Echmiadzin.” new instruments, thanks to the initiative of Staff applauds the arrival of new Instruments the Foundation for Armenian Relief (FAR). FAR, established in 1988 as a relief effort President Sarkissian after the earthquake, has continued to part of Armenia) and coordinates 15 music and national instruments. The college has a raise funds for economic, social and educa- schools there. choir, and ensembles for wind and tradi- Celebrates Season With tional programs in Armenia and cooperates The college provides two levels of musi- tional national instruments. Currently Young Guests with other foundations on specific projects. cal education, the first comprising a seven- there are 178 pupils in the first level and 63 One of them focuses on music education. year curriculum for students attending students in the second level. YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Armenian President The State Art College of Dilijan is a spe- classes after their regular school, and the see MUSIC, page 17 Armen Sarkissian on December 28 hosted children cial institution that plays a unique role in second consisting of a four-year vocational from orphanages, care centers and boarding the musical education of Armenia, as it is curriculum, open to the graduates of the schools. the only one that trains teachers of music. seven-year program and others. It is these With the help of specialists the children made Established in 1997, it is an outgrowth of students who go on to become teachers baubles for decorating the hall and the Christmas the Dilijan Musical School, which had been themselves and develop careers in music Actor Ken Davitian Tree. operating since 1945. Over the past two schools throughout the nation. “What I want from Santa is that all our kids be decades, the College has become the cradle Both in the first and second levels, the Transitions into happy during the whole year, sing and receive good of musical education in the entire marz curriculum offers instruction in vocal and gifts. I want for those boys who dream of becoming (province) of Tavush (in the northeastern instrumental music, winds, piano, string New Genres a soldier, to become a soldier and defend our home- land, but without war,” the president said. He talked to the little guests, asked their names, By Michael Melkonian ages and about their dreams, and noted: “Each of you has a great future. I know that some of you Special to the Mirror-Spectator don’t have parents, some have, and many live in dif- ficult conditions. When I was in your age, I lost my LOS ANGELES — Ken Davitian, a promi- father. This is difficult, but I am sure that you are nent actor, best known for his co-starring stronger than the remaining children as you are role in the blockbuster comedy, “Borat: able to overcome the difficulties from an early age. Cultural Learnings of America for Make Do you understand that you are good, and in case Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” of hard work, studying hard you can become the continues to evolve and advance the President of Armenia?” Armenian cause and venture. He told the children his favorite job is being a He was unforgettable in the movie, speak- teacher. “I think the work of the teacher is better. ing Armenian when playing the role of In some sense the president is also a teacher, but I Azamat Bagatov, the Kazakh agent of the am a teacher who meets with you once or twice a title character. One of his most famous year,. They are so lucky that they communicate scenes in the movie involved wrestling with you every day,” Sarkissian said. Sacha Baron Cohen in the nude, a scene so He urged the kids to send him a letter in case of shocking that it was one of the comedy’s needing help. stand-out clips. The event was held with the support of the Ardashes Kassakhian, third from left, meeting with voters see DAVITIAN, page 20 Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (SOAR). Glendale City Clerk Strives to Increase Voter Involvement INSIDE GLENDALE — Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian has played a steady role in Glendale municipal governance and local politics for several decades. He now is in his fourth four-year term as 2018 in By Aram Arkun Glendale City Clerk, and the motto on his website, appropriately, is “helping you navigate through city Mirror-Spectator Staff government.” He is the highest vote receiver among Review elected officials in Glendale. Kassakhian was one of those fortunate people who became interested in their future Pages 10-14 professions at a young age. In fact, he said that his interest in public service goes back to his parents and grandparents. His mother, Loussik Kassakhian, whose family lived in Greece, was a public school teacher who only recently retired, while his father Dr. Garabed Kassakhian was an environmental chemist dedicated, according to his son, to INDEX insuring that there is clean air, water and soil on this earth. His grandparents and his Arts and Living . 15 parents were very involved in the cultural institutions of Jerusalem and Lebanon, Armenia . 2,3 including in the Armenian General Benevolent Union and the Ramgavar or Armenian Community News. 6 Democratic Liberal Party, of whom one grandfather was a prominent leader. In addi- Editorial . 18 tion, a great-grandfather was friends with the noted poet and activist Vahan Tekeyan. International . 4,5 Ken Davitian and his “Borat” co-star Sacha see GLENDALE, page 9 Baron Cohen 2 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 5 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Russia Raises Gas Prices for Armenia in New Year also appears to be on the verge of losing Pashinyan’s foes in the formerly rul- By Joshua Kucera its position heading the Russia-led ing Republican Party of Armenia Court Rejects Sergio Collective Security Treaty Organization, pounced on the defeat. “We are finish- and just days after Russian President ing the year not entirely proudly and Nahabedian’s MOSCOW (Eurasianet) — Russia has Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime fruitfully,” wrote Eduard Sharmazanov, raised the price for the gas it sells to Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in the party’s press secretary, on his Armenia by 10 percent. The negotia- Moscow. The day after the meeting, Facebook page the day the announce- Lawsuit Against ADL tions over the gas price were seen as a Putin pointedly sent public holiday ment was made. “Nikol, who for months litmus test for the new government in YEREVAN (Azg) — The First Tribunal of the Court of Yerevan and its ability to deal with its General Jurisdiction in the Republic of Armenia reject- often overbearing ally in Moscow. ed Sergio Nahabedian’s suit against the Central In 2019, the Russian state gas com- Executive of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party pany Gazprom will sell gas to Armenia (ADL) at the end of December 2018. Hayk Poghosyan, who represented the ADL in court at $165 per thousand cubic meters, as its lawyer, declared in an interview with the Hay Gazprom said in a statement following a Tzayn news site that the case began because certain December 31 meeting between its chair- people in Armenia were using the name, coat of arms man, Alexei Miller, and Armenian and flag of the ADL though they were not members of Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigorian. the ADL which had been registered under that name in The previous price had been $150 per the Republic of Armenia. These people organized press thousand cubic meters. conferences and gave interviews in which they stated The Armenian government had that they would not participate in elections in Armenia repeatedly said it was seeking to such as the recent parliamentary ones. When the ADL instead reduce the price it pays Russia attempted to prevent such actions, legal measures were for gas. “Negotiations are being con- undertaken in response. However, by this court order ducted toward the reduction” of gas any or all claims within Armenia have been denied to prices, Garegin Baghramyan, them. Armenia’s minister of energy and nat- ural resources told reporters in Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin Azeri Forces Continue November. As late as December 27, in Moscow on December 27. Days later, Russia announced it was increasing the Baghramyan said that “Of course, we price of natural gas it sells to Armenia.